my daily friend

Merry Christmas

BLOG  10.

YEAH !!!   WOW  !!!! and HURRAH !!!!  

I have a permit to stay in Swaziland until 6^th December 2015.      I am due to leave here on 14^th Sept 2015 as that is the end of my 2 year assignment.  So I am well covered.  The Permit was approved on 6^th and I collected it on 12^th   and it ONLY took 3.5 hours in the immigration dept. most of that time was standing in lines waiting for my turn to pay the E2400.  It has taken me 4.5 pages in my journal to record the story.  I just wish I could have videoed it.  You wouldn’t believe it.

 I have now been out of the country and into South Africa twice and passed the border control point where I was introduced to special treatment for foreigners.  All was calm and peaceful on these 2 occasions.

It feels so much better, being legally present in a foreign country.

Now I need to think about the past fortnight and what has happened and where I have been etc.

Let’s start about the time publishing the last blog,,   on the following Monday 9/12  I drove Daran’s ‘Bakkie’ to work.  A Bakkie is anything that may resemble a ute !!  if it can transport huge loads all tied on with thin cord it’s a bakkie.   Daran has a Nissan dual cab, therefore limited ute space.  Anyway I didn’t have much to bring into town.  It was such a different experience to drive the 150kms to work in such a big vehicle.  My little GSV was left at home so that Mr Shongwe, Penny’s friend, the bush mechanic, could do a service on it.

We had a pretty good and productive day of sewing and then it was time for me to head to Mananga college,  I was on the road, very muddy and pleased to have this big vehicle until -  to my horror realised that I had left the keys to the house in MY GSV – now 150kms away.   After many calls to get hold of the maintenance crew – they did manage to find a key for me to one of my doors.  PHEW !!!  I didn’t want to drive back to Mbabane just to collect a key. 

It was raining Monday and Tuesday, I worked again on Tuesday with the ladies.  It rained again Tuesday night.  Then on Wednesday morning, it was still overcast, but thankfully no sign of rain. I started to pack all that was left in my house.  My bed went to Nomsa’s house temporarily until Bongiwe has access to her house in Mhlume.  I will be staying at her house on Monday and Tuesday nights when I am back at work in January.  Hence I need the bed with linen and a fan.

Nomsa had arranged for one of the men in our complex to assist to load the fridge onto the bakkie and then us girls loaded and ‘secured’ all the rest.  Bookcase, tables, chairs, storage boxes and all the kitchen stuff.   We stopped about 3 times to resecure the load as it kept moving while we were on the gravel/dirt/mud roads for 14 kms. 

I now have ‘stuff’ stored in many rooms of the Rehmeyer’s house and before they return I will need to sort it out and try to get it all in one location.

The following day I got my permit, almost a full day exercise and later I had dinner with one of the volunteers, Isabel, who lives in Ezulwini.   Isabel is leaving us at the end of February and hopefully taking up a paid job in another country in Africa, Burundi.  Her last interview is at the end of January.  Fingers crossed for her.

I like her unit and where it is located and have let the landlady know that I am interested to move in after Isabel leaves.   Ezulwini  - the word in Swazi means Heaven.     How cool to live in heaven for 18 months of my stay here.  Ezulwini is an area that I have sort of looked at longingly as I drive between Mbabane and Mananga.  My first 3 nights in Swaziland were spent there at Timbali lodge.

It is the centre of art and craft, hospitality and tourism and seems like just the perfect place to be.  The unit is at the back of the BEST shopping centre in Swaziland and has a cinema. ‘The Gables’. Adjacent to the shopping precinct is a huge building under construction for the US Embassy.  It is surrounded with screens, privacy and security.   I will need to go past it to get to my unit.  I feel that it will be a very secure location.  The unit is at the end of a house, using the same secure gated entrance then drive to the left for my entry.  Isabel tells me it is a lovely place to live.  Penny was upset when I had to tell her of my change, which I had expected, but this time I need to be where I am the most comfortable, at ease and the bonus is it is my choice.

I can stay on at the Rehmeyer’s until I move and will occupy the underneath room and now that the dogs are my friends, I can come and go without being considered breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Bear, the scary dog, eats from my hand now and loves carrot.

A very important event for all of Africa, but mostly South Africa was the passing of Nelson Mandela.  I have kept some newspaper cuttings from here as some of the stories really touched me.  I sort of felt privileged to be here at this time.  I think the entire country lives in the hope that his legacy will be upheld although the current President seems to be very different to Nelson. 

It has been so perfect for me to have SKYPE access and to have experienced a few conversations with familiar faces and voices over the last week or so.   Thanks to all who have been available to chat with me so far and for all others, let’s do it soon.   I have 3 weeks left of this luxury.

Since being in town I have made contact with people of interest to the ladies and their sewing, like the Swazi arm of Fair Trade and a group called Gone Rural and hopefully that will lead to others.  I have been told of organisations that may be worth contacting and of course there is a zip manufacturer in Matsapha, near Manzini.  I am on the lookout for what sort of craft there is here, especially in the area of easy sewing that would suit my group.  I may be traveling around a bit early January for this purpose.  There is some interesting time ahead for me and the girls.  I would like them to accompany me to some locations so they can also see what others are making and creating to get them inspired from external sources to really strive to reach their goal of financial independence.

On Tuesday 17^th the sewing ladies of Section 19 and their teacher had a Christmas lunch.   It was unlike any other Christmas lunch I have ever experienced. Without actually being there and experiencing the atmosphere and hearing and seeing all that happened it will be hard for you, the reader to fully grasp it.  I will give it my best shot to give you the feel of it, because it was so special.

I left Mbabane at 8.00am and the entire top of the mountain was in thick cloud.   The road out of town, major highways / 4 lane, was treacherous and very scary.  Most vehicles travelled slowly and with their hazard lights on until we got done low enough that we were out of the cloud area.   As I got closer to the lowveld it was becoming clear, blue skies and a promise of a good day.  I first went to Tambankulu to have my nails done – pretty colour to match my outfit.   I was wearing black and white African print skirt with a hot pink t-shirt and matching cotton scarf.  I now have hot pink nails.

I arrived at Section 19 at 12.00 which was pre-arranged.  Most of the ladies were there on the sewing veranda and were all aghast as I drove in.  It took me a while to work out why.  They had never seen me dressed any other way than for work and no makeup.   I noticed that the veranda and surrounding area had been cleaned very well, but there was no preparation of the foods we were to eat – it was all on the table!!  I did wonder what time we would eat.

I unloaded my car.   Christmas cake, 4 large bottles of soft drink, a bag of oranges, apples and bananas.    On the table there was 3 chickens, killed, plucked, beheaded and be footed, although these walky, talky parts were in the same container.  Jane seemed to be in charge and commenced to clean the chickens thoroughly in water that looked very clean.  I didn’t dare where it came from.  The chickens were put on the board and Jane and Rose started to cut into cooking size pieces, maybe not as keenly jointed as we may do, but similar.   Any thicker parts that may require more cooking time were cut /scored for this purpose.  I was invited to cut up the last of the 3 chickens.  They were testing me to see if I could be a Swazi woman. While this was being done Nonhlanhle and Khunyisile sat on the edge peeling the tiniest cloves of garlic until they had about ¾ of cup.   They handed this over to Khumbuzile who put them onto an enamel plate, sprinkled with salt and then crushed with the bottom of a glass jar to blend into a paste.    Who needs the kitchen whizz???

All the chicken pieces were covered with the garlic paste and set aside for a while.   Mean-time, Nonhlanhle had the braai going (the open pit smouldering wood – with a heavy wire grate over it).

A huge bowl of lettuce, tomatoes, onions and capsicum were then washed thoroughly and inspected closely.   Once done I was asked to break up the lettuce into bite size pieces and put into a bowl while 2 others then sliced all the tomato.  I was also given the onions to cut !!!!   another test.

Once all these ingredients were ready, Jane asked me to mix them together. There was as much tomato as there was lettuce.  Everything was salted as it was washed and no dressing used, just the juice from the tomato.  It was actually a delicious salad.  Who needs oil, vinegar etc.??

The chickens went around the corner to the braai and the salad was covered with a large plastic bag. 

Time is marching on – it’s now about 1.45pm.   nothing was going to happen until the food was cooked and I noticed that there were signs of hunger and it was not just me. 

I suggested that we have a cold drink and a piece of cake while we wait.  Brilliant idea. No cups !!!!   Of course I didn’t think to bring something to drink from.  Someone produced a pile of empty 500ml drinking bottles that were thoroughly washed and we decanted from the 2 litre bottles into smaller ones.  Brilliant!   I cut cake and little bodies seemed to appear from nowhere.  I made sure all the ladies had a piece of cake, generous size and then I went for a walk around the complex with a plate of smaller pieces and gave every child a piece of cake with really thick fondant icing -  a good sugar  hit for all.  There were a few other adults there as well so they all got a piece. 

I had bought all the ladies a scarf like mine and all different colours.  I got them to choose their own colours and that seemed to be the best thing to do, because had I chosen it would have been a different picture entirely.   They were all worn immediately and many photos taken with lots of laughs and nonsense.

Without a drop of alcohol the party mood was in full swing and the atmosphere was so friendly and warm and fabulous.  I kept checking on the cooks to make sure they were not feeling left out. 

It happened about 2.45pm  the food eventually came off the braai and was delivered to the table. 

I must back track.   Ncamsile made a gravy!!!   In the 3 legged cast iron pot – it has a name – but I didn’t write it down – she put in the walky talky parts and the innards of the chickens with some onion, garlic, tomatoes and something with a bit of a kick and some water.  The pot went into the braai.  Jane had also prepared some ‘pap’.  That is mealie meal (made from Maize)  it is made like a porridge totally without flavour!.  Its just white stuff that fills you up.

Now all food is on the table.   We are all gathered around the table and I asked Jane to do the prayer.  These ladies are all Christian and prayer is normal practice to them.   A she was about to open her mouth a man came along and wanted to buy air time for his phone.  Jane left, and so did Nonhlanhle, not sure why.    I looked at the others and asked what now???   Ncamsile started to sing a Christmas song in SiSwati and they all joined in. They natural sing in beautiful harmony. It was fantastic to be with them.  Khumbuzile started another one that includes hand gestures and some dance type moves.  Well I could not do the words, but I could copy the hands and feet part.  It was fun and I created some laughs for them.  When Nonhlanhle and Jane returned, Jane did the last verse of this one in English for me.  It was such a treat to be in the company of these women and so happy and just all big smiles and happy faces, no one sad or miserable or bickering.  

After the singing Jane did her prayer -  she is training to be a pastor.  Jane spoke in SiSwati, but it was easy to get the thread of her prayer, a thanks for everything in front of us and beside us and for our teacher.   I noticed that a couple of the ladies had wet, red eyes.   I tried to respond but was a little choked and so I waited until I could speak.  We all hugged and then ate.    The chicken was FANTASTIC,   try it sometime…..     the salad delicious,  pap – filling and the gravy just perfect.   The ladies all had something on their plates from that pot other than just gravy.

All the food went somewhere -   there was only 8 of us and it was all eaten or a piece kept for a partner or a child.

We finished the drink and I cut up the last half of the cake. After we each had another I cut smaller pieces.  The children were watching from a distance and as soon as I walked to the edge of the veranda and called them I was surrounded by all these cute little faces.   They were so happy to have a second bite of the cherry so to speak and again I went for a walk to make sure that Sister got another piece.

Without a doubt, those few hours will be one of the most memorable moments of my time in Swaziland.  So many hugs and smiles and laughs and great food and the best company.  I was then able to do my little talk and thanked them for making the day one to remember for a life time and for them to be my Swazi family especially as I could not be with my own family. They have made me very proud of them all.

I left with tears and dropped Rose and Khumbuz at their stop.

Alas the roller coaster continues……   

Thursday I was to have a meeting with the AVI coordinator at 11.00am.   I left the house in plenty of time, drove about 500 meters and my car stopped !!!!  tried starting it and it would not stay running. I noticed a smell of petrol and so I abandoned that plan, rolled it back down the hill until I could get it off the road safely.  Walked back to get another vehicle from ‘our personal car yard’.  Took the bakkie to town for the meeting and shopping and in the meantime got Mr Shongwe to do his magic.  It was a fuel line and so it was replaced.

The meeting was OK nothing to report there, just had to fill in a form about my current situation with contacts etc. etc. etc.   AND I had to do it properly. . . . . .

Friday I went to Nelspruit with Penny.  She gets Mr Shongwe to drive if she goes long distance.  So it was a cruisy day for me.  The scenery was fabulous, beautiful green rolling hills and mountains behind mountains behind mountains.   Once we got into South Africa the roads were much better and the rural homes different shapes and more colours.  In some areas there were big farms with bananas, pineapples and a lot of citrus, apples and pear orchards.    It took about 2.5 hours from Mbabane travelling northerly along some very winding roads.

I wanted to go to Valencia.   It is a shop in Nelspruit, similar to spotlight, but much better quality.  Their fabrics are beautiful and so well displayed and many staff to assist you.  There is a separate room, huge, with all the sewing notions and accessories.   Down stairs is the home-wares and curtain section.   On the upper level there is a café that opens into the shop.  Great food and also some books for sale.   I was having a good browse and getting some ideas for our group and they announced that the store was closing at 12 and re-opening at 2.   HOW !!!   (that is Swazi for WHAT!)

Guess what I did?   YEP, I positioned myself in the café for 2 hours having found a book to purchase and start reading.  Another book from Alexander McColl Smith, title 44 Scotland Street.   I love this author – famous for the No1 Ladies Detective Agency series.  

At 2 there is another announcement that the store is reopened.  The owners are Muslim and the closure was for prayer.

My shopping was pretty quick as I had done all the choosing before lunch.  Penny didn’t return until well after 4 from her shopping expedition.  We then picked up KFC and headed for home.  Our return trip was in the opposite direction going through Pigs Peak, a northern part of Swaziland.  A very strange name -  but named after a Mr Pig and the area is the peak of the country’s mountains.   This took us past the Maguga dam.  It is pretty massive and most impressive as it was overflowing due to the amount of recent rains.  

I got back home about 7.30pm and was then contacted by friends of the Rehmeyers, whom I had met, with an invitation to go to Kruger National Game Park with them next day. !!!

Oh Boy !!!   This is a bit too much fun – will I cope?

We left @ 6.00am and returned @ 9.00pm

There was 8 of us in a people mover type of vehicle – fortunately.  There was Mum and Dad and 3 of their 4 offspring, one of them was accompanied by her partner and 2 yr old child.

Our journey took us through Pigs Peak going in the opposite direction, and because it was daylight we stopped at the dam then drove across the wall road.   

Arrived at Mlalane Gate of the Kruger Park just after 8.00am

The buildings are mostly concrete brick rendered and with thatched rooves.  It all looks African!!

Because of recent rainfall – it is rainy season, everything was very green and lush.  As we drove through the many roads and tracks, it was difficult to spot animals because of the thickness of the vegetation and there is an abundance of food for all animals and they don’t have to travel far to feed.  I know this because I was told by the occupants of the vehicle.   Thought I would add that explanation – I’m no expert YET !

There was one person either side of the vehicle with binoculars to do the spotting.   We hadn’t gone far when we saw 2 Giraffe.   When you see them in their own place they look so much different and of course it is the whole experience of actually seeing them without a cage and the knowledge of them being  ‘at home’. They tell me the park is fenced and monitored.  The park is about 400 miles long and almost 100 wide at the widest part.   That’s like a station property in the north of Australia.   

I enjoyed the experience of seeing for the first time so many of the African animals and birds in their own place.  I have taken photos of all I could get and have realised that my camera does not have the zoom power I thought it did.  Allyson’s camera was just perfect and so she has promised to share her photos with me.   I saw many elephants in family groups, some just eating, walking and some playing in muddy water.  Saw two littlies playing around the elders’ legs.  They probably weigh 4 times what I do and ever so much cuter !!!

Only one complaint -  not one big cat was out for viewing on this day.     Well it just means a return visit or 4.!!!

There are many gate entrances to the park to accommodate the huge distance it spans and giving people access from many geographic locations.  All gates have some form of accommodation and recreation facilities.   The roads and tracks are in excellent condition and they all link up somewhere and there are numerous signs, so with the park map you cannot get lost.  Of course you not allowed out of the vehicle unless you are at a gate facility.  There are park vehicles always taking people on tours and so if you have a problem you will be found.  All of the gate facilities have natural water courses that are for animals and they have viewing facilities. 

They tell me it is best to be there either at dawn or dusk for the water activities of the animals.  My next trip will be an overnighter so I get both of these times in while there.  The accommodation is reasonably priced.  A 2 person round hut is about R400 per night – that is about $40.

Anyone care to join me??????

I just loved having the opportunity to visit the park with others – for the first visit.  I am happy to return myself if there are no takers!

When I got home I was greeted by my two furry friends, one who is now unwell.  Very hot to touch and not eating.   Great!!!

I had to call the vet to him on Monday as he was getting worse.   Diagnosis was tick bite fever.   Pretty bad.    It’s now Christmas day and thankfully, he is much better, although the vet was prepared to come by earlier today.  He has started eating again so she went about her Christmas day a planned.

Yes it is Christmas day.

When you read this it won’t be . . . . . .  however I do wish you all a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.

I hope you are able to enjoy every minute of your time with family and friends and cherish the occasion and be loving and gracious to each other.  It is so humbling being here in my situation and to have the opportunity to really think about what is important in life.

I miss you all and I love each and every one of you.   I think of you all constantly and even when I’m driving in game parks – how I would love to share these moments with you. But all I can do is put it in print and then (hopefully) with pictures.

I did have invitations to join several people for the day, for lunch, or for whatever.  I declined all.   I had such a wonderful day with my sewing ladies, and I am taking that as MY Christmas day.    I would dearly love to be ‘home’ with my Sonny and Miss Alice and family and  friends and familiar places, but I cannot.  So I have made myself comfortable for the day, looking after the dogs and doing some chores that the maid is no longer able to do.   The maid is Annah and she has been with the family for about 8 years now.  She is a delightful, round, happy and smiley person and I have taught her to knit.   Fortunately there is not much work to be done with only me in the house and so I make sure that she rests and does knitting and has a quick nanna nap.  I think Annah is in her 50’s and she has some form of cancer, but she cannot get accepted for surgery as she does not have the money to pay upfront.  So she is waiting for the Swazi Govt. to do a deal with the South African health service.

We all just look after her as best we can.

So my message for Christmas is –

Take care of each other, love and cherish every moment, be happy with what you have and give up wanting what you have not.

Be kind and comforting to yourself so you can be kind and comforting to others.

I send love and hugs with this message to all who read it.

Georgie xxxx

p.s.  I found another Santa tea pot for my new collection.  I’ve given up collecting fabrics and such.   

Blog 9

Dear Readers,

Will I dare to start with the Permit story?

The surprise is I don’t have it yet. . . . .

I moved much of my gear into Mbabane on Wednesday. A friend who has contacts in high places, made a phone call and it started an avalanche of events,  the first was a visit to immigration where I was told by the person I was to report to, that there was a document required and I was given a name of the document.  It didn’t make sense to me  - the uninitiated!!  -  I was aware of the documents that were gathered by the AVI coordinator and all was present – I thought.  The immigration officer became very agro and I think she was in training for a job at the border control.

She wrote vigorously on a piece of paper what was required and then stamped it with the official immigration date stamp with the force of an iron monger that made paper the shudder.  I grabbed the paper and high tailed it out of there before I was next with the date stamp.

I called the coordinator and imparted some of the story and handed it back to her.   Many phone calls later, including to the employers who are now in the US having a holiday.  We needed to prove to immigration that KuDvumisa is a registered business in Swaziland.  For this they wanted to sight the original document and have a certified copy of same. Word got back to me that it was on the desk in the house.   FOUND and taken by the coordinator to where it had to go and she was told that it (my permit) will now be ready on Monday.  From the start of the day 10.30, first phone call, this ended at 4.45pm

Next blog should have  . . . . . . .  I’m not putting it in print – just in case.

Last week was affected by lack of energy from whatever bug I had ingested and resulted in a trip to the clinic at Simunye, where once again a nurse did all the prescribing and would refer me to a GP if the conditions were unchanged in 2 days.  Well in 2 days I was moving to Mbabane and I can report that there is significant change to prevent me from returning for medical treatment at this stage.  The nurses appear to be highly trained and the one I saw on Monday was in the process of applying for a scholarship to do her masters in Australia.  We discussed some aspects of Australia and it was revealed that she does not like the cold, because she had not yet clicked on send to for application, she was going to have a look at Perth and Brisbane for other options.

I returned to the sewing group after the clinic and shortly afterwards, Teresa and Daran arrived to talk to them.   It was all very friendly and positive and they were told of their need to take notice of the teacher and to continue to do a high quality of work as they have shown they can do it!!   Teresa was good with them and they showed a good response. Even though we are never sure that the interpreter is telling it as it is or putting their slant on things.  They do not like to check on each other and I notice they rarely comment in a –ve or +ve manner to each other.  Let me explain a little further on that point.  Because they do not criticize - they cannot let another know that she has made a mistake.  So in terms of the new person who cannot sew a straight line to save herself, they won’t comment or assist her, because that would also be seen as criticism.  This goes for me also.  One of the biggest issues I have is to tell them when they have done something wrong and to unpick (goop goop – that is their word for unpick). It can take some time for them to recover, no matter how delicate I put it.  I must admit I have changed a bit on this note and they understand and joke about the previous teacher who used the word rubbish if their work was not up their own standard, so I have started to use the same word when things get too bad!

I will return to them this week coming and that will be it for a few weeks.

On Monday last week I had a call from the AVI coordinator, to say that our country manager is visiting Swaziland and he will be coming to Section 19 on Tuesday

There was clear evidence that it was going to be a very humid day, I arrived at S19 to find no body there yet and so the workplace was a mess.  Jane was not ready yet and so sent her daughter to help me to clean up.  (this is another change scheduled for 2014 – a roster for preparing the workplace)

I had stopped to talk to another of the ladies who lives in one of the stick, stone and mud buildings, actually hers is the one with the bright orange door.  Her son about 16 months is the cutest little cheeky monkey on the planet and she has now taught him to say Georgina.  He talks so clearly and it sounded so funny to hear my name from one so little. I need to get a photo of him to show you and then I need to get onto flickr with my photos. That is a Dec/Jan plan.

We commenced the day with 2 catastrophe’s  -   1. Janes machine would not work and 2. Khunyisile’s husband had locked the door and gone off somewhere, so she could not get in to clean up after working in the field and her machine was locked in there as well.

I decided to ignore these issues as I wanted to get on with showing them this new bag. My intention is to perfect it early next year and make it from their traditional fabric.

I tried to start everyone off at the same time having cut our about 6 bags ready to go.  This plan got way out of whack very quickly, there were bobbins being threaded, needles being replaced, people sharing machines, a bit of goop goop happening as well and they were only on the hem of one of the inside pockets. !!!   what chance did I have for the rest of the bag????   Sometimes I want to sit down and cry and other times like this one I just want to burst out laughing as it really is a comedy.

This little bag takes me 30 minutes to construct and that includes cutting out.   –Yeah – I know - I’m just a smarty pants.

By lunch time we had almost 3 bags completed having started at 10am. 

Then the AVI pair arrived. Firstly the Swazi coordinator talked to the women in Swazi and introduced herself and Thomas, who is from Botswana originally, has lived in NZ for many years before coming back to Africa 2 years ago with this AVI contract.  So he didn’t understand the Swazi conversation and we chatted quietly.    I could see that there was a lot of encouragement happening in the conversation as Lusanda had met with Teresa and Daran the night before and had been briefed on what was said to them.  There was a bag for sale that I had hung especially for Lusanda, knowing that she admired the fabric.  And of course the pressure was on to buy.   Which she eventually did.    

I was taken to the Tambankulu club for a drink!!   Soft or course. However I thought this was a bit strange as it was lunch time.  They just wanted to have time with me so they could tick off that box.

It was all very cordial, pleasant and encouraging.  When we returned, my car had been washed by some of the women.  It was caked with mud and our water at Mananga had been off for days – outside taps only that is!!!

Thomas was very interested in the small bags and was keen to purchase.  I talked him out of it at this stage and suggested he wait until next year when they are sewing them really well and we are using shwaeshwae.    He agreed.   Here is the link, there are some lovely new colours and designs.  I am so looking forward to playing with this fabric rather than what we currently use. 

 http://www.dagama.co.za/

I think I mentioned in the blog 8 about the storm on Saturday night (30^th Nov) and the roar of the wind.  It reminded me a bit of cyclone wind sound, but I didn’t take much notice until we went to Tambankulu club.  In the vast grounds there are many very large old trees and it is such a beautiful oasis, so lush, green and cool.   I had been told that Tamb had taken a big hit from the storm.  As we drove in and through the grounds I could now see what they were saying.  Many of these large trees had lost many big branches, some split in 2, and then just before we got to the club 4 very large trees were totally over.  The root ball still intact as they were lying in a row.  They were very old trees sadly with mostly surface root systems.   The root ball of the biggest had a diameter of approx. 5 meters.   Thomas took a few photos with his phone and I am waiting for him to send me a copy.

Meanwhile back at S19, 3 of the ladies cut out another 2 bags each to sew the next day.   When it was time to leave, Rose was missing…   I usually give a lift to Rose and Khumbuz.  It was eventually revealed that she had gone to collect her phone from a man who was charging it for her.  He has solar panels and charges phones for a price.  I was wondering how they managed to use their phones without power ?????

My new abode, 

I moved in with a car full of my things.  I am now rattling around a huge 5 bedroom house and have 2 guard dogs, secure gates and razor wire for protection.   The dogs have become my friends already as I am getting rid of some stale bread that has been in the fridge for who knows how long.  I also have discovered that is the best way to give Bear his daily pill, in his daily bread.  These 2 lovely creatures who are supposed to be very scary!!!   They are outside dogs and spend most of it reclining, resting, eating and pooing.  One of their staple foods is avocados.  The neighbours have a huge tree and they get all the fallen fruit on our side of the fence.  They eat at least one a day.  And none is saved for human consumption.  I would have to be there and catch it as it falls, because once it is on the ground it belongs to the dogs.  I and won’t argue with them over an avocado.

It is very quiet where I live, and no rooster at 5.00am.   From the front of the house all I can see is the houses on the other side of the street, but from the back of the house, quite elevated, I can see across the gully and up the hill in the distance.  It is dotted with houses and trees and sometimes I can see them.  At night it looks lovely with the lights.  Today it is reasonable clear now, it was in cloud earlier and I could only see white fluff. As the cloud lifts the view changes to just out of focus.

I was out driving yesterday and not being in the mindset of getting back to Mananga, it was a pleasant journey and I enjoyed taking in the scenery as much as I could while driving.  I was impressed with how green everything is at the moment and that is the entire country.  This is the rainy season and it sure has rained.   It all looks so clean until you get into some of the town areas and that is where you see how people live.  Litter is a huge problem here.   

I wanted to find a store in Manzini called Standard Traders, I had been given directions, but not really looked until this trip.   I was told it is the best place to get sewing requirements.   FOUND IT.

Maybe not such a good thing!!!!   It is so clean and tidy and it has so much fabric!  Their range of shwaeshwae if fantastic and zips equally fantastic and prices also fantastic.  It will be the place I go to now for all our supplies,  that is until I can get to South Africa, Nelspruit, where there is a store called Valencia.   I had parked my car around the corner, in most areas of Manzini there is a parking attendant assigned to an area of each street and he comes to you when you park to collect E2.50 and give you a ticket to display.  On my way back to the car I walked into another shop out of curiosity – remember that I have been out in the bush for almost 3 months and have only seen the shops in Simunye and Tshaneni – pretty basic.  I now discovered there are shops!!!!   I bought a handbag, fabulous, medium size, black and bright orange in leather for E170, less than $20.    I then headed for the car and quickly left before I was overtaken by the shopping bug.  I could feel it chasing me down the street.

Because I now have unlimited internet while house sitting I did some internet searches yesterday and I have found the choir and the band who entertain guests at Malealea Lodge.  Here are the UTube  links for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGNFoK7IYac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1_pFp8SgR4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4bH7WFaQCo

OK, with promises of pictures and more visual content, here is a little sample for you.

It’s now time to get this published and I have got some prep work for tomorrow with the ladies as I will not see them after this week until January.

So I best get on with it and not disappoint my students.

Love to you all,

Georgie.  xxxx 

Blog 8

How time flies when you’re busy.   I know that is supposed to be having fun -   but!!!  It is not all beer and skittles here.

When I wrote the last blog I was on the verge of getting on the next plane out of here.

And now so much has happened since then, I’m still keeping an eye on the airlines, and at the same time working through some changes.

Since my return from Lesotho I have been to Mbabane 3 times to follow up on my Temp Resident Permit.  Still not ready.  I do know now that it was only lodged on the 8^th November.  I have spent a lot of time travelling every week to Mbabane.  This week just gone I went to get the TRP – having been told the previous week that it would be ready on 28^th.   Now it will be ready on Tuesday 3rd. would anyone like to guess another date ???  The nice man at the desk did tell me that I do not have to do a border run – just do not try to get out of the country and I will be OK. No more fines etc.  That’s comforting.

I’m jumping all over the place as I try to put the last 2 weeks into some sequence.  Hope you can keep up …  J

When I came home the week before on 22^nd Nov. there was a note under my door to say that my lease expires on 1^st Dec and due to the takeover of Mananga College, by an unknown company, all renters are to be out by the 31^st of Dec.  the dates are a bit confusing, as the lease for my house is supposed to be the 31^st Dec, so there could be a typo in the written notice, but I’m going with the 1^st. as it suits what I am about to do. I know the 1^st is today, but I have 10 days.

Teresa & Daran are going home to the US for 7 weeks, leaving on Tuesday.  I am going to house-sit for that time.   For the first 2 weeks I will be coming back out to Mananga to spend Mon, Tue, Wed with the ladies.  After that I will empty my house and leave some things with Bongiwe at her house in Mhlume.  Bongiwe is another employee of KuDvumisa foundation / CHIPS. And has offered for me to sleep 2 nights at her place each week.  Mhlume is about 15 kms from section 19 and mostly on sealed road.  YAY

For most of Dec and the start of Jan I will be doing research online and locally to see what we can do to assist these ladies.  Also doing a submission to AusAid for a grant.

When Teresa & Daran return from the states, I will move into Penny’s and rent one of her single bedroom flats.

Initially I did not want to live in the city, but now I am quite looking forward to being able to live a life that may be more normal for me. I’ve done the adventurous part and I’m mostly over it now.  I will miss Jenn and Ian, who have become my saviours of late.  They are about 5 Kms from me.  I will continue to see them each week when I am back here. I am especially keen to move so I can buy food fresh that is what I like to eat.  While house sitting I will have access to unlimited internet and so my SKYPE will get a work out.  So be prepared.

Apart from that - the only other update on me is – probably not what you want to know, but too bad. On Thursday night I attended a thanksgiving dinner / feast.   I then vomited all night and still have diarrhoea.  I have slept on and off from Friday 5.00pm until this morning, Sunday 7.00am.  I now feel that I have enough energy to keep my head on my shoulders.  I haven’t felt this bad since I had glandular fever.   No more thanksgivings for me.  What was it ???   all the food was over cooked, over spiced and over flavoured and did not blend very well at all.  My delicate gut protested very long and loudly.   I have had a small breakfast today, the first I’ve eaten since Thursday night, and it is still in me somewhere.

Did I mention this before ??  If so just gloss over it -   who watched the TV series No1 Ladies Detective Agency?.  Penny has about 6 of the books and I working my way through them rather quickly.  They are just as fabulous to read as the series was to watch.  Now that I am in Africa it is even more real for me.  I can see what the writer is talking about.  If you ever have the chance to get the books you will not be disappointed.

Now for an update on the sewing project.

I am learning about the Swazi people – I hope.

We achieved 77 bags and the majority of them are very good.  10 of them I had to finish or unpick to finish as the sewing was either bad or the sewer was not up to that skill level yet.

So 50 have gone to NZ and 20 to US and 7 staying here and I have another local order for 10.   The story of the bags - I have probably mentioned before - they were making a particular bag that has become their staple selling item.  I made some simple changes to the way it is made so that the finish of the bag is much more professional and classy and attracts a higher price. They were selling for E120 – about $13 AUD.  They are now E150 about $16.

While the new way of stitching them is much easier, they have a habit of cutting corners, not measuring, not matching, falling back into the bad sewing habits that they have adopted and testing my tolerance.  I watch them sometimes, well all the time, and they know what they are doing and look very slyly at me to see if I have noticed.  When I pull them up on it they become annoyed.   I am having difficulty getting them to understand that if it is done in a particular way they will always have a great result and not have to unpick anything.  This is obviously too much for them to comprehend. 

I have been battling with this for weeks and constantly repeating the same instruction over and over, and when I thought we had finally made it, they almost in unison, decided to show me otherwise.  On Wednesday I was totally dumbfounded at the workmanship they were turning out it was appalling, the day before they were fine.

At then end of the day I called to see Jenn and Ian and burst into tears as I walked through the door.  Then I discovered that these ladies have a reputation for being manipulative!  They have been through several teachers over a period of 4 years.  While talking to Jenn and Ian, we thought that early next year I will get an independent translator to start the year off with how it is going to continue. Topics will include praise for work of course – as well as - quality control, payment for work based on quality, payments for machines taken from earnings etc.

I was talking to a man from US who has been here for several years and he is convinced that they do not have the capacity for information retention that we have and it could be the case that they do forget from one day to the next what they have learned.  So he suggested to have samples of every step of each item for them as a visual aid.   That’s another job the Dec/Jan.  At this point I’m willing to try anything.

A little story from last week.

On Tuesday morning I drove Khumbuzile and her daughter to the clinic in Vuvulane on a back road, full of ruts, potholes, water and mud.  I lost a hub cap !!!  Wednesday I decided to go to work that way to see if I could find it.   Driving along peacefully - and my car just stopped !  dash lights on and no engine sound.  PANIC !  I am on a road much less travelled.  Now what ???  I was about to get out of the vehicle and behind me was the CHIPS van.  They pulled over to assist me and everyone decided that I was out of fuel.   I’m thinking now that if I bothered to look in the bush I would have found my hub cap. Why else would my car just stop for no reason ???

Anyway – on with the story.  I locked up the car and hopped into the old van and off we went to Simunye to get some fuel. This old van should have died a long time ago.   First I bought an empty 5lt. plastic water bottle for E5.  Got the fuel and on the way back the staff had other errands to do, so that was taken care of and eventually we got back to my car.  I suggested that I try to start it before we put the fuel in and of course, like all good little cars it fired up straight away and nothing wrong.  The fuel light was not on and Mary still lectured me about driving on low fuel when in this country etc.

I then continued on my journey to section 19 and at the junction I picked up a very well dressed Swazi lady and gave her a lift to the highway.  ‘Coincidence’      she speaks excellent English and is looking for a new career, vocation etc.  She runs her own grocery store at P5 and has had other small businesses (see below for P5)

She has qualifications in marketing and business.  Swazi’s love to have qualifications and their uni is free to encourage an educated society.

She is very interested in learning about sewing - not necessarily to sew, but I was taken with her style and perhaps the opportunity of mentoring her as the person who will take over from me to keep the group going.  I had already decided that it would not be appropriate for a current member of the group to take on that role as there is too much disharmony and bickering amongst them.   We will be talking to her next year to see if we have a match.  Fingers crossed.

P5.  Scattered throughout the cane growing areas are these settlements / villages for workers and their families.  P5 is just the name given to this particular one.  Because the inhabitants do not have transport it is a good little business to have a shop in a village.  This lady, Phindile, was saying that the cane cutting season is about to finish and she will be looking for something else for a while.  They are all so mobile in their lifestyle and where they live and what they do out this way.  Totally different to the life in the city.   I thought that the cane was grown in rotation all year round.

I think we’re up to today now.  Last night there was a bit of a storm with very high winds.  As it approached us it sounded like a giant bear roaring.  It was strange.  Instead of moths, I had leaves in the windows.   It only lasted about an hour.  The good thing is today is cool and very pleasant.

I’m signing off now.  I wish I could send you some mangoes.   We have hundreds of them here and after last night most of them are on the ground.

It’s cheerio from me for this week.

Love to you all and thankyou so much for your continued support with emails and comments and knowing you are there.  Please don’t stop, I need the regular sanity intake.

**HUGS**

Georgie xxxx