The morning game drive....

Woke up early, even before our 6.30 wake up call from Headman. went out side to find a small bush buck feeding right next to our tent. Went and had a light breakfast before heading out for our morning game drive.

we were expecting it to be cold but instead it was beautiful, the sir was fresh and the sun was warm.
The first thing headman took us to see were Buffalo, they are much bigger than the Australian buffalo and I now understand why they are part of the big 5.

We drove for a bit longer when I got to see my first Springbok...I was very excited..

Headman then said he would go find some lion for us.....He had just heard that a lioness and her 2 cubs were near by. we were slowly driving when out from the bush spung two 8 month old cubs (size of a med dog) they then went running up the road...our immediate thought was :wheres mum?) She was up ahead and was turning every now and then just to make sure here babies were following and that we weren't getting to close...I couldn't get the smile off my face, to actually see lion in the wild was amazing.

We left them be and went off in search of Hippo....we found about 8 wallowing in a water hole. We were lucky as some were in the water and some out...Headman said it was OK to get out of the truck to take photos...

We then got back in the Jeep and not even 100m up the road was walking another lioness. She was the daughter of the one we saw earlier.

We then took a leisurely drive back to the lodge where we were greeted again with fresh juice. Once we had freshed up we could go have brunch and our bags would be bought up for us.

Small bunch turned out to be a full English brekkie for Darian and pancakes for me :)

Craig and Ingrid turned up to pick us up and after buying a T-shirt and a few candles we headed off to East London.

That evening...

well we survived the drive home, teeth chattering and wishing we had turned on the heater in the room before we left.
We were met again by the Lodge manager who asked how the drive was and that we had time to freshen up before dinner in an hour.

We went back to the room ready for a hot cup of coffee, opened the sliding door only to feel warmth in our face. While we were out our room had been "turned down", heater was on, robes on our bed and best of all the electric blanket was on....I went into the bathroom where candles had been placed around the bath.... I could get used to this...

we had a cuppa took in some ambiance and went off to dinner.

we were greeted by a waiter who offered us a choice of red or white wine, and said that our tour guide would be joining us shortly for dinner.

we finished our glass of wine and went to be seated at our table, we would be having dinner with the same couple that was on the drive with us and our guide...a kind of getting to know you PR thingy....it was actually a really good idea.

Darian had warthog for his main and as I don't like pork I went for boring old beef....it was a beautiful 4 course meal. I was a loverly dinner with great conversation about the reserve, conservation and such.

Unfortunately the couple that came with us today would not be with us on the morning drive.

I did taste the warthog and it was very yummy...a very light pork taste and the meat crumbled like fish...very nice...

We then headed off with very full tummies to enjoy the huge spa bath....

Our First Game Drive....

We were
warned to dress warm because once the sun goes down the temperature drops and it gets cold, we would also be in an open 4 WD.

We met our tour guide Headman and the other couple that would be joining us. The 4WD seat 6 so we sat right behind the driver.

Bayethe is slightly out of Shamwari so it does not have any hunters in it so we had to drive approx 15 min to get back to the main part of Shamwari.

I had no real expectation from the drive, just being there was amazing, so any thing that I saw was a bonus.

The first thing we did see were Black Rhino and then many different kinds of buck, wildebeest, monkeys and also Kudu.

It was so amazing you didnt know where to look just in case you missed something. we then came across a large herd of elephants. There were lots of babies (the little one in the photo is about 5 weeks old). One of the large females came soooo close to the truck....

We also saw some giraffe, however the sun was setting and the angle was wrong for a photo.

Headman then took us up to a lookout where we stopped and got out, he set up the tail gate with wines, nibbles and an eski full of drinks. The view was amazing but it was soooooo cold.

We got back into the truck where in a compartment between us was hot water bottles and blankets to keep us warm for the trip home.

Shamwari

This morning we were up bright, early and very excited about going to Shamwari...
We left at about 10 am with Craig and his girlfriend Ingrid, they took as it was on the way to East London (just a small detour)

We arrived at the main gate and the feeling was amazing driving through the reserve, knowing that all the animals around us were wild. We saw ostrich and warthogs.

We arrived at Bayethe pronounced "By-ye-ti" and was greeted by the lodge manager who presented us with fresh juice to wash away the travel dust.

She then showed us our tent....if you could call it a tent...amazing is all I could say...

we freshened up and headed up to the restaurant for lunch before heading off for our first game drive. I ordered Kudu (buck) which was rich and divine.

The reception

Darian's sister Sharon organised a surprise reception for us. Darians father was the DJ and his brother Craig was the MC...
It was a very relaxed occasion with BYO drinks and glasses and nibbles were provided.

We danced our first dance as husband and wife to "unbreakable" by Westlife.

Cut the cake, mingled with lots of people we didn't know and danced the night away

We left about 12 ish....

Photos..

We then went to a near by park where I got out of the car, we used one of the pins from the flowers to hold my zip up temporarily. The park was nice and we also managed to get a photo with a diesel train in (Darian was a diesel electrical fitter when he lived in S.A)..
Once all the family photos were out of the way we headed to the reception which was next to the church.
I was met out side by a dressmaker who sort of fixed my dress...not totally but at least it wouldn't fall off.

The Ceremony...

I was met by Darian father Dudley and the Pastor.
The pastor went in and read a scripture before the music began and Dudley walked me down the isle.
I remember being so calm until I took Darians arm and he was shaking like a leaf..
We exchanged vows and then rings. We also had a small candle lighting ceremony before signing the registry.
We walked out of the church where everyone threw dried rose petals over us before congratulating us....
We got in the car to go to a near by park to take photos and just as I got in the zip on my dress gave way...it was broken.

Wedding Day...

Well the day has arrived and I woke up a bit nervous. Sharon was meant to come pick me up at 11.00 to go to her house to get my hair and make up done, however 11.00 came and went with no sign of Sharon. I knew we had to leave her house by 1.30 to get to the church on time at 2pm...and I dint want to be late.
She finally arrived at 12 and we headed off.

I only had an hour for the lady to do my hair and make up, so she decided on a simple French roll (our original design had curls coming out of it) and then she quickly did my make up. I wanted a natural look however they do things differently over there and she had no idea what I was talking about. I left it to her capable hands and even though my make up was heavier than I would have like it was OK...

My dress was tight, we went and saw a dressmaker a few days earlier but much to our dismay when I had it altered they had cut the extra seam away (who does that to a wedding dress???) and there was no time to do anything else. I just had to wear a slightly too tight dress...

Sharon had organised a white BMW to be my wedding car and her partner Garth was to be my driver.

As we were taking some photos of me getting in the car I managed to get tyre black all over the side of my dress !
Sharon thought I would be devastated but I was soooo calm, I wasn't nervous or anything..just happy.

We drove calmly to the church where much to my relief we were a tad early and had to park on the verge while a few last stragglers went into the church..

The time had come...and we drove in..

Kragga Kamma

Woke up this morning and Sharon picked up Craig, Darian and myself in the Bakkie (pronounced Bukkie) what S.A call a 4 WD ute...or any ute and she took us to the Kragga Kamma game reserve which is a self drive reserve on the out skirts of PE....

It was first view of the native animals....It really hadn't sunk in that i was in another country until now. PE is very similar to Perth in many ways....

We saw lots of different kinds of Buck, Rhino, Wilder beast, giraffe and cheetah.

We went to the office area where for R20 each Darian and I were able to pat a cheetah. We were led into the cage where we were then told that there were two cheetahs in here and that the female is not so friendly. Just as the guide started to speak a cheetah by the fence got up and started to walk to wards us...it was HUGE..almost to my hip. As it got closer you could here it purring. it walked directly too me, rubbed its head against my leg and sat at my feet. " Duma" was hand raised and has even stared in his own movie...
It was that most amazing feeling, patting and rubbing this amazing animal. I think I was smiling all the way home. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would pat a cheetah.

Tonight we went and saw the minister where we went through the documentation and a quick run down of our vows...

Time is counting down....

Getting the suit.....

I met Darian’s older brother Craig this morning. He lives in East London (about 2 hours north east of PE)

We then went into PE to organize Darian’s suit for Saturday and then went to the Spur for lunch (like a steak house) we each had a spur rib burger that cost R20 or $8.

We are getting a great exchange rate $1 to R6.

After lunch we went to a local tourist attraction called the Boardwalk. Took some photos, bought a t-shirt and some post cards to send home to the kids. The photos arnt that good as we forgot the camera and had to use Darian's phone.

Day 2...

Spent the day at Darians parents house getting to know my future parents-in-law. Tonight I had my first real South African Braai with Darian’s family and friends.

I also had my first taste of Borevours…..The curly sausage in the photo with Darian and I and his parents…

I also met Darians best friend Wayne and his wife Miriam. Very nice people who I instantly got along with.

And we are away....

We left Perth about half hour late. We even managed to sleep some of the way to Johannesburg. We landed in Jo’burg at 5.40 am, on time and headed towards Passport control. The amount of people was amazing and the airport is huge….Darian and I were separated as I had to enter the foreign passport line and Darian went through the South African passport line. Darian went through before me and I remember thinking “Please let me through’….they did and I got a 3 moth temporary resident visa. Darian by now had collected our luggage and we headed off to customs….nothing to declare so straight through and went and checked in for our flight to Port Elizabeth. We had to wait 2 hours before I plane left at 10.05 am.

I got a window seat and looked out the window the whole time….It only became cloudy as we descended into P.E and it was raining as we landed

We collected our luggage and I met Darian’s parents for the first time. I also met his sister Sharon.

We drove to Darian’s parents’ house where we went to have a nana nap and ended up sleeping the night through.

NO more sleeps

This week has just flown....so i will do a quick run down
Tuesday after school is guides so we have a hectic afternoon, but have organised with girls step mum that the girls home with Jacquie on Tues and then she can fetch them from guides. This way girls get to see their cousins and mum can bring down Matthew for the arvo. The girls were getting quite distressed about not seeing their brother for a month.
Wednesday Eloise has Acro after school so again the girls are going to Jacquie's...
Wednesday night the girls were in tears and very upset about me going. Its not fun being left behind...I had a bit of a cry myself and said to the girls that I would pick them up early from school on Thursday and we would go to McDonalds for ice cream and a play.
So yesterday was flat out, took Matthew to gymbaroo (mum got her first taste at toddler nightmare) and then we went and got Matthews haircut and finally collected 2 very anxious girls from school. Went to Maccas and then home. Enough time to pack their bags and head off to their dads. Once they were there, they were fine. No tears saying goodbye which made me feel better leaving them.
I then went to some friends of Darian's to have coffee and then home to pack some of the suitcase
Darian is at work today, he will get home have a shower and then its pack the car and off to the airport....
I am nervous but excited at the same time.
I hope to be able to update my blog when I am over there.
So this may be bye for now....

SPASA Gala Dinner

Last night Darian and I went to the Annual Gala dinner for the pool and spa industry at the Burswood Casino. The company he works for was presenting an award so we got to go eat and drink to our hearts content.
It was also a dry run for mum to look after Matthew and everything went well.
Mum is now staying with us so that Matthew can get to know her and vice versa....

Only 5 days to go....

One week to go......

WOW 7 days.
I know I have been slack and it has been ages since I have done a "real" post. I will try and do that later today.

10 days to go.....

Wohoo.....only 10 days till we fly.

2 Weeks today

Wow I cant believe two weeks today...well, tonight we will be flying.
Yesterday at the zoo I was looking at the lions thinking that in 3 weeks I will hopefully be looking at them in the wild, I am sure that they wont be as fat and content as the ones in the zoo.

We're all going to the zoo today.....

This morning I surprised the kids with a train ride. We parked the car at Clarkson train station and got on. On the way I told the kids we were meeting Auntie Jacquie and the kids and that we were taking the train, bus and ferry to the Perth Zoo....
I then had some very happy and excited kids. It took us 2 hours to get there...cant rush these things but as the weather became steadily worse during the day we were mighty glad we didn't drive.
We were lucky enough not to get rained on until we stopped and fed the kids, and then it came down....and down and down...
We saw almost all the animals except for the Aussie exhibit and before heading home we visited the zoo shop.
We all got a little wet on the walk to the ferry, but once you get wet you cant get any wetter.
The best time to visit the zoo is when it is raining as the crowds stay away and because its nice and quiet and cool most of the animals come out.
we all had a wonderful day.

Happy Birthday Eloise

My baby girl has turned 7....Wow ...
The girls were at their dads this weekend, so I didn't get to say "Happy Birthday" until 5pm....
She had a wonderful day with her dad as they went to see Shrek 3 at the movies.

Eloise opened her presents and got some gorgeous riding boots from Aunty Cherise and 6 Horse Riding lessons from Nana and Poppee (aunty as well). I don't think Eloise really understands what it means but once it sinks in....
Talia bought her a Kerplunk game and Matthew got her a new Veggie Tales DVD. Darian and I got her a roller case for a school bag...she has been wanting one for ages but as i was wrapping it i noticed that one of the wheels were missing so we have to replace it.....

By the time we got to cake, she was very tired and Talia helped to blow out the candles which resulted in tears, so we had to relight them and do it all over again.

My mum turned up just in time as she was staying the night with us.

Less than 3 weeks......

Wow I can't believe it is less than 3 weeks now before we fly...