The mast se...

Yes. The mast se... pretty much describes how you feel after you've cycled up to it. I should really take a pic from my house, to really explain how high the bloody thing is. You start on a gravel road but it eventually gets too steep so they had to tar the top part or the road would probably have just washed away.

Emma, Stevie Smith and I made the trip up on a Saturday morning. I'd been told it gets really cold at the top so I had gloves, scarf, warm top - the works.

But it was quite sunny at first. We admired the view. I would like to stress that we stopped for a photo, not beacause we were tired.

The guys were giving me a bit of a hard time beause of my lycra man pants.

I took these cos Stevie finally started walking. But the bastard got back on as soon as he saw my camera coming out. FAKER! LIAR! You'll notice Emma is too embarrassed to be seen.

As we came to a crest, having cycled through the clouds, the clouds swarmed below. Was quite pretty.

The proof we made it to the top.

I thought I was organised - Stevie brought Tempos for everyone.

Then going down - pretty huh?

And we saw this view of the other side of the mountain. This was on the way down - we saw NOTHING from the top... a mist came in.

Stevie on the way down.

I ended up hitting about 60kph on the way down and as I was doing so, hit a massive rock

(didn't see it, felt it)

Bike shook from there on and turns out I've put a nasty buckle in my front wheel.

A miracle I didn't fall.

Buckle aside, a bloody great way to start the day and another

thing to tick off the Valkenburg list of to do's before I die.

Birthday trip to the World of Birds

Cath was determined we were going to do something special for

lil Emma on her birthday - so we decided a World of Birds trip would be in order.

First up - Guineapigs - I was worried she'd squeeze em to tightly but she just stroked em.

Next - a parrot that wanted a piece of baby finger. It didn't get any though - dad watches baby like...

A hawk? No, flamingoes.

A hawk? No an owl.

A hawk? No, a different owl - a bunch of them actually.

A haw... okay, that's getting old now.

Mom points out a leopard in the distance.
Or it might have just been a bush.

Doh! A deer. Emma liked her.

Dad and Emma take a walk. And then a mimi-tantrum / head rest.

Tortoise sleeping quarters.

An angry baboon. We keep them angry here in SA by not feeding them and by prodding them with our spears.

And if you believe that, then you'll probably buy the whole 'we have Lions on our streets' thing too.

A peacock. I'll tail it!

World Cup photos

A few pictures from the World Cup... Cape Town style.

The Cape Town eye.

The world's largest vuvuzela. A lot of competition for that title is there?

Night lights.

Mrs Lloyd goes to Town (for the World Cup)

The following is an email I received from the mother of some friends of mine.
Angela and Heather, her daughters went to my church and are both great friends. Heather was really good friends with Maryanne, an old girlfriend and Angela, while not at my school (she was at Springfield), was always a good pit-stop on the walk home. She was also at Youth Club with me.

This is their mom's World Cup story...

Mrs Lloyd.

"
Don't go to town...don't catch the train...the violence is so great....you will get mugged.....you will get attacked on the train.....

.....I am afraid this was said in the not too distant past.....

....Terry and family (Ronald's brother who is staying with us) had tickets to a game in Cape Town.

Much to my horror they chose to go to the game by train.
They came back at 12.45am with rave reports about the train trip and the walk to the stadium.

In fact they were so elated and enthusiastic about the whole business that Wendy, Bruce, Ronald and I decided to brave the threats and go to town on the train.

The first time we had been on a train in at least 15 or 20 years. It was as everyone had said, jovial and the fan-walk was absolutely great - the camaraderie, the vuvuzelas, the bright colours (England was playing Algeria) I even had my face painted with the English flag and the South African flag at the fan park on the Grand Parade.

We were told not to go there as "only the riff-raff" would be there.
They were wrong.

Everyone was happy and jovial and everyone had the "gees" It was indescribable.

After the Grand Parade, we walked the 2 and a half kilometers to the stadium. It was truly a privilege to be part of this wonderful event.

The cherry on the top would have been a ticket to the game.....but oh what the hell. We went to a fan park in the waterfront. It was great. We had been told that everything was a rip-off....Well they had a huge roll with rocket, Parmesan cheese a large piece of steak and a host of help yourself trimmings all for R35. .......not what I would call a rip-off at all.

Apart from our trip (now trips) into town this World Cup has brought so many people together. Every time I walk to work I pass a man on the way. This week he spoke to me for the first time to tell me that his nephew had given him a ticket to the soccer and who do I think would win.

I now have a friend for life.People are having their faces painted and it seems like a party. Everyone is giving their opinion as to who is going to win but to the man in the street it is not the winner that counts but the fact that they play the Game.

Wise words I found in my reading matter For every joy that passes something beautiful remains. Life is so often an echo - what you send out you often get back. You can change your life by changing your attitude. Remember it takes the rain and the sunshine to make a rainbow. __________________________________________________________

The sequel to this email is that I not only got the cherry on the top but the whole cake and all the icing.
Last night for reasons known only to Brenda, she did not want to go to the game and was giving her ticket away.

I am glad that they were staying with us because I was first in the firing line and felt rather bad about taking the ticket (for about 3 seconds)

The game was everything they said it was and more. The night started about lunchtime when Brenda took Kyle and me to China Town. We were like little children, not even the pouring rain could dampen our enthusiasm, buying soccer balls, flags, hats, car decorations (we were going by train) If you need any memorabilia, that is the place to go at prices you cannot believe. When we arrived at Plumstead station on the start of this incredible night , I felt very emotional and choked up.

Terry and Russell were bedecked in the Spanish flag and me in the Portuguese flag, Bafana hat, Wellington boots complete with rainwear supplied by my thoughtful sister.

The only thing wet about the weather was the way I was dressed. I will not bore you with every detail but the fan walk (2 and a half kilometers) was FANtastic and with very little aplomb we were seated in the stadium. A truly world-class venue. I just wanted to have all family and friends experience this wonderful night thought of you all ,especially Brian the soccer fiend.

Oh the excitement ! What a night ! We took the 11.30pm train, which was packed, back to Plumstead. We even had the Neighbourhood Watch there to see that we all got off the train safely.

If only it could always be like this.....what a wonderful life it would be.

"

Happy Crown birthday

Guess who turned 1?

That's right. The cutest little destructor in town.

She didn't really know what to do with her prezzies, but she'll grab any opportunity to destroy something so she happily ripped the paper...

Mom and dad gave her some hungry hippos that sing and make eating noises when you put balls down their mouths. Hmmm. No comments on that comment please.

And granny and grandpa gave her some cool prezzsies too - a butterfly that sings and counts in either English OR Spanish. In case she was considering a second language already.

THEN THINGS GOT SERIOUS....


The cake came out...









And we all like a good cake. Some more than others apparently.

This was just the family birthday party. We were planning another for a few friends. So a family photo was a must. Jan wasn't feeling so well so she didn't come in the ned - pity.

These are Cath's and my favourite pics - show just how much Emma liked her cake - and how practical she is. this whole 'using your hands'thing just slows you down. Clever girl Emma.