One Girl & Her Mum

Together in SW England earlier this year.
On the beach at Instow. Where our holiday home was.
Behind them, the sun sinking into the sea sure looks beautiful.
But these two women can put the sun itself in the shade.
Guy

One Boy & His Dad

 

Together in NE Scotland earlier this year.

Outside the legendary Lido at Stonehaven, to be precise.

Where we swam (my first time) in the hot, salty water.

Ate award-winning fish & chips. And award-winning ice-cream.

Talk about 'la dolce vita'!

And I thought we were both madcaps?

Guy

Beachy Bliss

We didn't spend all our time in the UK in churches.
We hit the beaches quite a lot too.
In fact, more often than we might have dared hope.
As Britain was in the grip of a freak heatwave.
Which started the day we arrived and lasted all 8 weeks.
This beach is one of our all time favourites. Collieston.
And the company is some of our all time favourite too.
Levi & Gerro. Neesee & Cherry.
Happy times!
Guy

City Suppers & Sippers

Methlick kirk was not the only church we visited on our travels.
City Church Aberdeen also invited us to their 3 Sunday services.
Our reward? Dinner with all their leaders on Tuesday evening.
One of many epicurean encounters over our 8 weeks in the UK.
Yes, a more heavyweight version of me returned to Kenya.
I am slowly deflating again now that I am back in Nairobi.
Couldn't afford a whole new set of clothes!
Guy

Methlick's Mini Marathon

We made it to Methlick, our former highland hideaway.
The village where we lived for 4 years prior to moving to Kenya.
On Sunday, we had a happy reunion at the local kirk.
Staying on afterwards for lunch with our friends.

The same good people who organise the Methlick FunD Run.
An annual New Life fundraiser. Thank you!
Guy

Sweet Sack-sess

 

Lucas finally came down from the trees at Fyvie Castle.

His school sports day was calling. Time to get into a sack.

And 'give it laldy', as we say in Scotland.

Thirsty work!

Guy

Who's Your Mume?

I love being baba and babu.
But most of all, I love being mume. To this woman.
That's the way we say husband here in Kenya.
So, living here, I get to be mume to my kids' mummy!
Guy

Lucas the Lumberjack?

Lucas was with us at Fyvie Castle too.
But he spent more time off the ground than on it.
A bone fide tree-hugger.
Guy

Babu-Less Babe

She looks better without her babu accessory, I think.

It looks like she thinks so too.
Much better, in fact.
Guy

Baba & Babu

In Kenya, the word for dad is baba.

And the word for granddad is babu.
Sounds like baboon with the final 'n' missing. No comment!
Here I am in the grounds of Fyvie Castle. Revelling in both roles.
Babu to my oldest granddaughter.
Baba to my oldest daughter.

As baba to 6 and babu to 4 (and a half), I count myself blessed.
Very blessed.
Guy

Grinning Grandparents

Rory was our fourth grandchild.
But for these two wonderful people, he was their first.
You're looking at Les & Jean. Kate's mum & dad.
They're every bit as nice as they look.
We love them. So does Rory!
Guy

Rory's Roots

Meet Rory's closest ancestors.

Looking remarkably alive and well. All things considered.

Guess the dark glasses are hiding even darker eyes.

Courtesy of a few sleepless nights, no doubt.

Keep it up, Rory. It's payback time.

Guy

Is He Really ... ?

Is it just me, or is Rory giving a cheeky wink to the camera?
Coupled with a slightly naughty, knowing smile?
And all this at just a few days old?
Hmm, I will need to watch this one carefully!
Oh, hope you spotted his wee halo of red hair?
No question who his daddy is, eh?
Guy

Eye To Eye

Rory, meet your Uncle Levi.
Levi, meet your nephew Rory.
Take a good, long look at each other.
Just the first of many times you two will be seeing each other.
Guy

Glorious Rory-ous

Our boys are not just cousins. Many times over.
They are also uncles. Four times over. Yes, four.
And here is the 'fabulous fourth' himself. Glorious Rory-ous!
Arran & Kate's first child. Our fourth grandchild.
Who arrived a few days after we did in the UK.
Nice timing, young man!
Guy

Stick Men

But for Levi & Gerro, far more important than Hannah's burgers ...
are Hannah's boys.
The 4 of them have always got on wonderfully well.
And at each reunion effortlessly pick up where they last left off.
Here they are thrashing weeds with a stick.
I think it's a boy thing!
Guy

Han-Burgers

Susanna's sister Hannah & her family live close to Heathrow airport.
This is very fortunate for us, when we make our annual UK visits.
As we get a few days of B&B at the beginning & end of our trips.
And Hannah is every bit as good a cook as her mum & sister.
As these photos of her home-made "Han-burgers" bear witness.

Of course, the real proof is when you follow Hannah's lead.
And sink your gnashers into one of them!
Guy

Double Trouble

Did we mention we had two grandsons now?

Just to prove the point, here's the first one.

Holding the second one.

Look at the size of Lucas' hand compared to his baby cousin's.

Just seems like yesterday it was Lucas with the tiny hands.

Guy

Why Are We Waiting?

Finally, the very long wait is over.
Our fourth grandchild - and second grandson - has arrived.
Mum Kate & baby (as yet unnamed) both well. As you can see.
We are still about 500 miles away. In England.
But driving to Scotland this Friday.
More waiting!
Guy

Hooking Hearts

My brother in law Frank got a mention in our last post.
But no picture. So let's redress that imbalance right now.
Here's the man himself. Plus my sister. And a tiny tot.
This little one was named after their own daughter.
Such are the ways in which we hook your hearts.
Forgive us!
Guy

Frank'll Fix It

Spot any family resemblance here?
Hope so. It's my one and only sibling. My very own baby sister.
Julie & her hubby (and my good friend) Frank just came to visit.
Had wonderful 2 weeks with them. Lots of work. Lots of laughs.
Lots of catching up. Lots of long walks down Memory Lane.
And - thanks to Frank - music is back in my life.
He brought a guitar stand with him. So guitar is out permanently.
And he set up my piano. So that is plugged in permanently too.
Hope the neighbours are as happy as I am!
Guy

Lauren's Lookalike

I've had this photo for quite a long time now.
Whenever I catch sight of it, there's always a moment when ...
I think it's my oldest daughter Lauren. But it isn't.
It's actually a young American volunteer. With a very big grin.
Being held hostage by schoolkids from New Life Academy Ruiru.
You try standing in the middle of this lot and not grinning.
I've tried and failed. Many times.
Guy

Water Works

After 12 years of hard work, our water borehole pump died.
So we got our local experts to come & take it away to fix it.
Then decided to keep the repaired one as a spare for the future.
And to buy a new one, which you can see here, being installed.
Because of the work we do, we need a lot of water. Every day.
To wash babies. Their nappies. Their clothes. Their dorms.
And, of course, to make chai (the local sweet milky tea).
Our staff run on it. As we say here in Kenya:
any time is chai time!
Guy

2BDP = 2 Brake Donkey Power

Two weeks from now, we'll be back in the UK for a few weeks.
I'm worried we might find the pace of life a little too fast for us.
Better pack our rocket packs!
Guy

Time Flies & So Do We

3 years ago today, we arrived here in Kenya.
Must be enjoying ourselves because the time has flown by.
Talking of flying, we booked our flights to the UK this week.
Arrive in London on 25th May. Leave on 21st July.
Time split between Scotland and England.
Hope to see some of you on our travels?
Espcially our ever-growing family!
Guy

Thank You!

Our dear friends & supporters,

We thank you so much for your regular giving to us, which has enabled us, for the last 3 years, to serve New Life Home Trust without receiving any payment from the Trust.

Now, for those of you who are interested, we have just set up (through Stewardship) a new online donation facility, which gives you an additional way of getting your support to us, whether a one-off gift or recurring donations.

You can find the donation facility at this web page:

https://my.give.net/guy_susanna

There is an option for you to “Gift Aid” these donations, which adds an extra 25p to every £1 you give.

I trust this is a helpful new addition for some of you, who prefer to do things online (like me)!

Hope to see some of you when we are in the UK in June/July.

