Walkers strike gold

Many, many congratulations to Mike Jennison and his friend Amanda Dotchin for completing a gruelling 28-mile sponsored walk from Redcar to Whitby to raise money for the Happy House.

After weeks of training Mike and Amanda, who work at Beaverbrooks Jewellers in Middlesborough, admit it was a really tough call.

 " The walk was one of the hardest things Amanda and I have ever done, but well worth it," said Mike, who  is looking forward to  be visiting the Happy house when he travels to Kenya next year.

" We had great fun and motivated each other all the way there... especially the last eight miles ."

Mike and Amanda are aiming to collect in their cash by the end of the month so we'll let you know how they get on .

Mike's friends and colleagues at Middlesborough also nominated the Happy House as its charity  has given us another £550 from Beaverbrooks.

The generous company has an initiative whereby it gives each of its employees £55 from the Beaverbrooks Charitable Trust to donate to the charity of their choice and thanks to Mike's passion for the Happy House got the Middlesborough store's vote.

Mike, Amanda and all his Beaverbrooks friends are true gems... thank you all so much for your kindness to or kids and another special thank you, love and smiles from all our family to Mike and Amanda (pictured-and still smiling-as they arrive in Whitby) for really going the extra mile, or 28!

 

Up, up and away

Forever blowing bubbles ....  little ones gather around Lily as they try to catch the bubbles she blows for them.

This lovely picture could have been taken in any back garden anywhere in the world but what makes it so special is that these are our children who, left where they were, in dire conditions, would never have experienced the simple joys of childhood,

On the ball

Mama Sue is revealing to the kids a previously hidden sporting talent ... ping pong!

She was one of the first to road test a homemade table tennis table which has become an instant hit with the kids.

Sue tells me:  "I won idea of the week for the ping pong table. Dave and I saw a table tennis table in Nakamatt in Mombasa, it was 32,000kshg ... around £275 pounds.

" So I asked Fred the builder to order some white boards and we had a damaged table with metal legs which we could use. In no time, and at a fraction of the cost, we had a table.

" The kids love it and are really getting the hang of it very quickly. When the sewing machinist has finished the work she is doing for us and we have his space in the house back I am going to have it put in the dining room, it is a bit breezy to play outside."

Space for more ..

If you, or anyone you know, is travelling out to Watamu in the near future and would like to take something for our family there are some essentials we find very difficult or expensive to buy which would be very welcome. They include: soap, Vaseline, baby wipes and Size 3 and 4 Pampers (or equivalent disposable nappies). Even one bar of soap would be a help!

Uncle Billy's back

There was a big welcome for Uncle Billy, our much loved social worker, when he returned to the Happy House after a two week break .. visiting family "somewhere near Mount Kenya".

Mama Sue and Papa Dave were the first to greet him while the kids were overjoyed to see him safely home.

As much as he enjoyed his holiday, Uncle Billy is always pleased to be back to work in the place he calls his "paradise."

Welcome home, Billy.

Growing kindess

Producing crops to feed our growing family is crucial to the Happy House future.

The more we grow, the cheaper our food bill and the more fresh-from-the-garden fruit and vegetables there will be for our children.

Now thanks to the kindness of the Carol and Steve Driver and their family we are to get three poly-tunnel type greenhouses.

Carole and Steve, along with their lovely daughters Nicola, Catherine and Maria, have been to visit the Happy House and were thrilled with what they found there.

They were delighted to find a real home with its lovely colour scheme to see all the child-friendly touches , specially the animal paintings which identify every bedroom.

Papa Dave gave them a tour of the garden and explained how hard we are working to become self-sufficient in fruit and vegetables and the way a greenhouse, so generously donated, is  benefiting our growing programme.

"Carole & Steve have decided to buy the Happy House three greenhouses, each measuring 8mx15m. We are delighted, what a difference this will make to our growing programme.

"It is the kindness and generosity of people like the Driver family that makes our work with the children possible. "

Make a date

A very special event which is all about feeling good about yourself takes place at Blackpool's Hilton Hotel on Monday (Sept 5)  from 6pm... with profits going to our own Happy House and Friends of Chernobyl's Children.

An Evening of Wellbeing, organised by Jacqueline Winters of the British Academy of Crystal Healing, Sandra Whittle of Soma Therapies and Lynn Avis McCluskey of LA Divine Solutions, it will be a perfect chance to chill out and be entertained.

You can treat yourself to a  pamper treatment, or find out what is in the cards for you with an oracle/angel card reading, plus you will be able to find out about a range of holistic therapies, natural products, and enjoy demonstrations and talks from Tai Chi  to Beatbox dancing, crystal healing to oxygnation therapy, browse the stalls and take a chance on the raffle (with fab prizes).
Admission is £5 (accompanied children and pensioners free).

 

Honeymoon discovery

Newlyweds Andy and Hannah Young discovered the Happy House while they were on their honeymoon and visiting our family really touched their hearts.

They saw our noticeboard in Turtle Bay Beach Club, where they were staying, and decided to have a look for themselves.

It was the real homeliness of that impressed Hannah who was delighted to see our children doing their won thing in a calm and peaceful way. 

Andy, a teacher, agreed that everywhere he looked there was smiles and a lovely calm atmosphere.

We are delighted that they are now planning to join our family by sponsoring a child.

In fact, Hannah told Sue that visiting the Happy House was just the "best thing".

Hannah and Andy, thank youf or coming to see us and we wish you many, many happy years together.