High above sea level (2,150m), winding alongside the mountain, as it steadily climbs from valley to peak, is a pass aptly named "Long Tom Pass", the resting place of a cannon nicknamed "Long Tom". Linking the two towns of Sabie (the place where the wild animals like to hang out) and Mashishing (the place where "Mampoer" can be found). This pass was to be our chosen adventure of the day, a swift climb to heady heights, a peek into the past and a rapid descent into the valley again where we could pat ourselves on the back for a "backyard tour" well done. The ascent was breathtaking as the valley receded below us. The day was warm, the sky blue and the pass like a bit of a horizontal roller coaster ride. The swift climb became a slow, twirling ascent as we realised, this vista is too be viewed at a leisurely pace to be truly appreciated. We opened our windows to drink in the fresh air, not realising the implications of 2,150m above sea level, it was cold...very, very cold. We looked around the interior of the car and realised no one had brought jerseys with them. Still, we had come this far, there was no turning back now.

The Trio...The Goodies...The "shop"


After marvelling at the cannon and all it's bits and pieces we noticed a trio of ladies nearby. Local crafters and entrepreneurs, they had their handmade curios on display, depicting all things cultural, and some not so cultural, but treasures each and every one. If you happen to come our way for a visit, I would urge you to stop and look, and preferably buy, a little piece of "Africa", so lovingly and artfully made. Being in "tourist" mode, I asked the ladies if they would pose for a photo, which they did, with much amusement, as I obviously don't sound foreign. Unfortunately, foresight not being my most predominant quality, I had not brought money along, so I could not indulge in buying everything my eyes told me I really, really "needed".

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The road running below our driveway is known as the Vergenoeg Road (The Far Enough Road) delightfully referred to once, on a delivery note, as The-Very-Far-Away-Enough-Road. In the field behind our house is a huge tree, which, in light of the name of the road, could well have been the inspiration for the adventures which took place in "The Magic Faraway Tree", now that would be something!

This road of ours begins with a 100 metres, or so, of tar and then becomes a corrugated nightmare of a sand road. The kind that can rattle your teeth loose and mildly concuss your brain. The sightings of all manner of creatures is a most welcome distraction from this involuntary shake up of all bits wobbly. Once more we were not disappointed...

Just a few hours before full moon, nature does it again. This mornings super-early excursion delivered a sighting of a Duiker (small southern african buck), only this time, we had not even reached the driveway. She was grazing peacefully on the side of the road. Not wanting to take these experiences for granted, pulling over and dimming the lights, we sat and marvelled at this cinema of nature. The little buck, backlit by the almost full moon, seemed so unconcerned with our prescence.

I was struck with the thought that miracles are truly these simple, little moments that I am being treated to on a daily basis. I realised, sitting there quietly watching her, that such a small occurence is indeed such a huge moment of nurture for my soul. As we drove slowly passed her I felt like I was returning home from a restful holiday.

I am humbled and grateful for this privelege of such incredible, yet simple moments.

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Just when I thought, my eyes had feasted on the most wonderous sights and nothing could top my moment of awe (my previous post) , nature proves me wrong.

In the wee hours of the morning I fetched my son from work. On our return trip, as we were driving up the driveway (where must moments of awe and delight seem to occur) my son mentioned the telephone cable was hanging low. Having highlighted this, we were both a little more aware of said cable of communication, we noticed movement a little further up the drive. And that's when we saw it.....

Running along the top of the telephone cable was a Nagapie (Bushbaby) navigating its way from one tree to another. Now, I don't know about you, but if that were me on the cable, I would be hanging below it clinging on for dear life reminding myself to keep placing one hand in front of the other. This beautiful little fellow, with his huge eyes and bushy tail, was running along the top using all four feet (which are shaped like a baby's hands) to feed the cable under him, while maintaining balance, with his tail held erect behind him. He barely gave us a passing glance, clearly he had things to do and places to go, as he made haste on his wildlife "skyway".

I may never venture far from home, with all these delights and sights packed into just 600m of sandy, dusty driveway.

My only regret is not having a camera or camcorder to record this amazing tightrope act!

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As the days grow shorter, and the nights longer, the animal sightings are dwindling. Dwindling, but not absent.

Just this evening the beautiful grysbok doe put in an appearance, on the other side of the driveway this time. What a magical moment to be so close to this beauty of the wild. I held my breathe, as though she would be spooked by the sound of my breathing, and sat in silent awe. The moon, almost full, shone on her like Mother Earth smiling with gentle love.

And that moment gets added to my long list of reasons, which make me eternally grateful for being part of this beautiful land, which I get to call home. This bountiful, part-wild, corner of the earth that merits a visit from you, me and anyone who needs a little bit of reconnection with self, soul and soil.

This moment, was for me a moment of Ubuntu (community and togetherness), with Mama Afrika. What a happy world we would have if the spirit of Ubuntu could present more often, in ways like this, for more people.

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I am doing research for a book I am writing. My character leaves her marriage. This got me thinking, what would be a "good" reason to leave? What would be bad enough for a person not to stay and try to work things out? Why do some people leave over something seemingly small, while others stay through unimaginable horrors?

These questions brought me to articles on a form of abuse known as "gaslighting", it is subtle, persistent and often excused. The common statement, of people in these types of abusive relationships to themselves, "It's not that bad, I don't fit the profile of a victim of abuse, maybe I am imagining things." The thing is a "Gaslighter" wants you to think you are imagining things, it is all about control, control of another human being. If they get a foot in the door by implying your imagination is defining your reality, they get to step in and "kindly" help you see reality, their version of it anyway. Now they have control, they tell you what is real and what is not. Funny thing is a "Gaslighter" has little or no self-control. Naturally, to the rest of society, the "Gaslighter" is charming and seems so loving. "That poor guy with the crazy wife." "That poor woman with the useless husband."

Anyway, back to the purpose of this blog. What would be that intolerable thing that would make YOU pack your bags and leave? I would appreciate your input. I am wanting to show the character as sane, with a "good" reason for leaving.

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This afternoon, as I was once again making my way down the driveway, I made a concerted effort to be aware. I made a conscious effort to greet Sir Percival and his concubines. As I was looking right, towards the pigs enclosure, something in the top right-hand corner of my windscreen caught my attention. I stopped the car and looked a little closer. Above our heads was a troop of Vervet monkeys flying from one tree to another. Each monkey was holding something in one hand while sailing across the driveway, like thieves stealing away in the night. It was clear they had raided something or somewhere and were now making a swift getaway. While I marvelled at there ingenuity, cunning and ability as master thieves, I found myself most grateful that it was not My house or garden that they had targeted. These furry balls of grey fur are notorious for raiding houses, with absolutely no fear of the furless primates inhabiting said houses. This was one of those moments when I should have had a camera nearby, but alas I lacked the forethought, as they say hindsight is always 20/20. To the poor victims of this daylight robbery....I sincerely empathise, to the remorseless thieves...thank-you for a sight for my eyes to feast on!

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The tortoise crossed over the driveway, and then back again......... a fellow backyard tourist?????

After making the momentous decision to become a tourist in my own backyard (obviously meaning my entire neck of the woods) a curious thing happened, life.

I had not meant, literally my own backyard, but that is exactly what happened.

I live on a farm, of sorts, so I have become accustomed to Sir Percival and his wives (blindly so), the pigs who live at the bottom of my driveway. I have been driving up and down this driveway for quite some time, giving a passing nod to Sir Percival and the cows who live next door.

One night while driving my son to work, we had just turned off the driveway onto the road and we were forced to slow down A LOT (not that we travel fast, it is a sand road after all), in the middle of the road was a beautiful owl about the size of a medium-sized dog. He sat defiantly, daring me to drive around him, which I attempted. The moment the car started moving forward he rose slowly, lazily into the air, as if to say "well, if I have to."

Since that night, I have suddenly noticed that my driveway is something of a wildlife highway. Every trip up and down the drive has become a treat, with new creatures to behold, almost every single time. There have been cats, mongoose, snakes, chameleon, squirrels, vervet monkeys, Nagapies (bushbaby's), many different varieties of birds, a tortoise, a few more owls and most recently a beautiful Grysbok (grey buck) who stood under trees on the side of the driveway and viewed me.

I am left wondering, if I had not made the decision to see things from a tourist point of view, would I have noticed all of these "locals" or would they have been delegated to the "blind" sight afforded Sir Percival???

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I have only just recently realised the value of exploring my surroundings without presumption, so I am fully committed to being a tourist in my own area. I live in a place referred to as the Cradle of Life. A small irony, because I have moved here from the Cradle of Humankind, and I find myself more than a little disappointed that I did not come to this realisation sooner. I find myself looking at the known landscape with fresh eyes and seeing it anew with wonder and awe. Just knowing that I stand on a piece of earth, that could be the origin of human life, leaves me feeling somewhat small.

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They say...(you know those unknown, but all knowing entities we all refer to when we want to add weight to a statement)...start blogging. Good advice for someone who was always talking the hind legs off a donkey, even though no-one was ever really listening. So I here I am, with so much to say that I am not really sure where to begin, or even what I really want to say. I am still doubtful that anyone is really listening...but then again, I am not saying much...this is after all a test run, my first ever blog. Like all things a little practice will hopefully culminate in a great improvement.
So if anyone does read this, my sincerest apologies, I will have more organized thoughts, words and ideas to share in time...For now, this is the first whisper...

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