The Phoenix will Rise!

Written by Nina Ganci

Load Shedding.

The word or event that nobody wants to hear that has become part of our daily lives. Yes, we as South Africans have once again adapted and adjusted to what life has thrown at us. We are resilient and known to overcome all obstacles.

South Africa is a courageous country. South Africa is a strong nation. South Africa is a proud nation. South Africa is a nation that is capable of leading the world.

Powerful words! True words!

Which nation in history has risen from the ashes with smiles and laughter? Which nation in the world has come together and supported each other? Which nation on earth has found workable solutions?

South Africa answers it all!

Think about it? A man works for Eskom. The one that draws up the load shedding schedule. What does he tell his family and friends he does for a living? Would you want him as a friend or do you want to tell him how to do his job?

The most hated person ever in South Africa is the Switch Guy. Yes, the man who switches off and on the electricity. He alone has the courage and power to switch off large areas and leave them in the dark! This happens often when you are trying to cook supper. Wonder what his mother has to say?

Communities are uniting. Small businesses are mushrooming.
Support a small business, you are keeping money in your local economy. Your money gets spent and circulated right in the community you call home.

Your community values relationship and will often go above and beyond.

You do not build a business, you build people, and then people build the business; then the business builds the country.

South Africa is in a corner, and I have full trust and faith, that we will rise from these ashes to build a stronger, powerful country. No other community, no other country, no other nation have experienced what South Africans do.

“Failure is not to be feared. It is from failure that most growth comes.”
-Dee Hock

When South Africans have their backs in the corner, they come up with a plan, a good plan!

The phoenix will rise from the ashes!

Modern English vs Kings English

Written by Nina Ganci

Many many moons ago, when I went to school, we were taught Kings English. Be it spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.

Yes, we learnt to write in cursive with a fountain pen!

What we learnt came home with us and was practised everywhere. It was the norm.

The other day, someone wanted to see me, so I suggested meeting at noon. Well to my horror, this young lady said “Perfect, will see you at 4pm then”

What just happened?

Telephone manners were strong. Never phone before 8am or after 9pm unless it is an emergency. That was something we all understood and obeyed. Never questioned.

Do you have WhatsApp? Should this not also apply?

I belong to a few WhatsApp groups in the area, someone will try to sell an item at 2am!!!

What happened?

Let me not start with the spelling …………..

Am I just old fashion? Is this what being old means?

What happened to manners? What happened to respect?

Road Trip to Nieuvoudtville

Yellow Cattails

Written by Nina Ganci

Finally, I went on another trip. This time 3 hours or 300kms away. Nieuwoudtville to view the spring flowers.

I arrived on Saturday morning and left on Monday morning.

South Africa is filled with ‘dorpies’ (little towns), more of a collection of 10 houses, an NG Church (a must in all dorpies), and a few shops. These one-horse towns are all the same. The preverbal horse has either run away or been buried and forgotten many moons ago.

Nieuwoudtville falls in this category. I doubt the ‘horse’ even lived there!!

This ‘dorpie’ is a charming peaceful town, that started in the late 1800s. It is famous for its flowers in spring. Known as the capital of bulbs. People flock from far afield to view the enormous variety of flowers and blooms.

There is just one tarred road that runs through this dorpie; all other roads are gravel, with only 1 stop sign in the whole dorpie.

The original stone houses have been converted to one of the 2 restaurants or one of the 3 B&B found in town. There is a trading type shop (that is closed on weekends – so did not manage to explore) plus 1 local ‘café’ that sells basic foods – bread, milk etc. I found 2 campsites in town and sheep fields.

As to the petrol station – I have no words. Please note on the photo their trading hours. This I discovered on Sunday at 10am.

Once I got over the ‘shock’ of not being able to fill my car, I met the friendliest and most helpful people you will ever find.

The flowers in town were magnificent and well worth the trip. The 4 nature reserves were overflowing with so many varieties of flowers it was breathtaking indeed. With so many flowers scattered everywhere, one forgets you are in the Karoo (semi-desert). The landscape is forever changing. God sure spilt some seeds in Nieuwoudtville!

A wind sock blowing in the wind

The town is very whimsical; therefore many more things to explore and discover.

The one campsite in town is a must-see…… some photos below

Accommodation at Campsite

Driver still in Car

I was truly impressed by the ruins left by the first people who lived there and their drama-filled history.

Will I visit again? Oh yes! Cannot wait to see more flowers in May and again in September.

Zumba, Christmas in July

Written and photographed by Nina Ganci

As some of you have gathered by now, I love taking photos. Nothing too serious, just fun with the camera.

Nadia offering gifts

I was thrilled when Nadia from Richwood Zumba invited me to take photos of their event – Christmas in July.

As we live in South Africa, July is our winter month, so it makes sense to have a Christmas in July!

Everyone dressed up in pyjamas and nightwear and danced (Zumba) non-stop for 1.5 hours. I was just tired of watching them.

For these events, various Zumba studios get together in a hall to raise funds for charity.

Gordon’s Bay and Rooiels

Written by Nina Ganci

Gordon’s Bay – Heart of the Cape!
Gordon’s Bay is centrally located close to Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Hermanus. Heart of the Cape, all 40km!

This photo is taken from one of the many Whale Lookout Points overlooking Gordon’s Bay Harbour

Gordon’s Bay lies in False Bay on the Atlantic side of the Peninsula
False Bay has warmer water compared with Atlantic Beaches in Cape Town!
Sea temperature in summer often reaches 22 °C (72 °F) in False Bay due to the South Easter wind blowing the warm Agulhas into False Bay.

Overlooking False Bay

Standing at the same Whale View Point as yesterday’s photo, you see False Bay’s glory with Cape Point on the other side. (the blue mountain in the far distance)

Did not spot any whales on this trip, hopefully, when I go again soon they will frolic in the bay

I am inviting you to join me on my first road trip since lockdown

Rooiels
Rooiels (Afrikaans equivalent of red alder) is a settlement in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The name is often written as Rooi-Els, but the name of the township was registered as Rooiels (one word). It was declared a township in June 1948, on the eastern shore of False Bay. It was named after the farm and river by this name

The town roads are narrow, un-tarred and without street lights.

Area: Total 1.15 km2 (0.44 sq mi)

Population (2011)
• Total 125
• Density 110/km2 (280/sq mi)

The main reason I am giving you the info on size and population is: I have driven to this little dorpie (hamlet) a few times, and just never could find the beach. We went in again this time and the gravel road leading to the beach was a pool of water. We decided best not to navigate through this and returned. Out of the few roads in Rooiels we took a wrong turn and found this beach instead.

Epping Market

Written by Nina Ganci

Cape Town, colourful and beautiful. Nothing speaks volumes like the locals – the Cape Coloured. Their colourful language, culture and mannerisms, speak of the Cape.

Dad use to love going to Epping Market regularly. It is filled with fresh fruit and vegetables direct from the farms. From this point onwards they are sold to shops. Just outside the market, is a section where various vendors sell their products to smaller shops and the public.

Today, this section has been modernized and now sterile buildings are overflowing with colourful fruit and vegetables.

The trip is well worth a visit