Remarkable Similarity!

Having spent so long in my Pictures files I set them to randomly play as a slide show/screen saver! These two photos came up close to each other and I couln't help noticing the similarity!

Mammoth Job!

Can't believe the photos have taken so long to sort. I suppose my ineptitude with the DVD burning program could have something to do with it! So 3 DVDs later and I think we have all the pictures saved and we can put them on the TV as a continuous slide show so our guests can dip in and out of the 6+ hours show!!!
Was a bit dismayed to see the final DVD shots of the airport and our departure suddenly whizz back to Dolphin Beach and Duncan's departure for the Band of Brothers' Camp to be followed by our ladies day out in Stellenbosch but perhaps that's a good thing - end on something very positive rather than sad goodbyes!
So, the photo today is of a little bird who joined us for lunch at the Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch on our last Saturday in Cape Town!

Skype v In Person!

Back in Luddendenfoot and beginning to get used to the fact that we can't hear the sea, nor see Table Mountain. We have been catching up with family and friends and spent a lovely day with Pam and Pete on Monday after we'd had our hair cut with Michael. Skyping throughout our time in Cape Town meant that they felt very much a part of our experiences but it was good to actually chat in person.
Then we spent a good time on Tuesday with Harry who came over for a meal with us. He has passed his end of year exams and is finally on holiday, though working at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary to fill up the coffers! He regaled us with tales of his times in the different departments in Durham Hospital and the fact that he has been present at the birth of 2 babies, one normal birth and one caesarian but both little girls! It was lovely to see him in person too instead of on Skype as you see above!
Yesterday I spent hours trawling through the THOUSANDS of photos we took. Literally thousands. We have burned half of them onto a DVD and it took over 2 hours to play through so everyone beware - when you ask to see the photos - you may be some time!

Homeward Bound!

Back in Luddendenfoot and having a very lazy day today as we both feel really shattered.
The send off at Cape Town Airport was wonderful as the photos here show. Wonderful; we will never forget your faces as we walked through the barrier and to passport control; walking away from you and out of sight was very difficult!
It was such a lovely surprise to see Louis there as we didn’t expect him. We knew that Louise, Jacqueline, Michelle and Daniel were meeting us there and that Diane and Catherine were our drivers, but Louis was a surprise! They all stayed until midnight as our plane was delayed for 2 and a half hours due to an injury sustained by one of the flight deck crew!
The flight was good and we continue to be impressed with KLM. We managed to get some sleep and watch a couple of films. We had a 3 hour wait in Amsterdam and then found we had been upgraded on the little plane to Manchester. Wine in real glass glasses and coffee in proper cups. The food was very good too. It is funny though, we upper classes in the front 12 or so seats have a dividing curtain from the rest of the riffraff, so they don’t get jealous of our china and crystal I suppose!
We spent yesterday with Graham and Annie who drove up from Birmingham to see us and to catch up before they fly to Cape Town tomorrow. It seems really strange that we will be changing places with them. We had a good day, with fish, chips and mushy peas for lunch from Friendly Fisheries. That’s not an adjective describing the people, the village is actually called Friendly and they have a fish and chip shop; hence, Friendly Fisheries!
It was good to share and Duncan and I found ourselves finishing off each other’s stories, we were so excited about some of the things we were sharing!
It is so quiet. Yesterday was a lovely, sunny day and it was hot but there is no sound of the waves!
Our house is a surprise to us! We have forgotten some of the things we own! Oh, look at all these mugs! What a lot of glasses! Do we actually need so many wine glasses? Nice though they are!
Janet left the house immaculate for us – flowers in 3 vases, food in the fridge and lots of fruit in the fruit bowl and it was lovely to sit on our comfy settees and our bed...our bed is soooooo comfortable and a lot bigger than the one we have been sleeping on for the last 3 months. We have a lovely house here but it’s strange, we feel as if we are visiting. It’s like coming to a holiday cottage and thinking, “Oh, this is nice, we’ll be really comfy here for our stay!”
We have unpacked the suitcases and the washer has been very busy which means that the iron is on standby. I think we are both looking around and eyeing up all our possessions with a view to a massive car-boot sale or getting our heads round e bay!
So we are back, but in a sense we can continue calling the blog “Curries in Cape Town” because there is a big part of us that is, and will always be there!

