KOUGA KUS 21KM HUMANSDORP TO JEFFREYS BAY 2012

KOUGA KUS 21KM HUMANSDORP TO JEFFREYS BAY 2012
ACHILLES TEAM OF RUNNERS AND SUPPORTERS
TOMMY SATCHWELL & PETER GIDDY

SATURDAY 24TH MARCH 2012



KENNY PASSES AN INSULTING REMARK: "I am surprised to see you here Peter. There is not a 5km run today"; BOB IS AS STRONG AS EVER; GRAHAM DOES NOT LET AGE SLOW HIM DOWN; PETER P IS A REAL ATHLETE.


I had run the Seaview training run on Wednesday and so there were no takers from our running group to join me this morning for a run to Jeffreys Bay. Tommy Satchwell has not run this event before and was keen to give it a go.

We arranged to meet at 5am at my house. As expected Tommy was on time and we left promptly at Five. It had rained the whole night. Thunder and lightning had made for a fitful sleep. I had woken up earlier than was neccessary and made some coffee for the road. Since a bad experience last year I now make myself a plate of porrige before any event.




BRIAN JAMES MAKING A COMEBACK; TOMMY FIRST TIME AT KOUGA KUS; PETER AND PERCY

The drive to Jeffreys was dark and wet. I am always amazed at the way that some drivers take chances in torrential rain and almost no visibility. The pools of water on the road make for dangerous conditions and accidents are just waiting to happen. Tommy and I drove at an easy pace and made it to J-Bay before Bruce and Paulette. They had a car load of passengers: Geoff; Graham Nel; Percy taking up the back seat.


JOHN KOTZE CAME TO THE RUN WITH SEAN. JOHN JUST DOES NOT SLOW DOWN. SEEMS LIKE HE GETS FASTER EACH YEAR.

Bruce has this tarpaulin at the back of the van (donated by Graham I hear) that we used to keep ourselves warm and dry for the ride to Humansdorp. In the back of the van was Tommy; Anche; Robin; Brian and myself. I later learned that Paulette had given up her run to do the driving. The way that we did it with the tarpaulin over us we had a warm and dry ride.

We walked down to the Registration area and I signed in for Tommy and myself. He had filled in a form in advance so it was easy to register. At this stage the rain had eased back a bit and we waited for the start of the race in relative dry. A good group of Achilleans; Charlo; Crusaders; and other clubs were represented there. I did not get a sense of less than normal numbers in this event. Tommy had pointed out that the Lake Farm race numbers were down due to the rain last weekend.


The race started at 7am. Through the village of Humansdorp and out down on the old main road to Humansdorp. Tommy has a Garmin that measures his times and distances. Overall he was doing approximately 5.05minutes a kay. I had met up with Geoff and Liesl and we ran to around 10km together. Up to this stage we were at an average pace of 5.40min/kay. Geoff was measuring the times at each km marker. The route is undulating and at no stage are you able to let up the pace.


GEOFF AND LIESL SET A STRONG PACE. I AM ABLE TO STICK WITH THEM TO 10KM AND THEN FIRST LIESL AND THEN WHEN GRAHAM COMES CHARGING PAST HE ALSO DROPPS ME.


I had determined to not walk at all this morning. Geoff and I passed a novice runner: Dee-Anne. She was running well for a first half marathon. Says that she has now (after children) decided to get fit again. Graham Channon came charging past us. I am sure that he had seen these three Achilles shirts ahead and decided to sneak up behind us and then run on without so much of a "good morning". Earlier on we had seen Bob ahead. Bob seems to be quite fit and fast at the moment. Retirement is good for him.

After the 10kay I was left behind by both Geoff and Liesl. I kind of pressed on. There is a bit of a long pull up from the 10km to the Shopping center and circle. We are now at around 13km and going strong. It is still uphill and we are having to work all the way. I probably lost a few minutes between the 9 to the 13km. I have been trying to keep up the pace but see that those around me have steadily pulled ahead of me. At the start of the residential suburbs it is now 15km into the race. Now we can see the ocean and the bay ahead of us. There is a brisk east head wind. The rain has all but stopped but there are puddles everywhere. Two kays to the bottom of the hill.



