Fabulous Quiz Night…Fun, fun, fun!…Early morning shopping…Guests arrivng tomorrow…

Last night, we had a great time with the four of us on our quiz team, General Electric. I have no idea how we ever ended up with that name, but at this point it feels like it has always been ours. Albert had returned from his family visit, and it was nice to have him back with us. Matt joined in again, and the group felt complete.

We arrived at Giraffe around five in the afternoon, giving ourselves plenty of time to settle in. We ordered drinks at the bar and made our way out to the covered garden area where our usual table for four awaited us. The setting is always pleasant there, surrounded by nature, with a comfortable buzz of conversation as teams gather and prepare.

Cliff was the quiz master for the evening, and we could tell early on that his questions were more approachable than those William had prepared the previous week, and that night had been a struggle for most of us, with plenty of head scratching and guessing. This time, we felt more confident as we worked through each round, quietly discussing answers and occasionally second-guessing ourselves.

There were about twelve teams in total, many of them with six players. We always notice how much easier it must be with more minds contributing, but we have grown used to being just four. Despite that, we held our own. When the final scores were announced, we placed fourth, missing third place by only a single point. We were genuinely pleased with that result, especially compared to the prior week. It felt like a small victory.

During the breaks, we had time to chat with one another and with a few familiar faces who stopped by to say hello. These evenings are never just about the quiz. They are social gatherings, a chance to connect, laugh, and enjoy being part of this friendly community. The game begins at 6:30, and before we knew it, the evening had passed. By 9:30, we were walking back to the car after another enjoyable night.

Once home, we settled into the bedroom and spent some time on our phones, unwinding before drifting off to sleep. It had been a full and satisfying day.

This morning, I woke up before Tom, which rarely happens. I wanted to get an early start since we had errands to run ahead of our guests, Di and Peter, arriving tomorrow,  and we wanted everything to be ready.

Our first stop was Daisy’s Den, where we arranged for three large bags of pellets to be delivered along with our next 4-week lucerne delivery. We have learned that when guests are here, the pellets seem to disappear quickly. Feeding the wildlife is such a unique experience for those who have never done it before, and we want them to enjoy it without hesitation. Each bag adds up, but it is well worth it for the pleasure it brings.

After taking care of that, we headed to the Wild Butchery. Alta had kindly set aside two large roasts for us, one pork and one beef. We are planning a traditional Sunday Roast while Di and Peter are here, keeping it in line with how we usually eat. They have said they would like to follow our way of eating, but we are prepared to adjust if they prefer something different. We also picked up steaks, chicken, sausages, and a generous supply of biltong.

Our final stop was SavMore, where we bought fresh salad vegetables, sour cream for dressing, and several blocks of cheese. With everything in hand, we returned to the house and put everything away.

Vusi had gone above and beyond upstairs, making sure everything was perfect. He even created animal shapes with the towels and placed chocolates on the pillows. The room looked welcoming and comfortable, and we know Di and Peter will feel right at home.

Tonight, we will stay in, prepare a simple dinner, and relax on the veranda. It is a quiet way to end a productive day, and once again, we are reminded how good life feels right now.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 5, 2016: