Author Archives: puppy1952

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Fun, Fishing and Hijinks at the Southern Tip of Africa Day 6 and 7

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 16 july 2009

fishing

The weather was beautiful today.  There was no wind and the sky was sparkling blue.  Earl and Greg took the boys to sea with the intention of returning before 12.  But they enjoyed themselves so much that they stayed out until half past two.   Jay caught the biggest fish – a red roman, Earl caught a smaller one and a white stump.   Joshua caught two small Hottentots and they all caught sharks and barble.

While they were at sea, I packed up as much as I could, swept the house, went to refuel and went to the supermarket to replenish the snacks.

We left Struisbaai at half past four and took the dirt road to Kleinbaai.   Some parts were pocked with potholes, others were slippery after the rains, and I found I really had to concentrate on my driving.  

Our house is a double storey with a stunning view of the sea.   The boys have to share a room with one double bed and a single mattress.   Earl and I have a double room with en suite bathroom, Michael Pulcella and Greg are sharing a room and Gus and Jacky have the other double room upstairs next to ours with a separate entrance to the bathroom.  The open plan kitchen/lounge/dining room is also upstairs.

After a delicious supper of steak, chops, sausage, sweet potato and salad the boys, still full of unrestrained energy engaged in a raucous pillow fight.   I warned, “Boys, this will end in tears!” and not five minutes later one was crying because another had roughly tangled his head in a pillowslip.   I calmed them down, gave them hot chocolate, and encouraged them to settle down for the night. It was after 9 o’clock and it didn’t take long for silence to rein as the drifted off to probably dream of the big one jumping onto their lines.

friday 17 july 2009

          fishing

Mike Pulcella is part of the team that will fish in the competition.  Earl can only take six on the boat and so the boys had to decide which two would stay behind today.   Jay is in the league so he will get to fish in the competition so he and Leo decided to let the younger two go today.

The beautiful still, clear skies almost fooled us into thinking it would be a warm morning.   The chill bit into one’s bones the minute one left the cosiness of the duvet.   Earl warmed us up with his now famous scrambled eggs etc and the anglers went off to seek their quota.   While I went to Gansbaai to shop, Jay and Leo went off to explore the rock pools, which are right opposite our house.   I was gone less than an hour but they did not give up their pursuit of the klipvis until half past one.  I popped across to see how they were doing and they proudly showed me their catch safely preserved in a zip-lock bag!   They were disappointed when I explained that their pets would have to be released before they came home.

Meanwhile at sea, the anglers saw great white sharks leap out of the sea next to the shark boats.   They also observed whales breaching right next to the boat.   As if that were not thrill enough, they also had their adrenaline rush when they all caught some impressive red roman and stump.  Daniel also caught an octopus.  

After cleaning the boat and having something to eat, they went off on their bikes, played cards and went off on their bikes again.   My only rule is – no running in the house – but even that is disobeyed!

Jacky and Gus arrived just after 7 o’clock and we had fried fish for supper.   The boys got up to high jinks again but soon settled down after a cup of hot chocolate and some stern words from ‘grand dragon’

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Fun, Fishing and Hijinks at the Southern Tip of Africa Day 5

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Wednesday 15 july 2009 

Arniston

Another ‘Early’ breakfast had everybody out of bed, dressed, and ready for another action-filled day.   It was too windy to go to sea so we decided to take a drive to Arniston.   On the way, we looked out for interesting birds and wild life, being particular hopeful of spotting a Denham’s bustard of two.   We were in luck!   We spotted springbok, yellow mongoose, grysbok, guinea fowl in flocks of over 50 each, weavers, bokmakieries, stonechats, Cape sparrows, grey herons, black headed herons, hadedas, sacred ibis, cattle egrets, little egrets, blacksmith lapwings, crowned lapwings and many other common birds.   I encouraged everybody to look out for the bustard when suddenly I spotted a small flock of blue crane and at a distance in the same field more than 20 Denham bustards dotted about.   We have seen these birds before but never so many all together.   I checked the bird book and it did mention that they are seen in either pairs or small flocks.  This is by far the biggest flock I have ever seen.

We drove around Arniston and then took the boys to the big sand dune near the famous cave.   We did not end up exploring the cave as the dune was a great attraction and they spent a couple of happy hours running up and down and rolling in the sand.   Greg walked to the cave but as it was so cold I decided to stay in the car and read my book.

We got back at lunchtime, gave the boys rolls and left over steak and fish from yesterdays meals and as soon as they were finished, they raced off to the harbour with their fishing rods.  Earl and Greg joined them an hour or so later. 

While I had the house free I did a quick clean up of the cesspit they called their bedroom.  I unearthed wet towels, discarded underwear, damp fishing clothes and smelly socks.  I folded the sleeping bags, swept the beach from the floor and hung up the wet things.  

The car, too, needed a spring-clean so I did a rubbish removal and sand excavation from there too.   Nobody noticed but it made me feel better

At 4 o’clock they returned from the harbour and immediately left with Earl and Greg to go ‘real’ fishing down the big beach.

They had fun trying to catch fish at the big beach and when they got back, they got on their bikes and went to the harbour again.   Daniel hurt his foot and he and Josh came back and had a bath. In the mean time, Jay and Leo found that there were some ‘big’ small fish in the harbour. Jay came back to fetch a bucket and encouraged Josh and Dan to return to the harbour.  They did – in their pyjamas!   At quarter to seven, we sent Greg to fetch them!  Belinda phoned to speak to Leo.  I had to explain that we’d lost her son!  She didn’t believe me until I explained that the boys refused to come home!

  For supper we had ribs, chops, sausage, sweet potatoes, butternut, cauliflower and broccoli.

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Fun, Fishing and Hijinks at the Southern Tip of Africa Day 4

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tuesday 14 july 2009

fishing

Last night we told the boys to go to bed straight after “Survivor” but we heard them until much later than that.  This morning I found that they had not gone to their beds at all but had slept on the couches in the lounge and Jay had passed out on the Lazy Boy!     They all declared that they’d slept very well thank you.  Greg said he’d encouraged them to go to their own bed but they’d refused!   Boys!

It was freezing when Earl got up to check the weather at half past seven.  The rain had gone and the sea was calm so he rallied the lads and whipped up another stunning breakfast, which they quickly wolfed down, and off they went.  I, the chief cook and bottle washer, only got out of bed once they’d left and quickly tidied up.   I took a load of wet and sandy clothes to the laundry, picked up a few supplies and then returned to relax and read my book!  No sooner had I sat down to do this diary when the cell sang out and it was Earl to tell me – “Daniel caught lunch – a lovely big red roman!”   Well done, Danny!  

They returned at 2 o’clock and I went to the harbour to meet them and take photographs.   There was a slight mishap when the Toyota was stuck in the mud as Greg tried to pull the boat out of the water.   They had to take the boat off again.  Luckily, there was a chap with a 4×4 at the harbour and he kindly towed Earl out using the anchor rope!   Greg had wanted to use the other slipway but Earl thought it would be okay. So they had to go to plan A, anyway!

The boys all caught fish, some being sharks which they threw back.  After the boat was washed and the fish cleaned, Earl fried their catch and they ate with relish!    Daniel was particularly proud to be eating fish that he caught himself.

After lunch, they Greg dropped them at the dunes where they built ‘forts’ and ‘bases’.  There is no keeping them still while the sun is shining.   They told Greg to fetch them at 6 o’clock.  But at quarter to six, they phoned to say, “Please can we stay until 7 o’clock.”   Greg and Earl were already on their way to the shop and to collect the intrepid explorers, but when they arrived they allowed them to play a little longer.  Jay forgot to appreciate the privilege and tried to hide when Earl called them to get into the bakkie.   To teach him a lesson he left without him and made him walk for quite a while.   He was very upset when he arrived home. It was his own fault but he couldn’t see it that way.  I told him that he should think about it and reminded him that his grandfather and I had warned him several times about his attitude.   It didn’t take long for him to get over it and he was soon back with the group enjoying every minute of the rest of the evenings activities – singing in front of the fire, playing soccer in the dark and performing in front of the adults after supper.   They decided once again to sleep in the lounge and we heard the chatting continue to well after 10 o’clock.

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Fun, Fishing and Hijinks at the Southern Tip of Africa Day 3

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Monday, 13 July 2009

Wreck museum

We woke up to the sound of pelting rain at half past seven this morning.   Oh no – a wet and cold day – what will we do now?   We roused everybody (they only got to bed at 11 o’clock last night), gave them scrambled eggs, kidneys, bacon and mushrooms for breakfast then set off to the Maritime Museum in Bredasdorp.   After exploring its every nook and cranny and resisting the temptation to touch the fascinating exhibits and to climb onto ox-wagons, old hearses and ancient fire trucks we did some shopping at the Spar and returned to Struisbaai.  The sun was shining in Bredasdorp but as we got closer to Struisbaai, the weather got worse.   It poured and so boat fishing was out of the question.  Undaunted the intrepid anglers, equipped with new hooks and frozen bait made their way to the harbour and spent a cold and wet hour casting their lines – but no luck.  They radioed Captain Grandpa to fetch them and returned wet and bedraggled.  

They changed into dry clothes and then played cards, did a few charades and then hopped on the bikes and raced off as soon as the sun peeped out again.

Earl, Greg and I prepared a curry for supper and it is bubbling on the stove in its big black pot as I write.   A landscaper came and measured up and gave us a quote to fix our lawn, plant a rockery and some other indigenous plants in our garden.   The boys came back from riding just as he left and Earl and Greg piled them into the Caravelle and they’ve gone off to climb to the top of the Agulhas lighthouse, while I have a couple of hours to relax!

The returned with stories of what fun they had.  They climbed to the top of the lighthouse then went to the southernmost point where Greg took photographs to prove that it happened!

