Fiddlesticks

Still avoiding the supermarket pretty much

2009-11-07T13:38:00.003Z

I do try and avoid the supermarket ( for lots of reasons I won't go in to here as I've covered it before) as much as possible and I've detailed over the years on this blog just how I go about doing this.

As it stands we get -

Milk and juice from a local milkman

Eggs from our own hens

Honey from our bees

Veggies and some fruit from the allotment

Local farm shop for fresh fruit and veg, meat and cheese

We make wine and beer, jams, cake and biscuits. We eat a diet that is for the most part unprocessed so have no need for ready meals.

We buy the staples in bulk from Infinity foods so things like toilet rolls, tea, coffee, pasta and rice which we store in the garage.

I should point out that there are no shops in this village and the nearest town and therefore supermarket is 20mins drive away.

But -

We've started over the last few months having veggie boxes from Abel and Cole. This helps to even out the peaks and troughs of allotment growing especially this year when time and the weather meant I don't think we got the harvests we would normally expect. This has been a huge success and it means we get to try out new veggies that perhaps a whole row of up the plot would have been a waste - what if no one liked it!.

More recently Abel and Cole have introduced an excellent range of basic staples like pasta and cereals which has made me question bulk food shopping. I've just spent the morning squaring up the garage; filling up the kitchen jars and containers and thinking about this. I'm going to try ordering things as we need them through Abel and Cole and see how we get on. The space in the garage would be handy and we are permanently trying to outwit mice ( everything in there is in secure boxes or cupboards but even so..) but whether I can quite get use to not having a back up pantry to call on I'm not sure. I can see perhaps the odd bulk order being placed as I like having the basics to knock up a quick meal but we'll see.

As I said previously I have to grab the odd thing from the supermarket ( cat food, crisps, and the odd kids favourite like fish fingers) but I certainly don't need to do the weekly 'big shop'. For all the other reasons to avoid the supermarket for me the time saved is the biggest reason to think outside the superstore

Satisfying Day

2009-11-03T16:40:00.004Z

Its done nothing but rain today. Definitely not a day to be doing outside work. I spent the morning sorting out Christmas. I've written the lists and started to plan with earnest.

I now know how many Christmas cards I'll need and spent the rest of the morning making the homemade ones for close family and friends. I'll buy the Oxfam ones I need on Friday at work. With impending royal mail strikes I want to be ready to go when its safe to post them and I want the pick of the selection avaliable.

This afternoon I've baked. After a rough survey around the family I've discovered that they're more in to biscuits than cake currently so I tried out a new recipe for chewy choc chip biscuits. Should have had nuts in them but no one else likes nuts so I was outvoted. I've pictured them above .

Now I'm off to make a nice slow cooked veggie stew; perfect for a damp and dark sort of autumnal day

This years hampers - 2009

2009-11-03T15:42:00.004Z

As I said this morning we make Christmas Hampers. I don't suppose we're unique at all but if you're new to this blog or the idea I thought I'd put a bit about them.

I've covered this in previous posts on here in Christmas Hampers2006 and Christmas Hampers 2008 Both contain ideas for things to make to go in them.

As I put in the 1st post this is something that started as a way of sharing our harvest and the things we've grown or made over the year.

The sort of things we put in are things you could make in to nice presents for anyone whether you go to the trouble of creating a whole hamper or just to be able to make nice simple homemade gift for someone.

I start with a nice container for the goodies. I make sure its part of the gift so it might be a reusable bag or basket, or one year I got wooden wine crates from a local wine warehouse which could be reused in the garden.

Often the things that go in the hamper will be things we've made throughout the year like jams from summer fruit harvests or honey gathered from our bees. With a little pre-thought it needn't be a last minute thing at all.

Some new thoughts since I last wrote a post about hampers are -

Calenders - Boots do a calender kit which is cheaper and easier than going to a printer. It just needs 12 photos. The grandparents would love a year of the kids photos or perhaps your garden or travels would make a great calender. Either way try and make it seasonal so the kids and a snowman goes in to February's slot and kids on the beach is for August. If you get really enthused by this idea then try to think about calenders when you're taking snaps throughout the year so you've a ready file of options.

