OUT OF AFRICA

On one of our game drives, we stopped to visit another lodge in Nambiti called Eseweni. Oh my word - it was breathtaking! It has been built off the edge of a cliff and is absolutely gorgeous. It is way up high and overlooks a river where the animals come to drink. Kay and Byron are standing on the deck overlooking the gorge. None of us could afford to stay here - maybe those who earn American dollars would be so lucky! This is the river below. Not for the fainthearted!

This is a side view of the flow pool and deck.

They showed us one of their guest suites. Beautifully rustic but luxurious. This bath is actually out on a private deck, which overlooks the valley. Awesome!!

This is the bathroom inside the room.

The decor is stunning. Look at the elephant made out of towels, in between the pillows.

This is the lounge area. Plush leather, thatching and hot chocolate - what an aroma!

This was back at our humble Long Grass Lodge, but the same skill is shown here - Not sure what the serviettes were supposed to be - maybe a Secretary Bird, or a Stork or an Ostrich, but to Byron it was Tyrannusaurus X ... or something like that!!

We loved these little wrought iron candle holders - the colourful shirts and tops were all beaded.

We stopped for lunch at these cascades and pools. Wish it was summer - we could have enjoyed some fun bum slides.

Look at those bum slides behind us.

If I were just a bit closer I don't think I could have resisted pushing Mel in!

HIPPO - there was a 'tiny' baby in this family - only a couple of months old. Too cute!!

The wind blew right through us on the game drives - Mel underestimated how cold it would be!!

Dream on!!

This was 'bloomin' high up - my feet got pins and needles just watching these two getting so close to the edge. I'm getting old!!

That's as far as I could go!

My favorite animal!

Inside the landrover - flippin' freezing!

CAN YOU SMELL IT? ONS VIR JOU SUID AFRIKA!

We were spoilt with a couple of days at Long Grass Lodge, Nambiti Game Reserve which is just outside Ladysmith. We live in an awesome country - there is nothing like being in the African bush - the smells, the animal noises and the bird songs are all you need to destress!

JETSKIING AT INANDA DAM

We spent the day down at Inanda Dam last week Friday. Dane recently bought a Jetski, so we decided to go down and watch him in action. There seems to be quite an art to actually standing up on the Jetski, so needless to say, there were quite a few sprawls. Stacy gave it a go and made a spectacular start - giving it full throttle - within 5 seconds she had disappeared into the distance!!! With a little more practice she will be a star! Dane has managed to master it and even managed to crack a few 'doughnuts' in the water! Typical - he just loves making waves!!

Bevan joined us as well. He is a natural in the water. I think surfing has definitely helped him when it comes to balance. Bevan is in the brown hoodie and the other guy is Ricky, Dane's friend.

Mel battled to buckle up the life vest - we had to release the straps quite a lot to get around his new found "boep". He was quite proud of his body as usual and was quite pleased to show off his 'muscles'!!

Sisters, Stacy and Devon. Yay! Arkansas still rears its head around this part of the world.

And the other sisters - Zanne and Jen. We would have loved to give the jetski a go, but it is actually the middle of winter here, so the water was 'freeslik' cold! Watch out for us in summer though!

Bevan, Mark (Dane's other friend) and Dane.

Here we go - Mel was one second on, the next off!! He eventually resorted to just dragging his feet behind him and 'choeffed' around the dam like a real grandpa!! I won't mention how stiff his muscles were the next day.

The guys were pretty impressed with Krystal's skill in the water - she managed to get to her feet! Sorry - didn't get that on camera.

This is what we are all striving for - to stand up and enjoy the ride. Shot, Bevan!

TREASURING RARE MOMENTS

You must be getting sick and tired of seeing photos of Blayze, but these moments are very few and far between, so we try to make the most of them. The little girl is Shaonehtea, Blayze's half sister. We call her Shao (rhymes with plough). She is very sweet with Blayze, but I don't know if she likes that Blayze gets a little more attention than she does.

BLAYZE - 3 MONTHS

Yay!! Bevan came over again yesterday. What a treat. I am so loving getting to know this little chap! He is really chubby and cuddly, but also full of dribble and oopsies! (as you can see on his tracksuit top). Bevan stayed for longer than he has ever stayed ... about 45 minutes so I lapped up all the precious moments. Wow, what a feeling! ('Scuse the pj's - was having a lazy morning!!)

MANGWANANI SPA

Mel and I were given a voucher for the Mangwanani Spa at Sibaya on Friday night. On arrival we were given cheese and biscuits and old brown sherry. Then we were given a white gown and slippers for the evening. Every time the zulu drums rolled, we were ushered off to another section of the spa. We started with a foot massage (up to the knee actually). It started off really well - was soothing and relaxing, but as time passed, we both began to grimace and soon it was jolly painful! I wanted to take photos but the ladies doing the massage did not seem too impressed, so I packed away my camera. The shot below is of Mel in his white gown and slippers!! This is where we had the foot massage.

Mel took this photo really quickly - sorry it's a bit blurred!!

We were then served dinner after the foot 'battering' and then we went on to having a full body massage with hot stone therapy. OH MY WORD! I think my therapist decided that she was going to massage my large buns away!! Maybe she thought they were knots that needed to go!! I was actually writhing in pain before she realised she had better relax a bit. I am still bruised - two days later!! Mel loved it!! Would I go again - no - I don't think so. I thought it was supposed to be RELAXING! At the end of the full body massage, we were served a tot of Amarula - I needed something stronger than that!

RUGBY FINAL

We went to the Milnes for supper and the Rugby final on Saturday. Loren and Kris and their boys were there as well. We 'pigged out' on chips and pretzels while the match was on, and then Zanne dished up some yummy home-made soup.

We don't look like we are having any fun, but we really did and SA (the Blue Bulls) won the rugby.

Jason and Ryan kept us all entertained while the adverts were on!!

Devon is the most sought after baby-sitter in town!! Love you, Dev!