Jessie in Cape Town

Tommie at Augrabies falls

OUR RETURN TO ENGLAND

Huge thanks to Taz and David, for putting up with us, and putting us up.
As always, life at Henry House feels about as close as it’s possible, to being at home.
Arriving at their door, on Friday morning….Big informed David that henceforth he was to be known as “Moses” and Tazzy would be referred to as “Regina”…to which he received a double middle finger from the pair of them!
Despite being so incredibly busy at Lime Tree cottage, we managed to catch up with so many dear friends and of course family…regrettable omissions were Di, Marie, Lucy, Amanda, and Adrienne…but I shall catch you in October. Only now, do I realize that if I don’t pen in a diary date, BEFORE I fly, then events on the ground take over and I loose the opportunity of seeing those people that I have promised I will “make a plan with” when I arrive.
Little loved his visit to Cheam, catching up with his old school mates, and very much enjoyed the unexpected bonus invitation to William Chesel`s swimming party on Saturday.

What a delight to catch sunny glimpses of Wimbledon, sit outside to eat in the sunshine and be part of the great English summertime.

Sadly Davids birthday plans of a trip up the Thames on the boat had to be cancled due to rain, but we went to the Crooked Billet at Stoke Row..for a memorable and totally delicious lunch. When finally,the drizzle stopped,Little went outside to play with his diablo and in the grounds outside the pub we saw this pair of wonderful old wrecks!!
…

Little gets to grips with his Diablo

Despite our arriving to drizzle, the weather very rapidly picked up, so that by the end of the first week…. whilst we were clearing my Mums house, we were all exhausted from it, peaking at a stonking 38 degrees the day that we actually moved the lions share of furniture and possessions, much of which went into storage at Beacon Cottage…We pitched up to Beacon cottage, late in the afternoon in a van [thanks Finn],full of boxes and furniture to store in the stables…all tired, filthy and drenched in perspiration, Little made himself at home immediately and asked our tenant if she would mind him having a quick dip in the rather sparkling pool…his very large splash was soon followed by Finn’s!!. The lady tenant seemed very sweet, perfectly calm and reasonable. Not at all as we had been led to believe by our managing agent!!!!!So a few bridges mended here, which I hope will ensure the final two months of their tenancy will be much calmer and a little more trouble free.

Lime Tree Cottage looking stunning

The sale of my Mum’s cottage is looking positive for an end of the July completion.
I couldn’t resist taking some pictures of the garden which was looking stunning. Showing off everything my Mum and Dad had put into it for the years that they had worked on it..to remind us of how much it was loved by them, and how much pleasure it had given back in return.
The new owners are very keen gardeners and I am sure that the beautiful cottage garden had a great deal to do with their decision to purchase “on the spot”

RETURN TO AFRICA

Picture courtesy of Jessie

Little and I left Dorchester, bidding Tazzy and David a very teary farewell [Big having already departed for Holland that morning],we collected Jessie and Tommie ,bidding Finn another teary farewell and headed off to Heathrow for the long journey back to Africa.
Utterly sleepless night for three of us…Tommy had swigged half a bottle of night nurse and was oblivious to the turbulence that dogged us throughout, and prevented the stewards from serving coffee with either supper or breakfast…so by the time I arrived in Jo berg..my nerves were frazzled and my short temper was on full display for the world to see.
Little…who had diced with trouble for much of the night, by informing me half hourly that he “still wasn’t asleep” was keen to flex his “world wide traveler muscles” for Jessie and Tom and on our arrival at Jo berg,and insisted that we stand at carousel “B” where our baggage [rather a lot, and all with “HEAVY” stickers on it] should arrive within seconds. After 30 minutes it hadn’t, and eventually I did what I should have done 30 minutes ago and checked the boards to find that our luggage had offloaded and was in full swirl on Carousel F. I had to do so much deep breathing I came very close to hyper ventilating.
Then onwards to check in for our domestic flight, my temper was not improved when two “official baggage” handlers grabbed our trolleys and whisked them up the escalators to the domestic check in, at the same time as I was being accosted by a gentleman insisting on polishing my shoes…he was given very short shrift, and the baggage handlers took one look at my face and made do with the small change I had scraped from the depths of my bag…As we checked into our domestic flight to Up…the poor stewardess caught the worst of my unbridled temper when she began to ask inane questions. Mercifully, Jessie took control and whisked us all through security, rapidly locating coffee and a smoking room, where she unceremoniously bundled me through the door and shut it rapidly… I watching them all staring at me from the other side of the glass …cautiously sipping their coffees and gauging how my humor was improving with the coffee and cigarettes that were being consumed..
Restored somewhat, I returned to my party and we continued Westwards to Up…nodding asleep for the 1.40 minutes the noisy little prop took to get us there. The "NUT" had been left for us in the car park the previous day..so I had to shake myself down and get my act together for the 100 kilometer drive back to the farm…half heartedly doing my tourist guide commentary for Jessie and Tommy…who were half asleep and couldn’t give two hoots about the landscape at this point.

