December 2008
Our first Christmas at the farm

17th December and the Christmas tree is up. We are still surrounded by boxes, un hung pictures and wrapped furniture…but hey, the priorities have been honoured and the tree is up and looking resplendent in purple and pink this year. Still haven’t given F.C. our new address, so there will be very little under it….perhaps a last minute trip to UP will help…after my last trip,I`m determined to wear ear plugs to avoid the choral assault.

The builders have “broken up” for Christmas, and before they departed on Friday, they were busy getting the framework of the pool established, it appears to me that their approach is very “Heath Robinson”, with planks resting on rickety uprights marking the four corners of the pool, and now the base concrete is laid, they appear to simply be bricking in the gaps between uprights. Perhaps I’m being unfair….my relationship with the team has taken a dive as a result of the” Ladder incident”, since this incident, they have decided to speak only to Bossy.
So I tend to crack on with my own “to do list”, and leave them to their own devices. Bossy says it’s because I don’t speak the lingo …I disagree, I am sure that as far as they are concerned “different is scary”, and I seem to not to fall into their preconception of what “white woman” do. Gerrit& Marrika [they of the dynamite and Lake Grappa] agree. I am trying with the language, I just seem to have mastered all the swear words so far.

Those who know how concerned I am about snakes, will be as delighted as I am, at the unpacking of Tommie’s heavy duty air pistol, it’s in the shape of a hand gun [very convincing at that!], and the next time I get into UP, I have to go to the “camping shop” ,which is huge and rather wonderful! And sells everything from the sniggeringly hilariously named “Bush showers”…for showering under a camel thorn trees in the bush …..of course….. to spare 4X4 tyres and enormous winches ,presumably for pulling elephants out of the mire
.
It is here that I will get some ammo, a holster and some targets for the pistol.
I have also decided that a knife on a belt is a necessity, so will get one of these as well. Little wants one too, but judging from the twice he has practically severed his finger, cutting bread; I think it may not be such a good idea.
On the bread issue…they bake bread every day at the local “OK Food” supermarket in Kak, its perfectly edible..the only choice is rectangular, white or brown, and the purchaser has to run it through one of two, very rickety,clanky,scarey bread cutters, with flashing blades that are completely exposed and would make a health and safety person vomit with shock, in Europe.
I am now extremely scared of this machine, as on my first trip into “OK foods” I decided to be “Gun Ho” about it and stuffed my loaf in the wrong side of the machine, and pulled some sort of device that I thought was a “feeder”, not only did the machine reduce my bread to lumps of mangled dough, it then went into reverse and spat doughy cannonballs across the floor in the direction of passing shoppers, it then began to rattle and attempt a very noisy escape from the shop…., causing a small army of “bakers” to scuttle from the bakery…. all cross and twitchy, and coralle the crazed bread cutter, collectively doing “rolly eyes”…. you could hear their thoughts “BLOODY FORIEGHNER!” as having calmed the machine they proceeded to pick the remnants of my loaf from its teeth.

I digress…back TRACKER the camping shop….. I have visions of walking out of “TRACKER” looking like Crocodile Dundee. …When I was very small indeed, maybe 4 or 5, I can clearly remember being fixated with cowboys and Indians, and used to sit astride the back of the sofa on a tea towel [saddle!], imagining I was in rocky cactus strewn wildernesses, whilst watching, my hero, Bronco Lane, on our tiny black and white T.V. ….some 43 years later, finding myself in a similar environment ,I am most certainly avoiding the back of sofas, and choosing to focus all my attention on weapons, which I plan to carry ,whilst out in the wilderness, behind the farm. I might even try some of that knife throwing stuff that Bronco used to excel at [ I seem to remember it being at the expense of his faithful Indian side kick..who`s name eludes me].Beware Little.

Little and I plan to first “ get our eye in” at the farm and do some target practice, but only once the builders have departed …I think that they might find the sight of me with a “hand gun”…more than they could bear…and I’m keen to get my pool finished!, additionally, I feel as though I may just be tempted to put a stinging pellet up their backsides, as they seem to spend a great deal of time watching the day go past without accomplishing a great deal.

Little has at last “thawed out” from his first term and his illness, he is back with us again in body and soul, I was getting very worried at how quiet and withdrawn he was but the move to the farm, having his own possessions unpacked in his own room and of course the Xbox…have all helped settle him and restore his spirits. I have my little chatterbox back and am very relieved!

Commiserations and congratulations

Taz`s , double disc slippage has been confirmed and the promise of an emergency op before Christmas, arrived “wrapped up” with her birthday parcels on the 18th December. Poor, poor Tazzy. Grit your teeth and crack on girlie…next year just HAS to be a whole lot better.

After several attempts, I managed to contact Jessie in Ethiopia on the 18th, to wish her a happy birthday .She sounded very happy & well. She and fellow medic Jess Longley, have met up with some German medics and some med students from George`s, and they had “thrown” her a surprise birthday breakfast. Jess L. had sneaked out gifts and cards from her friends in the UK. The group plan to spend Christmas day together, and have managed to find a Christmas tree and decorations from somewhere. She had time to explain that the hospital in Gonda was like a “field hospital”, lacking in equipment and all manner of supplies, restricted drug supplies means they are having to think hard to find alternative solutions to many problems, she was shocked by the level of disease/injury and affliction, and felt frustrated that they were unable to offer nothing more than palliative assistance in too many cases, but was determined to make sure that even in a very small way, she could make a small difference whilst she was there.
In spite of this, she was very happy and well and sounded as relaxed as I have heard her for a long time. It was so good to chat with her for 10 very precious minutes and we promised to speak again on Christmas day.

Tommy sent my mobile about a week ago…but I’m not expecting it this side of Christmas!...It will be a real joy to have it back again.Along with my blog its such an important cog in my armory of “ connection tools.”

Back at the farm…flocks of the locals are now appearing at our door to welcome us and of course to take a look”…the bush telegraph has been beating, and word is out that the foreign folk in “De Bult” have done some ”untypical” things to “old Farci`s place”….They are an unashamedly nosey bunch, walking around opening things and asking all manner of impertinent questions about our stuff.
A few of my pictures are up and they find them …..“Challenging”…just wait until I put the human hair, patchwork“comfort blanket” up.

Anyway, the bottom line on these visitations is that I continually fret about making beds, washing up, laundry and the general detritus that we are living in. Every one of our visitors pointedly advises getting a maid in. IF NOT TWO!.
I have managed to avoid this entire issue so far by telling Bossy, that I want to take possession of my own home, without having to worry about asking some poor local lady, in sign language, to clean out my toilets.
Marrika tells me that if I NEED to, I can justify the employment of a local lady, by knowing that I am paying someone who would otherwise not have work, and thereby I will be contributing to the local social stability and economy…..I’m remain to be convinced..Gerrit just says that by not employing anyone,we will make ourselves stand out as even more “DIFFERENT” than everyone else….and that is not healthy. So the “domestic” debate rolls onwards. Perhaps I will be able to avoid addressing it until the New Year.
Moses wife,”Mrs Smallie”, should have been a solution, however she is happy working at the factory during the season, where she does night shifts and when the factory closes, she goes back to Kuruman, where their family home is. I also have a strong gut feeling that she would not be comfortable with our ways…difficult to explain, but in my heart I know it’s not an option.

