East London to Somerset West

18 October – 25 October

Monday:

East London is a good place to hole up and rest – there’s nothing to do here.  As the day goes on we keep discovering more tender spots and the stiffness sets in. We were on our way to Cinsta when we crashed, but we’ve decided not to head back that way.  Instead, we’ve booked 2 nights in a cottage on a farm with access to the beach just outside Kenton-on-Sea.  We’re heading there tomorrow. 

Tuesday:

I’m in heaven, and it’s called Kasouga.  We’ve got the most gorgeous 2 bed self-catering cottage on a 1500 ha  farm (cattle + game) with 5km of beach frontage.  

We have everything we could possibly need: there’s a beautiful, wide beach with no one on it but us, dunes + sandboards, river + canoe.  Oh, and an adoring dog for Nick.  Our wonderful hostess Jenny even took us out for a game drive and sundowners on the beach, then offered to do our laundry for us.  All for the same price as we’d be paying at a grotty backpackers.  It’s exactly what we need right now and we’ve already decided to stay an extra night.  Jenny has grown up in this area and knows all the old farm families from the Somerset East area where I spent my teenage years. 

This morning I hated South Africa.  We woke up still stiff and sore.  The pill-poppers that we are, we’ve managed a grand 3 ibuprofen between us.  As we headed off, I thought it best that I do a bit of driving so that it didn’t become a big deal.  We found a nice, wide, quiet stretch of road.  I was doing quite well and even enjoying it.  We pulled off briefly at Kidd’s Beach, where my mother’s parents used to have a caravan park when she was a teenager.   Then I got pulled for speeding.  I know this makes me look like a speed-freak, irresponsible driver.  In truth, I was being over-cautious.  I was keeping to the speed limit, until I was about to be sandwiched between a minibus taxi that had decided to stop on the shoulder and a massive truck.  I panicked slightly and thought the best thing to do would be to speed up and get passed the taxi.  Safely done, I slowed right down again, but got pulled anyway. 

Straight away it was clear that the cop had targeted us as tourists and wasn’t particularly interested in what the situation was.  I had quite simply had enough, and, in my most proud moment, broke down in tears, leaving it to Nick to explain what had happened and why I was upset.  It turns out that my tears got us a ‘special discounted fine’ that somehow didn’t involve us filling in any kind of paperwork whatsoever and seemed to disappear straight into his pocket.  Feeling cynical, with confidence freshly knocked and still bawling my eyes out I let Nick drive us the rest of the way. 

Janet adds: www.oribihaven.co.za - my most favourite place so far.  You’ll get so well looked after for a ridiculously reasonable price.

Nick adds: proud of Janet driving today so soon after such a big crash.

Wednesday:

Today was gorgeous.  We had a slow, lazy start then headed to the beach.  

We had the 5 km of beach entirely to ourselves and after a good bake, went for an icy but fun swim.  We took the canoe for a paddle.  Not too bad with the wind at our backs, but trying to come back into the wind was a bit of a disaster.  Never mind.  Fire time in the evening, and Nick’s new best mate grabbed the best (and warmest) seat.

Janet adds:  The physical signs are wearing off, but nightmares kept me up last night.

Nick adds: can’t understand how when Janet was paddling we went backwards.

Thursday:

Another bright and sunny day, perfect for hanging out on the beach, messing about with the paddle ski 

and checking out the local wildlife.

Janet adds: Tomorrow we’re off again.  Please, South Africa, do me proud for the last little bit.

Friday:

It’s overcast and a bit rainy this morning, so it feels like a good day to be moving on.  We drive down the coast to Storms River mouth.  The coast is wild here, backing onto tangled forest and cliffs.  We do a hike along the coast to a waterfall.  

Afterwards we walk to the river mouth to see the suspension bridge.

We spend the night in Plettenberg bay.  We’re not expecting much, but the town seems really nice and we’re told that it’s safe to walk around, even at night (a first so far). 

Saturday:

We leave Plett early and head towards Knysna.  We stop on the way in to do a forest walk at Diepwalle Forest.  The walk is beautiful, but our legs are feeling the strain of yesterday. 

After a picnic lunch we carry on to Knysna itself.  The town is pretty enough, but over-developed.  We check into a backpackers and our doubts are confirmed: we’re told not only should we not leave anything in the car overnight, we also have to empty out the boot, take the cover off and leave the seats folded forward to show there is NOTHING in the car.  We’re advised against walking anywhere (the guy that works here was mugged at knife point last week).  After getting settled we take a drive out, but our impression doesn’t improve much.

