I learnt something new today. Even at 19 years young, we still learn!
Did you know that ponds and lakes sleep with sheets on in winter. In winter, I sleep inside with as many blankets and lap cuddles as possible.
I learnt about this problem ponds and lakes have when I went out this morning to have a drink of water from our fish pond. There was a solid ‘stuff’ on top. Fart called it an ice sheet – he says it happens in very cold times and I must be careful because my tongue could stick to it.
Bostick ice?
What happens to the fish? Shame - blue fish
Stay near your fire and keep your tongue in.
Madam Sootie
Madam Sootie
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
MOVING HOUSE
I have handed in my notice.
Hence the reason for my not writing so often on this blog.
I know so many, many people would give their eyeteeth to live in such a setting under such circumstances.
However, I resigned from full time employment nearly four years ago to write, and that is what I am not doing enough
The house I am in is ideal for writing and when I do write, the words flow. Such peace and quiet with magnificent views. Walks through forests, grasslands, along rivers and dams. Surrounded by all types of game.
The worry of the farm at the back of my mind is having an effect.
My coaching program is growing daily and I am not able to focus my attention on those people who have paid me to assist them. I have been asked to undertake a major project, and then there are my projects that are not moving forward.
The move does not worry me, personally. I have travelled enough and know what is happening.
However, poor old Soot will be upset. Kitty cats can sense these things and they undergo the same stress levels as humans. She is an old lady, and that concerns me. Lots of TLC and brushings will be needed. As well as explanations and discussions.
We do discuss everything. I tell her if I am going out and where I am going and when I will be back.
So we are moving - not far. I have my eye on a couple of places. Farms and in the countryside with views of the berg.
However, the actual move will only be in four months time.
Hence the reason for my not writing so often on this blog.
I know so many, many people would give their eyeteeth to live in such a setting under such circumstances.
However, I resigned from full time employment nearly four years ago to write, and that is what I am not doing enough
The house I am in is ideal for writing and when I do write, the words flow. Such peace and quiet with magnificent views. Walks through forests, grasslands, along rivers and dams. Surrounded by all types of game.
The worry of the farm at the back of my mind is having an effect.
My coaching program is growing daily and I am not able to focus my attention on those people who have paid me to assist them. I have been asked to undertake a major project, and then there are my projects that are not moving forward.
The move does not worry me, personally. I have travelled enough and know what is happening.
However, poor old Soot will be upset. Kitty cats can sense these things and they undergo the same stress levels as humans. She is an old lady, and that concerns me. Lots of TLC and brushings will be needed. As well as explanations and discussions.
We do discuss everything. I tell her if I am going out and where I am going and when I will be back.
So we are moving - not far. I have my eye on a couple of places. Farms and in the countryside with views of the berg.
However, the actual move will only be in four months time.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
THOMBILI, OUR VERVET MONKEY BROTHER
The children held Thombili tightly around his tiny little throat. They told Mummsy that if she did not give them the money they asked, they would take the baby vervet monkey to the laboratory where they did tests on monkeys.
Mummsy and Fart paid for the little guy, who had been taken from his parents in the foothill forests of Mount Meru.
He was a petrified, shivering little guy. He clung to our Mummies’ blouse, looking like a small pink broach.
We had to feed him with an eyedropper at first. As he got stronger and bigger we fed him with mashed bananas and milk.
He grew and between him and the ducks – who pooped everywhere - became our favourite – sometimes. When he was bored he would pester our ducks and us. But he was our brother, so we humoured him.
He would never let Mummsy out of his sight, and sitting on her shoulders would cling to her long hair wherever she went.
We never put a chain or a nappy on him. He had free reign of the house. At night he would sleep under the mosquito net with Mummsy and fart.
Early in the mornings at ‘monkey get up time’, he would bounce around on mummsy and fart, swinging on the net until he was let out. He would sit on the windowsill, watching the sun come up over the Massai plains, gently chirruping and twisting his tiny hands in his lap – or scratching his bum.
When he tired of watching the sun, ‘the morning chase’ - our worst time. Cats are not morning people. We were chased around the cottage; pulled and pestered from room to room, over and under the furniture.
