Frankies Travels - RB day 5

It has been a quiet few days - but for the lack of blog posts - it has been an interwebs deprived few days.

On day 2 after sleeping for at least 12 hours we had a very slow day spent mostly in front of the TV. MrT's mum put together a smashing dinner of pork chops and wors for us - the guests.

On Monday morning we were woken up by the arrival of MrT's brother for a small wedding related family indaba (MrT's brother is getting married on Friday.. and on Saturday) This degenerated into a family indaba and I was left to first sit and listen to a lively not too friendly argument in Afrikaans and then, as each member stormed, out the room I was left with the African grey parrot to talk to.

Anyhow, we left shortly after that and drove to the Richards Bay harbour for some sight seeing and then towards Mtunzini - which is a tinny little village 50km southwards down the coast from Richards Bay - through the sugar fields..

We arrived before book in time for our B&B so we stopped off at The Fat Cat restaurant for pizza - mushroom, bacon and slices of chipolata - mmmmm good post-travelling food.

Our B&B was very very nice - not only chocolates and biscuits with the coffee tray but two cold beers and a bottle of wine in the fridge, ribbons on the towels and fancy soaps in the bathroom (which I scaled when we left hee hee hee). As well as a ridiculously friendly golden retriever to greet us at the door.

The day that we arrived in Mtunzini was not a very friendly weather day. So we pretty much chilled - read some beaded some and listened to the rain some. By the time we were peckish for some dinner it was close to 8pm and we ventured out to the four different restaurant locations only discover that (A) restaurants are usually closed on Mondays there and (B) the restaurants that were open, usually closed their kitchens at 8pm on a Monday. We stoped off finally at The Fat Cat again and the kind owner quickly whipped up some food for us (it helps tipping well the first time to get good service the second time)

On Tuesday we were given a splendid breakfast of fresh strawberries, coffee, bacon. eggs. sausage, tomato and garlic mushrooms. We then ventured down to the Mtunzini beach which was on the other side of a bird sanctuary and nature reserve.

We saw dassie, red duiker, zebra, kingfisher, weavers and robins. The beach was expansive and cold but we had some good exercise walking and playing in the waves. We also wandered up to the estuary but did not spy any hippo or crocodiles.

Again the weather turned inclement by afternoon and we made holiday-like for the remainder of the day.

This morning dawned sunny and warm but still windy. We decided to pop a further 100km down the coast to Ballito which is one of my favourite places on the KZN coast. (many happy family holiday memories there)

We shopped for some beach curios, walked the promenade, and then stopped off at the Spar for ice creams and juice. (Just like a Real Beach Holiday…)

We then turned towards (MrT’s) home and returned to Richards Bay.

We finished off the holiday vibe with slap chips on the beach and exploring the ‘burbs by sunset…. Which leads now finally to another bedtime well earned (well in fact MrT just remembered he needs to write a speech for Saturdays’s element of the wedding so he is stressing and typing a little like a fiend first)

What’s Afrikaans for a Grooms Best Man? A Strroijonker sounds a little… well.. uumm.. old school…

Frankie's Travels - RB day 2

We arrived in MrT's home town an hour later than scheduled because we had to wait for some road works ... In 11 different places!

Surprisingly Richards Bay was cold and cloudy and windy. (Everyone said it would be hot here)

I was introduced to MrT's mum then we freshened up then suited up for the Wedding.

We were ready a little early so we stopped off at McDonalds in our pretty wedding attire for a spot of lunch. Hey, who doesn't like being stared at?

Now before I talk about the wedding ceremony and reception, let's remember that I was the my own brothers wedding only 24 hours before.

The wedding ceremony was simple and short. As in less then 40 minutes in total short. (My brother's ceremony was easily over an hour long)

Then we drove up the road and round the corner to the Protea Hotel for the reception.

As we were guests and thus free of any responsibilities other than having a good time... We had plenty of liberty to stand around while photos were taken and gossip about the other guests. The skirts too short and the large persons and the funny hair colours.

The reception itself was remarkably similar to my brothers with the exception to all the speeches being in Afrikaans and the wedding specific traditions.

