Sparks in Russia

The really amazing Sparks; in Russia recently (not my photos):

Not much other news here... cold and dark early at night, very dry in the daytime, and no hiking recently due to a bad cough for a few weeks.

Snow in Jhb. Cast of my small figure, in lead/antimony. This was using the completely wrong type of compounds for the lost wax shell. I can't wait to try the right ceramic shell materials and another metal, like tin or pewter. Lead fumes are too strong and dangerous. In the background a baboon carving from Zimbabwe; not very realistic but still very striking... I love it.

Where's the camera?

Rita amongst some old Boer War walls, in the Magaliesberg. These ones were probably to contain horses, but there's no evidence to confirm anything.

We had snow last week. An inch or so over most of Eastern and Southern Johannesburg. We had none at home but this photo shows what was still there at my work place this week at 9:00 in the morning. I've never seen overnight snow in Jhb before. There was still snow on rooves at lunchtime.

All 4 brothers together; the last time for a long time... maybe. Dave, Cliff, Keith and Austin.

Cliff and Karen's wedding. A really beautiful event.

German School Bazaar

Thomas holding a real live scorpion. The big ones, like this, are not so dangerous, and are mild mannered. This was the best room at the bazaar, a nature room. Thomas impressd the presenters with his knowledge of Dung Beetles, Whirligig beetles, and lots of other insects as we see them on our hikes. Not bad for a 4 year old.

Alex looking but wouldn't hold it.

I was surprised Rita held one.

Here I am on the bungee jumping thing, trying to do a forward roll. It gets quite tiring bouncing around and 5 minutes of it is more than enough. We get pulled down by a big bloke, on the lower trampolene, and released.

Cliff and Karen visit Jhb

Down a mine at Gold Reef City. This used to be a working mine, going down to more than 3,200 ft. (1,000 metres). Here we are at about 250 ft deep.

Here we are at the top of the Voortrekker Monument, near Pretoria. This hole in the top of the dome looks down into the main body of the building.

On top of the building, flying buttresses creating a corridor all around.

Cliff and Karen on the last leg of their honeymoon, spent a weekend with us.

First week April

Rita's first Pizza; very professional-looking and very tasty.
I spent the day hiking with Yvonne and her kids to Castle Gorge. Here we are damming up the water in a nearby pool. Made the pool behind me 4 inches deeper, and made a nice waterfall roar when we stood up. "Do it again!" said Thomas... "..But it takes 20 minutes...!!"
Thomas and Alexandra. They walked the whole way... quite a long walk... Up 1000 ft, and across a few kilometres. We looked at Boer War building remains, insects, frogs... saw Klipspringers (buck), great swimming - not cold yet. A great day.