In the afternoons Mummsy would sit in the garden and read. Thombili would jump from branch to branch in the tree over her head. Sometimes he would do this with a flower in his mouth, sucking the nectar from it! When he needed a cuddle, he would drop straight onto Mummsy’s lap – from about ten feet. Immediate Mummsy heart attack! But Thombili would happily chortle away as he cuddled into her neck.
During the day when Mummsy and fart were at work Thombili would eat all the candles and anything else that was chewable. When they came home the house would be a mess of candle wax, flower petals and cats hiding in cupboards and under beds.
As he got older, he would sit on top of the high wall which surrounded the cottage, and look out over the coffee plantations of Mount Meru. We always wondered what was going through his little mind and felt sorry for him.
When we moved back to South Africa, Mummsy and Fart decided that we could not take him with us and we had to have him adopted.
A tour leader friend smuggled Thombili into Kenya to friend of hers who lived on a farm in Mombasa.
The last we heard was that Thombili would not let his new Mummsy alone. Troops of vervet monkeys passed through the banana and Papua trees every day. Then one day, the Mummsy adopted a little girl vervet monkey.
You must remember that Thombili, and the other adopted girl monkey, had never been associated with another vervet monkey.
As soon as Thombili and the little girl monkey saw each other, they rushed together and clasped each other tightly, like long lost friends - as monkeys do.
They stayed like that for over two hours and would not move far away from each other. Always clasping each other, grooming one another and chortling away happily. The two would sit on the kitchen windowsill and watch the troops pass by.
Then one day a vervet troop arrived, and saw the two sitting on the windowsill. They seemed to take an interest in the two. When the troop moved on the two lovers went with them.
Apparently the two lovers stop by on the windowsill for snacks of banana and pawpaw whenever they pass by – just to say hello to their human Mummsy.
This is a true story.
Mummsy and Fart paid for the little guy, who had been taken from his parents in the foothill forests of Mount Meru.
He was a petrified, shivering little guy. He clung to our Mummies’ blouse, looking like a small pink broach.
We had to feed him with an eyedropper at first. As he got stronger and bigger we fed him with mashed bananas and milk.
He grew and between him and the ducks – who pooped everywhere - became our favourite – sometimes. When he was bored he would pester our ducks and us. But he was our brother, so we humoured him.
He would never let Mummsy out of his sight, and sitting on her shoulders would cling to her long hair wherever she went.
We never put a chain or a nappy on him. He had free reign of the house. At night he would sleep under the mosquito net with Mummsy and fart.
Early in the mornings at ‘monkey get up time’, he would bounce around on mummsy and fart, swinging on the net until he was let out. He would sit on the windowsill, watching the sun come up over the Massai plains, gently chirruping and twisting his tiny hands in his lap – or scratching his bum.
When he tired of watching the sun, ‘the morning chase’ - our worst time. Cats are not morning people. We were chased around the cottage; pulled and pestered from room to room, over and under the furniture.
In the afternoons Mummsy would sit in the garden and read. Thombili would jump from branch to branch in the tree over her head. Sometimes he would do this with a flower in his mouth, sucking the nectar from it! When he needed a cuddle, he would drop straight onto Mummsy’s lap – from about ten feet. Immediate Mummsy heart attack! But Thombili would happily chortle away as he cuddled into her neck.
During the day when Mummsy and fart were at work Thombili would eat all the candles and anything else that was chewable. When they came home the house would be a mess of candle wax, flower petals and cats hiding in cupboards and under beds.
As he got older, he would sit on top of the high wall which surrounded the cottage, and look out over the coffee plantations of Mount Meru. We always wondered what was going through his little mind and felt sorry for him.
When we moved back to South Africa, Mummsy and Fart decided that we could not take him with us and we had to have him adopted.
A tour leader friend smuggled Thombili into Kenya to friend of hers who lived on a farm in Mombasa.
The last we heard was that Thombili would not let his new Mummsy alone. Troops of vervet monkeys passed through the banana and Papua trees every day. Then one day, the Mummsy adopted a little girl vervet monkey.
You must remember that Thombili, and the other adopted girl monkey, had never been associated with another vervet monkey.
As soon as Thombili and the little girl monkey saw each other, they rushed together and clasped each other tightly, like long lost friends - as monkeys do.
