Losing My Mind By Enhancing It

"The more we study the more we discover our ignorance." - Percy Bysshe Shelley


Over the past six weeks I have journeyed back to November last year and pulled out my Biology textbooks. The more I study,the less I seem to retain. I am starting to believe that twelve years of school is all any brain can take. Whatever the case,I soldier on in chilly Springs,anticipating either a victory or my demise over the next three weeks. As Margaret Thatcher so wisely states,"You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it." So I'm still fighting,fighting,fighting. I will either win this battle or it will win me. I will hope for the former no matter how much the latter looms. Losing my mind seems a happy alternative at this point...

Joyfully losing it..

Home is Where...

As my few readers will know,I have been in Pinetown for the past two and a half months. I came back to Springs in April for two months to rewrite my Biology exams. While writing events onto a calender,I made the mistake of writing "home" on the day on which I return to Pinetown. My little sister was quite disgusted and has not let my small,unconscious blunder go.The fact that the day I arrived in Springs is marked with the same word meant little to her.

Where,then,is home? Is it where your family is? Is it where you grew up? Is it where you have the most memories? I have friends in Pinetown who are as close as family. Spending every minute of every day with people does that. I like to believe that I've grown up a little since leaving and I've made more memories in those few months than the whole of last year.

I think home is where the people understand you. It's where they don't question your obsession with polka dots and Chinese babies. It's where they like you even when you're grumpy. It's where they've seen you when you've just woken up. It's where they know your "I can't believe you own that" outfits. It's where a certain look can bring on a hug and a cup of tea. Home is where they've held you when you cry. It's where you have so many inside jokes you could form a new language. It's where you don't have to be polite all the time. Home is where people really know you and,for reasons unknown,still love you.

I firmly believe that Pinetown is as much my home as Springs is and Springs is no less my home than Pinetown is.

A few of my Pinetown "family" members.

My real family in Springs,at a Wild West dress up.

Pictures of things

Dandelion Dew

Pink Flower

Spiderweb

Weathered Dandelion

More Spiderwebs

Webs in the Grass

Yellow Flower

Spider in Disguise

Yet Another Wet Web

Within the Yellow Rose

George Is A Very Strong Man

George. The name of a old man who wears tweed and smokes a pipe. Our small,fat,female jack russel cross corgie. A slang term that means "you mixed the words in your sentence up and sounded like a fool." In Pinetown,amongst my dearest YOYL friends,this third George is a man we are all very well aquainted with. The combination of fatigue,coffee highs and typical teenage giggles have all made this George an old friend. We have even made a wall in honour of his ever present influence. Here are some of our best Georges.

"She has feet all the way down to her hair"-Shaydene,speaking of Rapunzel. Those knots will be tough to work through.

"I will come in the beach bag with you"-Manon,when saying she will join me on the bean bag. In her defense,she is Mauritian.

"Yesterday I had three cups of sugar"-Shaydene,apparently trying to say she had threecups of tea,with five sugars each. Either one explains her mood.

"I did not did it on purpose"-Madhvi,who is also Mauritian.

"We are fish of men"-Chelsea,on the fishermen preach at youth.

"I tried to spitted on her"-Shaydene,who tried to spit water on me.

"Do not be domestic violence!!"-Shaydene to Matt,who was pinching her.

"I better put my phone away before God comes"-Jodie,breaking Grant's no phone rule. What would Jesus think if He returned and you were holding that evil piece of technology?

"Just imagination it"-Shaydene,who is very close friends with George.

"Look whose stick is better than now"-Matt O. Who knows.

"What did Shaydene said?"-Tooks,in asking about Shay's George,makes his own.

"I have knees on my freckles"-Shaydene,who we are beginning to suspect is the feminine version of George.

"Always I say sometimes"-Matt P. And sometimes he makes sense.

"Stop making laugh of me!"-Yours Truly. I blame the effects their teasing has on me for my mistake.

We are not mentally disabled or uneducated. We do think before we speak and we do word our sentences correctly at times. Still,there is no denying the fact that George is indeed a very strong man..

A Week in the Life of a Yoylie: Threnodic Thursday

Threnodic is a word used to describe that which is mournful. While there is nothing particularly grievious about a Thursday,it seems to be the day on which certain Yoylies MOAN,making it a mournful day. Also,threnodic starts with "th",keeping the alliteration going..

5:30 Alarm goes off,but on Thursdays it isn't heard.
5:45 Alarm goes off again with the same effect: none.
6:00 Wake up.Jump out of bed. Wash face and brush teeth.
6:10 Get dressed.
6:20 Wonder why you are always late on Thursdays.Go downstairs.
6:30 Sit on couch watching Morning Live.
6:45 Realize that you haven't eaten. Go make milo and scratch around for a rusk.
7:00 Remember that you need showering things. Go upstairs and collect toiletries.
7:10 Go all the way down to wait for lift.
7:15 Remember that you need an extra change of clothing. Run upstairs like a ninja.
7:20 Run downstairs while packing clothes into bag. Stop long enoung to grab a packet of noodles.
7:25 Sit down just in time to have to get up and get in the car.
7:45 Arrive at church. Negotiate with a fellow Yoylie on who should make coffee.
7:50 Decide not to argue and make coffee for self and aforementioned fellow.
8:00 Go down to the Yoyl Room with coffee,bag and shoes that were never put on.
8:05 After putting bag away,run for the red bean bag. Everyone knows red bean bags are the best.
8:10 Grant comes downstairs and tells us that we are going to start. Several times.
8:15 Once everyone is over the latest joke,Grant finally assigns people to the day's tasks.
8:25 In case we might have misheard,Grant repeats himself.
8:30 After reading duties off the board,disperse to prepare a play,wash an entire kitchen,bake shortbread,make cards,cook food,move chairs,do DIY or make all the office staff coffee.
12:30 Go down to Yoyl Room to fetch lunch.
12:35 Swop sandwiches,fruit and other edible items with fellow yoylies. Pour juice for self.Sit down.
12:40 Get up to pour juice for lazy friends. Sit down on counter.
12:45 Finally,after more swopping and pouring,eat lunch.
12:55 Finish eating and wash glasses,plates and bowls.
13:00 Sit on counter hoping Grant has forgotten about us.
13:10 Get called by Grant. Go down to Yoyl Room.
13:15 Wait while Grant divides us into groups for the afternoon's activities.
13:30 Collect items such as rope,bottles,bricks,magazines,soccer balls,20 litres of juice and 100 plastic cups.
13:45 Run to parking lot shouting "JODIE!!" as Jodie's car is the favoured mode of transport and,being an uno,can only accommodate five yoylies.
13:50  Climb triumphantly into the back of the Uno. Smile and wave at those climbing into the bakkie with Grant.
14:15 Arrive at the school in Tshelimnyama. Unpack cars and wait for school to end.
14:20 Watch as about 100 grade 7s get welcomed to Life Group,our weekly discipleship program.
14:30 Lead the children to a field where they are split into groups to play tug of war,french cricket,ultimate frisbee,dodgeball and volleyball.
14:35 Play one of the above mentioned games.
15:00 Go into the classroom and pour 100 cups of juice.
15:10 Try not to be trampled as 100 children rush to the table.
15:15 Look for a tissue to wipe spilled juice off leg and feet.
15:17 Give up and sit down.
15:20 Take photos and listen to Grant give a lesson,with Tooks interpreting.
15:45 Hold up hands for Hi5s as the children leave.
15:50 Pack up and go home.
16:10 Arrive back at church. Wash cups and refill juice bottles.
16:20 Meet in Yoyl Room to give feedback.
16:30 Get dismissed.Run for the shower.
16:35 Shower
16:45 Make noodles. Climb on church roof.
16:50 Chill on roof either throwing stones at a glass bowl,throwing stones at one another,throwing stones over the edge of the roof or throwing stones onto the corrugated iron part of the roof.
17:35 Get down from roof.Run to Yoyl Room to make Milo before prayer starts at 17:30.
17:30 Run to the kitchen for milk, trying not to be seen be seen by Grant.Get seen.Get called.
17:35 Sneak out of prayer to fetch 1 to 5 mugs of Milo.
17:40 Pray
18:30 Prayer ends. Go down to Yoyl Room to collect bags.
18:35 Stash bag under cappuccino counter. Wash Milo mugs.
18:40 Get ready to go.
18:45 Remember that Cathy (house mate) is on band.Put bags back under counter.
18:50 Make tea for self and other unfortunate whose lift is also on band.
18:55 Chill on counter trying to hear above band practice noise.
19:10 Look in the fridges for something to eat.
19:15 Give up and eat old rusks.
19:20 Sit on counter and talk about the day's funny moments,annoying people and other interesting things.
20:00 Make coffee. Stay in kitchen where noise level is more bearable.
20:10 Insult one another's faces.mothers and pets.
20:25 Wash mugs and go back to sit on cappuccino counter.
20:30 Get bags and go home.
20:50 Arrive home. Take bag upstairs. Collapse on bed.
21:00 Go downstairs and eat dinner.
21:20 Wash plate and hands. Check Facebook.
21:35 Make Milo.
21:45 Wash mug. Go upstairs.
21:50 Fall asleep.
22:00 Wake up.Brush teeth,log onto Mxit.
22:20 Pack bag for next day. Read.
22:40 Draw.
23:10 Read.
00:00 Check that alarm is set and get into bed. Fall asleep.

