tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574759246787937712024-03-13T10:19:04.689-07:00Lionsraw Durban 2010Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-13786247628134999272010-06-27T12:37:00.001-07:002010-06-27T12:44:09.665-07:00Day Fourteen – final goodbyes from South AfricaWell done England! Another fine, professional, winning, performance. A star turn at the beginning and some dogged efficiency at the end to see the job through. It is wonderful to follow an England team that can win. A team that can take on the old, old enemy – where there is so much history, so much pressure, so much at stake – and finish the job off successfully – almost ruthlessly. Another great England victory. Well done the Barmy Army. Well done Andy Strauss.<br />It’s a real shame that the England football team couldn’t learn something from the England cricket team and beat Germany in the way that the cricketers beat Australia.<br />So, the Lionsraw team leaves South Africa tomorrow with an unbeaten record on the football pitch and having made new friends and improved the lives of many, many people. It’s possible we’ll be on the same flight as the footballers, but I know which end of the plane I’m prouder of.<br />Len, Steve and I would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who helped to raise funds to send us on this trip. We feel hugely privileged to have been able to work in the Valley of a Thousand Hills, with some wonderful, wonderful people. Thank you to Ryde Elim Church, to Ryde Methodist Church and to AJ Wells, in particular for your fantastic support.<br />This is our last blog from South Africa. There will probably be just one more addition to this blog when we get back to the UK, to upload some great video clips which we weren’t able to upload from South Africa. Don’t forget to watch Match of the Day on July 7th when you’ll see a report about Lionsraw, including interviews with Jon Burns and Russell and Precious.<br />We hope that you have enjoyed reading about our exploits and if you feel inspired to get involved with Lionsraw, then please make contact via the official website at www.Lionsraw.org where you can sign up for Brazil in 2014 or make a donation.<br /><br />“We’re moving on to Brazil, but not leaving South Africa.” Jon Burns, founder of Lionsraw<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCep4Ia-MPI/AAAAAAAAATA/sfXKfmPWbY8/s1600/Picture1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCep4Ia-MPI/AAAAAAAAATA/sfXKfmPWbY8/s400/Picture1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487541452772618482" /></a>Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-85926253178128685842010-06-26T14:11:00.000-07:002010-06-26T14:33:07.015-07:00Day Thirteen – Last day on-site<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZuwn-c6oI/AAAAAAAAASA/CSq_hFm1awk/s1600/P1040968.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZuwn-c6oI/AAAAAAAAASA/CSq_hFm1awk/s400/P1040968.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487194977641228930" /></a><br />Today was hard work, both physically and emotionally. Eight of us went back to Russell and Precious’s house for the final push to get as much done as possible. John completed the rendering the top of both gable ends, but we ran out of fine sand and he was only able to do a scratch coat. He did manage to tidy up the back wall which had been rushed on Thursday. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZvRxiCZCI/AAAAAAAAASI/lLOYV1TCHZE/s1600/P1040919.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZvRxiCZCI/AAAAAAAAASI/lLOYV1TCHZE/s400/P1040919.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487195547142087714" /></a>Finally, he filled in the holes we’d had to smash in the end walls to support our makeshift scaffolding. As always, he was ably supported by Frank and Len on mixing duty.<br />Martin J and Steve did a great job of tidying up the site and we managed to fix up timber on the end of the roof joists to support the guttering, when it arrives. As with almost every other day, we started with high hopes of completing the steps/patio but left without quite completing the final concreting. <br />Today was probably the hottest day we’ve had in South Africa (I believe that it is quite warm in the UK as well at the moment) so we were all exhausted when the sun started to set.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZwH3jvFbI/AAAAAAAAASQ/sjLgoU_mqjY/s1600/P1040909.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZwH3jvFbI/AAAAAAAAASQ/sjLgoU_mqjY/s400/P1040909.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487196476472759730" /></a>We leave behind a very large barn, with good foundations, walls and roof. Lionsraw have a small team staying on in Durban to co-ordinate the final work on each of the projects. Although there is still a lot to do before Russell, Precious and the kids can move in, Lionsraw plan to have this work completed within the next two weeks and are negotiating with local builders to help. The Match of the Day cameras will be on-site on July 6th, so we look forward to seeing how much has been finished off by then.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZwdEsaCBI/AAAAAAAAASY/F4yZgijdFvw/s1600/P1040933.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZwdEsaCBI/AAAAAAAAASY/F4yZgijdFvw/s400/P1040933.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487196840776042514" /></a>Neil, Debbie and Alexandra Flint stopped en-route this morning to purchase a huge mountain of fruit and vegetables for Russell and Precious. The Flint family have firmly adopted the Sithembakuye project and will be back at Christmas, so if the step needs any more attention, I’m sure that Neil will be straight onto it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZwt367LCI/AAAAAAAAASg/cvgNGOlrmyo/s1600/P1040986.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZwt367LCI/AAAAAAAAASg/cvgNGOlrmyo/s400/P1040986.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487197129405049890" /></a>As we were finishing off work today, a couple of very hungry young boys came to the house and Russell fed them and gave them some of the shirts which Len had left. It became clear that the two boys were living in terrible conditions with their Grandmother (Gogo) unable to cope. Russell spoke to their Gogo who allowed us to visit the home she has built, to see exactly how desperate live in the Valley can be. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZxAtWOgAI/AAAAAAAAASo/9DNq0SD0N0c/s1600/P1010018.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZxAtWOgAI/AAAAAAAAASo/9DNq0SD0N0c/s400/P1010018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487197452984287234" /></a>About 400 yards from Russell and Precious, they live in two small mud huts with no electricity and no water and a very meagre pile of possessions. The round hut is not waterproof and washes away when it rains, so they have to sleep on the floor in the smaller hut until it can be rebuilt. One of the boys recently got sick and had to spend three months in hospital, probably due to smoke inhalation from the small fire which burns in the centre of the round house for cooking, warmth and light. Gogo receives 250Rand per month from the Government which only covers the cost of transporting the kids to school. There is nothing left over for food and it will be seven years before she qualifies for a state pension.<br />This really is the bottom of the pile and we were all hugely shocked to see the state of the family. Russell has promised to do all he can to look after the boys, so it looks as if the extra space at Sithembakuye has arrived just in time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZxXaUc-EI/AAAAAAAAASw/YWadXp3057M/s1600/P1010011.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 205px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCZxXaUc-EI/AAAAAAAAASw/YWadXp3057M/s400/P1010011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487197843013564482" /></a>Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-90587534274936436082010-06-25T09:14:00.001-07:002010-06-25T09:18:45.930-07:00Day Twelve - rest dayWe had a final meeting all together this morning and Jon Burns read out a letter of thanks from Russell and Precious at Sithembakuye<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCTWKu5l4vI/AAAAAAAAAR4/fYXkHvOkpq8/s1600/P1040876.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCTWKu5l4vI/AAAAAAAAAR4/fYXkHvOkpq8/s400/P1040876.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486745725920731890" /></a><br />To: Flint Families, Burns Families, Lions Raw Team and friends<br />We like to thank you for the building that you built for us, the gifts, stationaries and cloths for keep us warm in winter and for the joy that you brought in Sithembakuye.<br />We cannot show or express our happiness but deeply inside we are blessed to have a wonderfull and caring people like you in our lives. Even our youth community is over the moon as they have soccer kits for guys and ladies playing kits including poles for netball. What can we ask more if we have wonderfull people who knows how to dress a body of a man with no clothes and feed a stomach of a hungry child and give love to everybody and make them their special friends.<br />We will never forget you and your memories will never dies in our hearts.<br />God bless you all<br />From<br />Precious & Russell<br /><br />There wasn't a dry eye in the house.Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-86630470533006459742010-06-24T15:13:00.001-07:002010-06-24T15:40:14.574-07:00Day Eleven - Happy Birthday Paul<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPY0SygIjI/AAAAAAAAAQY/s5N2SReO-i8/s1600/P1040016.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPY0SygIjI/AAAAAAAAAQY/s5N2SReO-i8/s400/P1040016.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486467163975852594" /></a><br />Len, Steve & I are enjoying a wonderful experience in South Africa: changing lives, playing and watching football, making new friends. Each of us owes this opportunity to Paul Meredith, Pastor of Ryde Elim Church, who signed up for this trip before any of us, but was cruelly prevented from travelling due to illness. We all wish Paul was here with us and we continue to pray for his full recovery. Friday is Paul’s birthday, so it seems appropriate to let him know that he is not forgotten. Lionsraw are building new changing rooms at Inchanga School and these are dedicated to Paul. Inchanga School has 1,000 pupils and the current facilities are completely inadequate, so this project will make a real difference to all these children. You may remember that we visited Inchange School to help with the feeding programme on Tuesday.<br />The building materials for this project were paid for by AJ Wells (www.ajwells.com) who have been massively supportive of the Lionsraw work. Thanks guys.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPZW-BxxbI/AAAAAAAAAQg/5DLYkkwjoF8/s1600/P1000961.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPZW-BxxbI/AAAAAAAAAQg/5DLYkkwjoF8/s400/P1000961.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486467759698199986" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPZ_chPr4I/AAAAAAAAAQo/XepzGxzc3vk/s1600/P1040743.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPZ_chPr4I/AAAAAAAAAQo/XepzGxzc3vk/s400/P1040743.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486468455078014850" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPbLeTpJ9I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/e13NpoMriNs/s1600/P1040810.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPbLeTpJ9I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/e13NpoMriNs/s400/P1040810.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486469761227892690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPbA6f1R2I/AAAAAAAAAQw/SSFXcYmg2DI/s1600/P1040746.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPbA6f1R2I/AAAAAAAAAQw/SSFXcYmg2DI/s400/P1040746.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486469579816650594" /></a>At Russell & Precious’s house, today was the last day on-site for the full team. Although there will be at least six of us back in-site on Saturday for one last day, the professionals are heading home and it feels that the sun is setting on our South African adventure. Everybody worked doubly hard today, despite scorching heat, and we managed to get the roof finished and all the walls rendered. Phil and John, in particular, put in a massive shift up on the roof fixing all the tin. Paul D completed the last of the blockwork at the gable ends and Paul M and Neil did a fantastic job to get the rendering (almost) finished. Paul even took time out to show me how to do some rendering and although he was very kind about my efforts, I suspect that he could have better used the time it took him to sort it out afterwards. Steve and Neil’s step / patio isn’t quite complete, but half a dozen of us will be back on Saturday to help them with one last push to the finish line. <br />It has been a real pleasure to work with the team at Sithembayaku: although we all have different skills and abilities, everybody has worked really hard and done all they can to get the build as near to completion as possible. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPcWePyXoI/AAAAAAAAARA/C71BRsF4-rc/s1600/P1000979.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPcWePyXoI/AAAAAAAAARA/C71BRsF4-rc/s400/P1000979.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486471049701908098" /></a><br /><br />There has been plenty of banter, but very few cross words, so huge respect to:<br />Phil ‘the gaffer’ Hillsdon<br />Chris Agar<br />Simon Close<br />Frank Siddle<br />Neil Flint<br />Paul Davison<br />Chris Hearn<br />Les Hauxwell<br />Paul Martin<br />Martin James<br />Len Hill<br />Steve Goodall<br />Martin Boyce<br /><br />It would have been wonderful if we’d had more equipment; if the water hadn’t dried up at the most inconvenient times; if the electricity had been always available – but these frustrations are daily battles in the Valley and the consequences are far more serious for the residents. We have always managed to overcome and the experience has taught us a great deal. Russell and Precious and their kids have been wonderfully inspirational and to see the joy in their faces makes all the aches and pains fade away.<br /><br />We’ve posted our favourite pictures onto the blog, but we have taken literally thousands over the past couple of weeks and Len has posted hundreds of them onto his facebook site. So if you use facebook, search for Len Hill and you can catch up with more behind-the-scenes footage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPdPGlc2gI/AAAAAAAAARI/KVvgm1YEWQ0/s1600/P1000960.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPdPGlc2gI/AAAAAAAAARI/KVvgm1YEWQ0/s400/P1000960.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486472022602865154" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPdcuYHvII/AAAAAAAAARQ/ZfQzJddIjYM/s1600/P1000966.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPdcuYHvII/AAAAAAAAARQ/ZfQzJddIjYM/s400/P1000966.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486472256622673026" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPduZLvjmI/AAAAAAAAARY/jhpqhzR6X8M/s1600/P1000957.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPduZLvjmI/AAAAAAAAARY/jhpqhzR6X8M/s400/P1000957.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486472560171257442" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPeCkxSE1I/AAAAAAAAARg/kQ0XGHClJlM/s1600/P1040768.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPeCkxSE1I/AAAAAAAAARg/kQ0XGHClJlM/s400/P1040768.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486472906878882642" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPeLWnwNAI/AAAAAAAAARo/lHI0iVZygOQ/s1600/P1040846.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPeLWnwNAI/AAAAAAAAARo/lHI0iVZygOQ/s400/P1040846.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486473057699640322" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPeVfc-EMI/AAAAAAAAARw/bTJjiUjrfP0/s1600/P1040853.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCPeVfc-EMI/AAAAAAAAARw/bTJjiUjrfP0/s400/P1040853.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486473231869022402" /></a>Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-74283641679441180922010-06-23T14:51:00.000-07:002010-06-23T15:20:41.852-07:00Day Ten - back on site<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKHuhtzxHI/AAAAAAAAAP4/lELbsmix96E/s1600/P1040714.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKHuhtzxHI/AAAAAAAAAP4/lELbsmix96E/s400/P1040714.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486096529484924018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKHpPvZgRI/AAAAAAAAAPw/ESdD8-NbGx0/s1600/P1040706.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKHpPvZgRI/AAAAAAAAAPw/ESdD8-NbGx0/s400/P1040706.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486096438760407314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKHZlfIq8I/AAAAAAAAAPg/I3yvbp9Ak9Q/s1600/P1040681.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKHZlfIq8I/AAAAAAAAAPg/I3yvbp9Ak9Q/s400/P1040681.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486096169719868354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKHL0hiILI/AAAAAAAAAPY/fpqBBw87430/s1600/P1040674.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKHL0hiILI/AAAAAAAAAPY/fpqBBw87430/s400/P1040674.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486095933238288562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKGqgaMUPI/AAAAAAAAAPI/DbTif-j-FWI/s1600/P1040670.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKGqgaMUPI/AAAAAAAAAPI/DbTif-j-FWI/s400/P1040670.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486095360903106802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKGmberA7I/AAAAAAAAAPA/t3D1DS0WWvI/s1600/P1040669.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKGmberA7I/AAAAAAAAAPA/t3D1DS0WWvI/s400/P1040669.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486095290860241842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKGg9yv-RI/AAAAAAAAAO4/8eZWhOim194/s1600/P1040720.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKGg9yv-RI/AAAAAAAAAO4/8eZWhOim194/s400/P1040720.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486095196992043282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKGUdqHTZI/AAAAAAAAAOw/zXa41uDDvTE/s1600/P1040664.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKGUdqHTZI/AAAAAAAAAOw/zXa41uDDvTE/s400/P1040664.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486094982207458706" /></a><br /><br />Today we were back on site and the race is on to get as much finished as we possibly can before the weekend. Thanks for all your prayers, as they delivered us a brilliant solution to the scaffolding problem. We used hammers and screwdrivers to knock holes in the end walls which supported lengths of timber as makeshift scaffolding. Both Pauls bravely clambered up onto this structure and managed to build most of the end gables. Phil and John practised their gymnastics on the roof trusses to fix the insulation foil and pearling. At the end of the day, we had three sections of tin in place. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Steve and Neil continued to work on their steps / patio and, amazingly, it scrubbed up really well just in time for the arrival of the TV cameras from SABC. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKG6djrjTI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/YM_Ltev071E/s1600/P1040689.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKG6djrjTI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/YM_Ltev071E/s400/P1040689.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486095635015503154" /></a>Jon Burns was interviewed about the work which Lionsraw is doing in South Africa and the clip will feature on South African TV in the next few days. Jon is booked to return to Russell and Precious’s house for an interview with the BBC Match of the Day team on July 6th – to be aired on July 7th during coverage of the semi-final in Durban. Various members of the Lionsraw team have been interviewed for radio stations and newspapers in the UK, so hopefully more people will learn about the positive legacy we’re going to leave in South Africa. Who knows, perhaps some will be inspired to get involved for the next Lionsraw project in Brazil in 2014.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKIAGmymHI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/AauIMkJX8t0/s1600/P1040736.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCKIAGmymHI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/AauIMkJX8t0/s400/P1040736.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486096831445375090" /></a>After work today there wasn’t time to get back into Durban before the England game kicked-off, so all the Lionsraw project teams met up in the On Cue snooker hall to watch the game. It was great to see a bit more spirit from the England team and we definitely outplayed Slovenia, but typically, we spurned countless chances and kept everybody sweating until the final whistle. It’s great that England are through to the next round, but all the missed chances cost us first place in the Group as the USA team snatched a winner in the 94th minute of their game. <br />As I write this, history is being made in Wimbledon, where Mahut and Isner are locked in combat at 59 games all in the fifth set. All sorts of records are tumbling, for the longest game, longest set, most aces, but the most amazing aspect of these heroics is the fact that they have replaced the Germany game in the Lionsraw FanZone! When the tennis was finally called off the day, we learnt that Germany had won, so it is England against Germany on Sunday. This should be a fantastic finale to our last day in South Africa.<br />Tomorrow is the last day that we’ll have the full team on-site, and we have a huge amount left to do, so please continue to pray for the work we’re doing. We are all exhausted, but desperate to get as much done as we possibly can before we return home.Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-90193291838506472010-06-22T14:13:00.000-07:002010-06-22T15:18:10.622-07:00Days 8 & 9 building, eating & playing footieAfter the frustrations with power and water on Sunday, we were back on track pretty quickly on Monday morning as Geoff and Derek brought us a main fuse, fresh supplies of gangnail plates (for the roof trusses) and washing-up liquid (for the render mix).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEtPeKpNoI/AAAAAAAAANA/XHYd8gTFL3I/s1600/P1040394.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEtPeKpNoI/AAAAAAAAANA/XHYd8gTFL3I/s400/P1040394.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485715564932970114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEsz98oprI/AAAAAAAAAM4/PUo0JUA_oVI/s1600/P1040384.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEsz98oprI/AAAAAAAAAM4/PUo0JUA_oVI/s400/P1040384.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485715092427810482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEsfDmUxEI/AAAAAAAAAMw/llcH1pCwq2w/s1600/P1040371.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEsfDmUxEI/AAAAAAAAAMw/llcH1pCwq2w/s400/P1040371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485714733167592514" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEt9txM5HI/AAAAAAAAANI/OcbkwpIujqE/s1600/P1040389.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEt9txM5HI/AAAAAAAAANI/OcbkwpIujqE/s400/P1040389.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485716359395206258" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEuzDnBPoI/AAAAAAAAANQ/jR9wM4D3ql0/s1600/P1040412.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEuzDnBPoI/AAAAAAAAANQ/jR9wM4D3ql0/s400/P1040412.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485717275791146626" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEv1jZKtCI/AAAAAAAAANg/XlIrfu7-iUg/s1600/P1040421.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEv1jZKtCI/AAAAAAAAANg/XlIrfu7-iUg/s400/P1040421.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485718418194347042" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The builders set to work with the rendering and managed to complete the second end wall. Steve and Neil continued work on the steps / patio and confidently decided to branch out with the foundations for a ramp. The labourers set about banging together the remaining roof tresses and fixing them in place. This was quite a challenge without decent scaffolding, but we got a bit of a chain gang working as we shifted blocks around. Phil, Paul and Chris risked life and limb clambering up the blocks to bang in strengthening braces and at the end of our sixth working day on-site we had all the roof trusses fixed in place. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEsHSC6LeI/AAAAAAAAAMo/p2YP3Fp5l8s/s1600/P1000845.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:right;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEsHSC6LeI/AAAAAAAAAMo/p2YP3Fp5l8s/s400/P1000845.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485714324728720866" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEvQwwrCqI/AAAAAAAAANY/TBTFHvsAiag/s1600/P1000848.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEvQwwrCqI/AAAAAAAAANY/TBTFHvsAiag/s400/P1000848.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485717786127436450" /></a><br />As soon as we got back to the hotel, we had a very quick shower and then a group of about 30, headed out to the Cargo Hold restaurant. Neil and Debbie organised the meal as a treat Russell and Precious, who hadn’t been out for a meal together for two years. Precious’s mother kindly looked after the children although Russell said that they never sleep unless he or Precious are in the house.<br /> As the name may suggest, the Cargo Hold restaurant is built in the guts of a derelict container ship. This may not sound like the most inspiring setting, but it was wonderful and we all sat next to a huge aquarium containing three menacing-looking sharks. The food was great and although Les felt that his ostrich could have spent longer by the fire, my Dorado fish was wonderful.<br /><br /><br />Day 9 - Tuesday<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCExK9Y4_EI/AAAAAAAAANw/qIewr9cCj8A/s1600/P1040529.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCExK9Y4_EI/AAAAAAAAANw/qIewr9cCj8A/s400/P1040529.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485719885461388354" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEweL66O9I/AAAAAAAAANo/4w1ggUI8fXg/s1600/P1040450.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEweL66O9I/AAAAAAAAANo/4w1ggUI8fXg/s400/P1040450.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485719116268059602" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCExvylEWEI/AAAAAAAAAN4/Flv0N8arnOc/s1600/P1040501.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCExvylEWEI/AAAAAAAAAN4/Flv0N8arnOc/s400/P1040501.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485720518214834242" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCE2PbRRA1I/AAAAAAAAAOo/G2sNfeqngCw/s1600/P1000881.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCE2PbRRA1I/AAAAAAAAAOo/G2sNfeqngCw/s400/P1000881.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485725459760087890" /></a>Although today was our rest day, a coachload of builders and footballers went back into the Valley to join a feeding programme run by Caroline at Inchanga School. Caroline looks after forty orphans and vulnerable children in the Valley (check out http://trailblazinginsouthafrica.blogspot.com) This morning we helped to give out food and books to more than sixty kids. All the kids queued very politely to receive a sandwich, cake, banana and drink, but it was very clear just how hungry they were as Mike was nearly trampled underfoot when he offered seconds. Once they had eaten, all the kids were given a bag with a tin of beans and a bag of porridge, plus a reading book and football cards.<br />Some of these kids are homeless and rely heavily on Caroline’s programme. Even within families, there is not much to go around. According to a report in the Durban Daily News today, some farmworkers in the Valley earn just R900 per month. To put this in perspective, it means that they would need to work for one and half days to be able to afford a box of 200 teabags from the local spar shop. Take a couple of moments to work out how long you have to work to afford a box of teabags and then remember this next time you put the kettle on.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEz6XxGv_I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/WYwU-DlAEi8/s1600/P1000905.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEz6XxGv_I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/WYwU-DlAEi8/s400/P1000905.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485722899019382770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEzb6B2X3I/AAAAAAAAAOI/dq_YO0pcK9E/s1600/P1000910.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEzb6B2X3I/AAAAAAAAAOI/dq_YO0pcK9E/s400/P1000910.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485722375640473458" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEyrsGz6nI/AAAAAAAAAOA/qApzsOfIxA4/s1600/P1000896.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCEyrsGz6nI/AAAAAAAAAOA/qApzsOfIxA4/s400/P1000896.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485721547269466738" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCE0x1vEC-I/AAAAAAAAAOY/U3xeUEi2Zx4/s1600/Martin+giving+shirt+to+Kunde.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCE0x1vEC-I/AAAAAAAAAOY/U3xeUEi2Zx4/s400/Martin+giving+shirt+to+Kunde.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485723851956685794" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCE1EZfStRI/AAAAAAAAAOg/Rk2RiB2w1WI/s1600/Len+gives+away+Leeds+shirt.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TCE1EZfStRI/AAAAAAAAAOg/Rk2RiB2w1WI/s400/Len+gives+away+Leeds+shirt.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485724170791859474" /></a><br />With all the talk of football, many of the building teams have been itching to get their boots on. We had our chance this morning in a challenge match organised against a local side at Sithembye. The pitch was built into the side of one of the thousand hills and was actually quite level, although two sides were bordered by very steep drops. Closer inspection revealed that the pitch itself was divided into three separate terrains: there was a wide stretch of dirt and sand down the left wing; a large patch of burnt scrubland and mud around the centre circle and a dense jungle area encroaching the right wing. In fact, I expect that it plays a little like the new turf at Wembley.<br />The local side proposed thirty-five minutes each way, but with the sun high in the sky, we settled on two games of twenty five minutes each. First off, the team from the HatTrick project in Newcastle represented LionsRaw. The game was tight, with both sides closing space and defending stoutly. There were few chances and at nil-nil it was all set for penalties. Lionsraw edged it 5-4 on penalties thanks to a great save from the Geordie keeper.<br />With the locals nicely warmed up, the builders took to the field more in hope than expectation. We soaked up some early pressure and then in our first move upfield, Len slid the ball through to Stevie G who smashed home. We worked hard to keep our noses in front, with some solid defending and some acrobatic tumbles from Les ‘the Cat’ in goal. We were proud to maintain Lionsraw’s perfect record on tour and even happier to give away our match shirts at the end. <br /><br /><br />After the games, we walked up the hill to Russell and Precious’ house where they had organised a barbeque for all the local community. We were treated to traditional zulu dancing and had a great party with the kids from the choir, netball team and football team. Les earned the highest Zulu honour – his very own nickname, ‘Sdudla’. Les likes to think that it means “the wise one”, but we know that it is “the wide one”.<br /><br /><br /><br />We didn’t get back to Durban in time to watch South Africa’s game from the FanFest on the beach and decided that we didn’t really have time to go to the Nigeria v Korea match in Durban tonight. But, for us, this World Cup is more about participation than spectating and we’re really happy that we played our part this afternoon.<br /><br /><br />Our challenge tomorrow is to put on the roof insulation, pearling and tin. We’re all hoping that Phil ‘the gaffer’ has dreamt up another inspiring plan, because at first glance it looks pretty much impossible. We have a couple of sections of rickety scaffolding and a few concrete blocks, yet somehow we’ll have to find a way to get the roof fixed on during our last two days.<br />But, this is Africa, and if the building work has taught us anything in the past ten days, it is the power of faith, perseverance and ingenuity. It may not be orthodox, but necessity is the mother of invention and we’ll always find a way. We have overcome some tricky problems already and I am confident that we’ll be successful tomorrow. Are you listening, Fabio?Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-67931439783043328802010-06-20T13:40:00.000-07:002010-06-20T14:26:26.945-07:00Day Six - Life in the Valley<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB59bhzwjqI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/13Yekhi9ppE/s1600/P1040313.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB59bhzwjqI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/13Yekhi9ppE/s400/P1040313.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484959308069244578" /></a>Doesn't Siphiwe have the best smile you've ever seen?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB59_-gYNhI/AAAAAAAAAKI/U20Lzgktd30/s1600/P1040166.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB59_-gYNhI/AAAAAAAAAKI/U20Lzgktd30/s400/P1040166.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484959934247876114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB59z00Y-OI/AAAAAAAAAKA/NGnfEa_F8Cs/s1600/P1000811.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB59z00Y-OI/AAAAAAAAAKA/NGnfEa_F8Cs/s400/P1000811.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484959725489027298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB5_PLOqynI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/aWkFbTKpI4Y/s1600/P1000805.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB5_PLOqynI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/aWkFbTKpI4Y/s400/P1000805.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484961294872922738" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Today, we had another taste of the day-to-day struggles of life in the Valley. We got ourselves well set for a productive day on-site – with a brand new circular saw and the very welcome addition of a cement mixer. However, we only managed a couple of loads before the cement mixer blew up the main fuse to Russell & Precious’ house. The electric company came out pretty quickly and sent a guy shinning up the telegraph pole outside the house, but being a Sunday, we were unable to get a new fuse. Les rigged something up to get the lights working (best not to ask how), but there was no power for the mixer, saw or cooker. To compound our problems, the water supply failed for most of the morning, so we couldn’t even mix by hand. We take water and electricity very much for granted in the UK, but here in the Valley they are a constant struggle. The water quality is excellent and we’re drinking it straight from the tap with no problems, but in the Valley it regularly dries up, which makes life a real struggle.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB5_gBzPMjI/AAAAAAAAAKY/FUzjlm2V2sg/s1600/P1040268.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB5_gBzPMjI/AAAAAAAAAKY/FUzjlm2V2sg/s400/P1040268.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484961584399725106" /></a><br />Thankfully, “One Lintel Les” showed that he is a man of many talents, by re-wiring the main house and getting light back into the lounge. (By the way, he asked me to let his wife, Jacquie, know that he is well and enjoying himself).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6Aei-0XkI/AAAAAAAAAKg/yASiwczS5Oo/s1600/P1000825.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6Aei-0XkI/AAAAAAAAAKg/yASiwczS5Oo/s400/P1000825.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484962658458558018" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6A5VqQdnI/AAAAAAAAAKo/ESGQD_FIH2E/s1600/P1040194.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6A5VqQdnI/AAAAAAAAAKo/ESGQD_FIH2E/s400/P1040194.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484963118739125874" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6CGsyUJDI/AAAAAAAAAK4/fyGPh3GMgto/s1600/P1000818.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6CGsyUJDI/AAAAAAAAAK4/fyGPh3GMgto/s400/P1000818.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484964447796864050" /></a>Before we left home, Shellie and Anya (Len’s wife and daughter) worked very hard to put together a photobook, showing life in the UK. Len went through the photos this morning with Russell and Precious and the kids. It was quite a challenge explaining how the hovercraft works, but Len did his best. The kids were thrilled to see the pictures of snow and wished they lived closer to the sea. The pictures that they were given will be going up on the walls in the bedrooms of the new building. The photobook was well received by Russell when he realised that he was allowed to keep it! <br />Len also presented Russell and Precious with a number of letters that the children at Anya’s school had written to the children at the orphanage. Russell has said that they will be laminated to protect them and then given to the children to take to school. In return Len will be bringing home some pictures that the children have been drawing today.<br />Thanks Shellie and Anya for your hard work.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6DNgGuiNI/AAAAAAAAALI/7jQL6_upS0U/s1600/P1040263.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6DNgGuiNI/AAAAAAAAALI/7jQL6_upS0U/s400/P1040263.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484965664163530962" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6CsEgSnfI/AAAAAAAAALA/N4RxuVxXAPc/s1600/P1040216.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6CsEgSnfI/AAAAAAAAALA/N4RxuVxXAPc/s400/P1040216.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484965089818877426" /></a>A few people have asked us about the names of the children, so here we go:<br />Bonginkosi (Bo) aged 17 – studying tourism and hoping to become an accountant<br />Samkele aged 15 – studying tourism and hoping to do engineering or accountancy<br />Khehla (11) is wearing a grey V neck jumper in the photos taken today<br />Siphiwe (10) is wearing all blue<br />Tando (10) is wearing a denim skirt<br />Thulisile (10) is dressed in red and has red hearing aids<br />Philasande (5) is dressed all in pink<br />Zama (4) has grey tracksuit bottoms and a flowery top<br />Olwethu (2) is wearing a black top.<br />I hope that this will help you to identify the children in the photographs. Just to confuse you, there are a few other children in the pictures who attend the crèche during the day, but don’t live permanently with Russell and Precious.<br />In addition, Samkelisiwe (14), Zinhle (12), Sihle (11) and Siyanda (3) are all visiting relatives at the moment, but will be back at the house soon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6BrZpk1-I/AAAAAAAAAKw/K1vYasqYm-Q/s1600/P1040251.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6BrZpk1-I/AAAAAAAAAKw/K1vYasqYm-Q/s400/P1040251.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484963978803468258" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6ECy49K2I/AAAAAAAAALg/nUI7OZLY30E/s1600/P1040225.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6ECy49K2I/AAAAAAAAALg/nUI7OZLY30E/s400/P1040225.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484966579739110242" /></a><br />Despite the problems with water and power, we made some progress today. Paul, John and Neil managed to render one wall. Steve helped Les with the re-wiring. Frank supervised Tando, Thulisile and Philasande shovelling the sand. The rest of us put together the roof trusses and decided that banging in hundreds of gangnail plates has replaced mixing as the toughest job on-site. <br /><br />We had a short service of thanksgiving / prayer meeting this evening, before the Brazil v Ivory Coast game. It is clear that God has blessed us with this opportunity to make a difference. For many of us, it is a humbling chance to turn our faith into something concrete.<br /><br />We’ve slipped into a workday routine now: the alarm goes at 5:55; breakfast is 6:30; coach leaves at 7:00; we arrive at site soon after 8:00 and work until 4:30; the coach gets us back to the hotel soon after 6:00; shower; meal at 7:00; watch the evening game while sorting photos, then skype and post blog. Tomorrow, we’re back on-site during the day, but we’re all taking Russell and Precious out for a meal in the evening, so it’s unlikely that I’ll get a chance to post an update. I’ll get some more photos on-line as soon as I can on Tuesday.<br /><br />We're tired and missing family, but happy that we're doing something worthwhile.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6Djqum2UI/AAAAAAAAALQ/8hhSGUwW8g4/s1600/P1040220.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6Djqum2UI/AAAAAAAAALQ/8hhSGUwW8g4/s400/P1040220.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484966044972276034" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6EiXS5UCI/AAAAAAAAALo/gDZtZsE1kSE/s1600/P1040239.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6EiXS5UCI/AAAAAAAAALo/gDZtZsE1kSE/s400/P1040239.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484967122087530530" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6EzjcrK6I/AAAAAAAAALw/NvqzdEYNg-k/s1600/P1040241.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6EzjcrK6I/AAAAAAAAALw/NvqzdEYNg-k/s400/P1040241.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484967417407548322" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6FZ9AesaI/AAAAAAAAAL4/vke3bndxKYw/s1600/P1040296.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6FZ9AesaI/AAAAAAAAAL4/vke3bndxKYw/s400/P1040296.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484968077103640994" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6FsS8eCtI/AAAAAAAAAMA/bZdsxq6wo5o/s1600/P1040295.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6FsS8eCtI/AAAAAAAAAMA/bZdsxq6wo5o/s400/P1040295.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484968392230046418" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6F5UsRi_I/AAAAAAAAAMI/WqniIIRq4QI/s1600/P1040319.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6F5UsRi_I/AAAAAAAAAMI/WqniIIRq4QI/s400/P1040319.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484968616037288946" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6GHSU04_I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/MyqlfwRphzI/s1600/P1040336.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6GHSU04_I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/MyqlfwRphzI/s400/P1040336.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484968855920239602" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6Gj6E7ATI/AAAAAAAAAMY/EnPLED6fjfE/s1600/P1040338.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6Gj6E7ATI/AAAAAAAAAMY/EnPLED6fjfE/s400/P1040338.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484969347627286834" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6GwB8YIwI/AAAAAAAAAMg/OfhJanOXdXA/s1600/P1040339.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB6GwB8YIwI/AAAAAAAAAMg/OfhJanOXdXA/s400/P1040339.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484969555897361154" /></a>Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-25116145751813873362010-06-19T14:03:00.000-07:002010-06-19T15:07:56.519-07:00Day Six - Rest Day in Durban<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB0zN1JwOyI/AAAAAAAAAJA/sCt2j6GpV0I/s1600/P1040119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB0zN1JwOyI/AAAAAAAAAJA/sCt2j6GpV0I/s320/P1040119.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484596233906436898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB01-Ogj3jI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/_8UNnIhOW1Y/s1600/P1040090.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB01-Ogj3jI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/_8UNnIhOW1Y/s320/P1040090.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484599264369958450" /></a>So, I guess that I need to start with the events of last night. The Lionsraw posse all donned our red football shirts and walked en masse to the FIFA FanFest area on the beach. We were excited, noisy and expectant. England’s first display against the USA was less than convincing, but most of us had been flying and missed the whole sorry affair, so this was our chance to get things back on track. A win should make qualification fairly straightforward. Opinion was divided about the inclusion of James for Green, but we were pretty unanimous in our view that an Aston Villa substitute really wasn’t the right partner for Rooney. Sure enough, every time the ball bounced off Heskey, it went straight to an Algerian. The rest of the team weren’t much better. After the game, I received a text from my mate Bob in Sweden who summed it up perfectly – “What’s the matter with the English National Team. I have never seen such good players achieve so little.” Technically, they were inept, unable to pass or cross, let alone go past a defender. Collectively, we were ashamed, quiet and decidedly nervous about our chances to progress. Suddenly, I’m glad that we have a ticket to return next weekend, because the England entourage might now be looking for earlier flights.<br /><br />Thankfully, today dawned bright and we enjoyed a much needed lie-in. Earlier in the week, I was quite bullish about working through Saturday to get more of the build complete. Now, my mind would still prefer to be working, but frankly, my body is not up to it. We have all been on the go pretty much without stop since we arrived. Two things illustrate this: firstly, I find it hugely ironic that very few of the Lionsraw team seem to have any idea about how the World Cup is progressing – nobody seems to know who is playing next, or how the group positions stand. For a team of football anoraks, this is real testament to the focus on project work. Secondly, I am amazed to say that today is the first time that I have even turned on the tv in our hotel room – and as my wife will tell you, this is normally, the FIRST thing that I do on entering any hotel room. There is no doubt that working 8 hours in the heat, plus at least three hours in the coach every day is taking it’s toll on everybody. Len’s wrist is still not great after all the mixing he’s done, but the rest day today has helped and he’ll strap it again tomorrow. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB0x2JPDIXI/AAAAAAAAAIw/7S1LScN4I8w/s1600/P1000749.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB0x2JPDIXI/AAAAAAAAAIw/7S1LScN4I8w/s320/P1000749.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484594727468867954" /></a>So, how did we spend our rest day? It started with a hugely surreal period when I found myself bent over the bath, elbow deep in brown slimey water, scrubbing somebody else’s smalls, while being serenaded by 5,000 orange dutch fans singing Auld Lang Syne.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB0ydXM2VqI/AAAAAAAAAI4/esaYP_GxX_Q/s1600/P1040144.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB0ydXM2VqI/AAAAAAAAAI4/esaYP_GxX_Q/s320/P1040144.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484595401232635554" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB01GblVUPI/AAAAAAAAAJI/2LcgZ9Qmvg4/s1600/P1000778.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB01GblVUPI/AAAAAAAAAJI/2LcgZ9Qmvg4/s320/P1000778.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484598305806962930" /></a>We followed the orange army down to the stadium and managed to pick up tickets at less than face value once again. Japan looked pretty good and gave the Netherlands a really good game, but missed out to a very strong strike from Wesley Sneider. Once again the atmosphere all around the stadium and during the game was fantastic. There were fans from every nation, singing and blowing vuvuzelas, with absolutely no segregation and a very low-key police presence. I’ve been on the look-out, but despite all the hype in the English press before we left, I’ve not seen a single stab vest.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB08nDz9LLI/AAAAAAAAAJg/IgMyxDviV5g/s1600/P1000762.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB08nDz9LLI/AAAAAAAAAJg/IgMyxDviV5g/s320/P1000762.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484606562942921906" /></a> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB09BMrThmI/AAAAAAAAAJo/kqt6XSa8xuo/s1600/P1000790.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB09BMrThmI/AAAAAAAAAJo/kqt6XSa8xuo/s320/P1000790.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484607011999155810" /></a> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB032JFebSI/AAAAAAAAAJY/c9UOQzaeo3Q/s1600/P1040160.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB032JFebSI/AAAAAAAAAJY/c9UOQzaeo3Q/s320/P1040160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484601324498480418" /></a>After the game, we bought a newspaper to find out how the locals are viewing the World Cup. The front page headline on the Durban Post is “Eyeing the Candy – all the soccer hotties are oh so sweet!” and Jolene Marriah reports on “the players’ other attributes ... which some girls my age, and even older, do ogle at”. Amazingly, there was not a single English player in her top twelve. <br />Reading on, I came across a fantastic innovation, which I think we should import to the UK immediately. The Post includes a full page of sms messages sent in by readers and it seems to provide a fantastic public service – these are just a few of our favourite texts:<br />“A Supermarket in Reservoir Hills needs a wakeup call. The manager’s attitude stinks worse than rotten eggs. They should investigate their low quality, wrong prices and stinking attitudes.”<br /> “There is a house alarm that goes off at odd hours every day in Silverglen. It is really disturbing. Does anyone know who I can complain to?”<br />“2 Rafa (ex Manager of Pool) Now u hav 2 walk alone n hope Stevie G is in hot pursuit “<br /> “Can anyone please help to fight bad breath. My mouth stinks so bad.”<br />“To the person I work with – I think you are a hippo coz you keep judging everybody. Please comb your hair.”<br />If the editor of the County Press is reading this, my introductory fee is very reasonable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB099-WtA8I/AAAAAAAAAJw/3hZfuzOyCac/s1600/P1000797.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TB099-WtA8I/AAAAAAAAAJw/3hZfuzOyCac/s320/P1000797.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484608056126669762" /></a>The best news of the day arrived at the end of the day. We must register our utmost respect and thanks to Paul Martin who has demonstrated great ingenuity and perseverance today to acquire a desperately needed circular saw. Paul approached our hotel to talk to their maintenance team, but was told that they outsourced all the carpentry. Undeterred, Paul asked them to contact the company and blagged a lift in the hotel car to go to their shop where he picked up a circular saw plus a bonus plane and screwdriver. Makes you proud to be British.Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-80893207574268627512010-06-18T13:58:00.000-07:002010-06-18T14:34:43.702-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvfrUNITjI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/DuHMGuCKlAQ/s1600/P1000745.JPG"><img style="float:centre; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvfrUNITjI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/DuHMGuCKlAQ/s320/P1000745.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484222906504859186" /></a>The roof joists were waiting for us as we arrived on-site this morning, so we split into three groups: finishing the walls; continuing work on the front steps (affectionately known as the patio) and now the roof trusses. <br />On the roof team, there was plenty of head scratching as we tried to work out how to check our 15 degree angle. Eventually, we dug up a little bit of O level maths from a very little used corner of our brains and came up with a scheme that seemed to work. My grandfather was a carpenter all his life and I tried not to embarrass him too much, but we would have got on a lot quicker if the promised circular saw had turned up. In the end we blunted our only two saws cutting through some very wet timber, but managed to make a pattern trusse and cut all of the smaller lengths.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvhVTLeLQI/AAAAAAAAAHw/lzQ-7Zv22Mc/s1600/P1040061.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvhVTLeLQI/AAAAAAAAAHw/lzQ-7Zv22Mc/s320/P1040061.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484224727295601922" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvhlByFngI/AAAAAAAAAH4/Q5X7FsGBYso/s1600/P1040054.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvhlByFngI/AAAAAAAAAH4/Q5X7FsGBYso/s320/P1040054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484224997503639042" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The brickies managed to finish the main block work and put wall plates in place ready for the roof trusses on Sunday. The patio continues to grow and will clearly make a grand entrance.<br /><br />It was a beautiful day in the Valley and our first opportunity to work on a genuine builders’ tan. My legs are looking quite brown from an area around the knee to the top of my boots, but that may be just block dust and cement.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBviNnWr6QI/AAAAAAAAAIA/sbMObVbqoik/s1600/P1000715.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBviNnWr6QI/AAAAAAAAAIA/sbMObVbqoik/s320/P1000715.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484225694784022786" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvkUdzT26I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/Kx3qmr4r_tg/s1600/P1040037.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvkUdzT26I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/Kx3qmr4r_tg/s320/P1040037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484228011502066594" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvkoI5fkAI/AAAAAAAAAIY/OB507dkre6Y/s1600/P1040038.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvkoI5fkAI/AAAAAAAAAIY/OB507dkre6Y/s320/P1040038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484228349488238594" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvk_X2OIaI/AAAAAAAAAIg/oj3a7c5zHK0/s1600/P1040040.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvk_X2OIaI/AAAAAAAAAIg/oj3a7c5zHK0/s320/P1040040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484228748638036386" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvlYyES00I/AAAAAAAAAIo/ESS_v5JX0Rk/s1600/P1040048.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvlYyES00I/AAAAAAAAAIo/ESS_v5JX0Rk/s320/P1040048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484229185173115714" /></a>We were visited by the Gogos again today as John R had kindly provided the ingredients for an extra stew, as he felt that they were really too hungry yesterday. The Gogos treated us to an impromptu Zulu ‘thank you’ dance, which was wonderful to watch.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tomorrow we need to get hold of a circular saw so that we can finish off the roof trusses properly on Sunday. Tomorrow we also need to do some serious washing. The smell in my corner of the room is not good and I’ve run out of clean socks, so it isn’t going to improve on it’s own.<br />This has been a quick, blog as we’re dashing off to watch the England game in the FanZone on the beach front. Where’s the vuvuzela? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvgcoD38tI/AAAAAAAAAHY/0onDH_jJwdE/s1600/P1040065.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvgcoD38tI/AAAAAAAAAHY/0onDH_jJwdE/s320/P1040065.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484223753648337618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvguIWBb-I/AAAAAAAAAHg/b4nHnxB5h5c/s1600/P1040072.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvguIWBb-I/AAAAAAAAAHg/b4nHnxB5h5c/s320/P1040072.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484224054372167650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvg6LE8SkI/AAAAAAAAAHo/usFH-bkFeos/s1600/P1040077.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBvg6LE8SkI/AAAAAAAAAHo/usFH-bkFeos/s320/P1040077.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484224261264263746" /></a>Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-15526319370696732882010-06-17T13:42:00.001-07:002010-06-17T14:42:51.406-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqJFR_uiAI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/JeHtwUlSe2s/s1600/P1030853.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqJFR_uiAI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/JeHtwUlSe2s/s320/P1030853.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483846220100044802" /></a>Absolutely shattered, but today has been the best day so far. We started early (5:55am alarm!) and managed to have much longer on-site at Russell and Precious’s house. The weather was perfect and the team clicked straight back into gear (after a cup of tea). Chris fancied having a go at bricklaying and under Paul’s expert guidance he lovingly laid three whole rows of blocks. Les and other Paul carried on with the rest of the blockwork and ended the day with all lintels in place. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqMYe4hNVI/AAAAAAAAAEg/FL_wB-sjBkU/s1600/P1030855.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqMYe4hNVI/AAAAAAAAAEg/FL_wB-sjBkU/s320/P1030855.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483849848511870290" /></a>Les has asked me to plug his business and remind you all that he offers very competitive rates and no job is too small.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqJPAftaVI/AAAAAAAAAEY/TMpki64zgI4/s1600/P1030836.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqJPAftaVI/AAAAAAAAAEY/TMpki64zgI4/s320/P1030836.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483846387201042770" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Stevie G, John and Neil continued work on the front patio, overcoming all hurdles in their way. Len, Frank and Simon continued their sterling work mixing the cement, sand, water and washing up liquid (collectively known as “muck” or “gear”). Towards the end of the day, I foolishly offered to help out for a couple of mixes and I can definitely confirm that mixing is the hardest job in the team.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqN46VUrJI/AAAAAAAAAEo/1mMISowbF0s/s1600/P1000664.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqN46VUrJI/AAAAAAAAAEo/1mMISowbF0s/s320/P1000664.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483851505147882642" /></a>Len brought his prized collection of Leeds shirts to site and donated them to the kids in the house. They were hugely excited to get football shirts as they are allowed to wear these to school on Fridays and now they will be able to join in. Most of the rest of the team were unclear as to the exact benefit of wearing a Leeds shirt, but the kids seemed happy enough.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqOykQ9O8I/AAAAAAAAAEw/fAjelN14kDg/s1600/P1000672.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqOykQ9O8I/AAAAAAAAAEw/fAjelN14kDg/s320/P1000672.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483852495656401858" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqPIVsCJrI/AAAAAAAAAE4/i7waq0fhCFY/s1600/P1000661.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqPIVsCJrI/AAAAAAAAAE4/i7waq0fhCFY/s320/P1000661.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483852869700560562" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We were joined on site this morning by the BBC documentary crew. Andrew is filming the entire Lionsraw project and we should see the results of his work on BBC Look North and maybe even Match of the Day.<br /><br />Talking to Russell today, we learnt that the Sithembakuye project is far more than just an orphanage. Russell and Precious’s work spreads through all the community, including a netball team, a football team, a choir and a weekly support group for “Gogos” (the generic zulu name for Grannies).<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqR0gOs70I/AAAAAAAAAFI/1XMSETmCr10/s1600/P1030901.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqR0gOs70I/AAAAAAAAAFI/1XMSETmCr10/s320/P1030901.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483855827467824962" /></a>Today the netball team were proudly parading the trophy they won in a local tournament yesterday. We were also joined by about 50 Gogos, who shared their problems and enjoyed a healthy meal. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqRdDvIu1I/AAAAAAAAAFA/wM5g2XLktzg/s1600/P1030886.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqRdDvIu1I/AAAAAAAAAFA/wM5g2XLktzg/s320/P1030886.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483855424682244946" /></a>Some of the Lionsraw team helped to serve the soup and were shocked to see just how hungry the Gogos were. Russell explained that they receive about £100 a month from the Government, but they routinely spend all of this to feed all the children in their care, so rely on the meal which they get at Sithembakuye. Russell views this as an extension of the orphanage as without the Gogos, more kids would end up on his doorstep and he simply wouldn’t be able to cope. Apparently, one of the biggest killers of Gogos with HIV/AIDs is stress caused by looking after the kids, so the Support Group does all it can to improve their lives.<br />We’ve had a fantastic day in the Valley today – working hard, playing with the kids and learning more about the fantastic work which Russell and Precious are doing. Tomorrow we need joists to arrive, so that we can start to construct the roof.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVqMA3keI/AAAAAAAAAHA/yy_2Q5G6jIM/s1600/P1030999.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVqMA3keI/AAAAAAAAAHA/yy_2Q5G6jIM/s320/P1030999.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483860048288911842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVjaPX2KI/AAAAAAAAAG4/rDJlg8wGZ9c/s1600/P1030991.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVjaPX2KI/AAAAAAAAAG4/rDJlg8wGZ9c/s320/P1030991.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483859931848759458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVYWIo86I/AAAAAAAAAGw/GTyQIQTPa6o/s1600/P1030970.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVYWIo86I/AAAAAAAAAGw/GTyQIQTPa6o/s320/P1030970.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483859741768217506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVRiGQX4I/AAAAAAAAAGo/yjvp-A6kyBo/s1600/P1030949.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVRiGQX4I/AAAAAAAAAGo/yjvp-A6kyBo/s320/P1030949.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483859624720359298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVJKZv3oI/AAAAAAAAAGg/foPIL9x_New/s1600/P1030948.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVJKZv3oI/AAAAAAAAAGg/foPIL9x_New/s320/P1030948.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483859480920710786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVDQrFQaI/AAAAAAAAAGY/R7DKvdcbVaY/s1600/P1030921.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVDQrFQaI/AAAAAAAAAGY/R7DKvdcbVaY/s320/P1030921.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483859379524813218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqU9lZnNVI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/jNruaR7Ssfg/s1600/P1030917.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqU9lZnNVI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/jNruaR7Ssfg/s320/P1030917.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483859282009470290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqU1ZQcQVI/AAAAAAAAAGI/hkoviaJ_o6U/s1600/P1030899.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqU1ZQcQVI/AAAAAAAAAGI/hkoviaJ_o6U/s320/P1030899.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483859141310824786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUtJyCmWI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Z1C7XyX7Geo/s1600/P1030896.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUtJyCmWI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Z1C7XyX7Geo/s320/P1030896.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483858999717828962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUm7u-0ZI/AAAAAAAAAF4/LFCvmbhyJX8/s1600/P1030895.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUm7u-0ZI/AAAAAAAAAF4/LFCvmbhyJX8/s320/P1030895.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483858892867686802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUc83v3nI/AAAAAAAAAFw/aY28CHtXV_g/s1600/P1030890.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUc83v3nI/AAAAAAAAAFw/aY28CHtXV_g/s320/P1030890.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483858721374199410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUWiJtLzI/AAAAAAAAAFo/e1uFM8b2Yx4/s1600/P1030885.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUWiJtLzI/AAAAAAAAAFo/e1uFM8b2Yx4/s320/P1030885.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483858611122548530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUQqp4ixI/AAAAAAAAAFg/rHWPY9YfX7I/s1600/P1030883.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUQqp4ixI/AAAAAAAAAFg/rHWPY9YfX7I/s320/P1030883.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483858510325779218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUH31MvQI/AAAAAAAAAFY/Hr2Dru_gVjY/s1600/P1030868.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqUH31MvQI/AAAAAAAAAFY/Hr2Dru_gVjY/s320/P1030868.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483858359244078338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqT2SSxHMI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/WHq_xJ2-y0M/s1600/P1000674.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqT2SSxHMI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/WHq_xJ2-y0M/s320/P1000674.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483858057109773506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVx3SotcI/AAAAAAAAAHI/eC4DMLifofQ/s1600/P1040011.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBqVx3SotcI/AAAAAAAAAHI/eC4DMLifofQ/s320/P1040011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483860180165244354" /></a>Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-19827677992896971872010-06-16T14:24:00.000-07:002010-06-16T14:44:56.791-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlDuaLGi2I/AAAAAAAAADw/fghAaktLF_k/s1600/P1030807.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlDuaLGi2I/AAAAAAAAADw/fghAaktLF_k/s320/P1030807.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483488485879221090" /></a><br />We enjoyed a lie-in this morning, to rest aching muscles, before we all attended a South African initiation session. We’ve taken over a huge conference suite at our hotel and it was brilliant to see the room full with a mass of smiling, exhausted faces. A lot of the team have been feeling uncomfortable about taking a day off so early in the project, but apart from the difficulties of working too hard, too soon, there are some very good reasons for having a rest day today. It is the first opportunity we’ve had to get all together in one place; it is National Youth Day, so there is no transport running; and finally, there is the Spain v Switzerland game in Durban this afternoon.<br />Tim Tucker, works for a South African charity ‘Ambassadors in Sport’, is an Englishman, is married to a South African and has been resident as an ex-pat for 12 years. This allowed him to give us a great insight into the newly emerging South African identity. Archbishop Desmond Tutu has summed it up with a Zulu phrase “umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” meaning “a person is a person through (other) persons”. This sense of community, openness and hospitality has been essential to bring reconciliation through the apartheid atrocities. Sport is helping to change and shape the new national identity, starting with the rugby World Cup victory and now, spectacularly, with the football.<br />Heidi, Mark and Lisa work in Newcastle on various sexual health projects and they taught us some sobering facts about HIV/AIDS which we will share on a later blog. Tom and Mandy talked to us passionately about the project they have founded to protect street kids in Durban. It was fantastic to hear Tom’s confidence that this battle can be won – last year, for the first time, more permanent street kids were re-integrated than arrived fresh on the streets.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlBmSgOr2I/AAAAAAAAADY/lBp-K66MGEU/s1600/P1030801.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlBmSgOr2I/AAAAAAAAADY/lBp-K66MGEU/s320/P1030801.