Progress

<p align="center">It took me only took me 10+ months, but I’m down 10lbs and that means progress pictures! Yes 10 months is a long time to only lose 10lbs, but like I mentioned in my <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2012/05/down-to-business.html">“Down to Business</a>” post: this is my journey, everything has led up to this point, I can’t change the past, the future is mine! I promise it won’t be another 10 months for the next 10 lbs! <em>(keep in mind that my July ‘11 pictures are only 2 1/2 weeks post partum)</em></p> <p align="center">So without further ado, here are my progress pictures!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExRzx8QJhGZH_0piAbd5Z87Ne7jowJ-EvVocEm-4WZj2k3EP2Uvu49lhIumnvS699HTDhuIxjra-tGSxnDPo5iIVKndXIgGVfPjASmPq6_E_E8FkWgG00dL7Byvz5_G6zjf68rzes37WF/s1600-h/Blog2%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Blog2" border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcGl0ZxXI7YJ5y3rrHeOins5ktZEOEAVQjUZ8v_a40fDzwekWyRQNdUgBquZjUmyU7q6O-M4dz-JKqfESX9et6SYAUSRVASnfrnbRjN-9XIS6ESoJqTH0w8GBBJhFugnIN8qY_sMlgHUY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Blog2" width="404"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tAXTrZ-WdDQWaa5Tr1-73Lau5tN5Bm2m-g2Ha3irBVgRet0IoUhyphenhyphenD6XheK6CLX3GqjC2NJGZ1PPNNzV-qYKPH_1swFcmUrw1BsqdqIN3bpxqdre6i23U04Q_gTmEHQWJ9gER8oH_mDLh/s1600-h/Blog3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Blog3" border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5DwbvGT6xU7WbOYUZy59_XZ-5WbAu5BMVr3U_va_RkuJaOZ8bmCCEkYrUUBS4_DIHLmatlfhWFdlQ_JpTtckpaduCjYRdbSIhQdHEEd83JNG1rpIWNDqtMRIOQRDe3ZQeteVrRMq-Exb/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Blog3" width="404"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTPONlMJZ5LMU_ZrWKuVxf1i8Z1Jrn5djGI9bcMenF_WhCRpuzgCFTD-Ju1L4Be3InBwunm7VAFEgNiceR_l90Nh2llNJNnW6gnOGVjioE49hm5CVgbC4heRP1FMYcvSXcnInAykyUAdP/s1600-h/Blog4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Blog4" border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwABYlnX5nU0Kebv8rh1G6UobFcU9iizqHK5v5OUDZJ_nh8jfTc-LhUoVlSSJ3oAd-V5gpx8MGfCCPmeyBlLUkDrQKZEruKx2T6wKu-4s3BnS6AHWh8H8x_5tlp-9GewWF_Hr7oMw9Kmt/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Blog4" width="404"></a></p> <p align="center">A few comments: I need to get some sun, I can see the changes in my love handles & stomach (still a ways to go though), and I really need to work on my things & ham strings!</p> <p align="center">I do have a confession: I didn’t post the back shot in my original <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2011_07_03_archive.html">“before” pictures</a>, I was embarrassed. I’m still not pleased with what I see, but I think posting it will give me even more motivation to work harder towards my goal. </p> <p align="center">Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!</p>

Progress

It took me only took me 10+ months, but I’m down 10lbs and that means progress pictures! Yes 10 months is a long time to only lose 10lbs, but like I mentioned in my “Down to Business” post: this is my journey, everything has led up to this point, I c…

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what's in a name

We are in the home stretch (whoop whoop) of this master bedroom and what is one of the last things you do before leaving your room each morning?<br /><br />I would accept 'hide dirty clothes in closet' but really 'make the bed' is the answer I'm looking for.<br /><br />Since the beginning I've had monogrammed shams in mind. Now we've already established my love of out-of-my-budget-linens, but I though since I wasn't going crazy with linens on the rest of the bed, I could certainly spring for two Euro shams.<br /><br />Turns out I couldn't. Everything I found that would work was upwards of $75 each and still not right. And I'm not spending that much on something I don't absolutely love. I do have a pair of old <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/pearl-embroidered-duvet-cover-sham/?pkey=call-duvet-covers-shams" target="_blank">Pottery Barn shams</a> but their polka dot color wouldn't work. Too green and gray.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhyEqXFrnPWZjvqK4AsKt4ywKuWOo5iVzMHmhzRGCBzGUD6PsuKsNWC2gzaYIAeTe8FsCDHRrUA7rkjOLGecgmmZCxKFVvI0U9nJGBvk5sUALligYRxJnACCXMUBDojLPcmFQcd5M66fT/s1600/img69o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhyEqXFrnPWZjvqK4AsKt4ywKuWOo5iVzMHmhzRGCBzGUD6PsuKsNWC2gzaYIAeTe8FsCDHRrUA7rkjOLGecgmmZCxKFVvI0U9nJGBvk5sUALligYRxJnACCXMUBDojLPcmFQcd5M66fT/s400/img69o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Other than the color though, they <i>were</i> in perfect shape. I couldn't see spending money on new shams when I had two perfectly good ones sitting in my <strike>perfectly organized</strike> linen closet. So... I bleached them.<br /><br />I figured they would either sit in my closet forever and never get used, or I could take a chance that the bleach would work.<br /><br />And luckily, it worked. Wonderfully. I should have done it long ago.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfWuiPkyh7yDO80Cp1DDrFC1KLw7ZjFOpjG7OG6b6kqsimUuyuP4zX8v2b54E0aXjyA7BXbVc-OOPy_UBp9h5Xrmqvbf-4PDHc8RT36dXpb3nqstXeiNamyVqZmjeNYeHrYhyphenhyphenwaJ9nDR6/s1600/P5236865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfWuiPkyh7yDO80Cp1DDrFC1KLw7ZjFOpjG7OG6b6kqsimUuyuP4zX8v2b54E0aXjyA7BXbVc-OOPy_UBp9h5Xrmqvbf-4PDHc8RT36dXpb3nqstXeiNamyVqZmjeNYeHrYhyphenhyphenwaJ9nDR6/s640/P5236865.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>With crisp white (and wrinkly) shams in hand I called the local monogram shop that I've used several times before.<br /><br />"How much would it be to monogram two Euro Shams?"<br /><br />"Well, it depends on the size of the monogram and the type, but it would start around $150 per sham."<br /><br />Excuse me?<br />Does that include the crack you are smoking, or is that separate?<br /><br />Did she not know the conversation I'd been having with myself about cost? See paragraph above lady!<br /><br />I mourned my perfectly stitched monogramed shams for about two minutes and then thought, I'm just going to have to do this on my own. <a href="http://www.restoredstyle.com/tgidiyfriday-stenciled-pillowcases/" target="_blank">Kirsten at </a><a href="http://www.restoredstyle.com/tgidiyfriday-stenciled-pillowcases/" target="_blank">Restored Style</a> and <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/03/bean-jar-method-and-freezer-paper-diy.html" target="_blank">Jenny at Little Green Notebook</a> have both tried similar things. So I know I wasn't crazy. I can do this.