Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde (first day - afternoon) - Photographing the children who would like to have "godparents"; the handing out of a few more presents; dinner at Marlene's - The 24th of March 2016

I ended up photographing a few children who would like to have "godparents" and I feel eventually get some toys. The problem is not getting them some and even some new colourful clothes, but being able to transport them. 

Though I kept on saying I couldn't promise them anything I'd like to be able to meet some of their expectations and not let them down. I'll have to find a way out, I know but I'll give my best to solve the problematic circunstance arising from the lack of space and the probable overweight when I travel there next time

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Marlene, whose cooking skills had us all mesmerised the previous times we stayed at Miramaio came around to tell us she was pregnant and not working at the pension anymore (which we had already noticed) and upon having suggested she would cook something for us we proposed we would then pay her approximately what we were used to pay her before.

We soon noticed we wouldn't be able to hand out many more presents because it was getting darker and  therefore a lot more difficult to take outside photos, so we called off the handing out having postponed it to the following day afternoon though I still managed to hand Djamila hers once she had finally got herself a "godmother", Sandra.

Having noticed the mayor's car was outside his new house, just behind the pension I ventured across so as to thank him and his wife for having provided us with the transport from the capital city but by the time I had walked those few metres the car was gone and nobody was in.

I had worked all afternoon with Noelle beside me and was convinced we had handed out a lot more presents than we actually did, because by the time we had counted the number of presents lying on the floor of our bedroom there were still 64 to be distributed.

We were collected by Marlene's eldest daughter Leiziny because the family was no longer living in the same rented house I had been to before, and prior to having sat at the table to have dinner I insisted on handing out the presents, firstly to Edeson, whose "godmother" is my own daughter Mia, and the others afterwards.

Edeson with the presents bought by Mia (left) and Noëlle's (right).

It was then Veronica Conceição's turn  to see what Marta had sent her, followed by Leiziny.

Leiziny opening up the presents sent by her "godmother" Adelaide.

Marlene was the next one to receive hers because the truth is no one who ever gets in touch with this particularly talented young lady, whose life has been rather difficult, can forget her. Those who have travelled with me to Calheta over the years might have forgotten some of the local people's names but they often (if not almost always) ask about Marlene.

Under normal circumstances we would have stayed over ata her place talking but it was clear to us she looked exhausted, so we left soon after dinner.

Amongst some of her children's photos in the dining room I came across one of my daughter's.