On a lighter note…when Finn was leaving Pangbourne College, the “leavers Ball Committee” had a whole load of T shirts made up to sell “in college”, they had “LEAVERS 2007” emblazoned across them with all the leavers names and the College crest and motto.
We did manage to make a small profit from the sale of these but had grossly over ordered and had about 110 T shirts left over…So, I packed them and brought them here.
Moses was offered as many as he wanted…as a result there is now a small army of adults and children proudly walking around Marchand, in Pangbourne College T shirts. Moses is particularly proud of his [several it seems…. as he seems to wear a beautifully pressed one every other day], and I cant help remarking to him, what a great T shirt he is wearing…he smiles broadly, and pats the Pangbourne College crest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I am convinced that no one at the school would begrudge them being worn over here. Yesterday I dropped Carlos back to the factory [he had been doing some woodwork at the farm]….a group of about 12 mixed adults and kids waved at me as I passed in “The Raisin”…..all wearing P.C T-shirts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Te hee.


Christmas day at the lake.

Gerrit and Marrika, have decided to have a huge Christmas bash at the lake in the clubhouse…about 100 people are attending…including us. Quite apart from letting me off the “Christmas lunch hook” for which I am pitifully under prepared, it will be a great time to be with loads of people, hopefully all in suitably festive mode. And may include some waterspouts of some kind [hopefully before the festivities start].

Yesterday [Saturday 20th ] we popped into the clubhouse to give Marrika a thank you gift for looking after us at the flat…..there was a sudden buzz of excitement as some of he kids who were in the water came racing into the bar to announce that Villy Vindpomp
[ local celeb with tight trousers] had arrived in a large white van, emblazoned with his picture and contact details across the bonnet and sides…how deeply cool!.
He had an entourage of about 8 people with him, to my great delight they cruised into the club house all suitably sniffy and local celeb “groupyesque”…I couldn’t describe them as “bling”..Not by any means..at the most “glitz hillbilly”.
I hadn’t realized in the darkness of the night of our first hearing VillamVindpomp, [shortly after our arrival here]…that he has one glass eye… not that there is anything wrong with glass eyes!, but I’m sure this adds to the local’s perception of there being some sort of dynamism and charisma about this guy. Because, try as I might, I can neither see nor hear, any other reason, why ,a great percentage of them are so deeply enamored by him.

He certainly didn’t endear himself to Little and I, and seemed distinctly lacking in both charm & appeal as he stepped over a recumbent Bee anouncing loudly and very rudely… “It could be a Great Dane …but its head is far too small for a Great Dane.” So, to the horror of his 8 or so groupies, I responded to this comment, addressing Villie directly.” She IS a Great Dane and she does have a name.”. He stared at both me and something else the other side of the room, in horror, presumably for having the audacity to communicate not using the means of one of his minions. “Oh, I do beg your paaaaaardon”.he responded in a fake and very poor English accent…my blood starting to boil…..a great deal of tittering from minions.
I realized that dear Villie is a little to large for his own boots….controlling my irritation, and in finest “Queens`” responded “Apology accepted”.
A sudden stillness descended on the bar. Whether it was acute embarrassment from the 15 or so ,other people sitting at and around the bar, or toe curling irritation on his part, I don’t know…but like a flock of lemmings the entourage must have caught a wink from Villie [or thought they had done so], and they began to file out of the club house and back towards the “Villie van”, followed closely by the celeb himself. In a puff of red dust and a crunch of gravel they departed as rapidly as they had arrived. I kept my mouth firmly shut, waiting for the response from our hosts Gerrit and Marrika….. “Shame…he never got to sign any autographs” quipped Marrika and the entire bar erupted in furious giggles and whoops of laughter. You see, even here in sleepy Marchand we suffer from “celeb culture”. Thankfully most people are far too down to earth to let it have any impact on them. Little was very pleased that I stood up for Bee and gave my hand a big congratulatory squeeze under the bar along with one of his best beamiest smiles. Big managed to avoid all the action as he was in the water. Walking into the bar, still drying his hair, he asked what had prompted the fleeting visit of “Villam Vindmole”…and caused another eruption of mirth from the bar.

