New Year

Hi All

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and that you got every thing you needed.
The new Year is nearly here so I wish you a brave one, one that anguish , pain and sadness leave your heart I hope that your road be cleara and smooth. Happy New Year to all.

Thank you to all who have supported the Trust in any way.

Love to all

Jane xxx

James Passing

I am so shocked at the news that James has been killed. Can't quite believe it. He was an inspirational guy who motivated every one he came into contact with.

Whilst I was in Kenya he was a great support to me, he tried to help me come to terms with Maddie's death. His nephew had lost his Mum to a brain tumour so we had common ground.

Whilst I was in Kenya I lived with his sister who was my host, I met this nephew ( who is only 10) I also met James wife and baby daughter.

James family have had so much to cope with, his Dad died then the next year his Mum died then the following year his sister the next year on he has been killed. How does a family cope with that? They just don't have any choice as life is so tough, with lack money and food.

I cannot beleive I will not see him when I go out again next year.

James called me last week I missed his call I was slack and had not got round to returning his call. I will always regret that. Again I learn the invaluable lesson not to put any thing off as we just do not know what is around the corner. Regret is so un-necessary !!!

So if any of you are putting off any thing you need to do please DO IT!!!

Love to all XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Halloween Ball

Hi All

It does not seem 5 mins since we were getting the room ready at Notts County for the trust Ball.

It was a fantastic night attending by 106 people, thank you to all of you who came, I hope you had a fab time.

Everyone at Notts county were so helpful, they could not do enough for us. Even Peter Trembling (hope I have spelt his surname correctly) came to look at the room and took time out to speak to Matt and I.

We were thrilled when people at the club came to have a look at the room as word had got out that it looked good, other people words not mine.

Matt has yet to do a final count up of money raised as it is still trickling in, at the moment it stands at £4,100.

Thank you to any one who put money in to the Trust , also a thank you to anyone who helped in any way, it is greatly appreaciated.

Lots of love to you all,

Take care of your selves and each other.

Jane - Maddie's Mum XXXX

Remembering Maddie

Hi All

Today is the 2nd Anniversary (can't think of another word to use) of the day Maddie went away.

Her Dad and I have just released 12 balloons (to symbolise her age) all with little messages to her .

Maddie fly high, laugh loud my love.

Exciting news

Hi

How exciting we are getting the Halloween Ball well and truly on the road. Well my long suffering son is doing most of it!!!

The trust has booked Notts County for the 2nd ball, which will be held on Halloween itself (one of Maddie's favourite times of the year). Hopefully we will have Troy who did the Disco last year for our 1st Ball.

We just need to do some costings before we can release the price. Keep the date free though !!!! On the trust site you can subscribe for details on the Ball. How fab is that!!! (Ken you are a marvel)

This week the Sleaford Target (3rd June) ran a story on the fact we had set up a trust in Maddie's memory. If you missed it you can find in on their website.

Matt, Ken and I went onto Radio Nottingham morning show, hosted by Frances Finn,on Monday to talk about how positive things can be even when the worst happens. We talked about the trust and the opening of Maddison House in Kenya.

Great to know that Maddison House has 27 children homed there. Yes 27 !!!! Well done to the Fadhili group,this is the Group that places volunteers into Orphanages in Kenya,the team are so dedicated.

Friday (5th June) is our next committee meeting, Maddies Godmother Debs will be there although she has just flown back from Austrailia on Thursday (4th June). It will be an exciting meeting as we have so many plans for the Ball.

Matt and I will do some car boots to raise seom money for the trust, so any donations are welcome.

If anyone has any ideas for us, please don't be shy, contact us!!

Lots of love

Jane

(Please just smile through the spelling) xx

Hi Everyone

We at the Trust have rec'd a newsletter from the Fadhili Group(the people who place volunteers into their project in Kenya). It was so good to hear from them. They have given an update on Maddison house. Please take the time to have a look, you should be able to find it by clicking on the fundraising part.

If you have any feed back or comments about anything to do with the Trust, please feel free to let us know, e mail, write or call we would welcome any thing, good or bad.

