Catching up

Sunday cont. After our interesting drive sat in the sun and read my book. To Sirocco restaurant on the Thiemens Island waterfront for delicious calamari, fish, sushi and chocolate brownie. This was our treat for Stan and Mette and was excellent value at R900 for all 4 of us with excellent De Greuvel wine (R175) included. I found my diary in the car under the seat so that was a relief and have now put the remaining three addresses into the Tom Tom.

Monday Stan had a meeting about the Knysna literary festival so we had a quiet time  and a nice chat to Ann on Skype and then set off with Mette to go on the ferry to Featherbed reserve. We boarded a car pulled by a truck to the top of the hill in glorious sunshine and then walked down with a walking stick which was a great help (wish I had had one on Mt Sinai). A 2.2 km walk. I did not attempt the Needle point rocks or the sea cave. A lovely buffet lunch with loads to eat. We went to the Food lovers market and bought spices. Worked on making some videos from the photos and reading watching the sunset. Had g and t and saw a bulbul. Lovely fish and stir fry for dinner and reminiscing – a perfect day. Met Stan’s friends from Marlow on our return.

Wednesday we packed up and set off for Plet saying farewell to lovely Knysna. It was not a long drive and we found Colin’s unit easily. To call it a unit is an understatement. It has 5 bedrooms and a spacious lounge and living area interlinked to the kitchen. A beautiful balcony with panoramic view of Kierbooms river mouth and beach. An inviting swimming pool in the garden but weather was not great. At least it didn’t rain! The cleaner was at work when we arrived so a wait on the balcony then we got our luggage up the 45 steps. We went to Monkeyland off the road to Humansdorp and had a guided walk through the forest seeing 9 of the 10 species running wild. Ring tailed lemur, black and white ruffed lemur, squirrel monkeys, howlers, Vervets, capuchins. Had a toasted sandwich and rooibos and then to Birds of Eden. This is the largest free flight aviary in the world with numerous species.  It was fascinating to watch the weaver birds and finches, flamingos, crowned and blue cranes, hornbill, parrots, macaws, lorikeets, Knysna louries, marmosets! Quite stunning.

Shopped at Pick and Pay and got the TV working – couldn’t get Stan’s to work last night! The pictures and decorations are lovely based around blue and birds everywhere. Lovely family photos – a real holiday home! No trace of internet here!

Thursday 17^th Good breakfast admiring the stunning view. Did some tai chi as I am stiff from no swimming, some walking but little exercise! Drove to Storms River bridge which is stupendous. Then a 500 m walk to the Big Tree – an Outeniqua yellowwood 1000 years old. A lovely drive through the Tsitsikamma reserve to Storms Rover mouth. These are the mountains we can see from the unit. The boat ride was exciting taking us out over the huge breakers on the ocean and then up the river gorge under the suspension bridge. Spotted the honeymooners we saw on the Langa tour and at Monkeyland! Wonderful rock formations towering above us and a cave with bats. Had cheesecake and ice cream and spent a lot in the excellent shop! A drive to Nature’s Valley and rain held off – another nice spot. To internet café in Plet and tried in vain to get through to Heythrop for my results. Earlier at Storms River I had logged in without a problem but my password has now been changed! No emails have come about others results so presume they have not been posted as yet!

Wrote report for Catenian provincial council on Tuesday which I will miss.

Have been thinking about my life. Now the degree is done I am free to think about what I really think needs to be done. Dialogue is top priority especially with Muslims. The spiritual direction course is also a good avenue to pursue with attendant courses on spirituality. It would be great to get back to some serious singing too. As far as organ playing is concerned, I am content. Some seem to want to expand the choral aspect at the church with carols and evensongs but Debbie remains a serious obstacle to that!  The recent experience shows that I can do recitals and I should think about pursuing that path occasionally.

As far as commitments are concerned Monday is mosaic and tai chi although I am at the point where I could just do mosaics at home. Tuesday might become a watercolour day. Wednesdays will be for Sean and Ciarán now Louise is back at work. Catenians will continue to occupy some time and of course the interfaith groups.

The sad thing is the lack of passing on of music to younger generations and the lack of work for others. I am haunted by the sad face of the little child in Langa. His existence in that tiny shack is just as bad as Mandela’s in his cell. Indeed one could do an interesting study of barred rooms in this country. The rich whites sit behind bars as well! Has much really changed here? It’s sad to think of the rich in their huge homes and the poor in their little overcrowded rooms. 

Stan spoke about rich whites only to prepared R150 a day to servants whereas he is paying more and paying for the son of the maid to go to school and other things as well -  a truly practical involvement. And he will continue this even though they are moving to Cape Town. It would be good to know of other OJs who are doing similar things.