The Herrmanns July 2010

2010 So Far

If last year was the year that we had to get used to Lauren being taller than both of us, this year is fast becoming the year that Guy does the same.  Both have already overtaken their mother in shoe size (Fiona's busy eying some of Guys takkies that have now become too small and there seems to be a lot of confusion as to who owns what when it comes to clothing!) 

2010 was of course the year of the World Cup and as a result, this June is the first time we have not taken a 3 week holiday.  The world cup brought some unseasonal business which could not be ignored.

We had a group 7 Swedish men varying in age from 22 to 45.  The 22 year olds did their best to ensure that the 45 year olds never came home before 3am, but ended up failing in their plight towards the end of the trip.

We also had a couple from India who produced the saying of the tournament when the husband commented after Green's famous goal "Mistophelese could have done better than that!!!".   He tended to take his soccer (and a number of other issues) very seriously!

It also helps to have a son who would gladly watch and play soccer all day every day if given the chance as well as a daughter who also plays and watches the game!  As a result we have spent the last month mainly watching soocer - that is appart for some other un-planned for visitors. 

Guy has been lucky enough to have been chosen for the Camps Bay "Centre of Excelence" U13 team.  This is a new venture for the club and has involved bringing players for Imizmu Yethu (the local black township) and Hangberg ( the local coloured township) to study classes after school followed by soccer training.  This has meant a radical improvement in the standard of play as well as a major shift in the culture of the team.  This was noted (through the grape vine) by a Spanish NGO who decided to make a documentary reflecting how sport can bring different cultures together.   Guy was chosen as the 'rich white boy' so we were decended upon by a group of cameramen, sound men, a producer and Carlos (whose job it was to make sure that things happened - I don't say according to plan as there was seldom a definable plan!).  They filmed us having breakfast and going to school, and Guy at school;  they filmed us watching matches, we had to film our visit to one of the matches, they arranged for Guy to meet the Cameroonian Goalee - Kumeni (although as it turned out he never played!) and they even contrived a tournament which was filmed.  The grand finale was where all of the boys involved plus some other came to our house to watch the final match.  So one day Guy will be a movie star.

Lauren also had her fair share of camera time as much of the time had to be spent making converstation about the world cup and issues surrounding it.

In between we did get 5 days away at Betty's Bay.  Lauren brought her (new) friend, Amy - daughter of the new headmaster and now living up the road from us - and Guy bought his long term friend, Luke.  Bettys's has become our easy escape from Cape Town.  Julie (nee Walters) and Lionel sadly left for Australia at the beginning of last year but happily left their cottage in Betty's bay behind.  Its an idyllic spot with places to ride bikes, climb to waterfalls, sand board, and of course swim and surf.  This is our second visit this year and we never tire of it.  Needless to say, the visit didn't go down well with our Spanish film crew who had planned the first round of their tournament (officially without our knowledge) on the weekend we chose to go away!

The year started with a visit to Betty's bay in January and then all too soon we were in to the first term.  Business with Marlinspike seemed to come in batches but we were consistently busy until around Mid April (after Easter) and from there things were relatively quiet until June.  There is a noticeable trend towards people making bookings only a couple of weeks (or days) before arrival which can be quite un-nerving when you have a bond to pay.

Fiona is in to the second (and hopefully final) year of her masters and is now working hard on the results.  If all goes according to plan, it will be finished by February next year.  She has had the usual ups and downs in the office and it appears that she just avoids the (serious) office politics wherever possible.

Lauren still has her art but over the last couple of years has also become a fairly serious sportsperson.  She plays soccer at school (where she is the team captain) as well as for the U15b team at Camps Bay (a team of all boys except for Lauren) and occasionally even gets some game time.  She has also recently taken up guitar with Edi Nederlander and even after only a couple of weeks is showing progress.  Sadly Edi has to go to Joburg for family reasons in September so the lessons will be short lived.  Her dream is to have a set of drums - and learn to play them. 
Guy plays wicket keeper for the Western Province Cricket Club U13 team (not Western Province team!) and goalie for the U13A team at Camps Bay Soccer.  He has been playing piano for about a year now and is doing very well (when he finds time to practice!).  He has also done well academically having come in the first 40 in a nation wide maths olympiad, but this is definitely not his passion!

Paul continues to run the guest house, as well as his computer company and the jumping castle business but it is the guest house that brings in the income.  Attempts to sell it in a very depressed property market have not shown results so if you know someone who wants a guest house, please let us know!!


Otherwise life continues.  The dogs have learned from Sammy (who left us last year) that the best way to get a beach walk is to annoy your owners every evening - which they do well.  Soot finally succumbed to some dread disease and has left us for that great fish bowl in the sky.  No more fish for now!  Mischief will accept Mistophelese on her (meaning our) bed but there is still an ongoing feud with Victoria.

We had our first whale in the harbour (not the bay) on Sunday and the Monday newspapers reported that the flowers are about to bloom.  Its a little early to be thinking about summer - particularly as we've had a mild winter with very little rain - good for tourists, not good for dam levels!

Hope that this letter finds you well and that you have a moment to drop us a line, but if not enjoy the rest of 2010 and hopefully we will fire another one off towards the beginning of 2011.

Cheers for now

Love

Paul, Fiona, Lauren and Guy as well as Ben, Cotton, Mistophelese, Victoria and Mischief.

The Herrmanns 2009

2010 is upon us so before its too late, we thought this may be a good time to reflect on 2009 and update you on our lives.

First, a pic of how we looked at the end of 2008.

The year starts with great anticipation - we have a definite buyer for the the guest house.  The contract is signed and we are off house hunting.  Having found one, we put in an offer which is accepted.  Then at the last minute, the buyer for the Guest House pulls out (using a sneaky clause) so we are back into the guest house business again. 

The New Year brings Guy into senior school (although only 11 at the end of January) and Lauren into her third senior year.  After having grown 20cm in 2007 we see a big change in both her stature and character.   She is still a keen artist and keen on various sports.  Guy takes the change from junior school pretty much in his stride and continues to seriously take part in his cricket.  He had already proved himself as a competent wicket keeper by this stage although he is still keen on both batting and bowling.  He has regular training from Chris Ridley who is an old style coach who teaches not only the basics but the principles behind the game.  Sadly Chris has cancer and dies later in the year - but will always be remembered for that grounding in cricket.

Fiona starts the year at the University having had some serious negotiations regarding her job and now has a 5/8 post.  She also begins her masters which is now a requirement of the job.

As always there is our annual visit to Maynarville to see the Shakespeare and of course both the Argus and the Two oceans Marathon which bring Hout Bay to standstill.  (If the guests want to go anywhere on the Sunday of the Argus - they have to park on the other side of Victoria drive as we are totally cut off from the outside world!)

In March is the 50th party of Paul's friend, Steve. Paul flies up to Joburg and spends a fun afternoon catching up with Midge, Colleen and Liz.  The party starts in the evening with a few strong drinks Paul is out for the count until 12pm - he wakes up with everyone gone and the musician packing up.  Some things don't change!! (sorry Steve - but it was still great to see you).  The rest of the year brings a couple of other similar parties (although he stays awake for those) - those of Simon (Nicks) and Chris (Laurie).  May the second half be just as much fun!

In April we have a brief break in Bettys Bay but with the guest house we only get a weekend at a time,  this is followed by a visit from Fiona's folks  and then in May Paul's big 50th birthday party.  Great to see many old (not aged!) friends again.  We dragged out two turntables and played all the old music from Electric Ladyland Disco.  Thanks to all those who visited from afar - especially Liz (nee Bacon) who flew down from JHB and Rob (Fiona's brother) from Durbs!

By now both Lauren and Guy have signed up for Camps Bay Soccer club.  Guy is a serious goalie and Lauren is in it for the enjoyment and the exercise.  It all adds to their busy schedules - school until 3.15, school sport until 4.30 and then Camps Bay soccer until 7.30.  At least the club has pub!  In addition both got involved with sailing and the end of term variety show.

In June we took our big overseas break and go to the Canary Islands - partially because of an excess of RCI points that needed to be used but also the need for a really relaxing holiday.  We go to Barcelona,  Tenerife and Gran Canaria and enjoy a different way of life.  Apart from the timeshare lifestyle, there is plenty to see and do.  Volcanoes, rugged coastline and great weather.  For more details on this, visit the rest of the blog  - although it has yet to be full updated.

Back from Spain and the start of a new guest house season.  As always a few August September guests, but things don't really get busy before November.   The summer weather is totally un-predictable from rain to heat to gale (and even hurricaine) force winds - leaving the roof less numerous tiles and the main awning in tatters for Christmas.  Still bookings are good over the season considering how bad the economy is!

The children sadly say goodbye to their headmaster - Pelham Lindfield-Roberts - who has helped to ensure that the new senior school will eventually be built and also got the education up to the necessary standards for the International Baccalaureate.  It was his children, though, that will be missed - although of course with Facebook and e-mail, no-one is that far away!  We also say goodbye to Julie and Lionel who head to Australia and most sadly to Sammy our old dog who has been in our lives for over 17 years.


For the third term there is still the Camps Bay soccer for the first few months. He then signs up for the Western Province Cricket Club.  He is immediately taken on as wicket keeper and has a regular position in the team.  Towards year end, tries to catch a ball with his mouth (well accidentally) and ends up with more plastic surgery and two more broken teeth. 

The end of the third term is taken up with rehearsals for the year end play - Mamma Mia.  Its a lot of fun and both Lauren and Guy are involved. Finally in to the last term sees both children hard at work for year end.   Brag time - both children excel themselves at year end.  Lauren and Guy both win the class academic prizes, Lauren got the school art prize and Guy the school sport prize (even though he's only in year 1). He also wins the Camps Bay goalie award.

So on to silly season, starting with Lauren's birthday and then our end of year Christmas Party (now being held in early December because of guests at christmas time), the wine tasting christmas party (we still taste wine once a month) and finally the year end bash at Chris Laurie's house (his daughter was born on 31 Dec - and is now 6 years old!).

We have an extended season with the last of our guests signing out a couple of days ago and now its quiet for a week or so before the February rush.  With 2010 soccer this year, all holidays are on hold (unless we can sell of course - there is a buyer but we are not getting excited).

So its another year gone.  A little older and a lot greyer.  Fiona continues into the second of her masters with lots of work still to do but the chance of finishing by the end of the year.  Lauren is into the first of two years of her IGCSE ('O' Level to us old Zimbos) and Guy becomes a second year with a growth spurt and tooth repairs.  Paul hopes that by the end of 2010 he will be doing something else - not sure what yet and not too sure that will happen.

Hope that you're having a great year so far.  For many 2009 wasn't the best, but for us, we can't really complain.  We still have a good way of life as well as great friends and family.

Wishing you all the best for 2010 and may it bring you all you desire of it - and if not - may the surprises be good ones!

Lotsa Love

Paul, Fiona, Lauren, Guy, Ben, Cotton, Mistophelese, Victoria, Mischief and of course Soot.