Full circle

OK so we've come full circle, and we're back in Clarens in the pouring rain. We would have been on the plane now but for the ash cloud. It's been a few days of challenges - emotional, practical and financial. But the decision is that we wait for the next flight Virgin can offer us (2nd May now!) so we're booked on that. Virgin don't seem to be too forthcoming on alternative arrangements unless we have thousands of pounds to spend. No wonder Richard Branson always looks so happy. We had to pay £225 just to postpone our internal flight and we also had to extend the car hire. But the good news is that we've got free accommodation, we're self catering and, let's not forget, I'm with my favourite 4 people on earth. We hear stories of folks being put up in 5 star hotels but we also hear stories of folks being really stuck. I can only imagine the media coverage back home - is it all people on airport camp beds, cradling babies and looking ravaged? We're out of it really, although if Jeremy Vine phoned me I'd definitely ham it up a bit, it'd be rude not to. (I could threaten to pull Richard Branson's beard in a fit of rage)

So anyway we came back to Clarens because our New Best Friends Gavin and Lynne are away and they offered us the house. Great. And we plan to return to Durban next week when we've sorted ourselves out a bit. I feel safe here and Col's hoping to work - I didn't fancy navigating Durban alone as we ended up in some pretty rough bits yesterday. (Even at the entrance to the aquarium they searched our bags. And there was a sign up. "No firearms. No picnic hampers. Enjoy your stay". What damage could be done with a picnic hamper?)

I'm not sure what we'll actually DO here in Clarens though - a very very big jigsaw perhaps? I'll probably feel more creative in the morning. It's nice to be doing half our time here, half there - that way we're not abusing anyone's kindness too much, I mean who really wants a family of 5 camping out with them for a full fortnight? We are blown away by peoples' kindness, we feel part of a very big and wonderful family and I don't really know what we'd have done if it were any different.

Today a great mission was accomplished. We found the best milkshakes in the world, recommended to us by Pete the glass blower. He said if we ever went in to Durban we must go to a certain Mall and just ask around and they'd know where we meant. So that's what we did - it was a very serious task and I can report that YES, they really were The Best. Belgian Chocolate flavour. Even more delicious: Broadwater School phoned my mobile during the quest to ask about the whereabouts of our sons! Can you imagine the glee of said sons? Double jubilation. Sorry Mr Tostevin, we did try and run through some times tables tonight on another endless car journey, honest.

In the mall I went in to an Indian shop full of beautiful saris and was suddenly aware of the state we looked. The kids are a mass of grazes and scrapes, their feet are black from running around outside, and I look like I've been camping out. 4 week old nail varnish on toes, hair "inexplicable" as Chandler said to Monica, and suddenly we were in designer-ville. It is as if we're ping pong balls being bounced around between totally different worlds. One day you're in a mud hut, painfully aware of looking so rich, carrying your digital camera and bottled water, next day you're getting pitying glances from exquisitely dressed sales assistants. It's certainly a land of extremes. Like today - we woke up by the ocean - coconut trees and lizards, and we're going to bed in the mountains - nearly ran over an owl if you can believe that?!

I hear Leighton bought more food for the gerbils. What else is he up to? Playing the piano to his heart's content I hope, maybe the builders are singing along. Enjoy yourself Leighton. Have wild parties, live a little! All I ask is that you save me a tea bag, I miss PG tips.