CAPE TOWN - 2024

A dozen 'arty' views from this holiday.

Vergelegen gardens.

Flower planting at Vergelegen.

Coastal grasses, Gordon's Bay.

Strand beach (panorama). Cape peninsula in the distance.

Possibly the best second-hand bookshop ever. Gordon's Bay.

Sculptures in grounds of FOMO galley, Pringle Bay.

Flowers at Stellenbosch Botanical gardens.

Sky over Cape Town stadium.

Cape Town stadium. Rugby 7s.

Wonder Girl waving South African flag. 

Flying over the Alps.

 FAIRLIGHT PLAYERS

'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens

How we got involved in this play, is a long story. Let's just say we were involved, as the words of encouragement from one of the Directors says "on our debut as actors, dancers plus stage hand and wardrobe mistress" - "Break a leg".

Margie being more careful than me in the 'leg break' department, as she had to scale the steps to the stage, while I remained back stage !

So we were leaping around dressed as Party people, while City folk (Margie) and the Ghost of Christmas Future (Bill) had a less energetic stage presence. (This explains last Friday's Music Spot [link] from the band Ghost for those of you wondering what that was about.) 

It was a large cast, with a lot going on. So how did it go ?  In a word: Logistics ! Everything in its place and a place for everything... scenery, costumes even the actors. Knowing our cues, lines (not in my case) and helping with props were necessary. It was great fun. The audience reaction and the joyful singing at the end summed it up. 

My favourite scene was the Pawnbroker one. While Scrooge was excellent, remembering all his lines and young James playing five characters (especially the Urchin), memories I will never forget.  

Some PICTURES as captioned

THE DANCE - was 'Sir Roger de Coverley'
Sir Roger de Coverley was a model of Christmas benevolence and charity and by association this dance became a typical Christmas dance.  (Below: 10 of us performing this Country dance). 

Ghost of Christmas Future and Scrooge

Big finish: "Deck the halls with boughs of holly"

I will leave you with more dancing. And some music ♫♫♫

- We were at the Fezziwigs' Party and so a bit merry. It wasn't supposed to look professional - and I'm sure it didn't... but it was great fun and a lot of laughs !

This is is how it might have looked in Dickens Day

M o r e   p h o t o s   f r o m 

-  A U G U S T   1 s t   2 0 2 4  -

K I M  &  M A X  -  W E D D I N G  D A Y

-  Y O R K   H O U S E   :   T W I C K E N H A M  -

As promised some additional photos from the Wedding -
these taken by the official photographer.

I've not captioned the pictures as it seemed unnecessary. 

But I will apologise for looking like an extra from 'Men in Black' - because it was such a lovely sunny day I didn't realise my reactor light glasses had gone totally dark on me... ! 

 

 -  A U G U S T   1 s t   2 0 2 4  -

K I M  &  M A X  -  W E D D I N G  D A Y

Just a small selection of photos from a wonderful day.

More to follow...  

2023 - Holiday Review

This is really just a links post. Looking back over last year. Click beside the name to see the blog in question. 

June: SCOTLAND trip > Just click here 

September: ROME - this was actually only a few days and was historic in more way than planned because the airline went and cancelled our flight back and we had to reschedule. Consequently we lost our final morning in Roma and had to take a flight via Stockholm to get back to Gatwick that same evening !

December: CRUISE holiday > Click this 

 A GRAND DAY OUT (actually four days) 

A Yorkshire Wedding ― In a Heartbeat ― Looking for Greengrass ― Uphill, down dale, across moors ― Ruswarp Hall ― Larpool Viaduct ― Scarborough Beach ― Seal beach ― Seabird City ― Humber Bridge ― Lincoln Cathedral

Photo Captions tell the tale :

(Left to Right): Couple leaving the church; Steve with the happy couple Alexander and Mary Rose: Aerial group shot, lining up for the drone. 

Marquee in the grounds - outside / inside

Dalesend: The House and guests and a big bonfire (fireworks too).  

DAYS OUT - AFTERWARDS

Just next door to our overnight stay - says 'The most interesting store in the North!' - no idle boast, it was most interesting !
Simply Dutch, Northallerton.

After driving through TV series 'Heartbeat' country, our following night's stay was at Ruswarp Hall near Whitby and the 120 feet high Larpool Viaduct: ©1885

The beach in sunny Scarborough 

(Clockwise): Seal beach at Flamborough Head; Bempton Cliffs and Seabird City - kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills and gannets by the hundreds but only one puffin !

The enormous Lincoln Cathedral (4th largest in the UK)

- outside and in. 

As soon as I walked into the cloisters I could see this album cover !

US !

Trick of the light, Margaret's outfit isn't white, it's dark cream 😉

That was the year that was 2021.

Not too much to tell from 2021.
There was a two-day cycle along the Kennet & Avon canal on the hottest two days for the year, that went to plan on day one, but day two it didn't! (Long story - for another time).
We had some nice 'pet-minding' breaks away. One being a lovely week in Burwash in East Sussex. The remainder of the year was spent down in Hurley at our van. 

And FINALLY in November we escaped for some much appreciated sunshine and warmth on the island of Tenerife. Click this LINK for more on that.

2021: thank you and goodnight. Here's wishing and hoping the New Year is more like how we want it to be.

A brief review of some 2021 photos  > 

Kennet & Avon Cycle

(Above) Canal boat and path on route to Pewsey.

(Left) In the Staple Hill tunnel between Bristol and Bath.

(Below) The cycle path gallery near Bristol.

(Below that) The Caen Hill lock flight, Devizes. Margaret is just starting up the hill. 

The view from Burwash. Looking after James the cat at our friends' lovely cottage. 

A perfect field near Hurley

A clearly enlightened Buddha at the van.

GOING NOWHERE - TRIP 

Having not gone too far from anywhere since earlier this year (like most of you) we have fewer tales to tell. So we thought you might enjoy a trip around our fridge, via the many magnets we have collected over the years.

Positioned vaguely geographically - in as much as the world usually appears as landscape while our fridge is decidedly upright and portrait in format. 

Therefore Iceland is top left and New Zealand bottom right. See how many other countries you can spot: There are 21 different countries in total to visit - though actually 35 magnets, not all of them are countries. (Not easy to photograph, so apologies for the picture quality, but you get the idea) 😀  

And wishing you a Happy New Year

with a photo from snowy Iceland, taken in 2009.