Christmas Day around the world!

Hi everyone,

Looking into Kruger from Sabie Park.

It is Christmas morning here in Sabie Park, it is hot, humid & a bit oppressive! But going down to the pool soon to cool off.

Me with my presents!

Notice the book Rowan!

Sean & Rob.

Spent the morning with Rob, Cath & Sean opening presents on their veranda. Christmas dinner late afternoon. Rob is cooking turkey! Really in this heat? I much prefer ice cream, I think!

The whole family is scattered across the world on four continents! How did that happen?

Clare & Ahmed.

The all important tree!

Ahmed!

Excited or what?

Clare. 

Maybe slightly less excited

 with her present!

The good news from Abu Dhabi is that Ahmed managed to wangle two days off flying, so is home with Clare. Great! How did he do that I wonder?

Toni is down in Byron Bay with the family with Rosie & Geoff. I have stayed there, it is a lovely spot. I hope you had a great day, the Ozzie part of the family!

Looking a bit worried love!

Just plain weird!

Rowan Ceggy & Morag

Take 2!

Jonathon

Rowan, obviously in festive mood!

Rowan is working all day! Hope it is not too bad love!

Justin & Nicci.

Gabe being a rock star!

Which lunatic bought him that for Christmas?

Oh my god! No, no ,no Peaches!

You must really hate your neighbours!

A Christmas present for the whole family.

Nicci is at home with the family in Ewell having a relatively quiet day at home. But it is never that quiet on Christmas morning with two young kids!

Cath & Rob.

Russell, Belinda & Rob

Quin & Chad

Cath & Rob

Rob & me!

Cath & me!

I spent the afternoon/evening at Rob & Cath's house. Rob cooked the turkey & did a great job. Their friends Russell & Belinda also came around with their two kids. It was a very nice evening & congrats to the chef!

Last year in Abu Dhabi.

New years eve in the bush! A bit different from last year with all the girls with me. 

Sabie Park in December

The female Bushbuck is still in the garden.

The big male Warthog is still around.

Elephants opposite my house.

This male was right up against the fence!

White Rhino taken from my veranda.

Cape Buffalo coming down to drink at the river.

Marabou Stork flying over.
They have been scarce recently.

Hadeda Ibis are ever present & make a

 good early morning alarm clock!

Green backed Heron at the picnic site.

Adult Bateleur

 The not so colourful immature.

Steppe Buzzard - a real long distance migrant.

Purple crested Turaco.

Giant Kingfisher

Burchell's Coucal

Laughing Dove - 
surprisingly scarce inside Sabie Park

Black collared Barbet

Little Bee-eater - confined to the river here.

Red-billed Helmetshrike

Fork-tailed Drongo with a broken tail!

The very similar Black Flycatcher

Chinspot Batis

White bellied Sunbird is very common.

Green backed Camaroptera

Yellow breasted Apalis

Common in the garden.

Pin-tailed Whydah

Arrived back home to a heatwave! The first two weeks have been unbelievingly hot with just the occasional thunderstorm. The country is in the grip off a drought & the veldt is not as green as it should be for this time of year.

Kitchen looks a little bit different now!

Much more modern with nice clean lines.

The fridge/freezer will be replaced
 to match the cooker.

Have been getting the house sorted out. The kitchen is now installed & working, although there are still a few minor things to be done.

Not the best photos - but you get the idea!

The lounge is getting there as well, with new bookcases & a coffee table now in place.

We saw a Bat Hawk at dusk in the garden on 4th & a European Honey Buzzard was around for three days but being very elusive. No photos were obtained of either bird! Drat!

Looking towards Hazyview

After my few days in Kruger I drove back through White River & this was the view ahead of me! Storms had been brewing for a few days, spectacular but little or no rain falling! Just after I took these shots there was a short but intense hailstorm!

Leopard Tortoise

Flat backed Tortoise

Have enjoyed a few lazy days around home, swimming in the pool etc. It has been unbelievably hot with some intense thunderstorms, but little or no rain.

The tree - now all cut up.

Rob, Cath & Sean arrived on the evening of 21st co-coinciding with a terrific thunderstorm which blew a large tree down onto their house! Minimal damage was done, but quite a spectacular homecoming!