Dear friends,

As many of you know, in March 2014 I spent time in Cape Town, South Africa, working with an inspiring charity called True North to make a difference to children’s lives in Vrygond township. The experience was eye-opening and life-changing, and a piece of my heart will always be out there. More importantly, the people of True North ( Read more... )

Pearson GAF Poem: Flying home

The wrench of a heart with a world torn away
The eyes linger long as the city fades away
A well-spring of tears to be shed on the day
Thus passes a moment that will ne’er go away

To think of the Fellows with whom we have shared
To think of the lives that we’ve touched and we’ve bared
To show all the children we ( Read more... )

What a day, Friday... what a rollercoaster! So emotional. Lots of teary goodbyes. Arrived at the creche to find the kids practising saying 'Cheese' for a whole creche photo with us, followed by hug-pile! But we got up Table Mountain finally :) OMG! Amazing views, clouds rolling across us, so beautiful... Night in the absolutely lovely African Home ( Read more... )

Much more rewarding day in the creche yesterday, supported by the awesome Team Sunshine, including another music session - with the lovely Charles performing video duties for the Fellowship blog. We made loo roll trees too, all three of us round tables in the sunshine with our kids - awesome. Followed finally by my afternoon off. Sadly the cable ( Read more... )

Wow, Mondays are tough! The kids are all fired up and have forgotten their discipline entirely... Paints and glue however is always fun, and I brought out the bubbles today as well! One-on-one time afternoon was cancelled, as the kids weren't there at the centre, so I had a great chat with Vicky, the inspirational founder of True North, before ( Read more... )

Wow, what a day Saturday was. 130 of us, mostly the teachers we've been working with - their first trip to the city (or possibly out of Vrygrond at all), first boat ride, first time on Robben Island. The atmosphere, their excitement, was electric - singing and dancing all the way on the boat and buzzing even before embarkation. For most, a dream ( Read more... )

Day 5
Just back from epic night out dancing and dining in Mama Africa's with True North and Pearson colleagues from Cape Town, after a tough morning at the creche during a power cut. It also involved a few mopping incidents in the 'baby' class, for which intervention I am now officially JoAnn's hero ( Read more... )

Day 2

Introductory day and tour of township. Humbling. Simply humbling. Such beauty looming over such hardship. But fantastic to see how the fellowship have already had such an impact. Simpy raising a floor above ground floor raises them above their township to see the world outside and hopefully raises their aspirations too. And the kids are so ( Read more... )

Arrived at Faye's (our host) house about 9am Sunday and spent the day waiting for the rest of the PearsonGAF team to arrive and to get to know them. Lovely, overwhelming welcome from our hosts. Beautiful scenery - and a nature reserve 5 minutes walk away. Fascinating seeing the variety of housing side-by-side directly opposite regimented identical ( Read more... )

Light In Dark Places

5th-7th April 2013, Willesley Scout Campsite, LE65 2UP

http://www.bardsguild.co.uk/upcoming_events.html

Plenty of Player Spaces left, and oodles of fun Monster Roles to be had! We always guarantee lots of talkie roles and mind-bending as well as colossal carnage
( Read more... )