Eddie's 3rd Birthday

It was Eddie's third birthday on the 14th. Much excitement from the older boys for days beforehand and many instructions from Eddie about what he needed (a fire engine and a truck and a chocolate cake). Luckily he had mentioned the fire engine long enough ago for me to order one from his adoring granny who sent it up with Buji and Java's adoring granny and it was ready and wrapped on time - don't know where I'd have found one in Malawi! (Well, probably in Lilongwe or Blantyre but that's an two days and one night mission and not always possible as the car only goes when there are guests to fetch or it's a terrible waste of fuel and time.)
But the greatest gift I have ever given was the scale model of the beloved boat, Nankappa - Eddie's face was such a picture of awe and delight when he unwrapped it that I wanted to weep! He has not let that boat out of his sight ever since and slept with it on his bed that first night. At last I got the gift right - so often one buys something and by the time the child gets it, he's already moved onto a new obsession - but for Ed, his love of that old boat is steadfast!
Sadly I couldn't spend the day with my dear children as I had to work and there were streams of guests coming and going so I hardly saw the darling and felt terrible about it! But we managed to squeeze in a celebratory boat cruise around Thumbi in the hour between when some guests came off the island and others were due to go on! Hectic - we raced around, but the kids loved it - there were mattresses left on the boat from a huge party of Spaniards who'd just left - so they jumped about on those and scoffed many bright orange chips and lots of sticky sweets - yuk, but it was such a treat for them to have free reign over a feast of junk food, as they usually never see it, let alone are allowed to eat it!
They sang happy birthday and nursery rhymes and barrelled about happily and were very happy with the whole venture - they don't ask a lot, do they? Actually they do, but it's usually for such simple stuff, the darlings.
Anyway, I insisted on the next day off and we had a lovely lazy day drifting about doing nothing in particular - a treat for me, though that's what they do every day. Later on we broke open one of the cheap toys I keep in store for a rainy (not til December really, but you know what I mean) day, a beading set, and we all made ourselves bead necklaces - even Zoda (who is still wearing his) and Vanessa (who works in Liinu's house). It was all very peaceful.
Have to admit, though, I am champing at the bit to get out of the village now. Need to see something else!