Page 69 - Gilbert & Me_Neat

your character and morals, so when I know I have a debt, I really struggle with it and want to
take care of it as quickly as I can. The second is more recent – just last month. The t shirts were
supposed to have been sponsored, but the sponsored pulled out right after the t shirts were
produced, so I’ll have to cover that bill.

However, I was asked earlier this month to submit all my rugby-related receipts, for expenditure
in 2017/2018 financial year, to the Olympic Committee – seems the Pan-American Sports
Organisation would like to disperse some extra cash to Olympic-registered sports groups, to help
them cover sports related activities and purchases. So, hopefully, I might get some
reimbursement. That will help me financially – Rugby Belize has cost me personally, since
initial set-up over $10,000 with recovering a single cent. I don’t begrudge that at all, but some
relief right now would be very welcome.

On this date, one month ago, myself and some of the Vikings and Hummingbird Rugbiers were
enjoying ourselves on a teambuilding exercise – the first of many I have planned. This first one
was arranged with the Belize Zoo. We were going to be working with their Maintenance crew,
repairing the drainage ditches around Tapir Town (the Zoo’s Tapir enclosure). So, early that
Saturday, I picked up Selvin, Lemuel, Michael, Anthony, Frank and Ryan and met up with Ash
and Chris at the Zoo. Each got a special t shirt for the event, and we reported to reception for the
day’s activities.
Our supervisor was a friendly chap, but I’m not sure he knew exactly how to handle a bunch of
willing slaves for the day, but, we got stuck in and a couple of hours later, managed to dig out
and repair a trench running right around Tapir Town. It was approximately one foot wide, with
varying depths, and looked great. We were also supervised by a couple of very curious Tapirs
who frequently came up to the enclosing fence to see what was going on. The fact that we were
constantly feeding them some of the vegetation we were removing might have also attracted
them, but these friendly creatures kept us company the whole time.

After lunch in the Zoo’s cafeteria, we were given a guided tour of the Zoo, which was very
informative and enjoyable, especially when we came upon their HUGE Alligator, just lounging
about, eyeing us and a couple of other people standing nearby. I think they were measuring him
or doing something necessary, but that ‘Gator just laid there….waiting…. I was glad when it
eventually about turned and slithered off into some murky water nearby. But, I have to say, as
the beast moved off, you kinda got an impression of these things millions of years ago, living in
this same environment, slipping into and climbing out of murky rivers and pools seeking a meal.
Huge ‘Gator

I know….well, you try drawing a huge Gator using msword!