For those of you that helped with the orphanages in Cambodia you will remember this little lot.

Well my Mum had been given some money from very good friends in England and we knew this was where it would be best used.

Jez and I were amazed to be recognised by the children, after all it was 9 months ago we had last seen them and we had only visited twice. Photographs of us were in the hall way and in between big hugs they took us to them, pointing saying "you, you!". The predicament we were able to get them out of, stopping their imminent eviction, certainly made an impression.

That was then

Before we left Cambodia we designed posters and put them around the backpacker hostels requesting volunteers, financial support and donations of clothes food etc. They clearly had been blessed with help as their clothes were individual and bright, not just seconds of the same line from a factory, they were not so wary of strangers shying away as they had when we first met them. They happily hugged my Mum and John and were excited to show us that they no longer slept on the floor but had proper beds.

This is now

We requested that they money be used for food, ensuring that they were able to eat fruit and vegetables with their rice. It is almost impossible to buy educational toys in Cambodia so Jeni and my Mum had managed to pack their rucksacks with a few. We gave them books, jigsaws and games hoping that the volunteers would be able to make good use of them.

Cambodia has a little peice of my heart and I think it always will. Saying goodbye to my sister, then my mum and this place all at once was a hard one. I'm sure more than one of us will be back.