I have a hurdy-girdy and a music paper weight!! After our holiday I opened the birthday present Mum had sent me. Inside was a hurdy-girdy and a music paperweight. I have WANTED a hurdy-girdy since I was 9 and my best friend of the time invited me over for a sleep over, she had a hurdy-girdy (that played Sleeping beauty - Trichovskys - I know because Dad taught us classical music well) and I thought it was wonderful. Unfortunately on announcing that a hurdy-girdy was what I required for Christmas Dad launched into a series of lectures around the theme,, "It is July", and "You can't get hurdy-girdies" and the educational "they are enourmous - the size of a room, and there are many in Holland and Germany". Despite this I beleive I banged on for some time about the blessed music device my friend Joanne had.
No longer does my 9 year old heart had to be jealous! I am thrilled. The kids have been eductated in the art of where you play it changes the amount of noise it makes and John is so far tolerating the sudden stopping of cooking, tea making or whatever for another quick turn of the handle and 'the Entertainer.'
This is a brilliant, inspired and adored present. Thank you Mum!!!
About Me
- 60N
- Wife of an IT guru and mother of 1 daughter and 4 boys. I am employed as a GP associate in Spalding. I have few hobbies as I am working all the time or as a mother. I enjoy making products form things I have grown or scrumpped.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Monday, March 14, 2005
Back to reality
Monday the 14th March.
Had major snow and ice storm last night which was exciting! Nervous about work - you doctors will understand - so awake from 5am. Gave in at 8am and went to work as I was a pain at home. Slid my way through deep drifts and made it to the top of our hill to see my boss turning round and going home! Shetland looking beautiful.
Busy day but good.
Came home on time and now the light is better was able to play with the kids outside - lovely!! Icicles all round.
As 'cesca puts it - 'I love Shetland'.
Good to be home.
Had major snow and ice storm last night which was exciting! Nervous about work - you doctors will understand - so awake from 5am. Gave in at 8am and went to work as I was a pain at home. Slid my way through deep drifts and made it to the top of our hill to see my boss turning round and going home! Shetland looking beautiful.
Busy day but good.
Came home on time and now the light is better was able to play with the kids outside - lovely!! Icicles all round.
As 'cesca puts it - 'I love Shetland'.
Good to be home.
charlotte_moyo_face_painted
The excellent cousin Charlotte. Here looking stunning (if sultry) at Moyo. The face painting gives it away!
week four - South Africa adventure
Beaverlac!! Wonderful, wondeful place. Upto a bearable temperature. Uncle Tim took the kids swimming and we had a lazy start. breakfast of porridge - which I allowed to burn slightly on the bottom - sorry Tim!
Then onto swimming in pools formed by the river than runs through the mountains we were camping in. Beautiful. Morning did the 'baby - upper pool' and the kids had an absolute whale of a time. There is a little pool formed from turbulence in wilder times that heats the water within it to a higher temperature than the rest of the pool. Tim discovered this and was a hog in heaven! 'Cesca pretty much learnt to swim in the rest of the pool and was so proud of herself being like her cousins Megan and Kate who she adores! John properly and played whole heartedly and the two dads did alot of throwing water around. Nicki, lubica, Margie and I lounged, talked, basked and stayed cool in rotation. Lovely, heavenely infact. Then on to lunch on hot dogs all round. Tim slept as did we all for various lengths of time. Uncle Tim stayed behind with his name sake and the rest of us went for an afternoon swim in the lower pools. As beautiful to behold but able to swim properly. Unfortunately a bit slimey too. Fishes in the pools enchanting! Walked back to find Tims awake. Walked to baby and bigger pool. John & I jumped a 2 metre drop into the main pool - suprisingly scarey but good. Rest in baby pool and again great fun had by all. Then back to a braai dinner made by the excellent Uncle Tim. Fantastic, fantastic. Hunters all round. Feeling wondeful. And unfortunately sleepy. None of us from UK could keep our eyes open beyond 9pm. So bed and a cooler nights sleep.
Sunday: Overcast. Female Wades swam rest of us milled about and started packing. Braai breakfast with lots of emphasis on meat. Wonderful!! Ate loads. Packed up and I had the exhillerating off road trip up the huge hill. Fun! Then follwoing U Tim down and back to cape Town. Rainy. Said our goodbyes to T, M and the little cousins (sad as we were only just getting to know them) Lubica ensconsed once more with her phone and Nicki headed off with the Wades for a party at the park. Sadly her date hadn't got the plans clear and wasn't there, but good time had and excellent music brought back. Lubica in danger for her life after what was a huge rant about how difficult it is to share a room, if people breathe, move or even worse snore a little. huge sense of humour failure, especially with poor Nicki who got to share with her and we all told her tough - LEARN to tolerate it or at least STOP moaning on!!