AT FIFTEEN KAYS YOU ARE AT THE TOP OF THE VILLAGE. FROM HERE YOU CAN SEE ACROSS THE LAGOON AND THE BAY. FROM HERE THERE ARE TWO KAYS OF STEEP DOWNHILL WHICH TEND TO DO DAMAGE TO KNEES.

Cathy and .... pass me. I take their pictures but stupidly delete when I open my phone next. As we run the final 4km we have to run through all these road puddles. This section of road is in particularly poor condition. We cannot move into the road to avoid puddles as there is a fair amount of traffic going up and down this main throughfare. The last 4kays is mainly a slight up hill and we have to work hard at a determined pace to avoid losing time.



CHECK OUT THIS STUNNING GROUP OF ACHILLEAN GIRLS. ALL FAST, ATHLETIC AND GOOD LOOKING EVEN WITHOUT LIPSTICK AND HAIRDO'S.

19kay marker board. This is a tough event. Long stretches with little respite. I run on. Left turn. 20km board. Straight and then another left turn. Finally we are on the home stretch. Another bump makes you work again. And then we are into the finish area.

KEN AND I ENJOY A COOL DRINK AT THE END OF THE RUN

I see Graham and Bob doing their "Warm Down". I am not sure what a warm down is as my only thought when I get to the finish is that I am finished. Tommy wanted to complete 100km of training this week and had an extra 5kay to do when he finished the 21. Tommy did his best time at 1:48 for a 21km. He is in training for both Oceans 56 and his second Comrades. This year it is a down comrades. Just as todays event is supposed to be down hill Comrades down run has an equal number of uphills compared to the Up Run.



ACHILLES TRAILER AND TENT. BRUCE AND PAULETTE SET UP THE TENT AND BRING OUT THE CHAIRS. COFFEE AND RUSKS ARE WELCOME AFTER THE RUN.

There are a whole bunch of Achilleans who have done this event and who are hovering around the trailer. Bruce manages to get changed and look like he is on his way to a wedding. He arranges the chairs and the Gazebo and soon there is coffee being poured for the weary runners. Tommy and I leave after a coffee and rusk. Tommy is keen for a Burger. I am on a "no meat" diet for Lent but he manages to arrange a Vegetarian Burger at the Steers. I pay a quick visit to our J-bay shop. They are all excited to see me as they had passed me on their way to work from Humansdorp.


TOMMY AT THE FINISH OF THE KOUGA KUS 21KM. HE POINTS OUT THAT DRAFT BEER IS JUST R16 WHILE THE PRICE AT A BREWERY IN PE IS R28. SHARP EYES THIS MAN HAS.

Tommy and I ride back in the rain. In PE it is still thunder and lightning. There is a Rugby festival at Grey. Michael wants to go but the rain puts a damper on everything.

The children have a Playstation and sit playing a game.

DANIEL; JESSICA AND JOSHUA HARD AT WORK BATTLING THE STAR WARS ON THEIR PLAYSTATION


Barbara buys the Weekend Post and brings herself up to date with the latest news.

BARBARA AT HOME READING THE WEEKEND POST WHILE WE LISTEN TO THE SOUND OF THE RAIN AND THUNDER OUTSIDE

I have a business target to make and receive reports from managers to say that we have made our targets.
The rain stops for a while and we are able to watch rugby at Grey where Grey beats SACS.


This has been a good Saturday. The overnight torrential rain and the day of thunder and lightning did not spoil the activities of the day at all as we were able to spend most of the day outdoors.

SEAVIEW 24KM TRAINING RUN 21 MARCH 2012

ADRIENNE SHOWS SOME LEG:

Whoo Whee cry the men as they run past this sexy chic.


SEAVIEW 24KM TRAINING RUN: 21 MARCH 2012. HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IN RSA.
Adrienne Wilson
Pat Scheepers
Gerald Scheepers
Ronel Scheepers
Andre Mulder
Chris Darke
Mike Magson
Fred Allebone
Allan Taylor
Elloise
Ernie Verral
Les Barnes
Michael Bester

A small group of us meet for a training run at Seaview this morning. Pat and Ronel meet at our house and then I collect Andre and Adrienne. This is a training run organised by PE Club for the runners training for Two Oceans and Comrades. We pay our R20 and get going. We go off in the direction that I am used to from many years ago when we would do this run on a regular basis and when it was a formal half marathon. Andre, Adrienne, Pat and I get what we plan to be a head start of around 15 minutes. But unbekown to us the run is in the opposite direction. The official route is up the Main Seaview Road to Cows Corner and then Down the three sisters back to Maitlands mouth.



