Big Bro Arrives

So, when did this adventure start ? 

For me, probably about 12 years ago. Back then we had quite a few offers for house exchanges to South Africa. Big houses. Houses with big swimming pools. Houses with staff. Houses in gated communities. 

And there lies the rub. Terri not happy with gated. Worried about perceived violence. Uncomfortable with deep inequality. So, no go to South Africa.

Then little brother 'phones up back in May last year ............

" How do you fancy a few weeks in Cape Town next year ?"

"What do you think TC ?"

Didn't even think. 

"Go for it !"

This response, knowing that we have a built-in tour rep / bodyguard with years of experience and , to boot,  in Linda, a professional photographer to capture those special moments. Better still, we love them. 

( Matthew, don't you dare comment )

We are currently in transit on a Qatar Airways 'Dreamliner' , aka a Boeing 787.

Reading some of the reviews on t'internet, you would have thought it should have been christened a ' Screamliner ' , mainly because of legroom.

One bloke, all of 5' 9" , said he'd never suffered such cramped torture on a long flight.

I can only think he had 4' legs and a 1' 9" body. Or an IQ of 12. Or worked for Emirates. You pick.

The plane is excellent and the crew well oiled - in the machine sense !

Me, I love airports and planes. And plane food and free plane drink. And in-flight entertainment. And the journey. 

Travel heh ? 

For us, a new country. An ancient country with a young nation. What could be better ? 

Throw in a few lions, a couple of rhinos , the occasional leopard, an odd giraffe..... Maybe a beer.

Paradise found.

This particular part of the blog contains no photographs ( due, in major part , to me being clueless ). 

It also contains no nuts, or flash photography.

I'LL BE BACK.

Big Brother.

Addendum - big bro might be older and cleverer than me but not so clever that he knows how to load photos! So with a little help from me, a photo of their arriving Qatar Dreamliner. Notice the background grey sky.  Three hours later and it's clear blue. 33 degrees forecast tomorrow. It's hell out here...