Lekker!

So I am here sending my christmas and new year wishes to everybody - slightly late I must say but a long time with no internet and power cuts almost daily doesn't help! I will pick up from where I left off.

So Thursday 22nd December 2012 I will forever as the day we said our final goodbye to our baby boy, just four months of age. It was a lovely funeral, a world away from the ones Im used to. His mother and grandmother attended the funeral, and I have to admit I had a misconception that his mother did not care. Of course, any mother, no matter the circumstances, would be affected by loosing their child. We showed her a few pictures we had of her son, the son she never saw and her cries will ring in my eyes for a long time. An emotional yet joyful day. Joyful because he is now with the Lord.

That sunday was christmas as we all know and what a day! On christmas eve I got to be Santa's little helpful filling the toddlers stockings and wrapping the few presents we bought for the babies. Obviously we don't go overboard with christmas as we have 18 children here at present but they each got little things.

There were 35-40 people at the supper table that evening - all Mark and Chris's family and loved ones. Was such a great time to spend with many different people and they shared presents between themselves which was nice to see.

Maggie, the other volunteer, then left on holiday with her family for 2 weeks which left little old me on my own for 4 days before the new volunteer arrived. As you can imagine I didnt get much time to stop but was great, we still had family coming and going, and the children were good as ever.

That thursday we also recieved news of a NEW premature baby girl who would be joining Tshepo Ya Bana! She weighed just 1,6 kg and is so beautiful. Looking at her and seeing her progress these last few weeks she is doing excellent and started drinking just 25ml... now we are making bottles of 60ml!!

Most of the family had left by this time but one of their daughters who lives in South Africa stayed for the whole wek with her 3 children ages 18, 16 and 14. And they were brilliant fun as they played guitar (so we did lots of jamming) and played lots of games and watching movies together which was awesome.

That saturday on new years eve more fmaily came up to the farm so we had a big Potjie (three infact!) one Impala, one Chicken and one spicy chicken. Again we had around 30 people at the supper table then we shared some time around the bonfire and singing.

The last few weeks were getting back into the routine of things as more and more volunteers have been coming (thank goodness!). Auntie Arika arrived from Holand and also a couple who have been here previously came to help out also and they are from New Zealand. I have met them many times before and they are a great couple and stayed 10 days will Maggie returned from her holiday.

On 4th January we had another volunteer arrive from Holand also he called Ruben and has been travelling around SA lately. And saturday just passed we had ANOTHER volunteer arrive called Tine who is from Belgium. Right now we are having 5 volunters which is fantastic help.

Besides the news about the premature baby the children are the same as ever, we have started to potty train our two-year-old and he is fantastic! Doing brilliantly (she says after having to clean up a rather nasty suprise in his pants this morning) yet besides that he is picking it up super quick.

One of the toddlers has also been making me laugh lots and lots - the other day we were outside and the wall was sizzling hot and when he touched it he asked 'Auntie why is it so hot?' I replied 'Well, it is because of the sun.' After some deep thinking he turns to me and says 'Auntie Gemma. The sun is a little bit naughty.'

And the other morning when I was on first shift, I had finished all the baths and dressing them all and just crashed out on the couch with a big sigh and he comes and sits on my lap. He rests his head on my shoulder and shortly after he lifts his head and says 'Auntie, Im not sleeping Im just resting up!' Brilliant! I replied 'Dont worry, me too!'

The other week on my day off I also got lucky and managed to get a lift into Pretoria for the evening and stayed at a friends house and was going to get a lift home the next day. It was great, my second night out in 6 months! We went to a nice bar in town and the next day we walked their dogs, he showed me around some of the places in Pretoria etc. Was nice to meet people and get out for a while!

This time next week I will also be on a plane! I am travelling to Cape Town for 9 days and then will be spending my birthday weekend in Pretoria with friends. Can't wait - a well earned break I feel! My flight home has also been arranged for 24th March but I will be elaving Tshepo Ya Bana on the 14th and hoping to travel and see some people before flying back to the UK.

I will update you all next tine on my holiday and travels!

Sending all my love to you and hope your festive seasons were full of joy!!

Brap! xxxxxx
P.S Happy birthday to Josie and Rachel and Guy and Lee and any others that have slipped my mind just now! Love you all tons and tons!