Day 12
A scorching morning – when I say hot I mean hot. The team are all doing well and the work is going on as at a great pace despite the hot conditions . The whole outside of the building has had a scratch coat of render on and the finish halfway around. Phil Speed (CDHT) is leading on this, his team today consisted of Agri, Joseph, Lev and Joseph. So over to Phil…….
“A really hot day but the Ugandan trainees and Ste and Tommy all mucked in to get the work done. The materials we are using aren’t great but the finish we achieved is excellent. Really loving it out here again – seeing lots of old friends from last year.”
We are all loving the work and seem to be well on schedule, if not ahead. The way we are going we will be finished a week early and we can all have a week’s holiday – only joking Nick and Su!!

Day 13
Another seriously hot morning. After yesterday’s extreme conditions energy levels were already low – regardless the team and trainees cracked on with their jobs. The pace was steady rather than furious but the work was still of the usual quality – again especially the finish on the plaster as the sand we are using, already sifted by hand by ourselves, was still extremely coarse. Tom Bond (HHT) was on this again today – around the back of the building in the direct sunlight. Tom’s team consisted of John and Emmanuelle. Over to Tom…….
“Work went great – having trouble with the materials, hard getting a straight edge on anything. The trainees are sound and we have a good laugh, I even put Kenneth (Trainee) on the phone to my wife for a chat really funny – Kenneth loving speaking to somebody in England. We are tired due to the heat and work but still loving it.”
An early night for everyone as we are all shattered – I think we hit the wall today, the whole trip finally taking its toll on us – but none the less tired and weary we are all in good spirits and relishing the challenge.

Day 14
After the previous two days exertions you would expect the team to be a bit jaded – not a bit of it. As we were all in bed by 9:30pm the team were up, fresh and up for it. Thankfully the heat had subsided – it was still warm but not as gruelling as the previous two days. Again work was at a pace and we are ahead so we could start work on the roof. The plastering was still going at its relentless pace and we could start putting the scratch coat on the inside. Chris Steele was on this today a task he had never tried – but as usual his enthusiasm was infectious for the team and trainees.
Working with Chris was Steve and of course Phil, the trainees with him today were Godfrey, Brian, Joseph amd Little John. Over to Chris……….
“It was all new to me plastering at this level – the trainees showed me how to get going and their techniques – and obviously Phil keeping an eye on all of us. At first I struggled, as we all have mentioned the materials are hard for experienced plasterers – so I was really in at the deep end. By the end of the day I really had the hang of it and was enjoying myself no end, having a good laugh with all the lads building on the foundations of our friendship. I hope I’m on it again tomorrow – I’ll smash it.”
Just a quick aside, we have been without electricity for coming up for 24 hours – really strange it’s like being in England in the early seventies – so Tommy tells us!! And Steve is furious as he hasn’t been able to use his hair dryer!!
Tomorrow – another good day planned all knowing what we are on so we can crack on from the start – also we have two events after work – first is the big match a team consisting of HHT, CDHT and the trainees against the teachers from the school – can’t wait.  Also it’s the Hope gangs last night so we are having a little do in the guest house – our fine host Ineka putting on a BBQ (fingers crossed as I’m writing this I’m watching a storm of biblical proportions sweep across Fort Portal.)

Day 15
A cool morning so the prospect of good days work was high. On site and again straight into it, today we only had the year one trainees so a chance to get to know them a bit better as we would be working in smaller group. Next week will be a week of laying the floors and the apron – so all the groundwork needs to be complete this week.
Colin Knox (HHT) is mainly looking after this as a shovel is about as technical as he gets. Working with him today was Samuel and Sarrapyo. Over to Colin………
“Me and the trainees got straight into the digging, it was nice to work with Samuel again as I worked with him on the first day. Samuel is only 14 and very shy and was initially extremely nervous around a big 6ft bandana wearing guy. As he’s been with us a few days now he is much more confident with us and has really come out of his shell which is great to see – so as a result we had a great days work with some great laughs.”
Now to the main event of the day – the big match - the team vs the teachers of the school – and boy did they take it seriously. We turned out in a rag tag of kits, boots, bare feet – they turned out in full matching kit, boots their captain even had an armband, they had also arranged a referee. We thought we would be in for a hiding – but the team, comprising of HHT, CDHT, Hope and the trainees won a great game 2 -1 – both goals from veteran striker Knox – who celebrated them both in his usual muted and subdued manner……..not.
The game was abandoned in the second half due to torrential rain and hail stones – which put paid to the BBQ moving it inside, which meant the team had to listen to me banging on about my goals. The game has strengthened the friendship between the team and the trainees so work tomorrow should be good.

Day 16
A really humid morning – it didn’t bode well. The team after the week’s exertions were running on empty. Needless to say we were all in a good mood when we got to site – still basking in our win against the teachers.  Work went well but the heat and humidity took its toll around 3pm – I looked at the team and they were all struggling running on fumes, but we all kept going like real troopers until we packed up at 5pm. We all literally fell into the van exhausted.
On the way home we had a downpour to end all downpours – it was literally amazing the force and power of the rain. We had a meal planned in a mountain lodge – it was touch and go whether to go – but as soon as it started the rain stopped and we ventured out. We had a great meal, good food, good banter and the highlight was a speech by Peter, a former trainee who now works as site assistant giving a very moving speech of how much he appreciated the work we do and the effort we put in – we where all really touched.
Tomorrow is a weekend away for a bit of well earned R&R – so no interviews you will have to put up with me!!

Day 17
No work today so a big lie in until 8:00 – I think we had earnt it! Unfortunately some of the team had come down with the inevitable Ugandan Tummy – but were all determined to go ahead with the trip.
We packed our overnight bags and set off – again all in awe of this beautiful country and the amazing people who always welcome you with a warm smile and hearty handshake. The place we stayed in is immense on a mountain side surveyed the vast savannah and tundra below – again absolutely amazing – after a good meal we spent the night sitting watching the sun set over the mountain ranges – outstanding.

Day 18
For some it was an early start, myself and Phil chose not to go on the jeep safari, much to our disappointment when we hooked up later with the team. They had a great time and had a few close encounters of the elephant kind – them taking a bit too much interest in the van – or simply standing in the road refusing to budge – well would you argue with an 8 tonne elephant?
After a quick lunch we went on a river trip – again I struggle with words to sum this up, I got great enjoyment watching the lads faces as we passed hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, a whole host of stunning birds, elephants all going about their daily business, with only the occasional cursery glance at ourselves as we slipped by marvelling at the beauty of it all.
The highlight was spotting a lioness snoozing in a tree by the river bank quite oblivious to the frantic scramble on the boat to get that elusive shot of the rare big cat. We headed back thoroughly satisfied with the weekend and the activities – also the team is now very close knit we all look out for each other and ensure we are all ok – which is great.
Unfortunately we all took about 1,000 photos each so beware we get back as we may just bore you all to death with them! We got back to the guest house and after a early tea – we all retired to our rooms – waiting for the big push of this last week – all positive and looking forward to another productive week.

Day 19
Sorry to sound boring but another scorching morning and we were all a bit apprehensive as a lot of work to do – most of it heavy manual stuff – but as always the mood was good. The main jobs left are pouring the concrete and one of the main ingredients for this is sand – which has to be sieved by hand – today Steve (HHT) was doing this – it’s a tedious job but vital. He was working with Godfrey, Emmanuelle, Ashyme and Richard. Over to Steve……..
“Got loads done today – so it means I don’t have to do it again! Emma spent all day teaching me Ugandan phrases and expects me to speak only Ugandan tomorrow! The highlight for me was seeing Moses from the 1st project who came straight over to me with a big hug – really touching a special moment.”
As I’ve said we are on the final push and we are all getting stuck in going that extra mile so the next group can hit the ground running.

Day 20
Woke up – very cold and freezing rain………….only joking another scorcher was on the cards. The work and conditions are taking its toll on the team, energy levels low but moral and spirits high and the work still amazing- getting work done and ahead of schedule. We are like marathon runners in the final mile – tired and weary but determined to cross the finishing line.
The conditions are tough so much so the trainees are all feeling it as well and struggling to cope. Part of the work is indoors but still just as gruelling. Daz( CDHT) was working on laying the floor in the large classroom – and was working with Peter, Chris and Amos. Over to Daz……
“I was screeding the floor I haven’t done this for a while and was impressed with the way the Ugandan trainees went about it – totally different from back home – a real eye opener. Went well but unfortunately due to the materials it was a struggle. A difficult day but a good laugh which cheered me up as I’m looking forward to getting home.”
So as you can see there is still full commitment from the team and the work is still going great but there are a few of us running on empty – but the team spirit is pulling us all along.

Day 21
As the other days a real scorcher – so no respite again.  Work is good but demanding but as previously stated the spirits are high. The pillars in the front are flying up and Phil (CDHT) is looking after this. Phil was working with Kenneth, Amos, Patrick and Lenard. Over to Phil …..
“The heat is draining but we have to keep going and everyone is getting stuck in. The materials are poor but we have to get on with it and the finish we are achieving is amazing. Having a great time with the trainees and the lads – really glad I came back. Tonight is pizza night – hopefully we can all stay awake and enjoy it!”

Day 22
A cool morning so a huge relief – a bit of respite – possibly?? In the van to work we were all in great shape laughing and joking and this rubbed off on the trainees and we had a great morning. We are all pushing ourselves to the limit now to complete everything. The concrete has being mixed and poured continuously for the past three days – in charge of this has been Mark (HHT) so for the last 3 days he’s been grafting big time. Today he was with Sarrepeo, Joseph, Joshua and Charles – so over to Mark.
“Running on empty at the moment as the heat and work is tiring but got no option but to keep going as the trainees need to see us giving 100%. Had a good laugh though today the trainees are real characters. Looking forward to finishing the job and getting home now.
Well we are in the final throws of work now and we are all determined to leave on a high. Tonight is a quiet night at the guest house – recharge the batteries so energy levels are as high as possible for the final full days work.