AllHoliday

On a serious note, believe me I have sympathy with the civil servants on strike; I also acknowledge their right to strike. I’ve been overworked and underpaid for quite some time, so I know the feeling. But to infringe on the rights of other people is just unacceptable. A peaceful stay-away action can still be tolerated but to stop others from giving basic care to people in need is just not on. To let people die, especially innocent children is barbaric. Come to think of it, a peaceful strike can be more powerful, they will receive more support from other sectors and I believe this can be more effective. Violence have never solved anything, it just create more problems. To drag a working nurse from a theatre in the middle of an operation is just mind boggling. What are they thinking? How do they justify actions like this? Have they ever thought what they would do if their children or family members are in need of urgent medical attention and they are turned away because of a violent strike. There are really more civilised ways to resolve a dispute. The government have an obligation to ALL citizens and they should send a very clear message to misbehaving strikers, that violence and intimidation will not be tolerated. Basic emergency services should be protected at all cost. Surely certain occupations should have limitations on this kind of behaviour, like for instance the medical profession. Workers and unions should be aware of these limitations and act accordingly. Life is about choices, should you choose a certain profession you should adhere to a certain code of conduct. Strikers, who disrupt and intimidate other workers, should be identified and be fired. The unions and representatives of the strikers should also ensure that their members behave in a civilised manner. Action should be taken against members who do not behave. If found that the unions are not controlling the members or not taking diciplanary actions agains misbehaving members, action should be taken against these unions by government. To resort to violence and intimidation is just unacceptable.

Wow, winter has sneaked up on us!  It is around 12.9 degrees Celsius today.  We had a soft misty rain all day.  The ideal weather to stay in bed with a glass of Old Brown Sherry or some hot chocolate for the faint hearted.  Cannot believe that the previous two days we had lovely summer days with the degrees between 25-28 C.  Glad there are no wind.  This is now the right time to do some indoor chores, like clearing out the wardrobes, mending what need to be mended, make preserves and soups etc.  Before you know it, summer will be here and you will not want to spend your time indoors.  Winter is my hibernating time, my time to relax with my family, my time to stay in bed with a good book or to play board games. Winter is also ideal time to invite friends over for a fondue.  There is nothing better than spending time around the dinner table with good friends and family. Luckily winter is not only about hibernating, there is still a lot going on in the West Coast but more about that at another time.

Thank goodness for a little rain, thought we are going to fry here in the West Coast the last couple of days.  It was about 41 degrees at times without any wind.  Really HOT!!  Early this morning we had a little rain and it cooled down a bit, now only about 28 degrees. 

The kids bought a splash pool and it fit perfectly on the patio.  Needless to say that is where they have spent the weekend.  Even my hubby splashed around on Sunday while the kids were at their Pool club (8-ball) meeting.  Only until the boys and their friends came back, all 6 of them were in there till late Sunday evening. 

Langebaan were very popular over the weekend with people who wish to cool down at the beach.  Also the beaches at Paternoster and Saldanha were very busy. I believe that everyone who did not have a pool headed for the beach over the weekend. Normally we have a little wind (which we normally complain about) to cool us down but the last couple of days we had very little wind.

Hope the heat wave is over now, it is just impossible to do anything in this heat.

On our last road trip we went to the Eastern Cape. It was in January just after the schools have opened.  We decided on that time to miss the crowds on the beaches and the roads.  We spend our first few days in Hermanus where we went fishing and spend lazy afternoons at the beach.  There were still lots of tourist in Hermanus but the restaurants were not overcrowded and we had a great experience.  The cubana restaurant is well worth a visit, the staff is friendly and well trained and they serve delicious food.  The service at the wimpy was also splendid.  We stayed in a privately owned self catering house which can accommodate 6 people.  Although we were only 3 persons we enjoyed the space and the price was very reasonable. Hermanus is very popular destination if you want to enjoy nature, they have beautiful hiking trails in the mountains and also at the beach.  Hermanus also host the annual Wale festival in Spring with thousands of people going there to watch the wales.

From there we went to Mosselbay where we stayed in a hotel.  I must say that the ‘family room’ which we stayed in was not really impressive and I believe it were somewhat overpriced. The Pub & Restaurant on the rocks just below the lighthouse was quite and experience.  The service was friendly and the atmosphere relaxing.  There is a swing hanging from the roof next to the bar and it was fun sitting there.  I even found a hairdresser who would take me without an appointment, they were a bit expensive but my hair looked great.  The cango-caves is a must if you have not been there yet.  We only spend two days in Mosselbay before we left for Cape St Francis. Mosselbay is a popular tourist destination because of the warmer waters and with the ostrichfarms and cango-caves closeby.

