July 2016
Jacqui and family in PE for a month.
Michael comes to PE
Michael and I run Knysna Half
Cango Caves; Swartberg Pass; Prince Albert; Meiringspoort
Visit to Oudtshoorn and Riebeek Kasteel
Dawn Kumm visits South Africa.
Running in Riebeek Kasteel
Joshua and Daniel at Rugby Clinic during school holidays
Joshua and Daniel join me for a cycle around the Golf Course.
Ena has a mild stroke
Patrick visits Addo and the Wooleys.
Cathy has a potential Job Offer in NZ and gets Blake into a day school.
Ally is in Bali and Australia.
Ally is accepted into Stellenbosch And NMMU University
Meet Johan Britz from Fouriesburg Country Tours for a possible future contract.
Daniel is left wing for the U11A team of Clarendon.
Joshua and Daniel have a rugby match in Graaff Reinet
Rugby at Grey vs Framesby.
Jack Goldsmith dies in Durban.
Wednesday Walks -- Grysbok with Dawn; Sacramento.
Woodridge Trail run
In our house at present:
Barbara and I; Jacqui, Emily, Annabelle, Tom
Lene; Jessica, Joshua and Daniel.
Each night I am busy planning and making meals. Soup is the main meal. But I have to try to vary the menu for this horde of children. Tom comes with me to the shops. He is so entertaining. Best of all he trusts me after such a short time of knowing me.
Saturday -- Barbara takes everyone horse riding. A huge hit with the children including Tom.
On Sunday we take a drive to the beach where we walk and explore the rocks of low tide; everyone gets wet despite the cold water. The pools are really not too cold at all. An ice cream followed by a visit to the fort and St Georges park. Cycle with Daniel and Emily. Church.
I have two new tyres fitted and buy two new beds. Chris and I cycle to Recife. A busy day.
Chris and I find these interesting plants on the road.
The name refers to the edible fruits. It comes from the Ancient Greek karpos ("fruit") and brota ("edible"). Carpobrotus leaf juice can be used as a mild Astringent. Applied to the skin, it is a popular emergency treatment for jellyfish and similar stings. It can also be used externally, much like aloe vera for wounds, mosquito bites and sunburn. It is also used to treat skin conditions.
Gazania species are grown for the brilliant colour of their flowerheads which appear in the late spring and are often in bloom throughout the summer into autumn. They prefer a sunny position and are tolerant of dryness and poor soils.
Tuesday. Running short these days. Seems better for me as I don't end up as sore. Kelly and Andrea walk; Steff; Chris; Lindie; Neil and Pat run short; Others this morning: Natalie; Angela; Nicky; Melissa; Almarie; Claire; Amanda; Johan; Andy; Mike; Joan in the faster group. Teaching Elmarie the Dole stuff. Cycled the Golf Course with Emily and Daniel.
Wednesday. Cold, Wet and wind. Hike called off. Addo tour with Yoo and Soon from Korea. Michael arrives from Israel.
Thursday - Tour of Addo with Michael and Jacqui.
Friday we leave for Knysna. Stop off at Monkeyland to the delight of the family. Then Ena for tea and finally we register for the run in Knysna. Jacqui booked us a house in Brenton. A bit of confusion finding the place in the dark and then back to buy supplies. Meet up with Julia and Anja.
Saturday morning we run the 21k in 2.30. Then later we leave for Oudtshoorn where we stay for two nights. Sunday we spend the whole day exploring -- Cango caves; Swartberg pass; Prince Albert; Meiringspoor and back to Oudtshoorn.
Monday we leave for Riebeek and it takes us the best part of the day to get there with a number of stops on the way. We use the R62.
Tuesday 12th. -- Dawn arrives from Canada for a two week visit
Wednesday 13th. Nicky; Michael and I run through the village for a 6km easy jog. I am still stiff and sore after the Knysna half. I then have a meeting with a tour operator in Cape Town. Possible future work depends on if I am prepared to canvas and sell tours in PE.
Visit to Mary; Joan and Tracey. Lunch and Tea. Tracy's birthday. supper and shows at Nicky's home later this evening
Thursday 14th. Barbara; Dawn and I leave just after 5am. We take the road past Tulbach to Worcester and Ashton. There are some road works on the way but nothing serious. We stop in Montague for some eats and again in Oudtshoorn to fill up with petrol and for a tea break at Smitswinkel tea and coffee shop.
Our last stop is at Jeffreys Bay before we arrive home at 3pm -- 9 hours and 570km on the R62 / Langkloof road.
We have just received the news that Lene has been accepted to live and work in Ireland. She must now apply for a position in Ireland and then all the formalities. An exciting time for her and the family.
And Ally is back in Australia. She phones to let us know that she has been accepted into Stellenbosch University. She must still write the NBT (National Benchmark Test) at the end of August, which she is presently studying for.
Dawn visits her friend Gill vd Marwitz and Gail. Barbara and Dawn have supper with Brenda.
Saturday Morning -- Cold and Windy. Just three runners (Mike and Lindi join me). Anne; John and Adrian walking.
We started off into the West Wind and so the second half of the run was really quite pleasant with the wind on our back. A shower and full breakfast helps me recover. I give Dawn a Rusk Baking lesson. Dawn and Barbara visit Delene and Matthew and then dinner with Brenda.
Sunday morning -- Barbara and Dawn continue their visiting; Josh, Daniel and I cycle around the Golf Course. Lene is clearing up old stuff from her house.
Monday 19th -- run with Chris; Lindi; Susan and Andrea. Later on Cycle with Chris to Recife.
Looks like it will take some time for my legs to recover from Knysna. It is over a week and I am still tired. Barbara and Dawn visit Avery and Peter Whitehead in St Frances. Jacqui and her family arrive back in PE after an adventure trip from CT to Natures Valley and Plett. They were driving in the Opel Bakkie which treated them really well with no issues at all.
Wednesday 20th. Wednesday walkers -- Dawn joins me for a hike in the Grysbok trail -- The reserve behind the university.
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| FIRST OVER THE TURNSTILE AND THEN A LONG WINDY TRAIL THROUGH THE GRYSBOK HIKING TRAIL BEHIND THE UNIVERSITY. THIS TRAIL IS ABOUT 8KM AND 2.3 TO 3 HOURS OF WALKING |
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| DAWN AND 35 OTHER HIKERS ON THE TRAIL |
good morning for hiking,
The Grysbok trail was kind to us this morning as we found sightings of Zebra on a few occasions as well as lone Springbok on the trail.
The walk starts at the back of the University and leads the walkers in a maze of trails and pathways that is best not tackled alone. Robin leads and so the back markers such as myself have really no idea of where to turn left or right. The Grysbok is not tough although in Summer it can be quite warm with little or no shade -- So water and a hat are essential.
There were 36 walkers on the trail on this warm winters morning of ideal hiking conditions.
Some of the group did a short extra loop.
One of the great things of walking in such a big group is that you are bound to meet a new face and engage in all sorts of subject matter.
On the trail today:
Errol and Mo; Di and Jimmy; Carryn and Brenda; Peter and Dave; Dennis; Keiko; Sandra and Lindi; Robin; Marjorie; Julian; Lucy; Chandre; Lee and Ione; Pat and Robin; Steve; Flo and Lynn; Martie; Keith; Mike; Joy; Des; Jenny; Richard; Debbie; Val; Dave; Peter and Dawn. = 36
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| FAMILY TEA TO SAY GOOD BYE TO JACQUI. |
Thursday -- Jacqui and her family leave for Israel.
My first tour in ages. I have a Dutch family who want a VW factory Tour.-- Works out well. Everyone appears to enjoy themselves even though we had to drive in the rain. At such a slow pace! Dropped them off at Greenacres and then later back to the hotel.
Friday -- I have the same family for an Addo Tour. For me such fun to have a group who are interested and keen on everything from Warthog to Elephants and Dung Beetles. Laughing and joking (Mostly Dutch and some English). We are fortunate on a day where some visitors say that they have only seen One Elephant in two days, to see families and to end up with a Big Bull Elephant up close at Cross Roads. The Arizona Road was a messy muddy road and the Ngulube Loop so muddy that we came across a car that was being towed out by a Landrover after having slewed off the road into a ditch and waiting for three hours to be towed out. Ended the tour with a brief visit to the Ndlovu Lookout (On Craig's advice) to see the sunset. Peter invited me for a beer after the tour at Beershack (one of Ally's favourite haunts). Today I was in Craig's Landrover. What a pleasure to drive in a big vehicle that handles the deteriorating roads and that drives so smoothly throughout.
Saturday morning -- We leave PE just before 6am. Two cars. In our car is Barbara and I as well as Tarryn and Sarah Duffield. Sarah is playing hockey. Lene, her Mother, Daniel and Joshua are in the second car. We start off in Rain but even when the rain stops we have to drive reasonably slowly in the dark. By 7am it is lighter and we can pick up the speed a bit. At Jansenville we stop for the toilet and arrive in Graaff Reinet at about 8.40. There was just on Stop and Go but we were lucky that we did not have to wait. It varies between 5 and 13 degrees this morning. No snow on the mountains.
Carryn and Sarah go off to find their match. We have some coffee and eats which is provided for by the school. We then watch the U9 match which is a draw at 21 all. Even at that age there is a pride in the game which is played as hard as they are able. Both Josh and Daniel are playing at 10am. I watch just a bit of Josh's game and then move over to Daniel where I am linesman. This is a job I enjoy as it gives me the opportunity to move up and down with the flow of the game without appearing to be crazy for the game. Daniel had hurt his thumb a few days previously but this does not deter him and he continues to play. Our boys have a strong front 8 plus a few playmakers in the back line. It is their scrumming that wins them the game again today. The bigger boys are able to barge their way over the line for a 32-17 win.
Josh also wins his game with about 20-7. Their coach is Braam and he is a motivating factor in the teams win. The weather is kind to us. It is cold when the clouds shield the sun and really warm in the sun. A cold breeze comes from the mountains behind us to chill everyone to the bone. But overall we have a wonderful morning in Graaff Reinet at Union School.
We stay to watch the U13a game. I again play linesman. Mr S is the coach for this team. He is head coach of rugby at Clarendon. I spoke to Allan Lones about the success of rugby in Clarendon and he attributes it to the quality of coaching that has been introduced to the school. He can be rightly proud of the progress that the school has made in rugby over the past 5 years since it was introduced. Our first team also wins the game but not without having to play hard for this win.
After this game we pack up and leave for home. The total round trip took us from 5.45 to 3.45 = 10 hours and 530km. Barbara drops me off at Grey. She and Dawn go off to visit Gail one last time before Dawn flies home. I watch the first team play Framesby. Unfortunately I missed the game where Peet Booysen's son was playing earlier in the day. I join the chaps on the VIP stand as it is raining hard. Fortunately I do not get wet and enjoy the company of the chaps as well as a game of rugby.
Back home I make a chicken stew / curry with vegetables. Brenda comes for a visit and stays for supper.
JACK GOLDSMITH DIES.
Patrick phones me to let me know that Jack Goldsmith died. He had been good to me for many years during the time when I was running Comrades. Hermine and he had put Ron and myself up at their home. As well as some other chaps who had come up with us. David Giddy who is in Perth writes the following:
First Patrick writes to David:
Dear David
I've been meaning to get in touch again. But now I'm sure you have heard of the death of Jack Goldsmith on Tuesday - Arthur phoned me this morning and I spoke to Pam and Timm and Hermine - and she's lucky to have the three daughters and Arthur there with her, and they all took turns looking after him the last difficult ten days.
Meanwhile our mother hangs in there. I had to give a speech at her 100th earlier, quite an achievement I suppose, we all felt a relief she had made it, which is quite irrational but still.
Here is my speech, I put up ten balloons on the ceiling and labelled each one as a decade in her life and said a few words about each decade, so I ended up at the end of the room at the last balloon. Two of the balloons have since popped, so her flat is missing the 1930's and 1940's.
Best regards and lots of love for now
Patrick
Then David Replies:
Dear Hermine, Pam and Timm,
I have just received the attached email from Patrick informing me of Jack's death. A bit of a shock but I can only hope that I do not linger when it comes to my turn. Jack gave so much to so many people; family friends, patients and the sailing fraternity. I am sorry that we did not see more of you after our departure from South Africa. To you I send my love and sympathy.
Since moving into my private room in the Nursing Home I have been so much more settled and contented. My health continues to improve. Last week I achieved the objective of walking with my walking frame, to bridge and back five times. Zoe also walks regularly with a companion but has very little short term memory.
In case Patrick had not sent his speech of ten balloons (decade) of Ena's life, to you, I am forwarding it herewith. If you are interested, you might Google JAMES GIDDY on the Internet and see some of his talented work, mostly large murals. I think Hermine and he must have inherited some of the same genes.
Thinking of you all
David
Sunday 24th. Dawn leaves for Canada. I take Josh and Daniel to the field at Grey for some Kicking Practice. I love this Grandad Duty. My very best that I can do. We do some kicking; then some catching and running practice.
One of the songs from Church on Sunday 24th:
Oh, I've heard a thousand stories
Of what they think You're like.
But I've heard the tender whisper
Of love in the dead of night.
And You tell me that You're pleased
And that I'm never alone.
You're a good, good Father.
It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are.
And I'm loved by You.
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am.
Oh, and I've seen many searching
For answers far and wide.
But I know we're all searching
For answers only You provide.
Because You know just what we need
Before we even say a word.
Because You are perfect in all of Your ways!
You are perfect in all of Your ways!
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us!
Oh, it's love so undeniable,
I can hardly speak.
Peace so unexplainable,
I can hardly think.
As You call me deeper still,
As You call me deeper still,
As You call me deeper still,
into love, love, love ...
PRODIGAL
This word was used during Jonathan's talk on Sunday. He used it to describe not the son nor the grumpy brother but the father; The definition, of the adjective, Prodigal is:
- Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
- Having or giving something on a lavish scale.
I have Dole and other chores to do. We have a mole in the garden and I need to get rid of it.
Tuesday 26th. I talk to Seaboard regarding starting to work for them as I do with Dole.
Today on the hike
Lee; Ione; Jenny; Lucy; Ina; Margriet; Paul; Flo; Robin; Sandra; Henda; Dennis; Errol & Mo; Dave and Peter; Keiko; Lindsay; Pat; Robin; Val; Dave and Brian Kitson; Jimmy; Di; Mike ; Daphne; Keith; Peter; Sheila; Sheena; Deliah; Alwyn; Cornelius;
Wednesday 27th. Walking the Sacramento Trail -- 34 walkers today. A magnificent morning of sunshine and clear sky. We start at the Canon and walk the top trail along the dunes all the way to Borelis Pass and then on to the Sardinia Bay Clubhouse where we stop for a break. Back is along the shore line and beach pathways.
Later I watch Daniel's U11 team playing at Clarendon against Sunridge. Clarendon is outclassed and Daniel does not get much game time at all. Meanwhile Barbara goes to Westering to watch Josh U13 team. He plays well but the team loses to Westering.
Thursday 28th. I join the South African Association of Retired Persons (SAARP) hike at the Grysbok Trail. I meet a couple of chaps; Allan is the leader; Roy is also new; Mervin and myself. And there are about 10 ladies in the group as well. Barbara is the mother of Gillian who told me about the group; Jenny; Zeta; Deborah; Marinda. A perfect day out -- sunshine and clear sky.
Friday 29. Heavy rains; It has rained all night. This evening I assist with the registration for tomorrow's race.
Sad news is that Jacqui's friend in Israel, Helen, dies of cancer
Saturday morning up early in the rain -- marshalling at the SA Half Marathon Champs. Afternoon; Grey Bloem Rugby.
BRUCE AND JENNY; ROB ERMES; GARY; ANDRE; LYNNE; AND SO MANY MORE.
PLUS A WHOLE LOT MORE SERIOUS SUPPORTERS OF PORT ELIZABETH SCHOOLS RUGBY.
The Thirds played amazingly well. U14A also won their game. I think that all other teams lost. Seconds 10-32 and first Team a similar loss. The teams played in Sloshy Mud. As each game progressed you could hardly tell which team was ours. Brown from head to toe.
It is Lene's birthday and she takes her children out for breakfast and then later for supper.
Sunday 31st. Fetch the landrover. Addo tour for three from Island Vibe. Jemma from Scotland who was born in Cape Town. Daniella and Monique from Netherlands -- teachers.
We had a good day of game viewing as well as a fun day overall. Elephant early in the morning then Lion. Lots of Elephant during the day including up close to the vehicle. One bull seemed about to attack us; Band of four Jackal; Kudu; Warthog; Zebra; Hartebees. Plenty of Bird life. And then at the end of the day we saw Josie and her cubs stalking a Warthog without luck. But one of the cubs hurt his foot.
NICKY'S FAMILY IN RIEBEEK. FEEDING THE MASSES.
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ALLY STARTS SCHOOL ON MONDAY 18TH AND HAS TO CLEAR HER FACE.      |
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