Sun, Sea, Sand and a Standing Ovation!

Home Page: Willmore Adventures in South Africa

We have discovered that it is possible to have both a tough and truly wonderful experience at the same time out here in South Africa. After the shock of Laurence’s father passing away, and with Christmas following so soon after, the last two months have been spent enjoying the company of Laurence’s family and the peace, or just the change, that comes at this time of year. A week by the coast in Port Elizabeth as well as some city fun in Johannesburg, it has been really special, and we have entered 2020 content and excited for the new year and all that lies ahead.

We said goodbye to Geoff towards the end of November. Laurence carried his dad at the funeral service with other family members, and spoke so beautifully about him, alongside his brother and sister, Gavin and Robyn. Geoff’s life flashed before us in photos, taking us on a unique journey – all the highs, all the best bits, all the love. Everyone came back to our house afterwards, which with Laurence’s huge family is no mean feat, but as these occasions do, it worked itself out and it turned out to be a really great day.

Our last photo with Geoff in October.
His favourite, and now Elowen's; playing games.

At the top of Lonehill's hill (Koppie). A perfect place to reflect.

It’s a funny time of year in South Africa, where there is a real sense of endings. I said goodbye to the children that I tutor at the township school as they move on to a new grade; Amelie, Elowen and Joel said goodbye to their friends and teachers at school as the six weeks of summer holidays began; and we counted down the days to Christmas and saying goodbye to a memorable decade.

Saying goodbye after an awesome year together

Christmas party at Riversands Primary School

End of term at Crawford Prep, Lonehill

I was on a bit of a mission this year to find, or just appreciate, Christmas in the sun. Our first stop was the market that runs on the grounds of Joel’s school. Bryanston Organic Market consciously slows the pace of life down and is a place of refuge in the rush of city life. At Christmas it opens at night, lit up like a European Christmas market, only with the feel of a Mediterranean summer’s evening. Sitting on hay bales to sing Christmas carols and meandering around the stalls, there was a relaxed and merry feeling, which was really enjoyable.

Christmas carols on hay bales.

A warm summer's evening at the moonlight market.

Candle making for Elowen and Joel at the moonlight market.

We also attended our local church for a Christmas carol service. At this point I should mention that Johannesburg had a fair amount of rain fall in December which meant that all the coal reserves had gotten very wet. Power stations therefore ceased working and electricity ran out. So, it was a rather atmospheric carols by torchlight, which was actually great fun and a reminder of the fragility of the infrastructure at the moment out here in South Africa.

Christmas carols by torchlight!

Christmas itself was by the coast with Laurence’s stepmom, Bev. We hung stockings outside by the braai chimney, and Christmas morning was spent having fun in the pool. Over the course of the week, we tested out lots of beaches along the coast of Port Elizabeth, and dusted off the body boards, always mindful of strong currents and sharks! Many a board game was played, and a relaxed time was had by all.

Stockings hung by the braai chimney on Christmas eve.

Christmas morning in the pool.

Fort Willmore building with Daddy and Uncle Gavin

As safe as houses...

Running on the sand dunes at Maitland, Port Elizabeth.

Playing in a Lagoon in Kenton with cousins.

Family pic in Kenton minus Joel who was busy making
 a slime and strawberry cake at the time.

All of Laurence's Dad's family at Barnicles, Port Elizabeth.

At McArthur Pool, overlooking the Indian Ocean
 in Port Elizabeth

Back up in Johannesburg, our last Christmas activity was to see Peter Pan on Ice with Laurence’s mom, Lynn. The theatre itself is in a huge complex of buildings called Monte Casino, which is designed to look like an ancient Tuscan village. So, it felt like we were once again back in ‘the med’ for this fantastic event. The performance was truly magical and the level of skill, mind blowing. As with all performances, you never know quite when it will end with all the bows and extra songs and dances. I mention this because Joel’s bladder was in no doubt of when the performance needed to end… a.s.a.p!  Conscious not to ruin it for others, I resisted taking him until tears were running down his cheeks. It was no use; we weren’t going to make it to the end, and I was going to have to take him out. With a sigh of resignation, I stood up. But with timing that you couldn’t achieve if you tried, the theatre simultaneously erupted into a huge round of applause, and like a ripple effect from my seat, everyone also stood up. Without meaning to, I had instigated a standing ovation! I found myself having to join in rather heartily so as not to reveal my true intentions, but it did mean that poor Joel was left suffering for a few moments longer. We eventually made it out and Joel reached the toilet in time; a disaster was averted; and we had a very funny story to tell.

