The thatching is almost done

10 08 2008

The dining hall is starting to take shape and now with the thatching almost done it is looking a treat.  I have done a quick video so you can see what has been happening … enjoy!!!  I will give you more pictures in the coming weeks


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Oops … I forgot to tell you

8 08 2008

The other week, in-between when our OZ team left and our next visitors arrived, we had the joys of moving house.  It was a very quick move and surprisingly there was not a whole heap of stress that came with it.  We were able to move all of our stuff in a couple of trips (thanks to our mates’ MASSIVE trailer) and then sit down and enjoy unpacking … fun and games.  Here are a few happy snaps of the new abode.  I will try to post some more in the coming weeks.



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WOW … that was FAST!!!

7 08 2008

Thank so much to the person who donated the money to fix the Willow Park road … you really got in fast.  Actually, I should tell you the story of how fast it was:

The day before last I had decided to post a chipin to help raise money to fix our road.  Literally the very moment I had pressed submit and the fund-raising event had been lodged I got a pop up message on my facebook asking me to chat with someone.  Of course, being the socialite that I am I accepted and it was one of my mates from OZ … the very first thing he asked was if there was anything he could help out with as he had a certain amount of cash he wanted to donate … you’ll never guess the amount that he wanted to donate … almost the exact amount … how amazing is that.  Both of us were blown away by this!!!!

I will be going out tomorrow to pay the farmer and hopefully sometime next week (or the week after) it will be finished.  I can’t wait to show everyone the photo’s of what it looks like after it has been leveled and graded.

If you also want to chip in but missed out on this one … you can chip in to our lives in Zimbabwe by clicking on the coffee cups on the side bar.


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Willow Park Road

5 08 2008

The Willow Park road has become worse for wear over the years and is in need for a HUGE over hall and re-leveling.  We have been approaching the local council over the past year with no luck … but finally a break through.  One of our workers knows a local farmer who is willing to grade and level our road at cost price … this is FANTASTIC.  All we need is $203.50 USD and this will get the whole 5 km of road looking spic’n’span again.

Did you feel like chipping in?  It is really easy now!!! All you need to do is look at the side bar on your right and click on the road picture; this will take you to my chipin site were you can make a contribution through paypal … it couldn’t be anymore simpler.  I look forward to sharing with you how it looks after we have completed the grading.

 

 

 


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Take a look at these

30 07 2008

I think the last time I updated you in regards to zim cash was to show you the 25 billion note, well I have some more to show you now …  I know I metioned (but could not get my hands on) the 50b note (shown below) but now that is small change and we now have the 100,000,000,000 note … yes that is right, we now have a 100 billion dollar note.



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Have you ever seen one of these?

25 07 2008

The other day when I was walking around the grounds with Chris (our head groundsman) I finally asked about the satellite dish that is sitting next to the main house and his response was one of HUGE laughter.  He proceeded to tell me that it was not a satellite dish for TV, but instead it was a solar cooker … how cool is this?

 

What you do is position the MASSIVE solar dish in the direction of the sun in the morning with your food dish (stew, roast etc…) on the rack and through out the day you reposition the solar panels so they are getting the full beams from the sun.  Then by the end of the day you should have a perfectly cooked dish without using any ZESA (power / electricity).


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I just have to tell you this

22 07 2008

OK … let’s begin.  At the moment people are finding it a little difficult to find adequate amounts of cash to purchase everyday items.  The banks are helping provide everyone with their cash by limiting daily withdrawals to 100,000,000,000 (100 billion dollars) per day.  I hear you say … “WOW, 100 billion dollars a day; that is a lot of cash”.  Unfortunately this is not so true, as a 300 ml bottle of coke is now costing about $150 billion.  If a coke costs that much it means that everything else is a whole lot more expensive … hmmm … as a Zimbabwean always says “ahh boz … we wil mairk a plun”


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After the Aussies left …

22 07 2008

Not long after our Australian team left (actually two days later) we had more people (from Australia) come and stay with us.  It was FANTASTIC to have Graham, Joy and their daughter Riana come and join us in Hotel Muller after giving Father Charles a heap of support out at his rural hospital.  Graham and Joy actually come out last year with another team from Australia and they felt so moved by what is happening over here they just had to come again … they say they won’t be back again for another couple of years; but I reckon (much like malaria) once you get it (Africa) in your system you can never get it out.  We look forward to seeing you again next year Graham and Joy J


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Antelope Park

15 07 2008



A trip to Zimbabwe is not complete without going to Antelope Park for the day or night … so being the GREAT tour guides that we are we ventured out to Antelope Park for a night.  These guys had an absolute ball; even the trip up for them was exciting as they got to do something that is not allowed in the land of Aus … ride in the back of the bakkie.

 

I think that these guys got to experience the true Zimbabwe on this trip … not only did they get to see lions, elephants, zebra and giraffes, but they also got to experience a breakdown in the middle of nowhere.  Yes, that is right on the way back to Bulawayo (about 80klms away) the front wheel bearing got too loose and we had to pull over and wait about 2 hours for a truck to come and collect the car.  You can’t say you have visited Zimbabwe unless something unplanned happens.


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More that just building

15 07 2008

Having the SPCC team at Willow Park was such a HUGE help; not only did they help train the guys how to build they also got involved in a whole range of other duties.  A group helped re-furbish the volleyball court; they cleaned the chook (chicken) pens as well as help repaint the glass hall … what absolute legends.  One lone sole also fixed our ovens and hot water geezers as well as a lot of other electrical stuff that needed altering / fixing.  Thanks Team!!!!




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