Monday: cesca ill. Started with vomits at midnight and carried on every half hour untill about 5.30am when it changed to profuse uncontrolled diarrhea. No fun. She & I exhausted! Breakfast made slowly while john & Lubica do a 'quick' shop - a forerunner of things to come. They took flipping ages. They deserved the cold porridge! Lubica stayed with 'Cesca while the rest of us headed to Grans. We watch the holiday video to date which is mostly mundane as the exciting things flit by unrecorded. Cesca now dry and has high fever. So dose her up as appropriate. Lunch nice and slow with Charlotte joining us. Then onto the Western cape ostrich farm and the tour that goes with. Cesca OK to come, medicine is working. Good fun had by all and ostrich products bought. Ostrich Eggnog discovered!! Then home to the hut. Charlotte, Nicki & I swam in the cool of the ending day. Pizza take out good humour and chatting all round, i am cream crackered and retire same time as 'Cesca.
Tuesday: Cape Town to Speir near Stellembosch. U Tim suggested we would like it especially the resturant Moyo that is there. We decided to treeat our selves and book into the hotel for a few nights - less drunk driving and all that! Pricey but WOW worth it!!!!! 4* luxory. We had three rooms for this night while Charlotte with us and two rooms the following (Charlotte back at work). Our rooms were wonderful with complementry wine which was divine! John & I had a room to ourselves which was wonderful. Our complex of maybe 8 rooms had its own court yard and swimming pool!! We discoverd this after a lazy packed lunch, kids playing their hearts out in the play area and Nicki purchasing a diamond ring. We had plans to set off on a wine route but looking at our to die for surroundings and OUR OWN pool that changed and we had a wonderful time lounging around chatting, swimming and chatting. Changed for dinner for what was the most fantastic nights food, surroundings and entertainment! Moyo can not be recommended high enough. We had a tree balcony had superb wine ate as much as we coyuld from the extensive african buffet and we were entertained - so kids enthralled. We had our faces painted one and all, were sang to twice by different groups, and had a guy entertain us by getting us to join in. A puzzle was a prize for anyone who figued it out and John did. Tim loved it!! Absolutely wonderful, probably only beaten by our Wedding for shear excellence.
Wednesday:Bath as a family to start the day. Gourged ourselves on the breakfast - wondeful! Wine route day. Head to Van Ryn first makers of Brandy and as it turns out the best in the world as judged by experts in these things. We were greeted with a cocktail (brandy based of course) and then 3 to taste. Soon feeling a little smished, but more knowledgeable about brandy. 3 km up the road and we book dinner and wine taste. Wine OK but not good enough to buy. Now can not be bothered with the grand plan of doing mountain passes and instead go around the Stellenbosch mountain only. More wine tasting ad cheese and deli platters for lunch. Delicious. Head back and John , Lubica and Kids stay and swim. The three of us head to Stellenbosch town the mission - earrings. Sadly not to be. Back and dinner. Good food, but incomparable to the night befor. Goodbye to Charlotte
Thursday: Huge breakfast and slow sart as is to be expected. Bought Nicki some earrings! One last Hunters at Moyo before we go and we all enjoy being painted again. Then back to Cape Town. John fluffs the roads he now knows quite well and we see that the Cable car is working. So off we go. Beautiful views and the rotating car a thrill. Lunch (late) at the top. Slow Lubica souvenir shoppping 'it no my fault'. Tuna and pasta for dinner with left over deli products from the day befor. Charlotte comes home from work and it is home made Angels Share dompedros and London game for all of us and my cousin Peter. Nice to meet him properly. He invites us to lunch next day were he works.
Friday:Last day so a day to fill in odds and ends. I need to see Gran again and the ladies want a few items only found at the water front. So same arrangement as previous. Kids & I at Grans and the rest to town. Unfortuately that word 'quick' ment the same to John & Lubica as it had on Monday. They were 3 hours!!! Poor Gran had children climbing into ever nook and cranny and me in my premenstrual state trying to control them. I imagine her memories of my visit will be 'hi gran, stop that 'Cesca and out of there Tim'. Very cross at the three of them leaving me like this when the arrangement had been clearly a quick shop. Let rip with both barrels at the three of them at Peter work. Lubica said not her fault - a blatent lie , Jophn did his 'I;m sorry routine' (the one he does when he is not and he feels I am wining) and poor Nicki took it to heart and was crushed. I pretty much ruined things with this. Poor Nicki - realising she's too sensitive, too good a friend and I was at least to her unreasonable I appologised. I think we made up properly but time will tell. I love you Nicki! Don't let me being a cow put you off. Please.
kids played at the lunch and we payed. Back at the hut swam - cold pool!! Nicki coaching Lubica and 'Cesca in the art of trampolining. 'Cesca the quicker learner. Nicki impressing Lubica (a first for everything) with her simple ability to out trampoline Lubica any time of the day.
Ate at Spurs which was packed. Good atmosphere.
Then packing and off to the airport for the long jurney home. Charlotte very kindly met us at the airport for a fairwell. Love you Charlotte.
left Charlotte flew to Amsterdam. I was ill with nausea and fever. Said goodbye to Nicki in Amsterdam and managed to upset Lubica (tough titties). Aberdeen said goodbye to Lubica who is going by boat. Home. Mail opening and bed. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are Godsends and at last the global body pain and nausea abate enough for sleep.
What a holiday! Work on Monday (tomorrow as I write).
Then onto swimming in pools formed by the river than runs through the mountains we were camping in. Beautiful. Morning did the 'baby - upper pool' and the kids had an absolute whale of a time. There is a little pool formed from turbulence in wilder times that heats the water within it to a higher temperature than the rest of the pool. Tim discovered this and was a hog in heaven! 'Cesca pretty much learnt to swim in the rest of the pool and was so proud of herself being like her cousins Megan and Kate who she adores! John properly and played whole heartedly and the two dads did alot of throwing water around. Nicki, lubica, Margie and I lounged, talked, basked and stayed cool in rotation. Lovely, heavenely infact. Then on to lunch on hot dogs all round. Tim slept as did we all for various lengths of time. Uncle Tim stayed behind with his name sake and the rest of us went for an afternoon swim in the lower pools. As beautiful to behold but able to swim properly. Unfortunately a bit slimey too. Fishes in the pools enchanting! Walked back to find Tims awake. Walked to baby and bigger pool. John & I jumped a 2 metre drop into the main pool - suprisingly scarey but good. Rest in baby pool and again great fun had by all. Then back to a braai dinner made by the excellent Uncle Tim. Fantastic, fantastic. Hunters all round. Feeling wondeful. And unfortunately sleepy. None of us from UK could keep our eyes open beyond 9pm. So bed and a cooler nights sleep.
Sunday: Overcast. Female Wades swam rest of us milled about and started packing. Braai breakfast with lots of emphasis on meat. Wonderful!! Ate loads. Packed up and I had the exhillerating off road trip up the huge hill. Fun! Then follwoing U Tim down and back to cape Town. Rainy. Said our goodbyes to T, M and the little cousins (sad as we were only just getting to know them) Lubica ensconsed once more with her phone and Nicki headed off with the Wades for a party at the park. Sadly her date hadn't got the plans clear and wasn't there, but good time had and excellent music brought back. Lubica in danger for her life after what was a huge rant about how difficult it is to share a room, if people breathe, move or even worse snore a little. huge sense of humour failure, especially with poor Nicki who got to share with her and we all told her tough - LEARN to tolerate it or at least STOP moaning on!!
Monday: cesca ill. Started with vomits at midnight and carried on every half hour untill about 5.30am when it changed to profuse uncontrolled diarrhea. No fun. She & I exhausted! Breakfast made slowly while john & Lubica do a 'quick' shop - a forerunner of things to come. They took flipping ages. They deserved the cold porridge! Lubica stayed with 'Cesca while the rest of us headed to Grans. We watch the holiday video to date which is mostly mundane as the exciting things flit by unrecorded. Cesca now dry and has high fever. So dose her up as appropriate. Lunch nice and slow with Charlotte joining us. Then onto the Western cape ostrich farm and the tour that goes with. Cesca OK to come, medicine is working. Good fun had by all and ostrich products bought. Ostrich Eggnog discovered!! Then home to the hut. Charlotte, Nicki & I swam in the cool of the ending day. Pizza take out good humour and chatting all round, i am cream crackered and retire same time as 'Cesca.
Tuesday: Cape Town to Speir near Stellembosch. U Tim suggested we would like it especially the resturant Moyo that is there. We decided to treeat our selves and book into the hotel for a few nights - less drunk driving and all that! Pricey but WOW worth it!!!!! 4* luxory. We had three rooms for this night while Charlotte with us and two rooms the following (Charlotte back at work). Our rooms were wonderful with complementry wine which was divine! John & I had a room to ourselves which was wonderful. Our complex of maybe 8 rooms had its own court yard and swimming pool!! We discoverd this after a lazy packed lunch, kids playing their hearts out in the play area and Nicki purchasing a diamond ring. We had plans to set off on a wine route but looking at our to die for surroundings and OUR OWN pool that changed and we had a wonderful time lounging around chatting, swimming and chatting. Changed for dinner for what was the most fantastic nights food, surroundings and entertainment! Moyo can not be recommended high enough. We had a tree balcony had superb wine ate as much as we coyuld from the extensive african buffet and we were entertained - so kids enthralled. We had our faces painted one and all, were sang to twice by different groups, and had a guy entertain us by getting us to join in. A puzzle was a prize for anyone who figued it out and John did. Tim loved it!! Absolutely wonderful, probably only beaten by our Wedding for shear excellence.
