The day started with everyone going in different directions.   Lauren and Allan had friends to catch up with, Jay went to Mixed Martial Arts, I went to gym and Lolz had a lunch date.  When everyone returned it was fun in the pool again.  Even Lisa, feeling hot after tanning, bravely took to the waters.  Shannon alerted us all to this momentous event.

It’s freezing

Lovely once you’re in

Simon dives in

On Jay’s shoulders

An excellent diving board

In the evening Jay and Josh went to Quintin’s New Year’s Eve party and slept over.  Lolz went to a party too and the rest of us went to Carol and Vere at Castle Rock.

On the way we had to take a picture of Simon near his town!

The house is set in fynbos near Miller’s Point

It is called Shah’s Folly after the builder who made a bit of mess up which the family had to rectify many years ago.

View toward Castle Rock

View toward Cape Boat and Skiboat Club

View toward the Hottentot Holland Mountains

Carol and Vere, because they have a beautiful fynbos garden, get many birds visiting.  They also put out feeders and many of the sugarbirds and sunbirds have become quite trusting of them.

Malachite Sunbird

Cape Sugarbirds at the feeder

The orange-breasted sunbird takes a drink

Other visitors come each evening too. I waited on the stoep to get greet this little slender Mongoose whom Carol names “Kattie”

Nervously looking around

Getting braver

Then hides behind a bush and peeps at me

Later when it got dark a genet made an appearance.  Lisa alerted me to it but it was so quick I just got a glimpse.  It returned several times and I finally managed a few good photographs.  It was the final highlight of my 2014 🙂

Carol served a delicious roast lamb done in a black pot over the fire. Simon fell asleep in front of TV.  The rest of us sat on the stoep admiring the view and seeing the New Year in!  At midnight we could see fireworks across the bay – from Muizenberg to Pringle Bay!   It was an amazing evening.  Thanks for hosting us all, Carol and Vere!