This is Margot's picture story on the ornithologist.
Here are the nets to catch the birds. They are made especially so the birds don't get hurt.
Here is a bird stuck in the net. He is not hurt, he is just tangled.
The ornithologist is someone who studies birds. He has got the bird out of the net.
Here we are looking for the name of the bird. He is called a collared sunbird. Can you find him on your bird book?
This is the collared sunbird. Can you see his collar?
This is a calliper. It is used for measuring the bird's head and beak.
Now the ornithologist is measuring the sunbird's head. Then, he will write it in his book.
Now he is measuring the bird's beak. Some birds don't like their beaks measured.
Now he is measuring the bird's tail feathers. My sister and I are very interested.
This is where he writes all his information.
This bird is called a spectacle weaver bird. He has a mask on.
He is writing about the weaver bird.
Now he is counting how many feathers the bird has. How many can you count?
These feathers are hard to count. They are so many!
Finally, he checks if it is a male or a female. If it has a red stomach it is a female.
This is Margot's writing story on the ornithologist.
18/10/10 The ornithologist Yesterday at Kosi Bay there was an ornithologist. An ornithologist is someone who studies birds. He had put up some nets to catch the birds. They were very big and spread over most of the camp. When a bird got caught in a net, he would rush over with his smal sack and put the bird in so he wouldn't fly away. Then he weighed the bird in the sac. Next he got the bird out and held it's head between his index finger and his middle finger and the body in his palm. Then he measured the head, the beak, how many feathers on the wing,the size of the wing and the size of the tail. Then he got a ring and put it round the bird's foot. There was a special code on every ring. One of the birds I remember was a spectacled weaver bird who made a noise like "tee-tee-tee-tee-te-te-te-te". I might also be an ornithologist when I am older too. It looks fun!
Today the rain came.Not dribbly, pathetic pommy rain but dramatic, black, thunderous intimidating rain with fantastic, fierce forks of florescent lightning that makes your hair stand on end and caused a ripple of excitement through the hospital.It has been so dry and the heat has come, so that the rain was desperately needed and received with joy.
We were just sitting down to one of our monthly OPD meetings listening to the furor outside when I was called urgently to the Resusc. Area…some children had been struck by lightning.A 16yo boy was thrashing around on the gurney, white foam frothing from his gaping mouth and sweat pouring from his contorted face. Anguished groans emanated from his throat and it took about five of us to restrain him.Amazingly he appeared to have no burns but it took substantial doses of analgesia and sedation to settle him.About then we realized that he was only the advance party because a school had been struck by lightning and we had up to 100 school kids through the department within an hour.Fortunately for us most had no injuries but a few had minor burns and many had painful limbs or joints.There were many tears and much wailing as lightning has strong links with witchcraft in Zulu culture and my lasting memory of this incident will be of this thrashing teenager, water dripping through our leaking ceiling and the elderly pharmacy assistant wailing and praying at the foot of his bed!
Margot in our new pool (with spectators!)
What I’m loving about being out here in this amazing little hospital is that one is being constantly challenged.Every day there are firsts; something new comes up.New cultural experiences; like when I rushed on to my ward today to set up a suction dressing on my rotten leg chap (which we had planned to amputate but his blood count was only 5 so postponed it and now his leg is getting better!I think he has leprosy as he has lost a few toes, is depigmented and didn’t seem to feel too much when we plucked out rotten bits of tissue from his leg) Anyway, got to the ward to find about 20 staff having a church service of sorts; amazing singing and prayers and then a very animated priest who, clutching his bible and to vigorous support, was, I think, sharing the power of Jesus with these ailing patients.I came back later to do the dressing
A visitor to the ward. She made the entire outfit herself.
New surgical experiences like yesterday when I did my first manual removal of placenta (MROP) and then later an orchidectomy and orchidopexy (removal of testicle and then ‘fixing’ of the other).The MROP is a fairly gruesome affair and involved 15yo lass whom I was called for in the middle of the night.There was no fetal heart and I came up to confirm this on Ultrasound.She was then allowed to labour and delivered a stillbirth in the early hours.The placenta was not delivered and required removal under sedation in the OT and plenty of personal protection for what is often a somewhat messy process.The orchidectomy was fascinating.The testicle is a pendulum and has this uncanny knack (pun not intended) of tying itself in a knot, which has the unfortunate consequence of strangulating itself and dying.The only remedy is to remove it and then to ‘stabilize’ the remaining one by creating a pouch for it and suturing it in place.It was fantastic to do this procedure myself (carefully guided by an experienced colleague) having made the diagnosis many times and always referring on to the urologists.Our nearest urologist here is 4 to5 hours away!Or coming back from clinic last week and stopping to pick up Kobus at his clinic and finding him engrossed in circumcisions.He had a few to go so I joined in and we got them done chop chop!! (sorry!).Circumcisions are said to reduce HIV transmission by 50 to 60 % so are presently in high demand.We do them under local anaesthetic and they take about 15minutes to do.
