Cloudburst over the Verandah

Never a dull moment at our address.  Rain came dripping down in the entrance hall and passage as the valley gutter between the two roofs could not cope with the amount water that fell last week.
    Now the insurance has sent an assessor and a contractor to work out what has to be done. Seems to be a tricky situation as one says there is nothing wrong with the gutter. The ceiling has to be replaced.   Another contractor says there is no sealant in the gutter.  

    We are also without electricity in the front part of the house due to the water dripping through the ceiling boards. So our beautiful metal and stained glass fitting is in limbo.

 How long before the ceiling falls down?    But we shall wait for the insurance company  to settle the matter.  No hurry. Life is too short to worry.

A new coat for the Verandah ... and calamity!

Just as I was in my element with the result of six weeks of work on our house, workmen came today to dig a "communications" trench.

A fine dust has settled on the stoep and the border walls. Thus the application of nearly 25 litres of "long-life" paint with the alluring name of "Night Jewels" (tones 3 and 5) does not have a very fresh effect.

 I am particularly happy with the addition of the pillar being erected on the left  side of our boundary wall.  It was a job that begged for attention since the pevious century.   

The foreman has promised that his team will wash the walls down once the job is done. 

              

I am holding thumbs.Have got enough cleaning to do inside ...

Tin collection gets royal treatment

Photographer Louise Eksteen came to borrow some of my tins for a "shoot".
    She is a friend of local artist Velia Offerman and is currently taking pics of Velias miniature teapot collection. We had fun selecting the vintage tins - and younger ones (note the vanilla tea)  to match the teapots.

Stellenbosch girls

I spent last week in Stellenbosch for the annual Woordfees where I met 4 girls I would have liked to bring back to Port Elizabeth to keep Saartjie Baartman company in my crazy garden.

Relaxing in the Sasol Art Gallery
in Ryneveld Street

Forever "cast" in wood near the entrance to the
restaurant at Tokara Wine Estate in Helshoogte

Balancing on her head in Dorp Street

Looking out of her depth near the Braak