Almost another month gone, and we are very happily settled into new home! We are so glad we have the opportunity to stay until next summer (or winter, depending on your perspective), as we'd be very sorry to be packing up to leave already. Still so much to see, do, get involved in.
The girls broke up a week ago for the long summer holiday. I finished work on Wednesday, and tomorrow we're off to Cape Agulhus, the most southerly point in Africa for 3 days before Christmas. But before we get to that point, let's look back on the highlights of the last month.
Perhaps not a highlight, but a major emotionally charged event was saying goodbye to Mum and Dad after a glorious month. They left on 26th November, trading the heat of CT for heavy snow. Rachel had rang to warn us that airports were closed, roads blocked and that Mum and Dad faced a potentially difficult journey home. At the time we were watching Elizabeth's swimming gala, slapping on the Factor 40 and searching out any patch of shade. Since then the snow in Britain has gone, and returned again. It feels surreal to be talking to friends and family on the phone, hearing of the cold and the travel difficulties whilst behind me the girls are splashing in the pool and I'm glad to be indoors away from the burning sun. Christmas is certainly going to be very odd this year. This morning we asked the girls what we'd be doing a week from now (on Christmas Day). Their reaction to the question was amusing - neither had any real sense that Christmas is so close! If it's a day like today next Saturday (still, hot, blue sky from horizon to horizon) we will definitely be heading off to the beach.
Before Mum and dad left we managed to fit in a weekend trip to Langebaan, and numerous days out. The weather wasn't as good as the last time we had been up the West Coast, but it was dry, so we got some good walking in, with great sightings of small herds of red hartebeest
On days that the girls were at school, Mum, Dad and I went to Cape Point, walking on beaches utterly deserted of humans - though we did have to share one stretch of sand with a pair of ostriches. We also went to Boulders Beach to see the African penguins, and to Kirstenbosch. And one day after school we headed straight down to Kalk Bay for fish and chips on the pier, watching the seals.
And then on their last morning in CT, Mum and Dad came to watch Elizabeth's gala. The emphasis was very much on fun and end of term frivolity - hence the parent and child swim I was roped into joining. There were swimming versions of egg and spoon races, horse and jockey dashes and a hilarious pyjama race which involved swimming a width, getting into WET pjs and swimming back. Co-ordination more important than swimming prowess! That said, South Africans take their swimming seriously. (All sport, actually). The standard was very high, with 6 and 7 year olds powering down the 25 metre pool from a racing start off the diving blocks. And the rivalry is fierce: there are no prizes for taking part in SA, only for winning. Lottie and Elizabeth are both in Cambridge house. Naturally I'm not biased, but that is the best house! Much better than Michael, Ennis and the unfortunately named Weiner.....
All this swimming, at school and at home in our pool (sorry, but I'll never get tired of typing that) is playing havoc with my hair. So I went to Claremont for a cut and colour last Monday, to see Nikki, the big black woman who keeps telling me I have to embrace my hair, then cackles loudly. Yeah, right. Still, she works wonders, and the results last for a few weeks at least.
It's nice to have a free weekend. Last week Elizabeth was invited to Pagan's party
down the Peninsula coast at Kommetjie. This is the same little girl who introduced herself to us on our first day at school back in July as 'Pagan, which is funny because I am a pagan.' Pagan's siblings also have birthdays in December. I stupidly said to her mum that December must be a hectic month in their household 'with Christmas and everything.' Only to be told that 'Christmas isn't a big deal for us' - no, I suppose it wouldn't be!
down the Peninsula coast at Kommetjie. This is the same little girl who introduced herself to us on our first day at school back in July as 'Pagan, which is funny because I am a pagan.' Pagan's siblings also have birthdays in December. I stupidly said to her mum that December must be a hectic month in their household 'with Christmas and everything.' Only to be told that 'Christmas isn't a big deal for us' - no, I suppose it wouldn't be!
After the party, we went to Noordhoek for Carols by Candlelight. The problem is the candlelight thing never quite happens as it's still light at 8.30pm. Unfortunately the Cape Doctor, the south easterly wind that plagues this coast, was blowing a gale, but the sun was still warm at 7pm as we belted out Jingle Bells, accompanied by the SA Navy Band. On Sunday we all went to see Freshlyground, the big SA band who accompanied Shakira for the World Cup hit 'Waka Waka'. It was one of a series of open air picnic concerts at Kirstenbosch that take place throughout the summer. What a great way to spend a summer afternoon.
This evening we're going back to Kirstenbosch for a further dose of Carols by Candlelight to finally try to get us in the Christmas mood - as opposed to the summer holiday one we're all in at the moment. And then a last cruise to Christmas - hope everyone else's preparations are as laid back as ours!
