Crash, bang, lights out!

The road works at Joe Slovo have a lot to answer for! The road is actually completely closed which means that 4 lanes of traffic have to divert into 2 - not to forget the 5th lane which is actually a left turn only lane which all these horrible people zoom down (past those law abiding citizens like myself) and then push in to the right turn at the bottom. Well, yeasterday evening on the way home such an incident happened and I was the one being pushed in front of - so I let the black car ahead of me turn but was determined that the bakkie behind him would not get in front of me too! So I kept very close to the horrible black car - but unfortunately TOO close and banged his right back tyre fender - I didn't even realise I'd hit him until the driver jumped out and started waving his arms around and yelling and cursing me in Afrikaans! I said I was sorry but on and on he ranted - very unpleasant. Anyway eventually we pulled out of the traffic so that we did not impede it anymore than it already was and he calmed down and we swopped information. There is a small scratch just below my headlight - not worth bothering about but we'll have to wait and see what he does about it!

So, on I went home - back door wide open but nobody around. Went to check on the alpacas and found Coco, Patricia and Dustin shut into the barn area with no water or food and the poor little baby on the other side of the gate all by himself in the field! FUME!!!

Sorted thatout and went into the house - power failure..... but everybody elses lights around us were on? Michael and his friend John arrived home and I sent them to check the fuse box. All the switches were down but pushing them up had no effect - then Michael found the little love letter than Eskom had sent us - disconnected due to non-payment! AAAARGH! Scrabbled through Johans non-filing system on his desk and luckily found an account - the whole system works on the account number and without that you are sunk. First of all I phoned to check what we owed - R0???? So then I got through to a person (lots of number pushing and menus for that to happen) who said that it had been a mistake...well, we are still waiting for it to come on again.....

So much for my thoughts of a glass or wine with my feet up watching James Herriott!

We have a new addition - one peachick has hatched (guess the others all rolled off the roof!) and here are some pictures of little Byron!

Gorgeous Babies

Two gorgeous babies are now frolicing around our plot! The first to be born was Lass's foal - a lovely little cream filly - un-named as yet (Sam wants to call it Fudge, I want to call it Madrigal and Moose wants to call it Myfanwy!) - she is now 10 days old and very friendly and forward! Loves nibbling things - including humans! And then this morning Coco had a little white boy - who will be named Byron. baby animals are so beautiful!

Next on line should be Pippit and then Patricia. And hopefully there will be some peachicks as well - except that they laid their eggs on the roof and some keep rolling off!

Di what next - you didn't have to do this just to have some news for your blog!!!

Please note - I don't try to find things to write about in the blog - they just happen!

The above comment refers to my latest escapade! I am in the process of buying a new horse (despite having 9 at home there are none for me to ride!) and this horse belonged to a friend who needed to sell because she was going overseas. " Very quiet " "will give you lots of confidence" "can fall asleep lying down on his back when on outrides" etc etc. And he was a nice big boy, described as a "off white" - Sam got on and rode him around, although he spooked and cantered nothing weird happened and she did very well. So, on the premise that I was about to sell 2 alpacas so could afford him I said I would take him. He was also supposed to be percheron x boerperd but everybody horsey that I know thinks the percheron bit is wishfull thinking! Anyway he is big.

So the next week we went to collect him and on Sunday, Johan, Sam and I had out first outride together. None of the descriptions fit the horse I was riding, he lept sideways, danced around, zoomed off at a very fast trot with his head in the air - not quite what I expected! So I called my friend and we put him into the lunging arena - which he rushed wildy around trying to jump out of. She was astounded. We worked out that it must be the food. So for another 2 weeks he was on reduced rations (but still getting fatter all the time) and he actually changed colour - becoming a beautiful pale palomino. Anyway, he did calm down considerably so I had a lesson with the owner who taught me the way she had ridden him. Now, I have always been rather a couch potato and have had horses that just went without much effort. This one goes but if you do not control him with your legs then he is rather haphazard which was why he was so weird on the outride. She also showed me how to use my hands - tighten up at first and then when he drops his nose, bring the hands down and relax. So it all went very well - rather like sitting on a powder keg but at least I felt in control!

So, the next day, by myself, I decided to quickly saddle up and ride in the arena. Johan had gone to collect Michael from sword practice (which he is loving) so it was just sam and I. At first all went well and we walked around and then he stopped. I put my legs on and tightened up my hands (mistake) and he went backwards, not realising the message I was sending I did it again and he did a little hop. Did it again (I'm a bit slow on the uptake) and up he went, rearing up up and OVER on top of me.

