Grandolin's blog for Amy, Zoe, Laura and Joseph

Medina the highest point in Malta

Tia — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:19:55 +0000

Medina was founded about 4000 years BC. The Catacombs were in use by 249 AD. by the Romans. The palace was built in 1370. The streets are very narrow and the windows on the streets very small. It is a walled city with 2 gates.

Our favourite house

Pretty street

Lovely roofscape

The length of the street to the corner is the flight of an arrow.

Malta, the first few days

Delene — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:10:14 +0000

Prince of Wales: We live in a flat in the building with the balconies. We use the gym and heated pool.

First, we settled in our spacious apartment.

Then we decided to view with the open-top bus.

This is the street where we live.

Mdina: built by each race that occupies Malta.

John Turner and Fiona took us to dinner in a fishing harbour.

Tia graduates with MA in Creative Writing and New Media

Delene — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:26:17 +0000

Tia, Eyal and I met the Burmans and Dinah and Verity at the Space museum in Leicester. A wonderful experience of space travel!!

Joseph in Space suit in the gallery. Tia, Eyal, Keith where we waited to enter hall. No rain!!!

Lunch with graduates and Prof Sue Thomas and Prof Kate Pullinger (I read The Mistress of Nothing)

De Montfort Graduation Hall

Delene — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:01:53 +0000

Tia and Eyal’s house in Mill Hill redecorated

Delene — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:39:49 +0000

After a long but most comfortable flight with big seats and lots of leg room on Emirates (excellent food and service and power for laptop) I was delighted to see Tia at Gatwick. After easy train ride (easy change at Farringdon) we arrived in Monterey Close. But only for 3 minutes because I had to go to the chemist for an excellent massage with Nicky. I returned to the house and Tia had a hot foam bath ready. It was a great beginning of the recovery from 24 hours travel.

40 inch new TV in the bookcase.

The large sofa bed is comfortable for 2 people.

Kwa Maratani with Jon,Ian,Keith and families; Sept 2009

Tia — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:46:08 +0000

Keith, Laura, Joseph and I flew to Johannesburg to meet Jon where we hired cars and fetched Nancy from Midrand. We arrived at Kwa at the same time as Ian and Kate, Amy and Zoe who drove from the farm. We all settled in Cabanas 7,8 and 9 which overlooked the veld and waterhole.

Soon after arrival we checked the waterhole for animals. We saw elephants on 6 out of 7 days and some days 3 times on a day. On the veld in front of the Cabanas we watched zebras, warthogs, gnus, koedoe and birds. We spent 3 hours on a game drive lorry when we saw rhinos and lion. Every meal we ate outside at a large table.

Christopher and Elizabeth Roper and auntie Merle dined with us on Saturday. The chef prepared a fabulous buffet.

Every day was swimming weather.

More Scottburgh

Delene — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:32:44 +0000

Nancy took this photo of the braai.

More Kwa Maratani

Delene — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:35:14 +0000

Ian, Amy, Zoe, Kate.

Ian, Amy, Zoe and Kate departed on Sunday. It was wonderful that they came down for the weekend.
The girls were delighted to meet their cousins Laura and Joseph.

On Sunday, Steve and Mieke lunched with us. It was great to see them looking so well and happy.

The zebras grazed on the veld next to us. Gnus and warthogs came and went.

We lunched in the park and enjoyed the drive especially when we saw the Rhinos.

20090827 Last dinner in Scottburgh

Delene — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:12:21 +0000

We enjoyed the last dinner at the Spur. Laura and Joseph loved the playroom.

Joseph at the playroom

20090827 Durban visit to Ushaka water world.

Delene — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:10:26 +0000

When it rained we travelled to Durban to visit Ushaka waterworld. It was wonderful on a wet day but would be even better on a sunny day.