NOVEMBER 2009.
THIS MONTH
ALLY GALA IN OUDTSHOORN
NIPPERS PLETT CARNIVAL
INCOME TAX GETS DONE
WILLOWS 10KAY MARSHALLING
TRIP TO JOHANNESBURG TO FETCH THE MERCEDES
BAFANA BAFANA PLAY JAPAN IN PE STADIUM
BRENDA GOES FLY FISHING IN CANADA: AIRPORT EXPERIENCE AND RESPONSE.
JACQUI ZIVOR ABOUT TO MOVE TO ISRAEL AFTER A HOLIDAY IN RSA.
MICHAEL GOES TO HOLLAND TO COLLECT IAN'S BICYCLE.
WILDCLIFF TRIP WITH FRED KOHLER.
CATHY FIXES UP THE MONTREUX FLAT AND PUTS A TENANT IN.
BARBARA HAS A MISS PIGGY STAYING WITH US
ALLY AND PETER DO THE ENERGADE TRIATHLON.
PAULA REPORT ON WILDCLIFF
The month started off with the Plett Nippers Carnival. And Ally had a Gala in Oudtshoorn. Her team won a Gold and SIlver medals for two events. One she swam freestyle and another she swam Butterfly.
I had a full week travelling through the Transkei to Lusikisiki, Flagstaff, Bizana and Mount Frere. It may not sound like much but these are such interesting places and the staff too are interesting. While I dislike being away from home, I try to make the most of these trips.
The following weekend the poor weather that we were to experience over the next two weeks, began. THis was not my excuse but on SUnday morning I realised that I had just one week left to submit my income tax forms. SO I sat down and got stuck into doing the neccessary efiling. I also tried to do Barbara's income tax but did not succeed and finally had to use a consultant Leon Gerber who did her tax last year. I have never met him and neither paid him.
Saturday morning: I met up with Adrienne and a small group at 05.30 at Hobie beach and we did the 10kay circuit. From there I drove to WIllows where I assisted with Marshalling at the WIldside 10kay. THis afternoon I went to watch Bafana Bafana SA soccer team playing against Japan at our new NM stadium. This was my second visit to the stadium but my first experience to watch the National Soccer team that has been playing so badly recently. THe game was slow and defensive in the first half but in the second half Bafana became more agressive and tried to score a goal. Japan were all over the place and very aggressive. Unfortunately neither team scored a goal and it ended up a draw. I had gone with three men from work. Elby, Mumbulelo and Vukile. A good experience.
Monday morning I flew to Jhb for a meeting. After the meeting I took the Mercedes Benz which had 166 000kays and drove back home to PE. I left at around 3pm. It was a long afternoon and I managed to drive for 650kays to Colesberg at 21.30. Crossing the Vaal RIver driving right through the Free State and across the Orange RIver.
Here I found a B & B (La Provence) which Barbara had prebooked for me. The next morning, after I realised that there was not water in the taps,I brushed my teeth with a dry brush and pressed on at about 04.30am. My next stop was Cradock where I was able to buy coffee and use the bathroom. i had driven the 1090kays from Jhb in around 10.30 hours. I arrived in PE at about 08.30am, had a shower and spent a busy day at work as we had a FSAM meeting in East London the following day. I was fortunate to have the Tom Tom GPRS to assist me with directions. Especially leaving Jhb.
Thursday morning I finally had a bit of normality as I met the MPRG for a run to Walmer and back. Good to be home.
Hi Barbara
I have been on line to get the new price list for various wines. The "effe soet" Colombard - slightly sweet is the one Dawn and I drank.... I suppose this is what they call semi-sweet. Any way this is R270 a case and then there is a transportation charge which last year was R60 per case. at the present time this is the unknown cost.
I would have liked to buy the Cabernet Sauvignon.... I know Peter has had some of this .... and it was very good. Ask him if he would like to share a case with me.
I shall send the wine list in a separate e-mail.
BRENDA GOES FLY FISHING IN CANADA:
NASTY AND NEGATIVE AIRPORT SECURITY.
here is the account of my travails at the hands of the security personnel in Canada. The last paragraph was suplied by Dawn and just as well as I would have been total negative and nasty.
Brenda
I am a retired 67 year old woman with white hair and a passion for fly fishing. I have spent a glorious three weeks with friends fishing, touring and viewing the wonderful natural beauty of areas relatively close to Calgary, such as fishing the Bow, Oldman's River and Livingstone Falls.
Last night when I was supposed to fly out of Calgary the gilt was taken off the ginger bread.
I was one of the first people through the boarding gate. Initially the security people after going through my hand luggage said it was illegal for me to carry fishing flies in my hand luggage and thus on to the plane. What followed can only be described as a comedy of errors:
First I was told that I could retrace my steps and go and submit the small packet of flies to Air Canada for shipping separately... which I did only to find all the counters closed and no-one there.... in fact the International side of the airport was closed; so I went back to the security area and then I was told that I could mail them to myself if I filled in a postage form.
This I started to do only to find that I could not pay for the postage with cash and anyway the postage counter was now closed. At this point I was seriously concerned about missing my plane and two connections back to my home in South Africa, so I abandoned the flies to the devices of the security crew, and tried to move through to catch my flight, but no this was not to be.
My luggage was again subjected to a second screening and physical search by a young man named Leon who then turned his back on me for several minutes. Eventually he turned back and said "Oh, you can go". This person has serious issues with megalomania.
By this time I was almost running down the passage to get to my plane - when, guess what, I was called back and my luggage was again subjected to an open case search by Leon apparently on instructions from "upstairs", whereupon he found some more flies!
Why didn't he make a good job of it the first time around? I was repeatedly told that I should have consulted the on-line regulations, which I have since done without gaining any clarity. I was then subjected to a second full body search in front of the ten or so security personnel who had collected for the show..... by that time my plane was on the runway and about to depart.
At this point several Air Canada personnel appeared to find out what was going on, and I learned I had been given the run-around for forty-five minutes. In fact my first words to the senior Air Canada official were "I have been harassed". Once he took over some semblance of normalcy returned and he and a magician named Wade were able to book me on a flight the following day (today) which would connect through to my home area.
This unpleasant incident has left me with two questions:
Firstly, with the large number of anglers arriving in Calgary every year to fish the Bow River, shouldn't there be some clear indication that trout flies (most of which measure 2 to 3 mm across the gape, and are covered with feathers, beads etc.) are not permissible in hand luggage, and,
secondly, would it not be possible to provide security staff with some training in public relations.
ND HERE IS THE RESPONSE FROM CANADIAN FLY FISHERMEN
The most incredible thing has happened. On Tuesday I had a cancellation of a school visit (teacher sick), and I was at home attending to all sorts of odds and ends, when the post office van arrived with a parcel for me.
I read on the parcel that it had come all the way from a shop caled Fish Tales in Calgary that we had patronised for flyfishing equipment, and to find and hire a guide.
Anyway I opened it there were six boxes of fishing flies with a minimum of 50 flies in each box, and a message to say they had heard about my"situation" at the airport and the flies had been collected with the hope that "this gesture helps ease the harsh memories you might have about our airport".
When I went on line to thank them this is the response that I got.
That collection of flies is from many different people from the fly fishing community from Alberta and British Columbia. Someone had seen an article on the internet about your experience and posted onto the forum and it went from there. We offered to do the collecting and shipping since you were in the shop several times and had fished with Terry.
I would like to be able to post a note from you on the local internet form that organized this. So if you could send me something that I could put on that site that would be great. Let us know which flies work.
Incredible isn't it!
Brenda
19.11.2009.
JACQUI IS IN HER LAST TWO MONTHS OF LONDON BEFORE A RSA VISIT AND A MOVE TO ISRAEL.
Hi Everyone,
The weekend is on its way!!! Yippi! Michael is off to Amsterdam this
weekend to fetch Ian's bike. Funny story really. Michael's friend is
coming from Israel and then they are flying to Germany to meet up with
another friend. They are then all driving to Amsterdam to fetch the
bike of my dearly departed uncle...not really knowing what they are
going to find, may be a gem, but probably a clapped out junk of
wheels?? :) Doesn't really matter, people of done stranger things for
stranger reasons. Anyway, so I will be home with my girls, finishing
up some final shopping, packing, saying some goodbyes. The count down
really begins, 2 weeks. Can't wait to get moving, very itchy itchy
feet.
Hope you all have a good weekend.
have a look at my blog if you want some more of my babbling on.....and
on......and on......
www.zivor.wordpress.com
lots of love
Jacs
Jacqui and Ally are on Skype and type out this message:
Jacqui askes Ally:
hmmm, sorry, typing with annabell on me...what i was trying to say is: any news for me?
Ally Responds:
haha ammmmmm we got a pig, josh has lost 2 teeth, daniel is just daniel, jessica likes 3 boys, i am full of joy and awesomness, mom is nervous for the Christmas play, michael went for an entaview, lene is at work and ya dad is giddy
Jacqui replies:
hehehehehe you are hilarious
This week Cathy has been trying to get the Cape Town Montreux flat sorted out: The previous tenant left a number of months ago and we have not been able to put a new tenant into the flat until some work was done on painting and fixing the bathroom. Cathy has been hard at work only to discover that there is no electricity in the flat. Stefan had to go to the Civic Centre where he spent an hour before finally completing all of the forms.
Later in the day the electricity man phned me to say that there was no one there to open for him. It turns out that the lady with the key only works to midday. The following day she was also not there as it was a Muslin Holiday. Cathy had workmen who were not able to compelete the work with no electricity and only on Saturday did she finally get the power switched on. Cathy is so busy at work. She has recently received a promotion and can hardly afford this kind of worry. Added to this Cathy and Saul have bought a house which they are trying to finalise and get all of the paper work and expenses sorted out.
Friday 20th November 2009.
We had a Wildcliff trip planned for this weekend. Ally had decided to stay at home. On the Friday evening she had a Guild Function with her friends and stayed over with Amber. I wanted to take the Toyota to Cape Town for Jacqui to use when they arrive next month. Fred Kohler would drive it down. We left PE at a leisurely pace at around 2.30pm with Fred following in the Toyota a little while later. We drove straight through and arrived in Heidelberg at about 20.30. Nicci and their friends Marius, Melanie and two children were already settled in. They had a fire going and had a braai for supper.
Saturday morning 21st. Fred, Stefan and I left at about 6 for a run. We ran to the main Wildcliff gate and then turned left. We jogged down to the bridge and up the other side. This is Kallie Engelbrecht's farm. He farms cattle and we saw some cows being moved around. Just then Kallie drove past and I was able to meet him for the first time. He complained about the Working for Water people and how they worked. While it is still quite dry in this area there has been some rain and the streams were flowing. We jogged up to where the T junction of the start of the Gysmanshoek pass is and then turned back. We tried a turn off that looked like it would lead us back to WC but had to turn around. When we got back to Kallies farm we cut across his fields and up along the Eskom line back to the Fynbos road of WC. we then went on a little to the Rain Frog dam where we had a cooling off swim before heading home again.
I was expecting a visit from the Overberg Water people who represent WFW in Heidelberg. Zanay and a colleague came to visit and it turned out that Zanay is a school friend of Stefan's. Keith, Zanay and I had a long conversation regarding the effectiveness of the work that has been done. Zanay tried to explain the way that they were supposed to operate with certain sections of land having been cleared three times before they finally hand over to the land owner. While I was not satisfied with their answers it appears that they are a whole lot more effective than the previous people who were there (Davie and his successor who only lasted a short while).
These two ladies say that they walk the area's before they start and before they sign an area off. The meeting ended up with us signing off a section of the reserve that they will work to finally clear. We will have to see how effective the work is and the results. One of the things that is really of concern is the fire hazzard but Zanay says that we cannot consider burning until winter - June or July. We will have to clear a fire break, buldoze a section and then get professional fire fighters to come and do the work.
Later this morning the whole gang of us went up to rain frog dam where Fred, Stefan and I tried out the Tree Poppers that we had bought. There were a number of stumps and saplings that had not been cleared and it is a really satisfying activity to clear these invasives out. Pullling a whole stump or sapling roots and all! Its a tiring activity and a swim later was quite welcome.
This evening Paula and Keith joined us for one of Stefan's famous potjie suppers. We ate quite late and flopped into bed with everyone quite exhausted. Sunday morning I woke up stiff and sore from the previous day's run and excersize. Fred seemed to be fit and headed up the Fynbos Road for a run. He ran all the way up to Barafu in 30 minutes and back down in 25 minutes.
After a slwo start to the day we took the Bushpig and drove up to Barafu. THe ride at the back of the vehicle is very bumpy. THe children do not seem to mind but it is quite uncomfortable for an adult. We walked around the area for a short while and then headed back with Stefan jogging behind us.
Back home we packed up and left at about Midday. Barbara had her Miss Piggy with us and she likes to stop for regular breaks. We bought ourselves a Sweet potato muffin at the Tsitsikamma shop where the mother and daughter owners were quite taken with our Yorkie and Porkie. Throughout our drive to WC and back, whenever we stopped the Piggy would draw attention as people would wonder if this animal on a leash was a dog or a pig? We made good time and were home by about 17.00.
Monday morning I was still too stiff to go jogging with the MPRG but the rest of the week I ran each morning. Saturday morning I collected Pat and Adrienne and we drove down to Hobie beach where we met Annie, Adrian, Suzanne, Susan, Jacqui, Mike dean and his daughter Debbie who is back from CT University where she has completed her Honours in Property Management and has now signed up for a three year Law Degree doing the first two years in one year.
We did the 10 kay circuit up Walmer Boulevard, Strandfontein Road and second ave. Adrienne and Pat did the full route down Admiralty. I wanted to swim as this would be my second swim in training for the Energade Triathlon on Sunday. The water was cold to get in but the body adapts quite quickly and I had a good, if leisurely, swim. Jonti and Jessica Daniels had Paddle Ski's and did a paddle around the Bird Rock. Looks so good to see a Father and Daughter doing this together.
After our run and swim I spent the morning at Work and then in the afternoon Ally and I cycled down to Summerstrand to register for the Triathlon. Unfortunately the SMS that we had received to say that registration would be at 14.00 was incorrect and registration was only at 16.00. Barbara had driven down and we loaded the bikes into the bakkie and drove home. I took the old bakkie to the tip to clear out some of the rubble and bushes that Barbara and her gardener, Kevin had cut. Michael was having a Braai with some of his friends: David, Chris Wilkie, Alta and Brian James.
The Springboks were playing rugby at Dublin in Ireland. It must have been freezing cold there with a mist covering the field. We did not play well despite an early try by Bryan Habana we lost the game mainly due to an inability to convert penalties while the Irish had an excellent young kicker who converted almost everything that he was given. This has been a most unsatisfactory tour by the springboks with losses to two league teams, the French and the Irish and a consolation win over the Italians who are coached by Nick Mallet.
Later Ally, Barbara and I registered for the Triathlon. It was not a pleasant afternoon as Ally was concerned that she would not be competing in the age group allowed to her. There are some age group events but Barbara likened them to Iron Kids at the Ironman event. Short events that would not do justice to Ally's ability.
ENERGADE TRIATHLON
Sunday morning: I think that both Ally and I were nervous for this event. It is a long time since I last did a Triathlon and it would be Ally's first attempt. We loaded up into Barbara's Opel Corsa Bakkie. Triathlon is a fussy sport and you have to remember a host of things. Helmets, gloves, water bottle, bathing Cap Running shoes, Goggles and of course the Bikes must have tyres pumped and be serviced to go.
I must have been really nervous as I ws feeling quite car sick by the time we arrived at Summerstrand. Gerald, Pat and Ronel were there. Hannes, Jacqui and Calvin were doing a team event as was Jonti's children Ashleigh and Jessie together with Jamie Engelke and Amber Zeelie. Ally and I had our numbers kokied onto our legs and then registered our bikes into transition.
The Kiddies triathlon was in progress. I am so glad that Ally was not part of this as it would have been "childs Play" for her. We did not see the swim but we heard that the children had not really had a swim at all. They had basically run through the water.
I asked around and Rob Ermes had a spare pair of Goggles which he was prepared to lend to me. I was really grateful as the sea looked quite rough with the East Wind blowing. The Girls event started 10 Minutes before the men. Ally had a good start. Nippers has certainly built a huge amount of confidence for her in the sea. As we stood waiting for the mens start we could clearly see Ally with a bright green cap.
As our race started I could see Ally was in the front group of the girls and she was just finishing the sea swim as I was starting. The surf was reasonably large. There was a rip pulling from East to West and the first buoy had moved considerably off course for the girls and had to be pulled back for the mens event. I felt really sorry for the back markers of the girls as they would have had to swim an extra 50 meters or so and would have been fighting to catch a moving buoy.
I had decided to take it easy. I am not a strong swimmer but was confident that I could do the swim if I did it in my own time. I thought that I was last but heard later that there were one or two men behind me. (I am not so sure about that) The team event had started 5 minutes behind us and before I rounded the first Buoy I was already overtaken by most of the team swimmers.
I am not good at my directions when I swim and found my self heading out to sea a couple of times. Finally I rounded the second buoy and the last section was quite easy with big swells pushing us in. Strangely enough the one of the toughest parts of the swim was exitting the water. There was a strong current that prevented us from running out and there were rocks in the sea that had been exposed after days of East Winds.
Into transition and finding my bike was one of the very few left. Snapped on my helmet, fitted the gloves and put the running shoes on that I would use on the mountain bike as well as for the run. You have to push the bike out of transition and then off I cycled. If I am bad at swimming, I think that I am even worse at cycling and I had hardly climbed on the bike when the first cyclist passed me. I saw Jonti walking back. Jessie had had a puncture and he had given her his bike to finish the event. I passed Ashleigh and Jessie Daniels and only one other person. The people who had been in the water with me passed me despite my best efforts to stay ahead.
I saw Ally heading in the opposite direction. I shouted that I would catch her but in fact doubted that I would be able to catch her on the Bike as I was already Bum Sore and tired. We turned and headed back into an East head wind. This lasted all the way to the University back entrance. Finally the last three kays was with the wind and I could pick up some speed. Still the few remaining people in the event seemed to pass me. I saw the runners all on their way home while I still had to complete the cycle and then start the run.
Just as I was about to finish I saw this man who I has seen all along on the swim and then who had passed me on the bike section have an accident with a car just as he was about to enter the transition area. I was not able to see the extent of his injury but it did not look good. This high lites that this event deserves ROAD Closure for the cycle section. Motorists did not behave well. I saw a number of motorists speeding and misbehaving generally.
Barbara was standing at the entrance and shouted that Ally had a fall and cut her leg. She was out of the run section and had cycled the back ten kay with a sore leg and a broken brake. I racked the bike and headed off to do the final leg of the triathlon: the five kay run. My legs felt all wobbly. I could not seem to get going. Jacqui passed me as she was finishing, Ronel was also finished her event. Rob Ermes finishing stronly. And I still had to do the full five kays with wobbly legs. But as I reached the two kay mark I started to establish a rythm and was able to pass a few chaps on the last few kays. Keith Reading, an ex Achillean was battling with the run and I was able to beat him in the dying stages. The Daniel and Zeelie teams were just behind me and finished strongly.
Ally had pulled out of the run but I am still proud of her attempts and the fact that her swim was so strong and that she had completed her first ever 20kay cycle. Jacqui Zeelie collected a prize for her team. Ally was happily sitting with her friends and I walked down to Nippers. Varrin had the U14's doing sprints and flags. I joined him for a short while. Ally and Barbara bought burgers and we loaded the bikes back into the bakkie. They went home and I stayed to help with Nippers clean up. Rob Mitchley gave me a lift home.
PAULA PEBSWORTH REPORT FROM WILDCLIFF
Hello All,
It was a short week for us as Thursday and Friday were spent in Mossel Bay for Keith's shoulder surgery. I think he filled you in, but just in case you didn't hear his news. He tore his rotator cuff some years ago and finally had to do something about it. The surgeon reattached the muscle with anchors to the bone. It will take about a month for it to heal. For some time, however, he'll have to be careful about lifting anything.
Additionally, a female juvenile from the big troop was electrocuted on the high voltage wires outside Talari (near the eucalyptus trees) on Monday morning. She died instantly, but was stuck in the wires. We called Eskom right away to come and take her down - it is considered a fire hazard. They didn't come on Monday. We called again on Tuesday - still no one by 2pm so I asked Peter to place a call for us. They were out by 4pm and after blowing the fuse, finally had her down by 5pm. Thanks again Peter - you are my hero! Needless to say, it was a sad time for me and the kids. We buried her below Xairu under the oak trees. I plan to wrap some barbed wire around the pole - perhaps this will prevent it from happening again.
The baboons were over near Nick's yesterday and have been a bit difficult to follow. It has also been quite warm this week and they have been swimming and hanging out at the kaoline mine and the Plattekloof. While I was at the KM I photographed a lovely female bushbuck, who seemed naive to humans. She was gorgeous and stood staring at me for the longest time.
The collaring project is on target. The baboons are readily coming into the trap for corn, raisins & an energy block. The challenge is getting the males out and females in. My mom is hand carrying the collar from the states and will arrive on December 3rd. I hope to have a female collared in December, but have a lot of people's schedules to work around as well as the holidays.
We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday and were happy to introduce Marlei to a coveted American tradition. We have much to be thankful for - thanks again for the opportunity to live on Wildcliff & conduct research here! Attached are my favorite photos for the week.
Much love,
Paula
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
MEIRINGSPOORT HALF MARATHON 17 OCTOBER 2009.