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483486147358142306" /></a>Following an afternoon of research, I can confirm that Durban beach front is not the same as Ryde beach front. There are similarities, of course, as both have a wimpy on the water’s edge. Ryde boasts a dotto train, a helter skelter and swans on the lake, but during the World Cup at least, Durban probably edges it with cricket pitches, sand sculptures, showers, market stalls, zip wires, bouncy castles, climbing walls, huge inflatable balls, countless football pitches, beach volleyball courts, 3 music stages and a chair lift. I’ll talk to Ryde Town Council.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlCAPej2GI/AAAAAAAAADg/d234JFyEzRw/s1600/P1030814.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlCAPej2GI/AAAAAAAAADg/d234JFyEzRw/s320/P1030814.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483486593222432866" /></a>Our luck ran out this afternoon. When we tried to repeat our last-minute ticket swoop from Sunday, we found that there were far more people around the stadium looking for tickets. This kept the prices ludicrously high and we missed Spain’s humiliation against Switzerland.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlClmMuC1I/AAAAAAAAADo/dLDwQXnT0fg/s1600/P1030815.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlClmMuC1I/AAAAAAAAADo/dLDwQXnT0fg/s320/P1030815.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483487234976779090" /></a>The big game of the day was obviously South Africa and Uruguay and we didn’t have to venture far to find a fantastic spot to watch the game. Right outside our hotel window is a huge music stage (playing every night until midnight!) and the game was shown on a huge screen. Steve & Len have picked up vuvuzelas for Owen and Anya and decided that tonight was the perfect opportunity to test them out, so we joined the huge throng of fans wearing Bafana Bafana shirts and cheered on the hosts. Before the game, there was huge anticipation amongst the crowd, cheering, waving flags and blowing the vuvzelas. So, it was quite a surprise to see the entire crowd sit down on the grass, en masse, as soon as the game started. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlFlZr5pAI/AAAAAAAAAEI/8fMgNdlArkg/s1600/P1030825.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlFlZr5pAI/AAAAAAAAAEI/8fMgNdlArkg/s320/P1030825.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483490530152784898" /></a>Frustratingly, the game didn’t offer much to get the crowd back on their feet, as Uruguay came out very strongly and Diego Forlan scored a great opener. After that, Uruguay defended very efficiently and the hosts never really threatened to get back into the game. The game was effectively over when an offside striker won a dubious penalty decision and the South African keeper was dismissed. The promised party on the beachfront fizzled out. It is really important that Bafana Bafana beat France in their final group game and manage to progress to the knock out stages, for the sake of the tournament, for the sake of South African sport and for the sake of South Africa’s emerging national identity. So, no pressure then.<br />We’re back to the build tomorrow and some changes have been made to learn lessons from the first couple of days. The coach company have been replaced and the building teams are leaving earlier to maximise time on-site. It means that builders will be leaving the hotel at 7am from tomorrow, but football projects get an extra couple of hours lie-in. Not that we’re jealous, it will be fantastic to get stuck back into the real work. Len has purchased a large box of tea bags to replace Russell and Precious’s stock, so we’re ready for anything.<br />Thanks for all your positive comments about our blog and photos – we’ll do our best to keep it going.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlEGO5Iv_I/AAAAAAAAAD4/6kXNcmDmx6g/s1600/P1000599.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlEGO5Iv_I/AAAAAAAAAD4/6kXNcmDmx6g/s320/P1000599.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483488895167938546" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlETSs56jI/AAAAAAAAAEA/EcQQfsCJI6Y/s1600/P1030798.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBlETSs56jI/AAAAAAAAAEA/EcQQfsCJI6Y/s320/P1030798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483489119528675890" /></a>Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-62536103182661279292010-06-15T14:18:00.000-07:002010-06-15T14:44:04.141-07:00Day 2 at the Orphanage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfvUF92VRI/AAAAAAAAACg/wNVExph0cmE/s1600/P1030734.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfvUF92VRI/AAAAAAAAACg/wNVExph0cmE/s320/P1030734.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483114199824880914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfvvy_adVI/AAAAAAAAACo/n2gs5kpr_38/s1600/P1030740.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfvvy_adVI/AAAAAAAAACo/n2gs5kpr_38/s320/P1030740.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483114675767506258" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Today we were joined by reinforcements including our Team Leader, Phil, and three proper bricklayers. They were mercifully kind when surveying our efforts from the first day and immediately set about getting everything on track. We learnt all sorts of tricks of the trade that I mustn’t share with you, but suffice it to say we managed a lot more mugs of tea!<br />The building is really starting to take shape, with all the doors and windows in position. Tomorrow is a rest day, but the brickies are confident that they’ll get most of the blockwork completed before the weekend. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfy7hUJ-LI/AAAAAAAAADA/A9H9pHBZGxE/s1600/P1030744.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfy7hUJ-LI/AAAAAAAAADA/A9H9pHBZGxE/s320/P1030744.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483118175715981490" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfzTqs-y4I/AAAAAAAAADI/akQNSVSaaN0/s1600/P1030741.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfzTqs-y4I/AAAAAAAAADI/akQNSVSaaN0/s320/P1030741.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483118590552886146" /></a>As well as extra trowels, the new arrivals also brought the English weather with them – today was wet, windy and overcast. Focussing on the positives, the valley was much clearer and we still have plenty of sun block left for the rest of our stay.<br /><br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfyWTUa0kI/AAAAAAAAAC4/qxCxRtOVCHE/s1600/P1030727.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfyWTUa0kI/AAAAAAAAAC4/qxCxRtOVCHE/s320/P1030727.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483117536303829570" /></a>With the building professionals on-site, Len and Steve have been busy demonstrating their own skills. Len spent some time this morning breathing life into the elderly laptop which has been donated to Russell through Lionsraw. Steve has been reviewing fire safety and has committed to providing smoke alarms for each building.<br /> <br />It has been fantastic to see all the Lionsraw volunteers arriving – the team from the USA flew in today and we now have all the projects running. Despite the poor weather, the soccer schools continue to attract hoards of kids who just love to kick a ball around with the England football fans.<br />Today ended with hot chocolate and cakes with Russell, Precious and all the kids, which was beautiful. We’re starting to get to know the family better and understand the fantastic work that Russell and Precious are doing to bring up each and every one of the kids in such a loving environment. We’re also learning how we can make a huge difference with really quite small amounts. It costs just £20 a month to sponsor one of the kids at Sithembakuye. An entire school uniform costs about £25. The gas ran out today and we had a whip-round amongst the team and bought Russell the biggest gas bottle he’d ever seen. This should last them about three months – longer if we sort out the electrics in the main house while we’re here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfyD-3m56I/AAAAAAAAACw/GFmcDw1TFGU/s1600/P1030778.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfyD-3m56I/AAAAAAAAACw/GFmcDw1TFGU/s320/P1030778.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483117221576632226" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfz4TRoSJI/AAAAAAAAADQ/lgbn-yVhtwc/s1600/P1030704.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBfz4TRoSJI/AAAAAAAAADQ/lgbn-yVhtwc/s320/P1030704.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483119219919308946" /></a>Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-24207466389508108252010-06-14T14:22:00.001-07:002010-06-14T14:54:43.041-07:00We've Arrived!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBakiOEy2mI/AAAAAAAAACY/anp7GbEzez0/s1600/P1030637.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBakiOEy2mI/AAAAAAAAACY/anp7GbEzez0/s320/P1030637.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482750504170871394" /></a>We’ve just finished our first day grafting at the Sithembayaku Children’s Village. For some of us it was the first day of real graft in our lives, but more of that later.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBaeHY0VPBI/AAAAAAAAABQ/Llayiz-iB6U/s1600/P1030618.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBaeHY0VPBI/AAAAAAAAABQ/Llayiz-iB6U/s320/P1030618.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482743446128376850" /></a><br />We arrived in Durban yesterday after travelling for 31 hours by hovercraft, taxi, plane and coach. We spent most of our time trying to think of inventive ways to keep track of our Lionsraw bags among the 100 other identical Lionsraw bags.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBaelbEd3aI/AAAAAAAAABY/I6B0PyTVH8E/s1600/P1030623.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBaelbEd3aI/AAAAAAAAABY/I6B0PyTVH8E/s320/P1030623.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482743962128997794" /></a><br /><br />Eventually, after 11 hours in the air, we were met by Kev and the Lionsraw team at Jo’burg airport.<br /><br />We had some fun loading all the bags into our coach and ended up stashing most down the gangway so that they wouldn’t be spotted by over-zealous traffic cops. We passed the eight hours in the coach listening to a pretty eclectic mix of musical nastiness – starting with Cliff Richard and heading down hill. We were treated to a movie, but if you ever get the chance to see Mama Jack, I recommend a night in washing your hair.<br />Jo’burg was buzzing with World Cup fever, but as we headed out of the city, it was quieter but the roads proved to be spectacularly good. As we barrelled down the wide dual carriageway, I was reminded of the US mid-west – the road was perfectly straight and the landscape either side was flat and barren with occasional farm buildings. We passed a couple of large shanty towns which reminded us all of the purpose of our visit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBaf8jFbhMI/AAAAAAAAABg/qu2CjlvWidw/s1600/P1000573.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBaf8jFbhMI/AAAAAAAAABg/qu2CjlvWidw/s320/P1000573.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482745458929140930" /></a>When we finally reached our hotel, we just had time for a much-overdue shower before we raced out to savour the World Cup atmosphere as Durban hosted it’s first ever World Cup game. The fantastic new stadium proved to be a 25 minute walk along the beachfront – we just followed the sound of the vuvuzwalas. We arrived five minutes before kick-off which proved to be tactically perfect as we all picked up Cat A tickets at less than half their face value and we were ushered so close to the pitch that we thought we’d be sitting on the subs bench.