March 12

Met the owner and builder of the house today, as he just got back from Switzerland ,where he was from -He came to do some repairs.  It was fun meeting him.  Rain again and again and again!!!  Nearby area has had several deaths due to flooding, but it is not in our vicinity although there has been a bridge washed out on the golf course and Gruvers friends had some bridge wash out to their house.

Therefore, shopping has been a big part of our time when it rains. This is at Sandton Mall where the Nelson Mandela memorial is, and it is quite emotional for me, after studying about him and going to the prison in Capetown SA.  What a man he was!!!! We shopped in some amazing stores from all over Europe and Africa. We ate dinner there at a great restaurant called WangKai.  Loud band playing in the atrium area, so Grandma made earplugs out of kleenex.

King and Queen of Thailand at WangKai

Dishes at WangKai Restaurant

Grandpa bought a Pith Hat sp??? and so everyone had to try it on at dinner. He had said that we were now traveling as Sir Reginald and Lady Regina and that this hat fit perfect and he always had wanted one.

March 11 continued,

Moyo Restaurant - there are approximately 9 restaurants in South Africa, with 3 being in the Gauteng province.  Twice we had the extraordinary experience of going to the Zoo Lake Park location in Parkview.  Moyo means "soul" - a translation from sand script African language of Swahili.  It became the realization of one man's passion for all things African from art and design to music, cuisine and crafts. Jason Lurie started Moyo Restaurants in Norwood Johannesburg. Les and I and Holly and Will had an evening out on the town dining there before attending a wonderful Dance Performance called Four Seasons in Newtown by the Vuyani Dance Theatre under the direction of Gregory Maqoma. It was some of the best dancing I had ever seen and we had our picture taken with Gregory and one of his  creative team members.  The evening started at the Restaurant with beautiful vase flowers of Holly and I with face painting which can be seen below. At the end of the evening we ventured down to Melrose Arch for wonderful desserts outside in the park. Another time we went with the whole family for Sunday brunch after church to Moyo. We shopped in the craft area, and walked the grounds after eating.

Sunday Brunch with the family 

March 11,

It has been very rainy here the past few weeks so Les has not been able to get in much golf but we continue to enjoy our time with our dear family which is what we came here for so - let's see - where did I leave off - one day we went for a trip to the Seed Pod Studio for an Art Day with Holly and the children - Grandpa made a great designed chair and so did Grandma with memories of us for them to have forever to go with their tiled table  from the same studio that sits outside near their pool area.  This store is near a wonderful Garden Restaurant where we have had breakfast.

Garden Restaurant

Breakfast at Garden Restaurant

Menu from Gardent Restaurant

I also got my hair cut, colored and styled from the place that Holly goes to and  below is the results. 

Shann's chair creation

 Les and I each created our own tile chairs for Holly and Wills table that is tiled from this Studio!!

Styled at Jeauval Salon from a great gal, Bronwyn!

March 3,


Yeh!!!!! Grandpa Les is feeling much better but we are still hanging out here at home. We are waiting to watch the Academy Awards when we are all available to watch it. It is on iTunes I guess.  I hope they can get it -  I voted and sent my ballot into Four Seasons at Rush Creek where we live because Patty Kenaley and her helpers were busy preparing for a mock Oscar night while watching it. Way to go ladies!!!!

It has started to become cool here and rainy - can you believe this for Africa? I have gotten to know Tembe, the house maid, much better and I just love her. I wish I could take her home with me. She takes care of our laundry and hangs them up to dry in the beautiful African sun and winds and they come back to us so fresh. She washes everything by hand so quickly in the kitchen and every time I go back to my room everything is organized and sparkling. She works so hard and lives here all week and goes home on the weekends to be with her little daughter , Pamela who is 6 years old, who lives with her aunt.  I have given her a few things such as a monkey and pencils for her little girl to play with and Saili gives her clothes that she cannot fit into anymore. They are good to her and yet according to our standards in US she is working for so little but the Rand here is so devalued - $10 is 100Rand - so to her it is very good pay.

Thembi Sinqe, Gruvers wonderful maid.

So, shopping is great for us here!!!!

February 28th,


We all went to the Lion Park today and learned alot about many of the animals that live in South Africa (SA).
The cubs that are rejected by their mother are put in a cub den and we are able to play with them. It was alot of fun -

Wild Dogs more dangerous than hyenas

It was an amazing day where we learned alot about the animal kingdom but on the way home Grandpa Les started feeling bad and actually it started during our tour but he did not mention it til later. He is still in bed a day later with lots of dehydration issues.  There are lots of good nurses here to give advice.


Next day while Grandpa slept,

Nick does business with Will

Nick and Lene Mitchell and family came for the day with their three children, Conor 8, Tyler 7, and Riley 3 , along with Lene's parents, Tinsy and Johnny Domingez sp?? and Nick's Mom, Eve.  What an adorable loving family and so much fun to be with.  I am so happy for Will and Holly and family that they have such great friends.

Lene Mitchell, a dear friend to Holly

The Mitchell children with Lex, Tom, Saili