If you had a shelf for your three most special possessions (not including photos, electronic devices and things stored on them, people or animals), what would you put on it?

This is a tough one because my photographs and electronic devices are the first things that I’d grab if my house were on fire! My favourite pieces of art hang on the wall so they wouldn’t go on the shelf – I have a painting of a house that hung in my grandmother’s house that I really treasure. The artist was 11 years old when he painted it. He grew up to become a successful and very well-know artist in this country and is now about 70 years old.

Another painting was done specially for me by my Aussie friend Wendy – I love Rainbow lorikeets and she painted the most beautiful picture of them for me.

There are others – too many to mention so I’ll save them for another time. Other things I treasure are my jewellery – specially a gold and diamond necklace given to me by my darling husband. Then there are all the cards our kids have given us over the years. I keep those in a file. I have a little memory year book made for me by a class I taught a few years back – well it was organised by Ashleigh’s mum – but it has a message and a drawing from each child – and that is probably my most prized possession of all.

If you had a box labelled ‘happiness’, what would you put in it?

Lots of things make me feel happy – the view from the top of Sir Lowry’s Pass, arriving in Kruger National Park on the first day of a holiday there, plunging into the sea early on a summer morning. But I can’t put these things in a box – I would have to put photographs or a poem about them inside the box instead.

What do you want more of in your life?

Not much, actually. I have pretty much everything I’ve ever wanted. However, I would love to travel to Australia again. I’d also like to go to some places I’ve never been to before -India, USA, Italy and Holland. Also another trip to the Greek Isles wouldn’t be shunned.

Daily Life List: What do you do on an average day? Make a list of your usual activities you do each day.

Now that I’m retired I’m asked this question quite often. It’s not easy to answer as I don’t have a routine and we’re not always in the same place for long so what we do differs from week to week. But when I’m at “home” my day would go something like this.

Wake up any time between 7 and 8:30 – Check my emails and Facebook in bed – sometimes, not always. Get up and do 45 minutes of gym ( I have a space set up for this) After this run (slowly) to the beach and have a swim in the sea. This is the best part of my day.
Hubby brings my towel to the beach and drives me home. He then cooks me breakfast which we enjoy at a leisurely pace.
While he is cooking I make the sugar water solution for the birds so that we can enjoy the sugar birds, sun birds and witogies who partake of this treat while the seed eaters enjoy the seed we put out for them.

The Hoopoe doesn’t rely on us for seed or sugar water – he is a worm eater

Sugarbird at the sugar water feeder

After breakfast anything can happen. I try to do all the necessary household chores first. Monday and Thursday are my house cleaning days when the house gets a thorough doing but on other days it’s usually just the kitchen and bathroom that has a proper cleaning. Then there is washing ironing which might get done in the afternoon. (Boring I know – but it has to be done!)
We sometimes take a trip to watch birds or to shop in our nearest big town – Bredasdorp. Sometimes we’ll even take a longer drive just to explore other places in the Overberg.
The computer consumes quite a bit of time – I organise functions for The Bird Club so emails have to be sent and dates organised. Hubby does a lot of business on his computer and often yells for me to help him with this and that. I blog and check facebook. I sort out and edit photographs.
Then there’s my new hobby – crochet. I am busy on a blanket at the moment. I also read a lot.
Most afternoons I head to the beach for an afternoon swim and/or surf on my boogie board.
Then there’s shopping and dinner to be cooked.
I’ve left out socialising. We don’t have a huge circle of friends in Struisbaai but we often have people to stay. Having said that friends of ours have moved to Struisbaai now and we’ve seen quite a lot of them!
After dinner we usually watch television – we have a media player and have just finished watching the entire series of Downton Abbey which we loved. We’re now on Suits and White Collar. We seldom watch SABC television and we don’t have DSTV.
Sometimes I read before going to sleep – this includes reading Blogs.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful for the great weekend we had with friends and I’m looking forward to spending this weekend in Cape Town.

Struisbaai and The South League Competition

2016-01-31 | puppy1952

What a successful South League Off-shore competition it was for Team Kiora – Earl, Gus and Karla (10) and Team Red-Head – (Sam (18) Gareth (22 and Chris (Die ou man at 31)

They all had brilliant catches but Karla was the hands-down winner! This amazing little girl who has been fishing with her dad since she was barely out of nappies caught two yellow-fin tuna 13,39kg each and two skipjack tuna, 4 Kob, 1 Santer and a red stump.

The men on Team Kiora caught a yellow-fin tuna each, Gus caught 2 skipjack and they each caught 5 Kob.

Team Red Head also did quite well with some yellowfin and red stump.

All the other teams did well too so it will be interesting to see the final results.

Kiora coming onto the trailer – Struisbaai Harbour

Karla at the weigh-in with her Yellowfin Tuna

The smaller species count heavily towards points

Quite a catch for a 10-year-old girl. She beat all the participating junior boys!

Team Red-Head – Sam (Skipper) Chris and Gareth

It was a rewarding day. But after the fun, the cleaning of the boats and fish as well as the cooking thereof must follow. Karla was exhausted but she still willing did her share of the work.

Still smiling while cleaning the fish

Totally exhausted but still prepared to fry the delicious fresh fish

Sam, Chris and Gareth ready to partake of a feast of fish

Fishermen’s Friend, Andrew who mans the shore-based radio communications joined us for Earl’s famous fried fish

It was very late when everybody finally got to bed and I can assure you nobody was up with the early sparrows chirping outside my bedroom window! We decided that cooking breakfast was not an option so instead we headed to Potpourri in Agulhas and enjoyed their delicious fare instead.

It was way cooler outside than in and what a happy brekkie it was

Birding on The Agulhas Plain and Fun with Friends

2016-01-30 | puppy1952

It was fairly windy on Wednesday so we did not expect to see many birds when we set off for a drive. And, no we didn’t have record breaking sightings but still we enjoyed ourselves

Roberts No 1 – Ostriches in the company of cattle egrets

I am always happy to see our National Bird although this time they decided to keep their distance.

Later in the day this Blue Crane posed obligingly

It was good to see a number of Steppe Buzzards on the telephone lines and also hunting in the farmlands.

This was one of many that we saw on the ground

At lunch time we stopped at a farm called Nachtwacht which has a restaurant for fine diners. As it was the middle of the week we found ourselves to be the only patrons there. Nevertheless we were served with the most beautifully prepared rack of lamb served with mash and vegetables. The service was friendly and the waiter treated us like Royalty. There was also an interesting art gallery in an old stable.

Nachtwaght Restaurant between Bredasdorp and Arniston

A fine place to dine

The rack of lamb was stunning

We found a Paradise Flycatcher in the garden

On the way home we found a troop of baboons who scarpered into the bush at our approach except for a few brave ones who obliged us with a photo shoot

This little baby felt quite safe on Mommy’s back.

When we arrived home Earl discovered that his friend, Gareth from England had arrived in Struisbaai so he invited him for supper. We cooked a chicken in the Weber and had a very pleasant evening catching up. The next morning Gareth came for breakfast before moving from his accommodation to stay with Clive who was down for the weekend.

There is a South League competition this weekend so quite a few Capetonians are here for the weekend. Friends of ours from Aba Dabi are arrived on Thursday too. Earl took Gareth around Struisbaai and Agulhas this morning and he was amazed to see how the place had grown since his last visit. In the afternoon I went for a swim and met up with Clive and Gerald – another chap from the past!

We all got together for dinner at Seagulls. What a great evening we had.

Gareth and Clive enjoying their first pre-dinner beer

Ray and Percilla

Percilla’s photo of Earl and Me

Gus, Jacqui and Karla arrived for the competition after 8 last night having been held up by all the roadworks on the way. We’d already had a lovely braai by the time the boys, Gareth, Sam and Chris arrived but they had stopped to eat at The Spur in Caledon. They’d towed Sam’s new boat down.

This morning the fishermen and one fishergirl were up before five and ready to launch at 6. Jacqui and I had a wonderful day to ourselves. We walked down to the beach for a swim then went to Potpourri for breakfast. It is now almost 4 o’clock and we have just heard the call for lines up on the radio. We will soon be invaded by the gang and hopefully it will be fish for supper tonight!
Tomorrow I will publish the photographs.

Struisbaai and Share Your World Week 4

2016-01-26 | puppy1952

It seems a while since I’ve posted anything about Struisbaai so I thought I’d write something today and combine it with Share Your World Questions.

1. What one thing are you really glad you did yesterday?

I’m going to replace the yesterday with today!

This morning we got up later than usual. I have always been an early riser and thought during retirement that I would continue to be up with the sparrows – but not so – Sometimes I only get up after 8 o’clock! Usually, I do a bit of gym then run to the beach and have a swim before breakfast. Today we skipped the gym part, drove to the beach and had a delicious swim just after 9 o’clock before returning to an ‘Early Breakfast’ of giant black mushrooms and fried banana, tomato, bacon and eggs. “To die for doll!”

After breakfast, we walked to the harbour to see what the boats had brought in. I will never grow tired of Struisbaai Harbour! It must be the most picturesque and interesting little harbour in the Western Cape. Or maybe I’m just biased.

Commercial Fishermen rowing back from their moored boat

I’m sorry I didn’t take photos of the huge yellowtail being off loaded from one of the ski-boats but believe me there were some beautiful fish. I concentrated on the commercial fishermen gutting on the slipway and throwing the guts to the stingrays and gulls.

I am glad we did this today as afterwards we sat at Pelican’s Cafe and had a cup of coffee and met a couple from Cape Town and had a great chat with them. I overheard them talking about birds which is what started the conversation!

2. Are you generally focused on today or tomorrow?

Definitely I am focussed on today although I do make plans for tomorrow. But especially in my retired state, I let things happen on a daily basis! So far I’m having a fabulous day!

3. Would you want to have a guardian angel/mentor? What would they tell you right now?

I am convinced that my guardian angel works overtime on me! Why else would my life be so good and full of good things happening in it. I think she would tell me to take every opportunity that comes my way and to enjoy every minute of my life.

4. Would you rather live in a cave house or a dome house made out of glass?

I would definitely choose a cave. One of my fondest memories is staying in cave accommodation in Kagga Kamma – a private game reserve in the Cedarberg Mountains. Originally this area was home to the San people who lived in caves. Caves have cleverly been recreated using artificial rock to blend in with the surrounding mountainside. They are so cosy and it was great fun staying there.

kagga-kamma-game-reserve-accommodation-480

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

On the mountainside of Fish Hoek which is near to where I lived in Cape Town, there were horrific fires which threatened the homes of my sister, aunt, sister-in-law and many friends. I am grateful that none of them lost their homes in spite of being evacuated or nearly evacuated (some refused to leave in order to fight the fires themselves). I am grateful to the amazing firefighters and helicopter pilots who worked so bravely to beat the fiery monster.

Next week I am looking forward to entertaining friends and fishermen who are coming up for an angling competition. It will be great to have a houseful again.

Cape Boat and Ski-boat Club Old Members Reunion

2016-01-25 | puppy1952

Earl was looking through old Club magazines and the articles and photographs brought back fond memories of the founder members from way back when. “Wouldn’t it be great, he said, to gather all these old friends together again – bring them all for a function at the club.”

Easier said than done! How do you get hold of all these legends? Some, sadly, have passed on, others are overseas and almost all have changed their addresses. Undaunted he got hold of old membership lists and started the search. He emailed, telephoned and coerced people who might know this one or that to find the missing people!

This all started sometime in September with the view of getting 100 oldies together. The response was phenomenal and on Saturday 23 January The Club entertained 140 friends from the past. Photo albums, magazines and memorabilia were brought and great memories were resurrected and spoken about. There was an amazing vibe as friends gathered in groups both inside and out at the beautiful venue at Rumbly Bay.

Thanks to the current members who donated and braaied yellowtail which was served in addition to the spit roast lamb, veggies, salads and chips. Our club manageress, Colleen, excelled herself in organising the staff and helpers in the setting up , preparing and serving of the food. Thanks too, to all those helpers.

Thanks too for all those who attended – you are all legends and the Club appreciates all that you did in those early years to build up the Club. May the current members never forget your legacy.

The wine was generously donated by Springfield Wine Estate, Cowland Wines and Rosberg Wines.

How amazing it was to have Guy Rowe and his band who in their seventies are still doing gigs. And of course we all enjoyed the music of our youth!

The photos will show the joy of the event.

Thanks to the younger members for donating and braaing the yellowtail!

Fun catching up with each other over a one or six beers

Hymie Steyn, a legend of note with Leander Wiit current chairman of Western Province Angling Association

Lyn Shield and Carolyn Fourie catching up

Diana and Ray who came all the way from England having fun with Alan and Evelyn

Stuart and Andrew

Enjoying the Miss Lucy Wine donated by Springfield Estate

For more photographs please look on the Cape Boat and Ski-boat Facebook site.

Share Your World Week 2

2016-01-13 | puppy1952

Do you believe in extraterrestrials or life on other planets?

I know some fascinating people who do not fit the bill of human characteristics – but seriously – no – I don’t think they’re aliens. They’re just highly evolved and interesting people who have their own agenda and way of dealing with life on Earth.

It is easy to blame all the unexplained phenomena on Earth to extraterrestrials but just because we don’t know the answers doesn’t mean there are beings with higher intelligence out there is space who come down to Earth to tease us – why would they?

Not to say I don’t think there is life on other planets. Most likely there is and probably very different to what we see here – or maybe very much the same. To me though, it doesn’t matter. There is so much to discover right here on Earth that I couldn’t care if there is something else out there or not. It is fun to think about it though.

How many places have you lived? You can share the number of physical residences and/or the number of cities.

When I count it up it seems that I have lived in many different addresses – 17 at last count but I have lived most of my life in Fish Hoek, Western Cape, South Africa and now I’m in Stuisbaai, Western Cape South Africa. How lucky I am to have found myself in the most beautiful parts of the world.

If you given $22 million tax free dollars (any currency), what is the first thing you would do?

The first thing I would do is buy each of my kids their dream homes or give them the means to pay off what they have and to improve it to their needs.

I would also like to do something charitable but not just to give it away. I would prefer to invest in someone or a group of people to be trained and in some skill that would benefit others when they’re done.

The Never List: What are things you’ve never done? Or things you know you never will do?

I have never Bungee jumped, skydived, paraglided, flown in a hot air balloon, committed murder, arson or grand larceny and hopefully I never will!

Well – I might think about the hot air balloon.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful that my grandson’s surgery was successful and that nothing serious was found in his MRI. I am looking forward to settling back into my home in Struisbaai. The weather is stunning, the sea is warm and my garden is growing!

Proudly South African Expat Catches Up With Friends

2016-01-09 | puppy1952

After she retired three years ago, my friend Margie, packed for Perth to be near her son, daughter and grandchildren. For her it was a good move but it is not without its challenges. Today our Breakfast Club met so we could all catch up with her.

Our favourite breakfast venue is Bistro Sixteen82 on Steenberg Wine Estate. “The Aussies think their Wine Farms are fabulous,” declared Margie. “They have no idea! There is nothing like this over there. And this is the first time I’ve been out for breakfast for three years as it’s just too expensive!”

Margie enjoying Mushroom Benedict at an affordable price

Margie said she didn’t realise how much she’d missed the mountains till she landed back in Cape Town. “Cape Town,” she said, “is the most beautiful city in the world.”

A wonderful ambience at Bistro Sixteen82

“You’re biased,” I laughed.

“NO!” she insisted. “Really – there isn’t a more beautiful place in the whole, wide world!” A truly proudly South African statement – and just proves how you can take the girl our of Cape Town but you can’t take Cape Town out of the girl.

Emigrating at retirement age is not easy on a South African Teacher’s pension. Margie still has to work and getting employment is not easy. She has done a number of courses to improve her qualifications, mainly to enable her to work with children with special needs. She has had to register a business in order to take on private pupils – even though she does not have many. She also does supply teaching and baby sitting! In order to work with children in any capacity she has had to get Police Clearance!

Studying in your sixties is daunting but Margie has achieved excellent results and has enjoyed the challenge. She embraces every opportunity that comes her way but still it’s not easy to get full time employment.

Yes, it’s tough living away from your homeland and she misses her friends but the rewards are great as she gets to be near her kids and to see her grandchildren growing up.

You’re looking good on it, Margie. We admire you hugely for what you’ve accomplished in three short years away from home. All the best for 2016 and may many good employment opportunities come your way!

Back with the Breakfast Friends

Share Your World Question Week 1

2016-01-04 | puppy1952

I am taking up the challenge from Cee’s Photography Blog

Cee’s Photography

Question 1 – As a child, who was your favorite relative?

My answer. My maternal grandmother. She was so serene and a ‘real’ granny who never grumbled or scolded. Her melktert was the best in the world and nobody can bake scones like hers. All her food was delicious. She told wonderful stories and loved me unconditionally. My childhood was totally wrapped up in my grandmother.

Question 2 – If you could be a tree or plant, (or an animal!) what would you be?

I would choose to be an elephant. Elephants don’t have to worry about getting fat – they’re supposed to get fat. I like the idea of a matriarchal society. What a good idea to have the older sisters and aunts to help care for the babies and only to have the males over by invitation. It makes for a peaceful lifestyle. Elephants are intelligent, have excellent memories and are kind and caring unless there is an extreme need to be aggressive. I like that!

Question 3 – What would be your preference, awake before dawn or awake before noon?

My preference is to wake up with the sun. In summer this is easy and I find myself up and off to the beach very early. OR if I’m in a Game Reserve ready to go off in search of wildlife at an very rude hour which doesn’t make me popular with my travelling companions.

In winter it is harder but I’m still up pretty early and before I do anything I exercise in some way or another. This gets me going for whatever else the day has to offer.

Question 4 – Would you like to sleep in a human size nest in a tree or be snuggled in a burrowed spot underground?

I like the idea of a human-sized nest in a tree. I don’t like the idea of being underground at all. Caves and holes are dark and dank and that would be depressing. I would love to wake up to the sound of nature – birds singing, wind rustling the leaves, the sea crashing or a tinkling stream. I’d like to feel the first sun-rays warming my skin and to be able to breath in the fresh morning air as I am roused from my night’s rest. I’m a morning person and so I identify with the early bird who catches the worm.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful that my family and I have remained safe during the holiday season. We have not travelled long distances as we often do at this time of year but there have been the odd short excursions on the treacherous roads of South Africa. I pray every day that we are all careful and safe on the roads so full of idiotic drivers who don’t seem to value their own nor the lives of fellow road users.

I look forward to another week with the family before returning to our home in Struisbaai. I look forward to catching up with friends and hearing about their lives since last seeing them. How lucky I am to have a circle of friends that have been part of my life forever.

The good the bad and the beautiful in South Africa

2015-12-31 | puppy1952

My first year of retirement has been great and I’ve loved every moment of my new life. To find myself at this age in good health and in the most beautiful part of the world is a privilege. Some might disagree with the latter statement because of the precarious situation in which my country finds itself but although South Africa is fraught with problems I really can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Many of my friends and some of my family have left her shores to ‘better’ their lives and to ensure their children have better opportunities. They’re sick of the crime, the unemployment, the falling rand and the destruction of the infrastructure. They complain about the drop in the standard of education, poor health service and a corrupt government. All these are valid reasons to Pack for Perth or some other neat place where there won’t be too much of a culture shock. But many choose to stay right here and struggle on.

Recently one of our most politically correct radio talk show hosts declared that for the first time ever he’d begun to lose hope for our country. His usual positive attitude to working together for a brighter future dimmed horribly. And it was all to do with the many damaging things our president has done and a despondent belief that he still would not be voted out. There is so much to make one despair and oh I wish that there was more building up and less destruction of our new democracy. I wish that Corruption would end and Integrity would reign. The signs are there that the country is heading straight down the drain – going the way of Zimbabwe and that there is nothing we can do to stop it. I am not a particularly political animal. I tend to go with the flow and look on the bright side but I do fear for our future. I’m glad that I’m on the wrong side of youth and know that by the time the country has reached self-destruction I will be on my way to the grave. But what about my grandchildren?

Education statistics in South Africa

Well hasn’t every generation worried about the next? But it is now up to that next generation to make a difference. Is rushing off to seek new horizons the answer – for the individual, maybe. But for the future of this amazing country – no! We need the next generation to make a difference. We need them to vote out the corrupt politicians and get the good ones in. We need them to become entrepreneurs and create the jobs. The brain-drain is real and if they all trek off to other countries will it really be all that much better? I am so relieved to hear about young people returning even when they’ve done well overseas. And why? I hear them saying – they still have faith that things will improve in South Africa. They do want to be here to make a difference. They’re prepared to give it a go and deal with the problems. Education, they tell me, is not so amazing in Australia, England, America and Canada. All these countries have their problems – so they’re prepared to face their indigenous ones rather than battle against the devil the do not know. Welcome back, I say to them. And I understand the deeper reasons why they return.

It’s not only because they miss their families – it’s South Africa itself that they miss. It’s the very fabric of the people, the different cultures

Rainbow Nation

the vibrancy, the weather and the wildness.

They miss The Springboks and The Proteas, the accent, the braaivleis, the boerewors and the biltong.

They miss the sunsets

and the beaches,

P1010842

the mountains

and the bushveld

The rhythms of Africa beat strongly in their hearts.

And when they return and see Table Mountain there is a deep stirring in their emotions and they know they are home where they belong!

Table Mountain

I don’t believe all our expats should return – many have made good overseas and are perfectly happy. They love to come home on holiday and that’s enough. I wish them luck and prosperity and know they will always hold us all in their hearts as we hold them in ours.

And I will continue to adapt as the country changes be it for better or worse. I will continue to enjoy what the country has to offer and make the most of the South African Lifestyle.

006 Imagine Comfort Van at Twee Rivieren 2015-03-27 02-41-09 PM 3069x2304

The Princess has a birthday

2015-12-30 | puppy1952

The most amazing thing I have ever done is give birth to a child. If you knew me thirty-six years ago you’ll know that the birth of my daughter put me on a high from which I have not yet come down! She has been the best thing ever to happen to me. But how can thirty-six years flash by so quickly.

Of course when I think about it and when I look back on past journals that I’ve kept from time to time I realise that – yes – a lot has happened in those thirty-six years. Yet I still call her Baby and she doesn’t object!

My baby has always been a little princess – and when she met her big sisters for the first time at the age of two and a half I think they realised that she was going to be treated like one. To them she became a live doll that they could dress up and play with. They could have been jealous but they weren’t – they immediately adopted her as their baby sister when we all became a blended family. And for that I am eternally grateful.

On Tuesday we celebrated her birthday with an afternoon tea party. We had the cake and candles which she had to blow out and some cousins, aunts and uncles and friends attended. Thank you everyone for making it a special afternoon.

Some lovely gifts

Happy Birthday

Never too old for candles

Ready to tuck in to the snacks

Doug, Vuso and Pippa

The Princess and her dad, Duncan

Ever Changing Sea of Life

2015-12-26 | puppy1952

A haphazard jumble of rocks

Edge the tempestuous sea of life.

I’m tossed about

With a smidgen of indecision,

And a squiggle of frustration.

Ready to break the trend

Of defining lines of limitation.

I clamber over the slippery rocks

And cross the tracks of rumbling trains

To explore a world beyond

And expand my mind.

Then return with a tit-bit of difference

To the ever-changing sea –

So full of drama and delight

Merry Christmas

2015-12-25 | puppy1952

A Merry and Blessed Christmas to all my family and friends and those who read my blog.

christmas-message-for-husband

Earl and I were the first ones up at 7 this morning and we started on the preparations. We set the tone for the day by putting on some Christmas music and by 10 0’clock everybody was up and dressed and ready to open presents.

Grandpa warned the boys that Santa was not going to be too generous this year and that they were now too big for presents. Really? So they decided instead to give him a big surprise. They presented him with the biggest box from under the tree.

He read the note – Dear Earl – From Santa.

He looked somewhat surprised – Who is Santa? he asked. The boys just laughed.

He ripped of the wrapping then opened the box only to find another, then another inside until the final one which looked like it might hold a new cell phone. By now the boys could hardly contain themselves. Then – omigosh what is this – A small piece of black coal! And a note – Dear Earl – You’ve been a naughty boy – Love Santa!

The boys were rolling on the floor laughing and Earl’s face was a picture – we have it all on video – That will teach you for teasing your lads, Grandpa!

Luckily he has a sense of humour and he loved the pressie they finally gave him – biltong and a book – H is for Hawk – which is all about falconry.