Heading home !!!

I have become a health risk for AVI and ACE - the insurer, and so my assignment has been terminated and i will be heading home on 19th / 20th April.

my email is the same, but i will get a new mobile number soon after arriving in the land of OZ and i will blog it seeing as i do not have or use facebook.

sorry for no blogs for a few weeks, but i have been negotiating with AVI over this issue for some time and it has not been easy.
it feels good now that the result is clear and i can now move forward.

will be in touch in OZ.

thank you for all your support and good wishes over the last few weeks.  i needed to know you were with me on this journey.

take care of you,
much love,
Georgie
xxx

have just re-read all comments.

Thank you again for taking the time to comment and let me you know just how much you do care.  I am sorry i doubted you all when i needed you.  I love how 'strange' things like this happen because there is so much for us to learn and think about and i know that I was never alone, i just didn't have the contact I thought was best for me.  I also know that I was being looked after as I know that I will always be and always have been.

my love to you all.

**hugs**

Georgie

thanks for your concern and comments.

Thanks for all your concern.  I am feeling a thousand times better and hopefully for all readers – I am thinking better as well.

Firstly let me thank everybody most sincerely for the comments received back after my outburst and the involvement of one of my sister/cousins who decided to put links on Facebook.  Thanks Gillie.  I had an email from my sister who told me that Facebook had lit up with comments.  This made me sit up and take note.  I was so thrilled and overwhelmed at all the comments.  

I must now confess that I have felt bad about my outburst, and as I re-read it today I can see that I was just not well.  I will be continuing to do blogs….  So do keep reading.

I am still not back at work, instead, I am now in Johannesburg at the insistence of AVI.   I feel like a pawn in their game but at the same time I know they are very concerned about ensuring that all volunteers get the most superior medical care possible. They could be ensuring they do not leave themselves open for litigation in the future.   My local GP was retesting some bloods because some aspects had not returned to a level that he was happy with, so he added into that mix TB test. 

Happy to announce that I don’t have ‘consumption’ (TB).  I am now waiting to see a specialist here sometime this coming week and then I can go back to Swazi and back to the ladies.

It’s nice for a few days to be in a big city again with some great shopping and good food options also I found a great cinema today with about 4 must see movies for me.  I now have a challenge to fit them in before the specialist sees me and sends me back to Swazi.  That’s better than feeling that I am sitting around waiting.

Today I found the roof top market of handmade arts and crafts etc.  Where I came in to the market the first point of call was a special book fair – not normally there.  I only bought 5 books.  All novels.  I had been feeling a huge deficit of good reading material – that’s now fixed for a while.  Penny will be happy too – I hope - I found some of the books in the series of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency that she doesn’t have and they happen to be the next 2 that I am wanting to read.  BONUS  !!

There was heaps of very interesting arts and crafts.  I was interested in anything was significantly African and I looked for the makers to ensure they were authentic.  Some great artists there with some great work and just for me, an African drummer with several drums and a few spare seats. I had a few minutes to sit and drum.  It brought back some great memories of full moon drumming in Townsville many years ago.

I could have spent more time and Rand there, but I also needed a good cold drink.  Down off the roof top- multi story car park - I found a place that does great fresh juice, then a shop with some fresh fruit to take back for lunch.

So here I sit writing to ensure that you I am well and all is OK and I will be back in Swazi by the end of this week and then back to work.

While wondering the mall yesterday and again the markets today I have seen some great uses of the fantastic shwaeshwae fabrics.  One very talented lady is making hats with a matching clutch purse.  The hats are small and suitable for evening, weddings etc.  very inspiring.  Yesterday I saw a bunch of stuffed toys all made with shwaeshwae.  They are just cute / strange creatures all drawn by children and made with many different pieces of fabric and matching or blending threads and other bits of interesting stuff.  In October I bought a very small one of these to show the ladies, but I think it was way out of their thought process.  These women are very practical about their sewing and seem to concentrate on making things that are serviceable.  I now need to shift their focus and when I get back and we finish the dresses, I think it’s time to start to playing. 

I was talking to the Swazi AVI coordinator and she is keen to apply for some funding for us so we can get a bundle of fabrics to start with.  She also asked me to put together a list of things for each of them as a starter bundle for them.  At this stage they share scissors and machine oil and threads for their machines etc.  I am very excited about this and will be happy to work with her to get our application in before the dead line on 9^th April.

