As mens net gewoond begin raak het aan die nuwe vryheid wat aftrede gebring het, is die ingrendeling as gevolg van Covid-19 ‘n versmoring vir liggaam en siel. Die enigste werklike teenmiddel teen hierdie gebrek aan suurstof is om jouself as te ware in ‘n selfgeinduseerde koma van nostalgie te laat gaan. Na ‘n ander wêreld – die een van herinneringe en onthou. Die ou fotos wat jy in hierdie tyd kan oproep met een vingerklik maak telkens die venster na daardie ander wêreld oop.
Ons is maar altyd opsoek na troeteldier vriendelike kuierplekke sodat Emma kan saam gaan en ons met minder van ‘n gewete dan die lang paaie kan vat met die BushLapa. Daar is nogal ‘n hele paar lekker kampopsies in die Weskaap waarheen netjies opgevoede woefies kan saam gaan. Ons het van hierdie plekke probeer, maar sommige maak vir ‘n verskeidenheid van redes nie ‘n kuiertjie heeltemal pret nie. Rivierplaas naby Villiersdorp het die vriendelike Hugos, maar net te veel miskiete, muggies en vreemde vliëende goeters wat so byt dat jy na jou kuier antibiotika, kortisoon en nog ander goeters in jou lyf moet kry om te oorleef. Montagu karavaanpark is te veel karavaans en daar word te erg teen die honde gediskrimineer. Honde soos Emma is immers lank nie meer heeltemal hond nie en fundamentele regte kan nie sommer na willekeur ingekort word nie.
Ons het baie van Khomeesdrif gehoor maar verskeie pogings om daar uit te kom het gefaal weens onvoorsiene buitengewone reenbuie in die Overberg. Rykie Swart het voorgestel ons wag bietjie en die deposito lê snoesig.
Dit was in 2018 en die BushLapa was nog nuwe speelgoed, toe Rykie sê dit lyk goed vir ‘n kuiertjie. Wat die uitsien nog groter gemaak het, was die vooruitsig van ons Bloemie meisies se saam kamp! Rox en die twee feetjies het kom kuier. Amelie, oupa se kampvuur en braaimaat, en Lia die oupa omdievingerdraaier. Vir die Bloemies is die tent ingepak en die karavaan bevoorraad, Emma se tas in en ons was oppad. Nie eers ver ry nie – Khomeesdrif lê net so newens Riviersonderend op die R 406.
Die staanplekke is heerlik groot en soos altyd het ek en Rosebud ons gesprek gehad oor watter ene en hoe presies die karavaan moet staan. Dit is soort van deel van die kampervaring. Emma was in haar noppies en het sommer gou die ander maatjies gaan groet. Amelie en Lia het ewe gou die vriendekring vergroot en die Bloemies het te lekker Engels gepraat. Lekker speelplek hier vir kind en dier! Ouma het selfs swaai gery!
Die Bloemers en nuwe maatjie
Nou kan ons begin kamp!
Die kampterrein lê teen die rivier of dan een loop van die rivier, heel paslik genoem die Riviersonderend! Die water is nie super helder nie, maar darem stukke beter as die muskiet en muggiewater van Rivierplaas! Daar is meer as genoeg bootjies en kanoes om pret te hê en te verken. Rox ken van roei en het die wêreld omtrent verken! Die kinders en Emma het heerlik in die water baljaar!
Vetpret
Die pragtige nuwe en breë oranje kanoes wat ek en Rox vir ons toegeëin het vanweë die heerlike stabiliteit het net later geblyk nie Khomeesdrif se eiendom te wees nie, maar die van ‘n medekamppeerder! Kaapse ou, maar met die vriendelik kom sê ook sommer aangebied dat ons dit maar kon gebruik! Heerlike kampgesels by die lapa teen die rivier.
Daar is maar niks op hierdie aarde soos ‘n kampvuur nie! Vlamme wat betowerend baljaar, gelukkige kinders en hond, goeie geselskap en ‘n wyntjie! En ‘n aand wat aanbreek.
As mens in hierdie tyd van ingrendeling met nostalgie deur grepe van gister reis ervaar jy tog so ‘n klein bietjie virtuele vryheid, maar veel belangriker is die waardering van werklik onbegrensde vryheid. Min dinge klop ‘n lekker kamp en dit was ‘n lus om die kinders se eindelose energie te sien en in jou hart te bewaar.
Emma het selfs middag slapies gevat, want lekker kamp maak hondjies moeg!
Dit was ‘n heerlike kuier en werd om weer te besoek- wanneer ons weer vry is!
When one has been blessed in so many ways over an entire lifetime, the slightest waivering in gratitude or moment of resentment of life for the cards dealt you at any given moment, should put you to task to reflect on life in its essence instantaneously. To seek comprehension of Life. But does it?
This blog is not only about past or real time physical safaris, being travels or journeys to explore the beauty and richness of nature, but also about the travels of the mind, the heart and the soul. It is also about the journey of Life. This journey is not reflected upon from a rigid specific religious regime, be it one that is inclusive or exclusive in teachings, but rather in the context of an infinite Divinity, universal and uncontaminated by man. We are not subjects of a Puppet Master, but creatures of free will. It is in this freedom that the problem often finds birth.
Reflecting on life’s journey and the quest for comprehension I pay tribute to my wife, Rosemarie(Rosebud) and our two kids, Rozanne (Rox) and Johann (Riet,) who are walking this earth with profound commitment and pride, and our angel in the parallel world of Purity and Everlasting Life, Cornel (Nella). It is in the immense sweet and bitter of this life that the quest for comprehension finds its birth and embarks on its own journey.
Having both grown up in the most beautiful varsity town of Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa, both Rosebud and I were raised in fairly modest middle-class families. Life dealt us good and not so good cards over time, but generally life was good and we were both blessed with the opportunity to study at the University of Stellenbosch and obtain respectable professional qualifications.
Post graduation a fresh chapter of Life started. Difficult times, with Rosebud having to travel by train early in the morning to the high school where she was appointment as German teacher. I was more fortunate and could commence my career as state prosecutor at the Stellenbosch Magistrates Court. Hard times followed with Rosebud’s train travels every day, Johann spending most of each day in day care and me having to attend on all criminal prosecutions in town, save for some relief during varsity term breaks when law students joined for practical training. Johann’s cronic Otitis Media added to stress and guilt.
But – in the end we made it….
“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other” – Walter Elliot (1888- 1958), Scottish politician
Then the settle-in years and growth – in family, house and happiness. Blessings came in abundance with the most beautiful family, friends and blissful suburban life in the tranquil and picturesque Durbanville.
Wealth
Our three beautiful children were indeed the most precious gifts ever received. All three gifted in so many ways, everyone an individual creature in own right and as per fairly normal in this world, as for boys, Johann the most mischievous! Suburban life was indeed good for the best part of 25 years. Johann was a most gifted all round sport person and excelled in tennis, ruby, golf and cricket. To him academic work always came a distant second to his sport. No wonder then that, during his aptitude testing for university, it was made very clear to him that he should have worked much harder if he really wanted to become a doctor, as he proclaimed he wanted to! Well, our boytjie (Afrikaans) opted to pursue his cricket career further and was selected to the SA Development team. He played with Jacques Kallis, who eventually played for the South African national team, the Proteas. Johann had dreams of playing county cricket in the UK, but while attending the Boland Cricket Academy the late Bob Woolmer brought him to his senses, advising that as he had the opportunity to pursue studies at the university, he should rather do that first. That was the turning point – dropping-out from his first year of studying Bsc. Agric, he suddenly seemed to have found his niche! He became enthralled with the study of biochemistry and registered for a B.Sc degree. His journey in the field of Molecular Biochemistry culminated when he, after having obtained the degrees of Honneurs BSc and Master of Science, obtained a PhD from the university of Oxford, UK.
Johann at one of many graduations (with Nella)
In the meantime the girls showed their mettle in own right. Nella excelled academically and proved to be a natural leader. As head girl in the primary school and deputy head girl in high school, she showed immense character and leadership and made us proud. She was so talented in so many fields – academy, sport ( provincial colours in hurdles), ballet, netball, music (piano and trombone). It was as if, somehow, she had an urgency about her. She performed as trombonist in the Hugo Lambrechts Orchestra and traveled abroad. She pursued her dream to become a medical doctor and qualified in 2004.
