Virginia Friends

What would a visit to Virginia be without connecting with a few friends. I saw Christo Kleynhans. He still has Oranje Apteek. Phillip still has Avenue Pharmacy. He is 60 now and still looks 40!!! Temm Yazbek has retired to the coast. Johnny still has the Dry Cleaners but has closed the Bakery and Willy and Hermien are well. I spoke to Costa on the phone and wants to make contact with Angela.

Viginia Homes

I passed through Theunnisen. The hotel has closed and the flavour of the town is unrecognisable. Joel Mine now only employ just over 1000 people. The medical station is quiet and still has some of the staff that I employed. Here are 3 of the homes we stayed in. 10 Drakensburg (big pool) Valley Drive (Comrades hill) and Avalon Circle (small pool)

I spent a few days in Bloemfontein. Here is a photo of Gerrit who is a fellow pharologist. He is also an astronomer. He set up a massive telescope and I looked at the moon and stars. (the best views I have ever had) The "Twee Toring Kerk" and the "Klip Kerk" are big tourist attractions. The photo of me is at "Oliewen Huis" (because of the abundance of olives in the area) It was built for the Governor General of The Union of S Africa in 1942. In 1961 it became the official residence of the State Presidents of S Africa. PW Botha handed it over to the National Museum in 1985. It is now used as an art gallery.

My Crown

This poor quality photo was taken with the timer facing the sun and without a tripod. Passing motorists must have had a laugh seeing me taking a photo of myself in the wind, balancing the camera on a map book.

My Birthday

I spent my birthday quietly at Shelly Beach. Thank you to all who called and sent messages. I finished the cake from the weekend. Fred and Rika took me out for supper at a German Restaurant and I had an Eis Bein. My staple diet was of course Bunny Chows. Most beaches are in bad shape and the one at Shelly boat club is no exception. Jimmy and Sheree have retired from Virginia and have bought a house in Ramsgate. They are pretty happy there.
The Riverbend Crocodile farm is well worth a visit. I had a fight with this croc. I also had a Crocodile Kebab. They breed them here. This little one is 5 months old.