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A Delightful Day in Montague and Robertson

Each year, when Andrew, the main radio controller for Ski-boat Mobile, takes a break from his job as a carer in the UK, he stays with us to handle radio control for the Marlin Tournament in Struisbaai. His vehicle, sponsored by Robertson Toyota, required its annual service, so Andrew suggested we spend the day in Robertson while the car was in the shop, and we had the use of a courtesy car.

The weather in our area has been mostly sunny and hot, but on this particular day, it started off overcast with some wind and occasional showers. Despite this, the four of us—The Earl, Nanna, Ands, and I—set off at 06h00 and enjoyed some bird watching along the way. Well, to be more accurate, The Earl and I enjoyed the bird watching, while Ands and Nanna feigned excitement at each of our exclamations of spotting a jackal buzzard, blue crane, black-winged kite, common buzzard, and more.

Nanna, being new to the Cape, was delighted by the unfamiliar scenery and found the sight of the mountains, which are a rarity in Gauteng, incredibly impressive.

After dropping off the bakkie at Robertson Toyota and picking up the Toyota Vitz, we headed to Four Cousins Restaurant for breakfast. We discovered that it was a delightful eatery, and we were intrigued to learn that the four Retief cousins, aside from being winemakers, also brew beer and make whiskey.

We recently sold our Gecko caravan, and around this time, we would typically join a Gecko rally at Ebb ‘n Flow. What a surprise to run into Colin and Diane, who were on their way there today. Four Cousins is their favourite stop whenever they pass through this area. We enjoyed a lovely chat with them before bidding them farewell and felt somewhat bereft that we would not join them this year.

The plan was to meet up with friends of Ands for lunch later in the day. In the meantime we took the opportunity to show Nanna a bit of the area so we headed to Montague, a picturesque little town which is part of Route 62.

Die Kloof Padstal is a great place to stock up on nuts and dried fruit

Dutch Reformed Church in the heart of Montague Village

Nana with the beautiful mountains in the background

Toyota Vitz parked at Cogman’s Kloof while I took the photos

Cogman’s Kloof, located between Ashton and Montague along the R62, traverses the Langeberg mountains. Named after a Khoi chiefdom, this pass was engineered by the renowned road engineer Thomas Bain from 1873 to 1877. Unfortunately, twelve lives were lost due to floods during the construction. The pass traces the path of the Kingna River

“The well-known tunnel was created with the aid of a small amount of dynamite. Originally, the road detoured around the area known as Kalkoenkrantz. The completed tunnel measured 16 meters in length and had a height of 5 meters.”

Andrew’s friends suggested we meet at a new restaurant, Rock ‘n Roll on the River Gold farm. For a place in the middle of nowhere this was quite an experience. The restaurant is a diner with a difference. It has a rock ‘n roll theme but the food is quite exquisite.

After a wonderful couple of hours of good food and conversation, we headed to Springfield to buy our favourite wines and to once again meet up with our new lunch date friends. We sat under the trees next to the beautiful dam and enjoyed the ambiance of a fantastic wine farm as we enjoyed some wine, olives, and crackers.

We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of South Africa, and exploring hidden gems within easy reach of our home is always a delight. We plan to make similar excursions more frequently.

SYW 10 February 2025 Exploring Collectibles: Personal Items That Tell Our Stories

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Here are my answers to this week’s Share Your World from Di at pensitivity101

Do/did you collect anything (stamps, cards, action figures, etc) now or as a child?
I am not a collector. My younger brother is. His home is like a mini museum and his collectibles bring him great pleasure. And if you were to visit him you would be fascinated by his collections too. Click on the link to see what I mean!

I don’t collect things but I do have a huge collection of diaries and photographs – mostly on my computer but some from the distant past, in hard copy too.

What is the silliest thing you’ve ever bought?
Probably a pair of zebra-striped braces. I liked them but only wore them once when I taught a lesson on patterns in nature.

When it comes to jewellery, do you prefer gold, silver, or gemstones?
I love jewellery – gold, silver, diamonds, pearls – all of it. I even like ‘junk’ jewellery. I own a few good pieces but usually only wear my wedding and engagement rings, pearl earrings and gold bangles regularly. I have two strings of pearls but they both need re-stringing – I will get them done soon!

Do you know what your birthstone is?
I had to look it up. Topaz is my birthstone and I don’t own anything made from it. This is what I found out.

Topaz is a birthstone. Its name comes from the Greek word Topazios, which means “to search.” It says, “In my life, I find what I need.” It’s a charm that can help you get good ideas or information. It’s also a good idea if you want to get your confidence and likeability back.

Topaz can be blue, light blue, yellow, orange, or pink. All of these colors are beautiful. No matter what color you use, you will get Topaz’s power.

This sounds like a very good stone – I think I might invest in one!

Gratitude:
Today I am feeling both bereft and grateful. I am bereft because I sold my Gecko caravan. I am grateful because of all the exciting and happy adventures I have had in this fantastic home on wheels.
Our holidays from now on will be different but I am grateful that we are still in good health and able to have many more adventures even if it means doing it differently.

Share Your World Monday 3 February2025

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Here are my answers to this week’s SYW Challenge from Di
What can you remember about your last day at school/college?
I don’t recall my last day of school, but I vividly remember the final day of college. After three years of community living, were about to scatter across the country and the world, embarking on new careers, getting married, and starting families. On our last night, we pulled an all-nighter, and no one was allowed to sleep! By morning, we were all in high spirits, excited that it was over and eager to head home. Our college had a beautiful chapel where we attended a service every morning before classes. On this final day, there was a farewell service, and it was incredibly emotional. The last hymn was “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” (Jeremiah Eames Ranking). In our sleep-deprived and emotional state, it moved us all to tears. After the chapel service, we wept in each other’s arms before climbing into parents cars or rushing to the train station. Because it was my last term, my dad had bought me an air-ticket home – a rare treat in those days. Someone’s dad gave me a lift from college to the airport and it was all I could do to control my sniffles as we drove the 120 km. He must have breathed a sigh of relief when he dropped my off still red-eyed and teary.

I had gained a lot of weight during my three years at college but lost it all during the last term. To complete my new look I’d had my hair cut short and wore a cute new mini-dress on the plane home. It had been six months since I’d last seen my family. When I deplaned and walked toward my father who was there to meet me, he did not recognize me until I said, “Hi Dad” His look of amazement set me off in tears again. He thought that I was upset that he hadn’t recognized his own daughter! This got me giggling hysterically. I think it was the lack of sleep, emotional parting from my college friends and surprising my family with my new look that was just too much for me! However, I got over it!

Were you close enough to walk to school or did you need transport?
I walked for most of my school career. My last two years were at a school that required me to go by train but I walked from the station to home.

Did you have a favorite teacher
I did not like my first teacher but I was only with her for a few months. We then moved to another province and my new teacher was amazing. She remained my favourite forever. I completed my primary school career in that school and she taught me other subjects like Art and Needlework in the higher grades.
I was perfectly happy with all my other teachers even the one I punched in the stomach when he got me in a headlock. He never touched me again! In those days we did not complain to our parents about unkind teachers but my mother taught me to fight back if anybody tried to hurt me even if he/she was an adult.

Would you like to go back to school?
No – not that I didn’t like it but it’s a part of life that is over.
When I retired from teaching I missed it and would have gone back to do relief/supply teaching had I remained in my hometown near schools that I’d previously taught at. But now that I’m used to my freedom I have absolutely no desire to put my foot back into the classroom!

Gratitude:

I love today’s Gratitude Quote

Yes – that is true. I have many happy memories of years gone by and I am still happy with the way life is treating me now.

Share Your World Monday 27 January 2025

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Here are my answers to Di’s SYW questions for this week

Do you have a bucket list?
I don’t have a written bucket list, but that doesn’t mean I want to stop exploring the world, enjoying wildlife and nature, embracing new experiences, and living life to the fullest. I feel fortunate to have done many interesting things throughout my life, and if I were to run out of time, I wouldn’t have any serious regrets. When I retired, I promised myself that I would say yes to any new opportunity that came my way, and I have kept that promise. However, as I get older, I do feel a bit nervous about running out of money. When my husband suggested an extended and expensive cruise, I hesitated. Can we really afford it? It’s important to be sensible about these matters, too.

Cremation or Burial?
I believe cremation is the best option for me. I would like my ashes to be scattered in Kruger National Park. Since one has to get permission for this, I should start getting that sorted out soon!

Recognized Service/Celebration of Life, or Private Gathering?
I would prefer a private cremation with close family only. They can then decide how best to scatter my ashes in the park and hold a little celebration of life for me there.

Flowers or Donations?
Given that my death will likely occur quietly and without much fuss, I don’t expect anyone to send flowers or make donations. However, they are welcome to do so if they wish. Perhaps a donation to Save the Rhino International would be fitting.

Gratitude:
I am grateful to be in good health and to know that my death is probably not imminent. However, anything can happen, and I intend to live life to the fullest until the very last moment—just in case that moment comes sooner than expected!

Share Your World Monday 20 January 2025

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Here are my answers to this week’s SYW

If you wanted to do something completely against your character, would you dye your hair a shocking colour, shave your head or get a tattoo?
I would never ever get a tattoo. What makes a person want to put a permanent mark on his/her body that he/she might not like later on in life? I get tired of wearing the same jewelry so imagine a tattoo that’s there for life!

The most outrageous thing I would do is die my hair turquoise, purple or bright pink! It would cause a stir but ultimately it would eventually grow out! Outrageous hairstyles appeal to me. When I was young, I had a spiky haircut!

What is your dream/perfect job?
I had my dream job – a teacher. It might sound dull to most people but I enjoyed every day of it. Nothing in life is perfect and there were plenty of things that irked me about our educational system. But there are ways of teaching creatively while paying lip service to the gods in their ivory towers.

I think it might have been fabulous to be a spy or an undercover cop!

Would you like to learn how to fly an aeroplane?
It’s not something that I have on my bucket list but if the opportunity presented itself, I think I would go for it!

Have you been on a hovercraft?
I think it was a hovercraft that I travelled on in 1993 when I crossed the channel to France. The memory of it has faded almost completely. However, the week in France is clear in my memory. I went on a mine train roller coaster that was terrifying, but I wanted to go again. Instead, my husband got us into the Space Mountain ride, which felt exactly like being in outer space and was twice as terrifying. But I loved it! Sorry, this isn’t the answer to the question, but it brought back all the memories!

Gratitude:
A quote from Roy T Bennett, my photo of Maggie’s rose.

I love the above quote and hope that I can live those words. I certainly try.

Share Your World Monay 13 January 2025

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Here are my answers to this week’s Share Your World

1. Of all the household chores (laundry, dusting, hoovering, washing up, cooking etc) which is your least favourite?
I can’t say that I am particularly fond of any household chore but I don’t mind doing the general tidying and cleaning up. I have a dishwasher and other labour-saving devices as well as a weekly helper to do the major cleaning so I can’t complain. Perhaps the least favourite chore is dusting which is a thankless task when the wind blows constantly.

2. With food prices going up all the time, do you buy less, find substitutes, or don’t buy at all?
I often face challenges regarding my food choices. I have a health problem which requires that I avoid certain foods. Maintaining a healthy diet is important to me, so I prioritize purchasing foods that I believe are best for my well-being. I don’t include pasta, rice, breakfast cereals or other processed foods on my shopping list. Additionally, I avoid junk food entirely—I don’t buy biscuits, baked goods, chips, or fizzy drinks.

When responding to my critics, who tell me they cannot afford to eat my way, I ask them to consider how much they spend on rusks, biscuits, Coke, and flour for baking and desserts. What I save by not buying junk food I choose to spend on more expensive fruits and vegetables.

3. Do you enjoy meals with leftovers?
We often have leftovers, and I ‘recycle’ them. Recently, I cooked a leg of lamb for six people. There was enough left over to heat up in a pan and serve again the next evening. I served it with stir-fried cabbage, roast potatoes, and salad. Our guests brought 3 mini Eisbeins which we divided up to add to the dinner. There was still too much for six of us to finish so the following day I minced it all together and made a moussaka which served three of us. Thus a 1.7 kg leg of lamb which cost about R 320 (14 pounds) went quite a long way.

4. Do you prefer bagels, crusty bread, or toast?
Bread and baked goods are rare in my home. However, I find it hard to resist croissants and will have one occasionally. (I am not such a goody two-shoes!)

Gratitude:
I am grateful for the abundance in my life—delicious food, wonderful friends and family, and the good health to enjoy it all. Since returning from a holiday with my family, our home at the tip of Africa has been filled with visitors. How lucky I am!

