Category: Malawi

Countdown has started!

Countdown has started – or ‘I would count down but I’m not sure where I’m counting to and slight interruption to proceedings – well 2 actually!’

First of all can I thank all those of you who have donated on Justgiving.  I am bowled over by the kindness and generosity of people.  I think I’ve said thank you to everyone so far but if I haven’t my apologies and I will do –  promise.  For those of you who want to donate and haven’t the link to my Justgiving page is at the bottom of this page. or at the side of the page, in the heading………although its not really the heading as it’s on the side but you know what I mean !

In order to prepare for Sunday’s 10k at Blackpool I have been trying to run every day ….. Failed miserably .  Decided I would do every other day – failed miserably again ! So now I kind of do it when I get the chance.  According to my Fitbit I do exactly the same time for every 10k  run.  I’m thinking there is something wrong with the GPS on it as Im sure that I should be getting faster. ! Think I might send it back and get one that tells me I’m getting faster every run I do.  Mind you as I’m running round my ‘meagre’ 10k I can’t help but think of the fantastic achievement of Cat and Sarah Cartmell who completed the London Marathon last weekend.  An amazing achievement – I taught them everything they know about running !  Well I didn’t really but they were very  little girls in my first School as Head Teacher – so something must have rubbed off ! A brilliant effort by both of you.

Also, was really excited as my t-shirt came for Sunday’s run – didn’t realise it costs to add pictures so it’s probably the most expensive t-shirt in the world so guess I’ll have to wear it more than once ! !
If you see me running give me a shout -number 547 ………  if its anything like last year I’ll be at the back tracking the guy in the bear costume !

My running training has also been slightly disrupted by an amazing ‘happening’ last Tuesday. The birth of 2 beautiful granddaughters – Sophie and Naomi.

 
Again when I look at them everything else just pails into insignificance.  They came home a couple of days ago and they are absolutely gorgeous and amazing little girls.  I know that they will be given all the love in the world by friends and relatives.  Just brings into sharper focus those in other countries who won’t be as fortunate as these two. And kind of makes me think I’m doing the right thing about trying to give something to an area of the world where the babies and children like these aren’t as fortunate

Nevertheless less I shall miss them and of course their crazy sister Heidi  ( you try standing on one leg, hands together and close your eyes – I tried and fell over !)  but look forward to getting loads of photos.

Lots of people have asked me how Im feeling about going and to be honest it’s a huge mixture of feelings and emotions (is that the same thing?) – you name it I think I’ve experienced it over the last couple of weeks. Excitement, fear, nervousness, confusion, ………. As the day gets closer to go I guess these emotions will get stronger .  I say as the day gets closer I haven’t actually got a day yet, all I know is that it’s around 21st June which is about 6 weeks – Many say ‘You’ve got loads of time’, while some say ‘Oooooh you’ve not got long’ !  Thanks !

Ive completed a 2 week on-line training course dealing with cultural issues, VSO values. aims of the project etc  How to deal with corruption when/if you encounter it.  Don’t get much experience of that in Goosnargh although there was that time at the village Veg and Produce show when a very insignificant little marrow won ‘The Best in Show” but enough said about that the better – I’m over it now ( apparently not !)   Need to go and collect my Malaria tablets – 450 !! That’ll be fun going through customs !

Next week I hope to find out a little bit more about what Im doing – I mean who on earth would go over 5,000 miles to a very hot country, on their own  and not know what they were doing ???? Ridiculous !

Don’t forget Justgiving page at the bottom 😉 and please do post any comments on here – there is a little ‘Comments’ link on the top of the page – its not very big but I’m working on it !

Off to Malawi !

or What happens when you don’t read your emails properly

So after stopping as a Head Teacher (I refuse to use the “R” word !) and working for a few companies with schools, I was idly looking through my 1,350 unanswered emails when I came across an email from VSO ( Voluntary Services Overseas ) . Well – why not I thought. Good idea! I have to say it was Christmas and I was feeling ‘Good will to all men !’ Possibly a few Christmas drinks ….And ……..And so began my adventure to Malawi !

In about 8 weeks time I will be off to Mangochi in Malawi as an ‘Unlocking Talent’ Educational Specialist , supported by VSO, working on a Unicef project called “Child Friendly Schools’ incorporating DET (Digital Educational Technology) into the classroom teachers’ practice.

Following discussions with Julia, whose support for my mad idea was amazing, the next step was to inform our 3 daughters. How to  approach the subject that you may be going away for 12 months ……………

“I’m just going away for a few months, well 12 possibly ………..”
“You know I’ve always said I’d like to go and work abroad, well…………”
“May not be around for a little while but………”
in the end I decided to just say:
“I’m off to Malawi for a year, on my own, to work with schools!”  …………………………..And their reaction ………..

“Go for it !”

The support of the 4 ladies of the Barnes’ household has been brilliant. Without their positive reactions I couldn’t have even thought about going.

So decision made ! Interviews successfully undertaken ! Preparations underway.

Medical and Inoculations were the next hurdle. Now who is my doctor? …………Fortunately my medical examination proved I was fit – contrary to how I feel after completing fitness training every Tuesday and Saturday ! My medical history was roughly the thickness of a very small pamphlet . So after a life of drinking copious mugs of coffee, and I mean copious, eating on a very sporadic basis and generally not looking after my health at all, I was passed A1 fit !  Who’d have thought it ? Now I’m half way through my injections I feel a bit like a pin cushion.

The next part of my journey  is to fundraise for VSO and the great work it undertakes.  And that is where you come in ! You didn’t really think you were going to get away with it did you ?  I’m taking part in the Blackpool 10k Fun Run on May 7th (as part of my pre-birthday celebrations!)  It would be fantastic if you could sponsor me either pre or post the event.  Just click on any of the buttons below and Id be really really appreciative and so would he ………..

Hopefully I will get better at working out how this all works in time for when I go to Malawi. Please do follow me or leave a comment by clicking on ‘Comment’ at the top of the page   Thanks

(Oh and thanks to @87History and the @ICTevangelist, without whose help I wouldn’t even have got this far with this blog !)

Watch a short video by clicking on ‘Continue reading’.