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Fun, Fishing and Hijinks at the Southern Tip of Africa Day 2

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Sunday 12 july

de hoop nature reserve

We got up at half past eight this morning.  Earl said it was not a good day for fishing so we should take the boys to de Hoop.  He set about making a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, tomato, bacon and banana on toast and by 9:30, we were packed and ready to go.   “You would never get my family out of the house so quickly,” Daniel pipe up.   “We always take hours to get ready!”

Welcome to our life, Danny boy!

The rain held off and it was a pleasant drive to the reserve.  On the way, we saw blue crane, one or two jackal buzzards, a few grey and black headed herons, pied starlings, common fiscals, bokmakieries, canaries and weavers.    In one farm field, we saw flocks of Egyptian and Spur wing geese interspersed with grey herons and pied starlings.    The boys did not know much about birds but they showed a great deal of interest.   We also spotted a number of yellow mongooses in the farmlands.  

As we entered the park, we spotted three ospreys flying overhead.   We concluded that they must have been a male and female with their fledgling.   We also saw a black sparrow hawk but could not get good photographs of any of these birds.  The first buck we saw were bontebok of which there are many in the park.   Koppie Allen was our first stop and we took a walk down to the beach.  The boys were thrilled to see an accessible sand dune and raced up to play on it.   Greg, Earl and I continued to the beach and explored the rocks before the boys came to join us.  Two beautiful African Black Oystercatchers sunned themselves on a rock and I saw Cape weavers in the dune vegetation as well as a prinia and some bulbuls.   After examining the life in the rock pools and some scrambling over rocks we made our way back.  The boys ran ahead and as it was low tide discovered the cave!   The adults left them to play, climbed up to the outlook, and scanned the bay for whales – luck was with us and we observed three frolicking happily in the bay.  

I had to go back to drag the boys away from their ‘strandloper’ cave and they were quite disappointed when I explained that nobody would have lived in a cave that the tide washed into on a daily basis.  However, I said, they probably used it as a daytime shelter.  That consoled them.

By this time, it was after one and all the activity had stimulated the young appetites and so we headed for the restaurant which has been up and running for a year now.  As we arrived, I noticed some unusual looking buck and made Earl do a u-turn to check them out.  They were eland – lovely to see as they are not very common.

 The menu did not indicate anything appealing for kids and so I suggested they go for a mussel starter – but the faces said it all – they wanted junk food!   Fortunately, the friendly owner noticed and said, what do you want for lunch?  “Hamburgers!” came the reply.  The waitress said – “he is not the waiter – hasn’t your mother taught you not to talk to strangers?   We have pizza – what kind would you like? “ The faces lit up and in unison they all said, “Hawaiian”  Except Jay – he dithered as he really loves mussels but in the end he couldn’t resist what the others had chosen.  Greg doesn’t eat mussels but Earl and I decided to have a starter portion each, and we all had the cob with a mild curry sauce and vegetables.   I knew that Jay and Josh would help me with the mussels but ended up having only one  as the other two decided that they looked two delicious to miss!   Next time I will insist that they have ‘proper’ food and skip the kids’ pizza – if there is a next time!

After lunch the weather turned for the worse and it poured all the way home.  We’d heard that it had been stormy and miserable in Cape Town all day so we were not surprised that it had caught up with us too.   I hope that tomorrow will clear up because these boys are dying to fish.

Once home they played cards for a while then got itchy feet and jumped onto the bikes and rode to the harbour.    They returned begging to go back to fish off the harbour wall but they did not have the right tackle. 

Earl and Greg went to get two pizzas for supper and together with the left over ones from lunch this is what we had for supper.   We went to bed at 8:30 leaving the boys to watch a bit of television.  It was late before they finally quietened down and went to sleep!

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Fun Fishing and Hijinks at the Southern Tip of Africa Day 1

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Saturday 11 july 2009

off to struibaai

Finally, the great day of departure had arrived.  Jay and Joshua’s two friends, Leo and Daniel slept over last night, all the luggage was packed and we just needed to pack the food and overnight bagss, hook the trailer to my Caravel and leave.  

The house was dark and silent when I arose and crept about doing those last minute chores and ticking off my checklist. I always have a phobia that a vital item will be forgotten and then because of it the holiday will be ruined!   Once I was satisfied, I woke Earl and when we were almost ready, we got the four excited boys out of bed, gave them a quick bowl of cereal and by 7:30 we were on our way – the boys and I following Grandpa and Greg who were towing the ‘cat’ Kiora.  As we left, I told the boys to say a silent prayer to God to look after us.    Jay decided that he would say the prayer aloud and said, “Dear God, please protect us on this trip, make sure we don’t crash and keep us safe and Grandpa and Greg too.”     “Did you hear the prayer, Grandpa and Greg?”  he’d pressed in the button of his walkie-talkie while he prayed!   “Yes thank you Jay,” came Greg’s reply.

By way of explanation – Greg is 21 years old and crews on Whale Rider and Kiora for Earl.   He will be fishing in the competition at Kleinbaai next Saturday and it is his penance to help look after the boys this week!

