It as good to catch up with you too and like you I realised yesterday that I hadn't told you about the orphanage. Actually there have been some big changes and the future of Amity grandmas is looking a bit doubtful. This big organisation 'Half the Sky' Foundation from America have transformed the orphanage. There is now a fully functioning pre school for all the kids you would have worked with, with beautiful rooms, a library, lots of high quality toys and games, bikes and every other thing you can think of. They have new bedrooms, new showers, little child height sinks and pegs for towls. It's a different place all together. As a result the children are also transforming. The changes and developement in them over just a few weeks has been phenomenal. Fei Xiang has been a very cheerful. He always recognises me and like to sit on my lap for a hug. His little friend who is rather boistrous and perhaps the oldest child in the group is always there to push him off and grab my with rather stong little fists! Do you remember him, he has a squashed nose?

Anyway, it looks like we no longer have a useful role as there are more than enough new paid Chinese staff. I fear their arrival is isoalting the existing staff, leaving them to do the menial jobs and wash and feed the children without any of the fun of play or interaction. It must have been a major change for them, expecially for those who have grown up in the orphanage. Eductaing and including them seems not to be part of 'Half the Skies' masterplan. However, the improvements are incredible and the children's quality of life has risen dramatically.

Poor old Illona however is finding our now marginal role hard. I have felt a little like one of the kids at times, sitting with them on minature chairs around the table trying to join in with Chinese nursery ryhmes. For me personally, I am just enjoying seeing them happier, but I don't know what we're going to do. There has been a suggestion that we will be allowed to spend time with a small group of children who are up for adoption but this will mean there will be about 5 of us to every child! It's scuah a shame they won't let us be with the severly handicapped kids. Their lives haven;t changed at all. They remain in the old building which has taken serious turn for the worse since the other kids moved. It is filthy and there is still nothing for the kids to do.

So, there you are, the update! I will send all your hugs and kisses their way, especially to Fei Xiang.