GERALD SECONDING FROM THE BAKKIE WAS A BIT OF A LIFE SAVER WHEN WE HAD NO WATER ON THE ROUTE.

I start to become a little concerned as we are running and not seeing any seconding nor are the fast runners coming past us. We press on and up the Maitlands Hill past Beach View Resort and over the top. We are enjoying the morning and being out on this most beautiful route. The Ocean is perfect. Flat with gulls doing the fishing. We see a number of fishermen with their rods. This is not what I think is fun but everyone has their own idea of fun. I am sure that the fishermen love this activity. Adrienne spots Dolphins. There is a big school of Dolphins enjoying the morning. I am reminded that there were some recent pictures of Killer Whales off Schoenmakers Kop recently. For us this makes the morning even more special.


ADRIENNE SPOTS SOME DOLPHINS. SURFERS MUST HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME ON THESE BEACHES.


WE RUN INTO THE SUN. STARTING AT JUST AFTER SIX AM THIS IS A STUNNING TIME TO BE OUT ON THIS WONDERFUL ROAD WITH A SEA VIEW TO DIE FOR.

These pics are taken as we crest the top of one of the long hills leading to the T Junction of the Three Sisters Road.


PETER


PAT


ANDRE


ADRIENNE

The sun is rising and we start to enjoy the early morning rays of warmth. Gerald drives up to us and tells us that we have "gone the wrong way" --- OOOps that is my fault. Fortunately for us he has some coke and water and we are able to hydrate. This route is fairly hilly even after the Sardinia Bay hill we are confronted with a good number of hills leading up to the T junction.


OUR GROUP AT THE TURNING POINT -- WE ESTIMATE THAT THIS MUST BE AROUND 10 TO 12 KAYS INTO THE RUN.


The T Junction is our planned destination at this stage. A number of cyclists pass us. I am really not sure how they have the strength to cycle up these hills. We see them ahead as they ride up the first of the Three Sisters.


T JUNCTION LEADING TO THE THREE SISTERS HILLS

At the T junction we meet up with a seconding vehicle. One of the men doing the seconding won a trip to London to run the London Marathon. He tells us that he is one of only a few South Africans who own this medal. They give us some coke and water. We take a couple of Pics and then turn around the way that we came. None of the front runners have caught us yet. So we press on down to where Gerald is seconding (15km Marker). The front runners start to overtake us. Michael Bester is in the leading group. Allan Taylor running with Michael Magson passes me. Davera had a baby recently and is probably taking it easy. Fred, Chris and other Achilleans pass me in the final stretch.

Adrienne announces that she plans to mainly walk from Geralds Seconding table. Andre joins her while Pat and I press on and up the Maitlands hill for the second time. I am determined to not walk so I put my head down and work up and up to the top of this hill. Adrienne reminded me earlier of the days when we would come to the sea front here for our training runs. They were some of the best training runs that we ever did. We would have a combi full of people and take turns in driving to the next three km mark. Fun days those. Of course we were younger and fitter.



ERNIE VERRAL SECONDING TEAM WITH JUST A FEW KAYS TO GO FROM HERE TO THE FINISH

Over the top of Maitlands Hill and down the other side to where I see Ernie Verral and a team of seconders. I am surprised to see that the fast runners do not stop for a drink of water. This is a training run and I would have thought that time was not important. Not so with these runners. They are determined and fast. I stop for a quick chat and then wait for Pat as she comes down the hill. We then press on and I again determine to not walk so run to the finish. I think that some of the front runners wonder why I am in this position. I dont bother to explain our "mistake" which turned out to be just right for our pace and distance.

I jump in the car and ride back for about a Km before picking up Andre and Adrienne. They were by now in sight of the cars at the end. We do not hang around and after a welcome cold drink of coke or cream soda we head back home. It has been a stunning outing and this little group had a great morning excersize.


SEAVIEW HILL

MARCH 2012; ADDO TRAIL RUN; EAST CAPE NIPPERS; HOCKEY IN GEORGE; ALLY PLAYS FOR PEARSON WATER POLO; NORM HUDLIN CYCLING; SEAVIEW TRAINING RUN.

