Thursday
Dear Elsie
Today was the day we left home really early and drove to Jeffrey’s Bay. We left super early – earlier than we have ever left home before – 4.18am to be exact. We arrived at Jeffrey’s Bay at 1.30pm after a really uneventful trip down the N2. Leaving that early meant we got to Paul Cluver Wine Estate (around Elgin) in 55 minutes – an all time record for us. We only passed about 2 dozen cars on Baden Powell Drive and were through Somerset West 40 minutes after leaving home. We stopped at Caledon for our coffee. It was still pitch black by the time we glided past Swellendam with my body veering left as we did so. It was very strange not stopping there. We drove onto Riversdale where not much was open. We got there a bit too early so stopped for a bathroom break at the garage, took a drive around the very unremarkable town centre and then pulled up outside Mugg & Bean in time for opening time.
A hearty breakfast followed. We touched sides with the family and then continued on our way. We stopped briefly in Sedgefield because a junk shop caught my eye. I found wooden letters inside and believe it or not, they had most of the letters in YOUR name Elsie! Today was the day I got these for you. This is how they originally looked.
A little bit of wood work and they will soon look like this…
One day when you read this, you’ll say ‘ I remember those!’ Now you know, they were purchased for R30 per letter from the little second hand shop in Sedgefield & arrived in time for your 5th birthday. 
Onwards we went with our next stop being at Storm’s River. We filled up with fuel, working out it cost us R700 to go from Cape Town to PE. We rested on a bench drinking coffee and a snack that was of great interest to the very tame starling population. Hungry eye.
This poor young one had a deformed claw. He must have broken it at some stage.
Less than an hour later we pulled up to our digs for the next two nights. It’s interesting to see how others do things. I have to meet guests at the bottom of the stairs on the road to help with luggage and show them where to go. I have yet to see our host & to be honest, I don’t think I will. She’s in the main house, but she had given clear instructions as to how to get in and here we are. Kitchen is well equipped.
The place is nicely furnished and very shabby chic
Bedroom is very comfortable.
No view though. No steps here. Ah, those steps are worth it.
We are 80km or so away from the church where Monica’s memorial service will be tomorrow so it will be easy to get there. As we drove we both agreed it is surreal to be going to her funeral when just days ago we were wishing her a Happy Mother’s Day and she was doing so much better than recent weeks. Life is so fragile.
Mike is having a nap now. When he wakes up we’ll go for a walk to the beach and then find a place for an early dinner. That will end by coming home by 6pm when loadshedding is due to start for 4 hours! We bought some solar lights with us and have books to read in case the internet doesn’t work.
I just got off the phone with David. I really want to find out how he is each day seeing at he’s now fully on his meds. He said he was still feeling slightly shaky but not too bad.
Psalm 104:33
I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
It’s not about now – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx 🙂