Nella the doctor
Nella the trombonist
Rozanne, being the youngest sibling, had a bit of a tough time with the two older ones. Always the wiser, they supplemented parental guidance to the extreme! Poor youngest one! She however stood her ground and showed character as an individual. As captain of the first hockey team she demonstrated leadership qualities in own right. But, always the softer, more empathetic little one. No surprise then that she decided to become an occupational therapist. She proved to be the one with a true and intense calling to serve the often forgotten – the mentally and physically disabled.
Rox the Bochia coach
Rox the Occupational Terapist
How blessed can one be on this earth? No riches can buy this. It is but only by the Grace of the Infinite Divinity. As parents our contribution remains minuscule.
For me, who lost my father at the age of eleven, the only remaining wish was to be spared to see my children grow into adulthood and become fulfilled and proud parents in own right. Surely, this would complete the picture for me and Rosebud.
How immensely blessed are we not to be kept from earthly harm and the pain of loss. How often do we think about this and give praise for being so blessed every time we see the sorrow our neighbour has to bear? When Life is good, it is good. Had we but a deamon with insight and compassion to forever remind us of our blessings and that we should by nature show empathy towards the meek and downtrodden. This seems, in the end, man’s ultimate failure.
Alas, man is not living in a perfect world, where infinite happiness endures and a Devinity shields off all harm.
And then -2005 – Our Annus horribilis.
A year of major events and achievements it was meant to be. Rox with a newly found love busy with her 3rd year at varsity, Nella serving as intern at Dora Nginza Provincial Hospital in Port Elizabeth and Johann in Oxford with wife, Trix, and finishing up on his Ph. D while working as researcher at the Weatherall Institute for Molecular Sciences. Rosebud and I just having scaled down and moving to a smaller dwelling in a security complex.
Nella, at the time engaged to be married to Rudi Nel, who also worked as a doctor at the same hospital, started to plan the wedding. A date was set for 1 October that year and planning for the wedding was on track.
Rudi and Nella
Johann arrived from the UK a week before the wedding to attend a varsity reunion of sorts. It was great to have him home. Rosebud, Rox and I were on top of the world!
Then – exactly 19:50 on Friday the 23rd of September 2005, the call no parent should ever receive – it was Rudi’s father from Riversdale. Both our beloved children were killed in a car crash just outside of Knysna at 19:00.
We entered another world in a fraction of the second that followed the ending of the call. Our new world was surreal. The intense desire to escape this world of indescribable surrealism pounded through head and heart. Then the natural protection of the body against total self-destruction kicked in- numbness.
Our Peace took flight like a eagle leaving its warm and secure nest soaring high into the skies to nothingness and to enter a new world, and never to return.
‘Is there a way I can find you, Is there a sign I should know, Is there a road I could follow To bring you back home?Winter lies before me Now you’re so far away. In the darkness of my dreaming The light of you will stay.‘
– Enya – Where are you this moment
Nothing could ever be the same again, but Life has a side that shows no or little mercy. Perhaps Life knows best and hammers it into us that the only way out is through. Who knows – only Time.
Johann finished up his PhD at Oxford and made the call to return home to pursue Nella’s lost dream i.e. to serve through practising as a medical doctor in his own country. Only problem was that the holding of a Ph.D in cancer research did not open the door to registration for studies in medicine per se. However, Life showed a kinder side again and Johann was granted special admission by the University of Stellenbosch to register for the MBChb. He was no youngster anymore and started off in 2007 joining the below the 20’s first year group of students. Without the immense support of his wife, Beatrix (‘Trix’), this journey would not have been possible. Trix, also holding a Master degree became the sole breadwinner of the family. Many years of profound perseverance and Devine Grace on the part of Life brought a final crowning of unwavering passion, driven by the memories of Nella.
Amidst Johann’s pursuit Life’s dark and unkindly side stepped in again when Rosebud was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. A sequela of the loss of a child?
Chemo-room faces, lines dripping poison in hope of life, nausea, darkness, silence. Repeat, repeat and repeat. A body broken in desperate hope of wholeness. Chemo, Herceptin and radiation. But in the end a battle bravely fought and won!