I do have some interesting times ahead to still forward to.  Lusanda keeps asking if I have started teaching the ladies to knit the dolls I make.  She has inspired me again to get them into some very different.   I get concerned when I realise that I have already done 6 months and only have 18 months left to get all these things done.  I guess the answer is  -  what are you waiting for – so get started now !!!

I like it when I write and the answers come to me. 

Time to close this and get it published .

Take care of each other and be kind to yourself.

Much love and special hugs to all.

Georgie. xxxxx

why do I spend time writing blogs ?

 it's not so that i know what i have been doing or about to do or to describe what i have seen etc.

because i already now all that information.  

i keep a journal - that i write every day or sometimes i need to catch up a few days

the journal is for me - it has all the things i do, see, feel etc. 

it is where i express everything, worts and all about my journey within Swaziland and Africa. that is the important document for me. 

so i write a blog for others to experience some of what i do, see, feel etc.  it is the abridged version with the intention of being the interesting version to read.

at the end of blog 13 i wrote that i was not well and needed to get to a doctor and find out what was wrong with me.

i wondered why i had not heard from anyone about this - except one person!

i notice today that only 1 person read blog 13.  and that person sent me an email to ensure that i was OK etc.

i thank her most sincerely as being the friend who made contact when i needed it and who was keeping in touch with what i am up to.

i now wonder if writing a blog is worth the effort.

i will maintain the journal as that is my record of all that is here for me for the 2 years.

My stay in Mbabane Private Hospital. 

I went to the doctor as stated  in last blog and then spent 5 days in hospital.

The short story is I had an outbreak of shingles in my mouth, together with bronchitis and if that wasn’t enough I fell and landed on my tail bone.  I can no longer wag my tail.  In fact I cannot do much of anything that means moving lower limbs.

I have a nice rocking chair at my house  – well padded – have no idea how I became the owner of it – but I am so pleased that it lives at my house.  It is my sanctuary and my saviour.  I can sit and rock myself off to sleep or off the planet if I try really hard.

Being in hospital in Swaziland is an experience – that I am not going to repeat.   Because I couldn’t eat or drink I was put on a drip -   it was supposed to be .9% sodium.   I didn’t see the ‘point’ in front of the 9 and even after 2 days everything was like raw salt.  I could taste and smell it and I was continuously nauseated.  My blood pressure kept rising and the staff thought I was lying when I said I am not hypertensive !!!!!

Teresa was at the bedside as much as she could manage encouraging me to eat and keeping  a watchful eye  on everything – she is a nurse.  (Thank God)   The kitchen does not have a dietician and have no idea of pureed foods and ‘NO ADDED SALT’.

I have had blood taken from every extremity now.  Both and hands and feet.  My veins have atrophied with the salt and the only place they could get blood was the back of my hands or on top of my foot.  They are still well coloured with little haematomas.

By day 5 I had done a deal with the doctor – if I could swallow my pills I could go home next day.  Up to this time all medication was being fed into the drip.  Even if I chocked, I was going home.   So on Saturday they started giving me oral medication.   I DID IT !!!

In the early hours of Sunday my drip was almost completed.  I alerted one of the staff who ignored this information.  2 hours later and too scared to sleep in case it ran out and I ended up with a vein full of air bubbles, I mentioned it again.    Still no response.  So I turned it off.   Another 2 hours later still no response -  so I removed the drip line.   It  was not noticed for another 3 hours.   Once a nurse always a nurse !!!! I couldn’t help myself.

Teresa tells me that I gave her a hard time in the first few days -  I don’t recall -  I was out to it with medication and salt.  But I am so pleased that she was watching over me in case.  In her words she would have taken me out of there and driven to South Africa if necessary.  Since I’ve been in and out of there -  The Private Hospital -  I have heard all the horror stories so I am staying well now for the next 18 months.

The doctor was actually nice to me when I left hospital.   Don’t know why !!!!!  we obviously had a mutual dislike of each other.

on discharge i was not recognizable even to myself.

the salt had made my face, hands and feet so fat, that i was sure i had a transplant during my sleepy sickness.   after a few days of total water flushes the swelling had reduced and i could see myself again.

When I was discharged, Allyson Berriero – who I had gone to Kruger with some time ago – would not let me go home to be on my own.  So I stayed at her place until she was happy that I was eating properly.  She has 2 maids and they doted on me while Allyson was at work.  They would not let me move without checking to see what I was doing -  I was allowed up for toilet reasons only. They brewed up some really tasty broths  that I ate heartedly and I think they were  under strict instructions from Allyson to feed me, feed me, feed me.  I had 3 days of this caring and then just had to go home.  It was time to be my own person again !!!

My employer, Teresa, was able to make contact with Malcolm during this time as my phone didn’t work in the hospital and even if it did I don’t think I would have been able to operate it. 

Malcolm tried to tell Teresa that I will do anything to regain my independence.   She didn’t really take him seriously until she experienced it for herself how far I will go.  We can have some good laughs now about it.  I had lunch with Teresa and her friends Monica and Robin on Friday and it was good therapy for them, they got lots of laughs and I learnt a bit more about myself.   Some worts are not so good, but I’m blaming the salt.

So while all this has been going on I hope the ladies have been behaving themselves. Of course I feel bad because they haven’t had any jobs to go on with without me.  I am not allowed back to the bush until the following week, Monday 25^th March. This week I am working from home,  I have some shopping to do and some serious cutting out  in prep for the next few weeks. 

One of the biggest tragedies of this for me was that I couldn’t go the opening of the “Women’s Voices” exhibition.  Not sure if I mentioned it before -   the gallery  YEBO was commissioned through US AID program to provide an art reach program for 20 women.  They were all Swazies with stories.  For 6 weeks they lived in Mon – Fri and did all manner of artistic pursuits -  including drama, poetry, pottery, screen printing, drawing, painting, song and dance. They constructed their own song that was released on 14^th Feb on Youtube 1 billion rising.  It was a very powerful time for them and the outcome is amazing.   The opening address was on 8^th March – International Women’s Day.  Their works will be exhibited at 2 other locations in Swaziland, but not with the full address of poetry readings and the songs. 

I  think that’s it for blog 14.  The shortest in history from me.

Take good care of yourselves and each other,

Much love from Ezulwini and me,

Georgie.   xxx

Commenced 16^th February

Just look at the date.

Where does all this time disappear to.  Maybe its being saved up somewhere and we can cash it in one day in the future.  I hope its not too far away.

I thought I should describe the car wash for you  – where you can get a husband at the same time as have your car washed.    They appear all over this country in towns and usually on a main road to attract the drivers of dirty cars.  Mine is usually covered in mud or heaps of dust after the 3 days of being out at Vuvulane and Section19.    There is often a rough sign up saying car wash and you can either see that it is because cars are being washed or there are several young lads waiting for a car.  They have a hose usually with taped over holes or joins,  several buckets, all manner of rags and cloths, a vacuum cleaner and a high pressure hose system if it’s a really flash car wash.  They all seem to have a concrete pad to take about 3 cars.  You drive on to the concrete and get out in the mud, and head for the shade to sit and wait.  They set to work and wash everything very thoroughly several times.  The high pressure hose is great for getting mud from under the wheel arches etc and for cleaning inside the doors !!! yes they open the doors and give a squirt along the runner an up in the door hinge area.  When all is cleaned outside many times, they move it from the wet area to a dry area usually under a rustic rigged up shade booth.  They vacuum and wash and clean everything inside and someone paints the tyres black.  After about an hour depending on other cars to be washed at the same time you get to pay 35 Emalangeni – that is less that $4.00 for a very clean car. I now have this luxury every Wednesday on my way home so I have a clean car for Ezulwini.

Its now 28^th Feb.

Last time I was at the Simunye car wash there was only 2 cars.  Mine and that of a very large man.  Its entertaining to sit and watch.   It appeared that the man’s car was finished.  Then one of the cleaners got in and tried to start it and it didn’t go. So they all push started it,  drove it back onto the concrete pad, left the engine running and the large man lifted the bonnet and secured it with a broom so it wouldn’t fall  on his head!  Maybe.   He got the hose and washed the engine. I was very interested in this method of cleaning!!

