Our Homeschooling Adventures and Activities from Jan-Mar 2023.

Jan- Mar Activities:

Homeschooling.

School Breaks.

January began with a few weeks of concentrated homeschooling, before we set off, to Nyanga, where we enjoyed a week of rest around loads of fun activities including golf and exploring.

We love being able to take small breaks, as and when we can, and the kids just love Nyanga! Every year they have new experiences and fun, in and around their daily golf games.

Then it was back to school, – right through until the end of March.

Mum’s Health.

Having made steady recovery progress, after my big neck operation, it was time to have another surgery, this time on my lower back. – I decided to get this done, sooner rather than later, to enable me to be up and about, when the polo season began, at the end of April.

In February I had the lower back surgery, followed by 6 weeks bed rest. It was a very tough experience, but I am now happy to be on the recovery side.

Paula Joy and Murray John are, by now, so used to helping me out!

They continue to knuckle down and make progress with their studies, whilst I continue on my road to recovery.

As I lie here, typing this post on my phone, Paula Joy and Murray John are doing their school work in their Dad’s office, which is adjacent to our bedroom. I so enjoy their company, but have missed our daily schoolroom banter.

I really look forward to being 100% again! It’s been a very tough journey for us all, yet has brought us closer as a family.

Murray John and Seb asleep on the floor.

Homeschooling Friends.

Snowy the Rabbit.

Sadly, in February, Paula Joy’s bunny Snowy became ill and died, so we are now down to the two guinea pigs. Snowy will always be remembered as a delightful cuddly animal.

The children have learnt to enjoy their pets, yet realise that they can die, which is always the sad part of owning a pet.

Horses.

A Very Wet Summer!

This summer has been super wet! The ongoing daily rains have made it too wet to ride most days.

Tack Room

The wet environment has given the kids time to spring clean the tack and feed room. They have also enjoyed riding their ponies through the dam.

Fun Training.

A new riding challenge for Paula Joy has seen her spending hours training Monty and Puncho to work in tandem. She is very keen to Roman Ride them. We look forward to seeing this spectacle, once they are fully trained.

Ponies Rested.

The rest of the ponies have enjoyed a few months off, before the polo season gets underway.

Pony Club Tests.

The kids both took their Pony Club D Test and are now preparing for their C Test. These Pony Club tests are a great way to measure their horsemanship skills.

Homeschooling Sport.

Golf.

The kids have spent the first few months of 2023 improving their golf. They have had some lessons, lots of time out on the course and have entered a few competitions.

Their golf games have improved dramatically, which has given them a new passion for the game.

Soccer.

Paula Joy and Murray John have decided to do their own farm outreach programme. They have started teaching the local children how to play soccer.

They have formed a little soccer league and spend their evenings training the children and teaching them about the game. During the weekends they organise some little matches.

It’s a great way for the children to improve their own soccer skills, whilst teaching enthusiastic children. One always learns more by teaching others.

Jan – Mar Adventures:

Farm Life.

Tobacco.

Dalston Farm is always a hub of activity!

The very wet summer has caused the tobacco crop to ripen far too quickly, which has resulted in severe yield reduction. Thus, all the tobacco reaping was completed by the end of March.

Other Crops.

The soya bean crop also hates wet summers, so a reduced yield is expected here as well, as the crop hasn’t grown out well.

Thankfully, the maize and banana crops are both happy with wet roots and are thriving!

Full Dams.

With all the farm dams now full and spilling, we know that the farm has abundant water for the next season. This is a very big positive, amongst the negatives of the soggy fields!

Tractor Service.

After school, Murray John loves servicing the tractors, so is often found in the workshops, as a very happy mechanic assistant.

Zimbabwe Economy.

The electricity supply to the whole country has been drastically cut back, with the farm only receiving a few hours of electricity each day. This has resulted in enormous diesel consumption, as generators work around the clock to cure the tobacco crop.

The next farming hurdle will be whether there is enough electricity supply to grow a winter wheat crop. Running irrigation pivots and pumps, off generators, is just not viable.

This in turn will have a knock on effect on an already failing Zimbabwe economy.

Travel.

Aberfoyle.

We entered the new year with a trip to Aberfoyle, in the Eastern part of the country. This was a wonderful fun trip with friends, which you can read all about here: Our Trip to Aberfoyle Lodge in the Honde Valley, Zimbabwe.

Nyanga.

We then had a mid January trip to Nyanga. We went with two family members who were visiting us from Canada. You can read all about this trip here: Our Eastern Highlands Adventure in Nyanga.