Blog 48: My fifteen seconds of fame.

Last week whilst slothing on the couch watching television (yip again!) I casually glanced at my cellular device and like that, my mood changed. My friend had a weekend up for grabs! “Were we interested in utilizing it?” Was I interested – Pfffff! yeah right! Like “um no thanks, not for me!”  I know, I know we have recently returned from a road trip, but come on now dear reader who does not fancy a road trip? And this one was not much traveling it was in the next, perhaps a hood or two from where we live – so of course I tried – don’t think I succeeded in nonchalantly replying – “hm if it’s still available I guess we could help you out and take it”. Well dear reader by now I was rod straight, sitting as upright as one can possibly sit on a couch whilst repeatedly glancing at my cellular device to see if it indeed was going to culminate in a weekend away. Worry wart Dizz pondered if in the time it took me to notice the what’s app, she could have asked another party? Oh, woe was me as I stared, stared and stared some more willing my phone to beep there was a message. Well, it did beep, aplenty but not from said friend! Ok, relax Dizabeth – I did that whole “if its meant to be it will be” sermon to myself, but we all know, that’s a comfort sentence, nothing more! Let’s be honest and in all reality, it doesn’t really comfort one when it doesn’t “be” does it? The added stress factor here was dearest Dizabeth had been like a blady megaphone and told Gary that there was a potential weekend away in the pipeline so each time my blady phone pinged it was both of us with ants in our blady pants! Comforting ourselves with the “if it’s meant to be” routine.  And then that ping I was waiting for lit up my cellular device. “It’s yours – enjoy!” and that we most certainly did – thanks a trillion Marcel & Riaan.

We arrived on the Friday late arvi. Scoop one on this adventure it seems the whole of South Africa goes away and to Crystal Springs. The cars queuing at the entrance gate – wow! Anyhow, Gary suggested I jump out the car and race to queue for sign in – now this dear reader he probably would never admit – however I do believe he silently regretted he had suggested this! When he finally found a parking and joined me – there was Dizabeth very rustig in the queue as I sipped on a welcoming Sherry! I know right! That alone a clear indication of a damn fine weekend ahead! The lady (we would learn later she was the events lady for the kiddies, the adults and everyone in between, playing hula hoop round the pool, gathering the peeps for various activities. Anyhow, there she stood welcoming us. With her were the Spa ladies, the horse-riding committee, the dance lessons troop – the whole shebang. I must add at this point, in fact I even voiced my thoughts to this welcoming party lady as we stood in the queue. The whole feel was so “Dirty Dancing” vibe. Remember when the family arrives for their holiday at that resort, this was the exact feel! Tall, short, fat, thin, old and young families all signing in each (well not everyone but most definitely the likes of Dizabeth sipping our Sherry with relish!) right down to the early Monday morning evacuation as everyone heads home.

Cheers-ing to a Friday arvi Sunset

With signing in behind us, we headed to our unit! It was perfectly perfect. Fireplace included.  The sunset we experienced while we sipped on our first drink was breath taking. Lucky I had decided to preplan a meal so we didn’t have to worry to much about making salads and the likes – I thought we would braai on the Saturday night. The sun had set as we chatted leisurely – now here I must add there was a bit of an irritation! The people next door! Oh, my blady giddy aunt! Frikken hell they were loud! There were four of them but my word I know all about the one in particulars lifetime, from the blady day him and his eight siblings were born in Malelane – then moved to Barberton – his army days – the death of his one sibling – on and on he went! Toughees for the rest of the party – they hardly got a word in! Digressing slightly there, so we chitty chatting and next thing we are sitting in complete darkness. Now dear reader remember I have mentioned to you that we don’t experience load shedding. So, we both sat patiently waiting for the power to surge back up – nothing, I suddenly twigged checked my watch and sure enough it was just after 7pm! On the Sunday afternoon I had booked a game drive, we only got back at 6.30 – oh my giddy aunt you should have seen dearest Dizabeth blitzing through the fridge, she whipped up dinner in fifteen minutes. But no that wasn’t my of fifteen seconds of fame moment. On Saturday morning we lounged around the pool. I know! It was an extremely unpleasant moment for the other residents who were simply there to enjoy a morning around the pool. They were forced to wear their sunnies as Dizabeth exposed her winter bod to the sun! We also indulged in a jacuzzi or two which was fun – and there were three heated pools, so of course I swam! Generally, that is an “activity” strictly only followed in Mid-February when the pool water is bubbling its so warm.

Saturday sunset

We most certainly didn’t think through our activities! On the Saturday after, yip dear reader you read correctly, after we had soaked in the jacuzzi and bobbed around in the heated pool we went for a hike! Yip, I know! Where is the logic! That’s the Robbertze’s for you – you would swear they were related to the Adams Family! Anyhow, as I was saying we set out, it was lovely, the wildlife we encountered was amazing, the red clay dusty road – not so much! I have showered plenty since then and the backs of my feet, yip still strips of clay – like a blady tattoo! Impossible to get rid of! Anyhow so we headed out on our hike. Happiness. Until it wasn’t happiness. Oh, my giddy aunt we walked, walked and walked some more. It was extremely hot! Gary decided he wanted to get a closer shot of the Eland well by now, oh yes, I forget to mention one small glitch in our walk. As we had already jacuzzied and swum I was too lazy to replace my socks, so there I was walking with my regular walking shoes and no socks! You will NEVER realise the real purpose and importance of socks until you don’t put them on and go hiking! I will leave it at that! So, Gary is trying to get closer and closer to said antelope to take a photo of it! Never mind the fact that he is wearing his bright floral shirt and luminous shoes! It was for this reason I didn’t believe he would have much luck, so headed for  home! One small digression (yes another one!) Gary had asked me to hold his water as he tried for this once in a lifer shot with the blady Eland! By the time he made it back to the unit he was extremely red in the face, gasping for a sip of water whilst dearest Dizabeth had actually had to stop and step into the bushes to relieve herself as she had had water aplenty! He swore that was the last time we would be hiking together, must say I still can’t understand what his issue was! (Kidding).

Sunday Sunset

On the Sunday we headed to Pilgrim’s rest. We hadn’t been there in a couple of years, last time was a fairly trying experience however this time was pleasant. Perhaps it was the fact that we were there fairly early, and the crowds had as yet not surfaced. I found the most beautiful wind chime, which thanks to load shedding (yip again) it was a case of “Yay I am loving my new wind chime” to “Hm I don’t think it’s going be mine” back to “Yay its mine” “Nope its not meant to be” (I know!) as the old dear tippy toed with her card machine – reached for the stars and signal and finally did a happy dance when my payment went through. And since I hung it we haven’t had even one “that windy a day”  – damn it! We also visited the graveyard. Its unbelieavable how young they died back in the day. I took a photo of the Robbers grave. He is buried opposite to the rest of the graves – anyhow I took the photo and suddenly has a “Pet Cemetery” (Stephen King) moment – imagined being haunted by the robber so quickly deleted the photo from my phone and then from the “recycle bin”.

I surprised Gary with a Game drive on the Sunday afternoon so he could rely on the Game drive guy to track the Eland enabling Gary to take a photo of the Eland regardless of whether he (no not the blady Eland dear reader, Gary!)  was wearing a floral shirt with luminous footwear or not.

If you never saw this car – I am afraid to say you weren’t you Pilgrim’s Rest

We stayed over the Sunday night – what a difference it makes to the weekend – we drove home early bells Monday morning.

 And on that note, we have reached the end of this week’s blog and I still haven’t mentioned my fifteen seconds of fame! I decided to take my watercolour pad and planned to paint – well yip – you guessed, that didn’t turn out as planned. On the Saturday morning I happened to be looking through the pad at previous works of “art” when a lady from across the pool smiled. I casually smiled back – that was the opening she needed – she ambled over with her mom. She asked if I would mind showing her mom the paintings – well these two made me feel so great about myself – and ended up scooping my paintings – I do believe one of the most pleasing moments in my day is when I make someone else’s – and on that Saturday morning, at the pool that’s exactly what I did! These two ladies were truly so happy.

And that dear reader is all she wrote for now.

Remember always be kind to yourself.

Take care till next time mwah mwah