Oh I do love to be beside the seaside.

Hi again everyone. As I am somewhat technically challenged; something to do with my being blonde maybe, hubby kindly got the Monday seaside pics out of my iPhone, and here they are:

It was the most perfect day, and as we started out, the beach looked hardly populated at all. Just a few sunbathers, spread out at intervals.

In this photo you can just make out people paddling around in the rock pools.

So many little children playing in the sand, their fathers trying hard to look as though they were also enjoying making sand castles,

whilst the mothers, with their faces covered against the sun, pretended to be asleep, hoping to be left in peace. I know, ‘cos I’ve done it myself.

As we got closer to the bathing area, where the lifeguards are on duty, we could see that many people had decided to turn out for some fun in the sun.

 

A veritable rash of red umbrellas, which I’ve never seen here before. They were obviously being hired out for the day and what a great idea. One could so easily get sunburned, as it was really warm and the sun was right overhead. Even so, we did see quite a few ‘lobsters’, who had obviously tried to get in a whole week’s sun tanning in only a couple of days, which never works. They looked to be in for a serious case of peeling skin over the next week or so.

Quite a new innovation, is this “luxury mobile spa” tent, in which one is, for a sizeable fee,

 

 

invited to lie in full view of the passersby, whilst being pummelled by a somewhat hefty-looking masseuse. I must say that the idea would never appeal to me, but people do very strange things whilst in holiday mode.  Can anyone tell me why this would be called ‘luxury’, as it’s just an open-sided tent with a few towels and a couple of camp beds?

Well, I went to see the eye guy again yesterday and he’s going to do my right eye next Tuesday. He said the surface of my eyes is looking very good, and he was able to do all the necessary measurements. He gave me permission to wear my contacts for a couple of hours a day if I need to, so at least I can play the piano this weekend. I feel quite relieved that the decision has been made, and the end is in sight. (Pun intended)

Have a great day, everyone. Chat again soon

 

 

Weekend beachcombing, and piano playing.

Saturday was so beautiful, sunny and with hardly a breath of wind, so we set off quite early for another walk along the beach front. So many people were out there already. There were the joggers, the dog walkers, and a couple of fathers with babies in strollers, obviously having been sent out to give their wives a bit of peace, and maybe a bit longer in bed. There were young children, excitedly skipping along ahead of their parents, so impatient to get onto the sand. Quite a few elderly folk slowly ambled along, and I saw one couple sitting gazing out to sea, holding hands in companionable silence; the husband was in a wheelchair, and his wife must have pushed him quite some way from the car park. It made me so grateful for my health and strength. I suppose one never knows what the future holds though, as we go into old age.

The surfers were having a great time, and the waves were perfect. here you can see one in particular, really riding that wave, and in the left of the pic, is a boat from the Sharks Board checking the nets.

 

 

Along the promenade, there are so many vendors, selling anything from ice-cream to basketry and bead-work, but most of the wares these days, seem to be made in China. Here are three ‘mobile shops’ on the beach.

 

 

These guys wander up and down all day, trying to sell their wares. The man sweeping the steps was on his phone, and ended up sweeping the sand off the steps using only one hand, whilst he did the cell phone dance.

This young couple had set up the fishing rod on the rocks, and were relaxing whilst waiting for their supper to bite.

 

 

 

Filling plastic bottles with sea water, is something many families do when on holiday down here. They take it back home for their domestic worker, as it’s supposed to be very therapeutic.

 

 

African Sangomas (Witch doctors), believe that it has medicinal properties, and one can often see buses and taxis on the return trip to Johannesburg, with huge plastic containers of sea water secured to the roof. I would be very wary of drinking the stuff, knowing what children and maybe some adults do whilst paddling in the water.

We walked all the way to end of the promenade and found a bench to sit on for a while, just admiring the view and watching the bathers. Then it was the long trek back home, which is just beyond the lone tree you can see in this pic.

 

 

Today, I played the piano at our local Mall, and it was great to sit there for a couple of hours, entertaining the passers-by. I saw a few friends who stopped for a chat and then there were the parents with small children who wanted to know if I teach piano. One sweet little boy proudly told me that he can play “Ode to Joy”, but when I moved over to give him a place on the piano stool, he changed his mind and said that he’d rather listen to me play.

I read in the news that Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, is in a coma after contracting pneumonia. He’s been battling liver cancer for years, and is the last surviving of the three brothers. I used to love their music, and my favourite song was “How deep is your love,” so I played it this morning on the piano and said a prayer that he will recover, although I believe that he is not expected to live much longer. So sad for his family.

Well tomorrow I have to see the eye specialist, as my vision is deteriorating somewhat, and I may have to have a cataract operation. I’m rather squeamish about anyone messing with my eyes, but I suppose what will be, will be. Hope you’re having a great day. Chat again soon.