Meet 'Little Rose'

When I first met Rose she was outside her home - a wooden shack with no furniture, running water...well nothing really.  Her great-grandma, 86 years, was washing clothes using a bucket of water - she was pleased it had rained the previous night.

They needed to be re-housed quite urgently.  They were having problems with jiggers' (fleas that infect feet) and had no running water.

I was very keen to find a home for Rose before I left.  This came about and on Wednesday I went to help them move.  I wanted to enter their curent home, which they wouldn't let me before in case I got 'jiggers' but I was insistent this time.

So after being sprayed with insect repellent, I went inside and encountered a camel's leg!  They had been given it for food but nevertheless I wasn't keen!

While loading up the car with their possessions I'm afraid I refused to let them take the camel's leg in the car.  I just couldn't imagine it across my legs.  I promised to buy dinner instead.

The money raised paid for Rose and her grandma to move into a better home.  We bought a bed, chairs, table, stove...and the rent includes running water.

I went to visit Rose one last time before I left for the UK.  I bought her a new dress, shoes, writing materials and sweets.  She didn't stop smiling - which was wonderful...

AT THE ORPHANAGE

The boys LOVE football, especially Arsenal and England!  They were allowed to use a nearby field to play.  The boys were delighted with the football shirts I took and put them on straight away and went to play football even though we were in a middle of a tropical downpour!

One day we had a lovely make-up session with the girls.  Though once they had painted their nails they immediately took it off again to try a different colour.

I promised to return the following year (which is now next month!) with more football shirts so please, if you are throwing any away, pass them to me.

Last year I spent an amazing two weeks as a mzungu in Kenya.  From Nairobi I travelled 200 km north to Nanyuki, a small town near Mount Kenya.

I spent a great deal of time at CEDC (Children under Especially Difficult Circumstances).  The children here are some of the friendliest I have ever met.  They range from 5 to 19 years, 57 in total.  Most of the children at the centre are orphans and have been living on the streets.  At the Centre they have three meals a day and share dormitories and wash rooms.  Education is very important here as they believe the studying will result in a better life.

As I am a karate Instructor I had a go at teaching the children.  They were very keen and attentive.  They would clear a space in the class room and sweep the floor.  Sometimes we would be watched by a passing sheep poking its head into the doorway!