Sunday 15 November 2015

Week 46 - Project 365

I can't believe how quickly my visit to South Africa has gone, I fly back to Dubai on Tuesday. I feel so at home here, that I don't want to leave. Santa Shoebox is a year round project but October and November are what we call the 'silly season' and we see little of our husbands and children for several weeks. To me it feels like my husband is the one who has gone away and that I am at home in South Africa waiting for his return. The reality is that this isn't my home anymore and there have been many tears saying goodbye to this beautiful country and some amazing people with no idea when or if ever I'll return.

Sunday morning didn't start very well, we were still ill from the night before and the food we had eaten in the township the previous day. I declare that I now have the full blown flu and require plenty of bed rest and alcohol. I left my friends around 3pm to arrive at anthers where I had a total melt down and there were lots of tears from exhaustion and the realisation that I had just started my 'goodbye' tour. We did manage to pop out for a late breakfast and I very much enjoyed wandering around the grounds of the gifts shops, although I didn't buy anything. My Sunday Photo this week was what the Santa Shoebox project was all about that was the celebrations where the children receive their gifts.

Day 312 #onedailypositive #wooden #fmsphotoaday#music #snaphappybritmums #project365 a rare day off from volunteering during my stay in South Africa and a chance to wander around the craft shops at the local tearoom sphere we had a late breakfast. I've no idea whether this record player in a wooden box still plays music or not but it was fitting for today's photo prompts and I rather liked it.


Monday I packed boxes into cartons, I sorted boxes, I sorted cartons. 

Day 313 #onedailypositive #distraction #fmsphotoaday#sky #snaphappybritmums #project365 it's all Christmas gifts and shoeboxes. I spent a lot of time today looking for distractions in the hope the boxes would magically pack themselves.

Tuesday I packed boxes into cartons, I sorted boxes, I sorted boxes, I sorted cartons

Day 314 #onedailypositive #golden #fmsphotoaday#SomethingRed #snaphappybritmums #project The Golden hour after a day of packing boxes, enjoying a glass of wine

Wednesday I went for coffee with a friend, I collected 350 boxes from a school, I unloaded 350 boxes, I sorted around 50 boxes, I lost the will to live. I wrote out the remaining 150+ name labels.


Thursday I tracked down a friend's old maid to give her, her annual christmas money. I collected toiletries from a sponsor, I met a friend for lunch. I packed and sorted 90 more boxes. I collapsed into bed at 11pm.

Day 316 #onedailypositive #curly #fmsphotoaday#YourBreakfast #snaphappybritmums #project365@mcdonalds_za and @kfcsouthafrica has been the staple diet for us volunteers during the @santashoebox drop off in Pretoria. It was only after I took the photo I noticed the curly phone charger

Friday I loaded the van, I drove my friends car to a celebration day in Silverlakes, at the children's home, despite it being a year since I've seen them all I was greater with so much love it was overwhelming. I unloaded a pile of donations. I met my friend with the van who had to go to Joburg to collect cartons and drop at another celebration and drove into Mamelodi to the Alaskan Informal Settlement to drop the boxes off I'd been making all week for their celebration day to be held in December. I felt so much at home today surrounded by people I've spent the previous 4 years volunteering with.


Saturday was a 'me day' I visited Irene Christmas market, a place I used to take Bob for walks most weeks, I shopped for new clothes for when I start my new job in Dubai next week and visited a friend and her family for lunch and had an awesome time. I then went to see another friend to say goodbye to their family, then back to where I was staying for a braai, a few drinks and fell into bed around midnight. 


My Santa Shoebox journey is now over, it's been 5 glorious years. I can't say I've loved every minute of it, but I will very much miss being involved in this wonderful project.


12 comments:

  1. I can't believe you are going back to Dubai already - those 5 weeks have gone fast. I think you'll need a rest by the sounds of it.

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    1. back home and chilling in the garden, start my new job on sunday

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  2. I say it again us people that collect the boxes here do not appreciate what is involved at the other end. I am really sorry you feel so at home back in SA and that your time has to come to an end. I hope coming back to a job really does boost your self esteem and that you feel better and happier within yourself.

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    1. thank you Elaine for your kind words and support of the past few weeks

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  3. Wow it sounds like a manic week!! We managed to get our shoe box filled in time for the collection from school. I was pleased we were able to do it. You must feel proud of the last 5 years that you have taken part, even if it was hard work you have done a great job!!! x #project365

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    1. thank you Kirsty, I've enjoyed every minute of it

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  4. I can't believe it's time to leave already. Well done on all the great work.

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  5. look at that huge popcorn pop! never seen anything like that before.
    glad you enjoyed your trip to South Africa, but I can understand why it is so hard for your to leave and say goodbye to your friends.
    sounds like it was a week for lots of sorting! x

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    1. there are a few friends who are emigrating to aux and i doubt i'll ever see them again which makes it extra hard

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  6. It must have been an exhausting week for you, both physically and emotionally. It's always hard to say Good bye to the places and people we love.

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    1. harder i think when i don't know when i'll next go back there either

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