We depart Heathrow Airport at 9.00pm on the 25th for our overnight flight to Johannesbourg.  We land at Joburg airport on the 26th and therein starts our adventure. 
After realising that the car we had hired was way too small, even with one driver and three guys sitting on the roof, we launch the negotiation strategy of swapping a football shirt to get a VW combi 8 seater van at a local price, with Sat Nav included. 
We arrive in Tlokweng Gaborone, some six hours later. Mr Madikwe (village father of Tlokweng orphanage) meets us in a local petrol station to guide us into the village.  He is accompanied by 20 children in a minibus who burst into song singing "lean on me" in perfect accapella.  The first tear jerker of the week.  
Derek James the National Director takes us to dinner at the local steak restaurant and gives the guys an overview of the orphanages that we will be visiting and changes that have occured since last years visit. Then off to bed for an early start .   

First day in Tlokweng village.   We set up various classes for the children. Arts and crafts, a 20 a side game of football and rugby coaching .  The children really enjoyed the games and flitted between activities trying to get the most out of the day.  After a short break for lunch we set about changing round the activities so that the guys could interact with more of the children.  We did martial arts, boxing coaching, more football and a game of rounders which had most of the children joining in.

That evening, we put on our travelling cinema experience by showing Monsters inc.  What a day!

After our night having drinks at the prison officers mess, we left at 7am for Serowe.  This is where PV is sponsoring the building of a new house.  We arrived mid morning after crossing the Tropic of Capricorn.  This village is new and has 70 children, with the oldest being 14.  The range of activities centred mainly around arts.

We dug out a football field and cleared it of thorns for the children to have a play area.  Whilst it is no Wembley it does give a relatively safe area to play team games and now hopefully is relatively free of thorns. 

Today we took the kids to school and became the star attractions when we handed out sweets to all of the children . This caused a near riot with James having to stand on a chair to escape the children.

We also met the chief of Serowe, (which is the largest village in the world) and discussed the work that we were doing with SOSCV.  He then gave us an escorted visit to the tomb of Seretse Khama.

That afternoon we went on safari to Khama Rhino Sanctuary which is a must see if you visit Serowe.  That evening the travelling cinema showed Monsters Inc to all of the children and there carers.

We then went to dinner at the Serowe hotel with Mr Molefe the village father of Serowe.  He said to the guys "you will never know what difference you have made, these children have never been given an experience like that before".

Before we leave for Francistown the kids are at our door demanding a quick game of five a side.  We give a full kit to the under 14 boys, split the teams up equally and the game is in deadlock.  A penalty shoot out is required and after 11 saved or missed penalties there can be only one winner and yes I scored the winning penalty. (please ask me about it when you see me next).

By the time that we had got into the van to leave for Francistown, each boy had washed out his soccer kit and had it drying on the line.

Off to Francistown.  Met Lydia the village director of 250 children.  The older children assisted us in marashalling all of the younger children together and organising the activities.   This certainly helped us from being over run.  

Again similar activites as at Tlokweng village and the movie of monsters inc was shown.  We finished the evening in Francistown centre at Nandos and a few drinks at a local bar. 

With the kids enjoying there new football kit and the toys that have been given,  a football match is arranged against a local team.  James decides that he will play and after 30 minutes the heat gets to him and he allows all of the Didier Drogba wannabees to play there game.  The rest of us spend the afternoon playing rounders and doing rugby training for both the girls and boys, who enjoyed the challenge of catching the ball and being dressed in their rugby bibs.  That evening we showed the incredibles in our travelling cinema and spent the evening relaxing in our apartment reflecting on a fabulous couple of days in Francistown.

After our long drive back from Francistown, we spent the afternoon playing rounders, football and rugby.  That evening we put on our final cinema performance by showing the Incredibles, and by the time it was over, we were well and truly exhausted. 

The children led by their musical director Andrew then treated us to a special concert from their Junior and Senior Marimba bands, culminating in the song lean on me. No more words were spoken and there was not a dry eye in the house when you realise how grateful the children were. 

We had a final dinner with Derek, who thanked us for all of our hard work and then said our goodbye's to him, which really was not easy.

Today we rise early as we have to return to Johannesbourg to fly home.  After saying goodbye to the kids, who queue to be given our remaining wet wipes and toiletries we head off via Sun City which is the Las Vegas of South Africa, with a man made beach and wave pool.  So after the busy week, it is great to sit back, chill out and take in some rays. "Now this is a reaason to come back next year".

Another overnight flight back home, we all return home with that indelible smile on our hearts.