Great news!

Poor Porkles!  In retrospect I think I would have rather been in Ghana than having to do what he had to do while in Johannesburg.  He eventually managed to get his visa and passport and was booked on a flight on the Thursday evening at about 5pm South African time.  While he was waiting, he had to buy some sunglasses for me as I had left mine behind and they are essential here.  The poor chap had very little cash on him, so in the beginning, had to buy a cup of tea with his credit card!  He also didn't have a charger, so had to switch his phone on and off intermittently to save his battery.  He was told to urgently get his Police Clearance while waiting. He managed to draw money from his credit card and pay the R300 each way to Kempton Park in the taxi.  Our doctor, who we could only see on the Monday before we left, had emailed a new prescription to me for him, so after many phone calls backwards and forwards correlating with the battery "on" period, I managed to email it to a chemist when Porks had already gone through passport control.  So he received this new medication at the last minute.

On my side, the television wasn't working when I got here, so poor Jose` rushed back from the office to help me!  I fiddled with my computer for three hours trying to get it connected to the internet and eventually managed! (Well done ME, Kell.) The toilet in our bathroom was blocked and I had to phone Porks during one of his "switched on" periods (phone wise, not brain wise!) to get permission to get someone from here to come and fix it as I couldn't raise Jose` on his phone.  I didn't get him either, but we managed to fix it without help.  There were no tomatoes, onions and fresh eggs in the house, so Theresa went into Bantama to find some for me as the guys were having supper here that night and I was cooking, not Sarah this time.

I wanted to bake some kind of pudding for the chaps that evening and when I opened the cupboard, hundreds of weevils rushed out to greet me.  They were in the flour, the bicarb, the cereal as well as the icing sugar.  Fortunately, I had brought two and a half kgs of flour from home, so the guys didn't have noonoos in their buns (raisin buns that is!) I have now placed all vulnerable and precious commodities in the refrigerator.

The electricity went off  while we were chatting and luckily Porks has taught me how to change over from VRA (Volta River Authority) (our ESC) to the generator.  The generator is at the back of the house and we had to go out in bucketing rain to start it.  Deon followed me to help me and we both got sopping wet but the rain here is always warm and not at all unpleasant.

Porks arrived back on the Friday afternoon but it took me quite a while to pick myself up from the setback and find my equilibrium again.

We have had wonderfully cool weather since I have been back, with either rain or cloud cover almost every day. Such a difference from the heat in the first months I was here. The mosquitoes are rife though because of the rain, so we have to be extra careful with repellent.

Genie is still battling to walk on our slippery floor but we take her outside as often as we can.  Its difficult though as being nocturnal, she is virtually blind in the sunshine and prefers the darkness of the house.  She and I connected the day after I arrived and when I am sitting on the couch knitting and watching TV, they both want to sit with me on my lap.

I couldn't find Genie the other night but saw a largish bump in the bed.  I got my camera ready and in the dark took a "blind" picture of my children. Sweet, hey?

 

 

We bought these "ayesu" in Atebubu the other day.  Made from ground mealies, ungrounded/unground/ungrinded ground nuts then deep fried and rolled in sugar.  Porks said it reminded him of home as it tasted of phutu.

                                        

Porks had been been back for a day when we invited the two new South Africans for rugby and breakfast on the Saturday morning. We also had them around for supper one night.  We had a roast pork that we had bought in Accra which cost GHC 21.46 for 1.3kgs - cheaper than the broccoli I wanted to buy!!

Wayne Beswick (Pietermaritzburg) was here to supervise the building of prefabricated houses but completed his work and went home after two weeks.

Neil Halshausen (Now Scottburgh but Highflats originally) is here to support Porks in the clearing and planting. You won't believe this!  Neil and I were at Stirling Primary School together in East London.  We were in the same class in Sub A, Sub B and the first term of Std One in 1965, when my family moved to Pietermaritzburg!  He is a softly spoken, gentle, amiable, considerate and empathetic man and was born in April of 1957, so we are very similar! (Hahaha!)  What a small world! (More importantly, how did he remember me?)

 

Neil is new to Ghana but not to Porks. They have known each other for years being in the timber industry together. He arrived the day before Porks flew home to South Africa, so has been here three and a half weeks.  John the driver, Neil, Porks and I went to Kumasi yesterday to buy some much needed groceries. 
                                                                                   
                                                                             Not this!

                                                                              

 

                                                                   Look - I'm famous!!

                             
Yes, (elbow pumping) I'm not genetically modified, am internationally No.1 but have only been of any quality since I got married in 1981! Thanks Porks.
                                        


When I want to know how Porks is really doing, I ask him what number he is emotionally out of ten.  He has been fluctuating between one and one and a half since I have been here, and was in the minuses before I arrived.  With the emotional support of Neil who also understands how braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and Chevrolet work, he is now up to a seven! 
                                                                   The best news!
                                                   Shan is smiling louder than ever!

Never a dull moment

 

We arrived at King Shaka Airport on time and went straight to the check in counter to book in in order to get the good seats in row 55 on the Johannesburg to Accra flight.  I tried to speak so nicely to Kholiwe at one of the check-in counters but she would NOT give us red priority stickers for our luggage. Even after an explanation about the last time, and after an argument with Porks and a call to her manager, she would not be budged.  I made her give me her name and telephone number so that it would scare her into helping, but nothing would frighten this chick, not even an angry Porkles.  He had to collect his passport and visa at the American Express counter in Johannesburg, so his luggage could not be booked straight through to Accra and there would be no time to collect the luggage and then book it back in again in Johannesburg.  I was able to book in a suitcase through to Accra with my ticket and passport and the first one to be weighed was Porks', so it went as mine. It was sent off down the "courawsel" without a priority sticker, but with me longingly wishing I could haul it back and hang on to it for safety!   We waited for Deon and Hans who were fortunately traveling up with us so that we could use their baggage allowance and book the other bags straight through. Deon used his charm at a different check-in counter and the other two bags, mine and mine, were given red labels! Yay!  So now all was well, provided that the luggage arrived in Accra.

Kelly and I went for coffee and some breakfast before she left for school and then I boarded the plane to wait for the guys, who had gone off to do whatever it is that men do when they go off together.  (Porks probably had a quick nap or read the newspaper!)
Absolutely smooth sai......flying all the way and in fact we landed at least 20 minutes earlier than expected at Oliver Thambo, very relieved.  Perhaps there would be enough time for the baggage handlers to transfer all the  bags onto the Accra flight.

We sauntered off casually to the American Express counter to collect Porks' passport and visa (which had arrived the previous day, we were promised) and .........NOTHING!  Passport and unissued visa still in Pretoria.  Porks had tried hard to prevent this from occurring, so it was extremely maddening for me.

                                         

His and especially my face just dropped! Now what? After a male indaba, the consensus from Porks, Hans and Deon (not me, no consultation there) was that I fly back to Ghana with them and Porks stay in Johannesburg and try and get on another flight as soon as he could.  Being the gentle, non-opinionated, compliant and obedient wife that I am, I meekly followed the guys, and waved goodbye to a lonely, sad husband, standing there in a strange land with a hat, a backpack containing a toothbrush, a jersey, a cell phone (no charger) and a credit card. We should have put a red priority sticker on him!  Not knowing when I would see him again, I had a change of heart about being quite okay to return to Ghana. I can't be liking this!

 

                                      

The good news was that all our bags arrived and I didn't have to phone Kholiwe, the bad news was that this time Porks got left behind to sleep by himself in Johannesburg like our luggage did the first time and might not get his visa tomorrow either.  There is a flight via Namibia tomorrow (Wednesday) but if the visa isn't issued, he'll have to fly on Thursday which will only get him home with me on Friday afternoon.  I don't consider the Ghana house my own, so it will be difficult to host the chaps without the support of my husband. They are staying for two nights, so will leave on Friday.

But  Kholiwe G,  078  509..........  had booked Porks and I our seats in row 55, although she wasn't able to give Porks a boarding pass for the international flight as he couldn't produce a passport, so I was at least going to be on my own and have space next to me and some privacy. Then, a young gentleman Gavin Whittaker, who had been sitting further forward in a squashy seat, saw the empty seat next to me and asked if he could sit there. (One of my favourite things is meeting new people, so it wasn't all bad.)

                                           

It ended up he is a " wine export manager" for Lutzville in the Western Cape and he taught me some things that even YOU might not know, Roger, although you probably do. The "A" number on the wine bottle tells one from which wine estate it is, check the SAWIS website.

 

 

The number on the seal is the information to prove that it has been tested, analyzed and approved. Some seals have a picture of a Protea on them to prove that that particular estate is sustaining the environment.

                                                                               

He also told me that in the pressurized cabin, one's olfactory sense is diminished by 30%. Heston Blumenthal has managed to improve the food on the BA flights by adding unami-rich foods (a savory flavour known as the fifth taste) to improve the flavour of their Business Class passenger foods and apparently it has been a huge success.  So you see, one is never too old to learn! Thanks Gavin!

 

                                     

 

I had some giggles to myself though.  He was on the isle seat watching "Modern Family" and everyone who walked past, seemed to knock his loose screen so that it fell over.  He would patiently straighten it again, and the next person would come past and knock it over again.  Back to straightening it again and then "boof", down it would go again.  I don't even know if he really noticed but it got funnier and funnier for me! Seriously, after about the tenth time, I was wiping away my tears. (Either the isles have been narrowed or the people have been widened!)

Hans, Deon, and Willem who had flown up from Maritzburg, (it turns out he lives near a very special angel I know, Rina) and I, landed in Accra and went straight to the Airside Hotel, as we usually do.  After some confusion and scary talk of my having been booked into a different hotel from the others, we were all moved to the Georgia Hotel.  Dodgy from the outside and dining area but the rooms were basic, clean and comfortable and we probably could have all stayed in the one bed it was so big!

The driver and one big man in the front and two big men and I squeezed in to the back of the tiniest taxi ever, each of us breathing in and out at different times so that we would fit and headed for the Holiday Inn for supper.  The breeze while we traveling was gloriously cool but stopping in the traffic jam reminded us of where we were.  

                                              

Without being aware, Hans ordered a Lutzville Cabernet Sauvignon for us.  How serendipitous  was that? Good word, Hans.  I had never heard of Lutzville before today and then after having learned about it from Gavin, we drank it for dinner the same night! (Gavin, if you're reading this, the men have put in an order for your wine for Bantama, free of course!)

                                           

 

I set my alarm for 5.15am and also asked Deon to phone me at 5.30am to wake me. We had to catch a taxi at 6.00am for the 7 o'clock flight to Kumasi. I woke up and looked at my watch at 4.40am and then dozed, being too scared to fall dead asleep again!  At 5 ish I got up, washed, dressed, repacked  my bags and then realized at 5.45am Deon hadn't phoned yet!  It hit me! I was still on SA time!  Two hours ahead of schedule! So I actually got up at 3!!!  Oh my word!  I climbed back into bed with my clothes on, now wide awake, and tried to sleep until the real 5.30am wake up call from Deon.

The flight landed in a cool 22 degree, according to the pilot, Kumasi and I headed for the toilet. There is no decent place on the way home for ladies to go but as we all know, men don't have that problem!  A few of the chaps chose to be civilized though and headed for the single male toilet at the airport. I was in and out of our single one in no time and they were still queuing up to wait their turn. I thought/think its the funniest thing ever as this is the first time in my life that there has been a queue outside the men's and the ladies has been free!   Not one of the chaps  was amused by my laughter......it is exceptionally funny, hey girls? (Very little sense of humour, these men!)

 

 

Exiting the airport building, I was leading the way, excited to see John, my hospital helper and driver, and he seemed just as pleased to see me, hesitantly half-hugging me in front of all the other passengers and drivers!  Willem and I went with John while Hans and Deon went with a new driver, Joe, John's brother. I had my pillows so tried to catch up on some lost sleep along the way. We popped in to the MTN shop in Atebubu to reconnect my Ghanaian Blackberry to the bbms and emails.

We arrived home. I scrambled in to find the children and Gundi sheepishly, or mongoosely came to me, using every mongoose word she knows at the same time while biting me in between as if to say "where the dickens have you been?"   We talked and cuddled for ages and caught up on all the lost loving time we had missed. Genie was in her box sleeping and when I opened it, she hissed at me.  I am going to leave her until she feels safe to approach me. She usually sleeps on the bed, so I'll see tonight. Sleep tight.

 

 

The last days at home

I really have had such a fun-filled and happy time back home in South Africa but I am ready to go back with Porks and to be with my other children, who we both miss!  Genie has become partially paralysed in her back legs, so I am desperate to get to her and love her.  We cannot believe how much we are missing her and Gundi!

Andrew is back safely in Cape Town, Kelly is back at school teaching and Porks and I are running around with doctor's appointments, collecting parcels, special batteries and saying last minute good-byes.

                      I am never happier than when I have the whole family together.











           

It has been a very short stay for Porky as he doesn't get much leave but the fact that I am going back with him has sweetened the bitter pill for him.....I think, I presume, I hope!

There are two new KZN South African gentlemen there now and I am sure they will satisfy some of the loneliness and lack of communication which we both (and they too, presumably) crave.  (Well, some of us do!!!)
                                         

A final fun visit full of laughter and memories with Britt and Robbie remind me how lucky we are to have them in our lives and, no matter how difficult it is in Ghana, we have loving friends back home waiting for us with open arms!! I have been sent back with more love parcels, thank you Robs and Britt!

 

Charlie, Ren and Porks - our old, old, very old (!) friends who always have happy and predictable banter, flirting and joke telling!

                                                              
Somebody loves me! (Porks making the most of giving me beautiful flowers as they are not readily available where we live.)

We fly out tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.
My suitcase is packed with many, many balls of wool, as well as new knitting and crocheting patterns which should keep me busy for the 5 months until we come home again at Christmas.  Pips has given me some fabulous patterns to try, as well as some new movies and series to watch.

I'll be in touch again when we get back to our second "home" in Ghana.

Porks arrives in SA

I have had a wonderful time healing and being cared for and loved by my family, doggies and friends.

Kelly and I were invited to spend a few days with my brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Vonnie, (of ipad fame) and their daughter Yvette in Hermanus before I fly back to Ghana. 

Kell and I flew to Cape Town on Tuesday 2nd July from a warm and sunny Kwa-Zulu Natal to a Cape Winter.  Wrapped up in scarves, boots and warm coats, we were met at the airport and whisked off to Onrus, a suburb of Hermanus, where we were welcomed with a delicious cup of coffee and apple tart.

This is the view from the kitchen window - the back of the house, hey Von?









The sea view from one of the large windows in the lounge.







After a very late night of chatting and catching up on news from both sides of the family, we woke up late and went for a drive to see the scenery around Hermanus.  Mike and Vonnie drove us to De Kelders and we were lucky enough to spot some whales.  That little white dot on the right of the picture below the mountains is the whale expelling air from its blowhole.

 

One of the things we wanted to do was to go wine tasting and to buy wine for Roger.  The first place we went to was Raka.

Then we giggled our way to Stanford Hills.  There was no official wine tasting available but Hennie was accommodating and let us taste anyway.  We found a bicycle "against" the wall there........



 ..................and tried to ride it!

 Don't laugh........See???  Yvette couldn't manage either!!!

We ended up at a lovely little Bistro on the beach front.  The wind was blowing and it got pretty chilly but that didn't stop us from laughing and trying to taste more wine!

We had delicious fresh hake and salad and some more wine........(this IS the Cape, remember?)

Kell and I, best friends, not mother and daughter, just had to show everyone how much fun we had had had had.



We went to bed a little earlier on the second night (!) and then took a slow, scenic drive to Cape Town.  The South Wester seemed to also be blowing from the North and East and the top of the sea had swirls like mini huricanes.

When Kelly jumped up into the air, the wind actually pushed her forward!  If she had opened her wind-cheater, she would have taken off like "birdman".




                                   
                                                          Vonnie, my other sister.

                                                                    

We brushed our hair and went to meet Andrew at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront.      

                                      Kelly and Yvette, her gentle, kind and humble cousin.

 Michael, Porky's only sibling and his wife Yvonne.  They have always been hugely supportive, generous and loving towards our family.

Together with my special children again.  I only feel whole when Porks, the children and myself are all in the same place together.

We slept at Andrew's flat and had to get up at 4am to get to the airport in time to fly at 6.30am to Durban.  We arrived at King Shaka airport at 8.30amish and Porks flew in from Ghana/Johannesburg at 9.05am.

We have been told, "children won't do what you say, they do what you do!"
Like father, like son.

In the aeroplane......

 

...in the car! 

 

Porks was thrilled to be home to see his two legged and four legged children!  They were so excited to see him again and showered him with kisses and high pitched squealing! (The four-legged ones that is.)

On Saturday we had to do a few things in town before going to visit Porks' mom in the afternoon.  Porks had told Kelly..."I need Shannie, tea and a newspaper....and Shannie can read the newspaper to me!" 

While waiting for a hair appointment, Porks, Andrew and I went for some quality time, conversation and tea at a local coffee shop.

                                                      I was given beautiful roses though!
                                                                            

Grandma was delighted to see her family.  She had fallen the week before, but was looking so much better.

 

Mom loves getting out of the confines of frail care and enjoys seeing the sunshine, trees, mountains and breathing the fresh air, so we try and get her out as much as possible.

This time she chose tea and ice cream.

 

The two Nicholson's, one Orford and one Mann came for supper on Saturday night.

 

On Sunday morning, the manne packed the truck and drove off noisily with banter, laughter and testosterone to go bird shooting for a few days....and left the un-made beds, messy house, dirty clothes, piles of dishes and dry garden for Kelly and me!