PETER GIDDY.: AUGUST 2013 ; ALLY HOCKEY; WOODRIDGE TRAIL RUN; THORNHILL FARM WITH DELENE; LAUNCH OF PARKRUN WITH BRUCE FORDYCE; BOB NORRIS AND ROSALIND WILSON; BUSHMANS WITH DU TOITS; ALLY HAS A KNEE OPERATION;

SATURDAY 10TH; BARBARA AND I DRIVE TO BUSHMANS RIVER WHERE WE JOINED INGRID AND CHARLES FOR THE EVENING. HERE WE ARE ON THE AFTERNOON WALK NEXT TO THE RIVER.

ALLY HAS PLAYED SO MUCH HOCKEY THIS SEASON; PEARSON U16A; ACADEMY AND PREM B FOR COLLEGIANS.

AUGUST 2013
HOCKEY UMPIRES TEST --- PASS
ALLY HAS MORE HOCKEY WITH ACADEMY; PREM B AND PEARSON
RUGBY AT FRAMESBY
WOODRIDGE TRAIL RUN
SATURDAY MORNING BEACH RUN
ALLY BIRTHDAY
37 WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
THORNHILL FARM
RUGBY VS SELBORNE AT GREY
PE PARKRUN AT HOBIE BEACH
BUSHMANS RIVER WITH CHARLES AND INGRID (IRMA AND GERHARD)

My knees and legs are trying to tell me something. One day I am in real trouble with swollen knees and painful patella. And then the next day I am able to walk and run normally.

Thursday 1st August. Injured again. What a bore! I walk to the run in the morning knowing that I will just have to walk home again. Fortunately my 8 1/2 month pregnant friend, Svenje, is there and we are able to walk for almost an hour. Ally has a water project so I ask my Neighbour, Keith, for some borehole water, we buy a bottle of water and take a third sample from the tap. I will be interested to know the outcome of the experiment.

Ally tells me that there is a difference. Perhaps to the chemical eye but I am not convinced to the taste. The borehole water comes from our neighbours who us this water simply for Garden and pool top up. I drink tap water all day every day. I think that it is good for our system to have some impurities in the water. The bottled water turned out to be completely neutral.

I fetch Ally from school as see that her name is on an Honours board for being part of an EP squad in Sport:

PEARSON HIGH SCHOOL. PICTURES OF THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED EP TEAMS.

ALLY IS ON THE WALL FOR HER WATER POLO EP STATUS.

Friday morning I tried to run. Useless! My knees are swollen and sore again. Jogged and walked a bit. This evening I tried to put the TENS machine and some gel and anti inflammatory pills. I am feeling a bit despondant right now.

THE REFLECTIVE TOPS WE WEAR CERTAINLY MAKE US VISIBLE IN THE EARLY MORNING.

ANDRE; SJANI; ANNE AFTER THE RUN

JOHN KNOWS THE TWO DEFENCE MEN FROM HIS EAST LONDON DAYS

GROUP PHOTO: PETER; JOHN; STUART; NEIL; ELMARIE; VIV; MEGAN; DEFENCE; SJANI; SUSAN; GERALD; ANNIE; JACKIE; DEFENCE AND ADRIENNE

AS WE HAD OUR SWIM THE SUN RISES OVER THE OCEAN. ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING PARTS OF THE RUN ARE THE MAGIC MOMENTS LIKE THIS

JOHN AND NEIL WITH ANNE AND SJANI

SJANI TRIES TO REARRANGE JOHNS FACE

GROUP PHOTO OF RUNNERS; WALKERS AND RUNNERS ABOUT TO START

Saturday morning; Beach front run. We cut the run short this morning. Along the beach road; Up Walmer boulevard; around the airport road and back along Strandfontein road. But here we cut down 2nd avenue instead of running to Admiralty. Adrienne and I had a swim after the run. This morning was quite special as we met the two Defence runners. Then at the end of the run we met up with John, Gerald, Sjani and Susan who had walked. Finally Megan and Jackie joined us just as they were about to start their run.

PLENTY OF EXCITEMENT AT FRAMESBY THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Saturday afternoon: I had been looking forward to this match: Framesby vs Grey. I dropped Ally off at her friend Kern Human and then collected Stuart. We were joined by Ron and watched some of the most entertaining rugby we had seen in ages. The game swung from Grey to Framesby and then with 11 points separating the teams and with 8 minutes to spare Grey scored 18 points to take the lead and win the game. This is rugby.

