Life is heating up!
So sorry for my laxness at keeping this up to date, I have started feeling full of energy and less sick in the last 3 weeks which is fab. Alex is pleased as well as he can at last start eating again as I can cook!
We had a great conference for fellow workers in East Africa last week it was a wonderful, refreshing and relaxing time and the speaker was a Brit so we got to speak our heart language rather than just American! We returned home to find the temperature was soring into the high 30's with about 85% humidity I know that you all having had a cold summer will have no sympathy for this but you are welcome to come visit and try it out for yourself!
A team update is needed at this point. We have Rich and Paula Osborn arrriving on Friday to join the work out here, we are so excited to see them, Paula was one of my beautiful bridesmaids.
We have LOVED getting to know Jason and Roxanne Engstrom in the last couple of months they are fab and Roxanne is a godsend for me as a great girlfriend!
The Andersen family will be moving on in mid Decemeber. After many many months of team struggles they felt it best to leave the team and our organisation has relocated them to Kenya. They will be hugely missed and we are sad that things didn't turn out as expected but in the long run it is a good thing for everyone involved.
Baby news - I think I have started to feel movement in the last week, very exciting, but I am not sure if i could really tell the difference between baby and tummy gurgles!
We have a 21 week scan booked for 10th Nov in Dar.
Next week Alex is being sent off to a conference in Dubai!! Alright for some. I will hold the fort here and some fun girlie things planned.
I think that is most of the news for now. We are so looking forward to seeing everyone when we are back for the birth in the new year.
Bye for now!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Pregnancy cravings!!
Not everything is available but the pictures should help Julie!! even if the real thing doesn't make it out there.
Even though these are salt and vinegar Julie likes ‘ready salted’
Chocolate (not peanut) m&m’s
Even though these are salt and vinegar Julie likes ‘ready salted’
Chocolate (not peanut) m&m’s
Sunday, September 21, 2008
An introduction
We would like to introduce a new member of our family. We are expecting a baby at the end of March. We plan to come home for the birth so look forward to seeing lots of you then! Please join us in praising God for this miracle
Baby Kittow is expected to say hello to the World on 27th March ‘09
Praise God for his wonderful gift.
It is waving at you & even has Alex’s quiff.
I am well, but have felt nauseous all day and very tired since the 6th week. (I am now coming up for 14 weeks) I have never missed Tesco's so much, to the point I dream of walking down the isles being able to choose what ever I want to eat! Alex has been wonderful, if I suddenly realise I can eat whatever is on his plate he will give it up for me!! Anyone who know Alex knows this could only be love!!
If anyone feels moved to post some twiglets or ready salted 'crunchy sticks' I would be forever grateful! What I really want though is a ham sandwich or a BLT baguette, unfortunately the only part of that I can get here is the tomato!!
Baby Kittow is expected to say hello to the World on 27th March ‘09
Praise God for his wonderful gift.
It is waving at you & even has Alex’s quiff.
I am well, but have felt nauseous all day and very tired since the 6th week. (I am now coming up for 14 weeks) I have never missed Tesco's so much, to the point I dream of walking down the isles being able to choose what ever I want to eat! Alex has been wonderful, if I suddenly realise I can eat whatever is on his plate he will give it up for me!! Anyone who know Alex knows this could only be love!!
If anyone feels moved to post some twiglets or ready salted 'crunchy sticks' I would be forever grateful! What I really want though is a ham sandwich or a BLT baguette, unfortunately the only part of that I can get here is the tomato!!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Sept 08
Pumba the rat catcher!
Things grow really big out here, the trees are tall the shrubs grow fast, it should be no surprise that the rats (who have an unlimited supply of food and rubbish to rummage through as there is no rubbish disposal system) are enormous - 40cm’s is just body and then same again of tail!! Quite horrific, thankfully our not so small puppy Pumba is a great rat catcher, we have got used the tell tale sounds of a chase, the scuffling, the squealing and Pumbas low growl, when this happens we know that we (well Alex) will have something grisly to clear up in the morning. We would put photos up but they really are grim! Anyway one night we hear the scuffling and squealing but Pumba seems to be having more trouble this time so Alex gallantly says he will go and ‘help’ what he thought he could do I am not quite sure. However on closer inspection the ‘rat’ turns out to be a tiny puppy that someone must have thrown over our gate. We rescue him from Pumba s over playful nature and do a quite check for fleas, he looks healthy so I bring him inside and feed him, he is very cute and soon has found a place in my heart and after managing to convince Alex this is a good thing, he is adopted and named Timmy short for Timone!!
Our new team mates; Jason, Roxanne and Annika got stuck in straight away after arriving, throwing a birthday party for Annika turning 2. Quite a turnout!!
Roxanne (hidden in the middle) organising crafts for the children.
Timmy
Ahh – not quite big enough to jump the veranda step!
Things grow really big out here, the trees are tall the shrubs grow fast, it should be no surprise that the rats (who have an unlimited supply of food and rubbish to rummage through as there is no rubbish disposal system) are enormous - 40cm’s is just body and then same again of tail!! Quite horrific, thankfully our not so small puppy Pumba is a great rat catcher, we have got used the tell tale sounds of a chase, the scuffling, the squealing and Pumbas low growl, when this happens we know that we (well Alex) will have something grisly to clear up in the morning. We would put photos up but they really are grim! Anyway one night we hear the scuffling and squealing but Pumba seems to be having more trouble this time so Alex gallantly says he will go and ‘help’ what he thought he could do I am not quite sure. However on closer inspection the ‘rat’ turns out to be a tiny puppy that someone must have thrown over our gate. We rescue him from Pumba s over playful nature and do a quite check for fleas, he looks healthy so I bring him inside and feed him, he is very cute and soon has found a place in my heart and after managing to convince Alex this is a good thing, he is adopted and named Timmy short for Timone!!
Our new team mates; Jason, Roxanne and Annika got stuck in straight away after arriving, throwing a birthday party for Annika turning 2. Quite a turnout!!
Roxanne (hidden in the middle) organising crafts for the children.
Timmy
Ahh – not quite big enough to jump the veranda step!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
August 2008
A flat tire and a little help from Julie’s brother
Red Colobus, only found here!!
Gareth and Alex in a mangrove tree
A traditional spice tour!! Julie’s family. (it’s great holding the camera, less embarrassment for you)
Alex’s sister and mum relaxing
On safari in Mikumi national Park with Alex’s family
Okay who can come up with a caption
Alex’s dad and sister, Louise
Friday, August 1, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
pictures of guinea fowl
We get to see our families in the next month, my parents and brother arrive on Thursday yippee!!! Alex's parents and sister arrive a few days after my family leave! We can't wait, we hope to show them what life is like here and have some precious time together.
Alex introducing Pumba to our new additions (and distracting him with a big bone!)
We eventually saw our madness and have decided to keep them separated!
How they grow!!! Feb to July
Our first mountain and walk for 6 months. In Morogoro visiting friends
Relaxing after a long day!
Alex introducing Pumba to our new additions (and distracting him with a big bone!)
We eventually saw our madness and have decided to keep them separated!How they grow!!! Feb to July
Our first mountain and walk for 6 months. In Morogoro visiting friends
Relaxing after a long day!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
June
We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary last week so took a couple of days off and headed to the Dar Es Salaam and surroundings, it was a much needed break and we had a great time.
June has been a challenging month, the ‘experts’ all say that 6 months is a notoriously bad time in the ‘transition curves’ and that has been true for us, we felt as though we hit the bottom, frustrations with language learning, culture, team, no power, no water and just living here where nothing really works as it should (well that’s what we think anyway) but we are maybe on the way up again, that or we are looking forward to a some precious time with our families in the coming months. I have been trying to organise some ladies get togethers with some of the other workers out here, we took advantage of a very experienced worker (left of photo) and really enjoyed 3 sessions together of training and encouragement. I have also had the chance to meet some more of the local ladies and practice my Swahili! Alex is battling with the motivation needed for language learning but enjoys the odd chance to go spear fishing and snorkelling – hard life isn’t it.
