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