More Family Life …

6th December

seem to be having great trouble updating this page.  It says it is running a script that makes it slow and then it freezes.  It also puts gaps in all my text!

I am opening a new tab called Even More Family Life, where all our new news will be posted.  Hopefully that will solve the problem.  Any advice on how to overcome the script running problem would also be gratefully received.  I just hope it does not happen to the other pages in the blog!

 

 

4th December 2009

 

When I was out and about the other day,  I came across this scene.  It is typical in Lesotho for families to rent a room in a “terrace” such as this.  They generally have few facilities and a shared long drop out front.   Perhaps it was a case of keeping up with the neighbours?  Or an NGO project to improve satellite communication in the villages?

3rd December 2009

 

 

When there is a public announcement to make in Ladybrand, a car drives round with a loud speaker on the top of it shouting out the announcement in heavily accented English.

 

This happened last week, and thinking it was election campaigning, I missed the fact that the water was going to be off that day.

 

A car is going round now shouting from its roof, and I have spent the last 45 minutes with my head out of the window telling the girls to be quiet so that I can hear what is going on.    I struggled to hear what the bloke was saying, so I filled up every available receptacle in the house with water. 

 

On his last passing, I finally understand what is going on – tomorrow I can take my cats and dogs for a free rabies innoculation behind the fire station between nine am and three pm. 

 

What am I going to do with all this water?

 

Robyn

 

2nd December 2009

 

How cute is she!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…………

 

 

 

1st December

 

Today is officially the first day of summer, and the weather is getting hotter by the day.

 

The excitement of the season here is that a new mall has opened in Maseru – it has, among other things, a small Pick and Pay supermarket, some new restaurants and some baby shops.  It also is home to the first escalator in Lesotho. 

 

30th November

 

 This weekend we went for a drive in the mountains.  The lovely thing about driving in Lesotho is that you can do the same route again and again but see something different every time.  

 

  It is also perfectly acceptable – indeed it is normal – to drive at 20 mph.  We ambled up through Lancers Gap and along the back roads to TY.

 

We stopped on the way for a picnic, and to enjoy the scenery of this beautiful country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27th November 2009

 

 

Yesterday Palesa performed in her Christmas play at school. 

 

She sang beautifully and remembered all the words she had to say.

 

Although it is only the end of November, many of the schools here have already closed for the summer holiday.  Palesa’s school finishes next Friday. 

 

20th November 2009

 

It is so cold!  I am off to bed with the electric blanket on.  Refuse to light the fire – it is the middle of November!

 

Off tomorrow to Morija for the leaving party for the Jens, who arrived here at the same time as I did the first time round and taught at the Prep School with me.  They are heading back to Australia in early December. 

 

18th November 2009

 

Rorisang can walk!  Today she walked across the room all by herself. 

 

 The beam on her face was delightful.  She has come on so much even in the month she has been my girl.  It is a joy to be a part of.

 

 

     

 

 

 

 Okay, I know she is a girl and she is wearing blue pyjamas but it was all I could get and she does not mind!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 17th November 2009

 

Went to the school today to see Palesa’s teacher.  Some of you who know me well may very much pity the teacher, but I have had some issues about her education that I wanted to discuss, not least the phonetical approach that is so dependent on accent.   For homework the other day, Palesa was writing that she wore a glove on her “hend” and turned the steering “wil”.  She eats “epples” and has a “sawa” throat.   The month we are in is “Novemba” and “Senta” is coming soon.  By the end of it, we were both crying.

 

Anyway, I am assured that Palesa is doing fine in school. 

 

No photos at the moment – I sent home my hard drive with my sister so that I had one less thing to worry about being stolen, and that leaves me with no pictures to post.  I will have to get going again with the camera…

 

 Robyn

 

12th November 2009

 

Things change so quickly sometimes and move so slowly at others.  Today, a third boy moved in to the unit.  We visited his family and found his mother, working in the hot sun on a land reclamation programme.  She was delighted that we are prepared to help her son, and I hope that this will be the first step towards his reintegration back home.

 

Rorisang took her first step today.  She was as pleased with herself as we were!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1oth November 2009

 

Rorisang had her first go on a swing. 

 

A bit nervous at first, but then loved it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9th November 2009

 

On Sunday morning, we tried out the Methodist church in Ladybrand.  Sadly, I cannot tell you how the service went as Rorisang decided that she did not want to be there and screamed and screamed!

 

On Sunday afternoon, my family joined our friends Sue, Justin and Hannah and we went for a walk up a small mountain.  Palesa loved it!

 

 

We climbed up this!  With Palesa and Rorisang!

