July 2006 - Rick & June at the Manoir

Dassies in the Sun

We set off for the Manoir taking the train through the Chunnel. Our first day at the Manoir was sunny and warm so it was spent lazing about outside. After that the weather turned cooler than normal, the rain gods from Africa were with us. We had told Mom and Dad that we had been having heatwaves so we said 'not to worry about warm clothes' Oops!

The Farmhouse, the Dentist, the Chickens and the Prawns

There was another SA couple staying over, Deetlefs (the dentist) and his wife Nicky. They met up with Karen and the folks at Delville Wood and on the way back they bought a box full of prawns. The fowls thought it was Chicken Happiness day (can't say Xmas because that might be a stressful time for them not knowing if they are possible turkey substitutes) as they gobbled up all the shells with as much gusto as they usually spend on attacking pebbles in the paving and one another's bottoms!

Dinner Time
There were loads of different guests around so the Lees had to slave over meals whilst the rest of us chinwagged around the table. (see if you can spot Gollum in this picture!)

We stayed in the Farmhouse but were thoroughly spoilt by Karen and David. Karen took Mom, Dad and Karin off to a load of WW1 memorials. This is the only tree that was left standing after the battle at Delville Wood. The previous 2 weeks had been a period over which there had been a number of 60th anniversary memorial service for the Battles of the Somme so the area had been receiving a lot of attention from the media. Delville Wood Cemetry and the entrance to the war memorial.David took Graham and I to a little village for tea. (I can't remember its name). When we got there we recognised it as the one that we had passed through when we took Lyn and Maurice to the farm where I saw my first calf being born (well not MY first one, but the first time I had seen one being born).

The Mates check each other out! In the gardens at the back of the Abbey on the 'David' trip.

A visit to the Manoir would not be complete without a visit to JJ and Mariaan down the road. Mariaan had family visiting from the Netherlands. Her nephew was quite intrigued by the 'ou mijneer met die snor'.

Karen and Mariaan sitting with Karin and Jenny.

Mom and Dad parking off on the Patio.

Below are David, JJ (aka Eric Clapton), Mariaan's sister and her other half.

Karen getting a buzz from her new birthday present!

Before we left, Karen brought out some more of her toys and of course this one was the one that made Graham's heart beat faster...we had to drag him off and put him back behind the wheel of the car to take us to the beach en route to the ferry.