PETER GIDDY.: SEPTEMBER 2011

DANIEL DOES A FLOWER ARRANGEMENT AT HIS PRE SCHOOL FOR GRANDPARENTS DAY

WATER POLO AT STIRLING

ALLY IN U15 WATER POLO TEAM

QASHQAI FRONT -- TOOK DELIVERY OF THIS VEHICLE ON MONDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2011

NIPPERS AWARDS EVENING

NIPPERS WAIT FOR THEIR NAME TO BE CALLED

JOHN GIVES HIS ANNUAL REPORT SPEECH

JULIA AND DANIEL AT RUGBY

SEPTEMBER 2011

EP KINGS PLAY BORDER BULDOGS
SUMMERSTRAND NIPPERS AWARDS EVENING
SPRINGMOUNT NANAGA 19KAY TRAIL RUN
DRIVE TO JOHANNESBURG TO COLLECT NISSAN AND TO LEAVE THE MERCEDES
GRANDPARENTS DAY AT DANIELS SCHOOL
ALLY WATER POLO TOURNAMENT IN EAST LONDON

1 September 2011
Thursday; Springday.

Friday 2nd: Tried to go for a morning cycle but the wind has come up too strongly and no one is there. It starts to rain to I cycle home. I spend the morning at Somerset East where we are opening a new shop today.

This afternoon there are gale force gusting winds that, just before 5pm cause a power failure right throughout the city. At home, Barbara has made a Curry Supper on the gas cooker, the gas heater is on and candles make the whole house seem quite cosy.

This evening Michael, Reynhard, Joshua, Ron, Brenda, Julia, Stephanie and Robin all come to Rugby at the Nelson Mandela Stadium. EP Kings have played 6 and won 6 matches in the Curry Cup event. Lynne Pask was due to come with us but was not well so Daniel (Much to his delight) was able to join us.

HAVING FUN AT THE RUGBY MATCH AT THE NEW STADIUM

THIS EVENING WAS COLD AND WET BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME

It is a cold and windy evening and raining from time to time. But we find ourselves sheltered seats and enjoy the evening. We take plenty of warm clothing and blankets and are fine on the stadium. When I get there I see that Julia and her friends have got stuck into the White Bread with Curry filling (Rootie). Reynard and I find a concession that sells these Rooties and buy a couple of beers before settling down for an evening at the Rugby.

JOSHUA AND DANIEL AT RUGBY;

BRENDA AND RON CHATTING AT RUGBY

The EP Kings have Luke Watson as Captain, Mzwandile Stick at full back and Jaco someone (ex Bulls front rank). It looks like a powerful team. The Border chaps are big and strong with some really fast chaps in the backline.

JULIA; STEPHANIE AND ROBIN AT RUGBY

JULIA AND DANIEL AT RUGBY

The match swings both ways: Border in front, EP in front until half time when the EP team lead 31;15. Then in the second half the Border team comes out firing on all cylinders.

RON REYNARD AND MICHAEL AT RUGBY

They score two quick converted tries making the score 31;29. But then fortunately for the local supporters our team find their pace again and end up with a score of a total of around 85 points with 13 tries having been scored. EP come out convincing winners but it was not all their way and they had to fight hard to take this match; They have now won 7/7 matches. The stadium was not at all full; the bad weather and the lights out must have kept the fans at home. They missed out on a good evening and good rugby.

Saturday morning: I collected Adrienne and we waited at the Pier for a while before realising that no one else was coming. So we drove back to Grey where we ran around the Tuesday route in Reverse. Met up with Riana who had arrived a little late. She joined us for the last bit of the run.

This afternoon I did a number of chores including taking a bakkie load of rubbish to the tip. Our Gutters blew down in the wind on Friday and so we had a yard littered with all kinds of debris.

NIPPERS WAIT FOR THEIR NAME TO BE CALLED

JOHN GIVES HIS ANNUAL REPORT SPEECH

Saturday evening we had the Nippers Awards and our AGM. Some of the Nippers Mom's went to a huge amount of trouble to ensure that the Hall looked really good. Dashy, Shereen, Liesl and Dianne spent hours preparing the tables and the awards table for this evening. They spread the tables, put flowers and decorations on the tables plus even had chocolates for the parents. This hall has never looked better. I felt really proud of them.

Clint and Ed had spent the afternoon cooking on the fire outside. They prepared a delicious pot for our supper. We supplied the rice, salads and snacks to make this a really special evening. The Nippers had hot dogs and Ice Creams plus each Nipper was given a Goodie Bag at the end of the evening.

John started the evening with his report. We then moved on to the committee for the new season and then the awards. Ally was awarded for Overall Excellence and for Enthusiasm. She and Anke shared a Miss Personality of the year award. I received a Coach of the Year award. Shareen had prepared the list of awardees. It went down well with the Nippers and parents alike. Each Nipper (including the Micro's) received a certificate.

The Nippers awards evening turned out to be a really stunning evening and was a huge success all round. Well done to all the parents and the Committee who went to a huge amount of trouble to ensure the success of the evening.

Sunday Morning
I went out to Nanaga / Springmount farm for a 19kay trail run. This was a stunning event with John Nelson; Almarie Jv Rensburg and Robyn Steyn. We ran with Ronel and Sjani and Andre Mulder. His wife Robin ran the 8Kay with Gerald; Adrienne; Kobus and Pat. Mike Bester won the 8kay.
John ran with Angie, Suzanne, RObyn and Almarie in a fast group.

This afternoon I was pretty tired and could not work too much.

Monday 5th Morning Rowena and I left very early for JHB. We took the Cradock road despite the fact that I know it to be the wrong road. I simply followed the GPS. On this road there are so many road stop and go construction sections that you can add an hour or more to your trip. And then again from Cradock to Middelburg there are more Stop and GO's. From Middelburg to Colesburg it is not too bad.

Then before Bloefontein there was more road construction. I should have known all of this after the Bloemfontein trip with Ally to her hockey game. We drove up in the Mercedes Benz which we dropped off at the JDG vehicle head office and collected the Qashqai that had been ordered for me. I was shocked to see what a beautiful car it is.

QASHQAI FRONT -- TOOK DELIVERY OF THIS VEHICLE ON MONDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2011

QASHQAI BACK -- THIS IS THE MOST STUNNING VEHICLE THAT I WILL EVERY OWN. I THOUGHT THAT THE TOYOTA WAS GREAT, THEN CAME THE MERCEDES -- BUT THIS IS AMAZING.

It is big and has all the gadgets possible. Leather seats. Huge 18" wheels. Cruise control. Radio controls on the steering wheel, Phone controls on the steering wheel. Auto Light switch on. The driver sits high up on this vehicle as you would expect from a 4X4 type of vehicle. Really the smartest car that I will ever own.

Tuesday; Wednesday and Thursday we had Service Training at a place called Helderfontein in JHB and drove home on Friday. We stayed at the Diaz Hotel in Surrey road.

Friday 9.09.2011
After driving to Bloemfontein on Thursday evening, Rowena and I stayed over at the Sleepover B & B in Bloem. The next morning we were up early and on the road by around 6am. We drove straight through the morning. It is around 670kays from Bloem to PE and we arrived back in the office at 12.30pm.

Saturday morning; I am enjoying driving a new car: Qashai Nissan N-Tec. It is a 2liter car with all kinds of luxuries and a huge clearance.
We run the beach front run with Margie, John, Suzanne, Pat & Ronel, Adrienne, Andre and Ben. A group of us run around the Admiralty loop and have a short swim afterwards. The water is cold but we have had a good morning.
This afternoon Ally's Old Grey Academy team play at Woodridge against Woodridge. We win the match 7-1. It was a tough game and Ally played well.

Sunday morning I cannot find someone to cycle with me so I cylce the Moffat 20kay loop on my own. It is a good hard cycle for me. Barbara, Ally and I do a bit of grocery shopping and are back home in time for Springbok Rugby against the Welsh team which we only win by one point 17-16.

This week I run each morning. One morning as we are running around St Georges Park, Adrienne steps on a cone and twists her ankle and is out of running for some time. I have Cell Group on Monday for the first time in many weeks as I have been away for most Mondays. Wednesday I have Alpha. Ally is chosen for the U14A team for Water Polo. She has now stopped Gala Training altogether. Saturday morning I pick up Andre and we run the Beach Front route. Now we do the extra (Admiralty Road) loop most Saturdays. It is a good bit of extra running. This morning Andrew Jonas joins us for the first time in a long time. John is now a regular runner in this group. I am able to swim as well.

After the run and Swim I take Ally and her two friends; Natalie and Megan to Jeffreys bay. At this time the Springbok Squad is playing in the second match of the World Cup against Fiji. Last week they narrowly beat Wales and this morning they play their hearts out and to the delight of all South Africans, they score 6 tries to win 49-3. This afternoon Barbara and I walk along the beach Promenade from Summerstrand to Flat rock. It is a stunning afternooon and just what we need to relax ourselves. Nicky and her family are at Wildcliff.

Ally tells us that she and her friends were at a waterfall where she jumped off a 5 meter rock into the pool.

I do the cash books of Wildcliff and have now submitted my personal income tax return as well.

Mom bought a new Romantov dish for cooking and made us a chicken dish. I have been on a Vegetable and No Alcohol stint. I have put on about 5kg's and must lose some weight before November when John and I are doing the four day trail run. I seem to have a really busy couple of months ahead when I look at the calendar.

Jacqui phoned and she has tough days with morning sickness and a staff who let her down at the Gun (Nursery).

Monday 19th: I travel to Queenstown for three days for work. This means that I have to miss Cell Group again. But should be back for Alpha on Wednesday.

Wednesday 23rd I am back in PE and make it to Alpha.

Saturday 24th Sept. I start the day with a stunning run and swim at the beach. Ben drops me off at the airport and I fly to JHB with all the FSM's. We spend the weekend in JHB at conference centers etc. This evening we have Kobus Neethling as the speaker. A very interesting man with lots of thoughts abour Creativity and

Sunday we have this puzzel and team building. This evening there is the launch and I am awarded a Service award. Monday afternoon we fly back to PE and I am able to go to CEll Group.

As we wait at the JHB airport we see a young girl with a sash: Miss Teen South Africa. This turns out to be Michaela Oosthuizen who is a grade 10 at Pearson. This is a lot of fun for the staff who ask for pictures and chat to her. Here is a pic of Tanya Mostert and this very pretty young girl.

TANYA MOSTERT. FSM IN PE. POSES WITH MICHAELA OOSTHUIZEN WHO IS MISS TEEN SOUTH AFRICA 2010 AND A GRADE 19 GIRL AT PEARSON.

Daniel had his Grandparents day at childrens world play school -- Jacqui Zeelie -- this week. They sing us some songs and make a flower arrangement for us.

GRANDPARENTS DAY WITH DANIEL AT JACQUI ZEELIE'S CHILDRENS WORLD SCHOOL

This week I am able to run a few times in the mornings. Thursday Barbara and I drive through to East London where I do some Br Visits and then we go and watch Ally;s Water Polo Team play a tournament at Stirling School.
Here are the scores
VS DSG = 4-1
VS CLARENDON = 5-1
Semi final
VS HUDSON PARK = 3-2
Finals
VS STIRLING LOST = 2 - 7

Overall there were 8 schools playing and Collegiate U15 was placed second.

Friday afternoon we drove home.