 

 

Palesa needed a wee snooze!  And so did Justin, who ended up carrying Rorisang the whole way up and back down again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7th November 2oo9

 

Talking about…

 

Micro Enterprise

 

These two guys are sitting right on the edge of the road right in the city centre and are occupied in sharpening matchsticks – to sell as toothpicks?

 

A great idea but not one that I will patronise!  I prefer mine wrapped!

 

 

6th November 2009

 

Auntie Beth left yesterday. We had a lovely time with her and it was great that she could meet her new niece so quickly.

 

Rorisang is doing really well and night times are going better on the whole!  She was waking very snotty one night in every three, and moaning in her sleep but not every night.   I was giving her a cold medicine and putting on the humidifier to help with the snots, but yesterday it suddenly occured to me that she was teething!   And sure enough, eight new teeth have come through in three weeks!  

 

Her and Palesa chat away – Palesa in pretend Sesotho and Rorisang in baby language and it sounds very much like something from “The Gods Must Be Crazy”.

 

 

 

 

24th October 2009

 

What have I done!  They say raising two children is not easy, and today I discovered why.  We took a trip to Bloemfontein in South Africa for a bit of civilisation and to celebrate the arrival of the passport.

 

In a large department store, I approached the escalator, Palesa hopped on and disappeared into the abyss of upstairs while I stood helplessly at the bottom with Rorisang in the pram.  Shouting to Palesa not to panic, I found a shop man and, pointing to Palesa going up, up, up demanded where the lift was.  He indicated the other side of the HUGE shop.   I shouted to Palesa not to move as she rose higher and higher and stood motionless myself.  Fortunately the shop man saw what was happening and went up to rescue Palesa.  It was awful!  Shops are just not designed for us!

 

And neither are toilets.  Trying to find a toilet that accomodates a buggy and wee child, a five year old and a large bottomed forty something is impossible!  Eventually we found a nappy changing unit with a toilet – you just press the button and wait for the door to open.  I should have had more sense when the door did not readily open for us to go in and I had to get help, but I was desperate!
Anyway, in we went all squashed with the trolley.  Just as well we did not have a cat as there really was not room to swing it.  All was fine though, until we tried to get out.  The door simply would not open.  I did not panic – outwardly!  I tried and tried to press the button but the door did not open.  I banged on the door.  No joy.  I even phoned the emergency number on the wall, but it did not connect.  I started to panic outwardly.  Palesa started to get upset, so I banged harder on the door and harder still.  Eventually the door flew open and a teenager stood outside.  I think we fell out through the door!  The guard was challenging the teenager for pulling open the door, so I challenged the guard on the danger of his toilets!  Anyone who has ever been in my class will know what this is like, and empathise with the poor security guard!

 

Not a great day.  Next time, I think I will leave the children at home!

 

Robyn

 

 

 

23rd October 2009

 

We got the passport today!  Great news.  Thanks for all your prayers.

 

Robyn, Palesa and Rorisang

 

 

 

22nd October 2009

 

 

It is getting hotter every day here.

 

My girls enjoyed a dip in the tub to cool off.

 

Most basotho do not seem to feel the change in temperature the same as I do.  I am sweating in my shorts and flip flops and this boy is still in his blanket!

 

I have applied for a passport for Rorisang so that we can go to South Africa.  I need prayer – they tell me it will be ready tomorrow!  This is Africa so that worried me…

 

Robyn

 

 

 

18th October 2009

 

All is going well with the new addition to our family.  I put her on my back one day with a little help from a lady here, and from that moment on she seems to have accepted me as her mother and now cries when I put her down!

 

It is easy to carry her on my back – she is really small and only weighs 7kg.  I am told this is tiny for a child of nineteen months, but I have absolutely no experience with babies (at least not since I au paired twenty years ago and then I did not care about the weight, sleeping and eating patterns and the likes!).    Oh how times have changed!

 

In order to look like a young mum, I dyed my hair with an dye meant for African hair.  The colour is fine, but unfortunately it has really affected the condition.  I now have to decide whether the extra money I will have to spend on conditioner is worth what I saved on the dye – it was only £2!  You live and learn!

 

Anyway, off to bed now and praying that I will get a solid night sleep. 

 

Goodnight.

 

15th October 2009

 

Rorisang is settling in really well, and her and Palesa are getting on brilliantly – she dotes on her big sister already!  She even screams every time I put her to bed, just like Palesa used to do! 

 

She does sleep all night once she is asleep though – so far!

 

Rorisang is about eighteen months old but is quite behind in her milestones.

 

 

 

 

 

..

 

13th October 2009

 

Good news!  Today Rorisang Elizabeth came home.

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Both sister and mummy delighted!

 

26th August

 

 

Well, we are back and busy in Lesotho after a lovely visit back to Scotland.  It was great to see everyone, and we thank everyone for their welcome and their hospitality during our stay.

 

Palesa started back at school today and I finally find myself with two minutes to sit down and write a bit.  We had Iain Hutchison staying for a couple of weeks, and on Friday we welcomed the first boys into the unit.  Please see the Work of the Trust page for photos.

 

More soon I promise, now routines have started again!

 

Robyn

 

9th July 2009

 

It is a LONG time since I have written here.  Moving house has taken its toll on routines, and we have been very busy getting the boys’ house ready for before my break.

 

We have also had Karen Hutchison and her friend Carla visiting.

 

We are flying home tomorrow for a month, which we are both really looking forward to.  We have no food in as we have been trying to use it up, so tonight we will have to eat at the Maseru Sun, I am afraid.

 

Robyn

 

25th June 2009

 

Palesa is now five.  She had her birthday last weekend and is very proud of her new age.

 

To save having a party (my friends will know how much I dislike parties!)  we went away for a birthday trip for the weekend.    

 

  

 

23rd June 2009

 

Found the jeans, so all is good in the decency department.

 

18th June 2009

 

Our new house is fine on the whole, and is warm and cosy.  Palesa LOVES community living, but I have lost my two pairs of jeans in the move and am wondering what I will wear now.

 

Today we are going across the border to have the car serviced and to buy some kitchen equipment for the boys’ house.   The good news is that now we have border passes we will not have to line up at all!  The bad news is that we are going with my friend Sue,  who does not have a border pass so we will have to wait in the car while she lines up… 

 

 

 

15th June 2009

 

Today we waved goodbye to the Hutchisons as they boarded their plane Johannesburg bound, and we moved into our new home. 

 

I spent the evening chatting with Sue and Marjolein which was very pleasant. 

 

In order to get to the toilet from my bedroom, I have to go through the chapel as my front door does not open easily at all.  At the moment, there is an HIV/AIDS conference taking place in the chapel.  I think I might be annoying them already and we have only just moved in.   Palesa also caused distractions by pressing her nose to the window and waving at them. 

 

11th June 2009

 

Today I got a 12 month multi entry visa to the Republic of South Africa.   This means that I now line up in a different queue when going to Ladybrand for coffee.

 

 

 

 

 

Stevo found the whole scenario far too much to cope with, so Palesa lulled him with a wee head massage, and he cuddled frog for a wee while.

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

9th June 2009

 

Palesa is enjoying our visitors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5th June 2009

 

We are blessed to have the Hutchisons visiting and helping to paint the house.   Agreeably they are not the most fashion conscious couple in the world, but they sure can paint!

 

 

 

Today we celebrated Fiona’s 18th birthday.  She says this is the best way she can think of to celebrate.  I am not sure if I believe her!

 

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2nd June 2009

 

Picked up the bakkie yesterday.  It seems to go nicely and is surprisingly light to drive, although it is very long!  Plenty of room for Stephen, Ingrid and Fiona’s luggage…

 

We are very much looking forward to their arrival tomorrow.

 

Robyn

 

30th May 2009

 

 

Palesa was in the class play yesterday at school, and was cast as a little red chicken.  She even had a line to say, which she said beautifully!  I truly think she is destined for the stage!

 

Today we started the arduous task of moving stuff to a new place.  It is amazing how much junk can be gathered in so short  a time.  I am feeling very miserable about the whole thing and would appreciate your prayers – particularly for my attitude and for Palesa adapting to community living.  She will love it, but we will have to have lots of rules that we don’t have to have in our own house.  The only good thing is that my good friend Sue already lives at the place.  Today she helped me design where things should go and sort the curtains.

 

Robyn

 

27th May 2009               PLEASE PRAY

 

I was told today by the head teacher that I have to move out of the house as he is appointing a teacher from Kenya.  This is gutting!  When I was thinking of moving before, the head teacher assured me that he was not going to appoint any overseas staff until at least December and probably next June!  Please pray that we find somewhere else suitable and affordable to live.  In the meantime, we will move into a room at the Brothers’, which is not ideal for Palesa but needs must. 

 

Robyn

 

25th May 2009

 

Argh!  Palesa has just found her first wobbly tooth, but she is only four years old!  Asked Jeeves what was going on and he reassured me by telling me that some children start losing teeth when they are five or nearly five.  At least it will not cost the tooth fairy that much, as everything is cheaper here!
Robyn

 

25th May 2009

 

 

This weekend, we went for a drive into South Africa to a lovely wee town called Clarens near the Golden Gate National Park.  It is a very beautiful place.

