h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My cousing Cornelis Claassen, his wife Stefanie, and their kids Cornelis, Hanlie, and Surina, visited us this weekend. Cornelis is the middle brother of five, my uncle Kerneels' children. Uncle Kerneels is my mother's brother, and about ten years older than she.

Cornelis currently has the farm that used to belong to Uncle Kerneels, it's called Boskrans, and it's in the eastern Free State. That region is part of the Highveld, the interior high plateau of South Africa that is naturally covered with grassland. Most of the farm is still in the natural state and I've always enjoyed exploring it. They have wonderful grassland birds like Blue Korhaan (a small kind of bustard) and Doublebanded Courser (a small relative of plovers and lapwings) and various species of lark. While grass is dominant, there are trees along rivers and in sheltered positions between rocks and against cliffs. There are also interesting small plants amidst the grasses, including some nice vygies/mesembs (small succulents with pretty flowers).

That part of the country gets very cold in Winter. Compared to Pietersburg, its further to the South and hence closer to Antarctica, and also, very high-lying, over 1500 m above sea level. They get hard frosts in winter and even snow occasionally. In Summer they get rains, but not much - it is a rather dry region. But this year apparently they had good rains.

Cornelis mainly farms with cattle and sheep, and there are also some Blesbok (a kind of antelope with a white blaze on the front of its face) herds. There are also small mammals like hares and ground squirrels in the region.

Anyways, Cornelis and his family came and visited. They had a holiday in Botswana, and on the way back slept here as a 'half-way' stage because the total journey from their farm to Botswana, is rather long for a single-stretch ride. It was about ten hours for them from their holiday resort to reach us, and from us, another six or seven hours to their farm in the Free State.

Cornelis is the Claassen brother that we get along best with ... though Abel and Riaan are also OK, but we don't see them as often. His son Cornelis is now in matric (12th grade) and is HUGE! He stands several inches taller than his dad and mom (and me). Hanlie is in ninth grade and quite pretty; Surina is now six and cute but rather spoilt! But she's very clever ... Stefanie is home-schooling her, and I hope - and trust - she's doing a good job. Surina had lots and lots of comments on everything.

We had some fun, the kids and Cornelis and I, watching a TV program called 'Wipeout' where contestants had to navigate an obstacle course designed by a mad sadist, where most of the time they were crashing and falling into water of mud. Thankfully almost everything was padded but still most of those crashes and falls looked pretty painful!

They brought along a little Yorkshire Terrier named Dainty! When they arrived and I saw the little dog, I expressed concern that our cat Poplap might eat her! Anyways they kept the little dog in a box most of the time, occasionally taking her out for a walk or for some petting. It was amazing how docilely the little dog stayed in the box.

We had fun speaking with Cornelis and Stefanie. When they left, they bought some plants from me, to try out there in the Free State. At least one is quite cold-sensitive, but Stefanie will place it in a sheltered position. I really am interested to know how those plants do over there.

It was nice to receive a visit. My mom is still not at all well, still troubled by pain in the abdomen and back, and it was tough on her to make food for the people. She totally can't stomach ... more or less literally ... even the *smell* of food, so she had to take the food preparation in stages, working for a while, then taking a break for a while. But in the end, she managed to finish everything, and it certainly seemed as if all ate heartily!

Also during the visit, she had fun and managed to relax, and at the end, she said she felt much better than she did before. But she was still tired, and took a nice rest afterwards.

If my mom is well enough, we might go and visit Cornelis and Stefanie on the farm some time. It would be nice to be there again ... I can explore and also will like looking at the animals on the farm. In addition to cattle and sheep, they also have little Steenboks that are quite tame.

Tame...steenboks...living in places with names that have 'veldt' in them...a university with the word 'Limpopo' in it...you realise how magical and exotic that is to us boring people who think its cool and exotic to drive up to the Nantahela River, don't you?

Seriously, that sounds very cool, and hope your cousins succeed with their plants.

Thanks for taking the time to tell us about it.

Willem, I am so glad the visit cheered your Mom up. Perhaps she needs the company of a lot of people, to be reminded that life goes on, and to give her something else to think about. She was brave catering for that many people More children for you to influence I think, if you get the chance. I am sure you made a big impression on them, though I am amazed you watched Wipeout Is it the same one we get here

It is fascinating to hear about your country. Thank you for chatting to us.

Websailor

Hello there Dmitri and Websailor! Dmitri, for me America is exotic! I'd like to see the Nantahala river myself, the Smoky Mountains ... heck, lots of other things. I regularly dream of visiting America and then not getting to see all the places I wanted to see!

But I'll tell more about my country if you're interested!

Websailor, there seem to be two different 'Wipeout' game shows in Britain. The first seems to be a sort of quiz show. Then there's 'Total Wipeout' which is based on the US show 'Wipeout', which is the one we've been watching. Like I said it's about navigating a diabolical sort of obstacle course.

Obstacle courses. Sounds like my work, these days.

It's the obstacle course one I was thinking of PHM watched it

Websailor

Geagte Willem,

Sorry I have bewen remiss. I have been away for nearly a week and have decided that I must upsitcks and go and live in another town on the river severn. it is ridiculous my travelling up to be wit K/ paying a fortune in taxis and always being on the move. so now I am looking a nice flat into which I can move, and K can also move into one in the same building ho-efully.

I do not mind. It has been incredibly difficult to become involved in any sort of community here. I find the other place where I want to go , very very friendly, and people are incredibly kind.

glad about your plans. I really think that you must ask your Minister to hel0 you with Mum. It is difficult and she is probably going through a depression, but it is not going to help either her or you, and really she must have someone to help guide her. Stephanie on their farm for a break and maybe she will find the will to take up her life again. Sorry I am being a bit hard on her, but life IS DIFFICULT, and one must must just try and manage it. and

"......pick up one's coat, dust oneself off, and start again......."

Advice which my darling Dick always used to give to me.

So my so dear friend. go well and continue on your courageous way. You are doing wonderfully well, and I am very proud of you.

With much affection

Christiane and Keith.

Thursday 17th April 2010 8.05 GMT