<br /><br />First step, finding the monogram. I played with some fonts on the computer until I found the style and size I wanted.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUp7B2SU3ag28t0ugqr8Lu1_0m-CUvxP21coW6wxYzQSoTRK0584EbR9fUsvrAVL0UC2CwaWZm1zuq40dBWl3eoLhVIk1Bl2zQcM6c5DWdqZBd5v9oH9x7g6q4dLjZUzco_1RWyQGNZHa/s1600/P5236864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUp7B2SU3ag28t0ugqr8Lu1_0m-CUvxP21coW6wxYzQSoTRK0584EbR9fUsvrAVL0UC2CwaWZm1zuq40dBWl3eoLhVIk1Bl2zQcM6c5DWdqZBd5v9oH9x7g6q4dLjZUzco_1RWyQGNZHa/s640/P5236864.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>After printing out the monograms, I laid them out on my cutting board to cut out the letters. If you have 'B' 'O' or any letter that has a cut out, be sure to keep those cut outs as you will need them later.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvMbDS3bV-YCV5DhecwZVczxgSkj1Ro17rV2dotFTPBYh7Q98uhsjXS0Dl-wgAsIIEjHhaeYguy2g6Bk6Ka8JX2VMPQHPpW-gGw1BH26wth-O60QpTXnai0QoW2hUHbI9INwTtLLNTbVu/s1600/P5236873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvMbDS3bV-YCV5DhecwZVczxgSkj1Ro17rV2dotFTPBYh7Q98uhsjXS0Dl-wgAsIIEjHhaeYguy2g6Bk6Ka8JX2VMPQHPpW-gGw1BH26wth-O60QpTXnai0QoW2hUHbI9INwTtLLNTbVu/s640/P5236873.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>With the monogram cut out, it was time to transfer the template to the sham. I taped it down super tight and put a book inside the sham to 1. prevent any bleed-thru from the paint and 2. keep as flat and hard a surface as I could for painting.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQzoCi5itz22czpIFpxlAW57p_QeSqHoDCKtGTPKUBJhtoAjnNJu3489PqUHWfEv9YA1ZrOvgY8JxsAMW-o6AC3edQNUTHqPW3Oohlc1AGPByF8r1CBUVgFoBbEbYAp42XCOq8Ym-Kips/s1600/P5236874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQzoCi5itz22czpIFpxlAW57p_QeSqHoDCKtGTPKUBJhtoAjnNJu3489PqUHWfEv9YA1ZrOvgY8JxsAMW-o6AC3edQNUTHqPW3Oohlc1AGPByF8r1CBUVgFoBbEbYAp42XCOq8Ym-Kips/s640/P5236874.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Time to get down to business. I used craft paint I already had on hand (fabric safe) and a little, very stiff, paint brush. It is super important to always brush away from the paper so you don't paint 'outside the lines'. Slow and steady wins the race. Full concentration is required. I even had to turn off Bravo (gasp) for a bit as it was too distracting.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiMNAFq1T7f9J8ipekGe4i_ozZgzgXTJt0HF1phwH1iY1VxP8rhWkfM-86f6n7Yp6BOX2sjtvRgPLyVVqQhy1nQ-Udnc-IGZLocA14clVxhH8wglZyZ-r0cqR9St9G0M0dzINFZDXmquL/s1600/P5236880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiMNAFq1T7f9J8ipekGe4i_ozZgzgXTJt0HF1phwH1iY1VxP8rhWkfM-86f6n7Yp6BOX2sjtvRgPLyVVqQhy1nQ-Udnc-IGZLocA14clVxhH8wglZyZ-r0cqR9St9G0M0dzINFZDXmquL/s640/P5236880.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>After its all painted, pause for a quick 'Did I really just paint my bedding?!' and then<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbTYxl8_UF_3NIjptNVIyZuROKRczy66symmZhKimanvJjte2KEtNGXo-EE9kUP4t5l0Y0D-2iQTWBUU1u81S-X7VS8Mh4uzHcGPVLW2TcPRelTbRVrJ_AyL8QZd_5iRw-SwWcvaMe7MH/s1600/P5236875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbTYxl8_UF_3NIjptNVIyZuROKRczy66symmZhKimanvJjte2KEtNGXo-EE9kUP4t5l0Y0D-2iQTWBUU1u81S-X7VS8Mh4uzHcGPVLW2TcPRelTbRVrJ_AyL8QZd_5iRw-SwWcvaMe7MH/s640/P5236875.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>slooowly pull the tape and stencil off. I admit, I did this with only one eye opened.<br /><br />Tadah!