Day in Ledumang

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Immigration & Kenya Airways CC’S overnight score remained, 5 - 0.
That’s just not cricket.
The defiant overnight partnership comprising of the talented siblings, Adrian and Kit ... Bags, were back at the crease, each resolutely assuming a character not dissimilar to the gritty tenacity of Meerkat’s table manner: a determined, quasi-permanent presence, that virtually no, one or no thing, not even the single-shot grape withering glare of Veronique, could dismiss.
So we sent in our best. Adrian S and our leader, the boss, big Will, the Big Willy....erm ... to try to retrieve our dignity and tame the rebellious Bags’ brothers.
While CWB’s Strike Bowlers flanked to the Airport, the remainder of the team focused in on the principal task at hand: the ensuing day in the outfield. This consisted of a trip to Ledumang, a local government-run school, just ten minutes drive from our base in central Gabs.
We arrived on Botswana time....apart from me, that is. I was kindly treated to an unguided and impromptu tour of several other local schools en-route by our geographically-challenged-and proud-of-it photographer, Rafael, who, despite his mercurial lack of logistical talent, proved a dab hand with his Nikon from thereon.
The morning session saw us coaching the school’s teachers; and, as one unnamed CWB member remarked, it was fantastic to see some old faces (and some familiar ones too). The teachers plied their natural skills superbly, and adapted quickly to coaching the small group sessions, which consisted of batting, bowling and catching, enthusiastically delivered by Mike with his trademark dynamism, and intriguingly elastically facial expressions that helped to capture the audience, and convey every tip. Only Miss Morris’s masterful delivery of the quick catching lesson could par Mike’s professionalism.
The afternoon saw the arrival of the kids. Boy, did it! All 8 million of them, each bursting with the energy of a small solar storm; which, incidentally, reflected the “yikes-hot” weather we were experiencing. After indulging the enthusing bundles of energy disguised as kids in the same three skills sessions as the morning, we moved swiftly into the day’s main event: the match. Never have I seen such natural sportsmen and women. There were eight year-old fast bowlers seaming it like Shoji, and junior fielders hurling-in the ball like Jonty. It was quite amazing to see!
We wrapped up the day with a group photo in front of the stunning soft-purple of the Jacaranda blossom, before dusting the red earth from our.. everywhere, and heading back to base camp for a well earned cool down in the pool.
In all, a successful day. Kids taught - 88. And, to top it off, the wicket of the infamous Kit Bags, as Big Will returned triumphant with four satchels brimming with Kit. Unfortunately, Adrian’s bag remained elusive, but Immigration & Kenya Airways CC are down to their last man. Bring on the third day.
Chris B.

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Comments

[Linda Stratford]

blogging rocks!
It's brilliant hearing what you're up to each day..can almost feel the sweat running down my face, the dust in my eyes, ears and just about everywhere else and the sheer exhaution at the end of the day that just makes you smile when you consider what you've acheived..and that first beer mmm. You've probably guessed how much I wish I was there too my cwb trip to Kenya taught me so much (mostly about myself!) Keep up the good work..good luck on the bag front Adrian..think I'll have a beer.. just to toast you lot of course!