Hey everyone! I'm writing from Tanga (not where I planned to be, but the plans are a bit unclear at present)

The girl who stays full time at the orphanage, Aisha, is unwell with malaria. I am looking after the boys in her place (and feeling like a mum well before my time) so I need to be here for a while longer, until she (hopefully) makes a full recovery. Malaria seems to be getting harder and harder to treat here, with lots of people suffering for a long time and taking several different treatments to get rid of it.

I wanted to say a special thank you to my cousin ellie, who I can't reply to by email, and who leaves me messages all the time. It's really nice to hear from you! Thanks so much. Thank you as well to all the other people who are taking time to leave me messages, it's really great to hear from everyone at home when you feel so far away.

Things have been going on much the same as usual here, apart from poor Aisha getting so ill yesterday. Efforts are bing made to get nets up quickly in the boys rooms, because that may at least help a bit. I am still happy, healthy, and loving my time.. but missing chooclate and having much stronger than usual cravings for sugar (is it something to do with the heat?!)

I have become an expert at mary poppins, whom I now feel i know personally. The boys have 3 dvds here, but the dvds have quite a few films on when you buy them out here.. so they have a disney film dvd, a mr bean dvd and a selection of tom and jerry cartoons. I guess it's because they don't have that many, they know most of their dvds by word! (And they're only allowed the half hour before bed) It's quite disconcerting when a cockney "mareee poppins" suddenly comes from an otherwise very quiet little boy!

Anyway, I must be off. I have to learn how to use the hob (mum you would love it.. it's a siemens touch sensitive hob! and yet they haven't go mosquito nets..) and where the tea is kept.. and how to make strawberry milk properly.

Lots of love to everyone xxxx