Love to all

Jane

Hi all

I have had confirmation from the Fadhili group that Maddison house has twenty children living at the orphanage. What fantastic news.

Providing electricity is still proving a problem, two things really, things like this can take a while in Kenya and the orphanage is quite remote it will be a big job.

I have rec'd a newsletter which will be put onto the trust website, bear with Ken though because the computer that he does all our website stuff on (Maddies laptop) has problems and that too is proving a slow process. If any one would like me to e mail them a copy I would be very happy to do this.

We are busy making plans for the 2nd Maddison Bignall Trust ball, to be held at Notts County ground, (Maddies football team) on the 31st October 2009 which is a Saturday. Please subscribe to the mailing list regarding this event (below). We would welcome any suggestions that you may have concerning this event. This will be our major fundraiser.

Love to all

Jane

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Home

Well I have made it back home.

Matt was at the airport to welcome me home, it was so good to see him!! He came through the barriers to come and get me which was so great.

The adventure has come to and end. I would not have missed it for the world!!! I had a learning curve about Kenya and myself.

Thank you to all those who have followed my blog.

I will be talking about Kenya always.

There are some great people there who I hope to see again next year, as I hope to visit Maddison House to see the Children who are living there , catch up with Aunty Betty (Matron) .

So i will just pass on my love to everyone both here and in Kenya, love to all of you. Keep happy, love life.

In memory of you Maddison , our lovely little girl!!! Fly high, Laugh loud!!!!!!!!

Nearly goodbye Kenya

Jambo

Today I have been shopping for things that I think will benefit the Children that will soon be staying at Maddison House. They are just waiting for the last few things to be done , then the doors will be open. Sadly not before I go, that would have been a miracle because so much work was needed to be done first.

Kim one of the volunteers that I met at the airport the day I arrived, she has spent all her time there. Well done to her. There has been no running water, no electricity and no where to cook. She has done a really good job.

Saw James earlier today he showe me a photo of the sign that is being erected at the house, it looked great.

I must say a big thank you to him for his support in achieving so much in such a short time, and also for his supprt in generally whilst I have been in Kenya. The other fadhilli workers, James,Joe, Cleo,Bonnie and Mike have done a good job. (sorry if I have missed anyone) All of them have always had a smile on their faces and have supported the volunteers very well. Nothing has been too much trouble. THANK YOU SO MUCH !!! It really has been appreciated.

Tonight we are having a 'bit of a do' at Rachael's ,the hosts home as I go home Sunday but dont want a late night Saturday. Should be a good do knowing her as I do, little bit like a kindred spirit.

Matt thank you for being so supportive on my wish to come to Kenya. I cannot wait to see you.

The Kenyan people, although they are struggling, have always been so pleasant to me and other volunteers. I have never seen any one loose their temper, unless of course they are behind a wheel. Boy the driving is crazy here but so funny I would so like a go!!! It is amazing that there are so few accidents. I have only seen one while I have been here. It is a free for all.

Kenyan people seem to just want to make us feel happy, they will do most things to help us. We are very often asked for money but this is done in a dignified way, if money is not given they do not vent any feelings to you, but if some thing is given no matter how small the graditude is so freely given.

As I reflect the journey had been challenging, with lots of different emotions. sometimes all at the same time. The tears and the laughter have been so worth it.

Tomorrow I will go to Maddison House for the last time, to say goodbye to the people I have met there. Pastor John, his wife (forgive me names I am not good with) their children, Aunty Betty (Matron)

I do not think I will have chance to Blog again.

Some people I will see again quite soon back in England, others (Kenya) I may never see again.

So with mixed feelings I say goodbye, keep well, keep smiling.

Its goodnight from me xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Goodbye Kenya I will not forget you!!!

Jambo

Hi

Yesterday one of the volunteers wanted to go in to the city, which is about 45 mins from where we are, she needed company as she did not feel confident to go alone.

She wanted to find some pressies to take home so thats the first thing we did, took a while, eventually all done. We decided to have a treat a Coke float, so nice , so cold!!!!!