Wednesday:Bath as a family to start the day. Gourged ourselves on the breakfast - wondeful! Wine route day. Head to Van Ryn first makers of Brandy and as it turns out the best in the world as judged by experts in these things. We were greeted with a cocktail (brandy based of course) and then 3 to taste. Soon feeling a little smished, but more knowledgeable about brandy. 3 km up the road and we book dinner and wine taste. Wine OK but not good enough to buy. Now can not be bothered with the grand plan of doing mountain passes and instead go around the Stellenbosch mountain only. More wine tasting ad cheese and deli platters for lunch. Delicious. Head back and John , Lubica and Kids stay and swim. The three of us head to Stellenbosch town the mission - earrings. Sadly not to be. Back and dinner. Good food, but incomparable to the night befor. Goodbye to Charlotte
Thursday: Huge breakfast and slow sart as is to be expected. Bought Nicki some earrings! One last Hunters at Moyo before we go and we all enjoy being painted again. Then back to Cape Town. John fluffs the roads he now knows quite well and we see that the Cable car is working. So off we go. Beautiful views and the rotating car a thrill. Lunch (late) at the top. Slow Lubica souvenir shoppping 'it no my fault'. Tuna and pasta for dinner with left over deli products from the day befor. Charlotte comes home from work and it is home made Angels Share dompedros and London game for all of us and my cousin Peter. Nice to meet him properly. He invites us to lunch next day were he works.
Friday:Last day so a day to fill in odds and ends. I need to see Gran again and the ladies want a few items only found at the water front. So same arrangement as previous. Kids & I at Grans and the rest to town. Unfortuately that word 'quick' ment the same to John & Lubica as it had on Monday. They were 3 hours!!! Poor Gran had children climbing into ever nook and cranny and me in my premenstrual state trying to control them. I imagine her memories of my visit will be 'hi gran, stop that 'Cesca and out of there Tim'. Very cross at the three of them leaving me like this when the arrangement had been clearly a quick shop. Let rip with both barrels at the three of them at Peter work. Lubica said not her fault - a blatent lie , Jophn did his 'I;m sorry routine' (the one he does when he is not and he feels I am wining) and poor Nicki took it to heart and was crushed. I pretty much ruined things with this. Poor Nicki - realising she's too sensitive, too good a friend and I was at least to her unreasonable I appologised. I think we made up properly but time will tell. I love you Nicki! Don't let me being a cow put you off. Please.
kids played at the lunch and we payed. Back at the hut swam - cold pool!! Nicki coaching Lubica and 'Cesca in the art of trampolining. 'Cesca the quicker learner. Nicki impressing Lubica (a first for everything) with her simple ability to out trampoline Lubica any time of the day.
Ate at Spurs which was packed. Good atmosphere.
Then packing and off to the airport for the long jurney home. Charlotte very kindly met us at the airport for a fairwell. Love you Charlotte.
left Charlotte flew to Amsterdam. I was ill with nausea and fever. Said goodbye to Nicki in Amsterdam and managed to upset Lubica (tough titties). Aberdeen said goodbye to Lubica who is going by boat. Home. Mail opening and bed. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are Godsends and at last the global body pain and nausea abate enough for sleep.
What a holiday! Work on Monday (tomorrow as I write).
Sunday, March 13, 2005
jo_nicki_packing_for_beaverlac
At the Wades preparing for Beaverlac. The Condor is in this photo. The trusty hire car!
Week three - South African Adventure
Up early - this is our day for getting back to cape Town to pick up Nicki at midnight. Drive after George easy as is dual carriage and miles better than single lane! Get to Mossel bay bungi jump site to find the bridge swinging closed for repair - the bit John and i wanting to do and Lubica totally bottling out of the small 65m bungi. I tad annoying - but neither of us wanted to bungi to proove she could do it. If she wants a teenage flid and regret not taking up this unique oportunity then so be it. For the record am narked at this as in 1995 John & I passed up the oportunity to bungi in Zimababwe and we both regreted it!
drive to Cape Town long, and as is the case with most journeys, as soon as the end is in site tim,e travels even more slowly. So we were tired on our arrival at the 'hut' as we dubbed Charlottes to be home. Weather wonderful!!! Swam - excellent ! Saw Gran - great! Found out Nicki missed KLM flight and expected the following morning- not so great. So a needed full nights sleep!
Sunday- Up early and off to the airport where Nickis flight was delayed by an hour. But Really pleased to see her!!! For the record she is our best friend and was Johns 'best man' at our wedding. Turns out her parents are cross with us as when the delay became manifest she had no South African contact numbers. Opps and sorry Mr & Mrs Deans. We really do love your daughter and this was an oversight.
Swam, lunched and Nicki phoned home, thus stopping plans for a parental invasion of the southern continent. Charlotte, my most excellent cousin joined us and we had a merry time!! Dinner at Spurs for one and all and brilliant fun. Lubica noticed by a local - Craig. He was to give her holiday new meaning and fun. Unfortunately redoubled the fasination with the beeping phone.
Monday: Cape Town aquarium. Absolutely brilliant! Scarey crabs still there. Good time had by all. Lunch excellent but REALLY slow service! Swim in the afternoon. Dinner in for once - chicken and pasta.
