An African Wedding

I went to South Africa for a week in April to go to Vicky’s wedding and spend a time at home with friends and family.
I was really looking forward to seeing sunny South Africa, having been away from home for 3 months. After a non-eventful flight, I arrived in Johannesburg on a Friday morning, and made for my parent’s house which would be my ‘home base’ for the visit.
The day went quickly, and I only just had time to say hello both my parents before going off up to Mangwa a game farm just past Pretoria for Vicky’s wedding.
The wedding was only on Saturday, but close friends and family arrived a day early for a good old braai and catch-up. It was so great to see a lot of my friends again and hear their news. Somehow it’s never the same being 1000 miles away and chatting on email or the phone.

Saturday arrived and most of the boys and some girls (all who’d arrived the night before) played golf with the groom for the morning. The rest of us headed off for a good fry-up breakfast at a local farm which had a little restaurant.
After helping out a little with wedding preparations I guiltily sunned myself at the pool until it was time to get ready for the wedding.

The wedding was lovely, Vicky and Alex’s love of the African bush certainly shone through with their unique decorations and proceedings.
The bride arrived in an open 4x4, and a choir welcomed her into the church singing ‘The bride is coming’ in Zulu. She was certainly a beautiful and serene bride with a very big smile :-)
We had a drinks and snacks on the pool deck with the African bush and a gorgeous pink sunset as the backdrop after the service.
Then it was into the reception venue for supper, speeches and to dance the night away.
Again the lovely African Theme prevailed in the hall, with metal baobab trees in the middle of each table, a metal and bead animal as a table ‘number’, little orange and red berries scattered over the white table cloths and a beaded bride and groom as a thank you present for each guest.
It certainly was a night to remember.

I arrived back at my parent’s house on Sunday, but was so tired that I slept for most of the afternoon.
On Monday through to Thursday I began running the 101 errands that pile up when one is not in the country for a while, everything from sorting out my tax return to going into the office for a day for a couple of meetings with my boss and work colleagues. On Monday night Caroline came over and slept at my parents after work, it was lovely and felt like our regular hangout Monday nights when she used to sleep over at my house once a week.
Each afternoon I hung out with my mom, and in the evenings I spent time with my parents.
My two cats were certainly pleased to see me, and I was happily surprised to see that they certainly remembered me.
Pascal, my little brown cat decided that he should have more quality time with me than the other two cats and would have little fights at my feet with the other cats to ensure that he got to sit on his mistress’s lap. It was very amusing!
I definitely miss the two little critters, but they do seem happy and well adjusted where they are right now (at my parent’s house).
On Thursday evening I spent some time with my friend’s Christopher and Cathy and their little daughter Kaitlyn who just gets cuter and prettier by the day.
Friday was a public holiday in South Africa and my parents and I had a wonderful breakfast and a little walk at the Walter Sisulu botanical gardens. It is so lovely and green there!
In the afternoon I had coffee with Michele and Sarah, giggling over many things.
Before I knew it, I was on the plane on Saturday evening, and flying back to London without having achieved half the things I wanted to. I think that is the nature of one week holidays, they are generally just too short!

Picture 1: Sunset drinks at the wedding

Picture 2: Vicky and Alex bouncing out the church

Picture 3: Baobab trees and table settings

Picture 4: Mandy, Landy, Susan, Linzi and me

Picture 5: Me, Caroline and Susan

Picture 6: Me and the about the only time Stitch got to sit on my lap (Pascal not around)

Picture 7: Mom and Dad at the Walter Sisulu botanical gardens

Picture 8: Pascal, loafing about