When he finished the engine was turned off while something else was done and guess what ???  it wouldn’t start again !!  they pushed it up little hills backwards and then another hill frontwards and they continued to do this for about 10 minutes and still it wouldn’t start.  So out  came the broom again and up went the bonnet.  They were all getting involved – the cleaners that is.  Meanwhile my car was just sitting waiting and so was I and running out of patience.  I noticed that there was about 6 heads under the bonnet, so I called to ask about my car.  He called back “in a minute”  – well Swazis do not do things by minutes it is usually much longer.  So I said now would be better – you cannot all fix that mans car.  So I had one of them come and continue my car.  The others eventually pushed again and got it going.   I may get my car washed elsewhere after that.  There is a god one in Ezulwini.

I just had to read through blog 12 to see what I had written.

We are continuing with the dresses now.  The sizes range from 12  to 5.  So they are not big.  Before we started on the next 13 I did some samples of neck line shapes with them to give them some ideas.

I have made up some basic cardboard patterns in all sizes in our range and we are working our way through the size list.  I have only 4 sewers doing this project and it takes us the 3 days I am there each week for them to complete one dress each.  All dresses are different and I am the one doing the creative designs. Loving it.  I always ask them for input and so far Jane has come up with one and so has Rose.   They are looking fabulous.  Most of their work is neat on the outside, but as yet I haven’t got them thinking properly about the inside to ensure they don’t fall apart on the first wash.

On Tuesday this week the Regional Manager of AVI paid us a visit, its her first time in Swaziland for 8 years.  I like this lady a lot.  She is American, maybe about 40 – give or take a few years, and has been involved with volunteering and humanity type of work since she was 20.  Now based in Melbourne with her husband – who only gets to see her for about 6 months of each year.   Karla visited Section 19 with our country coordinator.  They were both very impressed with the dresses and how great they looked.  Karla wants one now.  The ladies said they would make one for her and it would cost E500.  They only get E30 for these dresses as we are using it for training purposes and a special arrangement with the orphanage. 

My landlady has seen the dresses today and now she wants one too.

Karla also spent some time talking to Daran about the business side of the sewing project.  I was pleased to hear some of that, because he takes no notice of any suggestions I make.  Karla also endorsed my idea of using the African shwaeshwae fabrics and getting a regular spot at All Out Africa with our bags, especially those used by travellers and tourists, like the camera bag I have made for myself and the passport / cash bag.  I feel with her input we may be moving ahead very soon.   Karla said she was very impressed with what I have done in such a short time, and yet I still think I could have done more, but then I don’t know African people like she does.

We had lots of photos taken while they were visiting. . . . .    saying nothing !!!

After they left Section 19, they visited other locations where KuDvumisa is operating and Jenn and Ian Stephens were at one of the locations.   Karla recognised their names and thanked them personally for taking care of me and making sure I was OK and safe.   I spoke to Jenn later and she was very impressed with Karla and her personalisation and how she spoke about me.   I guess that’s why she’s the Regional Manager.

I caught up with Mkhosi last week when he came in to have his arm checked.  His surgeon etc is happy with the progress.  I have given him a squeeze ball (an AVI toy or stress buster) so he can start doing some home physio on his hand.  He has very limited movement at this stage.   Apart from limited use of his right arm, he was looking good and was good to his mother !!!!  now I have a photo on my phone, but due to the poor reception I cannot send it to myself as an email.  So next time I see him I’ll take my camera.

I’m becoming the pied piper at Section 17, I have 8 kids now all wanting to talk to me when I pull up.  And another one wants to learn Sudoku. 

The weather is very humid everywhere at the moment and still much hotter at the low-veld than in city.  Today has been pretty horrible.  Hot and humid here in Ezulwini.  I am about to have a cold shower and go to Malkerns  where Isabel works as it is her last day and she leaves Swaziland on Sunday.  She didn’t get the job in Burundi, but is in with a good chance for another volunteer posting to Zambia.  Hope she gets it, as she wants to stay in Africa for some time and I can go visit her.

With the change from wet season to being dryer, the greenness of the country is starting to turn to a golden brown.  All the grasses are seeding and as the seed heads dry they change colour.  I do miss the green though, but at the same time I am enjoying the changes and observing different behaviours of animals and birds.   The thing I miss most about Mananga is the bird life.  There was always some bird song and beautiful species to watch and admire.  But none here close to town, shame. 

