Days of sun and braais

Well it is approaching sunset here (15:30),while I sit staring aimlessly at my computer screen, Liz is upstairs in bed with 'flu' (cold really, but does not sound as dramatic), I bet he only gets a quarter of the bed too. I am reminded of one of our many meals that we had at our friends open air restaurant on the beach side in Langebaan. The view out over the bay was magnificent with a few large round bald rocks just below before the sea started to rush in on the small pebbly beaches, if you could call them that, they were really small, the hill covered in fynbos , small bushed ( scrub to the rest of the world). We would sit there quietly sipping an ice cold beer, or a glass of dry white wine, contemplating the thought of a few fresh garlic mussels or a lovely piece of braaied snoek. There was also the chance of a Hottentot fish and maybe even some wors if we were really lucky. The cook fires in the centre of the restaurant had burnt down to coals and the chef had put on the fish to cook, gently basting it with lemon butter. The whole floor area was covered in fine white beach sand, it was open air after all and by the sea! The only shade was provide by some old netting strung up between poles, above some crudely made tables, running along the leading edge of the restaurant area overlooking the sea. The tables were in a semi circle at the front and a few tables at the rear of the restaurant. The view was of small yachts and the odd motor boat zipping around the bay, with the distant sight of an oil tanker or fishing boat on the horizon, heading into or out of Saldanha, it was the largest natural harbour in the area. The seagulls flying, almost suspended above us, into the wind in the clear blue sky. There is a plate with some home made bread and a knob of butter to chew on between courses. The snoek was delicious with just the lemon butter, but Liz would put a glob of smooth apricot jam on it, mm mm. This was one fish that she liked to eat like this as there are not too many bones and you can't miss them, they are like giant tooth picks, wouldn't like to get one of those stuck in my throat. It was really hot and dry, no sign of rain, pass the beer, ah those glory days! The customers are all gone so we can relax with our friends and Liz gets another beer glass full of ice with red wine for Janet, and a bitterly cold Castle for Andrew, I try to get her to put in less ice more wine, what the hell we are on holiday , but Janet is not having it. I lend a hand clearing away some of the debris and then we go and sit down on the seats, made of old railway sleepers, again to have another sip of lager, it truly is a nectar on a warm day. Most of the days seemed to be warm and dry, ah why ever did we leave! Paradise does also have its problems and tax men though.
Well, I'll leave with those thoughts and think about supper, cup o' soup, or a frozen pizza (sigh!) no mussels or snoek here, too damp and cold to braai.

Christmas weather

Well Saturday morning was a little frosty and I had to get a new pump for the fish pond. Once the car was defrosted we went to Crowland to a garden centre to get the new pump. When we arrived at the centre it was very quiet and looked as though it was having a closing down sale, such was the devastation after the Christmas eve rush. We reached a decision on which pump to buy and gapped it for home. The pond had defrosted slightly so that I wasn't putting my hands into a block of ice, although it still felt pretty chilly and it must have taken my hands at least an hour to defrost! I was quite surprised to find that my hands' natural colour was a paler pink rather than red and blue! The fish seem happier now that the water is moving again, although I think they should have a heater for next year, poor things, only fish in the freezer should be that cold.
It is Sunday and I had to cremate some breakfast(pictured) for Liz. I was unable to post a picture of fish on a braai like some of our friends, just some 'blackened' pudding! Still a little chilly outside and I will no doubt have to go to work tomorrow in the ice.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year

Christmas 2008

Well that is Christmas over. Liz and I spent a relatively quiet Christmas day at home. Matt and Louise and Philip, Amy and the new arrival Harry, were around to see us on Christmas eve, so we had a full house. Liz fed them all excluding Harry of course. Christmas day started quietly although Liz was bouncing about on the bed at six thirty, bursting to get up, so we did (sigh!), later she put her little prayer mat in the car and rushed off somewhere religieous at 9am. She was back at 10:30 and we had some pudding, made of pigs blood, and a few slices off the pigs belly and smoked ( from Germany, for those who are really interested, Adi). I threw in a couple of unborn chickens and voila, ( sorry for the French) breakfast was served. After that magnificent repast we did not want to move, but we did. We were off to see the old dragon and Lindsay at midday for a Christmas meal. We went round and spent a few hours with them and mother even dragged out some old 'Rhodesia Herald' newspapers from May 1978, detailing the attack on the Montclair,when I was shot. It made thrilling reading and I may post a copy on this blog, or I may not, wait and see. The old dragon gave me one of those fluffy hats with ear flaps, which I put on and everyone just collapsed to the floor in helpless heaps for some reason, mother was unable to stand upright for at least ten minutes! (ha ha!)

Catriona's 'Kung flu' and Christmas

We went to watch Catriona attain a new belt in her 'kung flu' class in Huntingdon on Sunday.Ok, so it was actualy Tang soo do, or something, anyway we watched her kick the hell out of a board and the six guys holding it. I though, mistakenly it would appear, that when your kids got older you didn't have to go to their school do's any more, that would appear to be a big mistake on my part, a parent's duties neeevvvveeer end! It was quite intersting as there were people of all size there from two foot to over six foot tall, most kicking the hell out of each other, or at least simulating it.There were a couple of little chaps of about two foot tall who were having a real go at each other at one stage, boy were they keen!

Christmas is rapidly approaching and Liz has erected one of our trees in the lounge, which is now pretty full. The tree is a five foot one and is covered in sufficient decorations for a ten foot one, you know what LIz is like! We have decided that this year the alien space ships will have to find their own way to earth, as we are not putting lights in the garden. Liz has developed a new craze, candle power decorations, the fire department is on standby. We have a whole row of little houses lit by candles on the window ledge.