Ugandan Introduction ceremony - December 2015

Uganda December 2015- here we are in our Kanzus, for the proper Introduction ceremony where I am introduced to the whole of Rita's family.
Brother Austin (best man), Dad, brother Keith, Me.

. . . and Austin's family too; ladies in their Gomezi dresses:

Me, Ginny, Dad, Evie, Jhb friend Portia, Keith, Sally, Austin.

We all got dressed up at a nearby hotel before heading to the venue.

 

Cooking started early in the morning. About 300 people attended. This shows only some of the preparations. A lot went on behind the scenes.

 

Ceremonial beer was carried up front, as we all walked in double file: men one side, women t'other.

 

After a couple of hours I am being plucked from the back of one of the crowded tents by Rita's Aunt. Then I am led to the couch at the front.

This all took place at the family home in Masaka.

Traditional musicians played frequently; a DJ with a disco set-up also kept it musical. There were also dancers, and Austin and Sally had to dance/walk around as did several other groups and individuals as they were introduced to us all.

The High table, elders.

Nieces and sons: Nicholas, Shiela, Sumiya, er, and Shamim and Pedro.

Lots of things going on, and in splendor.  

 

Rita arrived stunning, like the princess she is. I didn't even see her until after the lunch.

At last she's with me.

 

 

Another dress.

 

Rita's sister Anne, Rita, brother Donnie and Dan; and Rita's sari. These are traditional family cakes.

At one point I had to hand over a chicken to the leading male in Rita's family, here: brother Sam. Everyone was giggling when the chicken tried to escape and I grabbed its neck and couldn't hold it otherwise. I had to hold it like that a few minutes, while the MC talked, before handing it over.

It was all an amazing experience. Pity I didn't get to taste the local banana beer, in the huge gourd and carried in and handed over to someone. They gave me water for a particular ceremonial act thinking I might not like the beer.
Wish I could do it all again.

September 2015

Thomas leaping off Help-Help rock, Tonquani, Magaliesberg. He's got guts, too high for me to attempt it.

Alex, Rita and Thomas atop Northcliff  hill during a family get-together sundowner with drinks and snacks.

Rita and moon. Northcliff, time to go home.

John and me camping in the frequent drizzle at Wilgepoort. Still had a great, peaceful weekend; hiking up the nearby river. Only had a half-hour of heavy rain when we sat in the car.

Hillock near Wilgepoort.

A sad goodbye to Alex and Thomas as they are about to leave for Germany. Looking forward to seeing them again when they have a holiday here in a year's time.

Me, Rita, Yvonne.

Yvonne's last weekend camping, with Richard, John, Yvonne, Emma, and me.

Yvonne and Richard overlooking Cedarberg Kloof.

So, I made some pasties. . . .

Then decided it was so much easier to make the same ingredients into rolls.
(Our home hen's eggs behind)

Walking with John and Emma on a reserve near Pretoria.

Waterberg Hike - Train - August 2015

Hiking in the Waterberg with Thomas and John.

Our fireside seats at the huts. Evening, of course, gathered around a nice log fire - all night.

Me and John.

Once a year we visit the Steam train maintenance yards. Transport there is, of course, by train. Here's Janine pulling in to Johannesburg station.

Thomas, Emma and John. These trains are kept in tip-top condition.

Emma (John's sort-of daughter - well: he's her 'Daddy'; she's his ex-girlfriend's daughter, and they both still live with him (complicated); anyway, she's delighted at the experience.

Waterberg Hike and Steam train - August 2015

Sneuberg trip (Snow Mountain) April 2015

Sneuberg - so called as it's possible that it could snow any day of the year.

So we spent a few days trying to get up it, but it looked like this every day: drizzling most of the time.

 

Camping was nice but quite cold: Bernie and me.

 

 

Halfway up was this lovely old wreck.

 

As we left the clouds parted enough to get a shot of it.

Visited some rock engravings on the way back.

 

Goats inspecting our equipment as we arrived at one campsite.

 

Northern Cape has lots of these Social Weaver nests. The telephone poles have wire frames to support the nests. purely to help the birds.

 

Also on the trip was a visit to Driekops Eiland (Three Hills Island). These Petroglyphs cover quite an area.

 

 

Another place had these pre-dinosaur footprints which were exposed after a major flood a few years ago.