 

Looking across to Lesotho from South Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Maseru is right on the border of South Africa, so if the queue is not too long to cross, it is easy to go over for a drive or a coffee, or simply to find some civilization.

 

 

 

 

 

22nd May 2009

 

 

22nd May 2009

 

Today we are going to the airport again.  One of my friends, Amy, is leaving.  One of the hard things about living here is that people are always leaving.

 

Tomorrow we are to cheer ourselves up by going for a drive into South Africa – we will head for Clarens and look for good photo opportunities on the way.

 

17th May 2009         A Saturday in Lesotho

 

 

Went for a drive to the mountains yesterday, to have a wee look at the beautiful country and to take some photographs.

 

It was lovely, and the folk we met so friendly.  On the whole, the basotho people love having their photo taken.

 

These men work in a shearing shed that was just closing down for the winter.

 

 

The country side looked beautiful.  The grey skies added to the atmosphere and gave an unusual hue to the scenery.  Gorgeous!

 

 

 

Then the first real sign of winter came.  It reminded me very much of home.  Not being great drivers at the best of times, and with minimal experience of driving in snow, cars were skidding all over the place.  There was even a four by four went over the edge of the cliff, but the driver was OK.

 

It is now freezing!  The cold air comes in to Maseru from the mountains and makes it very cold!

 

15th May 2009               School Sports

 

 

Palesa did really well at the sports, which were non-competitive and of the potted variety.  She enjoyed it a lot.

 

 

 

Sadly, the king and queen could not attend, but the organisers were prepared for them just in case they put in a late appearance.

 

..

 

14th May 2009

 

 

 

BOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!

 

13th May 2009

 

Having a very busy time with Auntie.  She treated us to a weekend away in a very nice hotel in the Free State, which has an entertainment programme for children.  It was great – very relaxing and I was able to spend hours in reading books like I used to in “the olden days”!

 

Palesa enjoyed it too.  She got to watch four movies in two days in a cinema in which she was the only viewer!

 

Sadly, Auntie Beth leaves tomorrow.  We will miss her.  She has helped us to get going on the clearing out and freshening up of the property.

 

Palesa has her sports tomorrow – we are looking forward to that!

 

Robyn

 

  5th May 2009

 

I see it is a long time since I have updated the blog.  Sorry for that.  All is going well here, and I eagerly await the arrival of my sister tomorrow.  She is coming for a week, and we are both very excited.

 

Today I spent some considerable time standing in a queue to use one of three ATMs in the main street.  This is not unusual in Lesotho.  People queue quite literally for hours to use the banking facilities.  However, the one difference is that not one of the three machines was actually working,  and everyone in the queue knew it.  Yes, even me.  Yet I stood there still.   I worry about this.  What is happening to me? 

 

It is partly for this reason that I have decided that we will be coming home in July for a month.  We look forward to catching up with you then.  And maybe relearning a bit about time management.

 

I am feeling under the weather with a nasty cold thing that has gone to my ears and throat again.  I seem to catch everything that is passing here, where in Scotland I rarely catch any of the bugs that go around.

 

Palesa is well and so far has not caught anything from me, although last night the mosquito net did fall on her head as she slept.   I heard a little voice calling out, “Mummy!  The net is on my head!”.

 

Robyn

 

26th April 2009

 

All good here.  Spent the weekend in Bloemfontein in the Free State with some friends.  It was lovely.  We went to a rugby match (part of the Super 14s) where the Cheetahs played the Crusaders from Christchurch. 

 

  Troubles have calmed down, although no-one is saying what really happened.  Foreign mercenaries are being blamed for a “coup attempt” and all opposition parties are being investigated.

 

Robyn

 

22nd April 2009

 

Found this link, for those of you who are interested.

 

www.afrol.com/articles/33021

 

My doors are locked tonight!

 

22nd April 2009

 

Lay in bed last night listening to the sound of gun shots not far away.  This is not overly unusual here, but there were more of them than usual and they were closer than they usually sound.  Went to sleep.

 

Awoke this morning to find that someone has attacked the army and the Prime Minister’s house.  The government is saying nothing so no-one knows what is going on. 

 

I may have to flee to Mauritius.  Or the Maldives.  Or a Greek island.  Or the Bahamas.  Or Thailand.  No, not Thailand.  Maybe Hawaii.  Or …

 

Any suggestions? 

 

20th April 2009

 

I have volunteered at Palesa’s school to run a second hand uniform shop from the lost property box.  I spent Saturday sorting through lost property, putting named clothes on one side and then deciding from the rest what was sellable and what was not.  I could not help thinking about my old job – when I used to do this for a living!