Songs of Praise (without the aid of Aled Jones)

Picture the scene - we went to church yesterday for the first time and as we came over the hill we could see people threading their way from all directions to be together. Folks with umberellas for shade walking down from the townships, folks all piled in to the back of pick-up trucks, gangs of little kids running along the roadside, it was lovely. Our children were all mouth and no trousers about how they were going to make friends and how they were so cool but I could see they were a bit nervous. They needn't have been. We were barely in the building before they were in the midst of a gaggle of little black boys - one with a Ben 10 T shirt! These kids brought tears to my eyes, they were so sweet and friendly. Gibson had his arms around my boys, and stayed in the middle of our family for the whole morning. He translated bits of Sesotho songs for them, held their drinks and told them to shut their eyes when praying (!) and even held Evie's sore leg for a while. After their lessons outside under the gazebo in the baking heat, they played football together - the moment Isaac's been waiting for since we bought him a shiny new ball to bring and share here.

As for us, well we really enjoyed church and I especially loved the main bloke singing and dancing about like a loon, doing high kicks and mucking around whilst singing his worship songs - it was such FUN it just made me laugh and laugh. Col shouted in my ear that this guy, Sam, was in prison before he became a christian, he'd been deeply involved in the ANC. He and many others there paint a picture of what the gospel is all about - full restoration, changed lives and great big grins - an overflow of the joy that can only come from God. Happy clappy? You betcha!

Africa baby YEAH!

OK but don't get too jealous - it's been raining. We woke up in the night to a humungous thunder storm and it hasn't stopped pouring since! It is flooded around our house. It has started drying up now, and I bet it will dry quickly so it's not like camping-at-Newday rain. I'm glad the children didn't wake up though because they would have freaked out - it was pretty scary!

Look at us Brits, talking about the weather. First things first eh? I haven't got internet access so I am having to PAY to bore you about the weather. I feel a bit under pressure actually - I've probably wasted 50p already, telling you all this...

It was great to leave Worthing. Child B was really tearful about the wrecked car. so we had to comfort him whilst clearing out said car and taking off its' roof rack etc as it'll be towed away while we're here. Just the kind of stuff you don't expect to be doing at the last minute! Then we picked our way around the wreckage, past all the builders and drove off, not in to the sunset so much, but out of the sea mist. I'd love to say we were elated but we were mostly stressed and exhausted to be honest. It's not like the movies, despite Alice Cooper's best efforts on the iPod.

I can't leave out the fact that I was next to an unfortunately large lady on the night flight, who at one point had me wedged in my seat. Fun times.

So anyway, Africa. We flew to Johannesburg then drove 4 or 5 hours up to Clarens. Before leaving the city the kids spotted a McDonalds and begged us to stop. You can guess that our reply was in the negative. The first thing I like to do in a new country is to have a nap. It's a bit like the pope kissing the ground, it's just my way of saying 'hello, I come in peace and I plan to make my home with you for a while'. So I did that for a bit (because I was nearly doing it whilst driving) then Col drove for ages. It was a bit of a blur - a long straight road with hours in between towns. I have never seen anywhere so empty. We saw people working in the fields or hitching lifts along the roadside and we couldn't see where they'd come from or where they might be going. We also spotted a buck and, our favourite thing so far, some kids carrying things on their heads. Our kids have been trying to 'be African' this morning - carrying things on their heads - but I have to say they're not very good at it.

When we got to Clarens we immediately went to the church building (we're with Colin after all!) and met some friends, stretched our legs and took a moment to see where we were - a beautiful, quiet place which, to me, seems to have a story on every corner. I can't wait to explore. A wonderful lady, Jemina, made me a cup of tea and I could have kissed her. Isaac had a go on the drums, Evie found some ants and the boys ran around with football in the main hall, which opens up to a breathtaking view of Lesotho. Phew. We'd arrived. And that felt like enough for one day.

Pack-athon 2010

If only we had sponsors we could have done it for Sports Relief.  It's been a marathon pack, and I'm not exactly famed for my packing skills. On our trip it could be hot, it could be cold, it could rain - basically we need everything. Part of my charm is that I tend to leave it until the last minute and, worse, I want to leave everything tidy (why? It's not tidy when we're here, so why leave it tidy when we're not even around to enjoy it?). 

The problem with being a last-minute-person is that there's no time left for things to go wrong. Like having to see my hero-dentist-friend Pete today about a chipped tooth, and then tonight having to see various policemen because, would you believe it, someone has careered in to our empty car tonight and written it off in a drunken hit and run. One minute Col's round the corner buying a balti at Eshna's, then next minute we're picking bits of Alpha Romeo up from all along our street. Talk about ruining somebody's curry night. On the positive side several neighbours came out (it was a very loud crash) so I can confirm that community spirit is alive and kicking. Also positive, I hadn't wasted any time clearing the car out as well as the house. 

OK, well on with the show. I only have to finish eating the contents of the fridge and then we can leave. Here's what we're looking forward to:

Evie: 

1) dancing   

2) riding a giraffe (aren't their backs too sloped?)  

3)  seeing a monkey and if he's fluffy and if it likes her, giving it a sticker

Isaac: 

1) seeing cool cars at the airport (I blame Jeremy Clarkson for this)  

2) having his own telly on the aeroplane 

Fin:

1) having his own telly on the aeroplane 

I don't think I will really believe it's happening until I am sitting on the plane with a large (plastic) glass of something. In fact I will toast you all. We've had many lovely messages and we feel very grateful for the friends we have so thank you.  x

A gig in a wig

OK, deep breath and I've jumped in. 

I have only played a few gigs so far with my world-famous-in-some-corners-of-Worthing band Sidekicks, but on Saturday we did our first party. We played at a 70's themed house warming and met some lovely people. There was an overgrown Superman swooping his cape like a matador, and a Kings of Leon fan who was looking pretty sweaty by the end because he had chosen the Scooby Doo costume at the shop. I would say the house was warmed up nicely, with the aid of gorgeous hosts,  many platform shoes, wigs, very snug catsuits and even the odd pair of hot pants (on a pair of hairy male legs. Every time I shut my eyes I can still see it).  

The next morning a different brand of silliness ensued - this time it was the church variety. Let's just say that after physio first thing Monday morning Col wondered if he might have overdone it, what with the Suggs-style SKA conga and the African dancing he suddenly decided to teach everyone. Hopping and twisting on a knee joint that's been recently reconstructed? "I should have lead with my left leg..." he reflected. We are truly a family of attention seekers. Hence my decision to write a blog! We can keep in touch whilst we're on our trip to Africa (well that's my excuse anyway) x