Share your world #47

2016-11-21 | puppy1952

This week’s questions to Share your world #47 correlate to Thanksgiving Day in the USA. We don’t celebrate this holiday in South Africa but I’m answering anyway.

What are you grateful for in regard to

Your home life?

My home life has changed a lot in the past two years. From being the matriarch of an extended family to being just the two of us in our retirement home in Struisbaai. I love that I’m no longer responsible for seeing that everyone has a hot meal at the end of each day, homework is done and pets are cared for and that all I have to worry about is the two of us. We have never before lived alone just the two of us and now we are enjoying just that – the two of us and doing exactly as we please.

your family?

Well there’s nothing to beat family. I’ve learned how important that is over the years but specially this year when I was far from home and had to deal with problems in a foreign language. Whatsapp, Facebook and Email kept me in touch with my nearest and dearest. I couldn’t have coped without their virtual support

Your blogging community

What can I say? Meeting people from all over the world and finding so many things I have in common with them. Finding people who read my blogs and comment on my life is humbling to say the least. And I just love learning about others in far flung lands and hope to meet some of them in the flesh one day.

Your city or immediate area in which you live?

My friends and family can’t believe that I’m actually deliciously happy in my new environment. I’ve moved from the most beautiful city in the world – Cape Town – to the most beautiful village in the world – Struisbaai. I grew up in Cape Town, had an amazing career and life there and now I’ve left it for a tiny place at the Southern Tip of Africa. And I love it. I love the freedom it gives me – no worries about the what the rest of the family are doing – it’s up to them now. After 34 years of being an exended, blended family it’s now just my husband and me. We can do what we want when we want. We can take off in our caravan and explore our country at the drop of a hat. And our holiday home is slowly becoming the perfect place that we want it to be

The regional area in which you live?

The regional area where I live is called The Overberg. It is a region in South Africa to the east of Cape Town beyond the Hottentots-Holland mountains. It lies along the Western Cape Province’s south coast between the Cape Peninsula and the region known as the Garden Route in the east. The Overberg has rugged mountain ranges, fynbos, rolling wheat and canola fields, and splendid coastal vistas. What’s not to love?

The country where you live?

There are problems in the country where I live. But hey – where in the world aren’t there problems. I’m just grateful that I live in a land where I can still explore the wilds. There is also hope here. We are the Rainbow Nation and although we have a long way to go, people in this country are trying to make it better. We just have to hang in there. Too many take the ‘chicken run’ and leave to seek greener pastures – then they find that it’s not so great away from their homeland and some come back to make a difference – and they do.

You?

I have to confess that at my age – it’s my 64th birthday tomorrow – I am selfish. I love my life and do everything I can to make sure I live each day that’s left to the fullest. Yes, I try to help others but my priority is to enjoy myself, to see as much of the world as I can, and to live each day as if it’s my last because just maybe it is.

To quote the Beatles – Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty four?

I think I can count on my husband to give a resounding yes to that!

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am so grateful for Willie who is landscaping my garden and helping revamp certain rooms in my house. I am also grateful that my hubby is convalescing amazingly well and is almost back to his old self

Next week I am looking forward to seeing the fixing up of our daughter’s new house complete. Life is good.

Spending Quality Time With Friends

2016-06-27 | puppy1952

We recently had our very good friends, Heather and Peter, spend time with us. It was an enormously happy time and the Weather Man obliged us with some stunning sunny days.

It was great to show them the improvements we’ve made to our home although they’re not quite finished yet. We enjoyed meals together, immersed ourselves in catching up on each other’s lives and it was a treat to take them to our favourite birding spots. We have so many shared interests so it was great to have an extended time together to enjoy each other.

The sunny days made it all the more exciting and although winter birding is not as productive as spring and summer we managed to do pretty well each day. Tuesday found us on the Arniston Road.

Jackal Buzzard

Rock Kestrel

Denham’s bustard

Denham’s in the foreground – steenbok in the background

There were hundreds of our national bird, the blue crane in the farmlands

A malachite sunbird enjoying the aloes

A bee, his only competition

Cloud Cisticola? Not sure about this LBJ’s identity

The Arniston Hotel where we enjoyed a great lunch

Arniston

Arniston fishermen coming in from a day at sea

On Wednesday we chilled at home till later in the afternoon when we set off to Agulhas Light house. On the way we enjoyed some birds and then went to see the light house museum.

There were literally dozens of African Black Oystercatchers on the rocks

A little egret soaking up the sun

Enjoying the lighthouse museum

After the museum we took a drive to Suiderstrand picking up a couple of birds and enjoying the views.

The famous “Pietie se huis” which is now part of the Agulhas National Park Rest Camp.

A Black Shouldered Kite with a hapless mouse for dinner

Bokmakierie

In the evening we introduced our old best friends to our new best friends over a stunning braai of ribs, chops and sausage

The next day we took off down the Elim Road and were thrilled with all the birds we found before having lunch at The Black Oystercatcher Wine Estate

A gaggle of Spur-winged geese

Cape Robin singing happily

A delight to find a fish eagle

Scores of Denham’s Bustards about

Flamingos on the Salt Pans

The Black Oystercatcher

Lunch was excellent – we all had the sticky chicken salad

The sun was setting when we returned and so we popped in at the harbour to see how the boats had done. A few fish were caught but not as much as the fishermen had hoped!

Sunset

One of the ski-boats returning from a day at sea

Friday’s weather matched our mood as we bade farewell to our friends as they made their way back to Cape Town on a cold and wet day.

What a delight to have been able to share those few days with our dearest friends!

Share your World – Week 7

2016-02-18 | puppy1952

These are my answers to Cee’s Share Your World Questions

What are you a “natural” at doing?

This is a difficult one. There is nothing that I am really very good at. I throw myself into all sorts of things and enjoy them but I don’t ever reach very high levels. The one thing I do find is natural to me is relating to children.

I also find all things computer related easy to learn and I enjoy teaching others how to use their devices.

Would you prefer a one floor house or multiple levels?

When I was a child I always wanted to live in a double story house and my wish came true at age 13 and I loved the house on the mountainside that we lived in. It’s the only double story I’ve lived in and it had a view of the sea.

What was your favorite subject in school?

English and Typing. The most important and useful things I ever learnt at school was how to read and how to type. But I also enjoyed History and Accountancy.

Complete this sentence: If only the rain..

If only the rain would fall in the drought stricken areas of South Africa. It’s the worst drought we’ve had in 30 years. The crops are failing and the food prices are rising. People travelling to the worst affected areas are taking drinking water with them. Hopefully relief will come soon. In South Africa we don’t complain about rainy days – well hardly ever.

“What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?”

I am grateful for new friends made and old friends who remain good friends.

I am looking forward to whatever the new week brings – hopefully a drop in the galing south easterly wind so that the fishermen can go out and compete in the Marlin competition here in Struisbaai, Western Cape, South Africa

The good the bad and the beautiful in South Africa

2015-12-31 | puppy1952

My first year of retirement has been great and I’ve loved every moment of my new life. To find myself at this age in good health and in the most beautiful part of the world is a privilege. Some might disagree with the latter statement because of the precarious situation in which my country finds itself but although South Africa is fraught with problems I really can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Many of my friends and some of my family have left her shores to ‘better’ their lives and to ensure their children have better opportunities. They’re sick of the crime, the unemployment, the falling rand and the destruction of the infrastructure. They complain about the drop in the standard of education, poor health service and a corrupt government. All these are valid reasons to Pack for Perth or some other neat place where there won’t be too much of a culture shock. But many choose to stay right here and struggle on.

Recently one of our most politically correct radio talk show hosts declared that for the first time ever he’d begun to lose hope for our country. His usual positive attitude to working together for a brighter future dimmed horribly. And it was all to do with the many damaging things our president has done and a despondent belief that he still would not be voted out. There is so much to make one despair and oh I wish that there was more building up and less destruction of our new democracy. I wish that Corruption would end and Integrity would reign. The signs are there that the country is heading straight down the drain – going the way of Zimbabwe and that there is nothing we can do to stop it. I am not a particularly political animal. I tend to go with the flow and look on the bright side but I do fear for our future. I’m glad that I’m on the wrong side of youth and know that by the time the country has reached self-destruction I will be on my way to the grave. But what about my grandchildren?

