August, September

August was a busy month for us, as we were living in Uganda, out of suitcases, in what was our new home, buying a washing machine, waiting for the work permit, buying school uniform in readiness for the first day of school (August 24th), the boys spent a few days at Summer Camp at the ARA (American Recreation Association), next door to where we live, driving a new (to us) automatic car, learning our way around Kampala, learning to cope with the traffic of Kampala and developing nerves of steel for driving on the road! What can I say? It was a busy time.

Although I had hoped to buy furniture and get well settled in readiness for the arrival of our personal belongings, we didn't do much of this. Without the work permit we were a bit timid to appear to be too comfortable in case we were put right out of the country. So, now that is still an ongoing thing. Trying to get the house more so that it feels homely. We were able to borrow MAF housing items which helped us so much, but now I need to spend some time returning the last of their things, eg. curtains, and so I need to either make my own fit, or get some new ones from somewhere. Aaaaahh!

September saw the children choosing their clubs, and that was a big excitement for them - there was so much to choose from. Joshua was asked to swim with the school team, his year group were doing a 'Production' at Christmas, with all rehearsals after school on a Wednesday, and he really wanted to take football and own his very own first pair of real football boots. So after an even longer day of school than what he was used to in Dodoma (with school starting at 8.00am, finishing at 3.00pm) he then spent another hour at school doing a club. After the first week or two of clubs the children were soooo tired. Benjamin took 'Taekwondo' and Craft Club. Esther is too young for clubs. So she has just been getting used to the idea of school, long days without Mummy and going there every day. This was a big adjustment at the beginning, and Tues and Thurs she only stayed 'till 12.00 noon. That really helped her get used to the energy and concentration that was required of her.