AUGUST 2016 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS; 40TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY; DUNES PLETT;

Peter Giddy is a professional Tour Guide specialising in the area from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town; The Garden Route and everything in between
peter.giddy@gmail.com


AUGUST 2016
Municipal Elections  -- Unbelievably a new Mayor is appointed __ Athol Trollip from the DA.
40th Wedding anniversary
Dunes Plett
Tours and Dole work.
Jacqui's friend in Israel, Helen, dies of cancer in the brain
Ena appears to be fading fast and we meet at Plett.
Ena dies on Sunday 14th.  Patrick; Marianne; Isabelle; St John; Julia; Barbara; Nicky; Violet and Ranshow-Lene are all there when she goes.
Running; Cycling and Touring.
Garden Route tours with various families.
Addo tours; Kragga Kamma Tours; City Tours and Township Tours.
Hiking and mountain climbing tours

ALLAN HOSKINS GIDDY. 14 FEBRUARY 1919 AND DIED 18 JUNE 1994 -- PLETTENBERGBAY.
WONDERFUL HUSBAND TO ENA AND DAD TO IAN; PETER AND PATRICK.
Monday 1st: Dole work, Finished reading Deon Meyer: Tracker. This is the second of his books that I am reading. The first was Devils Peak.  An interesting read -- full of action.
Township Tour -- With Megan Parker from UK.  Another successful tour with a satisfied customer.

 THIS WAS  TRUE FRIENDSHIP.  SAD THAT IT HAD TO END SO TRAGICALLY.

JACQUI PUTS HER FRIEND INTO A MEMORY. HELEN -- YOU WERE MUCH LOVED AND WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A VERY SPECIAL PERSON TO MANY PEOPLE.
Tuesday 2nd.  I have a new assignment from Dole -- something that I have not encountered before and will have to see how it works out.  I have an early morning meeting with the Department of Transport as I am trying to register my car to transport Tourists.

 19 OPTIONS TO VOTE FOR IN THE RULING PARTY IN THIS METRO

1. PATRIOTIC ALLIANCE   (PA)
2. UBUNTU PARTY   (UBUNTU)
3. UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT   (UDM)
4. UNITED DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE EASTERN CAPE   (UFEC)
5. VREIHEIDSFRONT PLUS  (VF PLUS)
6. AFRICAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY  (ACDP)
7. AFRICAN INDEPENDANT CONGRESS   (AIC)
8. AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS   (ANC)
9. AFRICAN PEOPLES CONVENTION
10. AFRICAN POWER MOVEMENT   (APM)
11. ALTERNATIVE DEMOCRATS
12. AZANIAN PEOPLES ORGANISATION
13. BUILDING A COHESIVE SOCIETY
14. CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY   (CDP)
15. CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE   (COPE)
16. DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE   (DA)
17. ECONOMIC FREEDOM FRONT
18. INDEPENDANT CIVIC ORGANISATION OF SOUTH AFRICA
19. PAN AFRICAN CONGRESS

LOCAL ELECTIONS HAD THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE STANDING FOR A COUNCIL POSITION IN OUR WARD

1. SHELLY BANTOM  APM
2. AIDAN BERRY  UBUNTU
3. JOHN BEST DA
4. GERALDINE FARRETT  PA
5. WAYNE JAGGERS  ANC
6. PUMEZA KHOMA   UFEC
7. JOHANNA LOTTER   ACDP
8. JOHAN MARNEWICK   CDP
9. LENNOX  NICHOLAS   AIC
10. DENISE PETERSON  COPE
11. STEPHANUS TERBLANCHE   VF PLUS
12. JOSEPH ________   UDM

Wednesday 3rd August.  A special day in South Africa as we have Municipal Elections which gives South Africans the opportunity to express their personal opinion (Considered or Emotional) regarding the Management of our Country. 
Cold, windy and wet.  So no running nor hiking today.

 ROBIN SUITES MEGAN UP FOR THE JUMP

 THREE; TWO; ONE  --- BUNGY.  THEN A LOUD SCREAMING AS MEGAN FALLS.

 MEGAN IS PULLED UP TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE BRIDGE WHERE SHE WILL BE LAID OUT AND THEN HELPED UP.  IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NO SAFETY LINES HOOKING THE JUMPER NOR THE STAFF TO THE BRIDGE.

 ZIP LINING IN THE KRUIS RIVIER GORGE WITH TSITSIKAMMA FALLS ADVENTURES

 THERE ARE SERIES OF FALLS BELOW  US AS WE COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY

 MEGAN STARTS OFF ON THE 211M STRETCH

Thursday.  Run with Adrienne; Annie; Chris; Lindi and Michael.  Tour to Garden Route with Megan. First a Bungy Jump. Then Storms River Mouth and finally a Tsitsikamma Falls Zip Line.  Return home by 6pm. 
Friday -- work on tour plans and Dole work.

 GREAT BEACH FRONT RUN WITH ADRIENNE; ANNIE; CHRIS; STEFF; PAT; MARGIE AND ELMARIE

 

 ADRIENNE SHOWING OFF HER NEW CANADIAN SHOES

 ALLAN HOSKINS GIDDY
14 FEBRUARY 1919  -- DIED IN PLETTENBERGBAY AND THIS PLAQUE IS AT THE ST PETERS ANGLICAN CHURCH -- 18 JUNE 1994.  WONDERFUL HUSBAND TO ENA AND FATHER TO IAN; PETER AND PATRICK.

BARBARA AND NICKY OUTSIDE THE ST PETERS CHURCH ENTRANCE.

Saturday and Sunday -- We are in Plett with Nicky and Werner.  They have a Wedding at Kurland.  We visit Ena. She is really weak and hardly able to talk.  Anne is there and has Sunday Lunch with her.  We and Ena have been so lucky to have people like Anne; Violet and her daughter Ranchow Lene to spend time with Ena. 
We stay at the Dunes Hotel at Keurbooms.  Here we have some amazing meals of Prawns; Crumbed Chicken and Ribs.  We spend the afternoon on Sunday visiting the Backpackers Wild Spirit with their Big Tree and Gods Window walks.  And we find the Cheese place that Julia has spoken about so many times.  We also spend a couple of hours at the Puzzle Park where we do the Maze.  A lot of fun.

ARTWORK AT GODS WINDOW -- WILD SPIRIT -- NATURES VALLEY ROAD.

 GODS WINDOW AT WILD SPIRIT

 BIG TREE -- 900 YEAR OLD YELLOWWOOD

BIG TREE.

 SIGN POSTS EVERYWHERE TO GIVE VISITORS A SENSE OF WHERE THEY ARE

 THE TREE HOUSE IS USED AS ACCOMMODATION SPACE

 I WALKED TO THE BIG TREE

 THIS IS WELL WORTH A VISIT

 RUNNING ON WOMENS DAY WITH MIKE; STEFF; PAT; ADRIENNE; ANNIE

 LIESL AND ELMARIE

 TOWNSHIP TOUR WITH 7 GERMANS.  JULIA IS THE ORGANISER (DARK HAIR) AND THE PROFESSOR JOSEPH IS THE SENIOR AMOUNGST THEM.
Monday -- Back to PE.  Tuesday I run with the group at the beach front and Wednesday I have a township Tour.

 JUKANI AND PUZZLE PARK PROVIDE AN ACTIVITY FOR TOURISTS IN THE AREA.

 THIS IS THE VIEW THAT ENA HAS ENJOYED FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS

 JOSH IS A DEFENSIVE PLAYER FOR HIS HOCKEY TEAM.

 THE OLD STONE CHURCH -- ST PETERS -- NEXT TO WHERE ENA AND ALLAN USED TO LIVE IN PLETT.

 AT THE WEDDING AT KURLAND -- BARBARA AND I HAD THE TASK OF PUTTING CANDLE HOLDERS IN PACKETS OUT ON THE PATHWAY.  NICKY SENT US THE EVIDENCE OF HOW WELL IT WORKED OUT.

 

 EMILY AND ANNABELLE AT THE BEACH IN ISRAEL

ENA ON FRIDAY 12TH.  HAD A GOOD SLEEP BUT IS HARDLY ABLE TO COMMUNICATE. WE ARE NOT SURE TO WHAT EXTENT SHE HEARS US.
Ena is not well at all and the Doctor lets us know that her time on earth is limited. Patrick flies there and we drive to Plett.  Thursday and Friday in Plett.  Marianne and Julia arrive and we leave for home in time for Joshua's Hockey Match.

 STEFF; MIKE; LINDIE; ANNIE; RONEL; ELMARIE; DEBBIE; PAT; ADRIENNE.

 

 JOSH AT FULL TILT VS WESTERING

 DANIEL CLARENDONE U11 TEAM VS WESTERING.

 MICHAEL AND JACQUI IN THE DESERT -- ISRAEL

 JACQUI DOES STRECHES IN THE DESTERT

FAMILY TIME IN THE ISRAELI DESERT

MIA RECEIVES A CERTIFICATE FOR HER ENGLISH RECITATION EISTEDDFORD.
Saturday morning -- run at the beach with Mike; Annie; Adrienne; Stefany; Lindie; Ronel; Pat; Elmarie; Debbie Dean;
Rugby at Westering -- Both boys had some good runs with the ball and tacking.  All Clarendon teams lost to Westering.
Isabelle arrives from Maputo.  She takes the bus from Mocambique to JHB -- Ten Hours.  Then flys to PE.  Then drives with us to Plett.  Ena is really bad when we get there. Struggling to breath.  We have a supper -- Patrick and Marianne; Thomas; Isabelle; Julia; Barbara and I.  Then Take turns in an all night vigil at Ena's Bedside. Violet and Ranshow - Lene arrive at 8am and try to clean and feed Ena who has not woken. Then just after 9am (14 August 2016 -- 100 years and 90days after she was born) Ena passes away.
We try to contact as many people as we can to let them know. The doctor (Herman Nel) comes; then the funeral people arrive and Ena is taken away. Then Barbara and I drive back home to PE.  It is Sunday and we plan for the Funeral on Tuesday. 
Monday -- I try to run but simply too sore. So short walk.  Nicky arrives from CT. 
Tuesday -- Plett for Ena Funeral.

 PATRICK AND PETER TAKING THE COFFIN INTO THE CHURCH

 ENA -- PAMPHLET

 PALL BEARERS TAKE THE COFFIN FROM THE CHURCH AFTER THE SERVICE ISABELLE; JOSHUA; THOMAS; DANIEL; NICKY AND JULIA.

ST PETERS CHURCH -- PLETTENBERGBAY.

 INSIDE THE CHURCH -- SISTERS IN LAW -- MARIANNE AND BARBARA

 JULIA AND ISABELLE

 JULIA; ISABELLE AND NICKY -- THREE ELDEST COUSINS -- OF THE THREE BROTHERS

 GERALD AND CHRIS -- CAME TO THE FUNERAL AND GAVE ISABELLE AND JULIA A LIFT BACK TO PE

 PLACING THE COFFIN INTO THE VEHICLE -- NICKY; PATRICK; DANIEL; JOSHUA; VONNIE (YVONNE SMITH IS THE ANGLICAN MINISTER); JULIA AND THOMAS.

NEST OF A PROCESSIONARY MONTH?

THIS ARTICLE SENT TO ME BY CRAIG SEEMS TO CONFIRM THAT THIS IS A PROCESSIONARY MOTH.

