Christmas festivities

The geese waiting for their pool to have a Christmas cleaning.

 

 

Moses gave the 10 geese a Christmas treat and scrubbed their pool..much to their irritation,and subsequent pleasure.

festivities start on 23rd, with much high spirits and fun around the pool.

Finn and Tommy fresh from their flight looking a little like rabbits in the headlights.

Stephans Magda and Nikki

Stephans Nikki and Big

Little, Johan and Ian

 

Willam the "Braai Master"

 

Nicolene and Eugene

Zandri and The Girls.

 

               Pictures all thanks to Nicolene!

Our Christmas day was begun with the opening of gifts and then a delicious breakfast [thanks to the boys who had purchsed smoked salmon at Heathrow] of eggs Benedict with a scrummy Hollandaise sauce made with my new, all singing all dancing Kitchen aid mixer [a birthday and Christmas gift from Big] Its 12.5 kilo had been lugged from England to ZA, thanks once again to Tommy and Finn, whos luggage was left at Joberg on 23rd but arrived on 24th!  We had opted for a late breakfast and a Christmas supper as it was so hot outside.
So we spent much of Christmas day lounging by the pool with tall glasses of Pimms and chilling.

Picture courtesy of Smallie [Moses son] who had a rapid lesson in picture taking...not Bad!

Bongo has a Christmas treat in the pool...I use the term "treat" advisedly as he didnt think it was!

Tommy looking most "unchilled"

 

Tommy more chilled.

Finn...deeply chilled...I LOVE THIS PHOTO..Look at the reflection!

A fine figure of a man!

An even finer figure of a man!!!!!!!!!

Christmas peace demolished by plenty of dive bombing!

        That night, sitting outide in the braai room with a large rib of beef, yorkshire puds and all the trimmings, followed by a flaming Christmas pud, we raised  glassesof bubbly  to all  our friends and family across the world and wished you all a fantastic festive season . Particuarly Jessie, who had "gone to ground" over the holiday period,as she was working night and twilight shifts over the holiday.

Our thoughts were very much with Pams family as well. My dear friend lost her struggle against cancer on Christmas Eve. A sad note upon which to end, but Pam would not tolerate our mourning..she would say.."Kick up your heels..all the more reason to party!" She will always be remembered with such great affection and love.                       

MerryChristmas to all

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

For everyone that Big, Little and I cherish.

Looking forward to catching up with as many of you as possible early next year.

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Union Jack bunting up at the farm, for all those with Birthday celebrations in December. [Bongo approves!]

Cycling Little, blustered Big and a strangely beautiful but scary Saturday night.

Little outside The Mansions, before setting off on a treck

 

Little is by now enjoying himself in the States with his buddies from Bishops [some end of prep school trip!]. He flies back into Joberg a week on Wednesday and will meet up with Tommy and Finn on Thursday to fly to the farm for Christmas. Poor Jell is working at St Georges over Christams, including the night of her birthday on the 18^th Dec. Birthday kisses for you Jell and also to Tazzy,

[ they share the same date]. Taz is still struggling with a very painful back in Dorchester, she is coming up for her seasonal back op time now..poor girlie.

                                               Overtaking on the inside!

Saturday at the farm was unbearably hot [I have given up checking  the temperature, is it just makes me feel hotter. So Big and I spent a great deal of time underwater [and occasionally above] as even the airco in the house was ineffectual. At some point I disappeared to the kitchen to begin preparing for a braai supper with friends.

Big walked in looking somewhat tussled, a strong and refreshingly cooling wind had suddenly blow up. The sky was remarkable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As the sun was beginning to set, we noticed a thin pyre of smoke coming from the direction of the river. Big said “Oh it looks as though the locals have set fire to the reeds again. No particular reason..Perhaps Saturday night festivities!"

Below a sequence of photos that document the spread throughout the evening, from small reed fire to an out of control and dangerous fire. Note there is no such thing as a fire brigade here..the nearest one is in UP some 100 kilometers from us.

Later that night.

I considered some of the photos taken earlier and thought how ominous they now now looked in view of the destruction later on that evening. Fortunately no one was hurt in the fire that ripped along the river banks, but there was some property damage.

Harvest News

 

We have just begun cutting and packing our own farm table grapes, Big has put a packing line in the factory and a new cool room [deeply fantastic..wish I had one at the farm!] 

A lovely picture of the still naughty Bongo and a rather tousled and wistful looking Big.

Kisses to all, especially our dear friend Pam and her family. We think of you constantly.

And to Tazzy who approaches her third festive season with a nightmare back...roll on your surgeon scrubbing up! Happy birthday to you.

A happy birthday to Tyneka, Bobbies wife.

To Dorothy "Flic flack" Outram, who is in recovery following another huge op on her back..get well soon so that you dont miss out on the parties

And finally huge birthday hugs and kisses to sweet Jell, who we wont see for Christmas or the New Year, but I have wonderful memories of our whale watching trip in October to keep me going until I return to dear old blighty next year.

Kisses on the lips and much love to all.

Dawn

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