Yet another fantastic day
Day three at the orphanage and we encounter our first slight set back - torrential rain! Yes, in true Thailand fashion in has rained all day and rained HARD. However, we didn’t let this hold us back, it just resulted in a slight change in schedule. In light of the weather we travelled to Udon Thani, the nearest city, to pick up some curtains, cushions and other decorative bits to really finish off our work in the girls home. We then returned to sew, scatter cushions and basically give feminine touch to the dorm and the TV room. Seemed only appropriate being the only girl group! It was absolutely amazing to see how much it lifted both rooms and really highlighted how great the work we had done on the previous two days. The girls and the workers loved it and helped us as we worked late so again it ended up being a very special day.
CTN and Chris Garner, Director of Human Resources for BUPA Internationa Businesses left yesterday. We were all very sad to see them go especially Chris Garner, as he worked so hard with us during his time here and we really appreciated his support. Father Mike held a small leaving ceremony for them say thank you, which resulted in quite a few tears. It was extremely moving.
Tomorrow is the last day at the orphanage for group one. I know that many of the volunteers are already dreading it as they find it hard enough to say goodbye as it is! We are making a start on the BUPA garden tomorrow so fingers crossed the sun comes out again.
I’ll let you know how we get on tomorrow. Keep in touch, we all love reading your messages. I have uploaded a few pics for you to have a look at. Enjoy!
Anne Marie cooklin said,
November 1, 2007 @ 11:07 am
I’m sitting at my desk on a dull Thursday morning in London reading about how you’re all getting on - it sounds like you’re working really hard and having a fantastic time. Your reports and pics show what an amazing thing you’re doing and how much fun you’re having!! You’re going to make a real difference to the children. Well done to each and every one of you.
karen barker said,
November 1, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
Wow…inspiring. I am sat here feeling sorry for myself as my fractured foot is still healing and only 3 weeks to go, reading your blog really cheered me up, i am so excited.Is there anything in hindsight you would have taken with you???
lindseyash said,
November 1, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
Hi again, just said our goodbyes to the children, very sad but happy they put on a wonderful goodbye ceremony where they all sat down on the floor in front of us and wonderful flower buddist display father mike said some very kind words and we were presented with gifts. then 1 by 1 the children came up to us and knelt down with their hands clasped together with little white threads which they each tied around our wrists its a buddist prayer to help us with our journey back, then they hugged us and said ‘I Love You’, well you can image what stage we were in, having a room of children hug you hard and say i love you, it makes everything we have done this week worthwhile, even Claire who was filming it was in tears. I said goodbye to my friend ‘Little Lynn’, at the minibuses as they all came out to wave us off, Lynn ran up to me and gave me a big bag of stars, i picked one out and she said ‘no all the stars are for you’, she gripped me so hard i didnt want to let her go and burst into tears in the minibus, as did all the bus. Emotionally hard but i would not have missed this journey for the world. tomorrow we are having a tour of nong khai and the friendship bridge over to Laos (dont worry dad not going into Laos), round the street market and then its off to get the train back to bankok at about 7pm. this will prob be my last blog and i hope the people due out will enjoy this as much as we have, the time flies so make sure you fit everything in as you will never forget this and want to come back. love linzi
lazuli1 said,
November 1, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Wow.
Speechless.
And to think i will be there doing this in 2 days time is amazing…
Well done to you all, completely inspiring.
Steve.
Ann Hepworth said,
November 1, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
Hi Lindsey
Looks like you’ve had a great time and that it’s also been very rewarding. Have a lovely last day and see you when you get back. Take care, love Ann.
cookie32 said,
November 2, 2007 @ 10:49 am
I feel emotional reading these blogs so god knows what I will be like when I am out there!
What you have achieved this week this week is amazing and the pictures just show how much the children love having you around - the looks on all your faces are ones of happiness!
I really can’t wait to travel out on the 9th and have the experience of a lifetime.
Well done guys - you should all be very proud of yourselves. I feel proud for you!
Take care and have a safe journey home. Debs Cook xx
Helen Wright said,
November 2, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
Im sitting at work crying!!! Sounds so emotional!
Sounds like you have done alot of work, well done!
Good Luck week 2
Im on the count down now!! (im going on the last week)
H xx
Becca McDougall said,
November 2, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Im reading this at work and can feel myself welling up, god know what im going to be like when I get out there. The work that you guys have done is amazing and all the pictures and blogs are starting to make it all seem real. I dont think I can wait until 30/11/07 to go I want to go now. You all should be really proud of yourselves.
Hope you all get home safely, Becca x
karen barker said,
November 5, 2007 @ 10:19 am
I am sat here reading your accounts of the first weeks and am drippin g tears into the computer…..I am so excited now. Keep up the good work. If you are going on the 23.Nov contact me please as I have been off with a broken foot so do not know any of my group yet.
Good luck everyone
Karen
Catriona mcQueen said,
November 6, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
Hi Karen
How on earth did you fracture your foot? Hopefully it is well on the mend for the 23rd. I have been reading this everyday and each time I read something I get more excited about going.
As you can see I am Catriona McQueen from Spire Healthcare in Edinburgh (formely BUPA hospitals) Its a bit odd to say Spire healthcare when I have said BUPA for 21 years.
I met John and Pauline in Glasgow last month along with Joanne they are really nice and John brought cakes for our meeting - good guy!
John is flying from Glasgow to Heathrow on the 23rd, Pauline and I are flying from Edinburgh and we will meet John in terminal 1 then come over to terminal 3 to meet everyone else.
Hope to hear from you soon.