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.