Bull elephant at Tembe. We followed him for about 20minutes.
This week-end was a blast.We headed out to Manguzi, a small border town about 45min north of here. First stop was at the Tembe family home of one of my colleagues.He reminds me that the Tembe tribe was here long before the Zulus and ruled from Maputo in Mozambique to Matubatuba in SA.They were defeated by King Shaka and have been suppressed ever since.His home is amazing; an incredible example of social living where all family members help out, livestock tendered, veggies grown and cooking still done on an open fire.Water is from the borehole and the toilet is a longdrop.He takes us on to a market straddling the SA-Moz border.Guards are present on both sides but they wave you through a gap in the fence and we revel in this cultural confusion.Portuguese rum, local ‘Lala palm beer’, fatty buns, nuts, coconuts, veggies, risky looking herbal remedies, plastic containers, tapestries, food…..we lunch on crisp, fresh, fried fish probably caught in the Kosi estuary and fried in bubbling oil in black lids over wood fires.Delicious.We return home loaded with fresh spinach, cabbage, fish and coconuts.From there we head for Kosi mouth and set up our tents in a tranquil campsite and then walk the few kilometers along the estuary to the mouth.The scene is spectacular with dozens of spiraling fish traps punctuating the azure waters of the lagoon, fish eagles circling hopefully overhead and Pied kingfishers catapulting into the water to nail their prey.The mouth is pristine and kept that way by a quota system that only allows 20 vehicles per day down to the water.The snorkeling is sublime and safe and Margot and Zara glide effortlessly above Morey eels, Lionfish and knots of inquisitive Clown fish.
Then, as if this hasn’t been enough we strike camp and head for TembeElephantPark.Straddling the SA-Moz border, this park boasts some of the largest tuskers in the world.We opt for the luxury of a game drive and are rewarded with many sightings of Nyala, Zebra, Giraffe and even the elusive Waterbuck.But at sunset, as we sip on chilled beers, the grand finale arrives and a massive bull elephant steps out and gracefully stomps along the road in front of us giving us spectacular pics of him with the bronze rays of the setting African sun.
On top of Isandlwana. The cairns mark the sites of mass graves.
Then last week-end we set off for the Battlefields of Kwa-Zulu-Natal and an historical account of the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879.What a fabulous experience.I last visited Rorkes Drift and Isandlwana as a 10yo lad on a prep school history tour and so it was poignant to be sharing this incredible experience with my family and Margot, now 10, who was fascinated by the tactics of both the Zulus and the British and the masses of white cairns marking where men fell.We travelled in luxury staying at Fugitives Drift in an historic cottage with giraffe and antelope grazing amongst aloes beyond our verandah, and enjoyed gripping and theatrical tours of both Battlefields.The accounts of the phenomenal Zulu victory at Isandlwana and then the staggering bravery of the British at Rorkes Drift brought tears to our eyes and as I stood on top of the mountain at Isandlwana with Ilda, Margot and Zara, I felt deeply emotional and incredibly proud at being part of this dynamic and rich country.
Yesterday we went to our local library at Mseleni. It is very different from our one in New Zealand. I decided to write some points about what difference was between our library in Lyttelton (Christchurch) and Mseleni. This is what I found:
The Lyttelton library is much bigger!
Here, there is a variety of English and Zulu books (Zulu is the local language).
To get to the library at Mseleni, you have to walk behind a row of houses and into the community hall compound. It is not obvious.
In Lyttelton you are allowed to keep the books for one month and here you are only allowed two weeks.
Here the library is not in such a good condition: broken windows, ripped books…
Lyttelton library is computerized but her hey can’t afford computers so it is hand done.
At Mseleni you are only allowed to take four books at a time but in Lyttelton you are allowed twelve.
Both library open and close at approximately the same time: Monday-Friday 9:00-4:30 and on Saturday it is 9:00-1:00.
But I feel that they are the same because the books are as good.
12 Sept: As part of her NZ school work, Margot had to write on a special event. Here is what she wrote:
In 2006 my great granny passed away. She was nearly 102 years old. Mum had just picked me up from school and we were driving towards the old stone church, behind the funeral car. We also had my gran and granddad in the car. It was in France and I can still picture use driving through the front gate of the church. As we walked in mum started to cry so I pulled out one of my handkerchief and gave it to mum. My gandad stood up on the platform and started a prayer. While my little sister stayed with my dad, mum and I went to our house to get the food ready. When we came back it was time for singing. Everyone picked up their book and sang. I didn’t know the words so I just hummed it. Then the priest called the kids up to the platform so we could light some candles. I had to help the son of my mum’s cousin Celine because he was only one and a half. When the candles were lit we went back to our seats while lots of adults lined up to eat a piece of bread. Because I was only small I tough it was because they needed a snack and they couldn’t wait to eat.
