Before I left to come back to the UK for christmas we had a christmas party at the Academy for the staff and the boys. Some of us made christmas hats beforehand to really get into the spirit. The boys loved the party and would have carried on dancing until the early hours if they'd have been allowed.
The Blue House celebrating Christmas:
I'm starting to feel a bit more Christmassy now which is good. I went to London earlier on in the week and spent the day walking round looking at the lights and visiting the little markets in places like Southbank, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and China Town and that definitely helped. As did wearing my Christmas jumper every chance I get!
Christmas Lights in London:
It's been really difficult to get into the swing of things having missed most of the run up and the weather has been playing havoc with me. It's really bizarre being back here and it being cold wet and miserable! If we had snow I think it would be better, or at least if it was cold but sunny! But unfortunately I can't control that!
The other thing I am struggling with is the short days. It gets dark pretty early in Sierra Leone (between 6.30 and 7.30pm really) but not as early as it does here in the winter time. Plus when I'm out there my day is split up into little segments. With meals at a set time and the boys having set bedtimes my day is nice and controlled and you always know roughly what time it is - here the days are flying by and before I know it is 5pm feeling like 11pm and I'm shattered! This wouldn't normally be a bad thing but I also know it means my time here is rushing by as well and soon I will be heading back to Africa. Whilst I miss the boys and I definitely miss the sunshine I'm not ready to leave my friends and family again just yet.
