They were having their Orientation at a big old chilly conference centre in Norfolk, and so we were able to combine this speaking engagement with a few days staying with some good friends in their home near Norwich (they were in Uganda for several years and we spent a lot of time with them.) A few days of holiday bliss for Alex playing and laughing non-stop with his mate Mattie, and Abby with her friend Sienna, and so lovely for us to spend hours chatting and eating with Andy and Rosie. Conversation ranged around moving back to England, Uganda friends and happenings, Zimbabwe (as they also lived in Zim before Uganda), families, jobs, money, the cold and dark, shopping, church, Christmas... It was all great fun and so good to be with people who know us in both our contexts and have made the adjustment about a year ahead of us but are still dealing with some of it themselves. A lovely bonus was that Rosie's cousin Lizzie whom we also knew well from Uganda was there too, visiting from Uganda for Christmas. All nine of us sleeping in a small three-bedroom cottage - it was fun, and cosy! And the talking was therapeutic, as well as all the laughter. A very welcome, relaxing few days.
Speaking to the team going out to Uganda in January was also a lot of fun. Describing the greetings, hand-shaking, food, family life, roads, appropriate dress, church, and traditional religion, and telling some of our store of stories, brought it all back again so vividly. It was great to feel that our experience was helping prepare other people to go out there. I hope we get the opportunity to do it again.
Now looking forward to Christmas in Devon...
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