Hullo Friends and family
Don and I, Robin and Yan, have just spent a glorious time in South Africa. And looking back over it all Don and I realise once again how blessed we are. For us, having two months with friends and family has been a wonderful interlude filled with laughter and friendship and in the words of Kalil Gibran “for in the Dew of Little Things, our heart has found its morning and is refreshed.”
Our time spent in Cape Town with Frank and Anne who put themselves out for the four of us in their beautiful home, spoiling us rotten with sumptuous food, and lovely experiences, was beyond our expectations. For Don and I particularly it was a time of renewal revisiting the towns and places we had with Kath and Des years before and more recently for me, with Kathi when we ran Overland and Undersea Safaris. Our spirits soared with all the memories and the sharing of our experiences which was something that we dreamt of so often during ocean passages on Katrine. It was totally cathartic in that sense and a necessary closure for our still-longing minds.
In another, spending time with salt of the earth people, so positive and serene in attitude allowed us to view a New South Africa with open hearts and minds. In return we were met by Africa’s people with smiles and greetings without exception. What a wonderful homecoming and first touchdown it was.
It was good to see Cynthia and hear of our kids in Australia and to see those wonderful photos which make us yearn to go and visit too one of these days.
Malcolm and Ulrike did us proud as always. Our few days spent in the quaint little town of Calitzdorp with them where they have a cottage and our wine-tasting expedition will remain fuzzily in our memories for months to come. The bottles and bottles of “breakfast” wines and champagnes that took preference of place in the car boot sadly eventually came to an end. There is no doubt that South Africa has the best wines in the world. Thanks Bernard for your birthday party and we now await your visit.
It took 3 days of driving through the Eastern Cape and a stay at the Moutain Zebra Park, then Golden Gates in the Free State and from there a long drive to Barberton with Jenny and Brian at their Guest House. It was a peaceful time in a beautiful garden which Jenny has admirably built up from scratch and which we raided for fresh herbs! It was a time of sharing of family in Sue and Greg with our yesterdays now beyond recall. We have all been downsized by our sorrows but thankfully, been left with open hearts. Thank you both for your hospitality.
Then on to the Kruger National Park which has to be one of the most incredible experiences that is still truly African in South Africa. And only because I am special, I was sent a gift. Sitting on a bench overlooking the river at Skakuza one mid-day as the rest of our family were having a Power Nap, I was passing the time of day with an Israeli youngster and an African tour guide, when we caught sight of a leopard stalking an Impala. We watched in breathtaking awe the whole kill from beginning to end, played out in front of us. The guide had a movie camera with which he managed to record most of it, although on re-play there was a lot of sky and earth at the crucial moments!
Our days were filled with early morning breakfast runs, a pride of lions, a cheetah with a kill, spotting all of the Big Five and the excitement of a “mock” elephant charge. Robin is still convinced it was the real thing, and who can blame him with that great beasty baring down on one; especially when you are in the driver’s seat with nowhere to escape! Thanks Cris and Jeanette for taking the time to come all the way to the Park to visit. We will always associate you with our early Kruger visits and this time was as much fun.
A few days spent in Hazy View as a catch up and the most amazing food at the Ant and Elephant – Now that’s value for money! But an increase in the waste-line for sure.
And then on to Natal and “home”
And as the rolling hills of ‘Maritzburg came in to view we heaved a sigh. Home at last!
Robin and Yan decided to return to keep the home fires (and the chillis) burning in Langkawi and we settled in with family and friends.
It was heaven.
Cheryl and Vere opened their hearts and their home to us and we will be eternally grateful for all that you did. Thank you for making it possible to be with our family and thank you for the time we spent with all our many, many, MANY friends who wined and dined us like there was no tomorrow.
The one big reason for us deciding to come back to SA this time was to take part in Kaths Memorial day at the Stella canoe club in Durban. As it happened, the weather turned absolutely foul. Thank you those special friends and family who took the trouble and braved the elements to be with us. Thank you Oz and Jules for winning!! We were SOO proud of you and cant wait for you to claim your first prize – and visit us on Katrine! Thanks Lyn and Livio, Vanessa and baby Caleb, Mish – especially – Chris who has always stood by us, and our other wonderful family – Sue, Richard, Rayson, Nikki, Robyn, Chris and Pixie for braving the cold to paddle – even though not always upright! And thanks Rebecca for helping Oz to win by not paddling!
Thank you ALL of our friends who were so good to us – Roy and ML, Hennie and Angie for the loan of accommodation, Jules for the loan of wheels that gave us so much freedom and Cherry and Alec who didn’t grouse about having to take us to the airport at such an ungodly hour! Thank you the Pavid’s for giving us your time, to the Parlay guys and to our dear friend Chris for all the running around you did to get to see us. Thanks James and Mish, Gary and Wendy, Trevor and Lyn and Tom, Tig and Lors and Clint, (cant wait for your visit) Ken and Linda (so sorry we missed your party) Bev my friend whom I didn’t get enough of, Bob and Chris, Helen and Neil – we were so sorry time ran out to visit you at home and to see our beloved Pemba – Russell and Jan whom we didn’t get to the berg with – next time – and the many others whom I haven’t mentioned.
And our family! Bobby – we miss you already. Mary and the girls. It was so good to be with you; to walk and talk and share again and I am SO proud to be part of your family. Rob and Anne – such special times, Colin and Elaine as well – time went too fast, and for Lyn and Livio, Vanessa and Thane for the wonderful meal that I am still dreaming of. Sue, and Richard, Robyn, Rayson and Rebecca – one weekend wasn’t enough, but our time together was the best. Thank you for taking the time and travelling to be with us. And last but not least our folks. Laurie and Mom, thank you for your patience and your love. I know it didn’t seem enough time that we spent with you, but thank you for giving us space and for always being there. We appreciate and love you so very much.
We are now back on our beloved Katrine who fared well but missed her T.L.C. which we are now making up for.
The mountain backdrop to the bay is hazy purple, shrouded in mist most of the time and cascaded by waterfalls for the rest. Paddy fields are bright iridescent green, water buffalo caked in shiny grey mud. The kampong (Village) houses are washed clean by the rain and the villagers are out with their big smiles in the morning, broad grins and their shyly spoken “selamat pagi” (good morning) We settle into the cockpit and watch the fish eagles soar overhead calling for the titbits they have missed while we have been away. Dolphins pop up to greet us and a monitor lizard waddles its way along the beach.
And we sigh.
We are truly home.
We miss our friends and our family with aching hearts, but longing for our past is something we can never get back. The memories, thankfully, will always be in our minds. How could one ever forget the smell of sweetpeas, the scent of the Karoo feinbos the tang of kelp? …..How could we ever forget all of you.
And so our dear friends, as we think of the past
How our lives have all linked, with a thread that will last
The fabric is strong, its woven in gold,
With memories and stories told and retold.
We have treasured our times,(only mentioned a few)
Being back in SA our past to renew,
Thank you for touching our lives in your way
And making us smile, thinking back on each day.
Thank you for giving your love and your sharing
For making us welcome and also your caring
You are our family who makes us feel whole –
But for now…..
We are Malaysian people with an African Soul.
Our love and sincere thanks to Robin and Yan who helped us reach for a dream and without whom we would never have been able to return
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