Quality rugby

Aiden's team played against Vally Fort and it was an absolutely blistering game - definitely the best game I've seen played at this age.  Sadly they lost, but it was a cracker of note with both teams tackling and running ferociously - and delightfully, Aiden had a stormer.

Ev's sports day

I think Ev got his running genes from me - or should I say a lack of running genes from me.  But he is without doubt the most cheerful of competitors - which augers well for a happy life; he's just delightful.

There are a range of activities - running, throwing (Ev's good at those), mini hurdles - grinning away of course, and a bit of a cut corner on the last one - and old faves like the sack-race (also performed with mega grin on face).

Home at last - for three weeks

Winter dawn slowly breaking over Sheung Sze Wan - so cool to be home, likely last trip for the year.

A generation later - 30 something year old bat

 Aiden about to head off to cricket with a smile - this is my Gray Nichols bat from my 10th birthday, sanded down, oiled, new grip; years at school and a billion innings of garden cricket later.

Portraits by Jordan, Aiden and Ev

Jordan and the boys borrowed a camera and spent a couple of hours taking pictures of themselves, as one does.  There were some very cool photos.  I like this totem with angry Ev a lot.

 

 

Christmas tree in the garden

Randi outside her house in Charlottesville

Sunday - blue, blues

I couldn't find a yellow gel for my flash, wanted to take something groovy - so had to use red hoping for a sort of similar outcome, but it was different to what I expected.

No gel here, just a wild sky of scuttling blue - with a sinisterness behind it - the super-typhoon that has just shredded the Philippines - the strongest storm on record (anywhere, ever) - it's a catastrophe far across the mountains in front, the press is quoting estimates of 10,000 people dead, the immensity of sadness.  Leony's village was obliterated, her parents house (small consolation) somehow stayed standing while those around did not.

Homecoming

It's a humbling thing, the great joy of waking up on a Saturday morning after traveling and having these massively affectionate boys so happy to see me.  Delightful morning light, day without work and school

I asked them to put their heads close together so I could take a picture, Aiden's hair tickled Ev's cheek, delighted giggle

Taken by Jordan I think - much later on Sunday afternoon at the slipway.

A together picture

Vadertjie

a terrible shadow cast

For Chris - borrowing some space - hoping it cools your eyes

Horses to water - though increasingly trained

I like the softness of the tones that this camera produces, they are cool and calm, which belies some of the tensions, but feels easier to me.

Always, thus far, more readily committed

The translation of this gesture is "see, I've done it with minimal effort"

Rugby Sunday at King's Park

Ev scooting along with a DA Pirate in pursuit ("I hate the Pirates"  Hate's a strong word Ev.  "Well I really don't like them" OK)

Aiden running at the line (on this occasion successfully as it turns out). 

US Office in Charlottesville Virginia

I've often heard South Africans say of our country that it is "the most beautiful..." in this and that way.  I can't see any point in doing that. There is a very great deal of beauty - and I don't really travel to places for eye-candy as such.  Simon Oz has showed me pictures of Alaska, Iceland, New Zealand and no doubt a few others, which are shatteringly beautiful.  It seems that it is better to abandon any nationalist project and just open the eyes.  These are photos of our head office in Charlottesville in the US.  I was just astounded by the raging beauty of it all. 

This is our building, on the right, number 560

Just the other side of the parking lot, a lawn-wide avenue, wild autumn leaves

Across the road you can disappear into the woods; fantastic colour and perfume, detail and light; leaf-carpeted path

Fabulous to experience an autumn's ochre