Christmas cake - I tried this idea out last year with great success. Very popular with those who love Christmas cake but for whatever reason wouldn't get round to making their own. It needn't be an arduous job for you. Making one big square cake and then carving it up in to little square ones is easy. Decorating it is lots of fun.

Other foodie ideas include homemade biscuits and fudge - my eldest is particularly good at the latter. Such a simple gift is all about the packaging to make it look especially scrumptious.

Things that go together are nice - in the past I've done a homemade loaf of bread plus the jam to go with it. I'm toying with the idea of homemade lemon curd or marmalade this year.

Things the kids have made - up to you what you include here but I would make sure they are made with care. For example if they've gone mad with glitter you might consider covering it with clear plastic to ensure the glitter stays enhancing the gift and doesn't just get all over everything. School made gifts fall in to this catergory.

Crafts you've made - you know what you're good at whether its knitting or crochet, embroidery or canvas work. There are plenty of patterns for ideas on the net or in books for simple things that would be lovely to make and recieve. Just make sure they're fairly quick and simple so that you enjoy making them. Time consuming items that you need a quantity of is not what you need to be doing at such a busy time of year. Also make sure that you finish off all things to the highest standard - it will make all the difference to the finished item.

I'm still working on ideas for this years hampers but hope this inspires you to have a go at some homemade items too

* photo is of the cake I made for my mum's hamper last year

Planning For Christmas

2009-11-03T09:13:00.002Z

Whilst in some ways I secretly admire those who whizz around the shops on Christmas Eve and make it all look effortless; I can't work like that. These days leaving it to the last minute is also rather an expensive way to do Christmas.

So I'm sat with a cup of coffee about to start planning ours. Actually I've had half an eye on the subject for weeks and have started to make things towards it like the Christmas cake. I've bought a few fabric and craft things already and have some ideas for presents. Gently spreading the cost and work load over a few months is calmer and less hard work on the old money.

I write card lists - using previous years list as a guide but also my address book too to make sure I don't forget anyone. I still send cards - Royal Mail strikes permitting- whatever some eco-folk may say. Sometimes there are distant friendships where a card is the perfect way to just say you've been thought of at Christmas - I like sending cards. I then check whether I have spare cards from last year or whether I need to buy/make more this year. I have made all of them some years but its not necessarily the cheapest option by the time you've bought the blank cards and envelopes. These days I tend to get some from Oxfam where I work and make some special cards for close family and friends only. That way I still get the pleasure out of making some; which I genuinely enjoy. So far this year I've already got the bits and pieces needed to make them.

Then the present lists - years ago when I was married to the father of my kids we set a rule within the family that we'd only buy for the kids. This still holds true and if you have a lot of siblings with children its well worth considering; before present buying gets out of hand and pocket. So after the children, there is just our parents and each other pretty much. I start writing down ideas as I think of them ( or see them) but am not above asking for lists from people for more specific ideas. I'd rather get them exactly what they wanted. That's much less wasteful

Separately I also start to plan the hampers. If you're a newish reader then I'll explain we give a hamper of homemade or homegrown goodies to our close family. Its part of sharing our harvest from the year. One per household. I'll cover what I make for them in a separate post.

Finally I have an early start thinking about entertaining and food. If there is something I can get make or put in the freezer so much the better!

I absolutely love Christmas but whatever your take on it; I guarantee early planning of it will help

An old post still rings true

2009-10-31T18:42:00.003Z

I was just checking through the blog when I came across this post I wrote in 2007 and I thought it worth putting to the fore again as it seemed just as relevant today.

Its called Random Green Thoughts go check it out and tell me what you think?

Nothings changed as far as I can see...

Westonbirt With The Iphone

2009-10-31T18:25:00.003Z

Who needs a fancy camera! Tim also shot some great photos with his phone...

Westonbirt Arboretum Never Fails to Deliver

2009-10-31T17:35:00.006Z

Stunning colours on our walk there today. Just enjoy the photos.......

To muse on.....

2009-10-31T09:07:00.004Z

I often pass on inspirational quotes I've seen on twitter. Here is a selection of the latest ones that have caused me to stop and think.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu

We are disturbed not by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.~Epictetus

Truth, and goodness, and beauty are but different faces of the same all. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Leave the tribe of earth-wandering amnesiacs, having lost touch with the source from which they come. Remember you are loved.

And from Inner Space Thought For The day site -

Live Purposefully
If you don't live life on purpose you live life by accident. Why do some days feel like a motorway pile up? It's because you haven't sorted out your purpose yet. The highest purpose is always giving, or serving others, without wanting anything in return. This is why relaxation is always impossible if we are always 'on the take'. There is an overall purpose for your life, and each of the many scenes which fill your day are opportunities to serve your purpose. Take time to think deeply, listen to your intuition, and with patience, the reason why you are here, and what you uniquely have to give, will occur to you. Then you can live your life 'on purpose'.

Another School Holiday Is Over

2009-10-30T18:31:00.003Z

I genuinely enjoy the boys being at home. We have some fun times and the break from the school run and the early starts is a wonderful rest. I regard it as being my holiday too!

This week has been a typical sort of holiday for us and I thought that some of the things we get up to would help you if you've ever wondered what to do with the kids for a week or longer. I know there are loads of family friendly attractions to go to but if you spent every day on an outing it would cost an absolute fortune and to my mind is completely unnecessary.

Here's my top list of things to do with the children

Just do one outing - ie to an 'attraction' - per week (that's 6 during the summer school hols) Make it special but one is fine - don't feel guilty.
Cooking with mum - and I don't just mean making cakes. Proper cooking; grating cheese, measuring out pasta etc. Older children can look through a cook book; decide what to cook; and then help with shopping and cooking (and clearing up!)
Helping with the domestics. The house doesn't magically clean itself so get the kids involved. Even young ones like to wave a feather duster about. Older children should be able to work the vacuum and polish. No it won't be as good as you'd do it; but its done!
Ditto any other things that Need To Be Done - mine have ended up shelling beans, digging up old shrubs, picking blackberries or helping with other harvesting or gardening jobs. Children like to be useful I've found.
Clearing out their rooms. This serves various purposes. Firstly it enables you to have a cull of silly bits of plastic who's original use everyone has forgotten. Secondly all lost puzzle pieces and games bits can be returned to boxes so that they can actually be played with and thirdly and most importantly I'll guarantee you that by the end of the day they'll have rediscovered some long lost at-the-back-of-the-cupboard game and will be happily playing it
Small treats. Even simple outings that don't cost much can be a big treat. Just going in to town to do some errands can be turned in to something special if you stop and have a drink and cake in a cafe. My kids love picking up a meal-deal sandwich lunch from Boots if we do town. Inexpensive but something different
Equally I remember when the boys were smaller, a mum use to arrange to always be in the park once a week, same time, same place. Anyone was welcome to join her for a picnic. This of course is practically free; the kids get to play with their friends and the mums get some adult company.
Different sorts of transport can make an outing. If you normally go everywhere by car try the bus or even train. I remember my eldest's playground organising an outing that involved the bus to the train station, a ride on a train as far as the next station, drink and biscuit in the station cafe and then the reverse journey to get home. Magical!
What about a walk! I was horrified to learn that after a recent school trip some children in my son's school had struggled to complete a 3 mile walk! 3miles is nothing; get out and enjoy a nice walk with them. (bike rides of course too)
Get the crafts out - painting is loved by all ages; just put down plenty of newspaper and keep paper towel to hand at all times
By the same token collecting packaging of all descriptions so that the children can glue and tape it together is equally loved. Be prepared for some lovingly made big monster creations! Never underestimate the play value of a plain cardboard box...
Good old fashioned board games and card games - perfect for wet afternoons. They're not usually expensive to buy and can often be found in charity shops.
Family film afternoons - but let them bring down the duvets and snuggle under them on the sofa to watch. Perfect for wintry afternoons when being cosy is to be indulged
There are various websites that offer printable colouring in and puzzle pages which my boys have enjoyed in the past. www.abcteach.com is one such website

