DECEMBER 2013 -- 6TH DECEMBER 2013 NELSON MANDELA DIES AT AGE 95. BORN 1918; JESSICA LEAVES CLARENDON; ALLY EASTERN PROVINCE WATER POLO; VISIT CAITLIN GIDDY;

DECEMBER 2013.



ALLY AND DAD SPENT 26TH DECEMBER -- BOXING DAY -- ON DUTY AT SUMMERSTRAND. ON THE RUBBER DUCK AND MALIBU. PERFECT DAY.



NICKY LOOKS QUITE SPECTACULAR IN HER SPECIAL FUNCTION OUTFIT

MATTHEW AND DELENE HAVE SET UP THIS AMAZING FACILITY DURING THE YEAR. THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE REAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2013.

DECEMBER 2013 Jessica has her last day at Clarendon Park Primary School in PE
Nelson Mandela (1918 to 2013) dies on 6th December 2013
Ally is capped as an Eastern Province U16 water polo player, This is her third capping since she started High School.
National Schools Water Polo Tournament in East London -- stay with Ben Ally's team end up with two wins from 6 games. This is not a true refection of their ability and we were disappointed with the final few games.
Morning runs continue. I develop injuries -- Hip; Achilles tendon; knees and calf muscles all give me trouble. not easy getting old.
Cycle on Sunday Mornings.
Parkruns are continuing to be a success.
Adrienne is promoted to Race Director. There are now 4 of us: Rosalind; Catherine; Adrienne and myself.

JOY TO THE WORLD This amazing song was written in 1719 and will be sung in millions of churches around the world during December especially on Christmas evening and Christmas day. Can we hope and wish for Joy to the World. With so many people singing and wishing for Joy -- Surely this is an achievable goal?

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World,
the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

DECEMBER 2013 Entry into the Two Oceans 21kay is filled within hours of the entry process opening. I have secured an entry for 2014. 10 000 entries were filled in December 2013 for the April 2014 event.

FINISHING TWO OCEANS 21K 2013. I HAVE MANAGED TO SECURE AN ENTRY FOR 2014.

I HAS SUCH A TOUGH RUN IN 2013. HERE I AM FINISHING WITH SASHA BOTHA.

ng="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"> ALLY'S CERTIFICATE FOR BEING CHOSEN TO REPRESENT HER PROVINCE AT WATER POLO IN THE U16A TEAM SHOOLS NATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN EAST LONDON 2013

-align: center;"> : center;">     DURING THIS TOURNAMENT ALLY WAS SWIMMING LIKE A SPEEDBOAT

ALLY LIFTS HERSELF OUT THE WATER

CAYLEY RECEIVED A BLACK EYE WHEN A BALL HIT HER.

THIS IS BEN'S HOME

PARENTS SUPPORT: ALEX; JACQUI; JULES; PETER;

RIETTE; ANDRE; PETER AND BARBARA

NICKY HAS A SPECIAL FUNCTION ON WEDNESDAY 4TH AND MAKES HERSELF LOOK BEAUTIFUL

JESSICA LAST DAY AT CLARENDON PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL

THE HEAD MASTER - ALLAN LONES -- GIVES JESSICA A FAREWELL HUG

JESSICA AND TEACHER GREET EACH OTHER FOR THE LAST TIME

Sunday 1st December 2013: Barbara and I start the day at Joy to the Nations Church where Jacqui and Hannes Zeelie have their child, Shante, dedicated. I am delighted to find Duncan and Natalie there as well as they dedicate their child. Natalie is pregnant with their third child. After a good service we moved over to the Zeelie home where their friends and family had gathered for the celebration. Interestingly a number of the families have also adopted children.

Ally was at lifesaving for the day so I joined her at Summerstrand. We spent the day doing lifeguard duty.

I spent the week in PE this week. ALthough I did do day trips to Fort Beaufort on Tuesday and Kirkwood on Thursday. On Tuesday I find another of the roadside distance markers between Fort Beaufort and Grahamstown. 31miles to Fort Beaufort and 15miles to Grahamstown.

15 MILES TO GRAHAMSTOWN

31 MILES TO FORT BEAUFORT

ROAD SIDE STONE -- DISTANCE MARKER ON THE ROAD BETWEEN GRAHAMSTOWN AND FORT BEAUFORT

31 MILES FROM HERE TO FORT BEAUFORT

My car had given trouble in Mthatha last week and I took it into Nissan for repairs. CV joints (What ever that is) are broken and need to be replaced. Nissan gave me a loan car which I swapped with the Regional Manger as Barbara and I were traveling to East London on Friday for Ally's water polo.
Wednesday afternoon we meet with John Osmond -- Financial planner with Consolidated Financial Planners. We are starting to work on our thoughts for when I am forced to retire from work. We have had an architect (Graham) visit us to work on putting in some rooms for accommodation in the back yard.

Wednesday evening was the Capping Ceremony of 300 boys and girls into the Eastern Province teams. This was held at Collegiate. Thursday evening Ally spent with a friend who was having a waterpolo U16 party in Linkside. Barbara and I visited Mike and Jenny Dean. Patrick and StJohn were overnighting there on their way to Cape Town. Patrick has sold his house in Durban and moves to Cape Town where Marianne is now employed.

Friday 6th morning -- I go to the Beach Front with Erna; Svenje; Jackie and Alex for a 5k run. My hip is hurting me and I struggle to keep up. But it is a beautiful morning and I love being out.

ERNA; MARILYN; SVENJA AND JACKIE ON THE FRIDAY MORNING 5KAY TO THE BEACON AND BACK.

SVENJE; ALEX AND JACKIE ON SUMMERSTRAND BEACH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING


I Drop Ally at Grey where she gets on the bus to travel through to East London. Barbara and I leave a little later for East London. We stop at the Nanaga shop where we purchase a Wild Boar pie for supper as well as some Padkos. From there we drive through to East London. I am staying at Ben Carver's home. We attend the Opening Ceremony only to find out that Ally and her team are not at the Joan Harrison pool -- they have stayed at the hotel. Ben makes a salad which we have with the Pie and fall asleep exhausted.

Saturday morning -- We had planned to drive to Hogsback to run the Trail run. But my hip is hurting so much that I can hardly walk -- I have to disappoint Cristin (Nicky's Friend) who was to come with us. Ally's first game is at 11am. So we have a relaxed morning at Ben's home.

ALLY PLAYS FOR THE U16 EP A TEAM IN THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS WATER POLO TOURNAMENT IN EAST LONDON 7TH TO 10TH DECEMBER 2013

COACH HAYDEN SKINNER PULLS THE TEAM OUT OF THE POOL FOR SOME ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION

ALLY SWIMS HARD WITH THE BALL LODGED BETWEEN HER ARMS

TAKE THE SHOT ALLY

CHARGING UP TO THE GOAL

WATER POLO IS NOT FOR SISSIES. YOU ARE HARRASSED, DUNKED, SCRATCHED AND GENERALLY ABUSED.

ALLY PASSES THE BALL AND A GOAL IS SCORED.

LOOKING FOR A TEAM MATE

ALLY HAS A STRONG ARM AND RAISES HERSELF OUT OF THE WATER.

AFTER THE FIRST TWO DAYS -- SATURDAY AND SUNDAY -- ALLY'S TEAM HAD WON TWO AND LOST TWO GAMES.

CROWD MOTIVATION. SUPPORTERS CHEER ON THEIR TEAMS DURING THE GAME BETWEEN U16A BORDER AND EASTERN PROVINCE ON SATURDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2013 AT THE JOAN HARRISON POOL IN EAST LONDON.

DAILY DISPATCH NEWSPAPER

BARBARA SHOWS HER ENTHUSIASM

HERE IS OUR SUPPORTING TEAM OF PARENTS; LYNNE AND ALEC ODENDAAL; COLIN AND JULES; PETER AND JACQUI MACOWAN; ANDRE AND RIETTE; PETER AND BARBARA

OUR POLO WAS TAKING PLACE AS THE MANDELA FUNERAL ARRANGEMENT WERE BEING MADE

A GROUP OF PARENTS ARE OUT TO SUPPER AT HEMMINGWAYS EAST LONDON WITH PETER AND JACQUI MACOWAN

PRIMI'S RESTAURANT ON SUNDAY EVENING IN EAST LONDON

ALEX ODENDAAL TALKS TO COLIN AND BARBARA IS SITTING NEXT TO TREVOR VAUGHN

JACQUI MACOWAN AND TERRY BILLSON SHARE PHOTO STORIES ON THE PHONE

During the week after the Water Polo I joined Rowena on a business trip to Cradock and Somerset East. The rain continued. The fields and mountains look simply stunning. Dams and rivers are full. All around flowers are blossomming.

ON THE ROAD TO SOMERSET EAST -- IT HAS BEEN RAINING AND THE CACTUS LOOK AMAZING.

WHITE FLOWERING CACTUS

On the road to Humansdorp we come across the wind farm that has been erected in just a few months. From nothing there are now around 20 wind turbines. Not yet turning but should make a positive contribution to the "grid" soon.

ON THE ROAD TO HUMANSDORP IS THIS WIND FARM.

THERE ARE NOW AROUND 20 WIND TURBINES SITUATED ON THE N2 NEAR TO HUMANSDORP.

THE WIND TURBINES HAVE BEEN ERECTED DURING 2013. AMAZING HOW QUICKY THEY HAVE GONE UP.

Today I visited the Penny Pinchers in Humansdorp for the first time. And met the owner - Frans Loots. He is also the owner of the Cockscomb Cave where I have been hiking and staying on a number of occasions. I was so happy to have met the man who has allowed us up on his mountain and in the cave. THURSDAY 12TH DECEMBER 2013 Lizette Owen organises a Carols evening in Mill Park. Not easy to sing to Mill Park Residents as many have high walls and imposing gates and respond with suspicious and icy looks. A couple of people however did open their gates and gave the children positive response. This evening there was also the Achilled Beer run and the Carols at Church.

CAROLS BY CANDELIGHT ORGANISED BY LIZETTE OWEN IN THE RED COWBOY HAT.

BARBARA SERENADES THE NEIGHBOURS IN MILL PARK

After Michael died the MPRG gave Barbara and I a Yellow Wood Tree. I planted the tree in Eaton Road in a place where I had twice before tried to plant a Yellow wood tree. I had dug a substantial hole and was able to plant it this time with relative ease. In December the tree appears to be thriving. We will have to see as the months go on. Hopefully this tree will survive.

YELLOW WOOD IN EATON ROAD PLANTED JUNE 2013.

THE YELLOW WOOD STILL LOOKING WELL.

FRIDAY 13TH AND SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER

ADRIENNE; CATHY AND LIESL ON A FRIDAY MORNING RUN.

OUR FRIDAY MORNING RUN IS NOW THE PARKRUN ROUTE WITH ADRIENNE; SVENJE; LUKE AND CATHY.

A HAPPY SVENJE AND SHADOWED LIESL .  AFTER OUR BEACH RUNS WE ALWAYS HAVE A SHORT SWIM.

ON SATURDAY MORNING WE START WITH A LONGISH RUN ALONG THE BEACH TO WALMER BOULEVARD; AIRPORT; STRANDFONTEIN ROAD. THEN ALONG ERASMUS TO ADMIRALTY AND BACK ALONG THE BEACH. THIS IS PROBABLY AROUND 17KAYS.

AFTER THE SATURDAY RUN; PAT SPOILS US WITH COFFEE AND MUFFINS.

WHAT A TREAT  -- THANKS PAT.

On Saturday it was Adrienne's first time to be Parkrun Director. We battled to get the results sorted out but finally after a number of tries and various computers ; Catherine came to our rescue and we uploaded the results.

MANDELA FUNERAL PROCESSION 15 DECEMBER 2013

FROM MORKELS

COWBOY BOB

PREPARE HIM ROOM

WAITING PATIENTLY

THE HEARSE PASSES BY

THE ENTIRE BIKE FORCE PASSES BY

AND THE ARMY JUST IN CASE WE ARE ATTACKED DURING THIS PROCESSION

HERE COMES THE HEARSE

BRIGHTLY COLOURED BIKERS.

CHRISTIAN AND AARON HAVE GOLF LESSONS

SUNDAY 15TH. Today is Madela's funeral in the Transkei. The country shuts down. Many of the Chain retailers who would normally be open have closed for the day. I am up early and cycle with Sjani and Craig Billson. We cycle the Moffet, Builders warehouse, down to Forest Hill Drive and Strandfontein to Second Ave. Then we finish with a Brickies Climb. It is my first time up Brickies in a long while. Ally has a breakfast at Angelo's on the beach and I go down to Summies for the morning.

CRAIG BILLSON AND SJANI HUMAN -- WE HAD AROUND 30K CYCLE THIS MORNING Monday 16th Public Holiday. I, as usual start the day with a Run at the beach front. It is a blustery windy and raining morning when we leave Mill Park with Adrienne and Stuart. We park at Millers and run into the wind to the beacon. Up Admiralty and then left into DeKock. We pass Stuarts old house and then back into Erasmus. TO Second Ave for water. The rain has stopped and it is now warm. We run on to Driftsands drive and down to the beach road and back to Hobie. What a pleasure it has been this morning. Later this afternoon we spend with Grant; Mark; Warren and Gary. All friends of Michael who plan to Run Comrades. We have a Pool Party where the boys play cricket and touch rugby. Joshua and Daniel make a fierce team. The rest of the week I run in the mornings and work in the day. Tuesday evening we have drinks with Adrienne and Pater. Wednesday is the Service of Hope for those who have had a tough year in one way or another. Mike and Barbie Perks are the main organisers and we have drinks and Snacks at thier home later. THursday eve there is a meeting at Church.

PARKRUN JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2013

ADRIENNE SETS THE STOP WATCHES

PETER AND DAVID FROM GAUTENG

PETER USES THE CONE TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Saturday Morning is my turn to organise the Parkrun. We have 180 runners and I botch some of the results stuff. Barbara moves her horse to the Thornhill farm. We have tea there and later I am able to finish off the results.

UTAH

Sunday Craig and I cycle the Moffet. Admiralty and end on Brickies. Losing the climb to the Runners. How embaressing!. I spend most of the afternoon at Summies -- Life Guard duty and Nippers.

KELLY; ANDREA; KATHY; ANNIE AND ADRIENNE

ANNIE AND ADRIENNE ON THE BOARWALK RUN

KELLY EARLY MORNING RUNS ON THE BOARDWALK TOWARDS FLAT ROCK

KATHY; KELLY AND ANDREA. GOOD RUNNING FRIENDS. ENJOY THE SEA AIR.

KELLY AND ANDREA ON A PARKRUN ROUTE

LIESL AND MARILYN ON THE PARKRUN ROUTE.

Monday 23rd. I am now on Holiday. Start with a run which includes Langenhoven with Stuart; Andrea Dyer and Kathy Pearse. We kind of look after each other going up the hill so that no one is left battling on their own. Barbara and I drive through to Plett. We try to help Ena with cleaning of her flat. She has some guests coming later this week. Tuesday 24th. Today is the MPRG slow group beach front run. We run to the Harbour Wall. This is around 5k there and back. Then we have our coffee, muffins and champagne at Hobie. I wore a shirt and Tie for a laugh. Then swim in my "Wet Suite". A fun morning.

PETER AND HELOIUSE AT THE END OF OUR 5K TO THE HARBOUR WALL AND BACK

AT KINGS BEACH WITH ADRIENNE; BRIAN; BRIAN; LIESL; HELOUISE; ANNE; BEV; MARGIE; PAT AND ELMARIE

ITCHY BACKSIDE?

BRIAN JOINS US AT KB\

CHRISTMAS DAY 2013 The rest of the day is spent spending more more in less time. I get Barbara a new phone. Christmas eve. We have people over for Drinks. Ron and Lynn;' Lene' ; Bernd and Catherine. Liesl. Later I am on duty at Church for the 11pm service. After a short nap I am at Church at 10:30. This evening is the first time that I hand out the "wine". A full church and an excellent presentation by Tim Marshall. Fall asleep at 1:30am and up again at 5 to be ready for the 7am service where I am part of a welcoming team. Then Barbara, Ally, Lene, Jess, Josh and Daniel join me for the 9am service.

JOSH HANDS OUT PRESENTS

After church we have the Presents and then all go off to Matthew and Delene's farm for a huge lunch. Back home by 5 and everyone is soon Horizontal. BOXING DAY. I cycle with Liesl De Lange. The MPRG does a long run to 14th ave. Some go as far as the Water Tower. I meet them at the end of their run. Amazingly after a long time together the group spends a further half hour chatting.

MPRG ON BOXING DAY AFTER A WALMER TO 14TH AVE RUN WITH NO WATER. EXHUASTED

Ally and I are on Duty at Summerstrand. We spend the afternoon there. Friday 27th. Start the day with a Parkrun at the beach front. Take the Opel in for a Service 106 000KM. R1600. Lene is going to Cape Town and fortunately when she fills with Petrol checks the Oil and water. To find that the Oil Cap has been left loose and that there is oil all over the engine. Disgusting service.

NICKY TAKES HER CHILDREN CLIMBING UP TABLE MOUNTAIN. WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

ELMARIE AND ADRIENNE FINISH THE PARKRUN ON FRIDAY 27TH

ASHTON AND MICHELLE STEWART FINISHING THE PARKRUN

PAT LOOKS GOOD

GERALD HAS HAD A GOOD RUN THIS MORNING

Saturday 28th. Start the day with a training run with Adrienne. Kathy; Michelle Stewart from Cape Town; John and Anne. On the way back along Strandfontein road I am quite a bit behind the group when I come up with a sore hamstring. I am hardly able to walk. So cut short down 2nd ave. Have a swim. Do timing at the Parkrun. Back home pack up and take Ally through to St Francis Bay then drive to Bushmans River to spend the last few days of 2013 with Charles and Ingrid.

MICHELLE AND KATHY KEEP ME COMPANY AFTER I HAVE HURT MY HAMSTRING ON THE SATURDAY MORNING TRAINING RUN.

MICHELLE, ADRIENNE, RONEL, SHARON MILLS AND GERALD AT HOBIE BEACH BEFORE THE PARKRUN STARTS.

GERALD; JOHN LISTENING TO WISE WORDS FROM RON

IPTe0S8/s320/photo+(42).JPG" width="213" />NICKY

Sunday 29th December. BUSHMANS RIVER staying at Charles and Ingred Holiday house.
We have a lazy, slow start to the day. Ally is in St Francis with a group of her friends and seems to be okay despite staying up until 2am. Charles wants to visit the Bathurst Market where he will give some Green Figs to a local jam producer. The Bathurst Market is open every Saturday. All kinds of fresh produce is on offer; Barbara meets Mark who is spinning wool. They get to chatting about a spinning wheel. I buy a snack for us and a loaf of the most delicious (as we found out later) seed bread. Charles has a Cross on a leather strap fixed for Ian. I wonder if we will see Caitlin Giddy but when we dont see her Barbara and I ask around and am able to establish where she lives. We also visit the Church and Grave site of Ted and Cynthia. We then find Caitlin and stay for tea. Caitlin lives in the familiy house where Ted and Cynthia has spent the last year and a half of their lives after moving from Pietermaritzburg; Lion Park; KZN.

Caitlin is no longer able to work for a living as she has been diagnosed as "Bi-Polar". She is a bit of a Hoarder. Caitlin has piles of stuff all over the place including dolls houses which she and Cynthia had made. The house is huge. Security gates on the doors protect her. The house has two existing bedrooms; a sun room; a workshop area / studio / possible future living room; a basement garage and a flatlet. Out in the back is a second structure which is serving as storage for another person. Caitlin appears to be partly supported by family. She has no electricty nor any running water. Her car does not seem to be in running condition. BUT she appears to be content and has friends in the village. She has trees with Tamarillo Fruit which she is able to sell in season. Caitlin tells us that she has this Avocado tree which produces hundreds of good fruit. She is in the process of trying to clean up and doing some gardening. There is a huge boat in the garden which belongs to someone else. Her life is not ideal but it is her life and she needs support and not criticsm.



TED AND CYNTHIA GIDDY; 67 AND 65 YEARS OLD DIED AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 1998 IN A CAR ACCIDENT BETWEEN SUNDAYS RIVER AND PE. REMEMBERED BY CAITLIN; JANET ; LOUISE AND LAUREL. ECCENTRICS; PASSIONATE CONSERVATIONISTS; TEACHERS WHO DARED TO BE DIFFERENT.

CYNTHIA AND TED AS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN KNOWN AND REMEMBERED.

CHURCH IN BATHURST WHERE TED AND CYNTHIA WERE BURIED.

HISTORIC CHURCH IN BATHURST

CROSS THE RAIL LINE AND CAITLIN'S HOUSE IS RIGHT AHEAD

BARBARA AT THE GRAVE SITE

CAITLIN LOOKING GOOD AS SHE MADE US SOME TEA.

THE ROAD BETWEEN PORT ALFRED AND GRAHAMSTOWN AT THIS SIGN YOU TURN UP; CROSS THE RAIL AND CAITLIN IS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.

CAITLIN SELLS THIS FRUIT; IT IS CALLED TAMARILLO AND RIPENS TO A RED STRIPEY TOMATO LIKE FRUIT. ;

DISUSED RAIL LINE. AND SWITCH.

OLD RAIL LINE WARNING SIGN

ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT BUSHMANS WITH CHARLES AND INGRID. THIS AFTERNOON -- BARBARA; INGRID AND I WENT FOR A SHORT WALK / JOG AROUND THE VILLAGE. RELAXING AFTERWARDS.

Sunday afternoon, after our short jog and after the fourth day of the India vs Protea test match in Durban; we are enjoying a glass of red wine and a cheese platter, talking about the Fig Jam when Charles and I get the idea to try to make some Green Fig Preserve. His neighbour has this Fig Tree which in on the boundary fence. You need to pick figs while they are still green and small. The branches of the Fig Tree are soft and break easily. And Charles has already picked plenty of figs for the man at the Bathurst Market.

We discover that there is an Ink Berry (Stink Boom) invading and smothering the Fig Tree. So we end up picking Figs and sawing down huge branches of the the Stink Boom and then we discover a Syringa tree which we, in a frenzy of activity, cut down as well. We end up with a packet of 1.2kg of Figs. We must now treat them in a special solution and see if we are able to make the jam. This evening, Ian and a host of his friends are at Bushmans. The previous evening they had alll been at the OX Braai. One of the chaps has a minor accident while backing up in a van. They seem to drift in and out of the house as they visit the local bar and other friends.

We cook up a couple of Nanaga Wild Boar Pies, salad and Lemon Meringue also from Nanaga. After our active day we are tired and asleep by 9pm. MONDAY 30TH. We are now determined to make Fig Preserve. I drive to Kenton and find a little home industries where the owner gives me the bottles we need. At the Supermarket I find the Sugar and BiCarb. At the Chemist I find the Slaked Lime. I am now set to make the Jam. We scrape the figs down. Soak them in the Lime and Bi Carb solution. And then later in the evening, make the syrup from Water; Ginger and Lemon with the figs added. Finally we were able to bottle the jam and allow it to cool for future use. We had decided on a Paella for supper. I bought the ingredients from the supermarket in Kenton while Charles was at the Doctor. (not feeling his best). And found a small Fruit and Veg Shop where you can have your Water Bottles filled. None of the shops had much fresh produce left to sell. Kenton is overflowing with people on holiday. During this time the Services such as Water Supply are put under pressure.

In our own house we had some trouble with the water draining as there were so many of us washing and showering. Once the sun had begun to set and it was a little cooler, Charles, Jamie and I walked down to the beach / river where we had a bit of s swim. Met up with Andre and Marina - Parents of Ally's friend -- Jana. The boys were fed Hamburgers which Ingrid would make. They seemed to be having so much fun as a group. Charles put the Paella in a huge pan on the fire. He made it fairly spicey with Crab Sticks; Prawns and Hake as the fillings. Much later that evening we enjoyed the most delicous supper of Paella and a Malva pudding as desert.

NICKY; CATHY AND LENE MEET UP IN CAPE TOWN FOR SOME FUN TIME TOGETHER.

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BLAKE JOINS IN ON THE YEAR END FESTIVITIES

AT CHARLES HOUSE IN BUSHMANS RIVER THERE WERE NINE YOUNG MEN STAYING OVER. IAN WOULD LEAVE FOR THE UK FOR A YEAR OF MUSIC TEACHING AT A SCHOOL THERE. 

WE HAD A SHORT SWIM IN THE RIVER

PAELLA FOR SUPPER IN BUSHMANS

PAELLA ON THE FIRE

THE FIGS MUST FIRST SOAK FOR A DAY AND THEN BOIL THEM IN A MXTURE OF SUGAR; GINGER AND LEMON.

WHILE THE PAELLA COOKS AND THE FIGS ARE BEING MADE INTO JAM WE SAT UNTIL LATE ENJOYING THE SUMMERS EVENING IN BUSHMANS

FINALLY THE END PRODUCT: FIG PRESERVE COOLING ON THE WINDOWSIL

TUESDAY 31ST DECEMBER 2013 Barbara and I are at Bushmans River; (Charles and Ingrid DuToit have a holiday home here and have been kind enought to allow us to stay with them for the year end. Nicky; Cathy and Lene are in Cape Town. Lene is staying at a self catering near to Bloubergstrand with her mother and the children. Jacqui is in Israel; Binyamina Ally is in St Francis bay; staying with the Mittens Family. And with her School Friends.

BELLA UMBRA. TREE IN CAITLIN'S BACK GARDEN.

TRAIN CROSSING SIGN OPPOSITE THE POLICE STATION. TURN UP AT THE NEXT ROAD ON YOUR WAY TO PORT ALFRED

AT CHARLES HOUSE; THIS IS THE MAIN LIVING AREA. AND THE MAIN SHOWER. WE SIT OUTSIDE CHATTING OR ENJOYING THE SUNSET HOUR WHILE OTHERS IN THE GROUP ARE SHOWERING WITH THE SCREEN AS THE ONLY SEPARATOR.

BLAKE BUILDS LEGO IN CAPE TOWN.

AT THE PORT ALFRED SHOPPING CENTER PEOPLE ARE LOOSING THEIR MARBLES.

PETER AND INGRID GO FOR A SHORT JOG IN BUSHMANS RIVER AS A KIND OF SEND OFF FOR 2013.

TUESDAY 31ST DECEMBER 2013 Charles, Jamie and Peter drive to the Jetty where Charles and Jamie have a final swim of the year. Ken and Jenny Barwood; Stuart and Vanessa Harrington walk past. I had not realised that it was Vanessa Harrington who was in the Supermarket with Jenny a few days ago. Back home Charles has braai'ed up a storm of a variety of meat and Ingrid has done herself proud with Pumkin and Sweet potato in the oven. We have a round table talk regarding the boys friendships and what they are planning to do with their lives. It is a little emotional as there is a real bond between these 9 boys. Ian is off to the UK and each of the rest of them has plans for their future. It is quite late when they finally are ready to go across to the Kenton side for a party. Charles and I drive them. Charles does a number of trips back and forth during the night as he wants to make sure that they are all safe by morning. Later this evening we go to the Jetty to see the evening fireworks. It seems that there is a kind of rivalry between the Bushmans side and the Kenton side to see who can launch the most spectacular and the loudest rockets. Another activity is the Chinese Lanterns; these are lit at the bottom and then sent off Skywards. ft: auto; margin-right: auto;">
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CHARLES BRAAI-ING THE NIGHT AWAY AT BUSHMANS RIVER

ON NEW YEARS EVE WE WERE TREATED TO THIS WONDERFUL MEAL WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO MADE THE EVENING REALLY SOMETHING TO REMEMBER.

CHARLES; BARBARA AND INGRID CAPTURE THE MOMENT AT THE BUSHMANS JETTY ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.

FIREWORKS FROM THE BUSHMANS SIDE

BIG BANGS AND BIG LIGHTS

SPARKLING EVENING. LIGHTS OF KENTON IN THE BACKGROUND

SOME OF THE FIREWORKS WERE QUITE SPECTACULAR. REFLECTIONS IN THE LAGOON.

We all greeted and wished one another a Happy New Year and finally were able to get into bed (except Charles who was still ferrying boys and girls to and from Kenton).

Wednesday 1st January 2014. Our last day in Bushmans River. It has been a wonderful break for us. We wake up to a Thunderstorm. I have this sense that God is sending us a message: "if you want real noise and fireworks -- just watch this!"

Good bye to 2013 and hello to 2014.
May 2014 bring us all Opportunities that we are able to ACTIVATE and encounters that we are able to turn into FRIENDSHIPS

Peter Giddy
Bushmans River
1 January 2014.



THIS MONTH NICKY AND STEFAN TOOK THEIR CHILDREN CLIMBING UP TABLE MOUNTAIN AND TOOK THESE AMAZING PICS

CLIMBING UP THE MOUNTAIN PATH

ZARA POINTS OUT THE CITY BELOW

CHRIS IS ON THE EDGE LOOKING DOWN AT CAPE TOWN HARBOUR.

STEFAN AND MIA NEARING THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.

NICKY AND HER FAMILY IN A CAVE ON TABLE MOUNTAIN.

A WHILE LATER, AFTER SOME EXPLORING AND A GLASS OF WINE THEY TOOK THE CABLE CAR DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.

GREEN FIG PRESERVE. GREEN FIG KONFYT. DECEMBER 2013 - BUSHMANS RIVER MOUTH -- BATHURST MARKET

GREEN FIG PRESERVE. GREEN FIG KONFYT. DECEMBER 2013 - BUSHMANS RIVER MOUTH -- BATHURST MARKET

While we waited for the Figs to boil, Charles made us this amazing Paella on the fire.

Figs boiling in a mixture of Sugar and Ginger.

Paella on the fire

The final product. We bottled three big and one small bottle of Preserve from an initial packet of 1.2kg of Green Figs

We are staying at Charles and Ingrid's holiday home at Bushmans River; Eastern Cape; SOuth Africa.
He tells me that he is going to give a packet of Green Figs to someone at Bathurst who makes preserve. On Saturday mornings there is a Farmers Market. We go together and as a small reward this man gives a bottle of the Jam to Charles.

Back at the house we decide to give this a try. THe fig tree at the bottom of the garden was boxed in by some Stink Boom (ink Tree) which we cleared. The tree has it's origin in our neighbours home. I had to climb up and reach over to his side. His dogs went balistic and he came across to kind of investigate what was going on. I explained what we were up to and he was not at all perturbed. We used Recipe Four below. As a first try not bad. The skins were a bit rough and the syrup a bit thin and light in colour. We tried the jam out the following morning and while it was not as good as the bottle from the Bathurst Market person it was certainly palatable.

GREEN FIG JAM RECIPE ONE
I mentioned the benefit of unripe fig sap in the recipe of dried fig dessert. That sticky white liquid is helpful in the treatment of skin warts. Just drop it on the wart and see the result

Wash the figs and clean their stems. We’ll boil the figs two times changing the water each time to lose its unripeness taste. Fill a large pot with water and boil the figs for about 10 minutes. Let it cool

When it is cool enough to touch, squeeze the figs gently to remove the bad taste. You can make tiny holes on figs with a needle if you like and then squeeze. Then fill the pot with water again, boil again and squeeze again. This squeezing part might take a long time, but if you are passionate enough, you’ll see it is worth. Then drain.
Meanwhile you can start to boil 5 ½ water and sugar together in a different pot. After it boils, add the squeezed figs in it. You will see that these figs turn back into their original shape in this boiling sherbet. Put the cloves with the figs to give this jam an outstanding flavor. Boil them for about 25 minutes. Finally, add lemon juice and boil it 5 minutes more.
Let it cool and fill it in jars. You can keep them at room temperature, at a dry and dark place. We love it cold, so we keep it in refrigerator. This makes a great summer dessert!

GREEN FIG RECIPE TWO
INGREDIENTS
• 1 kilo (2,20 pounds) unripe fig
• 1 kilo sugar
• 5 ½ cups water
• 1 lemon
• 4 cloves
Instructions
1. Wash the figs and clean their stems.
2. Fill a large pot with water and boil the figs for about 10 minutes.
3. Let it cool.
4. When they are cool enough to touch, squeeze the figs gently to remove the bad taste.
5. Repeat the same step.
6. Boil 5 ½ water and sugar together in a different pot.
7. Add the squeezed figs in it.
8. Put the cloves with the figs to give this jam an outstanding flavor.
9. Boil them for about 25 minutes.
10. Finally, add lemon juice and boil it 5 minutes more.
11. Let it cool and fill it in jars.




GREEN FIG RECIPE THREE
HULETTS GREEN FIG JAM
Ingredients
green figs
lime (available from chemists)
Huletts SunSweet Brown Sugar
water
a few cloves
pieces of stick cinnamon
lemon juice
fresh root ginger


Note:
For 1,5 kg figs you would need:
1,5 kg Huletts SunSweet Brown Sugar
950 ml water
500 g extra sugar
750 ml extra water

1. Select figs which are plump but not hollow inside.
2. Scrape or grate the figs to remove the outer peel, or peel thinly and make two incisions in a cross shape at the bottom end of each fig.
3. Weigh the fruit.
4. Soak overnight in a solution of lime or bicarbonate of soda (15 ml lime or 30 ml bicarbonate of soda per 3,4 litres water).
5. Rinse the fruit, place in boiling water and boil for about 15 minutes until tender.
6. Use the same water to make the syrup.
7. Press the water out and gradually place the figs in the boiling syrup.
8. Use 500 g sugar for every 500 g fruit, and 375 ml water for every 200 g sugar.
9. Add a few cloves, pieces of stick cinnamon or crushed root ginger and 45 to 60 ml lemon juice for every 3 kg fruit, if preferred.
10. Boil rapidly for about 2 hours until the fruit is clear and translucent, and the syrup has thickened.
11. Prepare 1,5 litres extra syrup to add if necessary.
12. Pack the figs in clean sterilized jars, fill with the syrup and seal.


GREEN FIG RECIPE FOUR

Marietjie’s mum used to say "I love you as much as fig jam" when she liked someone a lot, and she was right: green fig preserve is lovely with wholegrain bread and butter, irresistible on a cheese platter, and goes very well with buttermilk pudding. The whole preserved figs are also delicious on their own, especially when lovingly served up on cake plates with tea or coffee, as they did in the Old Cape.

Ingredients
• 2 kg green figs (from the first crop before the end of October - otherwise it is too ripe and become bitter when preserved)
• 2.5 kg sugar
• 2.5 litre water
• 2 ml (1/2 teaspoon) lemon juice
• 5 ml (1 teaspoon) ground dried ginger
For the lime solution:
• 5 litres water
• 25 ml (5 teaspoons) slaked lime (calcium hydroxide, which can be found at pharmacies)
• 5 ml (1 teaspoon) bicarbonate of soda
Ingredients
1. Remove skins from the figs with a fine grater or a serrated knife and cut a cross in stem end of each.
2. Make the lime solution and soak figs in it overnight.
3. The next day, boil the figs in 3 litres of water for about 20 minutes until they are tender and drain.
4. Bring 2.5 litre water and the sugar, lemon juice and ginger to the boil. Add the figs one by one and boil rapidly until the figs are soft enough to break open but still crisp, and the syrup is thick. This will take 45 to 60 minutes.
5. Bottle in hot sterilised jars, and fill the bottles to the brim with the syrup.
6. In her Afrikaans book about preserving food, Lekker vir Later, Annette Human describes a somewhat different recipe.
7. She soak her figs overnight in a mixture of 25 ml (5 teaspoons) salt per 2,5 litre water and rinse it well the next morning.
8. She then boils up 2 ml (1/2 teaspoon) blue vitriol or copper sulphate in water, add the figs and remove immediately when the water starts boiling again and rinse off well with cold water. This ensures that the figs have a lovely green colour – though we don’t recommend this specific step.
9. The figs are then boiled again in fresh water but with fig leaves, for about 4 minutes, until the figs are soft.
10. For the sauce, Annette Human use 7.5 litre water, 3 kg white sugar and 50 ml lemon juice or 10 ml cream of tartar per 2.5 kg figs. The figs are boiled in the syrup for about half an hour and then left in it overnight.
11. The next morning, the syrup is boiled again, the figs are added again, and when it starts to boil again, bottled in sterilized jars.

BATTLE OF GWADANA -- 26 SEPTEMBER 1877.

BATTLE OF GWADANA 26 SEPTEMBER 1877

THIS SIGN IS SEEN BETWEEN BUTTERWORTH AND IDUTYWA ON THE N2 HIGHWAY IN THE TRANSKEI

GWADANA IS THE NAME OF A HILL WHERE A BATTLE BETWEEN THE GAKELA amaXHOSA AND THE FRONTIER ARMED AND MOUNTED MOUNTED POLICE (FAMP) LED BY INSPECTOR GRIFFITHS TOOK PLACE. SIX POLICE TROOPERS WERE KILLED. 

BATTLE OF GWADANA

South Afrika -- Eastern Cape -- Transkei
About half way between Butterworth (Gcuwa) and Idutywa (Dutywa) on the N2 highway is a sign "Battle of Gwadana".

Gwadana is the name of a hill where a battle took place in September 1877.

At that time the area between Butterwoth and Idutywa running down to the coast was known as Galekaland. Lord Carnarvon was based in Cape Town and wanted to Consolidate the various territories as he had recently done in Canada.

Carnarvon employed Sir Henry Frere as High Commissioner of Southern Africa. Frere wanted to talk to the local AmaXhosa about a Union and subjugation to the state. In September 1877 Frere attempted to meet with the Chiefs of Gakelaland but failed. The people of Transkei; Gakelaland and Ciskei had experienced 8 wars and were reluctant to begin negotiations which may lead to more concessions and loss of sovereignty. In 1852 after the 8th war the amaXhosa killed thousands of cattle on instructions which was to lead to the downfall of the white settlers.

Battle of Gwadana
Now, September 1877, 25 years later, a Ninth war was about to erupt. On the 26th September 1877 Inspector Chalmers led a force of Mfengu (Mfenguland was an area in the Transkei; North West Butterworth) of and troopers from the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police (FAMP) against the AmaXhosa Gakela. The contact took place on the Gwadana hill between Butterworth and Idutywa. Chalmers was overwhelmed by a determined force of the Galeka. He retreated and 6 Police Troopers were killed.

Three days later on 29th September 1877; an army of Xhosa Gakelas were defeated by an organised force of Troopers and Mfengu at Ibeka near to Butterworth. A series of battles followed in Gakelaland and neighbouring Bovamaland (a strip of land East of the Bashee River and up to Mthatha).

BATTLE OF CENTANE
Early in 1878 the battles moved West of the Kei River. A camp at a hill called Centane near to the Kei River was placed under Captain Russell Upsher. Upsher built fortifications and the Battle of Centane began on 7th February 1877. The first wave of Xhosa Gakela were defeated early that morning through tactical luring of Gakela into an "ambush". Later a second attempt at the same tatic failed when Sandile's Ngqikas attacked. However this battle was soon over on the arrival of reinforcements from the direction of Ibeka. One of the largest Xhosa armies ever assembled had been beaten by Upsher's 600 armed troopers.

And so began the 9th Frontier war. This war was to last for a year and end with the defeat of Chief Sandile when he was fatally wounded in the Amatola mountains near to King Williams Town. However this last Frontier war was to be the first in a series of wars over the next 20 years that would virtually eliminate all black independence south of the Zambezi.

NOVEMBER 2013; PARK RUN; TRAVEL TO TRANSKEI FOR WORK; LIFEGUARD DUTY; CHURCH DUTY;

LENE TAKES HER FAMILY TO THE BEACH. THE BOYS MEET UP WITH A FISHERMAN


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WHEN I VISIT IN EL -- STAY WITH BEN AND A MORNING RUN WITH THE ERIC GROUP ALONG THE BEACH FRONT


PARKRUN
LIFEGUARD DUTY
NEW REGION TO TAKE CARE OF IN TRANSKEI
RUNNING ROUTES CHANGE TO INCLUDE LANGENHOVEN ON MONDAY AND TARGET KLOOF ON THURSDAY
ALLY FOCUSSED ON HER EXAM STUDIES AND HER WATER POLO TEAM TRIALS AND PRACTICE
BARBARA FIXING THE OUTSIDE ROOM FOR TENANT MOVING IN NEXT MONTH.

As of 1 November I have to take care of the Transkei region again. We now have the "cash Retail" shops under our control. I lose the Graaff Reinet, Sterkspruit and most of the Queenstown Shops but take on an additional 18 Transkei shops around Mthatha.

Saturday Morning at 4:30 it is pouring with rain and so I bail from  the morning run but the rest of the day is a beautiful day. I start off with a 5k parkrun myself and then I organise the Parkrun at Hobie beach. It is a bit of a disaster as the scanner does not scan the Finish barcodes. There are 183 finishers and I have to enter each one manually. Fortunately I have Elmarie Botha assisting me at the finish and she takes the barcode numbers down on the list. I spend most of Saturday doing the finish results for the parkrun.

MORNING RUNNING. THIS IS THE PARKRUN WITH ADRIENNE AND ERNA

ERNA PARKRUN FRIDAY MORNING SO THAT WE CAN ASSIST ON SATURDAY MORNINGS

ADRIENNE FINDS HERSELF A SEAGUL TO TALK TO

SATURDAY MORNING WE TAKE THE BRICKMAKERS KLOOF; TARGET KLOOF AND 6TH AVENUE ROUTE WITH HELOUISE AND RONEL

THURSDAY MORNING -- UP TARGET KLOOF AND CHURCH ROAD TO 14TH AVE AND BACK.

KOBUS AND ANDY REACH THE TOP OF TARGET KLOOF TOWARDS THE END OF THE THURSDAY MORNING RUN

MARILYN AND ERNA NEARLY AT THE END OF THE LONG THURSDAY MORNING RUN

MIKE DEAN AND HIS GROUP REACH THE CORNER OF 8TH AVE AND CHURCH ROAD ON A THURSDAY MORNING RUN

SATURDAY MORNING RUN WITH MARGIE AND RONEL INTO A DRIVING WIND



Sunday morning is my first time of doing Lifeguard Duty. It is a perfect day and I am there at 8am. Not much to report. Herding swimmers into safe areas.

Monday 4th
This week I am able to run every day. Feeling good! Just an irritating sore throat that will not go away.

Saturday we do a long run including Brickies and Target Kloof. Then the Parkrun. Rosalind gives me a package containing an Adidas tracksuite, t shirt, shorts and perfect fitting running shoes. Amazing.
Barbara and I drive to Plett for lunch with Ena. Julia is there and comes home with us.

Sunday 10th. I cycle MOFFET with Sjani, then Nippers coaching. Barbara and LENE do the Muck Run.
An unfortunate incident at Nippers when a boy is dragged across rocks and quite badly cut. I do a bit of first aid.

ON THE WAY TO FORT BEAUFORT I FIND THIS DISTANCE MARKER. IT IS BETWEEN GRAHAMSTOWN AND FORT BEAUFORT.  SEEMS TO INDICATE  35 MILES TO GRHAMSTOWN.

35 MILES TO GO TO GRAHAMSTOWN.

BETWEEN FORT BEAUFORT AND GRAHAMSTOWN THERE ARE TWO OF THESE WELL PRESERVED DISTANCE MARKERS. THIS ONE TELL US THAT WE HAVE 31 MILES TO GO TO FORT BEAUFORT

31 MILES TO FORT BEAUFORT

AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STONE WE SEE THAT WE NOW HAVE 15 MILES TO GO TO GRAHAMSTOWN. TOTAL DISTANCE IS 46 MILES BETWEEN THE TWO TOWNS -- AROUND 75KILOMETERS

Barbara and I spend the afternoon recovering (snoozing)!

Monday I tackle Langenhoven for the first time in a long while. And I am so pleased that I did this as it takes the mystery and fear of this route away.
Ally has exams and water polo training. Thursday evening is league polo.

Friday morning Adrienne, Erna and Cathy Pearse do the Parkrun 5k.
Saturday, there have been ongoing weather warnings but a small group of us meet at Hobie at 5;30. Adrienne, Annie, Ronel with Margie meeting us later. We run 15k heading into the nasty weather in an easterly direction, up Admiralty, right into Strandfontein and then around the airport. The return section is into a really tough south easterly. The Parkrun attracts 55 runners who brave this gale force wind, being sandblasted as they run past Summies.
This afternoon John and I fetch the bike rack from Lolo.
Sunday morning the rain continues and we bail from the Kinkelbos cycle. I go to Nippers for an hour in the rain.
LENE and family come over for Lunch.

This Sunday is my first Door Steward Duty at church. I regularly attend the evening service anyway.

Monday: Langenhoven drive for the second week.
Tuesday.
Wednesday. Ran in a strong wind. Short run with Andrew Barton.
This morning spoke to Tim HC and arranged to start plans for a self catering at home as part of our retirement plans.

THURSDAY MORNING RUN UP TARGET KLOOF WITH LISA; JACKIE; BENITA


Thursday and Friday -- JHB meetings. Friday afternoon -- Ally leaves for Grahamstown with the Billsons. Polo Weekend. They play three games. Ally scores the first goal of the three. Our team wins the third match against a Border side.

THE SECTION OF THE ROAD BETWEEN PE AND GRAHAMSTOWN IS JUST ABOUT TO BE OPENED.

AFTER A YEAR OF CONTRUCTION -- THIS ROAD WAS WASHED AWAY DURING HEAVY RAINS. ALLY WAS AT A POLO TOURNAMENT IN EL AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY HOME WITH THREE OF HER FRIENDS. WE HAD JUST CROSSED THE ROAD (ABOUT 15 MINUTES) WHEN IT COMPLETELY WASHED AWAY.

THE NEXT TIME I DRIVE THIS ROAD I DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE THE DETOUR.

Saturday Morning. Early morning Run with Stuart; Adrienne; Annie; Elmarie; Margie; Ronel; John and Gerald walk. THen leave for Grahamstown where we spend the morning watching Polo Games. Both Barbara and I leave our phones at home by mistake. And we survived!

RONEL; ELMARIE AND MARGIE ON SATURDAY MORNING RUN

ADRIENNE HAS TO WORK HARD TO STAY WITH RONEL ON THE UPHILL OF STRANDFONTEIN ROAD

AFTER THE RUN; MIKE JOINS GERALD AND JOHN FOR A WALK

STUART DID NOT HAVE A GOOD RUN THIS MORNING

RELAXED ON THE BEACH FRONT AT HOBIE BEACH.

JOHN; MIKE; STUART; ANNIE; ADRIENNE; RONEL AND GERALD. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO START THE MORNING.  I HAD A QUICK SWIM AND THEN BARBARA AND I RUSHED THROUGH TO GRAHAMSTOWN FOR THE BORDER / EP WATER POLO TOURNAMENT

LENE AND DANIEL ARE WINNERS AT THE CLARENDON SPORTS DAY -- MOTHER AND SON EVENT

In the last week of November 2013 I travel to Mthatha. I stay at the Oasis B & B with Merlene as the owner. Julia invites me to her Cell Group year end Braai. At the home of Kevin and Venny. I ran with Kevin many years ago when I first started to travel to Mthatha with Morkels. I take my MTB and am able to cycle around the B & B suburb on the first evening there. On Friday 29th Julia invites me to her home for Supper with Francois. Two very pleasant evenings. Julia and Francois always make me feel so welcome and wanted when I visit this area.
We are opening three new shops and we drive to Mqanduli. Construction of the site is in progress. It is raining heavily and both I and the car become muddy. We also drive to Qumbu and Tsolo where we visit the shops briefly.

My car starts to give trouble. It turns out to be a CV joint which is damaged. It cannot be fixed in Mthatha so I have a slow and careful drive home on Friday afternoon.

Saturday 30th Morning -- first a run with the group at the beach and then we have our Saturday Morning Parkrun.

RONEL; ELMARIE AND MARGIE ON A SATURDAY MORNING BEACH FRONT RUN

ADRIENNE AND RONEL ENJOYING STRANDFONTEIN ROAD

ADRIENNE; SVENJE DUFFIELD; CATHY PEARSE AND STUART BROWN LOOK LIKE THEY ARE NOT TRYING TOO HARD ON THIS SATURDAY MORNING RUN

THIS IS OUR GROUP -- PETER; SVENJE; STUART; CATHY AND RONEL

STUART AT THE BACK WHILE RONEL AND ADRIENNE LEAD

From: John Patrick Giddy [mailto:jpgiddy@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2013 5:27 PM
To: Peter Giddy
Subject: Fwd:

Hi Pete

Isabelle's news, what a busy person, she's tough! Off next week back to the sea, on another research vessel.

Meanwhile, we're going to Pmb tomorrow, lunch with Olga, visiting Neil our priest there at St Mary's, during the "show day": hope someone buys it!

Then on Friday is our drinks party at the bakery, and the baker, Adam, is providing snacky stuff, including oysters! He is a classic. You are invited.

Back to packing. The deadline looms.

Patrick

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Isabelle Giddy <isgiddy@gmail.com>
Date: 23 November 2013 12:01
Subject: Re:
To: John Patrick Giddy <jpgiddy@gmail.com>

Hello,

My goodness, you guys sound incredibly busy, although everything seems to be coming together! You are going to have to have a well deserved rest once you get settled in in Cape Town. It's a pity I can't come to your drinks evening. Sounds like fun. Good for stjohn about scouts :)

Life here settled into some routine after my first months of struggling with Portuguese. Everything suddenly became a lot easier and less stressful with a better grasp of the language. Thank goodness. This city is exhausting. It's far to big, I get tired just thinking of leaving the house. But one keeps courageous and enters into the bustle. 

I have continued to work hard at my data analysis, which also has become easier for me...although, I continue to be working alone with little support from supervisors. In the end I am going to write a letter of advice for future students that they send across the seas. It's not clever to send an english speaking student to a portuguese speaking world and then leave her alone to do her thing because you are too busy! Anyway, I'm doing my best and am preparing to start writing finally - which will be more enjoyable that just computer programming.

We spent the night last night chatting at the house of a friend of mine (shes from bahia and her accent is rather difficult to understand, but I really like her). We have tentative plans to go to Bahia in january with her...some 2500km from here. 

Today, Paulo and I are moving ourselves to live in Atibaia on Paulos dads little farm/large house with space for a little lake and horses. Atibaia is apparently a model city (little town), with the second best climate in the world. Don't know if I believe it. Our neighbours there are really lovely. The one guy speaks English..hes an ex-engineer and now an artist. I have been painting quite a bit. Anyway, so the plan is to stay there till we come back to SA. Its easier for Paulo to find gigs there and it's a nice quiet environment to write up my thesis :)

A week ago, we went to the north of Sao Paulo state to a beautiful beach for 4 days. It was really lovely to get into the ocean again. The place reminded me of a mixture of Indonesia and the transkei. Forest and ocean (full of mosquitos :/) 

The agenda for the next bit:

So, this tuesday, Im going to that Yale meeting that marianne invited me to, then on thursday I have a performance with the oceanography choir, then friday we are heading to a beach house of a friends near Santos and on monday I leave from Santos to 34.5S for 17 days. Then when I get back we are going to Florianopolis until the new year. 

I hope Patti manages to get to SA. Seems like she will get leave...so holding thumbs. I think Stjohn really wants it. Oh, yes..how is Ena? I'm going to send her a christmas card so can you send me her address? And about the cupboard..i believe its filled with my varsity books which need to be kept safe...and I can't remember where my box of special stones went? Anyway, if its there...that also needs to be kept safe :)

So, good luck for the next last fWe've got a drinks fiesta, 6 to 8, Friday at the bakery, Adam is making little snacks,but he's really at a high level of catering, starts with oysters! So far, coming along to the farewell party are AstraAlan and his parents and Geraldine, Brian O'Leary & Cathy (maybe Donavan too); Julia Clare, Adriano, Jack, Patrick, Yolanda (& Tim), John Collier, Marion Pape (all from work); Bridget, Mike, Pam, Timm our cousins; Joel Tunley & folks, not sure about Robert John & folks, from school and Janet & .. from scouts; and people we know through Tommy's existence - Sam & Andy (plus kids); Keren & Richard Pocock (plus kids); Manoushka & Greg (& Hazel); Dave; Delarise (& Weiss); Peter Barrett, Charlotte (from Science & Religion); Olga & Igor; Patricia Opondo from music;.. anyway adds up to about fifty. St John can only stay til 7pm because he's got his Scout farewell that evening too. Last night he gave his qualification speech on a great leader - he chose Pope Francis.

Another fifty boxes arrived yesterday to pack books. Handing over eight boxes of books tomorrow to Olga and to Fr Neil and Fr Gerry McCabe in Pietermaritzburg (mass with Neil early morning, then lunch with Olga), while the house has its second 'open day'. The first one was not very successful but there was an important rugby match on, unusually on a Sunday afternoon (SA vs Scotland), so that was partly the reason. Patricia Opondo expressed interest, and will come again this Sunday. Even more hopeful is someone coming this afternoon, who wants to make sure he gets in before the open day, hold thumbs, a nightmare if we have to have an unsold empty house in Durban in December etc. I'm taking a couple of boxes of books to the bookstore Ike's this morning, mostly books no one I know is likely to be interested in; and six or so boxes go to Carin wife of baker Adam and she'll display them at the drinks party for anyone who wants to take. 

St John and I and dog are driving down with trailer on 5th or 6th, stopping for a few days at Ena. The Stuttafords van is also stopping there to pick up Ena's cupboard in the lounge! which understandably she wants to get rid of - it'll go into St John's room at the new house, 6 St David's Rd, a block away from Lis and Ian, which we are renting at an exorbitant price - all the other rooms have built-in cupboards but his room is bigger (the other two bedrooms, except for ours) are the size of St John's room at Menston Rd). I think the cupboard has mostly Julia's stuff (and some of yours): it will be packed in Ena's other cupboards - unless you want us to put your stuff in the trailer. Marianne & Tom & Lilly & cat are flying to CT, and then the plan is to fly back St John to meet Patti and Federico on 20th Dec and they drive the other car leisurely down to CT after Christmas. But so far as I understand it no tickets have been bought so time is running out for that to happen - problems with getting leave, I think, very tight with leave in the US.

Yesterday was packing packing, then, yay, did my taxes online (it was the deadline, Marianne had done hers, well got someone else to do so, in April), then an hour at the office, then tennis with M while Tommy had his lesson at Durban Girls High, then some gardening, then Carols and Readings at Clifton (exactly the same as last year, except for two lovely hymns by St John and the school choir), then took St John to scouts (changed in the car), then supper with Alan and Geraldine (never been to their flat), then pick up St John from the Scout lady Janet and her daughter... That was a late night for us!

Now have to tidy the house again for the potential buyer this afternoon. One has to remove all personal photographs, all stuff in the bathroom, clear all clutter so far as is possible, because viewers don't want to see your stuff, they want to imagine where their stuff is going to go. 

lots of love to yourself and hi to Paolo, bye for now

Dad