In Cape St Francis we stayed at the luxurious Royal Wharf, located on the canals of the St Francis Bay.  This was the ideal base to explore the rest of the surrounding towns. The self catering units are fully equipped and serviced.  The unit that we had sleeps 8, so we had lots of space and decided to each have our own room (1 week without my hubby’s snoring). On the premises is a swimming pool and games room. The Due West Pub in St Francis is also worth a visit.  The owners are friendly and you can mix with the locals. The ambience is warm and cosy.  Although Cape St Francis has a few shops, the closest town is Humansdorp. Cape St francis is a popular holiday destination and one of the few places where you can really relax and get away from the city. Cape St Francis is close to Jeffries Bay and we spend a day shopping at the factory shops in Jeffries Bay.  There are really great bargains at some of these shops and they sell well-known brand names. Jeffries Bay is known for one of the world’s best surfing spots and they also have lots of other activities on the beach.  One can spend a whole holiday only on the beach at Jeffries.  They also have lots of restaurants to choose from with live entertainment in the evenings, we spend a lovely evening at Hananna’s, they are situated close to the beach.  There are lots of hiking trails or you can drive through the country side and have lunch at one of the many coffee shops on the way.  These areas have so much to offer we were sad to leave after one week but we plan to go back.

On our way back we took a little detour and went to see the Augrabies Falls.  When we were there, there were little water and we were a bit disappointed but a friend sent us some spectacular photos of the falls which were taken after the recent rainfall. If you go there now you are in for a treat. It was an extremely hot summer’s day and we were thankful for the air-conditioned restaurant in the park.  It is a top-class restaurant and the service is very professional and friendly.  The food is also of a very high standard. We decided to stay over in Prieska and on our way to Prieska we saw birds building huge nests on the telephone poles. A whole flock of birds are living there, it’s amazing.  I am not sure what kind of birds this was. In Prieska we spend the night at a guesthouse on the Orange River.  Prieska is a quiet town but the local musuem and the graves of the english soldiers are a popular tourist attraction. They have all sorts of birds in the beautiful garden.  We had a lovely breakfast before we left the next morning. The restaurant is overlooking the river.  We had a pleasant stay at a very reasonable price.

Our last stop over before home was Springbok and we stayed in the Springbok Hotel for one night.  Springbok is a popular destination during the flower season. We met some tourist in the ladies bar at the hotel and spend a lovely evening there.  Springbok is also a town where I would like to spend more time at.  The people are friendly and we received very good service, both at the hotel and the restaurant where we went for supper.  I would rather go there in spring or autumn because summer is just too hot.

On our way home we stop at well-known Elandsbaai Hotel for a cold drink and then headed home to Vredenburg. The Elands Bay Hotel is right on the beach, with a lovely seaview. The atmosphere is very relaxed and Elands Bay is a very popular tourist destination.  We enjoy travelling through our country and cannot wait for our next trip.  Not sure where we will go next. For now we have to settle for a weekend here and there.

For generations the main source of income on the West Coast was generated by the fishing industry. Only later did the factories and other business came, but even today the fishing industry form a large part of the local income. By now you all know about the new prices for fishing permits for 2010.  This effect all marine products, licences and permits. The sad part is that this will affect a lot of families who depend on fishing for their livelihood. A lot of local fisherman will not be able to afford these new prices, and sometimes the ‘catch of the day’ is all they have to eat.

Anglers and commercial fishermen are all up in arms.  The price hike is ridiculously high and in some instances the increase is almost 500% more.  The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs have published the price increase in the Government Gazette on 29 January 2010.  This increase will be effective on 1 March 2010 and interesting parties should object before the end of February 2010.  This does not leave a lot of time. It does not only affect the commercial fisherman but also the independent fisherman, anglers and the ordinary person who do this for relaxation.

My whole family love fishing, we do not have a lot of time to spend together but try to spend a few days during our annual holiday together and then we will go fishing in the mornings.  The thrill of catching your own fish is something to experience.  Although we do not really catch a lot of fish (most of the time nothing), we enjoy the togetherness and the excitement when one of us do have a bite. What used to be a wonderful family sport will now become too expensive.  For a family of four you will need to pay 200 x 4 = 800 for a fishing permit and R300 for a bait permit and R500 for a crayfish permit, this will then cost you R1600. If only dad go fishing it will cost him R1000. For us it would be a luxury we are not able to afford anymore but for others this is their bread and butter.  Again the poor will suffer. In the last couple of years a large number of people from the West Coast lost their jobs because of the closing of fishing factories. It appear that with the ridiculously high salaries that ministers award themselves, they have become so separated from reality that they have no idea what the consequences of their decisions have on the poor.  The West Coast will suffer severely because of the impact that the price increase will have on the local community.  This will not only result in an increase in pouching but also other criminal activities which will have a negative impact on the community.  It will also have an impact on the tourist industry.

Objections can be done in writing, you have to state your reason and add your contact details to:  revenue@deat.gov.za