JACQUI AND HER FAMILY ARRIVE IN PE
UNCLE JUMBO'S CHRISTMAS PARTY
CHILDREN AT ONE DAY FUN DAY -- HOLIDAY CLUB.
WE ALL GO OFF TO PLETT FOR A DAY TO SEE ENA
I AM RUNNING AND SWIMMING -- IN BETWEEN INJURIES.
LIFEGUARD DUTY AND SWIMMING FOR TRIATHLON TEAM
HOGSBACK TRAIL RUN
NICKY AND FAMILY ARRIVE IN PE
CATHY AND FAMILY ARRIVE IN PE
WERNER AND JOHN ARRIVE IN PE
ALLY SPENDS A WEEK IN PLETT WITH HER FRIEND MEGAN.
IAN SPENCE CELEBRATES HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY WHICH IS 18TH JAN BUT CELEBRATED EARLY WITH ALL HIS FAMILY IN PLETT.
I RESIGN AS PARKRUN DIRECTOR
The whole of the South African family has been waiting so long for Jaqui; Emily; Annabell and Tom to arrive. So when I go to collect them from the airport; I have to give a minute by Minute update on the family What's up group. My first encounter is amazing -- the two girls recognize me and this prompts Tom who also rushes up to me with a hug.
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| THURSDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2014. THE LONG AWAITED DAY ARRIVES AS JACQUI AND HER FAMILY LAND IN PORT ELIZABETH. |
I have to go to George for business so we use this opportunity to take the family to Plett for a day visit with Ena. Lene brings Jessica. The two boys are most upset that they are missing out but they still have a few days of school to finish.
Ena and Jacqui and Lene are able to spend some time together as they have tea and chat. Ena is keen to hear all of Jacqui's news. Jacqui explains to me that Ena has amazing long term memories but gets confused regarding recent (today) events and activity. She becomes mixed up about who is there. This is due to memory but also as her vision and hearing are so poor.
They do some walking about the village and Emily and Jessica have their ears pierced.
I am trying to stay as fit as I am able but the family activity; work travel and sore Achilles Tendon and knees make running difficult. I am also trying to get to the Newton Park swimming pool as much as I am able -- here the main obstacle is that I like to do this in the day and it is not always easy to take an hour during the day.
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| THIS YEAR BARBARA DECIDED TO PLACE THE CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE PASSAGE FRONT DOOR AREA. Mike Perks turned 60 this week and I was invited to celebrate at his home. The evening was well supported and Barbie made us a delicious supper. At the party I spent time with Charles and Ingrid. Ingrid spent three months in the UK doing Caring work. I also met up with Trevor Kay (he led our first hiking trip to the Fish River canyon and at the last minute allowed Michael to come along); Andrew Dunn; Nigel Webb; Brad Sharp -- some of the people who I have not seen for a long time. |
ANNABELL AT UNCLE JUMBO'S CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH HER PRESENT.
The three families go to the Uncle Jumbo's Christmas party. Lene; Jacqui and ourselves. We get there early but all the bales of straw are taken. This year the function is in Heather Bank. We park and ride a short distance to the Tent on the back of a tractor. We find ourselves a reasonable spot and the children all go off to play.
Uncle Jumbo's has not changes AT ALL since we used to take our four children down to the back end of Happy Valley. Just the Venue and the fact that there is now a huge tent. The story line; Tinkerbelle and the rest of the gang are exactly as they used to be. Mr Plod the policeman is now Ms Plod.
The band arrives and takes the children for a Marching session around the tent. Parents sit around on the bales of hay and on deck chairs eating their picnic supper and enjoying AB's. (red; white and golden flavours).
Saturday 6th.
I have "seconding duties" for Achilles on the marathon event on Saturday Morning and then have all day lifeguard duties at Summies. Unfortunately the wind makes the day quite miserable.
Sunday morning is the last Nippers session for the year. We have a good group and do our normal running and swimming even though the water is wild as a result of days of East Winds.
Later on Sunday we go out to visit Delene and Matthew. I take Ally and Carrie (Karen's daughter) for some driving lessons on the single road next to the farm.
