TIES THAT BIND

In our garden at 6 York Road we have a shrub which we have managed to identify with the help of our neighbor, David Forsdyke, as a Hibiscus Mutabilis ‘rubris’ ……… or Confederate Rose Mallow. A child of the South (USA) - stunningly beautiful …………. and what came to inspire this entry’s title - unquestionably a “Tie that Binds”, and entirely responsible for this little story.

Hibiscus Mutabilis ‘rubris’ ……… or Confederate Rose Mallow

1970/71 ………… I was working with a consortium of Architects in Percy Street at the bottom end of Charlotte Street, London. There I met, and came to befriend, an American Architect from Memphis, Tennessee by name Carl Awsumb. Turned out he was also married, so I invited him to bring his wife to have a meal with us at our 4th floor walk-up bedsit in West Hampstead. When they arrived I went down to open the door and was confronted by this beautiful blonde chic with a smile from ear to ear (which has not changed to this day), holding a large artichoke in both hands.

This was Priscilla - or Pan as we came to know her - and she taught us that evening how to prepare artichoke - how to savor the experience of dipping those leaves in garlic butter and pulling the flesh of with one’s teeth before dividing up the heart and losing oneself in those exquisite flavors that this amazing thistle/flower/vegetable has to offer.

And it all seems like yesterday. 

We became firm friends and a year or so later Carl and Pan left the UK to return to Memphis - but we stayed in touch - intermittently. There was no internet, or email, so we wrote letters and used snail mail……… only graduating to email very much later. But I still have all those old letters tucked away in a metal case with myriad others from people who mattered in my life.

Roughly 10 years ago Pan visited her nephew in Zambia with her sister, and went out of her way to get down and spend three magical days with us in Cape Town - just talking and catching up after nearly 37 years of not seeing each other. 

Pat and Pan at Cape Point Lighthouse 2009

In May of 2012 my very special cousin Lynda, and her equally special ‘reprobate’ :o) - husband Robin, invited us to spend a couple of weeks with them in New York to celebrate her birthday …………. and a very special two weeks it was indeed - a magical roundabout ride of immense proportions which we shall never forget, and which we decided to round off with a drive down to Memphis to visit Carl and Pan for a week.

The drive down from NYC was special enough - through Davy Crockett country - across the Shenandoah River - through the lust forests of West Virginia and down on in to Tennessee. The excitement of finding our way into Memphis - driving along Elvis Presley Boulevard and threading our way through the beautiful tree lined suburban streets to 1579 Vinton Avenue (the address that we had been addressing our mail to for nigh on 50 years), was an experience and a memory that we both still cherish today.

Nigh on 50 years …………. and we all seemed to simply take up right where we left off. Despite the time - and the distance between us - we seemed to have so much quite naturally in common, and their home felt to us like a family home where one is naturally and entirely, unpretentiously, at ease. 

A metal sculpture on the patio deck that I christened "Dawg" during my conversations with it

1579 Vinton Avenue, Memphis

Their daughter Sarah and her (then boyfriend - now husband), Shane were staying with them at the same time, so it was a real family affair. They took us down to Beale Street where we took in some of the South’s legendary Blues …………. and canoeing on the flooded tree swamps of Arkansas a little way across the Mississippi River. Pat and I spent some very pleasant time wandering through Graceland soaking up the King’s history and legendary musical achievements. We visited Sun Studios and stood on the very spot where so many amazing numbers were recorded by Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and a host of other rock ’n roll greats too numerous to mention here. We spent the best part of a day at the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated, and which is now a Civil Rights Museum ………… shades of our South African heritage, but somehow considerably darker in many respects.

