Christmas vacation

Since we are living in Africa - our choices for Christmas would be going home to Norway and celebrate the Christmas there - or going somewhere else and celebrate the Christmas. We decided to go to South Africa. We were there last year with our three daughters and our son-in-law and had a good time. So this year we went only the three of us, Olav, Monica and Sofie.

We started out in Cape Town. The two Oceans Aquarium were great for Sofie, and we spent our first afternoon there. She enjoyed taking me to the aquarium were Olav took her last year. So she showed me all the things she enjoyed last year, and found some new exhibition, or alternatively, some she had forgotten. Small colourful fish is still much more interesting than the predators. Starfish you can hold and colourful creatures are on the top of her list.



The 23. we went to Kirstenbosch botanical garden and enjoyed the weather, the smells, the view and the plants. A great place were I would like to return and take a closer look at all the parts of the garden we did not visit this time. We spent our time in the medicin garden and the herb section as well as taking a walk around the garden looking at the pond, and the threes.

Lunch we spent at Bertha's in Simonstown. The food were good but service was very slow..... Sofie had been looking forward to a visit to Scratch Patch in Simonstown, and begged for the biggest plastic bag to fill with beautiful rocks or "gems" when we got there. She enjoyed filling up the bag, and spent close to two hours there doing so. i guess when there are soooo many rocks, you take a longer time than if there were fewer.

Then we drove north towards Kalk Bay and had a nice stroll there enjoying the small town before we went back to our hotel.

Since we were away for Christmas we had opened the Christmas gifts just before we left, and agreed that while on vacation we would get one gift each. Olav and Sofie had bought me a picnic backpack for Christmas, and now they wanted me to open the gift before Christmas so we could go on a Picnic. I did, and the hotel prepared a lovely picnic meal for us and we went to Table Mountain. The weather had changed a bit - and it was cold at the top of table Mountain. Young Sofie insisted on us enjoying a picnic outside, on the mountain, instead of going to the restaurant. So we tried to find a small corner with some shelter for the wind were we ate our food and had some orange juice. Olav had a bottle of wine with him, but it was so cold that none of us wanted a glass of wine with the food. But again the weather changed and we went for a walk. Sofie were eager and wanted a long walk. Not at all a bad way to spend the day before Christmas.

Christmas eve we spent at restaurant called Hildebrand. It was at the waterfront, easy to find. We had good food and wine and a good service from experienced waiters. A place to recommend for sure.

From Cape Town we went to Franshhoek. There were so many wineries and top restaurants in that little town, that it made it very difficult to choose were to go! 8 out of the top ten restaurants in South Africa is in Franschhoek! Well, we had a lovely time, and walkingdistance to everything - even if the locals told us that it was to far to walk.

Christmas season

I do remember from when we lived in Texas that Christamas started a bit earlier than in Norway, and that is also the fact here in Nigeria. I was away a week in November and when I returned tha office builing were decorated both inside and outside to bring some Christmas feelings.

In roundabouts, otside and inside shopping centers, at the entrance to our compund, everywhere you find Christmas trees, Santa Claus with or without reindeer.

Coca Cola has adapted their Santa Claus to local conditions, the Afro Santa. Sofie were a bit confused of this in the beginning when she first noted the advertisements. Then she has been giving it some thoughts and came to the conclusion that the population in Africa is so big, and the climate so warm, that the ols Santa on the North Pole can not take on the responsibilities for all the continents in the world, so probably there is a Chinese Santa and an Indian Santa as well.

We were out looking for local produced Christmas decorations, and managed to find a few little men and women in traditional clothes to hang on a tree. But most Christmas decoration is imported (from China! of course). And in one of the local malls we found a poster stated that upstairs they were selling Christmas decorations from Ikea. I had to take a look. And the prices!!! there must be some heavy tolls on those decorations - they were at least double the price of what I would pay in Stavanger. But Sofie really needed some Christmas stuff in the flat. so I ended up with a few candle holders and candles.

Gone fishing

While Marte were here, and Sofie had half a day off from school I took them to the beach to enjoy the day off. Sofie brought two of her friendds, Axi and Ofer. The kids played in the pool, argued a little, ate some food and had a great time.