LUCAS AND ANDRIAS -- ADDO TOUR -- DOMKRAG DAM WITH ELEPHANT BELOW.
After the Funeral in Plett we all drive straight home.  Nicky; Julia and Isabelle stay over at our house.
There is a municipal strike in PE so I have a huge amount of rubbish to dump.  That and the DOLE work plus some other admin stuff keeps me busy.
A new political dispensation is emerging as a DA candidate is elected to Mayor of Port Elizabeth which has been a traditionally stronghold of the ANC.

 KELLY HAD TO RUSH OFF TO MAKE IT IN TIME FOR HER BOYS ACTIVITIES.

 PAT AND ADRIENNE RUNNING WELL AT PRESENT

 LIESL; CHRIS AND LINDIE ON THE RUN

ELIZABETH AND PETER -- WE FOUND AN ELEPHANT BROWSING AT THE DOMKRAG PARKING AREA.
Saturday morning -- I run with the group from Hobie beach.  Joshua and Daniel have a Rugby Derby day at Clarendon.  Daniel plays Flank for the first time and loves it. Joshua is wing and I hear had a great game. I had an Addo Tour with Peter and Elisabeth.

DANIEL AND JOSHUA AT THE TOP OF LADIES SLIPPER WITH ALGOA BAY IN THE BACKGROUND.
Sunday.  A beautiful morning so Joshua; Daniel and I walk up the Ladies Slipper.

 GREAT AFTERNOON FOR A BIKE RIDE

CHRIS IS A GOOD PAL TO ME AS WE SEEM TO ENJOY SIMILAR ACTIVITIES.
Tuesday afternoon -- Cycling with Chris .... Light house and back. My morning run was not good as I continue to suffer with sore joints and am sooooo sloooow.

Tuesday I receive a late call to collect a family at the airport and take to Garden Route. Three day tour of Tsitsikamma and areas with Rabinowitz family

 DANIEL IS PLAYING FLANK FOR THE U11 TEAM.

 BARBARA AND LENE -- FAITHFUL SUPPORTERS

 COACH GARRETH JACOBSON AND ASSISTANT COACH WARREN GROUP THE BOYS TOGETHER AFTER THE GAME TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON A TRULY GREAT SEASON.

 GARRETH IS THE REF FOR THE U12B TEAM.  HERE YOU CAN SEE JOSHUA -- SHOUTING FOR HIS TEAM TO: "PASS WIDE".  BOTH JOSH AND DANIEL WIN THEIR GAMES THIS MORNING.

THE COACH IS KNOWN TO ME ONLY AS JACKS; JOSHUA'S TEAM WON THEIR MATCH TODAY AFTER A HARD GAME AGAINST SUMMERWOOD.

THE U13A TEAM HAD A CRACKER OF A GAME -- LOSING TWO TRIES IN QUICK SUCCESSION.  THEN REGAINING THE LOST POINTS WITH TWO TRIES IN REPLY. SCORE IS 12 ALL.  THEN CLARENDON CONVERT A PENALTY. SO THE SCORE IS 15 - 12 GOING INTO HALF TIME.  AND THEN COMES THE SECOND HALF WHERE EITHER TEAM COULD HAVE SCORED BUT BOTH TEAMS DEFENDED SO WELL THAT NOONE WAS ABLE TO CROSS THE LINE. ALTHOUGH THE SUMMERWOOD TEAM HAD PLENTY OPPORTUNITY TO CONVERT PENALTIES -- THEY JUST DID NOT MAKE USE OF THEM.

Saturday 28th.  A full morning for me -- I start off with a 12k run at the beach front with our Group. This morning on the run are Adrienne; Lindie; Pat; Elmarie; Nicky Roote who has not been with our group for ages; Viv Mitchell who is also just getting back into it; Andrea who has been suffering with injury for months and Ronel.

 A SOLID RUN THIS MORNING WITH ADRIENNE; LINDIE AND ANDREA

 NICKY IS OUT WITH US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY MONTHS. VIV IS ALSO JUST GETTING BACK TO RUNNING

THE GROUP THIS MORNING WITH ANDREA; ADRIENNE; ELMARIE; RONEL; LINDIE; PAT AND PETER.  TAKING THE PIC IS SJANI.
I then spend the rest of the morning at Clarendon Park School where Joshua And Daniel are playing in a Rugby Derby day vs Summerwood.  I am linesman for three consecutive games and exhausted afterwards.  This morning the Clarries boys play to make the school proud. All three games are wins for Clarries.

DANIEL AND I CYCLE TO THE SHOPS EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING FOR SOME EGGS

THESE SIGNS KEEP THE CYCLISTS ON TRACK.  THERE ARE A COUPLE OF NEW SECTIONS WHERE WE MAY HAVE BEEN ANNOYING THE GOLFERS.

I AM A MEMBER OF FAT TRACKS AND SO FEEL COMFORTABLE TO CYCLE AT ANY TIME. I had previously been using the track without paying.

Sunday -- Cycle the Golf Course.  Twice around and work up a bit of a sweat on this warm morning.
Nippers Meeting at Summerstrand at 3pm. Boys play on the beach while I am in the meeting.  Church at 6pm.  Purchase the Go Kruger magazine to help us with the Kruger trip of next year. .

Monday Run.  Down Mount Rd and up Dias to Collegiate and back, This is a solid run with hills of about 7 or 8k.  This morning with us: Adrienne; Sjani; Andrea; Chris; Lindie; Viv; Kevin; Susan; Gillian; Joan; Nicky; Helen; Almarie; Michelle; Mike; Andy;  -- we don't all run together but we meet at one point and run from Grey. So you know that there is always going to be a group.
I have a meeting with Craig to update accounting.
Cycling with Chris and Alwyn at Norm Hudlin this afternoon.

Tuesday Morning -- 32 Runners - 13 X Slow group: Adrienne; Chris; Liesl; Nicky; Sjani; Lindie; Kelly; Andrea; Susan; Pat; Vuyo; Elmarie and myself.  17 x Fast Group:  John; John; Olivia; Lisa; Ingrid; Mike; Rodney; Kobus; Andy; Lynn; Lynn; Riana; Stuart; Maryka; Angela; Joan; Johan (I also passed Almarie and Claire running to Gym).
Later I finally receive my Operating Licence for my vehicle. I applied in October 2015!

CHRIS AND I CYCLE TO RECIFE AND THE PATTI WHERE WE WATCH SOME SURFERS

MARINEL AND JOUBERT JOINED US THIS AFTERNOON
Afternoon cycle with Chris; Marinel and Joubert -- Lighthouse; Patti and back.  Later I have a meeting at the church.

ZARA IN CAPE TOWN WITH NICKY. .... SHE IS LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE NICKY AT THE SAME AGE.

PASCAL AND VERONIQUE -- FRANCE -- TOURISTS VISITING HUMAN DIGNITY CENTRE WITH GUGU GIVING DETAILS

So Ena died at the age of 100 years and 90 days.
Jacqui is doing well in Israel with her family; Zichron Zakov apartment; School starts for all three children in September; Michael is successful and stays fit; Saba; Yorum and Safta; Ronit (Grandparents) maintain close contact with the family.
Nicky is making a real success of her life in Riebeek Kasteel -- Events and Promotions; Daily activities and outings; good relationships with Werner, Chris and Estelle; John and other neighbours.
Ally is in Perth; During this year she has been to Toowoomba and Adelaide; Sydney; Bali and now plans to spend some time with Cathy in NZ.
Cathy in Auckland; North Island New Zealand --  puts Blake into a school; stays with Saul's parents; Saul flies to NZ; They find an apartment; Cathy continues to search for an appropriate job.
Lene forges on with plans to move to Ireland; The boys love their rugby and Joshua his hockey.  Jessica continues to study and does well in school.
Barbara and I try to stay as healthy  and active as we are able. I am fortunate to have work and sport that keeps me busy. And I am so tired most of the time.