Tuesday - Mount Nelson

After a wet start the day starts to get sunny. We waited for Mike to get home from BNI & a meeting, then off we all went to Fruit & Veg City to stock up on fruit - and at last Mangoes have come back into season (it's been a long winter with out them). Quick trip to the waterfront for dad to buy a teashirt, then back home to pick up our books for the Mount Nelson. On the way to afternoon high tea we stopped at Green Market Square to pick up a few African gifts.
Needless to say we all left the Mount Nelson very sick and full, and tonight was a very late supper of salad.
Now we are all watching Manchester United in the Champions League.
Tomorrow if clear we will attempt the mountain.

Game Reserve & Winelands

As we missed our game drive in George (luckily we did not stay up there as the reserve was flooded) we booked ourselves into a reserve in the mountains north of Cape Town for the night.
We stayed in lovely little houses where we viewed most of the animals from our beds or balcony.

On arrival we had lunch, then went on an afternoon nature walk, due to the heavy rain we have been having there were a few paths that the river had taken over (so we were left with sopping wet shoes). As expected we did not get to see a leopard - but I was amazed that the leopards were actually wild wild and not introduced, they actually live in the mountains.

Dinner was at the little pub, we had the choice of Prawns, Hake, Kudo Sausages, and steak which were BBQ'ed for us as a buffet style - so Mike had 2 big steaks and 8 prawns.

We awoke on Monday morning to the rain hitting hard against tin roof, unfortunately it was raining so hard that it was impossible to go on a game drive. With our refunds in our pocket we took to the wine farms. I was designated driver, but I bought a case of champagne & stocked up on our wine for the Christmas period. Once we were through the mountain pass it was a bit brighter. Finished the day with a game of Putt Putt and dinner at Theos steak restaurant.

Saturday - Cape Point & Simons Town

After our adventures of the day before, we woke to a blue blue day. We drove up to the mountain, but due to the wind the cable car was still shut. Luckily we were in cape town as my library books needed to be taken back (saving a R1 fine!!) so a quick trip to the centre of town before heading along the peninsula to see the penguins at Simons Town and then on to Cape Point. Seeing a few baboons on the way.

Why we did not get to Knysna

As we reached the far side of George the police were stopping people from carrying on the N2, as the road in Sedgefield was closed. Unsure what to do we phoned Uncle Pete who had a route taking to the old road to Knysna.
Entering Wilderness you are usually faced with the amazing beach view with a long stretch of sandy beach. Today everything was sea - no beach. Uncle Pete said this was a once in a hundred year thing. We started on the old route, but as you can see from the top picture we hit a problem - the road was now a fast flowing river. We turned back to take stock of everything at Uncle Pete's & Mim's. After reviewing weather forecasts, and phoning a few people- there was no way we could get to Brenton, the only option was to turn back to cape town, meaning we would only have wasted 1 day.

All together it was a 10 hour trip to see Aunty Mim and Uncle Pete for a cup of tea, but a big adventure.

Day 3 - Robben Island

10 o'clock boat to Robben Island, we left Mike behind working (I worked double last week!).
Toured around the island and saw Nelson Mandelas cell & penguins.
Back home now and having bobotie for dinner.

Day 2: Bus Trip

Up and about early to visit Greenpoint market, this only happens every Sunday and this is the only Sunday that we will be in Cape Town. Dad & Simone purchased some nice African goodies.
Back to the flat, and before heading down the road to catch the open top bus, we went across to Woolworths for some picnic stuff.
Bags packed we walked to Beach road and waited for the bus, that comes every 20 minutes. The whole bus tour is about 2 hours, we stopped in Camps Bay for a relax on the beach, and to test the freezing cold sea.
We are now back home getting ready to head back to town for some dinner.
Tomorrow we have booked for Robben Island.

Day 1 of Dad & Simone Trip

The flight landed only 5 minutes late, and Dad & Simone were through within the hour.
We went back to the flat to settle in then went to The Waterfront for lunch. We tried a Mexican restaurant that we had never been to before. We had a nice stroll around, spotting some seals bathing on the jetty.
Taking a detour home, we stopped in Kloof for a drink after visiting the butcher for meat and to stock up on biltong.
The weather was amazing, especially after the cloudy cold week we had last week.
The Scotland, Italy football was on, so we had a few glasses of wine/beer and some bbq'd springbok sausages. Then off to bed after a long day.

Last day in Ghana

Can hardly believe that it is our last day at the Labadi Beach Hotel on the Accra coast. Our last day of glorious warmth and sunshine. The job went well and the people we worked with were lovely.
The last couple of days we have had a number of armed guards in the hotel because the Ghanian national football tem, the All Black Stars are staying here as are the Emirates team. This meant, too, the presence of TV journalists. None of this was intrusive, though, and we have just relaxed around the pool and on the beach.
7.20 pm All packed and ready to go. Ed dozing in room watching football. another lovely day of lounging on the beach, swimming and reading. Did not feel as relaxed as the other days as we are already thinking of all we have to do this coming week. I will post some pics when I get home as I am doing this on the hotel computer and cannot transfer the photo's.
Hope that Andy and Simone have arrived safely and are enjoying the SA sunshine. Have a great holiday A & S.

Ghana Greetings

We were ready to board the plane at Heathrow when we were told that we needed a visa and that BA would not allow us to travel. Panic. We normally check travel requirements and had certainly checked what vaccinations and medication we needed, but had assumed that the client would have warned us regarding a visa and provided us with a letter of introduction. After a number of phone calls and checking with a senior person, we were allowed on the plane knowing that we would have to buy our visa when we got there. Thank goodness we weren't the last ones holding up the flight but we definitely felt scaley walking on after everyone had expected the flight to have left!
Really good food and service on BA and arrived just 40 minutes late. We were almost put on the same plane back but were eventually granted a visa for 8 days. Retrieved our baggage and were delighted to find someone holding a sign with Lesley Perk on it! Labadi Beach Hotel is beautiful and we have a room with w balcony overlooking the swimming pool and gardens.
Only been here two days but are feeling really relaxed - enjoying reading by the pool, walks on the beach and just sitting at the beach cafes watching Ghana at play.

My New Car

Mike says when we have children my Porsche will be too small, so I have found the perfect family car:


We went to the launch last night at The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay, we got to dress smart and drink champagne & were served mini burgers on sticks. (Although when we do have the money, Mike will have to buy his Aston Martin before I'm allowed this one.)