what a week of contrasts

Warm hellos and sad goodbyes
  I cannot remember so many family members and friends coming and going 

as they have over the last couple of weeks and months

A couple of lovely warm days last week to a really wild and wet
week this week
the Cape of Storms has lived up to its name

Who would have said this was 6 days ago
Saturday and lovely lunch at Steenberg 

 bright sunshine, perfectly chilled wine

and lots of laughs and even a sunburned nose and chest

 A first lunch since Kathy got back from America.

Followed by a wine tasting at Constantia Glen at the top of Constantia Nek.  

More glorious sunshine and the view of ice capped mountains in the distance 

You really don't need to travel far to enjoy the wine route

Sunday was cold and damp

A chilly walk in the forest had been planned

My mom and her sister tried to round up as many of their children 

and grandchildren 

and dogs 

for a get together

A lovely morning with cousins I do not see that often anymore,

a picnic on some logs

muddy dogs

and lots of laughs

and the bonus of a brother who had just arrived back in town 
after 2 months in the UK

a fun evening at his home on Sunday night

with fillet rolls

red wine

and funnels (therein lies another story)

Caroline got back on Tuesday after her travels in the USA 
full of excitement and with lots of stories to tell
(and still more to come)

Doesn't this picture remind you of this.

A quiet breakfast for two with Matthew before he left, 

a raucous dinner at home for twenty two on Tuesday night 

"Bubbledogs" were the order of the day

(basically hot dogs with chili con-carne and champagne)

and a lovely sushi lunch with all three boys (and Dalene and Lucie (who got back from the UK on Wednesday)) made this a very busy week.

Matthew and Kim left for Hong Kong last night

Kim for a month and Matt for about 8 months
(do goodbyes ever get easier?)

and my Mom and Rob leave for the northern lights and Europe this afternoon for six weeks
(another trip to the airport)

I also want to fly off somewhere

it does not even have to be too far away

but maybe it does because

I want to eat airline food and open the little packets

and watch the movies

and drink the drinks that come in little bottles

and walk up and down the aisles and watch people sleep

and pretend I am an air hostess

and flush the toilet and try and see the ground down below

I am such a child

Best I get back to reality
Anyone for wine?
(lunchtime at Barristers?)