I checked the time on the dashboard clock and at the same time noticed the fuel gauge.  I had forgotten to fill up!  So Jay was once again given the opportunity to call his grandfather to inform him that would stop for Diesel in Fish Hoek.

As we travelled, we watched a stunning sunrise as Cape Town was graced with yet another clear sunny day.   The temperature, however, did not rise above 15⁰.   Earl stopped in Grabouw to buy meat at a friendly butchery whose fare is the best in the Western Cape!  I continued and the trip was smooth with only one stop/go and very little traffic.   The boys were chatty but well behaved and played the odd game of car cricket but otherwise just enjoyed each other’s company.  Daniel’s mom had packed each boy a snack pack so I did not have to worry about handing out from the general one with contributions from all.   We have so much ‘lekkergoed’ that I doubt we will get through it all!

I tried to make the trip educational and gave snippets of information from time to time – we are on Baden-Powell Road – note the birdlife here – do you see any oystercatchers on Strandfontein beach – we are now on the N2 –We are passing through Somerset West – this mountain pass is called Sir Lowry’s.  At the bottom of the pass we have the turnoff to Grabouw village – Grandpa is getting our meat there.   Now we turn into Caledon – we are halfway there now – two more towns – Napier and Bredasdorp then we turn off to Struisbaai.   I also pointed out the birdlife.  Jay and Joshua remembered the names of some but the other boys were new to birding.  They did know the national bird was THE BLUE CRANE  – there was a huge flock in a field just outside Caledon.   A few minutes after giving them the information I tested them – what is the name of the pass we have just been over, what is the town we have just been through? They gave me some amusing answers – Canada!  – for Caledon – Sir Laurie’s pass for Sir Lowry’s – omigosh – hopefully they will get it on the way home!

We left the petrol station at 7:50 and after a splendid 215km drive, arrived at our holiday house at 10:25.   Earl and Greg arrived half an hour later, which was not bad going since he was towing a boat and stopped to buy meat.

While we were waiting for the guys to arrive, Jay and Leo walked to the beach and Daniel rode around on one of the bikes.  Then again, after they’d helped unpack they hopped on the bikes and went to explore Struisbaai.

I made ham and avo rolls for lunch, and then Earl and Greg took them for a drive to Agulhas.  They made a noisy return at 14:00 and then raced off on their bikes again. 

After tea, they all jumped into the back of the Hi-Lux and Earl took them to the dunes where they clearly had a ball.   While they were gone, I prepared the braai salads and then went to the shop to get the boys a pack of cards, drawing books, crayons, pencils, and more juices for tomorrow.  

We braaied steak, chops and sausage and the kids ate like the growing boys they are!  After supper, they set up their beds and after a bit of hi-jinks we all sat down and watched Strictly Come Dancing on T.V!

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Kokstad Clan Visit Cape Town

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Saturday
25 April 2009

Morning

Earl, Gus and Jay went fishing
very early this morning but the weather was so bad that they abandoned the
exhibition and arrived home wet and cold at about 11.

I made 4 quiches for lunch as well as a milk tart.  I used my grandmother’s recipe which I have
not used for 20 years. 

Lisa went to shop for her birthday party and then
took my car to fetch the Kokstad Kids from the airport.  Josh went with her

They all arrived at about 2.  It was lovely to see Lauren, Allan and the
kids again.  We haven’t seen them since
January.   Allan starts a new job when
they get back.  He will be project managing
something that will take him away from home for 3 to 4 days a week.

Shannon can now read a little bit and proudly
showed me her skills. Simon was full of his ride in the big aeroplane.

Earl and Gus had gone to offload fish and didn’t
get back until after 3.  The family
couldn’t wait for them as they had made an early start this morning and were
starving.  Three of the quiches
disappeared very quickly.   Gus and Earl
almost finished the fourth when they came home.

It was Lisa’s birthday last week but she waited
till tonight to celebrate so that Lauren and Allan could be with us.  Dominica came to help prepare the salads and
Margaret also arrived early with her husband and 2 kids.   There were about 16 adults and 8 kids
altogether.  It stopped raining and it
was even quite pleasant outside.   Allan
organised the braaing of the meat and the party was a great success.   

Sunday,
26 April 2006

Family Lunch

We all went to Castle Rock for a lunch time braai.   The whole family and Jeff and Annaline were
there.   The weather had cleared up and
it was lovely.   The kids played in the
garden and Allan took them to the rocks.  Carrol has a mongoose that is quite tame and
appears every now and then for food.  I
saw it clearly but it was gone by the time I had my camera focussed on him.

We asked Vere and Carrol to join us on our Kruger
trip this year but they declined saying they had to sort out the house first
and perhaps next year.  Vere is going to
Sodwana next month.

Saturday,
02 May 2009

It continues to be a household full of full of fun and festivity.  Shannon has brought a touch of femininity to a household of
mini-male activity.  Simon looks like an angel but needs no
encouragement to join in Jay and Joshua’s mischief!  The soccer ball has
been kicked, the army toys litter every room and the noise is
raucous:-)   

Monday – Freedom Day

It was a public holiday on Monday – Freedom Day – Earl took Jay
and Simon fishing on the new ski-boat.   All Simon wanted to do was
catch a big fish with Grandpa.   Well the fishing wasn’t that great
but they tried for chocca and Simon was the only one to catch one – and it was
the biggest squid Grandpa had ever seen in his life!  He was very proud
but wouldn’t touch it.  Jay had to hold it for his photograph.

 Tuesday

On Tuesday, the weather improved considerably and the sun
graced us with a glorious appearance.   Lauren and Allan went to
Franschoek where they spent the night at a luxury lodge, leaving the kids with
us.   Jay and Josh had to go to school and I took  Simon and
Shannon to the beach.  What a ball these sea-starved kids had.  They
played in the sand, built castles and tunnels, pushed tip-up trucks to the
water’s edge and ran into the sea and splashed in the waves.    The
train was a great source of attention and all activity stopped as they stood
and stared as it passed by.   At lunch time I managed to coax them to
the outdoor tables of the restaurant for toasted sandwiches and hot
chocolate.   The pigeons are a bit of a nuisance and one has to be
careful they don’t steal one’s food but the kids thought they were great
fun!    After lunch it was back to the sea and it was all I
could do to persuade them to leave at 3:30 as I had to get back to do homework
with their cousins!

Lauren phoned them to say good night and Simon refused to speak
to her.  He was no trouble at all at bed-time and was asleep within
minutes.  Shannon, however, was tearful so I allowed her to fall asleep in
our bed.  J&J were outraged:-)   Earl tucked her into her
own bed when she was dead asleep but she crept back in the middle of the
night.  I was unaware of this till about 2 when I woke and saw her cuddled
right next to Earl who was almost falling out of bed.  When I woke again
in the morning, Earl was missing and Miss Muffet was snoring.  He’d gone
to finish the night in her bed.  When she woke up, I said, "That
wasn’t very nice to kick Gramps out of bed"  She giggled and said,
"My dad often has to sleep in my bed!"  So this was not a one
off thing.    No wonder daddy was so keen to get a night away
alone with his wife:-)

 Wednesday

On Wednesday, I left Lisa in charge and went off to the
hairdresser.  Sharon, her sister-in-law, Marion and I go together every 6
weeks to the same hairdresser in Town.  We spend the morning while Renee
does all 3 of us then go for lunch.   Its great fun.  I got home
just before Lauren and Allan and they reported that they’d had a brilliant
time.  They’d met friends for lunch so didn’t want much for
supper.   Laurie had also eaten out at lunch time so we just made
macaroni cheese and salad and I did a cheese cake for dessert.

 Thursday

On Thursday, Heather and I took Shannon to the Strandfontein to
see the birds.  She loved every minute of it.  She knows all the
birds she sees in her area and whenever we visit I have to show her bird
pictures on my computers.  I gave her a chart of the birds she was likely
to see and she perused it in the car.  When we started seeing birds she
named the ones she knew and immediately found the ones she didn’t on the chart.  
Heather insisted she sit in front and of course gave her little bits of
information on the birds we saw.  When we got home she showed Earl the
bird she’s seen on the chart, not forgetting the names of a single
one.   She also rattled off all the info that Heather had taught
her! 

Allan had requested Moussaka for supper and I started cooking
it at 3 and was halfway through when he came into the kitchen and informed me
that they were actually going out with friends.  Lauren was supposed to
have told me but she and Lisa had gone horse-riding and so the info was not
relayed.   I decided, therefore to save it for the next night and
Earl and I went out for Sushi.  The rest of the family had left over macaroni cheese for their supper.

Friday

On Friday Lisa organised a game of golf for Allan and
went to walk the course with them.  Lauren and I took all the kids on
a train ride from Muizenberg to Simonstown.  Earl dropped us at MZBG and
collected us at SMSTN. 

It was a huge thrill for the four of them – J&J had done it
when they were 4 and 5 and still remembered the experience. The trip cost R25
for the 6 of us.   It was great fun.  There were 6 security
guards in our coach.  The seats are not like they used to be in the old
trains – leather and comfortable – now they are bucket seats backing onto the
windows with a wide aisle for standing room.   The kids knelt on
their seats and looked out of the window and enjoyed every second.  
It was a grey overcast day but great fun nevertheless. It was raining in
Simonstown and Earl parked the Caravelle at the taxi rank.   He was
mobbed by passengers who were most disappointed when he said the bus was
pre-booked:-)

We then went for breakfast at the yacht club and then visited
Carrol and Vere at Castle Rock.

In the afternoon I went to my friend Sharon’s birthday
tea.   When I got back all I had to do was cook the moussaka, make a
salad and then I made Granny’s Milk Tart for pudding:-)  It was delicious.

