Phillippolis

When I was 16 I went on a volunteer School trip, to a wonderful town in the middle of the country called Phillippolis. This minute town was three steps away from being completely derelict and poverty was strife - and for that matter still is! But within the decrepit buildings and dusty streets there was a community of people that just needed a helping hand. Whether it be teaching at the local schools, building a Veggie garden or even simply playing Netball with the girls to give them some new compitition there were many things to do.

A Part of the trip was to go on a week long hiking trip in the surrounding area. Now those of you who know me will be the first to laugh! I am what many people might call an 'Awkward' human. I am over six feet tall and with a large weight to accompany it there is no way in the world that I should have been going on a 25km + hike a day. That is like asking a bee to swim, simply unnatural. But I had signed up to go on this trek with a friend of mine who was as equally not suitable as I was. So the day before the long trek we had packed our bags and I prepared to have the last night of good sleep before the arduous journey that lay before us! At precisely 10-30 I was Wrenched out of bed and up stairs to the boys room in order to 'party the night away'. I was never much of a party animal and at the age of 16 I still had the high moral calibre that my mother gave me and after the first warning from my attending teacher I was off down stairs for some grateful sleep. But alas not even 3 hours later I was awoken by my friend and her 2 latest boes. One of which was now lying over me professing his undying love for me and demanding it in return. The night carried on in such away that it included Alcohol, Hair-dye and of course Boy Clothes closets.

The next morning I can honestly say that I had woken up with what can only be described as the sound of a woman giving birth to an elephant. My Friend was experiencing her first ever hang over and wasnt this the time. I was not much better than her and coupled with my carsickness to say that I was a happy camper for the first 2 hours of the day while we headed off to camp would win me an Oscar. but Bloom and I had sworn that we were going to be the first all girls boat to be able to make to the first camp an easy 18 km canoe trip away! Boy was I in for a treat! It must be mentioned now that the only reason that I did make it alive was because of a very caring Mr Falconer and trail Guild Boyd for the gentle banter and speed as well as having the rest of the group as hung over as I was. After a quick stop to split up another all girl team that was struggling we headed off. Onto the open water and into the wilderness. Bloom decided about 1 km in that we would take it in turns for the entire duration and in other words I was going to be paddling her lazy hung over ass all the way to the first camp while she tanned and slept. And with the exception of a water fight and the dash for the finish that is exactly what happened!

18 km later and coming in 3rd out of 7 boats we arrived at the first camp... Just to find that dinner had been fed to the baboons and all that was left was some soup in a can and 1 potato! Absolutely Brilliant! After a scratched together dinner I followed Bloom up a hill next to the camp! After having a DMC about love and how it hurts people we simply sat there and watched the stars come out for the night. And when you are drained of any and all energy watching the stars with your best friends can be one of the most memorable moments of your life!

A Little Walk to Remember.

I am an avid dog lover. Though I started late with the actually owning dogs - only once I had 'Grown Out Of' My allergies. Haha. Funny. You never grow out of allergies but you learn to deal with them. I will never forget my first Dog. Her name was BishGate Red Star. She was a champion bred red wheaten Rhodesian Ridgeback. One of the most stunning bitches you would have ever laid eyes on, a very elegant and regal dog with a very 'correct' frame. She was my dog. I would spend hours just lying with her and playing with her , though this was only once a day. One thing you learn very early on with Star; Sleep took up 23 hours a day.

Pirelli was the second attempt at getting a friend for star, the first attempt Dusty, ended with a small incident with my mother, an Audi and a Pirelli Tire. Oops. A Tiny Jack Russell with the cutest face ever and 3 palm sized spots on her back. She had the uncanny ability to wheedle her way into even the coldest of hearts. She was a true terrier though - if it moved she would try and catch it.

Every December holiday my family and I would head down to the coast for a month long vacation to soothe the soul - it never failed to add memories and laughter to our lives. Most years my dad would insist that we do a family walk about 5 km along the beach from the Mouth of Bushmens River to Quy Hook. It was breath taking and wonderful but we always started at a horrendous hour in the morning so that we would have the beach to ourselves and this day was no different. Setting off with the dogs we headed out to the mouth - having to force Star through the high water when the river was at high tide - for some unknown reason Star was petrified of water- could it have something to do with my mom telling me to teach her where the steps were by pushing her in the pool as a pup - probably.

Once we got passed the mouth there was an expanse of beach that could rival any National Geographic or Getaway Magazine cover and for the moment all we shared it with was the birds. Amazing and breath taking, I watched my family walk and laugh to ahead of me with a knowledge that I would never forget this moment. I was 20 then and Little did I know that my Life would change just a few months later. But walking along I noticed that Pirelli was running along the shore line sniffing at the wonders that the lowering tides had left to be found; a piece of cloth, a cuttle fish some wire - all signs of the oceans power and mystery. All of a sudden her head shot up and in the blink of an eye she was off. A race with a swallow bird that had happened to have caught her eye, the race was at lightening speed, turn left, swerve right and again. Pirelli's focus was complete and her goals were insight just a hairs width away the bird banked left, with Pirelli drifting - that would put most rally drivers to shame, to follow suit. Right into the Indian Ocean.

What happened next was spectacular, we view the scene with horrified amusement as the little dog lost her faith in Jesus Christ as her attempt to walk on water failed her. Nose diving into the receding water she showed her grace and agility with a series of front flips that a gymnast would envy. After a tense moment where she was completely lost to us under the water (where we were holding our breaths for her) she emerged, a little shell shocked and a lot embarrassed. With a quick look to see no one was looking and a shake for good measure, she quietly joined the rest of the family following meekly behind with a distinct lack of lustre in her eyes.

Until she spotted another worthy opponent...