HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOHN, MY TRAVELLING COMPANION FOR THE LAST 6 WEEKS.
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| From Dust and Diesel |
Nairobi-Johannesburg-Cape Town:
I set my alarm for 4am before I went to bed last night. The mosquitos and the heat in the room ensured that I didn't get any sleep until 30 minutes before I was due to wake. Every time I was dozing off I suddenly heard that high pitched whine of a mosquito, just getting ready to land, preparing for a feast. So, up I'd get, switch on the light & go hunting for it. It was a game of patience because mosquitos have developed an amazing survival ability in recent years, and will head off somewhere dark and stay put for a while. Then, when they think their prey has given up the game, back they come.
Back it came alright, and splat, I got it on the wall beside the bed. At this stage I wasn't too worried about waking the occupant in the next room because every 20 minutes or so, he made a dash to the (shared) toilet, near my room, and was violently sick. That went on all night as well. I was glad I didn't eat or drink whatever he'd had. His Toyota Landcruiser was parked outside and he was on a trip from Cape Town to Paris. Somehow, I doubt he'll be travelling today.
I set my alarm for 4am before I went to bed last night. The mosquitos and the heat in the room ensured that I didn't get any sleep until 30 minutes before I was due to wake. Every time I was dozing off I suddenly heard that high pitched whine of a mosquito, just getting ready to land, preparing for a feast. So, up I'd get, switch on the light & go hunting for it. It was a game of patience because mosquitos have developed an amazing survival ability in recent years, and will head off somewhere dark and stay put for a while. Then, when they think their prey has given up the game, back they come.
Back it came alright, and splat, I got it on the wall beside the bed. At this stage I wasn't too worried about waking the occupant in the next room because every 20 minutes or so, he made a dash to the (shared) toilet, near my room, and was violently sick. That went on all night as well. I was glad I didn't eat or drink whatever he'd had. His Toyota Landcruiser was parked outside and he was on a trip from Cape Town to Paris. Somehow, I doubt he'll be travelling today.
Oh, how I envied John, probably fast asleep on the 777, heading northbound for London.
I
decided I might as well get up, so with some trepidation, I ventured
into the bathroom, expecting to find it like a toilet in a crowded pub
at midnight on a Saturday night. Thankfully, it was fine, so I quickly
showered, grateful I had shaved before bed, thereby reducing my exposure
to everything.
The taxi
turned up at 4.40am & I was at the airport at 5.10am, for the
7.35 departure. The check-in staff for South African Airways told me the flight was overbooked, so
I might not get a seat. This is the negative side of staff travel.
I was told to return at 7am so I read my book until then. At 7am, I went back to the now empty check in desk. Of course she had forgotten all about me, so there was a slight sense of pandemonium as she frantically tried to get me a seat. I was in luck, I got an aisle seat, 28C, & could I please hurry to the gate. 'Hurry' is not a word you hear much in Africa, and there was still 30 minutes to go, so I didn't hurry, given I was tired & I had been sitting on a plastic chair for almost two hours. I got to the gate within 7 or 8 minutes and they'd just started boarding so I went off and got a very welcome coffee as there's no refreshment facilities in the check-in area.
I got on board at about 7.25, got my aisle seat & saw only 1 other empty seat on board. I was lucky today. We left on schedule, a delicious cooked breakfast was served and they also screened a movie, which I watched. I missed the beginning, so I have no idea what it was called, but it helped to pass the 4 hour flight. I managed to doze for a while, read for a while, & next thing, we are landing at Johannesburg, almost 30 minutes early.
My next flight is at 1pm, so I have 2 hours to make the connection. I went to the domestic departure area and decided I'd have lunch at Ocean Basket. This is a chain restaurant in South Africa and their fish is always excellent. I had a combo meal, calamari + linefish & chips. Oh heaven, it was delicious, and it cost R55. That's under US$6, or £4, or for you lucky eurozone folk, only 4 euros. Value & Quality; I'm back in South Africa for sure. Yesterday, at Jungle Junction, John & I asked for a cheese & onion sandwich. One hour later, we got an omlette sandwich. Well, that was a first for me & although it was rather tasty, it cost the same as my fish meal.
I was told to return at 7am so I read my book until then. At 7am, I went back to the now empty check in desk. Of course she had forgotten all about me, so there was a slight sense of pandemonium as she frantically tried to get me a seat. I was in luck, I got an aisle seat, 28C, & could I please hurry to the gate. 'Hurry' is not a word you hear much in Africa, and there was still 30 minutes to go, so I didn't hurry, given I was tired & I had been sitting on a plastic chair for almost two hours. I got to the gate within 7 or 8 minutes and they'd just started boarding so I went off and got a very welcome coffee as there's no refreshment facilities in the check-in area.
I got on board at about 7.25, got my aisle seat & saw only 1 other empty seat on board. I was lucky today. We left on schedule, a delicious cooked breakfast was served and they also screened a movie, which I watched. I missed the beginning, so I have no idea what it was called, but it helped to pass the 4 hour flight. I managed to doze for a while, read for a while, & next thing, we are landing at Johannesburg, almost 30 minutes early.
My next flight is at 1pm, so I have 2 hours to make the connection. I went to the domestic departure area and decided I'd have lunch at Ocean Basket. This is a chain restaurant in South Africa and their fish is always excellent. I had a combo meal, calamari + linefish & chips. Oh heaven, it was delicious, and it cost R55. That's under US$6, or £4, or for you lucky eurozone folk, only 4 euros. Value & Quality; I'm back in South Africa for sure. Yesterday, at Jungle Junction, John & I asked for a cheese & onion sandwich. One hour later, we got an omlette sandwich. Well, that was a first for me & although it was rather tasty, it cost the same as my fish meal.
I was given a
seat on the 1pm SAA flight and landed in Cape Town at 3pm. Tony
Cunningham was there to meet me, luxury at last, in his lovely new
Mercedes. I got back to La Piazza and Gus & Kina were waiting to
welcome me back. That was really lovely because they delayed their
departure to Jo'burg so they could spend a night with me. I was
presented with a lovely cold beer, frosted glass out of the freezer,
& I saw the completed work that has been carried out on my
garden; new footpath, plants etc. Thank you Gus & Kina for overseeing that. Very happy with the outcome, despite
the initial hiccups of them cutting the water supply pipe, the phone
line & the irrigation system as well.
I
went to church at 5.30 and met Fr Kevin after mass. He was delighted to
see me back safe & sound. He told me he worried for me every
day, and always said a prayer. A true friend. We'll have dinner before I
leave for Ireland.
It really
is nice to be back and I noticed after church that the evenings are
turning chilly. Gus & Kina had a braai going; steak,salad
& wonderful potato bake. Tony joined us for dinner &
somehow we worked our way through a few bottles of red wine. This just
added to my need for sleep after last nights deprivation. I was happy to
call it a night at 11pm.
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