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....