Photo journal..... the last couple of months

I just seem to be so absorbed in art, politics, fighting crime, etc. lately, that when I do have spare time, I am too tired to put my thoughts down in any coherent way, to either post or visit and comment. As a result, I have been a bit reclusive in blogland for a while.
So I decided to just upload a bunch of photos with captions, (not necessarily in chronological order) which will give you an idea of some of the events of the last few weeks, without me having to battle against my erratic memory to describe it all. Hopefully, in this case, a few pictures WILL be worth a thousand words!

A TRIP TO ADDO GAME PARK IN NOVEMBER.......


Watching the antics of the weaver birds and red bishops from the bird hide.

Addo is as much about the little guys as the big 5. These dung beetles are gathering elephant dung to lay eggs in.

Pushing its dung ball along in reverse.

Another exciting sight, the enormous and exotic looking Secretary Bird.

a rare sighting of a black-backed jackal in the open, they have been so persecuted by farmers over the years that they are still very shy.

Most exciting of all, a caracal posing obligingly! These cats are very rarely seen in the wild.

A lone zebra surveys the coming storm , with oxpecker on his back eating ticks.

considering their reputation as very grumpy animals, it is a little tense when a baby with protective mom passes this close!

you DON'T want to irritate this guy!

the huge but reserved Eland

the wonderfully elegant Kudu

get off my territory...push ... grunt... snort...

the closest we got to seeing lions....

... no need for a zoom lens here....

just hold your breath till he's past !!!

Help me mom, this mud is slippery...........

OK, there you go...

mud wrestling....

their idea of a bath is a bit different from ours! The caked mud helps protect against ticks and sunburn.
The warthog beats a hasty retreat...


HAD TO GO AND SETTLE MY DAD INTO FRAIL CARE IN EAST LONDON, STOPPED IN GRAHAMSTOWN ON THE WAY BACK TO SOAK UP SOME SCENERY

a stunning historic town 1 and a half hours from PE, full of beautiful old buildings

Dulce, our favourite sidewalk cafe

The 1820 Settlers Monument, on a hill as you drive into the town. It was designed to look like a ship in memory of those who sailed so far in little ships to settle here in 1820. It is now famous as the nerve centre for organising the annual Grahamston Arts Festival.

The fascinating observatory Museum.


BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR... A TRIP TO ST FRANCIS...



AND ALONG THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN ROUTE TO PLETT AND KNYSNA TO FETCH AND DELIVER PAINTINGS....


NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH PATROLS......

in all kinds of weather!

LOTS OF EARLY MORNING STROLLS...

watching ships arriving at and leaving the harbour

beachfront sunrises

and the odd sunset too!

WENT WITH CHARLIE AND JUDE (FROM SPAIN) ON THE TEST RUN OF THE REFURBISHED APPLE EXPRESS....

full steam ahead, so glad to have it back on the rails!

HAD FUN WITH WEE E....



TOOK NOEL (FROM NEW YORK) ON A TOUR OF THE APARTHEID MUSEUMS.....

Noel is shown around the Red Location Museum by activist Annette du Plessis

who has been fighting to save these historic shacks that are being demolished by vandals. They were the home of the resistance movement.

...and the South End Museum which documents the forced removals to racially segregated areas in the 60s

FOUGHT TO SAVE OUT HERITAGE AREA FROM AN UGLY 4 STOREY POLICE BUILDING AND 50M COMMUNICATIONS TOWER BEING BUILT ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK, BLOCKING THE OLD ERICA BUILDING....


ENJOYED OUR SUMMER GARDEN....

ATTENDED THE COPE MANIFESTO LAUNCH IN KWAZAKHELE

I could have done with one of those umbrellas....

... but it was inspiring to be part of that amazing crowd and witness history in the making.... hopefully we can follow in the footsteps of America and have a Presidential upgrade soon!

Whew! No wonder I feel like sleeping some more!