I have survived my first week on the reserve. I spent 2 days at Etaneshi crèche and then 1 day at Mange crèche. Each day I got up about 6.15am to be ready to leave at 7.30am, this being Africa this meant that I left the reserve anytime between 7.30 and 8. Etaneshi crèche has about 6 children from ages 1 - 4 at present as the government has not provided them with money for food. Usually children are fed breakfast and lunch, however until at least late February each year there is always a problem with getting the money for the food so parents don't sent the children if there is no food as they don't see the point. Mange crèche had 35 children on the day we visited which is normal. This crèche has a community garden and chicken project which provides vege and meat for the crèche and also sells to the local community.

At the crèche we do a programme for the morning of phonetic sounds, drawing, arts and craft, numeracy, inside and outside play. I did wonder if some of the activities were a little old for the audience and how much the children were just parroting and how much they were retaining.

I then spent afternoons making resources for the crèches including flash cards of days of the week and months of the year, etc. Ziggy and I visited a community garden to measure it for a fence which we are going to do a quote for next week by visiting 3 hardware stores, I hope he knows something about fence building. We also went to a meeting with an Ijuna (wrong spelling I am sure) and discussed the community projects, in Zulu so not really sure what was said to be honest, but Ziggy was happy so all was good. Ziggy also started giving me Zulu lessons and I assessed one of the kitchen workers in our lodge and will start giving her English lessons next week - quite sure I am not qualified for that, but really how hard can it be... luckily lots of past volunteers have donated lots of resources so hoping there will be few books for me to do some planning this weekend.

No scary animals in camp this week, but still can't shake the nightly feeling that I am going to be eaten as I walk to my cabin to go to sleep. Tonight at dinner time there was Lions roaring and they either had to be in camp or literally on our fence line as they were loud. Pretty amazing to be in a position to be able to hear their roars when they are in the wild and clearly chose to come near the camp. Way cooler than knowing that they are caged and frustrated so roaring for something to do.

A group of about 10 volunteers went away for a weekend trip this weekend. I am staying as I am going to do that trip in a few weeks time. I spent my first Saturday relaxing reading a book for most of the day. Felt really rather decedent and was amazing to laze on a couch. Went out to the local pub for dinner tonight, which is probably a half hours walk, but there is the small problem of wild animals so a cab is required. Spent Sunday at a local luxury hotel having lunch, massages, using Wifi, drinking tea, swimming - a day of luxury. I am going to miss Africa and the price of beauty treatments. For about 50GBP today I had a back exfoliation, foot, head, neck, shoulder and back massage (1.5 hours) and then an eyebrow shape. Such great value, almost worth flying back from Australia to have treatments here! Highlight of today was getting to speak to Mum and Dad and Megan and the kids. Maybe next time I will be able to coordinate with Scott and Jenna, but it is all a bit hit and miss when I get to the wifi hotel, so will have to see. Xav seemed pleased to hear that it is just 5 weeks till he gets to have a trip to the airport, he seemed less pleased to hear that he would not be getting a day off school as I am arriving at 4pm.