What's in a name?

York Road is becoming more and more special every day ……………. there is so much to do still, but each day we are getting closer and closer ……………… yet further and further from the final completion that we envisage.

Does a house need a name? We have been talking about it. The first option was to go back to our first house in Irene and fall back on Zane Grey - those sentiments from my early teens - and go for “Pokey Moonshine II” ………….. I like it, but Pat ain’t sure …………… what about “Spirit of Place” she asks? How about just “6 York Road” I ask? Or simply “Being There” (Remember Peter Sellers in that amazing movie?).

Please help us out ……………. some suggestions at the bottom of the page would be very welcome ……………. First Prize is a night or two or three with us in Bathurst at a time that might best suit you.

One of the things that this page is going to do is present a bird from our property with every new posting. This entry’s selection is our very friendly Southern Bou Bou who really does spend his time very near at hand as we work in the garden …………… and has a call to absolutely die for (doesn’t that sound a bit gay?)……..not meant to …….. but it is beautiful. My plan is to build a photographic folder on Flickr dedicated purely to the 6 York Road bird population ……….. target = 50 ……………… Stay Tuned for the link as we move forward.

The garden seems to believe that Spring has arrived, despite it being mid-July. Attached are some pics of the flowering Quince, our Peach Blossoms, the early Coral Tree flowers, Strelizias that are looking beautiful everywhere and Camellias that present new buds every day in a display that is all their own. The drought has not been kind to gardens anywhere, but we seem to be very fortunate with new life happily presenting itself everywhere on this amazing piece of ground that surrounds us. I really can’t wait to finish work on the house, move in, and spend a bit of time sitting and soaking up the plants, the trees, the birds, the monkeys and quite amazing sense of overall peace that the entire environment lays down  in front of us each day.

Today is special in a number of ways …………… it is my daughter Chavane’s 40th birthday, (our baby girl is 40!!!!!!!!!! ….. that represents a shock all its own! Enjoy it my Darling - you are so very lucky to be spending it in Vietnam on board a Junk with Lee ……….. look after her Boet, you know how special she is to me).  It is also Rob Pienaar’s 73rd birthday - one of my oldest friends - my Best Man at my wedding - and someone whose intellect gives me continuing pleasure on a very regular basis - thanks Rob. It is also Tanya’s birthday - happy birthday for your daughter Hanro ………. timing it seems is one of those ‘accidents’ of nature?

Our resident Southern Bou Bou

The large Coral beginning to show its flowers

Looking back up the East side to the Flowering Quince

Flowering Quince

Looking across the South Side where serious tidying up is in progress

There are Strelitzias everywhere

The blue table seems to have found its spot

Where the Sweet Magnolias Blossom!

Wimbledon and the World Cup

There is no doubt that this week is all about sport: Both Wimbledon and the FIFA World Cup Semis and Finals. Upstairs in the cottage we have great reception on all the SABC and E channels ……… downstairs I have rigged one of my internet bought USB driven aerials on the Sinotec ………… perfect E and SABC 3, but watching the soccer is reminiscent of 1977 TV in South Africa - great sound and lots of snow, but it really is far too early for bed as Belgium tackle France for a spot in the final.

Anderson’s match with the Fed is going to have to be followed on the phone and an “after work” visit to the Pig or the Plougman’s……..as are all the other tennis matches I’m afraid.

After watching some bowls on Sunday morning (well into 1.45pm) where Charmain and Rosemary were marking we eventually found ourselves at Guido’s to celebrate Charmain’s birthday with her two grandaughters from Cape Town, Meghan and Jenna, and their other Grandparents  Derek and Glynnis who also live in Port Alfred. …………… all this wine and celebration followed again on Monday evening at Rosemary’s by a lovely potroast to say goodbye to Charmain who has been “packing for Perth”, and who left Tuesday for Cape Town before taking off for Perth next Monday. We are going to miss her brashly honest approach to almost everything, and wish her well during her ‘year out’ Down Under ………….. very much a necessary evil in this day and age  if you are able to do it considering the huge bagful of problems our country is facing - which only seem to grow fatter daily as the bagfull of arseholes who are running the country  manage to screw up things more and more as we move forward ………. or should I say ‘backward’. We did have a narrow escape on the way back to Bathurst on Monday night, just missing a black cow crossing the road …….. thank goodness for ABS braking and good enough tyres to hold the skid off to the right, allowing us a good 200mm clearance from an otherwise certain collision. Very scary stuff, with the Eastern Cape driving experience at night quickly catching up with Botswana and Mozambique.

Myself and two of my Zimbabwean team along with four locals started our very first Eastern Cape contract on Monday - a fairly substantial painting contract in Port Alfred with minimal markup  (just to get my foot in the door) - but something at least, and hopefully a stepping stone to more work in the area. It will inevitably set the house completion back a bit, but turnover is the name of the game, and at this stage I really do need to charge down everything that might become available ……………. just a little “nudge” and “reminder”  to all those we have met and got to know in the area.

On Sunday evening we decided to pop into the Bistro for a little musical “fix”. Not being able to fit in what we would have liked to have seen in Grahamstown. We did manage to take in one of our ‘old favourites’ …….. the very irreverent Nic Rabinowitz - funny as always and right to the point. A fantastic hour and a half of sidesplitting everyday honesty. Back to the Bistro: Barry played sets with Shannon Wright and Bev Brunette - hope I’ve got the spelling correct. The highlight for both Pat and I was Barry’s rendition of Joni Mitchell’s 1970 blockbuster “Big Yellow Taxi” ………. Joni would have been really proud I am sure. Bev we believe has recently moved back to Bathurst of three or so years out in the wilderness ……….. we look forward to hearing more of her music and the opportunity to get more pics of her in action. These sets were followed by some really reminiscent covers by Shugg Dry who was then joined for some great pieces by his dad Rod Dry from the Silver Creek Mountain band - nostalgia is a really good friend at times.

UPDATE ON THE HOUSE: Everything seems to be taking just that much longer than expected - but we really are making progress. Sometime today we should be able to do the final plumbing tests and shut down any leaks before tackling the drywall finishes and doing the final plastering in the bathrooms and kitchen - this will be a huge hurdle completed………….then with a bit of luck by the middle of next week we will have all of the electrical wiring complete and ready for “hook up”. 

The garden is looking stunning, with cuttings robbed from the entire area being planted everywhere in Pat’s newly landscaped beds, with her now the object of the Cape Robins’ and Chorister Robins’ attentions ……….. also now being followed by the Sunbirds in search of a shower as she waters the beds. There are three or four Drongas that also keep an eye on her in search of titbits as she digs and scratches in the beds and a thrush or two that appear every now and then.

The weather has been incredible - with the exception of two or three cool days its like summer here with temperatures during the day regularly approaching 27 degrees. We certainly haven’t experienced anything approaching “winter”, and are beginning to wonder if we have been fooled and are going to end up the subjects of a cruel joke.

Until next time ………

Shannon Wright 

Shannon backing Barry on "Big Yellow Taxi"

Anne's very photogenic son Tainn (The girls are going to love him!)

Homemade Tagliatelle at the Bistro (The only way to go)

Bev Brunette giving us a taste of things to come

Rod Dry and son Shugg delivering some nostalgia

Tainn concentrating on the company

The Grahamstown Arts Festival - Progress - Friends

Arts Festival Facepainting

Arts Festival Anomalies

Wow……….things are really moving along. Every day I see new steps toward completion being finished. I know that to outside eyes it all looks like absolute chaos ………… but things are happening. We did our first tests on the drywall plumbing late yesterday afternoon, and with the exception of two links to the shower mixer it was all dry - these we’ll resolve this morning and we can begin cladding ……. that is a huge step forward. Petrus is a star - he puts up with all of my moods - my crap - my complaints …………… and just gets on with the job. I started a young guy (Zander), from PA today to work with him to get this whole plumbing and wiring thing complete. I think that they compliment each other in certain ways and that this will help get the nitty gritty done ………. let’s see how good my judgement is? 
Zander was instrumental in bringing in my first signed contract up here this week (I won’t go into detail at this stage), but I am grateful, and he will be rewarded. Keep ‘em coming Boet!I will be visiting the Toposcope this afternoon with David, Howard and Mike …………. I know that they are hoping that I might be able to provide some much needed construction input into the refurbishment of this important historical landmark, and if I am at all able, I most certainly will. Watch this space!  It would of course help if I could find some serious DNA links to the Lances via the 1820 Settlers…………then I could approach various family members around the country  to contribute. If anyone knows something that I don’t - Pleeeeease let me know!It was a real boost for me to have Peter (Davidson) down from Pretoria at his really lovely home in Port Alfred for the past couple of weeks. I don’t know too many people who can boast friendships that have been in existence and ongoing for 67 years …………. but that is where we are at, on top of which I have always considered Pete my “best friend”, as he has forever fulfilled every role that that designation required in my life (thanks Pete!). We spent a couple of “overnighters” at their place after really pleasant evenings of introduction to new friends and family who are resident in the area. We also had the good fortune to spend quite a few valuable hours together in Bathurst - in Port Alfred - in Grahamstown ……. and just generally ‘round and about’  with our two very lovely wives (and they are! )…….. How many 72 year-olds can honestly say that with absolute conviction? Thank you ladies (Pat and Rosemary)………. you are both really special in so many ways!The Grahamstown Arts Festival is very special in a great many ways - our day there on Sunday last was indeed very pleasant. We had the opportunity to visit some really  special Art exhibitions covering a wide range of genres …………. including a few that I had never imagined existed. The buskers on the Village Green provided some really interesting and amusing entertainment, and it would have been fantastic if the daunting night-time drive back to Bathurst hadn’t discouraged us from staying in town for some of the evening and (specifically), late night entertainment. I suspect that the jazz would have been very special, as would have a few of the more 'popular' International artists such as Suzanne Vega, and locals that I really did want to see - “Hatchet Man” being one in particular.Rumour has it that the name of the town is about to be changed, and that the Arts Festival is going to be re-located to Cape Town. Both of these will spell a death-knell for the area generally, and one can only hope that the main sponsors, Standard Bank, look a little bit beyond ‘shareholders interests’ and  profit margins. Cape Town has more than enough in terms of “cultural interest” - most of which has become unaffordable to the average man, but which is still manageable in this relatively small town ‘university’ environment.  Grahamstown really has so much to offer historically …………. the town and its churches are really beautiful - the campus is stunning - it has some great little pubs and restaurants, fantastic schools and a wonderful sense of integration. As a newcomer to the area I really do plead “Wake Up” to those who have the power to maintain the status quo and keep the culture where it belongs.With the rest of the country experiencing bitter cold in many parts - and Cape Town finally getting the rain I predicted when we got the early “Easter” lightning and thunder storms (based on thirty years of watching and experiencing the weather patterns as opposed to Angus Buchan’s somewhat anomalous - and quite late - claims of intervention)……….. I have been overwhelmed by the absolutely amazing weather we have been experiencing here in Bathurst. Except for a little bit of chilly weather over the last few days it has all been like a pretty good Cape Town summer ……… What a pleasure!!!!! Yes - we could do with a bit more rain, but the temperatures have been more than tolerable, with shorts and T-shirts generally the choice of the day.Our garden at 6 York Road is really beginning to take on meaning, and Pat and Dumesane are creating something really special. As Dumesane digs and rakes somewhere between 2 and 4 Chorister Robins - a couple of Cape Robins, and any number of Drongas follow his trail …………… no more than a metre or two away from his feet - in search of displaced grubs and worms, and whatever other titbits this whole gardening exercise has to offer. In the trees close by there is generally a Cardinal Woodpecker on show - Green Pigeons, Brown Headed Kingfishers, Hoopoes, Doves, a whole host of Mousebirds, anywhere up to 20 Crowned Hornbills at a time, and most importantly, Sunbirds that I have never seen before crowding trees in the garden ....... up to 25 in one space at a time. The birdsong is indescribable at times, and at night when I go out for a pee and take Jesse for a walk on the farm the skies are littered with jewels and the Milky Way is saturated with double cream.

WOW!!!!!!WOW!!!!!!WOW!!!!!!

Young Festival Mime Artist

Ndlambe Sunrise on the farm

Drywalls and drainage

The house is really beginning to move forward now. After getting the framing up for the drywalling today the spaces suddenly begin to take on meaning. The Bedroom 2 en suite and the guest toilet are no longer concepts that reside in my head - they are real spaces …………… and we have now been able to finally establish exactly how the drainage, waste water and fitting layouts are going to work in respect of the confined under-floor spaces. The drainage run down to the new septic tank is complete and we start digging the tank hole tomorrow. Meanwhile we will get the guest room shower base in place in the morning and begin fibreglassing so that we can get the wall sheeting into place. Most of the electrical conduiting has been plastered in and by lunch time tomorrow we will begin the wall construction finishing on the bathroom and bedroom 3 en-suite, and get the roof on - hopefully all by the end of the week……………..hold thumbs and wish us luck.

On Saturday last the Ploughman’s had what was ostensibly a “Solstice” party …………. covering as a 55th birthday party for Michelle. They had a really good thrash that followed the rugby - Belly dancers, various other dance idioms by the local ladies, a really hilarious set by Patrick and the guys, a very tasty pig on the spit and some great disco music in the barn. All in all a very enjoyable ‘Jol’. 

(As an aside: We took along a salad, a packet of Doritos, our ‘picnic bag’ with plates, knives, forks etc., …………… butter and rolls  and so on …….. only to get back to the table to find a lady who had parked off, opened everything, helped herself to a plate, knife and fork, opened the salad and Doritos, used all the butter on a couple of the rolls and well and truly “dug” in to everything we had brought along ……………. and totally un-phased at my query as to how she could do this, simply carried on helping herself with me sitting right there. What do you do?????)

With the Grahamstown National Arts Festival starting next week, exhibitors and artists are beginning to arrive in the area from all over South Africa  - and the world ………. and I believe that as always, Bathurst is “first” port of call for drinks and meals, so the next couple of weeks should see quite an influx one way and another. We are busy planning one or two days there ………. co-ordinating shows, exhibitions, concerts and trying to fit everything together so as to get as much as possible in on the days that we will be able to visit……………..hoping against hope that by the time we get round to making our bookings there are still a couple of slots left.  Really looking forward to it all …………… though from my point of view, as long as we are able to get into a couple of the jazz cafe gigs I will be entirely happy. Watch this space for updates and reviews!!!!!!!

Sunday Farmers' Market Vendor

Sunday Farmers' Market Vendor

Sunday Farmers' Market Vendor

Sunday Farmers' Market Vendor

Sunday Farmers' Market Vendor (The Troubador - Poetry while you wait)

The girls performing at Michelle's party

Michelle (Right) enjoying the entertainment

Patrick (Michelle's hubby - left) leading the pack of wild dogs in dance

And last but not least ....... the stud walls on their way up

Summer's coming

Well, here we go folks - with the winter solstice happening today we can all look forward to longer and warmer days in the coming months. Isn't that a wonderful thought ............. certainly worth a smile.

In my last posting I spoke about Anne and Barry's Sunday music evenings at the Bistro and encouraged you all to join the fun ........ well here are a few pics taken last Sunday's happening to help whet the appetite.

Enjoy!

Their biggest fan

Barry

Anne

In the mood

Bistro patrons

Anne and Barry in full voice

The very photogenic Bistro

OK - so it happens!

I just spent the last two hours or more writing today’s Blog insert, only to do something that allowed me to overwrite it all with the pictures that I intended posting. What a  *#@%//(). 

I was going to print a really serious expletive here in big bold letters, but I reckon that that is part of what Bathurst does for you …………… it slows you down sufficiently to overcome these violent urges, and allows you instead to quietly start all over again.

The week has had its ups and downs, with Monday starting with a ‘down’.  I had spent the best part of the weekend telling friends how fortunate I had been to find the bricklayer/plasterer that I had working with me …………. how good he was, how trustworthy and reliable …………….. only to have him turn all of that upside down first thing Monday morning. He didn’t pitch for work (as had happened on four previous occasions over the last three weeks), so I called him to find out what the problem was ………. it was car problems as usual - I asked if he had any idea what time he would be in as I wanted to know whether to re-allocate his assistant, or let him go for the day. I was not impolite - I was not annoyed - I even asked if there was anything I could do to help. Shortly after 10am while I was doing my mail at the Bistro he arrived on site, packed his tools, and apparently hurled a few choice insults my way before leaving with his appointed assistant. I tried calling him four times, only to be “skelled” out from a dizzy height in a totally non-understandable colloquial idiom, and not given a chance to respond in any form whatsoever before having the phone disconnected. Nothing made any sense, and I sincerely hope that anyone reading this blog who may know him will pass on the message that I would dearly love to continue working with him if we can somehow find our way over this ridiculous hurdle.

I have found another artisan who seems equally capable - but I really do dislike parting ways under such dubious and inexplicable circumstances. I have also re-employed the assistant that he removed from the site, and do hope that at some stage he will make the effort to contact me to resolve matters.

So much for the ‘downs’. On Saturday we took the opportunity to run through to Grahamstown for K-Day, and went to watch the local Kingswood / St. Andrews first team rugby derby. What an absolute pleasure! Great rugby (very often better than the Provincial stuff that TV forces upon us), and what an amazing vibe, with the St.Andrews ground filled to absolute capacity with what must have been every single pupil from both schools as well as those from DSG plus every single parent, grandparent and friend in the surrounding districts.

We made it back to the Ploughman’s Pub just in time to have Eskom load-shed just as the National Anthem’s finished …………. fortunately one of the customers had an IPad with a DSTV connection that allowed us to watch in miniature until Patrick and Kai managed to set up a generator that got us back online just as England went into a 12 - 0 lead. Happily it never stayed that way and we all enjoyed a good win.

Sunday (Fathers’ Day), saw us enjoy a great braai at the Davidson’s house in Port Alfred with Jordan playing surrogate son and doing all the work before joining Pat and I with a couple of his ranger mates at the Bistro in Bathurst where we were fortunate enough to hear proprietors Anne and Barry play a very special brand of country ‘idiom’ music (my description), that had us all enthralled. Anne’s sets on the accordion backed by Barry’s intricate rhythm and bass backing on his acoustic guitar …………… all enhanced by some really beautiful vocals, made it something very special. I encourage everyone who is able to make the effort to bring a bottle of wine and visit the Bistro at around 6pm on a Sunday evening and spend and hour or two enjoying a very special brand of music. You really won’t be sorry.

Pat has managed to pull a lot of shape out of pure chaos into the garden at 6 York road, and I think that once the house is complete it will really compliment what she is doing. Jesse seems to love it more each day, bounding out of the car as we arrive and running hither and thither until virtually exhausted. I remember how Chavane’s Boxer, Georgie, used to love to run ………….. what Jesse does is similar, and just writing about Georgie’s enthusiasm brings tears to my eyes ……………. it is a joy to watch.

Monday evening saw us join the “Office” group for snacks and drinks at Howard’s very beautiful home with its 67km view across Port Alfred and the Indian Ocean. A lovely, friendly, bunch of people that have really made us feel very welcome in this amazing little village. I encourage all those of you that have never visited here to start making plans immediately. It really is a blast……… beautiful, affordable and full of stunning little nooks and crannies……………..during lunch today we followed a track that took us entirely unknowingly down to a gorgeous little dam on the Kowie river in the midst of the most incredible landscape and views ……… what a place to picnic and paddle - we will definitely be going back (after all it is only 10 minutes away).

Anne and Glen McCreath wearing red in support of Kingswood at K-Day

Kingswood on a charge

Up and at it

Pat working the garden

Plastering reveals and soffits

The Banana Orchard

The new outside loo built from throw-away materials

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

CHRONICLES??????

The way this Blog is headed I suspect that it may at some stage become necessary to change its name from Spirit of Place to something like “The Bathurst Chronicles”, but I suspect that it is still a little early for that…………….it may well serve to infuriate rather than engender, and the last thing I want to do is infuriate anyone in this quite magical little village.

On Sunday morning I arrived at the Farmers’ Market just as it was beginning to pour with rain - enough time though to grab a bottle of honey from Rory and Carol and a couple of pancakes for breakfast from Sandy before nipping into her studio to get out of the rain and a chance to find out a little more about the absolutely awful happenings of the night before from Brian - less than a hundred metres from their house. There was a break-in apparently at around 3am ………. things happened and the owner of the house was stabbed in the chest sustaining a punctured lung, while his wife was fatally hit on the head with a rock. I shan’t mention names at this stage, but they were well known in the village, and Pat had been introduced to her just the evening before at the Ploughman’s Pub where she handled the Friday Night draw.  Shocking in the extreme ………….. wasteful and tragic in every sense, we can only hope that the perpetrators are apprehended quickly and receive their just deserts.

On the house front we have been tackling a whole host of bits and pieces  - working around the chaos that is furniture and boxes piled virtually to the ceilings in every room as best we can and getting as close to ready for the installation of the doors and windows …….. promised for Tuesday. Can this be true - let’s sincerely hope so, as the two week delivery date has already expanded to four weeks and is holding up progress in more ways than I want to mention here……………everything else though is pretty much on track, including the tidying up of the garden…………. with just one small and unfortunate hitch: On Wednesday last week Pat began feeling pretty grotty. Initially we thought is might be a hangover from the flu jab that she had just before leaving Cape Town ………… but then it began presenting in ways that she had experienced before, and by this morning she was convinced that it was Tick Bite Fever. We made the necessary enquiries regarding a doctor via the ever helpful Rosemary and Charmaigne (the sisters nee Rainier, and friends it seems almost forever), and by midday Pat was with the doctor. Yup! The dreaded Tick Bite Fever. Thinking we would go for a little bite, and joined by Rosemary, Pat began feeling increasingly awful, to the point where we decided to forego a bite of any description and get her home ASAP, only to have her get violently ill just as we entered Bathurst. Here’s hoping that the prescription works at lightning speed - it really isn’t any fun seeing her in this condition.

Jesse continues to think that she has been born again and landed in Doggie-heaven. Aside from the fact that she has all day to run around the garden at the new house, each morning and evening immediately after her meal I take her out onto the farm and let her off the lead. Head high she surveys the never-ending landscape and takes off at full tilt in one or other direction, running until she realises that somewhere back there I have been left behind - only to come charging back ……. before heading off again towards another horizon. She has been introduced to the cattle and the donkeys - still needs to understand though that they are much bigger than her and have a predilection to kick small, cheeky animals …………. particularly the donkeys, who don’t much appreciate her trying to take the carrots that I feed them out of their mouths. The Bathurst chickens …….. the ones that roam the streets …….. she has yet to realise are not for chasing. She hasn’t managed to catch one yet, but that too, I am afraid, may just be a matter of time.

No longer having DSTV, keeping up with sports is becoming increasingly more difficult, carrying with it the risk of being identified as a barfly ………. the pubs being the purveyors of the necessary screenings that one needs to keep track of to stay up to speed. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), the Bok’s loss to Wales in Washington was too late to warrant a screening anywhere in Bathurst, and the cold and wet Sunday afternoon made staying in preferable to going out in search of a Bok/Fiji 7’s final …………… another one which we sadly lost. I did however manage to sneak into the Pig ’n Whistle pub for the last three laps of the Moto GP and watch the “Old Man” - the “Doctor” -  grab another magnificent podium. Isn’t he quite amazing? For the French Open I am going to have to rely on News 24, but feel entirely sure that one way or another I will catch all of the England tests - happily running the risk of being anointed ‘Barfly’ …………… Go Rassie!