2014 begins in a relaxed way.

Christmas is over for another year and 2014 has settled in well here and I hope it is going well for you also.

It was great to have SKYPE contact over the break with you and also great to have a lovely chat with Sonny on Christmas Eve.

My Christmas day ended at Penny’s.  She had sent a txt message as I was finishing the last blog and was apparently expecting me for lunch.  It was 3.00pm - yeah, that’s normal.   I was aware that she had other invited guests, but didn’t know who…..   It was the VET!   with some of her family.  We had a phone conversation earlier on that day about the sick dog. Penny describes her, Sibongile Songo, as a quiet reserved person who likes to keep to herself.  When she realised it was me coming through the door, she jumped up from her chair and gave me a very welcoming hug, just like old mates.   Penny was looking on in surprise! Well we are friends now. 

On the Saturday after Christmas I went touristing with Isabel.  We went to the glass factory just out of Mbabane.  A place called Ngwenya.   They make some amazing glassware and always have something happening for viewing for the tourists.  Isabel was on a shopping spree for some glasses for family back home.  She is preparing for her departure.  The glasses she bought have a round bottom especially designed for yachting people.  They will roll but not tip over, so your drink is safe - don’t know the degree of rough seas it would fail in though!!

We watched a large red with black and white vase being made.  The viewing platform is above and surrounding the entire area. We chose to view from the best vantage point to see what was being done, it was the hottest part of the area as we were facing the furnace. The factory is promoted as the ‘hottest’ tourist destination in Swaziland. 

In the same complex there are many other smaller ‘shops’ where local produce is sold.  The local produce ranges from chocolates, honey and preserves and jams, clothing, a huge variety of woven articles using bamboo, cotton and mohair – fantastic! -  jewellery made from paper and other recyclables, woven baskets  and other ‘grass’ creations including some beautiful bags.

One of the shops in this location is the Swazi Fair Trade shop.   I was very interested to see this shop as it is the first on my list to talk to the management about getting our products accepted by them.

I want to get our sewing group on a bus and let them have a good look around this location and others in the Malkerns / Ezulwini area so they can see for themselves what other people are doing and making and their attention to the finished article.  I briefly mentioned it to Teresa on one of our SKYPE meetings. She didn’t answer with the enthusiasm that I wanted, but I’m going to work on that.  These ladies have not had opportunities to access such places and I think they need it.

Being the ‘hottest’ destination, after shopping and looking, at 3.00pm we went to order lunch and after there had been 2 tourist busses in we could not get any food.    We went back to Mbabane and ended up in the courtyard on 1^st floor Plaza of the Nedbank Building.  This is civilization.  Several eateries open onto the courtyard, complete with water feature and sculptures and on this occasion live music.  We dined at the Ocean Basket and both ordered basic fish and chips.  It is served in a frying pan!!  Different.  With a soft drink, our lunch cost $10 each.   While we dined we were also entertained by 3 young children who were taking advantage of the water feature and having a ball until a security guard put an end to their fun.  We both watched with interest where they went, did they have parents?  So many of them just roam free.  They were possibly in the 7 – 9 yrs. bracket, well dressed – before they started to get wet!  When we left and headed back to my place we saw them walking through town towards a housing area.   Who can remember when we were so young and free that we went to a park for some fun without any worries and parents??  Came home probably wet and dirty and got into trouble! But we had fun. Just like these 3 little ones.

                                                                 

I had been invited to dinner that night at the home of friends of Teresa and Daran.  Robin and Michael Pratt, also missionaries.  Robin originates from US and Michael from NZ.  They met many moons ago in Alaska and have now been in Swaziland for about 20 years or more.  Michael was a Pastor, now retired, sort of.  They have 4 adult children now living in various part of the world.  Robin’s background was nursing and Michael was a builder, some years ago they commenced an orphanage for abandoned children.  Robin was working in the Mbabane hospital and was aware of the need for this.  So they are both busy now with about 30 children, 4 houses, each with a house mother.  They have adopted a Swazi girl now 17 yrs. together they are a lovely welcoming and relaxed family.

Robin has asked if the sewing ladies could make some basic dresses for the girls.  I have said yes!!!

New year’s eve I took Annah shopping to Manzini to get some more wool.  She is totally addicted to her knitting and is now planning to knit for family and friends in preparation for winter.  She now has her own needles and is knitting a hat, beret style.    After we returned home I made some ANZACS.   Now she’s addicted to them.  I don’t think I have ever made them before, that was always Malcolm’s specialty along with apple pies and other biscuits as a very young age.   I miss your cooking Mal, I’m hanging out for duck fat potatoes, spag bol, Miss Alice’s fig jam and a long list of other yummy treats.  I had decided to treat my sewing girls to some typical ozzie food as they always ask what would I eat at home.  I’m making another batch to take with me on Tuesday.

New year’s day I was invited to lunch with the family I had gone to Kruger with.  It was a smaller version of the family, the parents of the small child were elsewhere for a week. Allyson’s parents from Durban were staying with her.  It was a lovely relaxed day with some great food.  I have discovered that trifle is a very popular dessert here.  I have been to dinner with 2 families and trifle was on both menus.  No complaints from me.  I LOVE it. 

After lunch Allyson decided that we would go up Rosa’s rock to see the view.   What a feat that was.  I was not wearing hiking boots, but some low wedges.   Their house is already high up, but not much view as it is well built up, but once we got to the top of Rosa’s rock and I managed to breathe again.  The view was huge.  We could see all sorts of Mbabane.  It is quite a well spread out city.   I know –  I know - what about some photos?????   I’m getting to that.   Coming down the hill I decided bare feet would be safer and that was a wise decision. 

After our exercise we watched some TV and Victor disappeared for a nap.

I feel that I have had enough rest now and I’m keen to get back to work.  I actually miss the ladies and our activities and I am missing some of the people from the Mananga complex.     However, I had a wakeup call at 6.00 today from Mkhosi (he was doing my gardening).  He is in the Good Shepherd hospital in Siteki with a broken arm.  A work accident.   You are probably wondering the same as me!   Why did he call me?  Why at 6.00am?   I can only assume that he needed a Mum, he is a very sensitive and emotive young man and he doesn’t have parents or family living – victims of aids.  I think he wanted to go somewhere other than where he now lives with no one there and he thought I was already living in Ezulwini.  If I was, I think he would have been comfortable with some company for a few days. 

I will be going out to the Low-veld on Tuesday and so I will catch up with him then.  I was planning to do a one day trip to talk to the girls and give them a brief on what is to come.  BUT I have to move my bed to Mhlume and catch up with others and now add Mkhosi to the list.  So perhaps I’ll be doing an overnighter and returning on Wednesday.

On Friday I decided to investigate the Ezulwini area a little more to see what’s in store for me.  First I had a drive around the area and there are so many tourist places.  The entire Ezulwini Valley is beautiful.  Rolling hills, lots of greenery and many trees.  Some huge resorts, a large golf club, hotels and an area of administration.  There are two shopping areas – one each end.  When I first arrived in Swaziland I stayed at Timbali Lodge which is at the western end and there is one shopping centre nearby.  The other end is about 8kms away and has the Gables shopping centre and the US Embassy.  In the middle somewhere there is a casino.  It doesn’t look like suburbia from the main road that joins it all together.  You need to get off the main road and have a gander around.  There are some lovely buildings that blend with the fabulous feeling and atmosphere of Heaven.

After a drive around I went to check out the shops.  I had seen one end of the Gables and was keen to see the other end which is newer.  There is a huge undercover parking with about 4 cars in, so I made the number up to 5.  All shops are upstairs which is actually ground level.  It’s so new that all shops are not filled yet. I lunched at Mugg & Bean.  It was good and I have now found the people who understand customer service.  They were great.  After lunch I went to the supermarket ‘Shoprite’ that Jenn has told me is the best.  She’s not wrong!!!  Huge, clean, tidy, well set out and displayed and the friendliest staff.  Yeah!! I am going to enjoy living around the corner. 

Isabel has given me info of a Yoga class nearby and so I have plans for 2014.  Lots of walking to do shopping – it is so close I could not justify driving.   And when it gets hot I can go to the Malkerns Country Club for a swim, about 5 kms away.  Probably a good idea if I get some swimming togs first!

Have you noticed?  I have given up the roller coaster!

After the huge blog last time, this is the mini one.