When I was in Israel at the WIZO seminar I met a lovely lady from the UK delegation, she also happens to be an ex-Saffa and a wonderful lady. We have kept in contact on Facebook and today we when we where having a chat she mentioned that she was going to be participating in the AVIV Challenge in April. She will be going to Israel for a while to live and work on one of the projects that WIZO raises funds for. In order to do this she needs sponsorship and is almost half way there.
Please take a look here for more info on Darcy and the AVIV Challenge and to see if you are able to help her out.
I’ve been here 2 full days and am having an absolute blast, I don’t have access all the time so for now I will just give you a rundown of my first few days.
We arrived at the airport very very very VERY early, like 2 hours before check in opened… We sat and had coffee/lemonade and then made our way back to the check in area where we met up with Dominique who was up from CT for the WIZO SA conference. We checked through and made our way through passport control. We did a little browsing, Dom bought some jeans and had an early dinner as she doesn’t eat on planes.
We eventually boarded and got ready to take off. The Turkish airways plane was very comfortable and the entertainment was not to shabby. I was a bit disappointed that one of the advertised movies was not in fact a selection and landed up reading most of a novel I had bought. I managed to sleep for a few hours and of course after waking a few times during the night, I slept straight through the cabin lights being switched on and breakfast!
Dom made an excellent travel companion as she slept through most of the flight and didn’t insist on chit chat!
The only downside to the first leg of our journey was the incredible ear ache I developed on our descent into Istanbul. I really thought I was going to burst an eardrum and need to be hospitalised on landing!
The second flight was relatively painless, from the security check point and passport control, to boarding and the flight itself. I ate the snack with gusto as I was starving at this point.
Matt and I!
My brother Matthew was at the airport to great us and I couldn’t help but almost squeeze the life out of him when I hugged him. He bargained with a taxi driver and didn’t win, 160NIS was a bit steep for a taxi ride to the hotel so we opted to catch a train into Tel Aviv at 14NIS this was much better, we then caught a taxi from the station to the hotel which only cost 35NIS.
I had a small battle with my cheque card at check in and Matt rescued me by putting the hold on his credit card while I sorted out the shit with my bank. Damn Std Bank had put a hold on my card because they thought it had been stolen, Paul contacted Std Bank and within half an hour the issue was sorted.
We spent a fantastic day together, it was great to catch up with him, I love his sense of humor and I think he was very happy to have someone here who actually thinks he is funny and gets his sense of humor! He went back to Jerusalem as I had a full day of touring the next day and we met up again for dinner on Thursday night and he slept in my room so that today we could travel together to Jerusalem to spend Shabbos with family!
My room was is lovely. Very luxurious but all the way at the end of the passage so a bit of a trek, I need the exercise though so I don’t really mind. The delegate from India was supposed to arrive on Wednesday, she never rocked up and didnt pitch on Thursday either, I hope that I don’t have to pay for the full room…
My viewDominique, myself and our amazing driver, Arye
On Wed afternoon we were taken to Beit Halochem which is a post all on its own.
Tonight was the first ever WIZO AVIV Shaffa event: Lola Montez and Bringing Sexy Back.
It was fantastic. Sharon from Lola Montez was a scream. The daiquiris were delish and the ladies that attended were fabulous.
We learnt about the clitoris, the difference between a dildo and a vibrator, three things that automatically make you feel sexier (high heals, sexy undies and red lipstick) and that the most important factor to being sexy is attitude.
The venue was a bit on the large side but that being the only issue, I can, with the utmost confidence say that the evening was a success.
I had a moment last night where panic set in… What if no one turns up, what if the food is bad, what if people hate it and leave early?
I was so upset that I got out of bed and went to Paul for a hug. I sat on his lap and cuddled and told him all my fears. He asked a few key questions and suddenly I realised Im not worried about people coming, we have already sold so many tickets and the food will be great and everyone will have a fantastic time.
The WIZO AVIV Shaffa ladies have worked our butts off to make this a success and I have every confidence that that is exactly what it will be!
Now this morning I am so excited I could burst. This is going to be an amazing event with amazing women.
A day to not only celebrate but embrace your womanhood, to own your sexuality and your sensuality.
What better way to do that but to help disadvantaged woman. And children. And soldiers in need of rehabilitation.
WIZO AVIV Shaffa is proud to host a womans day celebration aimed at empowering you!
SAVE THE DATE!
Lola Montez will be entertaining us, toys and lingerie will be on sale on the evening. Entrance is R100 and includes cocktails and nibbles. A lucky draw with fantastic prizes is also on the cards.