Education statistics in South Africa

Well hasn’t every generation worried about the next? But it is now up to that next generation to make a difference. Is rushing off to seek new horizons the answer – for the individual, maybe. But for the future of this amazing country – no! We need the next generation to make a difference. We need them to vote out the corrupt politicians and get the good ones in. We need them to become entrepreneurs and create the jobs. The brain-drain is real and if they all trek off to other countries will it really be all that much better? I am so relieved to hear about young people returning even when they’ve done well overseas. And why? I hear them saying – they still have faith that things will improve in South Africa. They do want to be here to make a difference. They’re prepared to give it a go and deal with the problems. Education, they tell me, is not so amazing in Australia, England, America and Canada. All these countries have their problems – so they’re prepared to face their indigenous ones rather than battle against the devil the do not know. Welcome back, I say to them. And I understand the deeper reasons why they return.

It’s not only because they miss their families – it’s South Africa itself that they miss. It’s the very fabric of the people, the different cultures

Rainbow Nation

the vibrancy, the weather and the wildness.

They miss The Springboks and The Proteas, the accent, the braaivleis, the boerewors and the biltong.

They miss the sunsets

and the beaches,

P1010842

the mountains

and the bushveld

The rhythms of Africa beat strongly in their hearts.

And when they return and see Table Mountain there is a deep stirring in their emotions and they know they are home where they belong!

Table Mountain

I don’t believe all our expats should return – many have made good overseas and are perfectly happy. They love to come home on holiday and that’s enough. I wish them luck and prosperity and know they will always hold us all in their hearts as we hold them in ours.

And I will continue to adapt as the country changes be it for better or worse. I will continue to enjoy what the country has to offer and make the most of the South African Lifestyle.

006 Imagine Comfort Van at Twee Rivieren 2015-03-27 02-41-09 PM 3069x2304

A running tale dedicated to Chantal

2015-12-18 | puppy1952

My friend Chantal and I, started running together about 25 years ago. It was her idea. She wanted to get fit and thin after having a baby. “No way, Chants,” I said. “I’ll do aerobics, circuit training, modern dance – anything – but run – never!” But my younger friend has strange powers of persuasion and I ended up going along with the plan. We followed the Run/Walk for Life programme – and it worked. Within three months we were running 5km with ease. And we loved it! Over the years we have been eratic in when and how we ran – sometimes together and sometimes alone because of our changing schedules. I hurt my back 7 years ago and this and a dicky tummy made me stop running and turn to other forms of exercise. But Chantal has kept it up faithfully forever. She’s just relocated to Australia and her running route, now among the jetty beauties of Sydney, is on to envy indeed.

But Chantal – you’ll be proud to hear – I’m back on the run – Yes – I know I said this last year too – but when the summer ended so did the running on Struisbaai Beach. But now that Summer is here again and the Beach is calling I’ve decided to resist no longer. I started on Wednesday – Fish Hoek being my beach of choice. Not as glamorous as your neck of the woods where the beach goers are young, fit and gorgeous, and the beaches just too amazing to describe – but it suits me fine to be among peers many of whom I recognise from years of residing in “The Valley!”

Now just in case you think I’m back to my normal stride – don’t be fooled – I jog along at an elderly pace with my grandsons in tow – streaking ahead and doing double the distance there and back, there and back to check on the old girl. Josh is like Bolt and Jay only attempts to be in order to prevent his younger brother from making him look bad. Josh’s pace is too fast for him and he is doubled over with exhaustion in his attempt to keep up. This puts him into deep depression but at least it’s a motivator to get him up in the morning! We’re there just after 7.

This morning Grandpa came along too as he had to pick up staff from the station. The boys thought he’d join us on the run – but that wasn’t going to happen – nor did he venture into the icy sea. However, he was good enough to take some photies.

We have a family of Egyptian Geese who trust the Fish Hoek humans enough to swim amongst them. Usually Egyptian geese prefer fresh water but not so in The Western Cape – there are several seaside places they frequent.

It didn’t bother them at all that I was so close

A seafaring family of geese

The Lads braving the cool waters – note the shark boat taking out the net

I wish you were here to run with me again, Chanti – miss you my friend!

