Pilanesberg 2013

Pilanesberg visit

The pool and some buildings a the lodge

 Bushveld Sunset

 Elephant and calf

 

Landscape in Pilanesberg

 Playful lions

 Luxury

 white rhino

 

Accommodation in Pilanesberg
Accommodation in North West Province
Accommodation in South Africa

Paul's birthday

Pauls 70th

Happy Birthday Paul!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The body is an amazing thing

Our bodies are amazing

The healing properties of the body is astounding

The break and 1st operation happened in August 2013. The tendons snapped and 2nd operation in April 2013... only 10 days after the stitches came out and see the difference back and front of the arm

It is still difficult to get dressed, can't hold anything yet, but can almost bend my fingers so there's progress. Found there are some things I will ask help with and others I won't, even if I go blue in the face. Interesting to observe oneself and see how you handle challenges, frustrations, and difficulties.  Also had a knock-on effect of creativity in other areas of my life - probably because I had to do things differently.

 

As u would have it patience is not my strongest suite.

 

My sympathies to everyone who has ever had to go through anything even vaguely similar; under the knife, a break, born without, etc.

 

 

I wanted to record progress because it is just 8 months ago and I can't remember when to expect what. I know it us different now.  Apparently bone heals quite a lot quicker than tendons. triple s..t!

Drakensberg trip

 

On our way.  It was overcast all the way down.  Gauteng Province had torrential rains on Friday, and a number of people in Soweto and other low-lying areas were left homeless.

Little Switzerland Chalets

 The first 3 days the mist and rain came and went. Visibility was virtually zero. By the third evening we had an exquisite sunset.

Monday morning cleared with snow on the mountain that stayed the whole week.  It is the first time the snow stayed this long in 20 years. (This time of the year).

Each time we visit there are more and more settlements creeping over the hills.

 

 

 

View from the chalet

 

Links to other events since I left Cape Town in 2012

My stay in the Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Meerkat murdered Oct 2012
Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Hartbeespoort Dam Yacht Club Marina Nov 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff into storage
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2013
My furry friends at the Inn March 2013
Trip to Mpumalanga March 2013
Second operation to remove plate and fix tendons - April 2013
Stitches out today April 30, 2013

Stitches out today

The wounds have healed nicely

 

Front and back arm staples removed today.  On the road to recovery.















----- Links to other blog pages -----

Events since I left Cape Town 2012

My stay in the Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Meerkat murdered Oct 2012
Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Hartbeespoort Dam Yacht Club Marina Nov 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff into storage
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2013
My furry friends at the Inn March 2013
Trip to Mpumalanga March 2013
Second operation to remove plate and fix tendons - April 2013
Stitches out today April 30, 2013

Second operation

Operation after snapping tendons

I had an operation a week after snapping my tendons while baking ginger cookies. I know, sounds crazy, but the dough was a bit sticky, and that's when it went. I complained to the doctor, and he gave me anti-inflammatories. During the first op I had a plate inserted to help heal the bad break. The screws to hold the plate were too long and stuck out above the bone. It sawed the flexor tendons off over time.

I spent a week with my mom to recuperate, then we went to the Drakensberg for a week.

Links to other blog pages since I left Cape Town last year on April fools day 2012

My stay in the Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Meerkat murdered Oct 2012
Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Hartbeespoort Dam Yacht Club Marina Nov 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff into storage
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2013
My furry friends at the Inn March 2013
Trip to Mpumalanga March 2013
Second operation to remove plate and fix tendons - April 2013
Stitches out today April 30, 2013

Mpumalanga

Kruger Park Lodge

Hazyview

This is an RCI Resort with well-manicured golf-course, antelope browsing and cavorting on the grass, geese and other feathered and non-feathered birds aplenty, some monkeys also showed us a few tricks.

This picture is hazy because I took it through the windscreen. I was afraid they would run away if I got out the car.  They were grazing right at our back door. The front door opened up onto a verandah with a view of the golf course and our 'braai' (barbecue) area.

 

We saw a number of waterfalls; Bridal Veil Falls, Sabie Falls, Graskop Falls,( we missed out on Mac Mac, they were double the price of most of the others),  Berlin Falls, etc., on our trips through Sabie, Graskop, Pilgrim's Rest, Ohrigstad, Nelspruit, White River, Barberton, and surrounding villages.

 

I was pleasantly surprised with Hazyview.  Yes the view is hazy.  This is a large town with a huge shopping centre with all the things you need, Woolworths, Pick and Pay and all the other shops you normally get in a large shopping centre in South Africa.  We live in a beautiful country and this part of the country is particularly beautiful.

Attractions

We passed Pine and Eucalyptus Forests, lush vegetation, Bananas, Mangoes, Coffee Plantations, Litchi, Pawpaw, and other tropical fruit plantations and citrus orchards on our way. 

The Kruger Gate of the  Kruger National Park is but a short distance away from Hazyview.

Gods Window, Bourke's Potholes, Blyde River Canyon, Echo Caves, Sudwala Caves, Silk Farm, Robber's Pass, Jock of the Bushveld, Dinosaur Park and a few pubs along the way.

 

 Beautiful Scenery.

Where?

Hazyview
Mpumalanga, South Africa

Links to other blogs - Events since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

My stay in the Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Meerkat murdered Oct 2012
Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Hartbeespoort Dam Yacht Club Marina Nov 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff into storage
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2013
My furry friends at the Inn March 2013
Second operation to remove plate and fix tendons

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camera with a Canon 300mm Lens

My New Accommodation website

Accommodation in South Africa
Subscribe to the Newsletter to get Special Offers, Vouchers, enter Competitions, and to get the best deals on Accommodation

If you have Accommodation, Venues, or Events you want to advertise

Add FREE accommodation directory Listing
Add FREE venue directory listing
Add FREE event listing
Advertise on our site
See our other Services
Advertising

Add FREE accommodation directory Listing
Add FREE venue directory listing
Add FREE event listing
Looking for accommodation or a venue in other provinces of South Africa?
Use the Quick-reference Site links map to find what you are searching for quickly.

Have a look at the Map of South Africa What's News? Competitions, Prizes, Special Offers and other News.
What's on in the location you are looking for?
What's the weather like in the place you want to visit?

What else do you need?

Notebook

Consoles

Apple Shops

Cameras and Equipment

Bestselling Books

'Hottest' Music

Movies DVDs

Games

Blu-Ray

The latest and best selection of eBooks

Toys

Afrikaanse Musiek Treffers

Baby Offers

Spoil your Pets

Luggage must travel

Cameras and Photographic Equipment

I use Canon

Most of my photographs, no all of my photographs are taken with Canon cameras and mostly with Canon Lenses.  I also have some Sigma lenses for my Canon Camera.

Canon 400D

Canon Lenses

Canon 70-300mm Lens

My tripod is a Manfrotto

Books about Canon 400D SLR photography

   

Find Cameras and Equipment

Cameras and Equipment

What else?

Notebook

Consoles

Apple Shops

Bestselling Books

'Hottest' Music

Movies DVDs

Games

Blu-Ray

The latest and best selection of eBooks

Toys

Afrikaanse Musiek Treffers

Baby Offers

Spoil your Pets

Luggage must travel

Hartbeesport Dam

Hartbeespoort Dam Marina

Early morning at the Hartbeespoort Yacht club.  Morning after the night before.

The dam is hugged by 'koppies' (hillocks).  This morning there was no wind. The dam was tranquil, the surface reflecting sunrise mauves and pinks.  Boats bobbed conversationally.

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

My New Accommodation website

Accommodation in South Africa
Subscribe to the Newsletter to get Special Offers, Vouchers, enter Competitions, and to get the best deals on Accommodation

What's News? Competitions, Prizes, Special Offers and other News.
What's on in the location you are looking for?

If you have Accommodation, Venues, or Events you want to advertise

Add FREE accommodation directory Listing
Add FREE venue directory listing
Add FREE event listing

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camera with a Canon 300mm Lens
See more about my Photographic Equipment

Other blog posts Since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm Sep 2012
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Meerkat mudered Oct 2012
Hartbeespoort Dam Yacht Club Marina Nov 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff into storage
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2013
My furry friends at the Inn March 2013
Trip to Mpumalanga March 2013
Second operation to remove plate and fix tendons - April 2013

Animals at the Inn

My furry friends

The oldest inmate is Scooby Doo, called Scooby for short, a ridgeback that has been with the family for about 9 years?

We had a suricat, which is the emblem of Travellers Inn, but Travis was killed last year.

Shortly after a Pikanese puppy came into our lives called Elmo. The funny thing about this dog is that we all have a different name for him.  The staff call him Omo, Paul calls him Parra, I sometimes call him Brakkebol, and so on.

Debbie and Lienkie adopted a stray cat that turned out to be pregnant. 

She had a litter of four kittens, and before we could spay her, had another litter of 6 kittens. 

They kept one of the first litter, but we got homes for the whole second litter. She looks a lot like her mother.

 

Between all of this they found a cat in the storeroom that had a broken leg.

They took it to the vet who had to amputate the leg, so now it is called Tripod or Driewiel.

Our Bar lady Erica and her worsie Zoe.

I also do some housesitting now and again.  They have 3 kats and 2 dogs, but that would be overdoing it.

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camera with a Canon 300mm Lens

New Accommodation website

Check out my new website for Accommodation in South Africa

Olifantsnek Dam

Olifantsnek Dam and Surrounds

The dam is in the background, with sunflowers yellow in the foreground.

What a ride.  I'll pass thank you very please.

Olifantsnek dam is not too far from Buffelspoort Dam where you can take part in motorised sports.  Here only kitesurfing, sailing, and wind-driven sports are permitted. 

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camera with a Canon 300mm Lens

Links to blogs - Events since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2012
PilanesbergAug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff in storage
Mpumalanga Feb 2013 - Kruger Park Lodge - to follow

Pilanesberg Game Reserve

A day at Pilanesberg Game Reserve

Hippo family, sunning their hides.

There was a lot of birdlife. I saw terapins swimming, and a baby crocodile in the reeds.

Elephants, giraffe, zebra, and the normal plethora of antelope, bushpigs, and the like scedaddled around.

There were much less animals to see than I remembered when I lived here in the mid 1980's, but it might be because of the good rainfall the past few months and the waterholes being full, as well as the bush being lush. Pilanesberg is quite a large reserve.

Where?

Pilanesberg near Rustenburg and right next to Sun City
North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camerawith a Canon 300mm Lens
See more on Camera Equipment I use

Links to other events since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2012
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
 - my furry friends at the Inn
Broke my arm in August 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff in storage
Mpumalanga Trip Feb 2013

My New Accommodation website

Accommodation in South Africa
Subscribe to the Newsletter to get Special Offers, Vouchers, enter Competitions, and to get the best deals on Accommodation

If you have Accommodation, Venues, or Events you want to advertise

Add FREE accommodation directory Listing
Add FREE venue directory listing
Add FREE event listing
Advertise on our site
See our other Services

Add FREE accommodation directory Listing
Add FREE venue directory listing
Add FREE event listing

Looking for accommodation or a venue in other provinces of South Africa?
Use the Quick-reference Site links map to find what you are searching for quickly.

Have a look at the Map of South Africa What's News? Competitions, Prizes, Special Offers and other News.
What's on in the location you are looking for?
What's the weather like in the place you want to visit?

 

Need anything else?

Rotating links

Notebook

Consoles

Apple Shops

Cameras and Equipment

Bestselling Books

'Hottest' Music

Movies DVDs

Games

Blu-Ray

The latest and best selection of eBooks

Toys

Afrikaanse Musiek Treffers

Baby Offers

Spoil your Pets

Luggage must travel

Buffelspoort Dam

Fun on Buffelspoort Dam

A day in the sun, braaiing, riding inner tyre tubes and other fandangles, with a few drinkies to round off the day. F-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!

Here speedboats and other motorised watersports are allowed. 

Not so at Olifantsnek dam, this is much more sedate and only sailing and so on is permitted.

Utopia

Utopia Holiday Resort

My family came here when I was still at school.  It brought back many happy memories.  I also met one of my boyfriends here, an artist, that later became an architect. I even competed for 'Miss Utopia'.

It is no longer open to day visitors, but you can buy timeshare, or buy a plot with or without a house on it.  It is situated in the Magalsburg mountain range.  The landscape is beautiful here.

The houses are mostly a-frame thatched buildings.  It has a paddling pool and a swimming pool fr adults, pub, restaurant, the river runs through the property, and there are many walks in the viscinity.

Canon amera

I used a Canon 400D camera with a Canon 300mm lens

Where

North West Province of South Africa

List of blog posts for events since I left Cape Town on 1 April 2012

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2012
PilanesbergAug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 2012 till end June 2012
Living in Rustenburg July 2012 to date
Broke my arm in August 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff into storage
Mpumalanga Feb 2013 - Kruger Park Lodge - to follow