My holidays by Daniela

Looking back to the first day of the school holidays, is today's junior blogger Daniela.
It was on Monday when I woke up early at a crack of dawn and I started preparing myself for the day.  
I went to have my breakfast and I started my holiday.

I did not know that we had holiday club. 

When I closed my eyes and opened them again I saw the gateman was opening the gate when I looked at the gate I saw the school bus 
 I was very surprised when I saw that the day children had put on home clothes. When the school bus had stopped I went and asked Madam Joy and she answered me that `` it is holiday club `` so we are not supposed to wear school uniform.''

I looked inside the bus it was full to capacity, all seats were taken and there was no space to swing a cat.

Everyone was dressed immaculately for the colourful occasion. I walked proudly towards the dais and greeted everyone happily as my fellow pupils cheered loudly.

After that we went to the big banda and Madam Joy told us that the first activity we were all having was dancing.

Mr Mdachi went and got the radio and a CD of songs .He connected everything and he pressed play and the song started.

We were jovial and danced vigorously to the music .But at the end of that day we had a lovely time.

It would not be a mistake if we said that .it is true what the ancient dictum states that: Small beginnings make a great ending. 

Solar setback

There has been a costly setback this week with a £1,714 outlay to buy a new larger inverter to help generate solar power.
Mama Sue said that there had been a problem  at the back of the building for  the fuse blowing continually, and needing replacing at £10 a time.  
Replacement was the only solution and a must to keep our power supply constant.
Munga, the electrician, has now replaced the inverter with a larger one and will fit the smaller one  he has taken out at the front of the building to supply the the front office, kitchen and television.
" We have 30 batteries, that will soon become useless if they are not used.  Of these 16 will be fitted to the larger inverter, and ten will be fitted to the smaller inverter, we will  then have four for sale which should raise £214 in total."  said Mama.
Such a a big bill is a headache, but it was the only way to solve the problem.

From Mexico with love

Two volunteers from Mexico will arriving later this month as they start three months working with our family.
Human rights lawyer Alejandra Quintana and her friend Fabiola Matute, an engineer, have been friends since they were three years old and will be achieving a long-held ambition when they arrive in Africa.
"Since we were little we have been interested in meeting different people, cultures and places, " says Alejandra, who everyone call Aleka.
"In Mexico we went to many mission trips along the country and we have volunteered in different organizations with babies and kids involved.
" In every one of these experiences we have learned something different and have grown in different aspects.

"Since we have memory it has been a dream of ours to go to Africa to volunteer, to meet people from places and cultures so far and different from ours. 

"We are excited to help in Happy House and we are sure it’ll be an experience of a life time and a dream come true."

Aleka and Fabiola, both 25 and from Mexico City,  have been working hard to fundraise  £500 each  as their volunteer donation to the Happy House.

As a part of they held a raffle for an iPod Nano/

"We sold tickets for the raffle of an ipod nano to literally almost every person we know, to our friends, to our family, to our co-workers even to people we don’t know at the supe market!"

They also held a Bazaar at Fabiola's house inviting local craftspeople and retailers to take stalls and invited friends to come along and help.

During the event they showed a slide show of Happy House pictures as they wanted everyone to see the children they were helping.

"Everyone loved this!," added Aleka.

The two friends have achieved their fundraising goal and everyone at the Happy House is looking forward to welcoming them.

Our little ONE!

 A first birthday is a real milestone in life.

Our little Neema is one this week and her special day was celebrated with the birthday song and a gift at Kidz Club.

Janet, a wonderful big "sister" to all the younger children, did the hours of carrying Neema up to Mama to receive a teddy ... which is almost as big as she is!

Neema joined our family in May last year when , at five months, her father was struggling to continue meet the demands of looking after four small girls after the death of their mum who became gravely ill after giving birth  and died.

Neema is thriving in our care, and adorable and bright little girl, and her father and sisters visit as often as possible.

Looking forward to learning

In today's school blog, head teacher Madam Rose writes:
The new year has got off to a very busy start at Happy House School  with 40  new day pupils joining our classes.
There are still just very few places, as we insist on keeping our classes small, so any parents who want to enrol their children should contact school as soon as they can. School Mobile Number: 0714263416 or email headteacher@childrenofwatamu.net All our teachers and pupils are looking forward with enthusiasm to a very productive term and to achieving high results.
A new term is always an exciting time and we extend a very warm welcome to all those who have joined our school family this week.
Mama asked our older boys if they would like to continue to wear shorts to school or if they would prefer long trousers. Our picture tells you what they chose! Don't Evans and Sifa look smart.

Book your holiday, relax and raise! If you're booking this year's holiday online, please make sure you book via easyfundraising.org.uk and raise funds for Children of Watamu Happy House - Kenya at the same time!With hundreds of top travel agents signed up, you can book your holiday and earn a donation for us. And it won't cost you a penny! Just visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/watamuhappyhouse and follow the simple steps to sign up.

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A stitch in time for Auntie Coral

It's the fourth year that Coral Blackhurst has volunteered at the Happy house.
Now "Auntie" Coral to all the family, she spends three months or so each visit helping out wherever she is needed.
Coral, from the Isle of Man, has experience as a teacher and opened the very first day nursery in Preston whilst living in Lancashire.
It may have been some years ago, and she has done much since including running one of the Isle of Man's most famous hostelries with her late husband, Harold, but her work with children, plus being a mum and grandmother, stands her in good stead when assisting teachers in school.
Coral writes:It is such fun working at the Happy House  My day consists of working with the baby class and playgroup as this is a large group of children all at different stages in their development.
 I try to help the teachers as much as possible taking small groups for other activities or even the whole class for storytelling and songs.
 There is a joy to be had in listening to a group of African children chanting " Oh,Oh Here Comes Trouble!" as I recount the story of Solomon the Crocodile,  one of their favourites
I make them playdough from flour salt and food colouring.My biggest task is to stop the little ones from eating it.
I also help out with the morning snacks and lunch.
We are back at school today after the holiday and holiday club.  I have been teaching the older girls to use a sewing machine.  They are making bags at present but are looking forward to going to the shop themselves and choosing their own material to make simple skirts.
It is a pleasure to take these children anywhere.They are so well behaved but can you imagine the charming picture.
One day we went  to the beach.  
Down the road they walked each with a bright yellow towel wrapped around them and older one holding the hand of a little one chattering laughing and singing and just being so happy Happy House Kids

So many reasons to be thankful

Brian goes up in the world.

There were parcels stacked up and waiting on our first post-Christmas call at Watamu Post Office.

You have all been just so wonderfully generous in sending so many beautiful items for our children in the months and weeks leading up to the festive season. Sadly, not all arrived by Christmas eve.

All our children received lovely gifts, sent by you and delivered by Santa, that Mama feels to give them more now would be just too much.

Instead we will be keeping them in store ready for birthdays etc over the year which will make sure that we always have something when needed.

Karembo takes delivery

It's been impossible to send out pictures and a thank-you to everyone individually at this time of year when the volume received is so high, and everyone so busy,  but you know how very grateful we are to everyone who sent parcels, or who added to their child's savings account, for Christmas.

Our family is so very lucky to have such amazing friends and we truly love you for it.

From the bottom of our hearts,   Mama. Papa and children