Author Archives: puppy1952

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About puppy1952

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.

October Photo a Day challenge – 5 October – Birds

Today we are challenged to post photos of birds

Thanks, citysonnet – I am a great bird lover. I’ve chosen to post a few of the more dramatic South African birds today.

IMG_0595 Ground Hornbill 2018-01-03 9-55-59 AM

Ground Hornbill with prey

IMG_0679 Wattled Lapwing 2018-01-03 1-45-47 PM

Wattled Lapwing

IMG_0704 saddle-billed stork 2018-01-03 2-29-39 PM

Saddle-billed Stork

238 red-crested korhaan

Red-crested Korhaan

2010-10-03 024 Goliath Heron Helen

Goliath Heron

2010-10-03 030 African Darter Helen

African Darter

2010-10-03 046 Black-collared barbet Earl

Black-collared Barbet

 

 

Share Your World 30 September 2019

Here is my response to the questions asked by Melanie below

QUESTIONS:

Earlier this week Rory asked a question that I found so interesting, I thought I’d share it.  Another question, similar to this one was asked in August, but this one is unique.

If confronted with a violent crime against a single individual in progress (severe beating, rape, assault) do you try to do something about it (phone authorities or confront the criminal, stop the crime) or do you figure it’s none of your business and walk or drive on by?  Worse (to me) would you record the crime for social media use without doing anything else? 

If someone attacked a person I was with, I’d probably instinctively confront the attacker. If I came across an incident I would call the police or rally others to help.

Recording the incident would be a good idea for evidence – not for social media.  The problem is, does one think to do it at the time?!

Okay now we got the heavy stuff out of the way, let’s get to some less stressful questions.

If someone asked to be your apprentice and learn all that you know, what would you teach them?

At school, I often had a student-teacher with me in the classroom and while he/she was there I would always tell them why I was doing things the way that I did – even if they didn’t ask.  I hope some good rubbed off!
But this question I’m guessing is about life-skills.   These are the things I try to pass on to my grandchildren.  I

  • Keep a diary even if it’s only a sentence a day or a quick summary of your week.  Write down how you feel and what you do – it will be interesting to look back on later in life.   I have journalled on and off for many years and it’s fun to go back and see what I did on this day 20 years ago!  Also, take lots of photographs and keep them in orderly files and label them well.
  • Keep up with good friends.   Don’t neglect your girlfriends/boyfriends when you start a serious relationship.
  • Keep conflicts with siblings to a minimum. Family feuds are just not worth it.  It’s almost impossible to get over a broken relationship with a sibling. Your shared history bonds you too closely.
  • Work hard and play hard.  Keep a healthy balance in your life.
  • It’s all very well to Follow your Dream but you also have to make a living so if you want to become a rock star don’t neglect to find something else to do if that doesn’t work out!  Find something to do so that you don’t rely on others to support you.
  • Listen to your parents’ and grandparents’ advice.  They know you well, love you unconditionally and want you to be happy.  They may be wrong but they’re more likely to be right, so consider carefully what they’re trying to tell you.

First, think of a product. Now, what would be the absolute worst brand name for one of those products?

I just don’t know – but I have named a restaurant The Bug and Mean because their staff bug me and I think they’re mean.

What ridiculous and untrue, yet slightly plausible, theories can you come up with for the cause of common ailments like headaches or cavities?

Crabby children cause headaches and aches in other parts of the body too.  This is because their carers can’t wrap their heads around their problems fast enough causing the blood vessels to clog up and press against the temples causing severe pain.


GRATITUDE:

If you’d like to, please share a photo or an example of gratitude that you have.  Thanks!  🙂

I am grateful for the time I can spend on the farm with my grandchildren. Nothing can beat these beautiful surroundings. My grandson fishes in the dam right in front of the house while my granddaughter plays the guitar and sings ballads on the lawn. Bliss!

Random Facts about Me

This is something going around in the Blogosphere so I thought it would be fun to play along.

I found it on Riddle from the Middle who first saw it on  Carol’s blog She then went to Melanie’s and Teleporting Weena,

Here are my answers.

  1. Do you make your bed every morning?

Yes, I do.  As soon as the last one of us is out of it.

2. What was your first car?

It was so long ago that I’ve forgotten.  I think it was an old Volkswagen Beetle that I bought from the principal of the school I was teaching at.  The second was a Mini. OR it was the other way round.

3. What two grocery items do you never run out of?

I can’t think of anything that I NEVER run out of.  I am forgetful so I usually forget something from the shopping list.  I also hate having excess stuff in the fridge or cupboards.  Luckily the shop is not far away and my darling hubby will dash off to get the required item for me.

4. At what age did you start doing your laundry?

When I got married at age 24.  Before that, Mom or the domestic helper took charge of the washing machine. I did my own ironing from about the age of about 15 or 16 – not because I had to but because I preferred to.  I was fussy about having smooth clothes.

5. If you could, would you go back to high school?

No – been there done that and survived.  Why would I want to put my self through all that angst again?

6. Can you parallel park in under three moves?

Yes.

7. A job you had which people would be shocked to know you once had?

Maybe that I was a nurse-aid for a month before going to College?   Surprised maybe – but not shocked.

8. Do you think aliens are real?

Not sure – but I wouldn’t totally dismiss it as a fact.  I know some pretty strange people who could be aliens in disguise

9. Can you drive a stick shift?

Of course.  I have a drivers’ license.  Doesn’t everyone?

10. Guilty TV pleasure?

My favourite TV shows are Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon – but they don’t make me feel guilty.

11. Tattoos?

NOPE.  Absolutely not and never will.  But I’ve learned in Life NEVER to say never so who knows?

12. If the world ends do you want to be one of the survivors?

Yes – Maybe we survivors will get it right next time.  On the other hand, maybe our remaining days would be just dreadful and we will die anyway.

13. Sweet or salty?

Salty – but I also love chocolate – Dark choc with a touch of salt – delicious.

14. Do you enjoy soaking in a nice hot bath?

Not often.  But when I do it must have bubbles

15. Do you consider yourself a strong person?

Mentally yes.  Physically I’m a bit of a weakling.   But I am healthy.

16. Something people do that drives you nuts?

Can’t think of anything – I taught – you have to be tolerant.

17. Do you have any birthmarks?

No.

18. Favorite childhood game?

Marbles

19. Do you talk to yourself?

All the time.  I give myself excellent advice sometimes.

20. Do you like doing jigsaw puzzles?

Nope!   I have poor spatial perception.  My daughter is incredibly good at them – could put together a 24-piece puzzle before she could talk.   Now she enjoys doing those impossible 1000+ piece types that don’t even have different colour variations.  It’s insane!

21. Tea or coffee?

Coffee and Coffee

22. First thing you remember wanting to be when you grew up?

Teacher

23. Favourite game now?

I do crossword puzzles and Sudoku.

I seldom play games with other people.

Cee’s Black and White Challenge – Things found on a farm

Here is my contribution to this week’s Black and White Challenge from Cee

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A ‘Rhino’ used to get around the farm

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Don’t forget the dogs!

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Farm Dog at the Dam

IMG_2631 Shan bridling horse

Getting the horse ready for a ride on the farm

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Scarecrows – having a coffee break?

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Ent, Ten, Net

 

This week’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ENT, TEN, NET. Use one, two or all.  I will free write and then go back and bold the ents tens and nets.

Yesterday my husband went fishing for the first time in months.  As you would expect he would need a net and there is indeed one on the boat on which he fishes but that is only used in the last part of the activity to get the fish onto the vessel.  The important piece of equipment is the rod of which he owns many.  I could present you with a list of very expensive rods that line the walls of our garage. Not only does he have the best state of the art fishing rods he also has an impressive inventory of tackle. Not ten but more like ten thousand different hooks, lines, sinkers and lures.   All of these are truly fascinating to look at especially for small boys and a few girls who are embarking on this hobby.   I remember my grandsons as toddlers getting hold of a particularly pretty lure and pretending they were ‘fishies’ as they swished them in a basin of water.   Now, these things have treble hooks on them so you can imagine my horror upon finding them with these dangerous toys. It was not easy to extract them from their tiny clutches.  Only Smarties and a Tail about a Whale would distract them from their game.

For this excursion to sea, the love of my life awoke at five! I intended to get up at that crazy hour too but it was dark so I lay in until six and then went off to Yoga.   It’s a fifteen-minute walk to my class and what a pleasure to watch the sunrise and breathe the fresh Spring air.  Early morning is really the best part of the day! After sharing an excellent cup of coffee with my teacher, it was ten to eight. I walked home feeling energised and ready to face a morning of chores.   I put on a BBC Women’s Hour Podcast and got everything done in three episodes!   I showered and then sat down at the computer, connected to the internet and Duolingo and did my daily Italian lesson.

The intrepid fisherman arrived home at one o’clock, exhausted and hungry after catching only one katonkel. Nobody else on board managed to catch anything.

Old fishermen never die they just smell that way.

Katonkel

I whipped up some scrambled eggs for my hungry hubby after which he took a nap. It was then time to prepare a quiche for the party we were to attend in the evening.  Once that was done I took a walk to the mall to get a card and present for the birthday girl.

The party was a surprise and the weather was perfect for it.  We all sat around a pit fire in the courtyard of the hosting friends. The delicious food was set out and Yolandi didn’t suspect a thing and was beautifully surprised to find us all there when she arrived.   It was wonderful to be celebrating her birthday as the past year has been a tough one with her having undergone a bone marrow transplant and chemo treatment.  It has been an eleven-year journey but the good news is that everything is now in remission.

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What a wonderful network of friends attended this celebration with presentations of food, gifts and wishes for Yolandi’s continued good health.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – 21 September 2019 – Rap/Wrap

These are the basic rules of posting on Stream of Consciousness Saturday.

1. Your post must be a stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

Today’s prompt from Linda requires us to use either rap, wrap or both.

The meaning of rap –  sharp blow; a type of music, to strike sharply. What a lovely word – so onomatopoeic.

Rap is a form of entertainment that many of the older generation don’t get.  But I actually love it.  It’s vibrant and fun and works a treat when you’re trying to teach young children.   When I was teaching I enjoyed the THRASS rap we used to Teach Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills.  I’d bring rap into many other areas of my teaching too especially if I noticed that the children were becoming distracted.   It really worked to bring them to attention and got them laughing too.  Wouldn’t you if your school ma’am started to rap in the middle of a lesson?  In the bad old days, the only rap from the teacher would be one on the knuckles!

school ma'am

Put w in front of it and you get Wrap!   Now that conjures up thoughts of gifts in beautifully decorated wrappings.

gifts

OR Delicious food in an easy to eat Wrap.  It’s a brief word for a healthy snack wrapped up in a soft flatbread.   I seldom make them at home but Hubby loves to order them when we’re on the road and we need to stop for something quick and healthy for lunch.   His favourite – and mine if I succumb to eating a carb – is smoked chicken with sweet chilli sauce and don’t forget the avo!

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Gecko #81 Ending our Roadtrip at Warmwaterberg

We left Karoo National Park at 07:20 and made our way to Warmwaterberg for a two-night stay before returning to Struisbaai.

The skies were clear and the roads were long but they were a pleasure to drive. Travelling the Meiringspoort Pass was awesome!

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The Karoo roads are long and seem to go on forever – but the scenery is stunning

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Meiringspoort Pass had some winding bends

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The pictures don’t do it justice!

The pass ends at Derust where we stopped at Herrie’s Restaurant for breakfast.

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We enjoyed the setting

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A wholesome ontbyt (breakfast) with good Boere Koffie (coffee)

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We had a good chuckle reading the many amusing signs

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Isn’t that the truth!

Fortified by the good food we continued our journey to Warmwaterberg Hot Spring a place we visit quite often as it’s not too far from home for a short stay.

The Pool

Warmwaterberg Hot Springs

It was lovely to have a caravan site right opposite the pool gate and away from the main campsite.  This saved The Earl a long uphill walk back to camp!

 

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Our Campsite with the pool in the background

 

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At the braai!

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We had some feathered visitors – This is a Karoo Thrush

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The Peacocks were in a romantic mood

 

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And furry visitors popped in too – feral cats abound – this one was quite tame.

We thoroughly enjoyed just chilling at our campsite and popping over to the pool.   It’s the kind of place where everybody is friendly and there’s always someone to chat to in the pools.

 

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We even got up in time to watch the sunrise!

We are now home in Struisbaai and found the garden looking not too bad from two weeks of neglect.  The clivias are flowering beautifully! We had a gardener in today and after he’d mown the lawn everything looked pretty good.

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The caravan has been thoroughly cleaned, the washing and ironing done so now we’re ready for the next trip!