So I have been here a whole week now, and have as always in this place a lot seems to have happened. Here´s a brief rundown on what i have done in the mean time.

Thursday was spent buying beads, then preparing to distibute themto the women who were due to arrive in their groups on Friday afternoon. It takes a lot of time to weigh the beads (see Luisa in action!) in preparation for them, sort out what colours and what styles are necessary and to match up the women´s individualy skills with what is needed. Anyway they came on Friday and it was great to see them. They are women of great character and have a very special sense of humour and are generally full of good cheer despite what has happened to them all. As if their company wasn´t enough they all bring their youngest children with them too- they are SO sweet and add another dimension to the group. It was great to be able to tell the women about the postive feedback people had given about their work in the UK at Christmas. They were very coy about the praise, and I don´t know if I imagined it, but to me it seemed as if they left with their heads a little higher.

On Saturday I had to go Panajachel to the optician who only comes there once a week and order some new glasses , then after a leisurely brunch with Andrea, the daughter of my family who was trying contact lenses for the first time, I spent the afternoon doing a translation for a funding proposition for the catholic Church. They have lost their funding for the Parish school and only have enough money to pay their teachers for three months. This could have a disastrous effect on the education of the 300 pupils in their care. In the evening I met up with soem friends from Panajachel and enjoyed some live music in a local bar.

Sunday was a day of rest, and gathering of thoughts, making plans etc. On Monday I tried to find out abou tpostage costs, import duty etc etc.