Horribly long and extremely tiring,that is Thursday in a life of a Yoylie.

A Week in the Life of a Yoylie: Wonderful Wednesday

Wednesdays are one of the best YOYL days. Firstly,because Wednesday isn't Tuesday. Secondly because we have theology class. This,ladies and germs of cyber space,is what a Wednesday looks like...

5:30 Alarm goes off. Sit up in bed and look around.
5:40 Get up and collect things for a shower.
5:45 Remember there is sport today,making showering pointless at this moment in time.Get back in bed.
6:00 Get up and pack backpack with shorts,Theology notebook and extra hair elastics.
6:10 Read Bible.
6:30 Go downstairs and eat Pronutro while watching Morning Live.
6:45 Look around for ever evasive lunch bag.
6:50 Find lunch bag in pantry as usual. Pack lunch.
7:00 Go downstairs to wait for lift.
7:05 Journal and Mxit to pass time.
7:20 Get in car.
7:45 Arrive at church. Take bag down to Yoyl Room. Due to extra items,bag is unable to fit in locker. Stash bag under table.
8:00 Sit on bean bag waiting for Grant.
8:05 Give up waiting and boil kettle. Make tea and coffee for various friends and whiners.
8:15 Engage in intelligent dicussions,such as the funny moments in an asfd movie or the newest addition to the Wall of George.
8:25 Realize Grant is very late and break the rules by playing music on a cell phone.
8:35 Have more coffee.
8:40 Race to hide cell phones under bean bags,in lockers and,occasionally,in shoes as Grant descends the stairs.
8:45 After hi5s all round,Grant tells us who will be sharing during Devotions.
8:50 Devotions,followed by prayer.
9:20 Everyone gets changed into shorts and puts sunscreen on.
9:30 Get told by Grant to put more sunscreen on.
9:35 Team captains get assigned and teams are picked for soccer,Ultimate Frisbee or Tails.
9:40 Rejoice in not getting picked last and the games begin.
10:15 Water break,during which Grant makes me put more sunscreen on.
10:25 Games recommence,with a few players down due to injury,illness or laziness.
11:25 The game finally ends and everyone goes inside to drink more water,wash dusty feet and change into regular clothing.
11:30 Drink juice in Yoyl Room and collect Theology notebook and Bible. Book a space on a bean bag.
11:35 Jam arrives. After making sure everyone has their Bibles and notebooks and dispensing black dots to those who don't,he starts the lesson.
12:30 Theology ends,homework is given and Jam departs. Everyone jumps up and runs to lockers to gather lunch.
12:35 Go upstairs to kitchen to get water/juice/leftovers.
12:45 See how many people can be crammed onto one picnic bench. Swop one or two lunch items. Eat food.
13:00 Make noodles for those too pathetic to do it themselves.
13:10 Eat some of some one's noodles.
13:30 Grant come and call a meeting in Yoyl Room.
13:35 Congregate noisily and try hear as Grant explains the rest of the days activities.
13:40 Try to look at Grant without laughing as he explains again.
13:45 Just smile as Grant writes the activities on the board as he explains them.
13:55 Watch the less fortunates prepare to babysit,wash three cars,bake shortbread and make the entire office coffee. Go up to office and wait on the couch.
13:15 Take over office duty from the secretary,Ruthie. Fold booklets/check email lists/blog.
13:20 Answer anything between 4 and 28 (the record highest,held by yours truly) phone calls,including a few prank calls. Answer intercom and attempt to open gates.
16:00 Switch phone to night mode and go down to Yoyl Room.
16:05 Make coffee. Collect bag,shoes,phone,notebooks and other random items.
16:10 Hang out in foyer listening to music and talking about nothing and everything.
16:25 Leave
16:45 Arrive home. Go upstairs. Dig through bag looking for something edible.
17:00 Give up and go downstairs for an apple.
17:30 Journal.
18:00 Set table. Eat supper.
18:45 Wash plate and hands. Go upstairs.
20:00 Shower.
20:15 Read. Log onto Mxit
20:45 Journal.
21:15 Unpack backpack
21:20 Re-pack backpack.
21:30 Try decide what to wear the next day.
21:45 Give up and lie on bed.
22:00 Fall asleep.
22:30 Wake up and brush teeth.
22:45 Read
23:00 Tidy room.
23:20 Place floor fan on chair right by the head of my bed.
23:30 Remember things not yet packed in bag.
23:45 Finally get up and pack things like CDs and books people want to borrow.
00:00 Get in bed and try stay awake to talk to overseas sibling who appears to have forgotten the 8hr time difference.
00:30 Fall asleep.
1:15 Wake up and apologize. Reply to messages received in the mean time.
1:30 Log off Mxit and go to sleep.

