SPIRIT OF PLACE: A special week in many ways

The end of this week rounds off an era …………. a very special era. Friday the 7th December is mine and Pat’s 50th wedding anniversary, and for those of you not old enough to appreciate what that means - take this as a warning - it goes by in a flash! Make every second of every day count, and above all, Love the one you’re with ………. because waaaaayyyy down that road when you’re an old fart you’re going to be very unlikely to find anyone that will love, understand and appreciate you as much as the one you have shared life’s adventures with.

I have been extremely fortunate ………… I met the girl of my dreams when I was 16, and we have been together ever since, and do you know ………she’s just as beautiful today as she always was. I really am blessed.

This year too has seen the passing of a number of good friends - Ron Harries, my cousin Tony Lance, Rob Pienaar (Best Man at my wedding), Brother Donald Kennedy (Teacher, Friend and mentor), and most recently, Norman Gibson (long time student friend)................. its beginning to feel quite lonely out here!

In many ways too Friday heralds the start of a whole new era ……….. the next 50 years - and the new life we have begun together in Bathurst where we have been extremely fortunate to meet a whole host of really terrific people, and in a very short period of time make some very good friends. No.6 York Road has been a huge challenge in many ways, and though not quite finished it is very liveable and has taken on the identity of “Haven” in a great many respects - it embodies the concept of "Spirit of Place" in every possible way and I shouldn’t think that we will consider giving it up in a hurry ……… if ever. Virtually every day provides us with small new challenges and little bits of excitement that come entirely out of the blue, and one really can't ask for anything more than that.

While getting some pics of the myriad sunbirds that we have in the garden a couple of days ago two Crowned Hornbills on a mission landed in the big Coral tree ……….. there was instant reaction from a pair of Black-headed Bul-Buls that have nested in the Magnolia bush below the deck ……….. all of a mac-sudden one of the Hornbills dived into the bush and was instantly attacked by the two Bul-Buls as well as a few extras that came to their assistance, as also three or four black female sunbirds who sympathized with their plight. The Hornbill was so busy fending off the attackers that he didn’t get a chance to grab any eggs before lifting himself out of the bush and back up into the Coral, where he and his partner waited for another opportunity. In the meantime a Fork-Tailed Drongo decided to climb on the band-wagon just in case there were any spoils that he could take advantage of, and hung about the entire time in very close proximity.

Twice more one of the Hornbills tried his luck, but to no avail, the defense was simply too good, and after being severely dive-bombed while waiting up in the Coral, they eventually gave up and left. Then yesterday a snake (which we thought was a Puffie), appeared at the bottom of the side stairs. I immediately called Eric Paroz, and him and his dad wasted no time at all getting down to our place while I kept it from disappearing into the ferns with a three metre length of aluminium angle. Eric and his dad calmly walked up to it upon arrival and gently picked it up with what looked like a pair of sprung braai-tongs, telling us as they did so that it was in fact a Nightadder, pointing out the difference via the triangle shaped marking on the top of the head ………….. hardly more than a bad headache had it bitten one of us he reckoned. I’d rather not take the chance - but thanks Eric, your response was fantastic.

The monkeys have really annoyed us - and a few of the neighbours as well. What looked like a wonderful crop of peaches on its way has been totally wiped out …………. even with the help of Robin’s beautiful wooden Cape Cobra patrolling the tree ........ the little buggers are simply too clever. We’re going to have to watch our figs like hawks and ensure that we pick them all for preserve just before they are ready.

This entry’s bird of choice is the Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina) …………… quite beautiful, but in many ways I prefer the female, so am posting pics of both of them.

Have a good couple of weeks everyone in the lead-up to Christmas, and please raise a glass of wine and join us in celebration on Friday evening - wherever in the world you might be.