DECEMBER 2012
LOUTERWATER MISSION DECEMBER 2012
BEACH FRONT RUNNING
PRINCE ALFRED PASS
JOUBERTINA AND KRAALTJIE
HOGSBACK TRAIL RUN
SEVENS RUGBY AT THE NELSON MANDELA STADIUM PE
NATIONAL WATER POLO TOURNAMENT
ENA HAS A FALL, HOSPITALISED AND SENT TO FRAIL CARE
PATRICK AND FAMILY TO PLETT AND CLEAN UP THE FLAT
ENA RETURNS TO HER FLAT
CATHY, SAUL AND BLAKE DRIVE FROM CT AND VISIT ENA
NICKY, STEFAN AND FAM DRIVE FROM CT, STAY IN M. BAY THEN COME THROUGH TO PE FOR CHRISTMAS.
LOTS OF BEACH FRONT RUNNING AND SWIMMING
MEALS AND MEALS AND MEALS
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
CHRISTMAS DAY IN PE
BIKING WITH CHILDREN
ROLLERBLADING WITH ZARA
POOL SWIMMING WITH COUSINS
Louterwater Mission
Saturday 1st. Barbara & I drive to Plett to see Ena who has had a fall and operation and who is now in the Plett Clinic
Then take the Prince Alfred Pass which is a new experience for us but after driving for over an hour we get stuck behind two tow trucks which are pulling a bus out of the crevass.
After a long wait we turn around and head back to Plett. Then turn back to Kareedouw. And finally to Joubertina where we meet up with the rest of our small group. Braai and bed. Sunday morning we go to Louterwater where we hand out all the goodies that we have brought with us.
Back to PE that afternoon.
The rest of the week is at Work with Ally training madly for her upcoming polo tournament. I go to Queenstown for branch visits. Thursday evening is Ally;s Capping Ceremony. This is now her second year of playing for her province.
At Collegiate School for U15 A water polo tournament. Ally in her new EP polo costume
Friday 7th afternoon I drive to Hogsback with Devon; Svenje; Jenna and Jessica (friends of Svenje). We camp that night and then the following morning we run the inaugural Hogsback 21kam trail run. Takes us 3;15 but is fun in the misty mountains.
Back home that afternoon we watch Sevens Rugby with Rob Ermes.
Sunday is 7s again. Unfortunately SA does not win but is a credible third overall.
Monday I am down at Newton Park Swimming pool where I assist with the registration. This afternoon I have two celebrities -- Alan Glover and Stanford Slabbert to take care of. Then later I meet the Old Mutual representative-- Nandi Solomons from Cape Town.
Tuesday to THursday is Water polo during the day and evenings we have supper with Charles at the Newly Opened Angelo's at the beach and at the Polo Function at Newton Park Pool.
THIS IS THE OPENING CEREMONY WITH CAROL AND MARK COOPER; STANFORD AND PETA SLABBERT AND ALAN GLOVER. OLD MUTUAL IS REPRESENTED BY NANDI SOLOMONS
Here is a group of Mom Supporters and Andre.
Friday Ally was supposed to play but was not well so pulled out. Overall our U15 A girls team won three and lost three games. THey were placed 7th out of 12 in the tournament.
The mornings at the beach are a real treat. As this team will testify -- No pressure!
Adrienne, Pat, Svenje and Devon chatting before the morning run. 
During this week I ran Monday to Thursday and Saturday. We started our Beach Front Morning Runs.
Patrick drove to Plett where he has stayed for the week. visiting Ena and Cleaning up her flat.
Saturday morning; Another steamy hot morning. I collect Adrienne and we meet Pat at Hobie beach. Also joining us are Suzanne who is off to the UK to visit her Girls: Jessica and Emma. Pat, Adrienne and Suzanne walk up Driftsands, along Strandfontien and down 2nd ave for a substantial morning excerise. Annie, Adrian, Mike Dean, Debbie D (turns back with a sore leg), Margie, Andrew Barton run the 10kay route.
We meet up with John Durant and enjoy a swim after the run. Mmmmmm. What a privelidge it is to be able to do things like this in the morning before 7am.
Michael is best man at his friend Brian's Wedding at Addo this week end. Barbara is cleaning up the house and cuts our phone line. No Phone and no Internet for a few days until we can get Telkom to come and fix.
Sunday 16th.
Barbara, Ally and I drive to Plett. Patrick and his family have been sorting out Ena's Flat. Ena has been in Frail Care at Formosa. Patrick has been interviewing and sorting out a Caring Service for Ena when she moves back to her home.
We have lunch with Ena, Ian and Alice Spence, Patrick and Marianne, Thomas and St John.
IAN SPENCE
This afternoon we drive back to PE and I go to church. There is also the Opening of the Season fireworks but being a Sunday I give it a miss.
Monday 17th; Public Holiday.
I drive to Pine Lodge at Cape Recife. There is a trail run. I meet up with Erna and Sjani and we run the event together. Really relaxed pace.
