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Really looking forward to your report Adrian and I hope Kruger helped heal the hurt in your heart somewhat.

Travelling 15th – 17th November 2012

After weeks of waiting suddenly the 15th November came round and I was off. An afternoon flight to Paris for the late evening A380 heading south. I was leaving Manchester one flight earlier than the recommended connection but I’ve learnt to extend the transfer time. On more than one occasion I've missed a connection by minutes and that means a 24 hour delay. Not today. It is a long way south but watching the little seatback map I see every minute we are getting closer. Waking crumpled and squashed I sneak a view out under the blind and there’s Botswana. Ever closer. On landing it is immediately obvious how high the sun is in the sky. Oh, welcome sunshine! So different from the English November gloom. Passport control, baggage collection, car hire desk and soon my little car is around me. This’ll do as my virtual home for the next two weeks – room on the saet next to me for my stuff and the back shelf to dry my smalls. Off to Parktown North to catch up with friends. A shower, a quick meal out and down to Market Theatre for ‘The Miser’ by Moliere. Finally after a long day a drive to Bryanston to catch some welcome sleep.

Up early today for there’s party tonight. Off to Pick n Pay to buy some flour and the like so I can bake some bread for the braai. In the car park a Southern Masked Weaver – yellow head and red eye – common to some but always a welcome sight to me.



It helps me get back in the groove. It takes a while for the familiar to get familiar again and every bird helps. I know this is going to be hard on my brain, and fun, to forget for a while the birds of home and quickly remember and identify lots more, some familiar, some less so. I take lots of photographs and then sit and identify them back home on dark winter evenings.

Getting to the braai requires a drive into North West near to the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory.



On the way I catch glimpses of an eagle soaring high. Later an evening in the hills with friends, chatting, catching up on news and looking at the stars. Another reason to enjoy South Africa, the night sky. Orion at an odd angle but clearer than I ever see him in the UK. (Note to self: return in June for the night skies!). And then the drive back to Bryanston – Stop! A Spotted Eagle Owl sitting in the middle of the road. We sit and watch him a while before he flies off into the night. This is such fun already, I’m feeling good and still Kruger calls.

Adrian, I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to your TR!!!! Welcome home, mate ...

Adrian, we all know what we have and had in life!!!!! Nobody can take Memories away from us.
We know that your Dad is in a better Place than us. Sorry is all i can say about your great loss.

May your Spirit be Healed. Looking forward to a Awesome TR. (Blessings to you and Family)

Great story thusfar . waiting for more .

Great start Adrian - I can feel your enthuiasm!

Looking forward to experiencing your adventures -

Also waiting for more AdrianFW!

Khensani Primary School 18th November

One more post before I reach Kruger. I’m getting closer all the time.

Leaving my friends in Bryanston early I’m on my way. Not the usual route as a cycle race had closed a number of roads. My SatNav helps and soon I am on N1 heading North. Through Pretoria and on up R80 to Soshanguve and Block H. My destination is Khensani Primary School, it’s a very special school. Tithe Barn Primary School in Stockport, the school my children attended, first linked with Khensani back in 2000. Friendship, partnership, exchanges and sharing have been going on ever since and the benefits are mutual. The school kitchen garden at Tithe Barn is modelled on the gardens at Khensani. Teachers go back and forth, ideas, approaches to basic literacy and numeracy shared, in fact anything to help the education of learners in both schools. It is something unique and long lasting. I became seriously involved back in 2005 and have been coming back to Sosh as often as money and time will allow.



Achiever’s Day is just what it says, a day to celebrate achievement both academically and in sports, song and dance. My employer kindly contributes to the prize giving so I get the opportunity to award certificates too. Such fun. The children are so pleased, it is a joy to see them run back to their parents and carers proudly clutching their certificates and prizes.

Everybody is welcome and everybody comes with people crowding every vantage point around the small quadrangle in the middle of the school. I meet so many friends it makes my heart sing. It’s a colourful day with many coming in their tribal costume. In the background food is prepared so after the awarding of certificates, prizes and performances from learners, both past and present, there is something for all to eat. It is the one day I know when the concept of Africa time is banished. It is a full programme and always overruns so it starts promptly at 9am. I know we probably won’t be eating until at least 4pm.

It is hard to put into words so a few photographs may help paint the picture.























I think you can now understand a little of my love of your country. To all South Africans be proud, very proud of your country, all its peoples, its diverse culture, heritage and its National Parks, particularly my favourite place Kruger.

If I may I’ll finish this post with a small gift to you from the Laurel Lane Singers, the Tithe Barn Primary School choir. A song given to us by you that we are happy to return – enjoy!

Please be upstanding.

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrica

Khensani is just one little beautiful and inspiring part of South Africa. Tomorrow I go to another, the Kruger National Park and the healing of my spirit continues.

Really enjoying your report so far.

I can only imagine how special the day was for all

thank you for caring.

Absolutely a vibrant, colourful bush of very happy people.

Another great post , Thanks for sharing

Thanks for sharing this special day with us AdrianFW!

Looking forward to your Kruger experiences too!

Sorry for the loss of your Dad AdrianFW

Thank you for sharing your experiences in SA with us