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcsBPycK6A6g2o6oV8K_hIjhiCn0-0ADahEv3gxHxKzHNMHTVN-nixp8oOrzzDz1CD5oyJqq9E-fYeWDue3Quto4igonFF37wMKwGz4KKZTp9TpybfIJ8HczjfVlOxa2szPZO8IZV9Gi3/s1600/P5236876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcsBPycK6A6g2o6oV8K_hIjhiCn0-0ADahEv3gxHxKzHNMHTVN-nixp8oOrzzDz1CD5oyJqq9E-fYeWDue3Quto4igonFF37wMKwGz4KKZTp9TpybfIJ8HczjfVlOxa2szPZO8IZV9Gi3/s640/P5236876.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Wahoo!<br /><br />Now just lather, rinse and repeat with the second sham. I did lay the second sham onto of the first one (after it was dry of course) to make sure to line up my stencils. It was faint, but just strong enough to help.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQ0UB_cDXrX0-LUY7v2NREyRfszwpjEMMlnA2ctnZjAyG6oi5jpNTAwfiNpDC9FsptkS7XegWHC2nbIwPpAAU_qmIN5xkjxUnVn1tzdtAy6d-Bt89sc97b0UGEYcjFzHYCV1h1tK0o3bR/s1600/P5236877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQ0UB_cDXrX0-LUY7v2NREyRfszwpjEMMlnA2ctnZjAyG6oi5jpNTAwfiNpDC9FsptkS7XegWHC2nbIwPpAAU_qmIN5xkjxUnVn1tzdtAy6d-Bt89sc97b0UGEYcjFzHYCV1h1tK0o3bR/s640/P5236877.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Now I've got what I was picturing in my head and didn't have to spend $$$ to get it. This project was 100% FREE since I already owned everything I needed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiM2IcgRFrsWG1TiSBrHXmmQhlhV9qgOYrCKBG4lhuDEJqxpEqm9eKQIDi6V0_t70pq37NrauYn7Ja3aJ055c7Vy4iympRBOdzo3hWFizY1CwXRFsbzCAtCOqIjDuUqzf7WDWlZ-DxSTQ/s1600/P5246883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiM2IcgRFrsWG1TiSBrHXmmQhlhV9qgOYrCKBG4lhuDEJqxpEqm9eKQIDi6V0_t70pq37NrauYn7Ja3aJ055c7Vy4iympRBOdzo3hWFizY1CwXRFsbzCAtCOqIjDuUqzf7WDWlZ-DxSTQ/s640/P5246883.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVhyphenhyphen9lt_cQ_VFLYTKbExsf2Hjh52tRb-vo2gK_p85EE393n3cJFBZJDgAxX4Tb0lapjhentH5q7IOuriiWA251SV0SWUtEhJndmBsY0ZGS_Simcd5ddOsN_ofuop3dltTUZxaiLREsI1G/s1600/P5246884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVhyphenhyphen9lt_cQ_VFLYTKbExsf2Hjh52tRb-vo2gK_p85EE393n3cJFBZJDgAxX4Tb0lapjhentH5q7IOuriiWA251SV0SWUtEhJndmBsY0ZGS_Simcd5ddOsN_ofuop3dltTUZxaiLREsI1G/s640/P5246884.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU3SDX0uUFUvSW9_DGkvd7sBa1tBIit3jMaBbTnFAd9S_IoZClUP36f4wFGmZAm6_m9MvkLugSZAMBzGuOMPFxMMieXID-Y7wU5iPGCpv7KOIqZtJX7CAD_Gb5Q2ogY6djc_dmCbzOufb/s1600/P5246890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU3SDX0uUFUvSW9_DGkvd7sBa1tBIit3jMaBbTnFAd9S_IoZClUP36f4wFGmZAm6_m9MvkLugSZAMBzGuOMPFxMMieXID-Y7wU5iPGCpv7KOIqZtJX7CAD_Gb5Q2ogY6djc_dmCbzOufb/s640/P5246890.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 20px;">This means I can cross another thing off my 'f' list:</span><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 20px;">find a rug</span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 20px;"><strike>finish art project for walls</strike></span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 20px;"><strike>finish bedding</strike></span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 20px;">find bedside table alternative</span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 20px;">finish seating - 80% finished</span></li></ul><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I'm making one final push this weekend and then I'm slapping a big old 'done' sign on this sucker.  Wish me luck that I keep my momentum going for a few more days. What do you have planned this weekend? Tackling any projects? Tackling any BBQs?</span></span>

what's in a name

We are in the home stretch (whoop whoop) of this master bedroom and what is one of the last things you do before leaving your room each morning?I would accept 'hide dirty clothes in closet' but really 'make the bed' is the answer I'm looking for.Sinc…

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Opening of the new computer lab at Ekukhanyeni School in Kwazulu-Natal

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">This report is given by Janet Thomson who is the Executive Director of SchoolNetSA</span></span></i></i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">  Today (17 May 2012) Hlengiwe and I had an uplifting experience. We attended the opening of a computer lab at Ekukhanyeni Special School for the severely mentally handicapped.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpQEcYZlMMloGCVooMceLQMFLSTqJi5vWCDiIr9XVmBBW9uh5JBixZ_hIy9MdfdU-iq-ABS9xz06P4IdUG3_BEimFwO87jW9SjR_RkyvqtUIql-ZAFIYHPdmhXzunhI6ZL-H5QstwOUM/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNySrEhWnUMwxpz8Oa5snh-zr2qq6lYnrJj6a2hbto6Cx8nB-JsPzPl46TbgjmWLOFurHfQz4QpsxAv4bvSHNc1Yld0Yt15U6dA3zzqJC9P2faCWZQ9JpxOJbm_Xz0VoFFdrYCaJ8vxE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The driving force behind this project is Jonathan Michaels – a young IT entrepreneur who I met at the eThekwini Connected Schools planning meeting. He is involved in developing the Android tablet.  He has a For Profit Social Enterprise company called GiveITBack.  He managed to get SAA Airlink to fund this computer room. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmw_HtuTmgrrdUgREoahat9QZq4A3V768FDxJvsJTq6947IScyeiAMX5PDUM5HJMnBxn8ZJpuxRg2YruA0m32QgZsNf0IiM2HVSHBF34gxIc7PBrRBklcJ1iEBSKeit19QmsOkeQEgKkA/s1600-h/image%25255B14%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe0qnnqloJHKX9sigtwwEl9HxcUSARkShedZ_prWkTvghNF9mv2oQWt_mwGM3yRKfgflJwTtz1AxmRoHcSQRG7DMrADfvcz7IQFqdDQ2px0tZcqF35fxb6TRd-EoB8sMy_PlgjFg5SKw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mr Ngwenya from SAA Airlink spoke extremely well and spoke in Zulu to the children. Airlink will be funding more special schools around the country. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpQztA4Jdq1Ce_BWAlGzNXvpjEFRN-qrNa0HJTL0rXFS8uzJ4uDc3s4rgmNijTZS5McUn6OHIdryV_vqDWb5COo6xf4WkzXEApW5X_z7SZ6ojjQ7STrqsc41VtzhzGEaxESwwnyUjoiA/s1600-h/image%25255B17%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ingOfFhEVgZboPXCgRGtiXVKuxDuREDdnDOKfzFwCBUViAT1QBF2GMqYsxcpWd_AvLmLoSfKt2vk2s_IofebsenBTK7jez6UCO7qX0xdJDA1E_RxbLDyypKopFCsPr8N0ji0oqUQ4pA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="192" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The principal of the school, Mrs Mthembu, has been at EkuKhanyeni since 1988, and from the looks of most of the teachers so have they.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCs1ROVTIVhMnGWl9eky-Zs5JxDmSmrTzH_eW5Y6KAWmenqMoa_ffAr87p8dhuk34wA1nsrFSLTyEsUcGUeAAn6OyZCSTMD9935cbTki7xxLtgJ4Y6Pu5bKwrctWDi1qXHUWSfDYRmZM/s1600-h/image%25255B10%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB-nlJnbQrLghku-6Bld7KwwaLQ5YyKyg2NiHJxLaO100f6U_F9bzmr0XwZU1m9u8Fwy6NHCpCOvXcx_952RcngL7P3exZMS18xm82Ebcn3KE8AdTv3mRfHSpvfmVFs1dsl0BSTe5GOg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is a slideshow of all the photos.</span><span style="font-size: small;">You will see from the photos that the school is extremely well cared for, the teachers are dedicated and the children are loved.  They certainly know how to celebrate in style too.   </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fschoolnetsa%2Falbumid%2F5743505778121530513%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed> <br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">What a well organised and happy community - a great inspiration to all of us!</span></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KLBhpf-Ayo54iKC0j_K0VytM-1pT87mpNz6U7SBaVA7qE2h1BWS6YLrtiHxfSTFoBYlqPdUju7EDrNNdn286UvNf3QRSQmOqcsQ5o7qA5CmVqgpFtqFRwIBgoYji3pcTMc6qCoLK1Uo/s1600-h/image%25255B20%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-z8EXQt_zmKvVsFpvwe8JAFflFxFP-4ag1yBquWdMAX52P68A5M6tyAjy9uUoskJCxAum6_S4wsUq-RO-ShHgzXFLXgL1QW8AOiDQhFRQm5_EjNn-OQ5kr2GuMiLBjE0Y5uakK3FdDY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div></div>

schools Opening of the new computer lab at Ekukhanyeni School in Kwazulu-Natal

This report is given by Janet Thomson who is the Executive Director of SchoolNetSA  Today (17 May 2012) Hlengiwe and I had an uplifting experience. We attended the opening of a computer lab at Ekukhanyeni Special School for the severely mentally hand…

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