In the meantime Rox pursued her dream to simply love and serve the downtrodden and often forgotton kids. Her passion for the physically disabled children at the Tswellang Special School in Bloemfontein has no boundries! How blessed are we to have a daughter who has a heart full of love and is the best mom in the world!
Amidst Life’s almost unbelievable twists and turns today, in the time of Covid-19 and a world in turmoil, we are blessed to bear witness to Johann’s final academic accomplishment following of a journey of 25 years post high school. Having passed his final exams to qualify as specialist oncologist we celebrate with him and also as a family celebrate together the life of Nella, who has indeed been a huge inspiration along this long road. Life is kind and cruel, fair and unfair, joyful and full of sadness – almost as if Life suffers from some form of bipolar disorder. Can we control Life’s state in anyway or can we not? Can we comprehend Life?
Where are you this moment? Only in my dreams. You’re missing, but you’re always A heartbeat from me.
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity” – John Muir
Dag 20 van Covid-19 pandemie afsluiting, isolasie, gevangesetting of wat jy dit ookal wil noem. Ons wetsgehoorsame burgers is nie gewoond aan ‘n tronkbestaan nie. Hierdie is ‘n vreemde toedrag van sake – ons binne en hulle (die boewe) buite! Om die waarheid te sê, van hulle sien toe dat die klein outjie die wet gehoorsaam, terwyl van hulle (die boewe) vrye toegang to drank het – dit, terwyl ons voorraad uitgeput raak! Wel, ‘Life ain’t fair”! Maar helaas is dit nie vir my ‘n saak nie. Om ‘n slag super sober te wees is goed vir die liggaam en gees. Wat nie goed is vir die liggaam en gees nie, is die intense nostalgie wat hierdie tronk bring. Ek begin elke dag meer voel soos Gulliver wat net met meer toue en tentpenne vas geklem word teen hierdie stukkie grond.
‘n Mens kan baie dinge doen in afsluiting en ons mense se vindingrykheid toon geen perke nie – Youtube videos van stupid dansies, toneelspel of moers snaakse (tot op ‘n punt) Whatsapp Corona grappies of lewenswaarhede rondstuur, huisprojekte aanpak wat jare reeds geparkeer staan, tuinmaak, “masterchef’ speel ad nausea, beskuit en brood bak dat jou skaal begin kraak by die geluid van die oond wat aangaan. Natuurlik kan mens ook meer dinge doen wat waarde toevoeg, soos lees en musiek luister! MAAR, op ‘n stadium begin die suurstof uitloop, groei die donker en trek die keel toe.
Dit is op hierdie punt wat die hart en die geheue begin oorneem, of jy wakker is of slaap, of jy brooddeeg knie of jou ingelegte olywe se soutwater vir die 50ste maal vervang. Die aansteek van die vuur vir die soveelste Coronabraai en die tuur in die vlamme wat vry en vrolik dans, is die laaste strooi en die verlange na buite en na kamp, weg van almal en alles, begin brand soos gloeiende kole deur jou……
Soos gister, sit Emma reeds en wag – “kom ons ry mense, wat is julle probleem!”
Ag mens, en was dit lekker! Heerlik weggesteek in die Olifantsrivier bergreeks bokant Porterville, Wes Kaap. Die uitnodiging: “Come and fly the skies where black eagles soar, hike the paths of the leopard, climb the rocks where baboons play and spend some time at a rock pool each day”
Charlotte bring ‘n hele sak vol varsgeplukte lemoene. Nog nooit het enige lemoen so gepro nie, en geen wonder nie want, verduidelik sy, ‘n nuwe varieteit vir uitvoer na buiteland.
Op met die Dasklippas ( nie grappies vir ‘n gewone karretjie nie) net newens van Portervile en hoog in die berge wag die heling van Beaverlac in die vallei met sy pragtige lemoenboorde. Buite seisoen en skool – dis doodstil en Charlotte by die Ontvangs cum winkeltjie is warm en vriendelik. Net ons en 2 ander pare. Staanplek te kus en te keur. Goue herfsblare teen die intense groen lemoen bome met die goue vrug verf die landskap wat aan die voete van die oerkranse rus. Dit is asemrowend mooi. Beaverlac is ‘n werkende boerdery, knus by die Olifants en die Ratel riviere. Ons slaan kamp op naby die vol-in-vrug lemoenboorde. Net ons – ek, Rosebud en Emma. Ons weet nie van inperking of gevangesetting nie. Ons is vry , volkome vry.
Wandelpaaie lei na rotskuns en riviere, watervalle en drome, heerlike sonbak op die lyf en mooi drome op warm rotse. Afsluiting hier is heling.
Wie wil nie vry wees nie?
In hierdie vreemde tyd van Corona hunker hart en siel na die musiek van ‘n waterval, kabbeling van ‘n rivierstroom, herfsson op die voorkop en drome wat deur jou spoel.
Everything was the same at daybreak on Friday the 27th of March 2020, well, initially I thought it was.
But then…… something was wrong – no, different! Daybreak was indeed different! The sound of the silence was overwhelming! No traffic! No one was going to work? Where were the occasional deep thunder and growl of the Porsches, the Merc AMGs, the Lambos and Ferraris of the Valley! The young smoothly groomed middle-aged announcing their presence and the fact that they actually do work! Where were the happy, hopeful voices of the men on the side of the road outside of our complex, desperately longing to be picked up for a job? Where the way-off sounds of trains being shunted and planes coming in for landing?
Listen!…… as darkness still duels daybreak, the sound of silence medley-mixed with the profound voices of the Cape robin-chat, the Olive thrush, the finches and the little mossies (Cape Sparrow)!
The first morning of Corona house arrest was profoundly surreal. Nature introduced the first day of a new era. For me, Rosebud and Emma this obligatory lockdown , although a foreign concept to our world, was going to be OK with so many birds singing in the back garden, long lists of projects and dreams! We are retired and home most of the time anyway, unless we go camping or embark on a relaxing safari, which was on hold anyway in view of a forthcoming family wedding.
The gravity of this pandemic virus is understood. The world is one and communication in 2020 second to none. From our bed, with the first coffee in the hand, we watched, listened and observed. BBC, SKY, CNN, Euronews, eNCA feeding us every single detail. We are informed people. There is no alternative and we must abide. Solidarity is to be real and not any longer just a dream or the name of a labour union. We can and must do this!
I look upon the world and realise how small our world has become, unlike the reverie of John Drinkwater ( Poems – 1928):
“ I look upon the world and see
A world colonial to me,
Whereof I am the architect,
And principal and intellect,
A world whose shape and savour spring
Out of my lone imagining,
A world whose nature is subdued
For ever to my instant mood,
And only beautiful can be
Because of beauty is in me.
And then I Know that every mind
Among the millions of my kind
Makes earth his own particular
And privately created star,
That earth has thus no single state,
Being every man articulate.”
The first few days were easy peasy and the 21 day lockdown seemed like child’s play for retirees and a happy Staffie! Huge though the disappointment when Hatbox Cele announced shortly afterwards that jogging and doggie walkies were absolutely out.
Unlike many fellow citizens, we did not go panic-buying. It turned out that our take on supply – chain management was correct, save for one crucial item – potting soil/ compost! Everyone seemed to have rated gardening Number 1 salvation! Luckily we had a bit of potting soil left and the lockdown survival strategy started off with clearing and re-doing the first flowerbed. Wonderful therapy and both we and the feathered friends were satisfied! Rosebud put in a great effort and it was a job well done. 27,28,29, 30/3…..We can do this!
Between the three of us we also kept ourselves busy with some of our other favourite activities – Rosebud working her brain on crossword puzzles and riddles, and creating passion fruit cordial with the abundance from our garden, Emma lying at the front gate in the sun and dreaming of the evening ‘dop-tyd’ and ball game, and I getting into the dough to bake rations! Almost forgot, we also harvested the olives in the garden and having listened to a youTube presentation by a young American boy, starting my olive curing process. You see: anticipating the strains of captivity and isolation, establishing as many ‘new’ daily chores possible was pivotal! Olive curing the long way – replacing the saltwater every morning and evening! Well, two boxes to tick ( to tip!) each day.
Olive harvesting
Now back to the baking. Bread for the first day or two was done and dusted! One of my favourite work-outs!
But then – the sound of silence became increasingly loud as the first few days had passed. The whiskey ran out and so did the bottles of wine in the cellar designated for general consumption. The Ritmeester Moods were also done by day 4. Terrible planning on my part! Emma was becoming confused as the evening ball play was supposed to be signalled in with the crystal sound of ice cubes plunging into our glasses with joy! The second signal, before the first ball was delivered, was the match lighting the cigar! O!, what joys do the sins of life not bring! Forbidden fruit always the best!
Well, captivity and isolation call for innovative thinking and soon the popping of the cork was the recognised and definitive signal to Emma that it was game on.
Lockdown regrettably also means no movement in and around the complex. But “‘n boer maak ‘n plan” and it was sundowners across the street.
On the bread activity – why not venture into sourdough baking? Mixing the starter and feeding it every day produced yet more activities! At least for the first 6 days. Then the attempt to bake the bread…… What a time-consuming and stretched-out process, but positively contributing to the scorecard. Regrettably, an utter flop and the outcome a serious warning to up the game! Practice makes perfect, especially when time is no longer of the essence.
In the meantime Whatsapp contacts and groups provide virtually uninterrupted entertainment and yet again shows the endless creativity, fun and taste for humour on the part of Mzansi. Mixes of funny, dark humour, universal lessons and truths!
In the meantime schooling resumed – virtually. Parents realise innovative and creative thinking dare not have any limit. Workers realise that working from home has enormous benefits, but also challenges. Sportsmen and women carry on with the game virtually. Homeless people find their daily routine being disrupted and mixed feelings set in. Human rights are being trampled upon.
Day 10
Ventured out for supplies today and what an eerie feeling! Empty streets, save for the odd brother or sister about the same mission. I notice the increase in motorbikes doing home deliveries of goods bought online. There are no joggers, doggies or¹ our lone ‘kombersman’, while a few beggars re-emerged from hiding after the initial ‘hunt’ by authorities. Jeepers, business must be awfully bad for them during the lockdown!
Humor is fading and Whatsapp is also gradually going into lockdown. The sound of silence is becoming a high pitched drone-like whine in my head. Days become longer and nights even longer, all ignoring the seasonal change.
Overdosing on sleep is not good for the soul. Dreams take over sleep and travelling through parallel worlds becomes extremely tiresome.
Vandag was ons laaste dag in Strandfontein. Môre terug huis toe, na Emma toe!
Vroegoggend begroet deur honderde tornyne wat in die baai wei en branderry! Mooiste prentjie!
Pad gevat deur die veld na die monding van die Olifantsrivier newens Ebenhaeser. Mooi vistas teen die kus langs
By die monding verras ‘n paar flaminke ons, maar menssku, en vaar die lug in met die mooiste pink vlerke. Dan begroet duisende ‘seeswaeltjies’ – Sterretjies – ons en sweef die mooiste kunswerke deur die lug. Ongelukkig kan selfoon fotografie nie reg laat geskied hieraan nie!
Die monding is pragtig en die water glashelder!
Die mondingDie bloggerRosebud
Terug by ons karavaan en met die vooruitsig van aandete by die enigste restaurant, Kommetjie, eers ‘n lang stap langs die see. Die allermooiste kunswerkklippies deur tyd en skommeling van die see geskep, maak jou verder en verder loop. Waar die ou groot seeanemoon gister die krap verras het, is daar geen reste van die anemoon se avondmaal nie!
Die Kommetjie restaurant verras ons met veels te groot porsies van heerlike seekos.
Kingklip
Hier is selfs voorsiening vir die ‘onwaarskynlike’ kragonderbreking!
Die see se brandersimfonie bring ‘n heerlike heilsame lomerigheid en die mens kom in al sy dimensies tot rus. Vrede. Seën. Magies vol, ogies toe! Lekker doeks!
Die misbank oor die see het die nag grou en nat gelaat, maar hier op my bankie teen die strand bak ‘n warm sonnetjie teen my nek met die nuwe dag se aanbreek. Die see stoei nog met die nag se grys as ek ver oor die horison ‘n ander paralelle werêld sien in my kop.
As die mis lig met nuwe dag
Selfs die meeue het gou kom groet! Vriendelike voëls, behalwe vir een raasbek. Maar baie soos die mens!
Ons het besluit om gou uit te ry Doringbaai toe. Ou vissersdorpie so 10 km suid van Strandfontein. Ek was laas daar toe ek en Johann, toe in matriek, een Saterdag soontoe gery het met die ou kombi om ‘n tweedehandse klavier vir Nella te gaan koop! Soos menige plattelandse pronkplekkies het tyd en nuwe dimensies vrot en verval van die ou tye van vooruitstrewendheid gebring. Hartseer. Wat eens ‘n aktiewe vissershawe was, vertoon nou soos die kuns in verganklikheid.
Maar aan die positiewe kant: hier is tog inisiatiewe wat hoop onderstreep. Die weskus se enigste wynkelder setel in die ou visfabriek! Fryers Cove Winery het ‘n mooi verhaal. Gaan kyk bietjie!!
In 2011 het die Weskaap ‘n inisiatief ondersteun om ‘n trust te skep vir die vestiging van ‘n perlemoenplaas. Hierdie projek het die gemeenskap betrek en die vakuum wat die ineenstorting van die visserybedryf gelaat het help vul. Armoede is steeds groot, maar daar is tog hoop. As perlemoenstropers net eerder hierby betrokke kon raak.
Midde die verweerde en geroeste reste van ‘n eens heel besige vissershawe vind ons die proelokaal van Fryers Cove en ‘n eenvoudige eetplekkie. Lekker bordjie met roosterkoek, camembert, groen vye en ‘n gerookte snoekkoekie!!! Smul verby!
Ons koop ‘n wyntjie en gaan verken verder langs ‘n semi 4×4 paadjie teen die see. Mooiste poele en in ene iets wat lyk soos ‘n jellievis selfmoord!
Nog mooi vistas as Rosebud deur die poele snuffel!
Doringbaai se vuurtoring
En, soos die grys weer oor die see kom kruip teen laatmiddag doen ons ‘n laaste stappie langs Strandfontein se strand voor dit vuuraansteektyd word. Die seeumeeue begin rustig raak en in ‘n kleine rotspoel verslind ‘n anemoon ‘n krap! Die see gee en die see neem. Die kringloop van die lewe.
Die see se simfonie maak my rustig en die vaak kruip oor my soos ‘n sagte seemis. Tot nog ‘n nuwe dag as uit Gawe gegun. Nag!
Die Weskus is nie vir almal nie. Net so die Kalaghadi of die Tankwa. Tog, waar ek nou hier langs die koue Benguelastroom oor die spieëlsee van Strandfontein tuur en die aantal GP besoekers sien, besef ek vele ander vind hier rus, soos ek en Rosebud. Ironies genoeg was ek nog nooit hier nie, altans so ver ek kan onthou. Wel nie nie ver hiervandaan nie op Lambersbaai opgegroei tot 11. So op ‘n manier is die Weskus tog iewers in hierdie dna geweef. Die feit dat hierdie kouewaterwerêld nie vir almal is nie, het sy voordele – minder voete en meer stilte. Dis goed vir die hart en gemoed.
Gisteraand hier aangekom en karavaan staangemaak op A7 blok met eie miniatuur ablusie. Verwelkom deur ‘n buurman wat ‘n slang soek! Ou van Köln, Duitsland, maar oorspronklik van Rustenburg. GP kar en karavaan en sy vriendelike klein frommelgesiggie mamma. Mooi storie vir later!
Ons verwelkoming – ‘n mooi jong Kaapse Kobra! Aangesien hierdie vriend agter ‘n ander van sy spesie was, het hy (of sy) min ag geslaan op die nuwe intrekkers…..
Slang
Die son sak in die weste en groet sag as ek my glas lig. Wat kan mooier en meer strelend vir die siel wees?
Blouvlag status – die strand en see is verfrissend skoon. Heerlik vir stap en hondjies, net jammer dat wetsgehoorsaamheid vir Emma hierdie genot ontsê het. Namens Emma is gevra en Matzikama Munisipaal het geweier! Al die wetsongehoorsame burgers is hier met hul hondjies en dis ‘n fees! Matzikama personeel draai net oë weg.
Rustigheid is nie net stilte nie maar ook in die deinings van die see, die klotsing tussen rotse, die vreemde rotse en die swewende seemeeu.
Rosebud en die see.
Ons eerste dag van verkenning en wat ‘n heerlike nuutheid! Net suid van die dorpie vind ons hierdie massiewe sloep na die see. Hier vind ons bewaarskole vir duisende viskleuters!
Kleuterskool
Die wonderlikste wandelpaadjie lei na die mooiste labirint vir reis na jouself en innerlike vrede. Die rotsformasies is asemrowend en jy beleef ‘n nuwe paralelle werêld. Hierdie land is myne en so mooi!
Nou kom die mis oor die see en trek ‘n sluier oor die strand. Gou ‘n laaste wandeling voor die klam van die aandskemering ons toevou. Die see het sy dag se gawes gegee, maar ook teruggeneem.
Our sunset, our safari sunset – when one retires and life goes on, one’s mind suddenly has far more time to wander. It is a fact, a fact of life. No more preoccupation with ‘managing ‘ life in the longer term, planning, planning, planning and working towards the absolute best post death scenario (for those left behind).
The mind, no longer dictated by the demands of purpose and survival, is freed in a sense and it is this freedom that allows for ample reflection on purpose and sense. On what has been and what has not, or what ought to have been, and what not. On blessings, but equally on hardships and loss.
A dear old erstwhile colleague of decades and friend passed away this morning. So blessed am I to have been able to see him yesterday to say farewell. I doubt if he knew I was there, but maybe he was aware. In my heart I knew that he wanted to go. He was more than ready – he found his God’s Amazing Grace. He is blessed. He is with his wife, and his children are ok. Over coffee we often talked about life, blessings and hardships, lessons and longings, wishes and wheretos in the end – at our sunset.
Rest in peace my dear old friend. I will miss our sunset coffee chats. I will cherish the many memories of fun at work, the nostalgia of fun inspections in loco and simply the lekker KGs ( Afrikaans acronym for lesurely and idle chat).
In the sunset of your life you have found your God’ s Grace and your final wish has been granted.
What is this sacrosanct event on the calendar? Self-centred, egocentric? A light within? Shutting the inconvenient darkness out? Me and us? Not about them. The gospel of love conveniently revisited? Fake?
How blind are we? Do we see any light, save the light within? The light we generate within, for own consumption.
What will it take to set us free? Pain, suffering, loss?
What is it with me? With us? Mom and dad – forever filled to the brim with this perpetual heart pulsation over our kids? Zillions of questions popping up from dawn to dusk. From birth to death. Surely we have done what we could to raise beautiful children in close partnership with Grace. We were profoundly blessed. Beautiful, healthy, gifted kids. Although this process is mostly governed by Grace and our part may, from a certain perspective, be viewed as minute, the truth is that it was very hard work on our part, and far more so for mom. May sound a bit presumptuous, but at the same time reality has no place for modesty.
Little girls become princesses and little boys princes. Then they grow up and become human. Through all the endless worries and sleepless nights they become adults with kids and the circle of Life continues. Well, through Grace for most, but not for all. In our case, our one princess was destined to become an Angel at only 25, but not without zip-filing a virtually full life in those 25 years. Still, the worries remained for the full span of her beautiful life. Why?
Same with them whom we are still blessed to have, to hold and to love. Why is it as if the umbilical cord remains? Your heart bleeds when they bleed, you pain when they pain, when they cannot sleep neither can you, your heart skips a beat when they are not well. Their wholeness is your wholeness, their well-being yours and their happiness becomes your happiness.
It is not that the beautiful safari sunsets are not enjoyed by you or treasured. It is not that you are not grateful for your blessings towards the End. The pickings of joy are there. The leisure and pleasure of retirement are there – yet the sense of responsibility to care for them, to assist emotionally and otherwise, to clean that wound and dress it, to sacrifice every minute for them if in distress, seems never to go away.
Well, I suppose its the Circle of Life and part of our Sunset. Makes me think of my ‘cry’-movie – The Lion King!
And the song composed by Elton John (lyrics by Tim Rice) and performed by Carmen Twillie and Lebo M
Safari Sunset 