We both decided that we would like to see the exhibition called 'Kenya burning' pictures and accounts of the rioting that took place early 2007. We knew we had seen the place on the way down on the bus.

It never happened , we asked directions, but when we got to the place it was the wrong museum we had failed to realise there were two. We will do it when we go again on Saturday.

The next stop was to take a broken mobile phone back to the supplier, again we were not sure where it was, we asked a young guy who said he was going that way and to 'tag' along. 6 miles later!!!!!!! we arrive, just for us to be told that she has been using the wrong charger !!!

Still I shall be fit after this adventure, I walk almost everywhere, except into the City or to Maddison House which is over a hour away. I will work up to that.

The electricity kept going off early evening not for too long though.

No running water in the house so no showers or toilet flushing.

I really wish I had bought some music with me I have missed not having anything to listen to.

One of the girls has Malaria she has just been diagnosed today its her 21st birthday poor thing.

Well its starting to get dark so I will make my way back home for curfew. I really hate the staying in drives me mad!!!!

Love to all


xxxx

Its me again

Hi all.

Im sorry I have not been on to the blog recently, I took a nose dive on Sunday.

I went along to the Orphanage as planned on Sunday, attended the Sunday worship. The numbers of the children were smaller as the ones that come on a daily basis were not there.

There is a girl called Agnes who i have seen very little but was aware of. Well anyway she was on the front row of the service and I was facing her it hit me hard to see that she seemed to be suffering from the very same symptoms that Maddison had quite late on in her illness. It knocked me for six.

After the service I made it me business to spend some time with her, during which I became convinced that she may have a brain tumor.

The day was hard as she wanted to dance with me and with tears in my eyes I did this trying to steadier her as we did so. It was hard in both ways as I was sad for her and how she was struggling and that it felt that I was dancing with Maddie. Agnes by the way is about the same age and height as Maddison was.

Any way I decided I could not go back, could not let the kids see the difference that would be in me, as luck would have it a volunteer who had been before arrived at the orphanage, the children ran out to greet her. During the day I spoke to the new volunteer at length about Agnes and the thoughts that I was having, she will take over and do what I am unable. She will organise a scan for her, and on the flight to Kenya she had met a doctor who was going to volunteer in Tanzania, she said she will contact him and ask him to come and meet Agnes. I feel really bad , the only positive I can take is that I may have spotted something in Agnes that some how can be helped, if nothing else the Orphange will have the information they need to understand what is happening to Agnes and how to help her through it.

Most of my prayers are with Agnes, maybe some of you will keep her in yours.

Yesterday I went to the Maddison House to see how things were coming on. Some people came to visit to see what it was all about one of them is a lady who has an orphanage which has too many children so they will be at the house when it opens.

The opening all depends on the electricity being put on they have promised this week but it is a big job and this is Kenya time!!!!!!

Saturday I will go up for the last time before I leave, there will be a sign erected to show it is called Maddison house, along with the Fadhili name as this is their very first orphanage.

Well must go now as I have walked about 6 miles today and am flagging.

Hi to my Mum and Dad, I understand that their neighbour Jo, is printing off my blog and showing her. THANK YOU JO!!!!!

Love to all my family and friends, thank you for looking at the Blog.

Hope every one is well and enjoying life. Its a precious old thing!!!!!

Love Jane xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As usually let me off with spelling etc.,

Maddison House

Friday was a busy day. James who is part of the Fadhili Group came to collect me at about 8.30. Today was the day to put in to play the setting up of Maddison house. First stop was one of the large warehouse style shops here, where we shopped for bedding, cooking equipment, towels to name a few. I even spoke to the Manager there, explained that we were helping set up a new orphanage in memory of my daughter, asked him for a discount which he graciously did. Next stop to collect 10 new bunk beds. James tried to buy a sofa, but we think they noticed a white face and put the prices up, James will try again at a later date.

The area where the orphanage is is very rural a long way from any towns, people just stop and stare at me as it seems to be very rare that they see a white person some people have never seen one. It so nice, I smile and wave and they crack a lovely smile back at me. We stopped at some point, and I could see people especially children watching me I would go and say hello which made every one laugh at the way I spoke. Great fun.

