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I had a lye in after Wendy had gone to work and went to the Rautenbach's just before lunch. We then went with Robyn to The Yate's home where Lillian works (Mrs Yates told us how last year her lung collapsed 3 times and the operated on her by scraping off the outside layer of her lung so it would heal and mould itself to the ribcage and no longer collapse with NO PAIN KILLERS!!) and we took her out to Nando's for lunch. She had never been to Nando's before and I was chuffed to be taking her. She told us that she has pain in her knees from her arthritis which she has no medication for and her doctor told her she needs to eat more vegetables. Garth told her he lived in England now and she asked if he ever sees the sea and he told her that the sea was all around England; that it is an island - and she didn't believe it! Garth told her it was a 10 hour journey in an airplane but she thought it was a 10 hour journey in the car!!! She said that we must visit her every year and I tried to tell her it was too expensive for us to do that. She told us how the government have finally provided her with a house (instead of a shack) with 4 rooms and electricity! And that it takes her 2 hours on the bus to get to work. So we offered to drive her home, on condition we wouldn't get murdered in her neighbourhood! Lol. She told is how all her children had died of HIV Aids and how Garth and Robyn were her. Holden now, how proud she was of them and how she wanted some grandchildren! Lol! What a privilege to take her out for lunch!
She said it was the most special day and she would never ever forget it (reminded me of something uncle malcolm would say). I was also proud to publicly show that in south Africa black and white people can eat together! :) We dropped her back at work (we didnt take more than her lunch hour) and went for a drive around Garth's old school and home, which was very interesting to see. It sounds to have become very run down in comparison to their time there!
We took a quick break at Robyn's before getting some groceries for Lillian. We got her rice, oats, pasta, oil, chicken, lots of vegetables and lots more! Robyn got her toothbrush and toothpaste and lots more. I really wanted to get her some flowers. Garth and Robyn said she would prefer food, and I'm sure she would, but I wanted to get her something that was a treat and that would mean she could say she has been bought flowers before. I worried she may not own a vase so I got a potted plant with yellow/orange flowers.
We picked her up at 3.30, but only after Mrs Yates had shown us her huge dogs.....
I gave Lillian the flowers which she was very touched by and I got a big hug!! :)
Lillian's township was far out of town and it took us 20 mins to drive there as opposed to her 2 hr bus. I could physically see Robyn and Garth's fear of driving into a township. I wasn't to worried, more fascinated! We certainly got some looks!
Lillian's house seemed very nice on the outside. It was a lovely green colour with a slightly dodgy fence made of drift wood and scrap wire. Inside it was basic with 2 bedrooms, a small bathroom and an open plan kitchen/livingroom which she had separated with a bookshelf. It had electricity and a solar boiler on the roof for some hot water each day. There Robyn gave her her old electric blanket and we gave her the 3 bags of groceries! She nearly cried, but was more shocked and overwhelmed! We had 2 group hugs! Lol.
We soon left and made our way very quickly out of the township I one piece!
Back at Robyn's, she made macaroni cheese while I went with the nous to hire the In Betweeners DVD which we enjoyed watching!
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