Narrec

Narrec is a bird sanctuary just outside WHK that I absolutely adore. They take in birds that have been injured in some way and rehabilitate them for release. They do have some birds that will permanently be there, mostly because of some human unkindness or stupidity.

There is an incredible Black Eagle, who is huge and plugs directly into your reptilian brain when she lands heavily and aggressively on the tree above your head. Her presence is incredibly aggressive and dominating when you are so close. There is no doubt in your mind as to who would win in a hand to talon fight. Unfortunately, she is going to a permanent resident of her aviary. She was taken from a nest as a chick and raised by a farmer who thought it was manly to have a pet eagle. The first time she preyed on his livestock, she immediately became considered a menace to him. Because she has been taught not to fear humans, and because she knows how to hunt livestock, she cannot ever feel what it is to fly completely free and make the decision to mate, hunt, or flow along an updrift from the desert, just a speck in the sky.

Of course, if she had not been rescued by Narrec, she would instead be dead. Which some would say was better than being caught in what is essentially a cage for the rest of her life.

Other wonderful things about Narrec, are two hornbills who followed us around the entire sanctuary, carefully avoiding the vulture aviary. They posed and they primped and they brought us seeds and stones. Which of course made for some fantastic photography.

Beauty in the Journey and the Destination

We recently went to Cape Town again. We were only there for three and a half days which is no time to appreciate the city, but the drive there and back takes two days so there is plenty of time to appreciate the journey.

I most enjoyed the drive back to WHK on this trip. At first you drive through the Cape where there are mountains and endless green fields punctuated by huge flowing trees. Then you drive through the Citrusdahl area, where you are in the mountains, and the road is followed by the canal used to irrigate hundreds of dark green orange trees.

The further north you go at this time of year the more of the famous wild flowers you see. They are streaks of luminous orange and 80's-like eyeshadow blue. And every now and then a voilent purple stands out against the rock. Eventually, on the other side of the border there appear the occasional Quiver Tree, standing alone amonst the gravel plains and dolomite extrusions.

It's a drive that I love to make and have made many times. Even though it is very long, I never tire of the interests that nature and man provide along the way.

Why ya'll should be here

Winter sun

Right now it is freezing cold here. The houses are not heated and they are built for the retention of coolness. BUT every now and then you can find a windless spot in the sun and it is a small segment of heaven to feel the warming rays reach your bones.

winter sun

a uniquely Namibian experience

I had a wonderful experience at the chemist the other day. As I was standing waiting for my credit card to go through, I was listening to the 4 ladies behind the counter having a chat.

Initially they were having a wonderful gossip about someone and how to handle that someone. This conversation was between three of them. One black woman and two coloured women, they were all speaking Afrikaans. Which, in my opinion, is the best language in which to gossip. It's a gutteral language that comes from the back of the throat and is full of onomatopioa and words and phrases that cannot be translated directly into English. Even the word for gossip sounds like what it is. Skinner - pronounced 'skunner', with the R at the end rolling around like the aftertaste of a Cabernet Suavignon.

While I was waiting, they were joined by a tall blonde woman who addressed them in German. Without hesitation and without thought, they all switched to German. Then two of them broke off to speak in Afrikaans again. At which point they were interrupted by a customer speaking English, and of course they responded to him in English. My credit card went through and the Blonde lady spoke to me in English too. All this swtiching between languanges happened without comment from them, and they were all flawless in all three. The whole conversation was fluid and lyrical in a way I have never heard.

It seems as though, in Namibia, you can pick the pieces of the three languages that best express your thoughts, and because almost everyone has the same smattering of those languages, they understand you. Having the choice of languages almost adds another language, one that only a small set of people in the world speak and it gives them intimate knowledge of what you mean to say.

Mom's Birthday

Yesterday was Mom's bday and we had such a lovely day. It started with the traditional brack of dawn present opening. We were all up for coffee before school started and Mom enjoyed her presents. In the evening we watched some absolutely fabulous tennis - Senea vs Henin. Go Henin! Which made us terribly late for dinner at the Taal. The Taal is the only Indian restaurant in WHK and the food is EXCELLENT, their menu is varied and has many vegetarian options. It was absolute heaven to enjoy all that deliscious food in the company of my family. NC joined us as one of Mom's extra daughters and luckily St could stay around for an extra day and joined us too. It made a very lively crowd but not big enough to be impersonal. Once we were all disgustingly full we rolled home and ended the evening with some West Wing. Such a lovely day!