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Saturday, August 11, 2018

Winter has arrived!

Said tongue-in-cheek...

The winter in the Drakensberg supposedly starts at the end of May. But we've had warm dry weather and slightly chilly evenings since then. At the beginning of this week - the first in August - the winds arrived and with it dust! Ergh! 

And the days were warm and summery.

We woke on Thursday morning, 9th August, which was National Women's Day in South Africa, to icy weather. Single digits! I opened up shop but had a notice on the closed door saying just that. It was freezing. Being a public holiday, there were many visitors on the veranda and many pushed open my door and entered into my warm shop! 

On Friday morning at 3am, I awoke to heavy rain on my roof. As soon as it was late enough I phoned Thandiwe and told her to stay home. She could come in to work next  week again. I couldn't bear the thought of that dear lady slipping and sliding along the muddy roads in pouring rain just to come and clean my house. 

The mountains were enshrouded in heavy clouds; in fact the skies were grey and overcast. 

Later that morning a man bought a gift with a painting of the mountains. I told him when the clouds lifted he would see them and there'd be snow on the peaks. He called his wife and repeated this to her. 

Lo and behold,  a while later the sun appeared, the blue skies shimmered above us and there in the distance were the mountains...

Snow capped and lots of snow on the colder  mounds and valleys beyond. 

This morning I stopped at the exit of the farm road and took the first two photos below.  


 Halfway to work,  on the road through the valley, I stopped to photograph a hot-air-balloon 



 The occupants were certainly getting beautiful photos of the valley below and the mountains ahead
  Closer to the mountains, I managed these photos... 



And update on John who was deserately ill a week ago: he was moved from ICU to a medical ward on Monday which meant that Debbie and all the children could visit him at the same time. He had a sinus op on Wednesday and my SIL, Shelley, who'd visited him regularly, told me he said he can smell and taste properly for the first time in years. He was discharged on Thursday and is resting at home. So all's well with John!

Regarding Ginger who's still at the vet, I've had good reason not to post. Since leaving him there on Tuesday, he's not eaten a morsel of food. Arina tried to tempt him with upmarket "vet's choice" canned cat treats. He wouldn't touch it. So she kept him on a drip. 

This morning I phoned her and she almost bounced through the phone. A breakthrough, she said. She'd changed her strategy with Ginger and bought sachets of lamb cuts in gravy. I had thought to tell her that Ginger was my fussiest cat when it came to food and only ate cuts in gravy. But I'd thought he was too ill to be fussy! Not so: she says he finished half the sachet while she watched yesterday and this morning he'd eaten the rest she'd left in his cage. He'd also drank most of the water in his bowl and used the litter tray. So he seems to be on the mend! 

Here's wishing you all a great Saturday. 

20 comments:

  1. It was lovely to see the colorful hot air ball0ons. Amazing shots.
    Take care of the health...
    Sinus hurts many people. Even myself have and suffered lot. Take care:)

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  2. I am so glad Ginger is eating again. poor sweet boy... very happy news that John is on the mend also... two shots of good news and also good news about the purchase painting of those beautiful mountains. hope your temps don't stay sing digits for long. I have never been in single digit cold

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  3. So glad that Ginger is getting better. He is a tough old cat.

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  4. Wonderful, wonderful news all around dear Jo. I was beginning to get a little worried without any news of John or Ginger. I'm so glad to hear both are on the mend. Your cat reminds me of my late cat. No matter how hungry she might be she would only eat meat in gravy. She was always on the skinny side so it was a bit of a concern. The weather looks lovely though cold. I hope you are able to keep warm enough. xx

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  5. Good for Ginger! Hopefully he's home with the rest of the gang very soon.

    Majestic landscapes!

    Your hot air balloon reminds me that there's a hot air balloon festival here at the start of September that I always seem to miss.

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  6. Hello Jo, gorgeous views of the mountains and the hot air balloon. I am glad you son has recovered and Ginger is doing better too. Great news and update. Have a happy day and new week ahead.

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  7. Hooray for not one but two recoveries.
    Love those views. And the balloon. I will always stop to marvel at them.

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  8. Glad your son is doing better,
    and the Kitty too.
    Hello from Seattle Washington.
    First time commented, been long time reader.
    ♥ Astro and Mitzie

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  9. Glad John is home and Ginger is doing better now, Love those colourful balloons. WOW! Snow in Africa. Who would believe it1 Have a great week ahead and keep warm Jo

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  10. Beautiful photos but I hate the cold. Glad to hear that John is back home and also that Ginger is on the mend. Take care Diane

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  11. Glad your son is well and Ginger is doing so much better ~ and wonderful photos!

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  12. So happy for you that your son is better and that Ginger too is on the mend ~ Healing hugs to you too!

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  13. I learn so much here. I didn't imagine snow in South Africa but then when i thought about it, I realised there are real mountains there. It does look very sunny though. Good luck with your birding Jo.

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  14. Such beautiful views and photos - I love mountains. Single-digits means something else in your part of the world - in mine they'd start at what the rest of the world calls -13, and they're common here in the winter ;)

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  15. Good news for Ginger. It's funny how a fussy cat can dig in their paws to get what they want. :) We used to have a cat who wouldn't eat food in gravy. :)
    Beautiful scenic photos, Jo. Glad you stopped to take and share them.

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  16. Oh! How I wish I might walk into your photos of the snow-capped mountains. (That's the sort of thing that 'floats my boat'!)
    Such splendid news about Ginger! I guess if I could wish for anything in the world, it would be our furry friends having the ability to talk; that we might know how to better love them and help them.

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  17. Sounds like things are improving even if you finally are seeing the cold of winter. I can only imagine the beauty of the Draks from a balloon. Glad John is on the mend.

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  18. Good news !! Both son and cat have recovered !!

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