A month ago I turned 40 and what a month its been! We had no
plans of our own other than to spend Christmas Eve with Ouma and Oupa and some
of Ouma’s family who would be in town. First my family arrived from Dubai to
spend my 40th birthday with me, spoiling me with gifts galore, and a
very special dinner. Then we spent 2 weeks together in the run-up to Christmas
gallivanting all over the Garden Route like real tourists, doing so many fun
and special things together. My brother Leon arrived about a week before
Christmas with his girlfriend Kerry and they (together with Kerry’s parents)
joined in the fun and gallivanting too. They were special times! They all left
a day or so after Christmas, and we came home to continue life as ‘normal’.
The 2 weeks that followed have been far from quiet and
boring. While we’ve tried to recuperate and rest we have found ourselves doing
odds and ends that need doing and also spending time with family and friends
who have visited from far and near. We really have been spoiled!
Leon and Kerry left here on the 27th to continue
their holiday with friends in Cape Town. On 28 December they took a trip up to
the top of Table Mountain in the cable car, excited to be at one of the 7
natural wonders of the world (Table Mountain has only recently been added to
that list). And it was there that my little brother proposed to Kerry and they
became engaged! You can’t begin to imagine how delighted we as a family are!
Even the children have been asking if and when they plan to get married! I’m
delighted that Kerry will be my new sister-in-law, she’s an awesome lady! Leon
is an incredible guy and they make a gorgeous couple!
Just before New Year we spent a Sunday afternoon visiting
with Ouma’s youngest sister and her husband at Victoria Bay where they spent
over a month on holiday in their caravan. It was a grey, sunless day which
meant there was ample parking and even a spot on the beach for us to sit (both
of which we might not have found on a sunny day in season!). From up above the
beach where the caravan park is, we had the most amazing view of the tiny bay
and for the first time I was able to see how it all fits together. It was a
lovely view – a great place to have a holiday. Uncle Piet braaied some burger
patties while Aunty Betsie organised the hamburger rolls and all the extras
(including Ouma’s yummy potato salad) – oh, what a delicious meal we enjoyed
together! After lunch we relaxed together for a short while before we headed
down to the beach for a dip with Oupa and Ouma. I didn’t swim (haven’t swum yet
this season at all), I enjoyed watching Dieter and the boys on their boogie
boards in the sea. Oupa had a dip with Jed before joining Ouma and Aimee in the
tidal pool and taking a walk down to the furtherest point of the little bay. Just
before we left to go back up to the caravan park some friends we’ve made at one
of the local churches arrived for a swim and it was nice to see them and chat
together a little. The younger children had a great time building sand castles
together – I just love that about the beach, the children always have so much
fun!
On New Year’s Day very special friends of ours from Pretoria
came over and spent the day with us. Kevin and Caroline have been friends for
years now and are like another set of parents to Dieter and I, we appreciate
their friendship so much! It was such a treat to spend time with like-minded
people and being able to chat freely about things we have in common! We saw
them twice in the week that they were here, the 2nd time was on the
beach in Great Brak near where they were staying with friends. The shark
warnings were out and the kids only swam in the shallows, but after a couple of
hours of being wind blown we sought refuge indoors! Shjoe, it was windy that
day! We went back to the friends they were staying with and spent a few more
hours relaxing together over frozen-yoghurt and ice-cream cones, in the process
we made some new friends!
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| Chillaxing on Great Brak beach with Kevin and Caroline |
Another friend and old colleague from Butterworth-days,
Michelle was traveling back from Cape Town with her family after their holiday
and wanted to overnight in George. That meant that we could spend an afternoon
and evening together, which was wonderful! It was lovely to spend time with
Michelle, her husband Chris and nearly-3-year-old son Kian! We had a nice
dinner together at home of home-made chicken burgers with a lovely mushroom
sauce which Michelle made for us. The last time we saw Michelle was in July
when we passed through Port Alfred on our way to Butterworth, but we didn’t
spend more than 10 minutes together. It was especially nice not to rush and
squeeze a visit into an hour or two, we spent most of the afternoon and evening
together and it was relaxing and fun.
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| Kian, Chris and Michelle visiting us |
Another friend who arrived in town very unexpectedly was
Willem, an old friend from Pretoria days. Willem met with Dieter for a nice,
long breakfast and then spent an hour or so with us at home when he dropped
Dieter off afterwards. It was very good to see him again too!
We’ve been really blessed to spend time with ‘old friends’
after many years! It hasn’t been possible for us to get to Pretoria yet, so
having friends from there come here has been especially wonderful! These really
have been special times!
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