Surprise.

Next day and the group were up earlier than I thought after the festivities of last night. Ingrid and I talked quite a bit about the wonderful people that we had met and the great evening that we had all enjoyed! The showers were used and cups of coffee were drunk and bags were packed. 

At 08h30 the surprise arrived. A safari Jeep from Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Ingrid and I were not scheduled to go on the game drive, but 2 people had indicated that they were not going, so we got a seat. This was a true 4x4 Toyota for game viewing. We were still having a go at our man Dave who had convinced the other parties that their vehicle could make it to the picnic spot yesterday along the farm road. Descriptions seem to vary as to what consititutes a road and what is a path (those that know will know). All the vehicles yesterday made the trip over the farm road/track/bundubashing but the road was sometimes a little overgrown. This vehicle could take on the world.

We set off from the farm and in through the gate at Shamwari. Ingrid and I did our very 1st Safari experience at Shamwari probably 15 years ago. Our game drive was beautiful. The secenery was lovely and the vegetation was nice and green. We saw 4 of the big 5 and as per usual the Leopard hid from our keen eyes. Our first sighting was a male lion lying about 5 meters from his kill, a young adult wildebeest. Mr Lion had chomped off the rear leg up to the hip and was full from his meal. He lay down and had a little sleep. The rest of the drive was awesome and we were very fortunate to see so many animals. We rounded off the game drive overlooking the park and had coffee and biscuits. Awesome! Our ranger was also a perfect example of professionalism. Well done Jason! And thank you David and family!

On our return the bags were packed and we said our goodbyes. It did not feel like we were saying goodbye, but more like till the next time. This partly due to the fact that we are going to an Abba show coming weekend with the family and some of the friends that we had met this weekend. We are taking home with us many fond memories and I guess a few stories of our own. Our thanks to The Hurr family for their hospitality and kindness. These are real people! Also thank you to their friends who made us feel literally at ease from the get go.

We left in Dusty and she handled the farm road nicely albiet a little slowly. After a while we were back on the highway and on our way to brother. When we closed the farm gate I said to Ingrid, What happens on the Farm, stays on the farm! What a wicked laugh we had and what a great weekend! Once again THANK YOU!

We drove to Nanaga for a cup of coffee and shared a roosterkoek before driving back to PE to brother's house for a braai with Mom and Dad to celebrate Dad's 81st birthday that was last week. We had forgotten our cooler box at the farm and Nicki kindly brought it to brother's house for us. Merci. We braaied and had a lovely evening, but Ingrid and I were a bit bushed (heehee) and brother retires early for work on Monday. Not too early, but definately not late we hit the sheets and slept like logs.

Moving on to Monday morning as I am a few days behind on my blog...

Morning coffee after a good nights rest. Brother and sister in law went to work and Ingrid and I chatted about what to do and the answer was unanimous.. hit the highway to CSF and Jackpot. Mom might join us later in the day. Back at Jackpot I sent mother in law in law a message that we were back, but I probably needn't have bothered as she had once again received a notification from the security company on a unusual entry. All good! We hit the sack once again as we both felt like we needed another sleep to get outselves back to full battery. I think that once we awoke we realised that the sleep had done wonders, but a good nights rest would fully charge the battery.

After our afternooner we decided to go to the beach for a swim as we were feeling icky and know that we feel so much better once we have been in the water. Bikini on and into Dusty to Main Beach. MY FOK, the water was ice cold. We have swum in cold water this sabbatical, but this was next level cold. Ones ankles were burning even before the knees were even wet. In and under and out. It was a quick one and we were rejuvinated immediately. Good call that dip!

After dinner we lazed a bit and went to bed. Mom had phoned late afternoon that her brother in law had had something or other and was admitted to the hospital for very high blood sugar levels. She would come out tomorrow and leave around 10am. Maybe. This night was another where we slept like logs although Ingrid did moan a bit in her sleep ouch ow. Her shoulders hurt when she turned. We would figure it out in the morning.

I have been having some trouble with my left arm/hand/shoulder laterly when I sleep on my left side. I believe that I have managed to decrease the symptoms at night by placing my left arm differently when I turn onto that side. Better, but not over. I got in the washing machine on a wave a few weeks back and since then my left hand sleeps (do not laugh at me.. it should sleep when the rest of my body sleeps, but it goes numb until I alter the position of my arm). I have a feeling that it is coming from my neck and perhaps even from my 1st rib that is jamming a nerve agains the clavicle. I am sure that my chiropractor back home can and will fix it for me. So Ingrid had some shoulder pain and I have my left shoulder making it difficult to lie on that side for too long. While turning sometime in the night my neck clicked and I found that I could lie on my left side without that discomfort that I had been having. Tonight we Beta test that.

Ingrid and I are on the wagon since Sunday. No alcohol for the week. I did stray on Monday night and finish the bottle of Jagermeister as there was only 1 double shot left in the bottle. I do not find it difficult to stop cold turkey and last year I did dry January. I found that if I am wanting a drink, I just have to make a cup of coffee and drink that and that "craving" disappears. It also seems that like with the kids we have what we call "rush hour", the period between 5 and 7pm when the kids were usually at their most irritated, it is similar for me with alcohol abstinance. If I get through the 5-7pm time span I no longer have a craving to have a glass of wine or a beer. Easy peasy for me at least.

Now I am only 2 days behind on my blog. Tomorrow is another day.