WE WON 2 MIDWIFES FOR A YEAR!!!!

WE WON!!! Yesterday was the final day of the Sunsuper competition Vicki entered us into – it was to win a $5,000 dream. The dream was to win for 2 full time midwifes for the clinic for 1 full year – we had an incredibly tense few days but we did it – we actually won woohhoooo!!!
Thank you to everyone who voted, this is a massive step for the clinic – all we have to do now is find our ‘perfect midwifes’ – advertising starts Monday. :-) It was close race in the end and Vicki received the ‘confirmation’ email this morning!!!!! SUPER excited! Vicki you are a truly incredible individual – thank you – the clinic will never be the same. XX

I am in love – I would to introduce you to Frank…, Moffat’s son!! Absolutely gorgeous and so cuddly!!! We were the first Mzungu’s (white people) he had seen, which would explain the eyes! He took to us extremely well – Kenyan babies are the most GORGEOUS of anywhere!!! And there are soooo many here that need help – damn the Australian adoption system!!! :-(

Today we went shopping! We took a left turn into the slums of Wythaka and Vicki paid $1.55 for a pair of slip on shoes and I purchased a warm light blue jumper for $1.05. Bargains!!! Like everything else you purchase or wear here, they needed solid washing – hand washing alone is almost enough to keep one in shape! :-)

Haha, every day we laugh at something to do with travelling on a Matatu. Yesterday Vicki scored the back seat and spent more time airborne than with her bum where it should be and today we crammed 22 people on a Matatu that seats 12. It’s also a common occurrence that we need a swift push up the backside to force us in the door and jump out with the vehicle still moving….

Everything to do with construction can happen very quickly in Kenya (especially if you pay by the job and hold cash until completion). Yesterday we identified a reliable tradesman to resurface the floor of the Maternity room – on the same day they scribbled a quote, this morning they started and by this afternoon they had practically finished (removing of tiles, chipping the remaining glue, concreting and painting) All that is left is the top coating and wait for it to set. The room is looking amazing!!

My stomach is still struggling with the food a little – last night we were served a very large plate full of beans, cabbage and rice. Uhuh, serious farting material, but delicious!! Every meal is loaded with Carbohydrates and in excess quantities. It’s a slow process to educate the lovely locals to serve smaller portions (even for me!) which is a delicate activity while doing your best not offend them or refuse their food. I am grateful that I generally adore their cooking (even Ugali), as the local cuisine can occasionally be a little tricky to swallow. One of the funniest things is watching Vicki trying to stomach the local tea they serve – 90% milk and extremely sweet – Vicki sips to be polite then I gulp to help her out and prevent her from gagging. Again, with places we spend most of our time, they graciously accommodate to her taste now. She is most grateful.

Tomorrow morning (Saturday), Vicki is holding a birthing workshop for the FreMo staff which will certainly be an eye opener for them!! Earlier this week, Vicki showed Fred and Moffat a live video of a couple of birth’s she attended, including a baby born in water – amazing!! Wish I had been there to see their faces, although Vicki said it was one of the funniest things she has seen. They are embracing the idea incredibly well – they are as excited as we are for the ‘better birthing’ focus for the clinic, it was as much their idea as ours. It has been spooky how our thoughts have melded into one. Simply brilliant.

Today we received a quote to do a massive job – rip up the plumbing, install 2 new ‘flush’ toilets, water pipes, 2 new water tanks (5000ltre for town water and 500litre for rainwater), guttering system, concreting and roof the current muddy walk way between buildings and install 7 new sinks in each room and outside the toilet. This will be our largest project and we anticipate it will take just over a week to complete. Construction starts on Tuesday. Gosh, this is massive!!!!

What a brilliant first week we have had!!!!!