Oudtshoorn – 15 September 2021

Today is Wednesday, September 15, sister-in-law Lilly’s birthday. I am forbidden to say how old she has become but is allowed to tell you that I am younger ….

 

This morning we said goodbye to sister-in-law Sandra, her daughter Jodie and partner Tim. They are on their way to Cape Town to get on the plane to Las Vegas tomorrow night (via some stops, though). We celebrated Lilly’s birthday and this farewell with breakfast in Oudtshoorn.

 

Last Friday we drove, from Glentana, to Dysselsdorp to prepare the ‘braai’ that we would have with cousin David in Prince Albert. That took quite a bit of work because there would be quite a few people coming so there was a lot of food to be stocked up on. The day before we had already bought some wine and beer because of the closure of the liquor stores between Thursday evening and Monday morning. As you can see, a lot of planning to do but that has been entrusted to us. Saturday morning we bought kilos of meat and then set off for Prince Albert, about 100 km away. The rest of the guests would later follow in three cars while the rest were already present in Prince Albert.

 

Unfortunately, sister-in-law Vanessa (who came over with children from Cape Town) had a breakdown with her car and I had to take an extra ride. So I drove 400 km that day.

 

We put our camper in the driveway of cousin David and so had a place to sleep that was then admired by all the cousins, uncles and aunts and friends. They loved sleeping like that and driving through the country. David and his wife Beatrice immediately took an option on the camper….

 

From 2 o’clock in the afternoon the braai was lit and it has burned all night and there is an incredible amount of meat, salads and what not eaten. Then there was dancing late into the night. There are even movies that I dance. Farrah (our daughter) remarked “never thought I see the day’….. Also  my  mother-in-law  (81)  and her  friend  Titi (72)  have  danced.

 

At different times people went to sleep but the morning sun caused everyone to get up early. Saturday was over 35 degrees and Sunday was also warm with 25 degrees. The first thing that was lit Sunday morning was ‘the braai’.

 

Lisa gave a short yoga class to almost the entire family at 10 a.m.

 

Late in the afternoon we left in a convoy of four cars towards Dysselsdorp.

 

Monday we drove with Jodie, Tim and Sandra to Knysna and had a delicious lunch there. It was a revelation to the American branch of the family how beautiful the area there was (the Garden route). We didn’t arrive back in Dysselsdorp until 8pm in the evening and Lisa and I decided to go to sleep in a hotel because of the crowds in Lisa’s mother’s house.

 

Yesterday Lisa and I bought paint to do Lisa’s mother’s house and we started that this morning. Tomorrow we will finish it completely and then the fireplace can be installed on  Friday. Lisa’s mother is going to Cape Town to wave Sandra off and then spend some time with Vanessa and her children.

 

Until Friday we are in the Queens Hotel in Oudtshoorn and then we go camping again. It will then stop raining and the temperature will rise again. Our plan is to go quietly towards Cape Town where we will visit some family here and there. We expect to get there on Friday the 24th and then we’re going to get the car ready for storage. Then we will rent a car and drive to Johannesburg so that we can get on the plane on the 30th after, of course, the mandatory Corona circus.