Share your world 23 January 2017

2017-01-26 | puppy1952

Here are my answers to Cee’s Share Your World 23 January 2017

Do you prefer juice or fruit?

Fruit – I have always loved all kinds of fruit. My grandparents had a lovely garden with a variety of fruit trees in it and we were free to pick as much as we liked. Perhaps that is why I love fruit so much. I don’t drink much fruit juice or any sweet drinks but if I do guava is my juice of choice.

Did you grow up in a small or big town? Did you like it?

The city of Cape Town was an hour’s train ride from the small seaside village where I grew up and what was there not to love? We had the beach, the mountain and the safety of the times.We had freedom – we’d walk or ride bikes everywhere on our own, play unsupervised on the beach and climb the mountain in kids only groups. It was an idyllic place to grow up.

Fish Hoek – where I grew up

If you were to paint a picture of your childhood, what colors would you use?

Bright and beautiful ones -blinding white for the sea-sand, sparkling blue for the sky, emerald green for the grass and trees. The sun shone a lot – but of course there were the grey, rainy days but they were filled with siblings and cousins playing board games and joining the dogs in front of a roaring log fire at Granny’s house

Ways to Relax List: Make a list of what relaxes you and helps you feel calm.

Taking a long walk on the beach
Reading a good book
Journalling
Doing a crossword or Sudoku
Having a good coffee with hubby or friend at a friendly coffee shop.

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 that Earl has been feeling well this week. I am looking forward to entertaining friends next week.

A running tale dedicated to Chantal

2015-12-18 | puppy1952

My friend Chantal and I, started running together about 25 years ago. It was her idea. She wanted to get fit and thin after having a baby. “No way, Chants,” I said. “I’ll do aerobics, circuit training, modern dance – anything – but run – never!” But my younger friend has strange powers of persuasion and I ended up going along with the plan. We followed the Run/Walk for Life programme – and it worked. Within three months we were running 5km with ease. And we loved it! Over the years we have been eratic in when and how we ran – sometimes together and sometimes alone because of our changing schedules. I hurt my back 7 years ago and this and a dicky tummy made me stop running and turn to other forms of exercise. But Chantal has kept it up faithfully forever. She’s just relocated to Australia and her running route, now among the jetty beauties of Sydney, is on to envy indeed.

But Chantal – you’ll be proud to hear – I’m back on the run – Yes – I know I said this last year too – but when the summer ended so did the running on Struisbaai Beach. But now that Summer is here again and the Beach is calling I’ve decided to resist no longer. I started on Wednesday – Fish Hoek being my beach of choice. Not as glamorous as your neck of the woods where the beach goers are young, fit and gorgeous, and the beaches just too amazing to describe – but it suits me fine to be among peers many of whom I recognise from years of residing in “The Valley!”

Now just in case you think I’m back to my normal stride – don’t be fooled – I jog along at an elderly pace with my grandsons in tow – streaking ahead and doing double the distance there and back, there and back to check on the old girl. Josh is like Bolt and Jay only attempts to be in order to prevent his younger brother from making him look bad. Josh’s pace is too fast for him and he is doubled over with exhaustion in his attempt to keep up. This puts him into deep depression but at least it’s a motivator to get him up in the morning! We’re there just after 7.

This morning Grandpa came along too as he had to pick up staff from the station. The boys thought he’d join us on the run – but that wasn’t going to happen – nor did he venture into the icy sea. However, he was good enough to take some photies.

We have a family of Egyptian Geese who trust the Fish Hoek humans enough to swim amongst them. Usually Egyptian geese prefer fresh water but not so in The Western Cape – there are several seaside places they frequent.

It didn’t bother them at all that I was so close

A seafaring family of geese

The Lads braving the cool waters – note the shark boat taking out the net

I wish you were here to run with me again, Chanti – miss you my friend!

Kokstad Kids in Cape Town – Visit to Castle Rock and Climbing Elsie’s Peak

2014-12-28 | puppy1952

Yesterday the kids went to visit Aunt Carol and Uncle Vere at Castle Rock. Earl and I decided to have a quiet day at home. We went to the mall to do some necessary shopping and to have breakfast. It was busy everywhere but we bumped into my cousin, Susan at Mugg and Bean chatted to her and Andy for a while and then took over their table.

Here are the pictures of the kids’ day at Castle Rock.

At the braai

Sugarbird at the feeder

The fire

Sunbird at the feeder

Today they visited Anneline and Jeffrey. Earl went to sort out a problem with the repeater in Somerset West and I got the urge to tidy kitchen cupboards!

In the afternoon Lauren, the kids and I climbed Elsie’s Peak. I have climbed this mountain more times than I can remember – as a child, with my Sun Valley Grade Four class many years ago, with the boys when they were Cubs. I remember it as an easy stroll along a contour path. When the boys were little I rode bikes with them, hiked with them and always enjoyed the challenge of keeping up with their antics. Now that they are in their teens …… the pace seems to have increased somewhat. Those kids ran up Ravine Stairs! ( I should have stuck to the original plan of parking outside my sister’s house on Berg Road!) They then leapt up the mountain like Klipspringers! Lauren and I found ourselves separated from them and took a slightly different route. Jay called on the cell to tell us we’d taken the wrong route. We told them to just wait and went up Elsies thinking they were already there. But they were waiting on a different path and we only met up on our way down. The kids then ran up Elsies and we waited for them before making the descent. Anyway it was tremendous fun. But I did freak out when they leapt and ran instead of taking care. “Gran, you can do it – just plan which rock you’re going to jump on next and go for it,” suggested Jay” Yes right!

I wanted to climb up onto a rock I remembered doing as a child and Josh led the way through the bush – but on the way back I slipped and fell, grazing my knee! I’ve reached the stage that I just need to stick to the path!

The start from Berg Road – We’d already climbed hundreds of steps from The Outspan

A bench in memory of my friend Celia’s, late husband, Allan Wolfe

Cape Rock Thrush

View from the Contour Path

Lauren spotted this Cape Rock Thrush

He flew to this location

View towards Kalk Bay and Muizenberg

Josh showing Simon the sights

Towards Glencairn

Fish Hoek Beach

On the mountain

The crazy, super fit grandson

Another beach view from my rock

The kids ran down up and down this path!

Ravine Steps

Josh taking the easy way down

And here comes Jay

The whole excursion took us about three hours and it was well worth the effort. We all had an amazing time and returned home for a Pizza supper!

Kokstad Kids in Cape Town – Beach, Birding and Cape Point Vinyards

2014-12-27 | puppy1952

I thought I was an early riser but my crazy Kokstad daughter in spite of being on holiday is still keeping rural hours! We were greeted with excellent coffee in bed this morning and a cheery, “It’s a beautiful day, how about a walk on the beach!” The rest of the household politely declined so Earl, Allan, Lauren and I set off on our own.

Simon opted to stay home and build his alien Lego. Shan said she’d help.

It was Spring High Tide and Fish Hoek beach was full of seaweed. We opted to do Jaeger’s Walk instead. By the time we got there it was beginning to recede but we still had to dodge a splashing wave or two.

The train trundling by

The Subway became a swimming pool!

View toward Skellies.

Skeleton Pool, commonly known as Skellies to the locals is a natural pool in the rocks where I spent many hours as a child. The rock formation gives it its name.

It looks a bit like a dinosaur!

A closer view in the early morning light.

This reminded me of the days my dad and uncles used to fish off these same rocks

The end of the catwalk

Don’t they look happy!

The highlight of the morning – spotting an African Black Oyster-catcher

It looks like fun – but what about the sharks???

View toward the beach from Skellies

The train again – It’s fun to do a scenic ride from Muizenberg to Simonstown in it.

After our walk Allan treated us to breakfast. We wanted to go to a quiet coffee shop but we could only find the Spur open. However, it has a great beach view and the special was only R25 – that’s about $2,00 Aussie Cousins! Two eggs, two pieces of bacon, grilled tomato, toast and chips (French Fries)!

Back home the kids were up and dressed and Simon had completed his Space Lego!

Well done Simon, You did it!

Earl and I then decided that it would be nice to go to False Bay Ecology Park. The boys opted to stay behind and swim in the pool and Lolz took Shannon with her to visit Duncan at Cape Point.

It was very windy and some species we normally see were conspicuous by their absence. However, every pond was full of those that hadn’t gone on holiday.

Flamingos were very active and on every pond

Taking off on a watery runway

And away we go

I think we’ll try it the duck way

Some preferred a calmer location in the company of gulls

A pelican socialising with flamingoes

Black-winged stilt

Female Bishops

After a pleasant couple of hours we returned to the gang I guess like almost everyone else on Boxing Day; we had leftovers for lunch!

Later in the afternoon Lolz had a date with some friends at Cape Point Vineyards so we joined her there for a drink and some chill time. Even though it is right on our doorstep we’d never been before. What an stunning place! There was a food market where you could buy whatever you wanted to eat and take it to tables or your picnic blanket and just enjoy. There were lots of people but it was not unpleasantly busy because of all the space.