Wonderfully unTuesday and gloriously full,that is what a Yoylie's Wednesday consists of.

A Week in the Life of a Yoylie: Typical Tuesday

Tuesdays come soon after Mondays. For a Yoylie,the week begins on this particular day. It comes with a lot of coffee,tiredness and wet clothing...

5:30 Alarm goes off.Wake up and put on snooze.Go back to sleep.
5:35 Get up.Collect things for a shower.Realize some one has beaten me to the bathroom. Sit on bed trying to stay awake.Fail.
5:50 Wake up and rush to the shower.
6:05 Pack backpack with the day's essentials such as batteries,2 minute noodles and hair elastics.
6:15 Read Bible.
6:45 Go downstairs.Eat Pronutro while watching Morning Live.
7:00 Go downstairs (to ground level) to wait for lift.
7:05 Run upstairs to collect various forgotten items.
7:10 Go downstairs to wait for lift.
7:15 Wait.
7:20 Wait.
7:25 Wait.
7:30 Get in the car.
8:00 Arrive at church and make coffee.
8:10 Go down to the Yoyl Room. Put things in locker. Take off shoes (if indeed wearing any)
8:15 Grant arrives and gives the day's schedule...twice. Grant writes the schedule on the whiteboard and explains it again.
8:30 Stack about 300 chairs and move them from the small hall to the auditorium. Arrange chairs incorrectly.
9:15 Mix 20 litres of juice in large bottles. Stack 150 plastic cups. Set up 2 trestle tables with 5 jugs of juice and 50 glasses.
9:30 Get called back to rearrange chairs. Collect tennis balls,soccer balls and cones.
9:45 Go down pre-school and collect a group of about 20 6 and 7 year olds. Teach them to throw,catch,kick and run. Play duck duck goose and tag.
10:15 Return group and collect about 25 5 year olds. Repeat exercise with less success.
10:30 Return group and collect about 15 2,3 and 4 year olds. Show them how to catch a ball. Stop them from running away. Comfort crying ones. Give up teaching them to throw. Play duck duck goose.
10:45 Return group. Go back to the Yoyl Room. Have coffee. Wash dusty feet and pack away equipment. Eat a few bites of lunch.
11:00 Tidy and vacuum 5 storerooms.Wash 2 cars. Get a bucket of water thrown over me. Have coffee.
12:30 LUNCH TIME!!! Have coffee.
13:00 Go down to Yoyl Room and wait for Grant.
13:15 Vacuum behind curtains in small hall.
13:30 Have coffee.
13:40 Wash 3 cars.
15:30 Go down to Yoyl room for coffee.
15:45 Check church grounds for litter.
16:00 Meet up in the Yoyl Room to be released. Unpack locker.
16:10 Make 2 minute noodles. Hang out on cappuccino counter till waiting for lift.
16:30 Leave.
16:50 Arrive at home. Shower.
17:10 Find something to eat.
17:30 Read.
18:00 Eat supper.
18:45 Wash dishes.
19:00 Chill upstairs.
19:30 Home group.
21:30 Have Milo and Rusks
22:00 Go upstairs. Log onto Mxit.
22:15 Journal.
22:45 Get in bed.
23:15 Get up and brush teeth.
23:20 Get distracted by Blue Like Jazz.
00:10 Put book down and go to sleep.

And that,dear cyber space,is what a Yoylie does on a typical Tuesday.

Yoyl Room Wall