Fishy weddings (SA Dec/Jan 09 pt3)

So after Napier, Mum dropped me off at the airport and I met Thandi who was on the same flight up to Jozi for New Years and weddings. After a long shuttle ride from the Joburg airport to Lydenburg we were met there by Bruce and Charne in the bakkies to go back to the farm. We stayed the first couple of nights on a friends farm with no electricity and an argar to heat the water - good times!

The first night we had a fantastic new years party 60's style (which looked more like it was just fancy dress) when you put that many rhodents together you're sure of a good party, and a party it was! See edited pictures for evidence.

The next day I put a hole in Killas tyre on an ill-fated and never completed town trip. And then spent the most of the day reading and swimming, while others slaved away over at the wedding venue. That night we got our last minute instructions from the bride and groom over a great meal of pasta made by Peta.

The day before the wedding (2/1) everybody was running around helping with a million things and moving us into our fantastic lodges on Bruce's parents trout farm. The venue was looking awesome with the the chapel constructed from scratch for the event. Finishing touches were being put on the orders of service, the golf course and the dancefloor. We had snacks and drinks at the girls lodge before going back to the boys lodge for a couple of sneaky beers, some didgeridoo playing and talk of wynd's (a passage of sorts).

The day arrived with much hecticness of sticking names onto seating plans made out of rock, cleaning of dance floors and trying to disguise portaloos (and rus and killa still trying to finish off the video booth). It soon all collapsed into an amazing wedding in the most awesome venue. Everyone looked great, the speeches were good, the mcing brilliant (if I do say so myself :-) and the entertainment legendary, even with a not very well stocked bar. The best thing was the reuniting of people - with all the group there it was like one of the best night at Rhodes, with all the dance moves being thrown around, the silliness, the bad photos.

Congratulations to Bruce and Charne on getting married, and putting a huge amount of effort into an amazing wedding.

Pick it up! or...

When I see rubbish lying on the beach, I'm in two minds whether to pick it up or not. Strange, being an "environmentally minded" person, but I guess the question is, where does the rubbish go once you do pick it up? Where is away?

When someone picks up rubbish from a beach or nature reserve they usually put it in the nearest bin. I doubt it is recycled from there, it is probably taken to landfill. Landfill is just another person/creature/insect's home.

For me the answer to plastic bottles lying on the beach surely doesn't lie with how we dispose or recycle the bottles, but rather with not using plastic bottles (and all the other -mainly plastic- junk that litters or environment) .

Buy one water bottle that is made from another material, or buy one that will last at least 10 years. Refuse to buy things in packaging the manufacturer will not take back, and where possible bring your own packaging. These are steps that are easy to take and will have the biggest influence.

As for the litter - leave it lying there as a reminder to others that there is no such place as "away", and precycling, not recycling is the only answer.

Christmas at Mariley (SA Dec/Jan 09 pt2)

Christmas with the family was good, despite being tense at times. Full was definitely the word to describe it best with it passing in a blur of breakfasts, teas, lunches, dinners, chocolates and biscuits. Mum as always pulled out all the stops with loads of fresh veggies from the garden and a superb nut roast for me, as well as a cassata I was entirely ready to lie cheat and steal for. Dads Christmas pud also went down well I had a second helping, whether I managed it is another story. I also managed to sort out my stuff (with Mark's help) and give some to charity and condense the rest. Once everyone else had left it was me, mum and al and em. We spent an afternoon wlaking around de Mond, took the dogs for a walk and had an amazing supper at Juliens in Bredasdorp with great wine (Soetvlei Shiraz?).

Road trippin' (SA Dec/Jan 09 pt1)

After a week of admin in Cape Town, Saturday morning came round. After visiting the Hiscocks and Tylers, I went shopping at KC for the essentials (and the biggest watermelon I could find, which, lets face it, is an essential) while Ruth sorted Kit(t?) with some last minute wheel alignment. We managed to get on the road only and hour later than our absolute deadling and headed of for "die Hel".

By the time we reached Beaufort West (I think) we (read "I") were getting a little worried about the light, given that those who had been there before all suggested a 4x4. Ruth decided to push on despite me trying to sound as anti driving into the mountains, yet uncritical of Kit as possible. We filled up at the last petrol station and ventured off, driving into an amazing mountain pass with fantastic views, very badly captured on camera.

The sun had pretty much set by the time we passed the "2 and a half hours to die Hel" sign, but unbowed we carried on. With only a few scrapes to Kit and some white knuckles, we got to the campsite and managed to chose the best spot, even in the dark. The next morning we woke up and made the biggest fruit salad ever (in the watermelon) and also, inadvertently, Wyclef the watermelon.

As it was frikkin boiling we went in search of the pool and cold beers, with a packed lunch. We wallowed in the pool and chatted to the friendly Joburgers and Germans. Supper was braaied veggie sausages, beers and chocolate (a little runny from the day in the car). We also fitted in some frisbee throwing as well.

The next day we joined the ever coming and going procession of 4x4s out of die Hel, with me guiding Ruth and Kit over the the dry river beds (note white knuckles).

The journey out was even more beautiful than the drive in. Once we were out of the pass we hit Oudtshoorn for a quick drink, sunglasses and some aubergines. Then it was on to Route 62, past Ronnies Sex Shop and to lunch and foosball just outside Ladysmith. Through another pass, and we arrived at Napier, and quickly headed to Sun Touched for a cold one, which was followed by half a movie and bed.

The next day Paul arrived and we went off in search of candles and lunch, to eat at de Mond. Unfortunately no one wanted to brave the wind as much as I did (it was admittedly blowing quite a gale) so we returned to Mariley for lunch. Once mum had gone to bed, the three of us stayed up late into the night talking and drinking tassies, obies and klippies and coke (Ruth and I had luckily escaped the curse of klippies and coke despite our stop in Oudtshoorn.)

The next day Paul and Ruth left for their respective families for Christmas.

Thanks to Kit for getting us there and back again in absolute style. Thanks to Paul fr coming out ad spending time in Napier (and being official photographer for a while). Biggest thanks to Ruth, who didn't get scared off by my powerpoint. One of the best road trip partners ever, who drove the dodgiest road without losing her sense of humour once. You rock! Looking forward to Road Trip II - The return of the killer sporf...