Well, I was out for the count (don't mention the word "hat"!) and Sam took one look and ran screaming for John - who luckily arrived home just as it all happened. Fred (neighbour) lept over 2 6 ft fences to come and help (his son had the same kind of accident and broke his pelvis in 3 places). I woke up briefly when they were lifting me onto the top of the garden tables (dismantled from the legs) and then again as they pushed me into the back of the car and the paramedics arrived. Apparently I had been consious but talking double dutch and not remembering who Zorro (horse) was etc. So off we went to Union hospital with me esconsed on the garden table in the back of the car (Now I know the seats go down!) and off I went to casualty, X ray (no bones broken - miracle!) and a cat scan, then into the ward.

Hospitals are not restful places - the lights were on all night and they wake you up at 4 in the morning for blanket baths etc! Of course I did not have the required soap and face cloth etc but we made a plan. So the final opinion was that the muscles in my leg had snapped and I was very very badly bruised - very lucky.

On day 2 I actually managed a couple of shuffling steps with the zimmer frame - it is a very humbling experience to suddenly find yourself "old" and infirm. I had a regular visistor, Clayton from Plot 1 was in the same section (broken jaw) and so he would come to visit dragging his drip with him and I would shuffle up to him with zimmer and drip - made it more bearable having a pal on hand! So on Tuesday evening they said I could go home - they weren't going to stitch the muscles becauise "its not as though you are a comrades runner" (now I wonder what gave him that idea?)- so off I went home - still barely able to lift my foot to even put a slipper on and with a leg the size of an elephant, swollen and blue.

At home, we looked at it and really doubted that it was going to get better by itself so off to our GP the next day for his opinion - he took one look and phoned the orthopaedic surgeon in Mulbarton - off we went and he looked at it and booked me in to hospital the next day - to stitch the muscles (yay so I can run Comrades in the future!) and drain the fluid. If left, it could not possibly had reabsorbed that amount (they drained 1.5 litres) and would have got infected, septic = long time in hospital, lots of antibiotics etc etc etc. So another 2 days in hospital and then back home again with sexy white pressure stockings. Another week in bed - this time felt really lousy because I started to slur my words and not be able to focus properly - back to the GP - could be Post concussion syndrome or could have been a recation to the painkillers! So stopped the painkillers and vision and speech was restored! (Phew)

Another week in bed (poor Johan) and then was up and about again - thank goodness for automatic cars! I had to get up and going because Johan had had to take 3 weeks off work and the kids have to get to school for their exams - so I had to bite the bullet and get back into the swing of things again!

In the meantime Zorro is still eating his head off in the stable......

Dance like a butterfly - sting like a bee! Ow!

Poor Sam, she had a hard time last week. It all started when we arrived at the school and she dicovered that her shoes and socks were not in the car..... disaster when you are 11 years old! I phoned the aftercare teacher and asked her to help Sam find a pair in lost property etc. So Sam crept in to the office (in tears and in my old blue stokies) and they took her to find some shoes. Unfortunately they could only find one that fit her - so she put it on and limped out with her other foot in the slipper - telling everyone that her other foot had been stung by a bee!

Whilst having tea with Elsie on Saturday afternoon - Sam came in and announced that she had been stung on the foot by a bee - we laughed and teased her about little white lies coming back to get her! But then... she started going dark red, throat started constricting and she was covered in weals - she had developed an allergic reaction! Luckily Elsie had some anti histamines so we gave her one and phoned our local Dr - he said get her to the emergency pharmacy at Mulbarton Clinic quickly. Well - I pushed my power button in the car - put on my hazards and zoomed along - past other traffic, through red robots and keeping an eye on Sam all the time. Very dramatic. We got to the pharmacy and they took one look and said get her into casualty immediately - onto a bed, connected to a drip and injected! Wow! Now she has to have an injection with her at all time - apparently the more times you get stung the worse the reaction is. At least now we know but it is a worry - there are lots of bees around in Spring!

Phew - busy week!

Wow - last week went by in a blur and it looks as though this week will be the same!

Sunday - went for the first ride on my new horse Zorro - touted as the most wonderful quiet horse, good for giving you confidence etc - well he hopped, skipped and jumped and trotted like a maniac and would not stop - not quite what I had envisaged. Have cut down on his concentrates to see if that makes a difference - will wait and see!

On Monday night - I went on my first neighbourhood watch patrol - I had forgotten about it until someone ding-donged at the gate to deliver the equipment - bullet proof vests, batons, lights etc. Boy those vests are heavy - once I had one on and was behind the wheel it would have needed a crane to move me! It is not very stimulating I must say. driving around in the dark - Paula and I chatted but there is a limit to how much one can say. Glad when it was 11 and time for the handover. The next session is from 2-5 in the morning so not looking forward to that!

On Thursday It was Elizes matric dance - and we loaded up the carriage and horsebox and drove to Vereeniging - luckily it didn't rain unrtil we were back at the box - having dropped her off at the red carpet! Wow, there were jags, limo's, a model T-ford and us! Womble was a bit hesitant about walking into the crowd of popping flashbulbs and people so Johan led him the last bit. At least Womble is sensible - doesn't leap around and run away - just stands and says " I'm not sure about this.... do I really have to walk on? " Sam dressed to match me and we looked very smart!

Then the next morning it was up with the larks and off to Graaf Reinet for the Alpaca Society AGM. What a really great weekend! Met others at the guesthouse and we all went out to dinner together - very nice place in the Chocolate art gallery - some really lovely pictures that I would have loved to have bought - and lovely food too!

The AGM took up the whole of the Saturday and we had 3 gueast speakers first - bit of a hitch when we could not find a screen but we got one in the end! Then the AGM went smoothly and we finished at 5.30 - a very long day! Lovely to see everybody again and the catering was good.

And then another lovely lovely dinner with fantastic food (and company) at the Kliphuis - highly recommended! A late night!

Sunday - we wento to visit a farm to watch alpacas herding sheep - unfortunately they were more interested in us rather than doing their job but it was interesting to see them anyway - the farms here are enormous - 5000 and 8000 hectares! Then off to see other alpacas on a historical farmstead and I fell in love with a little lamb. As we went into the field all these little bottlefed lambs rushed over to us and when you picked them up they just nestled under your chin and settled down - so sweet.... finally left at 1.30 - a long drive back and home at about 11.30 - but what a wonderful, full, friendly weekend it had been - I am so lucky to meet such people.

Then back to work this week - Lass looks at though she is about to foal at any minute so that is keeping me on my toes. I have my patrol on Thursday (actually Friday) from 2-5 and then Sam is going trick or treating on Friday night - we are a stop off point so we need to decorate the gate as well! Now what happened to that plastic skeleton with the light in its head.....

Look what I found - notes on Eygpt trip - day 1

Time to catch up on Egypt I think even though it seems like a dream now even though it was only 9 days ago! (written when I was in the UK and then lost memory stick)

It was very hard to work on that Thursday – who could concentrate when you were going to be going to Cairo! Off to the airport in 2 kombis, ours went via the back routes to avoid Gilooly’s but we all arrived at the same time. The others had a very interesting driver – he had umpteen wives – one of which was a deflowered nun!

Luckily there were no long queues at the airport so we were very quick through to the other side – apart from Buti – he had too many creams and lotions and potions in his hand luggage so they made him go back and check it in.

Over to our normal spot in the News Café – not the greatest place and the service is AWFUL but there really isn’t much choice, and then we all drifted around doing our final bits of shopping until we boarded the plane. Luckily it was not completely full so Brenda and I had 4 seats between the two of us so were able to get some sleep.

Day 1 : Friday 30th April 2008-06-12

Arrived in Cairo and there was a chap waiting to escort us through immigration and out through the airport – he wasn’t very good as he lost half of us along the way but we all ended up at the right place in the end. Then we met our guide Hashim who escorted us onto the bus, loaded the baggage through the window and then off we ventured into Egyptian traffic. No traffic lights and no lines on the road but because they are not aggressive and give way to each other there are very few accidents. Sounded like Louis Botha – beep beeping all the time from everyone.

We arrived at the Hilton Ramses which unfortunately we could not check into immediately so we sat in the foyer for a while and then went to have breakfast in the Terrace dining room – most amazing chef who could flip omlettes and eggs in a most spectacular fashion!


Then still had time to waste so off we went for a walk along the Nile – necessitated crossing some roads – a frightening task that required nerves of steel and must have given Hashim some worrying moments about his little flock! Then we walked up the road – could not believe where we were!

The buildings in Egypt are quite unique – mostly unpainted and incomplete – apparently if they are complete and painted then they have to pay tax so…. a city full of unfinished buildings (predominantly cement square frames and brick fill).

Hashim was able to get rooms for us at 10:30 and due to people arriving back in the foyer LATE we no longer had time to go to the Mosque and Citadel (due to it being Friday things closed earlier than usual) so all plans changed and we were off to Siddara and Memphis (no Elvis only Ramses II!).


Siddara is one of the oldest pyramids – a step pyramid with a well excavated surrounding, must have been fantastic when it was complete. Very hot and the sand is quite rocky and whitish.


As you can see from my rosy cheeks – it was hot and look at the sandy shoes – originally brown.

The cobras are for security – always shown on the headdresses of the Pharaohs so that they could strike and kill any enemies.

From Siddara one could look across and see the Giza pyramids in the distance, really magical and we saw our first camel.


What was also remarkable was the sudden transition from the date palms to the desert – just a complete cutoff from one to the other.