22nd December and Bongo has finally arrived. 7 weeks old, very thin [in comparison with the pups that I know] but just as cute and playful as any Great Dane pup I have met. Bongo celebrated his arrival by falling off the sofa, and now this poor little scrap is limping around the house and garden,we will have to keep a watchful eye on him.
Bee’s nose appears to be firmly OUT OF JOINT!,

Kisses to all, and as always thanks for the heartwarming and the helpful emails,[Pam!] have the most wonderful Christmas stay warm and have fun.We will be thinking of you all.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxDawnXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kisses from Big,Little ,Bee , Bongo, Binky & me.

25th December

Christmas morning broke to sunshine and poos scattered everywhere.[.have started to worm Bongo !].
However….. both Little & Big suitably delighted by the contents of their stockings: the light sticks that I purchased from TRACKER, being the greatest hit…blue red green and yellow…once snapped lasting for up to 12 hours…WOW. Also causing delight….. The tin of air pistol pellets, obligatory sweeties and all manner of small plastic bits and bobs. Big had wanted a Leatherman, an “all tool device” that every farmer here, wears on their belt. Opening it he told me he would most certainly NOT be wearing it on his belt, however he liked his two safari style shirts, which he had also wanted and was very pleased with the line drawing and series of photos of Litle, that I had framed for him.

I received a bright blue heavy duty torch ,a pair of binoculars and 6 bottles of white stuff..its quite astonishing what the Kak hardware store is capable of conjuring up late on Christmas eve!!!!!!!!!!....there will be retribution especially as Big did not get me a birthday pressie and had announced late on the evening before the 23rd that he had invited 14 people here on my birthday evening…causing my entire day to be spent in the kitchen. [Do you sense irritation?]. He kept re assuring me that he would be cooking the meat on the braai so there was very little for me to do. As it turned out we had a sand storm on the night of my birthday and “sand stopped play” outside, so all had to be dealt with in the kitchen……….payback will be forthcoming.

On Christmas morning, I spoke with a very chirpy Jessie and with Finn and my sisters but couldn’t reach Tommy and Kelly so left messages on their mobiles, feeling a little cheated and then a touch sorry for myself. not for long………Drama began to unfold at about 11.30 on Christmas morning. Bongo, having arrived on 22nd had promptly fallen off the sofa, he appeared to have hurt his foot /leg and had been hobbling for a day, so I called our local vet Toca, who was holidaying in Cape Town…he said that if Bongo was weight bearing and using the limb, that it was likely that he had injured a joint and would recover in a few days. Bongo did continue to weight bear, but would occasionally screech upon waking from his sleep.
On Christmas morning he seemed fine, enjoying playing with the Christmas wrapping paper [which to our great surprise. Bee joined in with!] after his brunch he fell asleep in the kitchen, when he woke at about 11.30 he began to scream and would not stop…it was very upsetting to see him in such agony…I have to admit to thinking it had to do with some sort of gut problem…perhaps some obstruction.
Telephoned Pam back in England, who was a star and gave me some brilliant advice which I followed to the word.
Bongo didn’t settle after a half teaspoon of calpol and so after a great deal of phoning around we found a vet on call in UP…by this time Little dog, was beside himself. Quivering in pain and screeching whenever we touched him. We left Bee at the farm, and Big,Little Bongo and I drove at break neck speed to UP, this journey takes a god 45 minutes normally…goodness knows how, but we managed it in 28 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
On the journey Bongo continually screamed, I had been syringing water into the side of his mouth in between screams, in order to keep his fluids up during the journey,[despite the airco..the car seemed incredibly hot] …As we entered Up, he began gurgling horribly. and then he just went very quiet..

A wonderful vet and his wife, Dr & Mrs Lattherghan [ literal translation of this surname means “throw her away”] put their Christmas lunch on hold, in order to give Bongo a thorough exam, he started to scream again the moment we carried his box out of the car. Through a long process of elimination, it was decided, that his tum was fine and that the pain was being caused by some sort of injury to his neck, he was refusing to stand up or even to hold his neck up from a lying position, just lying limply on the exam table, using every last ounce of energy to screech horribly whenever he was touched.
As the poor boy was in the most extreme pain, they sedated him, put him on a drip and dosed him with anti inflammatory drugs and anti biotic. The vet wants to keep him in for a couple of days to observe how he comes out of the sedation and if he begins to use his limbs and his neck.
Although it all seemed desperate, the vet felt that the prognosis was positive, as Bongo has walked following his injury [off the sofa], and being so young that there was very little bone formed in his neck yet. it being mostly still soft cartilage. So the soft tissue injury that the vet thinks is causing his pain, will repair given rest and time .FINGERS CROSSED for sweet little Bongo dog., who now has to stay with the vet until Saturday. The three of us, gave an unconscious Bongo, gentle kisses and cuddles and left him in the capable hands of the vet and his wife.

Despite all feeling dreadful, we decided to collect Bee from the farm, and get to the Lake and our Christmas lunch. Arrived just as the last guests were leaving at around 5.00pm. Ate lunch [that Marrika had kindly kept for us] and returned to the farm at 8.00 …. feeling utterly exhausted and miserable. Bee even refused to eat supper.
Little wanted to do some nighttime target practice …so with the aid of a couple of arc lights and my brand new, heavy duty torch, he “popped” away for a short time until we collectively decided that bed was calling for us. I was very aware that Little was feeling very bad about Bongo’s injury, he had explained to the vet exactly what had happened and in doing so I realized that he felt enormously responsible, the vet had also picked this up and was very kind to Little…he explained that he had treated pups who had fallen out of 2nd storey windows and had only suffered cuts and bruises…and that this was just incredibly bad luck for Bongo and had nothing to do with Edwin. It was simply an unfortunate accident. So big hugs and reassurances for Little. guilt being the very last thing he needs to feel shackled with right now…having just started to perk up again.
I promised that we would make some targets in the morning and the three of us would have a shooting competition.

Boxing day morning saw us setting up cans on the fence posts at the back of the farm, and Little and I struggling with his compass to make targets…but we did it and were rather proud of our creations which we nailed to trees [due to be chopped down]. Big has also an air rifle, so that we were able to choose our weapons. Incidentally…Tim, we have your “shooting rules” pinned up outside in the “shooting area.”. All began in very civilized fashion, each of us taking it in turns to hit a can or the targets, however, the moment that I began to knock of cans and to hit the peripheral rings of the target…Bossy [who was having less fortune than I] insisted on taking extra turns in order to catch up with my positive total.
Little simply raised his eyebrows to the heavens, muttering something about having “overly competitive parents”.
He and I chose to continue taking turns with the smaller hand pistol, whilst Bossy was twiddling with the sights on the rifle, insisting that it was shooting either “low or high or generally off”. The two of us continued to try and hit the bulls eye of the target, ignoring Bossy, who retired as a result of the heat!,after half an hour I too gave up as we approached 41 degrees outside. After 10 minutes we heard a tapping at the glass and a very hot sweaty smiling face…punching the air with his fist…Edwin had hit the bull’s eye twice …YEAH!!! The unequivocal winner of our first shooting competition.

All missing Bongo dog, who has managed to endear himself to us in a very short time, the vet wants to keep him overnight and will speak with us again in the morning….he doesn’t sound so positive today…All feeling very worried.

9.00 am on 27th and we receive a call from the vet to say that Bongo has woken up and is looking like a different pup, that we can collect him any time during the morning.
As Little has a quad date with Adrienne Van Zyle:[ they plan to quad together at the back of the farm for a couple of hours], it is decided that I should go to UP and get Bongo.
After an irritatingly slow trip, I arrived to find our little boy, skipping around on the grass with the vet nurse who had fallen deeply in love with him. He does indeed look like a different pup, his eyes are bright, and he holds his head up high and is wagging and walking with only a hint of a limp.
The vet gave him another thorough exam,[whilst Bongo insisted on biting his hands and chewing at his shirt buttons] and talked me through the three different drugs Bongo has to take for the next few weeks. He is amazed quite how well Bongo has pulled through the initial stages of his accident, describing him as being “close to paralyzed” upon his arrival on Christmas day,and admitting to having already contacted a colleague in Cape Town for a referral.

We now have to try to keep this baby calm and not overdo the physical exercise whilst his injury settles, the pain killers will mask his pain, so its important that we insist that he rests as much as possible….Difficult when you have a “born again puppy”,who wants to catch up on several lost days of his little life .
So busy was he in the back of the car, that I had to stop twice as a result of his escaping his box and nibbling my ears [very distracting!!!]…eventually we arrived home to the farm. He was overjoyed to see Little and quite ecstatic when Bee raced up to him wagging dangerously….watching him licking her around the mouth and her nibbling him as Danes do…I realized that they had very definitely bonded.
Although ever mindful of his “recovery status”, we are all so happy and incredibly relieved to have our little Bongo dog back. I now that its unfair on him, but he had served to distract each of us from our “Christmas blues” and our missing everyone at home. From the moment we left him at the vet, all four of us [Bee included} have been very out of sorts indeed, try as we might [and we really did try hard] none of us really managed to embrace Christmas this year….onwards and forwards to the New Year.

Tomorrow, the 29th, we have friends from Jo Burg arriving for a weeks stay…they have sons aged 9 and 11,and Little is really looking forward to their arrival. Let’s hope the New Year begins on a better note.

Hugs for EVERYONE we miss you all so much, its always difficult naming certain people for fear of marginalizing everyone else…….but on this occasion I have to….. To Taz, who had her back op on 23rd December, although not tripping the light fantastic yet,. Is feeling a whole lot better, and to Di, who managed to get a Christmas card to me on the 24th!!!!!
And huge hugs and kisses to dear Pam, from Big , Little, Bee & I….. Who, when we were in deep crisis, coped with us so brilliantly, even after we broke, unceremoniously, into her Christmas day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXDAWNXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

January 1st 2009 and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!

We have had a great few days with Chris and Leanne, the boys have been swimming and kayaking and shooting, quading and Little has learned to drive his Beach Buggy [Christmas present!].They drive up to the drying slabs, which are in full view of the back of the farm, and where the grapes are laid to dry in the sun to produce raisins…[very simple process!], and spend as long as the sun will allow, hurtling in between the many large rectangular slabs …to my horror….Little has taken to driving like a duck to water and is already drifting his vehicle around corners!
New Years eve we spent braaing giant prawns, that Chris had brought with him, then departed suitably late for the lake….where we finally managed to make the party.
From 11.40, fireworks were let off, whilst Gerrit fretted over his table grape netting, and was on the phone to Marrika, who left this morning with their oldest son, for Jo burg and an onward flight for Peru, where the world ski slalom championships are being held.
In true ZA style everyone very boozy and incredibly physical!!!! I managed to avoid several offers of “Long Arm” dancing, this curious dancing that they do here [from young to old], a cross between ballroom/line dancing/and comedy groove. It’s something that fascinates me as a spectator, I am always torn between suppressing guffaws of tittering, as it seems so incredibly old fashioned, but also a wish to try and gain some sort of understanding of the rules of Long Arm…. at the very least, try to “unpick” the steps being danced,asit seems to me, that there are no formal steps and that all the action takes place from the waist upwards.
I have always insisted that I will never do it…..however, after several attempts the boss of the local golf club finally grabbed me and whisked me onto a horribly bare and consequently very public dance floor…promising that he would be gentle with me…He explained that the left arm hugged the waist of the other dancer [and that this was reciprocated!] The right arm hovered above the dancer’s heads, with hands clasped in a very special way [much like a Masonic hand shake I imagine!].
Without further ado, this guy grabbed my love handle on one side, my hand [or central finger] on the other…once suitably shackled to each other…the man…[always the lead in” Long arm”]….. Proceeds to wheel his partner across the floor at break neck speed…always keeping the right arm high [with central fingers intertwined!] over the head!!! After several minutes of frenzied wheeling, I began to feel very dizzy and rather sick, and the rings on the “Masonic Hand” middle finger were coming off! …thank the lord, there was a major hiccup with the music and we retired from the floor to the relative stability of the bar area, where there was great delight that I had been “made” to do Long Arm!!!!!!
We all [including the boys, who had retired to the car and their pillows at 1.30 am] returned home for 3.00am and to a delighted Bee and Bongo.
As I sit here typing…. the household snores on at 10.00 am, on the 1st January.
I have been up since 6.00 [dogs!...not that I’m feeling bitter and twisted of course!], and am drinking strong coffee and sending all my love and very best wishes for the New Year to all those that I love and care for both at home in the UK, in Holland and to dearest Jelly in Ethiopia.
Love and kisses from a still snoozing and slightly hung over Africa.
DawnXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

PS. forgot to mention that I woke feeling particularly stiff in my right arm this morning, my fingers feel as though they have been in a stretching device….I am developing a theory that South Africans must have very lengthened right arms and double jointed digits, as a result of this dance they all do…will investigate further and report back!
PPS: Gerrit was right to be concerned for his vines…a local lady “took out” several rows upon exiting the New Years Eve bash at 2.00 this morning…her car is not looking so great either!!!!!

5th January

Chris and Leanne and the boys have departed and despite enjoying their stay,I am absolutely exhausted….the house looks like a bomb has hit and the cupboards are empty…It seemed that everyone wanted to come and eat with us this week and every night I have cooked for upwards of 9,maxing at 15!! ,with Nikki Van Zyle [Edwin`s great mate and local farmer] descending on us at 10.00 most nights for “left overs” and large glasses of “bradavine” the local tipple here.
I cooked cashew chicken last night…just for a change…the idea of Thai food causing considerable worry for those locals who attended…” are we going to have to eat with sticks?” was the question from Edwin’s troubled factory manager :Arnou Peterson. I told him he could eat with whatever he wanted. He proceeded to swirl his cashew chicken around the plate, perusing it with great caution and clear distaste…so reluctant was he to actually place a single “stick full” into his mouth…I found myself wanting to treat him like a spoiled child and had to resist giving him a good dressing down, or a clack around the back of his head!
He then began to discuss the merits of the “simple life that he and his girlfriend” lead here. Pointing out that his rather lovely girlfriend Angelique [25 yrs old], was “perfectly happy sitting with a dog on her lap for much of the day”, and wanted nothing of the cosmopolitan life that he anticipated we had lived in the UK. Does this smack of someone feeling slightly out of his depth!!!!!!!!! For that I can forgive him, however his assumptions concerning his very bright girlfriend. I cannot…Big tells me that this is the way the guys feel around here…I had assumed that the “older generation” were given to these perceptions ,it has come as a great shock to hear a 29 year old talking like this of his “woman”. Bossy has suggested that I breath deeply and do not confront these issues [at least publicly],his attitude “LIVE AND LET LIVE”….to sit and listen to it around my own table is NOT something I can hold my tongue over…..Arnou Peterson beware.

I am writing on the assumption that I have been able to upload my photos this time…the insect that you see is called a “corn cricket” [ its actually on Arnous head!] Although quite enormous, everyone around the braai room table advised that it was perfectly innocuous, explaining that these are the creatures that make the loud chirruping noise. When the corn cricket was placed on the ground…Bee found it quite fascinating, until it squirted something at her..and she proceeded to retch violently….you can imagine how irritated I was when someone said “Ah yes….I remember that they do that when threatened”.. Bee is absolutely fine…having researched our ugly friend, he does produce a noxious spray but its NOT poisonous.

Enough of chauvinists and creepy crawlies! Love to all …..in particular to dearest Tommy.

Kisses DAWN XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX