I am making the most of the South African Lifestyle and hope with my blog to share some of the adventures my husband and I are having in our retirement. We live at the Southern Tip of Africa in the small coastal town of Struisbaai. We enjoy travelling around South Africa and are bird and wildlife enthusiasts so are often in game reserves.
This morning the wind was under 10 knots from the south and it was 16 degrees C and overcast. Twenty-two boats ventured at 5:00 am all hoping to catch a big one.
The first strike called in was from Multi 08:47 local time. It was an on/off on a small black marlin. The next Mojo hooked up at 08:48 and dropped it soon after. At 10:56 excitement was high when Mojo hooked up and fought for twelve minutes before losing it on a Kona. At 12 midday Moondancer had a hookup on a Maco/Marlin so just let it go. Then at 12:03 Mojo reported seeing a free-swimming marlin on position 04/52S. At 12:37 a stripy was in the spread all lit up. At 12:59 Met Eish was hooked up, called for colour orange but dropped at 13:24 It was a double strike. At 13:15 Catch Cook had a marlin strike on the same lure twice. At 13:16 Reel Deal hooked up on live bait in position 35.04 019.55E called for orange and was still fighting at 14:00
At 13:17 position 03/56 Kinda Magic had a strike on live bait. He hooked up and at 13:44 dropped it.
By the end of the day nobody managed to successfully land and release a marlin. It was a long day of hard fishing and as you can imagine the anglers were really tired after going out three days in a row. The delicious beef kebabs, potato bake and salad were most very much appreciated and fortified the guys for another day’s fishing tomorrow.
Please go to Suidpunt Deep Sea Angling Club’s Facebook Page to see liYe coverage of this morning’s launch and this evenings function.
Below are some photographs a few of the participating boats. We hope to capture the rest tomorrow.
Amazing Grace skippered by John Burger
The Black Pearl skippered by Harold Turner
Bad Company skippered by Mike Broderick
Zeenan skippered by De Wet Zeeman
Ziggy skippered by Alan Firmani
Bayswater skippered by Piet Wessels
Dory skippered by Dudley Dory
Indigo skippered by Gawie Bruwer
Marco Polo skippered by Rikus de Beer
Catch Cook skippered by Byron Ashington
Reel Deal skippered by JB Snyman
Rampala skippered by Waldo Janeke
Moon Dancer not too tired to take the kids for a joy-ride -after a hard day’s fishing.
Sea Cat skippered by Chris Steyn
Met Eish skippered by Steven Griffiths
Kinda Magic skippered by Kevin Swart
Multi skippered by Roelof Visagie
Shadow and Mika (Daughter of Moon Dancer) enjoying a refreshing swim togetherMeet Mickyle the youngest competitor in the tournament. He crews with his dad on “Lyfie”. I see a great future for this young angler.
Report by Helen Fenwick – Information from Andrew Perrins
Yesterday was not an official competition day but the competitors among themselves organised a friendly, Saturday competition and prizes were awarded at Suidpunt Deep Sea Angling Club last night.
Kevin Swart from Kinda Magic landed and released a black marlin so was declared winner of the friendly.
Well done, Kevin
At 5 am this morning it was decided the weather was suitable and Andrew was on duty bright and early to see the guys off on their mission. See Suidpunt’s Facebook Page to see a recording of the live launch of the fleet.
In order to make sure that all the boats were all receiving well, Earl and Andrew went up to the high site to check on the aerial’s setting.
The mighty aerial
Andrew @ work doing some essential adjustmentsShanga ever offering to lend a pawBut actually just wants to take a nap in a sheltered spotLovely view from up there
It was 8:30 when Mojo called in a strike but it off within minutes. Then eight minutes later Marco Polo was vas and a long battle to land a huge black began. At 12:54 the fish came along side the boat then went under, broke loose and swam to freedom. Congratulations to Anton for a long, hard battle.
Eight minutes later Mojo called in a strike but it was off within minutes.
At 10:am Jolly Roger got two strikes on the Alphards. Both were lost.
At 10:15 Reel Deal had a strike south east of the 12 mile bank. They called in on/off.
At 10:22 Catch Cook reported a hook-up. But sadly it turned out to be a Mako Marlin.
At 11:14 John Graeme reported a hook-up and a fight began. It was 14:34 when they called in to report that a black marlin had been successfully released. You can see the video on facebook. It was estimated to be 200kg.
At 11:30 Mojo had another on/off
Multi at 11:30 also called in an on/off
After a successful day’s fishing the anglers were presented with Marinda and her crew’s excellent catering and enjoyed a meal of crumbed Big Eye Tuna and delicious prawns, not to mention the fabulous koeksusters for dessert.
John Graem’s Hylton Goatley enjoying a beer with fellow crew member John Leppan.
Hylton at the tender age of twenty-two landed a black marlin estimated at 200kg . Dad Chris is extremely proud and says his son started fishing as a toddler but has been competition fishing for the past four years. Like father like son, I would say!
Please take a look at the Suidpunt Facebook Page for live coverage of the evening’s festivities..
Report by Helen Fenwick – Information from Andrew Perrins
Meirion Williams of Huck Finn fame, sowed the seed to have an annual Marlin catch, measure and release competition. This was after he chatted to local commercial fisherman, Trail Witton who landed a striped marlin fifteen years ago. Meirion thought it would be of value to investigate the numbers and sizes of the Marlin swimming in the Agulhas area.
Of course, it is never the work of just one man and mention must be made of others like Gawie Bruwer, Hannes Schreuder, Gerard De Kock, Johan Jooste and Johan van der Walt who were all instrumental in making the idea a reality.
Andrew Perrins was approached to be the Safety Officer and he has been involved in setting up aerials and manning the radios ever since. He does, of course, have his trusty helpers, Trevor Brinch, and Earl Fenwick as well as various others throughout the years – A great team effort.
For the past several years, Andrew who now lives and works in the United Kingdom, has come back especially to do his bit for this unique competition. The rules were drawn up by the competitors themselves and it is strictly catch, measure and release. The last boat to land and release a marlin is the winner.
Safety at sea is a priority and good radio communication is essential for this. Andrew from the UK and Earl locally in Struisbaai have spent months working on getting a high site for a new aerial which they along with some strong helpers have it erected and fully operational in time for this competition.
The Earl connecting something
This year, because of the Covid 19 pandemic, things have to be run a little differently. All the social distancing rules have to be followed. When gathering together the competitors must sanitise and wear masks. At the clubhouse, seating must be arranged so that proper social distancing rules can be adhered to. Only fifty people may gather indoors and so meals will be served as take-away and seating outdoors will be available.
On Friday night the Opening Function and Skippers’ briefing went well. Goodie Bags were given to each participating boat and delicious shawarma wraps filled with spit roast lamb were served. Videos of the proceedings can be seen on Suidpunt Deep Sea Angling Club’s Facebook Page.
The sponsors’ banners lining the entrance to the clubhouseLining up to sign in, have temperature taken and sanitiseWell spaced seatingOutdoor seatingOurdoor seatingHanding out the goodie bags
The competition begins on Sunday but today, Saturday, the weather was perfect and many of the boats went to sea to fish recreationally. A nice black marlin of around 200kg by Kevin on Kinda Magic was landed and released but will not count toward the competition. However, it’s good to know the big ones are out there.
Tight lines to all the competitors:-
Marco Polo skippered by Rikus de Beer
Black Pearl skippered by Harold Turner
Jolly Rodger skippered by Jannie
Kinda Magic skippered by Kevin Swart
Mojo skippered by Jaques van Niekerk
Amazing Grace skippered by John Burger
Met Eish skippered by Steven Griffiths
Lyfie skippered by Rudi Moolman
Sea Cat skippered by Chris Steyn
Reel Deal skippered by JB Snyman
Ziggy skippered by Alan Firmani
Multi skippered by Roelof Visagie
Duckbill skippered by Marius Grabie
Rampala skippered by Waldo Janeke
John Graeme skippered by Chris Goatley
Indigo skippered by Gawie Bruwer
Bayswater skippered by Piet Wessels
Dory skippered by Dudley Dory
Jolly Roger skippered by Jannie Allandale
Bad Company skippered by Mike Broderick
Catch Cook skippered by Byron Ashington
Zeeman skippered by De Wet Zeeman
Weather decision will be at 5 tomorrow.
Report by Helen Fenwick – Information from Andrew Perrins
If the government offered to suspend all laws, and law enforcement for 24 hours, letting you (and everybody else) do whatever you wish… Would you be in favor of it, or not? (Credit for this question goes to Cyranny and her Daily Quickie Question)
Well it would be great to be able to get away with murder. There are one or two people I know in this world that should not be allowed to live for their own sake and for the sake of others and I although I probably wouldn’t take it upon myself to do the dirty deed I would not be averse to hiring somebody else to do so. The executions would definitely benefit the country and the world. Of course other evil crimes would be committed and those offenders would get off scot free. Crimes are committed every day. Offenders get off scot free every day. So for just one day to have lawlessness only to go back to order the next? It could work. Look how we recover from war which is a kind of lawlessness isn’t it?
What would be the creepiest thing you could say while passing a stranger on the street? (We’re suspending the whole social distancing and Covid involvement in this scenario)
I know what you did and I know where you live.
As a child, what did you think would be great about being an adult, but isn’t as great as you thought it would be?
As I child I thought it would be wonderful to be in charge of my own life, choose a career and earn my own money. All these things have come to fruition and I prefer adulting to being a child. Of course it is not as glamerous as I imagined and the selfish lifestyle I envisioned didn’t quite turn out that way as I had to consider the needs of husband, kids and grandkids but all in all it’s been pretty darn good being an adult. I wouldn’t change a thing.
What, in your opinion, has been blown way out of proportion?
Lots of things are blown out all proportion. People thrive on sensationalism. What the media makes an issue of is usually best ignored in my humble opinion. If everybody is making a fuss about it I tend to just ignore it. Blow it out of proportion and the problem will try to live up to its undeserved reputation.
Gratitude Section (Optional as always)
Where is your ‘happy’ place?
My happy place is without question the Kruger National Park. Any game reserve will do it for me but Kruger is the ultimate. The minute I enter Malelane Gate I enter an ecstatic state which does not leave me until I leave.
A Judge Decided is Helen Fenwick’s first published novel. Although written as a work of fiction, it is based on a true story of a custody battle that culminated in the first court case in South Africa challenging the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This states that one parent may not remove a child to another country without the other parent’s consent and allows for the expeditious return of that child to their country of habitual residence.
Leigh and Darren, a young married couple, move to Britain where their two sons are born. Darren is unreasonably demanding of his exhausted and depressed young wife who is striving to cope with two babies both under two years old while continuing to do office work for him. He is constantly undermining Leigh’s confidence with psychological abuse, threats of divorce and of taking away one of her babies and sending her back to South Africa. She, understandably, flees home to South Africa to her father and stepmother, taking both babies with her. Citing the Hague Convention, Darren fights through the British courts for the babies’ return to Britain, with or without their mother. This is the story of Leigh’s valiant fight through the South African courts to keep her babies with her in South Africa.
Helen Fenwick has written the novel largely in the present tense, which swiftly builds suspense. She has succeeded in making the reader feel the events are happening right now and the reader is also swiftly caught up in the rapidly changing emotion of the characters. She has skillfully avoided the trap of including the banal and unimportant detail into which some authors writing in the present tense fall. She has done this in part by using another interesting tool. In italicized passages to set them apart from the narrative, she uses the ghostly but benevolent interpositions of Leigh’s mother, who died when Leigh was twelve years old, to provide background and to warn the reader that something bad or alarming is about to happen. The entire family, including Leigh’s much-loved and supportive stepmother, often feel or sense her comforting spiritual presence. The story, sensitively written, is told through the eyes of Leigh and her family members, through their conversations and e-mail correspondence, to which the reader can easily relate. The reader sees Leigh’s growing confidence, with the support and empathy of her family, to become a young mother taking charge of her own and her sons’ future.
Divorce and child custody battles can be ugly. Although fictionalized, there is much in this book that would be useful reading and advice for young parents in troubled relationships and also for their families – advice about the importance of striving to solving the breakdown of relationships, of seeking professional help and also how important it is to fight for one’s rights. Above all, this book demonstrates the importance of a loving and supportive family. A Judge Decided is a powerful family story, filled with suspense as the reader follows the events unfolding around the custody battles which finally end in the decision of a judge in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. It is a roller-coaster of a ride, high elation one moment and alarm, fear and despondency the next as the reader wonders who is finally going to win this war and at what cost.
A compelling read which, once started, is almost unput-downable! Well done, Helen Fenwick, on your debut novel! I truly hope there will be more.
I have not participated in this challenge for a few months. Time to get back into it! The brief from Linda.J.Hill is as follows:-
“Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “the beginning, the end.” Write about the beginning of something and the end of something. Bonus points if your first sentence contains “the end” and your last sentence contains “the beginning.” <– Read that again. Have fun!“
The end came after many years. I am talking about a series of events that led the author to write a novel. Every story needs a good beginning and a satisfactory end. But where does one begin. How does one start to explain how it all came about, which characters to include and how each individual’s involvement influenced the ultimate outcome. Creating order out of the chaos of events, trying to be objective, suppressing emotions, forgetting then remembering bits of detail that are crucial to the story. Then the first awful draft is done, put away to rest, brought out again because the story is still not done, its course changing as the years fly by. Something is taken out something else is added, the whole manuscript is reworked then put down to rest again. Will it ever end?
After several years the pressing on the heart becomes more intense; the story bursting to be released. So once again work begins and a completely new version of the truth is written and completed until the book is finally in the author’s hands. The characters live within the covers forever, the story reveals the secrets, no longer hidden from the world. That is the end of the story but marketing it to the reading public is only at The Beginning.
Thanks to Yolandi Reiche for her review of my book, “A Judge Decided”
Anyone looking for a nailbiting courtroom saga should definitely put this novel at the top of their reading list. It was first published in 2020 and is 290 pages long.
The novel begins with the character of Carey, who narrates throughout the book and lends a somewhat nostalgic, yet interesting twist to the tale. All the characters are realistically portrayed and completely relatable. It speaks of the realities of a blended family, raising children together, and the obsticles one has to overcome. My favourite character has to be Penny, who comes across as a very wise lady who through her kindness and empathy keeps her family stable during all the trials and tribulations.
The novel centers around a young mother, Leigh’s, fight to protect and keep her two young sons from her narcisistic husband, by fleeing their country of birth. A court battle for custody of the boys then ensues. The content of which will keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
I really enjoyed the intrigue and suspense of this novel and could not put it down until the end.
As most of my regular readers know I have written a book, my first, at the ripe old age of sixty-eight.
The story, “A Judge Decided” is a fictionalised version of true events. At the moment it is only available in Paperback and by ordering directly from me. fenwickh@jebomail.co.za
If you live in Cape Town collection from Sun Valley and Plumstead can be arranged. Residents or visitors to Struisbaai can obtain copies from Agulhas PrintIt, Struisbaai Stationers, Shipwreck Cafe, The Information Centre or from Potpourri in Agulhas.
Delivery to other parts of the country can be arranged usually via Paxi. Just drop me an email.
I hope to produce an ebook at a later stage.
In the meantime I will post reviews on my blog to help promote the paperback.
A JUDGE DECIDED – A LITERARY EVALUATION by Pierre Massyn
Child custody – a topic often avoided, but when discussed, one that inevitably leads to heated debate; a controversial subject since King Solomon and his verdict on the rightful custodian of the disputed child.
Families are known, not only to divide, but to split because of the issue of child custody. Now Helen Fenwick examines in depth this contentious topic in her gripping new book, A judge Decided.
Written with circumspection and great sensitivity, Fenwick deftly interweaves other underlying issues of parent separation and third party involvement.
A Judge Decided is not only a remarkable legal case study based on true events, it exposes the human face of the dramatis personae in a deteriorating relationship.In her groundbreaking work, Fenwick casts the reader into the roles of parents and children alike – the latter caught between two counter poles. Central to the sub-plot of a husband substituting his loyal wife for another woman, is the presence of a mother pining for her children.
Written in the present tense, the book is refreshingly candid and characterised by rare-found honesty, expressed in engaging dialogue between the characters.
Always hovering in the background, in another dimension, is Leigh’s mother – her spirit guide who acts as mentor and counselor. Carey appears in the form of a bird – a heron, a sparrow, an owl – to comfort both Leigh and Penny.
The author successfully portrays and explains bewilderingly legal issues, such as custody of the central character’s children in a disarmingly honest way. Her style is loose and pragmatic, and she paints her narrative in a flowing and easy way. Enshrined in the issue of custody, is The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, Act 72 of 1996. Helen Fenwick not only untangles this complex legal web, but presents it to the critical reader in a palatable and credible way.
At the risk of spoiling the reader’s potential enjoyment of this excellent work, I shall restrict myself to saying that the tension builds up palpably up to the point where the judge finally has to give his verdict. Will the forces of good prevail?
The print and layout is pleasing and attractive and Eloise Krige’s Sonop Uitgewers deserves a commendation for a job well done.
In conclusion: A book dealing with the topic of A Judge Decided is long overdue and will be thoroughly appreciated by parents and individuals of all ages world-wide. Rating: *****
Is it necessary to trust someone you like? (friends, acquaintances or co-workers with whom you have no familial ties)
It all depends on what you are trusting them with. You can like a person you don’t trust and you can trust a person you don’t like. For example I employ a young man in my garden and he does an amazing job but he needs careful supervision because of an addiction problem he has. I like him but I don’t trust him. There are plenty of people I like very much but I can’t depend on them to perform the smallest task. Then there are those who would give up their lives for me and I can trust them completely. Sometimes we need to trust people we don’t like. You might not like a hard-hearted surgeon with a horrible bedside manner that but he is excellent at his job so you have to trust him in order to live.
Do you hold grudges? What do you do when someone really irritates you?
No. I move on. But that does not mean I have anything to do with a person who has wronged me. I cut toxic people out of my life and completely forget about them.
I think I handle irritating people properly but apparently I don’t. Once, at one of those ‘wildlife rescue places’, the guide was trying to convince the tourists that it was not cruel to keep animals in captivity. I asked a few questions, very politely I thought, but afterwards my grandkids said my contempt was obvious. Really? Me contemptuous? Never!
What’s the most sensible thing you’ve heard someone say?
Don’t worry about the things you cannot change.
Is crying a sign of weakness or strength in adults?
Crying is an expression of emotion. What brings some to tears might not have the same effect on others. It should never be seen as weakness when somebody cries. The best thing to do when somebody cries is to cry along with them.
GRATITUDE SECTION(Always Optional)
What small things were you grateful for this week?
A call from a far-away-friend – we spoke for three hours!
I am also grateful that I live in this wonderful place at the tip of Africa where even the stingrays come to visit.
Lets go get some fish from that kind fishermanThank you for the pats, kids but just stay clear of my tail.Oooh that fish was lovely
I believe that our minds are free during the dream state. This can cause us to be receptive to a calling or answers to problems that we would ignore during our wakeful state. I had particularly vivid dreams before getting back to writing my book. All these dreams indicated that I should ‘complete something I’d started’ or that a project needed to come to fruition and that it would be successful.
Do you think a person’s name influences the person they become?
It could do. When I was growing up it did not help you to fit in if you had a strange or unacceptable name! I was teased mercilessly about my Greek surname, However, I was proud of it and the teasing only helped to toughen me up and to ignore kids who were mean. These days kids seem to be far more accepting of strange names. I was once very worried that the Grade Ones in my class would pack up laughing when they heard the name of a new child I was about to introduce to them. They didn’t flicker – simply greeted her by her odd name and welcomed her to the class! I don’t know why I was so surprised as most of them had ‘odd’ names too.
A famous name can also help or hinder you in life, I suppose. If your parents are known as high achievers it might be expected of you to follow suit. On the other hand you could totally rebel against your famous name. It all depends on how you handle your circumstances doesn’t it.
Imagine living up to this name! It hasn’t been easy.
Does hardship make a person stronger? (example: What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger)
I honestly believe in most cases it does. On the other hand if the hardship is really bad it could be permanently damaging to that person. Post Traumatic Stress is not to be sneezed at.
In my own life I have found that when we as a family were going through tough times it drew us closer together and definitely made us stronger.
Why do we judge ourselves by our intentions, but judge others by their actions?
Well, we plan for things to work out a certain way and when it doesn’t we make excuses otherwise we would beat ourselves up with guilt and go into a deep depression. But when other people’s actions impact on us we just can’t see why. Understanding things from another’s point of view is not easy and requires a lot of work. It is just easier to judge than to understand. But when you really know somebody else’s story then you understand why they act the way they do.
GRATITUDE SECTION(Always Optional)
Feel free to share some gratitude in the form of images, photos or writing. Thanks!
Adventuring into Retirement 