The greeting from the dogs girded our spirits…they were beside themselves with joy to see us all. Bongo seems to know when “family” are around. Even though he had never met Jessie and Tom, after an initial double take…he treated them as though he had lived with them for all of his 9 months. So after crying pitifully at us and the peeing all over the crazy paving, they allowed us to enter the house and we attempted to take possession of our rather weary faculties again.

It felt very strange being at the farm without Bossy….but even stranger to find that during our two week absence, Winter had really set in ,and from about 4.00 in the afternoon the temperature began to drop so rapidly that we were all shivering in an icy farmhouse which has…. after all,…..been designed to stay cool…by 5.00p.m, it was like an ice box.
A rapid reconfiguration of the lounge was required, exposing the fireplace which had hitherto been concealed behind one of Bossy`s sofas. Tommie and I made a hasty dash to where the beefwoods had been chopped, piled and stored and proceeded to light an enormous fire, which we huddled around ,fighting for the best spots with the dogs, who had got over their affection for us and were also far more interested in heat.

In view of the empty cupboards in the kitchen, we decided to take advantage of Marica`s “Friday PIZZA night” at the lake, and arrived to kisses and welcome hugs from all our friends there, which was lovely…although I think that Jessie and Tommy may have been a little overwhelmed by how physical these people are..and they sat looking very coyly at everyone .It could just as easily, have had something to do with the previous sleepless night ,which was catching up with us rapidly!!

A weekend of quading and sussing out the farm followed [Tommie and Edwin swore blind they had seen “millions of merekats”]…fillet steak was braai`d, and huge fires lit in the lounge fireplace. By Monday we were ready to escape the farm and head out to the dizzy heights of Kak….stocks of food and beverages of the most fortifying type were purchased. We headed off to the rock place…about 15 kilometers out of Kak…where large lumps of very beautiful rocks are shipped out to garden design companies in Europe…the owners of this place are the people who’s daughters wedding we went to…remember the copious amounts of “langarm” and the man who whirled me round!!!...their daughters also have a jewelry business and so we went [the boys under sufferance] to look at the jewelry.

DR JELLY MAKES HER FIRST DIAGNOSIS!!
On our return to the farm…Little started to complain of a sore throat and feeling very tired…so he removed to bed for a nap, which very strangely lasted the entire afternoon. That night his temperature rocketed and no amount of paracetamol would reduce it…By morning he was looking white, was unable to talk, and still had a raging fever.
Dr Jessie was armed with the handle of a fork, as a tongue depressor and my art light for a torch ,and immediately diagnosed a very unpleasant tonsillitis…she suggested that he see our doctor as soon as possible. So an appointment was made and we all found ourselves wending our way to Kaimous [half way between here and Up] where Little was examined and the Dr concurred with Jessie, but also said that in view of our recent return from England………he needed to test for Swine Flue…

IN QUARANTEEN IN THE BUSH!!!!!
He explained that he was waiting for his swine flue swabs to arrive [swine flue has not yet hit the desert in ZA,with only 34 cases having been reported in the entire country] but would drive out to the farm the following morning to take a swab. In the meantime we should all consider ourselves in Quarantine. Having given Little anti biotics ,and drugs to combat his very high temperature, he practically pushed us out of his surgery ……and I could see one of the cleaning ladies starting to squirt and wipe every surface that we had been anywhere near.
Rather crestfallen we made our way homewards, convincing ourselves that had Little really contracted swine flue, we should all have been suffering some symptoms by now. having been in such close proximity with him on the plane etc….Suddenly, the car started to make an awful thumping noise, and pulling over into the sandy verge in a particularly deserty spot, we soon spotted the problem, the rear offside tyre had a 3 inch wide section of rubber that had stripped away from the core of the tyre.. the tyre itself remained fully inflated, but when the car moved the long strip of rubber, slapped the underside of the vehicle and made a dreadful noise….We did attempt to replace the tyre with the temporary one that sits strapped under the boot…To our great irritation, soon realized that a special little tool, that was responsible for removing the wheel nut covers, was missing from the set.
Secretly I was rather relieved as the temporary tyre, is one that you have to use the cars compression system to inflate and I hadn’t a clue how this would be achieved! With Little looking pale and ill, I made a management decision to potter back to Kak and the tyre repair centre there, on flailing rubber!!!! So we set off at a diminutive 30 miles an hour with our warning lights flashing and our progress being beaten out underneath us from the shredded rubber.
Despite our attempts to ignore his attentions, we were flagged down by a very persistent friend, who recognized the car. He insisted on viewing the damage to the tyre and agreed that we should attempt the trip into Kak..he even wanted to drive the car there, for me, But I was painfully aware that we should not be within 20ft of anyone on account of our spurious “swine flue” status, and insisted that we would be fine.
We arrived at the tyre repair man in Kak safely…but it was packed and everyone insisted on coming to have a closer look…the Tuareg always causes interest. Jessie and Tommie, Little and I kept giving each other worried looks and holding our hands across our mouths.
It became clear that I was going to have to leave the car there as they had to order a tyre from UP, and I had no option but to call Arnou, the factory manager ,to collect us and take us back to the farm….Within seconds of hearing that Edwin was unwell he made the assumption we ALL had swine flue, and zipped his fleece over his nose, put on his sunglasses, AND his hat!!!! I think he must have held his breath for all of the 10 minutes it took to drive us to the farm..as he was looking a touch grey when we removed ourselves from the car….Unceremoniously he skidded round in the drive and sped off down the road leaving an orange trail of dust billowing behind him…..I knew that within moments the “bush telegraph” would be activated, warning everyone in the district to give us a very wide berth. I made the decision to call Regina and tell her not to come in for the rest of the week as Little was unwell, as I knew that her sister [who lives with her] had, only days before, given birth to a baby boy.
That afternoon we lit a huge fire and all sat around it feeling a little fed up. At some point I received a call from Arnou to say that he had just dropped off the Taureg in our drive, complete with new tyre…and that….No…..he wouldn’t come in for a cup of tea.

