Roughing it in the Berg

Well we've been out in the mountains 'roughing'it. My brother, his wife and the 3 kids spent the week in this tent, we only went up for 1 night to pick up K to bring him home for Christmas... I don't know how they did it!!! (My brother told me it was for the kids) We ended up spending the night sleeping in the car... TG for my 4x4! It rained the night we were there and it was freezing cold, I don't mind roughing it but I hate the cold!!!Especially when we had left Durban at 38c, I actually swam in the pool before we set off to the mountains.

Well K thoroughly enjoyed himself, there was so much for the kids to do on the camp site, and Penny my sister-in-law said she never saw any of them from 1 meal time to the next.

Paul of course had to 'be man with axe' chopping wood for the Braai (BBQ) "man have fire man will cook". We also took the kids up the mountain to go on a 'Zip Line' I even had a go, it was brilliant but I won't show you any photos as the bum really looks big in those harnesses!!! The boys also went 'Paint Ball' needless to say we are ALL sporting a few bruises, even the ones who didn't paint ball !!! The 'older boys' decided it would be fun to play 'Jackass'! But as you can see the mountains were magnificent at sunset. The area is called Dragons Peak and the front mountain gives a silhouette of a dragon (well so I'm told). It was beautiful.

We travelled back to Durban on the 23rd and got all the fresh food in for Christmas and a few last bits and pieces as we had visitors arriving for Christmas Eve Dinner, we tracked Santa on NORAD, which our friends had never seen before so it was better than watching the telly! Needless to say our friends had such a good time they stayed overnight, they don't have kids so they were interested to experience 'a traditional Christmas with kids (maybe never again!)

Of course Santa left a fair few parcels at our house and he even left his gloves behind, 'forgetful man', but he has called in since then to collect them as he needs them for next year (otherwise K wanted to keep them!!!June's hands would have been cold this winter). I don't think I can list the things he left behind cos I'd run out of space here but I have to say Janet must have been a very good girl this year cos she was very, very spoilt... Thank you to all of you who sent cards and gifts etc. with Paul, I will send you all private thanks too.

Some of you may have received your cards by now but some of you will now be getting New Year Cards instead, just ran out of time AGAIN...

Well we hope you all had as good a Christmas as we have and we still have another special day on Sunday when my brother and his family are joining us for another 'Christmas Day' with them, we are looking forward to that too...

The weather has'nt been too nice this week at all but we are used to colder Christmas' so we'll get over it. Paul is a bit upset as he has not been able to swim as much, he tells us every morning that the sun's going to get out and we all just agree with him, it's easier!

Your thought for today is brought to you by Aunty June who says "friends are the family you choose to have" and after the last couple of days with our friends around I think she may well be right. So a Very Merry Christmas to all my friends that I consider as part of my big family and hope you all have a great New Year too...