Janet adds: Ostriches await tomorrow.

Sunday:

Rainy and overcast again today.   Having escaped the clutches of the needy backpackers host, we take a short but spectacular drive inland to Oudtshoorn.   We pull into an ostrich farm and straight onto a tour.  One of the ostriches takes a particular shine to Nick (or his shirt!).  We’re allowed to sit on them, but due to the rain there’s no riding or racing L

We had planned to stay overnight, but as it’s not even lunchtime yet (and Nick isn’t too keen on Cango caves), we decide to head on.  We take the scenic R62 – passing through the Little Karoo and dramatic mountain passes.   We’re heading for Cape Agulhas, the southern most point of Africa. We stay at Struisbaai, 6km away.  We take a short walk to the harbour and along the beach boardwalk to a little pizza/pasta place overlooking the bay.  You couldn’t ask for better views and the food is amazing too.  A lot of red wine, beer and pizza later, we head back for a cup of tea by the fire before bed.

Janet adds: a bloody guinea fowl flew out in front of us today and broke the front plastic grill.  As if the excess on the totalled car wasn’t enough, we’ll now have to cough up for this too L

Nick adds: Bernie Clifton impressions don’t get any better than that!

Monday:

At Cape Agulhas this morning we climb the lighthouse and pose where the two oceans meet.  

Then we head off through the backroads past Pearly Beach (another childhood holiday destination).  We take the coast road into Somerset West, stopping at Hermanus to check out some whales.  Safe and sound in Somerset West we can catch up with family and relax.

Crash

Sunday 17th October, 12.30pm

We crash, big time, totalling a car. 

We were on the N2 about 90km north east of East London.  I was driving and we had a bus in front of us.  A pick up truck coming from the opposite direction was trying to overtake and came over the centre line.  The bus clipped the side of pick up, which then came flying straight into us.  Distinct moment when we knew we weren't getting out of this: we were going to crash.  I swerved and it connected on the driver’s side door.  Airbags went off straight away and we went into a spin.  At this point we were both feeling pretty lucky and like we’d gotten away with it.  Then the car started to roll.  We rolled 3 or 4 times.  One clear thought I had was: so this is what it feels like.  I thought we were done for, but as soon as we came to a stop Nick asked if I was alright, so I knew he must be ok.  We stopped upright (luckily) off the road and were both able to get out of the car.    We were in shock and couldn’t think what we were supposed to do.  A got a lot of hugs off the local women who came to see if we were ok.  We had a very lucky break: a family travelling to Port Elizabeth saw us and stopped to help.  One of the men, Levi, was an off duty policeman and immediately took charge.  He phoned Hertz to sort out the car for us and spoke to the police who had arrived.  The ‘official’ help was shockingly bad.  The only medical attention either of us got was the offer of an antiseptic wipe – not even a once over.  The police were not much better and scribbled our details on a scrap of paper.  

We were driving a VW Polo, which luckily has good safety features, including we are told, a roll-cage.  Having tested it out, we highly recommended it.  Apparently the guy driving the pick-up which caused the whole accident didn’t have a licence and had been drinking…

Levi and family loaded us and all our luggage (we were told anything left in the car would be nicked) into their car and drove us into East London.  They showed us where some decent hotels were, gave us the details of a private medical clinic and then took us to the Hertz office so we could pick up a replacement car. 

We took ourselves to the clinic so we could both get checked out by a doctor.   Apart from bumps, bruises, grazes and a few stiff muscles we’re both ok – pretty impressive considering the state of the car.  Surprisingly, all our luggage survived as well (even my sunglasses, which I was wearing – go Ray Ban).

We were told we needed to check in with a police station.  We tried this, but they were distinctly disinterested and we were told there was nothing for them to do.  We’ve booked into a hotel and are planning to take it easy for the next couple of days.

Janet adds: so grateful for the help we had today – we really needed it. 

Nick adds: VW Polos are my new favourite car.

Coast to Coast

14 October –

Friday:

We take a slow drive towards Durban, stopping in a few places along the way.  We pull briefly into Blythedale Beach – a childhood holiday destination.  Surprisingly after about 15 years I don’t recognise much.  We have lunch in Umhlanga Rocks then head through Durban.  South of Durban we drive through some smaller towns again – there are beautiful beaches all down this coast. 

We find a backpackers in Umtentweni and, after spotting that it backs right onto the beach, we decide to stay for the night.  We ask for a private room and are given a cute log cabin in the garden with a view of the sea. 

It is still raining on and off and there are dark clouds over the sea when we go to wet our feet.  We settle ourselves on our little deck with a drink (beer for Nick, warm pinotage rose out of a metal mug for me).  Lulled by the sound of waves crashing we decide to have an early night, hoping for better weather in the morning.  I have grand intentions of getting up to watch the sunrise.

Janet adds: Nick is in love again, and it’s nothing to do with me.

Nick adds: Ida who?

Saturday:

I wake up just before sunrise but decide (conveniently) that there is too much cloud on the horizon to see anything and that the best thing would be to stay in my cosy bed a little while longer.  At about 6.30 I drag myself up to blazing sunlight!  I get settled with a cup of tea in a sunspot outside and it would be pure bliss if not for the little flies around.  After an early morning swim we have breakfast in the garden watching the dolphins waiting to catch a wave.

We set off at about 9 heading for Port St Johns.  We head down the coast through a few more well-to-do beach towns then head inland through the Transkei.   Within about 5km we could be in another country.   It is so undeveloped here compared to the coast we’ve been on and the poverty is apparent.  The terrain turns hilly and as we climb, the rain moves in again.  It’s a scenic drive with (fairly) traditional dwellings scattered across the hillside.   Sheep, cows and football games line the road.  Unfortunately not all the scenes are pretty – there’s plenty of roadkill and we also pass a car that’s come off the road.

In the early afternoon we arrive in Port St Johns.  I’m not too sure what we were expecting, but our first impressions are not great.  It’s pretty enough, but not the secluded, beautiful haven we were expecting.  There seems to be a mass baptism going on at the small swimming beach and half the countryside have turned up in mini-bus taxis blasting music and braaing at the side of the road.  We get a room with a really weird bed in a backpackers on the hill. 

We had planned to stay 2 nights, but now think it might just be one.  After a quick explore of the beach and a lie in a hammock, our impression improves somewhat.  We’re not feeling brave enough to venture out, so we spend the evening in the bar at the backpackers.  It’s pumping out trance music, which is always a good sign and a few hours later the drum circle is in full swing.  Nick is in heaven. 

Janet adds: White people have no rhythm.  I can’t help feeling cynical, but I’ll spare you the rant

Nick adds: Banging a drum doesn’t get you closer to your roots, it makes you a tool.

Sunday:

We’re up early again to bright sunshine (and Leona Lewis blasting from a resort across the way).  We head to the beach for a quick swim and then settle into the sunshine while our things dry. 

St Lucia

12 October – 14 October

Tuesday:

There is a severe drought in St Lucia and water restrictions mean we only have water between 6 and 8 am and pm.  We get up early to make sure we get a shower, but then have a lazy morning.  It is cloudy today, but warm.  Most of the morning is spent at the internet café catching up on various bits.  After lunch we set out to explore a bit on foot.  We follow a nature trail for a while and eventually end up on the beach.  St Lucia does beaches in style – wide, sandy and deserted with crashing waves.  

At 4pm we join a croc and hippo boat tour.  We get up close to the hippos and see some crocs, deer and birdlife.  

Getting on the boat I snigger at the soft South Africans wearing jeans and jackets.  An hour later with a storm on the way I’m feeling a bit less cocky as I shiver in my shirt dress…  We arrive back in town at 6 and after a warm shower to get my body temperature back to normal we head to a little bar just down the road.  They’ve got the football on so we settle in for beers, pizza (for me) and steak (for Nick, who still can’t believe that he’s paying £10 for fillet steaks).  At half time we’re told that they’re closing up and asked to settle our bill, but then we’re ushered into a little backroom to watch the second half of the football.  By now it’s been chucking it down for hours, which has got to be a good thing.  We’ve been warned that hippos wander the streets at night, but so far we’ve been safe.

Wednesday:

We wake up to a cloudy, rainy day, so we decide to head to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi game park.  It’s supposed to be the best place in the world to see rhino, and before we’ve even made it through the gates we’ve seen two.  At reception we’re asked for identification.  Nick hands over his driver’s licence and the woman helping us gives a little giggle.  Then she just blurts right out with: is your head made of wood?  I laughed, then realised it’s my name too now. 

We went into the Imfolozi section of the park.  It’s a beautiful, hilly, wild park with few roads and not many other visitors.   The brooding rain clouds detract from the visibility but add to the mood.  At various lookout points there are spots where you can stop and have a braai.  We weren’t sure what a good idea this was when there are lion and leopard roaming about, but it looked like fun.  We had a good day, seeing giraffe, warthogs, wildebeest, nyala, kudu, impala, waterbuck, baboons, vervet monkeys and of course rhinos (12 in total!).

We got back to town before dark for a quick stroll around and are now settling down for a quiet night in.

Janet adds: loving onion and vinegar crisps – thanks for the tip Aeden.

Thursday:

Yesterday was dry and sunny compared to today.   We wake up to bucketing rain, but decide to head to the beach anyway.  The beach at Cape Vidal is in a game reserve.  We were expecting small game, but nothing big (and certainly no big 5…). On the way to the beach, we bumped into a rhino and some buffalo.  

We took a few scenic loops round lake St Lucia.  Although it’s been raining for days and mildly inconvenient for us tourists, it’s clear that so much more is needed.  The beach, when we get there, is beautiful – wide, sandy and (so we’ve heard) excellent for snorkelling.  However with the wind, waves, bluebottles and a storm on the way, we had to do it English style: in our waterproofs!

After a hunt through the rockpools and lunch at a damp, drafty picnic table, we head back towards town.  Near the entrance to the park is a self-guided nature trail.  As it’s cleared up a bit we decide to give it a go.  It’s a pleasant, easy walk (despite figuring out that we’re not the best guides).  Along the way we pass zebra, wildebeest, warthogs and various deer.  It’s incredible to wander up this close to them on foot.

Back at the car we decide to give the beach another go and head for St Lucia’s main beach.  Again a broad, sandy, grand affair.  I decide to get my feet wet and get a bit more than I bargained for.  Sandy and wet, we head for home.

After a quick tidy up it’s off to the internet café to check emails (ahem…) then out for some food (okay, I’ll admit it: I’ve gone a bit Yorkshire and don’t like change, so we headed for the same place for the same food we had last time).   We get home just in time for a storm, so sit outside watching the lightening.

Janet adds: Thanks Charlotte for my mini make-ups: it’s nice to get a bit scrubbed up when I get the chance.

Nick adds: will you please stop thundering, I’m trying to sleep! 

Friday:

There were furious storms and strobe-lightening all through the night.  In the morning it’s still pouring with rain.  In my head the town must be under water by now, but not quite.  Apparently they’ve had about 100ml over the last two days.  As it doesn’t show any sign of letting up soon, we decide to leave St lucia a few days early and start heading round the coast. 

Jozi/Heidelberg

8 October – 11 October

Friday:

The long drive to Jozi.  We pass through a beautiful, lush mountain pass at Tzaneen, then it’s onto the fast, functional Great North Road.  We arrive in Jo’burg at about 6pm.  Frank (littlest brother) has some homemade beer ready for us.  It’s great for me to meet Danni (his wife) and for them to meet Nick.  They have a gorgeous garden flat complete with cat.  That night we head out for some traditional South African food (curry) and then for a nightcap at an Irish bar.  Finally collapsing onto our sleeping mats. 

Saturday:

We have a slow start to the day getting ourselves sorted then head over to my nephew Aeden’s school where he has a practice cricket match.  I almost don’t recognise Matthew (my little brother), but luckily he recognises me.  Another round of introductions.  When the cricket finishes Matthew and Michelle (his wife) treat us all to lunch.  We got to a café that does massive, gorgeous salads, sandwiches, pizzas and pastas (with an ice cream bar to finish it all off).   Cheesy moment: I’m proud of my little brothers who aren’t so little anymore.  In the afternoon Frank and Danni take us up to a lookout point so we can get an overview of the city, then for a stroll around Emmarentia dam.  The streets are wide and leafy, but all the houses have massive electric fences and armed response.  In the evening we settle into the garden with a bottle of wine (and that was just my drink) while Frank made us pizza.

Janet adds: spent half the day trying to persuade Nick that it really isn’t a good idea to try to touch the electric fences.

Nick adds: Ow!

