Lu-Gerda's Travels

One year ago, we lost two important members of our family. …one lost we expected…the other came so suddenly that it shocked us.  And we are still struggling to find our feet and trying to learn how to live without him. On 19 May 2016 my grandmother, Ouma Trudie, passed away. One year ago on 27 May 2016 we lost my uncle, Oom Botha. Oom Botha was my mothers’ youngest brother.  He grew up on the family farm “Groenfontein” in the Eastern Cape.  From a young age he was interested in farming and took over the family farm.  He was very successful with his farming but it took hard work. My Uncle was married and he had three children. Growing up we saw Oom Botha and his family regularly.  We visited the farm at least once a  year.  I have so many memories from this time: ·          Swimming in the cement dam and later the pool ·          Riding horses while sitting...

One year ago, we lost two important members of our family. …one lost we expected…the other came so suddenly that it shocked us.  And we are still struggling to find our feet and trying to learn how to live without them. One year ago on 19 May 2016 we lost my grandmother, Ouma Trudie. My grandmother was born on 6 October 1923.  She lived with her parents, brother and sister in Calitzdorp .  From the stories she told us it seemed she had a great childhood.  She went to study for a gym teacher and once again she had great stories. Unfortunately I never wrote them down and now I cannot remember the details.  She got married to my grandfather and they lived in Summerset East  and later moved to the family farm “Groenfontein ” .  Soon they had a son but at about 18 months old he passed away.  They then had three more children… my mother and her two brothers.  In October 1979 her husband, my grandfather, passed away. 1. ...

Autumn is here.  In the early morning and late evenings the air is cool. The sun is lazy to get started in the morning and goes to bed earlier.  With swim weather gone for a while it is nice to look back at some photos of a day in the sun at the Hartenbos Water Park. We went to visit the park early one Saturday morning in January after the rush of the summer holiday was over.    After paying the entrance fee (I think it was R20 per adult and my 2-year old son could enter for free) we walk to the pool.    The park was still empty as we passed the miniature golf and stopped at the huge jungle gym.   After climbing for a while we walked to the swimming pool. The water was smooth, clean and clear and inviting us for a swim.    We quickly went so change in the restrooms.    (I was not impressed with the restrooms.    There was lots of space to change but no privacy.    No doors or curtains and even the s...