an announcement, two requests, and a loving goodbye...

(The following is a copy of a group e-mail recently sent out. I've copied it here in case I've missed anyone off the list.)

Well dearest all, here goes...

I head to Cape Town, South Africa, in 48 hours. Who would have thought it, hey?!

For those of you not in the UK, or those who I've been out of touch with for too long, I'm to move to South Africa this week, to begin a 3 year voluntary placement with Fikelela Aids Project, as their refugee support worker in Cape Town. Its my dream job, with an organisation I greatly admire, so not a bad way to begin non-student life!

And for those of you in South Africa, of course, this is a 'hello', rather than 'goodbye'...

Ok, here's the announcement....announcing...

www.belovedcountry.com !!!

The name isn't new but the site is. All newly designed and raring to go, belovedcountry.com has become a one-stop-shop. Here you will find articles, photos, links to funky sites on the web, and of course the jewellery of somethingabitdifferent.com. Hey, it even has my dissertation!

But more than that, the 'What's New' section on the front page will contain a link to anything new, on the blogs, on the site, jewellery, and has a lovely 'site of the week' section. So instead of looking directly to the blogs, just pop along to belovedcountry and see what's going on. Yay!

Please send me your website addresses so I can include them on the 'links' page.

Request number 1:

I need to fill up my address book. Please reply with your address so I can keep in touch properly.

Request number 2:

With my new life comes a kitchen of my own, an organic vegetable garden, and a personal recipe book. So I need ideas. If you can spare the time, please send your favourite vegetarian recipe, so that I can fill the book, and the bellies of my guests, with lots of lovely things.


... Don't really know what to say now actually. A massive apology to those of you I haven't had the chance to say a proper goodbye to. I really rather detest goodbyes, so if you feel the same then we've both been spared, and if not, well, sorry. I've been a bit useless of late, had an awful lot to get my head around...hmm...

And of course, I must send out an open invitation. The house will be equiped with a lovely sofa-bed, the occasional spare room, and if needs be, a tent in the garden, so guests are always very welcome. Likewise if you have friends coming to Cape Town for the first time, please feel free to put them in touch, I'm always glad to show people around my beloved country.

Well, I guess that's all that needs to be said.

Salani kakuhle (stay well),

Your Anna / Nomsa wenu

Flicking piccys...

Scroll downwards and look at the little thing on the left by flickr. I'm lovin' it!

Btw, three weeks today and we get the keys to the house in Cape Town. Yeay!

Will try and be more profound soon...

I'm not in London...

Just in case anyone was worried. Would refer people to the comments of Arch Bish Rowan Williams, who spoke very well.

Africa lives on the BBC, and soon I will live in Africa...

I think I'm feeling level headed about this whole thing, then another programme comes on the telly about Africa, and I burst into tears again. Not in a bad way, more in a kind of longing way. Which is silly really, because its two weeks until I emigrate. But the closer it gets, the more the tears. Honestly, its dreadful. I'm even crying for those awful 'sponser a child' ads. For heaven's sake...

its all part of the process...

That's me then, part of the establishment, wearing the uniform and singing the latin. I resisted the urge to mutter 'I hate you, you ignorant, incompetant man' as I shook the vice-chancellor's hand. But I did refuse to clap after his speech. I even muttered quite loudly during it. What a little rebel I am...