Groundsman?

We have a great team of groundsmen here.
This one is Michael.
Well and truly off the ground at this point.
Having climbed a ladder & walked along a ledge to water the plants outside our bedroom window.
Clearly, a very balanced person.
Guy

Muddy Madam

Farrah and I got caught in a downpour the other evening.
This was the state of Farrah's legs by the time we got home.
There is a dirt track between us and our local shops, which can quickly turn into a mud track.
As you can see.
Guy

Sue's Sojourn

Our good friend, Sue Begg, just passed through here.
On her way from NE Scotland to her beloved Lamu.
I think this is her 5th trip to the "medieval" island - so far.
Sue's helping out for 3 weeks at the New Life Centre there.
Thanks, Sue!
Guy

Breaking & Baking

Before leaving Uplands, I was given the honour of being one of five men who officially broke the ground at the site of Abigail's next project ...
a brand new bakery.
All of us were asked to break the ground in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Thanks to a Kiswahili song we sing at church that my boys and I love, I was able to reach into my memory banks and break the ground in the name of ...
"Baba" and "Yesu" and "Roho".
Halle-phew-jah!
Guy

Oh, Happy Day

One of the biggest smiles on the day belonged to Keziah.
With her mum, she had moved into a new home in another village previously built by Abigail Ministries.
She had come to join in the joy of the newest villagers.
Her smile sums up the day beautifully.
Guy

Shena's Villagers

At one point in the celebrations, all the villagers sang together.
Here are two of the "new" neighbours, in full voice.
Songs.  Prayers.  Laughter.  Tears.  All in one day.
A real "wish you could be here" moment.
Guy

Shena's Village

Our friends, Roger & Shena, first came to Kenya in 2001 for a "once in a lifetime" retirement holiday.

But God had other ideas.

They lost their hearts to the people here & wanted to find ways to help the poorest.

So began Abigail Ministries - www.abigailministries.org.

They return to Kenya 2 or 3 times a year and we joined them a few days ago in Uplands, as they opened a new village.

Re-housing 12 desperately poor families, previously living in ramshackle homes under a railway track.

This is Shena welcoming the families into their new homes.

Leave you to imagine the celebrations!

Guy

Mama Monkey

Remember how Levi & Gerro used to dress up in their tiger & cheetah costumes and race along on all fours?
Well, they did it here the other day, going round the grounds, prowling & pouncing.
Until some of the toddlers got scared.
Oops!
But since then the toddlers themselves can be seen scampering around on all fours.
Except they call themselves monkeys.
And they call me "Mama Monkey"! :-)
Farrah

Hello, Hairy

In the New Life garden is a gazebo.
And in the gazebo is a kids' slide.
And on the slide the other day instead of a kid was ...
a great, big, hairy monster.
Okay.
Maybe not a monster.
Just a very hairy, creepy-crawly caterpillar.
Guy

Coaching Kids

Of course, it's not just our boys that are football crazy out here.
It's a continent-wide obsession.
And even more so since the World Cup in South Africa.
New Life runs soccer programmes at its rural schools.
Want to get involved in one?
Just drop me a line.
Guy

Pitch Perfect

Just in case you doubted our boys' obsession with the "beautiful game", here's the cake Susanna made Levi for his 9th birthday.
The "goalies" were particularly tasty!
Fancy a slice?
Guy

Lunch On The Lawn

And if you're a New Life housekeeper, surrounded by such beautiful gardens, where better to take your lunch than ...
on the lawn?
Bliss!
Guy

Bethel's Backyard

We have two homes in Nakuru, a short distance apart.
Both are family homes for older children who have not (yet) been adopted, just like The Ark here in Nairobi.
I visited the Nakuru homes for the first time yesterday.
The home for the oldest kids is called Bethel.
It was very quiet when I called, because they were all at school.
So here are some very tranquil views of the beautiful gardens.
As you can see, the groundsmen take real pride in their work.
Guy

Mr Fix-It

You'll be relieved to hear I'm not the person responsible for the upkeep of New Life's properties.
That job falls to our very own head "fundi" (the Kenyan word for a "Mr Fix-It) ... Edward.
This is Edward at New Life Home, Nakuru earlier today.
First thing this morning, Edward, Clive & I made the two hour drive to Nakuru together.
But Clive & I returned this afternoon, leaving Edward behind for the next few days - a man on a mission.
He's got a new reception area to build, furniture to fix, property to paint, etc., etc.
A real man, as my kids would say, not like their own father!
Guy

Red Devils, Baggies, Wolves & Black Cats

Each family member here "adopted" a Barclays Premier League football team to support this season.
My glory-hunting sons pounced on Manchester United.
My choice was easy too, given my soft spot for under-dogs & my own family's origins ... it's West Bromwich Albion for me.
Farrah faithfully followed my West Midlands lead and went for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Susanna, whose family originates from Ireland & the English south coast (and who does not seem to be taking this as seriously as the rest of us) settled for ... Sunderland?
Our local cafe, Hong's, had a big plasma screen installed just before the World Cup.
And most weekends you will find four of us (I'll leave you to guess who the missing fifth member is) goggle-eyed in front of the "box", cheering on our respective teams.
Come on, you Baggies!
Guy

Paparazzi Paparazzi-ed

It's come to my attention that in all of dad's "blogging" - so far - he's completely excluded all photos of himself.
So, to set the record straight & to get him back for constantly invading the privacy of the rest of the family ...
here is a recent shot I took of him in our back garden.
Just look at that crop of silver whiskers sprouting from his chin.
And those "laughter lines" have now surely crossed the line into just plain old wrinkles?
Luckily, he has a daughter that will always look after him.
Cherry's a good girl! ;-)
Farrah

Tea-licious!

A very special lady celebrated her birthday last Sunday ...
our very own "Matron Mary".
Susanna got out our best bone china, baked some of her legendary scones, bought jam & cream, and worked her magic.
Mary, Clive & CJ were then invited over for cream tea.
Awfully civilised!
Guy

David's Day Out

Our other main driver here is David.
He got to drive the day The Ark kids went to Naivasha National Park.
And helped to look after them once they all got there.
He was a particularly happy man that day, because he had never visited Hell's Gate before.
Guy

Tutors Galore

I was very keen to get a holiday tutor for The Ark kids.

And we had barely uttered a prayer for one, before God sent us three.

Teachers Millicent, Armstrong & Patrick all helped with the terrifying tower of holiday homework.

Questions like: “Conduct an interview with people from different ethnic backgrounds and discuss their views on parenting, political persuasion, religious and moral beliefs”.

And that was just one small part of the work for the 9 year olds!

See why I felt an urgent desire to engage some outside help?

Susanna

Ark Antics

I have been busy with The Ark, the family home for 10 older kids who have not been adopted (yet).

All of August was a school holiday.

I set up some day trips for them & they had a whale of a time.
The kids went to the Animal Orphanage, the Giraffe Centre & Nairobi Arboretum.

But most excitingly, gorge walking at Hell's Gate in Naivasha National Park.

Susanna

Back At Braeside

Boys now back at Braeside after 8 weeks of school holiday.
They left here very happy on the morning of their first day back.
No, I'm not making this up.
And they came home just as happy - if not more so - later the same day.
Whoever it is out there praying for these boys, please don't stop!
Susanna & I found ourselves imagining that they were still around.
We would head off to check how they were doing, and then remember that they weren't here.
Think Terry Wogan called them "senior moments".
Guy

Joseph's Joke

Another Nairobi team member who made the trip out to Nyeri was our main driver, Joseph.
So called, he tells me, because he was born on Christmas Day.
Joseph is married with a wife and young son.
But assures me they are called Olivia and Bonladic - not Mary and Jesus!
Guy

Kyeni's Chum

Farrah came along to Nyeri for the Open Day too.
And promptly found herself appointed the "official" New Life photographer.
This is a shot she snapped of Kyeni (pronounced "Chenny"), our Public Relations Officer, holding Gabriel's son, Laurence.
I love the far away look in Laurence's eyes.
Maybe watching his dad's funky dance moves?
Guy

Gabriel's Grin

This is Gabriel.
Together with his wife Monica, he leads New Life Home - Nyeri.
The home just marked its 4th anniversary with its first ever "Open Day".
The former mayor, the district councillor, and many others were all present.
But most encouragingly, lots of kids adopted in the last 4 years with their "new" parents.
No wonder Gabriel has a smile that could light up the whole of Africa!
A few of us made the 2-plus hours' drive from Nairobi to join in the fun.
Just wish I could dance as well as my Kenyan friends!
Guy

It's Raining Kids

A few days ago, on the baby front, the numbers were way down.

But then the heavens opened and ...
we admitted 13 little ones in the space of just 2 days.

They arrived in all shapes & sizes.

Levi & Gerro got to name two of the new "in-comers".

No Star Wars' names this time!

For my part, I managed to spell one of the children's surnames wrong.

And ended up writing down the Kiswahli word for 'jiggers', a horrible flesh-burrowing flea.

As you can imagine, my Kenyan colleagues were quite surprised that he should have such an unusual name!

Susanna

Kitchen Cleaner

Neighbours.
Everybody needs good neighbours.
And they don't come any better than our very own live-in gecko.
This friendly little fella hangs out in our kitchen.
And helps keep the mosquito count down.
We love him.  He can move his family in any time.
Farrah

Let There Be White

Susanna is still the practical partner in our relationship.

The other day, she positively leapt at the chance to grab a paint brush, jump on a stool & start brightening up the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) here.
The ICU was sufficiently low on numbers at the time to allow the "mini residents" to be temporarily transferred to another unit across the corridor.

How did Susanna know that 5 days later we would admit 13 babies in just 2 days?
And the ICU would once again be back to full capacity?

She must have a hot line to heaven!

Guy

Natty Neckwear

From the age of 10, I've looked for quirky clothes that matched my own quirky personality.
So I've fallen in love with Africa's vivid colours & pulsating patterns.
This scarf is a recent proud purchase.
Farrah

My Sloppy Sister

... and this is another one.
Yuck!
Levi

My Silly Sister

I was in bed and Farrah came in - with mum's camera.
She sat down on my bed & started showing me some pictures that mum had taken.
Then she took a few pictures of me & her together.
This is one of them.
Levi

Jane's Joy

This is Jane, our Special Care Unit Supervisor, who's served here at New Life since it first opened its doors, 16 years ago.

She's standing between Mirjam (13) & Elia (12), two babies she cared for prior to their adoption, back in those early days.

Mirjam & Elia turned up a few days ago with their Swiss parents, Roland & Christine, to re-visit their first home and to spend some time looking after some of the current "New Lifers".

Jane was delighted to see her "babies" so grown up.

Guy

Guac Splat

Avacado is very cheap here.
Leading to my current obsession with guacamole.
Guacamole with crisps.
Guacamole with tomato.
Guacamole with toast.
Only problem with toast is, it can crack.
And when it does, it can pop out of your hand.
Causing a "guac splat"! :-)
Farrah

Cyber Susanna

Where did my technophobic wife go?
I'm now married to a Facebook-networking, headset-sporting, Skype-calling cyber-queen.
Guy

Hopping Mad

This "big beastie" was quietly sitting on a branch nearby.
Until Gerro gently prodded it with a broom.
Causing said "beastie" to swoop in the general direction of my face.
After much screaming & hysterical hopping from one foot to another (by me, not it), I calmed down enough to take a picture of my attacker.
Farrah

Next To Godliness

One way New Life keeps its costs down is by making its own soap.
Martha is our head housekeeper.
That's her hand stirring the soap mixture.
After taking this picture, Susanna got stuck in too.
Soap-er!
Guy

Slavic Surprise

Drifting off to sleep the other night.
Suddenly the door burst open.
There before me, larger than life, my long-lost Bulgarian relative ...
Borislava "Fazka" Bastablova.
Guy

Jurassic Park IV

Levi & Gerro came tearing into the house a few days ago.
Extremely excited about something.
That something is on the right.
No, not a triceratops.
But a chameleon.
Making his very slow way up the tree just outside our front door.
Wonderful!
Guy

While The Cat's Away ...

