Sunday 25th July....as I'm writing this ive just realised the date so must apologise for not texting Dad yesterday and Michelle today. DOH! Happy Birthday!

This week has been a slow one!

On Monday we were back at Teikunu Primary doing some more teaching aids. I didnt really feel like I'm doing much when we spend alot of time doing those but I suppose they do need them and appreciate our "art" very much!

Tuesday was a write off as I stayed off work due to stomach cramps and feeling very tired indeed. I had no sleep from the flaming midgie bites that were itchy as hell! Grr.

On Wednesday, as part of our community work we went back to the orphanage. Everyone had pooled money together to buy materials rto make a washing line for them. They did really need one, all the clothes are normally hung on the fences to dry. The building part wasnt a job for 15 of us so a few of us went off to find some other jobs. First we were chopping wood with an axe...well we were just shockingly bad at that so we ended up thrashing a sack of maize which seemed to make them happy as it saved them alot of time. We were speaking to one local community volunteer named George. He was a very nice man and interesting to talk too. We have made contactc for when we can next come back to do more voluntary work...he would be able to get us some work in the community.

On Thursday we were helping a blind elderly lady who has a very sick daughter from HIV to fetch some water. We knew it was going to be a tough one as she lived quite far from the water kiosk but luky for us, he next door neighbour was George and he borrowed us his Donkey!! Wehey. We sat in his compound while he got the cart ready with the water barrel. He has lots of chicken, a dog and the biggest cow I have ever seen. It was HUGE!! lol. His uncle was very interesting indeed and he was telling us his life story which was interesting. He was also telling us about his 100 year old mam. We want to meet her! Once Donkey was ready we made a trip to the kiosk and filled up the ladys water tanks in her home. Enough water to last them a few months apparantly.

On Friday afternoon we went back to the Farm...Lucy, Daniel (son) and Brother Peter. We really like it there, they are so nice. We helped them thrash the last of their maize which would of took months just them but we have helped on a few occassions now. we are hoping to fundraise for this family when we get home to help with medications for Lucys Disabled 12 yr old Son and thus the whole family as all money from the farm goes to that. On Friday night me, Jas, Jodie and Zahra were invited to a neighbours house for tea. She is called Purity and we had visited to say Hi last week and she wanted to make us tea. We had pilau rice and cabbage and she went all out with bottles of coke bless her. It was nice!

With this being our last weekend in Nderu we were allowed Sat and Sunday off so we've had a really nice time. Yesterday we went into Nairobi..we really wanted to see the shops that are normally closed on a Sunday but we werent very happy with them, prices were far too high.I managed to get about 10 snidey DVDs for about 2 quid so they will help me through unemployment when I'm back home. We went to Maasai market...I ended up chatting to a really nice man called John who is an artist. He has his stall there with the most amazing african artwork and also uses his art to rehabilitate kenyans who sniff glue. I was telling him about the work we have been doing and the aim to fundraise when we are home and he is going to donate a piece of artwork next week. Excellent!

Today me and Mille returned to Paradise lost to go on a proper hack out on the horses. We took a different route from last time and it was much cheaper and quicker. I rode a nice honest mare who was nice and fast :) and Millie rode her nutter of a daughter who had only been broken in for 6 months. Millie likes nutters so we were both in our element. We were out for about an hour and 40 mins and spent most of the time galloping around this 500 acre coffee plantations. It was amazing and only cost 8 quid! bosh! When we got back to the Park we got chatting to one of the workers and he took us on abit of a tour of the park telling us about the history of the caves and some facts. We had brought a little picnic of bread butter and boiled egg lol so enjoyed that by the lake before heading back.

So.... I've only got 9 more days left before I go back. We are preparing for a HIV talk in the schools on Mon and Tuesday then the rest of the week we are doing some community work. Friday we leave Nderu for Lake Navaisha. Really excited for that :)

xxx