paint and plastic bags

we held our saturday kite and abacus workshop today. the children were gathered at the site when we arrived. they seemed excited and apprehensive. i guess they we not completely aware of what was install for them.

the timber blocks for the abacus had not been ready for collection when we had left johannesburg at 8am. we sent the children off to collect shiny, clean bottletops to pass time until the blocks arrived. r5 for 50.

after the children had returned with the tops, guy split the group into kite makers and painters. catherine headed the kite making. the painters sat on the black plastic sheet that we masking-taped to the floor and sang. the girls chose the songs and boys lowered there voices in harmony. the sound echoed through the ruins and resonated off the blackened soffit. it was loud and peaceful – like heavy rock at full volume.

gareth arrived after 10am. i was so disappointed that build plumb and tile had let me down on the completion of the blocks. i felt like i had let my team down. and the children too. but all dissipated upon their eventual arrival.

the kite flyers spread their black-bag triangles all over the central space and battled with controlling the red wool in the gusty winds. the painters were quiet and concentrating.
catherine made hotdogs for lunch. she dished them out from the elevation of the stairs, the single line of children passing slowly by for their fill.

the children left with their r5’s and we packed away thirty kites. the day ended on a low note – we planted more trees and grass and then gathered in mr cindy’s living room for a group discussion on our way forward.

it was a small space, warm and personal. the discussion was productive and heated and conflicting at times – we had a lot to accomplish and only a week before our launch. i was tired and irritable and was adamant that we should not begin painting until all heavy construction and erection was completed. the others disagreed. i surrendered my fight out of sheer exhaustion rather than submission. i compiled a list of monday’s duties and goals.

we left for johannesburg after dark.