Now, before we start let me tell you a very quick story about a very brave man....
A few weeks ago a San Bushman, named Cgunta and his family helped to save an Australian woman who they were guiding through the bush in northern Namibia, sadly bush fire surrounded them and the 5 men huddled around her and saved her life, 3 of them died and now this brave man is suffering with 70% burns and fighting for his life. Generally I write my blog as a nice, light update of life over here from a personal perspective and don't intend to make fundraising asks on here a regular thing, that said this is the most harrowing, inspiring story I have ever heard and we have taken on the responsibility of raising N$750,000 (£75,000 / 75,000 Euros / 100,000 USD) to save his life. The full story can be seen here http://www.naankuse.com/index.php?id=131, and an interview with him that brought a tear to the eye here http://bit.ly/QP1t62. This man deserves your support!Please, please if you have any spare cash- even just the price of a pint it would be great if you could donate to save his life, thank you. And thanks to those of you who have donated already, much love xxx
"Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love." - Morihei Ueshiba
A few weeks ago one of our sponsors from the UK brought out lots of sports equipment for the children at the school. We had a lovely day playing with the kids, showing them how to use everything and having an impromptu sports day on the fields.
"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." - Frederick Douglass
Hula hoops, balls, velcro mits and tennis balls, sacks, bats and much much more!
A few weeks ago a San Bushman, named Cgunta and his family helped to save an Australian woman who they were guiding through the bush in northern Namibia, sadly bush fire surrounded them and the 5 men huddled around her and saved her life, 3 of them died and now this brave man is suffering with 70% burns and fighting for his life. Generally I write my blog as a nice, light update of life over here from a personal perspective and don't intend to make fundraising asks on here a regular thing, that said this is the most harrowing, inspiring story I have ever heard and we have taken on the responsibility of raising N$750,000 (£75,000 / 75,000 Euros / 100,000 USD) to save his life. The full story can be seen here http://www.naankuse.com/index.php?id=131, and an interview with him that brought a tear to the eye here http://bit.ly/QP1t62. This man deserves your support!Please, please if you have any spare cash- even just the price of a pint it would be great if you could donate to save his life, thank you. And thanks to those of you who have donated already, much love xxx
"Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love." - Morihei Ueshiba
A few weeks ago one of our sponsors from the UK brought out lots of sports equipment for the children at the school. We had a lovely day playing with the kids, showing them how to use everything and having an impromptu sports day on the fields.
"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." - Frederick Douglass
Hula hoops, balls, velcro mits and tennis balls, sacks, bats and much much more!
We all had so much fun, you can hear the laughter from here...
"A day without laughter is a day wasted. " - Charlie Chaplin
Sack race with volunteers and children
The boys ended up playing football
The girls ended up playing hairdressing
Children are the same all over the world!
After the week in Tsumkwe with the Joneses (separate blog update to follow) I came back to a visit from an old friend! Needless to say my liver struggled to limp on for that many days, but it was great to see her and catch up.
A week ago I got the pleasure of meeting a brown hyena - this poor creature had been captured and kept in a cage - we suspect for a couple of weeks- with a dead baboon, dead warthog and dead hyena- it was in a real state when we got it, so we chose to bring it in collar and release it as soon as possible - to minimise distress. Amazing looking creature, with gorgeous, kind brown eyes. We released it the day after it arrived. We darted it, conducted health checks - its paws were quite torn up from being in the cage sadly - collared him, and released him. Lovely to watch him reclaim his freedom especially after seeing where he came from.
OK, I know this probably reminds you of the bad guys in the Lion King, but they truly are beautiful animals in reality.
Take a look at the video of his relaease we have recently put together here
Take a look at the video of his relaease we have recently put together here
The other weekend a couple of us got a last minute invite to head down to see our southern projects and release sites. We set off on Friday afternoon intending to fly in a four seater plane. As a nervous flyer already, any plane that can be pushed onto the runway by its 3 passengers really does make me nervous!
