Friends Reunited

On a much happier note I would like to share some photos of
the meeting with my "old" friend and her daughter on the first
morning we got to see one another after a handful of years.
As two very young girls we worked together for the same
company, and we became great buddies.

Soon after each one of us got married, our paths seperated, we've
been in constant contact with one another for a number of years.
What a happy reunion this has been, and the pictures here
will be forever treasured.

When I told my friend that I will be splashing her picture all over the
Internet, she only laughed!
Even though we've been seperated for many years, our friendship
has stood the test of time.
This poor family has definately gone through some bad times, be-
cause her husband was shot through the face in broad daylite, and
directly after the traumatic experience, my dear friend got cancer.
As if things weren't bad enough, her Son was hijacked and held
hostage for a couple of hours and was released only after they managed
to get an amount of money from him.
Until this day I don't know what changed their minds not to shoot
and kill her Son.


South Africa will always remain my country of birth, and no
matter how homesick I may be at this very moment, I doubt if
I'll ever return to my country of origin - simply due to the
daily crime.

My very bestest friend seen here in the white and pink, and yours
truly Gincoleaves in the red.

Lost & Found?

One week after we've arrived back home from our trip, I was
getting very edgy about the missing luggage, so with the help of my
friend's Son down in South Africa, we finally got the missing piece de-
livered to our front door today.

They couldn't wait to break open the lock that was on the case and
help themselves to my most valuable souvenirs and gifts.

I am soul destroyed that something like this can happen!
Do these things happen to only some of us, or are some of us
selected to suffer such great disappointment ?

I guess we'll never know the answer to that question ! ! ! !

Run Chicken Run.

These guys, known as the Guinea fowl, were everywhere, always searching
for something to munch.
This bird looks very much like the Turkey, but I doubt if the family
will have enough to eat around the Thanksgiving table.
Where ever I turned, this lot appeared in a crowd, not a shy kind of
bird, but heaven help you if you should make a sudden move, they'd
squeal and run like blazes.

Bird watching.

My Mom always said I resemble my Dad in more ways than one, well
I don't quite agree with her theory, but I've certainly inherited
the man's love for birds (the feathery kind - snigger)
So because of that, I'll start with a few words about my bird-
watching.
Unfortunately my stay in South Africa wasn't long enough to allow
me all the bird spying.
One morning I deliberately left a bread roll out on the garden table in the
self catering Apartment where we lived - and all I had to do was wait
for results, it wasn't long after I'd left when this little
yellow Finch lady came along and enjoyed her free breakfast.
To take this pic, I had to manouvre my camera between a small opening
through the curtain. Click on for a better look. Early one morning while everyone was sound asleep, I crept out of the
Apartment armed with the camera in search of a few sights.
I was just about to give it up as a bad idea, when the noise of some
squawking birds made me look up - and right above my head were
about 7 or 8 finch nests.
The behaviour of the lady Finch will always amuse me, the male
will work for hours on end to build the perfect nest, but, if Madam isn't
happy with his work, she will rip and tear the entire nest to pieces, as I'm
sure you all know how dissatisfied the little lady can get.

That same morning I heard the noise of this bird, known to most South

Africans as the HA DE DA and I had to take a pic.

If you click on the picture you will see that this bird looks very

much like the Kiwi.

Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to go in search of more lovely

birds, and believe me, the country is alive with the sights and sounds

of them.

It must have been the excitement of spending the first night back
in my country which woke me up at 3.45am, it was quite dark outside,
but the bird sounds which came from the trees all around the Apartment
was unbelievable - perhaps there were only 5 different type of birds
singing their morning song, but it sounded like about 500 birds in
the choir.

I am still wondering how I managed to live for so long without those
glorious wonders of nature.

Bye bye sunshine

When we arrived back home on Wednesday morning, that old devil just

couldn't wait to show us his sharp claws!

While we waited to collect our luggage, the passengers grew less

and so did the luggage.

I waited patiently for my familiar bag to show itself, but waiting for

what seemed an eternity, I had to except the fact that it wasn't

going to appear on the Airport carousel.

That's when the "fun" started, and believe me, I wasn't laughing!!

I clearly remembered the day when we checked in at the South

African Airport, and I remember the young trainee who behaved very

confused and nervous about the luggage story, and I remember Girl-child's

words to me "Mom, I don't like the look of this guy, at the rate he's going

our luggage will go astray!"

And I said to her "Please don't paint the devil on the wall!!"

Anyway, we went straight to the lost and found office to report the

missing bag.

Little did I know there was much more in store before the

day was done with me.

Whilst driving home I checked with Mr. CC if he's got the housekeys

ready because I'm looking forward to a hot soak in the bathtub.

That's when he told me that the keys are tucked away in his carcoat - and

the carcoat is packed into the missing luggage !!!!!!

I do believe at that very moment I turned into the devil himself.

When we arrived home we contacted the Agency - surely they will be able to

help us out of this awful mess by producing a spare key to the Apartment ? ! ? !

Two hours later the Lady from the Agency arrived at our front

door and she tried to open the door with the "spare" key - and

would you believe me - the *%ç#@*`^%/*"#@ key did not fit!!!!!

The dumb and devastated look on the woman's face was enough to make

me sit on the steps in front of my door, and all I wanted to do was cry (but I

didn't, I was too tired and angry)

I threatened to sleep on the cold marble floor if she didn't come up with a

solution for my problem, because I had nowhere else to turn to (except

to spent a night or more in a Hotel) - but what to do if the missing bag does

not appear?!

She then telephoned for a locksmith - who could do his lock picking in about

two hours time.

"Why do we have to wait so long?" I asked

"All the locksmiths are out on duty!" was her answer.

There must have been an awful lot of luggage gone walkies on that day!!

Finally at 5pm that afternoon, I slumped through my front door.

I can only hope and pray that my roaming bit of luggage will find it's

way home - if not, I will be losing a load of precious goods plus souvenirs

from my home town.

Please bear with me, once I've recovered from my shocking homecoming

I will post a few pictures of my most delightful visit to South Africa.