Photography Course in October 2012

Have my Photographic Skills Improved?

I'm not sure my Photographic skills have improved at all, but at least I have an idea.  Practicing time has been at a premium, so have reverted to automatic setting as I take too long when I'm in a hurry to get the settings right.  No time for experimentation.

Practicals

We did a fashion shoot with a model at some ruins just outside Rustenburg.
We did a nighttime shoot at Sun City.
We did a wildlife shoot at Getlane Game Reserve on the outskirts of Rustenburg.

 Fashion Shoot

Sun City

(not so great 'cause it is one of 3; the underexposed shot for a combined pic)

Getlane Game Reserve

the beautiful bushveld landscape

Canon Camera

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

See more about the Photographic equipment I use

Where?

North West Province  of South Africa

 

Links to the other blog posts - since I left Cape Town in April last year

Utopia Jan 2013

Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2013
Pilanesberg Aug 2012
Photography Course Oct 2012
Margaret Roberts Herb Farm August 2012
Dikhololo Game Farm July 2012
Overberg April 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 organise storage for Hugh
Mpumalanga Feb 2013 Kruger Park Lodge

My new website

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Margaret Roberts Herb Farm

Margaret Roberts Herb Farm

The dining room looks like a hospital ward/hall, but the food was tasty and out of the ordinary.  There were herbs and flowers in the salad and it looked really colorful and festive.  I enjoyed the lavendar and pear cheesecake, the coffee was also definitely drinkable.

I thought there would be a greater variety herbs in the garden, fresh herbs for sale, or at least more herby plants to buy in the nursery.

However, there are great soaps, ointments, oils, lotions and potions to pick and choose in the shop.

For kids there is a fairy garden and fairy shop, not my cuppa tea.

I don't seem to have photos of this excursion, disappeared.

Its near Hartbeespoort (Dam) in North West Province of South Africa

Dikhololo Game Farm

Dikhololo near Brits in the Northwest Province of South Africa

We went for a visit to this Game Park where you can get out of your car and be close to the animals.  It is a real treat.  We saw giraffe, kudu, zebra, blouwildebeest, impala, and many other antelope, and even more when we went on a game drive the one evening.

Up close

There are these huge rocks all over the place.

 

 

 

A pair of Giraffe

 

Wildebeest

Zebra

Dikhololo have conference Facilities, Pool tables, Swimming pool, Restaurant, Pub, Hot pool (not sure its a spring, but it may be), etc.  We had a huge thatched-roofed house to ourselves with a braai area outside.  Really fantastic place if you're into photography, walking, biking, game watching, bird watching, and so  on.  We had a great time.

 

You have to travel on dirt roads to get there, but it is passable. It is not too far from Brits, on the Rustenburg side, in the North West Province of South Africa

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camerawith a Canon 300mm Lens

Links to other blogs - 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
Broke my arm in August 2012
Meerkat mudered
My furry friends at the Inn
Cape Town Dec 2012 - to paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff into storage Mpumalanga Feb 2013 - Kruger Park Lodge - to follow

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Overberg Splendour

My visit in the Overberg

Thanks to Gill and Rob Gimberg for putting me up when I left Hugh, or is it putting up with me?

I loved the early mornings watching the sun come up in all its splendour, sitting in the kitchen sipping coffee, stroking Tigger (one of the 3 cats, the one that resides in the kitchen).

The other cats are Cricket, and Mischief.

When I arrived there everything was bleak and grey.  In January the fire had wiped out all their plants.  They were immensely fortunate that the house didn't burn down too.  Their neighbor's did.

A few rainy days later, the veld started sprouting new green leaves, and was well on its way to recovery when I left.  It was great having to start a new garden from scratch. We put up a fence to keep the 'bokkies' out.  Not sure it would keep the porcupines and hares out though.

Anyway Gill says they are eating potatoes, tomatoes and all kinds of leafy things out of the veggie garden.

I take my hat off to this couple as they are living completely off the grid.  Rainwater gets collected for all necessities, and so is a scarce commodity, especially if it doesn't rain that well. Sun- and wind-power is used to generate electricity.

The toilet is an organic one, - not a long drop thanks goodness.

Compost gets made from all the vegetable cuttings.

This is... you guessed it, Mischief

 Tigger

Cricket, the hunter

Sunset.

 

 

See more pics here of my stay at Overberg

 

The Overberg, what a wonderful place to stay, with Greyton and Caledon close by.

 

Where?

Western Cape Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camerawith a Canon 300mm Lens

Links to blogs of 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

Living in Rustenburg

Staying at the Travellers Inn in Rustenburg

I am staying with family who are looking after me very well. I am very grateful for their help and support the past few months. I don't know what I would have done without them.

Gone back to work? Yuck!!! Yoikes!!!

I would rather try and work for myself.

The Travellers Inn is situated in the central CBD of Rustenburg, in the North West Province of South Africa.

It is a lovely place with an established garden, huge trees, a haven, and very affordable at that.

The rooms are spacious and well appointed with bar-fridge, tv, fan, desk and chair, en-suite bathrooms, bed(s) and all the normal accoutrements. The family rooms have a double sleeper-couch, and the VIP rooms have lock-up garages.

Various accommodation options: Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, Self Catering, Camping (2-man tents only) and Backpackers dormitory.

This is the pool and 'lapa' (Backpackers).

Great swimming pool to cool off in the hot summer days, the most interesting pub I've ever seen, pool table, dart-board, and intimate conference facilities (max 20 people).

See more on my Accommodation in Africa South website i.e. what a marketing page would look like e.g. Travellers Inn.

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camerawith a Canon 300mm Lens

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

Utopia Nov 2012
Buffelspoort Dam Nov 2012
Olifantsnek Dam Feb 2013
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 in Rustenburg
Broke my arm in August 2012
Cape Town Dec 2012 - To paint my flat and put Hugh's stuff in storage
Hazyview Mpumalanga Feb 2013 - Kruger Park Lodge - to follow
Hartbeespoort Dam Yacht Club Marina
Second operation to remove plate and fix tendons
Cameras and Photographic Equipment I use

I broke my arm in August

My hands chopped off?

I am now a bionic woman with a plate in my arm. It hurts when its cold.

Where?

North West Province of South Africa

Canon Camera

I used a Canon 400D Camerawith a Canon 300mm Lens

How did it happen?

We went running to support Pick and Pay cancer walk.  We were late and I was running, looked back to my friend behind me, and tripped over a speedbump.  I fell skew and my arm went 'ding'.  I knew immediately it was broken and badly. On the x-rays it showed it had splintered off lengthwise close to the wrist. 

According to the doctors it couldn't be fixed with plaster of paris only, it needed an operation.  I sat around from Saturday morning till Tuesday before they operated. I don't have medical aid.  I have a hospital plan (Insurance) and they don't man the telephones on weekends so I couldn't find out that I'm not covered for operations where I am in and out of hospital in less than 3 days.  They catch you on the swings and on the roundabouts. I had to cough up the money before they operated.

So by Tuesday I was steaming as you can imagine. I arrived at hospital and even though I had organised with the doctor and the nursing staff, they did not have me on the operating list because the doctor hadn't confirmed.

I threw my toys. They organised.

More than R50,000  and a number of physio sessions later I am still in pain with most things I do.

The following things are painful to do even now more than 6 months later;

• Tie shoelaces,
• Wash hair
• Knitting (impossible)
• Sewing (with difficulty)
• Pick up anything heavier than a mug
• Anything needing dexterity or a bit of precision
• and so on...

Thanks goodness, typing is getting there.... and I can use my hand and arm, even if not with the full range of motion and power I used to have.  Something is better than nothing. I have great sympathy for anyone who has gone through something similar, be it arm, leg or other body parts.  We take so much for granted.

