A full week of smiles.

Here is my contribution to The Weekly Smile challenge

The weather made me smile this week. We have such changeable weather here and if you should ever visit the southern tip of Africa and you don’t like the temperature – wait a few minutes and it’s sure to change. Two days ago we had much needed rain – it rained all night and all day – and it made me glad – because our dams are dry and our farmlands are dying so when I heard the thunder and saw the lightning I couldn’t stop smiling.

But the next day the sun shone again and I was back in summer clothes! Hubby went fishing and that made him smile. He took his friend Willie which meant Rachel was short staffed at the coffee shop on a Public Holiday so I went in to help her which made her and Jacqui smile and I had so much fun that I smiled too, so there was a lot of passing on of smiles. The patrons smiled also specially when they enjoyed their delicious chocolate cake and fabulous cappuccinos. A little four year-old girl really made me smile when I saw her cute little face covered in chocolate icing.

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Along with Willie, Earl took Ben, who’d never been to sea before. Imagine how he smiled when he impressed the Old Man of the Sea by catching some lovely Red Stompneus for our supper. And we all smiled when we dined together on the spoils of the day.

I smiled because I remembered to take my camera with me on my daily walk earlier this week. The tide was low and the beach called loudly for my presence. What a broad smile broke onto my face when I found two African Black Oyster Catchers foraging for mussels on the rocky shore.

We’re gonna get those black mussels

Got one

I smiled and smiled because I was the only person on the beach watching and photographing these beautiful creatures.

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Kruger National Park Getting There

Since booking for The Kruger National Park a year ago, I have visited Europe and Australia. I thoroughly enjoyed both those exciting trips but there is nothing to beat a holiday in the bush and having missed out on such a trip last year I was beside myself anticipating this trip to Kruger. Everything was packed and ready and our travelling companions slept over at our house last night and the adventure began at 4:30 this morning. If we thought it was a chilly start we were to get a shock when we hit the Karoo and got out at Laingsburg for breakfast. It was 0 degrees C! Our Wimpy breakfast warmed us and were back into our warm Caravelle enjoying the sunshine warming us through the windows while we pointed out black shouldered kites, pale chanting goshawks, rock kestrels and other birds. We enjoyed the dry, khaki terrain and low mountains and koppies too. Uploading photographs in areas where the coms are slow and reliable is going to be slow and frustrating so I am not going to do a daily blog of this trip. We are overnighting in a lovely B&B, Duinerus, in Bloemfontein. Margriet provides us with tea, coffee, milk, rusks and the ingredients for breakfast. We ordered pizza for our evening meal and will be off to Kruger early tomorrow – hopefully arriving at Numbi Gate before 4 o’clock. I will save my reports in draft and upload the photos when I return in 3 weeks time and publish them a day at time then, unless by some strange miracle I get good coms in some of the camps! I leave you now with just one through the windscreen pic of The Three Sisters

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Sani Valley Lodge Day 1 and 2

We were woken at some unearthly hour with steaming cups of coffee and instructions that there was lots to do so we’d better get up. Really – we’re on holiday! But wait today was the day we were to go to the most beautiful trout lodge in the country – Sani Valley at the foot of the Drakensberg.
So with the kids in the back, a shopping list for supplies and instructions to meet the parents at The Lemon Tree at 12:30 sharp we set off for Underberg at quarter to 10. The drive from Kokstad to said destination is utterly stunning and we were blessed with the most glorious weather. Let the photos do the talking!

Cape Town has a beauty of its own but when we don’t feel that we are truly in African until we cross the border of the Western Cape and the further north we go the more African it becomes.
Underberg has the true African feel about it. We stopped her to make our obligatory visit to NUD’s Sports Shop to stock up with fishing tackle. Simon also scored a new fishing rod and a soccer ball. Shan we’ll make it up to you soon!

Next we did the grocery shopping at the local Spar before meeting the parents at the appointed time. The Lemon Tree has a patio section under a tree where we sat to enjoy our lunch – Spinach and Feta pancake for me, Eggs Benedict for Allan, Smoked Trout for Earl, Mega Hamburger for Lauren and toasted sandwiches for the kids.

The last stretch to the lodge is quick but we took it slowly so as to get a coupe of bird photies. The parents went ahead and checked us in.

As soon as we arrived Earl had to get down to see his boat and throw in a line.

As fete would have it our friends from Australia landed up being booked at Sani on the same dates as ours! They arrived at 4 after a long drive from Hogsback. We arranged for them to have a braai with us and a fabulous time was had by all as the weather was perfect.

This morning I was in a deep doze when the sound of voices woke me. It was before 7 a.m. but Nicoline and Sean had made an early start from Kokstad and were ready to rouse Allan and Earl to go fishing!
While they were out on the lake with the Simon and Scott (in stages) Nicoline, Lauren and I took a walk. We found Eric and Wendy at the Boathouse having a luxuriously catered breakfast. The day was brilliant again. In fact my early rising enabled me to get a good sunrise shot.

What a view for breakfast

Looking toward the Boathouse

We continued our walk and I took photos of Sunset where they are staying. It has a view over a smaller dam that joins onto the larger one.

Here are some photos of the guys on the water.

Our lodge – Rainbow

Lauren and Nicoline greeted a friendly cow.

When the guys were back from fishing we enjoyed an Early Breakfast and then more fishing, chilling and chatting. The Bakers then took their leave at lunchtime and it now looks like we may get a thunderstorm. On the other hand it could clear and the sun might shine again soon. That’s all for now as I have managed to get online at reception – no wifi or MTN coms in the lodges!

Post script
Have to post these last to piccies

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Autumn Break Cape Town to Durban to Kokstad

Finally the first term is over. It has had its fair share of delights and dramas but I am satisfied that my girls have now settled into the routine of Grade One. Experience tells me that from here on things only get better.
The holidays have now begun and the short week we have will be just enough to charge the batteries sufficiently to get back into the swing of things for a long second term which will be punctuated by a number of public holidays.

We sent the children home at 11 on Friday and after doing a few chores at school I dashed off home at about quarter to one, did my final packing and then Earl and I set off for to his office where one of his men was waiting to take us to the airport. Our Mango flight was delayed but it was perfect weather for flying and once we were up it was a pleasant trip midway through which we heard an urgent call for a doctor. Somebody had suffered a heart attack a few seats behind us. It was all very dramatic. Our travelling companion was an actuarial honors student from Stellenbosch university. Ooohh she said – how cool to be a doctor – nobody asks for an actuary in an emergency! The flight attendants rushed around finding medical equipment in the baggage compartment above our heads. A fibrillater appeared and soon the patient was stabilized.
The ambulance was waiting on the runway and we had to wait for the paramedics board before we could deplane. Hopefully all went well for the hapless passenger
After collecting our luggage we got our hire car and drove through the Durban traffic to Eddie’s house. Shirl was away looking after her granddaughter while Mom was having a baby. Andrew had been staying with Eddie all week while Barb was in hospital where she landed up after complications after her appendectomy. One of their kids had brought them up and it was a great convenience that we were now there to take them back.
Eddie had a lovely supper waiting for us. We caught up with everyone and then dropped into bed.
We had to travel slowly as Barbs had doctors instructions to stop every hour for a break. Our first stop was Gorge’s View where their son in law’s mom works. We had excellent service and fabulous cofffee and crunchies while we enjoyed the view.

Our second stop was at Ingeni Forest Lodge where we had lunch. Also a lovely spot. Travelling at this pace is to be recommended. We enjoyed the company and the took in the views that we would normally just rush past.

It was then just another hour to Glynis’s house where Andrew had his car. We spent a few minutes chatting, settled Barb into the car and then went our separate ways. Lauren, the kids and dogs were there to greet us at Karg’s Post and later in the afternoon we went for a lovely long walk – well the dogs, Lauren and I walked while the kids rode their bikes. What a stunning day it was and how lovely to be able to walk is such beautiful surroundings.

Simon said, Get your camera ready, Granny – and lifted a stone under which lay this snake!

A female stone chat posed obligingly.

The kids rode on ahead an got home before us and we were nearly there when Allan drove up behind us on his way home from golf so we drove the rest of the way with him. Lazy I know but we’re on holiday!
Lauren cooked us a delicious corned beef with mustard sauce for supper. The meat was from their own cattle and prepared by the butcher. Quite delicious!

