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Anton | Snakes and Ladders around the Country | Day 3

Wednesday, 27 April – I bet you did more than me today

“Lazy” [lay-zee] – adjective – averse or disinclined to work, activity or exertion; indolent

Need I say more?!

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Anton outside chalet at Poplar

My dreamtime fears about Nero and Pucca were seriously misplaced. If anything, Nero could lick me to death and Pucca’s short-term memory would kill me with laughter.

“A Gem”, that’s the way to describe this beautiful place. So beautiful in fact, that the dice got the day off. So I chilled and ambled around the farm.

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Poplar Grove surrounds

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Poplar Grove gardens

“Slow down and smell the roses” you say? Well I did that and more. And if you thought my Google eyes were just for good looks, then you have never used them to peep through a crack in a wall.

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Poplar Grove through walls

Playing on the safe side, I took no chance at idling across the courtyard. Who’s to say what may be lurking overhead and I’m not about to end up on Mrs Hawk’s dinner table.

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Poplar Grove Guest House

Over at the dam I stumble on some trees, just standing there and blurring in the wind. Why they have to have their feet soaked in water all the time just makes me weep. Willows are rather odd thinks I.

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Poplar Willows

Over on the other side is yet another tree. Rather lonely looking and I think it wise not to go over and disturb what may be quiet time. What’s with all this meditating and solo stuff out here? These folks should branch out more and hang out in a bunch!

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Poplar Grove Single Tree

My itch needs a scratch and so I slip away for a little more adventure around the surrounds, checking on the locals and what they get up to. I guess Mary didn´t go to school today…

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Mary had a little lamb

These velvet clad types huddle closely and whatever they mean by constant moo-mooing remains a mystery to me. It’s hard not to notice who wore the wrong suit today!

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Cattle around Bethal

And it’s also impossible to miss, shall we say, the weary photographer trying her hand at whispering. Say, was she trying to tenderise the fellow?

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Cattle Wisperer

But fame stalks me! Wherever I am, it’s never too far from people who know a celebrity when they see one!

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Kids in the Bethal area

Hardly a spin it was, given the speed of travel in that watcha-ma-call-it. I’ll stick with my coil-system so long!

Aaah, never enough excitement in one day is there? But on this, trust me. No rumours. A three course meal and fire-side snooze is how I curled my day towards its end. You probably did more than me today, but did you dine like King Cobra?

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Dining like King Cobra

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Dining at Poplar Grove Guest House

Afterwards, at the fire-side, I entangle with my hosts and learn some interesting things about them. Dineke leads a double life! A hostess farmer by weekend and an Afrikaans and Dutch lecturer for UNISA and the University of Pretoria by week. Lekker ek se! Her weekly trip out there also entails an evening out with her choir while Cor hangs back at the farm, kinda not sliding into retirement. In all of a few minutes, he downloaded so much rich history about the farm and the area around Bethal that my mind was soon in a twist. That is the stuff of encyclopaedia, guidebooks and reference works.

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Anton with Dineke and Cor

I mean,….. I even came to learn that my not-so-friendly-as I-am, cuzzie Rinkhals, hangs out in the surrounds. But he is no shade on the magic of sightings of Crested Grebe and Blue Korhan out here. Ask the folks at Pasella and Peter Lawson who have been out here recently for just that!

Dineke and Cor are truly outstanding hosts and their guest house could not be run any better. Who else would let a stuffed cloth like me end the day in such style?

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Anton at Fireplace

Nathalie Boucry Photography | Poplar Grove Guest House at night

Am I living the life, or what? Oh, what dreams are made of!

Nighty nite.

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