Skywatch Friday :

Sunrise - Ballito, Kwa Zulu Natal a few years ago ... my favourite sunrises

For more spectacular skies around the world go to Skywatch

Skywatch Friday :

Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa
We live inland - Jo'burg to be precise .. it's time to go to the sea again .. to feel the sand between the toes !!

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Skywatch Friday :

Hubby and I returned yesterday from a couple of days in the Cape ... this was the evening sky last Saturday in Kalk Bay - a small town along the False Bay coastline, Cape Town - the sea was flat and calm with soft watercolour shades ...

For more spectacular skies around the world go to Skywatch

Weekly Winners : Birthdays and more ...

Gosh .. it's been a busy weekend and only now have the chance to put these up ... !!!! (Monday)

Reflecting on the past week ....

... which started with my birthday on Sunday .... was spoilt by my children .... hubby gave me this exquisite 'Carrol Boyes' candle holder .... isn't he gorgeous .. holding up the 'world' with those strong hands ...

... we then flew down to Cape Town ... (actually we flew SAA but couldn't resist taking a photo of this Kulula plane taxiing down the runway - all their planes have funky paintwork and advertising) ....

Soothing sounds of a harp wafted around the foyer of the hotel ....

.. which is not far from the V&A Waterfront ... our hotel is just off the photo to the right ..

... Victoria and Alfred Waterfront - named after Queen Victoria and her second son, Prince Alfred who started construction of the harbour in 1860 ...



.. and forms part of ... the tourist/shops/foodies part of the harbour ... with beautiful Table Mountain as it's backdrop ...

.. and where the statues of Nobel Peace Prize Winners ... from left to right ... Chief Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mr F.W. de Klerk, and Mr Nelson Mandela .... stand proud ..

... anyone for ice cream ? .... quick .. it's melting in the heat !!!

... ooooh yesss .... a cool 'dude' seal ...

.. as the sun sets, the sunset cruises return to port ...

Whilst hubby was at the conference, I spent some family time in Somerset West ....

.. and while Kathy went to beading ... exquisite jewellery she makes too !! I am in awe !!! ...

.. anyway .. while she went to beading .. I spent some time with my Mum. She is looking well although very thin. She knew me. Always breaks my heart when I say goodbye ... she may not know me next time ..

Hubby joined us for a superb meal at 'Daniella's restaurant' (she is one of the manager's there) .... 96 Winery Road, in Stellenbosch .. Kathy, Ian, Daniella, me and hubby

... ooooh lookie here ... exciting stuff on their menu ... !!!! ...

... and an intriguing box on the mantel ... !!!

Not a moment to waste ... wine tasting at Asara ... mm .. mmm !!! all excellent wines !!

... and delicious Tapas with more family ... oh yummy .. yes .. very yummmm ..


... overlooking the lake and Stellenbosch Mountains ... (I've been there before with Ian and Kathy and taken photos .. so if it looks familiar to some bloggers .. it is !!!) But just had to share it with hubby, Cheryl and Bob (who had not been there yet) ..

Coffee with a view .... at the Twelve Apostles Hotel

.. and a seagull ..

Au revoir ... 'til we meet again ..

Back home ...

... on Saturday was Connor's 3rd birthday party .... and all our three children were there ... in the same spot .... at the same time .... we all live here .. but it's very rare that they are altogether at the same time .... photo opportunity !!!!

Happy Birthday Connor !!!!

Fun waterslide for all the littlies ... and some biggies!!! Jeanette has more photos ... check them out ... they are far nicer than mine could ever be ... !!!

More Weekly Winners are on Lotus' blog

Skywatch Friday :

Following on from yesterday's post at Mizen Head, Co Cork in Ireland on our recent holiday there .... the clouds drifted over for a while, turning the reflection of the sun's rays into a sparkling pathway across the Atlantic Ocean ...

It was midday!! ... on the upside-down sundial !

For more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Skywatch Friday : Wishing I was there ...

Sunrise over the sea at Ballito, Kwa Zulu Natal.


We have, for the past 20 odd years, gone on holiday at this time of the year to Ballito. It's always so nice to get far from this icy cold Highveld winter for at least two weeks - warms up the bones in the body and gives one extra energy to face the rest of winter.

Hubby and I decided last year, to go to England ... summer there too .. so our bones were warmed by the English summer .. and we had glorious days whilst there with no rain at all!

This year, Elaine has started work (yay!) so we are not bound by school/varsity holidays anymore!! Something of a phenomenon ... amazing after more than 30 years of ALWAYS having to go on holiday with cars filled with parents, and sometimes grandparents squished between excited children whizzing along the highways. Stopping at our customery 'pit-stops' for a quick bite to eat and toilet stops before heading to our destination of warm sun, sand, sea and relaxation!

But this year, hubby and I are going to Ireland in late September .. no warm sun, sand and sea but a fascinating trip, I'm sure!!

Arrgghh! What makes us really mad is that we decided to make our bookings at that time because we were told that Elaine's graduation would be 'sometime in September'. A definite date STILL hasn't been finalised but are now told it may be in early October ... just when we are away!!! How could they do that! It's Elaine's graduation, for heaven's sake, and we needed to be here! She is graduating with cum laude for her Honours in Marketing!!! What an achievement ... and we may not even be here!! :( very sad mommy here!

Anyway - enjoy the sunrise over Ballito .. they really are spectacular. And for more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Skywatch Friday : Sunrise ...

.... over the sea : Ballito, Kwa Zulu Natal

.. which I have dedicated to all Emergency Services men and women who are so dedicated in what they do - may they see each new day with peace in their hearts. My son and daughter-in-law are paramedics and Carl has quoted a very powerful poem .. please read it.

For more beautiful skies go to Skywatch Friday

Wordless Wednesday :

Gordon's Bay:
Western Cape

For more Wordless Wednesday wonders go here

Wordless Wednesday :

Come and sit a while ..
More Wordless Wednesday : HERE

Hermanus - Western Cape

Sharing more photos of Hermanus ... just a few !!!

Jeanette

Paw prints in the sand

Windswept sand dunes

She sells sea shells ......

A windswept beach - tried to get the sand being blown by the wind - not very successfully! But those footprints are weird! It looks like they are 'inside out' !!

Weathered sandstone

Man and sky

A small table tucked into a corner of a sea front restaurant

Weekly Winners : 14 - 20 Dec

Peter and I recently went down to Hermanus for his Dad's memorial service. We went down by car - takes about 14 hours - we left early hours on Tuesday morning, travelling through the day, and arrived in the early evening ... a looong trip. Jeanette came too but flew down by plane. Very difficult to choose a photo as I too, took lots of photos but these are different to Jeanette's - except the 'Sparkles on the sea' - it was too 'wow' not to miss!

Sunrise over the Free State

Vines of steel

Sparkles on the sea

Seagull on watch

Man and his best friend

Ripples of sand

Sun, sea and sand

Sunrise in the Karoo

Jeanette getting down to her subject!

More Weekly Winner on Lotus' blog