Bongo to the vet.
Bitterly cold weather, a sick Little and unable to get out …we were all feeling pretty miserable. but I had to get Bongo to the vet in Upington on Wednesday for an x-ray on his shoulder which continues to cause him great pain…since the appointment had been booked and Bongs is clearly in pain…I decided that Tommie and I would have to make the trip to Up, and Jessie would have to stay behind in order to see the Dr who was arriving to take Little`s swab. All went well until we realized that the X-ray experience was going to take rather longer than we expected…..so Tommie and I, hung around in Up trying to amuse ourselves and NOT get involved in conversation with anyone…difficult…as Tom was immediately recognized as being “new” to the area…and in the way that people do here, they delighted in quizzing him. So much so that I almost screamed at them…..”we have swine flue….go away!”.
A very bleary eyed and limbed, Bongs was returned to us at around 4.00 in the afternoon, and we made a hasty retreat back to our quarantine at the farm…to find a very fed up Jessie and a very sick Little…who was still in bed and feeling utterly miserable.
Tommy and I had purchased a bread making machine whilst in Up…I have for months been threatening to do this, as I am so fed up of buying stale bread from Kak…So Jell,Tommie and I set about making our first loaf, which did rather cheer us up…. over supper we broke our first homemade bread and all pretended it was fab and far nicer than the shop stuff…actually it tasted very sweet and more akin to brioche than bread….Must look up some recipes on the internet. The First Loaf



AUGRABIES GAME PARK & FALLS........“For want of a special little tool……….”
On Thursday morning Jessie and Tom were feeling very fed up and I managed to persuade them that they could drive to Augrabies in the NUT [about 15k up the road], and at least spend the morning doing something! ....None of the rest of us is showing any symptoms of swine flue!.

The gorge at the falls

A Dassie or Rock Hyrax

So they departed at 9.00 a.m,and Little shnooked up with me in front of a roaring fire and slipped in and out of sleep all morning.

Just as I was starting to clock watch,around 12.30, I received a call from Jessie to explain that they were both well, that they had decided to venture into the huge Augrabes game reserve , and had driven about 35km in, when they had had a PUNCTURE!!!! The other back tyre this time!!!!!!!

They had the instruction book out and all of the tools but couldn’t get the nut covers off said tyre without the “special little tool”….My heart sunk, but Bossy had told me on the phone, the night before, that it was no big deal that “the special little tool” was missing and that you could use a key to remove the nut covers…so Tommy managed this….the next challenge was to get the old tyre off and the temporary one on….there was another call to say this was achieved but that the problem was now…..how to inflate the tyre?. Despite reading through the manual several times and using the internet at the farm to try and access clearer instructions than those provided in the manual….we simply couldn’t jointly work out how to do it. Tom fed up of being the subject of a safari photo shoot !
Being around 2.00 o’clock, and knowing the park closed at 6.00, I suggested that Jessie call the emergency Ranger number on their admission ticket,just to let the rangers know that they were stuck out in the depths of the bush…and were attempting to inflate a tyre. Thereafter followed a succession of calls between Jessie and I, between the head ranger…Simon and I, during which it was agreed that the rangers would go and find them and bring a compressor for the tyre inflation. The problem was that Jessie and Tom could only explain that they had driven about 35 kilometers into the park, that at some point [when they had become bored !!!]they had turned to retrace their steps, and that they were near a hill with a telegraph post on top of it and Tom had seen a grey watering station about 5 kilometers before they had broken down.

Terrain in the park

The rangers explained to me that this was not a brilliant description as the park is in total, 820sq kilometers. Outside of the falls itself, is an extremely arid area made up of small hills and vast expanses of semi scrubland, where there were grey water stations about every 5 kilometers.I have to admit that I was now beginning to worry….but without a vehicle at the farm, there was little that I could do anyway.
I resolved to access the bakkie [“The Raisin”] from the factory, and if needs be, to wrap Little up, and drive to Augrabies myself and go out and look for Jessie and Tommy. One of the girls from the factory had clearly drawn the short straw to come and deliver the bakkie to me, and when I dropped her back to the factory, she sat in the back with a scarf wrapped around her mouth…in all of this latest excitement I had forgotten that the locals remained convinced we ALL had swine flue!!!!!.

A very stoic"Little"

I collected Litte, wraped him up,from where he was snuggled up in front of a roaring fore and we sett out ..The Raisin, filled with warm jumpers and drinks, crisps, sweets and biscuits and set off for Augrabies.

As I was approaching the entrance Jessie called to say that Tommy had had a brainwave …having located a telephone number for VW in Malmsbury in the glove compartment [remember when we broke down on the way to Cape Town],he had called them, and the mechanics there, had talked him through how to inflate the temporary tyre [for those of you that are remotely interested, there is a hose that fits to tyre valve and the other end then plugs into a place hidden underneath the drivers seat…once this is in correctly…one starts the engine and miraculously the tyre inflates]..She explained that they were on the gravel track driving again, and hoped that they were making for the Falls and the reception centre again,with a view to exiting the park as soon as possible.
By this time is was around 4.30 p.m. Little and I were reunited with them at around 5.00 p.m ,when we beat a hasty retreat back to the farm, having alerted the Head ranger to the fact that they were safely out of the game park and that the search for Jessie and Tom could now be called off.

Bossy Returns
On Friday we had to collect Bossy from Up airport, and I considered it safest for ALL of us to go…We dropped into the doctor en rout as poor Little had developed what looked like a heat rash in all of his hot places!..the Dr checked him out, including his tonsils and was horrified to find that they looked as bad as when he had inspected them earlier in the week, so another anti biotic was prescribed, despite the swine flue tests not being back yet…the doctor is convinced that Little is NOT suffering from Swine flue but that he does have a very nasty bout of tonsillitis.
Bossy was amazed to see the entire household there to collect him and we quickly advised him of all the dramas that had unfolded in his absence….you can imagine his response. A quick return to the farm and a good sleep for Little who was definitely pepped up to see his Papa.

The weekend was spent catching our breath and watching Little finally starting to show signs of recovery, first his appetite and then his voice, and by Sunday he was begging Jessie and Tommy and I to join him on a meerkat finding mission, so that when Taz and David fly out in November, we can take them to the Meerkat homes.

Searching for meerkats.

The four of us set out on two quads. With strict instructions that no “tear arsing” was to be done…for the sake of everyone’s health and wellbeing .Jessie and I were rather perilously hanging off the back of the quads behind our male drivers!
The first location proved fruitless…plenty of the right size holes in the orange sand. and despite secreting ourselves behind bushes for a good 10 minutes nothing appeared…so we set forth for site number two…and stood and waited….finally a little head popped out of a hole, we almost had to gag Jessie such was her excitement….. Then another head and another, until in the distance we could see four or five little creatures all standing on their hind legs…we quickly and ever so gently moved towards them….my camera seemed to be very noisy now!!!!!! But as we watched them, doubt started to creep into my mind. were they meerkats?...gaining a closer look I realized that they weren’t Meerkats but striped ground squirrels….what a disappointment…we stayed and watched these cheeky little creatures for some time, watching them pop in one hole and then pop out of another from their complex set of burrows. It reminded me of that game you play at fairs…armed with a plastic hammer!!!...After a long discussion we all agreed that every single “meerkat” we had seen at the farm since our arrival…must have been a striped ground squirrel. Interestingly Tommie and I had seen a meerkat at the vets on Wednesday, his owners were bringing him in for a castration…which indicated to us that they must have more meerkats,and so we have resolved to ask the vet where we can find them locally. Don’t worry Taz…by the time that you and David have arrived I will have resolved this issue for you.

Rosy,Guilden and Binky…make for the caves
Talking of creatures, last week, Jessie and I decided that whilst our tortoises don’t hibernate, they very definitely DO slow down, and in these cold temperatures they must need extra warmth…so we set about changing their facilities, which now include a sandy floor, three caves made from sturdy rocks, the caves having been filled with hay that Moses, had “acquired”.
Having settled Rosy, Guilden and Binks back into their re vamped home..We stood around watching [including Bee, who has always been rather smitten by them]to see what they would do. They all made straight for the caves and then started to consume the hay…much to our delight; they continue to rove around exploring their new home and all look a great deal happier.

