For a teacher school holidays are a time to recharge batteries – or so that is what we are told.  But actually when you are a wife, mother and involved grandmother it is a time to catch up with your other life!  Like having your hair done, getting a manicure, servicing the car and catching up with friends and family.  Did I do any of these things –  I did catch up with two friends and I had the car valeted.  Many hours were also spent preparing material for the new term but most importantly I also spent a fair amount of time  getting  my visitor’s Visa for England organised.  This is not as simple as it sounds.  There is a comprehensive application form to be filled in online, a fee to be paid and an appointment with the Visa4UK company to be made.   Supporting documents have to accompany the application and getting them together is a mission.  If you do not have hotel bookings you have to prove that the person you are staying with is a British citizen has a job and can support you.  I am eternally grateful to my friend, Linda for supplying me with all the requirements within 24 hours of receiving my requesting email.  Then  24 hours later after filling in the online application  twice because I was thrown off right at the end of my first try and had to start all over again, I was able to pay the fee and make an appointment with said company.   My appointment was on Friday at 1 p.m. the last day of the holidays so I did not have to take an afternoon off school to get it done!  (They are in the city and close at 3 p.m.)

My darling husband took me in to the city for my appointment .   The weather was gorgeous and we were early.  While we were waiting for my appointment  we had a cup of coffee and a croissant.  “”Let’s go to Robertson for the weekend,”” he suggested.   So we googled the number of our favourite cottage on a farm in Robertson and were in luck – they could accommodate us.  So after my one hour appointment we raced home, packed and were on the road by 3:45.

Retreat Guest Cottage can be found on a  peach, apricot, grape and citrus farm  at the far end of a dirt road jutting off the Robertson-to-McGregor tar highway.    It boasts two lovely bass fishing dams and we have been going there on and off for several years.  The cottage is rustic but comfortable and we just love the peace and tranquility of the setting.   The main reason for weekending here is for the fresh water fishing but also for the wonderful birdlife.

Not the Arniston Hotel – but quite comfortable thank you

Enough space to relas

Cosy Kitchen

Personal Chef and Caterer

View from stoep

View on other side of cottage toward the mountains

Rusty kept us company all weekend

Earl was fishing at before I opened my eyes

Rusty and I took a walk to find Earl – Rusty invited me in for a swim but I declined.

The birds were a bit nervous of the dog walking with me but some of them still obliged by posing for portraits.

Cape Turtle Dove catching the early rays of sun

Common Waxbill

Tree full of yellow canaries

Double Collared Sunbird in moult

Bokmakierie – taken a long way off

Grey-backed cisticola

Stonechat

Retreat Cottage Back

Front of Retreat Cottage

Succulent Garden next to the cottage

We took the scenic route home on Sunday afternoon and stopped to photograph one or two birds.  We drove through the picturesque little town of McGregor which was rather sleepy on this lovely Autumn day.

Pale Chanting Goshawk – Common in this area

McGregor

Interesting shop fronts

So after a wet and stormy start we ended the holiday with a lovely sunny weekend and it was back to school on Monday!