#NaBloPoMo 18 – Birding etc at Ebb & Flow

2015-11-18 | puppy1952

NaBloPoMo

Oh what bliss to wake up to a brilliant blue skies and sunshine this morning. The rain is desperately needed in the Western Cape and it was great to hear it during the night, but when camping, one is delighted to have some good weather.

What a pleasure to sit out, listen to the early morning chorus of birdsong and watch the activity on the river while sipping our first cuppa of the day.

A gorgeous morning

A group of young, energetic, American holidaymakers canoeing down the Touw River

A noisy Egyptian Goose greeted us hoping for a tidbit

My wonderful hubby cooked his special scrambled eggs which includes cheese, mushrooms, bacon, banana and baby tomatoes and somehow it tasted extra delicious as it was eaten alfresco.

Gourmet Breakfast at Ebb & Flow

After breakfast we did a marathon walk along the Pied Kingfisher Trail. It was 11ish and already quite hot. It’s beautiful walk not only for the birdlife but also the flora.

We also found a tortoise and a dung beetle in the path.

P1070431

Dung beetles keep the veld clean as they eat the faeces of herbivores which consists largely of undigested plant matter .

Some dung beetles roll the dung into balls and move it to their nests but others stay near the dung and feed from it there. The dung is also fed to the babies and this is why she lays her eggs in the dung. It sounds disgusting to us but not to a dung beetle!

Although the trail is called the pied kingfisher trail we did not see one. However, we saw a few other birds.

A Karoo Prinia

Levaillant’s Cisticola

Yellow bishop

Reed Cormorant catching some rays

On the last leg of our walk we met a German couple and as we were chatting a little Malachite Kingfisher appeared and we watched it catch insects in the water collected in the gutter on the side of the road.

Although we didn’t get the pied we were delighted to find a Malachite Kingfisher

All morning in camp I’d heard the Black-headed oriole but it insisted in hiding in the foliage. But this afternoon he obliged and posed beautifully for me.

Earl’s feet were hurting after our long walk and he blamed his heavy shoes. We decided to go to George to find a softer pair. After that we went to Victoria Bay and walked along the promenade.

These rocks bore plaques of remembrance possibly for people who love Victoria Bay

Signpost to everywhere

This bay is a surfers’paradise

It has been such a happy day and now we are going to pack up as much as possible the have a sushi supper in George so we can have an early night and leave for Addo at 6 am tomorrow morning. Watch this space for more!

#NABLOPOMO 17 – Garden Route National Park

2015-11-17 | puppy1952

NABLOPOMO

I was not raised in a camping/caravanning family. When I was a little girl my mother told me, “Camping is not a holiday! A holiday is a relaxing stay in a luxurious hotel where everything is done for you. Why would you want to stay in a tent or a caravan with no modern conveniences when you could be more relaxed at home!” That’s why we hardly ever went away on holiday. We couldn’t afford it! I do remember going to The Kruger National Park when I was seven and The Lakes, Wilderness when I was 13. I thoroughly enjoyed both of those holidays! There were odd weekend trips in chalets at odd venues but other than that – no we stayed at home. “After all,” my dad would say – “we live in a holiday resort – the most beautiful place in the world – why would we want to go anywhere else.” And yes – I was content to enjoy the seaside town where I grew up but just because it was the most beautiful place in the entire world didn’t mean that I didn’t want to see other places!

So when I grew up I really had the attitude that camping was not my scene until I went to deepest, darkest Africa which required a 4×4 vehicle and roof-top tent. That was my first introductions to the joys of camping in the wild and I loved it! There is something very special about being in the bush, cooking your food over an open fire and doing your ablutions in inadequate facilities – sometimes even digging a hole for the deed. It’s called ‘communing with nature.’ For a few years we did this on trips to Botswana and some parks in South Africa but then we got soft and decided that air-conditioned chalets were more comfortable – and way more expensive!

Now that we’re retired and want to travel more widely we’ve settled for the cheaper option of an off-road caravan – and I’m so glad we have because it is great! It’s not as rough as roof-top tenting and not as soft as chalets. It’s a happy medium of outdoor cooking and relaxing and sleeping in a dry comfortable bed! If you’ve been following my blogs you will know that we had a great trip to Kgalagadi earlier this year and today we set off on another caravanning trip.

