Howesy

Colleen who James has been staying with packed us off with everthing we could need for a weeks holiday and we spent Friday night in Hermanus. Picked up Alisa and Anne on route and spent the day watching the whales off the shore. I am an appalling spotter and saw nothing for the first half an hour except a seal and a dassie (little guinea pig type animal) that was sitting on the rock next to me. Was getting a little bored, but it picked up. The Rock was another super place for food and drink Friday night...my last night out with some of the people I've spent a lot of time with over the last two months. A mellow drunkenness where everything made me laugh, should have stopped there as getting up at 6.30 for ... read more

Firework night was manic!!!! The children run around setting off fireworks and bangers in the street...I was too scared to go out after a banger went off only a couple of metres in front of me, they thought my fear was hilarious, I didn't! was fun to watch but only from the safety of indoors! Came as a shock as was having a quiet weekend with the children, spending nearly every second with lil Lulutho...he ended up falling asleep on my bed and had to be carried to his own. Thought Guy Fawkes night was an English celebration... The sun has returned and its sweltering! School is becoming more and more relaxed as the children ‘prepare’ for their exams next week…which means the teacher catches up on marking, the children sit and do nothing. Pam is ... read more

Return to Kayamandi after another awesome weekend, this time spent in Backpackers Hostel only half an hour away from Host family house, but what a difference! Moyo Restaurant on Friday night was magical, unlike anywhere I've been before. It's simply a restaurant based outside among the trees in the Spier Winelands, lit only by lanterns and fires, absolutely beautiful. There are even tables up in the trees themselves. Everyone wears traditional African dress and they come round and sing at the tables, there are bands playing, others come and paint your face. The buffet is immense...every meat from kudu, ostrich, crocodile...and five different types of fish. Each has a different sauce or relish to go with it, and there's hot and cold salads, potatoes etc. Cakes, ice-creams, sauces for buffet desert. Definitely my kind of place! ... read more

The fashion show at Zoleka’s crèche was brilliant! Apparently the children have been practicing for weeks, working on their walk and wiggle, they made so much effort with the costumes too. I ended up being one of the judges as they were let down at the last minute. Really not an easy job. Lulutho was very upset with me that he was not chosen for a prize…bless him, I’d have chosen him if there weren’t three other judges, but I had difficulty explaining this to him. We have a new addition to the family this week…baby Natasha. Lukhono, my eldest host brother, has a two year old daughter who lives elsewhere with her mother. They both came to visit at the weekend, there was a bit of commotion and the mum left Sunday morning leaving Natasha ... read more

Once again another lovely weekend back in the world of Cape Town and the West Coast. Before we left on Friday afternoon, we helped Zoleka with a fundraising campaign that one of the previous volunteers from Germany is running from home. She asked us to email her details of Zoleka and the creche she runs in Kayamandi with a few photos. Was such a lovely visit and only a stones throw away from my house so I'll definitely be going again. What a comparison with the trendy kids on the coast at Clifton Beach on Saturday! It was harder to say goodbye to the family this weekend as have become so fond of them, especially the little ones, but so lovely to catch up with everyone in Cape Town. The drumming sesh on Friday was a ... read more