JULY 2010

JULY 2010

JULIA AND LAURA IN PE STAYING WITH US
BARBARA IS IN CANADA WITH GAIL VISITING DAWN
ALLY FLIES TO CAPE TOWN FOR CATHY'S BIRTHDAY
FIFA WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT CONTINUES
FINAL RUGBY GAME AT THE OLD BOET ERASMUS (PERFU) STADIUM.
GAVIN CAMERON RETURNS HOME TO CANADA
ALLY PREPARES FOR MARKET WEEK.
KNYSNA HALF MARATHON
BARBARA AND GAIL RETURN FROM CANADA
NIPPERS COMMITTEE MEETING
INGRID DU TOIT HAS A HEART ATTACK SCARE.
ALLY & HOCKEY


Julia and Laura have been staying with us from 24th June. It has been a lot of fun as they have renewed aquaintances with Debbie and Catherine Dean who invited them for supper and took them to the Lion park. J & L have been to one of the soccer games as well as to the fan park on a number of occasions. They also met up with Betina and her friends who were also very kind and accommdating.

Thursday 3rd July Ally flew on her own to Cape Town for Cathy's birthday this weekend. Ally was a bit nervous. I was happy to meet up with Avril Smith who was also flying to CT and who I know would assist Ally if she needed it. Cathy met Ally at the CT airport and all went well. They seemed to have a great time including a party for Cathy's birthday.

Christian phoned me to say that he had broken his toe. Nicky was not sure how it happened but took him to the clinic where they strapped it up and gave him crutches.

Julia, Laura, Ally and I went for drinks with the Wilsons as a kind of farewell for Gavin. It was a really pleasant evening where we met our opposite door neighbours; Ray and Dee. Really nice people very busy with the B & B.

I had to do some business in Grahamstown and as it was the Arts Festival I took J & L with me. They wandered around the town doing a bit of shopping while I did some work in one of the shops. After that I dropped them at home and they walked to the Fan Fest where they met up with Betina and Mandy. They watched the game and then the four of them came home for some supper before going back to watch the next game at the Fan Fest in St Georges park.

Saturday morning 3rd July. The MPRG did a Sunridge Park Run. There were none of the real slowies so I ran most of the way on my own. I turned when I saw them coming and was able to stay with the group on the way back to MP. I was at work this morning. Then after lunch I took J & L to the last game that would be held at the old Boet Erasmus Stadium. This stadium is looking really shoddy when compared to the new stadium where the EP Rugby will now be based.

The game was reasonably full considering that there was a major Soccer game on at the same time: Germany beat Argentina 4:0. Our game was quite good. We had Barry De Wet captaining our side with Gary Botha captaining the Blue Bulls. It was not a full strength Blue Bulls team. Our side gave a reasonable account for themselves and were ahead at two stages in the game. We opened with a 3point penalty and scored a try and in both cases were slightly ahead of the Blue Bulls. But in the end they were too strong for EP and won with two last minute tries.

After the game we went to Michael where he was having a Braai with some of his friends. J & L stayed overnight with Mike. He brought them to our house on Sunday morning, they packed and we all left to collect the old Merc from Debbie Gordon (Shimone) on Draaifontein Road. From there J & L and I left for Plett. It had been Ena's 94th birthday on Tuesday and she had a little party (15people for bridge) at her home. We met Anne Thomas for lunch at a beach restaurant. This is a boat club that serves sea foods and sandwiches. We had a most pleasant lunch watching the men playing touch rugby on the beach and the boats coming in from whale watching. I saw a seal not far off the breakers.

After lunch I came home, collected Ally and Jessica. I took the rubbish to the tip. That evening Ally & Jessica hired a DVD to watch while I made Pizza's for supper for them. It had not been that busy a day but I was really tired and could not keep my eyes open. Monday morning I did a short run around the golf course. This morning J & L will leave for WC by bus where they will meet up with the former manager of Costa Rica (Cloudbridge) before carrying on to CT where they want to watch the finals of the Soccer at a fan park on Sunday.

Monday evening was our cell group meeting at Cronje and Claudine van Zyl. I really enjoy these meetings and am sorry every time I have to miss them due to travel. Tuesday morning: short run and Art Of Service training at the Pine Lodge Inn with Steve Lang. I collect Ally from her friend Alexa. They are in their planning stage of the Market week at school.

TUESDAY 6TH JULY This evening I take Ally to the Fan Fest. She meets up with a group of her friends there. (Lara S)We drive down expecting a huge crowd but it is not full at all and we are able to find easy parking. I sit with Marius and Franelie Swanepoel and Lisa who is the mother of Ally's friend Wade and Richard. It has been a freezing day with a cold westerly blowing. We stay to half time. Dutch 1; Uruguay 1. By the time I switch on the TV at home it is 3;1 to the Dutch and ends on 3;2 with the Dutch into the finals and the Uruguay going to play on Saturday in PE in the final 4 play off.

It is Tour de France on now and I love watching this sport. Commentary with Paul Sherwin and Phil Ligget is excellent even if repetitive.

Wednesday 7th July: Ally goes to swim training. I am off to AOS. It is the Funeral for Gawie Rossouw today. I stand up and say a few words on behalf of JDG. Ally has been with Lara S the whole day. Then they all go to Movies and I collect them to go to the Fan Fest again. The Fan Fest is a big screen event at St Georges Park where mainly youngsters and teenagers go to socialise and to watch the soccer games. Entry is free and security is at a high level.

They have concerts and mini soccer games as well. Greg Kotze and Wade were there this evening. They played soccer the whole evening and I dont think that they watched the main event at all. Spain beat Germany 1;0 and will now play in the final against Holland. Spain were deserved winners and played an aggressive attacking game. John, Cheryl and Michael Kotze were going to join me but John had an operation to his eye and can not see distances so they had to move to the front where they sat on a Blanket. I am no good at sitting on the grass. I need a backrest to sit for any length of time so stayed where I was on the stadium.

Barbara is still in Canada with Gail where they are visiting Dawn & Richard. From all accounts they are having a blast with Dawn treating them to a really good holiday. They fly back home this weekend and will be in the air during the WC soccer final.

Thursday 8.07.2010. this is my third day of the Art Of Service training at the Pine Lodge in Summerstrand. Steve Lang, who I have known for many years since the Morkels days, is the senior trainer. He has entered the 1/2 Ironman in EL for next year. He and Ricardo ran each morning to the Lighthouse along the beach.

After the training on Thursday I took Barbara's Bakkie to Supa Quick in Walmer where I had two front tyres fitted. Tony Button was there and told me of an injury that he sustained in a car accident. He tells me that it has set his training back but from what he describes his running as it seems to me that he is still as fast and fit as I have ever known him. He too will be doing the Knysna 42kay this weekend. This will be his 26th running of this tough event.

I collected Ally from Amber and then Jessica from Michaels home. Jessica is always good company for Ally. They two of them watched a DVD and then crawled into my bed. Good thing we have the two beds pushed together. Both of them like to stretch out, kick and leave me little space on the edge of the bed.


Friday 9th July morning
I am at work early and intend to leave early as well. I make the best of what I can at work then Ally calls me to take her to her friend Alexa as the two of them are in preparation for the Market Week. Ally has bought some material as well as some chains and beads. The two of them spend the day manufacturing these bracelets but realise that the number of bracelets is not in sinc with the price that they have paid in costs as well as the selling price that they intend to set for them. I take Ally to the Bead Shop where the young lady shows me that they have made the bracelets too long. That evening Ally re-does a set of bracelets and instead of 17 she comes out with 29 bracelets. The bead shop lady also added a meter and a half of chain to asssit Ally.

This afternoon I collect Ben and Suzanne and the three of us head off to Knysna. I am not at all in a hurry so we stop at Storms River then on to Knysna where we register and enjoy a beer together. As we sit there we encounter a whole lot of PE people. See separate blog post for Knysna Half Marathon.

The following day we run the race and then head home. ON the way we pass the toll gate and Ben hands me the full amount for the toll R33.00. But I think that I must have dropped a Rand. I move forward but am brought back by the sound of a siren. The lady at the cash office tells us that we short changed her and only after paying the extra R1.00 does she allow us through.

The temperature drops and it is a cold Saturday evening. Sunday 11th July: Ally and I are busy with a number of shopping and other bits and pieces before we settle in for the night. Mark comes home after a month in Pretoria with Samantha and Christal.

This evening we have been invited to Charles and Ingrid for supper and Soccer final. Peter Nolan and son: michael & friend Matthew are here from Australia. We drop the two boys off at Barneys where they will spend the evening and the morning before coming home at around 3am.

Peter, Ally and I watch the soccer at Charles' but when the Spanish and Dutch teams are drawn by half time we decide to call it a night. Mark and his friends were at the Fan Fest but had walked home to some semblence of warmth. I barely stay awake to see the Spanish win the Soccer World Cup in South Africa before falling into a deep sleep that prevented me from running in the morning. I was also feeling quite stiff and sore after the 31kay of Saturday.

Monday 12th July morning:
Ally continues to work on the Market day. I head off to work. Barbara and Gail arrive back from Canada and have a whole day wait in Jhb airport. I arrange a little welcome home party but the plane is delayed and we end up coming home after our friends are already there.

Tuesday. Now that the soccer is over it is back to school. Ally and Mark go to school early as usual. This evening we have a bit of a scare as Charles phones to say that Ingrid had a Heart Attack and he is in the ambulance with her on the way to Greenacres hospital. We visit a little later and find that Ingrid is looking quite well even if she is exhausted.

Ingrid spends that night, Wednesday and Thursday at the hospital. The doctor is Jacques Du Toit who is married to Riana Green. I have run with Jacques. He told me of the time when he attended to Angus Buchan when Angus had a scare during the 2009 MMC.

Wednesday I go to Grahamstown and return via Port Alfred. I stop on my way home at the shop of Isabel Mc Donald. Isabel remembers Ingrid and asks me to pass on her best wishes. I obtain the names of the tree seeds that she gave us the last time we were there when Charles purchased the house at Bushmans.

Thursday: Ally is not well. Mark has a cold / Flu. I go running in the morning for the first time since the 21kay of the weekend. Ingrid DuToit is still in hospital having a Stent (Spring) procedure to open arteries. Jacques Du Toit is the doctor attending to her. Charles is a bit easier now that things are progressing. He was quite worried at one time.

Friday: Ingrid goes home and Charles phones me with the phrase: "The eagle has landed". Ally has Pulse. Saturday morning I run the Newton Park route with Adrienne. Slow, but a good run. This morning the All Blacks play the Springboks in Wellington which is a city on the southern tip of the North Island. Wellington is the home of the Hurricanes Rugby team. last week the Springboks lost to NZ when they played at Eden Park, Aukland which is also on the North Island but much further north. That game was marred by the foul play of Bakkies Botha who was then suspended for 9 weeks. The Wellington game was as disappointing for the South African touring side who lost for the second time in a row today.

Sunday 18th Hockey at Clarendon. A really good session with a fair number of players: Sean, Brice and Kyla; Hanna OBrie; Amber and Hannes; Kristin; MC and Emelio for some of the time; Daniel; Jarred; Jessica Giddy; and plenty more. Ally has to prepare for her Market week project. She makes a whole lot of Bracelets and some eats but later in the week what really sells well is the curry and rice that Barbara buys.

Monday morning: I run a slow run. Knee is hurting recently more than before. Monday evening it is cell group at Cronje van Zyl. We are going through the book: Purpose driven life.

Tuesday morning I drive to King and then Mthatha. Wednesday in Mthatha and sleep over at Komga. I arrive in Komga (about 70kays on the other side of King) at 6pm and decide to go to the local Country Club for a drink before supper. I meet some of the locals and get to chatting. One of the men finds out my name and it turns out that we stayed in the caravan at his house in about 1985 in Kirkwood during a Round Table Area conference. He remembered me. It was amazing; Chris Russell. One of our children had measles and his wife was worried as she was pregnant at the time.

Thursday I was in King and Grahamstown before returning home for a Nippers meeting. Decided upon a AGM date and a prize giving date and planned for both.

Friday 23rd: Ally has a party. Most weekends she seems to go to Parties. Spends time with her friends dressing up for the evening and then having a great time with all of her friends. She will miss Pulse which she really enjoys but can only do so much.


Week starting Monday 19th.
Wednesday I flew into Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon and took the Gautrain to Santon. This was my first ride on this train. It makes a huge difference to travel into the town. Suzanne met me 15 minutes later. We collected Edmund from School and waited for Keith to come home. Julia had a Water Polo match. Keith, Suzanne, Edmund and I had a drink at a local pub with their friend Peter Hey's wife.

Then we all watched Julia play in an all men's match. She plays well and it was a pleasure to watch her. Meeting in Johannesburg the next day.

Friday 30th: Ally has a Hockey Match against Cambridge from East London. Ally's school team won 2-0.

Saturday 31st Morning I was able to fit in a run and then Barbara, Julia, Ally and Jessica & I all leave for Graaff Reinet where Ally plays against Union. It was a tough match but Union were just too strong and too skilled for the Clarendon team. Ally's team lost 2-0.

But not a wasted trip at all. Both the children and adults alike have all had a wonderful morning cheering on the various teams. We meet up with a number of partents: Zeelies, Derry's Combrinks, Bret O'Brie and teachers and coaches from Clarendon: Mr Allan Lones, Carol Scheepers & Kim. Next to Ally's match VP High school played Union high first team. Emma Gendall was in the match and VP beat Union by 1-0. It was a powerful game and Emma played exceptionally well.

On the way to Graaff Reinet we had stopped near to Steyterlerville at a farm shop for a toilet break. We bought some pies (which were not that good), some biltong, Droe Wors and dried mango. The lady who runs the shop declared that her pies were famous all around the district. I am not convinced.