FRIDAY 13th March 2015

Back in Masindi after a long,dusty drive from Fort Portal via Hoima.
We need rain! Arriving Masindi 4pm yesterday ,I undressed and got in the shower, only to find no water when I turned the tap on! I phoned over to Reception to request a jerrycan of water which of course I can"t handle with my bad shoulder! We got water back this lunch time/
Have been unable to publish my blog since there is not enough Internet. So frustrating in Fort Portal because the guest house was so well appointed with WiFi etc and I wrote several entries/
I did eventually meet with Princess Elizabeth Bagaya who it seems has forgotten to turn her phone on .  We reminisced about the old days when her brother was the king if Tooro kungdom

FRIDAY MARCH 27th

Arrived safely home this morning and was met at Heathrow by Daniel.Pat and I found the flight home very uncomfortable and tiring. She has been an angel dressing me every morning and carrying my rucksack and/or case as I still can't lift my arm.

Have been exceedingly busy since Monday when I found the ATM in Masindi eoudn't give me any money. I phoned my bank and was told I am the victim of fraud! Very stressful but managed to pay Kenneth Matatu for his minibuses to take the P7 class plus 5 teachers to Murchison Falls,the spark entrance fees,the trip down the Nile on the launch and 4 Park Rangers to guide us on our game drive in the afternoon. Sallie will let me pay for the dinners,breakfasts and packed lunch  from U.K.

The educational trip to The Game Park was very successful!

I will write about that i n detail after I have rested since PST and I got up at 4:30am Tuesday to oversee the  children's breakfast and didn't get back to the hotel until 5pm that day. Then on Wednesday I had to phone Europe/India about my credit card and how to get some cash before leaving Masindi and meeting up with an old friend from from my days in Kenya. In the event I got nowhere with the bank but upon meeting up with Surinder any his friend Arshad we were royally entertained and well looked after. It was wonderful to relax in good company over sa wonderful meal with a bottle ( or two) of red wine.

Friday ,6th Msrch 2015
Have not written this blog for two  days because :
a. I did not feel very energetic because my arm was sore
b. We had no Internet
C. We also had no water ,( this is obviously incidental!)
Today I sent my friends off to see the Polish Church built in the middle of the forest by polish refugees who had been slave labourers for the Russians St the beginning of The Second World War but who had been freed when Russia joined The Allies. I rested.At lunchtime Ria's husband arrived from Entebbe and after lunch I had my hair washed for the FIRST time in ,12 days.
My head wound has noe scabbed over.
Yesterday we 4 ladies had a most amazing welcome by The Mothers' Union led by the Bishop's wife mams Joyce Kasangaki. My friends were overwhelmed! I presented the President with absg of the needles,thread& buttons (,the numbers of pupils has gone drastically St Kabalega Primary).

DTuesday 3rd March 2015

Whilst my friends Anne & Ria went on a guided tour of the Police Station in Masindi (I saw enough of it when my laptop etc. Was stolen) Pat  and I  asked Moses Taxi to take us to The Masindi School for the Handicapped. We were halted along the road by a tree which had fallen across (?felled) blocking the way and an enterprising young man was asking for sh.100. As a toll ! That is all of 25,pence to pass. I paid this enormous sum laughingly!!!
We were welcomed by Sally, the Deputy Head at The School for the Handicapped who took us to Harriet Katusiime's classroom. Most of the 9 pupils were deaf but they loved looking and pointing to the photos I took of them. Harriet had gone to get her walking frame _ the school is built on a steep hillside _ not the best place for physically handicapped children.
In a while, we were warned that Harriet was coming to greet us and we went out onto the verandah to meet her. When she saw us she burst into a huge grin and rushed to meet us. She was so happy.
I then a good talk with James the Bursar and Sally  about the funding of the school ,as I paid Harriet's fees. They are extremely reliant on donors.
Once back at Courtview Hotel, I had lunch then a nap as I still feel a bit weak.

Wednesday 4th March.
Every day I am feeling a little stronger. My course of antibiotics and painkillers has finished but I am dying to wash my hair!
Today has been a bit frustrating as the I internet is down BUT I had a good meeting up at Kabalega Primary with Headteachers Millie and Deputy Rosaline continuing our planning for the trip to Murchison Falls Park. They and Teacher Jane were thrilled with the reading books I handed over. I thenspoke to the P7s about the trip and they were very excited.
After lunch I met with Physio Abraham to talk about how we should continue helping Harriet Katusiime and then how to improve things at The School for the handicapped. We are thinking of having s workshop for the teachers.
In the evening, Lydia one of Bishop George',s daughters stopped by to seek advice about Uni entrance.

Sunday: second posting!

Walked into town and tried to get a new sim card for Ria',s phone but the internet was down.Wandered into the market and chatted to boys washing second hand shoes ready for resale. After a soda in Traveller's Corner returned to Courtview hotel, lunch& a lie down before meeting the headteacher ofKabalega Primary so I can start planning the school trip to Murchison Falls. It rained heavily overnight and cooled things down.

Sunday, 1 March 2015, Masindi

Saturday resting at Courtview Hotel and swallowing the many tablets prescribed after my fall. Sallie and all the staff are being very helpful and protective of me. I even had to have help in dressing!

This is a view of my rooms at the hotel with the roofers re-thatching the roof. All very restful.

About lunchtime the taxi arrived bringing my 3 friends from their visit to  the town of Jinja to see the Source of the Nile.

Didn't feel strong enough to go to church  at 8am but later walked into Masindi.