I can honestly say that I have never seen the site look better. The rain has meant that everywhere is lusciously green. Leonard and men have worked very hard to get the site trimmed to perfection with neat edges and colourful flower borders.
Invaheza (who is definitely pregnant) now has a large paddock area so she doesn't chase the dog or visitors!
There is a smart bike shed being built by the gate.
Sadly moles have attacked the sweet potatoes. Young boys came in and caught 31. The going rate is 20p per mole so in their terms they made good money. I haven't asked what happens to the moles. Mole stew anyone?
The carrot patch looked after by Vicent (toilet attendant) was only being planted when we left.
We have 18 resident Potter's babies which is rather too many. Muhumuza and Justine are being resettled to their families very soon.
Moses came in this week. His mother delivered in a rural health centre but haemorrhaged after delivery. She was taken to Kisoro Hospital on the back of a truck with her feet hanging over the end. There was no blood at the Hospital so she was loaded onto the van again. She died en route to Mutolere Hospital so they diverted to Potter's to leave the baby with us. Such a very sad death.
Jimmy is a little one in the Prem Baby Unit. His mother came over from the Congo where her husband and 4 children had been killed. She also brought another little boy who had latched on to her. She delivered in Kisoro and being a little small, Jimmy came to us. He is doing very well and won't be with us much longer. Naturally, the mother had no clothes with her so the staff found her and the boy some from our store room. The Refugee Camp just outside Kisoro is providing food for them.
The babies have grown so much it has been a case of relearning who is who. I think I have the Angels room more or less sorted.
Mackline is a new one. Her mother died. She will live with her father and older sister in due course.
Ngabirano is also new. His mother left him with the father. The Gran tried to feed him but he was underweight and had malaria when brought to Potters for help. His Gran visits him regularly. Ngabirano is well known for crying in the evening and competes with Judith in the next room. After a spell of crying he is fine.
Izabayo has always been a character. She is chatty, smiley and full of mischief. Very soon she will be walking. It is such a shame it is proving difficult to find someone in her family to take her.
Young Brian is now doing very well and growing a lovely soft mop of hair. He was the baby found in the plastic bag.
Tim and Joel, the identical twins...have developed identical bottom shuffles. I's either that or commando style crawling which is good for cleaning the floor!
Lastly there is Tim on the left and Bridget on the right. Bridget is going to be a shy and quiet girl. Tim wants to put everything in his mouth and here is going to see if Bridget's hand will stretch far enough. It won't. A few seconds more and you would see him lean forward with his mouth wide open to attempt a mouthful...it was rather reminiscent of a Jaws movie moment!
The last new babies have been these cute piglets. We have 8 altogether. Leonard came to ask for porridge for his babies. Is this taking the baby weaning lessons too far, I wondered. I'm told it will only be for a month and then they will be sold. It is lovely to see them scampering around the vegetable patch. Definitely free range pigs!
