DIVORCE IN PROGRESS - CHARLIZE THERON THE NEW LOVE OF MY LIFE!!

Only joking Manda

Well it looks as though I'm going to have to work backwards to explain all. We finished our first week with Manda as official photographer for the day and me helping out at a mixed Gender football tournament where Oscar winning Hollywood actress and native South African Charlize Theron spent 4 hours visiting the charity to see it at work as she donates through her charitable foundation. See pics below being just 2 of the 3-400 Manda took and NOT ONE of me with the lovely Charlize.

Kids in action

 Charlize and the kids

Well we are well and truly into work and the South African way of life. If anyone tells you the word manana is Spanish don't believe them. Nothing happens on time here except of course us arriving spot on time tired but happy at Durban Airport last Thursday. The phrases used when you want to throw up your hands and scream are TIA- This Is Africa and my favourite 'You've got the watches and we've got the time'

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 Our accommodation is extremely pleasant. Skype guided tours can be arranged. We are in a suburb of Durban and contrary to expectations can walk around freely both day and night. Yes we have electric fencing and bars on the windows and doors but it seems everybody does wherever they live. We have a small cottage attached to the main house  (pics next time) where there are 5 other volunteers all of whom are really lovely (and young enough to be our kids). We also have a lady who washes and cleans. Her name is Angel and she is truly heaven sent. As an example Manda saw a sparkling clean backpack hanging up in the house and commented that someone had the same one as me. Of course it was mine cleaned after who knows how many years of filth being embedded from rides through the forest.I try to keep moving in the day or I  am sure I will end up in the washing machine. Yes my friends before you ask I am the happiest man in the world. No not a hug or kiss from Charlize. I HAVE A BATH!!!!

Currently the office is a 5 minute walk steeply downhill (10 minutes up) but it is an hour drive to the Health Academy in the township of Edendale. We have visited the township several times to see the work being carried out and the office will be moving to the township when a brand new building funded by FIFA with an artificial grass pitch is hopefully completed in a few months time. Then it will be a long day leaving home before 7.00 and getting back at 6.00. Just winding you all up. I know that you all work long hours (not you of course Jack) and that for Manda it will be like part time working but please remember that for poor old me I had forgotten what a 5 day working week is. No tears please.

You may now breath a sigh of relief as I skip details of my thrilling work as the accountant and instead focus on the work of the charity. We were thrown straight into action on our first Saturday. Overtime straight away and TOIL. Impressed?

We ie the charity were asked to set up a gazebo at a local football tournament so that players and spectators could be counselled and tested for HIV/AIDS and TB. The setting was amazing and Manda started to learn to be a sports photographer and I am sure she watched her first ever football matches. The most comical moment apart from me being linesman and a cow stopping play was the moment when a game couldn't start because the lady who owned the whistle wanted it for the netball competition and so took it. Luckily another whistle was obtained. The final went to penalties and England lost as usual. Sorry wrong competition.

Cow stops play!!!!!

Could goal line technology deal with this? 

A great setting

Your intrepid correspondent as linesman complete with branch and plastic bag provided as flag

Despite it being a fun day the important thing for us was that 21 people were tested and thankfully although the majority were fine sadly 2 were found to be HIV positive. This is the harsh reality of what the charity does.

I'll leave you on that note.

Missing you all but hoping that some of you can get to see us here and if not then Skype us at Orientspencer or Mandaandolly or e-mail notspencersimmons@gmail.com or mandasimmons@hotmail.com

Love to all

Spencer and Manda

TWO WEEKS TO GO

Hi all

Due to huge demand ( well at least one person suggested it) here is my first blog entry

Hard to believe it but just 2 weeks to go before we fly off to Durban and I try to get to grips with South African PAYE and VAT . How exciting is that!! Oh and Manda has to spend a year trying to look interested in football. Tee hee!!!

My list of things to do is getting smaller and I am worryingly up to date with admin matters such as tax returns. Most of you would not recognise me as Mr Efficiency even though I have been married to Mrs Efficiency for 30 years.

Whilst Manda keeps on working to the bitter end I'm the admin husband slaving over a hot computer. The biggest problem has been getting the visa and hopefully that saga ends on 16 July when I go for my 3rd visit to the South African consulate so that the lady behind the glass screen can sneer at me and treat me again (as she does everyone )  as if I am a complete imbecile. Welcome to South Africa? I think not.

For those I haven't amazed already then how is this for a coincidence. We have a chimney sweep who comes once a year to sweep our one working chimney. I got him about 3 years ago at random from Yellow Pages. He is here for about 20 minutes and I have a brief chat usually. This time I said we would be away so his next visit would be after a bit more than a year and explained why.
 "I've got a friend who I grew up with in Bristol who runs a charity there. What's the name of the charity?"  "Whizzkids United" said I.
 "Old Marcus!!" in distinctly West Country accent said he.
 It turns out that he grew up with the founder of the charity and is still in touch. Can somebody please tell me the odds of that. Must be a many millions to one chance

If you would like to see details of the charity we will be working for then go to the Whizzkids United / Africaid website

So as not to bore everybody silly I will try to update this blog every 2-4 weeks and hopefully (assuming I can master the art of uploading) put some of Manda's photos on as well.