At Monte Casino having just seen Peter Pan On Ice.

So, we move forward to a new decade, a new school year, with a new family dynamic. Amelie has moved from the Foundation phase (Infants) to the Intersen Phase (Juniors); Elowen navigates life at school without her big sister around; and Joel returns to the same classroom, with the same teacher, which is exactly what he needs. Laurence and I enter a new decade of marriage, with all the ups and downs that marriage brings, but with an ever-growing love and respect for one another. Sun, sea, sand and a standing ovation; it’s been a glorious few months here in Africa.

10 years of marriage!

Back to school 2020!
 (It was a rushed morning, this was my only photo...)

From the Moloneys and Willmores, we wish you a kind and peaceful new year.

Lots of love x

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Some extra photos...

The Waldorf Advent Spiral Celebration with Joel at his school. 

End of year swimming gala for Elowen.

Christmas holiday fun with the Buttercup preschoolers

Summer holiday maintenance crew at the preschool.
Joel on sweeping.

Amelie on lawn mowing.

Elowen and blue pony on edges.

Piggy back wars with Auntie Gina and Uncle Phil.

Meeting up with a close school friend, Sophia,
 in Port Elizabeth.

Meeting the New Year's newest addition

 to the preschool, two month old Ollie.

Hier Kom Die Bokke

Home Page: Willmore Adventures in South Africa

October and early November saw us celebrate a whole year in Africa. With the familiarity of the spring blossoms in their vibrant colours, we have felt a greater connection to this little corner of the world. It wasn’t without it’s changes though as Laurence started a new job, no longer working for his company in the UK. Amelie and her grade at school put on a fabulous market day for some very eager shoppers in the other year groups, and South Africa has of course won a rather important rugby match.

Back in August, we received the news that Laurence would no longer be able to work remotely for his company in Africa, and that he would have to return to the UK. So, we had a decision to make. We straight away knew that now wasn’t the time to go home. We are settled, the children are happy, but most importantly, we are here to spend much needed time with Laurence’s family. Laurence’s dad, Geoff, has stage 4 cancer, and so taking that journey together with him, and as a family, is our priority right now. Laurence started his search for a job rather cautiously, in a country he’s never worked in before. To his surprise, where there’s a skills shortage, there are some great job opportunities! A company is funding Laurence to start a Tech Company, which is incredible, and I am very excited for him. It means he now must navigate Jo’burg traffic, but with his new Hyundai i10 (the smallest car on the planet), he nips about with ease. We like to think of him as the muscular and ridiculously good-looking superhero, Mr Incredible, squeezing into his car, but Mr Bean in his mini is another analogy that has crossed our minds.

Starting your own company is something that a lot of South African’s see as a way of surviving out here, where you can’t necessarily rely on the government for anything, and where there is 30% unemployment, (which compares to less that 4% in the UK). This entrepreneurial spirit is ingrained in them at school, where they are assessed on their creation of a market stall, products, packaging and advertising. As Amelie comes to the end of her time in the Foundation Phase at school (Infants equivalent), she and her fellow Grade 3 pupils had this very task. Amelie and her three firm friends started planning, and parents were asked to assist. I invited the girls round to our house and operations began. The Army Logistics Officer started to stir inside me and no sooner had the girls made signs and packaging, we had set up and were running a mock market stall at home. Amelie, Elowen and I painted rocks together to sell, which we loved, and Amelie stayed up late on a few occasions just because she was so absorbed in the task. The day was an absolute success and the girls stall, ‘The Dog Unicorn Universe’ Stall made R1025 (Rand), which is the equivalent to £54, and the year group made over £800 that they donated to CHOC, The Childhood Cancer Foundation. Well done those entrepreneurial Grade 3’s at Crawford Prep, Lonehill.

