Saturday 29 December 2007

Interesting Christmas

Good day to All,

I hope you are all well and not suffering from post Christmas over indulgence!!!! That relates to some of you more than others..... you know who you are.

Christmas morning found me chilling at home had a 6am cup of chai with my new guard, Dominic before he left for home. Played football with the dog, got to get her tired quickly otherwise she digs for England. Fed the pets and myself then set to work painting determined now to get the house finished as the fundis are gone and are not around to mess up what I do. The lounge and dining room are finished, the order for a table and 6 chairs has been placed with George my carpenter (that I know through work he has done at Scann) and also my kitchen (should take 2 weeks).

My canvas picture is hanging, my sister Nathalie, fell in love with it when she was here at the beginning of the year took it home and found it was too big for her room so she kindly sent it back to me as a house warming gift. It looks fantastic the colours blend so well, it was made for my wall. The last bedroom has now accepted paint on its walls after spending so much time trying to ensure the paint sticks, applied special treatment (bit like glue) it is now done and the skirting being painted as I speak. Two beds were delivered but the room was not finished so sitting in the lounge.

Went to Scann ready to help with lunch unfortunately left in a tizz and forgot my keys this had major reflection on the day activities as was unable to get the speakers for the dance party. On arriving at Scann remembered that 30 of the boys were out of action having been circumcised on the 23rd as part of their tribal customs. In my opinion was far too close to Christmas, they had to spend all their time in quarantine in the dormitory. Women were not allowed anywhere near..... I complained that I had showered and was squeaky clean but was told that was not adequate to allow me in to wish them a Merry Christmas so I sent them a note instead. With this in mind and the problem of no speakers I decided to postpone the dance party for when the boys were allowed out of the dorm and were in more of a position to party.

We still had a good day the visitors came and helped with lunch, meat stew and rice in huge vats, with soda and cake. Not quite the Christmas lunch I was expecting but quantity prevented roasted turkeys. We then settled down with the remaining boys and watched a few movies, Open Season which they loved and Muppet Christmas Carol........ it was time for me to leave as the dog had been left for some time without company, was expecting her to have dug for England. The boys were happy to see me and are looking forward to the party in the New Year glad to be able to share it with their friends in the dorm.

I got home, played with the dog and applied another coat of paint, had chicken and pasta for dinner with Dominic, I showered and went to bed. Luckily there wasn't too much hype here........ actually there was none..... I think it would have been harder to be away for the first Christmas alone if it had been like home.

Have been asked to log off as the internet is closing, ok love to all, many thanks for the emails, sorry didn't get a chance to get to internet before now.......... was too busy painting.

Love to everyone and hope you are all getting over your colds and sniffs. Will write again soon. Susannah

Monday 24 December 2007

Merry Christmas

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Have been trying to get to internet but it doesn't like Hotmail at all, always unwilling to play with me.

Christmas here will be strange, am alone tonight, other than the guard (if he shows up) and except for my furry family. Will be with you all in thought. Am at Scann tomorrow helping them celebrate the day, we will have lunch supplied by a kind donor who is joining us for lunch then a dance party with me as MC!!

Christmas tree is up kindly supplied by my brother, not quite our standard back home but the boys love it. I spent all day Saturday putting up decorations in the dining hall for the boys, they enjoyed themselves and the effect is good. The party they had on Saturday with the trustees of Scann went well didn't get home till midnight thoroughly exhausted.

I think by the time tomorrow is done I will need a day in bed. Talking of beds am having two made ready to be delivered on 26th (no one takes much time off here as time is money!) The beds are ready for my list of visitors who may wish to come over........ hint hint!!

Love to you all hope you have a peaceful and joyous Christmas.

Susannah

Will email properly after Christmas.. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Saturday 8 December 2007

Back in Kenya

Jambo from hot and sunny Kenya,

well my time in the UK was short and frantic, for those of you I missed .......sorry will be back flight booked for 25th June! xxx

The flight back was bumpy and cold and got given an aisle seat when I booked a window, so no where to lay my head luckily the rather large gent sitting next to me didn't object when asleep I used his shoulder as a pillow but then I had given him my blanket as I had taken my big wrap with me to keep me warm. Virgin now do a per piece baggage allowance which meant that I could take two bags for the hold EACH weighing up to 23 kilos!! Yippee!! Kimberley will vouch for the fact that I was expecting the lady to say sorry you were given wrong info and need to lose a bag!! It was Ok at the airport the problem was the thought of getting on the Nakuru Shuttle with two big and heavy bags...... I cheated and talked Jenga my Nairobi taxi friend to bring me to Nakuru.

There was only one problem he kept me out drinking until 3.30am on the Monday night dancing the night away and then asked me to drive to Nakuru, it worked out well as we didn't get stopped at any police checks on the way!

The animals missed me so much the dog, Kim went crazy totally loop the loop! The cats missed me so much they ignored me for the first 3 days.......... putting in objections obviously to my trip! My shamba was not watered and since I left the weather has changed and it has been so hot during the day..... needless to say I now have a scorched shamba..... I think I have managed to save the tomatoes as they were planted in the seed bed under the shade of a large tree......... I am bucket watering them every morning now to help them recover from droop. The maize is growing strong but then it would anyway.

Back to Scann was a revelation...... the wall that has been started around the perimeter is nearly finished I hardly recognised the place. Boys cried when they saw me as I think they thought I had gone for good........ I felt awful.... big hugs all round. They still cant believe I have agreed to be here for Christmas, I am in charge of the full day Christmas day, should be interesting as not sure what their usual plan is........ they will have to expect something different.

I am busy shopping for things to make decorations with and also a Christmas tree as theirs has been in use since they started and is now without many branches and needles, it is pitiful, I want this to be a good Christmas. Anyone want to help fund a tree????? Donations via Kimberley greatly received, I did think of bringing one on the plane but then decided I couldn't carry another thing.

In addition to all this I am in charge of sorting parcels for bootie bags provided by Yasmin but also to allocate and parcel up clothes that they have in the store for the boys for Christmas it may take me a while.

On the home front need to finish my painting, trying to make curtains, arrange for the carpenter to come and make me a kitchen ( ready for all of you to visit) do more planting to replace the destroyed crop of beans, peas and carrots.

JUST CALL ME SUPERWOMAN!!!!!
Love and hugs to you all,
Susannah