Quite a lot going on around us but we were mostly quiet.
Pieter and Tilly arrived on Monday loaded with ‘stuff’. When they got here they
were dismayed to discover that we had no barbecue. Especially Pieter. So next
day while they were shopping for all sorts of things, they included a barbecue
and arrived home again with a super-dooper, shiny new gas ‘braai’. It, of
course, had to be properly welcomed into the family so there was a period of
intense concentration while it was unpacked from its box and assembled. Goodness
me!! Barbecues have come a long way since we last used one. No more wood or
charcoal to make messy ashes or blow smoke into everyone’s faces. No more
lighting the fire ages before starting to cook. With this modern marvel you
switch on about ten minutes before hand, close the lid and ten minutes later,
cooking can begin. The purists will say that the smoky flavour is what makes a
good barbecue, but I can’t agree. Our meat was perfectly cooked, juicy and
tender and tasted delicious. Since then, I have been let off cooking as Pieter LOVES
to braai.
Also on Tuesday, our English neighbours arrived for their
annual holiday, with their twin daughters. The weather has been kind to them
and they been out and about quite a lot. As gar as we were concerned though, a
few of the days were too hot for words and we didn’t want to go anywhere if we
didn’t have to. When making the bed the other day, I glanced at our duvet lying
neatly folded on top of the kist, and idly thought about the nights when we had
had not only the duvet on the bed but and electric blanket switched on and two
more on top of the duvet, and could hardly believe it. At the moment we are sleeping
under a sheet with a fan blowing into the room all night. And in a few months
we will be back to the duvet scenario.
This weekend there was yet another wedding held here in Ols,
with the Mayor officiating as usual. At this rate they will have to reopen the
church and hold the services in there instead of in Mayor’s Office. We have had
three weddings in Ols in the last two weeks and even if the church is no scenic
wonder inside, with some flowers to brighten it up it would have more atmosphere
than a dusty old office. This particular wedding was little different in that
it was all held outside. The guests brought the chairs out of the office and
arranged them in the village square, and put them away afterwards. There was
lots of laughter and chatter and general jollity; a few minutes of silence while
the Mayor spoke and then much sounding of air horns and car hooters as they all
made their way off to the reception.
We have been picking tomatoes fairly regularly lately but
this week we picked a giant one. Almost as big as Neels’ hand, and suddenly there
are a lot more coming on. I think the neighbours may get a surprise gift in the
near future. We have also picked the first four cobs of sweetcorn and are going
to try them tonight. They certainly look good enough to eat!
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