This week’s challenge is Collage Here is my contribution.
Christmas Collage – 2011
Greater Striped Swallow Collage
Ski-boat Collage
Cheetah Collage
Ibis collage – including Glossy, Bald, Hadeda and Sacred
Weekly Photo Challenge 12 July 2017
One Word Photo Challenge 9 July
I am participating in this week’s One Word Photo Challenge by Jennifer. Today’s the word is Heron.
Green-backed Heron – Kruger National Park
Black Crowned Night Heron – False Bay Ecology Park
Goliath Heron – Kruger National Park
Grey Heron scratching an itch – Rondevlei
Squacco Heron – Ndumo – Kwazulu-Natal
Cee’s Share Your World 10 July 2017
Great questions from Cee’s Share Your World this week. Here are my answers.
How do you like to spend a rainy day?
Where I live we have a Mediterranean Climate which means warm dry summers and cool, wet winters. So when it rains – it’s usually cold. That’s when I love to cosy up in front of a fire, drink hot chocolate and read. Right now I’m grateful for the rain that has fallen this season but we really need a lot more! I feel guilty when I enjoy the sunny days that pop up too frequently – like today.
In most parts of the rest of the country the rain comes in summer and is accompanied by thunder and lightening. These storms usually occur in the afternoon, cool everything down and then out comes the sun again. If you’re out having a picnic, you simply shelter in your car for half an hour or so then carry on with the fun when it clears.
Storm brewing in the Kgalagadi Sky
After the storm at Nossob Camp
List at least five favorite treats. (They do not have to be sugary).
- Lindt Dark chocolate with mint
- Greek Yogurt flavoured with chocolate chips in it
- Chocolate Cheesecake
- Croissant al Cioccolato – the type I ate almost every day when I was in Italy!
- Hot chocolate
Did I mention that I love chocolate? I follow a Banting/Paleo type diet. Chocolate is very restricted!
Where’s your favorite place to take out-of-town guests?
I love taking out of town guests around. If I had to choose a career other than teaching I’d choose Tour Guiding.
The Western Cape is a stunningly beautiful place and I can list many places that I could take you to see. Everyone wants to take the cable car up table mountain and I’ve been up countless times with guests but usually let them do that on their own as it does not require a guide. I choose where to take my guests depending on their interests. My favourite place to take Nature lovers is False Bay Ecology Park. Dirt roads wind around a wagon wheel of the old sewage works’ settling ponds. The birdlife is amazing especially the flamingos.
One of the old settling ponds
Purple Swamphen
Greater Flamingos taking off
Where we live now at the southern most point of Africa it is compulsory to go to said southern most point and climbing to the top of the Cape Agulhas lighthouse is another must do.
Grandson and friends at the southern most point of Africa
At the top of the lighthouse
You are trapped in an elevator, who would you want to be trapped with?
Before I read Cee’s answer the first thing that came to mind was – Macgyver or someone with similar skills. My husband comes a close second as he is pretty much like Macgyver himself.
But if it weren’t a good practical man along with me in that feted lift (elevator) then I would be happy to have someone who was interesting – like Sir David Attenborough. He would at least keep me entertained for hours – and I just love his voice.
This is a my favourite David Attenborough quote: I like animals. I like natural history. The travel bit is not the important bit. The travel bit is what you have to do in order to go and look at animals.
Optional 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 technology. It was just not possible for my siblings and me to go to Australia for my aunt’s funeral. On Friday we were able to be part of her Celebration of Life service because my cousins live streamed it to a closed Facebook Page. It was so worth rising at the rude hour of 3:00 am to be part of this final farewell to a very much loved aunt. It was the most beautiful mass celebrated by a priest who knew her well. How amazing it was to be able to see and hear my cousin, Wayne, give his heart-felt eulogy . I wrote an email to my aunt just before she died and my cousins asked me if it could be read at her service. Of course I was honoured and her grandson, Jack, read it gently and beautifully to the congregation. At one point during the service the priest asked everyone to turn to the camera, to wave and say Hello South Africa! It was almost as good as being there in the flesh. Just Awesome. RIP My Darling Aunt
Cee’s Black and White Challenge – 6 July 2017
The topic for this week’s Black and White Photo challenge from Cee, is Signs
When visiting any of the South African National Parks it is important to take note of all the warning signs – so many things to beware of!
It’s no joke if one falls on your head!
No – he is not cooking for the four legged creatures
The roads in the Kgalagadi are hectic – so please let down your tyres
You’d think slipping on a wet floor would be the least of your worries in the bush – not so!
Be sure not to get eaten when alighting from your vehicle – you’ve been warned.
Share Your World 3 July 2017
Happy Independence Day to all Americans reading this blog today – 2017/07/04.
Here are my answers to Cee’s Share Your World 3 July 2017
For your main meal do you prefer sweet and sour, hot and spicy, spicy and sweet, bitter, salty, bland or other?
I love food and as long as my meal is High Fat Low Carbohydrate, I tuck in with relish. I enjoy most cuisines. For our main meal we are pretty basic – meat, fish or poultry, sweet potato, vegetables and/or salad. The South African braai features at least three times a week. We also cook in a kettle braai. I enjoy Greek and Italian food, curries and sushi. When I’m in a foreign country I eat what the locals eat while still trying to avoid too many carbohydrates.
The coals are ready – the fish goes onto the grid
The end result
My friend Willie even ate the eye – we’re funny that way in South Africa – well some of us!
Where do you hide junk when people come over?
A great deal of junk was disposed of during THE GREAT MOVE. Still some was brought to Struisbaai with us. Some is stored in the garden shed. The photographs, Video Tapes and CDs are in the spare room cupboards waiting patiently to be sorted. One day …….
Otherwise the entertaining area is okay – not perfect but the guests just have to turn a blind eye.
What daily habit would you like to introduce to your life?
I’ve stuck to good daily habits my whole life. I’m giving them up now! I do like to take a daily walk but when it’s cold I think – what the heck!
No seriously – I need to sort out the stored junk – so perhaps half an hour a day?
If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do?
I would only work in a circus that excluded animal acts. Animals belong in The Wild. I enjoy watching trapeze artists, tightrope walkers and acrobats. The trapeze is probably what I’d like to do but it’s a bit late to start that now!
Optional Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
The last two weeks have been tough. After two months in hospital my beloved aunt was finally diagnosed to have inoperable cancer and two weeks later, on Sunday, she died. I am grateful for the care she received from family, friends and hospital staff and that her suffering did not drag on. I am also grateful for the happy times we had spent together. May she Rest in Peace.
Leonie and Me on the last holiday we shared – Tasmania 2013
Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge 2 July 2017
Here is my contribution to This week’s Odd Ball Challenge
Australia is a land full of odd things. Here are a few.
Their swans are black
Kangaroos pull Santa’s sleigh
Nothing odder than a Duck-billed Platypus
The Oddest Police Station I’ve ever seen! (Strahn, Tasmania)
Black and White Challenge 29 June 2017
Here are my contributions to This week’s black and white challenge from Cee
Feet
Gemsbok (Oryx)
Wide Spread toes of the African Jacana
A Warthog tucks his feet away to get closer to the new grass shoots
Hands
Clasped in Prayer
Fingers were made before forks
Grasping a fork
Paws/Legs
Mighty Lion Paws
It’s not easy taking a drink with such long legs and an extended neck to deal with
Enormous
Fun Photo Challenge 27 June 2017
This week’s fun photo challenge calls for all kinds of furniture. Here is my take on it – Shabby Chic at Diesel and Creme, Barrydale, Western Cape, South Africa
I love the cushions.
Relaxing in the winter sun, waiting for coffee
Fabulous outdoor decor!
Share your World 26 June 2017
Here are my answers to this week’s share your world questions
What goal are you working on now? Your goal can be something fun or extremely serious. Have fun with this question.
Ah goals! Since I can remember I’ve always had goals – or dreams – or lists of things to do before I die. And I’m proud to say that I have achieved most of them. It started with:- get an education, find a career, get married, raise a family. Then the goals changed to – get fit, lose weight, give yourself me-time, be more organised, get promoted, spend more time with kids, pay attention to your husband, get kids through school, sort out the junk in house, see the world etc. etc.
I worked hard to achieve and do what I should have done to reach those goals. I’m happy with the old person I have become. I’m neither too fat or too thin, I’m reasonably fit and I enjoy good health. So now I spend time with my nearest and dearest and go on wonderful vacations. Life is good.
What is one thing you’re glad you tried but would never do again?
The thing I tried only once and would have loved to do again but didn’t and never will was snow skiing. That’s because we have a shortage of ski slopes in South Africa and getting to Switzerland is a bit tricky! I can get to ski slopes now but I’m too old for skiing.
Did you choose your profession or did it choose you?
Well according to an aptitude test I did in high school, Teaching was what I was born to. So I chose it and it chose me too. I can’t imagine entering any other profession. They say it’s a calling and I usually heard the call through a telephone line when a principal phoned to see if I could fill a position. If after we die we are reincarnated I’m pretty sure I’ll find myself back in the teaching profession!
Have you ever gotten lost?
Oh please! Plenty of times. I have absolutely no sense of direction whatsoever. I have to set the GPS to Home after driving to the local supermarket!
Optional Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
At the moment I am going through a sad time. My Australian aunt is dying and I am so grateful for the many beautiful times we’ve had together, for the love she’s poured into our family and the fabulous memories we will always have of her. I am grateful to her sons for the wonderful care they are giving her in her last days and for them keeping my siblings and me informed. I am just so sad that it’s been impossible for us to go over to say goodbye but grateful for modern technology that enables us to send daily messages.
My aunt right with my mom, her sister taken in Australia
Odd Ball Challenge 25 June 2017
Here is my contribution to this week’s Odd Ball Challenge
Omigosh, Maud – that’s a funny looking log. Be careful George – it could eat you.
Cee’s Black and White Challenge 23 June 2017
Here is my contribution to this week’s black and white challenge
Female Waterbuck – back and front view
Elephants having fun at the waterhole
Did the tree move for you too darling?
Young elephant love
What a big mouth you have dearest
Kelp Gulls
Water Thick-knees
Share Your World 19 June 2017
Here are my answers to This week’s share your world from Cee
I have not responded to the usual challenges this week as I am dealing with some personal stuff but I can’t neglect Share Your World!
What is something that people are obsessed with but you just don’t get the point of?
There are lots of things I don’t get but Computer Games are the biggest mystery to me. How anybody of any age can get addicted to those ridiculous, mindless, noisy and mostly violent games is beyond me. My two almost grown-up grandsons along with most of their friends are mad about gaming. I am a digi-gran and the boys have tried to interest me in their passion. I love living in the future but gaming just doesn’t do it for me. Give me a crossword puzzle or sudoku and I’m in – but computer gaming – absolutely not!
What quirky things do people do where you are from?
A lot actually. I’m from South Africa.
Only in South Africa
- will you be able to shop at a traffic light or robot as we call them
- Do babies teeth on biltong
- Do people cook just about everything over hot coals called a braai
- Does the word shame only mean you are feeling ashamed. It can mean anything from cute to an expression of sympathy. Nobody understands shame quite like South Africans.
There are many more weird South Africanism but come over and visit to find out more.
What are some things you wish you could unlearn?
I just can’t think of anything. I’m South African. I’m weird.
Who is someone that you miss having in your life?
I have moved away from my home town so don’t see all my friends too often but they are still part of my life. Thanks to modern technology, keeping up is easy.
I miss those who are no longer with us – my grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who left too soon. I often think – oh I’ll just talk this over with Mom and then have to remind myself that I can’t do that anymore. But I have such good memories of all who have gone before.
Optional Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
The Western Cape desperately needs rain and we’ve had a fair amount this past week for which I am grateful. Of course it has been accompanied by very low temperatures and I am grateful for my warm clothes and gas heater! My grandsons spent a few days with us and that was great.
Nothing planned for the next week.
Diary of an Adventurous Retiree 