First Things First

First things first, I would like to say sorry for being so rubbish at updating this. Its been quite a hectice few weeks as you are probably used to me saying!

Well the thursday just after my last blog, I went down with a high fever and feeling very unwell. Luckily the next day I managed to get taken to the doctors, who was really helpful and only cost 200 Rand (Just short of 20 pound) and gave me antibiotics and other drugs because I had gone down with another bad throat infection.

So after a couple days rest by the sunday I was back on my feet again. By this time Saskia, my roommate, and the other volunteer from Holand had to say goodbye to us all. As she drove off in the car, the children just all had sad, blank faces!

Then the week after Amy's boyfriend came to visit here for a week and now they are spending a week in Cape Town. So it was nice to have another face at the meal table and the older boys loved playing with an older guy.

Last friday was my day off and went for a run on the farm, and all of a sudden an Ostriche comes out the bush running at me, then froze and ran the other way.Considering they are meant to be very quick, they look hilarious when they run. On my day off I also did lots of cleaning my bathroom, and washing - not so fun! But I got to speak to my whole family on skype!

It was so lovely, they were having a big barbeque for my baby cousin who just turned one years old! It makes me very sad to think I missed out, and got quick emotional, but they are all well and healthy and was lovely to talk!

But sadly after telling my parents that i was finally back to good health, I then went down ill again on monday. So have spent yet again another 3 days in bed, and on some more antibiotics. Sadly because of the glandular fever my immune system is completely wiped, but Mark and Chris keep assuring me when the summer comes and its less dry and dusty it will be much better.

Its quite crazy to think it has only rained here once so far, in my 6 weeks of being here!

But unfortunately it was the worst week for me to have a couple days in bad, because we now only have 2 volunteers and myself (Amy is on holiday for a week in Cape town). So it means you are alone for 2 hours at a time with 6 children, and sometimes even the 4 babies (though we do have a staff work monday to friday to take care off the 4 babies).

Today has been very hot, you really notice the heat in the day now. Its getting into late 20's early 30's, but everyone keeps assuring me this is only winter - wait for summer. So Im getting a little cold feet (excuse the pun!) but it lovely to be in the sunshine everyday. Although saying that, two weeks ago we had a bad couple days full of storms and lightening. One evening there was an incredible storm and the lightening filled the sky - I even crept into Kirstins bed because I was a little nervous which is very unlike me! But they are very different out here as you can imagine. But Mark tells me they get 3 times worse, and one time lightening hit a tree just outside the fence and has killed many animals and cattle before.

But it meant we lost power for a day, so that was fun trying to feed everybody because we had no microwaves or anything so couldnt even make a sandwich because we keep stocked up on bread in the freezer so couldn't even defrost the bread to eat! Im told summer this is a common occurance. But the thunderstorms are mesmerizing!

Ermmm, what else has happened... oh...

Last night we got the chance to go on a night game drive! The gentleman on a farm across the road called Derek runs a lodging and restaurant, and does game drives around the local farms. Me and Kirstin went for free! (Kirstin is Mark and Chris adoptive daughter) She herself has never been so that just shows how rare it is to get the chance!

So we hoped on his big safari truck, in the freezing night air and Nhlanhla (one of the big boys) came with us. There was 3 other people who live on local reserves and another couple. It was amazing we left about 8.30pm and got back at 11pm. We saw virtually everything but Rhino's!!

Wildabeasts, Impalas, Jackals, Zebras, and beautiful baby boy giraffe! He was beautiful and so elegant as he walked through the bush at night. We just each held a huge torchlight to search for them ourselves, so we had to shout 'Stop!' if we saw some eyes. Derek even stopped over a local river, and we all sat and drank hot coffee, which was so nice as it was so cold! The dry dusty weather makes your nose and throat so dry its horrible.

Today we had some local visitors from the Prestige School, which is the same school the big boys go to. A class are taking it in turns to ceom in small groups and visit for a few hours. Its nice to have them to play with the children, but it also makes thing a lot harder because they children go crazy, we had Koki sleeping in the lounge, Kamo falling asleep on someones lap, Lebo (8 months) was crying his eyes out anytime anoyone came over because he doesnt like strangers so you had to hold him all day. So made our work a little harder!

Its only me and Kirstin in the cottage and the moment, and we were warned yesterday by Mark and Derek that Derek and another farm opposite had a break in. Intruders trying to cut the electric fence. Though Im told they didnt go in the house, just stole things off the property that they could sell. So we are being extra cautious to put things away and lock the door at night. Especially when my bedroom window is 10 metres from the fence!

Anyway its time for my break to end, earlier I was just sat outside in the sunshine listening to music but could only stay for 10 minutes as its so humid and the sun is blazing! You have to be very careful!

Apart from that the children are fine and enjoying the walks and sunshines, we are still trying to get one of them to walk - he's a lazy boy!

P.S. We hope to get the swimming pool up and running in a couple weeks - cant wait!!

P.S.S Just realised I haven't updated you on my visit to Mama Catherines and explaining all about what she does. Will do that hopefully in the next few days - and show you a couple pictures if I can get it to work!