29 October 2013

A Cederberg Lad - and lassie

Last weekend we went to Riversong to collect the fridge for repairs. Are we nearly there? I am getting bored.
We stopped to buy some wine at Breede Kloof and have a comfort stop - and came across these rather silent sheep ...
 Heloooo.
 Some Land Rover bother on Michell's Pass, but the Alf sorted it out smartly.
Arriving at our little cottage in the Cederberg. Yay. Tortoises! Must investigate.
 Off we go! Beware tortoises! Here I come. Tails up.
 Cat's Nails - a weird parasitic plant - a species of Hyobanche.
 And BINGO - some tortoises.
 The Pest was quite excited too - so maybe one day he will grow into a proper Scottie and be my friend but for now he is still a silly whipper snapper who annoys me and cramps my style.
Strolling home with the Alf. I think this is one of my favourtie places in all the world.
A sticky little Moraea inconspicua.
Some quiet reflection on the verandah. (Actually keeping a look out for tortoise and lizard activity!) The Pest is sometimes ok, but I miss Dougal and his mad rodent hunting ...
even though the Pest is taking up where poor old Dougal left off so suddenly and shockingly for all of us.
What was that that dive-bombed me?
A Needled-nosed Tabinid Fly! Hovering just above the Pest and out of reach.
Time for supper.
The next morning - Sunday - we set out again down the road and on some exciting tortoise-filled new paths that have been made for us.
 Across the old fields to the pool - where the Pest fell in and had to be rescued. He didn't seem too bothered,
in fact he was as bouncy as ever.
 We then went to visit Jack (and his humans) only to discover that he has been banished to the West Coast as some Riversong owners found him annoying. We were very sad as we were rather fond of him. But Buddy was still there shouting things at us from the front, and the CATS were there too - taking no nonsense from anyone ...
A purple-tinged Grey-leaf Sugarbush (Protea laurifolia)
and some rocket daisies - Ursinia sericea the Food Lady thinks.
We walked all the way to the Tadpole Pools
passing lots of flowers, like this pretty Sundew (Drosera),
and lots of goggas too like this monkey beetle in a Gousblom (Arctotis acaulis) flower.
There was lots of water everywhere, and the Tadpole Pools were so full that there weren't any good wading-in places for us.
The River Heath (Erica caffra var. caffra) flowering profusely on the edge of the Tadpole Pools,
 and more tortoises!
 A hairy snary beetle in a Chinkerinchee (Ornithogalum).
The puddly road home.
An ant in a Paranomus flower.
Then home to our cottage, tails still up ...
for some more fun and games in the rocks chasing Bloukop Agamas.
Back to my post.
while the Pest hunted ants. Ho hum. Little things amuse little minds I suppose.
Using me as a car pillow. Not for long though. Bloody cheek.
 Home in time for a braai and a sip of our human brother's fancy champagne to say congratulations to him and Kerryn for finding such nice jobs in Cape Town and Paarl, and to Simon for landing a job teaching English in South Korea next year. (Simon just checking the soccer.)

2 comments:

  1. I bet the pest will eventually grow into a great play mate... Once he's over the puppy stage.

    You have to admit... He is a LITTLE cute...

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  2. I must remember to read this blog more often - laughed so much! Love the videos. The pest is clear having so much fun. Coco how much you have to bear! And please tell your human mother that her photography skills are pretty up there!

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