We left early for being exhausted and went on a drive around the city.

Nothing quite as thrilling as the night lights off an aluminium smelter and the smoke stacks of a chemical factory :)

Frankies Travels - Richards Bay

On a non-travelling note first....

I have had the most insane busy week.
1. I am at present travelling and thus will be on leave for a whole week so I was tying up loose ends at work. In addition the pace of some of the projects at work at the moment is between insane and I-Need-It-Yesterday-Already.

2. My brother got married yesterday.

3. I had a visitor from "The Motherland" at work. I recruited a chap from our UK office and he came to visit this week to decide if Jozi life would suit him. As I was the primary recruiter (And good chums) I was appointed as the head tour guide. (This should be a separate post of it's own)

4. Other normal week busy-ness stuff.

Anyhow it all adds up to a lotta tiredness and I really need this week off! I'm going the beach - Coolness!!

What added to this pot of crazy is that my brothers wedding ended around 11pm last night and MrT's best friend is kicking off at 3pm today in Richards Bay - A 7 hour drive away...

So we're on the road at 3:30am driving having a slightly insane road trip on 3 hours sleep. (Hmmmm seems to be a lot of 3's there)

Then we're spending a week chillaxing enjoying the beachness and then attending MrT's brothers wedding next weekend also in Richards Bay.

So Good Times ahead! Right after this long 7 hour zoom cross-country!

(meeting MrT's family for the first time too :/ Little nervous on that note.)

Frankie's Non-Travels - Playing the tour guide

So this weekend two members of the German contingent were my guests.

So after two days of hurried cleaning and tidying and sweeping and wiping and shoving stuff into cupboards I met the Germ's and the whole group including the other hosts and we went to SAB World of Beer.

I thought the tour was pretty interesting but perhaps a little hardcore on the educational side for a Saturday afternoon.

The two free drinks after was quite a nice touch. I sampled a Sarita - It was dry but I could drink it... (nya ha ha ha)

My two guests were tired so I took them out for italian pizza for dinner and then (Shock! Horror! Oh The Shame!) We were all asleep by 10pm!! ...on a Saturday night!

On Sunday, after much discussion, we drove out to The Cradle and to the Maropeng Centre. For future reference, go to Maropeng with a school group and go to Sterkfontein Caves as adults. I don't think we got our money's worth out of the boat ride and educational buttons and displays.

Then we drove a little south east from the far deep West and went to Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens for a picnic lunch. We happened to run into another group of the German contingent and their hosts.

So we lunched together :)

Then we all went for a walk to the waterfalls to see the black eagles who were absent from their nest. Then for a walk up the hillside next to the waterfall to the look out point which was a tad steep. Then we walked up to the top of the mountain which was agony for the unfit Me and it was ridiculously steep.

Once we had finally made our way back down the mountain (aided by sips of warmish water - yuck) we decided to make the most of the afternoon sunlight and drove back into town and up Northcliff Hill to inspect the view.

Sadly with all the dust in the air, the view was obscured somewhat by the haze. We sat on the top of the mountain and watched the swallows and robins and other Little Brown Flying Creatures zip around in the air.

We finally turned my little greenblue car towards my castle and my guests kindly cooked honey mustard chicken on pasta for me. (and washed dishes!!)

To finish off the evening we played bavarian card games with... Wait for it... Bavarian Cards! My guest found out the sad reality that I am a little bit of a card shark hee hee.

Overall a busy memorable weekend... But this morning I was the very definition of exhaustion... Kept shutting eyes in the morning meeting (awkward!)

Frankie's Travels - More waiting

(wrote this in the airport around 4pm yesterday but didn't post because interwebs access accross the border is crazy bad expensive...)

My meeting went pretty well I think. I managed to get a lot of the answers I was needing and they organised a tasty fine lunch for us.

There was a man in the meeting with the most beautiful long eyelashes... And big ol' manly hairy moustache... Tried not to stare too much.

Our italian contractor was also at the meeting place due to meet with the clienr after us. And he had his nice young italian surveyor guy with him. Mmmmmm... Tried not to stare too much.

Now we're back at the airport with 90 minutes to kill until boarding and unfortunately at this airport there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in the boarding lounge but chairs, a door in, a door out and a clock... Goona be one long ass 90 minutes :/

That's all... (Trying not to stare too much)

Frankie's Travels - Cross the Border

It's another red-eye morning. I am popping up to Botswana today. We got to slightly later flight out but I still landed up taking it upon myself to be up at the crack of dawn... So 2 and a bit hours before boarding time I am seated at the airport... Smelling the croissants and muffins and coffee. (Gonna wait for the line at the counter to ease and then Imma gonna hava soma java boys n girls :) )

I always get very very nervous driving to to airport. It usually is pretty dark at the times when I am in transit. I think It's the long-ish distance at speed with faster cars zipping past me and having to dodge trucks.

For serious I get shaking hands and break out in a cold sweat while driving that road. And It's always a huge relief when I finally turn onto the tiny stetch of highway that carries me through to the airport parking lots. Getting home is another story in itself...

So I am going on a business trip. Now in preparing yesterday, my laptop was giving me issues as well as asking me to change passwords and all and all and all... Anyway - I tried to check my mail this morning and I seem to be locked out!! So I got a few problems there. I just need to hope that I can still log onto my laptop or else Im gonna be in So Much trouble for not being able to take minutes of the meeting.

Now this meeting is gonna be kinda huge As in several parties all sitting down to discuss and hopefully agree. Double nervous on the premonition that Ill be the nominated Minute-taker!

For now I got my coffee and my freebie news paper and exactly 2 hours to go until take off.... So Imma gonna chillax for a while :)

Travelling

So I went to site yesterday. The great joy of getting to fly was overflowing in my cold head yesterday at the crack of dawn which was about the time I arrived at the airport. Let's break down the time line here since I am in fact Still in Gaborone (yeah yeah one day trip right? NOT)

4:00am alarm goes off
4:30am run out the front door (freakishly scared I have forgotten something - I did)
5:15am find parking at airport (trying hard to remember how to get back to my car)
5:20am booked in and told to be at the boarding gate on the OTHER SIDE of the airport in 5 minutes
5:30am at boarding gate - it is closed
6:20am liftoff! wheee
7:30am landing - I try to fake nonchalance by being asleep as we touchdown - I get a fright and leap in my seatbelted seat - not very blase Frank...
7:45am find a seat to wait to be collected from airport and try not draw attention to myself by cracking up while reading Pratchett.
10:00am Leave for site (we had to wait for someone else to arrive too)
12:45pm arrive on site for 13:00 meeting
12:59pm discover meeting postponed to 14:00 because people must lunch
13:00 - 14:00 phone people, be annoyed, get dust in eyes, get gently verbally abused by contractor
14:00 meeting commencement Yaay! Wait I am supposed to run the meeting?
15:00 realisation that meeting is not progressing as well as that to make our flight home, we must leave in 30 minutes.
15:30 decide to stay the night in Gaborone and wander about the dust bowl for another few hours
15:30 - 19:00 wander about dust bowl, avoid enormous trucks, furtively eat mini Cheddars (aka lunch) get ash on clothes, climb sand mountains, be laughed at in Italian, make a grasp at thorn bush, try and not swear while picking out thorns
20:30 arrival in Gaborone
20:45 get lost finding hotel
21:15 arrival at hotel
21:30 dinner (the meal following 6am aeroplane breakfast)
22:30 start typing minutes
00:33 CRASH zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Today
8:00 put on yesterdays clothes - feels icky
8:15 attempt to use hand cream as face cream - feeling 1% less icky
9:00 abusing free internet at hotel.


And so I am sitting in my room trying to avoid the pile of work waiting for me back at the office - Imma gonna have to go make other people as of tomorrow - but right now I think I should take it a teeny tiny bit easy before I go out and make the most of being in the same city as my client again... (seeing him later, we shall have words, hopefully good ones)

and that is the story of the one-day becoming two-day trip to site. (to quote someone, "No body ever died of a little dirt...")