The Palmiet Family weekend report by Lizl Todd, Social Secretary
Date: 10 to 12 December 2010
Venue: Palmiet Caravan & Camping Resort, Kleinmond
Another successful Palmiet behind us. This year we had a drop in numbers. Only 66 persons attended, excluding a number of day visitors who popped in on Saturday afternoon. Regardless of the lower numbers, everyone enjoyed the weekend once again.
Rob was working in the area and arrived straight from work, turning our “two vehicles at Palmiet” into an institution as this is now the 3rd year running…
Friday afternoon/evening was quiet, with many people arriving and setting up camp – bliss to watch (for those of us who took teenage boys along to do it for us)! Kevin, a very impressive tent, you now need to up the rest of your camping gear to match.
Saturday morning greeted us with a flat mattress (ouch, my hips still hurt) and Sharon with a flat tyre on her Audi. Thanks to Rob, Pieter & Ludy the tyre issue was sorted, but I had to spend another night on a flat mattress!
Geared with sunscreen, bathers and hats for the weekend, I was caught big time. Saturday morning called for a quick trip to Kleinmond, looking for “Jackets & Jerseys”. Fortunately the rain wasn’t much, but the wind was really miserable.
Wesley and Ryan (a friend who joined us for the weekend) helped set up the games for the kiddies early Saturday morning - building goal posts, blowing up soccer balls and putting kites together.
Again, as at the Springbok Rally, the kids really enjoyed the hoola-hoops. Thanks to Lorraine for helping there. The balloons were also a hit. The balloons were bought with a pump, which lasted all of about 10 minutes and then it was up to lung-power. Well, Christina did awesome there and thanks to Carmen for helping as well – my lungs just wouldn’t co-operate (no comments about smoking please!).
We definitely had a couple of artists there. Some of the shapes that they came up with actually looked like dogs, flowers, or what they said they had made. In some instances the black board markers helped draw faces on the balloons, in other instances they helped to pop them.
After the games I had to find entrants for the Potjie-competition. At first I thought this was going to be a nightmare. The first 3 people I approached, who between them made 4 pots last year, all declined. Not too encouraging, but without much hunting I found 8 entrants and then had to find a couple of judges. Thanks to Kelly Sweetnam, Peter Goodacre & Anton du Preez for doing the honours.
Before I knew it, it was time for Father Xmas to arrive. Geared with suit & gifts, Santa waited around a bush for the children to cheer him in. They had gathered on the lawn waiting for Santa and called so loud, I think people in Kleinmond heard them. Thanks Ronnie for making it so special - a picture to melt anyone’s heart!
There was great excitement among the children – I even saw a parent/grandparent or two get equally excited. Every little face was so impressed with their gift, that they all immediately started playing with what they had received.
Charl set up his cricket set and was teaching Christina to play cricket.
Alan was a sight with his helicopter, which Slappers insisted on referring to as a “trekker”, until Alan “sang” to him – “my trekker kan tog vlieg!”.
Luke & Connor played with their transformer cars, that turn into robots. Both were very impressed with the big guns on the robots, flashing lights and high-pitched sounds when ‘transforming’. All I could think was, thank goodness batteries go flat and that’s not going home with me!
Christina entertained all with a HUGE bubble blower. It was so stunning, the adults enjoyed the display too.
The 3 very little ones, Tyler, Ashton and Amber received beach toys, some of which they played with immediately, but they were rather eager to get to the beach and try out their kites, spades, rakes and all the other goodies.
A couple of minutes to catch my breath and I was off with the judges for them to judge the various pots.
Pieter Blignaut – Lamb Neck & Shank Pot
Grant Hattingh - Lamb Pot
Caren Hall – Curry Pot
Susan James – Mustard Chicken Pot
Sean Anderson – Indian Curry Pot
Allan Gruneberg – Turkey Leg & Pork Pot
Mike Hair – Surprise Pot (Silverside Beef)
Joe Powrie – Free Range Chicken & Bacon Pot
First place was taken by Sean Anderson, second Joe Powrie and third was Grant Hattingh.
Thanks Luderick for doing our mini Prize giving, handing out the prizes for first 3 places in the potjie competition and thanking our judges with a complimentary bottle of Port each.
Sunday morning we were greeted by terrible wind and packed up much earlier than we normally do. A windy drive home (not fun towing a trailer) and then, once home, a hot shower to end off a great time.
Thanks to all who joined us and helped make it another memorable Palmiet weekend. Thanks Grant for the additional donation for the kids, allowing me to “blow the budget”!
Lizl
