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Easter in Struisbaai – Nature on my doorstep

Travelling on the day before the Easter Weekend is madness and as I was unable to leave school early we decided to Ïtthis morning instead.  We have our youngest daughter, Laurie with us.  The rest of the family have other plans.  The Struisbaai weather does not look promising but all I really want is a relaxed and chilled break to recharge my batteries for next term.

The trip up was a pleasure – not a scrap of traffic.  We spotted the usual roadside birds – mainly jackal buzzards and blue crane and arrived at about 11:30 a.m.

I was relaxing with a slice of banana bread and cup of coffee when Earl who had been out somewhere came charging in.  Bring the camera quickly – I lept up, grabbed it and raced to the car no knowing what the heck I was about to see.  “It’s walking down the road impersonating a dog!” he said.   “What?” I asked and got no anser.  – and then I saw it – in our neighbour’s garden  under a tree – a Sharpe’s Grysbok!   They’re hard enough to find in the wild – but here in a fishing village?  There are a few vacant plots in the vicinity and people often tell us they see bokkies – but usually at dusk.   This one acted like he owned the place and didn’t  even ‘skrik’ when I got out of the car to take photographs.

He was quite unconcerned

What are you staring at – this is my territory!

I've had enough now - the grub was good though

I’ve had enough now – the grub was good though

My vacant lot has tasty food too

My vacant lot has tasty food too

Goodbye - I'll visit again soon

Goodbye – I’ll visit again soon

We are trying to get our new lawn to grow so lots of watering is required.  Of course this also attracts the birds. We enjoyed watching a couple of red-eyed doves and a fiscal fly-catcher at their ablutions.

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Nothing like a nice juicy worm while you’re taking a shower

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This is so refreshing

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Nice view from up here

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Showering is fine but lying in a bath is so much more relaxing

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A great start to 2011 Part 1 Kokstad to Mountain Zebra

vSaturday 1 January 2011

Well another year has begun.   What are my plans for this year?  I have absolutely idea.   We had such a crazy 2010 that I think we should just take this year as it comes.  I have not planned any holidays except for the ones we are about to take on our way home from Kokstad.   Will we do Kruger again this year?  Probably but who knows – we shall see what comes up. Perhaps an overseas trip – perhaps just chill at home!

This is the year that Jay starts High School.  That is the one big thing on my mind. He will no longer be just metres from school, he will have more than one teacher, I won’t know them intimately and will not be able to give him as much help, as I have been able to at Primary School.   I will talk to the Student Counsellor and ensure that he has a facilitator for exams but he is going to have to take a lot more responsibility for his own progress than before.  I can only pray that he will mature sufficiently to make the most of his high school years.

The weather improved today and it was quite warm.   I read in the morning then went to Murray Mackenzie for lunch as it is also his birthday today.   We had a very pleasant time sitting outdoors and watching the kids in the pool and chatting – a good family time.

The thunderstorm came preventing Earliebird from taking the kids to the dam to fish.  I popped over to Barbara to see if I could fix her computer problems but it seems she will have to take it to an expert.

We got home at about half past three.  Earliebird and I read and he finished his book.  I only managed to finish The Help later in the evening after supper and watching Sherlock Holmes on T.V.

Sunday 2 January 2011

We slept in quite late this morning then spent some time sorting out our packing.  Earliebird got the kids roped in to clean the car –what a difference after two weeks of farm dirt and mud! After lunch we had nap and when I woke up there was thunder, lightning and heavy rain – it had been raining on and off all day and now it was pouring.   We were meant to go to Barbara and Andrew for afternoon tea but Earliebird was not prepared to go out in the storm nor to get the car sullied againJ

Lauren and Allan did a chicken in the Weber – under the thatch boma – and after supper we watched Alice in Wonderland then went to bed.

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