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Published: December 20th 2009
Hello, and welcome to our long-awaited blog!
We must start this by saying a huge thankyou to you, our friends and family for all the support, love and help you’ve offered us, without which this trip of a lifetime wouldn’t have been possible.
So goodbye England, hello World!
First stop South Africa...land of the Lion, home of Guy.
Exhausted from weeks of packing up the house and tying up a multitude of loose ends, (and not to mention the accidental 3 day drinking session that preceded our departure,) we head off to Heathrow very ready to begin our adventure.
Whilst Tim and Sheila waved from the car after dropping us off, we were greeted by a surprise farewell committee, comprised of : 3 friends, 1 brother, 1 goddaughter, and a very old dog!(Kath, Christabel, Charlotte, Daryn, Zoë, and Ricky) Thanks so much guys, your support and thoughtfulness mean so very much to the both of us.
Then came the first (of what I assume will be many) challenges of our trip: clever me didn’t have an onward ticket from South Africa (traveling with the wind means no real forward planning), and I was therefore not
Liffy and 'Shawu'
Liffy and a life sized bronze elephantgoing to be allowed on the flight, Marvelous!
In steps “Ever Resourceful Guy” who buys a one-way fully refundable ticket to Gabarone (Botswana), which meant for the whole flight to SA I had to think of as many tourist destinations and travel plans as possible ready to convince customs at Joburg that I really was going to abandon my husband on boxing day for the delights of a solo mission round the Okavango Delta!
Ho hum, it worked and we arrived in Joburg, greeted by Aunt Jillian who whisked us off to stay with her at Sun City.
With Kir Royals and pepper steak the first night was a rather luxurious one, catching up on family gossip, and trying not to think of a myriad of things we’d probably forgotten to do back home!!
Jillian then supplied us with VIP passes for the whole resort, where we joyfully had a taste of how the other half live…………….zebra skin thrones, afternoon tea, and foot massages by the pool, washed down with the occasional glass of something very cold and very strong! Fabulous, thanks Jillian!
Back on a plane, and off to Durban this time, greeted by the Italian
Guru (GP), who proved to have the patience of a saint as he helped us on our 3 hour mission to gain access to Mount Edgecombe Golf Estate (Gail and Chris’s home) after posing for photo id’s and filling out more than 6 different forms we were, at last in our temporary home.
Durban was then a flurry of catch up drinkies and meals with friends as we did our best to say Howzit to the gang, and brother Nick (looking very much like a local)
A highlight of this week has to be Shawn and Bri’s Beach Wedding. The bull’s party was staged at a friends house, while us girls spent the day at a very luxurious beach resort, both were literally swimming in drinks and laughter.
The wedding was both stunning and emotional, though unfortunately completely sodden, as the Durban rain clouds did their best impersonation of monsoon in full flow……it was decided that every raindrop was a blessing, and umbrellas were must have items at any wedding…….we ate spit roast and partied til dawn, surrounded by friends old and new, Cheers to Shawn and Bri!!
Back on the plane again to Cape Town……….. Met
by a very streamlined Jon (Guy’s dad).
Was wonderful to see Jon again (first time since the wedding), and after a few hours sleep we loaded ourselves and the rest of the Groom family, (including Bubbles the dog) into the car and set off at 4 am to drive the garden route…. Destination Bokness, to stay with Ilze’s family for Xmas in their lovely beachfront house.
As well as family, we also had some old friends of Guy’s with us, Trigger and Lindie, we proved ourselves to be fishing and beach fanatics.
There was deep sea fishing, early morning fishing, after lunch fishing, night fishing (you get the picture!??)
To be fair it was mostly the boys pursuing this age old survival hobby, us girls worked on our tans, Afrikaans, card skills, and wine drinking, as well as making the odd beach fire.
Then it was a truly picturesque drive back through the garden route, (this time not half asleep), watching Para gliders, wandering through roadside markets and saving the odd tortoise from certain death on the roads. On route Guy had to throw himself of the world highest bunji jump at Bloukranse Bridge.
We were then
able to spend a few lovely days with Jon (before he went back to work) and Ilze and the kids, wine farms, family picnics and braais were never far away, as we discovered the delights of the beautiful Cape.
New Years eve was spent with Trigger, Lindie and Chris at the amazing Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, drinking and enjoying live music, whilst lying on the lush green slopes under the gaze of table mountain………………….the perfect beginning to 2010
Next came Team Baker (and Brann, of course), arriving on Nick’s birthday (27 again???) and more sights and booze were enjoyed, as well as regular servings of fillet steak courtesy of brother Nick’s culinary genius.
Table Mountain, Simon’s Town, wine tasting, Strandloper’s beach restaurant and a rather hot game drive start a long list of activities………………..
Tim & Sheila met Ilze, Carmia, and Ainrich for the first time, and at last the extended family was beginning to take shape.
Then came the birthdays: Lindie turned 30 and Jon 60…congratulations! Needless to say, more parties followed and the passing of years was duly honoured!!!!!!!!
Finally after trips to the brick factory (very very very hot), and with kids back at
school, it was time to say a sad goodbye to everyone and head back to steamy Durban.
Gail and Chris were here this time, back from their tour of the States, and once again lots of family gatherings. Notably a Sunday lunch, with cousins, aunts and friends, it was a wonderful day for everyone to meet, and renew family friendships. It was also a chance for everyone to meet Aunt Bonny’s newly adopted daughters, Holly and Jessie, who at 1 and 2yrs were adorable.
Kirsten (Nick’s girlfriend) also hosted a wonderful dinner, proving that the Baker/Groom family and all the connections really is quite huge these days!!! (and that a strong Gin and Tonic is universally appreciated)
Then another sad farewell to Sheila and Tim as they head back to a snowy England which leaves Guy and I packing ready for India……………………………….
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Jillian
non-member comment
Bon Voyage!!!!!!!
Bon Voyage my darlings ....... what fun to be able to follow you around the world on your Blog ....... can't wait for the next entry xxxxxx Jillian