MONDAY, Monday!

Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together? On Saturday the Boks (or should I say Faf), beat the English at Ellis Park ……….. on Sunday the Boks Sevens clinched the World Title (again by beating the English), in Paris. Rafa won the French Open for the 11th time, beating a very worthy young opponent in three straight sets - Bafana Bafana beat Botswana 3:0 ……………… almost everything went my way: only Lewis let me down at the Canadian Grand Prix - but I don’t suppose one can expect to win ‘em all?The Test we shared with the Ploughman’s regulars, as we did most of the Sevens, except that Rosemary and Charmain joined us for a braai there, and we had a lekker gesellig early afternoon in the company of the Albany Vintage Motor guys and girls who came through to the Ploughman from Grahamstown for lunch. It really is such a nice place to while away a few hours ……………. proprietors Patrick and Michelle are so cool - laid back and welcoming - friendly (but isn’t everyone here?), fellow overlanders (though they have considerably more African miles under their belts than we do, having been all the way up to Ethiopia and other countries on a similar parallel),  and Michelle has some fascinating tales to tell to willing listeners like us.

Some of the cars at the Albany day out at the Ploughman's Pub in Bathurst

Sunday afternoon Braai time at the Ploughman's Pub - bring your own - or buy a braaipack!

Pat, Rosemary and Charmain watching the Paris Sevens

The house is going well - all of the windows and doors are in and all of the internal reveals and soffits are plastered. On Monday (today), Basie tackled the fireplace and entrance hall reveals and soffits ………….. Tuesday he will nail the internal door and window cills. This guy is good ………. one of the best bricklayer/plasterer men I have ever had the pleasure to work with. He knows his business - and gets on with it - consulting with me only after the fact …………. when everything is done correctly and there is no space for adverse comment. The guy he brought along with him as a “Handlanger” …… ‘So-So’ by name, has also proved to be an absolute pleasure to work with, and I will make every effort to keep him on the books as things (hopefully), move forward. So-So’s brother, Dumesane, has also joined the team and is working with Pat on the garden which needs a shit load of work after years of neglect …………… he has a basic knowledge, which is good, and which Pat finds re-assuring as she moves forward on this one-acre project. It is so exciting as we see all of the crap disappear and structured beds with beautiful Poinsettias, Frangipani’s, Agapanthus, and a whole host of other plants which we have yet to get to know, begin to take shape.


Once there was a yacht - which I though was a hole in the sea that had money poured into it …………….  but this little project is really challenging the bank account from every conceivable angle, and it has become extremely important that I begin to find work to cover the shortfalls that present themselves on a daily basis ………….. so hold thumbs everyone ………… and here I appeal yet again to the very Reverend Brother Donald Kennedy: Please put us back on the Prayer Wheel Donald - we need all the help we can get…………………you, probably more than most others know exactly where we are coming from!!!!!!!

Today we moved the water pump - a basic, simple exercise - but when done it simply wouldn’t work ……… why not????? I drained it - flushed it - dismantled it ……. and it still ain’t working …… why not??????? We also moved the WC to the new outside unit we have built to manage poops while we rip the guts out of the inside of the bathrooms and kitchen, and the flush system refuses to seal ……. why not?????? So tomorrow we tackle these details again and hope we can get through with a few less ripped fingernails and hammer-slammed hands than I suffered today - meanwhile everyone on site will simply have to manage with buckets of water for flushing. What I really expected to be a two hour job took the entire day ……….. and it ain’t working properly yet! One really shouldn’t tackle these tasks on a Monday.

Right across the road from the house we have a place called the Bistro …….. which is attached to a “bits ’n pieces” store which I believe has been there forever. The Bistro is owned and run by Liz and Anne - and they do everything you need to get through the day beautifully (especially the waffles which I have a very soft spot for)…….. and for next to nothing. You pay for the coffee what you think it is worth ………….. and if you want to you can pay a bit extra “forward” for someone else who can’t afford it on the day - all you do is put up a tag and they help themselves. A really cool system. Today I found out (I don’t read posters), that Anne and her hubby do really cool, laid back live music there on Sunday evenings with candles and all kinds of soft, happy stuff ………… so we will definitely be there next Sunday evening to give it all a feel. If you’re around and reading this ………. why not join us?

Every day we enjoy our stay at the McCreath farm more and more. The cottage has really grown on us and the sunrises and sunsets have become a very special part of our lives, as have the Nguni cattle, the horses, the dogs  and the donkeys. The early morning and late evening walks with Jesse are special times for both her and us. She seems to think she is a pointer as she gets out there and lifts one foreleg,  and with raised head  and tail assesses the horizon for something to consider or charge down …………. before taking off at full speed in her chosen direction, leaping and sprinting before skidding to a stop and turning around to sprint back to where we are waiting. Quite definitely a dog’s life!

The cottage on the McCreath farm where we are staying ........ simply beautiful!

The horses outside the cottage walking away into the sunset