Share Your World Monday 06 January 2025

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Here are my answers to this week’s SYW Challenge from Di

1. What is the weather like today where you are?
Today is Tuesday 7 January 2025 – I am answering a day after the challenge was posted. I live at the southern tip of Africa. If we’re lucky our mornings will be windless. However, it will blow in the afternoons! So today started slightly overcast with no wind, but now it is hot and windy. Yesterday was also hot and windy. Tomorrow will be hot an windy!

2. Have you booked your annual vacation yet?
We take multiple vacations each year and have just returned from our summer stay in Plettenberg Bay, where we spent time with our daughter. All three of our daughters and two of our grandchildren were also there. After that, we spent a week in Cape Town with another of our daughters. We haven’t booked our next vacation yet. We tend to do things spur of the moment. However, traveling internationally with a South African passport requires careful planning, as most countries require SA tourists to obtain visas. The process of applying for these visas can be both costly and time-consuming. Since we plan to cruise later this year, it’s time to start our preparations.

3. Do you have a passport, and when does it expire?
I do. It expires next month which means I need to go to Home Affairs to renew it next week! In the city this would mean queues hours long. But where I live, it won’t take long.

Taken from the internet – no queues but that’s unusual in most places!

4. When was the last (or first) time you went abroad?
The first time I embarked on an international journey was back in 1988. At thirty-six, I had my adventurous 9-year-old daughter by my side. Our destination? London, to visit my younger brother who resided there. We spent an entire month soaking in the city’s charm. We explored every nook and cranny of London, and the excitement of navigating the tube trains and London buses was an experience my daughter cherished deeply. She fell head over heels for London, later working there for two years in her twenties. To this day, she seizes any opportunity to return.

Christmas in London 1988 – Paddington Bear was a gift from her uncle.

The last time I traveled abroad was in June 2024. My husband, our London-loving daughter, and I spent two weeks exploring London. Afterwards, we joined another daughter for a 10-day Adriatic cruise.

Gratitude:
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to travel both within my own country and abroad. Some of my best travel adventures have been right here in South Africa, where I have explored every province and visited nearly every national park our country has to offer.

Share Your World Monday 30 December 2024

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This is the last SYW of 2024. Here are my answers. Thanks, Di for some lovely questions.

1. Would you consider 2024 to have been a good year?
It hasn’t been a bad year and also not a very busy one. As we get older we are slowing down but having said that when I look back I realise how much we have done compared to other people of our age.

2. What has been the highlight of 2024 for you?
What a great question. Before I looked at this challenge, I had made a list of the highlights of 2024, and there are a few. At the top of the list is our granddaughter’s wedding in April, which included a weekend of fun activities in Cape St. Francis. Then in June, we took an overseas trip – two weeks in England and a 10-day cruise with two of our daughters.

Each month had a highlight of its own.
January – visited my sister at Breede River.
February – We attended the Gecko Caravan Rally at Wilderness.
I was photographer and blogger for the annual Marlin Competition in Struisbaai. March – our quietest month – we stayed home and enjoyed our friend.
May – I was the official photographer for the International Bottom Fish Competition.
In July, my husband turned 80.
We went to Cape Town to attend a special presentation of Springbok/Protea Caps to all those who had represented their country internationally in the past. Earl was the only one to receive a Springbok cap and he received a standing ovation.
In August, we had a visit from our friend Yolandi, and our son-in-law Allan made a detour to a business meeting specifically to visit us.
In September we hosted and catered for Nampo guests for a week.
In October we had a wonderful Caravanning trip to Karoo National Park, Camdeboo National Park and Mountain Zebra National Park.
November and December were marred a little by a severe dose of Diverticulitis but that didn’t stop us travelling to Warmwaterberg and then Plettenberg Bay and Cape Town to end a great year.

3. Did you keep any New Year resolutions if you made any in January?

This is what I wrote in my diary on 1 January 2024 – I do not make New’s Resolutions, but every year I pledge to take one day at a time and live each moment to the fullest. Earl and I are getting older – that is a fact – and may we continue to live a good, interesting, adventurous, and fun life.
I suppose the answer to the question is yes, we have lived each moment to the fullest.

4. Are you looking forward to 2025
Yes, I am. I have no idea what the future holds but a new year is always a time to make fresh plans or just go with the flow. The slate is clean at the moment. We have no plans yet but will embrace any opportunities that come our way.

Gratitude

I love the Meme that Di included in this challenge. I am truly grateful for the blessings I have captured this past year.