Do you know what its like for an independent DIY-er to have to ask others to do things for you? F-ing frustrating if you'll excuse my french.

What have I kept myself busy with?

So what have I kept myself busy with the past few months since October, when my arm was remotely usable again?
.  I have created a website for travellers, tourists, people who love to explore, who  have adventure in their blood, who want new experiences, new tastes, see and do new things.  The website will have places to stay and visit, things to do and see, i.e. accommodation, venues, an events calendar, and advertise adventure sports.

At this stage I am building up a portfolio of accommodation and venues. A directory listing is FREE.
Add FREE accommodation Directory Listing
Add FREE Venue Directory Listing
Add FREE Events Calendar Listing

Look for Accommodation in Southern Africa or Find Venues in South Africa for special occasions like Weddings, Conferences, Conventions, Shows and much more.
Look at cities, towns, and settlements for places to stay in any of the provinces of South Africa, or use the QUICKSEARCH facility to find what you are searching for quickly.
Want to know what the weather is like in the places you would like to visit?
Find out What's on in South Africa, in your neck of the woods, or elsewhere in the country on the Events Calendar.

....Besides this

List of Links to 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 - Painted my flat and put Hugh's stuff in storage
Mpumalanga Feb 2013 - Kruger Park Lodge - to follow

Meerkat / Suricate death: Travellers Inn meerkat mascot killed in Rustenburg

Traveller's Inn where I stay in Rustenburg has a  meerkat or suricate as mascot.  Our resident meerkat, Travis, was brutally murdered on sunday morning after someone left the gate open and he went walkabout in the neighbourhood. He was like a child in the house and is sorely missed.


I will be updating the Traveller's Inn website soon and will let you know when its done. If youb are looking for a place to stay in Rustenburg that is like home away from home, a comfy stay, this is a good place to be.  Close to Sun City, Dikhololo, Pilanesberg and the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.  About an hour and a half away from Pretoria and Johannesburg.

See below for more info about the meerkat or suricate.

The fulll name for this little mongooselike mammal is Suricata suricatta, The suricata is called stokstaartje = "little stick-tail" in Dutch.  It uses the tail to signal and to balance when standing upright. Meerkat live in most areas in South Africa, some places in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, areas of the Namib Desert in Namibia, and southwestern Angola.

A group of meerkat is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan". A suricate clan can have as many as 50 members.  Its  life span is about 12–14 years in captivity and about half this in the wild.

The small black crescent-shaped ears can close to exclude soil when digging. Like cats, suricate have binocular vision, a large peripheral range, depth perception, and eyes on the front of their faces. The eyes have a special lid that closes over it so that they can look directly into the sun and have black patches around them.

The meerkat's "fingers" have non-retractable claws which they use for digging burrows and for prey. They can even climb trees. The coat is as unique as our fingerprints; usually fawn-colored peppered with brown, gray or tan, with a silver tint. Parallel stripes extend from the base of the tail to the shoulders. 

The meerkat has a bald patch on its stomach. It uses this area to absorb heat while standing on its hind legs.

Suricate eat predominantly insects and grubs, but also eat lizards, snakes, scorpions, spiders, plants, eggs, small mammals, centipedes, millipedes and even small birds.They have no excess body fat stores, so daily foraging for food is essential. Meerkat are immune to certain types of venom. 

Meerkats forage in a group with one "sentry" on guard watching for predators while the others search for food. The suricate sentry makes constant peeping sounds when all is well, but barks or whistles when there is danger.   In addition to alarm calls, suricate also make panic calls, recruitment calls, and moving calls. 

Meerkats have been known to engage in social activities, including what appears to be wrestling matches and foot races. They are fiercely territorial, will kill offending offspring, but sometimes share their burrows with yellow mongoose or ground squirrel who do not compete for the same resources.

See wikipedia for more about the meerkat