 The change from wet to dry has also brought the animals at Hlane nature reserve out onto the verge to graze.  I drive through Hlane on the way to and fro.   It is very near to Simunye.  Coming home on Wednesday there was 2 very tall and very dark giraffes close enough I could almost touch them.  There was a vehicle too close to me to stop quickly, so I kept driving.   I am kicking myself now as I may not get such a close up opportunity again.     Although I am planning on taking a week off around Easter and want to spend some time at 2 of the nature reserves in Swaziland.  One will be Hlane and the other Mlilwane, close to Ezulwini.

A lovely breeze has just come in the door and it’s very welcome.

Actually I think it just left by the back door.   Damn.

Did I mention I have been learning to draw.  I decided  I needed to do something creative, and the YEBO gallery is only 5 minutes drive from me.   I have discovered that I am not a copy drawer at all.   I liked the first 2 lessons where we could just do whatever was in our head and learning what the different pencils do etc.  that was great for me to just play, then lesson 3 was to copy a picture of a man sitting in a chair, but it was upside down – as if that wasn’t bad enough we then had to do a still life!!  And not just one or 2 items, but a water jug, potted plant, draped cloth, book, newspaper folded and to add interest, the power cord with plug.   I think I have failed that lesson and I’m not looking forward to tomorrow, we have a live model to draw and he thinks that we can draw with clean lines, not the fuzzy  ones that I like.  And of course – no erasers.  Maybe I’m learning why I have never liked to copy, even with sewing, I still like to add my own personal touches to a basic pattern – be original rather copy something that is someone else’s  creation or already exists.  I think if I want a picture of a water jug and a flower pot I can use a camera, it does it perfectly, mine was a mess even the 2^nd and 3^rd attempts – they just got worse.  I know its good to challenge yourself, but give me fabric and fibre any day – I feel more at home with them.  

Its now Sunday and I managed to get through yesterdays drawing.  We had a young swazi male to draw.   First was quick draw with  him sitting on a stool reading the paper.  He then sat on the floor holding a spiderman ball.  I found this easier than still life.  So not so much failure yesterday.  Next week we start painting. 

I’m having some health issue at the moment.  Fever, lethargy, cough - going to the Doc tomorrow and I want her to test me for everything.  Malaria, TB, tick bite and HIV.  I work with these every week and I need to know I’m OK.   Don’t panic – I’ll report in as soon as I know what’s going on. 

I think that’s about it for this blog, its only a short one, but not too much happening to tell you.

Take care of yourself and each other.

Much love from me

Georgie. 

first month of 2014.

BLOG 12

The first month of 2014.

I have just read through blog 11 to see where I was up to - it is so long since writing I had forgotten some of it. Just as well I keep a record of what I’m doing hey!!

I have a few things to report in this blog

I’ll start with Mkhosi.  I never did get to see him out east, as he was eventually transferred to Mbabane hospital.  He came in on the 9^th Jan. I saw him on the 10^th.  I’ll talk about the hospital later!!  His break was a nasty one. The humerus (I can’t get a spell check – and I’m way out of body part skills – the one that connects the elbow to the shoulder!)  was snapped clean about 3 inches from the shoulder end and his arm was very dangly and another break across radius just below elbow.  He was in a back-slab cast only and awaiting surgery to pin and plate the bone.  He waited until 21^st for surgery.  As well as the break he has damaged tendons, muscles etc. as he got his arm caught in a conveyer due to loose fitting gloves and the fact that he was attempting to remove something that should not have been on the conveyer -  I guess he is lucky to have his arm!!!.    I visited him as often as possible and because of me telling him what to do etc.    He and his brother decided that I could be his mother.    I now have another son, fully grown and trained etc.   His post-surgery x-rays indicated that the bone has been aligned correctly (bit of a surprise here they tell me) and so he has gone back out east for his long recovery.  I will keep in touch and see him when I am out there for my 3 days of sewing.

