Dessert Night!

Wine and dessert night, to be precise! With my folks too ...

World famous Granny Ray's 15s (22s?)

Ronel, Charis & Rory

Andrea, Rico & Marelise

Ronel

Brett & Val

Irish Obama ...

OK so I don't normally post things I find on the internet but here's a good song about Obama's Irish roots ... let's see if the link works! (Thanks Will!)

Billy Gnome ...

There has been much chat about Billy Gnome and his involvement in our pick-the-scores league for the English Premiership. And I feel it's important to tell a little of his story on here ...

A novel idea occured to both my Dad and I that there should be some gnomes bought as gifts (unbeknown to either of us that the other thought the same!). I had ordered a couple for their new house, he had ordered one for me. When Billy arrived he had either been delivered by a Rangers supporter or had been on the wrong end of a bit of a rammy!

Alas, here is Billy upon his arrival in Cumnock ...

... thankfully there is a resident Garden Gnome Physio in Cumnock ... here is Billy restored to full leg health!

... and Billy showing off his new house ...

Even the Celts have Obama thoughts ...

A quote from Saturday when Celtic played Hearts ...

"Barack Obama and John McCain may be locking horns in the US presidential election race, but you can bet your bottom dollar their only concern today is events in the Scottish capital."

Thomas McGuigan

We'll let Obama and McCain concentrate on the US today ... and they can don on the green and white for tomorrow's game!

(no, it's not my shirt!)

America ... America ...

O beautiful, for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.

O beautiful, for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!

America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw;
Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!

O beautiful, for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!

America! America! May God thy gold refine,
'Til all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!

O beautiful, for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!

Amazon-ites ... Rico's Birthday

So we were at an amazon-themed party for Rico's birthday. Andrea and I went semi-dressed up ... just incase there was noone else dressed up!

However, we were suitably impressed .... Rico and Marelise ...

Ronel ...

... who decided to test out her spear ...

... and then chose to guard the fire instead!!

Olivero at Marianne

On another attempted drive to Paarl we stopped for a visit at Marianne Wine estate and had a lovely lunch at Olivero ... and didn't get to Paarl!

Drummond Arms and the Penguins!

We stopped for an all-day breakfast at the Drummond Arms (Rooiels) and then went to visit the penguins at Betty's Bay ...

... there was a penguin on duty collecting ...

... fashion statement being made, perhaps ?!?

the sequence of getting out of the water!

Strawberry Fields ... literally!

Just up the road there is a strawberry farm where you can pick strawberries. In the field are all sorts of extravagant scarecrows ... on bikes, riding ostriches (scare-crow ostriches) and all sorts ... very amusing!

Dad's Hamster

Thanks to the Ochi and Schuenkes for my dad's hamper ...

Porcupine Trail

... the one eye'd look!

... looking out over the olive trees ...

... the dogs came with us ...