Last Blog from Cape Town!

Last Snapshot!

South African English, English South African

We both speak English, but there are beautiful differences in the way we use it. ‘Is it’ is often used as a filler in a sentence to respond to news.
‘We fly home to the UK today.’
‘Is it.’
It’s used more as an exclamation than a question.

The other beautiful use of language is dropping the personal pronoun from the end of a sentence. For example: We wish you could all ‘come with’.

Household

So, our last Household meeting last night, and guess what - there was food!
We have shared Wednesday fellowship with a fantastic group from the church; shared worship, dance, word and testimony in Derrick and Theresa's house and it was very hard to say goodbye.
We were given many reassuring words of prophecy and we know that geography doesn't matter, we are knitted into this body and they love us. How they love us. They prayed for us and then we ate pizza!
The evening finished with Dominique and Theresa each having a go driving Charlene's new BMW sports car! Theresa zoomed off into the distance and we will see her again next time!

Check this story out!

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fscitech%2F2010%2F07%2F21%2Fwhale-leaps-water-lands-couples-sailboat%2F%3Ftest%3Dfaces&h=42cf9

Check this out - I think this is "our" whale!

Wild Nature
Whale Leaps From Water, Crushes Sailboat

Published July 21, 2010 FoxNews.com




capetownsailing.co.za

The 33-foot southern right whale soared out of the water off Cape Town, South Africa, and landed on a sailboat, snapping the mast.

If you play with fire, you get burned. Or crushed, it appears.

Photographs show a 33-foot southern right whale soaring out of the water off Cape Town, South Africa, and landing on a couple's boat, nearly destroying it. But reports indicate that the 40-ton beast was provoked into the attack -- and local officials are investigating.

The couple, Ralph Mothes and Paloma Werner, posted pictures of the incident on a Facebook page associated with their company, Cape Town Sailing Academy.

The couple detailed the incident in a typo-laden post on the social-networking site:

"While taking some pictures we decided to had back when a southern right whale, between 11 - 14 m long, breach about 100 meters away from us and then suddenly breach about 10 meters from us and then on us. We where sailing had no engine of so we could not even take any action. Scary!"

Mothes said his 32-foot steel boat had held up well, sustaining no structural damage despite the right whale's massive bulk.

Reports suggest that the couple's harassing behavior may have incited the whale, however, leading the local Department of Environmental Affairs to launch an investigation. Several people came forward to say a boater had broken the law by approaching the whale, reported one local news agency.

The couple tells a different story. They point out that because this particular species of whale navigates by sound -- and has poor eyesight -- it may have simply not heard the sailboat.

"Our boat's engine was off and so the whale just didn't know we were there," Paloma Werner told the BBC.

"We were just the wrong boat, in the wrong place, at the wrong time."

Werner and her partner Ralph reportedly first saw the whale in the distance. They floated for an hour watching. "It appeared about 120 meters away from our boat and then it went under the water again," she told the BBC.

"A few moments later, I saw it resurface just 10 meters away. Suddenly I heard my partner shout, and when I looked around, I saw the huge thing breaching onto the deck.

"Instinctively, I took cover as the mast came crashing down. I saw my partner, Ralph, dive for cover behind the yacht's wheel. Then the whale slid down the side of the boat and back into the water."

"As soon as I realized that we were unhurt, we checked to see how much damage had been done.

"Luckily, we weren't taking on water so we started the engine and headed for shore. I saw the whale reappear further away.

"When we got back to land, I realized how lucky we were to have survived."

Penultimate Day

Had a wonderful last day with the students. Two lectures and then they all prayed and prophesied over us - they are amazingly accurate.
I cried and cried and cried! I will miss them all so much. They said some lovely things and we realised how much they love us too! To be accepted is a wonderful feeling, to be loved too even better! We will so miss this body, yet we know that we are still together despite the geography and it will be like pressing the pause button until we see them all again.
We then went to Moyo at Big Bay for coffee watching the waves and sitting in the very hot sun. Coffee turned to a Big Bay Breakfast for Duncan.
Then on the hunt for cardboard boxes to pack things in for Catherine, dear Catherine, to store for us.
A couple of hours on the balcony in the sun and then we will begin the packing process before Household at 7.30. There is talk of more food there!
Tomorrow we have to return the iburst so after that we will be out of radio contact until we get back to Luddendenfoot.
Catherine and Diane are taking us to the airport and Louise and family meeting us there. More food???

