Mar 21 2013

A windy day in Umhlanga


Last night I slept like the dead, and woke up to brilliant sunshine streaming through the curtains. I jumped out of bed to look out of the window, and was greeted by beautiful blue sky for a change. Fine weather really does lift the spirits, doesn’t it? Yesterday when we arrived home, there was so much to do, and not just the unpacking of our cases. There were piles of dead bodies on the tiles in the dining room! Well, they were very tiny dead bodies, but they needed vacuuming up before I could go to bed. I would not sleep well, knowing there were hundreds of dead ants on the floor downstairs. 🙂

Today has been really busy, with washing and shopping for food. Of course the cupboards and fridge were like ‘Old Mother Hubbard’s’……..absolutely bare. There was not a single skerrick of food to be found. Then there was the gym membership to sort out, and whilst we were there, we decided we may as well  have a good workout. I’ll probably ache all over tomorrow, but too bad, because we’re both going to ‘Cruel Neil’s’ shape class at 9 am. I remember his classes from a couple of years ago. He’s a hard taskmaster, and I could hardly walk down the stairs afterwards. It was nice to go to a gym with lots of young people, instead of the one at our club in Florida, where we’re about the youngest.  I’m sure some of the Florida gymmers are well into their eighties, but you have to admire their energy, even if they don’t display impressive muscle tone.

It was  really windy today, and these kite surfers were making the most of it.

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The beach is looking stunning, and we may have to go and sit on it tomorrow. It’s been a while.

70 comments on “A windy day in Umhlanga”

    • I know, you’re right, Cathy. Many of the people I follow don’t appear on my reader, which makes it difficult to visit their posts unless they comment on mine. I subscribed by e-mail to so many at one time, but couldn’t manage all that post every day. It was overwhelming.

  5. I love the thought of what “Cruel Neil’s’ shape class” would do for my body, but not what it would do to my body, so I’ve stuck to “Sweet Marsha’s” workout regime. As far as ants! Yuck. We had an old house with high cupboards where we kept our Christmas ornaments. Who cleans Christmas ornaments, right? Well the ants did. They ate the paint off the glass ornaments, and ate the box even. When I took the box down, it was literally buzzing with activity, and the contents were a pile of rather large, pulpy bunnies! Downright screamy sight!

    • Oh no!! Those ‘pulpy bunnies’ sound like something out of a horror movie. 😯 Ants and mosquitoes should never have been allowed in Noah’s Ark. 😀

  8. I’m sure you are happy to be back in your South African home. I hope your body adjusts to your new exercise routine soon. Have a lovely weekend with perhaps a little sand in your toes.

  13. The beach look svery relaxing and something I’ve been missing here in Florida. It seems the northerners decided we were way to happy with our warm temperatures so they sent so they sent us some of their cold temps. Very nice of them to share.
    I’m always amazed at how messy and untidy an empty house can get while you’re away. It’s like the dust bunnies have a party.
    Take the workout slow … remember, that in Florida all of the 80 year olds make you look like you’re speeding even though you’re not. hahaha
    Glad you’re happy to be home.
    Toodles,
    Izzy

  16. Must feel great to be back home, bare shelves and dead ants notwithstanding 🙂 Hadn’t heard of Skerrick either!

    • Yes it does, Madhu. The fridge is stocked now, so I feel much happier. I hope the ‘skerrick’ word comes back into use, now I’ve given it an airing. 😀

  25. Sounds like it’s so good to be home! You’ve earned a good lie-in! Not so sure about ‘Cruel Neil’s’ shape class… but it’s excellent you keep in shape. It’s how you manage to stay so young! Your secret is out now.

  26. I don’t think I could go to bed knowing their was ants…dead or alive! You are right about waking up to sunshine – it certainly lifts the spirtis. Enjoy the beach 🙂

  28. Welcome home! Well, Home #2, anyway.
    Just as well those were dead. I remember waking up in Malawi utterly covered in ants. Not a nice feeling.

  29. I love the sound of “Cruel Neil’s’ shape class” LOL 😀

    Best of luck with restocking the cupboards and getting rid of those ants 😉

    • Yes, this is the nickname I gave him, and it fits perfectly. 🙂 Luckily the ants are all dead and sucked up. I hate the things, and there are so many of them. Who knows where they come from, or where they go? A complete mystery. 😕

    • I’m surprised you don’t know this word, Gilly. I use it a lot. 🙂

      skerrick
      Pronunciation: /ˈskɛrɪk/

      Definition of skerrick
      noun
      [usually with negative] Australian/NZ informal

      the smallest bit:there’s not a skerrick of food in the house

      Origin:

      early 19th century: of unknown origin. The word is also recorded as an English slang term meaning ‘halfpenny’

  32. Beautiful! Kite surfing is something I would have loved to have a go at. There are a lot of kite surfers down here in Cornwall. Amazes me the heights they jump. Must be nice to be settling in to you South Africa routine. 🙂

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