Saturday

Lisa and Lauren took
the children for a photo shoot this morning. 
Earl had work to do and Allan and I went to the mall and had breakfast
at Tony’s.   Allan needed to buy a travel
bag and managed to get one at the little luggage shop for just over R700.

I did a quick
round of shopping and then we came home. 
The kids arrived shortly after and played around at home.

The girls had
thought about rolls for lunch but not sausages. Fortunately I had thought of
everything. 

In the evening Wendy
and Bryn and their kids and Shirley, Wendy’s mom, came for drinks before the
kids went off to their school reunion.    Wendy’s two
little boys had a ball playing with Jay, Josh, Simon and Shannon.   They are not allowed guns at home so guess
what was the first toy to be grabbed? 
Hee hee.

Earl and Gus had
gone off to sort out the boat and Jacky was here with Karla.   Laurie got all the kids bathed and into
pyjamas and we made wraps for supper.  

Sunday, 03 May 2009

Kokstad Kids leave

Earl and I took the
Bangays to the airport this morning. 
There were extensive queues at all the airlines but 1Time was the
worst.  Fortunately, they were travelling
Kulula and they got through within 5 minutes.  
We went to Earl‘s office afterwards and then to Fish Hoek beach for
breakfast.  It was a clear, autumn day
but still freezing sitting outdoors.  The
breakfast of Eggs Florentine was excellent.

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Struisbaai and Holidays

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Friday,
03 April 2009

Struisbaai

Earl wanted
to get away somewhere as he has not been feeling great with his high blood
pressure and hyper-tension.   I phoned
around but really at such short notice its not easy to find accommodation – and
it is the beginning of the school holidays. 
So we decided to come to Struisbaai and that’s where we are as I write.

The weather is stunning – temperatures have been in
the 40s in some places in the Western Cape.  
It took us four hours to get here as there are road works on the N2 and
we had long waits at the stop/goes.  

We stopped to shop for meat at Grabouw and groceries
at Bredasdorp. 

I was supposed to take Jay to the scout hall for
his camp departure but fortunately managed to get him a lift with Sydonne’s
mom, René.   Before we left I went to
Woolworths and bought him some tuck.

I arranged for Grace to stay late and she will come
early on Monday morning too.

Saturday,
4 April 2009

Struisbaai

The trip to Struis yesterday was hot and it was still hot when we
arrived.  We had an early braai and Earl
went to bed at half past seven.  I joined
him at 8.  I woke up very early and got
up and took photos of the sunrise.  Earl
slept on till quarter to 10!  Then got up
and made us a stunning breakfast of scrambled eggs and kidneys.  I spent most of the morning fiddling with
photographs on the computer.   We also
went to the shops and popped in to see Lynne and Glyn at the shell shop.   Clive and Margaret also arrived and told us
that their offer on a house in Struisbaai had been rejected.

In the afternoon we took a drive in the Agulhas
National Park area but the bird life was disappointing.  We went as far as Brandfontien and went for a
lovely walk along the beach. We saw a porpoise washed up on the beach – most
unusual.  There were a few oyster catchers
and some sand plovers.

Earl braaied in the evening and once again was in bed
by 8 o’clock.

Sunday,
05 April 2009

Drive to Die Mond

Earl did not sleep quite as late this morning and by half past nine had
made us another of his delicious breakfasts.  
We decided to take another drive and this time had a very rewarding trip
to Die Mond.   There were lots of Denham
bustards, hadedas, sacred ibis, sparrows, bokmakieries, blue crane and
wheat-ears as we travelled the dirt roads. 
We also saw a steppe buzzard on the ground, a few jackal buzzards, black
shouldered kites and an immature lanner falcon.   We were almost a Die Mond when a black
harrier flew in front of us and we had an excellent view of him. 

Fortunately I had my wild card as we had to pay to
go into the reserve at Die Mond.   We
walked across the suspension bridge and to the beach.  There were lots of bul-buls, yellow-eyed
canaries and sparrows en route.  On the
lagoon islands we saw little egret, gulls and oyster catchers.   It was a stunning day. At the beach a bomber
flew over and I got a good photograph of it.  
One could walk from Die Mond to Struisbaai if you were prepared to go
the 17km.

We got back to Struis at about 2 and went to the
restaurant on the beach for lunch. We both had grilled calamari.   We watched a biathlon taking
place on the open field next to the restaurant. 
The competitors had to run around the field, then to the beach, swim
some distance around some buoys then race back to the field and run around it
twice again.

When we got home I fiddled with photos and finished
my cross word puzzle.  Earl went for a
snooze and is sleeping still. Its 10 to 6

Monday,
6 April 2009

Van Riebeeck Day

We braaied late last night and went to bed after
watching some good programmes on T.V. 
This morning we packed up and left at around quarter to 10 and took the
Elim Road for a slow drive home.  We had
some good birding – Denham’s Bustard, Blue Crane etc but the most exciting was
seeing a buzzard chase a Fish Eagle off what looked like a dead lamb in a farmer’s
field. 

Earl missed the turn to Stanford but decided not to
turn around but rather see where the road took us.  It was fascinating finding tiny hidden farms
and villages that we didn’t even know existed.    Eventually we came out at Kleinbaai.  

It was lunch time when we reached The Orchard
farmstall so we stopped there for lunch. Earl had a tuna salad and I indulged
in a bacon, tomato, lettuce and avo croissant.

On this day 357 years ago Jan van Riebeeck and his fleet of three
sailing ships, brought a group of Dutch settlers to The Cape of Good Hope.
Their mission – to start a refreshment station to replenish the supplies of
ships plying their way to the East.   He
didn’t want to stay – it was a commission from the Dutch East India Company for
him and he couldn’t wait for his term of office here to end.  Well – what would he think now if he were to
return – in just 3 ½ centuries, how Cape
Town has changed.  What would he think of
a flood-lit table mountain and streets lined with sky-scrapers and a
water-front that is commercial hub?   Oh
my dear Jan – your little refreshment station is the most beautiful city in the
world and we are grateful that you started it all!  Unfortunately, we are in crisis once again
and perhaps your pessimism then would be justified today too.   Today we heard that all charges against Jacob
Zuma, president of the ANC had been dropped. 
Of course there has been a huge reaction to this but it looks like the
next president of South Africa is going to be a fraudster and a crook.   He sings and dances in Zulu warrior garb and
the song on his lips is, “Bring me my machine gun!’  Is this a joke or what?

Let’s just hope that the people of South Africa
catch a wake-up call and rush to the polls to at least strengthen the
opposition.  I can’t, however, help the
feeling of dread that South Africa is going to end up like Zimbabwe.  How people allow these things to happen to
themselves is a mystery to me.

Friday,
10 April 2009

Good Friday

Jay returned from his Scout Camp after half past six on Monday
evening.  I had to go to a committee
meeting so I didn’t see him till the next morning.  But I did notice that he was coughing in his
sleep and sure enough he picked up a bug at camp.   In spite of this he had a fantastic time.
One of the highlights was paddling a canoe  12 km down the Breede River.   “Mine was a heavy rubber duck thing – I should
have had a lighter canoe more suited to my size!”   But he managed and loved it.   I asked him whether his wrists were sore as
I got ‘paddler’s wrist’ when I did the same trip 15 years ago.  “No – but my forearms are sore.”  They also did things like foofy sliding and
jumping into the freezing river.  “It was
scary but fun,” was Jay’s comment.   He
didn’t have much else to report but clearly had a brilliant time.

On Tuesday the boys had a gang over to play and
there was much activity and noise indoors and out.   I made two banana loaves and after two ‘tea
breaks’ there was not a crumb left.  They
played in the playroom, on the computer, on the bikes and scooters, with the
water pistols and in the pool.  My only
rule was “NO RUNNING OR SHOUTING INSIDE THE HOUSE”  I had to remind them once or twice because it
is so tempting to take a short cut from the back door to the front door when
you’re being chased by villains – but on the whole they were very
well-behaved.  If this continues through
the holidays I will be eaten out of house and home because boy do those kids
have healthy appetites – fortunately I keep loaves of bread in the freezer and
plenty of cheese in the fridge as toasted sandwiches are the easiest to whip up
in a short time.

On Wednesday Lisa took the boys to an early dental
appointment in Claremont and I went to collect them at 9 o’clock.  Josh said that his tummy was sore because he’d
swallowed some of the solution the dentist gave him to rinse with.   I suggested that breakfast at a restaurant
might make him feel better.   He was
doubtful but agreed that he would have a little to eat.  He ended up devouring a huge plate of eggs,
bacon and mushrooms and Jay had no trouble with two eggs, bacon and grilled
tomato and both thought coke would be a wonderful breakfast drink.  Afterwards they begged for cake but I said if
they wanted that they would have to use their pocket money.   There was much discussion about how much
they were prepared to “waste” on such a treat and Jay ended up settling for a
chocolate biscuit thing for R4.50 and Josh a butter finger biscuit with
chocolate at each end for the same price.  
This treat was eaten with relish as we drove home to Fish Hoek.

We got home at about half past 11 and I started
making sushi.   I got everything prepared
and made fashion sandwiches and vegetarian rolls then waited for Earl to bring
the fish. By half past three I rolled the last tuna nori and then left Grace to
clean up while I went to Steve for a back treatment.  My lower back was beginning to play up and I’m
glad I went for an early treatment as it is now perfect.

On Thursday Sharon and I walked from the Kalk Bay
side of Boye’s Drive right over to the turn-off to Lakeside, down to the main
road and back to Kalk Bay.  It was
fabulous.  It was a cool, clear day so
the views were great. We started at 7:30 and were back at the car by 9 o’clock.  