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBagcrkKM6I/AAAAAAAAABo/669LnGgT-CA/s1600/P1000580.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBagcrkKM6I/AAAAAAAAABo/669LnGgT-CA/s320/P1000580.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482746010961327010" /></a> The game between Germany and Australia gave us peculiar conflicts of dis-loyalty – is there any way that both teams can lose? In the end we decided to support Australia, through gritted teeth, and although they started brightly, the Germans ruthlessly cut through their left flank and it was clear that we’d backed another loser. The Aussies were already two down when Tim Cahill was sent off for a pretty soft lunge and from there on it was damage limitation. In the end the Germans could have had more than their four goals. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBagt9P_PWI/AAAAAAAAABw/XzxqZsj4Lkk/s1600/P1000584.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBagt9P_PWI/AAAAAAAAABw/XzxqZsj4Lkk/s320/P1000584.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482746307766336866" /></a>The stadium was magnificent and the crowd of 62,650 were a suitably international mix – we spotted Mexicans, Argentinans, Spaniards, Dutch, and even an American. All in all a fantastic start to our trip and if we don’t get to see any more games, it won’t matter at all.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBahgAeTdjI/AAAAAAAAAB4/pQRESxxg2Lg/s1600/P1030646.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBahgAeTdjI/AAAAAAAAAB4/pQRESxxg2Lg/s320/P1030646.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482747167625147954" /></a>This morning, we started the real work. Lionsraw is undertaking four building projects and seven soccer schools in the next two weeks. Half of the teams arrived with us on Sunday, so we kicked off half of the projects. The rest of the team is arriving today. Coaches took us out through the cosmopolitan Durban suburbs into the beautiful Valley of a Thousand Hills. For most of us, this was our first sight of the real heart of South Africa – unfortunately, it seemed that it was also the first experience for our coach driver, who managed to get completely lost. We asked for directions, but ended up reversing back up the narrowest road I ever want to see in my life, with a sheer vertical drop down one side and a team of well-meaning locals struggling to avoid the wheels behind us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBaiWTBmm6I/AAAAAAAAACA/k4o2In_bxK0/s1600/P1030659.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBaiWTBmm6I/AAAAAAAAACA/k4o2In_bxK0/s320/P1030659.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482748100317977506" /></a>Eventually we were dropped close to our project at Sithembayaku and we were able to gauge the scale of our task. Russell and Precious care for fourteen kids in their tiny house and do a fabulous job keeping them clothed and fed and schooled. Lionsraw has been helping them for the past couple of years and have provided toys and a toilet block. Now, we are to build a whole new building, where they will be able to look after even more children orphaned due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBajBQDfnjI/AAAAAAAAACI/LYDyg8FY_fw/s1600/P1030648.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBajBQDfnjI/AAAAAAAAACI/LYDyg8FY_fw/s320/P1030648.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482748838254976562" /></a>Russell and Precious and all the kids met us with smiles and hugs and then we got down to work. The foundations were in place thanks to the hard work of the Lionsraw advance party of expert builders last week. A quick glance round the new building team revealed assorted office workers and a plasterer and a plumber. We were faced with four huge piles of blocks, a few bags of cement and a couple of trowels.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBajekNKeWI/AAAAAAAAACQ/F_KnLVPg8nI/s1600/P1030671.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TBajekNKeWI/AAAAAAAAACQ/F_KnLVPg8nI/s320/P1030671.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482749341880449378" /></a>We all mucked in and did our best to organise ourselves into teams and soon had a bit of a chain gang working. It was hard, but satisfying work and at the end of the day we’d made new friends, learnt new skills, earned a few blisters and aching muscles and laid four rows of blocks. So, we forgot the doors and had to remove a few blocks. So, the level was more approximate than perfect. So, we had to use a piece of broken tile instead of a trowel. So, it’ll be alright when the professionals turn up tomorrow and we can always cover it up with a final layer of render over the top.<br /> Most importantly, we’ve made a start and we’re definitely changing lives.Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-83231891028272064912010-06-11T06:20:00.000-07:002010-06-11T06:40:10.983-07:00Lionsraw on Radio SolentI used up three of my 15 minutes of fame this morning with a chat to Julian Clegg on BBC Radio Solent. We talked about the contrasts within South Africa and the lack of infrastructure outside the big cities. If you want to listen to the clip, use the link below and fast forward to 1hr 56:35<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00867b7/Julian_Clegg_11_06_2010/">http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00867b7/Julian_Clegg_11_06_2010/</a> <br /><br />Cheers,<br />MartinLen Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-8188601381889386032010-06-08T14:02:00.000-07:002010-06-08T14:13:01.715-07:00Lionsraw on Radio 5Clare Balding interviewed some of the Lionsraw team on Radio 5 this lunchtime - you can hear the full piece by following this link:<br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00spj9y/Gabby_Logan_08_06_2010/">http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00spj9y/Gabby_Logan_08_06_2010/</a> <br /><br />Fastforward to 1:06:30 to hear the interview with some young football coaches from the Hat Trick project in Newcastle, who will be joining us in Durban. It lasts about ten minutes and my favourite bit is right at the end when Mark says "The World Cup is going to be a carnival - we're going to make sure that young people aren't forgotten .. we'll make sure that street kids feel important, special and at the heart of the World Cup" Spot on!<br />Cheers, MartinLen Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-71979851027922140172010-06-04T14:29:00.000-07:002010-06-04T14:39:40.482-07:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TAlwd8Nr-VI/AAAAAAAAABI/jAQcRm4DQ1g/s1600/martin+len+and+steve.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TAlwd8Nr-VI/AAAAAAAAABI/jAQcRm4DQ1g/s320/martin+len+and+steve.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479034081354971474" /></a>Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-42743251030961289472010-06-04T14:26:00.001-07:002010-06-04T14:28:15.849-07:007 days to go - the last piece of the jigsawGreat news – we’ve finally got our accommodation sorted out! Kev and Faye have concluded long-running negotiations with a fantastic hotel on the beachfront in Durban and we’ve got a bargain. Frankly, the hotel looks far too good for us and I’m not sure that the foyer carpet will ever recover from all the muddy boots its going to see in the next few weeks!<br /><br />The accommodation (or lack of) had been causing the Lionsraw team quite a headache for the last six months. As I understand it, Jon had arranged accommodation almost three years ago with a hotel on the beach front, but last year, we were gazumped when the German tour operators came into town waving their money about and draping towels over all the good rooms. Thankfully, the Lord has been looking after us and the Lionsraw patient strategy has paid off. There are fewer people travelling than expected and the tour operators have pulled out, leaving us (eventually) to get the original deal back on the table. We now have a great base to work from and the last piece of the jigsaw is in place – just seven days to go.<br /><br />Cheers, MartinLen Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-17132918018205278252010-06-02T14:13:00.000-07:002010-06-02T14:15:33.305-07:00Excited, scared, grateful, humble and guilty: my various responses in the last few weeks as I’ve been asked about our trip to South Africa with Lionsraw. It is certain that there will be plenty more experiences in the next few weeks and I hope that this blog will help to share at least some of it.<br /><br />In two weeks, we’ll be knee-deep in mud and cement, starting the Lionsraw building projects. Between us, Len, Steve & I plan to update this blog most days with photos, videos and observations from South Africa, so please follow us and post your comments and observations. We don’t want to clutter up the internet too much, but we’re aiming to:<br />- keep in touch with family and friends<br />- say thank you to all the people who have supported us and Lionsraw<br />- let you know about the people we meet and places we visit<br /><br />So, let’s kick off with some background.<br /><br /><strong>Why are we going to South Africa with Lionsraw?</strong><br />Personally, I’m going because I think that it is a brilliant idea – to harness the passion and belief of football fans to make a difference to the lives of kids who are suffering from the ravages of HIV/Aids in some of the poorest areas of the world. I’m really looking forward to getting caught up in the excitement of the World Cup and the chance to do something useful at the same time is the kind of genius idea which can only have been inspired directly by the Holy Spirit (channelled through Jon Burns, of course!).<br /><br /><strong>What are we going to do?</strong><br />I’m not exactly sure, but we will be building either at Inchanga School, Sithembakuye Children’s Home or Makaphutu Children’s Village. Each of these projects are doing fantastic work to help kids who have been affected by HIV/AIDs and we’ll be building some more space for them, so that they can do even more good work.<br /><br /><strong>Are we prepared?</strong><br />None of us have done much building work before. When he heard of our plans, my brother was kind enough to let me get some practice in by helping to put down a concrete base for his new garden shed! Thankfully, there is a Lionsraw team already on site now, putting in foundations and making sure that everything is level. We’ll be mixing concrete, lifting blocks and basically building walls “like lego”. That’s the theory – if you follow this blog you’ll find out how it works out in practice.<br /><br />Cheers, MartinLen Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157475924678793771.post-90127635336061108602010-05-30T04:16:00.000-07:002010-05-30T04:33:52.031-07:002 Weeks to go!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TAJM61PdOAI/AAAAAAAAAA4/MjXLiEzDrKs/s1600/Lionsraw2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 68px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Oot0ws2J92A/TAJM61PdOAI/AAAAAAAAAA4/MjXLiEzDrKs/s320/Lionsraw2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477024670443976706" /></a><br /><br /><br />We've all now received our Lionsraw holdalls and polo shirts for travelling in so all of sudden the countdown has really begun!<br /><br />Gutted that our flight on the Saturday night clashes with England v USA but as long as we get the win...Len Hill, Martin Boyce, Steve Goodallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842320044022323117noreply@blogger.com1