OH on the map...

[Cali Craft and Gems]

I guess Oudtshoorn isn't just a little place in the middle of nowhere... According to posters and placards around town, we are getting a "very important visitor" today - SA deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe. Okay, he's supposedly not visiting "this" part of town but will be making an appearance at the Bongulethu Sports Stadium for the ANC 100 year anniversary.

Also, regarding the KKNK (which we have never attended), the "rules" have already been published in the local newspapers... and these rules are for people and businesses NOT partaking in the events! A whole section of town is going to be closed off for about 10 days, plus no advertising is allowed anywhere. We've also been informed by our neighbours that you either take the opportunity to go on holiday (out of town) for the period of the festival, or you go to the shops a week beforehand and stock up so that you have no reason to leave the house - reason being is that you will just not be able to "move" in town yet alone find parking!

Our neighbours two houses away also rent out their house to Steve Hofmeyer and his group, so I am wondering how much "paparazi" and fans hang around our quiet street! I think this is going to be quite an experience for us (perhaps not in a good way either).

Another thing about a small town is that I forgot all about the Eskom "repairs" every now and then... we are scheduled for a 12 hour blackout tomorrow so that means a day in the middle of summer without fans or aircon! Me thinks we will be on the road for a drive or to the Cango Wildlife Ranch as I'm not planning to bake in the oven!

PS. I've decided to add another page to my personal website (that has no contact details but will direct you back to the bidorbuy site) - all about the things we've discovered in the area... attended a lovely outdoor country market last night - so much better than the PE "food fair"!

[lilythepink]

I guess you won't be spending your day at the Bongulethu Sports Stadium today, Cali? Just think about what you're missing ...

[MiemsJewels]

Bongulethu Sports Stadium? There goes the taxpayer's money again. Wonder how many millions Rands this time?

[Cali Craft and Gems]

LOL - seeing that the event "starts" at 12 noon, we decided to head to town at 09h45... as we turned out of our street we were greeted with the blue light brigade. I'd heard a jet fly over a few minutes before but as it did not pass over our house we assumed it was just a fly-by (apparently they had landed from the opposite direction!).

We were redirected past the airfield so we stopped opposite to watch the "parade". The whole brigade ended up driving past us anyway but no-one could get a glimpse of him due to all the security in the vehicle (if you thought a taxi was jam-packed tight, you should have seen this Beemer)! There were at least 25 cars in the entourage including his vehicle - if not more if you include the police, traffics and fire department!

The centre of town is blocked off as he went to the municipal offices, so we took the opportunity to head into the industrial area to the ostrich butchery / factory (great prices!), but to get to the Pick 'n Pay was another story due to the road closures. Oh well... at least he is here with stunning weather - not a rain cloud or wind in sight!

What we did notice though is that all the vehicles only had their lights on yet not one siren! In PE they would be driving like lunatics and they would have the whole flashing lights and sirens thing going on so that you could hear them coming from a mile away!

PS. My mistake - it is actually the Bridgton Stadium... and you should see the huge sport stadium that was set up at Dysseldorp - a "hole in the ground" between OH and De Rust... Okay, this "dorpie" has the only liquorice factory in SA, but there is no way of finding it as there is no signage and no stipulated address with tourism!