GIDDY FAMILY OCTOBER 2006.

October 2006.
I received this email from Andrew Barton who used to be an active member of the MPRG. He and Benita moved to Botswana when he was promoted through Standard Bank. I found it to be such an interesting piece of writing.
Being close to parts of SA that we haven't seen much of before, plus Benita not wanting to take a chance with flying or malaria, and this place enjoying it's long weekends, we have traveled around the northern part of SA a bit this year.
Last weekend we stayed on a guest farm near Groot Marico. First stop, Oom Piet Mampoer. Moer!
A very hospitable gent, who clearly samples a significant amount of his own product, was quite insistent that we tasted all 15 flavours of his mampoer. Fortunately not in tot glasses, but tea spoons. One was really a bugger, 80% alcohol with hot chillies in it! He brands it as F U 2 Mampoer! He then gave us another one to 'neutralise' the taste and burn, which it did...but only because it was even worse! However, I must say that the F U 2 made for a terrific flambet on our awesome bosveld steaks that night!
Oom Piet is quite a 'legend' in a part of the world where the AWB found much support. In fact, he leads the local Israelite movement that finds 'support' in the Old Testament re their very right wing views. So, not a guy that took our 'no's' for an answer ..... He just kept pouring!
We found a terrific restaurant about a km from Oom Piet, overlooking the Marico River. The owner is also an Afrikaner, Jacques du Plessis, but one who's sister, before the end of apartheid married a local resident of New Brighton and has been living there ever since. A very liberal Afrikaner family indeed. One of his guests at the lunch was Jennifer Ferguson, one of the first ANC Member's of Parliament in 1995. She was/is a singer and after a bottle or two of red starting singing at her table; clearly quite impressive!
Anyway, in chatting to Jacques I suggested that he and Oom Piet probably didn't share a drink together. Indeed not!!!......but the stories that came out then could have filled a few more books for H C Bosman! He said that Oom Piet has been selling mampoer for decades, but that nobody has ever seen him grow citrus or have any delivered to his farm and suspect that he buys 98% alcohol, dilutes with some Marico river water and adds flavourants.....Jacques insisted that we do ourselves a favour and pour all the Oom Piet mampoer we bought down the drain and rather buy his stuff!!! He was quite sincere about this too............
Only in SA could two such characters live about a km apart, but I suppose complete avoidance of each other creates 2-part harmony!
We also found out that there are about a 150 distillers of mampoer in the district; two of which 'have the dubious distinction of distilling with a license'. The other 148 continue their proud legacy of showing authorities the middle finger - marvelous stuff!!
A new coffee shop has just been opened by two 'boys', pink napkins and ouma's doilies [spelling?]. Decorations a little odd [can't say 'queer' I suppose..]. Next time we pass through will have to pop in to Oom Piet and over a dop ask him about this.....!!!.
A really interesting area that is still filled with many characters indeed. Many more books could be written!!!
Cheers Andrew Barton
October 2006 started off with our Daughter Nicci, and three children coming to see us. They had just moved back from the UK and were now going to be based at Stefan’s Parents home in Stellenberg, Cape Town.
This month we had the official first day of Nippers on the 1st Sunday of the month. There was not a huge turnout but enough to have a good couple of games. Deon Engelke is good at organizing games for the Nippers. That Sunday afternoon we had a little celebration at Michael’s house in Mount Croix for little Daniel who turned one. School started the following morning both for Ally and for Barbara’s Play School.
After quite a long break due to a whole host of reasons, we resumed our cell group the following Thursday. Tracey had just bought a 50% partnership in Coimbra Cycles together with Andre who we hear is an accomplished Springbok cyclist. Jan Havenga seems to have lost interest in the business and Tracey has great plans for the refurbishing of the shop. As a result Tracey was not at the group as she had a meeting at the shop. Ian was also not there due to a camp near to Addo. Elize was back after a trip to Turkey with her sister and mother. Little Cloe was now a year old and walking around the house, quite independent. Ally had her picture in the Weekend Post as one of the Nippers returning to training on a Sunday. Leah told us that she had entered a Miss Majesty competition at Walmer Park. It seems that she did well and received a whole host of prizes and vouchers. Herman and Tracey had recently returned from their trip to Switzerland but the main topic remained the Cycle Shop. All round there was a lot to talk about and so we never got to watch the video that I had borrowed from the church. My video machine was not working anyway.
The following Saturday was Biathlon Trials for the EP Meeting due later in the month. What I did was my normal 15kay run in the morning early, then went to the office on the motor bike. Michael had his car in for repairs and was using Barbara’s car. Barbara got a lift with Debbie Derry and I collected Nicci later. I arrived at the Biathlon in Gelvandale just in time for the Senior Vets and then did not have too long to wait for our swim event. I had run the one Kay in just under 4 minutes which is what I strive for. I did not have a good swim and finished in 107secs whereas Markus for example finished in 65 secs. Still my time was a good deal better than the last meeting. As it turned out both Ally and I were chosen to represent EP. Saturday evening was an incredibly warm night and we had sausages on the Braai. The wind picked up later but I had determined to go for a cycle the next morning and so was up early and did only about ten kays but it was my first ride in ages. I had fitted two new tubes and felt that I should at least do some training for the Energade Triathlon coming up in November. Sunday Morning we were in Church and I was able to hold Nicci’s baby Zara through the whole service. She slept for a good period. After church we went down to Nippers. Ally & I on the Bike and the rest in the car. It was a good morning and the surf was just right for swimming and body boards. Nicci left for Cape Town that afternoon. A friend of hers from London had recently died in Bonnievale and she would be attending the Funeral during the week.
This week would be very full. I had a Cell Group leaders meeting on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday I was with Johan Sadie and Thursday I did the King trip as well as Cell at the Brinks. Friday Ally had her Hip Hop concert rehearsal. On Saturday morning I did the 20 Kay run down to the beacon, then it was our sales month end. The afternoon I spent increasing the size of the Yellowwood tree hole. That was hard work as I first dug though the rocks and then had to struggle through the clay, scraping the dirt out with an old jam tin. I intend to really give this tree the very best chance of growing to its full potential. Later that afternoon we watched the Bulls and Cheetas Currie cup final which was, in the end, a draw. Ally had her concert that evening. It was a really entertaining show with a variety of acts. Sunday morning Ron and I did the Marine drive. It was good to be out there again on the bike. Ron was not as fit as he has been in the past and so he was a good companion for me.
I had to assist with the Level testing of the new Nippers at Hobie Beach that morning. At Hobie beach there was also a Swim and Run event. A two Kay swim, a one Kay swim or a five kay run. There was also a Surf Ski event going on at the same time. The Scuba divers were also out for a Swim and dive. Hobie beach just seemed a hive of activity on that beautiful Sunday morning. The nippers had to do a short run, a swim and then answer a number of questions on water safety and beach activity. I then collected Barbara & Ally form home. They had been to church. Ally had been on a Bus Treasure hunt with the Sunday school.
We went down to Nippers after collecting Amber and Ian. It was a really good session as we made the children swim out past the breakers and then they did the same with the body boards. We did this a number of times to help build their confidence and then did a bit of beach sport; running and flags.
The following weekend started with Ron & I going to a talk by Brian Downey. Brain was the person who started the franchise “spec savers”. It was an interesting talk and I was appointed to thank Brian. Spec savers is the main sponsor of the PE Ironman. Brian had also taken part and completed the event. On Saturday morning it was the Inter-provincial Biathlon. Both Ally and I are not top competitors but we enjoy being part of the whole thing. We had to rush Ally off to an Interschool Gala immediately after we had done the swim. The next morning (Sunday) there was another level test as well as a Biathle for Ally & I. From there we rushed off to the Nippers practice. It was again perfect conditions and Hannes & I were able to send the Nippers into the water with Malibu’s and Body Boards. We recorded times and were able to select teams for the Carnival the next weekend. I had to leave Nippers midway and rush off to the airport for the Morkels Annual Launch which was being held in Parys on the Vaal River.
This week Graeme Gilmour visited our Cell Group. Michael moved to Knysna to open a new branch of Furn City. Saturday morning I got back on the road and did the 20kay to the Beacon and back. That afternoon I bought the compost and finally planted the Yellow wood tree that I had bought. After the Saturday evening service our Neighbours, the Mussets and Tim joined us for a tree planting ceremony.
