Backpacks, Racquets & Dried Shampoo

T Minus 30!

With less than a month to go (gulp!) we have been into town today buying things for the journey and the life beyond.

Monday Night Racquet

T Minus 95

Monday nights are Badminton nights. A chance to let off steam. It’s been a while since I’ve been, Bank Holiday Mondays and the general business of life have taken it’s toll. However, it’s nice to be back. The group comprises members of St Mary’s Bletchley and Whaddon Way Churches plus friends. I’ve been going on and off for six years or so – initially as a way of losing weight, now along with running a way of keeping fit.

I understand there is a Badminton Court in the school in Mwanza so hopefully I can continue overseas. I will miss this group on a Monday night though.

Birthday Bash

T Minus 161

Tonight we were at the Woughton Leisure Centre at Mike’s Big Birthday Bash. The Mike in question (Mike Cashman) had organised a charity fundraiser for Africa as a birthday celebration. There were 5 teams (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and White) each competing for a different charitable cause. No Tanzanian project so instead we were competing on the Red Team (Defeating Diarrhoea and reducing Child deaths in Angola). Each team competed in a variety of sporting and quiz activities over the afternoon and evening the team with the most points won and their charity got most funds although all get some.

I won both Badminton matches do doing my bit for Team Red!

Then there were some quizzes ( we won one of them!), food and other activities to end the evening. All in aid of  good causes.

It was an eclectic bunch of people, some we knew well, but many we didn’t know – others I hadn’t seen in years – it was good to catch up. Anita, as she does, got talking to a woman who has just returned from Tanzania, having lived in Mwanza among other places, whilst working at the local orphanage. It was interesting to hear from someone who has been there so recently.