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Well, back to the grindstone.
It doesn’t seem to phase John Prescott being paid a princely
sum for getting fatter by the girth and by the wallet for
doing absolutely nothing. How does he get away with it? I’ve
just finished an excellent book where 4 US Senators are
taken out (no, not for tea!) by “patriots” for only looking
after their own interests and causing US Troops to be killed
by mouthing off. The US Govt. then have to come up with a
meaningful open Budget to get the US out of the hole they
are in. Very Interesting. Another book worth reading is by a
Canadian who states due to Muslims in Europe breeding a lot
faster etc, by 2050 (44 years down the line), Europe will be
a Muslim State. Unless of course something is done; which it
won’t be because those in Power don’t have the Balls to take
the situation head on. No wonder extreme parties from the
right get such a following.
With the US Elections coming up its always amusing to see
what they promise, and how much they lie afterwards.
Here of course there was the tragic, senseless murder of one
of South Africa’s Finest – David Rattray. Our thoughts go
out to all his family and Friends. Indeed a tragic loss to
Tourism as a whole; however I did find it very arrogant of
the Travel Editor of Vanity Fair in UK stating how much this
will affect the Country due to Crime etc. Lets just look at
UK, with all the Terrorist Plots taking place there, and
deaths also. Has Tourism dropped there – No. So why does she
think it should here. Look at your own Backyard Lady before
lecturing.
Becks is off to USA. Won’t Vic be pleased; at last she can
pretend she is somebody. Wishing him luck with a nice fat
pay check.
The Cricket went from bad to worse although maybe there’s a
flutter of hope right at the end; not when it is needed of
course.
Bored? Let me know, and we’ll find another way of spicing up
these newsletters.
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Excellent news! Another Garonga
Rhino Calf has been born, giving us 9 in total now
out of the 11 on the Reserve. There you go; do Rhino
breeding as an Investment. One of the reserve Cows
is also looking probable and so watch this space.
January as always peters out from about the 10th,
and no difference this time. Dead quiet from then
on, achieving a 38% Occupancy for the month. However
for 2006 it was a comfortable 55%, which is only the
second time in 10 Years being over 50%. We had a
couple of interesting sightings; one when a Couple
were going to do the Sleep – Out, and loe and behold a Leopard saunters past
close to the Sleep-Out Deck. All those times I have to try
and explain to Guests that “yes, leopards can climb Trees,
but ………..”. Anyway they seem to have managed OK fighting him
off all night.
Then we had a couple having a great peaceful
Picnic Lunch in the tree by the Camp and along comes “Nellie
and her herd” keeping them engrossed throughout.
Safari kept everyone suitably entertained. The
Ellies have been a lot more mobile this month and
many sightings of them. |
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Cheetah have also come to the Party this month with
many sightings there also. Leopard have been scarce this
month but hey: we all need a break. Many lion sightings and
also Rhino. Excellent General Game with many young calves
running around.
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On the Veldt front we had just under 80 mm of rain this
month and everything is looking green and lush at the mo.
Very thick Bush though. All the waterholes are nicely topped
up which encourages the Game to move across the whole
reserve and not just hug the river.
The Chefettes have continued to produce excellent food, and
now in the quiet times are busy making home-made chutneys,
jams, marmalades, sorbets and so on. Anyway I hope their
recipe will entice you to try it. Good Luck.
On my side I went to Madrid for a few days to collect an
Award which was very humbling but also very rewarding. First
proper one. It was a Bull on a Mount weighing about 5kg made
of Gold. Solid Gold ? Anyway something all the Staff very
much appreciate seeing their work rewarded. |
The 2 tents that are being repaired should be fully
operational by the 20th February and so we will be back to
the full complement of tented rooms. Not that February is
looking good – quite the opposite. Even Valentines Day is
empty – what happened to the “Old Romantics”? A Bush Bath at
Dusk with a bottle of chilled Champagne, followed by a
Dinner on the Quarter Deck light up by Candles. I’ll start
looking for one of those more attractive baboons, give her a
shave, and see what happens! If you see me swinging through
the trees in a month or so then you will know who won.
What we are going to start is a “Garonga Health Experience”
(maybe somebody can come up with a better title?) whereby we
will always produce a health Breakfast Menu in addition to
the normal Full English etc. The other 2 meals (lunch and
Dinner) we will put options of menus in the rooms and you
can select a “health Day” where all you eat for that day are
the Health Menus, and then this will be combined with a
special health massage as well. So you can either have a
health Breakfast only, or a complete health day as well as
the massage. Especially relevant maybe to Guests staying 4+
nights who need a bit of a break from the 3 full meals per
day. If you’re interested let us know when you book or when
you get here.
As February is a short month anyway, and since we have very
few Guests February and March Letters will be combined (do I
hear a sigh of relief!).
Finally, and something very close to my heart; the end of an
era. A Fond farewell to the “Royal Green Jackets”, and a big
Welcome to “The Rifles” as they will now be known . It’s
strange but that was the name of the Regiment 200 years ago,
and so a full circle has closed. Good luck Fellas!
All the best
Bernie |
