Back in South Africa!

Well after much deliberation i have decided at least for the interim to return to Cape town, i was feeling extremely unsettled in England and i think just missing my family. After being away for almost a year i felt like i wanted to relax in a home environment and reflect on the year gone by and decide on my next adventure, although i fear it maybe a job!

Definitely no reflecting in week one, as i got dragged to Moms various outings, the main one was the Red Hat Christmas lunch. Well i had to dress up, and when i asked Dad what he thought, he said you look like a right prat! Well that's how i felt, however it turned out to be quite good fun and luckily not too much public exposure! I now know that i am definitely not the dressing up type!!!!

The weather in Cape Town is lovely and warm and has been up to 32 degrees this week. Flowers are blooming, lots of lovely birds around, guinea fowl in the garden and even a little buck living in the bush across the road so its all happening here in Kleinmond!

After a great week in the mother city meeting up with the special people in my life its back to Kleinies!

See more pics here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/WhatsHappeningInCapeTown#

Click here to see that i have truly been accepted in Canada! http://www.asportingphenomenon.com/index.php?rfname=Sue&rlname=Bramhall+&remail=antoine.fortuin@gmail.com&sfname=Kym&slname=Illman&semail=thenewsteam@messagesonhold.com.au&suburb=Vancouver

Southampton and Windsor, UK

Southampton

This was something i always wanted to do and just never got there, walking on the Southampton walls. There is a lot of history as Pam and I discovered this day. We started with viewing some of the more special older buildings and then walked on the walls to the Bargate which is situated in the main shopping hub. We stopped off for a coffee in a lovely old pub and then we hit the shops!

See more pics here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/
WalkingTheSouthamptonWalls#

Windsor
One of my favorite English towns, Windsor. Caught the train here from Southampton and one of my oldest and dearest friends collected me at the station. It was a rainy grey day, so we spent alot of time catching up, it was so great to see Corinna, its like we have never been apart! We did a quick round the town and outskirts of the castle, the queen still lives here on and off, and its in great condition! After Windsor we returned to Maidenhead where Coz lives and had a lovely evening chatting and reminiscing!!! The next morning David, Corinna's husband very kindly dropped me at the station and i was back on my way to Southampton.

See more pics here: http://picasaweb.google.com
/sbramhall/Windsor#

Today i am meeting more of my cousins for lunch, i haven't seen them for about 17 years! Sandra and Cheryl took me for lunch in Southampton and it was so great to see them - so great to catch up.

I am so lucky to have such great family and friends even though i don't see them very often, they are all very special to me!!!!

My last night in the UK, we went for a lovely dinner in Bishops Waltham, called Bank - most enjoyable.

And so back to good old SA!!

Dorchester, Dorset, UK

Dorchester is a pretty town about 2 hours drive south east of Southampton, went through Weymouth to get there. This weekend i visited my Auntie Celia and Uncles Les and my cousins came down from Bristol! I arrived on the Saturday afternoon and we had a look round Moreton which is the little village where my family lives outside Dorchester. Gorgeous old cottages and the lovely church where my cousin got married where all a stones through away from my aunts house. It was wonderful to catch up on family history and on the Sunday my cousins arrived with their respective partners for the day, wonderful!

On the Monday we went to Cerne Abbas a lovely little village down the road and then i was back on the bus to Fareham, an all to quick visit but great!

See more pics here: http://picasaweb.google.com/
sbramhall/Dorchester#

Hampshire & Wiltshire, UK

Wow another county! Our first main stop is a lovely village called Romsey i have been here before many years ago and have fond memories, they didn't disappoint! A lovely English feel with a market in the town square and a gorgeous Abbey which we went round, AND they even named a lane after my grandfather, see the pics.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/Romsey#

Moving on from Romsey we are heading North East to Salisbury. Before getting into Salisbury which is a cathedral town in county Wiltshire, we stopped off at the Pepper box, which is on a hill from where you can see Salisbury.
The tower was built so that people on neighbouring land could be watched!

Arriving in Salisbury town, we parked but then discovered between the three of us, we didn't have enough coins for the machine, so Pam and I proceeded to do some begging which worked out very well, and before long we were set. Walking along the river we came upon a feeding frenzy of swans, ducks and various other water fowl - quite incredible to watch. We had a look at the cathedral which has the highest spire in England and again i had visited previously with my Grandparents some years ago - there is actually a plaque in the cathedral to South African war hero's lost in the war.

The rain was bucketing down, so we did a quick circuit round the town and then into a pub for Steak and Kidney pud and chips, yum!!!!

See more pics here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/Salisbury#

more Hampshire, UK

Portchester Castle is a medieval castle and former Roman fort at Portchester to the east of Fareham, county Hampshire. It is located at a commanding position at the head of Portsmouth Harbour.

The original roman buildings date back to the 3rd century AD, incredible and some of those walls still exist. We had a wonderful time going round here and went right up on the roof top of the Keep where the views were spectacular.

Another great day out in the English countryside! This castle is only about 20 mins drive from where we live!

See more pics here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/PorchesterCastle#

Shopping in Portsmouth and a great Indian dinner :
see pics here : http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/
ShoppingInPortsmouthAndIndianDinner#

On this day i went to Eastleigh which is close to where my grandparents lived and had many memories for me, walked round the market and then on to see my Aunty Sue and David, had a fantastic afternoon catching up.... Aunty Sue is great!

See more pics here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/Eastleigh#

Hampshire, England

Southampton being the central hub for transport is where you need to go to get to most places. Below is the Bargate some of whats left of the city walls and fort. I havn't spent time here yet this time round as i have been going to other places, see below.

Winchester

Archaically known as Winton, Winchester is a historic cathedral city and the ancient capital of Wessex and the Kingdom of England. Winchester's major landmark is Winchester Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the distinction of having the longest nave and overall length of all gothic cathedrals in Europe. I love Winchester because of its village feel and brilliant period architecture, and i would say if i live in England this would one of the places on the top of my list. As it was raining my pics don't do Winchester justice and it was pouring when i was at the cathedral.

See more pics here: http://picasaweb.google.com/
sbramhall/Winchester#

Another gem in Hampshire is the New Forest

The New Forest is an area which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire. The name also refers to the New Forest National Park which has similar boundaries.

We had a lovely lunch at the Trusty Servant pub and then off to look at the ponies and deer which are quite abundant and the ponies roam free, stunning! We then went on to the Minstead church yard where Rodney has some relatives buried! I tell you we are spread all over Hampshire.
See more pics here : http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/NewForest#

Down at Lee-on-Solent having ice creams......

And finally Halloween, not celebrated by me i might add.