GOOD MORNING OR IS THAT GOOD NIGHT

Well you probably all think I skipped yesterdays adventures but in fact we spent a great time in Pretoria yesterday and when we got home some friends pitched up and stayed for supper and a few drinks and so on and so on. Well it is now 4h30 in the morning and I am busy writing this while the rest of the world sleeps. I actually love this time in the day as it is peaceful and quiet. Which is probably just as well as I think there was too much wine last night and the bottles just never seemed to empty and you can't leave it there or it goes of. OK lets get down to the real interest you have and I have to say madam is sleeping it off this morning I think.

With the high altitude we live at you can understand that lack of oxygen causes a bit of wine to go straight to the head. I remember being quite dizzy when we first moved here and that was

When wine was a stranger to me.

Yesterday we had such a great time in Pretoria which is the capital of South Africa. There are two Parliaments in South Africa Pretoria and Cape Town. Our politicians don't like bad weather and Cape Town is not nice in winter as it rains a lot and is very stormy.

At least that used to be the case not sure if they do it anymore but we will at least keep thinking that. The office of the President is based in Pretoria probably just as well to be a long way from parliament. Thabo is not dumb no matter what you may think. Anyway we digress.

We visited the union buildings which are a Herbert Baker creation and you can find out about the place at Wikepedia. Well here is Dottie standing down in the gardens in front of these quite magnificent buildings.

Actually she thought they were stunning and so impressive. She actually told me she is amazed at how civilised we are down here. With no naked warriors running around etc. Maybe she is a bit disappointed in us. Well of course we had to go and see the beautiful fountains we have also in Pretoria and these quite literally took her breath away.

All that nakedness is not good for a girl

Of course whilst we were driving the 50kms to Pretoria we had to listen to that great song 'Marching To Pretoria' and just so you don't miss out I have included two links to youtube which demonstrate this miraculous piece of music. Sung Version and here is the childhood version Taps


We also visited Paul Kruger's house who was a very big man indeed. Dottie nearly fainted when she saw his slippers they are size 14 or something colossal like that. He died in Switzerland but his remains are in the cemetery in Pretoria in Church Street. He was known as Oom Paul (Oom is what Afrikaans children call their grandfather or an elderly person) He was definitely quite a man


Pretoria has so much to see and do and is one of my favourite cities and I think Dottie was very impressed by it. We need to visit Johannesburg also with its many beautiful sites and features. Can you imagine a city which sprang to life in a very few years?





We left Pretoria after seeing so many great things that we could still be writing this in a week and popped into Irene on the way home where we visited Smuts House - the home of Jan Smuts. Dottie could not believe how small and unmansion like it was (is there such a word I ask?) Can you believe the Queen visited and stayed there?



Dottie just had to buy this postcard to take home with her.

There is a fabulous craft and farmers market in the grounds every second week and Dottie was sad that she did not get to see this. I think we could do to visit it and buy some good stout shoes as she is walking her feet of just now and I think may be getting shorter with so much wear and tear.

Well as I say we went back home and had drinks and supper and laughed and talked forever. Dottie was definitely the bell of the ball or girl of the moment or whatever.

Watch this space for more exciting tails from the bottom of the earth. Today I am on a business trip so DD is taking Dottie to the local Mall for a bit of shopping and coffee and the like. I am sure there will be Cinnamon buns in there somewhere and maybe a bit of wors and pap would go down well. After all when in Africa do as the Africans do.

hugs from all of us exhausted people. Oh and from Dottie too!!!!!!!!!!!!