2015 #5
Jack of All Trades
Cee’s Which way Photo Challenge
Have Giraffes, Will Travel
Snow!
I’m sure many of you are sick of the sight of it but I’ve not had many opportunities to see snow (to be precise, twice) so when it snowed on Boxing Day while I was visiting my family in the UK I was delighted. That the snowfall coincided with First Born’s first night in the UK – and his first ever experience of snow – made it all the more exciting.
As the first flakes fluttered down we all rushed outside, immediately built a snowman and then gathered as much snow as we could to throw puny snowballs at each other. Our laughter and screams of hilarity drew confused neighbours to their kitchen window and we laughed even more when we heard one of them comment “Oh, it’s OK. They’re foreign”.
It’s not much to look at, but it’s Ours!
Foreign antics
The following morning my Dad took us all for a long walk around Shire Hill. I love the crunchy noise the snow makes when you walk on it!
The snow had hardened by then but that didn’t make the views any less spectacular.
Looking down on Glossop from Shire Hill
More snow was flung around.
And again the neighbours came to have a look.
What’s with these foreigners flinging snow all over the place?
Half way up the hill we found this poignant memorial and we stood still for a moment, the only sounds coming from the wind whistling through the trees and the occasional plaintive bleat from the sheep.
Come and sit for a while, and remember me
We all felt a little sobered, so it was a great relief to the eyes to see a small splash of colour among the white to cheer us up. First Born’s reaction was delightful – “But that’s so English!”.
A Muddy Road
It’s been almost unbearably hot this last week. I think the rains have gone, so there’s no promise of relief until winter comes. Even that doesn’t mean much around here – winter is pretty hot too.
It’s been a relatively dry season this year but we’ve had a few spectacular storms which wreaked havoc on the farm roads, making access somewhat tricky at times.
I took this picture last winter, the quagmire caused by runoff water from the centre pivot. Imagine what a 60mm thunderstorm can do to this road!
2015 #8
(Not So) Wordless Wednesday: Which Way Namibia?
I meant to publish this post yesterday (Wordless Wednesday). However, after a series of thunderstorms our internet connection has been intermittent (as has our electricity supply!) so I didn’t manage to get away with being lazy and saying nothing about the photos.
These pictures continue with my Namibia theme and I thought them quite fitting for this week’s Which Way Photo Challenge.
2015 #6
Parcels With a Difference
Around here it is the norm for most stores to have a parcel counter outside the shop where you drop off any parcels or shopping bags you may be carrying before you enter to do your shopping. You are given a ticket for your goods and when you have finished your business inside you produce your ticket and get your bags back.
I wasn’t sure if this shopper was dropping off or collecting her chicken.
2015 #5
No Through Road
2014 #24
To Market to Market, to Sell Some Fat Pigs (and a Goat)
Many of my photos are taken ‘on the run’, through the front windscreen of the car, and Piet has become accustomed to my cries of “Oooh! Slow down! I need to get a picture of that!”
Yesterday driving into town I noticed this bus ahead of us.
Luckily a few kilometers ahead there is a security check for vehicles entering the Mosi-oa-Tunya National park, so I could get a couple of clearer shots and establish exactly what it was on top of that bus.
To market to market, to sell some fat pigs (And a goat. And some chickens)
Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge – Going Fishing?
“Worms for Sale” strategically placed along the main road between Harare and Kariba
I think these were particularly large worms – perhaps the size of a puffadder?
Cee’s Which Way Challenge: 2014 #10
The Mulobezi Express winds its way between Livingstone and Mulobezi – a logging village in the middle of nowhere – and bisects the farm, almost down the middle. We have to cross it many times a day to get to the top fields.
The Mulobezi Express Line
Derailments are a regular occurrence and often it is out of action for weeks. When this happens the passengers all rally together and using logs as levers and a lot of elbow grease and sweat, somehow manage to lift the train back on its tracks.
When it is in operation we hear it come rattling past twice a week, its wheels screaming in protest – sometimes very late at night – loaded to capacity with people, livestock and goods if it is heading towards Mulobezi, and logs for its return journey. It sounds as if it is heading directly towards the house, which is very unnerving and the dogs always go barking crazy, tearing up and down the fence shouting insults.
Maintenance is a very loose term in this part of the world but from time to time a crew of men are sent along the line to check for problems and, if they can, to fix them. They are always a cheerful bunch and we can often hear their laughter and singing echoing through the trees as they make their way deeper into the forest (the dogs don’t like this either!).
The Maintenance Crew
Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge
I'll Give You a Letter For That 