Particularly a plane that needs to be jump- started twice on the runway!!
"Why don't they make the whole plane out of that black box stuff." - Steven Wright
Particularly a plane that needs to be jump- started twice on the runway!!
"Why don't they make the whole plane out of that black box stuff." - Steven Wright
After the jump start we flew out of the small airport and were up in the sky... my nerves dissipated as someone elses nausea kicked in.
Just as we were 20 mins away we realised that the clouds met the mountains at the point we were supposed to fly over them, and sadly this meant we had to turn around and fly 40 mins back - we got off, green. We had tried to fly three times and with no luck. Time for breakfast and to make a plan.
"You can run out of money, just don't ever run out of plans" - anon
Finally, one good breakfast and a mini bus ride over some fairly rough ground and at speed, we arrived at our research site and winery - utterly beautiful and so relaxing!
We stayed there for a night, had a great braai and sampled some of the wine on offer - not a bad life?!
"And William Shakespeare getting all philisophical on us: 'It is better to have burnt and lost, then never to have braaied at all' " - anon
Just as we were 20 mins away we realised that the clouds met the mountains at the point we were supposed to fly over them, and sadly this meant we had to turn around and fly 40 mins back - we got off, green. We had tried to fly three times and with no luck. Time for breakfast and to make a plan.
"You can run out of money, just don't ever run out of plans" - anon
Finally, one good breakfast and a mini bus ride over some fairly rough ground and at speed, we arrived at our research site and winery - utterly beautiful and so relaxing!
We stayed there for a night, had a great braai and sampled some of the wine on offer - not a bad life?!
"And William Shakespeare getting all philisophical on us: 'It is better to have burnt and lost, then never to have braaied at all' " - anon
Obviously some work was involved, looking round, taking images, talking about marketing and planning the future.
The next day, we set off for a nearby nature reserve. Of all the places in the world I have ever been this has to be one of (if not THE most stunning place I have ever been to), sadly we were only there for a couple of hours to collar a cheetah and set things up for her release the day after, but I could go back and spend weeks there.
Wow!
"It's easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top." - Henry Ward Beecher
Lets take some pics for our sponsors - 'look natural'....ok maybe not?!
After trying for quite some time...
...we eventually managed to sedate her and get a collar on.
After our long hard work we left her to recuperate...
...ready for her big day into the expanse that is the nature reserve the day after...
Just a few piccies of the babies, they are growing up now!!
That's it, ears forward!
"I'm essentially a jobbing actor. If I'm out of work, I'll be the back end of a donkey." - Michael Gough
Nope I am eating, not looking at the camera
Does my bum look big?
For those of you that don't know, we sadly lost Benny just over a week ago. He had been diagnosed with liver failure and spinal ataxia and every day was getting harder for him. By the end he could hardly stand and was truly fed up. It was a hard choice, but as he wasnt improving on the drugs we had him on he let him go to sleep on 13.09.12. I was devastated, but I know its for the best.
"A friend who dies, it's something of you who dies. " - Gustave Flaubert
Here is a video we put together to say goodbye...
Sleep well little man xxx
A few weeks ago we rescued a serval from a trap on a nearby farm, what a beautiful cat- looks like a cross between a cheetah and a wild cat - stunning. We have allowed it time for its leg to heal and recuperate and tried to feed it up in the meantime - although it has been a very fussy eater. Eventually it was time for it to be released, and we went through the darting, collaring, reversing and releasing process. We reversed him and let him go in the pan, and after a few shaky steps he made his way to freedom!
Pic of a serval form the internet so you can see how stunning they are - this is a serval cub, cute huh?
This is our little fella waking up...
...and heading back to freedom...
"You were once wild here. Don't let them tame you." - Isadora Duncan
Three more on their way, from filming with Sky 1 to our holiday round Southern Namibia, and just general life!
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” - Mae West
