Struisbaai Easter Weekend

2018-04-02 | puppy1952

Struisbaai at Easter time becomes a hub of activity. Our normally quiet little fishing village is suddenly alive with tourists and events. On a normal weekend it’s busy enough for the peace-loving locals but at Easter the town explodes and there’s traffic on the normally car-empty roads. The beach, which goes on for miles, is often empty of people on a normal day, but at on this weekend it’s the first place the visitors head to.

On Easter Saturday this is exactly what happened as it dawned bright and sunshiny after two days of cloud and rain.

The Earl, our grandson, Jay and friend, Ray were off to sea by 6:00 am. They should have gone yesterday so we could have fish for Good Friday but the rain prevented that so we had to have our Good Friday on Saturday.

Jay loves sharks! He cuddled this dogfish and gave it a kiss before releasing it back into the sea.

The rest of the household rose from their slumbers a lot later and we headed to The Shed for the Food Market. There were lots of goodies to eat but all we bought were some fresh veggies from the farmer’s stall. We decided it best to go for a proper brekkie at Shipwreck Coffee Shop instead.

My gorgeous girls at The Shed’s Food Market

Me buying fresh produce for the weekend

Traffic on the main road was bumper to bumper. The NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) were encouraging folk to part with R 10,00 to boost their coffers. In return you got a marshmallow egg and a chance to photograph them and their vehicles.

I gave them R10,00 – after all my men were out at sea!

Rescue Boat

On Standby

Josh and I walked to the area where the Land Rover Rally was happening. We spent some time admiring the landies both ancient and new. There were time trials too which were fun to watch.

Land Rover Rally

Registration Office

A very old land rover

Land Rover Passion starting young

This one is 71 years old – I was told.

Track Trial

After taking some interesting photographs we went for a long walk on the beach – well, I walked and took photographs and Josh ran on for about 3km. I thought I’d missed his return but soon after I turned around he caught up with me.

Somebody scrawled the date in the sand

And declared her love for Daddy and family

Abandoned Sandcastles

Busy Beach

Fishermen’s Paradise

Watch out for the jellyfish!

Most Beautiful Beach in the Country

Josh running in bottom right corner

Josh returning

We continued our walk along the boardwalk and as we approached the harbour, Lisa and Laurie waved to show they were there with the former’s friends, Margaret and Frans. Their kids were having fun on the beach. Spencer invited Josh to go out with him on the paddle skis. He dashed home to change into his costume while the adults went to Pelicans for a drink.

My girls and Margaret sharing a bottle of Pink

Josh on paddle ski

Josh and Spencer

While we were there we heard the whirring of a helicopter and observed it doing a practice rescue. That was fun too.

It was after three when we finally got back home and I started preparing for the fish supper. I baked a lemon meringue for the first time in my life – and this was a Banting version that I got from a recipe book written by a local of the Overberg, Madelè Burger. Her book is called “Hier’s Die Toortsie Weer” You can see her blog Here Her posts are mainly in Afrikaans but there are some in English too. I am pleased to report that it turned out pretty well. Not a crumb was left after our dinner. I also used her recipes to make a creamy eggplant dish and a butternut salad.

Busy in the kitchen

And it’s done!

Creamy Eggplant Dish

The fishermen returned at 5 pm, sunburned, tired but happy after catching enough fish to feed eight of us for dinner. There is nothing to beat eating fish fresh from the sea.

The Earl cleaning fish

Josh helping the Earl wrap potatoes for the Weber

Fish cooked and ready to serve

Rewards of a day at sea and on the beach – Weber cooked fish for eight!

Share Your World 2 October 2017

2017-10-03 | puppy1952

Some great questions again from Cee’s Share Your World

Here are my answers

If you were given the opportunity to ride in a helicopter you would go?

For many years I suffered from aviophobia so even getting onto a Boeing was a challenge. So in 1999 when the opportunity to take a ride over The Great Barrier Reef arose I was most reluctant. But my FOMO (fear of missing out) won out in the end and I boarded that scary craft and have never regretted it.

When I saw the copter coming in to land on a floating platform in the middle of the Pacific I nearly backed out. So glad I didn’t because it’s the perfect way to fly – far less frightening than an airbus.

The Scary Helicopter

The view was certainly worth it

What are some of your favorite types of proteins to eat? (meat, seafood, eggs, soy, cheese, nuts)

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day so I’d have to say egg and bacon! Also I am a South African and The Braai (barbeque) is part of our culture – there is nothing nicer than chops and boerewors grilled over the coals!

Fried eggs on a bed of home grown spinach and served with bacon and grilled cherry tomatoes. I live with a wonderful chef!

010 Braai 2014-01-26 03-31-08 AM 4000x3000

The braai ritual in progress

What would be your preference, awake before dawn, at dawn, or awake before noon?

Most of my life I was an Early to Bed, Early to Rise kind of girl. I never had any trouble getting up at six o’clock or earlier be it weekend or not. Now that I’m retired and not following a proper routine I find I go to bed later and therefore rise later too. However, when in the bush – it’s back to early to rise! Nothing nicer than sunrise in the game reserve.

001 Giraffe in the sunrise Namutoni Etosha

One wouldn’t want to oversleep and miss this

What inspired you or what did you appreciate this past week? Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination.

This week I have appreciated the place where I live. Our harbour is so pretty and the spring weather is getting me outdoors more often.

On my walk on Sunday I went along the main road then along the board walk to the beach and back to the harbour. When I looked out to sea I thought I spotted a seal in the shallows but when I got closer it had disappeared. I chatted to my friend Earnest who is always hanging out at the harbour and he said yes indeed my eyes were not playing tricks on me. There had been one swimming around for a while. We haven’t seen a seal in the harbour for some time. As I continued toward the next boardwalk I heard a splash and there was Sealy coming up onto the rocks in front of the restaurant car park. I yelled for Earnest and he was thrilled to get this excellent view of this lovely sea creature too. It wasn’t long before a small crowd gathered and were snapping away with cameras and cell phones. I only had my phone but rang Hubby to bring my Canon which he did. Two young guys were trying to take a selfie so I offered and they were thrilled to have themselves with a seal in the background. It was such fun.

He wasn’t shy at all

He think he enjoyed the attention

This is a good scratching rock

Struisbaai Holiday Day 10 – Fishing and Helicopter

2012-12-24 | puppy1952

The early morning is the best part of the day – everybody says so yet not many make the effort to get themselves up and out there to enjoy it. Most of my family, I am proud to say, can be persuaded. Grandpa had Alan, Lauren, Jay and Simon up at the crack of dawn to get the boat out to sea and the fish on board. Low tide today was at 7ish so Shannon, Josh and I went to the beach for a run and a swim. We were horrified to find our usual parking area next to the caravan park almost full. Something’s happening I said when we saw a number of people in running gear heading onto the beach. And yes – a fun-run was about to begin. ‘Come on, kids,’ I said ‘Lets run before this lot start.’

Josh, my 14 year-old grandson, danced around me like a puppy dog on a leash. Obviously I was jogging too slowly for him. Run ahead boy – I’m going at Granny-pace – but he and 10 year- old Shannon stuck by me all the way to the Big B. Then Josh decided enough was enough – after all he is a pretty good cross-country runner – In primary school there was only one boy in his grade that could beat him – so he dashed ahead. I told Shan it would be fine if she went faster but she loyally stuck to my side.

We met the fun-runners coming toward us – hundreds of them. It’s a pity we didn’t have cash with us – we could have joined in just for the fun of it. Back at our starting point we went in for the most deliciously refreshing swim and none of wanted to get out. The breakers were tame so no boogy boarding but the swell lifted us gently over the waves and we wallowed and played. After 20 minutes we decided to get out and we found that the faster runners were already returning. Margaret, a friend of Lisa’s, we found out later did the 5km in 30 minutes. She told us she had seen us but we didn’t pick her out in the crowd.

Reluctantly we left the beach and returned to wake up Lisa for a scrambled egg, bacon and mushroom breakfast – yes, cooked by me. Then Josh, Shannon and I went to do a last minute Christmas shop for a gift for Lisa from her boys. Josh wanted to buy a necklace but couldn’t find one he thought she’d like. Instead, at a little gift shop, we spotted something quite novel and within their budget. Thrilled with this purchase we dashed home – who wants to be shopping Christmas Eve with all those last minute shoppers – yes even in Struisbaai! But when we checked the gift at home we found something wrong and had to return to have it sorted. Luckily for us because if we had not returned we would not have seen ……..The Helicopter! It hovered low and was obviously about to land. We dashed home for the camera and then raced to where it had landed on a public open field behind the long beach. Josh was in his element as his dream is to be a helicopter pilot. Go and talk to him, I urged. But he was too shy so I broke the ice by telling the pilot that Josh was very interested to see what they were up to. The pilot told him he would need at least R1m to train unless he was accepted into the air force which required 7 or 8 As for Matric…..Anything is possible Josh! The chopper was there to do sea rescue training and Josh was allowed to sit in the cockpit before they began.

The Helicopter

Josh chatting to the pilot while Shan looks on

Josh in the cockpit

In the air

Simulated Sea Rescue

Rescue Simulation

Safely on the beach

Thanks Pilot

Last Look

That was awesome

In the mean time the fishers were having a great time. Simon fed the fish but the seasick medication helped his parents. He still managed to get the most fish of everyone and Jay caught the biggest one. (Boat pictures taken by Lauren)

Another grandson following in Grandpa’s footsteps

Grandpa preparing the bait

Red Steenbras caught and released by Alan (Rural Son-in-law)

I’m the Man

Lauren and Simon with their catch

After lunch it was snooze time for some but Grandpa and I took Josh, Shan and Simon to the beach. Although a strong North Wester was blowing it was warm and the sea wonderfully warm. The kids stayed in the sea for over an hour.

Shan and Josh

Simon frolicking in the waves

Earl, Simon and Jay went octopus hunting before supper but were unsuccessful. We put on the Christmas lights and listened to Now That’s What I Call Christmas while we ate a supper of left over fish, seed loaf and salad.

We are still listening to the music and hoping that tonight Santa will find our house at the southern tip of Africa.