We were up bright and early and left Struisbaai at 6:00 am. An old friend of Earl asked us to meet him for breakfast in Riversdale. They hadn’t seen each other for 4o years and it was great for them to catch up.

Earl and Fred catching up

Travelling the Garden Route is always a pleasure as it is so picturesque. We passed by Little Brak, Great Brak, Mossel Bay, George and finally reached Wilderness and The Garden Route National Park where we are staying at Ebb & Flow Rest Camp. What a beautiful place it is. We set up camp and then went to George to do some shopping.

We are right on the Touw river at Ebb & Flow

Our camp chairs are stored in bags and Earlie thought he’d packed two but the one turned out to be a tripod! So we went to Cape Union Mart to purchase another one. While there we spotted a few things we thought might be useful for our new camping life – like a super bright spotlight torch and electric cool box!

This cool box gives us extra fridge space

I have made some wonderful blogging friends from a many countries around the world and for their benefit I am going to describe the South African Braai. The word braai rhymes with cry. It is the shortened word Braaivleis which means roasted meat. Loosely translated it means Barbeque but a barbeque is not quite the same as a braai!

South Africans use invasive, alien wood to make a fire for their braai. Electric braais and Gas Braais are not considered proper braais. Every campsite in South Africa provides braai places and almost everybody braais when camping. Most South Africans braai at home at least once a week. You can braai almost anything and Fish Braais are quite popular if you catch your own fish. But the most common food braaid is chops and “boerewors” Boerwors is unique in South African. The word means Farmer’s Sausage. It contains 90 percent beef or a mixture of beef, lamb and pork. The other 10% is made up of spices and other ingredients. Not more than 30% of the meat content may be fat. Boerewors may not contain any “mechanically recovered” meat (meat derived through a process where meat and bone are mechanically separated). Potatoes are wrapped in tinfoil and cooked in the coals. Any vegetables can be cooked this way too. A salad also usually accompanies a braai. Some people also make cheese, tomato and onion sandwiches on a braai – so delicious.

There isn’t a South African man alive who can’t do a good braai – It is seldom the domain of the women.

Chops, Wors, Sweet potato (done in tinfoil) and Greek Salad

It was very pleasant here today and we were visited by Helmeted guineafowl.

A pretty but common bird in South Africa

The Egyptian Geese passed nonchalantly by before taking to the water

Fortunately the rain held off until the braai was done but we still managed to eat under the canopy without getting wet and afterwards everything looked clean and fresh.

Hopefully the weather will be sunny tomorrow as we have some great bird walks planned. Watch this space!

NABLOPOMO 11 Stuck in a tough spot

2015-11-11 | puppy1952

NABLOPOMO

The prompt for today – What was last thing you fixed or built.

Fix or build? No sorry – not me – I have two completely unco-ordinated hands that cannot even hold screw-driver correctly. I am not one of those liberated women who learns what goes on in the inside of a car engine and changes her own flat tyres without batting an eyelid. Not me, sweetheart – I’m more the type who would flutter the eyelashes, show a leg and look helpless on the side of the road – well not these days in this country – that would be a bit dangerous. But that’s why cell phones were invented! What’s wrong with calling one’s significant other in a sweet and helpless voice that says – come and rescue me!

It happened to my friend and me some years ago. We ventured out on our own to a lonely place where a series of ponds held myriads of amazing birds.

One of the ponds at Strandfontien

Our husbands were out in the deep blue sea – fishing! Then while chasing after some beautiful species – we took a road we should not have and found ourselves stuck in deep, soft sand!

Uh oh. There was not another car in sight. So we called the beloveds. Fortunately for us they were on their way home but were towing an enormous ski-boat so the wait would be long while they parked it in the driveway before they could come to the rescue. The problem now was explaining exactly where we were! We each had a story of a bird seen nearby when the our men were with us and that’s how we managed to get them to understand exactly where to find us two hours later. We enjoyed a long and girly chat and enjoyed the birds while we waited.

