This has been Mike's first weekend off since arriving so we decided to go to Kabale for a break. Kabale is the nearest town and is a one and three quarter hour drive through the mountains. The views are amazing but the densely folded ridges are a stark reminder that we are on the border of two tectonic plates. The succession of winding up and down and along is not Sue's favourite form of journey but with spells of eyes shut and concentration on other things, she arrived fairly intact.
Looking down on Kabale town centre.
We are staying in a nice hotel and it was a great treat to find a bath in the bathroom. There was no water until late evening but we made the most of it then. We spent the afternoon looking around Kabale which is bigger than Kisoro but the shops contain much the same things. To be honest we both felt we preferred Kisoro - just as well! We spent the evening with Janet who we had met on a training course last summer. It was good to catch up with her. Although it was lovely not to be disturbed in the night by crying babies and chattering Carers, there was the familiar tap tapping on the tin roof by the rain and the piercing noises of the crows. Today we have thoroughly enjoyed staying in our room out of the rain and reading.
Late afternoon the rain cleared and we emerged for a drink and to read outside in the grounds.
This week in Potters Village has been an ordinary one. In the last couple of weeks 3 children have moved on to new homes and 3 have arrived. One newborn whose mum died in childbirth, one whose mum died a couple of weeks after the birth and during an operation. The father did not know what the operation was for and strangely did not seem concerned. The third child is 8 months old and was brought by the father saying the mother was mentally ill. It transpires he has left the mother and moved in with another woman. It was felt safest to take the child in for now or he would have been abandoned elsewhere.
The medical centre is down to one inpatient, a prem baby still on oxygen. There has been another small boy who underwent the local tonsillectomy procedure with resulting infection but fortunately he was brought straight away and was able to go home after a couple of days having responded well to antibiotics. Interestingly the mum of the previous tonsil victim recommended another mother to bring her child to the village - success! Apart from that there has been a trickle of outpatients and the usual coughs, wheezes, vomiting and diarrhoea outbreaks amongst the village children.....oh, and 2 cases of hookworm discovered by the microscope!
Sue and Leonard have cut out Doreen's chair. Sue went to the market to buy a pan for the charcoal stove built by Leonard, that they will use to boil water for the paste. Three ladies sitting in the market were clearly talking about the colour of her skin and the fact her arms are browner than her feet. Suddenly one leaned forward and yanked up her skirt for them to look at the colour of her legs!! A bit of a shock but all good natured.
Next weekend we hope to hold a pre- dvd night BBQ using Leonard's charcoal stove - we could start a new trend in Uganda cuisine!
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