Slow start along the tar road to the University. We run to the back of the University where we go into the Reserve. We climb over the Turnstile and then follow the pathways through the reserve. At stages we are running on Soft Sand and then we have to negotiate long grassy pathways. This is tough as you must pick your feet up and drag them through the long grass. Some sections are wet but this is not a problem for us.
In the reserve we are with Marc and Sheena. Jason who I have met before is also with us at the start of the event.
We exit the reserve at the University back gate and then run back to Pine Lodge. Past the Boom and SAMREC penguin reserve and then take a right into the Recife reserve. Again we encounter long grass which drags on our legs. We wind our way around and then back to the Tar Road. We run along the tar road for a short while before taking a Long Cut past the derilict homes. Back to the tar road and exit at the Noordhoek beach parking area.
We take some water and then run along the beach. More soft sand. We meet up with Kerry who has an injured back. Along to the Lighthouse and take water again. I have taken my back pack with me so I have no problem with Water. However if you did not take water you could be getting thirsty.
The last section along the beach from the lighthouse to the Pine Lodge is an easy 2 or 3 kays. We climb the steps and walkway to the complex. We find that we must be almost last as when we get to the pool area the prize giving is almost finished. I jump in the pool for a refreshing swim. I hear Ooompiet; Ooooompiet and remember that this is my nickname given to me by Svenje's friends Jessica and Jenna from last week.
We dont stay. I Drive home, and spend the rest of the morning at Work.
Tuesday I work in King Williams Town. It is Ron's birthday and we visit their home for drinks.
Wednesday: we start the morning with a run to the Harbour Wall. There is an East Wind which has blown the Blue bottles in and so we skip the swim. This afternoon we visit Adrienne for drinks. It is a farewell for Graham and Cheryl Botha.
Thursday is again a Beach Run to the Flat Rock along the boardwalk rounded off with a swim. Adrienne, Pat, John, Suzanne and Warren have been walking and they tackle the Driftsands road, strandfontein and down 2nd ave. Suzanne leaves for UK this evening. Her first trip and very excited. Erna is going off to George for the weekend, doing a skyjump and the Goose run next week. Svenje lets me know that she is Pregnant. Today I buy Ally a Lap Top Computer as her Christmas Present.
Alrika is a friend of Svenje. Bluebottles on the beach preclude us from the morning swim.
Friday 21st. someone said that the World will come to an end today. But it has not. So instead of the world ending -- we run the Harbour Wall run again today. Svenje and I run to the Summies Clubhouse and then the beach while Adrienne and her group walk to the Wall and back. Again we round the morning off with a swim. Each morning I have swum to the buoys.
Saturday 22nd. Another wonderful morning run on the beachfront. With Ronel and another group who we met on the way. Ronel makes friends with Candy and I have to work hard to keep up with these two ladies. Adrienne and the walking group do the ten km walk. All rounded off with a swim. We meet up with Roz and Sarah Gerber who are visiting from the UK.
Cathy and Saul and Blake arrive from CT after a stop to see Ena who is now back home. Alice has arranged a party for her with ten of her friends. Saul and I get two bikes up and ready for a ride. Later on I set up a bike for Joshua and he is quite comfortable on Barbara's bike. Daniel takes Joshua's bike and we cycle around Grey.
Sunday morning. We sleep a bit later then planned and miss our morning cycle. Later Saul and I fix up the rooms for Nicky's family.
SUNDAY 23RD
Nicky and family arrive from CT M Bay . This week is consumed with Meals, Shopping and Christmas. Cathy is very much in love with her child Blake. I love playing with my Grandchildren. We fix up some bikes so that we can do some cycling.
Running in the mornings is on Hobie beach to the Flat Rock or to the Harbour wall. Lots of fun including swims afterwards.
PLANNED TO RUN BUT ENDED UP WALKING TO THE HARBOUR WALL AND BACK.
HELOUISE, JOHN, ANDREW, RONEL AND ALMARIE. TOUCHING THE WALL IS A COMPULSORY PART OF THIS RUN
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SUNDAY30th December 2012
This morning Cathy and Saul leave early for CT. They have a safe trip and arrive home in early afternoon.
Michael has moved into the School and so Barbara and LENE now have the task of re organizing into the two rooms where Michael's family have been staying. They strip the room of the beds and furniture. Then clean the floor. Then paint the room into the required children's colours. The rest of us help where we can but it is mainly B and L who do all the work. My contribution is doing all the laundry of sheets and towels etc from the family stay.
NEW YEARS EVE.
I have a busy morning. Seems like there is always so much stuff to do. Barbara, Ally and I have a wild, wild party and manage to stay awake to around 10. At this stage we are so exhausted from all the drinking, party, dancing we all pass out and so ends 2012. Actually a quiet eve at home, reading watching TV and then pass out equally exhausted. And so ends 2012!
