Day 20

This morning was cold. Like, really cold. Probably the coldest since we've been here. Adolph, who picked us up today said there was even ice on his car's window. The sun shone, but was more of a sky ornament than a source of any actual heat. There should be a universal law that prohibits people from leaving the house if the temperature outside drops below a certain level. But, there isn't, so off to work we go as usual. Did I mention it's cold? It's really cold.

We picked up our fellow Kuzuko helpers Joseph (we love Joseph!) and David (whom we love as well!) on the way and drove to Hopewell.

Our favourite stupid and stupid looking birds were at the Barn to greet us today, before eventually wandering off, probably to go and eat some rocks or do something daft. Also there were of course Ruen's guys, Justin and Freyer (I'm going to spell it in various ways in the hope that it'll be right at least once, until I find out exactly how it is spelt), and they had already started getting on with it.

After saying hi, we dropped off our stuff and then, predicatbly by now, our walk down to the waterhole.

We were chuffed to find the rhino had been visiting again and left more prints for us to get excited by. I decided to rake the entrance areas so that his prints, if he does come again, will show up more clearly. Hopefully his and the other animals' should show up more clearly. We'll find out tomorrow.

I have a cunning raking plan

This little very skinny legged chap landed just a few feet from us, and seemed unpeturbed by our presence. He just got with his business of looking for worms, or whatever it was he was looking for and totally ignored us. Not sure what sort of bird he is, so another question for Tammy. (She's just come in and told me it is in fact a Cape Wagtail. That'll be why it kept wagging it's tail, I guess)

Returning to the Barn, Justin and Freer had started on turning The Big Crack into a No Crack At All. It was agreed yesterday that the best plan would be to abandon the staples idea, and instead rebuild new bricks into the existing wall. They got busy smashing the old bricks away in preparation for the new. We're leaving the old timber in place for now, but want to also replace that (as it's quite twisted) with a new frame. Exactly how the new door will take shape is still undecided at this point, but it will probably mean the old doors will have to go. We'll see.

What was amazing is just how quick they work. In the time it took a giraffe to walk by they had already taken out a lot of the old brickwork, mixed the cenent, and had already began filling the hole..

First, a big hole

Then a giraffe-sized griraffe

Then suddenly just a small hole

While they did theirs, we got on with our jobs of more puttying in windows - out of 24 small windows and 4 large windows, we've now got the majority of them done - finishing off the struts in the roof which are now all done which is great as it's a really messy job, wirebrushing the woodwork behind the guttering on both sides. Kira, who's always been brilliant at finding things, had the best job of all, looking around the area for anything interesting and potential exhibits.

Putty meister

Putty apprentice

You can run from Kira, but you can't hide

Time for lunch by now, so back to reception to pick them up. Today was chicken and rice, which was nice, though ever since the vetkoek we've been hoping for it every day! When we're back in England I suspect that a deep pan fryer will be in order so we can make it a regular part of our diet!

Out to lunch

While Kira and I waited for our lunches to arrive at reception, Kira, still in finding mode, discovered this rather dangerous creature under a rock. We were very careful as most centipedes here are poisonous to one degree or another (it later turned he was). As we were examining him and taking pics, a sparrow saw us and waited patiently for us to leave. By the time we had grabbed Tammy to come and identify him, the sparrow was already attacking him and flew off before she could see it.

By now, it was still as sunny but a little warmer, and warm enough to eat on the verandah again. The great thing about eating outside here is seeing so many animals and birds. One in particular stood out as he looked like he was wearing orange boots. I tried googling but haven't found him yet, and our human google Tammy has just left with a maelstrom of Kuzuko visitors.

Snazzy orange legs

An about-to-be-eaten-by-a-sparrow poisonous centipede

Adolph came to pick us up and take us to the Barn again after dinner. Max got to work removing all the guttering on the left hand side, Ines puttied, Kira searched, and the guys finished building up The Big Crack, which can now be renamed No Crack At All, and then turned their attention to what was The Big Hole.

Ruen had said when he looked at it, that the best thing to do was to break up the affected concrete blocks and then take a layer of the rubble filler off and give it a cementing that it will never forget.

Gutting the guttering

Ines takes her puttying very seriously

Concrete - 0 Pickaxe - 1

Breaking up is hard to do

But having a JCB does help

Kira returned a bit later with all her findings; another dodgy looking centipede, a beetle whose body was being eaten out by ants while it's head was still moving (urrghhh), but best of all was a baboon skull, with one rather large tooth still in it (why they run away from us when they're armed with teeth like that, I don't know).

By the power of BABOOOOON SKULL

Irrefutable prrof of guttering and puttying

We had run out of putty by now, and were also waiting on the delivery of paint, so we traipsed off down to the waterhole to think about how we would like to the hide to take shape, though unfortunately it probably won't get started till after we leave. We mapped out where we would like to see it, which is jutting out into the water on large posts and between the trees, if possible, so it would be a good spot for watching all the bird activity nice and close up.

One day there will be a hide there

About this big

In the short time we were away, the guys had been busy again working their magic, and had already started to fill the big hole with cement.

By this time all of us were very hungry again, and got our lift home with Noel, and were very much looking forward to our beef steaks and salad. I have to say, it was one of the nicest salads I've ever had, and if you know me, you'll know I'm not normally a fan of the salad, so well done, Ines!

The day was nicely rounded off with a lovely dinner and a really nice email from Nanny. We are all missing her very much!

Lettuce be truly thankful