Out and about With the federation chief ,Jean  and Consort Andrew Kelly.

JULY 2010.  We are off to Natal !Friday July 2^nd sees the whole family pile into the Tuscon ( we are being driven down by our son ) and head off to Natal. Andrew and I were last in Natal at the last Congress they held. So we are sure we are going to see many changes.

We drop off the rest of the Family in Hillcrest to see our daughter-in-law’s folks and carry on into Durban, arriving at Molly And Noel’s place around 8pm. They make us very welcome and we all have an early night. Saturday morning, and, Molly, Andrew and I head off to the market at Shongweni for a look around. What a wonderful market !!. So many hand and home made goods, it was a sight to see.

Saturday afternoon we help Molly set up for the cocktail party where we are to meet all of the Durban Society Committee members. The balance of the party start arriving around 7pm and we have a lovely evening meeting and getting to know them. The weather was very pleasant and we  sat on the verandah for the whole evening , chatting drinking, and, yes, eating again.

Sunday morning we four toddle down to the Golden Hours market ( lots of shopping to be done in Natal ) where we browse around, pick up a few purchases and have breakfast. The market supports the Golden Hours School and home for the disabled, and it was gratifying to see so many people and stallholders all “doing their bit”. Then it is back to Molly & Noel’s where we get changed and head off into town for our welcome.

Durban Society has an arrangement with one of the Masonic Lodges, and they have their “home base” at the very well equipped Masonic Hall. We were greeted on arrival by Lyn & George Chasomeris , Chief and Consort of the Society and are then “piped-in” by David Dickson through a Guard of Honour formed by the other members of the pipe band. The Pipes and Drums consisted of members of four other bands who all love to play and entertain together.

We were introduced by the Chief and had a wonderful afternoon reacquainting ourselves with Callies that we had not seen in a few years. Julia Jackson was looking very well since last year at Congress, and was happy to report that she was now relatively more mobile and pain-free. Margaret Gardiner was also looking very well and, as usual was her very cheerful self. It was a great surprise to see Audrey and Les Marshal too. Les has for many years been Durban’s representative to Central Council and he and Audrey like to go down to at least one of Durban’s functions annually. We were delighted that they decided to come along for our welcome, Thanks Les and Audrey.

We were very well entertained by the wonderful dancing performed by the young ladies of the Bronwyn Parker School of Celtic Dance who danced five separate dances for us. In addition, we were serenaded by a wonderful gentleman member ( who’s name I can not give you, as I can not read my own notes – my apologies ), who amongst his selection performed a moving rendition of Highland Cathedral, which I had never heard sung before, it was absolutely fantastic !. Then, we had the Pipes and Drums, and boy, did they do us proud. They all looked like they were having such a great time too. It makes the music that much more enjoyable when the performers look like they are having as good a time as the audience. Well done the Pipe Band !!!

The catering was done by the Committee Ladies, and was excellent, again we went away very well “Fed”. During the afternoon a presentation was made to each of two couples who had both celebrated their 50^th Wedding Anniversaries the previous week. Molly and Noel Gould and Nancy and Joe Dunsmore, well done to the four of you. May you have many more.

At the close of the proceedings Andrew and I were presented with wonderful gifts in commemoration of our visit. Beautiful hand made ( by Molly ) Lap Trays, covered in McKenzie tartan (worn by the Durban Caledonian Pipe Band) and decorated with the Durban Caledonian Society Logo and the year, and two Beer Mugs decorated with the Durban Caledonian Pipe Band crest for Andrew, ( We had a slight accident on the way home and had to ask for the mugs to be replaced – of course according to Andrew it was my fault as they were his gifts that were broken). Thanks to Molly for having replacements or I would NEVER hear the end of it. At the end of the lunch we said our goodbyes and, duly armed with directions to Hillcrest, proceeded to get lost on our way to pick up the balance of the Family. After traveling up and down the N3 as far as Marianhill and back we eventually collected the rest of the Kelly’s and headed home from our wonderful weekend.

Friday July 16^th and we collect Margaret West, our Highland Provincial Chieftain from her home and the three of us head off to Durban. Margaret is the Central Council representative for Pietermaritzburg where we are off to for our Federation Welcome tomorrow. After a very nice trip down we arrive at Molly and Noel where once again we are made very welcome. Saturday sees Molly take the three of us off to Shongweni Market again. It really is a wonderful place to visit. Once the market is closed ( 10.30am \0 the four of us head off into Durban. We are going to visit the Moses Mabida Stadium.

I have now been to Soccer City, have seen both Cape Town and Port Elizabeth Stadiums, but I have to say that the Durban Stadium is, for me, the best in the country. It is a wonderful piece of architecture and engineering. We buy our tickets and head up in the sky-car. What a view !  Not only can you see for miles, the day is warm, and the skies blue and clear. We can see that all the work done to clean up the beachfront has definitely paid off, and Durbanites are still turning out to have a look around the Stadium even though the World Cup is over.

We stay up on the observation deck for about half an hour then come down and walk around the outside of the stadium. On the opposite side of the stadium from the sky-car you can, if you are brave enough, have a go at Bunjee Jumping. I shall have to come back with my son to do that adventure.  It is beautiful out and we sit at the Keg & Spear for lunch and watch the planes go by as the Air Show is on too.

After Lunch we go back to the house and Norma and Patrick arrive later in the afternoon. We dress and drive in convoy to Pietermaritzburg for the function. We are met on arrival by Sally Morning, Chief of the Society, who is also going to be the next Natal Provincial Chieftain, well done Sally.

We are piped-in by the Colin Prince the Honorary Piper. We are introduced to everyone by past chief, Ernest Barlow-Jones who is Master of Ceremonies.

Pietermaritzburg Society, are based at the Moth Retirement Village and have a lovely premises there which they share with the Moths, a wonderful venue.

We are entertained this evening by a selection from the Pietermaritzburg Pipe Band, again a wonderful group who really enjoy their music. Songs from a member of the Band, Nick Taylor, who had us all join in and sing along. Wonderful Scottish Country Dancing from a group of Ladies and Gentlemen who had traveled from Howick, on this cold and misty evening, and who did not stop dancing all night. There was a lovely violin selection from Lesley Durrans, whose fingers must have been really hot by the time she had finished she played such lively tunes, wonderful.

It really is a privilege to be entertained by such talented people, and we thank you all. Natal Societies are lucky to have such talent in their midst.

Again the food was provided by the Ladies of the Society and we all enjoyed their efforts. We all got up and danced ourselves warm with the Country Dancers encouraging us on and the Band playing for us, a wonderful evening was had by all. In the wee cold hours we said our goodbyes and headed back to Durban. Next morning Norma and Patrick treated us all to breakfast on the beachfront at Joe Cool’s. What a pleasure to see so many families out and about on the beachfront. It really was like the “Old days” with so many people out with their children having a great time at the beach.

We wish Durban “All the Best” for their bid to host the Olympics, they have done an outstanding job in turning their waterfront around.

Thanks for taking the time to read of our travels. Hope you are enjoying it as much as we are living it.

Please remember, Congress Bookings CLOSE at the end of August. Hoping to see many of you in Port Elizabeth.                                                                 

Yours Aye,                                                                                                      
Jean and Andrew