Nippers Carnival. Hosted by Sardinia Bay at Kings Beach. Sunday 29.10.2006.
The Under Ten Nippers had basically two training sessions leading up to the Sardinia Bay Carnival. The Coaches I tried to record some times and positions in practice sessions prior to the Carnival. We had little information to go on but decided to do the best we could with what we had. Once Hannes & I had selected the teams I emailed our selections to the various parents. As Sunday dawned I think that there were a number of concerned parents. The sea had been quite choppy on the Saturday due to an Easterly that had been blowing. The West wind was blowing and the morning started off overcast. Barbara & I even packed jackets for the day. But this was to be the most amazing morning.
Warren & Keith had brought the tent and all the boards and we soon set up for a day on the beach. This Sunday morning we had a full house of Nippers at Kings Beach for the Under Ten team. Hannes was not able to be there due to a Christian commitment. The Under Ten coaches and safety officers consisted of Roger Fraser, Donald Mc Gillivray, Peter Wilson, Alex Odendal, Gavin Rogers, Clint Meintjies, Patrick Billson, Craig van Greunen and a variety of other people doing all kinds of tasks from recording results, catching the finishers and aiding the Nippers in the sea. They had a busy morning with a Long Run; Beach Sprints, a Surf Swim; Run/Swim/Run; Body Boards; Malibu Boards; Flags and ended off with the Taplin Relay. Our Under Ten team had been Awesome in how they competed.
The Coaches were particularly impressed with the Nippers who competed out of their Comfort Zone. Nadia is by no means a front runner or swimmer but she was prepared to take part over her fears. The Burrell twins: Amber and Astrid competed in the full spirit of the Nippers Under Ten Team and will be competitive as soon as they have developed confidence and ability. Even Maurice who has a tough time with the Huge Waves that sometimes appear on the beaches was prepared to swim out and around the Buoys. I recall one time when Donald & I were waiting for the Nippers to swim out to us; we saw a wave that was breaking beyond the Yellow Buoys and must have been about 2 meters high. Matthew Hepburn and Kei Hodgson were willing competitors and added to the team effort. Flags is an event which really builds character. Every Nipper knows that elimination means having to sit out. Yet they still line up and risk the anguish of missing a flag. And those who do reach the final ten have to run up and down over and over in an attempt to grab the flag. This in itself is very tiring.
Of course we have a number of Nippers who excel. This is due to a combination of dedicated training and God given talent. I think that the spirit of the Under Tens came out when it came to the Taplin Relay. Christian was prepared to be in two teams, first on a Body Board and then on a Malibu. Everyone was quite exhausted by this time. The Nippers had been out in the water four times already. There were a number of big sets of waves coming through. The idea of another swim or board event was quite unattractive to many of the nippers.
Run Swim Body Board Malibu
Marie Maurice Matthew Hepburn Christian
Jamie Lee Caitlin Matthew Wilson Kim
Amber Ally Lara Connor
Tristan Christy Christian Matthew Mc Gillivray
These four teams did so well and surpassed all expectations from a first carnival. I think that all the parents and the coaches join me in congratulating the under ten Nippers in the spirit in which they took part in the Sardinia Bay Carnival. As it turned out this was to be the only team event of the day as time caught up with us and the Carnival was called to a close at 14.00 after the Taplin Relay. But by then everyone was sunburned and exhausted. I had brought water and constantly tried to stay hydrated but at the end of the day felt like a sandblasted fried chip.
Sardinia Bay can be congratulated for hosting and excellent Carnival. The day went off very well. I was happy when Anthony informed the parents of the Under Tens that they were expected to be in the water during the sea events and that they should assist where the Nipper was experiencing difficulty. It is a huge boost to the confidence of the Under Tens to know that there are lost of Dads and Safety Officers in the water to help them through the surf. Although this was an official carnival, Anthony controlled the event more like a practice session for future events. Barbara and I left before the announcement of the results. I am sure that we will soon hear of which teams won. I felt particularly proud of the Under Tens and how well they had played the game.