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| Carols at Walmer Methodist. This evening there were two carols events. One was being organized by Lizette Owen. Last year Barbara and I were with the Mill Park group and walked from house to house singing carols. This year Lizette arranged to meet at the park where they had an hour of picnic and carols. We opted for the WMC evening where they had a Picnic and then carols. We had decided to skip the picnic as our family had supper at home early. We were last to arrive in the church but somehow managed to find front row seats. And the children were right under the feet of the presenters. |
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| Annabell and her candle; This may have been new to her but she took it all in and enjoyed the evening. |
Thursday 11th; Morning Target Kloof run. I have sore Achilles Tendon and sore knees and take it easy at the back of the group.
The church has a "One Day Fun Day". Jessica and Ally are leaders while Josh; Daniel; Emily and Annabell are part of a big contingent of children. Jacqui was concerned that the two girls may become lost and out of place. But it turns out that they had a wonderful morning. Gives Jacqui and Barbara a bit of time to do some shopping. Later Barbara spends most of the day fetching and carrying Ally. I am able to fit in a swim. This week is my best swim week (4500m)
I make a supper of chicken; vegetables and potato -- I am rewarded by some really happy children who go back for seconds. I am also making batch after batch of Crunchies. Most evenings Jacqui is making supper. She gives us new ideas. Jax makes a Broccoli Soup which I have been putting in a flask each morning for my midday snack. Delicious.
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| BARBARA; JACQUI AND TOM AT KRAGGA KAMMA GAME PARK |
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| KRAGGA KAMMA GAME PARK EMILY AND TOM |
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| BARBARA; EMILY AND ANNABELL AT THE GAME PARK |
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| THIS HOG IS NOT AT HOGS BACK. IT IS AT KRAGGA KAMMA GAME PARK |
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| NICKY HAS THE CHILDREN STAYING AT HER HOUSE FOR A WHILE; THEN WILL COLLECT THEM ON TUESDAY 16TH TO DRIVE TO PE FOR THE WEEK. THIS IS SOME QUALITY "CHILL" TIME. John Nelson and I drive to Hogsback for the 21k trail run. We camp at our normal site -- Swallow Tail. Register on Friday evening and pizza's at Lighthouse. We are a boring group of guys but we enjoy the outings. This evening it is raining so we huddle in the tent; watch a movie and sleep early. Saturday morning the race starts at 8.30am. John goes off with Benita; Duncan and Natalie. I have a reasonable run until the final three kays when I get so tired that the last descent takes it out of me completely. This section takes me about 45minutes. John finished the run in about 3 hours and I was about 4 hours. This is a tough e vent. Sunday morning -- Ally and I do Lifeguard duty -- Ally goes to watch Sevens Rugby -- South Africa beat NZ in an amazing final. We have the gang in bed with us as we watch.  
Tuesday Morning 16th is a public holiday. I start my morning with a run with the group. Hobie beach to Admiralty and down La Roche and back. Probably about 10k with Annie; Elmarie; Neil; Kelly; Liesl and Maria. After that I was at Summerstrand for a Triathlon -- Graeme Chong asked me to swim for his team' The swim was 750m and I really enjoyed it. I handed over to Mark who cycled to Schoenies and then Graeme did the run along the Sacremento. The joke was that I had forgotten to pack my bathing costume and goggles. So I swim in my shorts and borrow goggles but find that I cannot see with them so abandon them. The surf was huge and 16degrees. I am able to duck dive my way through the set and am out past the breakers quickly. Most of the swimmers are in wetsuites but I am loving the chilly water. I hand over to Mark who does the cycle and then Graeme does the run at Sacremento. Our team finishes in 1.48 and second out of three teams. After that I did a four hour Lifeguard duty before leaving for Plett with Ally and her friend Megan Clarkson. As we left PE; Nicky and her family arrived in PE. In Plett we found a Coon Carnival with a band and dancing. We then spent some time visiting Alice and Ian; Peter and Anna with two children (Alexander and Ami) Ally and Megan went off to do some socializing while I had a quiet evening with Ena.  BEACH FRONT RUN TO ADMIRALTY; UP AND ACROSS TO SECOND AVE AND THEN LA ROCHE BEFORE HEADING BACK TO HOBIE BEACH. WITH ANNIE; ELMARIE; NEIL HIDDEN; LIESL; MARIA AND KELLY CATCHING UP AT THE BACK.    Wednesday 17th: Ally and Megan are in Plett. They walk to the Pick & Pay center and back up again. They walk to the beach where they meet up with Hanna Woodhead. The group spend the day together and I collect them at about 6.30 when I get back from a day of work in George. Nicky; Lene and Jacqui's family are all in PE; Cathy is champing at the bit to join them.      |
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| BARBARA AND NINE |
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| ALLY IS IN PLETT WITH HER FRIEND MEGAN CLARKSON |
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| VERY FEW PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO DECIPHER THIS ONE: THE GIRLS HAD EARLIER ASKED ME FOR MY PHONE NUMBER. THEY HAD THEN, ON TWO OCCASIONS, PHONED ME AND HUNG UP (A KIND OF TELEPHONE TOK TOKKIE). THEY THEN HANDED ME THIS NOTE: "We pranked you sucker! and merry Christmas" Thursday 18th. I work in George and then drive home .... I have left Ally and Megan in Plett where they stay with Ena. Seems that they are having fun and being totally teenagers. Lots of relaxing time and lots of Walking. Including walking down to the Woolworths shopping Center and to the beach. BI beach and Robberg Beaches provide these two teenagers with plenty of exercise. Friday morning -- Nicky and I run the parkrun at the beach front. We run again in the evening. Saturday Morning -- I do a 10k run from Hobie. I am parkrun director and we have a record number of runners at about 450. A bit of an issue with the finishing as we hand out some wrong numbers and as one of the scanners goes on the blink. Tammy offers to do results which is a huge relief to me. Sunday 21st. Graeme tells me that our Cyclist for the Summer Series Triathlon has bailed. So I take out the Road Bike that I have not ridden for many months. It is full of dust and flat tyres. I search high and low for the pump. No luck. So I load the bike and when I get to the start I am able to borrow a pump. The tyres are rock hard and I feel confident that the flat is due to not using the bike rather than a puncture. The swim is two laps. Out to the buoys and across to the right and then back to the beach. Do this a second time. I am in the Ladies group as the relays had to start with the ladies. And I am right at the back of the ladies. I enjoy the swim except that I am so far behind everyone else. But I am steady and take it easy looking up to see the buoys. The shore break is big and I am not the only one who is wary of being dumped as we return to shore. I make it up the beach and into transition. I like to take my little stool to sit and put on my shoes. I should take a two liter of water to wash my feet as well as they are quite sandy. Off on the bike. The West Wind has picked up. The swim was fairly Splashy but I had managed okay.. Now we ride out with the wind. Turn left into Recife all the way to the Light house. Then back to Marine drive and left again to the University. Right into the University and we ride two laps around the University loop before exiting back into Marine drive and wind behind us. I met Sharon Wilson while in the University but she was not able to keep up on the way back. I don't die but I do try hard. Back to Pollok beach and hand over to Graeme for the run section. Today there are 7 teams. Up from the three of last week. And we are placed 6th of the 7. Once I have collected my bike I drive home. Barbara and I drive to Plett. Collect Ally and drive home. Nearly 500k round trip. Werner and John have arrived. We now have: Jacqui; Emily; Annabell; Tom Cathy and Saul and Blake Nicky; Werner; John; Christian; Aaron; Zara and Mia Plus our three 16 people -- all staying in the house. and in the day you can add Lene; Jessica; Joshua; Daniel Werner and Nicky are making supper. I have church duty. And return to a house of Charades. John opts to sleep in the Tree House. Others scatter themselves around in the house. Monday 22nd morning -- I take my car in for service. Collect Barbara's car; dump rubbish; buy water and then off to work for the day. |
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| ISABELLE GRADUATION |
Sunday afternoon -- after the morning Triathlon Barbara and I drive to Plett to fetch Ally and Megan. They have had a great time with Ena and Violet and relaxing; Reading and visiting the beach .... Lots of walking.
We stop at Storms River on the way home : "We are hungry Dad"
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| RAIDING OF THE CHRISTMAS OUTFITS -- CHILDREN HAVING FUN ON OUR STOEP. |
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| HO HO HO -- SAYS FATHER CHRISTMAS |
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Nicky discovers that Something Good has a Movie Evening on Fridays; Bring your own deck Chair; eats and drinks or order from them. The main movie starts 8pm. Looks like something to do when the group has left for their homes.  I THINK THAT I CAN COUNT 9 CHILDREN HERE. NO SURE WHO IS MISSING? Monday 22nd. Langenhoven run. I take my car for service. Still the boot catch is not fixed so I must drive the car like this until the second week of January.             Wednesday 24th December. Our little running group has a 5k jog on the beach followed by Champagne and orange juice and coffee with Mince Pies and Crunchies. With us this morning are Mike Dean; Kelly and Bret Holmes with Daniel and Alex; Adrienne and Danielle Wilson; Liesl De Lange; and Svenje Duffield with child Lucas. Svenje is expecting child number two in April. I spend a short while at work and then the rest of the day is helping at home preparing the dinner. Nicky's two friends: Werner and John left very early this morning for Cape Town as they are having a Family supper at home this evening. Nicky leaves just after I leave for my run. Cathy and Jacqui prepare supper and desert for this evening. Early in the evening we have our supper which appears to be a huge success with both adults and children alike. I get into bed early as I have to be up and at church for the 11pm service. I wake up a bit late but still make it to church and do my bit. Christmas morning 2014. I am up early and go to church for my 7am service duty. I act as a door steward and greet each person as they arrive in the church. After church we have our gifts presentation. Mainly for children but parents also receive their fair share. Cathy and Saul drive back to Cape Town and we drop Jacqui off at the airport to catch their flight back to Israel and Binyamina. This Christmas we were really spoilt with having our family in RSA: Michael Zivor was not able to come but Jacqui and three children; Cathy and Saul and Blake; Nicky and her four children plus her two friends from Cape Town were with us. Lene and her three children were at our house for the most part of the days. Goodbyes are so sad and yet so necessary. Cathy and Saul and little Blake leave for Cape Town. They drive straight through and arrive safely this evening. Jacqui; Emily; Annabell and Tom arrive safely in Tel Aviv the following morning. Sadly a number of Tom's presents are confiscated by the customs. Including a sticky spider that he throws onto the wall. I wish we could find out in advance what is acceptable to the Israeli customs so that we could know what to avoid. Boxing day ... Friday 26th. Barbara and I drive to Port St Francis. Today is the third in a series of Triathlons. I am in a Team with Graeme Chong. Fortunately for me his cyclist has pulled out after the first in the series so that I can swim and cycle. I last did this leg of the Tri many years ago when we were on our way to the Garden Route to spend some time with Stefan's family in the mountains. It was today that the Tsunami hit Thailand and the Finestones were so badly affected. The swim is two laps of the small harbour. We start on the slipway and swim in an anti clockwise direction. As we leave the water surges out of the harbour. So for a while we swim against a current which I battle with. But I soon settle into a rhythm. Last week the teams had to go off with the ladies but today we start with the men. Most of the ladies catch me on the swim but I have a good swim and enjoy the water. The swim is 750m. For me is seems shorter than the Ocean swims but I later hear that it was in fact longer.  PETER EXITS THE SWIM AT PORT ST FRANCIS TRIATHLON. THE WATER WAS WARM BUT SURGING ON OCCASIONS AS THE SWELL GOES IN AND OUT OF THE HARBOUR. I exit up the slipway and then into Transition. Put on my cycling shoes: Helmet; Gloves and shirt. The start is a straight uphill and I have not put my gears into the correct easy gear for a hill start so I Battle to get going. Once I have selected an easier gear I am able to stay with the group of chaps around me. The Cycle leg is 20km of not too difficult cycling despite the hills and the West Wind. In the first tri there were just three teams. The second had 6 teams and I hear later that we are a total of 25 teams today. Unfortunately there is no distinction between individuals and teams so I am not sure who we are racing against. The route takes us up the hill and across to the entrance to Port St Francis and past the local residential areas. Finally we emerge out onto the road where we turn left towards Cape St Francis. A Police Van comes hurtling past me and stops ahead of me forcing a lady cyclist off the road onto the grassy verge. She is quite composed and handles herself amazingly well as she recovers and gets back on the bike with a "Fine Thanks" and passes me again. As we reach the village we do a U turn. I am not good at this and end up in the bushes. "Settle down Peter!" Up and going again and I catch our little group. Past the entrance to the Port and down a hill to the Circle which would take you on the right to the golf course (and the parkrun) and to the right to St Francis bay. A little further on we U turn again and cycle up the hill back to the Right turn to the Port. The road is in Terrible Condition and we rattle over bumps and potholes. Shannon Bradford (Ally's School friend) tells us later how she had to repair her loose chain which came off as a result of the bumpy road surface. Back down the hills to Transition I remove my helmet and run to where Graeme is waiting for me. He takes off running the final 5k leg. Graeme's run leg is through the suburb and quite hilly and ends on the far side of the Harbour coming back to the start of the swim leg. Barbara and I leave and do not wait for Prize Giving. Graeme wins a R500 Petrol Voucher and promptly puts it back into the draw as he is part of the sponsor company. I spend the rest of the afternoon at Summies doing Lifeguard Duty. With me are Steven; Tarryn and another young lady. There is a strong rip and the waves are unusually powerful. We do not allow any deep water swimming and have to contend with a number of alcohol on the beach incidents. One young boy is pulled out by swimmers at Pollok rocks but appears to be okay when we get there. Saturday 27th. I am tired and skip the morning run. I go down later and run the 5k parkrun. For a number of reasons. Mainly due to not fitting in with Werner and Tammy's way of organizing the Parkrun at Hobie beach; I decide today to resign my post as parkrun Run Director. I have had a good year of either being a director or volunteer. The season came to an end today. Susan Burri runs her 50th Parkrun. It is raining and we only have around 170 participants. Plenty of out of towners and newcomers. I have a lazy afternoon. SATURDAY 20TH. THIS WILL BE MY LAST AS PARKRUN DIRECTOR. WE HAVE A RECORD NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AT 470. AND RYAN PETER RUNS A RECORD TIME.  Sunday 28th. Lazy day at home. Overcast. slow cricket at St Georges with no real possible result. Protea vs West Indies. Was due to go to church But this changed after a call from Edie (on holiday in Arniston). Her husband (David) has a son (Charl) who has recently returned from the UK and had been working at Crossways at Thornhill. He was in trouble and needed to be collected and taken away from the lodging that he was staying at. Charl had been working at the restaurant but was no longer needed there and so we collected him and dropped him off at the Thornhill Hotel. We were not sure how he would cope from there but he said that he had friends (from work) who would assist him. Monday 29th. It is raining and has been all night. I run with the group and do the Mount road; Dias Road; Langenhoven drive and Linkside route (10k) in the rain. What a joy to be able to do this. With us this morning: Adrienne and Michael -- walking after her Cataract operation; Kelly just ahead of me, Suzanne who has picked up an injury, John, Elmarie, Margie who still fetches, Andy and Kobus (steady as a rock), Stuart who started with the slow group and finished at Kobus' house, Lynne L, Duncan.     Swimming this month. After joining the Newton Park Pool last month I am now well into the groove of swimming. It is not easy to get to the pool as I must take time during the day (lunch hour) to get to the pool and have a swim. So far this month I have managed to get to the pool on 5 occasions plus the 3 tri swims makes a total of 9750m. |
ZARA AND EMILY; ANNABELL; MIA; AARON AND CHRISTIAN.
ZARA AND GRANDAD FOOLING AROUND.
Tuesday morning 30th. Rained heavily all night. skipped the run this morning.
BARBARA - APRIL 1976. AGE 24.
WEDNESDAY 31ST. This morning we ran the Moffat 15k. As measured by Ronel. Margie; Andy; Kobus; Stuart; Elmarie; Kelly; Duncan; Benita; Helouise; Marilyn and Ronel.
Here Marilyn and Ronel are celebrating their run as part of their 2015 Half and full Ironman training.
Today I swam 1500m in the pool to give me just over 11km for the month.
HOW 2014 ENDED
As I walk from our town branch to the car in the parking garage in Evatt St; I am attacked by three men. They shove me up against the wall and threaten me with a knife. They take my laptop; my phone; my ID book and cards; my computer dongles; and various other stuff. I call the police from a nearby shop. They arrive and tell me, without even getting out of the car, that I must report this to the Police. No attempt to follow the thieves or any other physical activity. I spend the next couple of hours canceling bank accounts and cards and my cell phone.
Lene also had some bad news regarding her rent and may have to leave the house where they are staying.
Barbara, Ally and I spend new years evening at home licking our wounds.
