Road Blocked

On my way to work this morning, I had to sit still for a while and wait for these elephants to kindly let me pass, so I took a few photos of them while waiting. After crossing over, leaving their trails of uprooted vegetation all over the road, they just stopped and hung around - not bothered by me sneaking quietly past them in the car.

We have a brand new road here, which curves its way down the hill to river level. Annoyingly, it's also much favoured by the world's worst drivers, to whose ranks I confess I added myself this morning - indulging in more phone photogpraphy while driving along!  The view of the river floodplain is just breathtaking, with the early morning steamy cloudiness on the horizon.

The road here skirts areas of lush indigenous forest, and as yet, very little development has taken place on these slopes. In the early mornings, this is such a beautiful way to get to the office.

It's been a rather difficult week, actually. Apart from everything else that's been going on, I've been home/business alone for a couple of days, with my other half floating around working in the bush (and also taking some great pictures!). Plenty of tennis being played Down Under, has caused a temporary TV addiction...

I have also been much preoccupied with work permit bureaucracy. The normal routine ebb and flow of expiries and renewals has been rudely interrupted due to my entire file being randomly and mistakenly Archived with apparently no possible means of retrieval! After a year and a half of being lost, the decision was made that I should redo the whole thing. This entails copious paperwork, running around from one office to another, and spending a lot of time at the Police Station, but I have had nothing but help and graciousness all round, which reminds me yet again why I enjoy living in this country. People are most apologetic that my file has been sent to the "Museum" and are regretfully making me jump through bureaucratic hoops, but couldn't be nicer about it all!

Here's a typical blogger's random photo of my second home this week - The Immigration Department. Right next to the river, which you may be able to spot in the top left corner. (This is also a river border post between us and Namibia).

Come to think of it, in many ways it feels as if a RoadBlock of sorts has been suddenly removed in my life, and I think that I can finally begin with what has the possibility to be a great new year! Here's to February..

Forest Dwelling Flame Lilies and Elephants

On Sunday we took a drive into the forest reserve, just a few kilometres behind our home. We were seeking the elusive and gorgeous wild Flame Lilies, which flower around New Year.

Happily, it wasn't very long before we spotted the first flash of orange in the dense greenery...

... and awarded ourselves both an ice cold beer from the cooler box (traditional prize for first lily sighting!)

Here it is: Gloriosa Superba, in all its present and past glory, against a stormy sky.

The Flame Lilies are actually creepers, and this one had flowered right on top of the host shrub. (I have taken the liberty of stealing this particular photo from Tiennie, who took some beautifully detailed lily shots - have a look on his blog over here).

Even the fire-engine hued "Blink Stefaans" can almost hide himself away in the forest reserve at this time of year...

Here one can simply get lost in an alternative world of peace and solitude.  No tourists, no other vehicles, only the sound of the teak leaves rustling in the breeze, the quiet hum of insects, birdcalls, and of course the occasional snap of a branch, giving away the presence of our amazingly silent elephant neighbours.

Here is the first glimpse of one. ( I really hope my pictures are enlarging themselves as they should be!)

He appeared next to the track - me inside the vehicle looking on. (you may need a magnifying glass here).

Browsing peacefully, this elephant is not worried about us, and vice versa.

The teak tree blossoms are also outrageously gorgeous, and it's great to find low growing ones which can be easily photographed without needing a ladder or a mega zoom lens!

Another slight colour variation of the Flame Lily here.

Those stormy blue/grey clouds suddenly unleashed a typical ferocious, over-in-fifteen minutes African afternoon thunderstorm, which leaves you steaming in the humidity afterwards...

Nature's restorative powers are my saving grace on this planet, no doubt about it!

Wishing all a wonderful weekend from the southern hemisphere ...

After the Holidays - just family snapshots really!

Once again the centrifugal forces of this crazy lifestyle have carelessly tossed blogging into the far outer orbit! Thus for now, the best blogpost I can produce is a glorified photo album.

I have loved spending quality time with my sister Jill, and family while they were here over Christmas and New Year. Here we are just doing the sisterly companionship thing, as sisters do!

The Christmas tree, I can report, was indeed twin-proof. Here the aunt allows a small boy restricted access to all the sparkly things!

The weather was glorious! Late afternoon Christmas Day, on the banks of the Chobe looking across to Namibia - featuring  husband and fellow-blogger Tiennie, along with brother in law Mike, and friend Theo.

While we were out there enjoying the evening, our dogs successfully stole almost an entire topside roast, and, along with the cats, enjoyed their own Christmas lunch to the fullest. Luckily the leftover turkey had been properly put away! Here is one of the cats getting into the festive mood - perhaps considering a little aperitif before the dogs served up the roast beef?

Paparazzi photo! My elusive elder stepson Joe, seen cruising past with a bar order. The big boys and one girlfriend drove up to Botswana and surprised their dad on his birthday! Keeping that secret was almost impossible for me, but it was worth it to see his face...

Compulsory Wildlife photo:  a warthog piglet prancing around near the swimming pool at a local lodge- thanks to Zac for the photo!

The twins playing in our antique red truck, aka "Blink Stefaans". They were in their element in there, and eventually the hooter had to be disconnected, for obvious reasons!!

This picture reminds me that we are hopefully going later today to search for Flame Lilies in the forest reserve behind our home.  I do hope we are not too late for them, as it's usually more of a new year ritual!

Currently, more visiting friends have arrived here from Australia, and even from the ice-bound UK, despite the travel chaos over there! This business of working and holidaying at the same time is always quite exhausting but the burning of the candle at both ends will stop shortly, as our house suddenly empties out tomorrow...

That's it for now -  wishing all reading this the very best for a beautiful and fulfilling 2010 x