10K morning walk. Alison did some laundry and worked on a few photographs for the blog. Late morning we drove out to Theescombe, a rural area on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth in the Cape Town direction. We went to visit Leigh & Tony Parry. Leigh & 
Melanie met in primary school (Leigh had moved with her parents from Rhodesia to PE) and became best friends and rode together every weekend. Leigh & Tony traveled to the USA for Melanie & David’s wedding and was one of Melanie’s bridesmaids. They talk regularly on the phone. L&T have moved into their current home in the last year and it is quite lovely. She is able to keep her horses on the property instead of having to stable them elsewhere. The panoramic views from the house are 
astounding. L&T have two very friendly Rhodesian Ridgebacks. It was a nice visit and we will have to give a much more 
detailed report to Melanie!I needed to post for the 
previous three days but had not completed the text so we went to a regular café and had coffee and a sandwich while I finished the blog text in Word. From there to the Internet café and we picked up email and posted the blog and then back to the apartment to change for our dinner engagement.
Tonight we were having dinner with Jorn & Sandy Bulbring, another PE couple with whom we have a long history. Sandy used to be Sandy Turpin and she and her former husband Dick lived in Bluewater Bay and we met them soon after we moved there in 1969. Jorn and I played on the same squash team together and became good friends. Sandy and Jorn met at a dinner party at our house in Bluewater Bay in 1974/75 (I’m sure they can remember the exact date) and they have now been married over 30 years and are going strong. We ate at a restaurant called “Madison on First”. Great food, service and atmosphere. Sandy and “Bully” thanked us once again for that introduction so long ago. It was a lovely evening.
Friday morning I woke up feeling the full effects of the cold I had caught and was unable to join Christian on his walk. Later when we finally arose, Marlies (who swims at the beach at 6:00 every morning all year round) told us that there were whales down at Kings Beach. Alison had been keen to walk to the harbor wall at 
the far end of Kings Beach anyway, so we took a walk along the beach and took some photographs. We did see the whales, but once again they are very difficult to photograph. We realized we could actually see the 
flat where we are staying from the beach.
previous three days but had not completed the text so we went to a regular café and had coffee and a sandwich while I finished the blog text in Word. From there to the Internet café and we picked up email and posted the blog and then back to the apartment to change for our dinner engagement.Tonight we were having dinner with Jorn & Sandy Bulbring, another PE couple with whom we have a long history. Sandy used to be Sandy Turpin and she and her former husband Dick lived in Bluewater Bay and we met them soon after we moved there in 1969. Jorn and I played on the same squash team together and became good friends. Sandy and Jorn met at a dinner party at our house in Bluewater Bay in 1974/75 (I’m sure they can remember the exact date) and they have now been married over 30 years and are going strong. We ate at a restaurant called “Madison on First”. Great food, service and atmosphere. Sandy and “Bully” thanked us once again for that introduction so long ago. It was a lovely evening.
Friday morning I woke up feeling the full effects of the cold I had caught and was unable to join Christian on his walk. Later when we finally arose, Marlies (who swims at the beach at 6:00 every morning all year round) told us that there were whales down at Kings Beach. Alison had been keen to walk to the harbor wall at 
the far end of Kings Beach anyway, so we took a walk along the beach and took some photographs. We did see the whales, but once again they are very difficult to photograph. We realized we could actually see the 
flat where we are staying from the beach.At noon we were picked up by Pat & Judy Moffett. Pat was the Branch Manager for Burroughs 
Computers in PE in the late 70s early 80s and I was initially a customer and then a friend. We have kept in touch over the years. Although Pat was transferred to Johannesburg around 1982 and worked and lived there for over 20 years, he always wanted to “retire” to Port Elizabeth. Last time we were here in 2005, in conjunction with their daughter Sarah and her husband Ralph, they were developing a large wedding venue from scratch in the area of Lovemore Park on the outskirts of PE. This time we were 
able to see the finished product, but first we stopped off at Sea View for lunch at “Barnacles” overlooking the rocks and ocean. The wind was really howling and all the chokka (calamari) boats were inshore sheltering. We sat on the terrace of the restaurant and watched the dolphins surfing in the waves. After lunch we drove to “The Plantation” (http://www.theplantation.co.za/) and saw all the wedding facilities which are quite magnificent. They had a big wedding starting at 4pm and the banquet tables were all laid out for 150 people. There is also a wedding chapel on site. Pat & Judy
have a beautiful home in the grounds, as do Sarah & Ralph with their children. P&J’s youngest son, Paul, also works at The Plantation so it is truly a family affair. Another son, Sean was visiting from Cape Town. We had a traditional SA braai in the 
evening and were joined by Sarah & Ralph when their supervisory duties of the staff allowed, but the children were with us for the whole evening. Another wonderful day with old friends.
Computers in PE in the late 70s early 80s and I was initially a customer and then a friend. We have kept in touch over the years. Although Pat was transferred to Johannesburg around 1982 and worked and lived there for over 20 years, he always wanted to “retire” to Port Elizabeth. Last time we were here in 2005, in conjunction with their daughter Sarah and her husband Ralph, they were developing a large wedding venue from scratch in the area of Lovemore Park on the outskirts of PE. This time we were 
able to see the finished product, but first we stopped off at Sea View for lunch at “Barnacles” overlooking the rocks and ocean. The wind was really howling and all the chokka (calamari) boats were inshore sheltering. We sat on the terrace of the restaurant and watched the dolphins surfing in the waves. After lunch we drove to “The Plantation” (http://www.theplantation.co.za/) and saw all the wedding facilities which are quite magnificent. They had a big wedding starting at 4pm and the banquet tables were all laid out for 150 people. There is also a wedding chapel on site. Pat & Judy
have a beautiful home in the grounds, as do Sarah & Ralph with their children. P&J’s youngest son, Paul, also works at The Plantation so it is truly a family affair. Another son, Sean was visiting from Cape Town. We had a traditional SA braai in the 
evening and were joined by Sarah & Ralph when their supervisory duties of the staff allowed, but the children were with us for the whole evening. Another wonderful day with old friends. 
1 comment:
yeah - so exciting to see the photos of you with Leigh and Tony! Also good to see the dogs Rhody and Tess and the boy horses. Poor Leigh on her crutch. Isn't the property just divine. I can't wait until we are next there to see it in person. Mom - I am hoping you remembered to give Leigh the book because I told her about it and she was very keen to read it. I will indeed be waiting for my detailed report on the visit as you know I am green with envy. It was very tough last week to be at the Intl. horse show for two nights and know that Leigh should have been there with me. Love, Melanie
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