The hospital - it is like nothing I have ever seen in Australia.   The King of Swaziland thinks he will achieve first world status for this country by 2022.  He’ll be lucky if he gets it by 3022.  I would not even rate the hospital as 3^rd world status.   The dereliction of the building and all surrounds is atrocious and I cannot think of another word that suits.  Filth, rust, broken walls, roofs, ceilings, railings, disgusting filthy walls and floors that are all unsafe to walk on. Everywhere you look it is the same.   Didn’t dare to take my camera with me in case I was questioned and jailed.  But unless I saw this with my own eyes I would not have believed it.  How anybody comes out of there alive is beyond my comprehension.  All equipment I saw was in a state of disrepair – either broken and fixed with tape or bandage or just hanging loose. I needed to use the stair well to access Mkhosi’s ward and I dare not touch the rails as I walked up or down.  Everywhere I went I looked up as well down and it was equally bad in all directions.  If you ever see footage of 3^rd world hospitals or clinics please believe what you see.   I am lucky that I go to the Simunye Clinic if I am out east and it is very clean and in good repair and if in town there is a private clinic / medical centre at the back of me here in Ezulwini. 

Mkhosi was happy with the care he received and that is the good thing I guess.  He was well cared for by his girlfriend as well she was there to tend to him almost 24/7.  He was operated on at the Mbabane private hospital.

WOW !!!

It’s no wonder the locals see a person from America or Australia and they work hard at getting attached so they can then go and live in the lucky countries.   I had another proposal on Wednesday at the Simunye car wash.  Victor!!!  was working very hard to get himself a meal ticket for the rest of his life.  When he realised that no was the only answer he was going to hear he became quite withdrawn and had to be consoled by his boyfriend !!!!!    YEBO  (means affirmative) – you got it.  I passed them as I was going to the car wash and they were strolling hand in hand etc. etc.  They were also waiting for a car to be cleaned.  I got the impression Anson was not happy with his boyfriend trying to get passage to Australia, unless maybe he had planned that I would take both of them back with me. 

Isabel tells me it is normal for men to walk hand in hand here and it doesn’t imply any relationship other than just friends. 

What did that guy say years ago about Australians -  ‘they’re a weird mob’    He hadn’t been to Swaziland.

Sewing group -   back to the same as last year.  Some days are diamonds and some days are stone.  Or maybe more appropriate ‘mud’.

Since our return at the beginning of Jan, I commenced them with knitting and it looked like they were enjoying it and this could be an alternative to sewing if they just can’t make the grade.  Well I have since learned that we don’t very much like knitting.  So that’s fallen in a hole.  And Teresa returned from the US with more than a large suit case of yarn.  More on that later.

I had been given a reasonably decent pile of curtain and furnishing sample fabrics and so we have been working our way through them in a creative way, designing as we go smaller bags, from clutch size to make up purse with zip tops to small over shoulder totes.  I have been amazed by Khunyisile - she has jumped outside of her square and she is the creative one of the team.  She is having a ball.  She sees a piece of fabric and knows what she wants to do but has no idea how to go about it and so we have joined forces as a pair and she is very happy and has turned out some really good work.  The others have to be shown every step including ideas of what to do with each piece.  Not a problem – I am happy to have at least one person I can ‘play’ with.

Another project is to make dresses for the orphanage that Robin commenced some years ago.  This week we made 3 proto types to get the size right – as I didn’t have any suitable patterns and just drew what I thought would fit the measurements I had managed to get.  I just wish we could stick to straight sewing as they are not good at anything with curves etc.  and dresses involve rounded areas and possible gathers etc.  I need more patience and tolerance - please send me some by return mail as much as you can find.  Thanks.

I have resorted to getting them to tack first then stitch and I guess this is how I learnt, so if it was good for me then it is good for them.  Maybe I am at fault here – wanting them to run before they can crawl.   At least 4 of these women have been sewing for 3 years and thought they knew it all before I landed on their planet.   I have tried in the gentlest way to encourage them to increase their skill so that they can increase their income potential.  I just don’t know if they get that!!!!

I have finished the 3 items we made so that I can take them to the orphanage tomorrow to see if they fit and what changes need to be made.  Once I cut the dress fabrics, all sewing will be done under supervision and slowly as this could be an ongoing opportunity for them.  They could be given the opportunity to dress the majority of the 30 children if the price is right.

The commencement back into sewing has been hindered with getting children back to school and I was warned that I would be asked to assist with school fees.  The first to ask was told very clearly and simply that I do not lend or give money – I am here to teach them how to make money and giving it is not the answer.  I was then asked in a letter to give – not lend E10,000.  I just laughed.   I think they got the message after that one.

So there we have it -   Christmas lunch was great and they showed me an aspect of themselves that was truly lovely and loving.  Now we are back into sewing mode and they seem determined to push the boundaries at every opportunity. 

I want to comment on the yarn that was donated through the churches in US.  The quality is poor – mostly acrylic and colours that are not inspiring.  Maybe they are from closet cleanouts.  My thoughts on this is that we keep them in poverty is we are asking them to always use poor quality materials that are then sold at a low price. Teresa is also coming with us on the excursion and I will point this out to her as we visit other places where they are making things that are now sold internationally – high quality and great financial rewards for the makers.   I keep saying that I want to get them to a standard where we can use the shwaeshwae fabrics because it is not being done elsewhere YET!!!   Same goes for yarn – I am happy for them to learn on second rate stuff, but we must have the quality for sales.

I have now planned our excursion for March 8^th.  International Women’s Day.  I recently visited the YEBO art gallery – just around the corner from my dwelling place.  One of the women I have met who sews and embroiders is a participant in a 6 week class called ‘voice of women’.  She had hoped that I would be able to join in this - but not possible – I’m not Swazi and it was too late to apply.   The gallery and an associated NGO got funding for this from somewhere???  There are 20 women participating who have an interest in some form of art / craft and they will be living in for the 6 weeks and doing drama, poetry, screen printing, drawing, pottery and lots of other creative stuff.  At the end of the class their work will be exhibited with an opening address at the local Royal Museum on the 8^th March.  The event will take about 2 hours and will showcase what they have done and achieved.  The ethos behind it is to encourage women to have a VOICE in their community – no matter what their community is.  Most of them are rural ladies.  I have spoken to my group about this.  They are so excited to be attending and they plan to dress in traditional gear for the day.    YES – I will have my camera!

I need to have a break now and get myself ready – going out with Teresa for a girl’s night with another 10 ladies. Need to change and get some form of eats ready to take to share.

Back in the morning.

I missed that morning and it is now the afternoon of the next day.  How time flies when you live in Ezulwini.

Have I told you I love Ezulwini?  This is the greatest place to live in this country.  It is sort of rural by location, but has a feel of elite suburbs.  It is where many people want to live but can’t.  They tell me land here is E3000 per square meter.  There is a massive home being built next to where I live and it is the home of a local doctor.   As I drive up our street I see more very large properties all looking very grand and the streets are very badly maintained and there are potholes that have several patches on top of patches.  Some of the roads are just a collection of patches and every time it rains some of the patches go elsewhere to live and so another patch will eventually appear.  It’s all good fun to watch this process.

Section 19 – where I stay on Monday and Tuesday nights.

Bongiwe is an employee of KuDvumisa Foundation in the CHIPS program. She rents a 2 bedroom ‘unit’ from RSSC – Royal Swaziland Sugar Company.  Section is in amongst the cane growing area and only about 6 kms from where I work.  The can around it is ready to be cut soon and so it is difficult to see there you are driving except for the road ahead and the sky above.  There is no other view.  Just as well I know where I am going !!!.  It is a funny unit. As you enter the only door it appears that you are in a corridor – at one end is the kitchen and the other end is the bathroom.  From the ‘corridor’ you have access to the two adjacent bedrooms.  That is it!!!  That’s the unit.  The corridor IS dining and lounge etc.  Bongiwe has a large TV and we watch it from our bedrooms.  She has no chairs of any sort so we sit or lay on our beds for eating, talking, typing etc.

The first week I was there I was sitting outside – I had taken a chair from my previous residence to use as a bedside table !! – I was outside with my chair as it was cooler in the breeze and I was doing Sudoku.  I was eventually joined by 5 young people who were so curious they couldn’t contain themselves any longer.  They had run or walked past me about 20 times before one got game enough to stop and she was about 6yrs, munching on a mango as they do – skin and all.  She leant against me as though I was her GOGO – grandmother.  She doesn’t speak English, so our conversation was limited.  Once I had her there the others joined and were curious about me and what I was doing.  About 100 questions later, I started to show the older ones the art of sucked-in!  (Sudoku!)

2 of them sort of got it and then demanded that I must get them a book each like mine and bring it to them.  This is a cultural way of saying what you want. No holds barred!!  They just come out with it.   I tried to explain in my terms that I MUST NOT !!!   But I will if I choose to.  I kept them on a promise to be good or there is no book and I will talk to the parents to make sure they have been good.    I now have the books and we will do a puzzle or 3 together before I hand over to them. They are delightful kids and I will get their names this week when I am there.   And a photo !!!

We are in the horrible humid season that will continue for another 2 months I am told.  Some days are like being in a sauna, especially at Section 19.  Last week after 3 days of perspiring many litres of fluid and drinking about 3 – 4 litres and hot nights sleeping with a fan I came home exhausted.  On the journey home I stopped at Simunye to get fuel, have the mud remove from the car, pick up another potential husband and get some energy food from the store.  I had two bottles of cold drink and a small bag of wine gums for sugar.  They were gone before I had driven 40 kms. But it got me home.  Thursday I was a bit washed out and did only what was necessary like finishing the dresses.

They were all OK and so this week the girls can be making dresses for real.  I talked to the staff about teaching the young ones to sew.  They were very interested and so I will talk to Robin about a sewing and knitting class for the girls and boys if they are interested.

I almost forgot to report on our volunteers’ brunch on 12^th Jan and Phophonyane Falls.

(I have some photos, but not downloaded yet from camera.  You know this could mean having one of those slide evenings when I return.   I can hear you all shuddering!  OK I’ll promise to get some time to down size photos so I can attach them.)

The journey took about 1.5 hrs and we left my place at 1.00am.  There was only 5 of us. Isabel, Liz, John, me and Lusanda (AVI country coordinator).  Our booking had been made for breakfast and we all wanted lunch because of the time we arrived. They would not change as all the food had been set out for us.  The place was so peaceful.  And it sort of appeared in the bush from nowhere.  To get there were many kms of dirt, mud roads in not very good nick.  I was pleased not to have my little car for this journey.  We were in Isabel’s CRV. The grounds off the resort were like a lush oasis and so beautiful on the eye.  Everywhere we looked the grass was recently manicured and was so lush, numerous tropical palms and other plants.  All around us was rain forest type vegetation.  The buildings were very rustic, mud and bamboo huts with thatched roof tops and some very quaint interior layout and designs.  All very secluded from each other.  The dining area was both inside and outside for weather conditions, we had a lovely setting outdoors overlooking the pool.   After breakfast and many pots of coffee we went for walks to find the falls.  It had been raining for some time on and off over the preceding weeks so there was a lot of water coursing down over the rocks.  Not enough for rafting but quite noisy and fast flowing.  Some of the scenery was beautiful and some of the tracks were tricky, I didn’t think to wear sensible walking shoes so I didn’t go as far as the others did.  Instead I found a seat in the garden where I could just sit and take in the ambience of the place.  It was easy to connect with nature around me and at the same time, difficult to realise that I was in jungle type mountains of Africa.  After our walk we headed for the pool area and made ourselves at home on the cane chairs for a refreshing cool drink and a chat before heading back to the city life.

Isabel took Liz and myself to the Pigs Peak craft place before we went back to town.  I think we all did some shopping there.  Most of the craft places where the same as those in Ngwenya.  I purchased some woven flowers in sisal, very talented craftsperson’s made them.  I also got a small woven basket. 

We eventually got home about 4 ish and had a great day out together. 

It has been thundering now for about an hour and I’m patiently waiting for the rain. 

Where I sit at my table in my unit I am near the main door into the unit and the window of the lounge/dining.  I have a direct view of the house being built next door, but if sit on an angle I can see the building site for the US embassy and in particular the 2 huge cranes.  On Thursday I watched them in action for some time, quite entertaining!!  Especially when the whistle went at 5pm and 4 little men came out of the boxes at the top and crawled down the ladders to the ground.  From where I sit they like toys, some going fast and some slow.  The slow ones need energizer batteries.

It must be time to finish now, I’m getting silly.

That’s it for another week or 3.

Love to you all.  I hope your year has started well and will continue to be well for you.

Hugs all round.

Georgie xxx