Hey all,

So we have been to Kampala for probably the last time this year last weekend. We had a great lunch; I had a delicious goat pilou rice dish, and then spent 7 unrelenting hours shopping and bartaring and trapsing through the conjested fuming city. We spent the majority of the time in Oweeno market; a fabulously compact shanty market built over part of the concreted town, with sheets of cardboard and covered in tarpaulin and plastic. It is crammed with people sitting on top of their merchandise trying to sell for the the best possible price. Things are, naturally, dirt cheap; I've got some awsome red and black converse high tops for 60,000/- (about 15 quid), and some nice powerful binolcuors for a tenner. The guy was wanting 120,000/- for them but I insisted I couldn't spend any more than 40,000/-.They'll come in handy for safari, which is only 2 days away!

As of today every single penny of the money we all raised has been spent! Congrats horray well done good stuff! When I get back I will publish a thorough break down of all the costs on all the items and materials we have spent on all the projects. We know the exact costs of everything we have used your money on and so will you! We spent the last million on 6 mattresses, 7 blankets, 6 mosquito nets, 50kg of rice, 15kg of beans and 12kg of soya porridge. All of this gear will be going to the family of 18. The child we suspected of having HIV turned out to be negative which is a massive relief. But he is still severely withered and gaunt. When you see images of children on children of need or red nose day, they always have really swollen bellies. More often than not these is actually caused by worms living in their gut, rather than malnourishment. The child we're so worried about hasn't got a swollen belly; he is just terrifyingly skinny. But rest asured after giving him and his family the huge bulk of food we've bought for them tomorrow he won't remain in that condition for long. That family won't be rationed to 1 meal a day for a very long time.

Nabawess' children are going to school every day now which is a massive relief and a huge reward of faith. Hopefully next time we visit they'll be thriving. CALM are sending counsellors to mentor Nabawess and teach her how to keep on top her house and keep the flies out. As a result of our work CALM has now extended intentions to set up partnerships with the government school Nabawess' children attend as well as the local council to help identify families in need. This also includes the mother of the three disabled children. They will be working to help support her, as decades of stigma, verbal abuse and self blaming have left their marks on her. So when we go CALM will be keeping tabs on Nabawess and the progress of her kids; sending us their report cards etc, and overseeing the building of the 4th toilet as well as supporting the family it will belong to.

Quick note; HARRY POTTER WAS AMAZING! Another one of those surreal Uganda moments again; finding ourselves sitting in front of a cinema screen with a warm beer in my hand and surrounded by Americans and Ugandans and Sweedish and Australians. We watched it on the day it was internationally released in the middle of Uganda! Was epic; as epic as the epic movie itself. Voldy's dead for reals now. What are we meant to do with our lives now!?

After safari we have sunday then 3 school days left. In that time we want to; visit bead lady for one last time; watch one of the new DVDs we've bought for the kids (preferably Lion King); see the beginning of construction for the 4th toilet, paid for by me and Phil; negotiate some money to be left and invested in water tanks for some of the families we met in Rakkai district; negotiate money to be left to cater for Nabawess' childrens' school fees after next term ends; and finally have at least a final pool game down the bar with the CALM guys.

So much to cram, so little time. Sounds like Oweeno market all over again

Much love to everyone who's kept up with this blog thread. I suspect this will be my last entry. I'm coming home soon and I am desperately ready for a cold cider and a bbq with family and friends.

See you then!
xxx