Fancy Stitch

Summer seems to be upon us. That is to say that it is very hot today. I have been told that it will not get much hotter. I am relieved. It is a Wednesday so Sophie is here cleaning the house. I feel very guilty that we have a maid to clean while I am sitting on my backside waiting for the strike to end. Sophie is superb. She works incredibly hard and leaves the place spotless. Her visits remind me that I need to keep working on my Zulu. She is no longer impressed by the few words I can speak. She knows I can do better. I confessed that I have been lazy of late learning my 10 words a day.

We went on Monday for lunch at a place called ‘Fancy stitch’. It is a restaurant and a crafts business. It was started up by the wife of the senior doctor at the hospital – Daniel Heese. The restaurant is lovely but survives off regular visits by the doctors. Mary has already developed an addiction to their milkshakes. Ordering food can be a little like pressing the Ipod Shuffle button (i.e. random outcome). This time, they got everything right. Then, as we were leaving, we were chased down by a waitress carrying a chocolate brownie and ice cream. Apparently we had also ordered it. In ‘pooh bear mode’ we gladly sat down for a second dessert.

Next door to the restaurant is the main business. It is a craft workshop. It sells embroidered art. All the art is produced in Ingwavuma. Approximately 500 women provide work ‘free lance’. They are given the materials and are paid for what they produce. Many of the women have HIV. The work they produce is terrific. You will get a chance to sample it in your upcoming birthdays and Christmases. The business has become very successful. They have shown their work across the country and have even exhibited abroad e.g. in the UK. You can find out more about them at http://www.fancy.org.za/.