Jelly,Tommie & Little at the Harbour in Cape Town

The working harbour The old Harbour masters house

The clock tower on the Waterfront and early morning at The Mansions


Little returns to Cape Town & School
With all the drama of the past week, I had almost forgotten that Little had to be back at school on Sunday evening. Since he had only just started to recover. I put his return on hold until Tuesday evening. This meant that we could take a leisurely drive down to Cape Town on Monday, stay at the Mansions overnight, at Littles behest we went straight to the Codfather for super where he proved that is appetite had returned!!!! We then spent a lazy day with him on Tuesday playing put-put and mooching around Cape Town.

Little with freshly trimmed hair and looking a whole lot better!

We final delivered him back to school at 5.00. His return was marked with great joy from all of his friends, which made all of us feel a great deal better as we disappeared up the school drive…still not getting any easier!!!! Jessie & Tommie at The Mansions

Big and Jessie, Tommy and I stayed an extra night in Cape Town …suppering at the wonderfully named Buena vista social club…..and returned to the farm late Wednesday afternoon. In time for a hastily arranged braai at Niki and Magda`s [had they heard that we were now declared free of SWINE FLUE?].
On our return to the farm at 10.30 last night…Bongo had once again disgraced himself …he had found Jessie’s glasses, and chewed them to smithereens!!!!! Not a good note upon which to end the trip
Thursday morning and suddenly it was time to pack and set off for UP airport again. Such fond farewells to Jelly and Tommie…whilst circumstances generally conspired against us during these two weeks, it had been so good having my eldest two back with me…a rare treat ,and one that I have valued enormously and I know Little has as well. Safe trip home to you both..Good luck Jelly for your start at Chichester and Tommy…carry on working on that knee and get really fit for the approaching season.

Kisses on the lips to all

DawnXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

My Strange little seagull shadow pictures ........which I love!

June 28th 09
Dr JESSIE PAYNE

Thrilled and so proud to inform everyone that Jessie passed her finals with flying colours...Hurrah!
Looking forward to catching up with everyone during the next two weeks.
Kisses
Dawn XXXX

June 09..Winter in the desert

Vines in Autumn colour

We continue to potter along here in the desert, for the moment bereft of the extraordinary temperatures of earlier in the year, some days the temperature has dropped as low as 15 degrees and is close to freezing at night. These past two days the sky has been grey and overcast, the leaves of the vines have turned brown and are falling, it feels much like an early English Autumn.

Last night marked something of a landmark…I actually shivered for a good 5 minutes in bed.[ very unusual sensation after not having experienced it for such a long time!] So it’s your turn to snigger at me now, after my trying….. And failing to keep quiet about the extreme heat whilst you were all shivering and skidding around under a thick blanket of snow!
Now that you are basking in “flaming June”…don’t hesitate to guffaw and snigger!!
My mind begins to turn towards those fabulous summer months in the UK, wet sports days, rainy Wimbledon’s. Soggy Henley’s…Damp Ascots…My God how I genuinely miss it! Not that I regularly attended the “ summer circuit”…but vicariously being part of the spectacle of British summer rituals, with all of its “putting up “ with inclement weather…always gave me immense pleasure!. And those of you who are seasoned blog readers will know how much I love rain!!!..Something that “Little” has inherited from, me…even Maam is impressed by his ability to cope with a wet and Windy, Wintery Cape Town. He has gained serious street cred from his fellow Bishoptonians because of his appetite for the cold!


Farm from the front..the left hand side is where three of the main bedrooms are,and the part hidden by the trees, is the hall and lounge. NOTE Bossies charcoaled palm tree in the front looking like a telegraph pole.Farm from the drying slabs and the rear of the property...the protruding room with three long windows is the braii room...to the right and directly in front of this is the pool.

The farm continues to be paved “crazy”…the little man doing all this craziness is called “Cappy”, that’s C A P P Y, without the “R”…. Regina tells me his name is not on account of the little brown cap he wears [as I had thought] but because he originated from Cape Town!. He has progressed from the retaining walls around the pool, and is now extending some existing craziness that was half laid on the pathways around the front of the farm when we arrived. Crazy path outside bedroom windows
Carlos, who works as the night shift security guard at the factory, is a carpenter during the day, and he is laying all of the carcassing for the decking around the pool. The decking itself should be delivered by Monday.
Because of this, the preparatory work around the pool has been feverish, Carlos…. having realized that there was no straight or level edge to work to, so a great deal of concrete “ making good” had to be carried out on the surrounding steps.

