In the depths of an African winter, we have continued to explore this awesome continent. We celebrated the winter solstice with a festival at Joel's school, followed by a wonderful skiing holiday high up in the Maloti Mountains, in the Kingdom of Lesotho. Not your average June or July, with the absence of Pimm's and Wimbledon, but some incredible experiences to treasure.
The second term at school ended in particular fashion as Joel's school celebrated the winter solstice with the Festival of St John. Originally to celebrate light in the height of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it also suits a cold dark night with lanterns and a bonfire. At Joel's school, the children passing from primary to secondary school, which happens at thirteen in South Africa, celebrate their transition by lighting the bonfire with a javelin style throw of a torch, followed by a jump over the lit bonfire (A British health and safety crisis in the making).
 |
| The primary school children carrying their torches to the bonfire. |
 |
| The transition to secondary school with a jump through the fire |
With only a few sizzling and smokey shoes later, it was everyone else's turn to take on the bonfire, and Amelie and Elowen were in their element as they charged over it. We followed many rounds of fire jumping with a warm soup in the school courtyard, which was lit up with lanterns and twinkling lights. I, all of a sudden, felt like I had been transported to a beautiful and atmospheric European Christmas market. I loved the Christmas spirit which I found had been absent in December, and was so happy to experience it, albeit in June.
 |
| Amelie and Elowen jumping over the bonfire. |
 |
| Some of the school children's homemade lanterns. |
 |
| In the school courtyard with the lanterns and lights. |
Joel didn't come to the evening festivities as the nursery school children can only attend when they start primary school, but had their own mini festival during school time. Prior to experiencing the evening myself, I had assumed that Joel's day had involved some homemade lantern waving and a few songs, but after further investigation and to my surprise, it had also included some fire jumping as well. I had a chuckle to myself; of course it did, we are in Africa after all.
We entered into the school holidays enjoying the warm sunny days, and then wrapping up in blankets with hot water bottles, for the bitterly cold evenings. The girls enjoyed a week of holiday club at a local church, after which our exciting skiing holiday week began.
Laurence's school friend Mike, who I've enjoyed getting to know over the past thirteen years, and his amazing wife Yvette invited us to go on holiday with them, their daughter Rebecca, and their extended family. Laurence's youngest sister, Ashleigh, joined us from Cape Town and we also got to spend some precious time with her too. We began our drive to the remote ski resort in the Kingdom of Lesotho, a mountainous country inside of South Africa. We stayed in a little dorp called Bethlehem en route to the resort so that we could get there early for our first day of skiing. Knowing my frugal ways, Laurence was panicking slightly that I had booked us a stable, but he was proved wrong as we pulled up at an Inn, even if it was opposite Bethlehem's casino!
 |
| Off on holiday to Lesotho with Auntie Ash. |
Afriski was amazing. The girls were whizzing down the slopes in no time. Elowen spotted a ski park full of lots of quite large and intimidating ski jumps that she decided she wanted to try. My response of, "Maybe one day", seemed to fall on deaf ears as she promptly skied into the park and landed a jump. As the adult in charge at the time I felt obliged to follow suit even though my heart was in my mouth. I would rather not break my leg skiing again... The resort was small and relaxed, to the point that one day, over lunch, I looked over to the main slope only to see Amelie navigating a slalom course on her own. She did really well but the child supervision package that we'd booked was seemingly a rather loose term. Joel learnt to ski as he snow ploughed and turned down the slopes, which was so lovely to see. If given the choice though, he would have spent the whole week flying down the slopes on an inflatable rubber ring waving at anyone who would care to look in his direction. It was such a special and happy week together.
 |
All three kids in their best spiderman pose
and ready to ski, outside our lodge. |
 |
| At the top of the main slope together. |
 |
| With friends Mike and Yvette |
 |
| Laurence and Ash on the slopes. |
 |
| A moment together on the ski lift |
 |
| Selfie with Elowen |
 |
| Joel before a successful descent. |
 |
| Joel in his rubber ring with the ski park in the background. |
As with all great holidays, it was sad when it ended, and we began our journey home winding through the beautiful Maloti Mountains. It was amazing to pass through small mountain villages where people were wearing blankets and straw hats, which is the traditional dress in Lesotho. Cattle were pulling carts; people were collecting grass for the roofs of their round houses; men were herding cattle, goats, donkeys and sheep; and children played on the mountain side. We even passed a sign pointing down a dusty track to a mission hospital. It was as rural as it gets, beautiful, and life looked to be extremely hard, particularly in the cold nights of winter. Once back across the boarder into South Africa, we had lunch in a peaceful and picturesque dorp called Clarens before heading home and back to reality.
 |
| A round house in the mountains of Lesotho. |
 |
| A rural mountain village. |
 |
| The beautiful Maloti Mountains. |
 |
| Lunch in the picturesque dorp of Clarens. |
We are back to school and work now as Term 3 has begun this week.
It's been a magical month exploring traditions and cultures both at school and in Lesotho, and of course, action packed as ever with some memorable fast and furious skiing with family and friends.
We hope you are enjoying the glorious long summer evenings, all the summer festivals and events, holidays and special time with family and friends.
Lots of love, Jess xxx
