It has been a very busy month to date, hence the lack of activity. In addition to the usual hiking and cycling I have been renovating my kitchen. This involved getting rid of my old free-standing stove and having an under counter oven and gas hob installed. While I was at it I had a very smart flueless gas fire mounted on the sitting room wall and I painted all the kitchen cupboards. I am very pleased with the outcome.
Another major project was that of trying to find a property for my son Paul to buy. In addition to looking at houses this also involved visits to bankers and accountants and much work on excel spreadsheets drawing up budgets for various scenarios. We may settle on a real bargain which needs a lot of work, hence the ‘bargain’. They had the tenant from hell who even ripped out the oven and hob and all the light fittings but the house is structurally sound, has two bedroom and a garage.
This month also saw the FINAL (and third) graduation of my God Son, Michael, from UCT. He now has a PPE, and Hons Ecos & a law degree! I was pleased to be invited to join the family to celebrate the event. His Father and half-sister and cousin came down from Botswana and we had a jolly evening.
Yesterday, Wednesday the 21st, we had our usual Wednesday walk which this week took us up to Muizenberg Peak. The views were stupendous and demonstrated how high we had climbed.
As usual the flowers enchanted.
This evening it is Lyn’s surprise 70th birthday party. Sandy Fowkes and I have been working hard to put together a Seychelles evening. This is because not only has Lyn travelled there often and guided there, she has also written a travel book on the Islands. We obtained posters and things from the Seychelles rep in town and I made a big paper mashe and wire land tortoise and a load of jelly fish and tropical fish. I got some delicious sounding recipes for Island dishes from the internet and have been cooking up a storm.
23rd December
Last evening went off very well. Lyn was suitably surprised and the food turned out a treat.
Today Paul and I are going car shopping! and Nikon are sending a courier to pick up my camera. I sent them the press clipping of my mugging on the mountain when the camera was snatched and although recovered had been damaged. It was working fine till Wednesday’s walk when a big black blob arrived on the screen and I thought why not give it a try, after all I have nothing to lose! Paul and I also pulled the plug on the purchase of the house we had been looking at. The owner was a sleezebag of a property dealer/lawyer and when the agent told us that he would also be the conveyancer we balked at the deal.
24th December
I started the day off with the lovely River Walk to the Resevoir and back, in Silvermine. It was especially nice as there has been some rain recently and the river was bubbling along through the undergrowth. The bees were busy in the Keurboom blossoms and I had a lovely close sighting of a couple of Cape Battis (didn’t manage to get my camera out in time though)
A wonderful bowl of flowers arrived from 
John, Nicky, Henry and Charlotte and
has pride of place next to the new gas
fire.
It was also Gill’s birthday today so I went to join her and other ‘Wednesday Walkers’ for tea…….and all this before midday!
25th December At 6.45 Lyn, Peter and I headed up to Silvermine where we met John and Sandi in the car park. While John waited for Jem and Tracey Main to arrive with their two little ones Peter, Lyn, Sandi and I headed up to the view-point overlooking Hout Bay.
The two-hour walk went some way to counter the effects of the dinner Peter and I had enjoyed last night. The dinner had been rounded off with the wonderful home-made Christmas Pudding that has become the yearly present from the Frieslicht Family. Back at the dam I had a quick swim and we all enjoyed a breakfast of coffee and croissants.
Back home for some quiet time before going down the road to John and Sandi’s to join the Senior and Junior Mains and resume festivities!
We gathered for dinner early, 4.30pn, to accommodate the baby Mains and I arrived to find festive tables laden with goodies set up in the garden with the wonderful view of the wetlands and table mountain in the backgrownd (see to of page).
We feasted on roast lamb and chicken, BBQ’d prawns, glazed roast pork, roast potatoes and other roasted vegetables. Jem and Tracey provided some very good red wine which they had bought unlabeled and labeled with a family photo and Christmas greetings. I was also the recipient of one of these bottles as a gift
.
After Christmas pudding, apple pie, custard and ice cream we were all feeling suitable stuffed and the party started to break up at aroung 8.30 when the babes were taken off to bed. Lyn and I figured we were not yet old enough to go to sleep with the two year olds and took a suitably mindless movie out from the video shop to while away the rest of the evening with.
26th December
A beautiful warm sunny day which prompted Peter and I to opt for a walk along the cat walk between Muizenberg and Kalk Bay. Even at 6pm the beaches were packed so we walked back over the mountain instead. Below is St. James beach and tidal pool.
28th December Had a lovely MTB ride in Tokai Forrest yesterday and a nice hike up to Noordehoek Peak in Silvermine today followed by a swim in the dam. Up on the higher paths the mist was thick and low so we did not get the usual views but the lichens were enjoying the moisture.
31st December. I took Daegen out for the day and we spent it up at Silvermine playing in and beside the Resevoir, picnicing and sleeping (well at least Daegan slept!) In the evening Peter came round for a drink and finger super but did not stay for long and I was in bed by about nine.
So ends another good year with love and best wishes to family and friends and the sincere wish that 2012 will be kind to you.
capetocarpe 