Berrybush

December 11, early morning, packed over 100 litres Morwa sweet water, almost 150 litres petrol, and some other stuff; we are ready for take-off. As always it is very hard to leave our dogs, especially since they know what packing all that camping gear means, and they are brilliant at acting depressed. But we know Bashi will take very good care of them, so there we go.

Note to the Landrover on the picture: we just ordered 3 cars from our young neighbour Karabo, who is an expert at making these wire cars. They were meant to be a farewell present for our young friends Calum, Duncan and Cormac – lucky for us their leaving Botswana is postponed, so we can still see them racing around with their local cars.

First holiday goal: Jill & Berrybush, for three nights. Since Jill lives far and we hardly see each other live, there’s loads and loads to talk about. While having a smoke break in front of Jill’s sports shop in Tsabong, while cooking, while eating, while whatever.

Jill’s house at Berrybush next to the lodge & campsites near Tsabong. We were sleeping in one of the guest rooms, with our own bathroom - luxury! They had had good rains over there, so the southwestern Kalahari was amazingly green – beautiful!

Even though it was a cool day, only 36 degrees Celsius in the shade, sitting & chatting in the pool was a welcome afternoon activity. In between relaxing we even managed to start planning the Kalahari Kids Kit invertebrates & reptiles book.

One of Jill’s claims to fame is serving excellent dinners and breakfasts. Here she’s preparing rotis – a dish that she was taught by the Lebanese road workers.

Gourmet dinner in the Berrybush dining & living room.

Beware of the dogs! Maya & Timmy are very addicted to cuddles and general attention!

 

 The Tsabong police used to have camels for patrolling. Caleb, one of the camels they have no use for anymore, lives with Jill now. He’ll pop around in the afternoon to get his apple and a bucket of water.

Jill’s brother-in-law Dave & Timmy - yeah it’s hot, everyone needs to cool down.

Last evening, T-bone steaks for Dave & Bram, fresh from the luxurious outside kitchen. Tomorrow we’ll be camping at Jack’s Pan, and make do with being 100 % self-sufficient. If we manage to find Jack’s Pan – well, we’ll have to be self-sufficient wherever we land or strand.

More about Berrybush

Off to the R of SA again

Here’s why we prefer to live here instead of in Europe. The planning was to spend the weekend attacking the to-do lists at home. Reality was we went to Riekerts Dam (South Africa) for an impromptu weekend outing with friends. It’s just so easy to get packed for camping and take off, and everyone is so easy going about planning.

Freebies at the border: condoms, condoms, condoms. So our TT (terrible teenagers – who are in fact really nice and helpful) helped themselves to a sufficient amount to have some fun. Water bombs, drop one behind mommy’s car, make a nice spoor in front of the ladies bathroom…

Holliday? No, we worked really hard! Arend travelled with not only us, but also a sailing boat and a speedboat, while Moses brought the basics for building a boathouse. The poor guys barely had time to eat their tosti’s in between offloading, welding and digging.

No comment.

Tumi and Alex set out to test the makeshift repaired sailing boat. Knowledgeable sailors will notice the mast is now supported with a rope rather than the original steel cable, which had snapped during the trip to SA. Arend likes to test all his cars and trailers for super speed - he did not partake in the Kalahari Race many times for no reason.

Guess the crocs will eat all of you when they are hungry Bram, so why just protect your willy?

Since Greetje & Arend hadn’t been to their cabin at the dam in three years, there was some dust & cobwebs to clear away. Guess why Miena is famous for breaking her back due to balancing on wobbly chairs.

Myrthe, visiting from the Netherlands, fell head over heels in love with Miena.

Friday evening all of us were invited for a big braai at Colin & Maggie’s impressive house. Not that any of us knew them, but people in SA are really easy going about those things. We got all we wished for and more (choice of 4 desserts for instance).

 

Driving back took a bit longer then expected, because we had some breakdowns, but we managed to get to the border just before seven pm. Okay, we had to drive on despite a puncture, and change the tyre right in front of the border gate, but we managed. Thanks to the delays we saw this gorgeous sunset while driving to Ruretse and Tumi’s perfect pancakes.

Dineo’s Happy Day

Last week’s Big Social Event: Dineo’s 49th birthday; country & bluegrass, cake, booze – no better way to get into the mood for planning the Big Five.

While Zach & Maud proofread the Kalahari Kids Kit the others stick to the ancient saying that the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

After Maud reduced the country & bluegrass to Dolly Parton Only the party really went wild – even LJ put on his dancing shoes.

What’s up? We should dance also? Just wait, Louis is about to give Maud a lap dance.

Zach is officially an adult now; when the ladies get way too pissed and can’t stop dancing, he knows the only wise course of action is to be fast asleep. Just like Bram, who managed to discretely sneak into the bedroom quite early.

Up To Date

 

Finally this blog is back to being up-to-date. Last week Jill stayed with us for a couple of days. Next to having a lot of fun we started organizing the next stage for the Kalahari Kids Kit: finishing touches, marketing, selling, and future projects like the creepy crawlers book on the internet.

