The last epistle blog from Jenny in Africa in February 2012

I cannot believe I have come to my last night here on my adventure in this beautiful country.  As I write this I realise that in exactly 24 hours my plane will be taxiing down the runway preparing to take off from Cape Town airport winging its way to London.

Mixed emotions tonight - of course I have missed my family and friends and can't wait to see them but there is a part of me that doesn't want this amazing experience to end and there will be a part of my heart that forever resides here in Africa.

Teka proudly showing me her place in class

I have had another busy day. First thing this morning (at 7.30) I walked to school with Teka and Lineo and they proudly showed me around their lovely school. So different from England - everyone is welcome into school and I was warmly welcomed by each member of staff I met. No one asked me for CRB's or questioned my motives  - they would have liked me to stay all day I think but I needed a little bit of a respite from children for a couple of days!

Panoramice view from the gardens

A sausage tree in Kirstenbosch

After breakfast Ray very kindly took me to Kirstenbosch Gardens - beautiful botanical gardens in the shadow of the glorious mountains. The flowers and trees and shrubs were beautiful and were a treat for all the senses.  It was a very very hot day and it was a pleasure to spend some time in the shady areas underneath beautiful foliage and trees.  We enjoyed some light refreshment there and then drove on to Constantia which is in the heart of the winelands.

one of the many baboons

The winelands have rows upon rows of vineyards loaded with grapes as far as the eye can see and we stopped at a Wine Tasting centre where for 33R - approximately £3 (!) each we could sample 5 different wines.  There were 10 on the list so between us we tried every one - delicious - all from the Constantia vineyard.  We even got a glass each thrown in for the money to take home!  After a wonderful time watching babboons and enjoying the quiet of the vineyards we headed home through rush hour Cape Town back to Fish Hoek where Sue had prepared a wonderful meal which we ate on the deck as usual.

Ray enjoying the wine tasting

We had a quiet evening chatting and just being......

I have sneezed incessantly today and hope I am not getting a cold just in time to come home having been healthy for the past month.

I arrive home at about 9 a.m. on Wednesday and have the rest of the day to readjust to being back into a new reality.  Life will never be the same again after what I have learnt and experienced this month and this will always be a very special time in my life to reflect on.  I am concerned as to how I am going to begin to share what has happened with people but those of you who have read my blog will have a head start so thank you very much.  I discovered today I have taken over 1800 photos (anyone want a photo evening????) and it is going to take me a while to process everything so please be gentle with me on my return.  From speaking to people who have experienced this 're-entry' phase it is going to be a culture shock and I will do my best to slot back into life as best I can in the shortest time possible.  I know I will have different priorities and a different outlook on life and I hope and pray that I can share the important things with people without sending them to sleep!  When you develop a glazed look after a conversation I will know I have failed.
Thank you for sharing this journey with me - it has been very therapeutic to write down my thoughts at the end of every day. Thank you to everyone who has made this trip possible -from people at home to gave their blessing to enable me to go  to my wonderful friends in Cape Town and new friends in Lesotho who looked after me so well. You will forever be very special in my heart and I hope it won't be long until we meet again.

Till then - Peace, Khotso, Vrede, Shalom.....

Jenny x