Umkhanyakude - 12 June 2010

We spent the night in Hluhluwe with our friends Dave and Anne, Maggie and Oumi. It's good to be back here in the wilds of Zululand.

This tree is prevalent in this area. The English name for it is Fever Tree. The name was given to it because early settlers in the area would come down with an unexplained fever after camping under trees like this. They thought the tree caused the fever and so it got its name. In fact it was the anopheles mosquito that caused the fever - malaria.

The trees have an ethereal glow, especially when seen in the late afternoon sunlight. The Zulu name for the tree is umkhanyakude which basically means "glows, or shines, in the distance". When we drove into the village late this afternoon we couldn't resist stopping to take a photo of one of them.

Nicholas Meets Clown

On Monday I posted a photo of the clown I made for Nicholas. This is Nicholas meeting Clown for the first time. He's very attracted to the bright colours of course. He's grown so much in the two months since we last saw him. He's such a delight and so busy.

Nicholas Meets Clown

Tonight my photo just won't upload. I'll have to try again in the morning.

Let the packing begin....

Tomorrow is the day we take off on our trip to Tanzania. It's time to pack the car. This was just the start of it. Mark was in a hurry because he had been delayed at work. Although he's done a test pack a few weeks ago there just somehow seemed more and more to fit in.

The first stage of our trip is from here to Pietermaritzburg where we'll spend two nights with grandson Nicholas. Then we head north again. 100000km and eight countries.... what an adventure.

Winter Sunrise

I arrived at school just before 7:20 am this morning and the sun was only just coming up - lazy thing! As I climbed out of my car I saw these beautiful colours in the sky. I really wished I had time to go to a better vantage point but with morning traffic I thought I'd better not.

It's almost mid winter and then it starts to get light earlier again. One of the chores I dislike in winter is hanging out the washing before I go to school. It's dark and cold outside..... Being a good citizen I refrain from using the tumble drier and using up our precious electricity. I'm a good girl, I am! ....... :-)

Nicholas's Clown

This is my grandson's knitted clown that I completed last night. I started it before he was born and he's now over four months! I had fun making it but it was a bit tedious with all the little parts like the nose and the shoe bows. He's rather cute but his feet are a bit large - well don't all clowns have large feet? Relax Nicholas, your clown will be with you on Thursday.....

Beautiful Stadium

Nelson Mandela Bay aka Port Elizabeth, is ready. On Saturday the first World Cup soccer match takes place in the stadium between the Korean Republic and Greece. This afternoon Mark and I took a drive around the stadium and the lake. There was lots of activity happening with preparations for this match. Seeing the stadium completed is certainly a reason to celebrate.

Lines and Contrasts

I love photos with lines and contrasts. This sight caught my eye this afternoon as I was traveling out to see my Dad. I noticed the line of poplars along a side road and contrast between the bright tecomaria flowers and the trees with their dry, bare branches. There is also the contrast between the dry and dusty road and the blue sky.

Lump of Glass

Another candle today. This one has a sort of sombre feel about it - maybe something to do with my mood. The candle holder is one which was given to me by Nils, a Swedish student who stayed with us for six months. It takes a tea light candle and gives off such a lovely glow. I love it and of course it reminds me of the wonderful help that Nils was in the library and computer centre of John Wesley School. Thank you Nils for being a light in my life.

Pale Beauty

I was told by a friend that these are a variety of daffodil called Narcissus. They are just beginning to open - thankfully before we go off on our long trip. They are so delicate and beautiful. What a blessing.
They were here when we bought the house and they just come up of their own accord every year, along with a variety of bulbs. The previous owner of our house was an old lady with a passion for gardening. Her family took most of the potted stuff when she died but little surprises like this remain and bring sudden joy to our lives. Thank you Dorothy.

Lost my way...

This is the second ring necked dove to make his way into our living room recently. This one perched on a shelf and had a chat to Pops.

"Hey Pops, would you by any chance know the way out of this place? I don't have my GPS with me."

"Sorry Fella, you're asking the wrong people. We've been in this spot over four years now."

Poor little dove. When Mark came home he sent him on his way.

Chunky Necklace

This is a necklace I bought from a local entrepreneur before we went to San Francisco last year. It holds special memories of the evening we went to the Awards Evening at Oracle ThinkQuest. As you can see it's another of those days where I just don't have much inspiration for my photo. It happens......