Having posted a photo of Jaqui yesterday, it seemed right to feature a couple more team members today.
This is Ann, our Admin Manager, on the left.
And Kyeni (pronounced "Chenny"), our Public Relations Officer, on the right.
Snapped here clowning around with funny hats at a recent in-house jumble sale.
Clive & Mary were away at the time!
Guy

Seeing Double

Farrah thought it would be nice to post a photo of Jaqui, after she was named (but not seen) in the post below.
So here we go ...
A few days ago, Jaqui turned up for work in dungarees & an orange t-shirt.
When she stepped into the baby unit, there waiting for her was a "wee fella" in an identical outfit.
Susanna snapped this shot of the New Life "twins".
Guy

Braids & Bites

Wondered how long Farrah would be here before she got her hair braided.
Answer?  Just 16 days.
Once she discovered that Jaqui Mwango, New Life's Health & Hygiene Advisor, had a secret "after hours" life as a hairdresser, it was just a question of fixing a time & place.
Which turned out to be yesterday afternoon in our back garden.
Jaqui kicked off at 1.30pm.
7 long hours (and 25 mosquito bites) later, Farrah was resplendent with her new golden "mop head".
Guy

Reunion Rhyme

This week
I have been looking

Looking for a friend

I left mine back in Scotland

My heart needs help to mend

Many hands
I have been shaking

While searching for a match

Last night a special someone
Reached out, my hand to catch

Today
I have been laughing

While sitting in the sun

My Scottish Sophie found me
Och aye, she is the "one"!

Pathetic (as critiqued by dad) poems aside, I'm delighted that she is here! :)

Farrah

Boxing Day

That's one box.
Just another 200 to go.
Phew!
Guy

Outlaws Outwitted

In Methlick, 10 months ago, we packed all our "stuff" into a 40' container.
Today - 5,000 miles later - it turned up here at New Life.
All 201 boxes of it!
Much to the relief of Levi & Gerro, who'd become convinced that Somali pirates would hijack the boat in order to pillage their Star Wars lightsabers.
Guy & Farrah

Hope's Last Bedtime

Baby Hope arrived at New Life just before we did.

At first she began to thrive, but then suddenly took a turn for the worse.

She suffered a bad bout of diarrhoea, lost a lot of weight, became very sick, and fought for her life for 4 weeks.
Doctors and nurses here did everything they could.

More than once little Hope fought her way back from the brink of death.
But finally lost her battle today.

Susanna

Jane (who has been at New Life since it began in 1994) and I drove dear baby Hope to the mortuary.
As with baby Ivy, I took baby Hope into the mortuary and waited & watched while she was washed & wrapped for a final time.

It feels like I'm putting these little ones to bed for one last time.

I will see them again when we wake up on resurrection morning.

Guy

Together Again

At 3am this morning, our darling Farrah touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Willie (the taxi driver) and I, bleary-eyed, were there to meet her.
We finally got to New Life at 4am.
Surprisingly, Susanna was not in bed.
Too excited maybe about having a female companion back in the family?
And the boys were thrilled to be reunited with their LBS (littlest big sister) this morning.
That's Levi sat on Farrah's lap, with a big smile on his face, blocking out most of his sister's face.
Farrah expects to be here in Kenya with us for a couple of years.

Hurrah!

Guy

Salami & Amani

Rare treat last night.
Taken out to local Italian restaurant by team of volunteers from Amani Children's Foundation. 
See www.amanichildren.org for more about these wonderful people, based in US & big friends of New Life.
Here's Rene, the Amani team leader, with Susanna, just before we all tucked in to pizza & pasta.
Rene and Susanna first met when they were both in Nairobi at the same time, adopting children from New Life.
They lived in the same apartment block & became good friends.
This is the first reunion since then.
Friends & food ... la Dolce Vita!
Guy