I'm so behind!

Hi Everyone.
I'm so behind with my blog! So gonna try to get it updated today!

So I'll have to start with my last set of days off - (26-29 Nov). On my first day off I came visited Green Point Market again, I could buy so much from there but have been pretty good! They sell lots of African masks, spoons, bowl, bead work, bags, clothes, drums, jewelery etc. In the evening Marieke, Lynn and Me went to see that Christmas lights switched on, which was ok, but the highlight was seeing Freshly Ground (A new South African band) performing - they were very good!
We got back to the house and I was just about to go in the shower when Katie (from my school project) walked in!!!!!!! I was so shocked because she had never planned to go to Cape Town, so I never thought I would see her! Also Howard had come back to Aviva House for a few days before he caught his flight back to the UK. It was so nice to see them!!!!!! So after lots of hugs we headed to Long Street to some bars and to catch up. So it was a late night after being up at 6.30am in the childrens home!

Monday was a strange day! Me and Lynn had booked to go on another township tour so we could stay at the well known Vikki's Bed and Breakfast in Khayelitsha township. Because we work in Khayelitsha and have been on township tours before we weren't bother about the day activities but were really looking forward to staying at Vikki's. She was the first person to set up a B&B in Khayelitsha and is a leading figure in the township for running community/self help projects (such as a bakery and a sewing workshop), so she has a lot of interesting opinions/stories to tell.
The day started badly because Lynn wasn't well, but we set off on the trip anyway. It started at the District Six museum which was very interesting, then we looked around Langa township (a shebeen, hostels, family homes, local 'shops' and met the local people). We arrived at Vikki's B&B in Khayelitsha about 5pm and spent time walking around the nearby area with a guide. The B&B itself was nice, there were 2 bedrooms, a living room, small kitchen and toilet, luxurious for a township home! I began to be a bit concerned about where everyone would be sleeping when more people kept arriving, in total there was 7 people with only 4 beds!! So after eating a traditional Xhosa meal (cold rice, bean stew, chicken, some kind of veg) me having my luck, we were told we would be moving on and would be doing a homestay!!! Not what I paid for or wanted! Anyway we gave it a go but was so disappointed when we arrived, it was just someones house with little kids running around, a messy bathroom and not a nice bedroom for us! So we ended up getting a taxi (hard to get in a township!) at 11.30pm to the V&A hotel at the Waterfront, which Lynn very kindly treated me too!! And it was sooooo posh!!!! Real luxury!!! It was good to meet Vikki and ask her questions, also her children were lovely so it was a shame it went wrong at the end.
After a luxury shower I hit the sack - tired again!

Monday went so quickly! We spent 2 hours at the tour companies offices getting our money back for the tour. They knew it had all gone wrong and we hadn't got what we paid for so a full refund was given - good! (I surprised myself at how good I was at getting my money back - I must be getting tough in my old age!) I was so tired in the afternoon I sat chatting to Howard, cooked my food for my shift at Bap and went to bed early!!

My third shift at Bap has been good again! Although the care workers have been causing problems but thats pretty normal. We had 2 new girls on mine and Lynns shift so it was hard work teaching tham, but again I surprised myself at how much I knew and how many names I remembered!!
On Thursday we got out a water table for the smaller children to play in, and they loved it!!!! They were splashing about and getting soaking!! They seem to enjoy any small activity we do with them because otherwise they just sit on the floor in a small room all day, everyday - shame. Just taking them outside is a treat. One little girl loved having water poured over her head, it was so funny. They all looked so cute and so happy!!
Friday was a good day but so hectic!!!! There were kids coming in and out of the Babyhouse all day! The care workers caused more trouble again by feeding the kids jam sandwiches (for breakfast) whilst we were teeth brushing! A great help -not!
I'm going to be sad to leave Bap, I only have one shift left. Really enjoy the children and have learn't a lot from them, I just try not to think about the chances of any of them having a good future because it is very low. Some might not live many more years, but at least they now have a better life than they did outside the home. I know it sounds silly but if I can give them some love while I'm here I will be happy, because that is what they are lacking.

Came back to Aviva house yesterday. Looked round an exhibition of photos from children at Baphumelele, which was good, visited the market, had a coffee then went back to rest at the house. Some of the others decided to gp down to a festival in the town we stay in (Observatory), it was so busy! Unfortunately like any festival there were a lot of pickpockets and 2 girls had there mobiles, cameras and wallets stolen, so it was mayhem in the house last night.
Today I'm having an easy day, I'm gonna look round the festival (yep I'll be careful) and maybe start packing!

Looking forward to seeing everyone when I'm back, have missed you lot!!! Wish me luck for my last shift at Bap!!

Love H
xxx