South Africa: January 2007

Where do you start when you want to describe a wonderful holiday? Let’s start at the beginning. After a 12 hour flight, we finally arrived in South Africa. It felt much longer for me, as I was sick for most of the time. The airhostess was not very helpful and thought I had too much to drink. It was just too much trouble to try to explain that it was motion sickness and that it often happens on long flights.

Finally we landed in a very warm and sunny Cape Town. After spending some time with Liesl’s family at the airport, we got the rental car and drove to Worcester. We soon realised that there was still loads to do before Saturday. Everyone had to help with sewing, beading, ironing, cutting and pasting. The next day we helped with laying the tables and arranging the flowers. I had to collect Sue from the airport that evening, so I escaped from the flower arrangement classes.

Beryl, Karen and Keith busy with the flower arrangements.

The tasks of this wedding got totally mixed up. The groom cleaned the best man’s shoes and ironed his shirt while the best man helped the bride at stages. At least we can say that it was not a boring wedding.

The famous "Best man hands shoes to groom for cleaning" ceremony takes place.

The venue for the wedding reception.

Mr and Mrs Neale and Ilse Hambidge.

Deter, Jaco, Liesl and Ilze swimming after the reception.

It was a very warm day. We had suites on for most of the time, but as soon as the meal and speeches were over, a few of us jumped into the pool. The water was heated by the sun. It was fantastic! It was the first time in almost a year that I was in a swimming pool.

That evening a few of the wedding guests, including the bride and groom, went for a meal at the Mugg and Bean in Worcester.

Sue and Liesl @ Mugg and Bean.

Neale, Ilse, Sue, Liesl and I met in Israel in 2005. Sue was the photographer and Liesl was the bridesmaid.

Here you can see the irrigation circles near Kimberley.

Flying between Cape Town and Kimberly was an experience. It was the first time that my name was called out because I was not at the right gate to board. On my ticket it said that I was suppose to board from gate 3. I waited for some time and then the announcement came “The flight to Kimberley is boarding from gate” As I was standing at gate 3, and nothing was happening at gate 3, I assumed it was from gate 2 because all the people started queuing at gate 2. No destination appeared on the board at gate 2. It was only when they announced that Badenhorst and Pieterse should immediately go to gate 4 that I realised that something was wrong. When I arrived at gate 4 it had George as the destination on the board. After I ran around for a while I got the correct gate (yes, it was gate 4) I got on the plane. A very small 27-seat plane and we were only 15 passengers. What a wonderful experience!

Kimberley has a very small airport. You get of the plane in the middle of the airfield and walk to the arrival hall. The luggage conveyer belt is only about 2m long. I booked a car from the airport, but the office at the airport was not informed of this arrangement. They did not have a Toyota Tazz ready for me, so I got a free upgrade to a Toyota Corolla. I did not complain about the mix-up.

The rest of my holiday I spend with my dad and brother in Schweizer Reneke. I did visit Wikus and Riana, at her mum’s house, in Wolmaranstad. It was a very long night. We chatted till 03:30 before we went to bed. We had to get up at 05:30 again so that they could get to Bothaville on time for work. I took this photo of the sunflowers at around 06:15 that morning as I was driving home. See the little beetle on the sunflower.

My brother and my dad.

Towards the end of my holiday some friends came to visit me in Schweizer Reneke. Daan and I had a lovely time in the swimming pool, while Wilmien and Robin were reading. Esna entertained herself with 2 cameras. It was not very long before it started raining and we had to spend the rest of the time indoors.

Esna the model.

Jaco and Daan in the swimming pool.

Wilmien and Robin reading.

Too soon it was time for me to say goodbye and fly back to London. Saying goodbye is never easy and I always have to stop at this certain “windpomp” to calm down before I can drive to the airport.

The famous Corolla and Windpomp.