Then the action started. The local fishers were working to get their net ashore. That was interesting and the kids took off to watch, and then to help. It was hard work, pulling the rope inch by inch when the net was several hundred meters out in the ocean. And it took quit a while before the first part of the net came close to shore.

Marte and Axi were the two most dedicated helpers, Sofie and Ofer tired of the fishing before the net came ashore - their interest were 15 minutes and then back to the pool. Marte and Axi kept pulling the rope until the net came. Then more experienced hands were needed

Men went into the water to secure the catch, and the enthusiasm were visible when this fish were carried ashore. That could provide needed money for the community.
When the net were all on the shore the women picked fish form the net and the fish were divided between the different families. On the picture you see Axi and Marte picking sardines from the beach.

The mistery of the missing Munchies

Sofie's class at school had a performance just before Thanksgiving. the children had practised and costumes were made. The families were told to bring food to share. Sofie chose a taco dish and were very proud when it arrived at school.

Marte was visiting from Norway, and came to school to see her sister play. We had some excitement in the car going there - Lagos traffic is unpredictable - and sudddenly there were absolutely no movement from the cars in 10 minutes. I visualised my poor daughter performing with no parents present! But suddenly traffic started to move again and we made in just in time.

Their teacher had arranged the classroom with a stage, with small chairs for the fellow students from the same grade level at school, a decorated thanksgiving table and chairs for the parents. A curtain were covering the scene.

Only one or two of the boys had a sudden stage fright blocking their memory for all lines, and were helped by the teachers. The rest of the students did fine! And they were so cute. That teacher for sure has the ability to bring out the best in the children.

The village children

Every sunday when we go to the beach we meet some of those living in the village. They come to the small pier to carry our coolers to the beach hut. We have stayed in the beach hut overnight once, and got to know a few of the villagers a bit better. The daughter of chief Big john, Fatima is always asking for Sofie if she is not present at the beach. On the photo you can see Fatima with her daughter and Sofie - from sunday.

We went to the beach to take a few pictures of Sofie to prepare for the task of making Christmas cards. On the beach we ran into these three young boys.

When the day at the beach comes to an end and we are heading back down to the pier all the children in the villages comes running to join us. Some of the little ones wants to hold our hands while walking. Sofie has learned by know that she is a popular figure when it comes to holding hands, and some of the children calls out her name to get her attention. To them she must be close to a princess - she don't have to work, she can swim in the swimmingpool, she can drink water from bottles and have cans of juice - all in one day! And she has several outfits. Sunday this little girl was quick to walk over to Sofie to hold her hand. And Sofie took her time walking in the pace of the little one.

I rarely bring my camera to the beach, but this sunday I did. And I carried it so it was visible. The result was that the kids started posing for me. Particular these three little boys. They ran in front of me and posed. The one in the yellow Liverpool t-shirt were very charming and used all his charm to get my attention.

The pier is a good plays for the children to be Sunday afternoon - they know they will receive a treat before they return home. It is not easy for the little ones to get their fair share - and the older kids - particular a few of the boys are very cunning when it comes to get their hands on some candy. Here most of the kids are gathered to be a part of the photo.

It is very obvious that these kids are used to work and help out in the village. We se them carry water, dig up roots, peel vegetables, babysit younger children, climed the palmtrees to get coconuts. This little girl is carrying a younger sibling, even though she is not very old herself.

Carnival at the school - fund raising

November 8th were the BIG day - the fund raising activities the children looked forward to. Raffles, jumping castle, throwing wet sponges at teachers, and so many more activities. We came when it all started, and stayed almost to the end, and Sofie were not bored for 5 minutes.

In addition there were music and dance performed by students at the school.

Surfing - or playing on and with a surfboard

Last Sunday we were invited to join some friends to a beach used by Lagos Yacht Club, Agogo beach. The ride from the Yacht Club to the beach were fairly short in a small open motorboat. There were plaenty of trees giving good shade for the sun, it was nice and warm and we were in a good company with Marike and Albricht and their two sons Axi and Uli.

Sofie were a bit reluctant to swim in the water to strat with, and walked about with shoes and socks on for at least an hour before she finally gave in and went swimming. She had great fun playing with the boys and in the end she were able to swim out and enter the surfboard.