Monday Oct 15th – Tuesday Oct 16th (Bosches and Bosches)

I didn’t mention that on Sunday we passed by the PE school last attended by Melanie when we lived here, Collegiate Girls’ High School, and Alison took at picture for memory’s sake.
On Monday I finally woke up feeling well enough to join Christian on his walk again and was more than pleased that I was able to. We then went to the home of Mark and Amanda Bosch for lunch, and met their children Jenna and Andrew, who were happily playing with their pet rabbits when we arrived. However, when it came to photograph time, as you will see, Jenna didn’t want to cooperate!. Mark is the son of Kenny & Lyn Bosch who also lived in Bluewater Bay all the time we were there. Mark, and his sisters Debbie & Kim, all went to the little Redhouse Primary School (at least 5 or 6 in a class!), as did Melanie for 5 years, and they were all in “Nippers” together (junior life saving club) and were friends and competitors. Mark is an entrepreneur and has a partnership in a large and well known game farm in the Eastern Cape area called Shamwari. Mark was off to France on Wednesday to watch the final of the World Cup Rugby – a last minute decision because the “Boks” got to the final. It was a nice visit.
After lunch we went once more to the internet café to post Sat & Sun on the blog. Alison bought a new pair of slippers as the Meyers’ Rotweiler had somehow got hold of one of hers and chewed it to pieces. Rather the slipper than me. In the evening, I joined the boys for “snooker night” and this time I was able to stay for the whole evening. This week we were joined by Brian Rainbow who had been overseas the previous Monday. We have known Brian and Gayle since 1968/69. A good time was had by all but I don’t think I played any better!

Tuesday morning, Christian had a bank appointment and did not walk. There was an absolutely howling south easter gale blowing, although the sky was blue, blue, blue. Alison and I braved the wind and walked along the beachfront towards Summerstrand. We noted that they are building Radisson time share units opposite where the old Summerstrand Hotel used to be (knocked down and replaced with other time share units). Perhaps I will get to use some of my Radisson points in the future as I earn plenty from my stays at the Radisson in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
After a quick shower and “leftovers” for lunch, we headed out to the airport and returned the Toyota Avanza and replaced it with a Renault Clio. We did not need such a big car just for the two of us. Renting cars here is one of the few expenses that cost considerably more than it would in the USA. The Avanza was $60 a day and if you want unlimited mileage there is no discount for a monthly rental, so $1,800 for the month.

Tuesday evening we had dinner at a lovely restaurant in what was an old house in Cape Road, “Wicker Woods”, with the senior Bosches, Kenny & Lyn. They also brought another old Bluewater Bay resident and friend, Lerina Scott. We all go back many years: Kenny and Lyn to when Melanie was a baby, and Lyn & Alison took Kim and Melanie to the local clinic for weighing, immunizations, etc.; and Lerina to Clare’s first days at “play school” with Lerina’s son Sean, as well as being involved with us with the Bluewater Bay Methodists. Another lovely evening of reminiscing and catching up with old friends.