We can be quiet proud of our premises: Jill said next time she has to be in Gaborone she’ll use us as base camp again, instead of staying in the Big City as usual, because our rooisanddorpie is absolutely way more ‘normal’ and nice then Gabs.

 

Finishing touches: our neighbour teenager Karabo and Bram are making labels out of tin cans.

 

Looking quiet good for an inexpensive (already way over budget…) labelling solution!

 

Maduo’s first visit to our yard, together with her big brother Karabo. Maduo helped Bram establishing his claim to fame at Mochudi hospital. April 2009 he went there with Rachel, and after she gave birth to Anele he fetched mother and son. April 2010 he brought Mma go Moagi in to deliver Maduo, and picked them when they were discharged. Sure, another ‘neighbour’ who just needs a ride to the hospital haha.

 

We had our first decent rain, 34 mm! Immediately after this all the acacias turn green and start blossoming. According to Mma Binkie it will be the last decent rain for the time being. She only has to look at the sky to know, she is way better then any scientific weather forecast.

Contemplating the small disaster in the herb garden. The rain was welcome, but poured down so heavily that almost all the baby coriander, dill and lavas is smashed. On the upside the sage, parsley, thyme, lemon grass, oregano and lemon herb seems to do well. So what to with the empty spaces? And how to up the greening of the fence, and what to put in the new patch in front of the herb garden? Endless things to contemplate…

Wet moselesele blossom – close to the acacia family (Dichrostachys cinera).

 Dry moselesele - the Shona name ‘Mupangare’ means tassels for the chief’s hat. We still have to identify many other acacias and trees that spontaneously grow in our yard.

 

After finishing his first nest this little guy immediately started to build a second tree house, and then a third. Busy busy busy, cause while building he also has to attract chicks into the nests he already finished.

 

More amazing is that our resident weaverbird is so tame that Bram can approach him real close. ‘Weaponed’ only with his old camera and a mere 135 mm tele lens it’s possible to capture the huisvlijt vlechtwerk.

A man’s dream: his small houses right next to his house, very convenient. He managed to get the first nest occupied by a lekker bird already. There is a chick that shows serious interest in nest number two. House number three literally is a bit small, but still attracting attractive potential buitenvrouwen.

Pottering

 

Our neighbours Rachel & Melvin all set to go to church in their new Audi. They are the ideal neighbours; nice, cheerful, and always willing to help out. While Melvin spends most of his time at home working on cars (imagine our luck having a mechanic for a neighbour!), Bram potters in the yard with building materials.

 

Now what is this supposed to be? Being the principal building inspector, aussie Nadia is confronted with some heavy management tasks. Like The Pool phase 1 (the grey concrete basin) and phase 2 (the wooden decks) – very suspicious looking structures, should she ignore this or does it require her attention?

At least Bashi (left) is around a lot, that is reassuring, this whole thing might even have something to do with dog pellets.

 

Applying the marbelite finishing has to be done in the late afternoon because during the day it is way too hot for a quick drying product like this. Note the grey line – that’s where the kinky disco lights will be. Can’t wait to have sundowners while soaking in the hot tub & enjoying the view!

 

Finally the electrician Bathalefi can start his part of the job. First the pool pump Arend gave us has to be connected. And then there are the lights, the jets – amazing what a pool that will be heated by a donkey boiler requires when it comes to electricity.

 

Moira and Lisa (for short; it should be Tsarina Elisabeth Johanna Amalia Victoria Wilhelmina Petronella Katharina Maria de lIzegrim) inspect the sundowners area for those who don’t feel like loitering in the pool.

 

Lisa tries to figure how many 8 kg bags of dog pellets are needed to fill this giant bowl. Or will it be filled with pap or custard?

 

Our fierce watchdog Lionel uses the plateau of Bram’s Hollywood stairs to overlook the premises. Note the ear – nothing goes on unnoticed.

 

When Bram is out of bed first Louis jumps in to have a ‘so glad to see you after this endless night’ cuddle & sleep in.

 

And then there is coffee while the dogs digest their break-fast.

 

This one can grow huge, and is awfully prickly. Taking cuttings will for sure result in at least one damaged arm and hand.

 

Halfmens – a beautiful cactus-like tree that eventually will be a couple of meters high.

 

Maud’s succulent rose garden phase 1 – a desert rose.

 

If you are stranded in the bush without water, look for insects. Insects need water every day, and they can’t cover huge distances, so if you see them water must be nearby. This is one of the many types of wasps we have in our yard.

 

Just like last year ‘our’ weaver is weaving nests like there is no tomorrow. The poor guy never managed to attract a wife so far. If they are interested, they will inspect the nest. If it happens to be unsatisfactory, she’ll rip it apart, just to make clear he should start all over.

 

This last year’s cutting is already flowering.

 

Our lily from Miena’s garden.

Fabulous Aussie Moira, the fastest, the best jumper, the master thief as far as food is concerned, ready for action.