WET ...WET...WET...

Monday dawned cold and wet and the beginning of another week of rain. Bad news for us as it means that the children wouldn’t be able to go out, not even in the small veranda and garden adjacent to their dormitory. So it was time to tackle other jobs while the children stayed in their cots. I decided to help in the kitchen with the washing up, washing down the trolleys, after breakfast and help sort out the washed clothes, sheets, and blankets, and there are many!! The children are constantly being changed out of their wet clothes and nappies made of odd bits of cloth. I enjoyed doing this as it felt normal and a slight change from the usual day and an opportunity to use a little bit of Spanish. The week was also different because we had a group of schoolchildren helping us out. In many schools here, for the last week of term the students have to do a week of community service, and this week is the last week of term….schools break up till January 15th. Yes only one holiday per year. So the place was full of teenagers navigating themselves around children in wheelchairs and walkers, the nurses and the cots…… They were really good and didn’t seem at all phased by the kids in the hospital which I thought was amazing. Maybe we are too shielded from these situations. I thought it was a really good idea, maybe other schools should consider it!! Oh and they all wanted to hear me talk because they loved my English accent!!
One day it was quite sunny so we took the children swimming again and they really had a great time again splashing about or just floating , the physiotherapists get in as well to help with some exercises. This is always followed by a rush to get them into dry clothes before they run the risk of getting sick.
Two of the children this week were ill. One was Perla who vomited all over me and then had to be confined to her cot wrapped up in blankets and another boy who had too many convulsions in the night. Many of the children have respiratory problems so they are always linked up to one machine or another. I also had a chance to spend some time with Alex who despite being given 6000 calories a day does not put on any weight His body cant work with proteins. He is fed through a tube in his nose, he is absolutely gorgeous with huge eyes.
Apart from the time of the first holy communion, I have only seen two parents visit their children..Lesley says that she has never seen Perla’s parents….this I find disappointing.

Another week just raced by and I continue to build relationships with the children and the nurses who now ask me to help and do things as well as chat with me, oh but they speak so fast… and oh my Spanish is so slow and confused!!

Another weekend in Antigua and as I walked towards Central Parc on Saturday I heard the roar of motorcycles and whistles and the sound of motorbikes whizzing around. It was the regular meeting of bikers from in and around Antigua…brought back memories of Easy Rider. The Bikes were amazing lots of chrome and mirrors reflected the sun ( a perfect day for a rally) and there , hanging around outside the cafes were the men and women in the leathers and bandanas and huge chunky silver jewellery. Men with long hair and beards and mirrored ray bans perched on their noses. The parc was buzzing with people sitting and chatting and just watching everyone encased in their own moment and conversation. I was drawn to it all and stood there watching and taking photos and hoped and wished that someone would offer me a ride but alas……….

Then it was the usual wander around the market and streets.
Rain also means lots of low clouds during the morning giving Antigua a different look. Antigua is at an altitude of 1530 meters so maybe the clouds aren’t really that low!!! But I never cease to be amazed by its beauty and its ability to generate a sense of wonder and contentment.
Thursday 16th October after lunch I sat on my bed and at around 1.45pm I felt the bed move and the room shake….. I experienced my first earth tremor. Once again those words…
‘Nothing to worry about, its normal!!’ Not for me I said as I grabbed my phone and woke Martin from his slumber . It may happen again they said!!

I later reakised that it was from an earthquake in Mexico!!
Don’t worry all is well..
Sleep well
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx