We have just returned from a week relaxing in the Natal Midlands and are in Jo' burg now experiencing yet another SDIA (for those who don’t live here, that’s an expression often used by South Africans as they sip their wine and down their Lions while soaking up the sun – Another Sh*t Day In Africa). I'm busy with my laptop, my folks are pottering and the kids are in the garden recovering from their swim in the icy pool and destroying the garden.
FRIDAY: We left freezing cold Jo’burg to travel down to an equally freezing mountainous area called the Midlands – somewhere between the Highveld and the Coast of Natal.
Our trip down was not uneventful. We started off in convoy, my father driving their little car which was towing their trailer (it flaunts the shabby chic look. Actually, more shabby than chic). I was following behind in my car, maintaining a suitable following distance and using my indicators – thus showing that I’ve put my AD driving training behind me. We left the toll road as my folks are always keen to save the odd penny and headed down a dubious country road – only to have my father pull up at the side of the road – the car was not going well. We struggled to get it going and managed to limp to a nearby town called Villiers. It is called a town, but I’m not sure that it really qualifies for the label. There was a bottle store, a vet, 2 banks, a GROOT church, a little nursery school, and thankfully a couple of garages. At the garage they announced that the alternator (I think) was burnt out and Dad would need to get a new one – fortunately the auto electrician was around the corner, as is everything, and they could sort us out. So to kill time, we took a saunter from one of the town to the other and made a great discovery. There was a really gorgeous green VW Beetle for sale at the car dealers (half a dozen cars on display, clearly a thriving business). It is 1974, so nearly as old as I am and in really good condition at a really good price. We were SO tempted to buy it, but sadly before we could come to a decision, Dad’s car was ready and we as left the town the car had mysteriously disappeared from its parking place. We are still thinking about going back there and snapping up the bargain, if it hasn’t been hidden away from the Engelsmen!
We arrived safely in the Midlands at a little resort called Midlands Saddle and Trout with several sighs of relief. The first sign you see after you enter the main gates says “You can relax now!”
We got 2 chalets that are inter-leading and they were absolutely wonderful - spacious, clean and bright with 5 star bathrooms and a view that you can stare at all day long.
TUESDAY: The boys were determined to go fishing, and were fired up by their trip to the farm to visit their cousins and the fishing outing with Richie (no fish were caught, by the way). I promised them we would go fishing first thing – straight after our morning walk. Today we took the route that I took with Dad and the boys yesterday, the one with long steep hills... I wasn’t going to do the walk as Stephanie would never have made it so I went for a quick run and then met the others as they were setting out on the walk. I collected Steph from them, Alex declared his heel was hurting (Severs disease again!) and as the rest of the party was setting off, Jeannette’s face was so despairing I asked her if she was sure she wanted to do the walk. The words were hardly out of my mouth before she agreed to stay behind with kids and I got to do the walk instead. I feel mega exercised today!
So it was nearly 9.30 when we went to hire rods and get permits from the shop. They had 2 rods but only one plastic worm-thingy, so the lady told us just to dig up worms and use them. Ha! Easier said than done! Dad spent quite some time digging with a kitchen implement only to find 3 tiny worms that were so thin that when we put the hook through them (yuck) they just broke in half. So, I took my trusty crochet scissors and cut the plastic worm-thingy in half and we were ready. There were two dams in which we could fish, but the first one was very weedy and we had not even a nibble. So we moved to dam number two.
This was far better – both because it was more pleasant for Dad and me to sit at while watching the boys and because they got lots of nibbles at their half-a-bait. There was great excitement when David actually managed to hook a fish and pulled it in, fighting and flipping all over the water. It was huge. Really huge. Open your hands. And again. Wider still. Almost there.... Sadly, the line broke and the fish swam away to safety. Alex also claimed to hook a fish but no-one saw it so that may just be one of those fishermen’s tales.
After lunch Stephanie had her first ever riding lesson and she has now declared that she is no longer going to be a famous ballerina, she is going to be a famous horse rider. Sorry Darrell! Alex also had a lesson and brushed up his very rusty skills – that boy knows no fear!
Then we all decided to find a fish supply shop to get some flies for the boys and while we were out and about to take in a bit of the Midland Meander. So we set off, in 2 cars, as far as Mooi River where we stopped to fill my tank and Dad’s car stopped for good. So we had to hunt down the relevant people to do the relevant stuff to the car (if you want more detail you will have to ask Dad) and all loaded into my car like a poor-white family with limbs sticking out of all corners of the car. Then we drove on, successfully locating the fly fishing shop. Sadly, it was closed but there was a sign on the door directing us to the candle dipping shop for assistance. We went on to the candle dipping shop only to find a note on its door saying it was closed but directing us to the fly-fishing shop for help! Luckily the lady in the cake shop told us of another fishing shop further down the road and we squeaked into it as they were about to cash up for the day. They were a bit mystified by our requirements especially since we weren’t sure what fish we were trying for or what types of rods we were using. But they were still extremely helpful and also extremely amused by our tales of the ‘assistance’ received at Midlands Saddle and Trout – apparently it is illegal to fish with live worms OR the type of worm they had given us! So, they sold us 10 little flies for the boys’ trip tomorrow and had a good chat as a couple of them had lived in the UAE previously, then we piled back into our poor-white vehicle and headed back home to much-deserved sherries in front of a roaring log fire....
FRIDAY: We left freezing cold Jo’burg to travel down to an equally freezing mountainous area called the Midlands – somewhere between the Highveld and the Coast of Natal.
Our trip down was not uneventful. We started off in convoy, my father driving their little car which was towing their trailer (it flaunts the shabby chic look. Actually, more shabby than chic). I was following behind in my car, maintaining a suitable following distance and using my indicators – thus showing that I’ve put my AD driving training behind me. We left the toll road as my folks are always keen to save the odd penny and headed down a dubious country road – only to have my father pull up at the side of the road – the car was not going well. We struggled to get it going and managed to limp to a nearby town called Villiers. It is called a town, but I’m not sure that it really qualifies for the label. There was a bottle store, a vet, 2 banks, a GROOT church, a little nursery school, and thankfully a couple of garages. At the garage they announced that the alternator (I think) was burnt out and Dad would need to get a new one – fortunately the auto electrician was around the corner, as is everything, and they could sort us out. So to kill time, we took a saunter from one of the town to the other and made a great discovery. There was a really gorgeous green VW Beetle for sale at the car dealers (half a dozen cars on display, clearly a thriving business). It is 1974, so nearly as old as I am and in really good condition at a really good price. We were SO tempted to buy it, but sadly before we could come to a decision, Dad’s car was ready and we as left the town the car had mysteriously disappeared from its parking place. We are still thinking about going back there and snapping up the bargain, if it hasn’t been hidden away from the Engelsmen!
We arrived safely in the Midlands at a little resort called Midlands Saddle and Trout with several sighs of relief. The first sign you see after you enter the main gates says “You can relax now!”
We got 2 chalets that are inter-leading and they were absolutely wonderful - spacious, clean and bright with 5 star bathrooms and a view that you can stare at all day long.
TUESDAY: The boys were determined to go fishing, and were fired up by their trip to the farm to visit their cousins and the fishing outing with Richie (no fish were caught, by the way). I promised them we would go fishing first thing – straight after our morning walk. Today we took the route that I took with Dad and the boys yesterday, the one with long steep hills... I wasn’t going to do the walk as Stephanie would never have made it so I went for a quick run and then met the others as they were setting out on the walk. I collected Steph from them, Alex declared his heel was hurting (Severs disease again!) and as the rest of the party was setting off, Jeannette’s face was so despairing I asked her if she was sure she wanted to do the walk. The words were hardly out of my mouth before she agreed to stay behind with kids and I got to do the walk instead. I feel mega exercised today!
So it was nearly 9.30 when we went to hire rods and get permits from the shop. They had 2 rods but only one plastic worm-thingy, so the lady told us just to dig up worms and use them. Ha! Easier said than done! Dad spent quite some time digging with a kitchen implement only to find 3 tiny worms that were so thin that when we put the hook through them (yuck) they just broke in half. So, I took my trusty crochet scissors and cut the plastic worm-thingy in half and we were ready. There were two dams in which we could fish, but the first one was very weedy and we had not even a nibble. So we moved to dam number two.
This was far better – both because it was more pleasant for Dad and me to sit at while watching the boys and because they got lots of nibbles at their half-a-bait. There was great excitement when David actually managed to hook a fish and pulled it in, fighting and flipping all over the water. It was huge. Really huge. Open your hands. And again. Wider still. Almost there.... Sadly, the line broke and the fish swam away to safety. Alex also claimed to hook a fish but no-one saw it so that may just be one of those fishermen’s tales.After lunch Stephanie had her first ever riding lesson and she has now declared that she is no longer going to be a famous ballerina, she is going to be a famous horse rider. Sorry Darrell! Alex also had a lesson and brushed up his very rusty skills – that boy knows no fear!
Then we all decided to find a fish supply shop to get some flies for the boys and while we were out and about to take in a bit of the Midland Meander. So we set off, in 2 cars, as far as Mooi River where we stopped to fill my tank and Dad’s car stopped for good. So we had to hunt down the relevant people to do the relevant stuff to the car (if you want more detail you will have to ask Dad) and all loaded into my car like a poor-white family with limbs sticking out of all corners of the car. Then we drove on, successfully locating the fly fishing shop. Sadly, it was closed but there was a sign on the door directing us to the candle dipping shop for assistance. We went on to the candle dipping shop only to find a note on its door saying it was closed but directing us to the fly-fishing shop for help! Luckily the lady in the cake shop told us of another fishing shop further down the road and we squeaked into it as they were about to cash up for the day. They were a bit mystified by our requirements especially since we weren’t sure what fish we were trying for or what types of rods we were using. But they were still extremely helpful and also extremely amused by our tales of the ‘assistance’ received at Midlands Saddle and Trout – apparently it is illegal to fish with live worms OR the type of worm they had given us! So, they sold us 10 little flies for the boys’ trip tomorrow and had a good chat as a couple of them had lived in the UAE previously, then we piled back into our poor-white vehicle and headed back home to much-deserved sherries in front of a roaring log fire....
WEDNESDAY: We headed off to the dam bright and early, full of optimism and fishing equipment. There was no breakfast beforehand due to a blip in housekeeping management, which can easily happen on holiday, so I took some fruit and biscuits and Mom sent sandwiches down as soon as the shops had opened for us to replenish supplies. I also took my book and Jeanette took her drawing pad and we passed a very peaceful 3 hours before success struck Alex. It happened so quickly and he didn’t even shout for help – I looked up from my book to where he was standing in front of me saying “Look Mom!” and 
dangling a trout from his rod. They went back to fishing with renewed vigour and shortly thereafter Alex had another trout to join the one swimming dejectedly in the cooler box. Sadly, David’s efforts were not crowned with success and eventually we had to pack up and go for lunch. We took the trout to the restaurant here where they cleaned and cooked them and Alex and Jeannette enjoyed them mightily for lunch. Alex was euphoric and received many congratulations from the staff and we were stopped several times during the afternoon to find out if we enjoyed the fish!
I’m afraid that Alex is now hooked on fishing – but I’ve warned him that there is no way I’m going to be cleaning and cooking fish for him – from now on, it’s catch-and-release!
dangling a trout from his rod. They went back to fishing with renewed vigour and shortly thereafter Alex had another trout to join the one swimming dejectedly in the cooler box. Sadly, David’s efforts were not crowned with success and eventually we had to pack up and go for lunch. We took the trout to the restaurant here where they cleaned and cooked them and Alex and Jeannette enjoyed them mightily for lunch. Alex was euphoric and received many congratulations from the staff and we were stopped several times during the afternoon to find out if we enjoyed the fish!I’m afraid that Alex is now hooked on fishing – but I’ve warned him that there is no way I’m going to be cleaning and cooking fish for him – from now on, it’s catch-and-release!
FRIDAY: And we packed up early to travel back to Jo'burg, only delayed slightly by a need to travel down to Mooi River to collect Jeannette's phone, which she had managed to leave behind during our travels and, by circuitous routes, was eventually awaiting us at the SupaQuick there. Safely back! And now to prepare for a trip to the Magaliesberg...
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