I started with this as a snapshot of my weird week, but it's now Sunday of the week after and I don't yet seem to have come up for air, so its now of my weird fortnight!
"It sometimes feels like a strange movie, you know, it's all so weird that sometimes I wonder if it is really happening." - Eminem
It's the end of Monday and it's been one hell of a day!
"Anyone who isn't confused really doesn't understand the situation." - Edward R. Murrow
I love my job, where else in the world could this possibly be the summary of a day?...
"It sometimes feels like a strange movie, you know, it's all so weird that sometimes I wonder if it is really happening." - Eminem
It's the end of Monday and it's been one hell of a day!
"Anyone who isn't confused really doesn't understand the situation." - Edward R. Murrow
I love my job, where else in the world could this possibly be the summary of a day?...
"Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create that fact." - William James
Morning meeting at 7am in which we decide to buy a GPS tracking collar for a vulture and follow its movements for research purposes, it will be the only collar of its kind on this species of vulture in Africa. We hand reared this vulture a while ago and handed it over to a vulture sanctuary, it is now ready for release and we are still involved in its progress.
We also discuss helping support a lodge up in the north of Namibia that supports 2,000 San Bushmen, if the jobs and the infrastructure surrounding this place go the whole face of that area will change for good, which could lead to the devastation of one of the last traditional San Bushmen tribes in Africa - the race from which we are all descended. So, we are making a plan to help where we can- some days I feel really inspired by what I do.
[Oh and if anyone wants to buy a Namibian Lodge near Mangetti drop me an email]
"Be the change that you want to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi
After breakfast I head to the office and help one of the coordinators writing their birthday message to Shiloh and help to organise supplies for her birthday card. Anything for the kids of our favourite supporters B&A.
And all this before 9.30am!!
The day rolled on with thinking up funding ideas for research work we are doing and emailing an African film school who currently work in Botswana in the hope of them using our reserve in Namibia.
Just after lunch I got called out of the office by our Director, she has found me a new addition to my family herd - Donsie (fluffball in Afrikaans) a baby donkey. And boy does her name suit! Baby donkey hair is more like fur, long and soft and fluffy. Amazing! She took her first few bottles well, ate the end of an apple and - like all the babies fell asleep with her head on my lap quite quickly. She also hasn't quite got the idea of braying yet and sounds more like a creaky door.
"If a donkey bray at you, don't bray at him." - George Herbert
Within about half an hour I looked at my little herd and thought- I best get working on Plan B - the way to stay AND still see Oz and NZ...
"If a donkey bray at you, don't bray at him." - George Herbert
Within about half an hour I looked at my little herd and thought- I best get working on Plan B - the way to stay AND still see Oz and NZ...
"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading" - Lao Tzu
"The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving" - Oliver Wendell Holmes
"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still" - Chinese Proverb
I spent the afternoon working and checking on her. Benny couldn't decide whether or not to attack her or flirt with her - rather like teenagers in a playground!
"A good sacrifice is one that is not necessarily sound but leaves your opponent dazed and confused." - Nigel Short
The rest of the evening saw Donsie spending about an hour stood in our room, sniffing my belongings and snoozing standing up and much 'bunny hugging' on my part as I made sure all the babies had plenty of cuddles before bedtime as they were staying in a place that's new to them in the dark and Donsie has had one hell of a day for a 3 week old baby.
"However long the night, the dawn will break"- African Proverb
Just had to run outside to stop poor confused Jaci barking at poor confused Donsie, as struggle as they both tried to get in the room for the evening. Separating the two and getting a growling Jaci in and explaining that donkeys had to sleep outside was a bit of a feat at 11.30 pm!
Just had to run outside to stop poor confused Jaci barking at poor confused Donsie, as struggle as they both tried to get in the room for the evening. Separating the two and getting a growling Jaci in and explaining that donkeys had to sleep outside was a bit of a feat at 11.30 pm!
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog" - Mark Twain
The herd have now gone out with the calves in order to allow them to bond and in the hope of them becoming guards for them when they grow up- to protect against predators. A natural way to reduce herd losses to carnivores.
Today also seemed to be one of those days I remembered that my job is a little unusual and hardly anywhere else would I get such opportunities. I can't imagine it in an office in the UK!
"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way" - Henry David Thoreau
“Why didn't I learn to treat everything like it was the last time. My greatest regret was how much I believed in the future.” ― Jonathan Safran Froer
Tuesday was a little more relaxed as a bank holiday rolled round, Namibia has tons in April and May and nothing until the end of the year. The day saw relaxation, tea drinking and (of course) a little work.
Wednesday may just be the craziest day I have had here so far, the drive into town involved throwing round loads of ideas for new projects, that hour covered a lot. On the drive we had to pull over to take a call from a London studio regarding an amazing filming opportunity later the year, very, very exciting stuff!! At the end of the day we had a meeting discussing funding proposals for some research we are doing and on the way home an interesting discussion about my future here...
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” ― Søren Kierkegaard
We got back to the reserve gates and our security man told us that someone had just run something over in the road and taken it with. We turned round to chase the car and practically drove back to Windhoek on the chase. We finally forced the guy to pull over and I stayed in the car, more than a little bit nervous in case these guys were less opportunists and actually real poachers. Luckily he was an opportunist and after a few stern words about knocking over animals and taking them for the pot (either on purpose or by accident) I am sure we wont be seeing him again.
"He did not know that a keeper is only a poacher turned outside in, and a poacher is a keeper turned inside out" - Charles Kingsley
I got back to the farm and my final task of the day was to wrap and parcel up Shiloh's 6th birthday present from us. What a crazy Wednesday!
Thursday was a little more relaxed in terms of excitement levels, but a very long work day- topped off with a few beers and me spending half an hour cleaning donkey diarrhea up from the bathroom floor and the donkey - nice.
Thursday also saw 2 sick wild cats being brought in for us to look after, Lala turned mother and whined and whined whilst licking them all over.
Friday was another Bank Holiday - Cassinga day - this one I was working though. Between the usual office work I managed to also fit in hand feeding one of the sick baby wildcats, so cute, but so fragile. Ended the day with an early night and a movie and a huge lie in - 8.30am (late here for me).
Saturday has been nice and relaxed, feeding the wild cats, cuddling the zebbies and donkey and drinking tea. I headed out to take some donkey pictures and all the San Bushman kids from the village had come down for the afternoon for singing and dancing and colouring in, so got some lovely shots of them playing.....
Last Sunday was the the town trip - with plenty of strong coffee and a couple of frozen margaritas!
"Drinking a margarita filled up with patron-tequila, mmmm Happy Cinco de psycho everybody" - Dahvie Vanity
Oh, and if any of you are at a lose end this weekend there is a kudu and oryx dung spitting competition in Otjiwarongo! have fun kids!
So, that's my week/fortnight in a nutshell, perhaps not a typical few days here - and certainly not a typical fortnight anywhere else in the world, but its mine and I like it!
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” ― Kent M. Keith
“Why didn't I learn to treat everything like it was the last time. My greatest regret was how much I believed in the future.” ― Jonathan Safran Froer
Tuesday was a little more relaxed as a bank holiday rolled round, Namibia has tons in April and May and nothing until the end of the year. The day saw relaxation, tea drinking and (of course) a little work.
Wednesday may just be the craziest day I have had here so far, the drive into town involved throwing round loads of ideas for new projects, that hour covered a lot. On the drive we had to pull over to take a call from a London studio regarding an amazing filming opportunity later the year, very, very exciting stuff!! At the end of the day we had a meeting discussing funding proposals for some research we are doing and on the way home an interesting discussion about my future here...
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” ― Søren Kierkegaard
We got back to the reserve gates and our security man told us that someone had just run something over in the road and taken it with. We turned round to chase the car and practically drove back to Windhoek on the chase. We finally forced the guy to pull over and I stayed in the car, more than a little bit nervous in case these guys were less opportunists and actually real poachers. Luckily he was an opportunist and after a few stern words about knocking over animals and taking them for the pot (either on purpose or by accident) I am sure we wont be seeing him again.
"He did not know that a keeper is only a poacher turned outside in, and a poacher is a keeper turned inside out" - Charles Kingsley
I got back to the farm and my final task of the day was to wrap and parcel up Shiloh's 6th birthday present from us. What a crazy Wednesday!
Thursday was a little more relaxed in terms of excitement levels, but a very long work day- topped off with a few beers and me spending half an hour cleaning donkey diarrhea up from the bathroom floor and the donkey - nice.
Thursday also saw 2 sick wild cats being brought in for us to look after, Lala turned mother and whined and whined whilst licking them all over.
Friday was another Bank Holiday - Cassinga day - this one I was working though. Between the usual office work I managed to also fit in hand feeding one of the sick baby wildcats, so cute, but so fragile. Ended the day with an early night and a movie and a huge lie in - 8.30am (late here for me).
Saturday has been nice and relaxed, feeding the wild cats, cuddling the zebbies and donkey and drinking tea. I headed out to take some donkey pictures and all the San Bushman kids from the village had come down for the afternoon for singing and dancing and colouring in, so got some lovely shots of them playing.....
We started with some traditional dancing and singing.
Lots of arts and crafts.
Face painting and lots of stickers stuck on faces!
Some of the kids are just soooo cool!
Our volunteers decide to join in the dancing (until someone lost the sole of a shoe!).
Lots of playing.
The kids always winning, of course!
Someone with good artistic talents drew animals on everyone's cheeks.
Some of our kids are right little posers!
Roar! gonna get you!
Last Sunday was the the town trip - with plenty of strong coffee and a couple of frozen margaritas!
"Drinking a margarita filled up with patron-tequila, mmmm Happy Cinco de psycho everybody" - Dahvie Vanity
Oh, and if any of you are at a lose end this weekend there is a kudu and oryx dung spitting competition in Otjiwarongo! have fun kids!
So, that's my week/fortnight in a nutshell, perhaps not a typical few days here - and certainly not a typical fortnight anywhere else in the world, but its mine and I like it!
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” ― Kent M. Keith
No comments:
Post a Comment