Cape Shovellers

Malachite Kingfisher

Purple Swamphen

Black winged stilt

When the guys arrived they really put on the super hero act and we oohed and aahed and praised their prowess and their marvellous skills of getting us out of tight spot! But what if they had still been at sea and what if some unsavoury had come along and caused a bigger problem? I am more careful about where I go alone now and have learned not to ride on roads where I might get stuck! Usually I have my own personal Macgyver when travelling in the bush -and boy – he can always make a plan!

A Visit to The Breede River

2015-09-07 | puppy1952

Spring really smiled brightly and presented us with a glorious day on Saturday. After breakfast we bade farewell to Barbara and Andrew and packed an overnight bag and made our way to Riverine on the Breede River to visit my sister and brother-in-law who were spending the weekend at their holiday house there.

We arrived at lunchtime and after taking sitting on the jetty and taking in the amazing view of the river we sat on the patio and enjoyed Tana’s delicious chicken salad.

The Breede River

The house

Sisters

After lunch we took a drive to Cape Infanta.

Relaxing together

Brian and Tana

Me, Brian, Tana

The Southern Right Whale blowing a V shape

His fin

More of him

Perfect day for fishing

Lovely place to walk along the sand

Little Egret in the shallows

Earl found this rock kestrel

We passed a farm that had emus!

And a rhebok

A Denham’s Bustard was a highlight

So after this lovely day we returned and Tana cooked us a delicious lamb curry and after chatting we went to bed after 10. We had a late lie in on Sunday before enjoying Brian’s breakfast and then took a long walk around Riverine. Then it was back to Struisbaai!

Thanks Tana and Brian for a stunning weekend.

Visiting the Kids in Kokstad – Getting There

2015-04-23 | puppy1952

Yes – another trip! We certainly are enjoying our adventurous retirement. We saw our rural kids in Struisbaai and Cape Town in December/January. Our last visit to them in Kokstad was a year ago so really another visit was due. We also had the excuse of our brother-in-law, Andrew’s 80th coming up in May so after less than two weeks at home after our Kgalagadi trip we departed Cape Town yet again.

Our new home is going to be Struisbaai but we haven’t had time to move there yet! Therefore we decided to stop there for two nights to see that everything was still in order at the house and to check what needed to be done there. Earl sorted out the garden, I checked the inventory and we decided that a new Convection Oven should be added to the kitchen equipment.

Of course we also checked out the birdlife in the area.

Cape bulbul

Common Waxbill

Common Fiscal

African Pipit

Female Southern Black Korhaan

A visit to the harbour is compulsory and on the Sunday the day was clear and beautiful and the stingrays were having the time of their lives

On Monday 13 April we made our way to Great Brak to visit Diane and Carey. What a piece of paradise they have found. Carey was just out of hospital after a back operation but he was up and about and keen to show us everything. On Tuesday Diane and I took a very steep walk to the river planning to get a ride back with Earl but the pet calf followed us so we had to walk her back! It was a steep climb but I certainly needed the exercise.

First bird we saw – swee waxbill

Diane’s fishpond is a source of delight to the cat

He fell in trying to get a catch then swam to the edge without suffering too much trauma

Very pretty walk

Even the calf enjoyed it

But, boy was it steep to get back

Although it was only a day and a night with Carey and Diane we had an amazing time and are so impressed with what they have done with their place. Carey custom builds campervans and has set up an amazing workshop on the plot. Diane has taken to the country life like she was born to it. Next time we will stay for longer.

Bird Club Camp at Kuifkop Vivanger, Veldrift

2015-04-01 | puppy1952

6 March to 8 March 2015

Before we embark our trip to The Kagalagadi Transfrontier Park, Earl and I join the Cape Bird Club weekend camp at Kuifkhop Visvanger in Veldrift on the West Coast. This is our first time out with our new Imagine Off-Road Caravan.

We arrive at 12:30 pm and are surprised to find that most of the campers have already arrived – the joys of being retired – you don’t have to wait until after work to leave!

We begin setting up when two guy approach and tell us they too are Imagine owners. They notice that ours is brand new and are interesting in seeing the diffences. They are very enthusiastic about Imagine and tell us we have made a good choice. We pick up some tips from them and soon have the caravan set up and ready.

Later in the afternoon, Mel takes some of the campers on an afternoon excursion. Earl joins them but I remain in camp as I have to be on hand for new arrivals.

The official opening of the camp is at the evening braai. We have been given the use of the conference centre and all gather there. Mel and Simon give us the run down of what will happen in the next two days. there 40 of us and we will divide into two groups and pool cars. Each car will have a hand held walkie talkie. We are in Mel’s group.

The weekend is a great success. We see a variet of wonderful birds on the salt pans and in the vlei and it is a good introduction to our future life of caravanning.

Setting up our caravan

Here are some of the birds we saw.

Rock Kestrel

Goliath Heron

Regional Rarity – Red-backed shrike – it caused quite a lot of excitement although it is common in Kruger!

campers finding birds

Priscilla and Me

Earl on a boat!

Grey Plover

Lanner Falcon

Black crowned night heron

Little Egret

Purple Heron

Caspian Tern

Little Ringed Plover

Chestnut-banded plover

African Darter

Supper

Briefing

Moon

Little Stint

House Sparrow

Curlew Sandpiper

Three banded plover

Retiring Adventurously – Getting used to all this free time!

2015-02-22 | puppy1952

Back to the question of “What do you do all day now that you’re retired?” I could answer that fairly easily in the past few weeks as I have been busy tying up things to do with Bird Club, the Caravan and the house. Earl is hyperactive and makes sure he has one project or another on the go and so doing things together has taken a bit of a back seat for now. He did comment that I was spending too much time reading and indulging in other useless occupations so I said “I could get some relief work at one of the schools.” which sent him into a panic and shut him up completely. While I was teaching he was doing all the shopping and cooking but I have reclaimed those duties and even bring him cups of tea and snacks while he industriously labours on the boat he has been commissioned to fit out. Once this is done there is no knowing what he will take on next. I am of course most grateful to him for taking on these jobs as it does add to the ‘not so full anymore’ coffers! And I am a lady used to her little luxuries.

On Thursday we were both up bright and early – Earl to go fishing and I to join a midweek bird club outing! The venue was one of my favourite spots – The False Bay Ecology Park – which Earl and I often visit on our own- but to go with other like-minded friends and an expert guide makes it extra special.

Dave, our leader explained the importance of this birding area

The False Bay Ecology Park’s man-made wetland system is amongst one of the top five bird watching areas in Southern Africa. It is an IBA (Important Birding Area) because of the number of species that it attracts. Many birds from across the seas use it as a stop off spot or destination as they traverse the world’s migratory flight paths. One hundred and sixty eight species of bird have been recorded in the park. Seventy-six of these are freshwater wetland species. Eighteen are are coastal species that visit the area to roost or breed.

Checking out one of the ponds with binoculars

The stilt is a common resident.

We delighted to find a grey-headed gull among the usual Hartlaub’s gulls

There were many swift terns fraternising with the gulls too

In the shallow waters we found a wood sandpiper

And there were plenty of stints in the water and in the air

The barn swallows visit us every year

It is truly a beautiful spot right here on our doorstep

For us here in the Deep South, it is an adventure just to go ‘over the mountain’ for any kind of excursion or outing. Visiting the V&A Waterfront is as good as going to a foreign city. And heading to the theatre in the very cosmopolitan Camps Bay is just as much fun. On Thursday night we went to Theatre on the Bay with Heather and Peter and were wonderfully entertained by Pieter-Dirk Uys. He has been presenting satire since the sixties and is still as amazing as ever. This show was called ‘An Audience with Pieter-Dirk Eish’ On the stage were rows of numbered boxes – reminiscent of the old Pick a Box radio show of the sixties – Various members of the audience were invited to pick a number and then Pieter Dirk dressed up in the contents and did one of his famous characters. My personal favourite is Nowell Fine – a Kugel from Constantia one of the first he ever created. She is older now but still has Dora her maid who has her own car in which she takes the grandchildren out for dinner. No more cooking for her! We were in fits of laughter watching Uys take on one persona after another and perform them perfectly! If you live here in Cape Town I highly recommend you attend the show.