They stayed like that for over two hours and would not move far away from each other. Always clasping each other, grooming one another and chortling away happily. The two would sit on the kitchen windowsill and watch the troops pass by.
Then one day a vervet troop arrived, and saw the two sitting on the windowsill. They seemed to take an interest in the two. When the troop moved on the two lovers went with them.
Apparently the two lovers stop by on the windowsill for snacks of banana and pawpaw whenever they pass by – just to say hello to their human Mummsy.
This is a true story.
BRITISH AIRWAYS BEAUTY MEETS HOTELIER
In 1983, a beautiful British lady came to South Africa on holiday with her parents.
After booking into the Four Seasons hotel in Durban, they were unsure of what to do for the rest of the evening. The lady approached the manager who was standing in the foyer, and asked his advice.
There was an immediate attraction between the two.
The manager made a few suggestions, as to what entertainment there was along the Durban beachfront, and bid them a good evening.
Throughout that week, the two greeted each other on passing. One evening the manager was sitting at the back of the Persian Room ladies bar at his hotel listening to the music and winding down after his busy day. The lady and her parents were sitting at a table in the front of the room, listening to the band. The lady turned and waved, and shortly the two were sitting together having a drink.
Later that evening, once he had closed up the daily operations, the manager and the lady went out for a drink at the Cloud Nine Bar at another beachfront hotel. Conversation was polite and friendly, with ‘I think you are my type of man/woman’ sparks flickering brightly between the two.
At the end of the evening, whilst walking the lady back to his hotel, the handsome manager asked the beautiful lady if she would join him for dinner the following evening. She readily accepted the date, arrangements were made and they bid each other good night. No kisses yet, even!
The following evening the couple met in the Four Seasons Hotel foyer. The beautiful lady was dressed in the most becoming green dress, matching her eyes and sensually contrasting with her long, soft auburn locks. The sun-tanned manager, blonde hair brushed carefully, was casually dressed in slacks and pale blue shirt to match his startling blue eyes.
The dinner, at the famous smorgasbord of the exclusive Edward hotel, was candle lit and accompanied by romantic music, good wine and lots of meaningful eye play.
At one point during the meal during a lapse in their absorbing conversation, and still a little uneasy in each other’s company, the manager said, “When we get married are we going to have boys or girls?”
Seeing that the beautiful lady was taken aback, the manager said, "Don’t worry, I was only joking.”
The meal continued in a happy lighthearted manner - when the beautiful lady looked into the hotel managers blue eyes and asked, “Was that a proposal of marriage?”
The manager looking at her stuttered, “Yes.”
And, that is how my beautiful Mummsy and the old fart were engaged to be married. On the second night of knowing each other - I do not know who the fastest operator is!
Am I not just the luckiest kitty cat for having such amazing parents? Twenty-eight years later, they are still madly in love with each other.
After booking into the Four Seasons hotel in Durban, they were unsure of what to do for the rest of the evening. The lady approached the manager who was standing in the foyer, and asked his advice.
There was an immediate attraction between the two.
The manager made a few suggestions, as to what entertainment there was along the Durban beachfront, and bid them a good evening.
Throughout that week, the two greeted each other on passing. One evening the manager was sitting at the back of the Persian Room ladies bar at his hotel listening to the music and winding down after his busy day. The lady and her parents were sitting at a table in the front of the room, listening to the band. The lady turned and waved, and shortly the two were sitting together having a drink.
Later that evening, once he had closed up the daily operations, the manager and the lady went out for a drink at the Cloud Nine Bar at another beachfront hotel. Conversation was polite and friendly, with ‘I think you are my type of man/woman’ sparks flickering brightly between the two.
At the end of the evening, whilst walking the lady back to his hotel, the handsome manager asked the beautiful lady if she would join him for dinner the following evening. She readily accepted the date, arrangements were made and they bid each other good night. No kisses yet, even!
The following evening the couple met in the Four Seasons Hotel foyer. The beautiful lady was dressed in the most becoming green dress, matching her eyes and sensually contrasting with her long, soft auburn locks. The sun-tanned manager, blonde hair brushed carefully, was casually dressed in slacks and pale blue shirt to match his startling blue eyes.
The dinner, at the famous smorgasbord of the exclusive Edward hotel, was candle lit and accompanied by romantic music, good wine and lots of meaningful eye play.
At one point during the meal during a lapse in their absorbing conversation, and still a little uneasy in each other’s company, the manager said, “When we get married are we going to have boys or girls?”
Seeing that the beautiful lady was taken aback, the manager said, "Don’t worry, I was only joking.”
The meal continued in a happy lighthearted manner - when the beautiful lady looked into the hotel managers blue eyes and asked, “Was that a proposal of marriage?”
The manager looking at her stuttered, “Yes.”
And, that is how my beautiful Mummsy and the old fart were engaged to be married. On the second night of knowing each other - I do not know who the fastest operator is!
Am I not just the luckiest kitty cat for having such amazing parents? Twenty-eight years later, they are still madly in love with each other.
Monday, June 6, 2011
TALKING TO PLANTS
Do you talk to flowers and vegetables, to encourage growth?
I do.
I also swear and curse at the weeds to get rid of them. But I think they are all deaf.
I do.
I also swear and curse at the weeds to get rid of them. But I think they are all deaf.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
FIRE BREAKS AND WINTER GAME
Last week, snow on our mountains and severe frosts. This week the farmers have started our main winter burning. These burns will generate new, fresG growth when our rains arrive. They also reduce the danger of run-away fires during our dry winter months.
Unfortunately we have disturbed some of the lairs of deer and other animals. However they move into the forest at night. During the day these animals will move to grasslands that are not burnt.
But there are also the little guys. Grasshoppers, in their thousands take flight and attract flocks of Pied starlings, African Hoopoos and even our resident crows join in the feast.
There is good and bad from these burns, although the good far outweighs the bad.
In the Bushman’s Nek valley, which runs parallel to ours on the other side of Garden Castle Peak, they had three run away fires yesterday. Frightening when you see the damage that one fire can cause.
I remember seeing the devestation and death in the Lobo area of the Serengeti in the 1990’s when a drunk camper fell asleep with a lit cigarette is his hand. Hundreds of thousands of hectares destroyed in minutes. Animals of all species roasted alive, because they could not escape the inferno.
I do not know what the outcome was of the tourist, but I do know what I would have done with him.
The only good that came out of that was the education of school children. They were visiting the area and saw the devastation as an educational point. They were also able to see the first green tufts of grass and bush breaking through the earth.
The human has this image that we are all knowing and all powerful. Shame on us for that ignorance of which we carry, more than any other species on earth. The power of the internet gives us ample opportunity to see our ignorance and greed first hand. But we choose to ignore it, or are too ignorant to take note of the fact.
Sootie has had the honour of being visited by two bouncers (bush hares) over the last few days. We also find deer droppings around the house in the mornings. Big poo, little poo and poo with points on. Them is the baboon ones!
Unfortunately we have disturbed some of the lairs of deer and other animals. However they move into the forest at night. During the day these animals will move to grasslands that are not burnt.
But there are also the little guys. Grasshoppers, in their thousands take flight and attract flocks of Pied starlings, African Hoopoos and even our resident crows join in the feast.
There is good and bad from these burns, although the good far outweighs the bad.
In the Bushman’s Nek valley, which runs parallel to ours on the other side of Garden Castle Peak, they had three run away fires yesterday. Frightening when you see the damage that one fire can cause.
I remember seeing the devestation and death in the Lobo area of the Serengeti in the 1990’s when a drunk camper fell asleep with a lit cigarette is his hand. Hundreds of thousands of hectares destroyed in minutes. Animals of all species roasted alive, because they could not escape the inferno.
I do not know what the outcome was of the tourist, but I do know what I would have done with him.
The only good that came out of that was the education of school children. They were visiting the area and saw the devastation as an educational point. They were also able to see the first green tufts of grass and bush breaking through the earth.
The human has this image that we are all knowing and all powerful. Shame on us for that ignorance of which we carry, more than any other species on earth. The power of the internet gives us ample opportunity to see our ignorance and greed first hand. But we choose to ignore it, or are too ignorant to take note of the fact.
Sootie has had the honour of being visited by two bouncers (bush hares) over the last few days. We also find deer droppings around the house in the mornings. Big poo, little poo and poo with points on. Them is the baboon ones!
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