Kokstad Junior School | Diary of an Adventurous Retiree

Our new Gecko Caravan needs to be collected from Haenertzburg by 10 November and then we will take it into The Kruger National Park for four weeks.

So with the Ford Everest packed to the hilt with everything we need to furnish the caravan with all that it needs to function efficiently we set off on 1 November 2017. We overnighted in Middelburg, Eastern Cape and then headed to our kids in Kokstad where we will stay until Tuesday. From there we will go to Haenertzburg, stay for three days at a trout fishing lodge then head with new caravan into the Kruger National Park.

It was quite by chance that our visit to our daughter and son-in-law coincided with our granddaughter’s half term holiday. We arrived at 3:30 pm and she was home from St John’s school by 4:30. She has to go back on Tuesday and that’s the day we leave too.

The Earl brought fish from Struisbaai which was cooked in the Weber and shared with Sean and Nicoline and their daughter Robyn who is the same age as our grandson Simon. Their son is the same age as Shannon and is also away at school but his half-term was last weekend.

Shannon, Simon and Robyn

Sean, Nicoline and Allan

Grandpa, Lauren and Sean tucking into the delicious fish

It was great to see Sean and Nicoline as today they headed off for a second Honeymoon in Zanzibar. I am sure they are going to have a stunning time!

Open Gardens

It’s open gardens week in the area so I joined Barbara, Andrew and Heather on an amazing tour of three stunning gardens in Cedarville. This is dairy farming country and summer rainfall and soil ensure that plants grow with ease around here. In winter they have to worry about frost and sometimes snow so they choose plants that can resist those conditions. Our family have lovely gardens themselves but the ones we visited were on a different scale sizewise! If I didn’t know they were on private property I would have thought I was in a public park or botanical garden.

Kokstad Junior is Amazing

Today Lauren’s school had a craft and food market. Our grandson Simon was part of the steel drumming group who played to entertain the visitors. It was awesome! Their teacher is Bryan Clark and he has done wonders with the kids.

Here is a link to hear them play. https://youtu.be/Bmeku9837dE

Simon in the center – Robyn behind him

Our nephew, Aiden

It was a gorgeous day

Some of the stalls

The kids enjoying a smoothie

After enjoying looking at all the interesting stalls and enjoying a refreshing smoothie we headed home as it was very hot! More news tomorrow.

Today it was our privilege to meet up with our grandson Simon when his school tour stopped to visit the Southern Tip of Africa. The teacher in charge alerted our daughter to the time they would be coming through Bredasdorp, she alerted us and then we timed it just right to meet them coming through Struisbaai.

Here they come – a very excited granny takes the photo!

A close up and then they all pulled over so we could say hi to Simon

After an initial big hello to Simon our grandson, Aiden our great nephew and Robyn, daughter of our kids’ best friends, we followed them to Cape Agulhas

The Kokstad Junior Grade Six classes were two weeks into a three week tour takes them from Kokstad to Cape Town and back. En route they stop at interesting places and it forms part of their Life Skills programme. It’s epic and hats off to the teachers and helpers who take these sixty-eight lively pre-teens on such an amazing, educational tour.

The kids are exceptionally well-behaved. On this trip they’re divided into groups and have chores and responsibilities that are character building. Many have never been away from their protective parents before and so this is a huge learning curve for them.

There are developments afoot at the Southern Tip and road works meant a little wait before entering the car park.

The controlled but excited group getting ready to do the touristy thing at the southern tip

Our gorgeous Robyn Baker

Si-Si pretending not to be embarrassed by his grandparents attention

There were some other tourists at the view point but being a Monday the kids had the place virtually to themselves.

Aiden

Robyn with her group

The kids were given relative freedom to explore after the compulsory photographs had been taken.

Robin and her group at the Southern Tip of Africa

Simon waiting his turn

Simon and Aiden’s Group

Michele’s group

Simon playing a stone kicking game with his friend – BOYS!

A lot of fun was had throwing pebbles into the rock pools

Collecting rocks and exporing the rock pools was also fun

Where’s your rod Simon?

Not today, Gran – I want to see how far I can skim this stone!

That’s a good bowling arm he has there!

Robyn rock hopping with her friends

Smiling for Mom and Dad

Hand away from face please Rob – Nice one of your friend though!

Thank you, that’s better

Aiden and his gang of rock exploring friends

The kids have been to Robben Island, The Science Museum, Cape Point and other wonderful places. I asked Simon what his favourite part has been so far – first he said that he liked the movies at Somerset Mall! Then his friend, Liam, said The Science Museum and his eyes lit up and he said – Yes definitely that! One lad said he liked Robben Island but – Too much history! I think it was all too confusing for him.

The whistle blew – time to go

Liam (I think) and Simon

What a great morning – the weather cooperated, the kids were delightful and we enjoyed our interaction with them all. Bon Voyage for the next week, Kokstad Junior – Grade 6 and Teachers! Thank you for letting us join you for the morning.