Spring is suddenly here and my birthday is next week. So for some badly needed relaxation I'd be heading to Toro Safari Lodge in Kasane, Botswana for some sleep and animal watching.

Though it's only for two days, I'm sure my body will love me for the rest. These past months have been hectic with a new job that just doesn't let up and some personal problems. Mind and body is tired and it shows all over.

When I knew I wanted to go away for my birthday and that I felt like a safari holiday, I looked around for a citizen-friendly holiday package to the Chobe/Okavango area, but I was disappointed as the packages were more inclined towards the foreign travellers from countries like the US and the UK. It is bloody expensive to travel in my own country and the only affordable holiday is to camp and I HATE camping. I want a bed, a nice clean bathroom and a restaurant with a chef. I know, I'm spoilt but what can I say... It's what I want.

So to get that I had to really dig in my pockets and being in public service, the pockets won't that deep. Toro Safari Lodge come to my rescue with it's affordable chalet, game drive and boat cruise. I just wish that Botswana's Tourism board really looks into making travelling within the country affortable to the common man who wants to see his/her own country. It can't be good that the people who get to enjoy this beautiful country are the ones that come from the west and the few that are rich here.

Hollywood is finally coming to our neck of the wood's. And I thought South Africa was going to be the only one that enjoyed the fruits of film making.

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books that are written by Alexander McCall Smith, a Scots man who fall in love with Botswana while teaching here, will be turned into a television show starring Jill Scott.

The American media has wrongly reported that the books are based in South Africa, while in actual fact they are based in Botswana, which is why the show will be filmed here. Ads for cast and crew have been in the local newspaper and a certain buzz of 'fame and fortune' has started to surround Gaborone.

I'm excited because I finally have a chance to see a real film crew working and my favourite singer, Jill Scott at the same time. If only she will do a show as well, it will make my year. Such beauty, such a voice...If I have a chance to speak to her I will ask her about the song 'Daydreaming' with Lupe.

I wonder how they are going to do the Botswana accent? Bad I'm sure as Americans have failed when it has come to South African accents in films. And ours is harder too.

When I was in Scotland I tried to read the book, but I thought the characters were too stereotypical of Batswana so I didn't enjoy it that much, but it seems that it is a hit. Who knew? But some one's bread is some one's stone I guess.

Can't wait to see how the TV series will turn out.

The US Department of health and Human Services have released a report stating that 'abstinence only' programmes have not been working and that half of the students who have taken part in these programmes have not abstained.

This really got me thinking because in Botswana (which has the highest HIV/AIDS rates in Southern Africa) the government organisations and Non-governmental organisations have preached ABC (Abstain, Be faithful and Condomise). The ABC's have obviously not gone down well because the HIV numbers keep going up and more babies are being born with the virus.

So what is wrong? Me and my friend (who has recently worked for an HIV/AIDS NGO) always ponder this question and what we come up with is that the A and C are the ones that are always in the limelight by the B is always left behind. We know that if a person doesn't have belief in abstinence, no matter how many times you entice them with silver rings, they will not abstain. We live in a world that tells everyone who will listen that S-E-X is good and should be had and if you're not having it, there is something wrong. So what do you think someone young or even not that young will do? They will have sex of cause.

Of cause the C is very important in the message of safe sex but in moments of drunk fondlings and 'we trust each other' moments, the C word is very much forgotten until the test comes back negative.

So why is the B pushed aside? It seems that here in Botswana it is fun to have three or four relationships all at the same time and this is attributed to all the sexes regardless if they are male or female, multiple relationships are the in thing. So no one wants to hear about Be faithful...Be faithful? What is that?

But if we don't have the ABC all working together how do we hope to fight this virus? If you can't abstain which we all know is very difficult for some, why can't one be faithful with one partner and for the both of them to stick to that partner. If one strays, why can't they be honest and use a condom? It seems so simple but obviously very hard.