Sarah, Carl, Pan, Pat, me, Shane 

Down in Beale Street

Guess who? At Sun Studios

Yours truly at the spot where Elvis recorded 'That's all right Mama"

A free concert at the Levitt Shell in Memphis

With Carl, Pan, Sarah and Shane at the Levitt Shell

Bob Dylan's comments on the phenomenon that was Elvis Presley 

The Memphis bridge across the Mississippi

The Lorraine Motel with a wreath where Martin Luther King was standing when he was shot - replicas of the original vehicles are in the parking lot below

The Memphis Cathedral was designed by Carl’s grandfather and warranted a visit with his obviously proud grandson …………. a special building in a legendary American city where the suburban streets abound with some truly lovely southern homes. Leaving Memphis …….. and our friends …….. was really very bittersweet.

Elements of the Cathedral designed by Carl's Grandfather

Detail makes the difference

A quite special building

Then a day or two ago we found a card in our Bathurst Post Box saying there was something to be collected at the little Post Office in the village. It seems that things do eventually reach here ………….. it was a housewarming / 50th Anniversary / Christmas gift from Pan and Carl. Two very beautiful butterfly printed dish cloths made and marketed by their daughter-in-law Kim, (and to give all you locals a better picture - very much along the lines of what Tori Stowe does so very well here in our village).

This little gesture really meant so much to us both …………. thank you guys - this is really what lasting friendships are all about, and these two cloths will really be cherished. All that remains now is for us to convince you that Bathurst is the Centre of the Universe and really worth a visit. There are ties that bind, however obscure or distant - ties that will not, and cannot be ignored - ties that really do make life worthwhile.

Our 6 York Road bird this week is the Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens) - a somewhat shy, but fairly frequent visitor to our garden, and one that is always welcome.

Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens)

Oooooh ........ What a Month That Was

Well, we’re into February and 2019 is well underway. This first month of our first approaching full year in Bathurst has been an eye-opener in a great many ways, and almost daily we count the blessings showered upon us by just being here. 

The Christmas and New Year period brought myriad visitors to this little village and a festive spirit pervaded each new day …………. then suddenly it was all over and the quiet returned. But that quiet was really very superficial in many respects - underneath it all there has been a veritable whirlwind of social events involving an ever increasing number of the new friends and acquaintances that have become an almost daily part of our lives.

Jon Pieters at whose home we spent Boxing Day braaing with our family along with his and a host of other residents, came out of hospital about 10 days ago following open heart surgery and a difficult recovery period. Tom Barrett and myself popped up to see him yesterday and spent a delightful hour or two chatting to him and learning plenty more about each other. During our chat Jon (who wrestled for his country and fought his final bout for SA in Scotland at the ripe old age of 57), quietly stated that the 25-odd years that he has been in Bathurst have been the happiest and most contented of his life. They have everything they need, and while there are obviously some things they would like, they want for absolutely nothing despite a very limited income …………… and I think that this is very true of most of Bathurst’s inhabitants. He also expressed his really heartfelt gratitude to all the people of Bathurst for the utterly selfless concern and help that they have all proffered during this very difficult time for him and Yvonne………..and this includes everyone he said - from those who have it all, right down to those who have absolutely nothing. The “most caring community in the world” was how he put it.

Tom in turn related a wonderful anecdote about a dwarf resident of Bathurst and Ernie Els ……….. a story I will definitely copy into the next issue of this blog.

Having said all that, and wishing Jon a really speedy recovery from hereon forward, let’s get back to the whirlwind of social events. 

We were landed with the hosting of the Bathurst Birthday Club’s January/February birthday celebrators’ Saturday “do” on the 19th of Jan., and what a lovely afternoon it was - everybody brought a plate of something and one (or a lot more), of their favorite tipple, and the afternoon was spent gossiping, interacting, drinking, eating ………. and simply having fun.

The following Thursday we enjoyed a really pleasant ‘Sundowners’ braai next door at David Forsdyke’s home (much the same pattern applies - a plate of food and your preferred tipple), with the usual “office” gatherings for a bite at either the Plough or the Bistro on a Friday night…….this last Friday being the exception when a few of us went instead to enjoy a “Neil Diamond Tribute Evening” with the very talented Harry Lloyd at the Pig n Whistle. And so it goes on ……. yesterday evening Patrick and Michelle Rowley (Proprietors of the Ploughman’s Pub), celebrated their 30th Wedding Anniversary and invited the entire village to the Plough to share a pig on the spit, snacks and a disco with them …………. and a rollicking evening it was indeed. Congratulations guys - it couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple.................. this after catching up briefly with Mary Riley for a quick bowl of lunchtime fish 'n chips at the Bistro - happily she is partially up and about (to some extent), after having her leg broken by Tori's horse (see previous entry), but getting better quickly. Goodonya Mary.

In addition there is the now almost institutionalized live music at the Bistro on Sunday evenings …………. so pleasant to simply pitch up with a bottle of wine and enjoy the Musos doing their thing (and have a bite prepared by the indefatigable Annie if you are so inclined). There is of of course the Sunday Morning Farmers’ Market at Brian and Sandy’s place along the Kowie Road where everyone just goes to get their fresh veggies, free-range eggs, biscuits, cakes, quiches ……… and enjoy a bit of fresh air.

So as you can see, it has been a really busy time ………… never a dull moment in this remarkable little village …………. on top of which my team and I have been pushing hard to get the Cattery up and on its way toward completion. Plenty of hard work for this old sod each day, but a good feeling pervades at sunset when that sense of near exhaustion is put aside in favor of an ice cold Windhoek or a really chilled scotch and soda.

The weather has been really up and down most of January …… plenty of wind, temperatures up to 38 on occasion, a little bit of rain (though not nearly enough), and a couple of really exciting electric storms. The wind and rain turn the garden into a bed of dried leaves which have to be raked and piled on the compost heap, but literally overnight everything turns free after the rain and the grass begins to grow at a Formula 1 challenging pace.

Some days have brought the most remarkable golden light in the evenings, and took advantage one evening about a week ago to grab a few pics of “The Fortress of Faith” - St.John’s Anglican Church, which was consecrated in 1828 and till today remains the oldest structurally unaltered Anglican Church in South Africa. That same evening we had the most remarkable sunset and I managed to get a shot or two of the quality of light from our deck (see below).

Pat’s garden daily becomes a more exciting place to spend time in. The herbs were the first to make their presence felt, followed by the peppers, chillies, radishes, beans and now tomatoes. She has almost daily been cleaning, cooking and bottling Green Fig Preserve, and a nice little stockpile is building up. A whole host of other veggies have been planted in hills established along the bottom of the garden and pretty soon we should be reaping their produce as well.

The garden presents one with so many tingly feelings of simply “lekker” as one wanders through it - there is always something new flowering and the ‘little vistas’ that one is confronted with daily really do make life absolutely worthwhile.

Good news received during this first month now past also included confirmation that Pat’s sister Maureen and good friend Annie with be with us for a few days in March, and that Stoddard arrives on the 14th May to spend a few days with us before heading back to Sydney on the 19th.

Reckon that’s about it for this entry …………. this entry’s bird is the very shy Red-necked Spurfowl that occasionally comes to visit but stays well to the bottom of the garden.

Red-Necked Spurfowl (Francolin) (Pternistes afer)

The Fortress of Faith (Completed 1828)

Side view with stonework detail

The Bell Tower in the Golden light

The light 'Darkening'

From our deck later the same evening

The final glow

Colours through the rain

Peach Hibiscus - its First Blush

Simply Pretty

Raindrops resting

The Colour of Love

Puffadder under the blue table (It was dead - presumably killed by Chavane's dog Bruno who sustained scratches on his eye which needed treatment)

The bed in full flower

Looking the other way

Pinks and Reds and Yellows - all washed with green

Euphorbia flowers in the the large Coral tree

Colour peeking through everywhere

One of three Night Adders we have had around and about to date

Welcome 2019

Well - its a New Year, and it almost seems like its Christmas again…………… time just flies on by  and leaves us oldies staring into the future in amazement.

It was really good having all the kids here for Christmas ………. and the last minute drive-up from Cape Town on Christmas Day by Lee and Chavane really brought the whole celebration - and a late afternoon Christmas Dinner - together. What a super surprise! Would only that Stoddard , Nols and the kids could have been here as well.

We were so happy to see how well our children and Grandchildren slotted into the Bathurst lifestyle. Everyone quickly got to know the locals, and once again the amazing Mary Riley played a very special part  (before her unfortunate accident), in getting the little ones together with the Al Pacas, Levi (her riding horse), the donkeys and the “Evil Bastard” as Pete Mosley so aptly calls Mary’s Shetland - Apache …….. though this time around he was really quite well behaved, inflicting no further scars on the faces of my grandchildren. Thanks Mary ………. the time with your animals made their holiday very special. 

Unfortunately, hardly had the kids all left when Mary suffered a kick from Tori’s horse, Christmas, and had to go through to PE for (in her words), a ‘couple of screws’.  Needless to say the WhatsApp comments did the full circle - but we are all happy to hear that she is on the road to recovery and currently mending at her son’s home in Grahamstown. Get well soon girl!

Our first Christmas and New Year here in the Village was a revelation in so many respects. For a few days the village was literally overrun by visitors from all over South Africa - and the world. A walk down the street from our house to the Pig would garner a great many comments from people amazed at the fact that they simply could not get a meal anywhere - every option was ‘chock a block’. I took the opportunity to steer a few up to the Ploughman in the hope that they would find Michelle and Patrick’s fare satisfactory (it always is!), and it seems that the visitor figures to the Agricultural Museum (and the Ploughman), may have benefitted a little from my suggestions ……….. let’s hope so!

There were some really great evenings of music - at the Pig with Centrefold - at the Bistro with (Centrefold again - unplugged), a fantastic Dylan set by Stan the Man, a somewhat nervous few numbers by Caradoc, and an even more nervous solo by granddaughter Sanchia ………… all capped by the song of the season by Barry and Annie - an extremely beautiful rendition of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” ……….. exquisite …………… you two should really be top of all the hit parades ………………. and please don’t forget that you have to sing that one at my wake one day.

Boxing Day saw us share a braai at John and Yvonne’s (The Blacksmith’s) place up on the Waters Meeting road ……  a lovely afternoon with some great honky tonk piano by an 82 year-old legend in the district,  Lorna Els, and a beautiful piece of opera done by John’s daughter with accompaniment by Lorna.

Old Year’s night was low key and most enjoyable ………….. spent playing (and teaching), a bit of of pool with Lee, Chavane and our two Granddaughters  at the Pig ’n Whistle until the clock struck its magic hour. Relaxed, friendly and really fun.

The kids had all left by the time our respective birthdays rolled around so we just went with the flow - breakfast at the Bistro on Pat’s birthday and a braai in Port Alfred with some of the Davidson Clan on mine …………… followed by a few late-nite toots at the Pig courtesy of Gavin (the Proprietor), Carl (the Chef), and Tony and Callum behind the bar. Thanks guys ……. a most enjoyable little respite, and we didn’t even have to drive home …….. simply staggered across the road!

Doing a bit of work in the office on Pat’s birthday, I had occasion to go into the house for something, only to hear Jesse barking madly back in the office. I went to see what the problem was only to find her hysterically going at the corner where my desk drawers are. I figured there could only be a snake in there, so I removed her and went back to investigate with a piece of flat plastic that I was able to slide under the drawers ……. hissssssss - hisssssssss. Time to call in the Cavalry. Eric (Paroz) obliged as always and as we went in to the office he was able to grab the snake (a Night Adder), which had now moved, by the tail and plop it into his bucket for removal to the bush. This was the Paroz family’s third visit in as many weeks, with just a few days before a large Puff-adder which we found under the blue table on the grass having been removed by his dad, Etienne. The Puffy was dead - and we suspect that Chavane’s Pit-Bull Bruno may have killed it by whipping it  and caused himself to be scratched in the eye by its fangs for which he had to receive treatment. Never a dull moment here at No.6 York Road.

Never a dull moment indeed! At 3am on the 29th of January some idiot decided to smash the rear window of Lee’s brand new Ford Everest right outside our bedroom. Stupid, stupid, stupid! The car’s alarm light was flashing - our verandah light was on, and 6 people were sleeping within about 6 meters of the vehicle. The first ‘bang’ woke both Chavane and myself - a split second later the car alarm went off - Jesse went crazy - we all burst out onto the verandah ………………. and the idiot thief could do nothing but take off into the dark. Stupid, wanton destruction - with no hope of gain. What makes these idiots tick?????

On the bright side ………….. a walk around our garden everyday brings new visions of color and elements of excitement as new plants and trees break into bloom ……… and they are as numerous as the birds: 45 species identified in our garden to date ……. and counting. Watching Momma Drongo educate her offspring into the niceties of hunting insects is a pleasure I shall never tire of watching. What an amazing mother she is - and what an attentive youngster he/she is ………. this really is one of the best shows in the world - so much better than anything you might hope to find on TV, and we are simply the luckiest people in the world to have it all playing out in front of us right here in our back yard.

The weather this whole holiday period has been amazing, and while we do somewhat desperately need rain, the beautiful days are very conducive to being back on site this past week, allowing us to happily get on with what we are there for. 

This entry’s little bird is the African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta) …………… normally just another LBJ, but really quite beautiful.

African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta)

African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta)

BATHURST: WHERE EVERYONE IS SOMEONE

Terribly impersonal it can be …….. this blogging thing - especially when it comes to Christmas and New Year wishes …………. but once one has got it going there seems to be no way out:  I do promise however that our wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a 2019 that brings you everything you wish yourself are absolutely heartfelt to each and every one of you that reads this blog - we love you all.

Thursday the 20th was the evening we chose to celebrate our 50th Anniversary with family, old friends and those good Burghers of Bathurst whom we have gotten to know these past few months ……. most of whom we now consider friends. Anthony Caplan and his merry band, Richard and Steve, entertained us royally with everything from Blues to Spanish Flamenca ………… thanks guys, you really helped make the evening very special, and the feedback for the most part was that everyone really enjoyed themselves. Thank you all for coming and helping us celebrate this somewhat special occasion.

The week of hols so far with Caradoc, Liselle, Alyssa and Caden here have been lovely and relaxing - culminating in Sunday evening at the Bistro where once again we were royally entertained by a wide ranging group of musicians which included the guys from Centrefold, Marius with his very special guitar work, Cornelia and her very special brand of original songs - Stan finally sharing something gentle with us, Caradoc getting some hands to clap with his variety of covers …………. and finally Barry and Annie who once again blew us away with their very special and intimate blend of music which culminated in a most amazing take of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon. What a great evening!

Today we scooted up to Addo Elephant Park for a little wildlife fix - I know that Pat and I really enjoyed being so close to the Elephants again, and we just hope that this whole new experience of Alyssa and Caden will reap some long-term benefits. 

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone - have a great New Year, and enjoy this entry’s No. 6 York Road Bird of the week ……. A regular visitor, and becoming quite friendly: the Olive Woodpecker (Dendropicos griseocephalus)

CHATTING TO THE EARLY ARRIVALS

EVERYONE  GETTING TOGETHER

CARADOC TENDING FIRES

PICKING UP SIDES BEFORE THEY DISAPPEAR

THE KIDS ENJOYING THE GARDEN

GARDEN PARTY!!!

EVERYONE ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL EVENING

BARRY AND JOHN ENJOYING THE MUSIC

Olive Woodpecker (Dendropicos griseocephalus)

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.

50 YEARS ........ GONE IN A FLASH - BUT STILL COUNTING

Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina) 

Amethyst Sunbird Female (Chalcomitra amethystina) 

Female Amethyst Sunbird telling a Grey Sunbird to get its own dinner

Greater Double Collared Sunbird flying in for a drink

Crowned Hornbill waiting to raid the Bul-Bul nest

Crowned Hornbill trying raid the Bul-Bul nest but under attack from the parents

Night Adder at the bottom of our garden stairs

Remembrance of things past

A little tribute to Marcel this week - shallow as it may well seem. Having grown up in Pretoria both Pat and I have a bred in affinity for Jacaranda trees. The rich blue avenues of them that lined the Eastern Suburbs in spring and early summer created magnificent mauve archways for our bicycle rides to school - to friends houses - to the Hillcrest Swimming Pool on hot summer afternoons - the popping of the fallen flowers under our steel steeds’ tyres - a shady respite after the taxing climb up Roper street (our bikes were basic, heavy, no gears). Some years were better than others, and I can clearly remember as a boy of about twelve or thirteen turning east onto McKenzie Street from Duncan Street and being absolutely blown away by the sight before me. I remember stopping to soak it in and silently making a mental note to try to remember that sight always. I recall taking our children (younger then than I was by about three or four years) for drives in the area during early summer in the hope that they might catch the same mental imprint that I had, but I don’t recall seeing anything quite as magnificent as that first impression and the indelible memory that it left me with.

In our garden on the York Road boundary we have two huge Jacarandas, plus an extra one right next to them in the Corner Shop garden. They are so bright and beautiful and welcoming they do everything to bring those remembrances of things past flooding back each time we approach the property, or spend some time at the blue table in the garden.

Birds: One swallow doth not a summer make as the saying goes - but there are quite a few Barnswallows around now along with quite a few other migrants. We have been lucky enough to see a Purple- Crested Turaco (Lourie), a Black Cuckoo, plenty of Green (Redbilled) Wood-Hoopoes, some Cape Whiteye’s (happily chowing the aphids on the rose bushes), Dark-Capped BulBuls and literally hundreds of sunbirds. Today we had two Crowned Hornbills visit and call for some considerable time before moving on. We have plenty of Hoopoes now and quite a few Drongos who never cease to amaze me with their antics as they dive bomb insects spotted from their perches. Early morning in the garden is a veritable choir of birdsong, and Sunday midmorning Pat and I were attracted by a cacophony of sound coming from our large Chestnut tree. There were birds of every conceivable description diving, jumping and  screaming in a mass joint effort to dislodge or chase what could only have been a snake. After going down into the garden with the binocs and carefully studying the tree I caught a brief glimpse of a snake’s tail moving across from one branch to another …………. but that was all - I simply couldn’t find it again, and after about ten minutes the birds began to dissipate and things began to return to normal. A really fascinating phenomenon.

The early morning also brings other visitors ……….. a couple of days ago I looked through the living room to the deck - there was a Vervet monkey happily ensconced on the deck dining table chowing one of our peaches while a good dozen of his friends were playing Tarzan in the Wild Fig. No amount of shouting and clapping would budge them, but when I fired off a couple of pellet gun (sans pellets) shots, they quickly disappeared down George Street …………. no doubt to go and tackle some other unfortunate person’s fruit trees or veggie gardens.

We have now picked our second bunch of bananas since moving into the house, and search daily for signs of another developing bunch - but nothing as yet. The figs are coming along beautifully and we are looking forward to quite a few jars of Green Fig Preserve …………. that should be ready just about when the chillis start presenting themselves ………… Yum Yum - hot chilli and garlic in olive oil with Green Figs and some fine Brie from La Petit France in Hilton ……….. who could possibly ask for more?

This entry’s Bird is the Black Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus) with its quite mournful call ………… thanks for visiting us buddy!

Black Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus) 

Simply pretty

The Jacarandas on our pavement

Beautiful