The we were on the way to Memphis, via a small village which specialised in carpets. Aha, time for me to suss out camel blankets! First of all we watched young girls knot the rugs (I had a go and didn’t do too badly!) and then looked at large looms – beautiful complicated pictures being woven) then upstairs for s complimentary glass of hibiscus tea and we all had to sit and listen to the sales spiel with beautiful silk carpets flashing before our eyes. There was a glorious large silken carpet – only $75 000!



Then it my time for the camel blankets – asking price 3000 EP – I offered 500 – came down to 2000 – still too much so no sale!

Off to Memphis which had an enormous statue of Ramses II, a smaller one, some lionesses and other statues. How on earth did they carve such large perfect statues!


We were all starting to flag a bit by then and so back to the bus and off to lunch – a lovely outdoor restaurant called Andrea’s – beautiful fluffy pitas that we saw being cooked in an outside oven and lots of lovely hummus, tahina and great roasted chicken – also seen on spits outside. Our guide (name) sat with us but did not eat – she has patches on her head – supposed to help her diet a la acupuncture! She is incredibly knowledgeable about Eygptian history.


(And I’m off to the hospital restaurant – tomato soup, roll and an apple – the Executive Athlete team should be proud of me!) Thankfully my debit card allowed me to draw money – was in rather a twizz about it as my credit card was declined at Avis at the airport and I would have been stuck – had to borrow £10 from Dorothy over the road this morning to buy milk!

After lunch – off to a Papyrus factory … a demo of how it was made and then of course the sales talk starts… and of course I fell for it – but only at 200 EP less than they first asked! Will look lovely above our bed.

Back to the hotel for a quick shower and change and Brenda and I went for a quick walk along the bridge – there was a film shoot and we sot involved so some Eygptian TV show will have us strolling along!

Lovely – no crime and no bothersome people – in fact the opposite – all very friendly and welcoming.


Then back to the hotel and up to the 36th floor which has a restaurant with fabulous views of the city.

Then at 6.30 - off to the Sound & Light show at the Pyramids – heralded in by an Eygptian band playing….. bagpipes!

Absolutely magical!

And still not time for bed – off to dinner sailing the Nile in a felucca!

And then it was the end of Day 1 – Wow! We dropped like stones when we finally got to bed – and had an early start planned for the next day!


Day 2 – Alexandria

Up early for a quick breakfast – next casualty – Abraham has a funny tummy – oops! Sonia had been the first and so she now had all the medication as well as Geraldine so we dosed him up and off we went – 200 odd kms off to Alexandria.

Its quite developed along the road – first a techno park and then farming estates – need a lot of money to do that because it takes a lot of time and water before the desert becomes established. Lots of dovecotes and an arab stud – very interesting.

And now I'll have to scratch my brain for the rest of it!

Living rough!

My cousin Julia, in the UK is buying a remote cottage in Scotland - and they are going up there for a weekend:


We are off to Scotland next weekend,Alans brothers(3 of them) are coming also as "working party" to help us cut the grass etc.They wont be doing that much as they have all decided they are going fishing on the Sunday(no stamina these men!) I will be chief cook,that should be interesting as there is only a sink in the kitchen, we are taking a fold up table, microwave and gas burner, should be fun. There is only a coal fire, no central heating so thermal undies required. I am not really one for roughing it so the whole thing sounds a nightmare to me.
We are going to take Mums bed with us on the trailer,if Alan can get it up and running for then- it was a "bargain" but Im not so sure as we have spent loads on new suspension, wheels and various other bits and pieces.
This house buying lark is very stressfull isnt it? the seller in your case
sounds charming. We didnt have to worry about fixtures etc as there werent
any!!

This made me think of our honeymoon!

We went to a cottage on a very remote bit of the Wild Coast - no electricity and an outside loo - had to fish for our food - and boil water to sit in a tin bath - but it was lovely.

Then we went to visit our bestman who had a cottage in Kei Mouth.
Unfortunately he had let it out, so he had a room in the house and we were sleeping in the kombi on thefront lawn. Well, one night we came back having caught a lo vely big brass bream -which Deon announced to the woman of the house and her family that Di would cook and they were invited to dinner.
Having said that he and Johan disappeared to the pub!

Well, this poor womoan kept making helpful suggestions as I nervously slaved away - cursing under my breath, the cherry on the top came when I switiched on the stove forgetting it was gas and then lit it with a tremendous whoosh that took off my eyebrows! Everybody made polite comments about how good the dinner was but I was fuming! (And it really wasn't half as good as it should have been!)

Then we went to the kombi to find that the dogs had been sick all over the bed, we tried to wake Deon by throwing stones at his window and climbing the drain pipe but with no success so had to sleep on the front lawn!

Not the most comfortable and indulgent of honeymoons!