We thank God for each and every one of you.

You are a blessing!

Guy & Susanna

Those Other Orphans

We're not the only orphanage in Kenya.
Just a few miles from us is The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
When you visit us, remind us to take you there.

As you can see, their "babies" are just a little bigger than ours.
But their bath water is about the same colour as Levi & Gerro's.
I know, because I have to get into it after them some nights!
Guy

Hurrah For Uhuru

It was a public holiday here today.
As Kenya's 4th President, Uhuru Kenyatta, was sworn in.
Spent most of the day watching the whole proceedings on TV.
A very impressive ceremony. Felt very moved at times.
Especially as this is Kenya's jubilee year.
Celebrating 50 years of independence.
Blessed to be here at such a time!
Guy

Lotsa Legs

Levi & Gerro have been off school for a few days.

Normally they would play football, read books, etc.

But this school holiday has been a little different. How exactly?

Well, the boys decided to start collecting, keeping & caring for ...

                                             millipedes.

Yes, millipedes. And it's just dawned on me.

They head back to school tomorrow. So ...
who's going to be looking after the creepy-crawlies then?
Guy

Gi's A Hug

Any of you who have been here will recognise this look.
It's that irresistible "please give me a hug" look.
Could you say "no"?
Guy

Caught Red-Handed

We were driving back from Nakuru the other day.
When suddenly all the cars were flagged down by soldiers.
The reason? President Kibaki's motorcade was on its way.
Took about half an hour for all the cars & bikes to pass.
In the meantime, I took care of my overheated engine.
While Susanna took this shot through the windscreen.
Like my red asbestos gloves? Pretty, eh?
Guy

Positive People

Recognise these two?
They're our very good friends, Tony & Roz Mitchell.
We first met them when they lived near us in NE Scotland.
But nowadays, their home is in Houston, Texas, USA.
There, they run a training company called People Positive.
In December, they ran team building sessions.
At all our homes. And at no cost. What a blessing!
This picture is from of the sessions here in Nairobi.
Haste ye back!
Guy

Babe In Arms

You've seen Claire before in an earlier post.
With Carlotta, our international volunteer of the year.
But here she's swapped Carlotta for one of our cute kids.
I'm sure Carlotta will forgive her.
Guy

Little Baby, Big Eyes

Maybe this look is even more irresistible than the last one?
With all these distractions, it's a wonder we get any work done.
In fact, my friend and colleague Kyeni often tells me:
Some of us are working hard and some are hardly working!
Guy

Hosanna

What have we been up today?
Started with Palm Sunday service in the cathedral. Hosanna!
In the highest!
Guy

What A Looker

 How could anyone resist a look like this?

Clearly not this poor unsuspecting volunteer!
Guy

The Laughing Laundry Ladies

Kahara's not the only one smiling.
Here are two of my favourite laundry ladies laughing out loud.
Florence (so-so smile, left) and Olpha (serious smile, right).
And the laundry ladies are also the language ladies.
My most patient Kiswahili tutors, by half.
Asante, walimu (thank you, teachers)!
Guy

Karibu, Kahara!

Meet my new boss, Kahara Mbugua.
Kahara started on March 1st as New Life's first ever CEO.
After working closely with us as a consultant for the last year.
He's a qualified accountant with bags of corporate experience.
But he's also been a Sunday School teacher for 20-plus years.
That's right. You guessed it. He LOVES kids.
He and his wife Hellen have 3 of their own ... so far!
In short, he's tailor-made for this new responsibility.
Guess God was the tailor?
Guy

Carlotta's Christmas

Meet Claire, one of our wonderful caregivers.
And Carlotta, one of our fantastic volunteers.
Carlotta comes from Italy, but is currently living in Kenya.
At Christmas though, Carlotta went home to Italy for a few days.
But rather than relax with family & friends.
She spent her time hosting events promoting New Life.
And returned with an amazing 3,587 Euros for the babies.
That's more than 400,000 Kenya Shillings.

For that reason, at our 19th Anniversary & Open Day ...
Carlotta was voted: "International Volunteer of the Year".

She seems very happy about it!

Guy