Africa

I was born in Africa
A day in April.
I’m not sure which day it was.
It could have been the 24th, or it might have been
The 25th.
I cannot say.

I grew up in Africa,
In a land of toil and strife
Against itself and the world,
Uncertainty running as deep
As the uncertainty of my birth.

I lived through history—
A history that denied my best friend and I
Shared coffee at a café,
My face was too pale, her skin too dark.
Our friendship was forbidden
Yet we were bound together.
Forced separation could never deny
A childhood friendship.

I was blessed by Africa—
The soul, the air, the electricity
Brought about by a summer
Thunderstorm, dark clouds hanging
Heavy, threatening destruction.

I voted in Africa
As the clock ticked over to Wednesday
27th of April 1994.
From out of the snaking queue,
A fusion of people and race,
The land once tied up in chains
Was brought to liberty.

Queen of Katwe

I took myself and my kids to see the Queen of Katwe this evening. Beautiful, fresh, uplifting, inspiring movie! Must-see xo

Last Morning

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Before I fly. My family want me back.

African Fire

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Silver Linings

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As the sun wss setting, the clouds were wrapped in the most beautiful silver linings, so ornate and bright that I couldn’t help exclaim – there is an actual silver lining! I tried to capture it in pics, but in a way am glad I couldn’t because instead the silver lining was a written on my heart. A brief moment of hope at the end of day.

Just the Beginning

Sleeping outside the entrance

Sleeping outside the entrance

Pure Africa

Pure Africa

Before the Rain

Before the Rain

Aaah, bliss

Aaah, bliss

A very thin me, albeit with no style

A very thin me, albeit with no style

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Comedy of Errors (and bonus assignment!).”

My honeymoon was a comedy of errors. A cyclone hit the tropical island on the night before we were supposed to arrive for honeymoon, so after a two day no-flight delay we decided to change plans. We booked at an African Safari Lodge, but in between changing plans and re-arranging schedules, we arrived too late. We slept outside the gates. (See blue car above). Once inside, I developed an allergy to the anti-malaria tablets and ended up being ill. On one of the days we decided to go to the beach. It was through the local country and we were in an open-air vehicle. Of course it would start pouring down with rain so we got soaked. Not that you would see the storm with the blue skies in the photo. But just like that the clouds appeared and it poured down! We had booked at two lodges, and when we arrived at the second lodge which was a forest getaway type-thing, we were presented with two single beds with mosquito nets over both. There was a very romantic outside bath in the brochure, but it was covered in leaves and brown water ran from the taps. It was a honeymoon I might never forget!
It must be said though the first lodge was decadently luxurious (actually the service and dining was great at both), a taste of Africa that was pure heaven! So all’s well that ends well. Well, as well as can be I guess!

The truth behind my lion selfie

Excellent article on canned hunting. A tourist was mauled today at a lion park near my previous home in Johannesburg.

Jess's avatarFrom The Roots

As I apprehensively shuffled into the caged box, my gut clenched and my heart stopped…I immediately knew that I was in a bad place, and I desperately wanted to run straight back out and find comfort in my friends hiding out in the car.

But something stronger told me to carry on, something told me that by enduring the next hour in this awful place I could find hope to make a positive change to the hell that I currently found myself encased in.

After an hour of enduring the heartbreaking pain of filming undercover, I spent the next hour crying and shaking at what I had seen. I was both so angry and upset that I couldn’t decide between having an emotional breakdown and marching straight back into the building to punch the guy in the face. And that’s when I decided that I could try my absolute hardest…

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Born in Africa

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Dark-skinned lady
Born in Africa far away
Leaned over and kissed my cheek

A soft butterfly kiss
Touching my face so gently
But touching my heart even more

United States

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Tourist Trap.”

I was born in Africa
And met family in England
I farewelled my mother in Scotland
And danced in Hungary
I have worked in Germany
And holidayed in Fiji
I have lived in Australia
But I have never been to
The United States
Next stop!
With Canadian Rocky Mountains thrown in

Any travel suggestions?

African Sky Blue

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Feeling Fancy.”

If you could take me anywhere
Take me to Africa
Allow me to breathe in the air
Of the vast plains of land
Take me to the bush
Where lions freely roam
Let me be at one
With the air, the land, the life
Allow my blood to merge
With the energy that surrounds
Allow me to be at one
With the continent of my birth
Allow me to be free
Bless my life