Big Brother Big Sister South Africa

Finished my training today for BBBSSA. Pretty hectic stuff, but as tired as I am I'm excited about the prospect of have a 'little' in my life. What it is, is a mentoring programme where kids get refered by schools or orphanages or social workers. They need a bit of extra help and a bit of guidance and they get matched with a 'big'. I would be a big and the 'little' would be the kid I mentor. They are very short of men in the programme so if there is any guys who are keen to join something like this check out this site http://www.bbbssa.org.za/about/faq.html

Looking forward to the challenge, and I'm pretty sure it will be.

Trouble in Chad

Hectic week. Gethyn went missing from the radar on Thursday evening. Couldn’t get hold of him at all in Chad. At first I wasn’t worried, he might be bussy or ignoring me, but then on Friday I just got a weird feeling and I googled the news from Chad. I fell off my chair (no really, got a bum bruise from it). Rebels taking over the capital of Chad N’djemena, no cell phone communication as the networks have all been shut down. I call his work and they treat me like I’m a panicky idiot because they haven’t heard anything. About an hour later they call back to say, oh yes, there does seem to be a spot of bother in Chad. My confidence in their ability to get them out of there leaves me completely. Nothing, nothing nothing. No news no word, can’t get hold of his sister, can’t get hold of anyone who can really tell me anything. Did get a response from UN who told me to the WFP guy in charge of them who I couldn’t get hold of either. No sleep, much crying, occasional panick. I get a message from him on Sunday to say he’s okay but can’t talk. On Monday I get another message to say he’ll be at this number for a while so I phone him but he can’t talk. Then again but he was busy, then no availability again until Tuesday morning. Speak to him for a bit but he doesn’t really relate to me at the moment after everything he’s been through. Says he can’t tell me much at the moment. He’s in Cameroon, in a four star hotel, having drinks by the pool, waiting to see what happens. Thanks so much for everyone who asked to be kept updated and asked after his well being. He’s got cable tv in his room now, so it certainly seems to be going alright.