It was a little warmer today.   In the morning Earl did some chores and fixed the car windows.   He and Lauren also went into town with Lauren so she could get a new battery.

In the afternoon we went next door to the Elliot’s farm to pick peaches.  They had a bumper crop and there were too many to sell so they’re giving them away free to whoever wishes to pick.   We filled a huge basket and several packets.

It was a lovely day today.  After breakfast Earl and I went to the farm to see Barbara and Andrew. The garden is looking stunning and the birds were very active.  At lunch time we sat outside and made a stir-fry on the skottel.  It was delicious.   Lauren and Laurie came for tea and then Earl walked to the dam to fish.  We all piled into the bakkie and drove around the farm to see how it has changed since the selling of the cows.  Those who have leased the land are growing miellies.  The dams are full after all the rains and everything is lush.

Earl and I went to town very early to shop for the weekend.   We bought Allan an L.G. microwave for his birthday. Of course its more for Lauren than him but it will save him having to buy it for his wife! So hard to know what to buy a man.

Friday 18 december 2009

Last night we went to a fund-raiser at St Patrick’s college.  Brian and Patty Clarke had booked a table for 8 and each couple had to bring a plate of eats.   Lauren made crudités, a dip and a liver pâté.  We all brought our own drinks and glasses (except for wine as there was a bottle of red and white on each table as well as a packet of chips.)   At our table we had the Clarkes and Callo and Rob Adam.   Rob’s mum, Eileen was at the GTC reunion.  They farm near Lauren.   We socialised and snacked and were then entertained in two sessions by three talented young musicians – a trumpeter, singer and pianist.   The pianist accompanied the two girls respectively.

We woke up before six and then fell back asleep again and it was 9:30 when Lauren knocked on our door with tea and biscuits.  For some reason the kids had decided not to disturb their grandparent at the usual hour of 7:00 a.m.   After a frantic pack-up and clean up of the bedroom and bathroom we left at 11 but had to go to town to fill up first.   The weather was slightly cloudy but warm when we left but started to become chilly  as we approached Sailor’s Gift, the Raw farm.   Cathy greeted me at the front door and handed me the keys and some poison to spray on the outdoor walls to ward of f horse flies.  

The road approaching Wattle Crane Cottage is in poor nick.  We negotiated it slowly and with great care! Fortunately, it was not raining as it’s like an ice-rink even with a four by four.  

Bird life was interesting on the way and we saw stonechats, red-shouldered widow birds, long-tailed widow birds, red bishops, yellow bishops, yellow-throated long-claw, jackal buzzard and yellow-billed kite.   As we climbed higher we saw one Cape Vulture after another fly overhead toward a clump of trees.   We realised that there must be a kill or dead livestock somewhere.   Indeed that is exactly what it was and a little way ahead on the road we saw dozens on the ground. Of course as we approached they all flew off and circled overhead.  The cause of the fuss were two young cows dead on the road.   We found out later that they had been struck by lightening.

As we got nearer and nearer to the cottage the road almost disappeared altogether and we were making tracks through the grass.  It also became extremely misty and visibility was poor.   Finally, we reached the cottage and manage to unpack before rain was added to the mix.  Our cottage is cosy and there is a fireplace and if it becomes too chilly we’ll light a fire and spend the afternoon reading and relaxing.

We did indeed light a fire and read yesterday afternoon.  It was far too wet and miserable for Earl to go out fishing.   We did not braai for supper but instead Earl made us a delicious beef and vegetable stir-fry.

This morning we woke at 6 o’clock but it was still misty and wet so we went back to sleep. We woke again at half past eight and Earl whipped up a lovely breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon and banana.   He then found a large stone to use as an anchor and went dressed in his oilskins to seek out the trout.  I’d packed Jay’s walkie-talkies and it was a relief for him to take one so we could keep in touch.   Last year I was frantic because I couldn’t see him in the mist.

A fish eagle cried loudly soon after he left and was obviously annoyed that somebody was poaching its fish.   I settled down to do the Cape Bird Club minutes and then to delete unwanted photographs from the computer and to read my book.   

Earl came back around 1 o’clock by which time the mist had cleared and it was not too chilly outdoors.  He’d caught 4 small trout which he froze.   We had a quick snack and cup of tea then went for a drive to the bottom dam and did some bird watching on the way.   We saw crowned crane and white stork just over the fence from the cottage.  Other birds common to the area are yellow bishop, red bishop, Cape weaver, red-shouldered widow-bird, red-collared widow-bird, long-tailed widow-bird, stonechats, yellow-throated longclaw, greater striped swallows, barn swallows, white throated swallows, pied starlings, yellow-billed kite, jackal buzzard all of which we saw.    At the bottom dam we there was a single darter, swimming at first but then he settled on the edge of the reeds before flying off.

There were no fish biting at the bottom dam so we came back to the cottage.  The mist came and went but Earl still insisted on going out again.   He caught another 4 fish which he released before coming back out of the miserable cold air!

Earl  braaied for supper and I did stir fried vegetables.

We are now relaxing in front of the fire and I will read my book before going to bed.

It was misty and moisty again this morning but Earl got up and went out on the dam.  The weather kept changing from mist to clear but it was the wind that made it a little unpleasant on the water.  Not that it seemed to put my intrepid fisher-husband off – he kept at it and caught several more trout!

We were packed up and ready to leave by 10:30 and then took a slow drive home.   By this time the sun was shining pleasantly and we observed many interesting birds on the way home. We spotted the elusive wattled crane but at a distance so no photograph!

“I wonder whether the kids will have roast leg of lamb for lunch?” I joked. “Fat chance!” replied Earl.

But when we arrived we saw that they had a braai going and Murray and Birgitta were there with their three kids.  We had a stunning time with them before they left at half past three.

At 4 Rose and Neil Flemming came for tea and Rose and I caught up on Grahamstown news.   She brought an old album and I asked if she knew Faye who is on the OGG committee with me.  She did and showed me a photograph of a group at her 21^st birthday party!  Faye will be amazed when I tell her!

We had an early supper and I ironed and packed for our Sani Valley trip before we went to bed.