SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURES 2015 VIGNETTES

When last I wrote I mentioned a dinner party to take place at my cottage.  It was a blast!  Ady helped me with tips on how to cook the pork leg and extra crackling the way he does.  The night of the “do” he took over in the kitchen to finish it all up and carve the meat.  Everyone else brought a dish and wine.  After dinner we all sat around and talked and talked with much laughter.  At some point I got the brainy idea to introduce them to a game Bob made up around a campfire in Canada back in 2003.  Someone starts by giving three unrelated words like “brains, lettuce & cars” to the person on the left.  That person must make a story of at least several sentences out of those words.  The longer the story the better.  The game goes on around the circle until everyone gives words, receives words, and tells a story.  It was a huge success.

Life here in South Africa has been tranquil and replenishing for my spirit as well as an exercise in truly allowing the future to unfold as it will even though it is unfolding differently than my heart’s desire.  I have met several new people who have contributed to my spiritual growth and off loading of past karmic “baggage”.  I suppose this is why I am here in this space and time instead of Sierra Leone.  

Almost everyday I start my day with a walk on the beach and each day that walk is different in some way.  I think I have discovered why this beach is so special to me.  It is a curved beach

One End

that has mountains on the two ends with houses backed by the mountains and fronted by the sea.  A perfect Feng Shui configuration so the chi energy is flowing in a positive way and direction at all times.  Not to

The Other End

mention the connection to Mother Earth  as I walk barefooted through the sand and water and Father Sky with my face lifted to the wind and sun.

Houses Fronting the Sea At Low Tide

Since I committed to staying at Ady and Joanna’s for the month of March only, I have needed to vacate the cottage , due to other bookings, on two separate weekends in April.  Easter and this one (10 -13).  Both times I found an AirBNB replacement very close by.  

My Easter weekend was very lively with a Braii (bar b q but better, much better) on Thursday and a drinks party on Saturday at the first AirBNB location hosted by Michelle and her Mom, Patrica.  The Braii was to celebrate Paul’s early return for a visit from his project in Nigeria.  He arrived home to surprise his wife, Patricia, for her birthday and to celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary (second marriage for both). 

Somebody Just Spied The Dog

One by one the grown children straggled in.  Excuses and reasons to entice them to come over were different for each and they were very surprised and pleased when Paul popped up from behind the outside bar by the Braii in the swimming pool area.

The drinks party was to celebrate the anniversary and the birthday.  I made deviled eggs and babaganoush.  It was such fun I didn’t get to bed until 1AM!!!!  They are wonderful people warm, welcoming and full of fun as are all their friends and family.   

 I was invited by Sandy, a woman I met wine tasting, to a drinks party at a friend of hers that took place on Easter Sunday.  That morning I walked to the beach restaurant where she and her husband and three children picked me up.  There at a house up on the mountain overlooking the sea I met many other very interesting people from all walks of life resulting in great conversations.  All in all a lively and wonderful Easter weekend.

Let me explain the Braii.  It is a long slow way to cook over a fire outside.  Wood is essential and is burned first for a long time to create hot coals, then the charcoal is added.  The meat is placed on racks that get raised and lowered for slow cooking and allowing the wood smoke to permeate the meat.  Absolutely hands down the best way to cook meat EVER!  A drinks party is one where appetizers and other food and drinks are served without having a Braii.

Joanna and I have been going to the movies each week.  I have seen more movies in the past month than I probably have in the whole year before.  We started off with Mordecai, then The Best Erotic Marigold Hotel 2, The Theory of Everything,The Gambler, Danny Collins, & Cinderella.  Loved them all with the exception of The Gambler.  We have gone to a “Flea” which takes place each Sunday and is an outdoor market carrying lots of stuff at very good prices.  Yesterday we went to the Excess Mall a TRUE outlet mall meaning these stores carry the left overs, last years fashions, etc unlike ours that have morphed, for the most part, into name brand stores carrying merchandise of lesser quality purchased especially for the the “outlets”.

I will stay here until May 2 when I am renting a car and wending my way up to Johannesburg airport where I will meet up with Overseas Adventure Travel for an Ultimate Safari into Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  Sandra Breaum is flying in to meet me for this adventure as well as a visit to Dick and Dolores in Tanzania and a stop in Scotland to see Edinburgh and explore the Orkney Islands.

On my way to Jo’Burg I am stopping to visit Saskia Hopf who lives in the area of the Garden Route and Nikkie and Clive Ravenhill who live close to Kruger Park.  All of whom I met at the White Lion Preservation Trust in 2008.   I am also taking a weeks safari in Zulu Natal and spending a day volunteering at a Cheetah Conserve. Those adventures will make it to the blog as they happen.  

In the meantime I will be staying here.  I have been invited to give a talk on Restorative Justice, and Forgiveness the Fambul Tok way on the 21st to a woman’s group who supports underprivileged women and children in mostly Southern Africa.  They are called Linked To Grow.  It is always my privilege to give these presentations as it is a way to remain connected to Fambul Tok and expose the world to the concept of restorative justice and the power of forgiveness.

Of course I will continue walking the beach, going to the movies, having pedicures, hair done, etc.  until Joanna leaves on April 28 to take her group to Cuba.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

More Beach Scenes:

Angel wings???  No, but it sure looks like it.

Perfectly preserved real roses washed up by the sea.  From a bouquet for a wedding? birthday? ????

Baby Stingray.  I am told this is very unusual to see.

My very favorite critter- the sea snail.  I never tire of their activities.  X marks the spot.  If I dig will I find treasure???

This came pinwheeling across the beach and out of sight.  I followed. It appears to be the stem/s from a very full flowering plant.  A center piece???

Here comes the metro whose tracks I cross to get on the beach.

The path from the beach.  Very colorful graffiti that decorates almost every train car.

SIERRA LEONE STATUS FOR 2015

Just Off The Beach; Hair Styled By The Wind and Face Kissed By The Sun

Those of you who were less than pleased about the possibility of my going to Sierra Leone in April/May will be happy that it has become not possible.  Even though Kenya Airways will resume flying into Salone from Johannesburg late this month, the South African government is making it almost impossible to leave and come back into the country.  On top of declaring the travel must be ESSENTIAL in their judgement, they are requiring an official letter from the Sierra Leone Health Minister stating I am not on any Ebola Contact List (meaning I have not been in contact with any Ebola victims), and then I must undergo a 21 day quarantine upon my return to SA.  I can understand the caution, but am sorely disappointed.

As most of you know I believe that thoughts become things and words have power, so I want to ask a big favor of you all.  When you think of me traveling picture me well, whole, happy and filled with joy, amazement, and peace.  That way I will surely stay “safe”.

My visa to Salone is over in June this year and my passport needs renewing.  After those things have been taken care of, and after my yearly “grandma trip”to see all my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and a stop in Egypt,  I will make the journey to Salone in mid-November staying until mid-May; as long as the visa allows!  

Will drive to the east coast, leave my car there and fly from DC.  Then I will drive back across to the west upon my return visiting again and including family and friends I did not see on the way over.  So much for a Fuzzy Future!!!!  But within these plans is a great deal of flexibility as I am always looking all around me to capture any opportunities out there.

Remember life is a mystery wherein all possibilities exist; embrace the mystery.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara