The email was sent. The response was poor. But a decision was made that we would go ahead. It was only much later on that we started to get a better response to the first HO/FOPs family weekend to be held at Madikwe Game Reserve. We officially had 16 children – 19 if you count a few adults who thought they were kids, but I will elaborate much later! The weekend was then officially named the "Madikwe Eco Challenge".

The date was August 6 to 9. For most of us who love Madikwe so much, a chance to spend a long weekend there was first prize. So on Friday at 03h45 when my alarm went off, I bounced out of bed to get the family together and leave for our 2^nd home.

Most of Friday was spent either in the car or putting up tents. Our illustrious "ring leader" Sir Pomeroy arrived feeling rather down with a bout of the flu, needless to say, he gathered his harem of women to put up his tent as he sat on the loafer drinking "tea". (I must say that he really did not look well).

As requested by Rusty, the braai on Friday night was a compulsory one in that we had to sit and eat together. Dinner was at the "Nduna" fire and a brief was then given to all who had arrived. I had by this stage met most of the "little angels" who were going to be spending most of their time with the "moms". It was already at this stage that we realized the vast array of personalities we had – taking into account that the ages varied from 5 years old to 17 years. We definitely had a gladiator in our midst, explorers by numbers, wizards as well as the challengers.