We arrived at Maddison House just around dinner time, by now we had been joined by the young lady who be living there looking after the children , she seemed very excited and loved the place.

The army of people who had come with us to help, set about putting up the beds, whilst the girls did the cleaning. Nothing new there then!!!!

James had organised a spit cooked Goat for dinner with Maize, I love Goat, it was cooked to perfection. Thanks James!!!

Time all too soon ran away from us and we had to had back to town, the journey takes about an hour and half each way.

It was hopefully an exciting day for the Fadhili group as this is their very first orphanage!!!!!

Friday night was very enjoyable, one of the girls is going home soon and was having a farewell party, we had pizza and a beer ( well maybe 2,3 who was counting!!!! )

Today is Saturday, I had decided in the week I was going to Nairobi with Kim and another friend as I had to collect something I had ordered, the girls for one reason or another could not make it so I bit the bullet and went alone.

On the journey going out a man got on to the bus to preach, the conductor was on board and was having none of it. It got nasty, the conductor was really having a go at the chap, pushing and pulling him, then really giving him what for, the preacher just would not get off. Every one was shouted and having some input into the situation. Some sticking up for the preacher others just wanting to get on with the journey.

When I got in to down town Nairobi I lost my way, could not remember how to get to where I wanted to go, had been once but with Grace my host. So decided to pop into a Wimpey ( yes there have them here!!!) have a drink and relax a little.

Asked a security guard where the Massai Market was, he was a great help and I was soon there. Soon as you get to the gates people will just not leave you alone they want you to follow them and look at there stall, another person will shout to get your attention, could be 5/6 men just trying to get you to shop with them. Today I am afraid I gave them a bit of a tough time, told them to leave off and just stormed inside the gates. Found the stall I needed, which was helped by the fact that it was on the wall opposite the entrance, got what I needed and headed for the small buses to come home. We had all just crammed on when it stopped and the driver was arrested!!!!!

Still every cloud has a silver lining the next bus had a little t.v which showed some old goals from Theirry Henry and Berkamp heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!

The rains have finally come, it rained early on today and again this afternoon, that is such good news here.

Must go, need to get some things in for Mamma Tunza orphanage, I am going to their Sunday worship tomorrow. After that I will give out some fresh pineapple juice with food, followed by giving out of clothes that I have sorted from their store room, there will be about 80 children there. Should be lots of fun.

Hope everyone has a good weekend,

As always please excuse my terrible spelling.

Jane

Party time

Jambo

Two of the other volunteers and I held a little party for the children at Mama Tunza. They loved every minute!!

At around lunch time we handed out snacks and treats, they were all so eager to try them but lined up and waited in good humour. We had lots of little helpers, the children don't have a thing but will happily help share things out without putting them selves first.

Then it was time for them to have their faces painted, for quickness we were just doing flowers, love hearts and patterns on their faces, then showing them in a little mirror, what fun to watch their faces light up with delight when they saw what we had done.

One of the volunteers stood on the second storey and let balloons down, there was nearly a stampede, for a minute utter chaos!!!

Just to really step things up the children were given party blowers, boy , what a noise!!!!!

Great fun for them and us.

What a day!!!!!

I hope they remember it for some time to come, I certainly will.

Love to all,

Jane

Jambo

Hi,

I have been talking to the trust literally as soon as I got here, about the possibility of funding the setting up of the first orphanage that the Fadhili group want to start up. I am so please to let you know that this has now been given the green light from the committee.!!!! Fantastic news for us and the Fadhili group.

I have been talking to James, from the Fadhili group, he is such a great guy, with an even greater sense of humour. He has been so supportive from the beginning, and will be happy with the orphanage to be called Maddison House.

Maddison will be so pleased that part of her dream is being realised, and that children will benefit so much.

Please consider supporting us on this cause, as we need to continue our support to the orphanage and the children who will have this fantastic place to live. I cannot upload photos till I get back but will do so as soon as possible upon my return.

Ken will you please go into my e mails and delete all the rubbish that is piling up , looking forward to getting an e mail from you!!!!