I went to teach Kath Lee a computer lesson at
10.  She is getting on really well but we
won’t have a lesson for the next three weeks as she is having her two daughters
and their husbands from England and Canada to stay.  It is really rewarding to see how Kath has
lost her fear of the computer and is keen to get ADSL Skype and a digital
camera!  She even wanted to know about
Facebook.🙂

The boys had Brian and his little brother Daniel
over to play and they begged for a sleepover so we gave in.

I made meat loaf, mash and butternut and salad for
supper.  Daniel only ate the vegetables.
Brian didn’t eat anything – his mother had given them soup before they
arrived. 

They left soon after getting up this morning so at
the moment we have peace and as it is a public holiday perhaps we will have no
callers today.

1

Warthog’s revenge

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Warthog’s Revenge

It was at The Boma of Lokatula Lodge, Victoria falls that I had my first taste of roasted wild warthog.

Warthogs – those ugly creatures with features that only a mother could love – seem to endlessly fascinate me.   They look at once both frightening and amusing with those ugly warts covering their odd shaped faces and lethal looking tusks protruding from their jaws.    Their tails stick straight up in the air like little aerials when they follow each other as they race from danger through the bush.   Each time I see them I laugh at their antics especially when they drop to their front knees as they attempt to get closer to the new shoots, which are their favourite food.   At Lokatula Lodge, Victoria Falls, the warthogs roam freely and graze unhindered on the grass frontages of the chalets.  Now you would think that the last dish that I should order at a restaurant would be an animal that gave me so much pleasure to watch in the wild but I wanted to experience all the sensuous smells, sights and tastes of Africa and if I felt a twinge of guilt, it soon disappeared as I took the first delicious mouthful of the succulent meat fresh from the spit.

On the last evening of our holiday my husband and I were enjoying sundowners as we sat and watched the warthogs graze in front of our chalet.  Earl was busy at the braai when a particularly large boar grazed right next to his feet.   I took a photograph of the scene but coveted one of me with my favourite creature too.   But as I carefully walked toward the animal he spooked at my approach and charged.   I saw it coming and ran but his tusk tore into my jeans and I was lucky to escape with only a slight bruise on my calf!   That I mused will teach me to eat his friends.    Beware! If you eat a warthog – he might just get his revenge by trying to eat you!

0

The Night Wind Woman

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A Sapphic is poem with an
unlimited number of 4-line stanzas.   The
first three lines of each stanza have 11 syllables.  The last line has 5.  Rhyming and repetition are not required.

The Night Wind Woman

The night wind woman has become part of me.

She’s a shadow of one who can no more be.

She sails through the house among those she has left.

She whispers to them.

 

She glides over me and caresses my cheek.

Deep in my soul I hear her silently speak.

We are girlfriends giggling and sharing secrets.

But he doesn’t know.

 

The night wind woman guides me all of the time

To nurture her children for now they are mine.

She’s passed on the mantle; I wear it with pride.

She watches and smiles.

0

Over the Hill

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Over the Hill

I am getting older, I’m
nearly fifty five.

Over half a century I have
been alive.

I should be slowing down now,
and easing up my life.

I should be getting mellow
like every older wife.

But here I am a-peddling up
this bloody hill.

I hear my grandsons calling, their
voices loud and shrill.

You can make it Granny. You’re
really doing well.

(I do not want to tell them
that I almost fell.)

They think I am their
playmate. They think its rather fun

that Granny takes them
cycling when their homework’s done.

And as they dash through
puddles and do wheelies up the curb

they encourage me to follow;
but really that’s absurd!

They fall and seconds later
they’re back up on their bikes,

a band-aid heals their
scrapes but Granny falls, and  yikes –

She needs a month of physio
to get her muscles right.

So falling off her bicycle
would not be very bright.

Now they’re heading down hill
at a break-neck speed.

Those boys are getting all
the adrenalin they need.

With screeching breaks I
follow at a calmer pace.

“Go Grandma”, calls a smart
ass. Aloof, I turn my face.

I could be baking cookies, I
could be knitting socks.

Instead I join my grandsons
scrambling over rocks.

I could be watching T.V. or
at a ladies’ club.

Instead I join them hiking
when they go  with  the cubs.

I’m glad that I, a grandma
can still do all these things.

Being active with my
grandsons – oh what joy that brings.

We have such fun together out
in the cool fresh air.

And if people think it’s
funny – I really couldn’t care!

October 2007

0

Fish and Frogs

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Fish and Frogs

Little Simon and Shannon Bangay,

At the edge of the lake they like to play.

They paddle and splash and look for frogs.

What interesting pets compared to dogs.

 

Simon throws rocks in the blue-grey lake.

Birds flee in fright leaving a wake.

Grandpa and Dad fish out on the boat.

We see them out there gently afloat.

 

Then they call, “Gramps has a trout!

Bring the camera,” we hear them shout.

Si-Si and Shannon run down to see.

They clap their hands and laugh in glee.

 

Mom and Gran, Gramps and Dad,

A little girl and a little lad

Are here together at Lake Naverone

Its much more fun than staying at home.

 

                                 By Helen Fenwick

                                13 October, 2007