Ralph’s Rant (a one off column.......maybe!) Returning from the UK to Upington in South Africa was almost as stressful as walking down the aisle with your zip undone (no, I didn’t walk down the aisle by the way, Angela dragged me up the steps of a Registry Office at gunpoint). We breezed in to Heathrow anticipating a couple of hours of relaxation (i.e. food & wine) before our flight only to be told by South African Airways that we could no...

Nossob Eco Trail 2-5 October 2006 You may recall from previous postcards that we returned from Namibia to Upington to join our US friends Kevin, Katie, Jennifer and Jamie on the Nossob 4x4 Eco Trail in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and then go over the border in to Botswana. We had completed the Nossob trail and were at Nossob Camp preparing for the Botswana leg when we got a radio message regarding my mother’s poorly condition. Sadly we were unabl...

Angela & I would like to thank everyone we met back in the UK over the last month, you have all been very kind and generous, as always. Special thanks to Dad, who is now in Southern Spain, Rob (for allowing us to take over his flat, his MG and his diet) Paula, for ensuring we got to Heathrow in plenty of time, to Karen & Graham, Phil & Sue, Lesley & Bill, Rob & Gill for wining and dining us and to Alan & Jane, Terry & Jan (good luck w...

Yvonne Spilsbury 1931-2006  We said goodbye to my mother in a moving non religious ceremony at Glynne Valley crematorium, Bodmin, Cornwall last Wednesday.  The view from the picture window across a wooded valley to the distant edge of Bodmin Moor and it’s patchwork of purple heather, was a reminder of how beautiful, green and lush England is in autumn. It was a fitting location for Dad, Angela, Princesa (Mum & Dad’s Spanish dog), friends...

After the usual running repairs to the trailer, the Landrover and ourselves we are now ready to go back to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to do a couple of 4x4 trails.The first, the Nossob Eco Trail, starts Monday and lasts 4 days. This a dune drive in a remote section of the park, with basic toilet facilities at the unfenced campsites. We take in all our wood, water, fuel etc for the trip and the trip is lead by a ranger in his vehicle (he has the gun!)Se...