We have 2 new additions in the form of Guinea Foul, I have named them Spotty and Dotty but Alex is not convinced yet. They are so beautiful, the challenge has been making sure Pumba doesn’t eat them, after a few moments of trying to get him to be calm around them, we realise our foolishness and have had to resort to total separation of the animals!!!
June has been a challenging month, the ‘experts’ all say that 6 months is a notoriously bad time in the ‘transition curves’ and that has been true for us, we felt as though we hit the bottom, frustrations with language learning, culture, team, no power, no water and just living here where nothing really works as it should (well that’s what we think anyway) but we are maybe on the way up again, that or we are looking forward to a some precious time with our families in the coming months. I have been trying to organise some ladies get togethers with some of the other workers out here, we took advantage of a very experienced worker (left of photo) and really enjoyed 3 sessions together of training and encouragement. I have also had the chance to meet some more of the local ladies and practice my Swahili! Alex is battling with the motivation needed for language learning but enjoys the odd chance to go spear fishing and snorkelling – hard life isn’t it.
We have 2 new additions in the form of Guinea Foul, I have named them Spotty and Dotty but Alex is not convinced yet. They are so beautiful, the challenge has been making sure Pumba doesn’t eat them, after a few moments of trying to get him to be calm around them, we realise our foolishness and have had to resort to total separation of the animals!!!
June Photos
school visit to the Sultans Harem
Fellow students
Shipbuilding on the school trip
Ladies coffee morning at our house,
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Power is back
"Umeme is back!" As you stand in the market you hear this said all around you. Power is back, halleluajah! Came on yesterday and I managed to get a wash in the machine and completed before it stopped again for 5 hours, but as I write now, it is on again, for how long remains to be seen! There is quite outside, not the roar of the generators that we have got so used to in the last month! Can't believe it has taken a month to fix! Can you imagine the riots that would have happened in the UK if the same had happened.
On other news; I went with a fellow worker (who is actually on sabbatical here) to visit some local ladies in their houses, these were ladies that my friend had met and wanted to introduce me to before she leaves. It was great to have some more contacts. we stayed 2 hours in this one house, the conversation was in Kiswhaili and I am amazed to say I understood more than half of what was being said! The lady is very keen that I continue to learn the languauage so I will visit next week and take my school books with me.
We had the first dreaded email from home the other day saying there is a poblem with our house in Bristol. Our poor tenants have no hot water in the shower so Alex's wonderful brother and friends from our church (the same ones that run this blog) headed round to try and fix it, alas it looks more complicated than hoped (always seems to happen)
We are so grateful to Chris and and Jon for taking time to sort this out for us THANKYOU guys! You are superstars.
Which reminds us again how blessed we are to have so many wonderful friends and supporters, so thank you for taking time to read this and think of us, we appreciate it so much!
On other news; I went with a fellow worker (who is actually on sabbatical here) to visit some local ladies in their houses, these were ladies that my friend had met and wanted to introduce me to before she leaves. It was great to have some more contacts. we stayed 2 hours in this one house, the conversation was in Kiswhaili and I am amazed to say I understood more than half of what was being said! The lady is very keen that I continue to learn the languauage so I will visit next week and take my school books with me.
We had the first dreaded email from home the other day saying there is a poblem with our house in Bristol. Our poor tenants have no hot water in the shower so Alex's wonderful brother and friends from our church (the same ones that run this blog) headed round to try and fix it, alas it looks more complicated than hoped (always seems to happen)
We are so grateful to Chris and and Jon for taking time to sort this out for us THANKYOU guys! You are superstars.
Which reminds us again how blessed we are to have so many wonderful friends and supporters, so thank you for taking time to read this and think of us, we appreciate it so much!
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