Pool under construction

Pool as it has been for several months

Steps surrounding the pool Pool begins to be decked

No Flies on “Bongo chicken”
A group of about 7 were engaged in either watching or working on leveling a cement slab, [including Bossy and I],when Bongo came flying through the crowd at break neck speed and continued straight into the deep cement slab, leaving a deep footprint trail…he was so shocked by the unexpected feeling, that he jumped into the air and fell right into the deep end of the pool, which is full again and VERY cold. Most of us fell around with laughter, Bossy had a sense of humour failure when he saw the cement dissolving in great grey pools around Bongs thrashing feet, and then we remembered that Bongo needed rescuing! This little incident has done nothing to dampen Bongos spirits, and he continues to regard every element our farm life, including the people that move in and out of it, as being especially arranged for his pleasure. Bongo has not endeared himself to anyone working at the farm over the past few weeks. He has been a complete nuisance to all…when Carlos is kneeling down concentrating on fixing a wooden joint…Bongo creeps up behind him and starts tugging on his coat, or steals his hat or bites his shoes, or pings off with a tool in his mouth. Bongo really upset Cappy…when he slunk off with Cappies, cement dusting brush, scarpering into the depths of the garden. Being alerted by the screeches of rage from Cappy….. I eventually found Bongo hiding under an orange tree, but not before he had chewed the wooden handle off the dusting brush. He received a severe telling off and a smacked rump, & there was no doubt in my mind that he understood exactly why he was being punished.

Bongo has clocked that he is treated much like an indulged child, and just like a spoilt child, assumes that anyone working around the farm is not allowed to admonish him. He is largely correct…neither Bossy nor I will tolerate the way the “workers” treat animals, and in particular…dogs, but we have to balance his not being allowed to behave in a brattish way… I noticed recently [whilst working inside on my art, and having a clear view of the garden and the goings on with those working]…that a few, take great delight in teasing Bongo…they start by making cat noises to get his attention, and encourage him closer and closer…then they throw stones at him…Well that was enough for me to fire outside..paintbrush in hand…and serve the culprits a large and fearsome dollop of good old Anglo Saxon , I was so angry that I could feel tears of rage prickling in my eyes….Bossy spoke with Moses and explained very firmly, that Moses must inform his staff, if anyone is caught throwing stones at Bongo, they will be immediately thrown off the property….. Followed by arms full of large stones…from “Missus”. Further that if they continued to tease him, they should expect all they deserve from Bongo, and to remember that he is only just half grown..Weighing in at 55 kilos now…it is likely that they will have to deal with at least 85 kilos of retribution in a few months.

Art
I had a visit from Nicolene last week she works at the tourist office in Kak, and arrived to ask me if I would agree to her hanging some of my art work in the tourist office I was rather shocked, but agreed. So three representational drawings and two small abstract canvases were handed over…I’m not expecting great things as A] being Winter, we are not exactly deluged with tourists, and B] the art I produce, is most unlike that created by fellow local artists. Hey Ho…we shall see what materializes.
Two small abstract canvases : Now in tourist office
Subsequently I have been contacted by a local businessman, who is building a conference centre in Kak, which will include an art gallery .He has asked me to produce two large abstract canvases for the opening in December. So I have begun to limber up my drawing and painting skills again…… they are a touch rusty. I cant account for why I have been painting HUGE and very representational picture of peonies for the past week ..as I prefer to produce abstract work. Bossy is very confused, He dislikes my abstract stuff intensely, and now that I am producing something that he can understand he also hates that,. I have been teasing him that it will be hung above our bed. His response has been that he would much prefer a naked lady with huge bosoms…my response…if there is to be any nakedness hanging above our bed, it will be a large coloured gentleman with HUGE undercarriage!!!! The entire discussion has been dropped for the moment! And I continue with my peonies.

Unfinished Peonies Title "Amplus Quam vita" statement of fact as the piece is 3ftX 4ft6"

Clearing stumps…like pulling teeth!
Still gardening like demon, and I now have Moses support, he has arranged a few extras to help with the digging [these are the “cat callers” and the stone throwers]….these “helpers”, had obviously been pre warned about staring at me ,because they studiously avoid glancing in my direction and study their digging/raking intently, if I happen to be working alongside them…I can sense that they are MOST uncomfortable…but refuse point blank to stop doing something that gives me such pleasure. My angry demeanor over the stone incident may have something to do with their discomfort though!
We are trying in vain to get the beefwood stumps clear…its no easy task…and despite getting a tractor in, and attaching the stumps to the tractor with a large chain, they hang in for dear life, and I stand in amazement watching the tractor, reving painfully and wheel spinning in the sandy soil ….digging itself in ,almost as deeply as the stumps. We have only managed to remove two of the 8 stumps. “Moses` boys” are now engaged in digging around the stumps with hand tools to weaken them in preparation for the second attempt.

