Eight is Enough

Drama, ABC, Appearing 24/7. live from Botswana!

Remember that 70s show about the widower, Tom Bradford, with eight children? Welcome to the African version! Times have changed, it's now 2017; this time, the widower is the matriarch, Mama Matibe, and there's a token white person (me). Ha!

L - R: Takalani, #3 child lives in Zim; Me, token white person; 

Phil, #2 child, Botswana; Percy, #6 child, lives in 

Edinburgh, Scotland; Munya, grandchild, Tina's son; 

Andrew, "adopted" child, lives in Alberta, Canada;Tina, #5 child, 

lives in Zimbabwe; Nigel, grandchild, Takalani's son. 

Left: The matriarch, Mama Pheobie Matibe

Season One, Episode One, "Wired"

Think of this as Netflix, we're about to binge to catch up! 

Our house has been converted to an internet cafe with a huge charging station for electronic gadgets. Devices have become nationalized, confused, charged, exchanged, and utilized to their fullest capacity. Even Mama is WiFi'd. Welcome to the 21st Century! It is a great way for everyone to stay in touch - and yet, we also have to be careful not to lose touch with the ones we are sitting right next to! Difficult to balance.

 

There were plenty of times when someone (Phil) had to remind us to "PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE!" It can become such a bad habit. Distracting. When I look back at these pictures, I am going to remind myself to be present - in the present. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Gmail, even Huff Post can wait. It can be difficult in this case when family is scattered to the ends of the earth, want to be updated, and stay in touch. Work in progress!

Season One, Episode Two, "The Cattle Rustlers"

So, we found out that some squatters were using the dam on our farm to water their cattle, and a far corner piece of the farm to milk them, put the milk in 2 liter containers, and walk to town to sell the milk. Not our cattle, not their cattle, apparently either. We called the Livestock Police (yes, there is such a thing) and they came to investigate. Each of the cows were tagged and branded so they were able to track down the rightful owner.

Season One, Episode Three "Cooking for A Small Army"

The restaurant is open 24 hours a day, with multiple cooks and multiple dishwashers. By far the best cook is Phil's sister, Tina. I'm convinced she could make a rock tasty. So, we devised a tag team operation. I happily did the dishes, while she happily cooked. Made a bit easier by sipping some wine for me, and Savannah Cider for Tina. Some days were spent inside over the stove, others outside over the braii (rhymes with "why", Afrikaans for a barbecue). Anyway you add it up equals delish!

 Tina braiing chicken and sausage, which turned out AMAZING!

This white stuff is mealie meal - after it's been cooked it's called Sadza (like s-ah-d-za), or Pap or Papa if you are from Botswana (p-ah-p). Don't be fooled because it's very difficult to cook it just right, and takes a lot of muscle. Not a job for the weak! Tina is laughing at me because I was saying, OK - your turn! 

Season One, Episode Four, "Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch"

Work is still progressing at the farm entrance, road construction, and working on a cottage / house site. The parlour will be built by GEA, a German company, who are making the rotary parlour, and the foundation / construction will be done by a South African team. We are inching closer and closer to milking. 

I am standing under the "lappa". We plan to turn this into a cottage - to live. We will live here. Under this thatching. On the hill. In the middle of nowhere. It's going to be beautiful. (Say that like Donald Trump, bwhahahahahahahahaha).

This is a small house being built at the front entrance of the farm. Phil, supervising.

The thatcher has finished fixing the roof. Watching him work it was like watching an artist in progress. He took so much care, it truly is a masterpiece!

Carrying the bags of cement, readying the area for the floor of the cottage. 

And, at the main entrance, we have removed a fence and we are instead building a wall. 

The farm will be a bio-security area, so we have to have a foot bath and a dip area for vehicles and people prior to entering. This way, if there is another breakout of foot and mouth disease, all of our animals on the farm will be protected by the bio-security. Here we have begun to ready the entrance. 

The front field has been cleared, rocks have been piled and large, invasive weeds removed. This was done by a crew of about 20 day workers. All by hand. We hope to put a training facility here, and a demonstration parlour. 

This is part of a crowd of about 200 people who showed up on the farm June 1st wanting employment. A lot of women, most just wanting something to do. The unemployment rate is about 20%, and its higher for young men and women. Throughout the process we hope to be able to hire around 250 people, some as casual, some as full time. Eventually, through our OutGrowerProgramme, we will be including small-holder farmers for milk collection. The goal is to be as socially responsible as possible. 

Season One, Episode Five "Good Times"

It wasn't all work and stuff, we did manage to squeeze in some fun times. The guys went to the airshow in Gaborone - and before you get all "that's sexist! what about you and Tina?!" - we were happy to have them go. We lounged. And we liked it. They also made a stop at the Strong Man contest - winner a man from Nebraska!

And, they made a stop to visit a guy with this old classic car for sale - I can't remember what it's called now, that's how totally impressed I was. A Peugeot? An Opel? No! It's a Citroen. That's right.

And, we managed in between working, caring for Mama Matibe, cooking, cleaning, and chatting to have a few beers here and there. Before and after.  Rumors of dance moves on videos have been circulated, and hopefully destroyed. Some are blurry. On purpose. 

OK - this is Ashley celebrating her birthday last month, but the pic seemed appropriately fitting here. xoxo

And, the aftermath....

Season One, Episode Six, "We are Family"

So, we managed to coordinate caring for Mama Matibe, showers, meals, sleeping arrangements, and a bit of fun in a few short days. I have been given a new-found appreciation for my mother, and my grandmother's generations - raised in a family of eleven children, and raising a family of eleven; and my dad's, a family of eight children.  But, how spectacular to be immersed in the chaotic, noisy, energetic, and exhausting family day to day life. I'm thankful that I have always been surrounded by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends in that having a houseful was just like Sunday dinner at Grandma Holet's. Everyday. Rinse and repeat. 

Am reminded by the Rolling Stones lyrics, "You can't always get what you want - but if you try sometimes, well you might find, you get what you need." Love to all.

Leaving you with some great Matibe family shots, taken by Munya, Tina's son, capturing some intense, human magnificence.