Catch up on News

Thursday – Power cut between 8 and 4 so like being in Zambia with ‘notice’
Today we worked on the erosion at the dam but were moving branches into the trucks and carrying them to the places needed. Yesterday I felt like a pin-cushion from the thorns, today I feel like I’ve tried to slash my wrists. Most of the bush trees are covered in heavy duty thorns and I’ve no idea how any animal survives being hacked to death. But at least it’s in the good course of conservation and very soon I’ll have strong muscles and a builder’s bum. Back then for bacon and eggs – yes we have gas so the electric cut had minimal impact followed by a lecture on Ecology from Adele.

In the evening we went to a talk on Astrology which turned out to be in a school where there were loads of kids. We went into a dome – but the kids kept kicking the dome and driving us nuts. We made an early exit and went to the pub

Friday – We were supposed to go to Swandini to play paintball but they apparently had no gas for the canisters so we went there still but just for a scenic drive and then a picnic and an afternoon in the swimming pools and sunbathing.

Back then to get ready for Friday evening out in town – Meal and drinks at ‘Sleepers’ and then on to ‘The Fort’ which is where the locals go on a Friday night – local bar/disco with pool tables and a dance floor. The dancing is a cross between /salsa/jive and ballroom. Bee took me for a dance and it was great fun. By the way I forgot to mention that a large proportion of the females here are ‘gay’. It was a great evening and we stayed over at ‘Backpackers’ for the night as there is no bus of taxi service back to the bush.

Saturday – Had breakfast at the deli as backpackers didn’t have any food let alone milk and then I had to hang around till 1pm (Africa time!!) for everyone to get up – go and have breakfast and get ready to go to Jeyjani. Brass had arranged for us all to go to a nearby lodge as she had to baby-sit the 5 dogs for the weekend – A black German Shepard, 2 Labradors and a puppy and a Great Dane. When we arrived there was no water and no toilet paper but we resolved these details eventually. She also arranged for us to go on a night drive with one of the local guides. Well what a night that was – Francois was good entertainment and like a drop of brandy, so it was drive – spot – stop – drink- chat- debate a point with a couple of other south Africans, then drive again. 4 and half hours later we arrived back! But in his defence we did get to see animals close up – 4 cheetahs, 3 lionesses, a BIG herd of buffalo, zebras, impalas, giraffes, wart hogs, duiker, bush babies, kudu and jackals.

Sunday - I slept well but am told that I snore!!! Who Me??

This morning 2 of the dogs decided to fight and took a couple of chunks out of each other so we had to leave them in 2 separate rooms until their owners returned.

Back this afternoon for Camouflage. Adele and Bee went to a spot in the bush and we had to see how close we got to them without being spotted. We all covered our arms and face with mud and stuck grass and twigs to our backs and head. We crawled along the ground and got caught on tree thorns etc, but good fun. I was the 5th to be caught – pathetic effort.

Anyway that’s all for now from Campfire. Catch you all soon. Love Sue.xx