Hi! Wow - I just read my last blog entry and I can't believe so much has happened since then!

The most amazing thing I've done since then is climb Table Mountain!!! It was incredible. We went in the afternoon and the conditions couldn't have been better - it was only about 27 degrees (only! lol) we were walking mostly in the shade and there was a slight breeze (not that it stopped me from sweating all the way up) it was very steep and it was really difficult because you had to haul all your body weight up these massive steps pretty much all the way up but we did manage to climb it in 1 and a half hours which everyone here is really impressed by. The view from the top is breathtaking - we got up at about 6 and explored for a couple of hours and then watched the sun set. It was beautiful and truly stunning.

So, onto work. I don't really now where to start. Since I last wrote, the bird hide has changed location about 5 times!!! We have been getting really quite discouraged until last week when everything was finally sorted out. Before last week, we had to keep moving the bird hide because different parties disagreed with each other about where it should go which meant that what we were doing was pointless as we would go into an area and clear it, just to be told 2 days later that it wasn't even going to be there any more so we would clear another area and make plans all over again, just for the same thing to happen again! We talked to an expert and everything only to get his ideas thrown out of the window by 'higher authorities'. Eventually we decided to put in a complaint to SASTS (the people this end who are supervising us) and we had a big meeting with the boss of the organisation we are working for (WCEC) and basically said that we felt used and we were getting nothing useful done whatsoever and on last monday it was finally all sorted out! We now have the walls and a raised floor erected of a birdhide and are putting the roof on on monday!! It feels so good to get something done that we can look at and say - yes, we did that.

Apart from work, you will probably remember I mentioned the funday we were organising. Well that happend last sunday and was a huge sucess. We met a guy who works for the Government basically setting up events and he has access to all sorts of things which he bought along. We had a couple of bouncy castles (jumping castles here), a slip and slide which is basically an inflatible strip which is covered with soap and water and the kids run down it (or attempt to!). There was a braai (BBQ) and of course the football tournament which went really well - apart from Tom almost got lynched when he refereed the final haha. It ended up being a really nice day and we raised about 2000 rand which will go towards various different things in the village which will hopefully help the youth.

I didn't say anything about it last time (I don't think) but we also had a drama/caberet which was entirely organised by Nikky on last Thursday and it was amazing. For the last 3 or 4 weeks she has been working with a group of about 10 kids from about 8 to 17 years old on a drama - Ben and I have been helping out where we can but we don't really know much about drama so it basically involved us making friends with them and trying to help them to be more confident and stuff. After being there all the way through, it was awesome to watch them improve so much from the first practice where they were all shy and not really sure what they were doing through to the performance where they all did amazingly - I am so proud of them so I can hardly imagine how Nikky must feel! I did all the tech stuff and all the music for the drama which was really good fun (although a little stressful) and the tech for the caberet was just pure stressful although there were some really good acts. I did a couple of songs with my guitar which was fun.

Well its Christmas on Thursday!!! (although I guess you probably know that already) It doesn't feel like Christmas at all - its too hot (it has reached 40 twice so far) and I'm not with family and its all a bit wierd but I am looking forward to experiencing a SA Christmas. (even though, if I'm completely honest, I'd rather be at home).

I am loving it here but I am pretty much ready to come home and am really looking forward to seeing you all.

Have an awesome Christmas - I will try and put in another entry before I get home to let you know how Christmas here was.

Shaun xxx