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Published: December 24th 2007
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** I won't be adding as many pics as before, I don't want to use up all of Leane & Adriaans monthly allowance lol - will add more photos to my Picasa so will advise when thats done**
Yesterday I arrived in Jo'burg and was picked up at the airport by Leane.
It feels so good to be hear. Especially with people I know. Its great to be able to sit down with someone and talk about things & people that we both know.
I didn't do a lot that day. I slept for most of the afternoon and then took a pill to get me through the night.
Woke up feeling 80% right.
Today we are off to the Cheetah Park ( http://www.dewildt.org.za/ ) just outside Pretoria.
For those who don't know the background to this story heres a brief outline to the reason why we went here.
A very dear friend of my mum & Kevins became very ill with cancer a little while ago. Her name is Jan.
Very beautiful, special, loving, kind woman.
I hadn't met Jan until a few weeks before her death. But that didn't stop me from forming a close
bond with her. We spoke many many times via email and msn and a couple of times over the phone. On top of that, my mum had spoken to Jan about me a lot and mum had spoke of Jan a lot to me - so we knew a lot about each other.
I had spoken to Jan about my trip and she was so delighted to hear I was going to South Africa. She just loves the wildlife of Africa and has always wanted to travel there, but unfortunately never got the opportunity.
I told her, that I would always have her in my heart while I was here and she would be with me every step of the way.
I was planning on giving her daily diary updates while here. But sadly I'm not able to do that now! 😞
I had planned to adopt a Cheetah in her name while I was here. But after seeing Jan when she came to Canberra to basically say goodbye, it was very clear that she wouldn't be here much longer.
I got in touch with Leane who is one of Kevins daughters. She lives over here in Pretoria with her
partner Adriaan.
I asked Leane to enquire with DeWildt about an adoption for Jan and could they do it ASAP.
The adoption was organised and they started to put together the package for Jan. I received an email from Jan the following day and I teased her that I had something very special planned for her. I told her to keep an eye out on her email for a surprise all the way from South Africa.
Jan passed away 2 days later, not knowing what she was getting. I just wish that I had told her!!! Its my only regret!!
I promised I would come to DeWildt and meet her Cheetah in Person. And that’s just what we did.
Leane organised a parents meeting for us. It was a great morning although it absolutely poured with rain and we all got wet.
Jans’ Cheetah Graca (http://www.dewildt.org.za/ambasgraca.htm ) is what you call a princess. She is ‘precious’ in her own special way and as it was raining quite heavily she was the only Cheetah keeping dry in her castle. Graca doesn’t like to mess up her hair or make up but was very gracious to make an appearance for us for a few minutes.
She poked her head out of her house when she heard us, you could almost see she was a tad annoyed lol
She looked down at the ground then back as us over to her right, shook her head and slowly put one paw out into the cold.
She hesitated for a few seconds but then came out into the open air. She slowly walked over to the dirt mount that was under her tree where she promptly ‘struck a pose’ for us.
She stood so perfectly, you couldn’t have asked for better. After a few poses and a few photos, she quietly turned around and headed back to the warmth and dryness of her house.
That was the last we saw of Graca lol
But just those few special moments where enough - she was so gorgeous!!!!!!!!
After we saw the other Cheetahs, we were taken on a special tour of the grounds.
We saw Meerkats, Wild dogs, Vultures, African Wild cat, Honey badgers and the Lynx (beautiful animal!).
Jan if your looking down and I know you probably are - I’m hoping your enjoying this as much as I am!! J
Love & miss you!!
xx Lorree
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JohnPeers
non-member comment
Hi You again
How are you wish you were here! lol miss you. (not) had lots more for Christmas>< lost 10 kgs Happy New Year.