Tent Pixie

We took advantage of the UK bank holiday weekend and went camping in our new tent. Froonchie had a great time helping to put the tent up. We stayed at Bazely Beach which was not exactly out in the sticks. It was only an hour back to Durban should we have needed to evacuate! The campsite was very civilised. The camp site staff brought you tea and helped you set up your tent; tea and scones were served every morning at 10.30am; the swimming pools were heated and they even had the rugby on (just don't mention the score). Nevertheless, we had our little challenges: Anya was still getting over her chest infection and puked all over me and my sleeping bag; we managed to forget one of the airbeds so we took turns sleeping on the cot mattress; I had a non alcohol related tummy bug and it was absolutely freezing at night (which explains the poncho). We survived 2 nights before heading back to Durbs to recover.

We're Easily Amused

One of the best things about living in Durban is the laid back social life - and its generally hot and sunny so a night out for us usually involves a braai and a bottle of wine. Friday night was no exception, with most of the neighbourhood meeting at the local sports club which is only a 5 minute amble from our house. There were braai packs on sale for the adults and a bouncy castle for the kiddies. Organised by the little old ladies, the highlight of the evening was the long anticipated raffle where a lone bottle of 'Lambrini' was up for grabs. Our braai tickets had all been numbered with one half dropped in the raffle pot and the remaining half kept by us punters. Imagine our surprise when the first raffle ticket pulled out the bag didn't have a number on, then the second and the third! Oh dear, some poor little old ladies had spent the last 2 hours folding a hundred or so raffle tickets without writing any numbers on them. CHaos ensued with little old ladies clucking about all over the shop. Not to worry - the Lambrini is being kept for next time. And it gave us something to chuckle about on the way home.

Someone Get Me a Pair of Spanx Now

There are times in one's life when the full horror of the truth finally becomes clear - the metaphorical lightbulb is switched on. There is no escape!!

Someone switch the light off! I've just enroled at the gym and have been informed that I am 37% fat - blinkin eck - its enough to drive someone to the bottle.

The full horror of being 'inducted' into the gym was only marginally offset when I was asked if Scotland was a 3rd world country...I wasn't quite sure what to reply but was at least able to reassure them that in Scotland we generally have electricity most of the time.

Banana Bonanza

It has come to my attention that the only recent responses to my blog have been from someone attempting to sell me cellulite products in Spanish. This is just not acceptable blogging behaviour - I absolutely deny having any cellulite anywhere on public display! Luckily, we now have an excuse to invite all our loyal readers to contribute to the blog. The first Kistner banana harvest is in. We now have 135 ripe bananas to dispose of. Dare I ask.....please post all your suggestions of what to do with them....

Ithala

The whole Kistner Clan headed up North to Ithala for Carmen's belated 70th birthday celebration: Jos & Carmen (Hermann's oldies), Gitty, Sean, Saskia, Luca and us. The drive up was pretty straight forward. We came up with the grand idea of leaving when Froonchie woke up - this meant we were on the road, bleary eyed and barely awake at quarter past five - just as well the roads were empty. Three hours later we had breakfast in Hluhluwe. Froonchie has finally decided that enough is enough. After 5 months of being force fed baby cereal she now refuses to even open her mouth when faced with bowls of tasteless mush - instead she had the full Safari Breakfast - egg, boerewors, onions, tomato, toast and even a mushroom (although after 5 minutes of chewing we sacrificed our fingers to fish the mushroom back out again). She obviously takes after Hermann - the only thing better than 'egg on toast' is 'cheesy egg on toast with a side order of bacon'.

Fuelled up and raring to go, we made it to Ithala by lunchtime. The drive up was stunning. At this point I'd like to introduce all you Brits to the lexicon of South African superlatives. Things are either stunning, divine (deeviiiiine) or hectic. I've also caught myself saying 'howzitt' on at least one occaison. Nevertheless, my vote for the most irritating phrase you will hear is "I'll do it just now". That means that whatever you were expecting to be done hasn't been done at all.

Anyway I digress, back to the story of our weekend game viewing. We saw lots of zebra, wart hogs and wildebeest but not much else. There was one lone elephant on the horizon but no close encounters because the weather was way too cold - even too cold for cockroaches. However, judging by the sounds coming from our chalet ceiling, we did have a large rat in residence. Luckily he stayed well hidden. Ithala was beautiful but Hluhluwe remains our favourite game park. So much so, I managed to persuade Hermann to stop over for an extra night in Hluhluwe on the way home.

Nearly Time To Start My New job

Bugger it - I'm not going. I'd rather eat cake!