Skip to main content

Papu Comes to Visit 3

Since the last post we've had two more weeks of Papu visiting with us and then one very long week since we dropped him off at the airport.

In mid-July we went to Burlington Airport en route to my final exam, and recreated what should have been his triumphant arrivals lounge experience in June. PJ took him to Lake Champlain and surrounds while they waited for me to complete the test and then treated me to "the test is done" lunch.

We spent a rare hot afternoon at Silver Lake Park swimming with friends, we shopped 'til we dropped at The Vermont Spot, we were able to see the clean-up operations happening in flood-stricken Montpelier and even managed a quick stop at the Vermont State House. 

We visited the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe and enjoyed Ben and Jerry's ice cream at their factory. We took a drive around my old VTC campus in Randolph and Gifford Medical Center where I practiced this past year. We drove through the Dartmouth campus and the Boat House on the Connecticut River and had a mini golf tournament on a sunny Sunday afternoon where Papu and Adrienne took top honours! We also attended the last couple of Nighthawks Baseball games of the season.

All of these lovely outings could not trump the braais on the deck while playing games, the bike rides and walking hand-in-hand to collect the post, watching him prepare specialty dishes for us to enjoy during (and after) his stay and calls home with him on our side of the phone for a change. We were entertained by Jorja's shrieks for summer bugs, Ethan's hungry antics and Adi's tight grip on Papu's arm (and attention). No doubt that the drive in the Slingshot was fun, but transforming the dining room table into a table tennis championship space was even better! 

Watching Papu pack his bags and having to take him to the airport was tough. I get sad just writing about it now. The 35 days we had with him was like a balm. How quickly we relaxed into having him a part of our daily lives and how much we miss him all over again now! Still, I remain grateful for the amazing Summer that he brough us, and hopeful that he'll be able to return one day again.



Comments

  1. MichelleAugust 13, 2023 at 6:03 PM

    So glad you and the mini du Plessis's got to spend time with your dad!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A home-made birthday

Due to the fact that we celebrated Jorja's birthday with the Weber and Wilcox families in the UK last year - over a few days and in various styles - we were a bit out of practice. In fact, if Jorja had not brought it to my attention with just two weeks to spare, I must confess that I would not have expected it to arrive for another few more weeks! But Moms could never let that seem to be the case, so we got cracking on 5th birthday celebration arrangements... On the night before, I set out every baking ingredient, apparatus and accessory that I could find and hoped that we would make it work! Aunty Robyn and Aunty Ilana arrived just in time to help us bake off the first round of vanilla cake pops and cookies with sprinkles. At this point, there was no turning back, our kitchen was already in a state of bake! The biscuit batch baked beautifully (and bountifully) and Jorja was well pleased with her assisted effort. As she head to bed on the eve of her birthday, I popped the...
2 comments
Read more

The week that has been...

"Life as we see it", right? My time so far at the cycle tour office is reminding me of just how demanding life in this age can be - a time seeking instant solution and gratification: We want it now! We won't wait! This is what makes a relaxing, easy going activity seem so rewarding! We've always been fortunate enough to cook with pleasure - obviously more for mine! And since returning from BA, we've also found great enjoyment from leisurely strolls in the neighbourhood or at Sea Point promenade. Take time for this! Here's what we've been a part of this past week: We were encouraged to see a group of students from Bishops come out (even in the rain) and join with the FBC team in painting a mural on the school's new diningroom and kitchen wall. For news and updates visit: http://www.fbcschool.org.za/ We joined over 15 000 walkers in a quest to feed the hungry children in the Western Cape, by participaing in the Blisters for Bread walk on Sunday. We tackl...
1 comment
Read more

Day 5

P-J left early this morning to help offload the hay bales into storage and then came back to fetch us (giving me time to blog!). When we got to the farm, I realised that my Tomi Takkies were not designed for farm fashion... and that pretty much determined my day. I was on indoor duty - filling water bottles, changing nappies, supervising indoor play ... and enjoying the air-conditioning in the 34 degree heat. What a perfect day for a fashion faux pas! Before being labeled a City Snob, let me just say that I was part of the team that moved the sheep to their new pasture (although I did not help with separating the cows and the sheep, or erecting what P-J called Insta-fence in the blazing heat, prior to the migration). The new fence was opened up and the rest of us worked our way up from the bottom of the field saying "Come girls, move up. Come on" and hoped the flock would follow suit. We met Tutu (after Ethan insisted my sheep, my sheep ) and the boys showed Ethan ho...
2 comments
Read more