Visiting Rene

 

It is that time again, for our bi-annual visit to Aunt Rene, my father's sister. Matthew had to go back to Pretoria today as his holidays are over and it is back to university. My aunt lives in Pretoria so it was a perfect detour.

Detour to Rene

This afternoon I had to take Matthew back to Pretoria because he is writing exams this week, but we decided to take a detour and visit my aunt Rene. She stays in this cottage at the back of her son's house in Pretora. We hardly ever go visit as it is out of the way for us and since we haven't been round at all this year we felt that it was about time for a detour. It was a good visit, catching up over milktart and coffee. 

Day Before 21

We had to make the long trip across town to Benoni to pick up Matthew's laptop bag because he had his ID book in the bag and he needs it for Monday. But I decided we should make it a day and visit my Aunty Rene in Pretoria. So we stopped for shortbread cookies, as my aunt loves shortbread and inventively gatecrashed my 2nd cousin Simon's 21st birthday party. Well Simon's birthday is actually tomorrow but they could get the whole family together today so why not.

Simon, Tony, Alex, and Matthew

All we wanted was visit my aunt and the whole side of their family was there. Well we aren't that big in family get togethers but Matthew and I were well received, I supposed because we not often in the area, it was good to catch up on family.

Debbie and Matthew

Aunt Rene

It has been a long time, last year in fact that we last saw Aunty Rene. My sister and her family moved up from Nelspruit to Pretoria and we were invited around for supper so we thought we would make a day out of it and visit my aunt. I must say, she is looking much better compared to the last time we saw her which understandably was a trying time for her.

Aunty Rene

I had to ride across Johannesburg to Benoni to sign a document. This could be one of me few last rides of Scarlet, my red Vespa GTS300ie Super before she is sold. The weather was warm but with hot dry winds. The ride was great and on the way back I decided to stop over in Garsfontein to check up on my Aunty Rene whom I have not seen since the funeral of her late husband, Uncle Tony, earlier this year.

It was great seeing her again, catching up on all the family skinder, Afrikaans for gossip. And in the ways of the older generation, Aunty Rene insisted on making me some lunch to go with my tea.

It was days like this, she told me, when all her family were away doing a myriad of other things, that she misses Uncle Tony and feels so alone but it all changed when I arrived with a big smile bearing shortbread biscuits to make her day ever so brighter.

Aunty Rene

Well we don’t often go up north to Pretoria to visit family so we decided that since we are taking Matthew back to his mother for Christmas we might as well do a detour and kill two birds with one stone so to speak.

Uncle Tony and Aunt Rene were as expected very pleased to see us and we had afternoon tea out at the side of their cottage with the rabbits and a labrador. Above is a photo of Matthew with his great aunty Rene.

No electricity

Last night was quite a serious storm with torrential rain, hail and even a tornado that touched down in Duduza on the East Rand. I arrived home last night and found that our electricity was knocked out. The electricity was only reconnected this afternoon. I could not do any work because no electricity means no computer.

Uhmmm, something to do to keep Matthew busy was needed. So we devised a game which I name a street and Matthew finds it on the map and with him as the navigator we physically drive there. So I named Jerome Road and Matthew found one in Pretoria, so with him navigating we drove north. After finding the place I realized that we were near my cousin’s home so we popped in for an impromptu visit of my aunt Rene who lives there. It was a pleasant visit and by the time we got back to Johannesburg, electricity was back on and I could do some work.

Dear Rene

Carol and Matthew headed back to Johannesburg today while I represented our family at my Aunt Rene's 67th birthday party (shown above). My Aunt Rene is the artist in the family and signs her paintings under her maiden name Regina West. It was an hour and half ride on my Vespa using all the back roads to Garsfontein. I thought that I would be caught in the rain that showered down on JZ presidential inauguration in Pretoria but it was over as I approached and the sun was doing its best to make an appearance. It was good to see that part of the family again as I don't go often to Pretoria even though it is close. So now South Africa has a new president, Carol and Matthew are back home safely, Aunt Rene is another year older and I enjoyed my ride to the other side of the boerewors curtain. Here's to many more years, Auntie Rene.

Catching up

I stayed in town with Robbie because he was going back to Durban in the afternoon. In the meantime Carol, Matthew and Steven went to the UIAA Olympic “Friendship and Peace” Youth Hike and hiked up to the highest spot in the North West Province with the Mountain Club of South Africa. Back in town Robbie saw some old friends at BBC. Here is Rene and Robbie catching up on news.

Mey Sisters

It was month end shopping for me but before I got to the shops, mom’s sisters came round for tea (Elaine and Winnie excluded). Mom enjoyed her sisters reminiscing in the past. A few interesting stories came up but I am sure there are lots more about the Mey girls that will stay in the past. Sitting down with Mom (Daphne) is Rene and behind her are Enid and Muriel.