MBC Class of 2010

This is the great bunch of people we have spent our college days with and as you can see - they are a joy-filled bunch. From the outset they made us feel welcome and one of them and we have grown to love them all very much.
Tomorrow we attend our last 2 lectures as we have to pack and return the iburst to Canal Walk before we leave on Thursday so I thought I had better take the photos today, as my eyes may not be focusing too well through the tears tomorrow.
There are 10 photos on Facebook if you want to see more!
PS The one on the far right in stripes - Louis my surrogate son! Love you Louis!

Big Bay!

We went for lunch at Big Bay today as the sun was shining and it was so hot. We sat and chatted and felt in the holiday mood as we watched the surfers and lazy people lying in the sun!
This is the life!

Sunday Lunch with the Louws

How many Afrikaans women does it take to make lunch?
We had another lovely meal with Louise, Jacqueline, Michelle, Daniel, Catherine, Helga, Jean-Pierre, Jean-Frey, JP and Jessie! 12 for lunch! No wonder there was so much activity in the kitchen!Jacqueline was in charge of puddings, Helga in charge of coffee and we did a lot of eating!
Notice the defensive posture of Duncan, as the dog just didn't want to "SIT!"
We then returned to an incredible evening service where Andre preached on living in the third dimension and I AM!
What a grand finale to our stay here.

Duncan Bought A Beret!

Nothing else to say really!
My French husband poses before we went on a trip to Big Bay this afternoon!

Band of Brothers Camp

Yesterday was our last Sunday in Church - this trip! It was a truly remarkable day. At the 10am service we began and the men were returning in dribs and drabs from camp and it was really exciting. Many of them were sporting their BofB tee shirts, printed especially for the occasion and the testimonies were wonderful to hear. Our men came back different and with more of God!
The picture is blurred but this is Duncan giving his testimony, being 'supported' by Gavin. Duncan had got to know many of the men much better, Gavin being one of them, and he was very emotional as he shared his experiences of the week end.
The service was one of the best we have had, especially the worship, which culminated in the dancers making a narrow path for the rest of the church to walk through rejoicing. I can't adequately describe it, it was awesome and the presence of God moved many of us to tears.

Ladies Day Out!

What a stunning day in every way. The sun was hot, hot, hot as we set out to Stellenbosch with Catherine at the wheel,Helga and Dominique in the back!
We went to Spier wine farm and walked around the grounds and the luxury hotel and then had our faces painted! They all got pretty, pretty flower designs but I looked like a Zulu warrior!
Then we had brunch beside the lake watching the ducks and the enormous fish rise to the surface to snatch the bread that most of the patrons were providing. The mountains formed a stunning backdrop to our feast.
Then on to see a tiger/leopard/cheetah and several owls and birds of prey before submitting to the torture of the hair braiding!
Into the town centre for a walk around and a scrummy ice cream - get this - we made our selection from the impossible choice - they all looked so yummy - and when we got to the till there was a sign saying "Cash only!"
We didn't have enough!
Did they whip our ice creams away and replace them in the tubs? No!
"Come back and pay me later!" the lady behind the counter said!
"Come back and pay me later!!!" Incredible!
We did go back when we had been to the cash point and she was the one who took this photo for us! Priceless!
We headed home via Paddocks for goodies to eat at Chantal's where we ended the day with a loud and raucous game of 30 seconds.
Wonderful, wonderful day, Ladies. Thank you so much! XXXX

English Visitor!

Little Lisa Stones is in Cape Town! I know, according to Steve, her dad, that she is nearly 6 feet tall now, but she will always be 'Little Lisa Stones' to me!
I most remember her when we led the Youth Group at Dewsbury Church. On one production of Heaven's Gates Hell's Flames, one of the many times I was dragged off to Hell, screaming, for my unrepentant sinful life, Lisa would be waiting for me 'back stage'every night, to give me a hug.She never said anything, just hugged me as she realised how powerful the experience was for all those of us going 'down' and she had picked up how it made me feel. She was always a rock - never mind a Stone(s)!
Well, she is here for 3 weeks on a field trip with Uni. (Huddersfield was the furthest I went on University field trips!) and went up Table Mountain yesterday. Her e mail said how steep it was and how had we found it on our trip up on Monday! Mmmm, we found it pretty easy - in the Cable Car!!!
We will try to see her on Monday before she travels north on Tuesday and we fly home on Thursday!

Bye Bye Duncan!

For the first time since we have been here I am going to be on my own! Duncan is leaving me to go and pick Derrick up and drive to the Band of Brothers Camp at Hermanus. I am sure he will have an incredible time there and that they will eat an awesome amount of meat too! Ug!
The Camp is fully booked and I think the retreat where it is held caters for about 60, so the guys should have an amazing time together.It is where we went to the Summit Conference on our first visit to Cape Town last year; a beautiful place.
I am actually looking forward to spending a bit of time "separated" this evening as I have a lot to talk to God about!
Tomorrow I will not be on my own as Catherine and Helga are planning a day out to Stellenbosch to visit some more Wine Farms. I am looking forward to that very much.
Sunday will be a different day in church without many of our men folk in the 8am service and only returning part way through the 10am one. I am looking forward to hearing Theresa preach as she is an excellent teacher in the Bible College.

And Another...

No Comment Required!

Our mountain this morning!
Stunned into silence again!

"MINE!"

Couldn't resist.
If you haven't seen "Finding Nemo" this blog will be meaningless to you, so just click on "close" and move swiftly on!
If however, you are a Nemo fan vote here. (Or make a comment below!)
Annie, this one's for you! XX

Calimares with Chilli Orange Butter!

As promised in the previous blog - my meal!
Yummy yum yum!

The Waterfront!

"Your driver awaits!" was our phone message at just after 12 and there was Catherine, outside the Hotel waiting to take us out to the Waterfront. She sorted us out again as soon as she saw the weather was good and she knew we wanted to visit the Waterfront again before returning to the UK. She had arranged her day in order to take us and we know that she was off to work at 6am this morning to make up the time! She is such a good friend.She even drove via dockland so that Duncan could actually say he had been on Duncan Dock!
So we met up with Louise, Michelle and Daniel and parked in the most luxurious and expensive hotel in Cape Town as we would be having tea there later! I say "we parked" but as you can see, "we" didn't but 'Oddjob' parked for us and allowed me to take his photo too!
So off we went and what a day of joy and laughter we had. We laughed so much that the tears poured at times.
We had a wonderful meal overlooking the harbour - I may well put the photo of my calimares in chilli orange butter sauce on the next blog for you to see! Yum! Oh yes, eating again! The diet starts when we get back! Too happy yumming it all up here and not bothered about the weight at present!
We then did the shops and just had a ball.
Then, much later than we realised, we returned to the Posh hotel and sank into the lovely settees and had tea/coffee/hot chocolate with rum in front of the huge fire.
Thank you Catherine, Louise, Michelle and Daniel for a wonderful day. We love you all so much and will miss you dreadfully.

PS The giant, red sculpture is made entirely out of Coca Cola crates!

Table Mountain Cafe and Gift Shop

Everything in here comes up the cable car: Kit-Kats, coffee, baked potatoes, muffins. In the gift shop: teeshirts, beany hats, Table Mountain wine and posters.

It occurs to me looking at the paper plates that everything goes back down the same way, too: waste paper, packaging, empty bottles, cans, people, gifts for people.

More of The Mountain!

I could spend all day uploading shots!
But we're off The Waterfront with Catherine today so haven't got time!
Camera battery on charge so watch this space!

On Table Mountain!

Which of the 272 photos do I put on the blog?
All the world at our feet.
As we ascended in the cable car, a Swiss design that actually revolves as you travel, the mist was covering the Cape Town side of the mountain; but as we wandered about in the clouds, they all cleared and brilliant sunshine allowed us to see forever.