THE MEIRINGS POORT HALF MARATHON 17 OCTOBER 2009.
THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE MEIRINGSPOORT HALF MARATHON.
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES THE BUILD UP, THE DRIVE TO DE RUST, THE EVENT, THE RESULTS AND THE HISTORY OF THE POORT.
Meiringspoort half (21Kay) is a race that I have long wished to do. The race falls on the same day as the Voet of Africa which we used to do when we traveled for runs. We had driven through the Meiringspoort on our way to the Orange River Canoe trail about 10years ago.
This year, Gerald told me that he would be doing the race and I decided that now is the time. I registered for the race early, thinking that I would qualify for a T-shirt as only the first 150 entrants receive the T-Shirt. I registered as number 158 and so only just missed out. Not that I need more T-shirts. I had planned to Camp and so had not been too concerned about accommodation. When I got round to making a booking I found that the camping ground and all the local accommodation was full. We ended up in a Self Catering B & B in Oudtshoorn.
Gerald, Ronel and I had been doing some longer runs on Saturdays. Starting at 05.00am, we had run to the beach where we met a group of Adrienne, Suzanne, Susan, Maryna, Pat, Anne Du Rand, Adriane Smith, Peter Mc Ewan and others who joined our group. We would run from Hobie to Walmer Boulevard, Strandfontien and back via Admiralty Road.
These runs would be at an easy pace with walking interspersed but we were able to gain confidence from the fact that we had completed a 20Kay training session.
Jacqui Zeelie had recently started running with the MPRG and had a friend (Brenda Scholtz) who was also reasonably new to running (having done her first 21kay at Knysna earlier this year) who had entered the Meiringspoort. As a result Jacqui decided to make the Meiringspoort her first race experience. They too would do longer runs over weekends but were not training with our group.
Gerald and Ronel had recently run the Hermanus Half marathon and were in good shape for this event. We had all planned to leave at around Lunch time on Friday afternoon. Brenda and Jacqui met us at our house at 13.30 and we finally left PE at around 14.00. We drove the route to Humansdorp on the N2 as far as the Langkloof Turn off.
Then the route took us to Joubertina where we had a Pit Stop. We met Barry DuPlessis who runs the Restaurant, the book store, the Pub and a farm about 25kays into the Kouga and Baviaanskloof. Barbara bought a children's book which she will use for story telling in her school. The little children love a thrilling story with animals and adventures with lots of pictures to stimulate their imagination.
As we drove the Langkloof Road, with Brenda following us, we came up to a section of road that was undergoing repair. I saw a vehicle parked on the side of the road but as it was a combi taxi I passed it. What I did not realise was that this should have been a “stop and go” and we were now on the wrong side of the road with nowhere to go. There was a lady guarding the road and directing traffic. She was not able to see the humour and also did not want us to park on the right hand side. So both cars had to back up and park behind the combi. And then a few seconds later a big truck drove in the opposite direction. While it had been quite funny at the time, if we had been a few seconds later we could have been involved in a nasty situation.
From there we drove on to the Uniondale turn off. The road winds through a narrow poort for about 10kays. The road has been damaged by the floods of 1996 and drivers have to exercise care as oncoming traffic is dangerous. It is along this road that, in 1968 a young couple had a motor accident and a 20year old girl was killed. About 10 years after this the ghost of this person was seen along the road. Since then there have been a number of sightings of a young lady hitch-hiking and tales of car doors being flung open and an apparition clinging to the back of cars. It is for this reason as well as the poor condition of the road that people avoid this road in the night.
From Uniondale we took the road to Willowmore and then turned off to De Rust. This road is quite spectacular as you drive parallel to the magnificent Swartberg range. As we reached De Rust we found parking and walked up to the Registration which is in “Die Kerk Saal”. Here we found a magnificent array of food, cakes and biscuits, meat and various goods for sale. De Rust was built on Petrus Meiring's farm in 1900 and was a resting place where wagons would out-span before tackling the long trek through the poort.
We ordered a tea and joined Pat, Ronel and Gerald. They had arrived, in their new Hyundai, a few minutes earlier. From here we split up: Jacqui and Brenda met their friends: Glen and Maura and had supper in the village before trying to find their B & B which was about an hours drive (near to the start of the race) from De Rust, along a Dirt Road. They got lost before finally phoning for directions. Jacqui described the hospitality as amazing and the room delightful in an African style and open plan bathroom which would have been great for a married couple but may have been a bit awkward for Brenda and her to share.
Gerald followed us as we drove the 35kays to Oudtshoorn. We were staying at the same B & B – Weltevreden at 80 Keyter street. While it was not luxurious, it was quite adequate as a place to sleep. Barbara & I found a restaurant where we ordered takeaways. Barbara had Fillet of Ostrich Steak and I had a Vegetable platter. We ordered a Chocolate mouse and Ice cream for desert. We returned to our B & B intending to have our supper and to watch a DVD on Ally's mini DVD player that we had brought along. Our plans were dashed however as we both fell asleep as soon as we were in bed.
Saturday morning I was up earlier that I had to be. Once I had washed and shaved, I made some hot chocolate and we left at around 5am. We filled with Petrol and joined the line of cars heading at this early hour, to De Rust. At Barbara's insistence we found a parking close to the start. We sat waiting until Jacqui's group came walking up the road. I followed them until they declared a need for the toilet.
I wandered down to where the cattle / ostrich trucks were waiting to take the runners to the start. Here I met up with Leslie and Rodney Maggot. Rodney was doing the 10kay and so Leslie and I looked for a place on a truck. I am not sure how it came that we were so lucky but we were able to board a bus. As we were about to board there were cries of “This bus is Full”. We ignored them and I pushed my way on insisting that my “wife” should be allowed to board as well. We sat on the front dashboard watching as some other poor souls froze on the back of bakkies. As we drove to the start I was again in awe of the mighty rock faces. Leslie told me that we should make time to visit the waterfall.
We firstly passed the Ten Kay start and then arrived at the end of the poort where there is a turning point for vehicles. I enjoyed a cup of sweet tea, found someone with some Vaseline, greeted Gerald and family, Jacqui and her group and then the start gun went off.
I was surprised to see everyone heading off in the wrong direction. I followed suite and soon realised that there was a One Kay run in a Westerly direction before the runners turned around and headed back to De Rust. I saw Mike and Devera Magson, Lewellan Clack and Allan Taylor all charging along at breakneck speed. I wondered at their ability to keep up such a fast speed for 21kays.
I went off too fast but was feeling good and chatting to a variety of people. Alan Howe, Carol from Humansdorp, a group of runners from Hartenbos who insisted that we had to speak Afrikaans when we are in places like De Rust. I was having fun as we crossed one drift after the next. The route takes the runners along the Groot Rivier. The sound of the water under the bridges, the magnificent sandstone cliff faces and green lichen gives the runner a sense of the wonder and beauty of the poort.
As we ran I felt this huge sense of sadness that Ian had never been into this place. Ian would have loved it and would have soon been identifying the rocks and plants. Meiringspoort is a place that every able bodied South African who has the means, should visit at some stage. Even if it is just to drive through. There are many places to pull over and to admire the views. At one stage there is a section of the old road which is built from stone with hand placed stone walls supporting the outer edge of the road still standing strong. This old road is something like 150 years old.
VASBYT.
Vasbyt is a South African term meaning to hang on when the situation is tough. In my recent running career I have forgotten how to Vasbyt. Too often I have walked whenever I felt like it. I have become lazy and use any little excuse to take it easy. I remember running the Kouga Kus half with Tim. I ran with him for the first ten kays and then faded horribly when it came to the hilly section.
This morning I had run fast (for me that is) for the first half of the distance. I asked for times from other runners and realised that I had done the first 10 or 12kays at a pace of about 5.15 a kay. I knew that I would not be able to keep this fast pace up. But I decided to take it one kay at a time and to try to not walk unless it was absolutely necessary. Leslie passed me. I had a stitch just under my ribs. But I maintained a pace that seemed to me to be sustainable for the last 7 or so kays. Liz (Grundling I think) passed me. She is an amazing runner who still holds my admiration from the night when I had bailed from a Comrades and she came in before Bruce Fordyce running in, what could be described as dusk, in Pietermaritzburg.
Towards the last 5kays the route emerges out of the poort. Up to now the gradient has been basically downhill and gives the runner a sense of well-being. From about 5kays to go there are some slight up hills. I am not good on hills but managed to keep up the running and stopped myself from walking at any stage. I knew that if I had just one walk then that would be it for me and I would get back into my bad habit of walking as soon as I felt tired in the slightest.
Nicky Roote passed me. She commented on how awful it was that runners tossed their water sachets into the river. At this stage there were a number of runners passing me. I was not concerned as I was still enjoying the morning and knew that I could hold out. We could see the first buildings of De Rust on the top of the hill. We passed the 3kay to go mark. Erna and Sonja from MPRG drove past us. Nicky thought that they may have started late or done the Ten Kay.
What I learned on Monday morning at MPRG was that Erna and Sonja had decided to go in their own vehicle to the start of the 21kay. They had done this race before and knew the course and the drill. They reached the start of the run, found a place to turn and mingled with the rest of the runners. And started with the gun. A few minutes later they reached the 9kay to go mark! Erna says to Sonja: “I have this terrible cold feeling!” Sonja says: “Yes. We are doing the Ten Kay”. Big Oooops! They had parked where the 10kay started, not even knowing that there was a 10. Ah well: Ce la vie!
The morning was becoming quite hot as the sun was on our backs and there was not much of a breeze. We reached the village. Leslie was ahead of me and walked occasionally. I passed her and forced myself to move just above a walk. The route takes a left turn into the village then a right turn up the hill. Immediately you can see the finish. One kay to go. And we turn away from the finish. Back to the main road. Up the hill. Barbara is there taking photographs.
I run past Barbara, wondering if my attempt at a smile for the camera would come out as a determined grimace. I continued up the hill, turned left again and managed to stay a the same jogging pace up the very last hill. Finally the last 20 meters down to the finish. Leslie was just behind me and we have finished in about 1H56Minuttes. Jan and Irene van Eden do the time keeping and registration.
I walked back to where Barbara was standing in the main road and watched the runners coming in. Geoff Roberts, Ronel, Brenda then Gerald and Jacqui, Marie Louise Emslie, Maura, and finally Pat came in smiling and looking like she had just started. Les and Margie Brightman were there as well as a number of Crusaders.
Today was also the running of the Port Alfred 27kay where most of the Achilleans would be found. Jacqui had completed her first half marathon in a very acceptable time of around 2H20. She had run most of the distance with Maura having met Gerald a short way before the end. Brenda had been a little in front of them and had also competed the half looking good. This was only her second 21kay after the Kynsa half earlier this year.
As a result of Leslie telling me about the Waterfall, Barbara & I left immediately and drove back through the poort. We drove right through to where the race had started and then back to the waterfall stop. Here the authorities have built a wonderful area for vehicles to stop as well as an information center. We learned that each of the crossing of the Groot Rivier has a name with a background. There are 25 crossings:
From De Rust:
1.Spookdrif: A supernatural light in the form of a ball of fire has been seen at this point.
2.Skansdrif: Stone Ramparts were built here to prevent flooding.
3.Damdrif: There was a very large water-hole here that was deceptive particularly to strangers who would often become bogged down in the mud.
4.Boesmansdrif: here there are deep clefts in the rock face where San people used to live.
5.Skelmkloof Drif: here there is a hidden ravine where water trickles into the Groot Rivier.
6.Aalwyndrif: Named after the beautiful aloes that over look this drift. Aloes are sought after for their medicinal uses.
7.Nooiensboomdrif: A Nooiensboom is a Cabbage Tree and two of these trees used to grow on either side of the road.
8.Stewelsdrif: A “stewel” is translated as a Boot. A wagoner of farmer Petrus Meiring lost his boots here and had to return home for a new pair. Here the name Dubbledrif can also be seen. This does not appear to be an official name of a drift as it does not appear on the list of Drifts in the information center.
9.Perskeboomdrif: so named from the peach trees that used to grow close to this Drift.
10.Sanddrif: Sandbanks would cause obstructions here. The first Concrete causeway was built here in 1948
11.Herrie se drif: first known as Nagas drif it later took on the name Herrie. C J Langenhoven (1873 – 1932) poet and afrikaans writer, is best known for composing the South African National Anthem: “Uit die Blou van onse hemel” which was later adapted to our present anthem incorporating Nkosi Siki Lele in 1995 when Nelson Mandela become president. Langenhoven carved out the name Herrie which was the name of his fictional Elephant in his book: “Sonde met die Bure”. This is one of the few cases of Graffiti becoming a National Heritage site. It was proclaimed in 1973 to celebrate the birth date of Langenhoven.
12.Witperdedrif: a Rabbi and his horses were washed away at this site. His remains were never found.
13.Ou Tol drif: named after the Old Toll house which has been gone for many years
14.Wadrif: Legend has it that a number of wagons were washed away here.
15.Witfonteindrif: there is a steam of crystal clear water that flows from kranses to the west of this crossing.
16.Uitspandrif: there is sufficient area for the wagoners to allow the oxen to turn and to graze in this area.
17.Waterfaldrif: so called after a nearby waterfall.
18.Ontploffingsdrif: a wagon loaded with explosives traveling along the Boer Road exploded close by here. The Anglo Boer war / South African war (1899 – 1902) saw the British Soldiers build a fort with wall so stone here.
19.Derdetoldrif: to the West of this crossing two more Toll Houses were built. The ruins of these houses can still be seen here.
20.Rooiuitspanningsdrif: here there was sufficient space for a number of ox wagons to outspan. The red comes from the red soil in the area.
21.Pereboom se drif. As you approach this drift you go through a horse shoe bend. A saffron pear tree grew here making this a popular place for wagons to outspan
22.Bloupunt drif: wagons would frequently become stuck in the loose gravel here. The name is derived from that of a nearby farm.
23.Wasgatdrif: Entering Meiringspoort from the North, travelers could fill their barrels and could wash off the Karoo dust in the first really deep pools in many miles.
24.Opmetingsdrif: in 1912 measurements were taken to decide upon building a dam in this possibly suitable position.
25.Laaste Drif: traveling from the South this would have been the last drift that you would cross.
Petrus Meiring owned the farm where De Rust is now situated. It was he who loved to explore and discovered the route through the Swartberg mountain range, we now refer to as Meirings Poort. He was the son of a Pastor Meiring who arrived in South Africa in 1743.
Back at the waterfall stop area we first examined the history of the Poort. This road which connected the Klein and the Groot Karoo took about 2 years to complete and was officially opened on 3 March 1858. The original road was called the Boer Road and cost about 5 000 pounds to build. During the great depression the road was upgraded at a cost of around 10 000 pounds. This was probably in anticipation of the visit by the Prince of Wales. At this time a walkway to the waterfall was hewn out of the rock face.
In 1948 a further reconstruction cost 14 000 pounds. After the floods of 1996 the road was rebuilt at a cost of R1,6 Million and in 2000 The premier of the Western Cape, Gerald Morkel opened the newly constructed road which had then cost R70 Million to build. The name Meirings Poort came from Petrus Johannes Meiring a nearby farmer (1799-1876).
Barbara and I walked the short way to the waterfall. This is a spectacular point of interest and should not be missed by any visitor to the area. We got talking to a family who had just run the race as well. We also chatted to a group of Bikers (our age) who were cruising the area.
I had this overwhelming sense appreciation that I was able to do things like this. Running a 21kay through this stunning poort, meeting up with a group of friends, viewing this waterfall and the poort drive with Barbara. This is a very special privilege that we enjoy and we should savour every moment. A group of Barbara's school children were at the parking area with their parents who had also run the race this morning.
While we were enjoying our day at Meiringspoort, Adrienne and Peter Wilson were in Cape Town to watch Jennifer playing Hockey. She has played for South Africa for some time and in a game earlier this week she scored a goal. By Sunday afternoon the South African girls were through to the final having drawn against NZ and beaten Spain 1-0. they were now up against NZ again in the final. I later learned that SA were beaten by NZ after a thrilling match ending up 2-1 to NZ.
We headed back to De Rust. On our way we stopped to see if we could find the stone carving of C J Langenhoven: Herrie. There it was; in bold letters. Nearly 100 year old Graffiti! Barbara spotted, what she thought could be a Black Eagle Nest on the cliff face on the east side of the kloof. And sure enough, when we looked closely at the photograph back home, the nest of an eagle could be clearly seen.
Back at De Rust, we bought ourselves a Curry & Rice which was delicious and just right. By now I was ravenous. We sat for a while with Brenda, Maura and Glen who were with Jacqui Zeelie. Jacqui traveled back home with us. On our way home we again stopped at Joubertina before completing the last leg of the drive home.
Race Results of some of the people that we know at the event:
1st person home time of 1.07
15th Michael Magson 1.18
4th Lady and 43rd Davera Magson 1.26
88th Les Brightman 1.33
92nd Lewllan Clack 1.34
108th Alan Taylor 1.36
331st Nicky Roote 1.54
359 Peter Giddy 1.56
361 Leslie Maggot 1.56
371 Alan Howe 1.57
371 Alan Howe 1.57
478 Geoff Roberts 2.02
641 Brenda Scholtz 2.12
671 Ronel Scheepers 2.14
708 Gerald Scheepers 2.19
716 Jacqui Zeelie 2.19
721 Marie Louise Emslie 2.19
724 Maura Jarvis 2.19
788 Pat Scheepers 2.28
905 Last man home 2.58
Back home, Ally had stayed over at her friend, Nicola Prinsloo. Bev and Chris are really good to Ally. They make her feel very much at home. Barbara and I had a quick wash and made our way down to Summerstrand where we caught the last few minutes of the Currie Cup Rugby semi final. Completely against the run of play and in the very final minutes, The Free State Cheetah's beat the Natal Sharks.
We then watched the Blue Bulls play against the Western Province team. It was a really tense match with a half time score of 12 nil to the Blue Bulls with Morne Steyn scoring all the points from penalties. Province came back in the second half and scored a number of penalties of their own. The game moved at a fierce pace and defense had to be perfect on both sides but finally Gio Aplon out sprinted two Bulls players after a grubber kick and scored the only try of the match. The conversion put the WP team ahead. A penalty to either side thereafter put WP in the lead again. In the final minute Morne dropped a goal for the winning three points.
Bulls will now play Cheetah's at Loftus. Clint had been making up a Pot and we ended off the evening with potjie and rice before collecting Ally from Nicola's house.
THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE MEIRINGSPOORT HALF MARATHON.
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES THE BUILD UP, THE DRIVE TO DE RUST, THE EVENT, THE RESULTS AND THE HISTORY OF THE POORT.
Meiringspoort half (21Kay) is a race that I have long wished to do. The race falls on the same day as the Voet of Africa which we used to do when we traveled for runs. We had driven through the Meiringspoort on our way to the Orange River Canoe trail about 10years ago.
This year, Gerald told me that he would be doing the race and I decided that now is the time. I registered for the race early, thinking that I would qualify for a T-shirt as only the first 150 entrants receive the T-Shirt. I registered as number 158 and so only just missed out. Not that I need more T-shirts. I had planned to Camp and so had not been too concerned about accommodation. When I got round to making a booking I found that the camping ground and all the local accommodation was full. We ended up in a Self Catering B & B in Oudtshoorn.
Gerald, Ronel and I had been doing some longer runs on Saturdays. Starting at 05.00am, we had run to the beach where we met a group of Adrienne, Suzanne, Susan, Maryna, Pat, Anne Du Rand, Adriane Smith, Peter Mc Ewan and others who joined our group. We would run from Hobie to Walmer Boulevard, Strandfontien and back via Admiralty Road.
These runs would be at an easy pace with walking interspersed but we were able to gain confidence from the fact that we had completed a 20Kay training session.
Jacqui Zeelie had recently started running with the MPRG and had a friend (Brenda Scholtz) who was also reasonably new to running (having done her first 21kay at Knysna earlier this year) who had entered the Meiringspoort. As a result Jacqui decided to make the Meiringspoort her first race experience. They too would do longer runs over weekends but were not training with our group.
Gerald and Ronel had recently run the Hermanus Half marathon and were in good shape for this event. We had all planned to leave at around Lunch time on Friday afternoon. Brenda and Jacqui met us at our house at 13.30 and we finally left PE at around 14.00. We drove the route to Humansdorp on the N2 as far as the Langkloof Turn off.
Then the route took us to Joubertina where we had a Pit Stop. We met Barry DuPlessis who runs the Restaurant, the book store, the Pub and a farm about 25kays into the Kouga and Baviaanskloof. Barbara bought a children's book which she will use for story telling in her school. The little children love a thrilling story with animals and adventures with lots of pictures to stimulate their imagination.
As we drove the Langkloof Road, with Brenda following us, we came up to a section of road that was undergoing repair. I saw a vehicle parked on the side of the road but as it was a combi taxi I passed it. What I did not realise was that this should have been a “stop and go” and we were now on the wrong side of the road with nowhere to go. There was a lady guarding the road and directing traffic. She was not able to see the humour and also did not want us to park on the right hand side. So both cars had to back up and park behind the combi. And then a few seconds later a big truck drove in the opposite direction. While it had been quite funny at the time, if we had been a few seconds later we could have been involved in a nasty situation.
