Closer & closer

Gosh - is it really over 2 weeks since my last post. Well, I've been off having fun, while noticing that it's getting closer & closer to "Z day". I've put jam making on hold for the moment - I've around 70 jars waiting for me to take to work and the Abbey, which I should think is enough. I've had 2 out of 3 rabies jabs (live vaccine, and I managed to come out of that without foaming at the mouth or scared of water) with the final one in a couple of weeks. And I've discovered that I really can take 3 suitcases each weighing 23 kilos - at the orientation day I was sure that we were told we could only use one of our 3, with MD taking the other 2, so I am delighted to know this because the "to pack" heap is still growing. Today I discovered that Poundland (wonderful place!) has some head sets suitable for skyping (other brands are available) so got one for myself (I might even be able to use it when I'm away) and one for each of the schools that we're working in. But I've discovered I might need a cholera jab - I must investigate & get sorted.

Word of the Week

At the orientation day we were given a handbook with useful info, including some phrases so I am trying to have a "word of the week" beginning with

Muli bwanji?                 Bwino
Hello/how are you?      OK/fine

No doubt I will pronounce it quirkily, but it'll be good to have some local words to say.

Sensible shoes

Yesterday I have a visit from 2 little girls with their mother and grandmother - they came so they could give me several bags of really lovely clothes, all neatly ironed and folded, and another full of sensible shoes (startright shoes don't seem to have changed since I was their age!) to take with me. I showed them photos in the MD handbook of some children so they get an idea of where their gifts are going, but the pictures are quite small so when I get back I'll hopefully have some more clear ones to give them a better idea of who will be wearing them.

Time flies

Yesterday evening I had a lovely phone call with David (the trigger for me going on this project) who goes on his Uganda project in about 10 days time. It's come around so quickly, and I'm sure my departure date will be here sooner than it feels right now. The heap to be packed is getting bigger each week, and I'm hoping it'll all fit in my suitcase!

Itsy Bitsy

Today before meeting Ann for lunch I made 3 batches of courgette & ginger jam

The grapefruit & apple marmalade that I made yesterday seems a lot thicker than I think it should be, so I'll get it checked out by Janet on Thursday before deciding whether or not to inflict it on a wider audience.

Ann brought me a bag of more very welcome jars, which I think I will fill with blackberry chutney - I like to be able to offer something not widely available.

I'm aware that my life is becoming taken over by this preserving, but it's the time of year when so much fruit and vegetables need something doing to them. When I run out of jars I will have my life back! When I visited the allotment today to water the tomatoes I brought home courgettes and raspberries - I ignored everything else because I didn't have long enough to harvest if anything was ready. That's a job for tomorrow.

This afternoon I discovered that it's not the time of year to realise that my swimming costume could do with being replaced - all the reasonably priced ones have gone, and all I could find were horrendous prices or "itsy bitsy teeny weenie" (I can cope with "yellow polka dot" although I draw the line at the last part of this song title for the sake of everyone around). I shall keep looking because there will be a small swimming pool where the team is staying in Zambia which I suspect I'll appreciate using.

excuses, excuses

Yesterday I collected a box of jars from Sarah in Winchester - I think the jars were really just my excuse for an evening catching up with her. I don't think I've seen her since June, so it was about time. I have mixed feelings about the jars - I am very glad to have them but I think secretly, deep down, I was enjoying the excuse of time away from the jam pan! So this evening I was able to get on with grapefruit & apple marmalade (recipe provided by Janet from w*rk) and preparing 3 batches of courgette & ginger jam from 2 giant courgettes that my allotment neighbour (Trevor) gave me on Wednesday evening. Hopefully I'll get them jammed before I go out for lunch tomorrow morning with Ann (who might bring yet more jars!). If anyone asks what extreme jam making is.... I think this is it.

The 4th of the patterns sold on eBay went in the post at lunchtime. This weekend is another free listing one, so I'll have to think what I could offer for sale.

Making a difference

A few months ago a team went from Romsey Abbey to Burundi to grow the link between our parish and the town of Matana, both between the communities and the churches. Yesterday Tim, Bridget, Mark, Sharon and Harriet (the team) shared their experiences and hopes for the link at a presentation. It began with a bit of background to Burundi - the poorest African nation, with an average annual income of only about £95 and with very little in terms of infrastructure. The schools in Matana (high in the mountains, very rural) don't have electricity or water, the hospital doesn't have water.

I was hit by the gap between those we are helping in Zambia and those in Matana - and yet the project in Zambia is so needed.

During the presentation I kept thinking of the story of the boy and the starfishes that is part of Mission Direct's Mission Statement: 

A boy was standing on a beach that was covered with thousands of dying starfish. He started to pick them one by one and threw them back into the sea.

 "What are you doing?" his mother asked - "We can't make any difference here." 
"Well, I made a difference to that one and that one....." replied the boy.

 So many starfish, but it's good to have the opportunity to make a difference.

So when I got home I made a batch of blackberry and apple jam ready for the next preserve sale.