Ahhhh! Just returned from an amaaaaazing vacation. Simon and I went to the Cape, for his parent's 40th wedding anniversary. It was splendid! Found ourselves in a lodge surrounded with hills of Fynbos and the ocean in the distance...and it was quiet, so quiet, except for the wind that blew so hard it sounded like ocean waves. In Pringles Bay. Hiked in magnificent Fynbos and drank in stunning views of the sea. Found amber-colored waterfalls with pristine pools and took a (frigid but wonderful) dip in the pools. Marvelous. Visited two of my favorite places in Cape Town - Cape Point and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Best of all, I got to know Simon's family a lot better, and I found that I really enjoy them. Such a cool, cool family. 3 new strings of acquantance I took away from the experience was discovering more about him in his childhood, the taste of Dutch food - yumm!- and Poker!!! They played poker until 3am...so much fun....

Now Im housesitting at the mansion again. Day after tomorrow Im heading to Marakele Game Reserve in the Waterberg with some friends for a New Years Eve party in the bush. Will post all about it soon...

Above Pics: Left - Hiking up to waterfalls in Harold Porter Botanical Garden, Right - Simon and I in Kirstenbosch with Table Mountain in background, Center - Cape Point

So I've been waiting 2 months for these pictures to be sent to me, and finally they have! A couple of weeks after arriving in SA I worked for a weekend at a Lion farm providing activities for 75 16-year old girls; an assignment that I admit made me more nervous than producing my first film. But it turned out well...had a lot of fun! Best of all, 10 minutes after arriving I was approached by lion cubs, one of which jumped on my back and swatted me and would have scratched my back with his baby claws had I not had a backpack on! It was all in play of course. The one Im holding here is 6 weeks old....

Update on Shelbie

Okay...she's fine. Vet says it was most likely a stick that went up into her paw...thats why I couldnt see a large cut; it was only a puncture. She has 3 stitches and is getting spoiled now more than before...phew!

Shelbie

Today's been terrible. I found out that Bloom didnt make Sundance, and stemming bitter dissapointment took Shelbie out for a run in the veldt behind Simon's house (same place where we took the picture of her). Threw the ball around, she chased a cat, and I laughed as I watched her run happy and free.....until she returned to me with a limp which I soon realized was a severly sliced paw. She must have stood on wire or glass that had been thrown into the field and was hidden by grass...I dont know. Blood was quickly covering everything. I walked her home as quickly as possible....she leaving bloody footprints behind. Getting home I rinsed it, packed it with sugar to stop the bleeding, and when it did so, inspected it. I couldnt see a cut, so I assumed it was not in need of stitches. Spoke to Nancy's sister, who's a vet, who told me what to do.
That evening, Shelbie stood up to eat her dinner and upon standing on the foot, started the bleeding again. This time it was unstopable. I called a friend to come get us and take us to the vet. And there she is...overnighting. I only hope that Shelbie wont pay the ultimate price of me not taking her to the vet immediately. It's 2am and I cant sleep for fear of losing one of my most precious friends.
The only good thing about all this is I really dont give a damn about not getting into Sundance now....

So its been raining like crazy here, but the other day the clouds broke towards evening which gave off the most beautiful golden light. Simon grabbed his camera, I grabbed Shelbie and we headed to the field behind his house to take advantage of the light. Heres a shot of Shelbie in action...

By the way...anyone in the market for a red mustang?

Birds, birds, birds!

So, after watching Simon stalk and "collect" bird sightings for over a year, and being bored out of my mind with his hobby, I have finally decided to try it out myself. And boy have I been hooked. I realize now that watching someone do birding is like watching someone collect coins...but when you start doing it yourself it becomes unbelievably addicting! I find myself running like a maniac for my binoculars every time I see a bird in a tree or in the yard, and have almost had a car accident more than once. In a little over two weeks I have seen and identified almost 60 birds! Two of the coolest birds I have come across: The African Hoopoe and the European Bee-Eater. See pics above!

Purple Faeries

Spring has arrived in Pretoria and flowers are blooming everywhere! The Jacaranda trees especially are amazing! Saturday morning bright and early, Shelbie and I rose and took a hike through Faerie Glen Reserve. It was beautiful and crisp...as the hint of the afternoon downpour was present from very early on. Shelbie and I climbed a peak; and at the top I let her off her leash to explore while I breathed the view below me all in. It was absolutely gorgeous!
Having Shelbie with me this time is wonderful, as she makes it possible to explore areas that, although probably safe, I would feel slightly uncomfortable about exploring alone. Thus, I am free to find these small bits of paradise....

It's Thunder time!

Darkness came over the land like a shadow, creating a mysterious excitement and energy on Friday afternoon around 5pm. As I was driving home I noticed bolts of lightning flashing across the sky as the first proper rains of the season materialized over the land. Within 20 minutes the heavens opened up and the rain and hail beat down in sheets. The hail stones where beating against my car as my imagination went into spasms of sliding around the street or some hail stone cracking my shield. Neither happened, thankfully, as I had the boys in the car with me.
Later that evening came the winds. Howling, whistling...it was primal and wonderful!
Storms in Africa are magnificent as they carry an excited charge that in all my travels I have yet to feel in any other place. Much like the sunsets, storms of Africa are smelled, tasted and felt before seen or heard. One picks up on the energy early, and when its the first real storm of the season beating down on scorched dry land, one can only be left with a sense of realization as to how small we all are in the scheme of things.

Circus Circus!

I love spur of the moment activities! Especially when they involve the Circus! Simon carved out a bit of time between safaris to come over and take me to the circus on Sunday. Circus started at 2pm, I knew we were going at noon. Love it!!And as we were getting ready I imagined the tigers and lions and ligers and elephants and I thought to myself: "theres no way I can go to the circus without the boys (Adele's boys)...just no way! So after calling their Dad quickly we ran over to get them. They got in the car and asked where they were going. I was like what? You dont know! Awesome! So we made it a surprise for them! And it was great. As we pulled into the parking area we passed two female African elephants just standing around. No cages, no chains, just a red and white tape around their area to keep the humans out. And they had a Liger cub! None of us had seen a Liger before!!! It was cream colored like a lion with faded tiger stripes. Cool! We had an awesome time...didnt take any pics though, so I've attached a picture of me and the boys at the zoo from earlier this year and the stretching elephant we saw there...

Iron ORE PLEEEEESE!!!

I havent written in over a week because I am simply to stressed out. It's been a roller coaster ride. One day we are told by the buyer that the guarantees are coming in and everythings hunky dory, only to find out that now the mine owner has grown impatient and wants to do business with someone else. It's a constant dance between seller and buyer. My savings are running low. I need this deal to settle once and for all!!! I think I may have an ulcer soon...

I've been applying for other jobs but the truth is that I want this one! I want it because it's exciting, because I have a great boss, because there is travel involved and the pay is right where I need it to be, and because, well, I really enjoy the stress I suppose!! But now something needs to happen!!!!

Writing my feature script has been slow so I've decided to involve myself in another film project to keep in tune with the film industry as well. I dont want to lose all the connections and things Ive learned from producing Bloom, simply because of writer's block. So I've decided to start reviewing screenplays and begin a new project. I was sent the first today...

Housesitting Heaven

So I'm sitting in the lap of luxury, sipping a latte and eating cookies. I'm housesitting with my best friend Nancy, (whose been my friend since we were 9 years old), at her brother's house. Her brother, Paul and his wife, Esme are some of the most wonderful people that I have ever met, and their home is a reflection of them. Being both high-level engineers, they have an immaculate yet very comfy home with three, "B&B" type guest bedrooms, and I am lazying around in bed in one of them! I call it the "violin room" as that seems to be the theme. Almost 10:30am on a Sunday morning...and I am still in bed!!! Awesome! As P&E said it was okay, (they also have two house dogs)I brought Shelbie with me, and she is curled up in a ball on the floor next to the bed...she also, looking as if she were in heaven. Yesterday when we arrived she trotted around the mansion (as I call it), wagging her tail and inspecting every room and looking at me as if to say:"yeah Mom, now this is what I call living!" We'll be vacationing--oops, I mean housesitting, for the whole week. Woo hoo!!!

The Job

Ok…so here’s the skinny on the job. I’m helping my good friend Nico get his commodities trading company up and running. We struck a 5-year deal selling iron ore from a mine in the Northern Cape and have a signed contract from the buyer; just waiting for the bank guarantees to reach us before I feel safe to say I have a job. Once they do, Im looking at a job that includes travel, a company car, great salary! Keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well!!!
Last week we visited the mine in the Northern Cape, which is an area on the outskirts of the Kalahari just south of Botswana. Imagine red dirt, and golden grass. The mine is located near this little town called Kuruman, which also boasts the largest natural spring in the Southern hemisphere called “The Eye of Kuruman”. Ok, in all honesty it was a bit of a joke. You couldn’t see a spring of any sort…just a huge pond full of fish. And you had to pay to get in. We had a good laugh at ourselves about it….
Met with Johan the mine manager and inspected the product, which was in essence piles of rocks stacked into mini-mountains. Titan bulldozers-ever know what its like to feel small? I felt like I was on the set of Transformers (God I wish!) Great product, great meeting, and Johan even expressed an interest in buying my Mustang! Apparently you have to bring them in through Namibia. Not my problem though, as I will probably just sell it to him and let him worry about all the import logistics as he’s done it a couple of times already. That is if I can bring myself to let it go….my Mustang and I have had so many adventures together. I can’t bear the thought of someone else behind the wheel…like a jealous lover!
By the way, anyone thinking of coming over in 2010 for the world cup?

Bokmakerie

A little over a month ago I woke to the sound of a bokmakerie singing outside my window and smiled lazily at the thought of being back in my beloved South Africa with my lab, Shelbie curled up at my feet in a ball of warmth. Its round two of trying to build my life in South Africa and so far its been much better than the last time. Not only do I have my favorite companion and bodyguard at my side, but I also have some of my most beloved friends helping me get my feet on the ground. Result: Got the place to live – check. Got the car – check. Got the internet connection – check. Got the job- well, just about. Almost there on that one….should know for sure in the next couple of days.
Have a couple of adventures to tell you about….