After much deliberation, contemplation and master…ful thinking, I decided that it was the New Zealanders that were going to be honoured with the presence of Hoox. I know, they’re lucky aren’t they? It’s a damn long haul from Zeroville so they better appreciate it!
All considered, planned, booked and paid for. New Zealand… Here I come!
DESTINATION: 
My Chariots:
Oh why does the quality of a weekend party always have to be directly proportional to intensity of the hangover that ensues. Saturday was great, on the outside. Saturday night was not so great, on the inside. Sunday just became a dozy blur of rugby, food, incredible amounts of rehydrating liquids and sleep. Go the Bokke! ZZzzz
This is where most of the damage was done: Pointe Denis
Well if not, here is something to brag about. We currently have the best rugby team in the world. Ever. 2009 is the year of the South African rugby player!
Here is a great table showing all our current winnings. The best thing is, it’s only ever been done ONCE. By South African rugby! Go Bokke! Go Super Rugby!
We are now into the first week of August which is obviously still slap bang in the middle of the South African winter. And how we are suffering. Check out the week ahead’s forecast. Oh woe is us! It’s braai (bbq) and sunshine weekend all round!
Just a pity about Tuesday and Wednesday when it turns into a “miserable” partly cloudy and 21 Deg and 18 Deg respectively.
Or when in anywhere else for that matter, do as the locals do. I would have found it very difficult to explain to friends and family that I, as a big Sharks supporter, was in Durban and I did not attend the Sharks vs Hurricanes game when there were still tickets available. Of COURSE we had to go!
Did I mention the Sharks Flasher Girls? Hmmm!
KP unfortunately hasn’t had a lot of say in the making of rugby plans this entire trip but fortunately she is game for anything so naturally she said she would love to go to the match! She has also learned to enjoy the game and I think she can almost explain the offside rule! What a girl! Actually on second thoughts, I think her appreciation for the game lies mainly in the fact that she gets to watch her blonde lover-boy Francois Steyn running around in his tight little number 10 jersey. I told her I didn’t mind her continuing her affair as long as he keeps scoring. Points on the board I mean!
What better a way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Durban than at Kings Park (I will never call it anything else) in preparation for a magic game of ruggers. These Durban people know how to do it. Parking is a breeze close to the stadium. There is a festive live band playing at an outside pub where copious amounts of beer is served on tap in plastic cups and jugs. Oh and you are allowed to take beer into the stands unlike other shitty places. Newlands in Cape Town has a LOT to learn! Their atmosphere simply sux in comparison.
The game itself was great fun. Although sloppy rugby played by both teams it was still fabulous to be back in the stands in Durban watching my favourite team. Even better is when I can watch them kick some serious foreigner butt! What a win. What a game. What a night!
On the way out the was a major power failure knocking the entire stadium into complete darkness. That was not about to put a dampener on the party. Natalians know how to party. Lights or no lights!
The next few weeks are going to be killer! (That’s the good killer!) You know how much I love a good road trip. This time I get to see new parts of my home South Africa as well so that’s just awesome.
Rethom arrives tomorrow morning and I am picking her up from the airport. She will spend one day and one night in Port Elizabeth with me and then come Thursday morning we hit the road. Destination: Cape Town. We will be travelling down the Garden Route N2 at speed just to get to Cape Town quickly. The return trip will be slower and will include sight seeing. We will hang out in Cape Town together on Friday. The rest of the time Rethom will be doing her own thing visiting my brother in his place of work and I will be catching up with friends and doing my own thing.
KP (Klein Puccino) arrives on the weekend! Whhoooo Hooooo! It’s been so long and I am really looking forward to seeing her! I am truly excited and I have so much planned. Hoox the tour guide! This is going to be the world’s best holiday! Ever!
KP and I will be doing our own thing around Cape Town and surrounding areas for a few days. I am hoping to see places I have never seen before. Any kewl ideas all you kewl Cape Tonians? Maybe go and see Cape Point and Cape Aghulas. Some places on the west coast? Wicked! There will be fun and sun! So stoked! After the couple of days KP and I will drive back into Cape Town and pick Rethom up to head back to Port Elizabeth. This will be the sight seeing journey taking it slow up the Garden Route as I have always wanted to do. The route will not be exactly on the Garden Route but we will most likely rejoin around George / Mossel Bay area. So much to see, so little time.
The total trip back to Port Elizabeth should be a full 2 days and could become 3 if we are having too much fun along the way. Rethom will stay one more night before heading back to KwaZulu Natal, Durban. KP and I will spend a fair bit of time in and around Port Elizabeth before joining my folks up in Durban for a handful of days. You see! I told you it was going to be an awesome trip of note!
This is KP’s first trip on a plane! I am so excited for her. I just kinda wish I was able to be there in Johannesburg to meet her but I know she will be just fine! Just follow the signs! They half make sense! Roll on Saturday!
See you in domestic arrivals shpirtie! Bon Voyage! 8)
Highlights and lowlights. Incredible.
Everyone that I thought would come around, did come around. The day started at 6:30am as previously mentioned and went on until pretty near midnight last night. I think.
A crying shame about South Africa losing to Argentina in the IRB World Cup 7s. Damn shame! But the Sharks made a splendid effort beating the Blues by the exact 4 points that I predicted in SuperBru and also getting their required 4 tries for the bonus point. My points shot up again. I’m on a roll.
Breakfast was a feast fit for kings! Even if I do say so myself. The braai later turned into an epic fish saga with a bonfire that was far too hot to cook on until 5 or 6pm. No drama. Made for more drinking time. By the time we ate it was very late, we were all very drunk and I think we solved the same world’s problems 3 or 4 times over. I just don’t remember what the solutions were. Next time we should write the shit down. Once most people had left it was just LNELL and I left and we continued drinking ridiculous amounts of Spiced Gold rum. So good it was in fact that we braved ourselves up enough to bullet proof status and decided to test the strength of the electric fence around my house, with our bare hands. Not our wisest moments. Sweet Jesus! Hurts like a MoFo! No shit!
This morning it took me nearly 3 hours to clean the shit up. Fly and ant ridden fish bones and dried up sticky fish skin, guts and scales is not the best mess to have to clean up with a severe hangover and on the brink of puking. I found thorns in my feet and cuts on my hands. UDIs (Unidentified Drinking Injuries). Damn it was a good day! Thanks to everyone for making it such a great one!
I’m never drinking again.
I love Fridays. It means it’s Super 14 rugby time again and this is when we get to predict the game’s’ winners and by what points deficit. So far I am doing really well. I am currently sitting in #1 position with a good few points between me and #2. However, it’s only round 4 and there are many many rounds to go.
This morning started off with a nail biting finish. I was only 1 point out in the first game until seconds before the final whistle when the Chiefs came in and scored under the posts. Chiefs 31 – 13 Force. Rats. That unfortunately blew my points difference out of the water. The second game was also pretty much down to the wire and at the final whistle the points difference was 4 and I predicted 5 so I get big points for that game. Waratahs 15 – 11 Reds. That’s it for today though.
Tomorrow the 1st game Hurricanes vs Cheetahs is at 3:30am local and I can assure everyone I will be FAST asleep for that. My team, the Sharks, Blues vs Sharks, kick off at 6:30am and I can assure everyone I will be GLUED to the screen! COME ON SHARKS!!! I have friends coming around for breakfast, coffee, beer, lunch, rugby (in no particular order) the entire day. Tomorrow is also a big Rugby IRB 7’s day in Dubai with South Africa hoping to gram another World Cup trophy! Come on BOKKE!!
Tell me life isn’t great! Happy days!
This weekend past saw a great flying event known as the Poker Rally. Being Valentines Day I wanted to call it the “Poke Her Rally” but I didn’t get much support from the committee.
The Poker Rally is a general aviation flying event following loosely the general rules of the famous card game, Poker. Four away landings are planned and a card is issued to each participant (pilot or passenger). The 5th and final card is issued on the final landing back at base. Best hand wins.
It went off tremendously! A better turn out than expected based on the weather. Two planes never arrived for fear of rain. Admittedly, we had to make some quick changes and reroutes half way through in order to avoid the low cloud and rain. Still we managed and it was all together a very successful day with a good braai (BBQ) after the last plane was safely hangered. Many thanks to PP who helped me organise the entire shebang!
