The Forgotten Children of the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes

Well yesterday involved a lot of waiting.  But then that's the culture here. Marvin contacted me at 6.45 am to say we needed to catch an early bus as the electrician urgently needed the materials. I wasn't dressed or showered so I let him go alone. I know I can trust him now.  So my lift was due to arrive at 9.30, and I was ready with my crash helmet, my empty garafon ( 5 gallon water bottle), rucksack.  After a very long wait I got a message to say Allan had been stopped at a police road block and as he didn't have some paperwork he had been fined. He returned to Urbaite, I'm not sure why, but conversations ensued with both Allan and Marvin. Then I got a message saying Allan was coming via the beach to avoid the road block,  so I began to be hopeful. It was a very long wait, probably two hours by the time he arrived.  But then we had to negotiate the return, which involved me being dropped off before the road block, walking with crash helmet, garafon and rucksa...

Well it doesn't look like it's going to be a quieter week this week!.  I arrived at Marvin's at about 10. We had a chat about priorities, double checked the cash box, I collected some more receipts , then it was off to the shop again. We laughed that we were going to buy the entire shop so the owners could retire!  The builders merchants probably think the same. Oh here they come again! We firstly collected all the receipts outstanding, then the light bulbs, food storage bins and a few mops. Actually some of the bulbs had come in at a higher price but because of our good custom we got them all at the original price. Everything was counted and checked, so all 102 light bulbs had to be checked that they worked. Then there was the problem of transporting them. This all took some time! The shop owner lent us an trolley and two people to help. I carried a small bag of light bulbs!  All arrived safely and we asked to keep the trolley for further deliveries l...

On Friday we met at the last of the satellite schools to be visited.  This seemed to be in a better state than the others, but was still in need of locks and light bulbs and some repairs to the water services.  We spent time talking to the teachers about the project to ensure they knew all about what facilities had been provided.They had already received and were using the cleaning materials and seemed very pleased to have received them.  Hemer, the headteacher had arranged delivery the precious evening after being in Rivas all day which involved being up at 4am and returning around 8pm.  This was for training for a full week. I imagine he is feeling as tired as I am! On returning to Urbaite we purchased the last of the cleaning materials for Los Ramos and Santa Teresa ready to go in the microbus in the afternoon.  After lunch there was a quick visit from Ashlee, a little girl who has been writing to me since last year.  I gave her a poetry book I ...