Mock stall in the run up to Market Day.

Rock painting together.

Market Day.
The Dog Unicorn Universe Stall up and running.

A happy customer!

South African unemployment is just one of many tragedies facing the country right now. With a population of 58 million, in 2018, the country suffered 21,022 homicides. In the UK we have a population of 66 million and during the same period suffered 701 homicides. The difference is stark, and the consequences of poverty a daily reality for so many. Even at the school where I teach, we lost one of our little 8-year-old students this week to either TB or AIDS or a combination of the two. As the volunteers we are devastated and wonder how often this happens to little children out here. It is knowing this, and for so many, experiencing this, that makes South Africa winning the Rugby World Cup a little bit sweeter. It was something to celebrate and something to own. And having a captain in Siya Kolisi, a man who rose up from the depths of a township, to defy poverty, and lead a nation, has given those born into similar circumstances a glimmer of hope that it is possible for them to do the same. Backing the Springboks also gave the country, despite all it’s differences, a reason to feel united. The girls learnt the words to the ‘World in Union’ Song at school, which is a legacy from the 1995 RWC. It was the first World Cup that South Africa were allowed to compete in after the end of Apartheid, which was held in South Africa where Nelson Mandela wore the iconic Springbok jersey, and which South Africa won. It has been played at every World Cup since and really sums up the hope that exists here for a future that everyone is striving to achieve. This year’s final was such a great day for everyone, despite England losing, and fun was had by all… except for the poor guy who was seen running through Lonehill in a pair of South African pants stretched over his shoulders, aka a mankini, waving a Springbok flag. His day was somewhat more sober. Next time I have no doubt that he will indeed ‘Back the Boks’!

Watching the semi finals against Wales.

Game day!

Split loyalties.

Laurence with his step mom, Bev, celebrating the win.

So, familiarity in the seasons, change with work, a budding future CEO, and national optimism have defined our month. Onwards to the end of the year as we gear up for summer, holidays, Christmas and lots of precious time with family.

Lots of love,

Jess x

It took a few days between writing this and posting it. Please hold Laurence and his family tightly in your thoughts and prayers, as his dad, Geoff, has sadly passed away. Thank you.

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Is it a bird? Is it a bulb? No, it’s Dalmatian number 3!

Home Page: Willmore Adventures in South Africa

Another month and yet more wonderful experiences. Spring has arrived, we have had family to stay, the children have performed beautifully in their school plays, and Buttercup 2, the preschool in Cosmo City, has opened in its new location, hurrah!

Spring officially arrived here in South Africa on the 1^st of September. Whether it's in school, at hockey, or at work, everyone celebrates the occasion by wearing flowers. And having only rained once in the last six months here in Johannesburg, there is real anticipation and excitement for the rain to come.

My mum, Carol, and brother, Daniel, arrived at the beginning of September, and if you were wondering when that one rain shower happened, it was indeed whilst they were here. We concluded that in being British, they must have brought the weather with them! It hasn’t rained since.

With Mum and Dan on a visit to Liliesleaf.

Having a meal with Laurence's mum, Lynn, and stepdad, John.

We also had some very special guests visit us from Zambia. If we go back to 1998, my sister, Hannah, spent her gap year after school teaching at an Orphanage in Zambia. She met a very special young 12-year-old boy there bursting with potential. After returning home and telling my family about this boy, my mum decided to support him. Fast forward to 2019 and Albert is still a big part of our family. He came to our wedding 10 years ago, has since had his own family, and is only 1 exam away from becoming an accountant. He calls my mum, 'Mum', and his children, Caroline and AJ, call her 'Grandma'. Caroline is even named after my mum. Amelie, Elowen and Joel had an awesome time with their cousins here. We went to Gold Reef City, which is a theme park with a real penchant for wet rides. Having been before, we armed ourselves with waterproofs this time. We also went to Johannesburg Zoo, which was great fun although it did make me laugh standing in a zoo in Africa looking through the netting of an enclosure of a British swan. Laurence often had baffled moments in the UK and here I was in Africa having mine.

Raging Rapids, Gold Reef City.

Elowen, Joel, Caroline and Amelie at the Zoo

Dan, Elowen, Mum, AJ, Chile,Caroline, Joel, Albert and Me.
Amelie and Laurence were there somewhere too.

It was sad saying goodbye to everyone. A week of pining to go home followed, but I looked at a weather prediction for the UK, which was forecasting a hurricane and then snow, and decided to cheer up and enjoy this special time here in Africa.

The children all had school performances to finish off Term 3 at school. Joel was a bulb, and he grew beautifully when the rain fairies danced around him. The Spring Princess chased away King Winter after which we all celebrated with a picnic in the Kindergarten garden. The girls performed ‘Footprints into Fantasy’, a play which draws from many children’s novels. Elowen was a bird that flew out of a pie, to the tune of Queen’s, ‘I want to break free’. She was convinced that it was in fact sung by the Queen of England, but we thought that Freddie Mercury would have been happy with that title. Amelie was Dalmatian number 3, protecting a magic potion at Hogwarts School of Magic and Wizardry. She delivered her lines, danced and sang fantastically. The play was very professionally done with the children using those little microphones that you tape to your cheeks. If it wasn’t for a teacher forgetting to turn one of these microphones off, we would never have known that one of the little girls had had a really big itch on stage that she had wanted to scratch! A moment that had the whole audience is absolute stitches. It was a thoroughly enjoyable week of performances after which everyone was thankful for a school holiday.

Dalmatian number 3 

Elowen, having broken free of the pie!

I’ve continued with the preschool project in Cosmo City. We left off last month having built walls, fencing, a security gate, having dug a hole for a sandpit, and having laid some grass. This month saw the sandpit being built, which I was able to help with by using my newly acquired brick laying skills!

Phase 1 of the sandpit being built.

Sandpit complete.

Joel testing the sandpit out.

We finished laying the grass, and I planted an olive tree, the significance of which is a legacy of the Youth Day Massacre that I spoke about in the last blog. Since then, olive trees have been planted in memory of this tragedy, as a sign of peace and as a place of shade for the children of this country. I hope our little olive tree grows to offer this peace and protection in these children’s lives.

The lovely olive tree that we bought from
 the organic market at Joel's school. 

One of the children at the preschool, Titi, who is Joel’s kindred spirit, has a wonderfully gifted father, who is rather appropriately called Gift. Gift designed and erected a shaded area so that the children can play outside in the heat of the day. It is made in such a way that it can be easily drawn back in cooler weather. Gift and Martin, who is married to Tari the preschool owner, worked into the night to get it finished, as well as working together to lay a path for the children’s parents to use during pick up and drop off. As a result of all this work, the outdoor space is now finished and it’s a great feeling to have finally got there.

Martin and Gift erecting the shade 

Working into the night to finish it!

And it's up! Which completes the outside space. Yay!

Tari transformed the inside of the new preschool building at the beginning of September and the children have moved in. It’s bright and airy, and the children have space. They sing and play and run around madly like little children should. Tari is an amazing preschool teacher and the children are happy. Joel is a frequent visitor as well. He loves the food of porridge or pap, a corn-based starch that looks like mashed potato, and he loves the routine of the day, which includes a nap. And these children really can snore!

Writing and drawing time.

Joel learning his numbers too.

Puzzles and games.

Tari playing a maths game with the children.

Lunchtime! With Joel tucking in.

A snooze after lunch. My kind of day!

So, the new Buttercup 2 is officially open! Thank you again to all those who have supported this project. Tari, and all those living in extension 6 of Cosmo City are so grateful. I will update you on life at Buttercup 2 in future months.

Playing outside in the new preschool garden.

Goodbye from some happy little Buttercups.

So once again, there has been a lot going on here in Johannesburg with memories being made and experiences had. From birds to Dalmatians, bulbs to olive trees, British family to Zambian family, it’s been a month to treasure.

If there was one reason to want to come home though, you would find me shouting it, armed with a pillow, in the middle of the night…Mosquitoes! There would be no need for a microphone taped to my cheek for everyone to hear that!

Lots of love, Jess xxx

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