The first two days

Hi from Nqileni!

It’s been a totally crazy two days since we arrived. Charles and I are both physically exhausted from hours of driving and lots of manual labour. Also sore from medical ailments - Charles has an ulcer (must be the culmination of weeks of stress) and I have a very painful wrist after managing to stab myself with a sharp metal spike (went in about 2cm!). I nearly fainted pulling it out and then nearly fainted again when I realized I was almost 2 hours away from any medical care. Luckily the metal missed the major artery and nerves. Anyway, Charles doused the wound in lots of iodine and wrapped it up. My thumb still isn't working properly but at least I can type! Really hoping it won’t get infected. Typical that this happens when you're far from a doctor. When last did any of us stab ourselves with a sharp metal spike in CT?!


Otherwise all is well. Our little hut is looking very cosy with paraffin lights all over the place. Sam - your shelves are fantastic! The floor is really uneven though so all items of furniture are balanced on varying sizes of bricks and wood. Rather amusing! Bit like being in Wonderland.


We arrived on Monday evening and I spent most of Tuesday cleaning windows encrusted with paint and cement (without windowlene). We also had to do several trips to get all of our stuff to the cottage. At one point the trailer got stuck on a steep hill and so Charles unhitched it. While he was busy in the car some kids started playing with the trailer and it began rolling down the hill. Charles managed to grab it and was dragged about 20 metres until he finally stopped the thing! The local kids have been so intrigued by everything we do, we have a constant audience. It's a bit disconcerting having so many pairs of eyes watching your every move but they're really lovely kids. And I've learnt how to say "I'd like you to go home now please" in Xhosa. It works wonders but their little faces look so disappointed, it's heart breaking.


Charles managed to rig the solar system today so we should be able to charge batteries. Here's a pic of Charles and Dave setting up the solar panels in the rain (note the brolly!). Dave is on a call to the manufaturers, getting instructions. Very amusing.



Haven't built the toilet or shower yet - definitely the next major priority. We also haven’t got gas yet, so living without a fridge or stove. We're hoping to get to the shops tomorrow to get gas. We were meant to go today but it rained so we were stuck in the village (just as well the metal spike didn't hit an artery!). Hope we'll be able to go tomorrow, although we were told today that there is a funeral on Friday so tomorrow all the men in the village have to go help to dig the grave and the women have to prepare food. That includes us! Gender and funereal issues notwithstanding, it should be an interesting ceremony to participate in.


Sedgwick has a new lease on life and has even been spotted chasing a large bull, several chickens and a feral village dog. Not sure how long he'll last! We have another family pet now - a resident bat. Quite large and fast. As we write this, we just noticed a couple of other creatures of the night in our room. Need to close windows. Can’t close the door though cos it's swollen! Oh dear...


Rustic though our little cottage may be, there is the gentle sound of rain on the tin roof and the murmur of the sea outside. Wonderful. Which reminds us, we have to put out three buckets in the living area for the leaks in the roof (Charles is very proud about the fact that there are only 3!).



Gotta go have a bucket bath now. Charles has warmed up a 750ml thermos of hot water - will add some cold water and hope for the best. Going to have an early night because the cockerel starts up about 30cm from our door at 04:40 am sharp!



Thanks to everyone who has written messages on the blog. Sorry we haven't replied individually. We'll do so as soon as we have enough power.