Sunday:

We still haven’t quite got used to the sunshine that greets us every morning.  Today lovely cousin Gwen has kindly offered to host a family bbq at her house in Heidelberg.  I say kindly offered, I might have just invited everyone round and then let her know!  I was born in Heidelberg, so I guess Nick has now really seen where I’m from.  Gwen, Mick and bump-Lily have a lovely home with the most impressive braai set-up (including pool) I have ever seen.  I did ask if I could move in, but they didn’t seem that impressed. 

We dunk the watermelon in the pool to keep cool by which time Nick is well into a game of footie with Aeden.  An argument about the rules means we’re not sure who won.  Then me Frank and Aeden take on Matthew and Nick.  Our team lost because, as Aeden so succinctly put it: we had a girl on our team (ahem, sorry guys).   Football, swimming, braai, family – what more can I say? 

 Oh, and then there was Ida.  Ida is Gwen and Mick’s springer spaniel and for Nick it was love at first sight.    Nick and I are staying over, so after the rest of the family have gone home, we sit up late into the night chatting.

Janet adds: thanks Gwen & Mick – amazing day.

Monday:

We’re up early-ish for our drive down to St Lucia on the north east coast.  Gwen treats us to breakfast (outside in the lovely sunshine again).  Nick has a long, painful goodbye with Ida and then we’re off.  It’s an easy enough drive through some lovely countryside (one close call with a very almost empty petrol tank, but we won’t mention that).  We arrive in St Lucia at about 6pm and get settled in. 

We haven’t found decent enough internet access yet to keep everything up to date, so this is one of our plans for tomorrow morning while we explore.  For now, a glass of mead (thanks Frank and Danni) and some dinner.

Janet adds: Gem squash and creamed corn with my dinner tonight.  I’m enjoying gorging myself on almost forgotten treats.

Nick adds: disappointed Gwen and Mick wouldn’t swap Janet for Ida.

The Wild – Kruger Park

5 -8 October 2010

Tuesday:

It’s cloudy this morning as we enter Kruger Park and Nick doesn’t believe we have sunny weather or wild animals in South Africa.  Then the sun comes out and we see: Baboons, Buffalo, Crocodile, Elephants, Giraffe, Hippo, Impala, Kudu, Lion, Mongoose, Steenbok, Vervet monkeys, Warthog, Waterbuck, Zebra + some birds (nick’s comment: we don’t know their names because no one really cares).  Hurrah for binoculars.

 Nightime = fire.  Our first few attempts fail miserably, but the Windhoek keeps us going.  We’re almost cowed into going to cook in the communal kitchens.  Then finally the wood takes.   We have our fill (and then some).  A cup of tea before bedtime, outside listening to the hippos grunting at each other.  I have honeybush and it tastes like childhood, expect better.

Janet adds: I’ve rediscovered stars.  They don’t exist in London.

Nick adds: braais rule.

Wednesday:

A bit of a lie in this morning.  Probably needed.  Our fire troubles last night meant we didn’t eat until 10 and quite a lot of beer was consumed waiting for it.  More honeybush tea with Ouma rusks for breakfast outside on our little veranda.  Then we set off for our day’s drive.  We see: Elephant (plus baby!), Giraffe (plus baby!), Hippo, Impala, Jackal, Kudu, Likkewaan (or Nick does anyway), Ostrich, Rhino(!!), Steenbok, Waterbuck, Warthogs, Wildebeest, Zebra (plus baby!) and a really crazy bird (we’ve tried to look it up but still can’t work out what it is).  

Driving is fun, apart from a few corrugated, teeth-rattling roads.  We keep having to stop to let animals cross, and at one case slow right down to follow a giraffe who didn’t seem to keen on letting us pass.  Back to camp for more fire and beer.  There are three elephants playing in the river down below. 

Janet adds: rhinos are awesome.

Nick adds: I am so sick of hearing Janet say awesome.

Thursday:

Another cool and cloudy morning.  No doubt by lunchtime it will be sunny and hot.  We still can’t be bothered to get up early, but the long nights and lack of London routine are doing me good.

On our drive today we see: Baboons, Buffalo, Crocodile, Elephant (plus lots of babies!), Fish Eagle, Giraffe, Hippo, Impalas, Kudu, Lion, Steenbok, Vervet monkeys, Vultures, Waterbuck, Wildebeest, Zebra.  There are loads of little chipmunk things as well running about the camp. 

We stopped on a bridge today overlooking the river when someone pointed out a lion.  A male, soon joined by a female – they disappeared into the grass where, judging by the vultures circling overhead, they had a kill.  We get chatting to two lads stopped next to us.  They’re on their way to Mozambique for some diving.  They give me a lot of grief for sounding so British.  One lad (Chris) says he thanks his parents everyday for moving out to South Africa. 

We also saw an angry bull elephant come very close to charging a car.  They deserved it though.  Later we stop at a lookout point where you can get out of your car (at your own risk!).  A little vervet monkey comes up straight away.  Nick kicked his car door closed just in time, but the cheeky monkey went straight to the next car and jumped through the open window.  He was chased out triumphantly clutching a mielie (corn on the cob), which he then proceeded to eat in full view of us – even moving closer when he saw me taking pictures.  We laughed so much, but then when we got back to camp we left our coolbag outside for a second.  Straight away the monkeys were in it, running off with a naartjie (leaving the peels for me to pick up and throw away).

In the evening, more fire and beer.  The only downside is the sore throat I have from driving down dirt roads with all the windows open.  The water rushing down below sounds like the sea and reminds me of camping holidays at the beach.  Both wonderful and cold. 

Nick adds: One sun bunt ‘truckers’ arm.

Friday:

We leave Kruger today and after packing up take a slow drive towards the gate.  Coming down a deep dip we come across some buffalo grazing.  They’re no more than 20 feet away from us and it’s amazing to see them so close.  Just before the gate we stop for a while at Sable dam.  There are lots of impala around, and then some zebra and warthogs trot in.  One warthog has a grooming session complete with mudbath, belly scratch and tusk sharpen.  A giraffe comes along too and we finally see one drink.  Then it’s goodbye to the wild.

Up, up and away

4 October 2010

Finally it’s here.  The weeks of mood swings – now incredibly excited, now anxious to the point of panic attacks – have brought us to now.  I’d like to say that it was travelling that brought on these mood swings, but more and more I’m realising that this is just me.  Ah well: the flat is packed up, cleaned, keys handed over; our stuff is in storage; our suitcases are packed.  There is nothing left to do apart from pick a few fights with the bank and O2 (both successfully achieved).  And then we’re off.

Flight 1: London – Dubai: a mere 6 hour hop.  To my delight, I discover a dedicated Disney Classics channel.    Then a 4 hour wait at soul destroying Dubai airport.  I have never seen so many people buying crap that they don’t need (and that they could buy just about anywhere in the world, for the same price).  Shopped out, they collapse on the floor, suitcases for pillows, for some much needed sleep.

Then the next flight: Dubai to Jo’burg.  Our first impression of South Africans?  We find them quite rude.  Is this just a cultural misinterpretation?  All those hours of travelling can make you judge people by the most exacting standards (i.e. how long they spend in the toilet and whether they insist on having their seat pushed all the way back the whole time – even when you’re eating).  Nuff said about flight 2.

We make it to Jo’burg, find the airport like any other, the staff very friendly.  The car collected we set off.  With not much more than 3 hours sleep between us we probably shouldn’t have embarked on a 6 hour drive, but we did.  Our sat nav found us a lovely route through the backways of South Africa.  At times embarrassingly beautiful, at others just embarrassing.    The landscape felt like home.  As did having to dodge potholes, mini-bus taxis, cows and goats.  Nick is very unimpressed with our ‘wild’ animals having thus far encountered not much more than aforementioned cows and goats.  Tomorrow hopefully Kruger will change all that for him.

With brings us to now, in a lovely B&B in Phalaborwa.  There’s a parrot here that’s learnt to imitate the sound of the doorbell.  Funny to us, probably not so funny to the people who live here.    We’ve also met the softest Rottwieler in the world.  It’s made all the more lovely by the fact that our meal out (pasta for me, fillet steak and chips for Nick + 4 bottles of beer and 2 glasses of wine) has set us back a startling £25, including a £5 tip.   We’re almost ready to move.

Janet adds: I’ve spent the last 6+ years in London desperately trying to lose my South African-ness.  Accent softened, tell-tale phrases eliminated etc.  Now I’m in South Africa and desperate to show off my country to Nick, only to find out that it isn’t mine anymore.  People find me as hard to understand as they do him. 

Nick adds: Love biltong

2 Sleeps to go

Hi all,

Nick and I are off on our round the world trip in 2 sleeps.  I'm going to try to keep a blog of our adventures and mishaps.  This is mostly because I know I will be too lazy to email everyone!  I can't promise that it will be witty and intelligent, but it'll let you know what we're up to if you're interested.
xx