From there we drove on to the Uniondale turn off. The road winds through a narrow poort for about 10kays. The road has been damaged by the floods of 1996 and drivers have to exercise care as oncoming traffic is dangerous. It is along this road that, in 1968 a young couple had a motor accident and a 20year old girl was killed. About 10 years after this the ghost of this person was seen along the road. Since then there have been a number of sightings of a young lady hitch-hiking and tales of car doors being flung open and an apparition clinging to the back of cars. It is for this reason as well as the poor condition of the road that people avoid this road in the night.
From Uniondale we took the road to Willowmore and then turned off to De Rust. This road is quite spectacular as you drive parallel to the magnificent Swartberg range. As we reached De Rust we found parking and walked up to the Registration which is in “Die Kerk Saal”. Here we found a magnificent array of food, cakes and biscuits, meat and various goods for sale. De Rust was built on Petrus Meiring's farm in 1900 and was a resting place where wagons would out-span before tackling the long trek through the poort.
We ordered a tea and joined Pat, Ronel and Gerald. They had arrived, in their new Hyundai, a few minutes earlier. From here we split up: Jacqui and Brenda met their friends: Glen and Maura and had supper in the village before trying to find their B & B which was about an hours drive (near to the start of the race) from De Rust, along a Dirt Road. They got lost before finally phoning for directions. Jacqui described the hospitality as amazing and the room delightful in an African style and open plan bathroom which would have been great for a married couple but may have been a bit awkward for Brenda and her to share.
Gerald followed us as we drove the 35kays to Oudtshoorn. We were staying at the same B & B – Weltevreden at 80 Keyter street. While it was not luxurious, it was quite adequate as a place to sleep. Barbara & I found a restaurant where we ordered takeaways. Barbara had Fillet of Ostrich Steak and I had a Vegetable platter. We ordered a Chocolate mouse and Ice cream for desert. We returned to our B & B intending to have our supper and to watch a DVD on Ally's mini DVD player that we had brought along. Our plans were dashed however as we both fell asleep as soon as we were in bed.
Saturday morning I was up earlier that I had to be. Once I had washed and shaved, I made some hot chocolate and we left at around 5am. We filled with Petrol and joined the line of cars heading at this early hour, to De Rust. At Barbara's insistence we found a parking close to the start. We sat waiting until Jacqui's group came walking up the road. I followed them until they declared a need for the toilet.
I wandered down to where the cattle / ostrich trucks were waiting to take the runners to the start. Here I met up with Leslie and Rodney Maggot. Rodney was doing the 10kay and so Leslie and I looked for a place on a truck. I am not sure how it came that we were so lucky but we were able to board a bus. As we were about to board there were cries of “This bus is Full”. We ignored them and I pushed my way on insisting that my “wife” should be allowed to board as well. We sat on the front dashboard watching as some other poor souls froze on the back of bakkies. As we drove to the start I was again in awe of the mighty rock faces. Leslie told me that we should make time to visit the waterfall.
We firstly passed the Ten Kay start and then arrived at the end of the poort where there is a turning point for vehicles. I enjoyed a cup of sweet tea, found someone with some Vaseline, greeted Gerald and family, Jacqui and her group and then the start gun went off.
I was surprised to see everyone heading off in the wrong direction. I followed suite and soon realised that there was a One Kay run in a Westerly direction before the runners turned around and headed back to De Rust. I saw Mike and Devera Magson, Lewellan Clack and Allan Taylor all charging along at breakneck speed. I wondered at their ability to keep up such a fast speed for 21kays.
I went off too fast but was feeling good and chatting to a variety of people. Alan Howe, Carol from Humansdorp, a group of runners from Hartenbos who insisted that we had to speak Afrikaans when we are in places like De Rust. I was having fun as we crossed one drift after the next. The route takes the runners along the Groot Rivier. The sound of the water under the bridges, the magnificent sandstone cliff faces and green lichen gives the runner a sense of the wonder and beauty of the poort.
As we ran I felt this huge sense of sadness that Ian had never been into this place. Ian would have loved it and would have soon been identifying the rocks and plants. Meiringspoort is a place that every able bodied South African who has the means, should visit at some stage. Even if it is just to drive through. There are many places to pull over and to admire the views. At one stage there is a section of the old road which is built from stone with hand placed stone walls supporting the outer edge of the road still standing strong. This old road is something like 150 years old.
VASBYT.
Vasbyt is a South African term meaning to hang on when the situation is tough. In my recent running career I have forgotten how to Vasbyt. Too often I have walked whenever I felt like it. I have become lazy and use any little excuse to take it easy. I remember running the Kouga Kus half with Tim. I ran with him for the first ten kays and then faded horribly when it came to the hilly section.
This morning I had run fast (for me that is) for the first half of the distance. I asked for times from other runners and realised that I had done the first 10 or 12kays at a pace of about 5.15 a kay. I knew that I would not be able to keep this fast pace up. But I decided to take it one kay at a time and to try to not walk unless it was absolutely necessary. Leslie passed me. I had a stitch just under my ribs. But I maintained a pace that seemed to me to be sustainable for the last 7 or so kays. Liz (Grundling I think) passed me. She is an amazing runner who still holds my admiration from the night when I had bailed from a Comrades and she came in before Bruce Fordyce running in, what could be described as dusk, in Pietermaritzburg.
Towards the last 5kays the route emerges out of the poort. Up to now the gradient has been basically downhill and gives the runner a sense of well-being. From about 5kays to go there are some slight up hills. I am not good on hills but managed to keep up the running and stopped myself from walking at any stage. I knew that if I had just one walk then that would be it for me and I would get back into my bad habit of walking as soon as I felt tired in the slightest.
Nicky Roote passed me. She commented on how awful it was that runners tossed their water sachets into the river. At this stage there were a number of runners passing me. I was not concerned as I was still enjoying the morning and knew that I could hold out. We could see the first buildings of De Rust on the top of the hill. We passed the 3kay to go mark. Erna and Sonja from MPRG drove past us. Nicky thought that they may have started late or done the Ten Kay.
What I learned on Monday morning at MPRG was that Erna and Sonja had decided to go in their own vehicle to the start of the 21kay. They had done this race before and knew the course and the drill. They reached the start of the run, found a place to turn and mingled with the rest of the runners. And started with the gun. A few minutes later they reached the 9kay to go mark! Erna says to Sonja: “I have this terrible cold feeling!” Sonja says: “Yes. We are doing the Ten Kay”. Big Oooops! They had parked where the 10kay started, not even knowing that there was a 10. Ah well: Ce la vie!
The morning was becoming quite hot as the sun was on our backs and there was not much of a breeze. We reached the village. Leslie was ahead of me and walked occasionally. I passed her and forced myself to move just above a walk. The route takes a left turn into the village then a right turn up the hill. Immediately you can see the finish. One kay to go. And we turn away from the finish. Back to the main road. Up the hill. Barbara is there taking photographs.
I run past Barbara, wondering if my attempt at a smile for the camera would come out as a determined grimace. I continued up the hill, turned left again and managed to stay a the same jogging pace up the very last hill. Finally the last 20 meters down to the finish. Leslie was just behind me and we have finished in about 1H56Minuttes. Jan and Irene van Eden do the time keeping and registration.
I walked back to where Barbara was standing in the main road and watched the runners coming in. Geoff Roberts, Ronel, Brenda then Gerald and Jacqui, Marie Louise Emslie, Maura, and finally Pat came in smiling and looking like she had just started. Les and Margie Brightman were there as well as a number of Crusaders.
Today was also the running of the Port Alfred 27kay where most of the Achilleans would be found. Jacqui had completed her first half marathon in a very acceptable time of around 2H20. She had run most of the distance with Maura having met Gerald a short way before the end. Brenda had been a little in front of them and had also competed the half looking good. This was only her second 21kay after the Kynsa half earlier this year.
As a result of Leslie telling me about the Waterfall, Barbara & I left immediately and drove back through the poort. We drove right through to where the race had started and then back to the waterfall stop. Here the authorities have built a wonderful area for vehicles to stop as well as an information center. We learned that each of the crossing of the Groot Rivier has a name with a background. There are 25 crossings:
From De Rust:
1.Spookdrif: A supernatural light in the form of a ball of fire has been seen at this point.
2.Skansdrif: Stone Ramparts were built here to prevent flooding.
3.Damdrif: There was a very large water-hole here that was deceptive particularly to strangers who would often become bogged down in the mud.
4.Boesmansdrif: here there are deep clefts in the rock face where San people used to live.
5.Skelmkloof Drif: here there is a hidden ravine where water trickles into the Groot Rivier.
6.Aalwyndrif: Named after the beautiful aloes that over look this drift. Aloes are sought after for their medicinal uses.
7.Nooiensboomdrif: A Nooiensboom is a Cabbage Tree and two of these trees used to grow on either side of the road.
8.Stewelsdrif: A “stewel” is translated as a Boot. A wagoner of farmer Petrus Meiring lost his boots here and had to return home for a new pair. Here the name Dubbledrif can also be seen. This does not appear to be an official name of a drift as it does not appear on the list of Drifts in the information center.
9.Perskeboomdrif: so named from the peach trees that used to grow close to this Drift.
10.Sanddrif: Sandbanks would cause obstructions here. The first Concrete causeway was built here in 1948
11.Herrie se drif: first known as Nagas drif it later took on the name Herrie. C J Langenhoven (1873 – 1932) poet and afrikaans writer, is best known for composing the South African National Anthem: “Uit die Blou van onse hemel” which was later adapted to our present anthem incorporating Nkosi Siki Lele in 1995 when Nelson Mandela become president. Langenhoven carved out the name Herrie which was the name of his fictional Elephant in his book: “Sonde met die Bure”. This is one of the few cases of Graffiti becoming a National Heritage site. It was proclaimed in 1973 to celebrate the birth date of Langenhoven.
12.Witperdedrif: a Rabbi and his horses were washed away at this site. His remains were never found.
13.Ou Tol drif: named after the Old Toll house which has been gone for many years
14.Wadrif: Legend has it that a number of wagons were washed away here.
15.Witfonteindrif: there is a steam of crystal clear water that flows from kranses to the west of this crossing.
16.Uitspandrif: there is sufficient area for the wagoners to allow the oxen to turn and to graze in this area.
17.Waterfaldrif: so called after a nearby waterfall.
18.Ontploffingsdrif: a wagon loaded with explosives traveling along the Boer Road exploded close by here. The Anglo Boer war / South African war (1899 – 1902) saw the British Soldiers build a fort with wall so stone here.
19.Derdetoldrif: to the West of this crossing two more Toll Houses were built. The ruins of these houses can still be seen here.
20.Rooiuitspanningsdrif: here there was sufficient space for a number of ox wagons to outspan. The red comes from the red soil in the area.
21.Pereboom se drif. As you approach this drift you go through a horse shoe bend. A saffron pear tree grew here making this a popular place for wagons to outspan
22.Bloupunt drif: wagons would frequently become stuck in the loose gravel here. The name is derived from that of a nearby farm.
23.Wasgatdrif: Entering Meiringspoort from the North, travelers could fill their barrels and could wash off the Karoo dust in the first really deep pools in many miles.
24.Opmetingsdrif: in 1912 measurements were taken to decide upon building a dam in this possibly suitable position.
25.Laaste Drif: traveling from the South this would have been the last drift that you would cross.
Petrus Meiring owned the farm where De Rust is now situated. It was he who loved to explore and discovered the route through the Swartberg mountain range, we now refer to as Meirings Poort. He was the son of a Pastor Meiring who arrived in South Africa in 1743.
Back at the waterfall stop area we first examined the history of the Poort. This road which connected the Klein and the Groot Karoo took about 2 years to complete and was officially opened on 3 March 1858. The original road was called the Boer Road and cost about 5 000 pounds to build. During the great depression the road was upgraded at a cost of around 10 000 pounds. This was probably in anticipation of the visit by the Prince of Wales. At this time a walkway to the waterfall was hewn out of the rock face.
In 1948 a further reconstruction cost 14 000 pounds. After the floods of 1996 the road was rebuilt at a cost of R1,6 Million and in 2000 The premier of the Western Cape, Gerald Morkel opened the newly constructed road which had then cost R70 Million to build. The name Meirings Poort came from Petrus Johannes Meiring a nearby farmer (1799-1876).
Barbara and I walked the short way to the waterfall. This is a spectacular point of interest and should not be missed by any visitor to the area. We got talking to a family who had just run the race as well. We also chatted to a group of Bikers (our age) who were cruising the area.
I had this overwhelming sense appreciation that I was able to do things like this. Running a 21kay through this stunning poort, meeting up with a group of friends, viewing this waterfall and the poort drive with Barbara. This is a very special privilege that we enjoy and we should savour every moment. A group of Barbara's school children were at the parking area with their parents who had also run the race this morning.
While we were enjoying our day at Meiringspoort, Adrienne and Peter Wilson were in Cape Town to watch Jennifer playing Hockey. She has played for South Africa for some time and in a game earlier this week she scored a goal. By Sunday afternoon the South African girls were through to the final having drawn against NZ and beaten Spain 1-0. they were now up against NZ again in the final. I later learned that SA were beaten by NZ after a thrilling match ending up 2-1 to NZ.
We headed back to De Rust. On our way we stopped to see if we could find the stone carving of C J Langenhoven: Herrie. There it was; in bold letters. Nearly 100 year old Graffiti! Barbara spotted, what she thought could be a Black Eagle Nest on the cliff face on the east side of the kloof. And sure enough, when we looked closely at the photograph back home, the nest of an eagle could be clearly seen.
Back at De Rust, we bought ourselves a Curry & Rice which was delicious and just right. By now I was ravenous. We sat for a while with Brenda, Maura and Glen who were with Jacqui Zeelie. Jacqui traveled back home with us. On our way home we again stopped at Joubertina before completing the last leg of the drive home.
Race Results of some of the people that we know at the event:
1st person home time of 1.07
15th Michael Magson 1.18
4th Lady and 43rd Davera Magson 1.26
88th Les Brightman 1.33
92nd Lewllan Clack 1.34
108th Alan Taylor 1.36
331st Nicky Roote 1.54
359 Peter Giddy 1.56
361 Leslie Maggot 1.56
371 Alan Howe 1.57
371 Alan Howe 1.57
478 Geoff Roberts 2.02
641 Brenda Scholtz 2.12
671 Ronel Scheepers 2.14
708 Gerald Scheepers 2.19
716 Jacqui Zeelie 2.19
721 Marie Louise Emslie 2.19
724 Maura Jarvis 2.19
788 Pat Scheepers 2.28
905 Last man home 2.58
Back home, Ally had stayed over at her friend, Nicola Prinsloo. Bev and Chris are really good to Ally. They make her feel very much at home. Barbara and I had a quick wash and made our way down to Summerstrand where we caught the last few minutes of the Currie Cup Rugby semi final. Completely against the run of play and in the very final minutes, The Free State Cheetah's beat the Natal Sharks.
We then watched the Blue Bulls play against the Western Province team. It was a really tense match with a half time score of 12 nil to the Blue Bulls with Morne Steyn scoring all the points from penalties. Province came back in the second half and scored a number of penalties of their own. The game moved at a fierce pace and defense had to be perfect on both sides but finally Gio Aplon out sprinted two Bulls players after a grubber kick and scored the only try of the match. The conversion put the WP team ahead. A penalty to either side thereafter put WP in the lead again. In the final minute Morne dropped a goal for the winning three points.
Bulls will now play Cheetah's at Loftus. Clint had been making up a Pot and we ended off the evening with potjie and rice before collecting Ally from Nicola's house.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
OCTOBER 2009.
OCTOBER 2009
THIS MONTH
PATRICK, MARIANNE AND THOMAS VISIT ENA AND DRIVES TO PLETT IN THE OLD MERCEDES
EP LADIES RUGBY IN UITENHAGE WITH RON PASK
MPRG RUNNING TO THE BEACH AND THE STRANDFONTEIN LOOP.
NIPPERS IS BACK AT SUMMERSTRAND ON SUNDAYS
ALLY GIDDY MARKET DAY
ALLY GIDDY GALA IN UITENHAGE.
CATHY & SAUL SILBERSTEIN TRIP TO KENYA
MICHAEL & LENE GIDDY MOVE BACK TO OUR HOUSE
MEIRINGSPOORT HALF MARATHON.
BARBARA, ALLY AND I PURCHASE MOUNTAIN BIKES FROM CYCLO PRO ROB RUDMAN.
LENE LOSES HER BABY.
NIPPERS LEVEL TESTS.
ARE YOU IN CONTROL OF YOUR OWN DESTINY? OR IS THERE ANOTHER IN YOUR LIFE WHO "CONTROLS" YOU?
ARE YOU ABLE TO VALUE WHAT YOU HAVE OR DO YOU WISH FOR THINGS THAT ARE A MERE PIPE DREAM?
DO YOU "WISH" FOR WHAT OTHERS HAVE OR WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE BEYOND YOUR REACH?
READ ON:
There's an old saying: "The grass is always greener on the other side." At some point in life, everyone looks at their circumstances and thinks, "If only... If only I had a better job. If only my spouse were like so-and-so. If only I had gone to college. If only I had the opportunities so-and-so had." We look around and think everyone else has it better than we do. But I believe comparison is just a trick of the enemy to get us off course and keep us from God's best. Comparison is the thief of joy, and if the enemy can steal our joy, he has stolen our source of strength.
See, I don't believe the grass is greener on the other side; I believe the grass is greener where you water it. In other words, we have to tend to the things that are important to us if we want to see those areas of our lives blossom and grow. If you want better relationships, you have to invest in the people around you. If you want a better job, you have to invest in your skill set to qualify for that job and then go after it.
We all have the capacity to come up higher. God has given us all tremendous opportunities, but if we are focused on what everyone else has, we'll miss out on what God has especially for us!
Today, instead of comparing, decide to cultivate the dry, fallow areas of your life. Begin to water and invest in the areas in which you want to see change. Get a vision and dedicate it to the Lord. As you take responsibility and tend to what the Lord has given you, I believe He'll pour out His blessing and favor, and you'll see your life flourish beyond anything you could have ever hoped or dreamed.
This is one of those emails that are forwarded. I hardly ever forward this kind of thing but today felt that this was meaningful in so many of our lives. This is worth saving to re-read.
October has now begun. Just three months in this year are still to be played out.
We have had so many things happen this year. Both great and some not so wonderful. Ian died, since then Barbara's cousin Sue died, then Michael De Koning (a man who was injured in a rugby accident and who was confined to a wheelchair but who became a good friend to Michael and Jacqui Zivor) died and now Roger Gush has died. These four deaths all seem to be premature.
I am not really sure what a premature death is: perhaps death is premature when it is not due to old age. But to some old age is 75. Barbara's parents died in this age bracket as did my father, Allan. But then a young person may consider 60 to be old age.
While I, in my late fifty's now, think that my Mother, who is 93, has reached old age. However we describe death, it is sad for those left behind and a big gap is created and we wonder how we will carry on without those who are no longer with us. I know time will heal but right now I am feeling a great sense of loss as a result of these four great people who have left us.
But enought of morbid thoughts. We have a wonderful and fulfilled life and should, as the writing above says, be celebrating every moment.
Sunday 4th October 2009.
This week: After a lay off and a bit of leave I went back to work on Thursday 1st. I also went for a run this morning for the first time in over a week. I am not really sure if I should be calling it running as I am barely able to walk jog the route out. We did the Town Run where I have been cutting short but this morning headed all the way down Bird street and past the Edward hotel. It had begun raining so we ended the run sopping wet but I felt good to be back on the road and doing a little longer than I had anticipated.
Back to work I had to appoint a FSAM to the position of RIana Nel who had left JDG last week. I discussed the applications with Corrie and we decided to appoint Rowena van Eck who was a regional Credit manager for Russells, then moved to the George area with JDG FS and who will now move back to PE where she has a daughter and grandaughter.
Other than this it was a time to catch up with work and to deal with all of the problems of staff with no Riana and Nicky (on leave) to field the questions. Friday evening on my way home, I wondered what to have for supper. I was not in the mood for cooking so stopped off at the Spar and went to the Deli bar. As I browsed I saw a Sushi tray for R30 and decided that we would have a fish supper. I bought the Sushi, some pickled fish and some calamari. It turned out to be an excellent supper that everyone enjoyed.
Saturday morning I was up early and Gerald, Ronel and I ran to Hobie beach where we met up with the rest of the group for a run. This morning it was: Adrienne and son Matthew, Maryna, Adrienne Smith and Anne duRandt were surprise visitors who joined us for the first time; Margie Saunders was there to show us how to really train for an event; Peter Mc Ewan was also a first timer in this group; Pat Scheepers & Suzanne Gendall also met us at Hobie for the run. So we had a merry band of about 12 runners stretched out along the route for a run.
It started off misty with an East wind but the sun soon burned the mist away and we had an excellent morning of jogging. I was in my normal place at the back but when we reached 2nd ave for water at the garage it was only Gerald, Peter, Maryna and I who continued on to Admiralty Way. Tony Button (shirtless) had passed us going the other direction and was oohed and aaahed at by the girls with his magnificent physique. So I decided to run shirtless for the last section but receieved no swooning from anyone. Ce La Vie!
Maryna and Peter decided to include the University in their run and turned right while Gerald I continued down to Beach Road and headed back to Hobie. We met Charmaine as she was coming from her home to start her run. And Judy Blumberg who is looking a little older but still running well. As we finished we were treated to a dolphin swimpast. It had been a good run and despite that fact that my legs were starting to cramp and I was really tired, this is a highlite of my week. Pat and Ronel were waiting for us and they gave me a lift home.