Bee directing works from the pump house

Bossy directing work from the stump

The blackened palms…reach upward into the sky to advertise Bossy`s behavior to all within a five kilometer radius. He very excitedly pointed upwards towards one today …and it does look like a new green frond is attempting to uncurl from the charcoal crown. The other remains stoic in its charcoal weeds.

Sprinkler Queen
Since my last blog, I have learned to dig irrigation ditches and insert new sprinklers and how to operate the automated sprinkler system. which is not easy, I keep forgetting what buttons to press and having warned everyone that I`m about to water a certain area of the garden…they all move to another point and then surprise surprise…the sprinklers here turn on and soak everyone!!! It has become something of a standing joke now,and everyone in the garden sniggers when I announce the sprinklers are about to go on…and stand in the middle of the lawn in readiness to jump AWAY from wherever the water decides to pop up.

Zandri, who is the lady who runs the guest house where we stayed for the first month that we arrived. also loves gardening [, unlike me she is not quite so “hands on”] and has offered to come and give me advice on what plants: shrubs trees etc will work in our location…she tells me that here on the farm where we are only 7 kilometers away from her house, the climate is slightly different, the frost pattern and rainfall levels both differ notably from her own garden.!
We are focusing on the area immediately in front of our front door…the entire border is to be cleared of its existing ferns, which are to be saved and temporarily potted up, one tree is to be left along with a stunning large cycad. Once this has been done and the ground deep dug, we have to add wheelbarrows of the red sand that everyone around here insists on referring to as “soil”, add mountains of compost and phosphates and fertilizer and only once this is done can I begin replanting…..The motto that she has left me with is” rather dig a 100 Rand hole and put a 1 Rand plant in, than the reverse”…preparing the soil is the key to creating a healthy garden. I have to say that irrigation also seems key to the process, and am starting to consider myself as something of an irrigation Queen. It has caused me immense irritation that several of the irrigation pipes in the “new” boarder, have been breached by the overzealous digging by my helpers…the problem is I give explicit instructions [including to take care of the irrigation pipes] which are then translated by Moses and something is always lost in the translation! Whilst Moses is a great help,he is very Gung Ho in his approach to gardening, attacking plants with brawn and not taking a Long view as to their future. I have lost several plants in this way and am currently mourning the loss of a large clump of mature stralitzias, bougainvillea and a wigelia.

The money lender and the hat thief.
Moses has taken on the mantle of something like the local head honcho…his position here has separated and apparently elevated him from the rest of the factory staff, and as a result of his abstinence from booze, he is regarded as something of a reliable “head man” to sort out all kinds of disputes and is often visited by locals asking for help/advice. Because he is earning a comparatively decent income [supplemented by his chicken farming],and he lives very frugally, he has spare cash, and is now acting as the local money lender. His interest rates are fearsome…1Rand for every 1Rand loaned. I find this rather shocking, but Bossy tells me that this is less than these people get charged by the more formal types of money lending institutions that they are able to approach.
Every Friday afternoon [they all finish work and get paid on Friday lunchtimes],Moses puts on his best clothes, and walks the 1 ½ kilometers to the factory, so that he is standing outside the gates in time to collect his dosh…and hand out more loans, or the odd piece of advice.
The sad thing about all of this is that the money is rarely loaned for honest reasons in my opinion…but to support the boozing that goes on from Friday to Sunday night…come Monday, most of the men that have loaned money, have empty pockets again and are further indebted… I have asked Bossy if Moses understands that he will reach a point where there is no hope of his recovering his loans…Bossy`s response is that Moses is certainly not stupid, and will exact a return in any way he can: Viz : goods or services or favors to the effective value of the outstanding loan ,which he can then either use personally or barter onwards.
The black and coloured people here, have something of a Sub economy, bartering is used widely. So Moses is never short of Taxi rides to Kuruman where his home is, nor is his family short of food or clothes.
Part of me applauds his industry, the other sees him as taking advantage of the depressing spiral of life that a great deal of the factory workers live. Bossy sais that Moses attitude is very matter of fact….id he wasn’t in a position to do it, someone else would be. I am very fond of Moses, he really does look after us here, he has grown more and more used to our ways and to the dogs, and whilst Bee still gives him a wide berth. Moses has started to develop a very endearing relationship with Bongo; I catch sneaky glimpses of him playing with Bongs in the garden. Yesterday Moses and Bossy and I were sitting on the steps surrounding the pool watching Carlos finish the 4th plank of decking!!.
Bongo, noticing there was some action going on outside… arrived, and from his higher position behind us..Snoofled my hair, licked my ear and briefly rested his jaw on my shoulder, then did the same to Bossy, and to my amazement did the same to Moses [and Moses let him!]…sadly Bongo finished his “Lurve” session, by trying to pinch Moses hat and scamper off with it…causing Bossy and I to hoot with laughter and Moses to screech….as he is VERY protective of his beloved hats!

