26 December 2016

After all the excitement of Christmas, today was a chill day. The weather was warm and sunning in the morning. Earl, Laurie and I went to town to shop for our excursion to Wattle Cane Cottage tomorrow.

In the afternoon we had a brief thunderstorm and almost abandoned our plans to picnic on the neighbouring peach farm. But in the end it cleared up and it was very pleasant next to the river. The men braied some boerewors and steak and there was other left over Christmas fare. The Baker Clan were there along with Sean’s sister and family and also his brother. It is beautiful there next to the river under some shady trees. The kids enjoyed themselves at the water’s edge and also played an energetic ball game.

A lovely late lunch spread

Baker Cousins and a friend of the family

Our youngest and oldest

Our perfect middle child on the right

The handome grandson

Granddaughter has mischief written all over her face

No – you are still too young to drink!

A lovely place to hide

Joshua made us laugh

A cute shot 0f Simon who is camera shy! Thanks Josh.

A good game to work off all the food

Robyn keeping order

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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