Tennis Party

On the occasion of my favorite man's birthday, we had a little tennis party. Starting early before the heat we were playing doubles with some friends and had fun on the court. Here are some 'action shots' from the guys fighting for points!

Thanks to everyone for playing!

rain on your wedding day

Yesterday, our friends got married here in Gaborone. The day was grey and cloudy and in the morning it was pouring down with rain. But unlike in many other places, in Botswana, rain on your wedding day is considered a fortunate sign and so we happily went ahead and celebrated the newly weds with a lovely brunch and cake at the Sanitas teagarden.

Pula to the happy couple!

trip planning

I really want to go to the beach and so we decided it's time for another trip!
In March, we are planning to go for a week-long holiday to Mozambique and the Elephant Coast, where they say there are pretty beaches, fresh seafood and green landscapes....I'll find out if they are right and report back. But until then, there is some more work to be done...

little projects

For most of last year, we were working on some little projects with the kids at Happy Home. They learnt how to weave with sticks and natural materials and created some pretty pieces.

They also built some miniature traditional houses complete with garden and fence with little twigs and recycled materials.
I just felt like sharing some of the children's work.
Thanks to Camola who took these beautiful pictures!

Beautiful Days

While in Joburg for the U2 concert we spent a lovely Sunday at Market on Main, browsing the shops and stalls, looking at beautiful pictures in the galleries and enjoying the view from the top floor before sitting down for a picknick on the grass, sipping on mojitos and chatting with friends.

The next day, we went to look for Stanley 44 in Milpark and were lucky to find the place. Cute shops and restaurants are set around the courtyards and we spent hours at Bean There, a fantastic coffee shop with a tranquil little outdoor area.

Because I still tend to feel a little overwhelmed by this big (bad) city every time I go there, it was great to discover that there exist these little oasis that are perfect to just hang out for a while.

a day with flowers, letters & cupcakes

I wanted flowers in the house, so I picked some from the roadside on my way home.

The afternoon I spent with the children at Happy Home and they wrote colorful answers to their pen pals. Their letters are really sweet and they even try to teach them some words in Setswana!

The day ended with cupcakes and a little bit of home - podcasts are king!

Tau Encounters

This past weekend we spent some more time in the bush. After a short drive over the border we arrived at the Buffalo Ridge Lodge, a lovely place set on top of a hill overlooking the Madikwe Game Reserve with private chalets nestled in the bush.
When we walked to our chalet, the ranger showed us the footprint of a lion on the path and when they tried to get to the next chalet, they found the lioness just a few meters away from us on the path, and I could hear her growling at the sight of the humans.....
I did not really feel comfortable out there and wasn't sure if I would be able to sleep but after a fantastic gamedrive with a pack of wild dogs and a delicious three-course dinner we got a good night's rest.
The next morning we started early and met a lion couple who had chosen a spot next to the road for their honeymoon.
Their lazy movements and big yellow eyes were incredibly to watch but I was very happy to be in the safety of the 4x4 vehicle and not on the ground with them!