Seven years...

 Today is the anniversary of Grant's death; 27 November, 2017.

Snippets from his life.

Touring the Western Cape 2004 

Fishing the Senegal River in 2006

Uh-oh!

 Dear Blogger friends. AGAIN, just when you thought it was safe to read Jo's blog without a post on the Parkrun, there she goes. Again.

I must explain here. Most gym clubs, yoga classes, weight loss societies, etc. take a break over the festive season, All, except Parkrun. It's a like an analog clock. It just keeps going week after week! 

Today was our Christmas Parkrun and Winterton, being in the tourist belt of the Central Drakensberg, we always have plenty of visitors at this time. 

Today was also a very special day for Skabby. The weather was cool; the sky overcast, and I decided to take him along. He's been staying at home since mid-November when he developed a hotspot and was under veterinary treatment. The hotspot has healed, leaving a great white scar in his black skin. Just as a precaution, I covered his exposed flanks and back with total block out cream.

So excited to be included in the Parkrun outing again!

Skabby and I both wore Christmas adornments to Parkrun

A friend brought a Christmas gift for Skabby. A natty water bottle with a sprinkler stopper. So cool! 

It had been raining all Friday night through Saturday morning. Until 7am. So, although we'd not had to walk in the rain, the going was very muddy and slippery.

My Weigh-Less Group Assistant, Esme, and I did today's Parkrun together

I believe Skabby enjoyed today's walk because of the cooler weather. I know I did! 

WISHING MY BLOGGER FRIENDS A MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS

Meeting up with family

 Good morning dear Blogger friends. Thank you for your comments on my Crested Barbet sighting and also on my efforts to learn Zulu. It's ironic that I actually misspelled the word isiZulu in my title. It was a typo, and I cannot edit the title. Grrr 

Now onto my family meeting post. The world is small. When we move to the Berg, and Grant was building us a cottage in the beautiful private estate of Bergview, he had to have an electrician (for obvious reasons). Jody's services were very efficient, professional and well-priced. And although Jody was younger than our own children, he and Grant enjoyed a chat. I'm not sure how it came about, but Grant came into the shop and told me that Jody is the grandson of my maternal aunt Joan. I checked with Joan's daughter, Caroline who confirmed that Jody is indeed her son and Joan's grandson. 

Over the years, Jody, who is the Bunker owner's electrician, has given me good rates when I needed any electrics fixed here at my cottage. I also got to know his wife, Wendy, who runs the plant nursery adjacent to the restaurant where we do Parkrun. Many Saturdays, I'd stop and have a chat with Wendy. One New Year, Caroline was visiting Jody and Wendy and they invited me over for a braai (BBQ) at their home. 

Wendy, Caroline and me early January 2020

When Wendy's dad passed away at the end of June 2023, I met up with Caroline at the memorial service again. 

Cousin Caroline and me, at a memorial service in June this year

Last month Caroline let me know that she was using Jody's timeshare in an upmarket resort here in the Drakensberg. She said she was bringing her mom and would I come over and visit them. After my Weigh-Less meeting in mid-August, I drove across the Valley to their holiday chalet. 

Such a delight to see my Aunt Joan after 16 years. I remembered that the last time we had been together was at Angus and Amanda's wedding in 2007. Joan, at 83, although she suffers with rheumatoid arthritis, is a bright as a button and cheerful to boot.  

From a family of ten children, Joan and my 90-year-old-uncle, Chris, living in Cape Town, are the only surviving children. Joan is a raconteur of note and when I asked after the now deceased siblings, she regaled us with delightful stories of their childhood and later years, 

Caroline, Joan and me with the beautiful Champagne Castle and Cathkin Peaks behind us

It's so important to connect or reunite with friends and family, if and when the opportunity arises. 

HAVE A WONDERFUL MONDAY!