Hello everyone
Last
month’s April blog update has been delayed so we have merged the two to let you
all know what has been happening in the last two months.
We got back
from Mike and Julie’s wedding in California at the end of March, and 10 days
later welcomed Stephen and Louise back to Malawi for their second visit for
Joshi’s first birthday. We had a lovely passover just after they arrived with
Sarah and Naor Bar-Zeev and their kids and a few days later hosted baby group
in honour of Joshi’s birthday. Thanks everyone who came and brought such
special presents including home made play-doh from Lisa, glow stars from Helen,
Thomas the tank engine from Ruth and books from Sarah. Our present to Joshi was
his home made recycled tyre horse swing- thanks Nation and Robyn for building
it for us!
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| Happy birthday Joshi! |
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| Stephen and Louise celebrate with Joshi |
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| Thanks Nigella for the recipe |
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| Gav and Annie get Joshi used to his new swing |
Louise and
Stephen very generously took us to the new Robin Pope safari lodge in our local park, Majete
Wildlife reserve and we had a very luxurious weekend in the family chalet – so
gorgeous and relaxing, and we even saw a civit cat and chilled out with the
friendly local elephant and bush baby in the restaurant.
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| Friendly local elephant at dusk from our room |
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| The only route from the main park to the lodge on a river island - bouncy when carrying a baby! |
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| Joshi checks out the animals from his game viewing seat |
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| Louise Gav and Joshi enjoy the infinity pool overlooking the river |
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| Far too exciting being on safari to sleep mummy! |
Just after
Stephen and Louise left, I received the very sad news that my mother’s cousin
Alison had died after a long illness aged only 52. A day later my grandmother
was admitted to hospital in London after a collapse and rapidly deteriorated.
We made the decision that Joshi and I would go back to London to see Granny and
support mum and dad, and also go to Alison’s funeral, while Gav stayed here.
Joshi was his usual chilled out self on the journey and through all the
difficult hospital visits and day of the funeral, and so many people afterwards
remarked that it was lovely to have him there, providing refreshing smiles and
cuddles. After a very up and down course, Granny is now re-couperating in a
very posh Wimbledon nursing home and we all hope she stays well for as long as
possible.
While we were in
London Gav caught up with a lot of work and sleep in Malawi, and we managed to catch up
with some new friends for Joshi amongst my old school friends who now also have
babies of similar ages, including Alec, Max, Izzie and Imogen, and Lou and I
managed a lovely dinner out together for a proper gossip and catch up. I sadly
had no time to catch up with everyone I wanted to talk to/see, but we hope when
we are back in September for our UK holiday we will see everyone then J.
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| Joshi learns to stand unaided in his first pair of shoes |
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| Imo initiates Joshi into the delights of Sushi |
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| Old JAGS friends with their bumps and babies, Clare, Jackie, Lou and Polly |
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| Mum and Joshi in the garden in the only sunny day of our 3 week trip |
Malawi has
also been going through its own up and down course in the last two months. In
April the former president, Bingu who as deeply unpopular and corrupt, died
dramatically during a government meeting of a suspected heart attack. After a
weekend where his cronies tried to work out how to make his brother (illegally)
president, the vice president, Joyce Banda who had been ex-communicated from
the ruling party, stood firm and was sworn in peacefully in a legal power
transition. She is setting about sorting the country out, very quickly, and so
far has the donor money coming back in, is repealing unpopular laws, tackling
corruption, trying to sort out the economy, and the diesel is back in the
pumps! We all hope she can continue as she has started and this is a new dawn
for Malawi to get back on track. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/29/malawi-president-joyce-banda-women-rights
Joshi and I
got back to Malawi last week and are settling back in. While we were away our
chickens finally finally arrived and are now settling in and looking happy in
the garden, and we hope to be eating our first eggs August time………….all going
well J.
Ros appeared for a flying visit which was wonderful, and Gav and I celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary next weekend and we
can’t wait. Joshi is now saying some words, can walk holding on, and stand
un-aided and continues to be a happy
delight in all our lives.
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| Ros Gav and Joshi go for a evening stroll |
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| Joshi and Gav inspect the chickens - at last!! |
Lots of
love to everyone
Emma Gav
and Joshi J
