HARVEST TIME

The vineyards are now being harvested, table grape growers and raisin farmers and wine makers are cutting with fervor, and this work starts from early in the morning. On Gerrart`s farm at 3.00 a.m, when the world war two, siren makes its first droning call to the workers [and us!].
The grapes are generally cut and immediately trucked to huge cool houses where they are packed, and crated ready to load for the ports, in the space of a single day.
As a result, the roads are now teeming with vehicles of all sorts, Lorries carrying grape freight, trailers with harvested grapes and huge truckloads full of man power moving from one vineyard to the next, or to the pack houses.
We hardly see anything of our great next door neighbors, who are already working themselves at full tilt, to meet contracts, like all the other farmers in the region, for Tescoes/Sainsbury/ Waitrose, Morresons,Aldi…all the big boys. It takes, roughly 21 days from the moment the table grape is harvested, to the time you purchase a bunch from your supermarket.
Gerrart and Marrika have also to deal with the enormous[and immediate] success of their ski club and chalets, which have took off from the moment that they first advertised.
The farmers continually keep an eye on the weather, which is currently turbulent, it is unusually humid, and each evening threatening black clouds collect, winds pick up and storms begin. The farmers don’t mind rain in the evenings, they are unable to harvest in the rain so its arrival during the morning to mid afternoon is dreaded.. The farmers live in real fear of hail storms, which CAN and DO happen, great walloping knobs of ice hurtling down on their crops from hundreds of feet above it bruises the crop rendering it completely useless.
Here, all of a sudden the Northern Cape, is a hive of feverish activity, mixed with a palpable sense of great tension.
This will last until the end of Jan for table grape growers and until the middle of April for raisin growers and vintners. Since many farmers spread their crops over these three types of vines November through to April, is an anxious six months. Recovery of the entire inset cost for the preceding 6 months and any potential profit is now dependant upon the weather, and only then, then further perils of the economic climate kick in!



TRIP TO JO BERG

Jo Burg is app. 900 kilometers North East of Up and on Monday at about 1.00 pm, Bossy and I set of in this direction, having been warned to take great care as the roads are not of the same quality as those that we regularly use to go Southwards towards the Cape.
In my handbag, I had packed the first of my reading challenges whilst in ZA. The Count of Monte Christo… never having read this book [along with many other “classics”] I have vowed that whilst in South Africa, I shall happily trawl through as many as I can. Will report on my progress.

Setting the vast tome of Dumas aside for the moment, I chose to watch the the landscape which changes rapidly from the red earth and grey green scrubland flanked with mountains, that we have become so familiar with. Here, broad flat plains of green, stretch out as far as the eye can see, in either direction, eventually appearing drop-off the horizon [ I can understand why people used to believe the world was flat!]. Horses, cows ,goats and donkeys graze freely here.[presumably until they reach the edge!]
Occasionally we came across a town, heralded by increasing amounts of traffic and trees and then buildings simply sprung up either side of the road. The first was Olifantshook [rough translation “Elephants corner”,] Big and I, were disappointed on both counts, neither elephants nor corners to be found. So, onwards through Kuruman
The roads on which we traveled had gapping potholes, the camber falling away dangerously into the sandy gullies either side of the road, which being unfenced, allow all manner of roaming creatures to walk freely on [and without having any respect for] the highway.
Rounding an unusual bend in the road, we came face to face with a small heard of suicidal donkeys clattering over the tarmac, goats grazing nonchalantly on the verges, and neat little lines of guinea fowl braving perilous crossings.
The N14 is an arterial route from Northern Cape to Jo Burg, and very busy with Lorries and all manner of large and/or over laden vehicles. To my amazement, we saw a large bull loaded horizontally across the tail of a bakkie [ the first picture from the rear and the second as we overtook], in the few weeks that I have been here, I have seen horses transported in exactly this way, no one bats an eyelid.




. To my relief, Bossy agreed that he would not like to drive this route in the dark!