ARON DRAWS ON THE BEACH AT MOSSEL BAY



JOSHUA AND DANIEL WATCHING RUGBY AT THE GREY FESTIVAL. WET AND MUDDY FIELDS MAKE FOR A SCRAPPY GAME WON BY GREY AGAINST SACS 32-12. WATCHING RUGBY AT GREY IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SATURDAY AFTERNOON RELAXATION ACTIVITIES. TODAY IS SPECIAL AS I HAVE MICHAEL, JOSHUA AND DANIEL JOINING ME.


PETER AND JACQUI IN THE JUNGLE OF THE ADDO TRAIL RUN 50KM KIRKWOOD TO ZUURBERG

MARCH 2012

EAST CAPE NIPPER CHAMPS
PLETTENBERGBAY
3RD MARCH 2012

ADDO TRAIL RUN
KIRKWOOD TO ZUURBERG AND ADDO
10TH MARCH 2012

ALLY TRIES OUT FOR THE PEARSON U16 TOURING HOCKEY TEAM AND MAKES IT INTO THE SQUAD
ALLY IS IN THE PEARSON U15 WATERPOLO TEAM AND SCORES THE FINAL GOAL OF THE SEASON.
HOCKEY IN GEORGE
JACQUI GIVES BIRTH TO TOM ON 31ST MARCH FRIDAY EVENING AT 7PM
NICKY AND HER FAMILY IN MOSSEL BAY FOR HOLIDAY
MICHAEL HAS A SWEETS STAND AT A SCHOOL FOOD FESTIVAL
RUGBY FESTIVAL AT GREY
NIPPERS NATIONALS AT KINGS BEACH
KOUGA KUS HALF MARATHON


March 2012
I was in East London for business this week. Friday back at work and get the trailer and stuff ready for our trip to Plettenbergbay on Saturday morning. Ally stays over with Meldon. Jessica, Joshua and Daniel travel to Plett with us. We leave at 5.30am and go straight to the beach. Here we spend the next two days. Even though Ally is no longer a Nipper it is a hectic two days. Our Grandchildren have a wonderful time on the beach.


SUMMERSTRAND CAMP AREA AT PLETT EAST CAPE NIPPER CHAMPS MARCH 2012

On Sunday the awards always takes longer than planned. Getting the results ready is not an easy task. Finally Ant Cox hands out the medals and we are able to leave around 14.30. As we drive out of the beach area a car speeds past us in the left lane and loses control and smashes into an oncoming bakkie which rolls before coming to a stop in the road. No one has external injuries.

We hitch up the trailer and take a slow easy drive back to PE. No incidents.
Monday morning I head off to Queenstown for the next three days. I get back on Wednesday evening in time to watch the final waterpolo game of the season.


ALLY HAS HOCKEY TRIALS AT PEARSON AND MAKES IT INTO THE U16 TOURING TEAM FOR THE END OF MARCH DURING THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.


FINAL WEDNESDAY EVENING LEAGUE GAME OF THE SEASON; PEARSON HAS HAD AN AWESOME SEASON AND THIS IS NO EXCEPTION AS THEY BEAT ALEXANER ROAD HIGH SCHOOL



JUST AFTER THIS ALLY TAKES THE BALL AND SWIMS IT UP TO THE GOAL WHERE SHE SCORES THE FINAL GOAL OF THE WATERPOLO SEASON 2012.


Thursday and Friday are hectic. Cathy tells us that she is pregnant. This will be her first child. Jacqui is also due to have her third baby and it seems that this baby will be born a month premature. Barbara books her ticket to Israel for 11th April. Ally is in the final 20 of the Pearson Hockey team going on tour later this month. She has been working so hard to make it to the final cut as it is her dream to go on this tour. Ally loves touring with the school. Friday afternoon Ally has the last of the trials and this evening plays a strong and forceful game. Either it is this game or previous trials but she makes the final squad for the Pearson U16 touring team.

ALLY HAS HOCKEY TRIALS AT PEARSON AND MAKES IT INTO THE U16 TOURING TEAM FOR THE END OF MARCH DURING THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.



Saturday morning I am up very early, fetch Jacqui Zeelie and we drive to Addo for the 50km trail run. We have a tough ten hours on the trail but make it to the end. Sunday moring I am surprisingly steady and make it to Nipper training where I am able to jog with the Nippers and swim as well. Ally is on Beach Lifeguard Duty and is kind of left alone to patrol the beach.





JACQUI ZEELIE LOOKS WELL ON THIS GREULING 50KM ADDO TRAIL RUN.

Sunday and it is back to normal with Nippers training.

Monday -- Graaff Reinet
Wednesday -- JHB
Thursday -- East London
Friday -- supper and bridge with Charles and Ingrid: this is how we love to spend an evening. Good Friends, Ingrid is a really good cook and entered Master Chef SA and made it into the next round but decided to pull out as it would mean too much time away from home.

Saturday 17 March -- Cathy comes to visit: it is raining in the morning so I am slack and miss my morning run.
Sunday 18th; Kevin and I cycle at Kragga Kamma Norm Hudlin. There are very few cyclists and we hear that there is a race organised at Hopewell farm today. Fortunately for us two cyclists pass us and clear the trail of the spider webs. The spiders are quite nasty looking at times so we are happy to have a more or less clear trail. Still I often feel the web in my face from time to time. After the cycle I realise how unfit I am for MTB. I am exhausted and sore. We had ridden at an easy pace but still I was muscle weary.

KEVIN ON THE NORM HUDLIN TRAIL


Stefan and Nicky bought a "new" car this month: the Audi looks as feels so very smart. They had also planned to find a new combi but were not satisfied with the vehicle that they saw so put the purchase on hold.


STEFAN'S NEW AUDI



PAT AND GERALD MARRIED 40 YEARS THIS MONTH



NICKY HOUSE AND ENTERTAINMENT AREA
Sunday: Ally has Duty and I take her to Summerstrand as soon as I get back from the MTB ride. There is a National Triathlon champs on at Summies today. We get to see the Age Groupers going off as well as the Elite taking part. Rob Ermes uses this as a qualifier to go to the World Champs in New Zealand in September this year. Rob did not have his greatest ride but still was 8th which should qulify him to represent SA. It was a real pleasure to see these top athletes in action.


Monday:;I have not run with the MPRG for a while as I have been away a lot recently. So this morning I am pleased to be in the group again. We do the Town / back of Collegiate run this morning. Elloise is a recent runner to join us. She and Andrew charge up the hill. Pat reminds me that she was first up the hill last week. Monday evening we have a really good Cell Group discussion.

Tuesday I run with Elloise. She is an OT and friend of Letitia who was on the Addo run with us a week ago. Tuesday evening Ally has water polo practice and an information session afterwards. Hadyen Skinner takes us all through some of the rules and Fouls. There is a Foul, an Exclusion Foul and then there is a violent foul (Cap Off) which takes the player out of the pool but can be substituted and lastly a bad violent foul where the player is out of the pool but no substitute allowed.
If the foul is in the 2 meter zone then they have to First play out of the zone before a goal may be played. If in the 5 meter zone then a goal can be scored if in all one movement. And if the foul is outside the 5 meter zone then a goal can be scored from the foul. There are so many variations and rules that make the game interesting. I will have to start to learn these rules and intracacies.

Wednesday morning it is a public holiday and a small group of us join an organised training run from Seaview.


ADRIENNE SPOTS A SCHOOL OF DOLPHINS IN THE OCEAN BELOW US ON THE MAITLAND HILL


I AM NOT SURE IF ADRIENNE WAS HOPING THAT SOME CHAP WOULD SEE HER SEXY LEGS AND THEN OFFER A LIFT HOME BUT IN THE END SHE HAD TO RUN WITH THE REST OF US



Thursday morning we do a short run. I think that all of us are a little tired from the Wednesday efforts.
Friday is a rest day and a bit of a sleep in is enjoyed by our family. Today I go to Humansdorp for work. This is the first of four trips that I plan to take along this route.


KENNY; BOB; GRAHAM AND PETER P AT KOUGA KUS 21KM.

Saturday morning is the Kouga Kus 21km from Humansdorp to Jeffreys bay. Tommy and I go out to J Bay where we meet the Achilles group. We get a lift to Humansdorp in the back of Bruce's bakkie. We have a good run this morning: Tommy does his best time ever for a 21kay. This is good training for his plans to run Two Oceans and Comrades.


JOSHUA AND DANIEL WATCHING RUGBY AT THE GREY FESTIVAL. WET AND MUDDY FIELDS MAKE FOR A SCRAPPY GAME WON BY GREY AGAINST SACS 32-12


JOSHUA AND DANIEL AT RUGBY. GREY NUMBER 11 -- PIETERSEN -- THE CHAMPION SPRINTER WHO IS THE MAIN TRY SCORER FOR GREY TODAY.

It has rained solidly for the past 24 hours and everything is saturated. We had planned to watch Rugby at the Grey Festival but the rain kept us indoors. Until around 3.30pm when the sun started to shine and I took Michaels two boys: joshua and Daniel to the rugby with me. Grey played SACS (South African College High School -- a boys school in Newlands Cape Town) and after a very muddy, wet game the score was in favour of the local team 32-12. Michael joins us a little into the game. I sit with Ross Kobus. This evening was a home evening as the rain came down again. Pizza's for supper.

Sunday morning it seems like it will start to dry out today. I skip the morning cycle. I am stil a bit tired after a hard week of training. This morning we have Nippers training. It is school holidays and not many of the Nippers are there for training. We have selected the Nippers taking part at Nationals and the teams are all but finalised. Church this evening led by Tim Marshall.
Monday I have to be in East London for a meeting. Driving there and back including a day of work is never easy but at present there are road works and this makes the drive tougher and longer.

Tuesday 27th. I am up and running early and have a good run with our Slow Group. Wednesday I take my car in for service. Thursday evening at the Pavilion at Grey. Hayden Skinner is giving us Water Polo lessons: rules and tactics. Really interesting. He is very knowledgeable on this game. I have enjoyed the last two meetings that he has presented. This afternoon I took the trailer to Summies where Ally and John helped me load the trailer and we dropped it off at Kings Beach for the Nationals that starts on Friday.



SUMMERSTRAND NIPPERS TEAM AT NATIONAL KINGS BEACH MARCH 2012


U14 NIPPER NATIONALS SPRINT TEAM ON THE PODIUM

Friday 30th. Nipper Nationals. Kings Beach. Starts 8am. Ally leaves for George with the Pearson Bus. I stayed at the beach until after the Inter Regional Competition was over. Jamie did well in her swim: second I think; Craig and Andrew won the Individual sprints for EP and Craig's relay team won the Beach Relay. Erica was second in Flags while Craig won the Flags for U14EP team.

The Nipper Parents started to arrive and I felt Okay to leave for George. Barbara collected me and we left at around 3PM. Our drive was at times through driving rain. So much rain was falling that as the wipers separated the water the Lights of other cars would come on and then switch off. It was a strange sensation. Jacqui was admitted into a hospital. From what I can make out it must be near to home in Binyamina and have a sea view of the Medditerranean Sea. Jacqui's baby was only due in around two or three weeks time but she was having a hard time of this pregnancy and started contractions. Barbara remains in touch via What's Up and other social Media. The family seems to be able to talk to each other continuously on these phone connections.

As we are driving to Plett this evening; Nicky and family are driving to Mossel Bay and Patrick and family driving to Coffee Bay to visit Isabella who now lives near to Hole in the Wall on the Transkei coast where she teaches Maths. She lives in a family bungalo with local people.

We arrived in Plett to join Ena for a Pasta Supper. I am reading Stieg Larsson: the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". This is one of the best books that I have read in some time. Best meaning; cant wait to pick it up and start reading again. After breakfast on Saturday Morning we left for George.


As we are driving to George this morning; Nicky and family are driving to Mossel Bay and Patrick and family driving to Coffee Bay to visit Isabella who now lives near to Hole in the Wall on the Transkei coast where she teaches Maths. She lives in a family bungalo with local people.



ALLY HOCKEY TEAM PLAYS DSG AND WITH AN UNINSPIRED PLAY ARE FORTUNATE TO LOSE 2-1. SEEM TO LACK DRIVE AND FINISH.


ALLY PEARSON U15 HOCKEY TEAM IN GEORGE

In George we stopped to purchase two deck chairs and found the York School Astro just in time for the first game of the series. The only other Parent support was from Simone's parents: Mark and Mercia and little Brother. It was a bit of a chilly morning sitting on the stands. The game was not inspiring. Tense but not a wonderful display by our team. Cameron Riddle and Anke Spies were both missing from the team. Lara Swanepoel was a replacement and played well. Katlin has recently moved to Pearson and is an asset to this team. Her energy is inspiring. Our team lost 2-1.

NICKY ON THE BEACH


MIA DRAWS PICTURES ON THE SAND


MOSSEL BAY ISLAND IN THE BACKGROUND, THE WATER IS SURPRISINGLY WARM AND WE ALL ENJOY A SWIM


NICKY'S CHILDREN AT THE MOSSEL BAY BEACH. THIS AREA IS CALLED DIAZ STRAND.


BARBARA LOVES BEING ON THE BEACH WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN

Nicky and her family had driven from Cape Town - Also in driving rain -- and were staying at a friend's holiday home in Mossel Bay. We checked into our Bungalo accommodation at Mountain View and then drove through to Mossel Bay. We stopped to pick up some provisions and then headed off to find the place where Nicky was staying. We drove all the way through Mossel Bay to the Light House before we realised that we were totally off course.

ZARA MOSSEL BAY BEACH WITH A MISSING TOOTH


ZARA PLAYS ON THE BEACH AT MOSSEL BAY

A phone call helped to sort this out and finally (by luck) we found their house. Derrick and Stephanie were the host family who were staying with their own family in another house. We walked down to the beach which is really close if not visible from this home. Here the children played in the sand before deciding that the water was irrisistable and we all had a swim. I always have my costume under my shorts so was prepared for the swim. The water was surprisingly warm. Later this afternoon I had a bit of a nap while trying to finish the book that I am reading.

Back in George we bought the ingredients for a Pasta and Veg supper which we cooked up in our Bungalow. During this, Barbara was on the phone with Jacqui in Israel where the doctors had decided that she should be operated on Now as the contractions had become too close and regular. Jacqui had a C-Section and gave birth to Tom at around 7PM.

There was a huge sign of relief and we were able to watch Ally's second game of the tournament. The game was the last of the day at the York Astro and started at 7.30pm. The Pearson side played Hudson (East London) and although they played a far better game they still lost 2-1. They were fortunate to have scored one goal as they appeared to be timid to attack the opposition and also had no finishing power.


EVENING HOCKEY AT THE YORK SCHOOL ASTRO


HOCKEY IN GEORGE; PATRICK IN COFFEE BAY - HOLE IN THE WALL WITH ISABELLA; JACQUI GIVES BIRTH TO TOM IN ISRAEL; MICHAEL RUNNING A STAND AT A SCHOOL FESTIVAL IN PE; CATHY PREGNANT WITH FIRST CHILD IN CAPE TOWN; NICKY STAYING AT A FRIEND'S HOLIDAY HOUSE IN DIAZ BEACH MOSSEL BAY; NIPPERS NATIONALS IN PE; STORMERS BEAT THE BULLS SUPER 14 RUGBY AT NEWLANDS; SUCH A BUSY TIME.


ALLY HAS A MUCH BETTER GAME THIS EVENING. WE PURCHASE EAR PLUGS FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FULL NIGHT SLEEP. LAST NIGHT SHE DID NOT SLEEP WELL IN A SCHOOL DORMITORY - NOISE OF OTHER CHILDREN AND SNORING OF HER TEAM MATES.


ALLY LOVES THE TOURING LIFE WITH HER FRIENDS. I AM SURE THAT IT IS THESE TOURS THAT MAKE HER TRY TO ACHIEVE IN SPORT.


ALLY HAS A BETTER EVENING GAME AGAINST HUDSON THAN THIS MORNING'S GAME AGAINST DSG.

There was a Rugby Game on as well this evening. Blue (Pink) Bulls played the Stormers at Newlands. The Stormers took an early lead but the Bulls pulled back and with just minutes to spare the score was 17 all. At this time the Bulls had an illegal scrum in their own half and the Stormers made full use of this to pull ahead with a 20-17 win. We watched this last part of the game in a recreation room at the school. I ordered us a drink and found to my surprise that the beers were free to parents. In addition they were braaiing and the supper was also Free. Barbara took advantage of this and enjoyed a seond supper of Steak, Potato salad, Green salad and garlic bread. I had had a large helping of Pasta earlier on.

Back at our bungalow we had a coffee and fell into a comfortable and undisturbed sleep.

It has been a busy month of March 2012. Non stop activity. And it ends with a new member of the family being born in Israel. Jacqui's first two children; Emily and Annabelle were both born in London while Jacqui and Michael were living there. We have a truly international family. Next will be Cathy's child which is due around November this year.