One step forward...

Hooray! Today has been a resounding success...well for most things.
Not the water tank (which has had partial success and filled a small amount...though likely not enough for showers).
Not pudding night, for which the ancient oven bears most of the blame. R had put herself forward to be first chef and having spotted an electric hand whisk, decided on meringues. Having finally managed to separate enough eggs (very fragile yolks here), the whisk made no efforts at life (despite the surgeons attempts at resuscitation) and she commenced hand whisking. Impressively the egg whites eventually became soft peaks and we carefully placed them on the lowest possible heat in the oven. Aiming for a good 90mins slow cooking we popped out to collect our new skirts. Sadly half an hour was too much and the diligence of R was put to waste. So no sugary treats for supper....other than the ubiquitous juicy pineapple.
Nor our new Tanzanian skirts, which although beautiful are rather fitted and not as floaty as we hoped. R pointed out that this may have something to do with our very vague directions for a skirty:  skirt shaped picture & the word skirty! Need to enlist a translator on our next dressmaking visit - in the meantime we have vowed to study all the passing women in the hope of improving our style ideas.
But I now realise that I have listed rather a lot of non successes! So the BIG success was B managing a whole morning at school (admittedly with me around for most of it). I was handed her class for the morning with the only instructions being to teach whatever I liked! B looked on askance as I launched into Old Macdonald had a farm, and the children couldn’t believe their luck at the crazy Mzungu (white) lady. We covered a lot of animals and noises, but it threw them when I suggested they drew a few pictures of their favourite farm animals. They mainly copy from their teacher rather than draw from their own imaginations. I then used the chance to introduce B properly and got them to think of questions to ask her. She felt confident enough to wander round the classroom asking them in return...and they all spent the rest of the time writing down their information. Pinched a few St James’ First School tips on classroom management and feel like I didn’t do too badly without prior warning.
Either way, has broken the ice for B. That and discovering the school library with the smiling faced librarian, a Tanzania Miss Honey who engaged her for a whole lesson just when her spirits were sagging. Think we have negotiated a mummy free morning tomorrow......though I am prepared for the 2 steps back.
I even made it in to the hospice for a short period this afternoon to get started on some training. So watch this space...
Plus the girls have adopted a surrogate Aunty, with the multi talented S who is staying in the house next door until March before she heads off as a mature student to start medical school. She’s here volunteering in the hospital lab through a church linked charity. Turns out having a non parent adult on tap is just what the girls need to let off steam. She has been so open to them popping round to the house she is staying in and they can’t get enough of her stories and drawing.
Now if I can just learn to sleep through all the noises at night like the rest of my family......