“Little`s first solo flight”
Little has a five day break from school starting on Friday 5th June, and is flying solo from Cape Town for the first time. I am torn between feeling grateful we don’t have the long drive and panicked that he will get misappropriated ,lost, or find himself arriving along with his tiny overnight bag… in Guatemala.
He arrived safely and looking Mr. Cool, as he jumped off the jet, with 20 other passengers at UP`s tiny airport…sunglasses on the top of his head, overnight bag in hand and was very embarrassed by the huge cuddles of relief that I showered him with when I greeted him. He has spent much of the time he has been here, quading with the boys from across the road and I see him only at meal times, when he returns looking like a sand monster! Bossy has just taken him back to Up to catch his return flight to school [Wed 17th]…Only a few more days before we collect him on the last day of term and head straight for our flight to the UK.

News from Home
Our tenants have asked to extend their tenancy by two months pending a decision on moving to London. .[ I’m wondering if their decision has anything to do with fighting off those chimera toads!!!!!] Bossy and I are assuming that they will go at the end of October, and we have asked our letting agent to begin marketing it again a.s.a.p

My sisters Taz & Jane have done a wonderful job of getting my Mums house on the market, we received an offer within 7 days of it being marketed…we are still a long way off completion, and eventually waving a very fond farewell to Lime Tree cottage. I pray that it all goes through without hic-ups as I cant bear for Taz and Jane to suffer another winter with the responsibility of housekeeping it alongside their own busy lives.

Finn is back at his Dads in Streatley, having just completed year two… and his exams at Newcastle. He will be working at his Dads business over the summer, but in typical Finn style has plans afoot on a business for himself which I wish him lots of luck with.

My poor Jessie, has, as I write, finished her written finals, completed her medical practical, and undergoes her surgical practical tomorrow afternoon. [Tues 16th June] I had a great Skype conversation with her on Sunday…she looked fab, but was clearly very tired and still extremely stressed. Roll on 5.00 p.m tomorrow afternoon, when she is done and dealt. She is of course convinced that she has failed her finals. So extreme is her concern, that she is refusing to open a large manila envelope sent to her by the hospital in Chichester, because it is addressed to Dr J Payne.
I have tried to reassure her that it’s perfectly normal [for her] to think that she has failed, and if she was remotely happy after any examination I WOULD worry. Whatever the result…I assured her that I am so proud of her, and that she should now, OPEN HER ENVELOPE.
Her results are out on 24th June…the day before we get back! Whatever…… she can look forward to spending a chilled two weeks in South Africa when she and Tommy, Little and I fly back on the 9th July.
I just spoke to Jess to wish her luck before this afternoons surgical practical …she was on great form and was predicting that she was bound to get testicles.She had started her medical career with them…. aged 16 our GP in Kingclere, offered to allow her to shadow him for a week during the summer hols,the first patient that come through his door was a young guy with a lump on his testicle,which after asking the young mans permission , Jessie was asked to examine!. I agree.... it would be rather poetic if she should finish with the same part of the anatomy as she started with.
When I spoke to her last night, she hadn’t been presented with testicles!!! She just sounded so relieved that her entire set of finals were now finished, and was supping on a large glass of celebratory red wine!
Tom has been a star…he has been in constant touch with her and has been a great support to Jell during these very difficult somewhat extreme weeks. His knee is really mending well and strengthening by the day, and he reckons on starting group training within 3 weeks. Quite where he is going to play is still undetermined, but very sensibly he is considering speaking to Newbury /Henley & Chinnor. As he has to hold down a full time job as well as re engage with his rugby…and it makes sense to go for local clubs whilst still in the early stages of his “return to the game”. It seems like such a long time ago, that he took the injury now, its been a long and harsh recovery. at last he can see an end to it.

Once again it has been far busier for everyone at home than it has been for me here in this wintery desert…so Love in heaps going to Jessie, Tommy & Finn. To Taz and Jane. To my dear Dotty, who is the bravest bird I know. To Loops.... crack on girlie and HUGE thanks for the itunes recommendation, I have also uploaded several “talking books”, I have never listened to talking books before! but have decided they may come in useful for our long flights….

To Pam, who is now installed in her new kitchen and busy with her dogs on the summer show circuit,to Lizzi who I hope is no longer hobbling. To Viki who is a constant “touchstone” for me. Lenie and Fee in Holland.[ loved your letter & photos Fee!] To Amanda and Lucy B for their very welcome and funny emails, to dear Marie, Tracey, Kim and Di, …Now ……this is the problem with naming people, I know that I have missed out so many names, please forgive .
We are all looking forward to catching up with as many of you as we can whilst back…but I may have to defer to October as the diary is now so packed that I’m already feeling guilty that I will hardly see Tazzy and David, who once again are generously putting Big Little and I up for two weeks. Can’t wait to see everyone.

Kisses on the lips for all.
DawnXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX