More new friends

We are always thrilled when people holidaying in Watamu take time out to come and visit our Happy House family.

Sisters Fleur and Liliana Jendroska saw our display board at Turtle Bay Hotel where they were staying with their mum and younger sister.

They loved it so much they visited three times in a week , bringing their mum, Mirjam, and sister on their final visit, and now, after travelling back to Germany at the weekend, Liliana is planning to sponsor one of our children.

Mirjam was so interested in all that Sue has done in Watamu and inspired by her determination to overcome any obstacles along the way to achieve her Happy House dream

Thank you for spending so much time with our kids, we hope you had a safe journey home and are delighted to be welcoming you to our family.

 

 

Well done Shakila

Talented Shakila was on to a winner when she was chosen by headteacher Madam Rose to draw a picture of tomatoes growing as requested by Chris Nzuki, a top man at Amiran, manufacturers of the greenhouses system we have installed at the Happy House ... thanks to two very generous donations.

He was so impressed by her picture he has now challenged all our children to do a picture of tomatoes in a greenhouse and will be giving a prize to the best one.

As it was Shakila's picture that prompted his gesture, she was awarded Star of the Week at Kidz Cub to cheers and applause from all the family.

She was so thrilled to be a winner and has now put her original picture and her award in her memory box for safe keeping.

Today is the day

Happy birthday Mama Sue, have a lovely day.

With lots of love from all your family at the Happy House and around the world.

Coffee call

The kind hearted members of Lytham fitness centre are fundraising to help our Happy House.

The ladies of the Easy Exercise Centre, South Westby Street, are holding a coffee morning from 9.30am-2pm on Thursday.

Attractions will include a tombola, sales of homemade jams and chuntneys, cakes, cards plus books, DVDs and a raffle for a limited edition watercolour of Lytham windmill by artist Geoffrey Winch.

Any ladies are welcome to call in to the coffee morning and to find out more about the Happy House.

Pictured are: Easy Exercise assistant Alison Illingworth, manager Ann Blydgen and member Diane Dibley.

Mama's birthday surprise

Our kids come to the Happy house never having celebrated a birthday, but it doesn't take them long to catch on to the idea.
And Mama Sue is so important in all their lives there has to be a celebration when her birthday comes around.
It falls on Sunday, but we had special family party for Sue's big day, and for me to say goodbye, on Thursday afternoon.
It was just a lovely, relaxed, occasion and so very happy. The teachers had put together a little play with Rukia, dressed like a queen, playing the role of birthday girl Mama.  A  succession of children, wearing birthday crowns, arrived at her party where she graciously accepted their card, gift, good wishes and cake.
Rukia then led Mama to join them as the procession proceeded to handed on the birthday booty to their guest of honour who was overjoyed with her lovely card, a toy tiger and a very special cake.
Mr Charles played the keyboard as they kids sang songs they had been rehearsing for Mama.
As always, I had a huge lump in my throat all the way through and even more so when it was my turn to take centre stage.

First a beautiful card and then a wonderful chorus of "Libby, Libby don't forget this day; Libby, Libby don't forget this place..."

As if I ever could.
But however full of emotion I felt, this was a party and we had cake to eat and dancing to do.
Everyone joined in - Uncle Isaac, Uncle Billy, Auntie Rose, the teachers, house mums and aunties and Papa Dave, who had been braving the rain to do the weekly grocery and market shopping.
In the past two years Sue has been through so many physical trials - a smashed heel, broken hip and hip replacement plus a broken arm. Getting the Happy House to this stage as been fraught with worry too.
But on Thursday she got up and danced, really danced, for the first time in two years and it was just so special to see her , my special friend, being able to have real fun with the family she has created and to whom she devotes all her time, energy and dedication.
It was another of those magical Happy House moments that just melt your heart.

Time for home

I love writing the blog it brings sunshine and smiles into my life almost every day.

I tell it as it is here at the Happy House, good news and, on occasions, bad news too.

It mirrors life in our family and, as we all know, that cannot be a bubble of perfect joy. Often there are problems, heartbreaking stories of the terrible conditions from which new arrivals have been rescued, and tragedy of loss too.

We want you to share in everything with us because YOU are our family too.

Today, this is coming from Mombasa Airport which is just waking up to a new day... no comparison with writing the blog from my "office" at the Happy House which has been such a pleasure, specially when I get willing helpers.

Pendo clambers up on to my lap to check what I'm doing and others crowd round too.

It may take longer, and require more than one spellcheck, but we get there in the end.

As I fly back to the UK, how I am going to miss them all. I have been missing them from the moment they waved goodbye.

But they are always in my heart and mind and bond with these beautiful little people, who play such a huge part in my life, wherever I am, will see me through until I return, much sooner than I had planned, for Rose's wedding at the end of next month.

Kwaheri, my Kenyan family. See you again soon!

It never rains ... but it certainly pours!

This is the view from Sue's office as the rain, which started on Sunday, continues to come down in bucket loads.

The children are having a sing-a-long in the hall instead of outdoor play for break.  Happy the cat is curled up on the seats by my "office", fast asleep, her paws keeping her nose warm. 

In a country where there is almost wall to wall sunshine this unexpected rainy season creates chaos.

Imagine what it must be like to live in a hut made of mud, or a corrugated tin shack, with no way of keep the rain from penetrating everything you own. And with the rain come the mosquitoes bringing malaria and chest infections and pneumonia will be another consequence.

Dave is doing the weekly shop in Malindi market, he'll be trudging through mud to get to the stalls and will come back tired and soaked but with all the goods we need for another week.

This is also the start of the busiest tourist season in the hotels and if the holidaymakers are confined to their hotels, where there is precious little to do on a wet day,  local people who depend on their trade will really suffer.

The rain is much needed in other parts of Kenya, let us pray that they are getting it in the same quantities there.