Love and best wishes to all


Jane

HI ya

Jambo,

Hi everyone, hope all are well.

Sorry not been on for a couple of days. WE have had some power cuts here so unable to get online.

We are having problems with water due to the draught, people here are praying for rain!! So no showers or flushing loos back at the host house.

Took it easy over the weekend, chilled down a little. I have not had a panic attack recently so I am settling in to it. I hate being couped up at night!!! In doors about 6.30 till next day is no fun!!! Decided Friday to get some Doctor Smirnoff in along with his good friend nurse coke that did the trick. Had to hide it though not sure the host family will be ok with it. They just think I have some coke in my mug.

Wend to the Massai market on Saturday, what fun. YOu have to barter there and they feel insulted if you dont, well me and my friends went for it. SO funy it got very heated at times as both parties fought for their 'deal' then every one fell about laughing once we had agreed a bargain. Asked a Massai lady if I could take her picture, had to be careful as illegal to take pictures in Nairobi. She posed for me and said her name is Jane I cracked up, I came all this way to meet a tribal lady with same name as me!!!! Nairobi is lovely, lots of trees and bushes around lovely shades of green.

It gets very hot here but everyone is in the best of spirits so polite and kind especially if you greet them in their language they love and and laugh and the way we speak their language with our accent.

Walking home last night after spending all day with my friend NIcky, a lmonkey suddlenly appeared at the side of me, managed to get a photo. Not sure what type he was but he was big!!!

Wend to the pictures yesterday to see Gran Tourino, sorry Matt I never go I know cause I normally cant stick inside cinemas but it was a great release to sit down and chill out with air conditioning!!! Luxury!!! Great film by the way.

When i went into the orphanage I was told off cause I not go in Friday ( had a project to do) they told me they had missed me, that felt so good.

The children are starting to get to know me , they are all such pleasure. I am sure they are teaching me more than I am them.

A teacher asked me to take P.E today, as usual I worried I could not to it as well as I might. IT turned out to be just a singing as we went round and round in circles and playing tug of war, I showed them a quick clapping game just so I could get my breath back!!!

Tomorrow the other volunteers are giving the children a party dinner, party food , face painting, games etc should be fun!!! They will love it.

The teachers love to talk to me at their break times and want to know all about England they said they can understand me better the the American's , I said thats cause they kind of sing as they speak, they fell about laughing.

Bet you guys think we do nothing but laugh, well we have a got time, but the people here suffer so much sometimes not eating for days. The teachers sometimes fall asleep they had not been paid for weeks,

If any of you guys from Coke are looking in, Coke is every where, even in the Slum sells for around 20p. Burn is here also sells at about a pound. In the slum is a building that has been sponsored by Coke, cant take a picture as not safe to do so in the slum. People do not like it they think we are looking down on them, they say they are not a circus. Fair enough. People do not like having there photo taken, I even had to pay the Massai lady for her photo.

Well must go .

Sorry about any mis- spelling cant wait to do spellcheck as this has taken 50 mins to do. Internet is SO slow here.

Bye for now

Jane

IN t

Me again

Jambo!

HI Every one

Today I have been to visit the house that the Fadhilli group, th support group here, want to open as their very first orphanage , let me tell you guys it will be state of the art to what i have seen. There is a school nearby so all the children who live at the new place can attend this school. I also had time to visit the school. Fantastic place, teachers are very keen to teach the children from the orphanage. I had a little cry as it was so emotional!!!!

This going to be so short as it is my turn to cook and i am late back from the visit, no not my fault this time, Kenya time!!!!

Will try to do a longer one tomorrow.
Bye for now!!!!

THE KENYAN TRIP

WOW !!! This morning I left the hose house and headed to the orphanage with two other volunteers who have been here some time.
This was to be my first time in the slum, boy is it dirty!! There are huts that are so small but whole families live in them. THere are lots of shops but again not big just tin shacks, the huts sell food, clothing and have hairdressers also sell drinks , beer and soft drinks. Matt you will smile Coke still get in here they have there trade signs every where.
The orphanage is filthy!! The children are crammed in to two dorms. There are class rooms these are about 6ft by 4ft no windows if you shut the door you cannot see!!! IN one classroom I asked where the teacher was they said they did not have one so me being me took the class. They had science books todays lesson was to be body parts so we did it , at the end we sang hands shoulders knees and toes. The children are about 7.

Had to laugh because as I marked there work one little girl gave me to mark some home work she had done, but she had wrote in Swahili had to laugh can hardly spell in my mother tongue!!!!

THe lesson was great fun I think they got out of it what they needed but i figure that it was better than no one to teach them. About 3 of the children could not speak English , one little girl helped me over come that.

I have a project to do so that a previous volunteer can get a website up for the orphanage to get sponsorship for the children. I have to visit the schools here to get the prices of courses, uniform equipment travel etc.,

There may be a first page that has already been loaded, please try to see if you can see it as it may tell you more about the orphanage. In case I forgot to tell you the place is called Mamma Tunza . www.mamatunza.com.

I hope everyone back home is well.

Love to Matt and Ken. Matt I miss you so much !!!!

Take care all

Kwaheri (Goodbye)

Jane x

Kenya

Monday 16th March

Jambo ( HELLO)

TOday all the new volunteers met with the Fadhilli Workers, these are the people who run the project along side IVHQ.

I have been allocated to the Mama Tunza orphanage which is found in the largest slum called Kibera ( you can find KIbera on google earth and google pictures). Everyone lives in small huts, the slum houses 1.5 million people.


I am now staying somewhere different to the first 2 days of my stay. I am with about 7 other people who are mostly American, there are only about 4 English people on the whole project.

I am still trying to adjust, had very little sleep, did not sleep on the plane Friday had 3 hours sleep Saturday and about the same on Sunday.

You must excuse me if this blog is not very eloquent, but it takes ages to get on and costs a bomb!!! Even trying to write from notes is hard 'cause the keys stick. Still Hakuna matata, which means no worry . It is a genuine saying that is used a lot. IN case your in the dark, it means No Problems!!!!

So tomorrow I will start at the orphanage which is a little scary as it is held up on stilts, ( i hate heights) the children sleep in lice infected beds and the loos I understand are a sight to see!! or rather smell!!!

Will try again to do this soon

Love to all

Jane xxx

Asante sana (Thanks a lot)

Kwaheri (Goodbye)

Hi Every one Jambo!!!!!!

Here I am in Kenya, Good flight . Had a long but great day. Arrived at 5.30 UK time, then on to a host house where i will be for two days then taken to the place I will actually be staying. We went to see a house that the group (IVHQ) want to open as a orphanage. Long journey there and back and quite hot!!! Going back to Racheal our host for the evening meal now.

Internet access is so slow here it took me 15 mins to get to start this blog.

Gotta go others are waiting for me .

Love to all

Jane xxxxxx

Hi Everyone

Sorry its been a long time.

The ball was a great success we raised over £3,000 over 100 people attended. From the funds we sent a barrel of much needed goods, toys and clothes to Zimbabwe. Paid for a trip for children from wards E38/E39 of Q M C University Hospital in Nottingham to see High School Musical on Ice, in February. Committed to spend £1,000 on some new art work for the Malcolm Sargeant House in Ayr (clic sargeant ) as it was felt that Maddison was very artistic and would appreciate this, and that the House was being reburbished.

Although Maddison was only 10 years old she had planned out her life, she knew she wanted to be a teacher. She said that during her 'gap' year she would go to Africa and work in an orphanage, in her words " if i could clean the children up a little maybe people would adopt them". So in tribute to her I will leave England on March 13th to work for three weeks as a volunteer in an orphanage in Kenya. It seems fitting also that the day I go will be Red Nose Day something that was also close to her heart, she loved the fundraising and the fun of the day.

I hope to do a blog whilst there so long as I can get access to the internet, so people can get a feel of the experience.

Maddie this is for you!!!

Love and best wishes to everyone reading this.

Thank you to all who support the Trust.

Love Jane Maddies Mum