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Human Rights Day in Struisbaai

I am trying something new today. I am dong a blog on my Ipaad for the first time. Posting media is somewhat trickier than the laptop version so I hope you can all see what I have posted!

It is Human Rights Day in South Africa today so we have a long weekend. Hubby wants to braai a fish tonight but I have persuaded him to let us use the yellowtail freshly caught today for sashimi. But I am jumping ahead. Let me tell you about our weekend so far.

We have two youngsters with us – Sam – 16 – who is a young protege of Earl’s and fishes competition with him – and his little sister, Bobbi who wants to get into fishing too. What super kids they are and such a pleasure to have.

Bobbi fished in Cape Town last weekend with Earl and Sam and was horribly seasick so this time she came prepared with some preventative medication. They set off early this morning and returned triumphant

On my return walk I spotted a couple of birds – a canary and a common fiscal.

While they were having fun at sea, I was having some much needed alone time. I needed to recover from the exhausting week of fun at school – it’s hard work having fun you know.
I slept in late, did my Back in the classroom blog and then went for a walk. I dropped in on my friend at her gift shop at the mall and then went to the harbour and had brekkie at the Pelican.

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Struisbaai Holiday Day 11 – Christmas in Struisbaai

Christmas Day – and the first time in the 30 years I have been with Earl that we have had Christmas here in Struisbaai! And yes – it has been stunning.

We usually celebrate Christmas with our kids in Kokstad and I, the photographer, insist that everybody is dressed before we open presents. This year the tradition with the support of Lauren and Allan was changed somewhat – everybody had to have an early morning run/walk/swim then return to shower and dress before present opening could begin. Simon, Shannon and Josh were up at the proverbial Sparrow’s f*&t and looked decidedly grumpy when they were told that present opening was not going to happen. They roused Jay and he was instantly alert and ready to go. Lauren roused her sister and a Christmas miracle happened. She came albeit reluctantly, to the beach with us!

Struisbaai Beach with the good sports going for a morning jog – Jay at rapid pace, Granny at steady slow slog, Josh encouraging Shan to hurry up.

Once on the beach were like playful puppies again and ready to enjoy the early morning low tide and sea breeze. Jay ran right on ahead, Shannon decided to wait for her parents, Josh kept pace with Jay for a while then ran back to get Simon and then caught up with me just before the Big B where I turn (Jay was already well on his way back to the start point) Sisi is only eight and was doing jolly well. Of course they beat me back but what a pleasure to see my grandsons enjoying an outdoor activity together.

Granny pace

Best part of the day

Back home once everybody was washed and dressed we started the present opening ceremony. Si did the handing out and I of course did most of the photography.

Waiting for Christmas

Look what Santa gave me

Oh Wow

Cool Stuff

Simon reading the names

How do I read this novel?

You don’t read it. It reads to you!

The gift chosen by Joshua was a tiny clock set in an old fashioned telephone. It came in a wooden box – so when Lisa opened it she thought it was jewellery box. Big surprise when she found another little gift inside.

An old fashioned telephone clock! Just what I always wanted

Laurie’s gift to Simon

Jay and Shan

Josh opening his gift

Thanks Kids!

The kids couldn’t wait to try out Simon and Shannon’s new game and there were shrieks and giggles as they tried to figure out the words from clues given in less than 30 seconds a go.

Kids playing Thirty Seconds

After breakfast we headed to the beach where the kids had fun on the boogy boards and the parents mainly lay in the sun. The tide was coming in and so the four cousins tried to fight it with their forts and castles. It was great to see that Jay and Joshua, in spite of being in their teens were quite happy to join the younger ones in this simple game.

Having fun on Struisbaai Beach

Josh

Shannon joins in

The tide finally came and chased them from their fortress and it was time to get out of the sun.

Our youngest, Laurie, had Christmas lunch with her father’s family and then drove up to join us in time for Christmas supper. It was wonderful to have the extended blended family together again.

Our Dinner was cooked in the Weber

Lauren prepared delicious peri peri chicken livers for our starter.

Getting the starter together

The kids were exhausted after an exciting and fun-filled day and after helping most efficiently with the cleaning up were all in bed by 9 o’clock. The adults relaxed with a cup of coffee and watched Love Actually and enjoyed the Christmas Lights.