August 2022

I received an SMS from Natis Online informing me that my driving license card will expire at the end of August. The message also provided a link to the Natis website. There I made an online booking at the Road Traffic Management Centre’s (RTMC) Driving License Test Centre (DLTC), Waterfall Park for a date and time that suited me. The booking was immediately confirmed, with information on what to bring and what to expect.

On arrival there were parking attendants, the sign-in procedure was quick and efficient and the waiting time reasonable. The staff were friendly and efficient; the centre manager was visible and solving queries where required. The entire process was well managed and stress-free.

Compliments to the management and staff of RTMC DLTC Waterfall Park. I have my proof of payment so now let’s see how soon I receive my new card…

We needed to sign papers for the purchase of our second stand in Wakkerstroom so we decided to make a long weekend of it from the 5^th to the 9^th of August. It was a pretty low-key weekend after the hive of activity we experienced during the previous two visits but thoroughly enjoyable as always.

Roger’s birthday was on the 8^th, so we celebrated with lunch on the 7^th at our favourite restaurant, Thyme Out. After brunch on Monday morning, we left for Volksrust. There we first called on the attorney where we signed the papers and then on the architect to discuss the first draft of our development plans. It is so exciting to see some progress; I just wish it could be a bit faster…

Luvan, the new addition to the family was born on the 10^th of August. Alesia’s date was set for the 19^th but when she went for her 37-week check-up on the 10^th she was sent straight to hospital for observation; the baby had not grown since week 35! An emergency caesarean section was performed that same evening and Luvan made his appearance at 20:24, weighing 2,7 kg and measuring 52 cm. He was in NICU where it was touch-and-go for the night. Thankfully, he pulled through and was discharged after a week in hospital.

My August hike was the Wild Dog trail at De Wildt. It was very beautiful but also very challenging. The bring-and-braai afterwards was a lovely end to a good day’s hiking.

We did not take Ufudu back to Silver Creek after our Wakkerstroom trip. Instead, Roger arranged for the springs to be modified in an effort to soften the ride. The job was completed just in time to travel to Silver Creek on Friday the 19^th, ahead of the Groblersdal Speed Rally the next day. What a difference that extra leaf made to driving on the dirt road! We should have done it nine years ago…

Sean and Roger had started taking part in Speed Rallies earlier in the year. Sean flies and Roger navigates. They make a good team and have lots of fun.

“What is a Speed Rally?” You may ask. This according to the official website https://www.speedrally.co.za/how-does-it-work/ :

A speed rally is a high-speed navigation flying event. Up to 40 aircraft take off from a selected airfield and fly at full speed around a 140nm track with 10 – 12 waypoints, which can be tight turns or chicanes.

The awesome part about the speed rally is that is modelled on a hybrid between the presidents trophy air race and a precision navigation rally event. Enlisting the most appealing parts of each format into one hybrid competition. What makes the speed rally very interesting is that the slowest a/c take off first and the faster a/c take off last.

As you fly around the track, the faster a/c will catch up to the slower a/c. If everyone flies the track according to their handicap speed, all the aircraft will cross the finish line at the exact same time. Making for a very exciting photo finish!

We were up early and airborne out of Silver Creek by 6:30.

At the event Anthea and I were tasked with checking all the participants and their aircraft (yes, they also had to be frisked!) for ‘illegal’ items such as GPS, cell phone, smart watch or any other devices that would give them an unfair advantage. The items were collected, sealed in a bag, and returned to the aircraft.  The bags had to be opened by marshals after the race.

The day ended with an award ceremony, a braai, and a quiz. It was a long, hot, busy day and we were all very happy to get to our accommodation. The pre-arranged accommodation at Wild Wood was pleasant enough but really too far out of town to be practical for folk who flew in and needed transport to get there and back. Fortunately, the lodge manager took pity on us and made her Fortuner available to us. In my opinion the lodge was also too expensive for a place to sleep. One needed to spend time and enjoy all it has to offer.

Sean decided that we were too heavy to fly back as a foursome again, so Phil and Moira kindly agreed to have Roger fly back with them in their Cessna 210. We were back at Silver Creek around lunch time on Sunday. It was an interesting weekend.

On Saturday the 27^th I went for a Parkrun at Delta Park, my first since Covid started. I have to add very quickly that I don’t run, I walk. Anyway, it was good. Very close to the start of the event my hiking buddy Janet and I spotted each other so we walked together, chatting all the way.

That same evening, I went to Theatre in the Park also at Delta Park, with my friend Alessandra to have dinner and see an Amanda Strydom show. It was a fun evening and an excellent show; good for the soul…

We discovered a butchery in Linden, called Country Meat, a number of years ago that immediately became a favourite with us. Unfortunately, they had recently moved from Linden to Morningside; a lot further for us to travel. So, we decided to go shopping there late on Tuesday afternoon the 30^th. After shopping we were both hungry, so we went around to all the many restaurants in the centre, checking each one’s menu. We finally decided on the Hussar Grill. Unbeknown to us, Tuesdays are what they call ‘Date Night’. There is a special menu from which we could choose two items each complete with a bottle of their branded wine and after-dinner drink. All at a very reasonable price. Well, it was worth it; the food and the wine was excellent. We will be back…

And, as always: