AFRICA! What can I say? Nothing like the picture I had in my mind: the images of men in safari suits, zebras, lions and blazing sun.

The Jo'burg we flew into was experiencing an unusually cold start to their winter.

It's a vast new city and is of the moment, with huge new buildings and equally huge shopping malls, all busy, filled with people shopping, spending and eating in the many American-influenced cafes.

But a day later we saw another Africa, the remnants I hope, of a way of life that is almost over.

We were in a township that had grown up around a gold mine, now defunct, so with no work as the mine had closed, the people were left with nowhere to go and no money.

We spent the day with Tansia and family in the house that they had bought from the mining company with their payoff from the same company, £150.

I use the word house very loosely. It was one small room, a concrete hut with a corrugated tin roof, the kitchen the size of a toilet in one corner, so three adults and four children lived, slept and cooked in this very confined space.

The strange thing is they all looked content and healthy and the feeling of family and community was very, very strong.

We had to cook a meal for her family and 'us' in that 'kitchen', but the neighbours all rallied round helping by lending their plates and cooking on their stoves (two gas rings).

Everyone got fed.

When I gave one child a bag of crisps or sweets they immediately shared it with the children around them without being prompted.

Why did that impress me?

They are working us hard. Thursday, I was down the deepest mine in the world, yes the world!

Two and a half miles deep, it takes the 'cage' 10 minutes to descend and your ears pop, not a trip for the claustrophobic especially when after walking, riding, climbing and crawling we got to the gold face.

It was hot as hell and humid because they spray water to keep the dust down.

Our taskmasters Sandy and Duncan who prepare the itinerary, spare folk like me nothing in search of pleasing you, the viewing public.

They are absolutely dedicated, so it's a good job they are nice to us as well.

We are off to Ghana. I know absolutely nothing about it. I've only just found out how to spell it.

I just hope it's warm, I've been frozen ever since we go here.

I'm having to admit that being away from home is a bit difficult for me.

I miss seeing how my building project is going, want to walk into town and see familiar faces, read the Telegraph, chew over my past, nag Bill, watch Corrie.

I suppose I have to admit at heart I'm a creature of habit.

Hell, I'll have to go or I'll be weeping in my gin and tonic.