we've stayed home this morning because it's Lyn's birthday - John is not much of a baker meaning Lyn has not had a birthday cake in 10 years so that cycle had to be broken. we are whipping up a Mclean Chocolate Cake Special - and we will be leaving detailed and fool proof instructions for John next year!
Emma and Annie made birthday cards with us last night when we returned home and Suze got up early to make a pancake breakfast for everyone this morning (I picked some flowers and set the table).
we've been settling into the routine here...we've become part of the (temporary) wallpaper at BCC and don't feel like the 'new kids' so much anymore.
I am still a bit anxious about getting everything done before we leave and have begun to chase Dan a little about what time everything will happen instead of just piling into the van and letting the day hapen like we did in the beginning - we really only have 4 1/2 days left out at BCC and lots still to get done. there are one or two kids we have not yet visited and a number who we want to get back to with gifts we have purchased on the sponsors behalf.
last night we had a flying visit back to Ibrahim's place - we posted a photo of some of his family early on - 8 small kids all being cared for alone by the grandmother. when we went back we took Ibrahim a new mattress, some lovely cotton bed sheets (you should see us rejecting bedsheets at the stores in town - they will try to sell you hession and tell you it is good quality sheeting!!) a warm woolen blanket, a mosquito net and a 100kg bag of maize. we also had 35,000 shillings left from the money Marg sent for him so we were able to give to the grandmother - more than enough to buy another 100kg bag in a couple of months when the first runs out or for other things they might need. 35,000 is about AUD$30 but to the Ugandan's living here it is a lot of money - it could buy a mattress for a child who has up till now slept on a packed earth floor or enough maize to supply a family of 9 with 2 meals a day for almost 2 months.

time here is a funny thing - I must admit that yesterday my patience began to wear thin trying to get things done on time. no one hurries, everyone walks at a slow pace - the only time you move fast is if you are on a motorbike or in a vehicle - then you move really fast. you'll be stoked to know dad that Suze and I have been making the most of all forms of Ugandan transport, yesterday we had our second trip with us both on the back of the same motorbike, it makes things a little cosy but at least there is now way you can fall off because you're so wedged on.
we've been told it is not a good idea to take photos or video in town because people can get angry with you so being on the back of the bike yesterday I took the oppourtunity to sit the camera on my knee and just let it roll taking in the streetside activity as our driver (who got lost) did a couple of laps of the town center getting me some awesome secret footage to show you guys when we get back!!
back to the time thing....I am struggling so much with wanting to get more things done in a day than seems possible with all the waiting around and time wasting that happens - and there is no point hurrying anyone up, it is simply how things operate here - probably the only thing I am finding really hard - Suze will confirm for you that I was not smiley Libby yesterday, I was getting to snap point with things taking way too much time simply because they had not been planned properly. walking to get somewhere for an hour when we could have got a ride if we had just waiting at the main road and hailed some boda bodas first, not leaving the BCC compound until lunchtime because of waiting for one thing or another so a morning was wasted, those kinds of things - John and Lyn tell me you just learn to be patient and accept how things are. but is is a little hard when you have self imposed deadlines to meet.

While waiting for Lyn's cake to cook Suze is sitting by me looking through the bradt guide and trying to find a game park for us to visit (Queen Elizabeth seems the best and camping sounds awesome but without a vehichle can be dangerous due to hippo and lion visits to camp! - maybe we will have to splash out a bit for something with walls). we've a week to decide where to go and to book it all because we like to go thursday next week and spend 3/4 nights for a long weekend. we had not originally planned to do any touristy things but who knows when we will get to come back to Africa so it seems crazy to miss the chance of some time in the back of a safari truck.
it is getting late in the morning and we will be leaving to head out to Busiu to see Nola and Lindsay Nobles boy Habert at 2pm so I should sign off and get my stuff together (video camera, film camera, lenses, spare batteries, spare films, disinfectant hand wipes, pens, journal, lots of water, gifts...the list goes on - Suze and I look like an advertisement for a luggage company most of the time) love to you all - thanks to those who leave us messages it is great to hear from you, please keep doing it and if you reading and not saying hi - then you should! it is great to know you are following us. lots of love Lib