Monday 30 September 2013

Beach, bureaucracy, boats and a gaggle of geese

Today we are sweltering in the heat of a berg wind blowing out from the interior, and the sea is like a pond. I even had to water the pot plants again.

After Tai Chi, we went down to Fish Hoek beach, which was crowded with schoolchildren enjoying the last and best day of the school holidays. Some were even swimming, and twirly ice cream cones were the order of the day. It was good to get out of winter clothes for a change although I fear it won't last.

Next was a visit to the police station to arrange a police clearance certificate for a friend living in London who is applying to move to Australia. I thought the whole thing was going to be an insurmountable task, and was pleasantly surprised to find that everyone knew exactly what to do and it will be arranged by Wednesday. So things are still working despite what the media reports. The less we listen to bad news, the more likely we are to experience good things. It pays to expect a good result, it seems.

After that, it was a trip to visit a friend in Noordhoek who has a large flock of geese. Not for nothing are they considered the best watchdogs. The aggression of the ganders is quite something, and another friend wields a stick every time she goes there to ensure that she doesn't get pecked. They have been known to draw blood! I think they would make good eating, but I doubt whether that will ever happen as they have all got names and have formed little families, and of course the owners would no more kill a bird than I would. You just get these thoughts as you run through the muddy field pursued by angry ganders protecting their goslings!

There were no reports of sunken fishing boats over the weekend, so despite all the little vessels bobbing like corks on the mountainous seas, they appear to have been seaworthy and in the care of competent skippers. Let's hope they bring home some fish to make up for the uncomfortable ride. The rest of the fishing fleet set off this afternoon under ideal conditions, looking as though they were out on a pleasure cruise.

And so ends a perfect but busy day! Time to cook.

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