I arrived at home exhausted. Barbara was still in bed and I lay down still wet and sweaty and promptly fell asleep. I think that this was a first for me. I would never normally lie down after a run nor would I do anything before I have had a shower. But I was so weary that I "passed out" there and then.
Barbara had to buy some clothes for Ally for the new term starting Monday and headed off to Clarendon school shop. It was Daniel's Birthday and they went to visit there. Michael had not been feeling well and was also home. I went to work to do some catching up as I knew we would be in meetings on Monday and Tuesday next week.
I collected Barbara and the two of us went to Flight Center where we did some enquiries about the flights to Calgary as Barbara and Gail plan to be there in June 2010.
Later this afternoon I again did "something completely different". Ron and I went to watch Ladies Rugby in Uitenhage. Eastern Province Ladies rugby was, according to the news paper report on the up and they would be playing the Blue Bulls ladies team in a provincial final.
We paid R30 to drive into the stadium at the bottom end of Uitenhage. There were mainly black and coloured people there with a lot of drinking going on. Casks of wine, glass bottles of beer were surprising to see as at all the stadiums that we normally go to all forms of alcohol are controlled and only plastic mugs are allowed. But that having been said there were no problems today.
I had visions of a game that Barbara and I had been to many years ago where there were two local teams playing. The popular coloured team was losing and this was, in the opinion of the spectators, due to bad refereeing. The result was that glass bottles were flung at people on the field and Barbara and I had to flee for our lives as the crowd became totally uncontrolled and we had some near misses with big bottles smashing around us.
Today's game was a treat. The Eastern Province girls (all black and coloured) at first seemed to be out weighed by a big Blue Bulls (many white girls) pack. But the skill of the EP girls was soon evident as they totally dominated the game both in line outs and the back line where there were some unlikely looking girls with speed and agility that could be a lesson to many male teams.
We were delighted to see a half time score of three tries (one converted) to nil. The first two tries were scored by a very agile and capable scrumhalf and the third was scored by a center after a long breakaway run. In the second half the EP side had most of the territory and possession but stuggled to score but then in two excellent moves moved the score up by scoring two more tries (one converted) and preventing the Blue Bulls from scoring with some excellent tacking and defence that did our local team proud.
Niether side had a girl who was a really good kicker. This kept the ball in hand as the only kicks were short stabs and grubber kicks. Even penalties were often taken as though they were "short arm" penalties. Passing out to the centers and wings was the norm and not something to be rarely seen as it is in the mens version. Running with ball in hand, dodging and darting through traffic was often a tactic that proved successful.
The heavy charges of the Blue Bulls big girls was totally unsuccessful as the ball was often lost forward. The final score was 29-0 with the Mighty Elephants scoring 5 tries (two converted). Ron and I had been treated to some excellent rugby despite some really poor refereeing. Interestingly the referee, the linesmen and teams were all female. But the coaches and organisers seemed to be all men. EP had deservedly won the provincial trophy.
Sunday morning
Ally had spent the night at Michael's house. It was Daniels birthday. M & L have gone out to a batchelor party for a family member of Lene's. I collected her and we just had time to get to church. Mike Perks spoke and had an excellent sermon on the chorus: God is so good; He took my Sin; Now I am free.
After church it was down to Nippers where we had a great time with all age groups on a slightly cooler morning doing swimming and boarding. After Nippers we went to Michaels house where we spent the afternoon having lunch and playing bridge.
Sunday 11.10.2009.
Charles is battling with Jamie right now. Jamie appears to be a bit out of control and needs constant attention. We were due to meet Charles and Ingrid for supper but they had to cancel. I am sure that this is a phase and that Jamie will come through it but meanwhile it is tough for this family.
Ally had her Market day on Friday. She and her friend Hanna OBrie have been hard at work making necklaces, braclets, door signs, popcorn, crunchies, brownies and set up a table in the Clarendon Hall. When I collected Ally from her firend's party at the Ten Pin Bowling on Friday evening, Ally was not looking as bright as normal and I established that the Market Day had not gone as they had hoped. There are a number of lessons that they learned from this experience. It was a really good learning tool.
Saturday Morning. I was up early and met Gerald and Ronel and we ran down to Hobie beach where we met: Colin Mc Call, Suzanne, Susan, Anne DuRand, Adrienne Smith, Adrienne Wilson, Maryna Baard. We did the Strandfontein circuit. Passed Bob Stedman en route. Deryck LeRoux passed us as he drove to golf.
As we were finishing along the beach walk we met a young mother and child in a pram: Anja and daughter Johanna. They are a German family who are moving to PE as the Dad has a job here. After this run of around 20kays I am now feeling good for the Meiringspoort 21kay that we plan to run next week.
Ally had a Gala in Uitenhage. It was cold and I think that everyone: Parents and swimmers were freezing cold. I went to a Coaching session run by Anthony Skinner (brian Saunders and Harry) at Summies. We had an excellent turnout: Dianne, John, Varrin, Andrew, Clint, Bruce, Thomas, Roger, Hannes, Alex, Shareen, Lynne, Marius and Peter.
I planned to cycle with John on Sunday morning but the cold and wet put us off. It was still cold, misty and wet when we got down to Nippers on Sunday morning. But there was a good turnout of Nippers and Coaches there. We had some time to start Sprint Coaching as well as doing some In's and Out's of the water. The wind was Easterly and the waves were a mess.
This week at work we had to do a lot of training of a new system that is being introduced. I ran most mornings except Tuesday as it was raining. Gerald and I have been running extremely slowly with lots of walking interspersed. This does not bother me as I am now feeling good for Meiringspoort.
Silver Oak Trees
The silver Oak Trees in Walmer are now at their best with the golden blossoms flowering. I looked up this tree and found out that the tree is known as the Australian Silver-Oak or the Southern Silky Oak tree. Grevillea robusta: It is native to Eastern Australia but does well in South Africa. It is an evergreen, grows fast and suits the South African climate. I saw one of these trees in Jacqui Zeelie's house when I visited Joshua on Grandparents Day. She complains that it makes a big mess with the golden blossoms falling on the playground.
The South African Silver Oak Tree is more like a shrub or bush. It is a dense bush with leathery leaves which are green on the top but have silver coloured hairs on the bottom of the leave which give it a shiny appearance. The South African Silver Oak is also evergreen and fast growing. Brachylaena discolor: It is found in the Coastal Woodlands of the Eastern Cape. The name Discolour refers to the two colours of the leaf.
Saturday 17th October 2009.
This weekend we ran the Meiringspoort half marathon. I have written a separate blog on Meiringspoort.
Sunday 18.10.2009.
Sunday morning: Michael had not been feeling well and we stopped off to see him before going off to Nippers.
At Summerstrand the wind had flattened the waves and we had a wonderful session of which most was in the water. We had the U14's do about 5 times on their Malibu boards out and back. Tough but necessary training. There were a group of about 22 U14's and similar numbers of the other age groups.
All the coaches were able to spend quality time with the Nippers in the water as well as doing Flags.
Jacqui had finally got the clothing back from being branded with ADT who are now our new sponsors. She handed clothing out to parents who have paid subs. Dianne has a wonderful tuck shop going and was selling potjie rolls at R5 and hamburgers at R10. They do a roaring trade and this is a big success at Summerstrand now.
The ADT sponsorship was finalised late on Friday afternoon. Hannes had been working hard to reach an understanding with the management of ADT as to what they would require from us. There is a certain amount of clothing stock that has now been branded with the ADT logo and this will be the new uniform of Summerstrand.
Now that we have this very generous sponsorship finalised we will order and print clothing for our Nippers. Please be a little patient. We will let you know as soon as the clothing is available. Meanwhile; if you have paid your annual subs please talk to Jacqui on Sunday. Jacqui will be at the Nippers cage.
Once a Nipper's annual Subscription has been paid the Nipper will receive a Scull Cap, a chafe vest and a bathing costume. Other clothing will be sold to cover the costs. The Nippers committee has not put any “mark up” on clothing in the past but merely tried to recover the cost price of the uniform. This year will be the first that Nippers will have the uniform included in the Subscription.
It is important to note that we should make an effort to honour the substantial sponsorship that ADT has given to Summerstrand. Please make every effort to wear the ADT branded clothing as soon as you have received it. We would like to phase out the Equisweet branded clothing. The committee has found a suitable and needy outlet for clothing and beach wear that has the Equisweet label.
Micro Nippers: The Annual Subscription for a Micro Nipper is R100. The Micro Nipper will receive an ADT branded scull cap which they should wear on Sundays at practice.
Level Tests: we are now trying to arrange a level test for all Nippers who have moved up an age group or who are first timer's. Rob Mitchley is working tirelessly to set up level tests for Saturday 31st October at Hobie beach: time to be confirmed. YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE ROB WITH A SWIM LETTER. This letter can be signed by you, a swim coach or any other suitable adult. Please make his life easy: don't make him phone you: fax a copy of the letter on Monday.
Robert Mitchley Attorney
Tel: 041 373 1956
Fax: 086 623 0290
Mobile: 082 929 1648
robert.mitchley@vodamail.co.za
Nippers Practice for Sunday 25th: we had thought to arrange a practice at Redhouse but for a number of reasons we will meet at Summerstrand as usual.
Monday morning I was quite stiff and Mike Dean & I decided to do a very short walk run. We chatted about all kinds of stuff: His daughter, Catherine is also not well. She is at University in Cape Town and struggling with health. Debra has completed a degree in property management and is now studying a Post Grad Law degree.
His Medical Technologist is going off on Maternity leave and he is concerned that he will not cope without her specialist knowledge. Mike had done the Ocean Swim on Sunday in a wet suite for the first time. He described what it was to wear a wet suite and how this had changed the dynamics of the swim.
Tuesday and Wednesday we did our slow runs in the morning. Tuesday, Barbara, Ally and I went to Cyclo Pro Rob Rudman and bought ourselves three mountain bikes for R20 750 in total including all the stuff such as slick tyres etc.
Thursday and Friday I was in East London and then Friday evening we had an evening with Charles and Ingrid. They made these Borrito's (chicken and beef wraps) with lettuce, tomato, spring onion, mushroom etc chopped and wrapped in pancakes. A very nice and easy supper. We played a bit of bridge and then collected Ally who had been at Lara O's party at the boardwalk. They had a Survivor party doing all kinds of activities.
Michael and Lene had decided that it would ease some of their tensions and stress if they moved back home with us. So this week they packed up all of their furniture, moved some to our house and then rest to my office basement.
Saturday morning I walked to Adrienne where Pat collected us. We drove down to the beach where we met the gang: Susan, Suzanne, Maryna (piepie Lang Kous), Gerald, Pat, Ronel, Anne Du Rand, Adrienne and myself. We ran along the beach and up Admiralty to Strandfontien. Back to the beach after an hour of running. Then Ronel had wanted to do a Triathlon so we went for a short swim around the buoys. I think that Maryna was a little disappointed as she had wanted a longer run.
Cathy had been to Kenya at the invitation of her work. Saul and her had a luxury holiday of about two weeks in the most wonderful settings in the Serengetti, in craters of old volcano's. They watched the migration of the Wilderbees and Zebra. They saw the RIver Crossing that we see on Nationial Geographic. They witnessed a Zebra being taken out by a crocodile. They did game viewing from Horse back and were able to go right up to the animals. And during all of this they stayed in Luxury accommodation.
When Cathy heard that Michael was struggling with his situation and health she decided that she had to see for herself and give him support. So she flew into PE on Friday immediately on her return from holiday. All of this travel made her system a little weak and she was not feeling her best.
After our run on Saturday morning we drove to Cyclo Pro to collect the Bikes but unfortunately they were not yet ready. The day was cold, windy and overcast so after work that was the end of activity for me. Kevin the gardener and I cleared out some stuff and took it to the tip. But apart from that I did not do anything that Saturday afternoon.
Sunday morning with Cathy and the rest of the family at our home, we took the morning off and started a leisurely day. Barbara dropped Cathy off at the airport and Ally & I went to Nippers:
To all the new Nippers and Parents: Welcome to Nippers. Thank you for choosing Summerstrand.
Please understand that we are all parents just like you who have become involved with our children's activities.
This is not an exclusive bunch of coaches and administrators. We invite you to put on your shorts or bathing costumes and to join us. Either on the beach or assisting at the club house.
I am sure that many Nippers or Parents would have asked the question: "Is there Nippers today?" on Sunday morning.
The answer is that, unless we have told you prior to Sunday, there will be Nippers every Sunday 11am to 13.00. Your coaches will be there.
This Sunday we had an amazing turnout despite the seemingly chilly, windy, wet weather.
The conditions for training have never been better than we have had this season so far.
We have never (in the past few years) had so much time to train Malibu, body board and swimming as we have had this season.
I am pretty sure that we are not the only family who is arriving home on Sunday afternoon completely exhausted.
And, while we have had a few hiccups with Clothing, we have had an amazing group of people doing the admin and tuckshop.
There have been Hot Dogs and Hamburgers for sale each weekend. And everything has been sold out.
The coaches are busy sorting out teams for Plett Carnival. We will send out the program for Plett as soon as we receive it.
U12 and U14's: Please remember that you have to have competed in Carnivals as well as East Cape (Plett next year) to be able to qualify for selection to represent EC as a province.
Energade Triathlon:
The very popular Energade Triathlon is held on Sunday 29th November, at Pollock Beach.
Ally & I have entered for this event. Will you please think about joining us?
It is an event that can be completed by everyone either as a team or as individuals.
Peter
082 550 3174
26.10.2009.
Once we were home, Barbara & I went to the Indigenous Nursery off Kragga Kamma Road. I had done a little research on the Australian and the South African Silver Oak. So we decided to purchase a SA Silver Oak to plant in the garden. We will plant it on the East Wall next to Mill Park Road.
I also purchased a Real Yellowood Tree. I had bought one of these trees about 2 years ago and after digging a hole for this tree for about a week or two I planted it (with lots of ceremony) and it promptly died. So I will pull the old stump out and plant my second attempt this week.
This evening I tried out the Tortilla type wrap (taco, burrito, enchiladas) with chicken and salad. Healthy and filling. Easy to make. Ally loves it and I had to make her one for her lunch the next day.
Monday morning I tried to run but had to stop as my leg was in agony.
Tuesday afternoon: It had been blowing a gale and a number of trees and roofs were blown off. Some people even lost boats in the PE harbour.
It had rained on Monday to Barbara & I went to collect the Bikes from Rob Rudman this afternoon. We phoned first to ensure that they were ready only to be disappointed when we arrived there and they were still not ready. I told Rob how I felt and cleared the air. On our way home we stopped off at Cell C to renew Barbara's cell phone contract. We received excellent service from the young man who was there and Barbara will now have a really snazzy phone.
Wednesday afternoon we finally collected the bikes after having them set up and made ready to cycle. Rob gave us some instructions as to maintenance and the use of the bikes. I really cannot wait to have us cycyle as a family.
This week Lene and Michael went to see how the baby was doing. Lene was able to perform the ultra sound herself but found no heart beat. They then discovered that the baby was going to be stillborn. Very sad for them. Lene had the operation performed during the week and took the rest of the week off to recover.
Hannes and I met up with ADT on Monday morning. We had a really good discussion regarding their sponsorship and what they hope to achieve and how we could benefit from the relationship.
This week I have been battling with a calf muscle injury. I have a prescription for anti inflamatory pills and these work if I take them for about three days in a row. But I am reluctant to take it too regularly. But on Thursday & Friday I took the pills and then on Saturday morning we had a stunning run from Hobie with a swim afterwards. It was Adrienne, Susan, Anne Du Rand and myself. Gerald was running a 27kay race. We swam afterwards. Maryna was not well and brought us a coffee and rusk to the finish.
I went home and after a shower went back to the beach where we had our first round of Level Tests for the season. THe water was cold but the Nippers all passed. Today I had the Gardener plant the Yellow Wood tree that I had bought. I also started a second attempt at a vegetable garden with some tyres that I filled with compost and planted some SPinach, Lettuce, Beans and Cabbage. So we will see what happens.
This afternoon was the Currie Cup final between Blue Bulls and Cheetahs. A good game but was not of that much interest to me. A number of springboks in both teams but the Blie Bulls were favourites and ultimate winners. Ally and friend Lara Swanepoel went to watch a Hip Hop dance competition at Clarendon. It was too long and lasted from around 6.30pm to after ten pm.
And so ended the tenth month of 2009. Busy as always, fulfilling, sad, family drama, work activity, Barbara's school takes a beating, I battle with running injury but also have one of the best runs that I have had in ages, Nippers is in full swing with our first level test of the season completed and Rugby is over for this season. We buy some Mountain bikes but I have trouble on the first day that I use mine as the rear wheel falls off and the brakes jam up.
Peter Giddy
31.10.2009.
THIS MONTH
PATRICK, MARIANNE AND THOMAS VISIT ENA AND DRIVES TO PLETT IN THE OLD MERCEDES
EP LADIES RUGBY IN UITENHAGE WITH RON PASK
MPRG RUNNING TO THE BEACH AND THE STRANDFONTEIN LOOP.
NIPPERS IS BACK AT SUMMERSTRAND ON SUNDAYS
ALLY GIDDY MARKET DAY
ALLY GIDDY GALA IN UITENHAGE.
CATHY & SAUL SILBERSTEIN TRIP TO KENYA
MICHAEL & LENE GIDDY MOVE BACK TO OUR HOUSE
MEIRINGSPOORT HALF MARATHON.
BARBARA, ALLY AND I PURCHASE MOUNTAIN BIKES FROM CYCLO PRO ROB RUDMAN.
LENE LOSES HER BABY.
NIPPERS LEVEL TESTS.
ARE YOU IN CONTROL OF YOUR OWN DESTINY? OR IS THERE ANOTHER IN YOUR LIFE WHO "CONTROLS" YOU?
ARE YOU ABLE TO VALUE WHAT YOU HAVE OR DO YOU WISH FOR THINGS THAT ARE A MERE PIPE DREAM?
DO YOU "WISH" FOR WHAT OTHERS HAVE OR WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE BEYOND YOUR REACH?
READ ON:
There's an old saying: "The grass is always greener on the other side." At some point in life, everyone looks at their circumstances and thinks, "If only... If only I had a better job. If only my spouse were like so-and-so. If only I had gone to college. If only I had the opportunities so-and-so had." We look around and think everyone else has it better than we do. But I believe comparison is just a trick of the enemy to get us off course and keep us from God's best. Comparison is the thief of joy, and if the enemy can steal our joy, he has stolen our source of strength.
See, I don't believe the grass is greener on the other side; I believe the grass is greener where you water it. In other words, we have to tend to the things that are important to us if we want to see those areas of our lives blossom and grow. If you want better relationships, you have to invest in the people around you. If you want a better job, you have to invest in your skill set to qualify for that job and then go after it.
We all have the capacity to come up higher. God has given us all tremendous opportunities, but if we are focused on what everyone else has, we'll miss out on what God has especially for us!
Today, instead of comparing, decide to cultivate the dry, fallow areas of your life. Begin to water and invest in the areas in which you want to see change. Get a vision and dedicate it to the Lord. As you take responsibility and tend to what the Lord has given you, I believe He'll pour out His blessing and favor, and you'll see your life flourish beyond anything you could have ever hoped or dreamed.
This is one of those emails that are forwarded. I hardly ever forward this kind of thing but today felt that this was meaningful in so many of our lives. This is worth saving to re-read.
October has now begun. Just three months in this year are still to be played out.
We have had so many things happen this year. Both great and some not so wonderful. Ian died, since then Barbara's cousin Sue died, then Michael De Koning (a man who was injured in a rugby accident and who was confined to a wheelchair but who became a good friend to Michael and Jacqui Zivor) died and now Roger Gush has died. These four deaths all seem to be premature.
I am not really sure what a premature death is: perhaps death is premature when it is not due to old age. But to some old age is 75. Barbara's parents died in this age bracket as did my father, Allan. But then a young person may consider 60 to be old age.
While I, in my late fifty's now, think that my Mother, who is 93, has reached old age. However we describe death, it is sad for those left behind and a big gap is created and we wonder how we will carry on without those who are no longer with us. I know time will heal but right now I am feeling a great sense of loss as a result of these four great people who have left us.
But enought of morbid thoughts. We have a wonderful and fulfilled life and should, as the writing above says, be celebrating every moment.
Sunday 4th October 2009.
This week: After a lay off and a bit of leave I went back to work on Thursday 1st. I also went for a run this morning for the first time in over a week. I am not really sure if I should be calling it running as I am barely able to walk jog the route out. We did the Town Run where I have been cutting short but this morning headed all the way down Bird street and past the Edward hotel. It had begun raining so we ended the run sopping wet but I felt good to be back on the road and doing a little longer than I had anticipated.
Back to work I had to appoint a FSAM to the position of RIana Nel who had left JDG last week. I discussed the applications with Corrie and we decided to appoint Rowena van Eck who was a regional Credit manager for Russells, then moved to the George area with JDG FS and who will now move back to PE where she has a daughter and grandaughter.
Other than this it was a time to catch up with work and to deal with all of the problems of staff with no Riana and Nicky (on leave) to field the questions. Friday evening on my way home, I wondered what to have for supper. I was not in the mood for cooking so stopped off at the Spar and went to the Deli bar. As I browsed I saw a Sushi tray for R30 and decided that we would have a fish supper. I bought the Sushi, some pickled fish and some calamari. It turned out to be an excellent supper that everyone enjoyed.