Above all don't fear them being bored - this is quite a natural experience for a child, and if you feel you have to provide 'entertainment' all the time to relieve this then you're not allowing them to be creative and innovative with their time. Its important that they learn to amuse themselves. This is particularly true today when children's school time is so scheduled. Allowing them the freedom to think of things to do themselves is an important part of becoming self reliant young people and adults.

Making the Christmas Cake

2009-10-29T20:54:00.004Z

Its half term and this is when I like to make our Christmas cake. Actually I had a couple of other posts in mind but we've been busy and so this is the one I'm going to write up today.

So youngest son Lawrence and I spent the morning grating and weighing, mixing and stirring. Out of habit I guess, I usually make an 8" round from a recipe by Delia Smith

With this post you get the pre-baked cake photo and the baked cake photo!

As it takes so long to bake the house is filled with the gentle smell of spices for hours. The cake will be carefully wrapped up but I shall be feeding it brandy at regular intervals.

Its a long way til Christmas but I've made a good start in the preparations.

Winter Preparations

2009-10-18T15:20:00.006+01:00

There is definitely a sense of preparing for winter here. I spent some time in the week buying plants for tubs and putting the geraniums in to the greenhouse for the winter. It gave me a chance to look around the garden centre and work out what I wanted in the back garden

So yesterday that's what we worked on. Now that the new borders are all in place and freshly weeded we got to do the fun bit which was begin to fill them with new plants. The previous owners had favoured a japanese minimal colour look of bamboos, grasses and architectural plants. I want to create a more English country garden effect. We bought more roses, a grape vine, aqueligias, a pyracantha, wallflowers, pansies and lots of spring bulbs. A most satisfying afternoon planting it all up. I've still got an old rockery to work on - again its got too many plants that have outgrown their spacing and it needs digging back to the stones and redefining. That is going to be my autumn project as the weather allows.

Up on the plot we are harvesting the last of the summer crops before the big clear up. We've rotavated over some of the empty areas ( like where the potatoes were) so its starting to look cleaner. Tim today bought home a last butternut squash, a nice pot of autumn raspberries, the last few runner beans which will probably be used for next years seed, and a few jerusalem artichokes. There is perhaps one or two more pumpkins up there I think but that's probably it.

We're not very good at growing winter crops - the pigeons, rabbits and even the odd muntjack deer are voracious - so we've currently not got anything in there but this gives us room to think over the winter and plan effectively for next year. We aim to increase our fruit trees up the plot and are seriously considering where we'd put a polytunnel of our own. I want to look at how the whole plot is fenced as we only have part of it protected so there is enough to do over the winter in readiness for the spring.

The bees are preparing for winter too. We've been feeding them up this last month so they have plenty of stores for the times when they can't go out and there is nothing for them to forage from. They've been treated for varroa mite as part of our intergrated management of this bee pest. Today Tim fixed the mouse guard on the entrances to the hive which prevents mice thinking that a hive would be a warm and tasty winter home. All that is left to do is strap up the hives to prevent strong winter storms from toppling them and consider if we need to protect the hives from woodpeckers.

At home I'm continuing with Christmas planning and my thoughts are turning to making the cake and pudding over half term which starts at the end of next week. In the meantime its back to the knitting and tea....

Gently productive day

2009-10-07T16:17:00.002+01:00

Stuck at home in part because its been non stop rain for the past couple of days (so dark with it too) and also home looking after youngest as he recovers from a bug. He's a good patient and whilst he convalesces I've been gently productive.

I bought a thin knitted green fabric a while a go with a view to making a scarf out of it so this morning I finally got round to cutting it to the right width and sewing it up. Its a soft fluffy green that's been shot with an occasional gold thread in an almost lacy loose knit which feels quite warm once its bunched in to a scarf. It joins all the other scarves I have - bit of a scarf habit, sorry.

I also spent some time playing around with a candle kit with a view to making some for the Christmas hampers. Need to try burning it first to see if what I've made actually works.

Then I've been in the kitchen. A cake was needed for a school event and as promised yesterday I thought I'd make some biscuits. So as the photo shows the barrell now has a nice layer or two of simple ginger biscuits.

And finally I've not long put a mutton stew in the oven. I've sauted whole shallots, mushrooms, meat and carrots, added a little homebrewed beer that a friend gave us and have put it to slow cook in the small oven. Smells good already

Back to routine

2009-10-06T14:31:00.003+01:00

I'm sure I've not done with the Namibia trip yet - there are still more photos to upload for a start. And things I've learnt from it will emerge as I look back on such an adventure.

But its most definitely autumn here. Coming back from sunny 30c plus to cool, wet and dark was quite a bump. I've been enjoying the sudden change in colours in the trees and the damp woodsmoke smell that's starting to hang around the village. We went for a walk to Batsford Arboretum near Morton-in-Marsh at the weekend as a family outing to really look at how Autumn is coming along

I'd missed cooking in the 2 weeks I was away. It was lovely having all meals prepared for you, but its not the same as being in the kitchen yourself. So I've been back in the kitchen cooking proper roasts and cakes. Learnt from Namibia - I'd forgotten how nice homemade biscuits are, so may well have a go at keeping the biscuit tin filled up myself. This was something I use to do - no idea why it lapsed actually

The boys coped very well without me but yesterday it was nice to put the house back to how I liked it. I deep polished the dining table til it shone and the house smelt all old fashioned. I scrubbed the kitchen floor and washed the cat beds and blankets.

Today the childrens' old beds were collected by a charity shop and once they were gone and off the landing, I could get in to and tidy the airing cupboard. I also cut up 2 old toweling dressing gowns they'd outgrown to make cleaning cloths and rags.

I've a delicious backlog of reading and catalogues that arrived whilst I was away so I've been getting in to those, and my thoughts are already turning to Christmas preparations and perhaps the things I can get a head start on making. I've loads of African animal photos I can turn in to a calender or two for a start....

Photos from Namibia - now on Flickr

2009-10-04T15:46:00.002+01:00

With over 500 to sort out its taking me some time to get the sets up on Flickr but there are now 4 to choose from ( including a set of cute cheetah cubbie photos) and if you keep checking back you'll see more as I add them.

Here's the link - MrsFiddlesticks Flickr

More gratuitous cheetah footage

2009-09-30T21:42:00.002+01:00

The cheetahs gather ready to run....

Visiting a waterhole in the Etosha National Park

2009-09-30T21:13:00.002+01:00

We went on a weekend trip to Etosha and although my little video cam is rather wide angle in scope this does give you a tiny taste of life at a water hole

A Cheetah Run

2009-09-30T21:10:00.002+01:00

This is a video shot whilst I stood on the back of a moving pick up truck! These female cheetahs all lived on a 64 hectare pen. They are exercised like this before feeding which I didn't film ( to avoid 'odd' stains on the camera) but which involves chucking large chunks of meat over the side of the truck in to keen cheetah mouths. They then run off in to the shade with their trophies!

Feeding the cheetahs and running them was one of the most exciting parts of my time in Namibia.

Enjoy....

the start of the photos from Namibia

2009-09-30T13:01:00.005+01:00

I've over 500 to sort through but thought you'd like a small selection to be going on with. I'll put some on a photo sharing site and post the links here when I'm done.

These are 5month old cubbies peeping out at me

classic cheetah running pose here and above a runner takes a break.

This is 13month old Phoenix who we were allowed to stroke and scritch the ears of. Proof that I've touched a cheetah and still have all my fingers. Just wonderful!