“Ding dong” went the big bells. Everyone hopped into their cars and with great granny in her coffin, we drove to the graveyard. As they lowered the coffin down into the hole, I felt very sad. My sister and I threw flower petals onto the coffin. I think my sister was leaning too far over the hole because she nearly fell in but luckily Celine caught her!
After that we all drove to our house to have some lunch. That night I was so tired I ran up to my room and fell asleep. I am really going to miss my great granny.
Kirstenbosch Garden in Cape Town
18 Sept: Here is another story she wrote on someone from her whãnau or family and she chose to write on her Granny Michelle from France.
My granny is called Michelle Launay and she lives in France. She is very nice and she likes to send us parcels with lots of presents. She has short white hair and always brushes it. Michelle likes to wear her tight red jeans but she changes shirt every day.
I like Michelle’s house. It is nice and big but even though she doesn’t have any small children, she has a bunk-bed kid’s room! There are lots of toys to play with there. She even has one of those pine tree fences and we made an Indian hut in them. My gran doesn’t like dogs but she loves cats. They used to have thousands of kittens but they had to put them down because there were too many!
Next year we might go to France to visit her. I can’t wait.
Roderick and Merle Sept 2008 in Piertermarotzburg
22 Sept: Merle
Merle was my grandad’s partner. She was very kind. Everyone was sad and shocked when we received a phone call from granddad to say that she had died. Grandad and Merle had been together for more than 10 years but Merle was only in her 60’s. Merle had died suddenly after an operation.
We got the call last Friday the 17th September 2010.
Merle had lots of other grandchildren but most of them called her granny. I don’t think granny is the right name for her (even so she is my granny in law) because she was always impeckibly (impeccably) dressed, stunningly beautiful and young.
Merle’s hobbies was sewing and baking. She made us the most beautiful dresses and the most delicious cakes. For my birthday she got me a Ginette Mathiot learner cook book. It is really wonderful.
Because we don’t have a TV up her at our house, grandad’s place is the “TV place”. But alas we have to ask, and who do you think we would ask?...Merle. We found out this because when mum and dad were outside, she would push the button to turn the TV on. We would watch until mum or dad came back inside and then turn it off again.
I told you earlier that Merle liked cooking, well so does grandad. I remember one Sunday morning waking up with pots clanging and the sound of voices saying “I will cook the eggs today my darling”, and “no I will my sweet”. It was really funny!
Merle’s favourite flower was the orchic. It really is a stunning flower with its little trunk. Orchids don’t smell because bees are atracted (attracted) by the beauty, not the smell.
Merle’s funeral was four days after she had died. It was a very sad one and everyone was crying. I am really going to miss her!
Jendal Fence + Pool at Mseleni
27 Sept: This story was done using our “story machine”, a cardboard box made with 3 compartments: One with a label “who?”, the other with a label “Where?” and the last with a label “About What?”. In each compartment, I have placed some small bits of paper with names of characters, places and what the plot is about.
For this story, Margot chose:
Characters: A doll maker, a Sangoma, a prince and a monster.
Places: An enchanted forest
Plot: Once upon a time…
The doll maker’s secret
Once upon a time there was a doll maker who lived far, far from here in an enchanted forest. The doll maker was called Julia but everyone in the enchanted forest knew her as Aunty Apple as she lived in the middle of an apple grove. Aunty Apple was very happy as she had lots of friends and a big black cat called Mop. Mop was a very lazy cat. He would lie in the apple tree closest to the driveway and would watch the people come with nothing and leave with a whole pile of dolls. On Sunday he would occasionally come with Aunty Apple to her local Witch Doctor. But Aunty Apple didn’t like to call her that so she called her “Sangoma”. The Sangoma was nice and did her job properly but she was known by lots of people as “the tea lady”. There were always people at her house and she liked to entertain them. The Sangoma was quite old but in her mind she was only 20. She had been on a big case for a long time and still was. It was the case of a three-legged bogy snot monster. He had been stealing lots of things like the grocery man’s cabbages, the fortune-teller’s glass balls, the antique shop old couches and the car dealer’s Toyotas.
Anyway, old Aunty Apple came huffing down Sangoma’s driveway to tell her the bad news. The three-legged bogy snot monster was stealing her dolls! She was not at all happy. She decided that she was going to stay up all night and watch for the monster, but as he approached that night she got such a shock to see a prince coming up her driveway! She walked to him and took him inside for him to explain. He said the mean witch from Mulberry Woods, another witch turned him into a three legged bogy snot monster and he had been to the Sangoma to change him back into a prince. He had come to say sorry for what he took because the mean witch had injected a poison into him that made him steal and bring things back to the mean witch. Aunty Apple said that was OK and she asked if he wanted to stay the night at her house. He agreed and they lived happily ever after.
Mseleni team for sunset up the water tank
29 Sept: Our new kittens
Yesterday we found two small kittens. We found them next to the long house where our friend Sunette lives. There was a litter of three but we only took two because we wanted to leave one with the mum. I love to watch them tackle each other and play!
We went to visit the vet and he said that they were about 4 weeks old. We keep them in the swimming pool box and we left the top open. Our other friends who also have cats lent us some kitten food. The kittens look much like their mum but they are darker. They both have white paws and light blue eyes. They were really wild before but now they are tame. I think they are tabby cats. They are extra cute.
Margot's birthday pop-up tent
The classroom!
Zara’s Sept writing
1 Sept:Saturn
Saturn is much colder than Jupiter. Saturn is the only planet that is less dence (dense) than water.
Saturn is spinning so fast that it makes the planet bulge.
Saturn is the most fascinating planet I have ever seen.
Girls goind their hair with Sphee
6 Sept: On my way to Saturn
On my way to Saturn I had my birthday on mars. I coubn’t (couldn’t) invite any one because there was no reseption (reception). I soomed (zoomed) past Jupiter and around the asteroyds (asteroids) and down to Saturn. The end.
Helmeted guinea fowl
9 Sept: My Weekend
I went to my fiend (friend) Calem’s house for one night. My bed was brite (bright) pinck (pink) with butefull (beautiful) fairies (fairies).
Calem’s mum (Lee) read us a story adout (about) Peter rabit (Rabbit). I’m in love with Calem.
Spider's web in Hluhluwe with morning dew
14 Sept: My babies
I’ve got a baby hamster.
I have a baby rabit (rabbit).
I have a baby pig.
I have a baby goat.
I have a baby hors (horse).
I have a baby cat.
I have a baby mous (mouse).
I have a baby lamb.
I have a baby lion.
I have a baby cow.
I have a baby cameleon.
I have a baby dog.
I have a baby ant eater.
I have a baby frog.
I have a baby leopard.
I have a baby bat.
I have a baby praymantis
Zara with school kids in front of Mseleni Library
22 Sept: Merle (I wrote this story that Zara told me)
I love Merle because she makes dresses for me.
When Margot wants to watch TV, she always ask me to ask merle because she thinks I am better at whispering.
Merle always asks us if we want to do Sudoku. I am good at Sudoku.
Once she gave us a puzzle to do. She’s got lots of puzzles.
She always smokes and drinks Gin and Tonic.
I am very sad that Merle died.
Picking Pawpaws with Grandad
Grandad has a pawpaw tree full of pawpaws.
“Grandad, there are lots of pawpaws in the tree,” I said.
“Yes, I see,” he said in a rather lowd (loud) way.
He took my hand and lead me to his garage. He held out a big ladder and walked right out of the garage whith (with) it. He walked arownd (around) the house and into the garden. I watched him place the ladder in front of the pawpaw tree with my gleaming eyes. He climed (climbed) the ladder until he retched (reached) a big yellow, fat and gusy (juicy) pawpaw. He picked it from the tree. He said “ready to catch.” I replied “yes.” So he droped (dropped) it down. I nerly (nearly) missed so I pouwnsed (pounced) up, I caut (caught) the pawpaw and when I was down I fell. But I didn’t cry.
We went back inside and ate the pawpaw up.
Can you lick your elbow? My Aunty Emilie told me that it's not possible...but I can...just!
10 Sept: Too lowd (loud)!
We went to a party and we turnd(turned) the music on. The man at the party turnd the sound up. We said (said) “turn the sowd downxz (sound down).”
23 Sept: Frog’s noise by Zara Mia Inglis
We have a lot of noise in the evening because of the frogs. The frogs are always at the water tank so we decided to take a tauch (torch) and walk to the water tank.
When we got there, I was so excited that I nealy (nearly) fell into a puddle just in front of my feet.
Them we went home and went to bed.
Diary writing inside a box!
27 Sept: My wiggly tooth
I have a wiggly tooth. It is white and all shiny. I wiggle it everyday. Mum wants me to eat an apple for my tooth to fall out…Hey…It…It fell out!
Zara's kitten 'Tiger'
29 Sept: My Kitten
My kitten has lite (light) blue eyes.
He has white paws.
My cat is thirty cm. He wase (weighs) 500g.
He is very fury (furry).
Sometimes he bites my finger.
I love him. I’m not alowd (allowed) to play with him inside so I have to play with him outside.
Zara's experiment on baby mangoes from our mango trees outside the house
