We left South Africa. Where has the time gone. For this anniversary post I thought I would list all the things that I miss about South Africa and a couple that I don't and then tomorrow do the same for my new homeland.
I MISS
- Very obviously my friends. Some more than others.
- Sushi OMG how I miss sushi and the fantastic sushi bars that you get in and around Cape Town and my favourite - Willougbys at the Waterfront. Try the prawn tempura pure heaven.
- The restaurants in general, I certainly haven't been to many here (and of course remembering that we live in the sticks) but I still think the South African restaurants are better.
- Seeing the baboons in the Tokai forest.
- The squirrels in my garden.
- Drying my washing in the sun - I can't tell you how much I miss that. Here my whites seem to be getting very grey - sorry to throw in that very domestic problem here.
- Familiar faces. I have started to bump into people in the village that I know but there is no real history with people.
- Cheap good wine!!!!
- The tap water, the water in the East of Suffolk is full of limescale and it's tastes very salty. YUCK.
I DONT MISS
- The car guards!
- People trying to grab my trolley when I come out of a supermarket.
- The people selling stuff at the robots (traffic lights in the UK).
- The school fees.
- The medical aid fees.
- The doom and gloom in the newspapers.
- The SABC news reports and reporters.
- Seeing needy, desperate people everyday.
- Friday I ran around most of the day with funeral arrangements. I started off at the hospital, stopped in at the ward to collect Robin's personal items, the nurse gave me a bag and I took the long trek back to my car. My bloody knee is killing me at the moment so everything I do is a bit of a drag. Got to my car put the bag in the boot and had a 'blink moment' that I should check the contents. Lots of very neatly folded nighties, an old radio and lots of ladies toiletries - not Robin's stuff! Put more money in the parking meter and took the trek back to the ward again. Had a laugh (love that Brit expression) with the staff that the bag couldn't possibly belong to Robin unless there was a side to him I didn't know about.
- Drove around to the other side of the hospital to the 'registration office' for the bereaved. Signed for and received all the official documents and then headed off to Ipswich to my appointment with the 'Registrar of Deaths'. Got there early so I couldn't resist taking a walk down to the shops - bloody knee was killing me by the time I got back to the registrar (Kirsty - HELP). Spent a hour getting all that done, took a little longer than necessary as the registrar was ex South African so we had a good natter.
- I am - for purposes of the records Robins step-daughter LOL I hope that applies to the will!
- Then took the walk over to the Undertakers to give them their official documentation and to go over the final cremation date and time. I decided to have his ashes divided amongst two containers so that his son can take some back to SA.
- Head over to the other side of Ipswich to drop off a death cert with the Attorneys (Solicitors here darhling).
- Today I have driven up to Preston near Manchester (where I was born) to attend the training course for DH's business. I swear when I checked in I could have been checking in at Fawlty Towers - if I have the guts I may take a pic or two - so funny.
