I moved from a womens violence house to a Community Housing House in Gawler South in April 2000. It was great I would have a safe place to live for the rest of my life. It is a 60 yr old semi detached brick house but had been renovated and had a nice new kitchen and bathroom so I was very happy.
I made the place my own and had my 2 cats Tara and Jasper and Henry my pekingese. He unfortunately was only 4 yrs old and died only a few months after I moved in. He had hurt his spine and it could not be fixed. I was so sad and didnt get another dog for 6 months and had Maggie my Shitzu given to me around November 2000. She was a beautiful dog and died in 2009 aged only 10 years old. She had a heart problem. I still miss her. I miss Henry too.
I also had to have my teeth out and a new plate put in and that was the start of false teeth which I still dislike, in 2002. In 2003 I went to Melbourne for a few days with my friend Pat to a Chronic Fatigue Conference. It was very helpful. Sadly Pat died in 2004. I miss her so much.💚. I also lost my dear friend Jan in 2006 of cancer. Of all my friends she was always.💚 there for me and visited me often even when she was not well. I miss her so so much. Then I lost Leni and Dee both from cancer. It has been a sad time for me. I did a bit if clairvoyant work during this time but kept to myself as wanted to leave all the hurt behind.
Monday 18 July 2016
UGANDA, MUMBAI INDIA AND HOME.
After six weeks in Uganda it was time to go home and it was very sad. Mawanda cried so hard and myself and the children were in tears. Mawanda had his biological daughter Latifah, and had adopted 3 siblings who had lost their parents so he had Umaru, Medi and Shadia. They were in boarding school. Nothing like you would think a boarding school would look like. Some looked like our old hen houses. But the children got fed and schooled for a price. Mawanda being a policeman had to do that.
So he was a single man bringing up 4 children. I admire him for that.
I flew from Kampala to Ethiopia and onto Mumbai. I had a day and night and half another day there so had booked a hotel room. When I got there all I wanted was a hot shower. I got under the shower to find it was cold. But being so hot I didn't care, I so enjoyed that shower after six weeks of a bucket bath. So wonderful it felt. I was very tired.💚 and it was only around 3pm in the afternoon so I tried to sleep but couldnt so got up and dressed and decided to explore. I was near the Arabian sea so decided to head that way. I wandered around and bought a few nick nacks and a Indian outfit. Then I wandered down to the sea which was a dirty brown colour. I walked in the water and then wandered along the beach. Suddenly it went dark and it was around 6pm. I soon realized I was lost and could not find my way back. I wandered down various streets and little lanes and was getting very scared and anxious. It was over 2 hours of walking. Suddenly an angel appeared in the shape of a little boy. I gave him the name of my hotel and he took me back. I asked him to sign his name but he couldnt write. He was about 8 years old. So I gave him some money and he was thrilled. I was greeted at the door of the hotel with the staff worried I had had something happen to me. They were relieved to see me . They offered me a meal in the restaurant. Well there were about 8 young Indian men all dressed up in black and white all wanting to please me. I found it hard to eat with them all watching me. I asked if I could have my dessert in my bedroom and it was delivered there. It was a nice meal, 3 course about $5.00 in all. I slept well that night. I had a nice breakfast and walked around the hotel garden. Soon it was time to go to the airport and the taxi arrived and I got there on time. I made sure I had rupees on me and got good service getting my wheel chair and onto the plane as didnt want to be left alone like It was on my way over. I had a good flight to Dubai and had another long wait in their rest room area and a meal. I soon was on my way onto Adelaide and arrived home safe and sound. It took me 2 weeks to get over the jet lag as chronic fatigue syndrome kicked in big time, I had to rest and dream.
So he was a single man bringing up 4 children. I admire him for that.
I flew from Kampala to Ethiopia and onto Mumbai. I had a day and night and half another day there so had booked a hotel room. When I got there all I wanted was a hot shower. I got under the shower to find it was cold. But being so hot I didn't care, I so enjoyed that shower after six weeks of a bucket bath. So wonderful it felt. I was very tired.💚 and it was only around 3pm in the afternoon so I tried to sleep but couldnt so got up and dressed and decided to explore. I was near the Arabian sea so decided to head that way. I wandered around and bought a few nick nacks and a Indian outfit. Then I wandered down to the sea which was a dirty brown colour. I walked in the water and then wandered along the beach. Suddenly it went dark and it was around 6pm. I soon realized I was lost and could not find my way back. I wandered down various streets and little lanes and was getting very scared and anxious. It was over 2 hours of walking. Suddenly an angel appeared in the shape of a little boy. I gave him the name of my hotel and he took me back. I asked him to sign his name but he couldnt write. He was about 8 years old. So I gave him some money and he was thrilled. I was greeted at the door of the hotel with the staff worried I had had something happen to me. They were relieved to see me . They offered me a meal in the restaurant. Well there were about 8 young Indian men all dressed up in black and white all wanting to please me. I found it hard to eat with them all watching me. I asked if I could have my dessert in my bedroom and it was delivered there. It was a nice meal, 3 course about $5.00 in all. I slept well that night. I had a nice breakfast and walked around the hotel garden. Soon it was time to go to the airport and the taxi arrived and I got there on time. I made sure I had rupees on me and got good service getting my wheel chair and onto the plane as didnt want to be left alone like It was on my way over. I had a good flight to Dubai and had another long wait in their rest room area and a meal. I soon was on my way onto Adelaide and arrived home safe and sound. It took me 2 weeks to get over the jet lag as chronic fatigue syndrome kicked in big time, I had to rest and dream.
CULTURE SHOCK
I now understand what culture shock is as I felt it when I arrived in Uganda and also when I got home, I couldnt eat good food for a time. It made me feel guilty for eating and thinking of poor children starving.
Seeing a child laying in the street while the mother begged for food. It was terrible.
Mawanda also suffered with culture shock when he arrived in Australia and took him around 5 years to get used to the western culture. This is something that stressed our marriage.
Seeing a child laying in the street while the mother begged for food. It was terrible.
Mawanda also suffered with culture shock when he arrived in Australia and took him around 5 years to get used to the western culture. This is something that stressed our marriage.
UMARU THE YOUNG BOY WHO IS NOW A MAN
Umaru was my little guide in Uganda and we would walk around the village together. I had bought him a transitor radio and as there was no power and I had no computer it got a little quiet at times. So I had wrapped a electrical telephone cord around my case from Australia to hold it together. So Umaru took this cord and some how hooked it up to the battery radio and connected it to 2 old speakers being used as a table. Lo and behold we had music in our bedroom and one in the other room. So I bought many batteries to keep it going.
Kitty was a white so so skinny cat that Umaru had and it was living on a little rice. I used to feed him with my food when no one was looking. Kitty used to go next door and up into the roof looking for birds or something else to eat. The man next door said if that cat comes over again I will shoot him. So I made lead out of two of my belts and Kitty was then kept tied up if out side. He was allowed off lead inside. Not being desexed he naturally wanted to wander. Kitty apparently lived for a few years and then died.
There was a high wall around Mawandas house and I used to sit on the wall and watch people go by. You would never be lonely in Uganda. The look on the faces of these people when they saw a 60 yr old white lady with red hair was priceless. There would be men and women with various goods on their heads, material, cooking utensils, clothes and many other types of goods to sell. It was amazing. Also small monkeys would sit in the trees and watch me. I could just go back there again. It opened my eyes so much and inspired me to be a better person.
Kitty was a white so so skinny cat that Umaru had and it was living on a little rice. I used to feed him with my food when no one was looking. Kitty used to go next door and up into the roof looking for birds or something else to eat. The man next door said if that cat comes over again I will shoot him. So I made lead out of two of my belts and Kitty was then kept tied up if out side. He was allowed off lead inside. Not being desexed he naturally wanted to wander. Kitty apparently lived for a few years and then died.
There was a high wall around Mawandas house and I used to sit on the wall and watch people go by. You would never be lonely in Uganda. The look on the faces of these people when they saw a 60 yr old white lady with red hair was priceless. There would be men and women with various goods on their heads, material, cooking utensils, clothes and many other types of goods to sell. It was amazing. Also small monkeys would sit in the trees and watch me. I could just go back there again. It opened my eyes so much and inspired me to be a better person.
THE BAD, THE SAD AND THE GLAD IN UGANDA
I met a man in Uganda who said he was a pastor and had a small house and a large tent with many woman and children. I visited him a few times and gave him money. Mawanda told me to be careful who I talked to and gave money to, but the adventurer in me didnt listen. When I got back home to Gawler South Australia, I got a newspaper article sent to me over the Internet. This man was a child molester and was jailed for abuse of woman and children. I was heart broken and all I could think of was those poor woman and children.
Yet the children had happy smiles and yet some had sad eyes. I could tell by looking at them the ones who hurt the most and those who were happy. What you dont know or dont have means you dont miss it. They just were happy to see a white lady be kind to them.
Bless those children.
Yet the children had happy smiles and yet some had sad eyes. I could tell by looking at them the ones who hurt the most and those who were happy. What you dont know or dont have means you dont miss it. They just were happy to see a white lady be kind to them.
Bless those children.
LIFE IN UGANDA
The time I had in Uganda for 6 weeks was an unique experience. One day I decided to buy Umaru a bike and we went into the city on the bus and had a look around. I bought him a small transitor radio and some clothes. Then we went looking for a old second hand bike. They were so expensive around $100 for a second hand bike. After about 4 hours of walking we got one and had to get a taxi home . A old type car bumped up the old red dirt road to Mawandas place. I was exhausted but had made a little boy so happy, having his own bike.
Ashia was Mawandas cousin and she did most of the cooking and cleaning and we got on well. She was facinated with my red hair and helped me put in a rinse I had bought with me. This also facinated her. I ended up giving most of my clothes and make up to Aisha. She came to me one day and asked for something for her period. I was amazed as being 60 I didnt need anything like that so went out and bought her some pads. I dont know what she used to use? Nothing I suspect. Thats what I would take if I ever went again.
I would walk around the village and all the children would follow me liked the pied piper. So I would sit in the dirt and play games with them. They just loved it and I would make up games for them. On my last day in Uganda, I took Aisha to show her what a random act of kindness was and gave clothes away to the first woman I saw. The reactions where priceless as they were not used to this. I had a much lighter suit case going home.
I went to the Equator and to the zoo and various other places in Kampala the capital of Uganda.
My stay was amazing and one I will never forget.
SIX WEEKS IN UGANDA
From now on as I am in the last 10 years of my life till now, I will not go into the nitty gritty of anything or anyone as they are still important people in my life and I dont wish to comment on too many negative things in case I get sued. Just to cover myself,
I had a nice time in Uganda. I had days of going out visiting various places and other days staying at home and walking around the villages. On one trip to the Equator I had an experience that changed my heart. We set off on a small bus about a 10 sitter and it went very fast up and down the steep hills. I was sitting in the front with Mawanda and it was very scary. It was nice to see where the equator line was and to see the small stalls and have a drink in a small shop. It was about a 2 hour drive.
On the way back the bus stopped and a distraught young mother got in with a very sick baby. She sat right in front of me and I couldn't help but put my arms around her and pat the babies head. The baby was about 10 months old and was very hot. So I gave the mother my water bottle for her to give to the baby which she did. Mawanda was touching the baby's foot and whispered to me. She has just died. I was so upset but the mother didnt know and just kept holding it crying. I stayed sitting close to the mother processing what had just happened and was thankful the baby got a drink before she died. The people in the bus went quiet and the bus driver took her to a small hospital type clinic. The poor mother would then be told the baby was dead.
It just showed me how fragile life can be and how precious life is. I learnt a lesson about life and death that day.
I felt my health was much better in Uganda. The pain and fatigue was less and I enjoyed the warm weather. I think it is because there is not so much technology and electrical things around to interfere with the magnetic fields around my body. Plus I was eating natural food. I basically lived on fruit , beans and rice. .
I had a nice time in Uganda. I had days of going out visiting various places and other days staying at home and walking around the villages. On one trip to the Equator I had an experience that changed my heart. We set off on a small bus about a 10 sitter and it went very fast up and down the steep hills. I was sitting in the front with Mawanda and it was very scary. It was nice to see where the equator line was and to see the small stalls and have a drink in a small shop. It was about a 2 hour drive.
On the way back the bus stopped and a distraught young mother got in with a very sick baby. She sat right in front of me and I couldn't help but put my arms around her and pat the babies head. The baby was about 10 months old and was very hot. So I gave the mother my water bottle for her to give to the baby which she did. Mawanda was touching the baby's foot and whispered to me. She has just died. I was so upset but the mother didnt know and just kept holding it crying. I stayed sitting close to the mother processing what had just happened and was thankful the baby got a drink before she died. The people in the bus went quiet and the bus driver took her to a small hospital type clinic. The poor mother would then be told the baby was dead.
It just showed me how fragile life can be and how precious life is. I learnt a lesson about life and death that day.
I felt my health was much better in Uganda. The pain and fatigue was less and I enjoyed the warm weather. I think it is because there is not so much technology and electrical things around to interfere with the magnetic fields around my body. Plus I was eating natural food. I basically lived on fruit , beans and rice. .
FIRST DAY IN UGANDA
After getting back from the police station to report my stolen computer, I was exhausted and went straight to sleep and woke up again like when I arrived the night before with candles burning., in the middle of the night. I needed a shower and soon found out there wasnt one. I had also found out there was no working toilet or running water or electricity. So Mawanda bought me a small bowl of warm water and luckily I had my own soap and washer and towel. So I had a much needed wash squatted on the floor of the small bedroom. I felt so much better having a wash and it would be six weeks before I next had a shower, and washed in a small basin every day. My chronic fatigue kicked in for the first week so we didnt go out much, just a few gentle walks around the village. Mawanda had Aisha who cooked most of the meals over a fire outside. Umaru was 13 years old and he became my guide allot of the time when Mawanda was at work as a policeman. Water had to be bought at a little old shop in the village and I ate mainly rice, beans and the odd piece of meat or fish. That was about it. There was plenty of fresh fruit but too expensive for those in the village, so I bought my own mangos, pineapple and jac fruit. I was hanging out for my coffee and thankfully I had got some sachets on the plane, until I could get to the city of Kampala and buy some coffee and other things, I needed.
After a week I felt much better and Mawanda took me on day trips on small taxis like small rattling old buses. We went to the River Nile by bus some of the way and the rest on a boda boda a small motor bike.
After a week I felt much better and Mawanda took me on day trips on small taxis like small rattling old buses. We went to the River Nile by bus some of the way and the rest on a boda boda a small motor bike.
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