Stream Of Conciousness Saturday 28 December 2024

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I am participating in Stream of Consciousness for the first time in a while. The prompt is ‘My Year‘

2024 – A Year of Change

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

It can be long or short,one sentence or one thousand words, fact, fiction or poetry. Just let the words flow and stop when you’re done.

One thing is certain in life: Things will Change! No two years are ever the same. I have found this to be true throughout my life. Christmas as an adult was not the same as it was when I was a child. The way in which we have celebrated Christmas over the years has changed, too. It all depended on the age of the children/grandchildren and what had happened in everybody’s life during a particular life span. I tend to be one who goes with the flow and have welcomed and embraced the many phases that I have been through in life.

Looking back on my 2024 I realise that things have slowed down somewhat. We normally have a crazy year of travelling, visiting friends and family but this year has been different. Yes, of course, we have travelled but the pace has been so much slower. Ah yes, we are getting older! I am happy to say though, that we are in reasonable health. Neither hubby nor I have anything terminal! However, we have both made more trips to the doctor than in the past. I have had two attacks of diverticulitis this year, the most recent of which I am still recovering from. I also have some minor back issues but yoga is helping that. Hubby turned 80 in July so it is not surprising that he is slowing down a tad. Fortunately, he has no major medical issues but needs to take a few chronic medications.

It has also been a year of great change in the lives of our grandchildren. Grandson number two joined Youth with a Mission in Norway and has had some great adventures with them. Grandson number one has been living in Hungary for a year now and is doing well. Our granddaughter got married at Easter. Grandson number 3 had an amazing year at a post High School called Quest where he was physically, emotionally and spiritually challenged. During the course he travelled to different parts of the country, climbed mountains, forged rivers, captured wild animals for relocation, the list goes on. The experience matured him and in one year gave him invaluable life skills. Soon he will complete a deck-hand course and apply to work on super yachts. Oh to be young and adventurous again!

In June Hubby and I enjoyed a two-week trip to London and a 10-day Mediterranean cruise with two of our daughters. It was idyllic and travelling with our kids was a very pleasurable experience and something we would like to do more often.

Regular readers of my blog will know that for the past 10 years we have been on numerous caravanning holidays. The time has come now for us to sell our beloved Gecko and re-think how we will spend future holidays in game reserves. We could carry on a tad longer but on our last trip in August, I could see that Hubby was really struggling. I feel that he is doing it more for me than for himself and that he would be more comfortable with fresh linen and fluffy white towels. I would rather quit while we’re ahead than have something disastrous happen in the middle of the wilds where little help is available.

The little adjustments we have to make to cope with life as it progresses to different levels is all part of the journey. We will slow down but we will still have adventures and plenty of fun!

The Numbers Game 53 #174

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I am participating in Judy’s Number Game 53

These are photos numbered 174 that I found in the archive. They brought back some happy memories.

The wind blows in Struisbaai making it a paradise for kite-surfers. I love watching them. I have some great videos of them doing spectacular jumps high into the air. Getting good photos is difficult as they travel so fast. Yes it is a scary sport!

Kite Surfers – Struisbaai Beach South Africa

Our present home was once our holiday retreat. It was a happy place to take our kids and later our grandkids along with two chosen friends each! The braai was always the favourite way to prepare meals especially when they were allowed to toast their marshmallows before dinner!

Boys toasting marshmallows on the braai- They’re all grown up now!

Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park is a vast and stunning wildlife reserve in South Africa and Botswana. We visit often and enjoy the breathtaking desert landscapes and abundant wildlife.

We once visited Lake Naverone in the Southern Drakensberg. It has scenic mountain views and the lake is perfect for trout fishing.

My granddaughter (now married!) at Lake Naverone

Sani Pass is a mountain pass situated in the western part of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, along the road connecting Himeville, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mokhotlong, Lesotho. The pass crosses the Great Escarpment of southern Africa in its highest region, the Drakensberg Mountains, which rise to over 3,000 meters in elevation. It has to be done in a 4×4 vehicle. It can be scary but the views are spectacular.

Adventuring into Retirement

Making the most of The South African LIfestyle

Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Delightful Day in Montague and Robertson

Share Your World Monday 3 February2025

Share Your World Monday 27 January 2025

Stream Of Conciousness Saturday 28 December 2024

The Numbers Game 53 #174

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