Halfway through winter and still running

June has been a really hectic month and I am still trying to slow down, consolidate and process all that has happened in thirty short days. And short these days were, being in the middle of winter and freezing cold. But this is just how it is for me, if I do not pack my winters full of goodie bags, I get depressed and then it is a mission to get me from under the duvet. But not this June, Oh no, our month started with a wonderful weekend of offroad fun, for which I rented a little trailer and took E and myself off to join our offroad club in a weekend of camping at the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.

The convoy of about six vehicles travelled together to Swaziland and just before lunch time we went through one of the lessor known border posts.
The scenary at the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary where we stayed were absolutely magnificent and I managed to capture this nostalgic scene at the local weir.
It was a lot of fun staying in our little tent and I was very proud of the way in which E managed to help me around the camp. Setting up the tent, helping mom around the camp site and his personal favourite - farting as loud and as much as possible in the clear mountain air.
The Nyalas were really tame and provided us with hours of entertainment. That is if they did not manage to steal everything edible available at your camp.

Some boulder bashing on top of a mountain, believe it or not, but thanks to some good guidance and nerves of steel, we all made it through here without a scratch to any of the vehicles.
After that rather tight squeeze I needed some relieve and this I must say, was the best wee view in the world ;-)
Followed by a lovely picnic and a well deserved rest on top of the mountain

We visited Swazi Candles the next day and I was amazed at the skill of the artists who, seemingly without effort, created the most the beautiful candles I have ever seen. This gentleman made an elephant candle in about 10 or so minutes whilst E and me stood watching him. Needless to say, I spend a fortune right there in gifts and little things for my home.
As I came back from my Swazi trip, John and I renewed our discussions around property, our different needs and how we could possibly accommodate a city sleeker and country bumpkin in one house. This resulted in some serious thinking and the purchase of a stand where we plan to build a city home in a country estate, just a couple of km's north of E's school.

The next weekend I was off to Porterville to share experiences with beautiful women in a function which was co sponsored by Jacobs Quest and the Diva Africa Programme. I felt privileged to be invited as a speaker at the gala dinner and got to dance the night away with all the lovely local ladies.
And just to top it all off, I bought myself a lovely new digital camera with all the functionality I have been drooling about for years but could never quite muster the courage to splash out on. Now I just need to figure out how to download the photos from the camera to my computer and we should be ready for some serious playing and sharing ;-)

Travelling as a single mom

This trip has been a spiritual journey for me. Through untouched wilderness, wild mind maps and mostly unchartered emotional territory. I have learned that I can cope with all kinds of challenges, from driving on roads about which seasoned men talk in hushed tones to being the only unattached female at a formal wedding dinner. I think the dinner was more intimidating than all the road trips and isolated landscapes strung together.

Getting ready and dressing up, first myself and then my dashing five year old companion, the fear that I look like something the cat dragged in as I walked through the door. Reading the appreciation in the eyes of men not my partner, the sidling up to husbands of wives, irritation at this oddity clearly evident on their faces. I was so carefull to only talk to males when they addressed me first, a difficult task for me as I grew up a tomboy and am so used to work in a male dominated industry that I relate to men far easier than women in the best of circumstances. But that said, the wedding was absolutely beautiful - a celebration from the heart.

I left the wedding feeling very sad and forelorn, I think watching all the families celebrating together increased the yearning in myself to belong to a safe little unit. At the beach were we stayed I took reels of photos - who knew that colourless sand and surf could be so magical? My kid is loving the holiday and he is making friends easier than I could ever do. But I think we are getting ready to return home. We are both missing the puppies and more familiar routine of home life. Just a couple more days in the Tsitsikama and then the long trip back to the crazy life of Gauteng.

The Navigator

E doing what he likes best - reading the map and telling mom where to go at our last 4x4 daytrip. More photos coming later, it was quite a scary crazy day