Saturday morning I was up early and Gerald, Ronel and I ran to Hobie beach where we met up with the rest of the group for a run. This morning it was: Adrienne and son Matthew, Maryna, Adrienne Smith and Anne duRandt were surprise visitors who joined us for the first time; Margie Saunders was there to show us how to really train for an event; Peter Mc Ewan was also a first timer in this group; Pat Scheepers & Suzanne Gendall also met us at Hobie for the run. So we had a merry band of about 12 runners stretched out along the route for a run.
It started off misty with an East wind but the sun soon burned the mist away and we had an excellent morning of jogging. I was in my normal place at the back but when we reached 2nd ave for water at the garage it was only Gerald, Peter, Maryna and I who continued on to Admiralty Way. Tony Button (shirtless) had passed us going the other direction and was oohed and aaahed at by the girls with his magnificent physique. So I decided to run shirtless for the last section but receieved no swooning from anyone. Ce La Vie!
Maryna and Peter decided to include the University in their run and turned right while Gerald I continued down to Beach Road and headed back to Hobie. We met Charmaine as she was coming from her home to start her run. And Judy Blumberg who is looking a little older but still running well. As we finished we were treated to a dolphin swimpast. It had been a good run and despite that fact that my legs were starting to cramp and I was really tired, this is a highlite of my week. Pat and Ronel were waiting for us and they gave me a lift home.
I arrived at home exhausted. Barbara was still in bed and I lay down still wet and sweaty and promptly fell asleep. I think that this was a first for me. I would never normally lie down after a run nor would I do anything before I have had a shower. But I was so weary that I "passed out" there and then.
Barbara had to buy some clothes for Ally for the new term starting Monday and headed off to Clarendon school shop. It was Daniel's Birthday and they went to visit there. Michael had not been feeling well and was also home. I went to work to do some catching up as I knew we would be in meetings on Monday and Tuesday next week.
I collected Barbara and the two of us went to Flight Center where we did some enquiries about the flights to Calgary as Barbara and Gail plan to be there in June 2010.
Later this afternoon I again did "something completely different". Ron and I went to watch Ladies Rugby in Uitenhage. Eastern Province Ladies rugby was, according to the news paper report on the up and they would be playing the Blue Bulls ladies team in a provincial final.
We paid R30 to drive into the stadium at the bottom end of Uitenhage. There were mainly black and coloured people there with a lot of drinking going on. Casks of wine, glass bottles of beer were surprising to see as at all the stadiums that we normally go to all forms of alcohol are controlled and only plastic mugs are allowed. But that having been said there were no problems today.
I had visions of a game that Barbara and I had been to many years ago where there were two local teams playing. The popular coloured team was losing and this was, in the opinion of the spectators, due to bad refereeing. The result was that glass bottles were flung at people on the field and Barbara and I had to flee for our lives as the crowd became totally uncontrolled and we had some near misses with big bottles smashing around us.
Today's game was a treat. The Eastern Province girls (all black and coloured) at first seemed to be out weighed by a big Blue Bulls (many white girls) pack. But the skill of the EP girls was soon evident as they totally dominated the game both in line outs and the back line where there were some unlikely looking girls with speed and agility that could be a lesson to many male teams.
We were delighted to see a half time score of three tries (one converted) to nil. The first two tries were scored by a very agile and capable scrumhalf and the third was scored by a center after a long breakaway run. In the second half the EP side had most of the territory and possession but stuggled to score but then in two excellent moves moved the score up by scoring two more tries (one converted) and preventing the Blue Bulls from scoring with some excellent tacking and defence that did our local team proud.
Niether side had a girl who was a really good kicker. This kept the ball in hand as the only kicks were short stabs and grubber kicks. Even penalties were often taken as though they were "short arm" penalties. Passing out to the centers and wings was the norm and not something to be rarely seen as it is in the mens version. Running with ball in hand, dodging and darting through traffic was often a tactic that proved successful.
The heavy charges of the Blue Bulls big girls was totally unsuccessful as the ball was often lost forward. The final score was 29-0 with the Mighty Elephants scoring 5 tries (two converted). Ron and I had been treated to some excellent rugby despite some really poor refereeing. Interestingly the referee, the linesmen and teams were all female. But the coaches and organisers seemed to be all men. EP had deservedly won the provincial trophy.
Sunday morning
Ally had spent the night at Michael's house. It was Daniels birthday. M & L have gone out to a batchelor party for a family member of Lene's. I collected her and we just had time to get to church. Mike Perks spoke and had an excellent sermon on the chorus: God is so good; He took my Sin; Now I am free.
After church it was down to Nippers where we had a great time with all age groups on a slightly cooler morning doing swimming and boarding. After Nippers we went to Michaels house where we spent the afternoon having lunch and playing bridge.
Sunday 11.10.2009.
Charles is battling with Jamie right now. Jamie appears to be a bit out of control and needs constant attention. We were due to meet Charles and Ingrid for supper but they had to cancel. I am sure that this is a phase and that Jamie will come through it but meanwhile it is tough for this family.
Ally had her Market day on Friday. She and her friend Hanna OBrie have been hard at work making necklaces, braclets, door signs, popcorn, crunchies, brownies and set up a table in the Clarendon Hall. When I collected Ally from her firend's party at the Ten Pin Bowling on Friday evening, Ally was not looking as bright as normal and I established that the Market Day had not gone as they had hoped. There are a number of lessons that they learned from this experience. It was a really good learning tool.
Saturday Morning. I was up early and met Gerald and Ronel and we ran down to Hobie beach where we met: Colin Mc Call, Suzanne, Susan, Anne DuRand, Adrienne Smith, Adrienne Wilson, Maryna Baard. We did the Strandfontein circuit. Passed Bob Stedman en route. Deryck LeRoux passed us as he drove to golf.
As we were finishing along the beach walk we met a young mother and child in a pram: Anja and daughter Johanna. They are a German family who are moving to PE as the Dad has a job here. After this run of around 20kays I am now feeling good for the Meiringspoort 21kay that we plan to run next week.
Ally had a Gala in Uitenhage. It was cold and I think that everyone: Parents and swimmers were freezing cold. I went to a Coaching session run by Anthony Skinner (brian Saunders and Harry) at Summies. We had an excellent turnout: Dianne, John, Varrin, Andrew, Clint, Bruce, Thomas, Roger, Hannes, Alex, Shareen, Lynne, Marius and Peter.
I planned to cycle with John on Sunday morning but the cold and wet put us off. It was still cold, misty and wet when we got down to Nippers on Sunday morning. But there was a good turnout of Nippers and Coaches there. We had some time to start Sprint Coaching as well as doing some In's and Out's of the water. The wind was Easterly and the waves were a mess.
This week at work we had to do a lot of training of a new system that is being introduced. I ran most mornings except Tuesday as it was raining. Gerald and I have been running extremely slowly with lots of walking interspersed. This does not bother me as I am now feeling good for Meiringspoort.
Silver Oak Trees
The silver Oak Trees in Walmer are now at their best with the golden blossoms flowering. I looked up this tree and found out that the tree is known as the Australian Silver-Oak or the Southern Silky Oak tree. Grevillea robusta: It is native to Eastern Australia but does well in South Africa. It is an evergreen, grows fast and suits the South African climate. I saw one of these trees in Jacqui Zeelie's house when I visited Joshua on Grandparents Day. She complains that it makes a big mess with the golden blossoms falling on the playground.
The South African Silver Oak Tree is more like a shrub or bush. It is a dense bush with leathery leaves which are green on the top but have silver coloured hairs on the bottom of the leave which give it a shiny appearance. The South African Silver Oak is also evergreen and fast growing. Brachylaena discolor: It is found in the Coastal Woodlands of the Eastern Cape. The name Discolour refers to the two colours of the leaf.
Saturday 17th October 2009.
This weekend we ran the Meiringspoort half marathon. I have written a separate blog on Meiringspoort.
Sunday 18.10.2009.
Sunday morning: Michael had not been feeling well and we stopped off to see him before going off to Nippers.
At Summerstrand the wind had flattened the waves and we had a wonderful session of which most was in the water. We had the U14's do about 5 times on their Malibu boards out and back. Tough but necessary training. There were a group of about 22 U14's and similar numbers of the other age groups.
All the coaches were able to spend quality time with the Nippers in the water as well as doing Flags.
Jacqui had finally got the clothing back from being branded with ADT who are now our new sponsors. She handed clothing out to parents who have paid subs. Dianne has a wonderful tuck shop going and was selling potjie rolls at R5 and hamburgers at R10. They do a roaring trade and this is a big success at Summerstrand now.
The ADT sponsorship was finalised late on Friday afternoon. Hannes had been working hard to reach an understanding with the management of ADT as to what they would require from us. There is a certain amount of clothing stock that has now been branded with the ADT logo and this will be the new uniform of Summerstrand.
Now that we have this very generous sponsorship finalised we will order and print clothing for our Nippers. Please be a little patient. We will let you know as soon as the clothing is available. Meanwhile; if you have paid your annual subs please talk to Jacqui on Sunday. Jacqui will be at the Nippers cage.
Once a Nipper's annual Subscription has been paid the Nipper will receive a Scull Cap, a chafe vest and a bathing costume. Other clothing will be sold to cover the costs. The Nippers committee has not put any “mark up” on clothing in the past but merely tried to recover the cost price of the uniform. This year will be the first that Nippers will have the uniform included in the Subscription.
It is important to note that we should make an effort to honour the substantial sponsorship that ADT has given to Summerstrand. Please make every effort to wear the ADT branded clothing as soon as you have received it. We would like to phase out the Equisweet branded clothing. The committee has found a suitable and needy outlet for clothing and beach wear that has the Equisweet label.
Micro Nippers: The Annual Subscription for a Micro Nipper is R100. The Micro Nipper will receive an ADT branded scull cap which they should wear on Sundays at practice.
Level Tests: we are now trying to arrange a level test for all Nippers who have moved up an age group or who are first timer's. Rob Mitchley is working tirelessly to set up level tests for Saturday 31st October at Hobie beach: time to be confirmed. YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE ROB WITH A SWIM LETTER. This letter can be signed by you, a swim coach or any other suitable adult. Please make his life easy: don't make him phone you: fax a copy of the letter on Monday.
Robert Mitchley Attorney
Tel: 041 373 1956
Fax: 086 623 0290
Mobile: 082 929 1648
robert.mitchley@vodamail.co.za
Nippers Practice for Sunday 25th: we had thought to arrange a practice at Redhouse but for a number of reasons we will meet at Summerstrand as usual.
Monday morning I was quite stiff and Mike Dean & I decided to do a very short walk run. We chatted about all kinds of stuff: His daughter, Catherine is also not well. She is at University in Cape Town and struggling with health. Debra has completed a degree in property management and is now studying a Post Grad Law degree.
His Medical Technologist is going off on Maternity leave and he is concerned that he will not cope without her specialist knowledge. Mike had done the Ocean Swim on Sunday in a wet suite for the first time. He described what it was to wear a wet suite and how this had changed the dynamics of the swim.
Tuesday and Wednesday we did our slow runs in the morning. Tuesday, Barbara, Ally and I went to Cyclo Pro Rob Rudman and bought ourselves three mountain bikes for R20 750 in total including all the stuff such as slick tyres etc.
Thursday and Friday I was in East London and then Friday evening we had an evening with Charles and Ingrid. They made these Borrito's (chicken and beef wraps) with lettuce, tomato, spring onion, mushroom etc chopped and wrapped in pancakes. A very nice and easy supper. We played a bit of bridge and then collected Ally who had been at Lara O's party at the boardwalk. They had a Survivor party doing all kinds of activities.
Michael and Lene had decided that it would ease some of their tensions and stress if they moved back home with us. So this week they packed up all of their furniture, moved some to our house and then rest to my office basement.
Saturday morning I walked to Adrienne where Pat collected us. We drove down to the beach where we met the gang: Susan, Suzanne, Maryna (piepie Lang Kous), Gerald, Pat, Ronel, Anne Du Rand, Adrienne and myself. We ran along the beach and up Admiralty to Strandfontien. Back to the beach after an hour of running. Then Ronel had wanted to do a Triathlon so we went for a short swim around the buoys. I think that Maryna was a little disappointed as she had wanted a longer run.
Cathy had been to Kenya at the invitation of her work. Saul and her had a luxury holiday of about two weeks in the most wonderful settings in the Serengetti, in craters of old volcano's. They watched the migration of the Wilderbees and Zebra. They saw the RIver Crossing that we see on Nationial Geographic. They witnessed a Zebra being taken out by a crocodile. They did game viewing from Horse back and were able to go right up to the animals. And during all of this they stayed in Luxury accommodation.
When Cathy heard that Michael was struggling with his situation and health she decided that she had to see for herself and give him support. So she flew into PE on Friday immediately on her return from holiday. All of this travel made her system a little weak and she was not feeling her best.
After our run on Saturday morning we drove to Cyclo Pro to collect the Bikes but unfortunately they were not yet ready. The day was cold, windy and overcast so after work that was the end of activity for me. Kevin the gardener and I cleared out some stuff and took it to the tip. But apart from that I did not do anything that Saturday afternoon.
Sunday morning with Cathy and the rest of the family at our home, we took the morning off and started a leisurely day. Barbara dropped Cathy off at the airport and Ally & I went to Nippers:
To all the new Nippers and Parents: Welcome to Nippers. Thank you for choosing Summerstrand.
Please understand that we are all parents just like you who have become involved with our children's activities.
This is not an exclusive bunch of coaches and administrators. We invite you to put on your shorts or bathing costumes and to join us. Either on the beach or assisting at the club house.
I am sure that many Nippers or Parents would have asked the question: "Is there Nippers today?" on Sunday morning.
The answer is that, unless we have told you prior to Sunday, there will be Nippers every Sunday 11am to 13.00. Your coaches will be there.
This Sunday we had an amazing turnout despite the seemingly chilly, windy, wet weather.
The conditions for training have never been better than we have had this season so far.
We have never (in the past few years) had so much time to train Malibu, body board and swimming as we have had this season.
I am pretty sure that we are not the only family who is arriving home on Sunday afternoon completely exhausted.
And, while we have had a few hiccups with Clothing, we have had an amazing group of people doing the admin and tuckshop.
There have been Hot Dogs and Hamburgers for sale each weekend. And everything has been sold out.
The coaches are busy sorting out teams for Plett Carnival. We will send out the program for Plett as soon as we receive it.
U12 and U14's: Please remember that you have to have competed in Carnivals as well as East Cape (Plett next year) to be able to qualify for selection to represent EC as a province.
Energade Triathlon:
The very popular Energade Triathlon is held on Sunday 29th November, at Pollock Beach.
Ally & I have entered for this event. Will you please think about joining us?
It is an event that can be completed by everyone either as a team or as individuals.
Peter
082 550 3174
26.10.2009.
Once we were home, Barbara & I went to the Indigenous Nursery off Kragga Kamma Road. I had done a little research on the Australian and the South African Silver Oak. So we decided to purchase a SA Silver Oak to plant in the garden. We will plant it on the East Wall next to Mill Park Road.
I also purchased a Real Yellowood Tree. I had bought one of these trees about 2 years ago and after digging a hole for this tree for about a week or two I planted it (with lots of ceremony) and it promptly died. So I will pull the old stump out and plant my second attempt this week.
This evening I tried out the Tortilla type wrap (taco, burrito, enchiladas) with chicken and salad. Healthy and filling. Easy to make. Ally loves it and I had to make her one for her lunch the next day.
Monday morning I tried to run but had to stop as my leg was in agony.
Tuesday afternoon: It had been blowing a gale and a number of trees and roofs were blown off. Some people even lost boats in the PE harbour.
It had rained on Monday to Barbara & I went to collect the Bikes from Rob Rudman this afternoon. We phoned first to ensure that they were ready only to be disappointed when we arrived there and they were still not ready. I told Rob how I felt and cleared the air. On our way home we stopped off at Cell C to renew Barbara's cell phone contract. We received excellent service from the young man who was there and Barbara will now have a really snazzy phone.
Wednesday afternoon we finally collected the bikes after having them set up and made ready to cycle. Rob gave us some instructions as to maintenance and the use of the bikes. I really cannot wait to have us cycyle as a family.
This week Lene and Michael went to see how the baby was doing. Lene was able to perform the ultra sound herself but found no heart beat. They then discovered that the baby was going to be stillborn. Very sad for them. Lene had the operation performed during the week and took the rest of the week off to recover.
Hannes and I met up with ADT on Monday morning. We had a really good discussion regarding their sponsorship and what they hope to achieve and how we could benefit from the relationship.
This week I have been battling with a calf muscle injury. I have a prescription for anti inflamatory pills and these work if I take them for about three days in a row. But I am reluctant to take it too regularly. But on Thursday & Friday I took the pills and then on Saturday morning we had a stunning run from Hobie with a swim afterwards. It was Adrienne, Susan, Anne Du Rand and myself. Gerald was running a 27kay race. We swam afterwards. Maryna was not well and brought us a coffee and rusk to the finish.
I went home and after a shower went back to the beach where we had our first round of Level Tests for the season. THe water was cold but the Nippers all passed. Today I had the Gardener plant the Yellow Wood tree that I had bought. I also started a second attempt at a vegetable garden with some tyres that I filled with compost and planted some SPinach, Lettuce, Beans and Cabbage. So we will see what happens.
This afternoon was the Currie Cup final between Blue Bulls and Cheetahs. A good game but was not of that much interest to me. A number of springboks in both teams but the Blie Bulls were favourites and ultimate winners. Ally and friend Lara Swanepoel went to watch a Hip Hop dance competition at Clarendon. It was too long and lasted from around 6.30pm to after ten pm.
And so ended the tenth month of 2009. Busy as always, fulfilling, sad, family drama, work activity, Barbara's school takes a beating, I battle with running injury but also have one of the best runs that I have had in ages, Nippers is in full swing with our first level test of the season completed and Rugby is over for this season. We buy some Mountain bikes but I have trouble on the first day that I use mine as the rear wheel falls off and the brakes jam up.
Peter Giddy
31.10.2009.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
SEPTEMBER 2009
September 2009 in the Giddy Family.
THIS MONTH
BARBARA'S THOUGHTS
PETER WHATLEY (AN ACHILLES RUNNING FRIEND) IN DOHA
START OF NIPPERS SEASON
MIKE DE KONING (MICHAEL AND JACQUI ZIVOR'S FRIEND) DIES.
SUE MAXTON (BARBARA'S COUSIN) DIES IN DURBAN
ALLY GRADE SIX WEEK IN THE OUTDOORS
MPRG STARTS THE BEACH, WALMER BOULEVARD, STRANDFONTEIN RUN
ALLY SCHOOL (CLARENDON PARK) SPRING WALK
SPRINGBOKS ARE NOW TRI-NATIONS AND WORLD CHAMPIONS
VISIT TO KEITH BRAATVEDT IN JHB AND SWIM WITH KEITH
THE MAZDA BAKKIE IS BACK AT OUR HOUSE AND IN RUNNING ORDER
NICCI VISITS US IN PE AND WE ALL GO TO ALICE IN WONDERLAND WHERE ALLY IS THE WHITE RABBIT.
ALLY FIRST TEAM HOCKEY, YEAR END BRAAI AT SUMMERSTRAND
ROGER GUSH IS VERY ILL WITH CANCER AND DIES AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
TRIP TO WILDCLIFF WITH CHARLES, INGRID AND NICCI'S FAMILY FROM CT.
WATERBLOMMETJIES IN THE POTJIE AT WILDCLIFF
BARBARA AND ALLY HAVE AN UNSUCCESSFUL TRIP TO CAPE TOWN FOR A GALA.
BARBARA WAS REMINISCING ABOUT THE TIMES WE HAVE HAD TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.
Barbara wrote this as a memory lane walk:
I can remember daddy and I being blown away with our four children. Not being wealthy but definitely rich as a family. We hardly went anywhere on our own, rather choosing entertainment that included all of us. (Except maybe for Round Table, but even then you kids were dragged along many times). I can remember visiting Aunty Gail and all you children putting on shows for us.
I can remember laughing a lot. I can remember all our Christmases. I can remember travelling all squashed up in the little car to various places...the farm in Durban, Barclay East, East London, Cape Town etc etc.
I can also remember getting hot bothered and frustrated in the car and daddy and I blowing a fuse and you kids getting noisy and irritable. But I can also remember daddy entertaining you for kilometers on end telling you the story of how salt was made. Singing Ag Pleez Daddy, A Frog Went a Courting (how rude you kids thought) and lots of other songs.
I can remember Sunday morning when daddy still used to have to mow the lawn and you kids in the pool and on the jumpoline and then collecting twigs for a braai for lunch. I can remember watching TV in winter and eating chips and thin sausages. I can remember your horse riding camps and scraping together some money so that you kids could have your own horses.
I can remember daddy and I really trying to provide you with what you wanted. I can remember going to granny and grandad and the four of you sitting on a blanket in the kitchen and having your supper. Or a braai and swim in the back yard. (Gran had a thing about keeping old margarine tubs and using them for plates, very weird but effective).
I can remember how your bedroom used to have wool and string stretched between the beds for some obstacle course you were building and not wanting to break it and spoil your game, so having to creep under it.
I can remember singing you children to sleep every single night and then tucking each of you in individually. You Jax always wanted me to lie on top of you when I said goodnight. Liked the weight. Michael loved Soldier Boy and Sailor (he now sings them to his boys). I can remember so so much more. Happy days, sad days, angry days.....normal family days.
Love you
HERE IS A LETTER FROM PETER WHATLEY IN DOHA. VERY INTERESTING FOR ME TO READ.
Doha Diaries 8 September 2009
It seems just yesterday that I was sitting down an jotting down thoughts in the Doha Diaries. It’s been nearly a month. and a fair bit has happened during this time.
The most noticeable event is that both Justin and Nicole are now at school, leaving Lise to be a lady of leisure in the mornings. She sleeps until 9h00. At this stage she has to get up because 3 days a week the apartment gets cleaned and she wouldn’t feel too comfortable in her sleeping attire when the 3 you Filipino’s come to clean. You never know the gender of the cleaning team, but of late it has been predominantly male.
The school day starts very much the way it started in SA with me getting up at 5h30 to wake Justin and Nicole. Nicole needs to be ready by 6h40 and Justin by 7h10 as their transport arrives at these times. Nicole travels to school in a mini bus taxi ( I thought that I had got away from them). The vehicle is air conditioned and each of the occupants is insured. This is a door to door service so it is rather convenient, albeit a bit on the expensive side (costs QR1100 per month). Justin has a slightly later pick up as he has a personal driver that is shared with two school friends. This at a far lower cost of QR500 pm. These pick up times will all change in about 3 weeks time once Ramadan and Eid are over as schools will be opening at their normal times of 7h00 (Justin) and 7h15 (Nicole)
They each seem to have settled in at school. Nicole spent last Friday with a friend from Singapore and Justin has befriended a number of Canadians and they all went out on Thursday evening. Justin was due to catch a taxi back to our apartment but it was so busy that there was a 1 ½ hour wait so he decided to walk home (at midnight). It’s only a 10 minute walk and is quite safe. Even Nicole could do this an come to no harm. I believe that Lise stayed up until he got home. The difference is that I have been here for 4 months and know that it’s safe whilst she is still coming to terms with the lifestyle change.
Justin’s whole school has fewer children than Grade 11 at Grey and his whole grade comprises of 20 students. Class sizes are 10-12. Nicole’s school is a little bigger and her grade has 41 students split into two classes with no further admissions unless someone is leaving. The focus over here is on small class sizes.
Nicole came home from school and asked if she could go on a school organized skiing trip to Switzerland. I don’t know anything further as I am awaiting some information from the organizing teacher. I would Imagine that it would be towards the end of December when she is on holiday.
We are quite spoilt in SA when it comes to buying school uniforms, although, by comparison, we pay too much in SA. The only outlet in Doha that supplies uniforms is a place call Zaks Outfitters and it is fast becoming the most hated place in Doha for the Whatley’s. I eventually resorted to having Justin’s uniform made by a tailor. Zaks is located on the busiest street in Doha and phoning ahead to find out whether or not they have the stock is a waste of time as they never answer the phone. To date I have to make 4 separate trips and do still not have everything as they are the only suppliers of lab coats for Justin and Nicole’s schools.
In some areas our children are ahead but in others they are behind, particularly in Mathematics. Justin spent nearly a month tutoring Nicole to bring her up to speed as she had not covered about 2/3 rds of what she was expected to have done. Some of this would have been done during the 3rd and 4th terms in SA. They both have to study a foreign language and are doing French. Justin will have to do 3 years in 2 so this will be a tough ask. On the other hand, his ICT and IT is well in advance of his peers
When a foreign child goes to strange shores, they are always taught the choice words first. An Egyptian at Justin’s school recently returned from an athletics training camp in SA and was choice Afrikaans comments at his classmates. Thinking that Justin was from the UK, he let off a barrage, only to be politely told “ek sal jou bliksem”. Needless to say, the language was not repeated.
We are in the middle of Ramadan at the moment and it is quite an experience over here. We have a 5 hour work day( 8h30-13h30), but most of the expats tend to get in earlier and leave later. Maybe it’s a work ethic thing. During the day it is relatively quiet but once the sun sets, you don’t really want to be on the road. The local appear and is seems as if the evening degenerate into one big food fest that carries on until the early hours. A short sleep, some more food, a bit more sleep and then off to work. Back from work and sleep until sunset. The body clocks must be completely broken by now.
I decided to try the fast for a day and I must say, I did not find it particularly hard. Not eating is quite easy, but you do tend to get thirsty. I went to an Iftar dinner last week at an Iranian restaurant. The food was superb.
This weekend I will be venturing into the desert for the first time. I will be travelling with some colleagues to the Inland Sea so I will be able to test the off road ability of my car. I believe it takes about an hour to cover the 26km to the Inland Sea once you leave the tarred roads. One colleague is known as GPS, another is SOS (he is always towing people out of the sand) so I suppose I will be called NoviS. It will only be short trip as it is still quite hot out there. Thankfully the temperatures are dropping with day time temperatures hovering at around 40 and at night they are dropping to the high 20’s. A month ago they were in the mid 40’s dropping to the low 30’s. Humidity is still extremely high and if you step outside wearing glasses, they instantly mist up. We have about another 3 weeks of the really hot and humid weather and then things moderate significantly.
If you are a person that really likes performance or luxury vehicles, this is the place to be. In SA you might see a few in JHB or Cape Town and us plebs in PE may see the occasional Porsche or Mercedes AMG. During the past week, between Justin and me, we have seen the following vehicles:
Bugatti Veyron x2(R13 mill)
Ferrari
Lambourghini Galardo
Maserati
Bentley x 3
Rools Royce
Ford GT
Nissan XR
Porsche GT3
Mitsibishi EVO
Viper
Aston Martin DB9
I have not bothered with the Mercedes, BMW,Jaguar, Porsche Cayman, or Porsche Cayenne as these are common place. It is really unbelievable to see how much is spent on cars over here.
On that note with me thinking of my dream car (Aston Martin DB9), it’s time to say good bye for now.
Peter Whatley from Doha.
Today is Sunday 13th and I am halfway into September and this is the first Blog of the month. Not like me!
Saturday 5th:
This morning we did a Moffat Run. THere was a nice big group of us. Susan, Jacqui and Brenda met us half way up River Road and they turned back at Walmer Park with Mike Dean. A little later this morning we watched our Springbok Rugby team being beaten by the Aussies in Brisbane.
Last Sunday was our first Nippers of the season. Deon had a whole lot of media coverage and we had a good turnout. We offered free hot dogs and ice creams. Deon started the morning with a talk to the Nippers and Parents.
Here is my report email:
For those who were at Summerstrand this weekend: we had the most awesome morning. There were about 80 Nippers on the beach on Sunday. We had a whole bunch of first timers and to each one of you we are really happy to have you join Summerstrand Nippers.
Conditions
The wind was blowing from the West and this helped to make the waves perfect for swimming and boarding; even if they came through in huge sets.
Clothing and uniform: We apologise if you wanted to purchase new clothing but we are just now in the process of setting up a sponsorship agreement and want to have all the clothing branded before we hand out or sell any outfits.
New parents: Deon started the morning with a talk to both parents and Nippers alike. We tried to give new parents an idea of what Nippers is about and how they can be part of this great family activity.
Activities:
We began with some games and then Flags and Water activities. We were all pleasantly surprised at how warm the water was. I heard one Nipper decline the offer of a wetsuite as he would be too hot.
The U10's had a great time learning to enjoy the surf. THe U12's did some good swimming and body board exersizes and the U14's took malibu boards out and the really brave ones enjoyed the power of the waves and surf.
Juniors:
We had a good contingent of Juniors assisting. These are last year's U14's who have now moved up. They assisted with both the coaching and with the hot dogs. Thanks to all of you.
Coaches: we had Deon, Hannes, Lyn, Varrin, Andrew, Bruce, Shareen, Donald, John and some others all providing coaching to the Nippers. We encourage all Mom's and Dad's to become part of Nippers in some way. We are all volunteers and no one is an expert.
Level Tests: please remember that we need a copy of the Nippers ID book or Birth Certificate if you are a first timer. And if you are a first timer or you are moving up to a new age group then we need a letter from your swim coach or other suitable person to confirm that you have swum the following times:
Under 10’s have to swim 300 meters in 8 minutes
Under 12’s have to swim 400 Meters in 10 Minutes and
Under 14’s have to swim 400 Meters in 9 minutes.
Peter
7.09.2009.
082 550 3174
I traveled this week to Queenstown, Aliwal North and Sterkspruit. Stayed over the first night in Umtali in Aliwal and the second was at a Farm B & B 60kays other side of Queenstown. Interesting but neither night was what I was hoping for.
Ally was on her outdoor adventure camp this week. She left on Wednesday morning for Kirkwood where they had all kinds of adventure activities including Foofie Sliding into the river, building a canon?, Mud baths, making their own Pootjie Kos pot. They also visited the Cheeta Breeding program that we had visited last Sunday. Ally was quite pleased that she had been there and could be a "Guide". As I arrived back in PE I drove straight to her school where I collected her. As though she had not had enough she went to Jive this evening.
Saturday morning 12th September:
There had been a number of calls and SMS's about this morning's run. I had decided to run down to Hobie beach where I would meet Adrienne and run for an hour. The MPRG decided to run up to Walmer Park and back down Villiers Road before turning back home. When I got down to the beach I met up with Dion Mc Connel who was going for a Marine Drive Cycle. Susan, Adrienne, Brenda and Caroline were in our group. Brenda is a friend of Jacqui Zeelie who also ran with us last weekend and Caroline I met this morning. She was waiting for Nicky and Robyn but they were not there and she decided to run with us.
We had a stunning run up Walmer Boulevard, along Strandfontein and back down 2nd ave. Some of the group went on to run Admiralty but Susan, Caroline and I had to be back for Ally's Spring walk.
The Spring Walk was a really festive event. There were hundreds of parents and children. We all had a nice easy stroll down Church Road, bottle neck over the foot bridge over 6th ave. Then along 5th ave and down Villiers Road to the top of Settlers park. There is a watering and sweets table for refreshments and then a really nice walk in the park.
Another Bottleneck as we cross the stream. Barbara and I took our shoes off and made our way up back to the top and back to the school grounds. The Springboks were playing the All Blacks on the North Island and this was a bit of a distraction but the main event was still in play and the children were having a great time running around the field.
The school had arranged for Ice Creams donated by Bushy Park Diaries, pop corn and juice. Then there is the traditional handing out of chocolates. What happens is that the children are asked to bring a chocolate to school and then their tickets are placed into a box and there is a lucky Dip for the chocolates. I estimate that over a 100 chocolates are given out. Ally received one as well but later gave it to Jessica as she had not been a lucky child. Barbara and I had walked together while Ally Sprinted ahead and as far as I can make out was 3rd or 4th girl home.
I went to work to try and clear some of the mountain of emails that I receive when I am away from the office. I try to leave emails alone when I am in the field and to concentrate on the shop where I am currently working. The SA Springbok team beat the All Blacks in Hamilton NZ. It was a fight to the last minute and we only just won. The All Blacks have this amazing ability to fight on to the final whistle. This win means that SA are now Tri Nations and World Champions.
Ally had rehersals at St Saviours and we visited Charles and Ingrid to find out if they were going to be coming to WC next week. They phoned later to say that they would come and make a plan about their home and Jamie. I had to do a few Tip Runs. The old Bakkie was now at our house. I had taken it to Five Ways which is now down in North End. Now the vehicle was back in running order I would use it for rubbish etc. I carted a pile to the tip and then loaded a second pile at Michaels house. It is amazing how quickly we accumulate rubbish at our house. We should be reducing it to a manageable amount soon.
Jessica had stayed with us and we went to the DVD shops at the Bridge to see if we could buy the next Shield Series but they had sold out of both this and the 7th series of 24. After collecting Ally from Drama we stopped off at the Chinese and bought our supper there.
Weekend 19.09.2009.
This week we had our Business Financial Year End. Michael recently resigned from Russells and moved to Ellerines. He is not entirely satisfied where he is and is now looking to re-apply at Russells.
Monday we started off with Cell Group at Owen and Patti Biggs in the Greenacres housing complex. They have a really smart house there.
Tuesday evening we stopped off at Michael and Lene where we spent the evening playing bridge while Ally was at rehearsals.
Wednesday I flew to Jhb. Suzanne Braatvedt collected me from the hotel where the rest of the group was staying. Mecure Hotel. Corner of Malibongwe and Republic Road.
Keith arrived at his house just as I arrived there. After a quick drink Suzanne and I left to collect Julia at her Water Polo that she plays at the school swimming complex.
I was pretty tired and after supper said my good nights. Keith and I were up early and drove back to the swimming pool where he and I did over an hour of swim training. He swam 1.2kays and I must have done about 800 to 1000 meters. I really enjoyed it. I need a few laps to warm up. But my last ten laps of freestyle I was able to keep up with Keith. This had been a bit of an eye opener for me. While I am able to swim I do not have any confidence in my ability as I tend to swim short distances and only very occasionally. Also I hardly ever swim in a pool. I should really start this kind of training and get myself fit for both Nippers and Triathlon.
He dropped me off at work in Randburg where I spent the day before flying home for PE. At the airport I met up with Paul Leonard and a coleague of his: Craig from Durban. We spoke about the success that Alec Riddle has made of his life: he became a Christian in the last number of years and has basically never looked back.
Nicci had driven from CT on Wednesday and there is an interesting story she tells: Some time ago the word Adoption came into discussion between herself and Christian. She explained to Chris (5 years old) what adoption was and then asked if he knew of anyone who was "adopted". He thought for a while and then answered that he could not think of anyone. Nicci went on to quiz him on family and specifically Granny's family. No! He could not think of anyone.
On Wednesday evening Nicci dropped Ally off at Drama Rehersals at the Opera House in Russell Road. After dropping Ally they left and on the way home Christian (6 years old) asked his mother: "Is Ally really Granny's child?" Taking into consideration the previous discussion that had happened about a year ago, Nicci was expecting some kind of refering back to the adoption discussion. ANd here is the Punchline: When Nicci asked why he asked this question his response was: Is Granny not too old to have a child? It still did not occur to him that Ally was adopted. Wonderful how children's minds work!
Friday morning was Jessica's Athletics day. We went down to Clarendon to support her. Lene and Daniel were there. Jessica did very well winning her class heat and coming third in the Sack Race.
Saturday morning 19th I left before 5am and ran with Gerald to Hobie Beach where we met up with Adrienne, Maryna, Susan, Suzanne, Mike, Pat and Ronelle. We again ran the Walmer Boulevard, Strandfontien and Admiralty Way route. This morning Gerald and I did over 20kays and felt it. There was a strong West Wind and this made certain sections tough while other parts of the run were relatively easy. I was really tired after the run but it had been an excellent morning & I was happy to have had the exersize.
A while later I took Ally to Summerstrand lifesaving Club where she had been invited to a Braai with the children who had played in the First Team Hockey. Ally had only made the team a few times but this was sufficient. It was a pleasant affair and I ended up staying a little longer than I had intended. Ally went home with her friend Roz Crankshaw (Dad = Stewart), Ken was there, Grant and Ingrid, parents of Brittany and Chelsea were there, Clint and Claire came to open the bar, I think it is Estelle from the Radison Hotel was there.
This afternoon I took the old bakkie to the tip with a load of rubbish that had accumulated over the week. Barbara has this lamb that she is taking care of. It looks like and acts like a dog. Sleeps on the couch with the dogs, messes in the house like the dogs and runs to the gate to greet people arriving like the dogs do. With the big dog and lots of little dogs there seems to be an ongoing mess in the garden. Nicci's children elected to come with me on the back of the bakkie. It was cold and dirty and uncomforatble on the back of the bakkie but this did not seem to worry them. When we arrived home their skin was freezing to touch.
Ally had her last production of ALice this evening. It was Nicci's family, Micheal's family and ourselves there. A very good play with lots of children having a ball acting in front of an appreciative audience. The show had no real meaning or story line. Just a mish mash of music and song with a vague reference to the original Alice. Ally had the part of the White Rabbit. She was very good in this role, acting her part out and singing wonderfully. She seems to love the action of this kind of show.
Dawn Wrote:
Hi there,
You are living a busy life! We were down at the Bow River with the boys yesterday afternoon after picking them up at school. It is lovely in Fish Creek Park at the moment, with the trees all changing from green to gold and the boys had a good time playing in the water. On Thursday I went hiking in the mountains - the Headwall Trail. Again, beautiful scenery, although we hiked in the rain on the way to our lunch stop. Reminds me a little of Tsitsikamma, but higher mountains. The group I hiked with snow shoe in winter and since I have decided that this will be my winter sport I am glad to have found them. We are missing Brenda and the rather hectic lifestyle we lived in the 3 weeks she was here but have slipped back into routine again - I will be going back to karate next week after the summer break (everything stops here in summer as everybody makes the most of the long summer days).
Enjoy the rest of your day,
Take care,
Dawn
Nicci and her family left for home on Monday morning. I was at Cell Group this evening. It was held at Bobby Stevenson's home. He has a beautiful home. Chatting to him about politics I discovered that he knows Patrick's Mother in Law -- Sheila Camerer who is presently the ambassador for Poland. Rina Nel -- FSAM for the PE area, resigned finally this week. It has been really tough for her as she has battled with a decision to continue to live in PE or to move to East London where her husband has a business. Roger Gush has been undergoing some really tough surgery (Leg and hip amputated) to try to cure the cancer that he discovered that he has. However it now appears that the surgery has not been able to get rid of the cancer and it is now terminal.
His wife Tory has kept us up to date through an internet connection called Caringbridge. Meanwhile his sister, Jenny, has moved to Canada. She had tried to obtain US citizenship but so far her efforts have been to no avail since Ian died.
Wednesday this week was the start of a week of holiday for me. I took Barbara's car to the panel beater (Dean from our church) in First Ave Walmer. I had scraped the passenger side bumper and wanted to maintain the good looks of the bakkie. He quoted me R400 and had the job done before 4pm that afternoon. I also did a lot of running around and shopping for our Wildcliff trip.
The church (Megan) had arranged a Talent Show with the children. It was well supported with Ally and Jessica singing "amazing Grace" and Amber winning the competition with a piano recital and a song.
Thursday morning we were up early. Charles and Ingrid met us just after 5am and we left for WC. We had three stops: Storms (Where Barbara and I ordered a delicious egg pita and Ally had her normal Cheese Burger), Sedgefield and Albertina. We filled up in Heidelberg and arrived at WC at about 12.15 (7hours). After a cup of tea, Charles, Ingrid and I walked up the Wilderkrans trail.
We had plenty of time and had a nice easy walk with a stop for a biscuit and apple at a rock which I have now decided to call 15 minute Rock. I suggested that we walk on to the Waterfall. Ingrid was a little cautious until I told her that it was only 15 minutes to the waterfall. We carried on and it turned out that it was almost exactly 15 minutes. The level of the stream was lower than I have ever seen it. We walked on rocks that should be covered with water.
We all enjoyed the walk and by the time we had walked back up to Talari we were nice and tired. Nicci had taken part in a Show Jumping competition in Cape Town on Jinx, the horse that Barbara had given her. And had had a clear round which qulaified her for the finals which she won. We were so proud to hear of this first attempt to take part in competition for so many years.
Nicci also took part in the next event but was eliminated. They arrived at WC late afternooon. This evening we enjoyed a braai. We also lit a fire indoors but had too much wood, too wet, doors open etc etc and ended up with smoke in the house which made the house stink of smoke.
I had a number of attempts to get the Sattelite Dish working but everything failed. I will have to get a technician to have a look. We also plan to buy a DVD player for those cold wet days. Today was Bryce's Birthday and he had a few friends over to play and to enjoy a cake for celebration.
Friday morning we had a relaxed start to the day. Barbara and Ally left for a Gala in Cape Town at about 11.00am. We set the Tom Tom to find the pool in Belville. Once they had left the rest of us climbed into the Bushpig and headed up the Fynbos Road to Ena's Falls.
Here we had a look at the Barafu Hut and the falls which again looked very sparse with hardly any water falling. Barafu Hut is a very basic overnight sleeping place as well as serving as a shelter for someone who is up there. It is a bit of a worry that there is not toilet anywhere up there. Toilet paper and the resultant littering can be quite disgusting as we experienced on the Kilimanjaro Hike.
At Ena's Pools we stopped for a bit of a Picnic. Abigail had come with us and was taking care of Christian and Aaron. The three of them decided to start the walk home. Charles and I inspected the water pipe. It appeared that the water was still at a level that there would not be an interruption of the water flow to Rain Frog Dam however it may be neccesary to build a weir of sandbags if the drought persisits.
Nicci, Zara, Ingrid and I drove back. Abigail had walked on with Christian and Aaron. Charles and Stefan walked back. We met Abigail on their way down and they told us that they had seen a snake. Abigail had the presence of mind to halter Star who may have been bitten if he had worried the snake. She cautioned the two children and even had the courage to photograph the snake. It was later identified as a Berg Adder which is a particularly agressive snake and has a very toxic venom.
We picked a few Protea and then headed back to Talari for tea. We heard from Barbara that she had a bit of a disasterous trip. It seems that she had the wrong swimming pool. They, unknowingly, waited at this wrong pool in Belville industrial area until someone pointed out that there was not going to be a Gala there today. They then phoned David Glover (coach) and ultimately decided to not do any swimming as they were already so late.
Instead they drove to Cathy's new flat where they spent the night playing Pictionary and cards. They drove back to WC the following morning. Stefan had bought some Water Blommetjies on the road and he added this to his Potjie. I have included dome in formation about the Waterblommetjie at the end of the Blog as well as a recipe for a Potjie. The taste is quite distinct as is the texture of the vegetable.
Stefan also added a special Potjie Spice that he had found. The result was a really delicious supper even though we could not see what we were eating as we sat outside that evening.
An early night and we were up late the next morning. Charles and Ingrid left for home. Charles is busy with his proposal for his doctorate and only has a few months to submit it. While he has all the information that he requires, he has to put it into a format that will be acceptable to the University of Johannesburg where he is studying. Unfortunately he forgot his computer and had to turn back to WC to collect it.
Barbara was still driving and we decided to take the bushpig up the hill to collect some firewood. We went to the meadow in the pine forest area that we had discovered previously. The wood cutters have made a mess of the area and there are logs and trees lying all over the place. We had soon loaded as much as the bakkie can take. Some of the group walked back while we drove home and off loaded. Stefan fetched a saw and made some firewood more suitable for the indoor fireplace.
Barbara arrived quite tired having had a headache and struggling in heavy traffic. She also forgot to fill up at Heideldberg and the warning light of the petrol guage was lit. Stefan and I drove up to the Clay / Kaolin Dam where Paula has her camera's set to record Baboon activity. (Kaolin is used as the active substance in liquid anti-diarrhea medicines) Paula has calculated that the Baboons lick the Kaolin to assist their digestion process as the Wattle seed that they eat probably gives them diarrhea.
Kaolin is also used in ceramics, medicine, coated paper, as a food additive, in toothpaste, as a light diffusing material in white incandescent light bulbs, and in cosmetics. It is generally the main component in porcelain.
It is also used in paint to extend titanium dioxide (TiO2) and modify gloss levels; in rubber for semi-reinforcing properties and in adhesives to modify rheology.[6]
The largest use is in the production of paper, including ensuring the gloss on some grades of paper. Commercial grades of kaolin are supplied and transported as dry powder, semi-dry noodle or as liquid slurry.
It was quite dissapointing for us to see how poorly the wood cutters employed by Working for Water had Ringbarked the Wattles. It was so ineffective that the wattles were flowering and looking as healthy as if nothing had been done at all. Stefan and I attacked some of the offending Wattle Sapplings.
The day's activity ended with us on Oak tree meadown swining across the stream with children and adults taking part. Christian cannot get enough of this activity. I tried to pull some of the offending Wattle sapplings out but the bigger ones need mechanincal assistance or a saw and poison.
Supper this evening was a non event as everyone was really too tired or had been snacking through the afternoon. Freek and friend Martin had been to see us today. He has a number of proposals for WC including repairs to the road which could be important as the rainy season starts. He will fax his proposals to me and I will discuss them with the trustees. He told me that we still owed him R300 from the time of Mike (the builder). R
ather than dig into the past I agreed to pay him. Mike had been the builder who had done a huge number of jobs at WC including renovation of both Talari and Xairu. When his bother was in an accident last year we lost touch with him and he stopped coming to WC. Freek had been dependant on him for transfer of funds that we owed. It seems that there was an amount of R300 that Mike had never paid over to him.
This evening the rain started to fall. And it rained throughout the night. By morning we were concerned that we would not be able to drive out if the rain continued. My solution was to stay in bed and finish the book that I was reading. The author was Dave Morrell. It had started out a good story line with some Christian history of the Spanish Inquisition woven into the plot. But towards the end of the book the plot became impossible and the final impact was not that good. However I did what I rarely do and stayed in bed till after 08.00am reading.
Meanwhile the rain had let up and the weather forcast was for a more or less clear day. The Talari Dam had filled a good few millimeters and was looking a whole lot healthier. We can only hope that there is sufficient rain in the mountians to restart the falls and the streams of WC.
We decided to take advantage of the couple of hours of no rain and once I had arranged with Keith to go ahead with the Bushpig in case we battled to clear the steep part of the road and needed a tow, we packed up to leave. Cleaning the house always takes quite a while. Stefan had cleaned out the pantry and the fridge of old (past sell by date) food and we had quite a few black bags of old stuff to dispose of. I loaded this into the bakkie and asked Keith to take this to the tip later in the week.
Just as we were about to leave it began to rain again and we then "rushed" to complete our packing. Once we were all loaded up, I rode ahead with Keith and Stefan and Barbara drove behind. It was really not nearly as bad as we had expected and they cleared the slippery area on the west side of the weir (entrance to WC) with ease.
We filled up in Heidelberg and started a long trip home. We had left WC at about 14.30 and arrived home at 20.30. The traffic was particularly heavy on the N2 with every one heading home after a long weekend. It was overcast with intermittent rain for most of the drive. We stopped off at Plett where Ena had made some soup for us. She also gave us some more rusks.
Ally had slept for this first half of the trip. Ally does not like this type of meal and so asked us to stop at the Steers at Storms River for a Cheese Burger. It had started to rain heavily shortly after Storms River and the last part of the trip was increasingly tough. We made it home without incident. Nicci and Stefan had arrived home (Cape Town) about an hour before us.
Here is a piece of writing found in a restaurant that Barbara copied onto a serviette:
My comfort zone.
I used to have a comfort zone where I knew that I would not fail. The same four walls and busy work were more like a jail.
I longed so much to do the things that I had never done before, but stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.
I said it does not matter that I was not doing much. I said I did not care for things like commission cheques and such.
I claimed to be so busy with things inside my zone, but deep inside I longed for something special of my own.
I could not watch my life go by just watching others win. I held my breath, stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I had never felt better before. I kissed the comfort zone goodbye. I closed and locked the door.
If you are in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out, remember that all winners were at a time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true. Reach for your future with a smile. Success is then for you.
On my return from Heidleberg I was able to phone Derek Malan 021 950 7100 and he put me on to Zanne Olivier at Duivenhoks projects (working for water overberg) in Heidelberg 083 354 4746 / 028 722 8014. Zanne has taken over the management of the project of wattle clearing at WC from Davie Adendorf and his successor. Zanne is well aware of the problems regarding the quality of work at Wildcliff (they refer to it as Palmeira) and is working on the problem and promises me that she will be presenting a solution to Keith. Zanne tells me that they have discussions, in this regard, planned for this week.
Another identified problem at WC is the Fire Hazzard. With the volume of dry wood lying around it is a possibility that we could have a fire there which may become uncontrollable. Paula will talk to a neighbour about assisting with building a fire break and clearing a section. Possibly starting above the Heron House. The fallen branches also means that we are not able to access the area to clear out saplings. Burning is dependant on us being able to Bulldoze the fallen branches into a central area and then working with the weather, wind and a team of people to contain the fire.
29.09.2009.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The last three days of September. I had three more days of leave. This is what is known in our company as Priveleged Leave. It is a long service perk to have a fourth week in the year as leave. If you dont take the leave you lose it so what ever you do you make sure that you take this extra week of leave.
I had a number of things to do: I work on a list and was able to do most of them. I had wanted to visit ADT as they were the sponsors of our clothing for the season ahead. I had to collect the old Merc from Michaels house and to wash it. It leaks and I had to clean out the back seat.
My own car was filthy from the WC trip. I seemed to have gathered more dust inside the car than ever before. I got the printer working at a cost of R90. I sorted out the stuff that Charles had brought back from WC for us. I was able to licence the Bakkie. Cathy's Daewoo is due soon but I will have to do this vehicle next month.
Ally had her social engagements with her friend Hanna Obrie. They have a market day at school next week and were hard at work making bracelets and sign boards. She is back to swim training. One evening they all met for movies at Walmer Park. A really nice group of young people that David Glover has sowed a deep sense of team spirit.
WATERBLOMMETJIE
The name comes from the Afrikaans language and literally means 'small water flower stew'. Known in English as Cape Pondweed, Cape Hawthorn or Cape Asparagus and scientifically as Aponogeton distachyos) found in the dams and marshes of the Western Cape (South Africa). The buds (waterblommetjies) are usually ready to be picked in the months of July and August (South African winter).
The taste can be described as much like stewed green beans with a hint of pumpkin.
Some believe that the early Dutch settlers (circa Jan van Riebeek’s time) used waterblommetjies as a vegetable (and hence a source of vitamin C) in desperation, since their early farming initiatives had been somewhat less than successful. The alternative tale is that the Voortrekkers harvested them as a food source, since while on trek, they were unable to grow anything. Whichever is the truth, waterblommetjie bredie is a well known and much respected local delicacy, popular with foreign tourists.
Waterblommetjie Potjie
Potjiekos is a fireside method of slow cooking in a traditional three
legged cast iron potjie pot
500g breast of shin of mutton
15ml cooking oil
3 onions, sliced
5 ml salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
125ml dry white wine
3 potatoes, peeled & sliced
1 kg fresh waterblommetjies
or 2 x 410g cans waterblommetjies
2 tomatoes, peeled & chopped
Cut the meat into portions. Heat the oil in the potjie and brown the
meat over moderate coals. Add the onion and fry gently until
translucent. Season with salt and pepper. Heat the wine in a small pan, pour it over the meat, cover and simmer over low coals for about 2.5 hours, until the meat is tender. Layer the potato, waterblommetjies and tomato in the meat, cover and simmer for another 30 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked. Serves 6
Peter
30.09.2009.
THIS MONTH
BARBARA'S THOUGHTS
PETER WHATLEY (AN ACHILLES RUNNING FRIEND) IN DOHA
START OF NIPPERS SEASON
MIKE DE KONING (MICHAEL AND JACQUI ZIVOR'S FRIEND) DIES.
SUE MAXTON (BARBARA'S COUSIN) DIES IN DURBAN
ALLY GRADE SIX WEEK IN THE OUTDOORS
MPRG STARTS THE BEACH, WALMER BOULEVARD, STRANDFONTEIN RUN
ALLY SCHOOL (CLARENDON PARK) SPRING WALK
SPRINGBOKS ARE NOW TRI-NATIONS AND WORLD CHAMPIONS
VISIT TO KEITH BRAATVEDT IN JHB AND SWIM WITH KEITH
THE MAZDA BAKKIE IS BACK AT OUR HOUSE AND IN RUNNING ORDER
NICCI VISITS US IN PE AND WE ALL GO TO ALICE IN WONDERLAND WHERE ALLY IS THE WHITE RABBIT.
ALLY FIRST TEAM HOCKEY, YEAR END BRAAI AT SUMMERSTRAND
ROGER GUSH IS VERY ILL WITH CANCER AND DIES AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
TRIP TO WILDCLIFF WITH CHARLES, INGRID AND NICCI'S FAMILY FROM CT.
WATERBLOMMETJIES IN THE POTJIE AT WILDCLIFF
BARBARA AND ALLY HAVE AN UNSUCCESSFUL TRIP TO CAPE TOWN FOR A GALA.
BARBARA WAS REMINISCING ABOUT THE TIMES WE HAVE HAD TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.
Barbara wrote this as a memory lane walk:
I can remember daddy and I being blown away with our four children. Not being wealthy but definitely rich as a family. We hardly went anywhere on our own, rather choosing entertainment that included all of us. (Except maybe for Round Table, but even then you kids were dragged along many times). I can remember visiting Aunty Gail and all you children putting on shows for us.
I can remember laughing a lot. I can remember all our Christmases. I can remember travelling all squashed up in the little car to various places...the farm in Durban, Barclay East, East London, Cape Town etc etc.
I can also remember getting hot bothered and frustrated in the car and daddy and I blowing a fuse and you kids getting noisy and irritable. But I can also remember daddy entertaining you for kilometers on end telling you the story of how salt was made. Singing Ag Pleez Daddy, A Frog Went a Courting (how rude you kids thought) and lots of other songs.
I can remember Sunday morning when daddy still used to have to mow the lawn and you kids in the pool and on the jumpoline and then collecting twigs for a braai for lunch. I can remember watching TV in winter and eating chips and thin sausages. I can remember your horse riding camps and scraping together some money so that you kids could have your own horses.
I can remember daddy and I really trying to provide you with what you wanted. I can remember going to granny and grandad and the four of you sitting on a blanket in the kitchen and having your supper. Or a braai and swim in the back yard. (Gran had a thing about keeping old margarine tubs and using them for plates, very weird but effective).
I can remember how your bedroom used to have wool and string stretched between the beds for some obstacle course you were building and not wanting to break it and spoil your game, so having to creep under it.
I can remember singing you children to sleep every single night and then tucking each of you in individually. You Jax always wanted me to lie on top of you when I said goodnight. Liked the weight. Michael loved Soldier Boy and Sailor (he now sings them to his boys). I can remember so so much more. Happy days, sad days, angry days.....normal family days.
Love you
HERE IS A LETTER FROM PETER WHATLEY IN DOHA. VERY INTERESTING FOR ME TO READ.
Doha Diaries 8 September 2009
It seems just yesterday that I was sitting down an jotting down thoughts in the Doha Diaries. It’s been nearly a month. and a fair bit has happened during this time.
The most noticeable event is that both Justin and Nicole are now at school, leaving Lise to be a lady of leisure in the mornings. She sleeps until 9h00. At this stage she has to get up because 3 days a week the apartment gets cleaned and she wouldn’t feel too comfortable in her sleeping attire when the 3 you Filipino’s come to clean. You never know the gender of the cleaning team, but of late it has been predominantly male.
The school day starts very much the way it started in SA with me getting up at 5h30 to wake Justin and Nicole. Nicole needs to be ready by 6h40 and Justin by 7h10 as their transport arrives at these times. Nicole travels to school in a mini bus taxi ( I thought that I had got away from them). The vehicle is air conditioned and each of the occupants is insured. This is a door to door service so it is rather convenient, albeit a bit on the expensive side (costs QR1100 per month). Justin has a slightly later pick up as he has a personal driver that is shared with two school friends. This at a far lower cost of QR500 pm. These pick up times will all change in about 3 weeks time once Ramadan and Eid are over as schools will be opening at their normal times of 7h00 (Justin) and 7h15 (Nicole)
They each seem to have settled in at school. Nicole spent last Friday with a friend from Singapore and Justin has befriended a number of Canadians and they all went out on Thursday evening. Justin was due to catch a taxi back to our apartment but it was so busy that there was a 1 ½ hour wait so he decided to walk home (at midnight). It’s only a 10 minute walk and is quite safe. Even Nicole could do this an come to no harm. I believe that Lise stayed up until he got home. The difference is that I have been here for 4 months and know that it’s safe whilst she is still coming to terms with the lifestyle change.
Justin’s whole school has fewer children than Grade 11 at Grey and his whole grade comprises of 20 students. Class sizes are 10-12. Nicole’s school is a little bigger and her grade has 41 students split into two classes with no further admissions unless someone is leaving. The focus over here is on small class sizes.
Nicole came home from school and asked if she could go on a school organized skiing trip to Switzerland. I don’t know anything further as I am awaiting some information from the organizing teacher. I would Imagine that it would be towards the end of December when she is on holiday.
We are quite spoilt in SA when it comes to buying school uniforms, although, by comparison, we pay too much in SA. The only outlet in Doha that supplies uniforms is a place call Zaks Outfitters and it is fast becoming the most hated place in Doha for the Whatley’s. I eventually resorted to having Justin’s uniform made by a tailor. Zaks is located on the busiest street in Doha and phoning ahead to find out whether or not they have the stock is a waste of time as they never answer the phone. To date I have to make 4 separate trips and do still not have everything as they are the only suppliers of lab coats for Justin and Nicole’s schools.
In some areas our children are ahead but in others they are behind, particularly in Mathematics. Justin spent nearly a month tutoring Nicole to bring her up to speed as she had not covered about 2/3 rds of what she was expected to have done. Some of this would have been done during the 3rd and 4th terms in SA. They both have to study a foreign language and are doing French. Justin will have to do 3 years in 2 so this will be a tough ask. On the other hand, his ICT and IT is well in advance of his peers
When a foreign child goes to strange shores, they are always taught the choice words first. An Egyptian at Justin’s school recently returned from an athletics training camp in SA and was choice Afrikaans comments at his classmates. Thinking that Justin was from the UK, he let off a barrage, only to be politely told “ek sal jou bliksem”. Needless to say, the language was not repeated.
We are in the middle of Ramadan at the moment and it is quite an experience over here. We have a 5 hour work day( 8h30-13h30), but most of the expats tend to get in earlier and leave later. Maybe it’s a work ethic thing. During the day it is relatively quiet but once the sun sets, you don’t really want to be on the road. The local appear and is seems as if the evening degenerate into one big food fest that carries on until the early hours. A short sleep, some more food, a bit more sleep and then off to work. Back from work and sleep until sunset. The body clocks must be completely broken by now.
I decided to try the fast for a day and I must say, I did not find it particularly hard. Not eating is quite easy, but you do tend to get thirsty. I went to an Iftar dinner last week at an Iranian restaurant. The food was superb.
This weekend I will be venturing into the desert for the first time. I will be travelling with some colleagues to the Inland Sea so I will be able to test the off road ability of my car. I believe it takes about an hour to cover the 26km to the Inland Sea once you leave the tarred roads. One colleague is known as GPS, another is SOS (he is always towing people out of the sand) so I suppose I will be called NoviS. It will only be short trip as it is still quite hot out there. Thankfully the temperatures are dropping with day time temperatures hovering at around 40 and at night they are dropping to the high 20’s. A month ago they were in the mid 40’s dropping to the low 30’s. Humidity is still extremely high and if you step outside wearing glasses, they instantly mist up. We have about another 3 weeks of the really hot and humid weather and then things moderate significantly.
If you are a person that really likes performance or luxury vehicles, this is the place to be. In SA you might see a few in JHB or Cape Town and us plebs in PE may see the occasional Porsche or Mercedes AMG. During the past week, between Justin and me, we have seen the following vehicles:
Bugatti Veyron x2(R13 mill)
Ferrari
Lambourghini Galardo
Maserati
Bentley x 3
Rools Royce
Ford GT
Nissan XR
Porsche GT3
Mitsibishi EVO
Viper
Aston Martin DB9
I have not bothered with the Mercedes, BMW,Jaguar, Porsche Cayman, or Porsche Cayenne as these are common place. It is really unbelievable to see how much is spent on cars over here.
On that note with me thinking of my dream car (Aston Martin DB9), it’s time to say good bye for now.
Peter Whatley from Doha.
Today is Sunday 13th and I am halfway into September and this is the first Blog of the month. Not like me!
Saturday 5th:
This morning we did a Moffat Run. THere was a nice big group of us. Susan, Jacqui and Brenda met us half way up River Road and they turned back at Walmer Park with Mike Dean. A little later this morning we watched our Springbok Rugby team being beaten by the Aussies in Brisbane.
Last Sunday was our first Nippers of the season. Deon had a whole lot of media coverage and we had a good turnout. We offered free hot dogs and ice creams. Deon started the morning with a talk to the Nippers and Parents.
Here is my report email:
For those who were at Summerstrand this weekend: we had the most awesome morning. There were about 80 Nippers on the beach on Sunday. We had a whole bunch of first timers and to each one of you we are really happy to have you join Summerstrand Nippers.
Conditions
The wind was blowing from the West and this helped to make the waves perfect for swimming and boarding; even if they came through in huge sets.
Clothing and uniform: We apologise if you wanted to purchase new clothing but we are just now in the process of setting up a sponsorship agreement and want to have all the clothing branded before we hand out or sell any outfits.
New parents: Deon started the morning with a talk to both parents and Nippers alike. We tried to give new parents an idea of what Nippers is about and how they can be part of this great family activity.
Activities:
We began with some games and then Flags and Water activities. We were all pleasantly surprised at how warm the water was. I heard one Nipper decline the offer of a wetsuite as he would be too hot.
The U10's had a great time learning to enjoy the surf. THe U12's did some good swimming and body board exersizes and the U14's took malibu boards out and the really brave ones enjoyed the power of the waves and surf.
Juniors:
We had a good contingent of Juniors assisting. These are last year's U14's who have now moved up. They assisted with both the coaching and with the hot dogs. Thanks to all of you.
Coaches: we had Deon, Hannes, Lyn, Varrin, Andrew, Bruce, Shareen, Donald, John and some others all providing coaching to the Nippers. We encourage all Mom's and Dad's to become part of Nippers in some way. We are all volunteers and no one is an expert.
Level Tests: please remember that we need a copy of the Nippers ID book or Birth Certificate if you are a first timer. And if you are a first timer or you are moving up to a new age group then we need a letter from your swim coach or other suitable person to confirm that you have swum the following times:
Under 10’s have to swim 300 meters in 8 minutes
Under 12’s have to swim 400 Meters in 10 Minutes and
Under 14’s have to swim 400 Meters in 9 minutes.
Peter
7.09.2009.
082 550 3174
I traveled this week to Queenstown, Aliwal North and Sterkspruit. Stayed over the first night in Umtali in Aliwal and the second was at a Farm B & B 60kays other side of Queenstown. Interesting but neither night was what I was hoping for.
Ally was on her outdoor adventure camp this week. She left on Wednesday morning for Kirkwood where they had all kinds of adventure activities including Foofie Sliding into the river, building a canon?, Mud baths, making their own Pootjie Kos pot. They also visited the Cheeta Breeding program that we had visited last Sunday. Ally was quite pleased that she had been there and could be a "Guide". As I arrived back in PE I drove straight to her school where I collected her. As though she had not had enough she went to Jive this evening.
Saturday morning 12th September:
There had been a number of calls and SMS's about this morning's run. I had decided to run down to Hobie beach where I would meet Adrienne and run for an hour. The MPRG decided to run up to Walmer Park and back down Villiers Road before turning back home. When I got down to the beach I met up with Dion Mc Connel who was going for a Marine Drive Cycle. Susan, Adrienne, Brenda and Caroline were in our group. Brenda is a friend of Jacqui Zeelie who also ran with us last weekend and Caroline I met this morning. She was waiting for Nicky and Robyn but they were not there and she decided to run with us.
We had a stunning run up Walmer Boulevard, along Strandfontein and back down 2nd ave. Some of the group went on to run Admiralty but Susan, Caroline and I had to be back for Ally's Spring walk.
The Spring Walk was a really festive event. There were hundreds of parents and children. We all had a nice easy stroll down Church Road, bottle neck over the foot bridge over 6th ave. Then along 5th ave and down Villiers Road to the top of Settlers park. There is a watering and sweets table for refreshments and then a really nice walk in the park.
Another Bottleneck as we cross the stream. Barbara and I took our shoes off and made our way up back to the top and back to the school grounds. The Springboks were playing the All Blacks on the North Island and this was a bit of a distraction but the main event was still in play and the children were having a great time running around the field.
The school had arranged for Ice Creams donated by Bushy Park Diaries, pop corn and juice. Then there is the traditional handing out of chocolates. What happens is that the children are asked to bring a chocolate to school and then their tickets are placed into a box and there is a lucky Dip for the chocolates. I estimate that over a 100 chocolates are given out. Ally received one as well but later gave it to Jessica as she had not been a lucky child. Barbara and I had walked together while Ally Sprinted ahead and as far as I can make out was 3rd or 4th girl home.
I went to work to try and clear some of the mountain of emails that I receive when I am away from the office. I try to leave emails alone when I am in the field and to concentrate on the shop where I am currently working. The SA Springbok team beat the All Blacks in Hamilton NZ. It was a fight to the last minute and we only just won. The All Blacks have this amazing ability to fight on to the final whistle. This win means that SA are now Tri Nations and World Champions.
Ally had rehersals at St Saviours and we visited Charles and Ingrid to find out if they were going to be coming to WC next week. They phoned later to say that they would come and make a plan about their home and Jamie. I had to do a few Tip Runs. The old Bakkie was now at our house. I had taken it to Five Ways which is now down in North End. Now the vehicle was back in running order I would use it for rubbish etc. I carted a pile to the tip and then loaded a second pile at Michaels house. It is amazing how quickly we accumulate rubbish at our house. We should be reducing it to a manageable amount soon.
Jessica had stayed with us and we went to the DVD shops at the Bridge to see if we could buy the next Shield Series but they had sold out of both this and the 7th series of 24. After collecting Ally from Drama we stopped off at the Chinese and bought our supper there.
Weekend 19.09.2009.
This week we had our Business Financial Year End. Michael recently resigned from Russells and moved to Ellerines. He is not entirely satisfied where he is and is now looking to re-apply at Russells.
Monday we started off with Cell Group at Owen and Patti Biggs in the Greenacres housing complex. They have a really smart house there.
Tuesday evening we stopped off at Michael and Lene where we spent the evening playing bridge while Ally was at rehearsals.
Wednesday I flew to Jhb. Suzanne Braatvedt collected me from the hotel where the rest of the group was staying. Mecure Hotel. Corner of Malibongwe and Republic Road.
Keith arrived at his house just as I arrived there. After a quick drink Suzanne and I left to collect Julia at her Water Polo that she plays at the school swimming complex.
I was pretty tired and after supper said my good nights. Keith and I were up early and drove back to the swimming pool where he and I did over an hour of swim training. He swam 1.2kays and I must have done about 800 to 1000 meters. I really enjoyed it. I need a few laps to warm up. But my last ten laps of freestyle I was able to keep up with Keith. This had been a bit of an eye opener for me. While I am able to swim I do not have any confidence in my ability as I tend to swim short distances and only very occasionally. Also I hardly ever swim in a pool. I should really start this kind of training and get myself fit for both Nippers and Triathlon.
He dropped me off at work in Randburg where I spent the day before flying home for PE. At the airport I met up with Paul Leonard and a coleague of his: Craig from Durban. We spoke about the success that Alec Riddle has made of his life: he became a Christian in the last number of years and has basically never looked back.
Nicci had driven from CT on Wednesday and there is an interesting story she tells: Some time ago the word Adoption came into discussion between herself and Christian. She explained to Chris (5 years old) what adoption was and then asked if he knew of anyone who was "adopted". He thought for a while and then answered that he could not think of anyone. Nicci went on to quiz him on family and specifically Granny's family. No! He could not think of anyone.
On Wednesday evening Nicci dropped Ally off at Drama Rehersals at the Opera House in Russell Road. After dropping Ally they left and on the way home Christian (6 years old) asked his mother: "Is Ally really Granny's child?" Taking into consideration the previous discussion that had happened about a year ago, Nicci was expecting some kind of refering back to the adoption discussion. ANd here is the Punchline: When Nicci asked why he asked this question his response was: Is Granny not too old to have a child? It still did not occur to him that Ally was adopted. Wonderful how children's minds work!
Friday morning was Jessica's Athletics day. We went down to Clarendon to support her. Lene and Daniel were there. Jessica did very well winning her class heat and coming third in the Sack Race.
Saturday morning 19th I left before 5am and ran with Gerald to Hobie Beach where we met up with Adrienne, Maryna, Susan, Suzanne, Mike, Pat and Ronelle. We again ran the Walmer Boulevard, Strandfontien and Admiralty Way route. This morning Gerald and I did over 20kays and felt it. There was a strong West Wind and this made certain sections tough while other parts of the run were relatively easy. I was really tired after the run but it had been an excellent morning & I was happy to have had the exersize.
A while later I took Ally to Summerstrand lifesaving Club where she had been invited to a Braai with the children who had played in the First Team Hockey. Ally had only made the team a few times but this was sufficient. It was a pleasant affair and I ended up staying a little longer than I had intended. Ally went home with her friend Roz Crankshaw (Dad = Stewart), Ken was there, Grant and Ingrid, parents of Brittany and Chelsea were there, Clint and Claire came to open the bar, I think it is Estelle from the Radison Hotel was there.
This afternoon I took the old bakkie to the tip with a load of rubbish that had accumulated over the week. Barbara has this lamb that she is taking care of. It looks like and acts like a dog. Sleeps on the couch with the dogs, messes in the house like the dogs and runs to the gate to greet people arriving like the dogs do. With the big dog and lots of little dogs there seems to be an ongoing mess in the garden. Nicci's children elected to come with me on the back of the bakkie. It was cold and dirty and uncomforatble on the back of the bakkie but this did not seem to worry them. When we arrived home their skin was freezing to touch.
Ally had her last production of ALice this evening. It was Nicci's family, Micheal's family and ourselves there. A very good play with lots of children having a ball acting in front of an appreciative audience. The show had no real meaning or story line. Just a mish mash of music and song with a vague reference to the original Alice. Ally had the part of the White Rabbit. She was very good in this role, acting her part out and singing wonderfully. She seems to love the action of this kind of show.
Dawn Wrote:
Hi there,
You are living a busy life! We were down at the Bow River with the boys yesterday afternoon after picking them up at school. It is lovely in Fish Creek Park at the moment, with the trees all changing from green to gold and the boys had a good time playing in the water. On Thursday I went hiking in the mountains - the Headwall Trail. Again, beautiful scenery, although we hiked in the rain on the way to our lunch stop. Reminds me a little of Tsitsikamma, but higher mountains. The group I hiked with snow shoe in winter and since I have decided that this will be my winter sport I am glad to have found them. We are missing Brenda and the rather hectic lifestyle we lived in the 3 weeks she was here but have slipped back into routine again - I will be going back to karate next week after the summer break (everything stops here in summer as everybody makes the most of the long summer days).
Enjoy the rest of your day,
Take care,
Dawn
Nicci and her family left for home on Monday morning. I was at Cell Group this evening. It was held at Bobby Stevenson's home. He has a beautiful home. Chatting to him about politics I discovered that he knows Patrick's Mother in Law -- Sheila Camerer who is presently the ambassador for Poland. Rina Nel -- FSAM for the PE area, resigned finally this week. It has been really tough for her as she has battled with a decision to continue to live in PE or to move to East London where her husband has a business. Roger Gush has been undergoing some really tough surgery (Leg and hip amputated) to try to cure the cancer that he discovered that he has. However it now appears that the surgery has not been able to get rid of the cancer and it is now terminal.
His wife Tory has kept us up to date through an internet connection called Caringbridge. Meanwhile his sister, Jenny, has moved to Canada. She had tried to obtain US citizenship but so far her efforts have been to no avail since Ian died.
Wednesday this week was the start of a week of holiday for me. I took Barbara's car to the panel beater (Dean from our church) in First Ave Walmer. I had scraped the passenger side bumper and wanted to maintain the good looks of the bakkie. He quoted me R400 and had the job done before 4pm that afternoon. I also did a lot of running around and shopping for our Wildcliff trip.
The church (Megan) had arranged a Talent Show with the children. It was well supported with Ally and Jessica singing "amazing Grace" and Amber winning the competition with a piano recital and a song.
Thursday morning we were up early. Charles and Ingrid met us just after 5am and we left for WC. We had three stops: Storms (Where Barbara and I ordered a delicious egg pita and Ally had her normal Cheese Burger), Sedgefield and Albertina. We filled up in Heidelberg and arrived at WC at about 12.15 (7hours). After a cup of tea, Charles, Ingrid and I walked up the Wilderkrans trail.
We had plenty of time and had a nice easy walk with a stop for a biscuit and apple at a rock which I have now decided to call 15 minute Rock. I suggested that we walk on to the Waterfall. Ingrid was a little cautious until I told her that it was only 15 minutes to the waterfall. We carried on and it turned out that it was almost exactly 15 minutes. The level of the stream was lower than I have ever seen it. We walked on rocks that should be covered with water.
We all enjoyed the walk and by the time we had walked back up to Talari we were nice and tired. Nicci had taken part in a Show Jumping competition in Cape Town on Jinx, the horse that Barbara had given her. And had had a clear round which qulaified her for the finals which she won. We were so proud to hear of this first attempt to take part in competition for so many years.
Nicci also took part in the next event but was eliminated. They arrived at WC late afternooon. This evening we enjoyed a braai. We also lit a fire indoors but had too much wood, too wet, doors open etc etc and ended up with smoke in the house which made the house stink of smoke.
I had a number of attempts to get the Sattelite Dish working but everything failed. I will have to get a technician to have a look. We also plan to buy a DVD player for those cold wet days. Today was Bryce's Birthday and he had a few friends over to play and to enjoy a cake for celebration.
Friday morning we had a relaxed start to the day. Barbara and Ally left for a Gala in Cape Town at about 11.00am. We set the Tom Tom to find the pool in Belville. Once they had left the rest of us climbed into the Bushpig and headed up the Fynbos Road to Ena's Falls.
Here we had a look at the Barafu Hut and the falls which again looked very sparse with hardly any water falling. Barafu Hut is a very basic overnight sleeping place as well as serving as a shelter for someone who is up there. It is a bit of a worry that there is not toilet anywhere up there. Toilet paper and the resultant littering can be quite disgusting as we experienced on the Kilimanjaro Hike.
At Ena's Pools we stopped for a bit of a Picnic. Abigail had come with us and was taking care of Christian and Aaron. The three of them decided to start the walk home. Charles and I inspected the water pipe. It appeared that the water was still at a level that there would not be an interruption of the water flow to Rain Frog Dam however it may be neccesary to build a weir of sandbags if the drought persisits.
Nicci, Zara, Ingrid and I drove back. Abigail had walked on with Christian and Aaron. Charles and Stefan walked back. We met Abigail on their way down and they told us that they had seen a snake. Abigail had the presence of mind to halter Star who may have been bitten if he had worried the snake. She cautioned the two children and even had the courage to photograph the snake. It was later identified as a Berg Adder which is a particularly agressive snake and has a very toxic venom.
We picked a few Protea and then headed back to Talari for tea. We heard from Barbara that she had a bit of a disasterous trip. It seems that she had the wrong swimming pool. They, unknowingly, waited at this wrong pool in Belville industrial area until someone pointed out that there was not going to be a Gala there today. They then phoned David Glover (coach) and ultimately decided to not do any swimming as they were already so late.
Instead they drove to Cathy's new flat where they spent the night playing Pictionary and cards. They drove back to WC the following morning. Stefan had bought some Water Blommetjies on the road and he added this to his Potjie. I have included dome in formation about the Waterblommetjie at the end of the Blog as well as a recipe for a Potjie. The taste is quite distinct as is the texture of the vegetable.
Stefan also added a special Potjie Spice that he had found. The result was a really delicious supper even though we could not see what we were eating as we sat outside that evening.
An early night and we were up late the next morning. Charles and Ingrid left for home. Charles is busy with his proposal for his doctorate and only has a few months to submit it. While he has all the information that he requires, he has to put it into a format that will be acceptable to the University of Johannesburg where he is studying. Unfortunately he forgot his computer and had to turn back to WC to collect it.
Barbara was still driving and we decided to take the bushpig up the hill to collect some firewood. We went to the meadow in the pine forest area that we had discovered previously. The wood cutters have made a mess of the area and there are logs and trees lying all over the place. We had soon loaded as much as the bakkie can take. Some of the group walked back while we drove home and off loaded. Stefan fetched a saw and made some firewood more suitable for the indoor fireplace.
Barbara arrived quite tired having had a headache and struggling in heavy traffic. She also forgot to fill up at Heideldberg and the warning light of the petrol guage was lit. Stefan and I drove up to the Clay / Kaolin Dam where Paula has her camera's set to record Baboon activity. (Kaolin is used as the active substance in liquid anti-diarrhea medicines) Paula has calculated that the Baboons lick the Kaolin to assist their digestion process as the Wattle seed that they eat probably gives them diarrhea.
Kaolin is also used in ceramics, medicine, coated paper, as a food additive, in toothpaste, as a light diffusing material in white incandescent light bulbs, and in cosmetics. It is generally the main component in porcelain.
It is also used in paint to extend titanium dioxide (TiO2) and modify gloss levels; in rubber for semi-reinforcing properties and in adhesives to modify rheology.[6]
The largest use is in the production of paper, including ensuring the gloss on some grades of paper. Commercial grades of kaolin are supplied and transported as dry powder, semi-dry noodle or as liquid slurry.
It was quite dissapointing for us to see how poorly the wood cutters employed by Working for Water had Ringbarked the Wattles. It was so ineffective that the wattles were flowering and looking as healthy as if nothing had been done at all. Stefan and I attacked some of the offending Wattle Sapplings.
The day's activity ended with us on Oak tree meadown swining across the stream with children and adults taking part. Christian cannot get enough of this activity. I tried to pull some of the offending Wattle sapplings out but the bigger ones need mechanincal assistance or a saw and poison.
Supper this evening was a non event as everyone was really too tired or had been snacking through the afternoon. Freek and friend Martin had been to see us today. He has a number of proposals for WC including repairs to the road which could be important as the rainy season starts. He will fax his proposals to me and I will discuss them with the trustees. He told me that we still owed him R300 from the time of Mike (the builder). R
ather than dig into the past I agreed to pay him. Mike had been the builder who had done a huge number of jobs at WC including renovation of both Talari and Xairu. When his bother was in an accident last year we lost touch with him and he stopped coming to WC. Freek had been dependant on him for transfer of funds that we owed. It seems that there was an amount of R300 that Mike had never paid over to him.
This evening the rain started to fall. And it rained throughout the night. By morning we were concerned that we would not be able to drive out if the rain continued. My solution was to stay in bed and finish the book that I was reading. The author was Dave Morrell. It had started out a good story line with some Christian history of the Spanish Inquisition woven into the plot. But towards the end of the book the plot became impossible and the final impact was not that good. However I did what I rarely do and stayed in bed till after 08.00am reading.
Meanwhile the rain had let up and the weather forcast was for a more or less clear day. The Talari Dam had filled a good few millimeters and was looking a whole lot healthier. We can only hope that there is sufficient rain in the mountians to restart the falls and the streams of WC.
We decided to take advantage of the couple of hours of no rain and once I had arranged with Keith to go ahead with the Bushpig in case we battled to clear the steep part of the road and needed a tow, we packed up to leave. Cleaning the house always takes quite a while. Stefan had cleaned out the pantry and the fridge of old (past sell by date) food and we had quite a few black bags of old stuff to dispose of. I loaded this into the bakkie and asked Keith to take this to the tip later in the week.
Just as we were about to leave it began to rain again and we then "rushed" to complete our packing. Once we were all loaded up, I rode ahead with Keith and Stefan and Barbara drove behind. It was really not nearly as bad as we had expected and they cleared the slippery area on the west side of the weir (entrance to WC) with ease.
We filled up in Heidelberg and started a long trip home. We had left WC at about 14.30 and arrived home at 20.30. The traffic was particularly heavy on the N2 with every one heading home after a long weekend. It was overcast with intermittent rain for most of the drive. We stopped off at Plett where Ena had made some soup for us. She also gave us some more rusks.
Ally had slept for this first half of the trip. Ally does not like this type of meal and so asked us to stop at the Steers at Storms River for a Cheese Burger. It had started to rain heavily shortly after Storms River and the last part of the trip was increasingly tough. We made it home without incident. Nicci and Stefan had arrived home (Cape Town) about an hour before us.
Here is a piece of writing found in a restaurant that Barbara copied onto a serviette:
My comfort zone.
I used to have a comfort zone where I knew that I would not fail. The same four walls and busy work were more like a jail.
I longed so much to do the things that I had never done before, but stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.
I said it does not matter that I was not doing much. I said I did not care for things like commission cheques and such.
I claimed to be so busy with things inside my zone, but deep inside I longed for something special of my own.
I could not watch my life go by just watching others win. I held my breath, stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I had never felt better before. I kissed the comfort zone goodbye. I closed and locked the door.
If you are in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out, remember that all winners were at a time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true. Reach for your future with a smile. Success is then for you.
On my return from Heidleberg I was able to phone Derek Malan 021 950 7100 and he put me on to Zanne Olivier at Duivenhoks projects (working for water overberg) in Heidelberg 083 354 4746 / 028 722 8014. Zanne has taken over the management of the project of wattle clearing at WC from Davie Adendorf and his successor. Zanne is well aware of the problems regarding the quality of work at Wildcliff (they refer to it as Palmeira) and is working on the problem and promises me that she will be presenting a solution to Keith. Zanne tells me that they have discussions, in this regard, planned for this week.
Another identified problem at WC is the Fire Hazzard. With the volume of dry wood lying around it is a possibility that we could have a fire there which may become uncontrollable. Paula will talk to a neighbour about assisting with building a fire break and clearing a section. Possibly starting above the Heron House. The fallen branches also means that we are not able to access the area to clear out saplings. Burning is dependant on us being able to Bulldoze the fallen branches into a central area and then working with the weather, wind and a team of people to contain the fire.
29.09.2009.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The last three days of September. I had three more days of leave. This is what is known in our company as Priveleged Leave. It is a long service perk to have a fourth week in the year as leave. If you dont take the leave you lose it so what ever you do you make sure that you take this extra week of leave.
I had a number of things to do: I work on a list and was able to do most of them. I had wanted to visit ADT as they were the sponsors of our clothing for the season ahead. I had to collect the old Merc from Michaels house and to wash it. It leaks and I had to clean out the back seat.
My own car was filthy from the WC trip. I seemed to have gathered more dust inside the car than ever before. I got the printer working at a cost of R90. I sorted out the stuff that Charles had brought back from WC for us. I was able to licence the Bakkie. Cathy's Daewoo is due soon but I will have to do this vehicle next month.
Ally had her social engagements with her friend Hanna Obrie. They have a market day at school next week and were hard at work making bracelets and sign boards. She is back to swim training. One evening they all met for movies at Walmer Park. A really nice group of young people that David Glover has sowed a deep sense of team spirit.
WATERBLOMMETJIE
The name comes from the Afrikaans language and literally means 'small water flower stew'. Known in English as Cape Pondweed, Cape Hawthorn or Cape Asparagus and scientifically as Aponogeton distachyos) found in the dams and marshes of the Western Cape (South Africa). The buds (waterblommetjies) are usually ready to be picked in the months of July and August (South African winter).
The taste can be described as much like stewed green beans with a hint of pumpkin.
Some believe that the early Dutch settlers (circa Jan van Riebeek’s time) used waterblommetjies as a vegetable (and hence a source of vitamin C) in desperation, since their early farming initiatives had been somewhat less than successful. The alternative tale is that the Voortrekkers harvested them as a food source, since while on trek, they were unable to grow anything. Whichever is the truth, waterblommetjie bredie is a well known and much respected local delicacy, popular with foreign tourists.
Waterblommetjie Potjie
Potjiekos is a fireside method of slow cooking in a traditional three
legged cast iron potjie pot
500g breast of shin of mutton
15ml cooking oil
3 onions, sliced
5 ml salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
125ml dry white wine
3 potatoes, peeled & sliced
1 kg fresh waterblommetjies
or 2 x 410g cans waterblommetjies
2 tomatoes, peeled & chopped
Cut the meat into portions. Heat the oil in the potjie and brown the
meat over moderate coals. Add the onion and fry gently until
translucent. Season with salt and pepper. Heat the wine in a small pan, pour it over the meat, cover and simmer over low coals for about 2.5 hours, until the meat is tender. Layer the potato, waterblommetjies and tomato in the meat, cover and simmer for another 30 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked. Serves 6
Peter
30.09.2009.
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