THERE WAS A GREAT VIBE AT THE GAME AT FRAMESBY THIS WEEKEND. RON; STUART AND I HAD A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON; ALSO AT RUGBY THIS AFTERNOON: PEET BOOYSEN; KEVIN; THOMAS; WARREN AND LEE; MARKUS; BOB; KENNY AND JENNY; AMANDA EBERSOHN WATCHING HER SON STEFAN WHO PLAYS IN THE SCRUM AND SCORED TWO TRIES LAST WEEK IN BLOEMFONTEIN;

I collected Ally, she made herself ready and we dropped her off at her friend before going to Wayne and Sonja for his 46th birthday. They have recently built a Braai Area. It was just right for this evening. A warm winters evening. At the braai was Kim; Irma who we had met around 20 years ago when she was friends of Ron and Lynn in Carnoustie ave.

Then I still had to collect Ally at Midnight from her friend as the first party had turned sour with some boys getting out of hand and drinking. I had put the Tens machine on my knee as it had been playing up. It seems that the machine had worked as on Sunday morning when I collected Adrienne for the Woodridge trail run, I was able to jog the whole way with absolutely no pain at all.

AT THE START OF THE WOODRIDGE RUN WITH PAT

WOODRIDGE TRAIL RUN AS WE APPROACH THE FINISH AT THE OF THE HILL

This afternoon Ally had an Academy game against Rhodes and then later this evening had a Prem B match at Gelvandale. The first match her team won comfortably and the evening game the Gelvandale team was simply too strong and beat Prem B 13:0.

JAMIE; HANNA AND ALLY AT THE RHODES MATCH AT THE NMMU ASTRO

AS MUCH AS I WANT TO I NO LONGER SHOUT "STICKS DOWN ALLY" SO HERE IS ALLY WITH STICKS UP!

Monday 5th morning. Up and out for the run but very slow and short. Cannot keep up with the group. Today I hear that I have passed the Hockey Umpires test. I am quite surprised and delighted. Ally has a power point presentation to do for school. This girl takes my computer and loads up the presentation and saves it to her flash drive. No assistance from her parents. I am quite impressed.
Ally has a doctors appointment for her sore knees. The doctor analyses the problem as excessive sport activity.

Tuesday, Ally has an early morning hockey practice so I must cut the run a bit short. She is not feeling well so I fetch her from school early. This gets her into trouble as she is not allowed to use her phone during school hours.

I fetch her new Samsung phone from MTN.

Cold Weather comes to SA. PE has a cold wind and some rain.

Wednesday 7th August. Our 37th Wedding anniversary and Ally's Birthday. Ally receives presents from Friends and from family.

table full of presents for Ally

Barbara and Ally having fun on this special day

LENE BROUGHT THE FAMILY TO CELEBRATE WITH ALLY AND OURSELVES

BARBARA LIGHTS THE CANDLES WHILE JOSHUA; DANIEL AND JESSICA LOOK ON

ALLY BLOWS OUT THE CANDLES

Thursday 8.8.2013; Now the cold has set in: Nicky has gone off to CERES for the weekend. Cathy is now in a flat of her own. Jacqui is in a hot Israel and moving to a new house soon. Rain falls at a heavy rate.

Friday 9th. Women's Day. Public holiday. Early morning run with Graham, Adrienne, ELMARIE, Bev, Pat and Annie. Gerald walks. Ally had a sleep over at SarahRose aa a birthday celebration with some friends. Still cold with a chilly west wind. Rugby at Grey vs Selborne.

WOODRIDGE TRAIL RUN. LIESL NIENABER HANDS OUT PRIZES.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON: I spent the afternoon at Grey watching rugby. I was with my three Grandchildren and Ally. Jessica joined me while Ally went off with her friends. Joshua and Daniel found some friends and spent most of the afternoon playing behind the score board on some foam barrier triangles and mattresses. During the afternoon it rained off and on but this did not dampen their enthusiasm for Play. Josh and Jess joined me a bit later and fortunately I had brought some blankets so could keep them warm

I was able to watch two of the Selborne games. The Second Team lost to Selborne. I was surprised to see the size of the East London boys. In this match they overwhelmed the Grey boys. In the main match, Grey had the upper hand, not so much as a result of their superior size but more in their ability to swing the ball out wide and allow their back line to run the ball. Tries were all scored after a reasonably long sprint by a back line boy. Grey 8th man CJ Vellerman (C) was also a pivotal player and a play maker.

Both matches were really entertaining rugby. The second game was part of the FNB Classic Series and was shown live on Television. As it happened the camera man scanned over the spectators and I appeared twice on screen. I was unaware of this at the time and received a phone call from Claire Breedtske who was in Cape Town at the time watching in a pub with Darryl and saw me with my two children on either side wrapped up in Blankies. I also received a couple of SMS's to say that people had seen me.

There was a good crowd of Boys and of Adults watching this game despite the fact that it was cold and wet.

After the rugby we took Lene and children to see the Thornhill farm. Matthew and Delene took us for a walk up the hill to a spot which could, potentially be, where we could build a log cabin in the future for our own use. Overlooking the land, hills and across the Indian Ocean to Jeffreys and St Francis bay.

SATURDAY 10 AUGUST 2013.

PORT ELIZABETH FIRST PARKRUN AT HOBIE BEACH.

STUART AND PAT RUNNING DOWN FIFTH AVE WITH THE MORNING SUNRISE IN PICTURE

A BIT LATER AT THE PARKRUN ARE GEORGEA AND JACKIE FINISHING

For our little running group we start the Saturday morning as we often do: Collect Adrienne at just after 5am; meet up with the group at Hobie Beach. This is an informal group of runners and walkers who love the PE Beach front and who enjoy the company of other runners for an early morning start. Running at this time is not for everyone but for us it suits us well as we then have the rest of the day ahead of us for our various acitivities and committments.

AT THE BACK MIKE, ANNIE AND SPEEDING PAST ARE RONEL AND NEIL

Saturday morning we did our normal Beach front run. Joining us this morning were: Stuart; Adrienne; Annie; Pat and Ronel; Elmarie; Mike and Neil. We did the loop up to the Airport and back via Strandfontein Road and then down 5th Ave Summerstrand to the beach front where we caught up with John and Gerald who had walked. I took some blurry photos in the early morning coming down 5th Ave towards the rising sun.

Stuart; Adrienne; Pat and Elmarie

On the promenade with the morning sun behind us are Annie; Adrienne; Peter; Neil; John; Stuart; Elmarie; Pat; Ronel; Mike. Gerald.

Elmarie meets up with John and Gerald on the promenade

Group photo with a rising sun behind us.

ELMARIE CONCENTRATES AS BRUCE GIVES DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE PARKRUN. PERHAPS THIS WILL INSPIRE ELMARIE TO RUN COMRADES WITH BRUCE?

After our Saturday morning run Adrienne and I had a swim; Pat arranged Tea and Coffee with Rusks and then we joined the inaugural Park Run at Hobie Beach. The run was organised by Pauline and Rosalind Wilson. Bob Norris and Bruce Fordyce came to the run to assist with the launch. As it turned out this morning was a perfect morning for a run.

The whole atmosphere of the parkrun is relaxed and informal. We start off in front of the Clubhouse and jog down towards Summerstrand and Something Good. Here we circle around the parking area and rejoin the promenade behind the Summies clubhouse. We jog towards the Lollipop Beacon where we are directed onto the beach. Ronel is just ahead of me and (though I did not realise it at the time) Elmarie is just behind me.

We run along the beach past the Pipe. This Section is a familiar run for me as I have done it many times with the Nippers training on Sunday Mornings. We wave to the rest of our group who as making thier way along the route past the Surfers Parking lot. I join up with Ronel when she waits for me. We climb back on to the walkway at Pollock Rocks and run the last section back to Hobie Beach.

I have to try hard to keep up with Ronel. Ron and Lyn are on the beach with Ron doing some aerobic antics. We finish the run back on the grassy patch just in front of the Blue Waters Cafe. Bruce took part in the event while Bob has an injury and was taking times. There are two Time Keepers and a bar code scanner at the finish. We had preregistered and printed out our Bar Codes which we brought along. It is a requisit for Parkrunners to have barcodes to allow the finishing times and number of runs to be recorded.

Bob tells me that this has been the second biggest number of runners for a Parkrun start up in SA. Around the world there are now 23 countries taking part and in SA we have 19 parkruns starting at 8am every Saturday morning. And already we have something like over 20 000 registered parkrunners. This morning we were about 170 finishing. I received an email on Sunday morning telling me that my time was 28;33. After the run and after a short chat with Bob regarding starting a second PE Parkrun, I joined Adrienne and John at Blue waters for a coffee. We met up with Burt and Catherine; Ironmen both of them.

Here are our two Running Legends: Gerald and Bruce at Hobie Beach. I think that Gerald has completed 25 Comrades Marathons and Bruce, after winning 9 of these grueling events is now planning to run his 30th Comrades marathon (90km of KZN hills between Durban and Pietermaritzburg). Gerald; I apologise that my shadow shields your face in this pic.

Bruce Fordyce and two lovely ladies; Georgea Muller and Jackie Strydom. These two girls have recently joined the MPRG and took part in this mornings activity on the Parkrun.

Bruce gives instructions explaining what the parkrun is all about. He is wearing a 50Parkrun T-Shirt. He has run 72 parkruns around the world and every SA park run. Bruce is the main coordinator of Park Runs in SA and was interested to hear that Gerald and Pat had bar codes originating from Bushy Park in the UK where Parkruns started. Pat and Gerald will leaving for UK in three weeks to visit John and Lisa and little Emily. They plan to take part in Local Park runs.

After the run Jackie and Georgea relax on the steps

Here is evidence of the Bushy park bar codes with Gerald; Pat; Bruce and Peter.

Georgea; Bruce and Jackie

Here is our group with Bruce on the promenade at the Hobie Beach Parkrun.

Pat had a good run and finishes strongly on the promenade.

Susan Burri joined us for the Parkrun. She finished with a run and was looking really strong.

Proof that Georgea and Jackie took part in the run. They look like they must have had a marvelous time on the run.

Here comes the MPRG; John; Annie; Gerald; Adrienne; and Peter DC who also joined in with the fun with Karrin.

One of the nice things about the Parkruns is that there is no Cut Off. Everyone who completes the 5k is considered to be a finisher. The rules are simple, the route is the same each week. The start time is 8am every Saturday morning. Registration is easy, on-line and is valid for any city in the world where there is a parkrun.

After the morning Hbie Beach Parkrun we drove through to Bushmans where we stayed for the night with Charles and Ingrid. As we left Anthony and Lana left. We sat relaxing in the warm afternoon winter sun until Ingrid suggested a walk down to the beach. We walked down the steps to the River and along the Bushmans River to the Estuary. The wind had turned and was blowing East. While in the sun it was quite warm but as soon as you were in a shaded area the East Wind made the afternoon quite chilly.

Barbara; Ingrid and Charles stide it out next to the River. It was low tide but the tide was starting to come in. And when the tide comes in the flow of water upstream is strong and clearly visible as we walked.

Little Yorkie; Thomas joined the group for a walk

Barbara and Ingrid wait patiently for Charles and I as we stopped to assist someone with a reel that had become entwined with gut.

Across the river we spotted a Giant Heron as he tried to catch fish.

Charles stopped to talk to some FIshermen who were using Rubber Lures instead of bait. This fasciinated Charles who enjoys fishing but has no time for the whole Bait thing and thought that these realistic looking (and Smelling) lures would suite him much better than pilchards or prawns.

Back at the house we were joined by Ingrid's Sister Irma and Gerrard. After some cold beverages we lit a fire in the front braai area and Gerrard took over with the grilling of the meat. Barbara and I had stopped at Alexandria to buy steaks. Mine was terrible and I left it. Fortunately Ingrid had baked some delicious Pumkin and made a special salad so there was more than enough for every one to eat.

Charles relaxing while Barbara has made herself quite cosy in the cane chair with a blankie.

Gerhard and Irma drove back to Uitenhage leaving at about 10pm. I feel for them as this is a long 90 minute drive in the night but they choose to do this as Gerhard has to be on his farm early on Sunday morning. He has a cattle farm north of Uitenhage which he is developing and growing. The farm needs constant attention and his laboureres and manager enjoy an active weekend in their home environments so Gerhard must take care of business during weekends.

Sunday morning it is a perfect sunny start to the day. Barbara and I relax in bed with a coffee and rusk until it becomes rude to be so unsociable.

DASSIE BARBARA RELAXED AT BUSHMANS ON SUNDAY MORNING

After a couple of hours of Dassie Behaviour we all went to a cafe for breakfast and then Barbara and I headed off back to PE. We stopped at the Coega Wind Turbine for a look see.

Some statistics: the blades are 45m and the diameter is 90m. total height is 140m and this single turbine is able to produce power enough for 2000 houses for a year. Nearby to this is the AGNI steel factory. This is a R40mil project.

45M WIND TURBINE BLADE OFF LOADED.

WHILE I WAS TAKING THESE PHOTO'S OF COEGA WIND TURBINE ASSEMBLY; DONALD WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING JUST THIS AT THE VAN STAADENS WIND FARM.

SOME STATISTICS REGARDING THE WIND TURBINES

MORE STATISTICS

Monday morning I drive through to Burgersdorp for business. The company recently opened a new shop here. I take the route past Cradock; Hofmeyer; Steynsburg. It is 430km drive. After working in Burgersdorp I drive to Middelburg where I stay in the Karoo Country Inn.
Hofmeyer; from here it is possible to find the White River Rafting set up. Probably around 300km from PE.

AFTER A 12 HOUR DAY AND 570KM OF DRIVING I FINALLY ARRIVE IN MIDDELBURG. THANKFULLY JUST BEFORE IT BECOMES DARK. THIS AREA IS DANGEROUS DUE TO THE KUDU IN THE EVENINGS. BOOK INTO THE KAROO COUNTRY INN. COUPLE OF B & C'S AND A SUPPER OF THAI CURRY CHICKEN AND PRAWNS. FLOP INTO BED TOTALLY EXHAUSTED.

IN HOFMEYER YOU ARE ABLE TO DO THE KAROO RIVER RAFTING. HOFFMEYER IS PROBABLY AROUND 300K FROM PE VIA CRADOCK. THEN THERE IS A FURTHER 40K OF DIRT ROAD TO THE CAMPSITE.

I am too tired to get out of bed on Wednesday morning so my next run is Thursday morning. Still chilly mornings but at least it is becoming light when I walk up to the gate after the run. Saturday 17th is our second time of doing the training run and then the Parkrun thereafter. Stuart and I run together on the Parkrun. I have kind of agreed to Co-host the PE run.

After the run I watch Jessica play hockey and then off to Westering for Pearson Rugby. This evening Ally has a Hockey match at Gelvandale and then a party afterwards.

Sunday Morning Ihave marshalling duty for Achilles.
The rest of the morning is pretty relaxed and Barbara and I have lunch with Mike & Barbie Perks and Fred and Penny Kohler.

Monday Barbara and I sort out the final bits of her trip to Canada. Tuesday morning I drop Barbara off at the airport. Later this morning she phones me regarding the Credit Card to say that the PIN number does not work. AND that she has left her INternational cash card at home. I post it off to her a bit later. But it will probably only reach her in about two weeks. Just in time for her return.

TUesday eve is our cell group. Wednesday eve is still Alpha.
Wednesday rain and strong winds. No run Thursday morning but I join Rosalind and the Parkrun team for a helpers run this evening.

ROSALIND WILSON AT THE HELPERS RUN THURSDAY EVENING

BLURRY PICS OF THE HELPERS RUN --- MID AUGUST IT IS DUSK BY 5;30PM

ROSALIND AND CATHERINE DO THE HELPERS RUN THURSDAY EVENING WITH PAULINE, HELENA AND NEVILLE

Friday: Ally goes in for her Athroscopy op at the eye and laser theatre. Amber had an op on Thursday and we paid a brief visit. Ally comes out of her op reasonably easily and we again visit Amber.

AMBER AND ALLY HAVE AN OP -- AMBER ON THURSDAY TO HER LEG AT GREENACRES HOSPITAL AND ALLY TO HER LEFT KNEE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT EYE AND LAZER HOSPITAL. AMBER HAS TO SPEND TWO NIGHTS WHILE ALLY WAS OUT BY 6PM. ALLY ENJOYS THE WHEEL CHAIR TO VISIT AMBER

PRE OPERATION AT THE EYE AND LAZER THEATER LOOKING QUITE CHEERFUL. AFTER THE ANESTHETIC ALLY WAS DROWSY AND DISORIENTATED BUT RECOVERED REASONABLY QUICKLY

WE WERE GIVEN COMPRESSIONS SOCKS TO MAINTAIN CIRCULATION IN THE LEGS. THE LEFT LEG HAS THE SCARS AND SLIGHT BLEEDING.

Saturday morning. Stuart, Adrienne, Pat, Rone and Helouise meet at Hobie beach for our run. We head into a brisk Westerly and then up Walmer Boulevard to the airport. Along Strandfontein, down Second ave and along Erasmus to Admiralty then back the the beach. Adrienne and I swim. I help Pauline, Ray and Rosalind to set up. Today there are a whole bunch of first time PARKRUNNERS. We change the start finish slightly. It turns out really well.

A BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY MORNING RUN. WEST WIND EARLY ON. RONEL AND HELOUISE PUSH THE PACE. ADRIENNE, STUART AND I FIGHT TO KEEP UP; PAT TURNED A LITTLE EARLY. SJANI WALKED.

AFTER A SWIM WE HAVE THE PARKRUN AT HOBIE BEACH WITH LOLO AND SUSAN -- LOLO IS A FIRST TIMER

KELSEY VAUGHN IS A STRONG ATHLETE AND DID A GOOD TIME THIS MORNING. JAMIE RIDDLE WAS SECOND OVERALL AND DID A PB.

ADRIENNE AND GERALD FINISHING THE PARKRUN FOR THE THIRD TIME.

WE CHANGED THE FINSIH AREA SLIGHTLY. GIVES THE RUN A LITTLE MORE EXPOSURE. THERE WAS A BIT OF A GLITCH WITH ONE SCANNER NOT WORKING BUT PARTICIPANTS REMAINED IN GOOD SPIRITS. WE ARE LEARNING ALL THE TIME.

RONEL AND PAT DID THE EARLY MORNING TRAINING RUN -- TODAY IT WAS 17K -- AND THEN THE PARKRUN. PAT SPOILS US WITH COFFEE AND RUSKS AFTER THE TRAINING RUN.

OUR LITTLE GANG OF CHRIS (FIRST TIME TO RUN IN A VERY LONG TIME); GERALD; RONEL; PAT AND ADRIENNE

MPRG GANG OF CHRIS; RONEL' GERALD; SJANI; HELOUISE, PAT AND ADRIENNE

MC EWAN GANG OF ELMARIE, PETER AND GRACE WITH FRIEND IN FRONT AND ROY AT THE BACK

RIDDLE FAMILY WITH CAMRYN; KELSEY; ALEC; MICHELLE AND THE REAL ATHLETE JAMIE

CHRIS TRIES TO EXPLAIN TO GERALD HOW REAL RUNNERS SHOULD DO THIS SPORT WITH TWIDDLE DEE AND TWIDDLE DEE DUM.

I then spend the rest of the day at Sappershoek with the Alpha team.

DANIEL WAS AT MELISSA RIORDAN'S CHILD (MIKE) 8TH BIRTHDAY PARTY WHILE I WAS AT SAPPERSHOEK FOR THE ALPHA SPIRIT WEEKEND

DANIEL AT MIKE RIORDAN 8TH BIRTHDAY PARTY AT SCHOENIES

HERE WE GO ZOOMING ALONG ON THE DONKEY CART WITH ALL OUR FRIENDS. WHAT A BLAST.

JESSICA WAS IN A CLARENDON PARK HOCKEY TEAM WITH LESLIE BOSHOFF'S DAUGHTER. ON OUR LEFT OF JESSICA

The week that followed contained some emotional distress. And some running highs as I am able to jog at a reasonable pace in the mornings, spiritual highs as I am part of a wonderful cell group and fulfilling Alpha group. Barbara is in Canada for Raylenes wedding. Ally is on Crutches. Threats of attack by Syria on Israel. Cape family with their fair share of struggles.

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Ally faithfully attends polo practice at school even though she cannot train with the team. In the end she is a bit upset that she is not going to be part of the tournament at the end of September. My life, with Barbara being away, is busy with fetching and carrying Ally, to school, sport, shops, doctor, dance, hockey.
Friday 30th. Drop Ally at school, fetch her after DT, take her back to polo and dance, do the parkrun course at night on my own, fetch her from dance, pass out!
Saturday 31st, running group meet at 5;30 at Hobie beach, run the route to Walmer Boulevard, Airport, Strandfontein road, see a Plasma TV being loaded into a car, man running from bushes, certainly stolen property, Second ave, Erasmus dr, Admiralty and back along the beach front.
Pat has coffee and Rusks. I help out with the Parkrun. It is a cold and windy morning but we have 200 runners this morning. Fetch Ally, collect her ID book (much to her distress as she does not enjoy these public places), drop her at Polo practice, visit Rosalind, Pauline and Ray and learn how to do the Parkrun admin. Fetch Ally from polo. Collect the Colour run numbers.

Meanwhile LENE is in the Baviaanskloof camping with the family.

Have a short sleep. Then we go to hockey at Gelvandale where Ally's Acadamey team win their final game to win the league. This team lost the first match of the year against Rhodes and have not lost a game since then. The parents have become quite a little social group and the team members seem to have bonded well. We hope that somehow they can stick together as a group next year.

We then fetch a wheel chair for Ally so that she can take part in the colour run on Sunday morning.
I am so tired when I get to bed that night.
Later tonight, in Canada, Barbara is with Dawn and Richard to celebrate Raylene's wedding.
Ron and Lyn are in the UK for Craig's wedding.