Tuesday: beautiful day and off to Table Mountain for Cable car experience. Unfortunately it is closed due to wind and we mill about looking at the view befor heading back down. Nicki & Lubica dropped at the Victoria and Albert Docks for a fun day shopping. We the family head back, swim, lunch, dose. When shopping all done the kids & I visit with Gran and John pick up the girls. This works out well and Gran gets to meet Nicki again - having met at our wedding. The kids got presents from gran and so she is NUMBER ONE!! 'Cesca adores her music box SO much.
Wednesday: Boulders beach and penguine after the long drive through Cape Town to find it. Sea warm but howling gale. A thrill to see free range penguins! Then onto Hout world of Birds. Excellent. Lots of birds well presented and a really full days worth - which ment we were cream crackered when we had finished. half way through Lubica stopped trying to look interested and spent the whole time texting Craig. ARGGHH Teenagers!! Did some excellent curio shopping at the side of the road. Spag bol for dinner with superb Simonsberg mozarella.
Thursday: Century City - Blue Water for Cape Town. Huge and fantastic! bought replacement luggage for Cesca and new flip flops for me. Swam and mouched around the hut. Charlotte once more joining us - the cousin with the most! During Swim John was changing after the rest of us had headed off - he arrived one and a half hours later having fallen asleep during this process! Pizza for dinner.
Friday : up and packing for Beaverlac. Go to the Wades house where the rest of the party relax in the Wades beautiful house while John & I shop till we drop for the provisions! Uncle Tim arrives home, sorts us all out packing wise and we head off. Get to Bearerlac for 4pm is. HOT, really HOT!! Unpack and set up camp slowly. us brits just wanting to cool down anyhow and the Wades sensibly focused on the camp. Swim after sun down for precisely 10 minutes any longer and it would have been totally dark. Excellent Spag Bol by Margie and a lovely camp fire chat with one and all. Unfortuantely attacked by insomnia so I read in a chair under the stars in my undies to tourch light. Strangely wonderful!
drive to Cape Town long, and as is the case with most journeys, as soon as the end is in site tim,e travels even more slowly. So we were tired on our arrival at the 'hut' as we dubbed Charlottes to be home. Weather wonderful!!! Swam - excellent ! Saw Gran - great! Found out Nicki missed KLM flight and expected the following morning- not so great. So a needed full nights sleep!
Sunday- Up early and off to the airport where Nickis flight was delayed by an hour. But Really pleased to see her!!! For the record she is our best friend and was Johns 'best man' at our wedding. Turns out her parents are cross with us as when the delay became manifest she had no South African contact numbers. Opps and sorry Mr & Mrs Deans. We really do love your daughter and this was an oversight.
Swam, lunched and Nicki phoned home, thus stopping plans for a parental invasion of the southern continent. Charlotte, my most excellent cousin joined us and we had a merry time!! Dinner at Spurs for one and all and brilliant fun. Lubica noticed by a local - Craig. He was to give her holiday new meaning and fun. Unfortunately redoubled the fasination with the beeping phone.
Monday: Cape Town aquarium. Absolutely brilliant! Scarey crabs still there. Good time had by all. Lunch excellent but REALLY slow service! Swim in the afternoon. Dinner in for once - chicken and pasta.
Tuesday: beautiful day and off to Table Mountain for Cable car experience. Unfortunately it is closed due to wind and we mill about looking at the view befor heading back down. Nicki & Lubica dropped at the Victoria and Albert Docks for a fun day shopping. We the family head back, swim, lunch, dose. When shopping all done the kids & I visit with Gran and John pick up the girls. This works out well and Gran gets to meet Nicki again - having met at our wedding. The kids got presents from gran and so she is NUMBER ONE!! 'Cesca adores her music box SO much.
Wednesday: Boulders beach and penguine after the long drive through Cape Town to find it. Sea warm but howling gale. A thrill to see free range penguins! Then onto Hout world of Birds. Excellent. Lots of birds well presented and a really full days worth - which ment we were cream crackered when we had finished. half way through Lubica stopped trying to look interested and spent the whole time texting Craig. ARGGHH Teenagers!! Did some excellent curio shopping at the side of the road. Spag bol for dinner with superb Simonsberg mozarella.
Thursday: Century City - Blue Water for Cape Town. Huge and fantastic! bought replacement luggage for Cesca and new flip flops for me. Swam and mouched around the hut. Charlotte once more joining us - the cousin with the most! During Swim John was changing after the rest of us had headed off - he arrived one and a half hours later having fallen asleep during this process! Pizza for dinner.
Friday : up and packing for Beaverlac. Go to the Wades house where the rest of the party relax in the Wades beautiful house while John & I shop till we drop for the provisions! Uncle Tim arrives home, sorts us all out packing wise and we head off. Get to Bearerlac for 4pm is. HOT, really HOT!! Unpack and set up camp slowly. us brits just wanting to cool down anyhow and the Wades sensibly focused on the camp. Swim after sun down for precisely 10 minutes any longer and it would have been totally dark. Excellent Spag Bol by Margie and a lovely camp fire chat with one and all. Unfortuantely attacked by insomnia so I read in a chair under the stars in my undies to tourch light. Strangely wonderful!
Week two - South African adventure
Plettenberg all week. Gradually getting used to carvan life and its slow pace settling us into the holiday proper.
Dull overcast day on Saturday so we did the Knysna Elephant sanctury. Got to pet african elephants which are suprisingly wirey! A nice sentiment - as they take in orphans - but not disimilar to a UK 'safari' in its care of the elephants. Afternoon beach swim, despite the weather and pleased to find the sea exciting and warm. The sun came out and it was not long befor john felt over hot, so we left. Dinner at 'Look Out' where it RAINED. Was releived to see caravan had coped and beds all dry. To bed. Unfortuanately the rained started up and set in for a long down pour. Put had onto floor just past midnight to find my hand sinking into 2" of water! So batten down hatches (late!) and move into the caravan - move up kids!! Damp miserable night.
What a lovely morning! Still and clean. Necessity the mother of invention caused us to find a use for all the 'left over string and poles'. Stuff drying everywhere! Went to Blaukrans and watched the bungi jumpers. There is now a rip slide to half way across the bridge and I persuaded lubica and John to do this with me. 20 seconds of exhilleration! Got worked up at the start - it is a LONG way down and I am a mummy. I went first with Lubica watching at her insistance. John with kids. Despite fear I went. As i said an exhillerating experience!! Quite a beautiful walk back on the wlk way under the bridge proper. John had his turn once both of us back. As thrilled as us. Unfortunately after making me go first and watching how scared i was and I watching how scared Lubica was she proceeded to make fun of me and imply she was as cool a cucumber. Having a teenager on holiday who you HAVE to like is really trying!!! Rare smiles, no thank yous and lots of looks that imply that no matter how hard you try she's more interested in her phone! I guess I am getting a good old dose of what i put my poor south African relatives through when they took me all over in 1989 for my 2 month break there with them. I can only imagine that i was pain in the bottom from what i am currently observing - expect i was obsessed with the post! So a big SORRY to Gran & Gumps but especially to Aunty Jelly and Margie who bore the brunt of my teenage angst.
Next day : Sun!!! So to the beach and body boarding with borrowed boards. Great fun!! Then onto the Monkey sanctury and a lovely tour and lunch. A play in the lagoon followed while Tim napped. We ate in having finally sussed cooking in a caravan!
Tuesday: Knysna. Did the river boat, eventually after finding the waterfront the long way round. Another overcast and dull day. Did not recognise a thing, despite spending quite a lot of time here in 1989! Ate lunch in Kysna after spurning a british pub like place we settled on Nandos. Had chilli chicken with extra pain and suffering. Can't imagine why we all hated it, was it the main trunk road view, the garage next door OR the insanity pain causing peri peri sauce?? OUCH!! So much pain. So chasened we headed to the 'van!
Wednesday: Lubica ill, so we have the luxury of time as a family! Went to a snake ranch. Run by snake lovers who are not farming their animals, but opened to the public by popular demand. Excellent tour and learnt alot and touched and indeed held 'goldie' the albino python! Sleep in the afternoon over cast weather and dinner at the 'Rod and reel'. Found the place by being summoned to the caravan office to explain who we were etc. When we arrived the officee is shut up and the security gaurd knows all about us, is charm its self and helps fine caravan etc. i assume we pay up at end of stay. Well here we are Wednesday and i get summoned. Turns out Margie and Tim back in Cape Town are desperate to find out if we are alive or dead in ditches and our lack of communciation has scared them into phoning every known contact we have! They phone the park - who had not check us in to be told 'who, when i don't recall seeing any Claytons'. NOT what a frantic Wade wants to hear! Anyway proprietor charm its self and directed us to the 'Rod & Reel' which was fantastic!! Pooled all phone bits and bobs and bought an adaptor (suprisingly easy to get!!) and got Lubicas phone charging with a South African sim inside.
Thursday: Clear to start dull after 10am. Failed to go to 'Raptors of Edan' on account of it being closed. So despite dull weather went to 'Water world' and had an absolute ball in the water slide. Great fun and they let you go in any position and even with Tim in water wings! Rod & Reel again for dinner with Lubica recovering and joining us. Phoned Tim & Margie after the phone had stopped piping messages of 'phone us! T&M' really should have tried again with the phone sooner they have been unfairly worried for us. SORRY!!
Friday: Rained again last night - now practiced drill for such an event. To my huge relief we do not have to stay and air everything as T&M have a Caravan care service that does this for them! Phew. Packing up takes a long time but is easy. Going to miss this caravan that has become our home. Then the drive to George were we will overnight. Lovely B&B we sorted out last minute run by Brits! Real beds for one and all also walls, roof & floor! Ate huge amount of pizza, drank alot of Hunters and veged out in the 'heat' of the drizzel.
All in all we really enjoyed this week - probably because we really had work at it. Thank you to Tim & Margie Wade - you are extremely generous and lovely people! I hope you like the bottle of port awaiting you at the 'van.
Dull overcast day on Saturday so we did the Knysna Elephant sanctury. Got to pet african elephants which are suprisingly wirey! A nice sentiment - as they take in orphans - but not disimilar to a UK 'safari' in its care of the elephants. Afternoon beach swim, despite the weather and pleased to find the sea exciting and warm. The sun came out and it was not long befor john felt over hot, so we left. Dinner at 'Look Out' where it RAINED. Was releived to see caravan had coped and beds all dry. To bed. Unfortuanately the rained started up and set in for a long down pour. Put had onto floor just past midnight to find my hand sinking into 2" of water! So batten down hatches (late!) and move into the caravan - move up kids!! Damp miserable night.
What a lovely morning! Still and clean. Necessity the mother of invention caused us to find a use for all the 'left over string and poles'. Stuff drying everywhere! Went to Blaukrans and watched the bungi jumpers. There is now a rip slide to half way across the bridge and I persuaded lubica and John to do this with me. 20 seconds of exhilleration! Got worked up at the start - it is a LONG way down and I am a mummy. I went first with Lubica watching at her insistance. John with kids. Despite fear I went. As i said an exhillerating experience!! Quite a beautiful walk back on the wlk way under the bridge proper. John had his turn once both of us back. As thrilled as us. Unfortunately after making me go first and watching how scared i was and I watching how scared Lubica was she proceeded to make fun of me and imply she was as cool a cucumber. Having a teenager on holiday who you HAVE to like is really trying!!! Rare smiles, no thank yous and lots of looks that imply that no matter how hard you try she's more interested in her phone! I guess I am getting a good old dose of what i put my poor south African relatives through when they took me all over in 1989 for my 2 month break there with them. I can only imagine that i was pain in the bottom from what i am currently observing - expect i was obsessed with the post! So a big SORRY to Gran & Gumps but especially to Aunty Jelly and Margie who bore the brunt of my teenage angst.
Next day : Sun!!! So to the beach and body boarding with borrowed boards. Great fun!! Then onto the Monkey sanctury and a lovely tour and lunch. A play in the lagoon followed while Tim napped. We ate in having finally sussed cooking in a caravan!
Tuesday: Knysna. Did the river boat, eventually after finding the waterfront the long way round. Another overcast and dull day. Did not recognise a thing, despite spending quite a lot of time here in 1989! Ate lunch in Kysna after spurning a british pub like place we settled on Nandos. Had chilli chicken with extra pain and suffering. Can't imagine why we all hated it, was it the main trunk road view, the garage next door OR the insanity pain causing peri peri sauce?? OUCH!! So much pain. So chasened we headed to the 'van!
Wednesday: Lubica ill, so we have the luxury of time as a family! Went to a snake ranch. Run by snake lovers who are not farming their animals, but opened to the public by popular demand. Excellent tour and learnt alot and touched and indeed held 'goldie' the albino python! Sleep in the afternoon over cast weather and dinner at the 'Rod and reel'. Found the place by being summoned to the caravan office to explain who we were etc. When we arrived the officee is shut up and the security gaurd knows all about us, is charm its self and helps fine caravan etc. i assume we pay up at end of stay. Well here we are Wednesday and i get summoned. Turns out Margie and Tim back in Cape Town are desperate to find out if we are alive or dead in ditches and our lack of communciation has scared them into phoning every known contact we have! They phone the park - who had not check us in to be told 'who, when i don't recall seeing any Claytons'. NOT what a frantic Wade wants to hear! Anyway proprietor charm its self and directed us to the 'Rod & Reel' which was fantastic!! Pooled all phone bits and bobs and bought an adaptor (suprisingly easy to get!!) and got Lubicas phone charging with a South African sim inside.
Thursday: Clear to start dull after 10am. Failed to go to 'Raptors of Edan' on account of it being closed. So despite dull weather went to 'Water world' and had an absolute ball in the water slide. Great fun and they let you go in any position and even with Tim in water wings! Rod & Reel again for dinner with Lubica recovering and joining us. Phoned Tim & Margie after the phone had stopped piping messages of 'phone us! T&M' really should have tried again with the phone sooner they have been unfairly worried for us. SORRY!!
Friday: Rained again last night - now practiced drill for such an event. To my huge relief we do not have to stay and air everything as T&M have a Caravan care service that does this for them! Phew. Packing up takes a long time but is easy. Going to miss this caravan that has become our home. Then the drive to George were we will overnight. Lovely B&B we sorted out last minute run by Brits! Real beds for one and all also walls, roof & floor! Ate huge amount of pizza, drank alot of Hunters and veged out in the 'heat' of the drizzel.
All in all we really enjoyed this week - probably because we really had work at it. Thank you to Tim & Margie Wade - you are extremely generous and lovely people! I hope you like the bottle of port awaiting you at the 'van.
week one - South African Adventure
After nearly 8 months anticpation the big holiday finally starts. Up early to Sumburgh airport to catch the first flight of three. We over nighted in 4 star luxury in Amsterdam, but with all 5 of us in one room! Then onto South africa KLM style. Not bad for cattle class. We had our own entertainment system so we were all variously content. We arrived at midnight with Uncle Tim greeting us - VERY WELCOME!!! a huge releif to be greeted by a friendly face when all of us were so tired. We were to be based at Melkboss in soon to be Charlottes home. Tea and bed. Next morning a play in the park and then the relatives all came for a brunch. Very good to see them all - and very kind of them to come to us!
The next day we had relaxing at the park getting used to our surroundings and prepariong for the next day. It was lovely and hot - just what we all needed!
Up early next day and the long drive to Outshorn. We stopped at Carlitsdorp for some port for Tim and made it to Kelinplass resort for the afternoon. HOT. Had cray fish for dinner - a birthday treat from the relatives.
Next day was my birthday and so started with presents. On this day we did an Ostrich farm - with Lubica riding one- and the Cango wildlife Park. John got to stroke a Cheetah. Kids seemed to enjoy the rabbits and goats most - typical!!
Afternoon swim at the height of the day much to johns protest and Lubicas out and out defience. However the sweet releif from the heat changed Johns mind! A lovely afternoon. Then evening meal at 'Die Figne Kiekeus' with ostrich on everybodies menue. Despite it being a late night the kids were great. Unfortunately Lubica thought her perfectly cooked delicious ostrich was tough and stringy and I am still cross at her complaints on my birthday. hey ho. Over all though a very fine day!
Next day Cango caves. Stunning as I remember and Lubica and John packed off to enjoy the adventure tour. Unfortunately 'Cesca ran off after the second chamber - much to my anger at first and then abstract terror. Eventually she bowled up the other end of the adventure tour and joined John. Very cross with her. Very releaved she was OK! Afternoon swim again.
Friday and the weather has changed, which is nice as we were off on our journeys again, this time to Plettenberg. Here we were to use the Wades caravan.
Well that was a shock. They had warned us and offered advise befor going and telephone advise as needed. Thankfully the caravan spirit rose in our neighbours who helped out HUGELY! Despite this I did try to call for help, but mobiles all out of credit or flat as a pancake and the land line to Tim was on answer phone. When about to leave a message the machine decided it did not like ANY other of my coins except the 50c i had started with so that was the end of that.
Ate at the local Spur - a South African chain of steak houses. At last a smile out of Lubica.
The next day we had relaxing at the park getting used to our surroundings and prepariong for the next day. It was lovely and hot - just what we all needed!
Up early next day and the long drive to Outshorn. We stopped at Carlitsdorp for some port for Tim and made it to Kelinplass resort for the afternoon. HOT. Had cray fish for dinner - a birthday treat from the relatives.
Next day was my birthday and so started with presents. On this day we did an Ostrich farm - with Lubica riding one- and the Cango wildlife Park. John got to stroke a Cheetah. Kids seemed to enjoy the rabbits and goats most - typical!!
Afternoon swim at the height of the day much to johns protest and Lubicas out and out defience. However the sweet releif from the heat changed Johns mind! A lovely afternoon. Then evening meal at 'Die Figne Kiekeus' with ostrich on everybodies menue. Despite it being a late night the kids were great. Unfortunately Lubica thought her perfectly cooked delicious ostrich was tough and stringy and I am still cross at her complaints on my birthday. hey ho. Over all though a very fine day!
Next day Cango caves. Stunning as I remember and Lubica and John packed off to enjoy the adventure tour. Unfortunately 'Cesca ran off after the second chamber - much to my anger at first and then abstract terror. Eventually she bowled up the other end of the adventure tour and joined John. Very cross with her. Very releaved she was OK! Afternoon swim again.
Friday and the weather has changed, which is nice as we were off on our journeys again, this time to Plettenberg. Here we were to use the Wades caravan.
Well that was a shock. They had warned us and offered advise befor going and telephone advise as needed. Thankfully the caravan spirit rose in our neighbours who helped out HUGELY! Despite this I did try to call for help, but mobiles all out of credit or flat as a pancake and the land line to Tim was on answer phone. When about to leave a message the machine decided it did not like ANY other of my coins except the 50c i had started with so that was the end of that.
Ate at the local Spur - a South African chain of steak houses. At last a smile out of Lubica.
Pre- holiday
The time between Christmas break and our big South african holiday seemed to go slowly, as it always does when there is much to look forward to. It was filled with a lot of work all round. John went into audit overdrive in prepearation for his labs acreditation and his holiday. I went to Aberdeen for a week to update my maternity skills prior to taking on maternity at the local hospital. I shall now be GP, Obstetrician and Police surgeon all rolled into one. Kids carried on their routine but telling everyone we would be on holiday soon. Weather was bleak with no interesting snow to break it up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)