Mother's 84th birthday lunch

Today is Mother's 84th birthday. She has been out every day this week, at various activities, and decided she would like to spend the day quietly at home. So her three daughters made lunch and brought it over to Clovelly and we sat outside on the deck next to the fish pond as we normally do, in a straight stripe. This means we sit with our backs against the wall facing towards the mountain, as it is the only strip of shade in the whole garden!

From this vantage point, we look straight across the garden and up the mountain and have a clear view of every bird, butterfly, flying insect and even an Emirates flight which popped up suddenly. The photo shows the pond where the cobra comes to drink - it's home is just at the foot of the telephone pole in the middle of the picture - but it wouldn't come down with us all sitting nearby. Perhaps in the cool of evening.

We have been in residence here for 56 years now and the only thing that changes is the vegetation as trees and shrubs grow and die back and are replaced by new ones. The property reaches up to the skyline along the middle of the photo and is completely wild and uncultivated. We used to run up and down that bit of mountainside nearly every day as children, often coming across the odd puffadder or porcupine, but no harm ever befell us. Today the pathways through the bush are overgrown and the caution that comes with adulthood keeps us away from chance encounters with the wildlife. It will be a mammoth task to clear that lot, but one day it will be undertaken and the amazing rock formations and little caves that are now hidden from view will be accessible again to be enjoyed by anyone sitting in a straight stripe under the eaves of the house.

Here is the birthday girl with Father. They will have been married 62 years next week.

So there we sat - Mother, Father and three daughters - ranging in age from 85 to 57. The five of us who arrived there 56 years ago, alive and kicking still. How marvellous!