Yesterday after the trip to the internet cafe I showed Lael and Delia where a good stall is in the market. I went there earlier in the day with Andrea and Co. and we got really good prices on all of the fruits. When we returned to the house it was just past 17:30. I packed some things for the orphanage. Queenie pooed and weed on Mathilde's ketenge and so she had to wash it after tea. Tea was for me rice and vegetables and for the other dadas chapati and vegetables, as far as Mama Queenie's cooking goes, it was pretty nice.

Before heading over to the orphanage I was talking with Lael and Delia as I wanted to do something special for the children as it would be my last evening there. It's really difficult to do something due to the lack of resources and Kabalo does not like to spend money on getting new things. I decided that I would buy some drinking chocolate, milk and biscuits for them. It would be my gift to them. Mathilde and I headed over to the orphanage at 18:30. I went into town on my own, it was starting to get dark, but I didn't feel unsafe. I love that when I walk down the street people call "Mzungu" at me, and that I say Jambo or Shikamo to many people in the street. The culture here is so different to home, there is a very friendly atmosphere. Although the people do not have a lot, they are always willing to give what they can.

Ema, Anna and Jenny helped me with the fire to make the hot chocolate. They were so excited with the fact that I had bought some milk. They were squeezing every ounce out of the carton that they could! The hot chocolate took around 15 minutes. There is not enough cups for each child and so two children shared one cup, but I made sure that there was enough for atleast two cups for two children, so in effect they would be having a cup each. They loved the biscuits, but some were very confused when I told them to dunk it into the hot chocolate. Once they tried it, they didn't look back. All of the children were very thankful "Asante Sana Harriet" they kept saying and giving me lots of hugs! The only problem with giving the children hot chocolate and biscuits at 20:00 was that they started bouncing off of the walls! They finally settled in to bed around 21:30.

This morning the girls turned the lights on around 6:15am as some of them had to get up for school. Mathilde helped with the uji whilst I hung the washing on the line and tidied the "living room" and played with the children. They are forever fascinated with my hair and tying it in knots! They still thanked me this morning which made my gift to them feel really special for me as I could really see how much they appreciated the gesture. I left the orphanage around 10:30am and did not think that there would be breakfast for me at home, however, there was an egg on the table! Delia kindly informed me that it had been there for two hours, but a cold egg is better than no egg right?! It wasn't too bad. I whoofed it back as I was, yet again, starving.

I quickly did some washing this morning as it stunk of smoke from the fire, I wasn't worried too much, as I will be heading back to Dar on Thursday, where this a washing machine, and I am going to put everything in there to ensure it's all pristine and smelling nice! Haha. Lael, Delia and I went to town this morning for a coffee, it was nice to sit outside this morning as it was not too cold, rather fresh! We went to a shop nearby the cafe that sold ketenge's, they were really pretty, bright colours and all African style. As some of the ketenges here are very simple and do not have that African aura about them. I bought another ketenge for 9000 shillings and the dadas bought three! Which reminds me..... the ketenge that I bought yesterday was in fact two ketenge's. I asked for it to be cut in half, meaning that I only wanted half, but I ended up with it all for 11000 shillings, definitely can't complain at that!

I spoke to Arnold briefly this morning, who said that I have missed out on an amazing week in Dar and that they've had no bad luck. He asked if I wanted to stay at the orphanage another week. I said that I can come home if he likes, in which he laughed, and said to not be so silly. He told me that he got Rich really drunk on Saturday night and that Rich is still hungover! Apparently there is lots of funny photos/videos and stories which I cannot wait to hear! I asked Arnold if we could go for food on Thursday evening, he laughed at me, but said of course we could as he does not want me looking like a twig, haha! I briefly spoke to Rich who sounded very delecate and his voice was very fragile. Unfortunately my credit ran out and so the phone cut out. Arnold tried to ring me in the night, but I could not answer as I was at the orphanage. I woke up to a text saying "yo it's the sexiest man in the world......" so I replied saying "Jason Statham?! How did you get my number...." which I found quite funny! I am not sure Arnold did though.

Lunch was rice and some vegetables, although they tasted a bit like charcoal where they were burnt and they were full of tiny little black bits. Eugh! I asked Andrea if we could go out for tea tonight as it will be my last night with all of the dadas as Mathilde is off on Safari tomorrow to the Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater for three days. Hopefully we will have a nice evening tonight. Andrea suggested a restaurant with some authentic African food, so we might try there. I have no preference as to where we go, it will just be nice to enjoy a last meal with all of the dadas before I leave on Thursday morning.

It's a lovely afternoon here in Karatu, the sun is shining, which is very good news for my laundry as it's almost dry, brilliant! Again, I used my mother's "correct" way of hanging out the washing, it really is useful here as otherwise the clothes take so long to dry! I am just in town on my own this afternoon, and I am quite enjoying the time to myself, as there is no privacy at the house. I have almost missed my own company as I enjoy it, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with the dadas. Lael, Delia and I exchanged phone numbers last night, so now we can stay in contact which will be really nice. I am really looking forward to spending the day in Arusha with them on Thursday!

This afternoon I have no set plans, I may wonder around the town for a short while and enjoy the sunshine whilst it's out. I am also going to pay another visit to the ketenge shop that we found this morning and see if there are anymore in there that I like. They have quite a vast range, but some are not African enough for me. I am looking forward to wearing them when I am home as they will be different. It'll be strange as I will not see everyone wearing them!

I cannot believe that tomorrow is my last day; it has gone so quickly! I will be sad to leave the children. I am on morning shift tomorrow, so will not see the children that go to school, however, I promised Ema that I would visit in the evening in order to say goodbye and also to help him learn to tell the time. He is slowly getting there, and everytime I am at the orphanage I ask him to tell me what the time is. He has been given a digital watch so it's easy to tell the time on his watch. Ema is 12 years old, his English is very good and quite often he translates the Swahili to English for me, so that I can understand. He also teaches me basic words in Swahili but the pronounciation is very difficult for me sometimes!

I am off to enjoy the sunshine now! I will most probably nip into town tomorrow at some point for the last time before my departure as we plan to leave fairly early on Thursday morning so that we can make the most of our time in Arusha.

Enjoy your afternoons! H