Good evening from a very rainy part of South Africa! Gone is the days of 35°C and replaced with 12°C and RAIN.
Monday to Wednesday we were all on leave so we've spent time in Sedgefield (we even managed to get a lift in on Wednesday which cut out the 50 minute walk), playing chess and also card games. It turns out that Talitha is very good at poker, she always seems to have at least a pair.
Friday saw the first day of the course for a primary school and me and Talitha were support (Scott was still on leave). We had to set up the Jacobs Ladder and sometimes help belay kids as they climbed and as we now have our water LOC's we got to be support for the water activity for the first time. The activity this course was rafting and it was very fun to be support for. However the wind wasn't on our side so as soon as the group paddled out of the bay they were straight into the reeds requiring a lot of effort from them (but mainly me and the other instructors on board) to paddle back into open water. We were also given the chance to run the big group games - a scavenger hunt and pictionary - and also the fire drill. The fire drill however translated to me running through all the important information while Talitha had the important job of ringing the bell. Saturday morning was a 4.45am start for me as I was DP for the morning and by 5.30am me and Talitha were running a boeresport - the South African equivalent to a British sports day. I've loved being more involved and having more responsibility as each course happens and it's great to run the games and get to know the group better.
In other news the hadeda ibis that loves nothing more than staring at us through the windows has been named Charles. Talitha has carved up some chess pieces for our chess board so now only one person needs to play with paper pieces. And as always, the mosquitoes have been horrendous.
I completely forgot to take pictures during the course so here's a random selection from the past week. Me and Talitha went for a swim so there's some from then, one of the horses we pass on our walk into Sedgefield, me pointing to a spider hanging from the gutter, Talitha's chess pieces and the hadeda.
Rachel
Hi Rachel, have just found your pics. that's what you call an action shot in the water!You are sure being introduced to the wildlife, all granny has is sparrows looking in the kitchen window !It is always exciting to hear/read about all your activities Rachel.Lots of hard work but fun as well and good to experience organizing groups and see your students develop .That's enough words of wisdom for tonight.Time for bed love and hugs from Granny xx
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