We had decided to break the journey, and arrived early at Vryberg at 4.30p.m, a small town which is the centre of this cattle/horse/donkey land, and known as “the Texas of South Africa” [because of the vast number of cattle ranches here]. Staying at a very twee guest house [the room was decorated in a sickening shade of purple with matching carpets and curtains] called “Peace Haven” it boasted that all manner of wild animals could be viewed from guests bedroom windows, including,[ if we were very lucky], a WHITE RHINOCEROUSE!. Most definitely worth putting up with putrid purple lodgings.
However, this turned out to be something of a white elephant. The owner explained to us, that the game park backing onto her guest house, was owned by the municipality and was not run brilliantly, what rhinos had been there were sold in order to generate funds to feed the remaining animals [poor sacrificial rhinos], and as for the colour of the rhinos…this had been a type error, they had all been grey!. Chin on floor or what, the web site very defiantly said “WHITE RHINO”
We did see a couple of very scrawny Springbok and we heard a dog barking in the distance, this was the sum of our safari experience at Peace Haven.
Setting off at an impressive 7.30 the following morning we continued towards Jo Burg. Passing through Delareyville so famous the Afrikaans sing a very stirring song about it [very Boer and very defiantly “anti Pommie”]. Bossy told me as we drove through its centre that being Dutch he would be fine but suggested I keep my head down…the words “red rag”and “bull” sprang to mind, so as we drove through I sang “God save the Queen” at the top of my voice.




FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF IN CENTURION

I had called Eric, a Great Dane breeder, based just outside of JoBurg [in Centurion}, to ask if we could swing by and meet him and his Danes. He had a recent litter, and last month,had offered us one at R 10,0000 ,you may imagine our response, clearly thought he was onto a winner ,having bagged ,in his opinion!, a couple of “cash rich” ,Dane mad, Europeans. But by now these pups had already been earmarked for new owners, nevertheless, I wanted to see Eric’s set up .
He actually runs a restaurant with his partner, as well as breeding Danes…The house was an old, colonial style rambling property with a wonderful mature garden, full of huge shady acacia trees and deep herbaceous boarders.
At the rear of the property set in a green meadow with abundant trees, were his kennels, where about 12 Danes lived, two to each of the ample grassy spaces, each with their own summerhouse for a kennel. A happier bunch of Danes I couldn’t wish to meet. They bounced up, against their 10 foot wire mesh fences greeting us with yowels of delight, begging for our touch. Eric encouraged us to meet each one, and we spent a very happy hour, doing ear scrubbles and being leant on and dribbled over, by this delightful bunch., I fell in love with a big blue dog that reminded me so much of Mack, and Big fell in love with an enormous black “puppy” of 13 months old, who was already the size that Mack had reached aged 9 years. [ yes Pam, just like your boy:Mango]
Finally Eric asked if we wished to see his litter of 12, 4 week old pups.
How the sight of this litter of babies took me back …I sat with them under their shady awning and played for at least another hour, until Bossy became [quite rightly] twitchy about our bank appointement.Eric has a harli litter due at the end of Feb,he is not expecting any black pups{which is Big`s hearts desire], but will keep his ear to the ground on our behalf.
Eric seemed a little quiet and embarrassed when Edwin [in his own inimitable fashion] just went straight for it, shooting from the hip, and told Eric there was no way we would pay R10, 000 for any puppy. What was clear, is that this guy does seem to know his stuff, there is no doubt that he loved every one of his Danes and treats them impeccably well.
He did know of two adult Danes in rescue, one he described as a “backbiter”, it had been mistreated and now,aged 5, showed no signs of responding to a kinder environment, the other was 10 years old and was having severe difficulty with his back legs. Eric wouldn’t recommend either to us and felt that regrettably, both were destined to be euthanized, horrible word, but there is no way of softening their harsh fate.

I was so much in love with Eric’s Danes and his litter; I realize that I simply cannot be trusted to handle any of the financial negotiations concerning any potential pup/adult that we may find. In honesty I would have been tempted to sell my soul for any one of them!!!!!!!!!

Pam, you would have been so proud of me, preparing to shake hands with this guy { he actually avoided the hand shake and in true ZA style, lent forward and gave me a great smakeroonie of a kiss on the lips!!}, wishing him every success with his show dogs and with his forthcoming litter, getting into the car and heading off to the Bank in Jo burg…Deep in my soul, the visit made me firstly, yearn desperately for Mack, then regret, bitterly not having kept a pup from our own litter. By the time we arrived in the financial sector of a bustling Jo Burg, I was feeling utterly miserable, totally distracted by the “losses” and the very many untimely” Goodbyes” that the past few years have demanded. Big decided that the two of us should have a quiet lunch together before the Bank, and phoned to say we were delayed. There you go…..when he does get it right….. he gets it soooo right.


Fortified, we progressed to the bank, met all the people who handle his ZA business, who were in honesty, highly excited & quite distracted over the following days, corporate golf event. There was some question as what I was to do [not being a golfer!!!], a suggestion, that the bankers wife [who I had met in London this year, and entertained for a day in Oxford, along with her sister}, would take me around Jo burg, where I could get some “stuff” for the farm.
All very disappointing…… all I should say is “thank the Lord for the Count” [Monte Christo]…by the time we returned to Marchand late on Thursday night ,Big was still exceptionally touchy about having won a catering pack of toilet rolls for his teams performance at the Golf event and I was on page 798 of “the Count”. Not a trip either of us will remember fondly [apart from Eric`s Danes]

Back at the farm

I chose to venture the 90 klms to UP, again to collect MORE paint; more build stuff ,be very domesticated and buy a kettle, iron and ironing board, do a food shop. I now realize that a large cool box, filled with ice is essential, if I am to return with any form of edible goods from UP.
So hit the road at about 12.30. Having arrived there, I realized it must be Christmas soon…..”Jingle Bells” and “Good King Wenceslas” and “God Rest ye merry gentlemen”, all competing with each other, and bursting out of adjacent shops. The Christmas joy was almost too overwhelming to bear…coupled with 41 degrees of heat. and mirages rising from the baking tarmac.
How often I think that I`m living in some kind of parallel universe. It also occurred to me [rather territorially]…Do the South Africans not have their own version of “C C`s”?, how can they possibly understand why the good king looked out that frosty night.?.Further…. can they conceivably imagine what its like to set out on a one horse open sleigh, let alone understand why Holly bears the crown! MORE AND MORE BIZARRE. But the many people who were shopping were humming along & in great spirits. Uneventful trip back to Kak and Marchand beyond…avoided Vavavoom this time! Chastised myself for not joining in with the melee and cracking on with Christmas shopping.

We have Little`s first school report…[he knows what it contains so I feel free to tell}….it appears my smallest boy has the most impeccable manners, is very loving and kind, is a natural leader, he scores A`s across the board for achievement and effort …even in Africans and Xhosa. His downfall is presentation and organization…Having seen the state of his bedroom for 11 years now, this really doesn’t surprise me! …Bossy and I are so indescribably proud of him. We travel down to CT on Wed to join him and will join the other boarders’ parents for a “Christmas supper”, the following morning after prize giving at 10.30; he is dismissed from Bishops for his “summer” break….6 weeks at the farm….. I just can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday saw me once again painting at the farm [none of the building workforce on site.] I have decided to paint our bedroom in an “effect”, it’s a paint that once applied, purports to look like suede. On the sample card the colour “Buckwheat” looks like a light honey brown .I ordered 5 liters of the stuff and began the first coat. This coat is simply rollared on and when dry the second is applied with a long haired brush in criss crossing fashion, to produce a textured effect. The manufacturers say in bold print that it will [miraculously] look like suede.

With a certain degree of recklessness, I began to roller this gluepy concoction onto the wall, it made me smile, as I kept imagining I was applying chocolate mousse. Same colour, same consistency.[sadly not the same smell].
I forged on with the first wall, completely smitten by the idea of dipping into this vat of liquid chocolate. To my horror, on standing back after two hours of painting, it looks like I have been moved to commence a “dirty cell campaign”…the walls look as though they have been covered in Kak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Quite apart from the major aesthetic concerns, a real practical worry is the fact that the consistency is so thick, that I have used ¾ of a tin for the base coat for one wall, with a further 2 to complete Feeling very troubled, I called it a day, wowing that I would use the remaining ¼, the following day to “test” the suede effect. Will make a decision concerning the effects “permanence” or otherwise when dry.

I have discovered that Binky Myers loves vine leaves, and to stand in the occasional ,[clean] paint lid full of water. His little head stretches upwards from his shell then outwards with joy ,if you pour water, gently over his shell [ either that or he is gasping franticly for air….but I think not, I’m convinced he is waving rather than drowning!]…I imagine, that much like our car…having dark coloured bodywork, in this heat, is something of a disadvantage, especially if you don’t have an air co button.

I made a trip into Kak to get my hair dyed, as it’s been streaked with very permanent white paint from painting concrete pedestals in our bathroom [the paint is called “plasticoat”] and if you want white plastic streaks in your hair. ….this is the one I would recommend. Several washes later and even my usually infallible “paint in hair removal trick”, of raking through it with conditioner and a nit comb…has not removed the stuff.
I have already mentioned ,how “well turned out” the women of Kak are…When the hairdresser, “Liame”, saw my streaks she shrieked causing everyone in the salon to collect around me and examine my plasticoat stripes ….as a rule the Kak women use the phrase “shame” after every sentence they make, its like a little “tag” word. ie “I`m off to the supermarket later.” .The other will say “…shame”. Or “ My daughter has her Matric ball gown ready” the other will reply “…..Shame”. It doesn’t matter what type of sentence precedes it [negative/positive or neither] the responders “verbal full stop” is always the same…”SHAME”.
For perhaps the first time, using it in its correct context, they repeated the word: “SHAME”, over and over again [Maybe they felt I should feel shame walking around with plasticoat streaks] After all kinds of ruminations it was decided that I should firstly, be dyed and failing this I should be cut….The dye did fail, however since a large amount of plasticoat is on the crown of my head, I drew the line at severe cutting, insisting that it would be a great shame to go for the cropped look, for the first time since I was about 6 months old!.
Suitably coiffed and flippy, [with shorter plasticoat streaks]I walked out of the hairdressers feeling very bouncy and thoroughly relieved to have salvaged a large portion of my hair.







LAVATORIAL DRAMA …….not for the feint hearted

One quick word about the heat, ….it has been unusually humid ,I have no idea of the humidity levels, but its been a stifling at 39, this type of heat, warms up any tank, pipe or reservoir of water rapidly, so much so, that it is too hot to place your hand in. if you want to run a hose, this needs to be left for at least 5 minutes until “coolish” water comes through.

Today I returned from the hairdresser to the factory and was bursting for the loo, however standing outside the Ladies, was a large group of 20 or so, workers, waiting to start their shift in the factory. Now the Ladies is a very skimpy room, and any sounds that come from it resonate clearly for those in the immediate vicinity.
I was so desperate, that I had no choice and had to go inside, in spite of the crowd outside, but thought to myself ….. as I was hovering above the pan, that I would flush the handle to disguise any “sounds” that inadvertently popped out.
Upon flushing, I had what can only be described as “an out of body experience”, and heard myself screeching loudly…….”OH MY GOD,OH, OH, OH, OH, MY GOD”…. I felt a searing pain across my buttocks as piping hot water gushed over my posterior with relentless force. Its not that my back quarters hang naturally low…you understand, but the toilet flushes incredibly high and somewhat ferociously.
In my vain attempt to disguise any potential indiscretion, I had alerted everyone in Marchand to the fact that I had just burned my backside. Hurling myself off the toilet, with knickers and trousers around my ankles, I fell forward against the wooden door [thank goodness it opens inwards!], managing to rattle the small “skimpy” building, quite alarmingly. Taking deep breaths and fanning my posterior with my hands, I was just about to brave pulling up my trousers when the door began to rattle from the outside. The workers had sent for the girls in the office, convinced that I was having some sort of fit . All eyes were on me as I sheepishly and very gingerly, walked out. [Yes……Of course I had pulled my trousers up!] I heard a number of stifled giggles as I slowly made my way past the crowd and towards the office.
I have decided that slowly, I am indeed falling apart. I have badly bruised knees and elbows, white streaks in my hair and now……. a burnt arse…….SHAME .

Stayed up until 12.30 last night to finish “The Count”, how I have enjoyed this romantic epic. Although there is something rather “dark” and very worrying about the divine Count.


COMPLIANTS AT THE “COMPLAINTS DEPARTEMENT”

To my great surprise and delight, this blog is reaching far more people than I could had ever have anticipated; I am incredibly flattered and delighted that people choose to read it and that they continue to do so, I am very happy for those that find it entertaining/interesting to carry on, as I expect to continue writing as long as I have a computer and access to the internet.

The blog is being written by me, very much from my own perspective, and for those whom I love and care for, and who I feel are a million miles away from me. It’s a way of felling connected to them.
They all know that I have a wicked sense of humour.They also know that I love Big [a.k.a Bossy] very deeply.

I have received criticism from unexpected sources, that the blog focuses too much on me,me,me…..Of course it does……… its me,me,me that’s writing it!

If these critics, would like Big`s [aka “Bossy`s”] views, please encourage him to write a blog, or email him or send him a text message, even call him.

Alternatively, please press the button marked “C O M P L A I N T S”, and leave your comments there.
If this fails to satisfy, then of course, please feel free NOT to read my blog.



Wed 3rd Nov The school run again.

We drove down to Cape on Wed, at startling speed, arriving in good time to check in at The Winchester Mansions ,don some “grown up” wear, and depart to Little`s school for the Christmas extravaganza”. We thought that the idea was, that we touch base with our boy, in readiness for break up the following morning, meet some of his teachers in the very social setting of a Christmas party. The boys were also to attend the party and Big and I were looking forward, very much, to sharing it with E.
From the moment of our arrival, it became clear that the “adults” and their children were to remain separated. They had to sit on separate benches whilst we watched the leavers [yr7], do their skits; they sat on a separate table at supper and after Father Christmas had visited at 8.0pm, were unceremoniously whooshed up to bed by Maam and her furious clapping.
Feeling very hard done by, Big and I returned to our hotel, looking forward to time with our little boy the following morning after prize giving, each of us realizing that we had caught nothing more than a brief glimpse of him.
Prize giving, was a great thronging event, taking place at the High school and involving every pupil, their parents and all the staff. Little was not to be found in the melee of people evacuating the hall at 10.30, thank goodness he had his phone in his pocket…but try as we might, despite being able to speak to him, we just could not make sense of what he was saying, what was clear was that he had no idea where he was and that he was terribly confused!. After 10 minutes we found him, as I lent forward to give him a cuddle, I could feel an unusual heat radiating from him, his eyes were red and he could hardly string two words together.

He said he was feeling very, very ill , one touch of his forehead revealed a steaming temperature.
Rapidly into the air co of the car, a quick stop at a pharmacy for disprin, and plenty of cool water, after about an hour he fell asleep and continued in and out of the same, for the time it took us to get home at about 8.00pm. Clearly unwell, I decided our first trip to the doctor was required the following morning…I was very troubled by his rasping coughing and the accompanying wincing whenever this occurred. Air co on for the duration of a turbulent night. [ I am concerned that air co is not a healthy solution, but in this heat of around 40 degrees, it is a must for the effective management of a temperature].
The doctor didn’t take long to diagnose Little with a very nasty bronchitis, and bitched at me for leaving it so long before I brought him in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [ I don’t know a Mum that doesn’t feel guilty for much of the time for one reason or another…but this was most defiantly below the belt]. Somehow I didn’t rise to the bait; I was more concerned with getting Little some drugs!.

Poor Little, has been vaguely aware of his return home, through his almost delirious state, and I am left feeling very concerned about his condition and praying those antibiotics kick in soon, also incandescent with rage, he has managed to explain the circumstances of his illness, and despite attempts to explain how unwell he was feeling on Sunday night,[!!!!!!!} the school insisted that he should go to “Camp” on Monday morning for two days. this involved two 17km walks which he was “encouraged “ to partake in despite throwing up for much of Monday night when [I hope that he was not in a similar state to that in which we found him, after prize giving,] it was blatantly clear the boy was very unwell. A suitably furious email has been sent to Maam, even though she was not on camp with the boys, suggesting that whomever takes responsibility for the boys welfare whilst away…needs to know that one of their charges was indeed very unwell!

Tuesday morning and 5 days after he broke up, Edwin is finally showing distinct signs of improvement…the horrendous cough is still evident, but his delirium and temperature have at last subsided and his appetite is back…I`m Soooooo relieved, why is it that when you are in a strange country, stuff like this always seems a whole lot worse? .I really was very worried!
We have been at the farm all day, and Little, who is still suffering from great bouts of tiredness, spent much of it snuggled up in his bedroom, on the only made up bed in the house, in the cool of the airco, reading and drifting in and out of sleep.

Today there was mass of business at the farm, the lady who has made up the lions share of my curtains and blinds arrived to fit same[ very disgruntled that our bedroom remains unfinished. the paint still hasn’t arrived…AFRIIIIIIICA!], she chose not to mention the subtle shade of poo that I had painted it in.

Maans the carpenter arrived with my bookcases…they look great.

We unpacked about 30 boxes over the weekend, I focused on Kitchen and Littles bedroom, Bossy concentrated all his efforts on getting his cinema screen up and running…as a result he has been in a foul mood since Saturday as he can’t get it working. Engineer arrived today and finally managed to sort it.
As a result of spending a day at the farm I discovered that when all the air co units are in operation, and the freezer, and all of our other appliances, when the farmer [who currently rents our 4 hectares of grapes]…turns on the pumps to irrigate them, it overloads ESCOM`s system and we go down in style…within a very few minutes, the farm becomes the same temp inside as outside….this happened twice today, each time electricians had to come out to sort the problem. Added to this, by 4.00pm just when I was scrubbing the decks down in the kitchen, the water went off!!!!! What can I expect, We are living on the edge of a desert in deepest darkest Afriiiiiiica…..God help us!!!!!!!!!

Di & Loops, have to tell you….I went to get three large pieces of my work framed…two are for Big for Christmas and one is for the farm [ you have seen them, line drawing of Little bouncing ,photographic sections of Little doing same, a weird but OK colour study, I did at one of Sophies workshops]..the price to have each mounted [one double] and decent chunky frames that have to be about 1.5 mX 1m is the equivalent of 30 pounds each!!!!!!! The lady was almost apologetic and even wincing when she told me…I was incredibly adult and told her that I could just about manage the cost [ it being Christmas and all!!]. Am waiting to hear if they are ready for collection, and will report if they meet my expectations…you never know it could be money poorly spent!
I received at text [well Big did], from one of the “arty” girls in Kak , to say that she had just seen my work at the framers [!!!!!!!!!!, this is how it works here…nothing is private], and thought it was “byer,byer, lekker”, she said, rather strangely that she respected me even more now!!!!!!!!. Bossy read this text out with increasing irritation, because he didn’t understand what she was talking about and I wasn’t about to elucidate as it was his Christmas pressie she was texting about!.

Judging by the results of my various projects at the farm [of a domestic nature], great things CAN be achieved here, but everything has to be explained and mapped and planned and in the most extreme cases, constant sign language needs to be employed. Most people are willing they just need direction…Sounds incredibly arrogant, but those who are familiar with Afriiiica, will understand exactly what I mean.

I have been compiling a mental list [now published!] , of things in Africa that either surprise me [ in a good way] or that I am grateful for, In no particular order:

The vast sky scapes both during the day and at night, and of course the breathtaking sunsets and sunrises.
Quiver trees
The huge boulders that lie across the landscape here.
Air conditioning
Braai food…..starting to take to it now [but still yearn for green stuff]. Case of “Dawn`s revenge” when I start cooking in my own kitchen.
The Afrikaans word “Blicksum”, [just love it!, literal translation “Lightening”, as in thunder and….] .Usually applied to a person or group [in which case an “s” is added], but can be directed towards an object….used as a “gentle” swear word for someone/thing that has irritated or upset you. .. Forgive the pigeon Afrikaans: ie “those blicksums working at the farm, are taking their time”. I know that Taz will also love this word…keep practicing it Tazzy and we can compare “blixums” when I come back to the UK.
African mountain tortoises. [And one in particular named Binky Myers]
Local farmers, who are the salt of the earth, and who are just so kind.
A great percentage of the local black people who are now quite fascinated by us, having overcome their fear of Edwin & I…[well we are their worst combo: English and Dutch!!!]
Moses..I have to give him a line of his own…he is, quite simply….. a star.
Today I asked him if I could borrow his washing line to dry some clothes. When he doesn’t understand me, he does this flappy hand thing…a bit like Max Bygraves , and adopts his “big eye” look .
To save him, I usually resort to sign language, the result of this was that he grabbed my washing, raced off and started to peg it out….when I caught up with him, I was compelled to snatch a pair of Little`s knickers from him and insist that I hang my own washing out!! His wife,”Mamma Smallie”, stood giggling from the doorway of her “house.”

Little defiantly on the up…although he still suffers from sudden bouts of extreme fatigue, he is over the worst and, thank the lord and is starting to smile again. He will smile even more next week when the newest addition to our family arrives. “BONGO”, is a 9 week old Great Dane pup [black!].

The delay in posting this update is as a result of my not being at the office for the past 10 days.
I have spent the past week ferrying boxes from the factory to the farm, slowly decanting our possessions, they all look very different in their new setting, and there is huge comfort in having familiar stuff around, the first thing that I unpacked was a small framed picture that Jessie did when she was about 8, the title is “Mummy asleep in the garden, while ants make a nest in her tummy button”, it made me laugh and then cry pitifully, hidden as I was, amongst the packing cases and bubble wrap and newspaper.

Saturday 13th December

Just over 3 months since we set foot in Africa, and this morning we moved out of the flat and into the farm, tonight is our first night, and Big plans to test the braai and cook supper for us.

Kisses for Tommy, who is making great progress in his recovery….keep it up Tom. Kisses for Finn, who is “down and out” in Newcastle, having had his plastic swallowed!. and kisses for Jelly, who is with the hill tribes somewhere north of Gonda,in Ethiopia and who had her mobile stolen on the 12 hour bus trip from the airport. Kisses for my sisters, an especially big one for Tazzy, who, when I last spoke with her, was flat n her back with a suspected slipped disc.






BIRTHDAY BUMPS FOR Kelly on the 17th and for JESSIE AND TAZ on the 18th December [whoops….perhaps no bumps for you Taz].

Now that we really have hit “Christmas season”, quite regardless of our separate hemispheres, please accept my apologies for not having sent Christmas cards to anyone!!!!! Please don’t take offence, I simply thought about it far too late.
Christmas greetings and our very best wishes to everyone that we know and love.
I know that Christmas will magnify the need to be with my children and family and my dear friends, Rest assured that I am thinking of you ….and will lift my glass and send my love and wish you all a merry and joyous Christmas.,and an altogether “kinder” 2009 . From deepest darkest Afriiiiicaaa..
Love and kisses to all XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



Apologies...all the photos that I had for @upload@ are refusing to do same,and I keep "crashing", will try the next time I`m in the office!

DawnXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX