Preparations.......

The sun finally came out this week and all the children had their breakfast in the garden area. Sadly there are a huge number of flies around at the moment so the children had to be covered in nets to stop the flies getting on them especially around their eyes and mouths; vital as the children can’t flick them away which increases the risk of infections. One day I was feeding a child when a fly flew into her mouth…. Shocked I quickly put my fingers in her mouth and got it out…eugh, not a pleasant task! I also spent one morning putting all the nets on the cots for protection at nights. My new challenge this week was to label small bottles of medicines with black nail varnish… which I did with a small matchstick! I have more to do next week…not an easy task ; give me feeding bottles any day, which I will have as we welcomed another new boy to the ward. Hopefully this one will be able to stay!

Next week all the children are having dental treatment so this week they have all had blood tests and regular temperature checks to ensure they are fine and ready to go under general anaesthetic. Sadly a few of them have infections, including the new boy so they will need to spend some time in their cots, hopefully recovered before the end of next week. It’s also been good to see some parents / families come and visit the children at the weekend, because it was the end of the month and pay-day.
Things will be very different next week as Lesley and I will be needed to be with the children when they have their dental treatment and come out of their surgery…. They need to have familiar faces and voices around to feel safe, as well as lots of cuddling and reassurance before they return to the ward. This as well as some of the daily tasks so a busier week beckons!

ANTIGUA...MARKET......

Walks and talks in the park, and horse and carriage rides through its narrow streets this week as people made the most of sunny days in Antigua. Though we did have 2 more earth tremors this week!!!!!

As for me, I headed for my favourite place.. The local market which has been central to my time here. At least three times a week I wander down past the stalls selling all kinds of household things, struggling through the narrow passages, to be in amongst the colours and aromas of fresh fruit and vegetables. Huge mounds of them everywhere, brought from the farms on the early morning buses to Antigua. Every kind of fruit and vegetable, every colour, texture, shape and size, sown, nurtured and picked by families in and around Antigua. Families gather around and settle for the day hoping to sell and make the money necessary to get by and maybe buy a treat or two on the way back home ……..

People work very hard here, salaries are hard to earn, hours of hard labour on the farm for the equivalent of $1 and hour, and usually huge families to house and feed. Yet they all work together to make it all work and more importantly… be happy with what they have.
Its amazing how little people live on here.
Happiness found in the simplest things. ..

Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

Sunday already?????

Regular meetings and assessments for the nurses has meant that Lesley and I have had to work very hard this week to keep everything ticking over. Quite often we found ourselves alone getting everything done and trying to find time to play with the children as well. It was also a week when the children were weighed; this means that once again adjustments will have to be made to the diet of some of them. The hairdresser arrived unannounced and proceeded to cut all the boys hair; it was strange to walk in and see them all practically bald!!
The two new boys settled in well and were just getting used to the place when the older one was returned to the institution he came form in Guatemala City. It seems that the social services section of the hospital made a mistake in taking him on…. So we were sad to see him go, not really knowing what he’s going to, and wondering how the mistake could be made. The younger one is really enjoying the attention and we are enjoying playing with him and getting him used to the other children. He also makes the most beautiful cooing sounds and has a glorious smile…. Not easy to focus on other things while he’s around!
Fortunately we had a couple of days of sunshine so the children could be wheeled out into the garden area. The older, more able boys are getting around a lot now and are starting to communicate more. Attending teaching sessions almost daily is paying off.
We also received some more clothes and while organising them realised how much some of the children have grown, especially Perla, who seems to be getting taller by the day!
Also on the list of jobs was amending the ward information board to include notes about the new boys, which will now have to be amended again!


















ANTIGUA......










The volcanoes continue to hide behind heavy grey clouds and rain pours down by mid afternoon. The streets continue to be difficult to navigate, the pavements barely wide enough to accommodate one person with an umbrella!
Political unrest in Guatemala at the moment with assassinations of lawyers and other people has meant that there have been a number of demonstrations. Last Sunday town was practically empty as many people left for Guatemala City to join a demonstration against the government, a handful of people met in the park here to make their voices heard in front of the Government offices. We were advised to stay at home so no pictures I am afraid. Then this week, in contrast, the main street (with the arch) was cut off to traffic as a whole fleet of new BMW’s arrived in town for a photo shoot! Restricted photos but did manage to sneak one in before they left!
On Thursday, we had another earth tremor (5.5) which lasted quite a while, in many ways the most scariest, and I was on the verge of racing out into the street when it stopped. Fortunately no damage…So have gone to the official site and re read the information on what to do in case of an earthquake!
For the first time since I have been here I am very keenly aware of the political unrest, and the unpredictability of mother nature.
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

Road Trip.....Grannies Day Out.........

The hospital has been a strange place this week. Firstly I found out that they are not taking any more volunteers because of the risk of Swine Flu and then heard that the doctor; chief of residents here, has had his life threatened because of his position on the mayors committee… so all on alert!
We also welcomed two new boys from the city, both young and in need of care but oh so beautiful and happy!! So it was fun being with them and helping them settle into life in the ward. Other than that it was work as usual, multi tasking and chasing time to get everything done. Then one day I was asked to help out on a day trip to the zoo in Guatemala City with the grannies! I was excited as I love that place!!
It was quite something to watch as the helpers carried the patients onto the bus. Some of them are so heavy and with no control over their bodies, it was not easy. Then they had to be strapped to the seats with sheets to ensure they did not fall or topple over. Nurses and physiotherapists, as well as some family members helped out , Lesley and I the only volunteers. I was assigned my granny… a lovely old lady who could walk, with help, but could not talk. I watched as we wandered around the zoo. I am sure many of them did not really know what was going on, wheeled around a place so alien to them. I was also aware of the fact that for some of the staff, it was the first time they had been there. My granny was aware and looked and smiled and squeezed my hand as we walked. I talked to her and pointed at the different animals. She laughed, she especially liked the peacocks, as she explained how they open their tails and look beautiful, all using her hands and face. Quite amazing…. Equally amazing was her reaction to snakes….hated them!

By the end of the day everyone was exhausted as we headed back up the hill towards a wet and gloomy Antigua.



OUT AND ABOUT>>> A BIT!!!!!









The daily, heavy rainfall has meant that most evenings have been spent indoors. Clouds hang low hugging the hills, almost always obscuring the volcanoes, completely changing the landscape and the atmosphere of the place. Walking almost impossible as we dodge the umbrellas and the puddles overflowing amongst the cobblestones, cars splashing at will. Every market stall selling umbrellas…


ART EN LAS CALLES…







Luckily Lesley invited me to an Art opening in Guatemala City on Wednesday. An opportunity to dress up and see some modern art and have a glass of wine. It was interesting looking at work of young artists in Guatemala, from abstract to photo-real to huge installations. Took me back to the days in London with Martin.
So we wandered around, met some people and once again headed back to our city in the clouds………..listening to music…… Travis ..Driftwood…..The man who…… Thinking of all our friends and family…missing home…..
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx