5 OS Pleasures in your Day Today part 2

VJsmum

I'm baaaa-aaaaack

Hello, all. Got back from hols yesterday - been reading and thanking along, but far too many posts to comment on. Luckily DforV has been here just before me, so "what she said"

Except - Merry Christmas to the Mhagsters. How lovely your day looked. My christmas gift to you is strength and light.

And, loved the 2020 pun DforV

Holiday heavy pleasures. (if there's repeats of what was previously said, then apologies.)

So, wonderful beautiful South Africa. it was our second time there (and we have been once to Zimbabwe, many many years ago). i would go back in a Heartbeat. Such a shame that we only hear the bad stuff - the landscapes, the food, the people all amazing.

We had a week of wildlife - there has been a three year drought in many parts of South Africa and Swaziland that we went to and it's massively affected both the landscape and the animal population. We had close encounters with rhino (once while on foot :eek: but with a guide and two very rare black ones), elephant, many many giraffes and zebras and, of course different antelope species - impala, nyala, kudu, waterbuck and, eventually, springbok (including an albino one). Not too many cats but did see some lions.

We stayed at a game reserve in Swaziland where the huts were thatched, but had no walls to speak of, no doors and no windows - and no electricity.

http://www.thekingdomofswaziland.com/pages/lodges/lodge.asp?LodgeID=51

Paraffin lamps and camp fires were the order of the day. it was here we did the walking safaris (and some drives) and came up close with white rhinos, giraffes and hippos. With no lights, you can imagine how big the sky was and the brightness of stars we don't recognise (but Mhags would ). We learnt the difference between black and white rhinos - even down to their dung And several used for elephant dung - drink :eek: (if desperate), fuel and even as a football. We saw a rare Narina Trogon bird
http://www.surfbirds.com/gallery/search2.php?species=Narina%20Trogon

We went on a river cruise in St Lucia Wetlands and saw over 50 hippos and some alligators and kingfishers.

http://isimangaliso.com/

But (un)fortunately, didn't run into any hippos in the town - it is common for them to roam the town at night... OH was most disappointed :rotfl:

We learnt about the battles of Blood river, Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift (from which the film 'zulu' came) and the Seige of Ladysmith. We also learnt that the British have a lot of blood on their hands and don't always operate as honourably as we'd like to think - just over 100 years ago we put a lot of Boer women and children into concentration camps and did not treat them well A zulu guide brought Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift to life like you wouldn't believe - imitating the zulu war cries and the high pitched "lulululu" of the women who accompanied.

We tried to go skiing in Lesotho but were forced back by the roads being impassable. But we got to see beautiful and desperately poor Lesotho, where the herd boys have mobiles but no coats We waved at the beautiful children who happily waved back. We saw 5000 year old cave paintings.

We went to the lovely mountain town of Clarens, where we could walk to restaurants (we generally avoided this) and we went quadbiking :eek: (probably never again for me). And they have a great brew pub

And we stayed here - Earthrise Mountain Lodge
http://www.earthrisemountainlodge.co.za/

A lodge run by and for the local community. The village is typical of the African villages we say - either round mud huts with thatched roofs or square thatched houses, and even 'shanty' type dwellings. We met a man called Jay Naidoo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Naidoo

Part of Mandela's government, he now works with the lodge (and elsewhere) and is looking to improve the lives of the villagers. i am determined to help if i can. In the short term I have resolved to buy them a sewing machine (it will be my birthday present ) and send them some other craft supplies, knitting wool and needles, some sewing basics. In the longer term, i am hoping to go back and help teach the girls some of the estimating and measuring techniques i am trained in, so that they can have input into improving the community. Girls often leave school at 12 due to abuse and even rape, and this is part of the incentive to give them some purpose, crafting initially but then also beyond that. We are looking at ways to get sponsored flights..... so watch this space, i am very excited about it. :j

And, on the last day, OH got to see and ride on the steam train he has wanted to visit for years...:T

The only thing I have had enough of for a while is bacon and egg as every breakfast included it... :rotfl:

It will take me a while to come back down to earth....

Have a great day all

mhagster

Sounds like a fabulous trip Vjsmum and and awesome post from DFV, enjoy your time off work.

Well today has been a better day , slightly more lively .

Good chat with friend from home, which always starts the day well!

After a ropey start OH went into work for a while, he doesn't have to but wants to.

Weeded my herb garden , swept up ( again) but on a very windy day it's a losing battle!

Lots of washing done and dried and ironed .

Tidied airing cupboard, DD1 was looking for a particular quilt cover which she couldn't find but had raked through everything looking. So all sorted, 2 bags of stuff dropped of at Salvos and quilt cover found!

Made a rather yummy chicken and leek pie, mashed potatoes, sprouts, cauliflower ( with leftover cheese sauce) . Dd1 made an apple strudel with left over pastry.

Text from boss...could I do extra shifts? Er, what? So it seems he has got himself a full time job and won't be working in cafe . He had told me first before his new manager....I made the suggestion that whilst he's having the chat with her tomorrow that he tells her a cleaning rota is required! So as not to put new staff member off ( he will be advertising for kitchen staff) or to suggest that our standards are low and therefore acceptable! I will do an extra half shift a week whilst I can. I do not want to be there.

Have a good day ,

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Just love the reruns with DfV. Thou must think all BoP does is nonsense and to be fair, she as not write about it!
VJs Back, I did not know she was missing! Slow Cooker, dear me! Not proper food! BoPsie had one once, then realised BoP was far better! Life lesson that!
Frith, late February 1984, I left my leather jacket in some shady Parisian hotel. Could you pick it up for me. Hotel bill needs paying as well. The train back to Calais was a disgrace.

5 Just off to see the badge holder for the cars about the job. Be good I think. Hit the floor. No news from the college! Phew!

4 Watched the t20 last evening with BoPsie. She's got all the movements. BoP wager fund increased by 10% would have been more, but six hitter Zaidi managed only one out of the park, the next just did not quite make it!

Please note BoP does not give advice in this nonsenses. So if you want to lose your money, pay into a pension and endowment!

3 Obviously BoP does not give any advice, but this morning, dumped BoPsie at the mill, and came home to find that Raffles is fed up with our choice food and has bought home another delicacy. Four kills in the last day. He's still growing!

2 Night BoP will be waiting for news from the Derby. BoP PM2 DD #UTM. Best out of the tin pot completion, but a 6-1 ...

I have received a lot of guidance on the above matters, so if you don't agree, tough!

DundeeDoll

still top of the table bop (well i might not be able to brag much longer...)
hiss boo to manager mhags . Have I missed Boxing Day? Hogmanay soon
welcome back vickya and vjsmum missing the hippos? hmm i wouldn't complain. they might be hungry hippos, which reminds me of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKQ_coXOKgg
what is slightly stranger is why any of it should make me want to listen to Scheherazade. Which i am now. The brain is a funny thing!
& Robert booooo hisssssss Ian hooray, and will Shula fess up?
1) won a herb and spice carousel in the raffle. don't normally buy a ticket, but i looked at the prize and thought i'd like that, indeed i think if i buy a ticket i'll win it.
2) roofer coming on thursday - not a total mse pleasure, but pleased i have fixed an appointment
3) booked spa day with dd2 - was a mother's day present and had total panic cos it runs out beginning of Sept. Have booked for 22nd August.
4) Lovely walk across park to mum's, clutching my newly acquired herb rack which i have decided is my first 'welcoem to your new life' pressie. All very autumnal, which is kind of a shame early August, but then again I lerv autumn
5) cat fine. not that you knew there was any doubt. when i went to bed last night i realised she wasn't already kipping on my bed. she was shut in the attic - have absolutely no idea how she got in there as door is usually shut and ds says he hasn't been in. anyway she was very cross but seemed no worse for wear, so i don't think she was shut in too long.

[Deleted User]

1) Builder came back and has changed some tiles on the roof and sealed the whole thing with cement or whatever they use on the edges. Now 300mm of insulation rather than 100mm so I should be warm this winter, my armchair is just out into the extension part of the room.

2) Gave some more tomatoes to Carol and the rest of the redcurrants, there were quite a lot more still on the bushes than I'd realised but bless her, she took the lot!

3) Found another lovely lady in the village who would like some blackberries to make wine. I love giving her things she needs, she gives freely and unstintingly of her time and her life to anyone who needs her, love her to bits!

4) Chat with DD1 on the phone, she sounds much more cheerful, feels human again having overcome her jet lag and was contemplating the joys of a bacon sandwich for supper with.....big debate.....brown sauce or chutney?

5) Just doing this and being part of OS again, life is absolutely better with nice folks to chat to isn't it?

LaineyT

Big hurrah for DFV's epic post and VJMum's african adventures, love idea of DD's new life Pressie, boo hiss for Mhags boss.

Finding an unopened bag of fruit pastilles in side pocket of car, bit stuck together but enjoyable

Went to local pet store for Tilly food and met gorgeous Lab pup called Charlie, had to smile to myself when shiny new owner said " it's ok, don't think he is the chewing type "....

Early night so reading in bed, one of life's real pleasures.

Various communications from friends and arrangements made to catch up, first one set for tomorrow. Tea shop near the river in Ely, have a tea menu and tasty cakes.

Clearing our kitchen cupboards, hollow legged youngest SS is off to Uni soon and has suddenly realised he needs "some things" list made for food parcel as well.

Indeed it is MrsLW.

VickyA_2

VJsmum - your trip sounds fantastic! Mr VickyA visited Rourke's Drift last year with his bestie. He said it was fascinating.

Thanks very much for the greetings. Great to be back. Refocuses the mind somewhat.

Pleasures for today:

1) Holiday washing pile is now washed and ironed. :j

2) Had to pop to a local town for something then popped into W*itrose for a couple of things. Bought essentials for less than they are in my normal supermarket, so felt chuffed. Got my coffee to take away.

3) Posted a friend's birthday card. I love sending and receiving real life post.

4) More sorting done. More stuff to bin or send to the charity shop.

5) Home cooked meal. I love being on holiday, but the number of times we ate out and the number of times I didn't really feel in control of what I was eating started to wear thin. Don't worry, I'll be fed up of cooking soon.

Yvieblue

What a lovely post dfv and what a beautiful trip you've had, vj'smum
I strayed too far into the forums today - came across a mean-spirited, judgemental thread that made me cross, and another where a poster has inadvertently upset the regulars that made me sad that people can't just be nicer. Hurried back here without passing comment and it's a real pleasure to read of travels, children, food (real or otherwise!), nature, love of loved ones and enjoyment of simple pleasures.
Slow cooked chilli con carne this evening, soured cream on top - delicious - luckily the weather had cooled a lot by the time we ate it!
Visit to a relative; flowers taken, and appreciated.
Pyjamas - comfy and homely:)
Being lucky - food in tummy, living in a peaceful environment with a much loved family:)

Frith

Quick pleasures as tired!

1) not a bad sleep, though 5 cracking mosquito bites in an arc.

2) leaking water main outside hotel saw an older lady with a jug collecting water for her many pot plants outside.

3) huge nearly 6 hour train journey in posh trains. Digital display showed where we were and that we got up to 315 km/h.

4) got to Brunnen. Very posh hotel. Sons have taken advantage of free 24hour gym and swimming in the lake.

5) had cups of tea on balcony overlooking swanky dining room.

6) popped into swiss army knife shop and have found brother in law's birthday present!

7) spectacular scenery despite drizzle and found a geocache.

Cappella

A quick pleasures post. Our internet connection is not being a pleasure at all.

1. All of your posts
2. More poetry, Chesterton and John Donne this time, I am sorting through my poetry books but find that I can't bear to part with most of them. Too many glorious words!
3. The hanging baskets in the garden of a nearby house, a profuse cascade of petals and leaves. Beautiful.
4. A huge bunch of gladioli from the allotment in a stoneware jug in the hearth.
5. Returning to craft projects I've started in the dim and distant past, and have abandoned in dark cupboards. Soon we will have a pieced patchwork hexagon flower garden sofa throw over the back of our sofa. Only taken me 38 years to come this close to completion. :rotfl: