Home is getting nearer and excitement is growing, less than two weeks to go. My intention was to slow down a little with visits, however many people wanted to experience the feeding stations and come out with Beatrice and me.

On Monday we visited a mother whose baby was a few days old and had just been discharged from Bwaila. This mother was a well known psychiatric patient but unfortunately what was not realised till after the baby was born, that in actual fact she had killed her previous two babies. We learnt this from the nursery staff who informed us of the history and now the baby had gone home with the aunt. Beatrice and I arrived at the village only to discover that the mother herself had the baby not the aunt! We had a long chat firstly with the grandfather. His granddaughter, the mother, had killed her first child of a few months by dumping her into a metal drum which contained metal tools. The baby bled to death. The second child she strangled. This was all very scary. The mother was aware of her condition and that the baby was at risk and better in an orphanage. The family could do very little to help as the mother was frequently aggressive and often violent. We talked at length to the family and the mother. Two other sisters were also psychiatric patients. Of course we had to move quickly to have the baby removed. We took the grandfather all dressed in his shirt and tie and went to the local authority welfare office to report this case. Fortunately we had a meeting with a senior officer who was going to immediately start the process to remove the child and find a place in an orphanage. Also Beatrice was going to find out about getting her sterilised, she was already on medication and getting follow up.

It has now been five days since our visit and Beatrice has been in close contact with the welfare office. This weekend the baby was being taken into care. I am sure this situation is not unusual as community care and referring is unheard of in Malawi. It is all very frightening.

My routine of visiting the orphanage and the feeding stations continues and all is going well.

The carpenter Wilford had a fall this week and hurt his knee, so the birthing bed for Mrs Msumba is a few days behind. He is better now and promises me it will be ready on Monday.

During the week I have been spending time with a wonderful lady from Scotland whose name is Betty Cunningham. Betty came first to Malawi two and a half years ago and has since set up The Betty Cunningham International Trust. Her passion is with the children of Kaponda which is an area of villages about a one hour drive from Lilongwe. Betty has built a nursery school, a clinic and a nurse house and a preschool feeding station. She now has a dream of building a school near by.

Iain and I visited the area today to see the work that had been done. Betty is from Glasgow and has the genuine warmth and motherly care combined with the determination and single mindedness it takes to succeed. With these qualities Betty has gained the respect and love from the many people whose lives she has touched. The children call out ‘Ma Betty’ as she passes. She also receives massive support and following from the people at home in Glasgow.

I saw Janet and Jennifer the twins this week and will visit again next week to say goodbye. Granny is very happy with her new roof although I must say the smell of wood fixer is still quite strong inside. There were extra bricks made so that she can build a small kitchen outside where she can build and use a fire without smoking up the hut. MUMs are going to support this special granny with help in feeding and looking after these babies. Beatrice will visit monthly. The granny Veronica is doing a wonderful job and it will be a dream to see these beautiful children grow up, well and health.

There is always a worry what would happen to them if Veronica became ill? Or died? I think I would rush over to Malawi and bring them back to Edinburgh so we could all share in their care and give lots of love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!