Talking to cheetahs...

2009-09-29T22:27:00.001+01:00

Thursday: How many warthogs is too many?

2009-09-24T19:18:00.001+01:00

The 12 hour game count started at 6am so that meant getting up at 4.30am!

Quick breakfast and then we were collected at 5.15am. Allowed to bring
book/ipod and lots of eats!

Our hide was called Hog Heaven! There were 2 of us and all in all 4
teams were sent out in to various hides for the 12 hours. We thought we'd make it
competitive and we devised a scoring sheet! Good marks for say a cheetah but oryx
are 10 a penny so only 1 for them.

Saw giraffe and zebra fairly early in the morning and then apart from
a few oryx it really was Hog Heaven. It IS possible to see too many
warthogs! Counted over a hundred all told.

Did see an African Hawk Eagle but it didn't stop long enough to photograph.

And right before we were picked up we got a group of 13 baboons!

Just got back to the office as the thunder and lightening started.It's
an impressive show here!

They know where the missing rhino is and the farmer (now his cattle
are getting rounded up and the fence is repaired) is happy to have her
there if that is what she wants.

There are 6 rhino here at the centre - they originally came from Etosha and are here as
part of a government custodian scheme. There are 3 males and 3 females.

It's still thundery here. I've seen the schedule for tomorrow and its very
likely i won't be able to send an email - I'll do tweets and texts as
I can. We have an afternoon game count from 4pm (which usually gets
back for supper ie 6-6.30pm) but then there is another evening one
starting at 7pm which I gather won't get back til 10pm!

Oh, and of course I have a recording of cheetahs purring!

Glad everyone is enjoying the updates. There's lots more to tell, but the dark
and internet speed is restricting me a bit!

Wednesday - And the internet's off!

2009-09-23T19:02:00.003+01:00

I've just received a text from Julie saying that she's been trying to get on to the Internet for 20 minutes without any success, so I don't think we're going to be having an e-mail from her this evening, unfortunately.

I can tell you a little of what's been going on. This morning they were tracking a Rhino. The area that they were working in was around the Waterburg Plateau where Julie said that the views were stunning. They tracked the rhino by telemetry, so they saw blips on their screen but didn't actually see it! I gather there are six black rhinos at the farm, Julie promises she'll update us on that another time.

After lunch they returned to the centre where an intense thunderstorm came through. The team retreated inside whilst the cheetahs huddled up together and watched the train. It may very well be that the thunderstorm has caused a disturbance to the internet connection at the farm.

Julie's just told me that they're doing a 12 hour game count tomorrow. They're leaving at 5.15am - so one of this evening's activities is to make sandwiches for tomorrow! The alarm's set for 4.30am!

Tuesday: Or Disconnected Africa

2009-09-22T19:26:00.002+01:00

Well, the update I received from Julie this evening was as follows:

"aaagggg

I wrote loads and it lost it all :-(

Too dark to redo ( sorry!) so frustrating!

Love Julie"

Of course, the internet connection is poor, particularly if multiple people are trying to use it at the same time. Anyway, after a quick exchange of text messages, we decided that I'd phone Julie quickly and take some notes.

Last evening there was a thunderstorm, with spots of rain. The thunderstorm set the dogs howling at around 3am. This morning the air somehow smelt fresher and there was a cooler breeze, but of course the ground was already dry. The locals were sniffing
the air and thinking that the rains are on the way.

The first job this morning was cleaning out the goat pens; raking and shovelling! The goats were keen to help and were jumping in and out of the wheelbarrow. After that, it was off to the 'teenagers' pen. The teenagers are 13 month old, orphaned cheetahs named THE STARS. Their names are Quazar, Phoenix and Soraya. Their pen is split into two and they were herded into one half of the pen whilst we worked on the other half. Just like domestic cats, they were sticking paws through the fence to try and bat the rake. When they weren't doing that, they were chasing each other, playing football, micromanaging their staff and purring, purring, purring! When that all became too much, they slept, with a big sigh and putting a large, languid paw under the nose....

Following a lunch of fresh rolls, salads, cold meats we spent some time on a video project. Some of the volunteers who are on the project for a longer duration are making some videos to put on YouTube, so we spent some time filming with them, talking to them about our experiences at the CCF and so on. The interviews we did will be edited into films, mixed with plenty of cheetah footage!

As the farm is 44km from the nearest town, you can't just nip into the shops. Tuesday is shopping day and if you want to add anything to the list, you can, just give them the money and a few hours later, the CCF Shopping Service will deliver!

I asked Julie about the photos and video she's taken. She's really pleased with the photos. The Flip video has been working well, though the wide angle lens probably isn't ideal for distant animal shots.

So there we are. And it was great talking to the intrepid traveller.

Monday: How a cheetah hunts and a bit about top speed

2009-09-21T18:33:00.002+01:00

The cheetah run was as before lovely. Last time we ran Blondman and
Smartman but today it was the ladies turn; Hermione and Harry (OK,
Harry turned out to be a girl after she was named but still.. Ron is
in a separate pen with the other boys) Some great photos again.

As we had some guests with us Matt the keeper was full of cheetah
facts so I'm trying to recall them for the blog.

The run uses a car battery and starter motor and it pulls a piece of
rag around a course rather like a greyhound lure at a race. There is
no scent on the cloth and the colour is unimportant - its the movement
they like. It can go at 45mph but for a cheetah that's just a jog.
They can reach up to 70mph but only sustain that sort of speed for
relatively short bursts or they over heat and risk brain damage and
heart attack and death.

When hunting they catch 50% of their prey which is a high percentage
but once caught (and they kill by clamping their jaws around the neck
and suffocate the game - their jaws aren't strong enough to tear like
other animals) they have to rest for about 30-40mins. This means that
their lunch is vunerable to being taken by lions etc. Cheetahs are
built to run not fight so they will end up giving up their meal.

There are 52 captive cheetahs here - in huge pens so not like a zoo at
all. Most were orphaned. Typically, a cheetah cub stays with its mum
until its between 18months and 2years old and during that time the mum
teaches it to hunt. If it loses its mum before that age it can't
survive.It can run of course but it has no idea how to catch and kill
its prey. Some are also here because of ill health or similar. There
is one, Darwin, who was captured by a farmer when he was young and fed
the wrong diet so his bones in his back legs didn't calcify properly
so although he can run its not as fast or as good as a wild cheetah so
that's why he's here.

They are fed donkey as I've said. It's rather large bones means that
the cheetah can't crunch them (as it would if it was catching wild
antelope etc) so its rubbed with a mineral powder to add vitamins and
calcium to the diet.

This week there are some students from the Namibian Polytechnic on a
course and we joined them this afternoon on a lecture about wild life
census techniques so looking at the camera traps and game counts we
do. Interesting to learn about the scientific protocols and things you
have to consider when starting any research of this sort.

Food today? Gamey sausages, mash and beans for lunch and I've just had
chicken portions, macaroni and brocolli and cauliflower with cheese on
top.

Right best go as dinner was served late and I don't like walking back
down in the dark

Oh and it rained a very tiny amount here..

A weekend in Etosha National Park

2009-09-20T19:30:00.001+01:00

Etosha was wonderful! We had a nice air con mini bus which made a
change from the ricketty-held together-with-masking-tape trucks we
usually ride around it ( note to parents - they're safe just tatty!)
We were staying just outside the park but only a few km away. We had
a wonderful game drive around on Saturday when we arived in the
afternoon. The first waterhole we stopped at within one of the lodges
had two elephants bathing. There were also springbok, and zebra in
there too. It was nice that they all mingled together we thought!

To say we just drove around doesn't do it justice. We had an
experienced guide who knew where to look and there was clearly a 'bush
telegraph' system as after one phone call we shot off to look for a
lion! He was a bit distant but I have a couple of grainy photos of him
under a tree. I have loads of photos. To list the things seen seems to take
the edge off it but there is no other way to show just how many things
we saw!

Springbok
Black faced Impala
Red Hartebeast
Kudu
Oryx
Koribustard ( a bird - may have spelt it wrong!)
Zebra
Elephant
Grey Pale Chanting Goshawk
Lion
Guinea fowl
Vultures
Giraffe
Warthog

( will add as I think of them!)

The park is locked at dusk so we have to leave to go to our lodge.
This was a wonderful pagoda shaped hotel set high above the plain.
Amazing view! We had detached lodge buildings with aircon and an
ensuite ( which since we have communal shower block a little walk from
our rooms seemed luxury indeed! - not to imply that our bathrooms
here are bad just that there is a walk to them which makes one be
really sure before getting up in the night!) There was glasses of iced
tea on our arrival which was a lovely touch.

This lodge had a lovely terrace restaurant with the most amazing view. There was a set 4 course dinner
and after drinks in the bar ( big squashy black sofas) we settled at a
table outside. To start was a salad buffet (I'm talking about food
again, sorry!) then pumpkin soup - quantities weren't large so it
wasn't overwhelming. Then the main course of kudu steak - definitely a
cross between beef and venison on a bed of red cabbage,with saute
potatoes, cauliflower and mange tout. Pud was an apple and nut strudel
and cream. Four of us shared a nice South African Merlot and in the
candle light it was a celebratory meal after a busy week.

Our driver wanted to get us in to the park early next morning so we
set our alarms for 5.15am ( yes on a SUNDAY!) and after a wonderful
buffet breakfast ( fresh fruit, german meats and cheeses, cereal, and
cooked things inc liver (yuck- for breakfast???) and pancakes and no, I
didn't try everything.

The park opens at 7am and boy were we 1st in the queue! The sun had
started to rise and it seems to rise quickly but it was still cool and
pretty that early. More animals were spotted - see above list. But
also we drove around looking at the landscape. Etosha is set on a vast
salt pan that this time of year is completely dry. Looking across at
it makes one realise how insignificant (despite our arrogance) us
humans really are. A wonderful drive around and more photos to add to
the collection.

What has also struck me about this trip is the colours of everything.
Here at CCF the ground/soil is soft terracotta, the grass has dried to
a pale lemon in the main and the trees being mostly devoid of leaf (
though some are starting to blossom and shoot as it comes in to
spring) are a charcoal/dusty lilac - more like heather here. With the
blue of the sky the bands of terracotta,lemon, dusty lilac and blue is
most natural and harmonious. In Etosha the ground is chalky white
stone - the elephants cover themselves with this clay especially at
waterholes making them look quite white - the grass is more mustardy
yellow and the sky is a darker blue somehow. Looking across this huge
dried out salt pan its just stripes of these colours.

Its about a 2 hour drive back here and the rest of the afternoon has
been restful. Not everyone wanted to come on our trip and I've caught
up with gossip. The rhino is still lost and I now gather that it had
to be tranquilised to be returned the 1st time. There is still clearly
some fence building and farmer relationship building going on.

Our supper this evening was an open air braai ( think I've spelt that
right ) ie BBQ as there are a group of students from Namibia's
polytechnic here for a week's course. There was fresh warm bread, rice,
mixed veggies and lamb in a spicy sauce. We were all famished ( can't
imagine why having only sat in a car for hours but still)

Each day there is a schedule of work put up so we know what we are
doing. I'm doing the camera trapping data work again but no, the pics
dont end on the internet as far as I know. It is interesting work and
quite absorbing. Afternoon says something about vegetation testing so
don't know what that's about

Oh, yesterday before we set off for Etosha we visited the genetics lab
here. Much testing is done to understand the cheetah. It is thought
that about 10,000 years ago they were almost extinct with only a few
breeding pairs. They recovered but there is very little genetic
variation which is worrying for them. I'll go in to more detail about
this another time as its getting dark and I need to consider the walk
back down to my rondavel.