Mwaah!

Photo credit: Amanda Hedges

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Thin pickings of birds last weekend

It was a hot windy morning when Grant and I went out birding last Saturday. Although we saw many birds (mainly waterbirds), the sun was high in the sky and I just couldn't get decent photos. (or perhaps I need to upgrade my camera, mmm?)


At the dam, we saw a large flock of pelicans on the opposite side but they were too far away for me to get them in focus. There was the normal variety of Spoonbills, Egrets, Herons, White-faced Duck and Red-knobbed Coots. But again, I just couldn't get any nice photos. However, a smallish flock of Sacred Ibis feeding in the middle-distance and their squiggly reflections in the water,  provided one photo.

Sacred Ibis with a couple of fuzzy-image duck in the foreground

Driving back along the road, a Grey-headed Kingfisher flew across our path and sat in a tree. I took photos of it, but the branches got in the way. 

Grey-headed Kingfisher partly obscured by branches 

As we were almost turning back onto the haul road which leads back to town, I saw a Grey-headed Kingfisher perched on the power lines next to the road.  I took several photos of this bird while it sat quite unperturbed by the strange presence some distance below it!

Grey-headed Kingfisher perched on the power line above our vehicle

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Grandchildren

Living away from your home country means you miss your children and their children terribly. Fortunately for modern grandparents that we're able to keep in contact with family and receive photos of the little ones via Skype, e-mail, Whatsapp and Facebook. 

John, Debbie and their five beautiful children live in Mozambique for six weeks and then they return to their home in the Drakensberg for a six week break. Until recently John's leave cycle and Grant's overlapped so we could see them in SA. But in September we were just a week out and we missed seeing them. So you can imagine how thrilled we were to receive photos of the whole family on my cell phone this afternoon. 

John tells me that Eryn and Joshua have graduated to the next Std 3 and Std 1 respectively;  Bethany, who's four and three- year-old Elijah are following a step-by-step course on reading. All four the older children can read. There are no i-pads, e-books, electronic games, television or cell phones for these children. They're beautiful, well-behaved, (I'm the Gran, right! So I'm biased, right!), highly intelligent and very healthy outdoorsy children.

Joshua, Eryn, Israel, Bethany and Elijah

While the his siblings learn and play, one year old Israel - now walking - is exploring and learning in his own way.

He is just like his daddy!

What a cutey! 

 Debbie, wonderful mother to our grandchildren and support to John

All above photo credits: John Hedges

As if I wasn't spoiled enough, at the same time, our daughter-in-law Amanda (in Marquard, South Africa) sent me photos of Joel and Abby. 

 Joel, 3 3/4 years, and Abby who's a two and a half. Aren't they poppets?  (Photo: Amanda Hedges)

This is my special world, showing our seven beautiful grandchildren. For more of other people's worlds, please click here