This week's South Africans!

Spearheaded by ageless Irene van

 Dyk, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic

capped a remarkable trans-Tasman

1.  netball season comeback by becoming the first New Zealand franchise to claim the title.

Drawing on the mental strength gained in their 12-match winning streak to reach the decider, the Magic overhauled the Melbourne Vixens on Sunday to win grand final 41-38.

Trailing at every break at Melbourne's packed Hisense Arena, the Magic only hit the front with six minutes remaining, then pulled away as they put the seal on a season that started with four straight losses.

Forty-year-old goal shooter van Dyk was at her superstar best for the visitors, keeping the Magic in touch as the Vixens dominated the game's early stages.

The world's most capped player sunk 25 goals from 26 attempts and later ruled out any thoughts of retirement after some confusion about post-match on-court comments.

Her mother died before last week's preliminary final victory and van Dyk is to travel to her birth country, South Africa, for the funeral before returning to New Zealand. 

Van Dyk and defender Leana de Bruin, who was named the player of the grand final, were the standouts for the Magic who had lost the 2008 and 2010 deciders to Australian teams.

"There is a lot of pride in us as a team because of where we have come from and our journey to get here," coach Noeline Taurua said.

"There was a lot of belief that we could take this game."

Taurua praised her team's composure in the final minutes, saying the difficult journey the team had travelled this season to overcome their poor start had kept them calm

The Vixens should never have had to worry about a late Magic rally, but their poor shooting, converting just 38 of 55 attempts, proved costly.

Two gorgeous South African girls in this winning team!!

Mr Amla! (there was a comment on facebook yesterday, saying that when Hashim went in to bat, he was actually clean-shaven!!)

And so to the International Cricket being played at the Oval ......

This fabulous cartoon says it all!

And then we have the 'Big Easy' - after a ten year drought, Ernie has taken a really, really big championship! Just fantastic!!

How proud we are to be 'dinkum' South Africans! Dis al!

It's a long way home!

Bloubergstrand - The iconic view that even folks overseas recognise as the famous Table Mountain.
Having spent more time flying than anyone in their right mind would care to think about, finally managed to organise to spend some time in the fairest Cape!

And fair she was - turning up with the most spectacular of winter days with barely a breath of wind and clean, clear blue skies. Cold enough in the evenings to warrant a crackling log fire to accompany the warm, glowing red - there is not much to beat it!

Janet (sister extraordinaire) and Julia (niece spectacular) drove up to Storms River from Plettenberg Bay to meet the brand new baby Georgia and equally new parents - the purpose being to exchange the sister/mother/aunt/nana and leave the aforementioned new parents for a little while. Here they are at their first introductions!

A braai on the balcony at Glencairn an option on such fabulous winter's evenings. Three generations enjoying each other's company.

One thing that is certain, little gorgeous redheads LOVE sparkly finger (and toe) nails - courtesy of an aunt who has such things!

A really fantastic day in Kalk Bay.

Wandering along the pier after browsing the arty shops and galleries.

Enough of a breeze to keep the temperature pleasant - we posed for the camera in front of a bluer than blue sea. It's on days like this that one realises how truly gorgeous the 'fairest Cape' is!

In the meantime, one little lassie spent plenty of time on her mama's knee, swaddled in her pinkness and figuring out the 'winding' thing!

We took a drive out to the famous (or infamous, whichever way you remember it) Forester's Arms for a pub lunch and a catch-up after years and years with cousin Sandy and her stunning daughter Kerry. Without touching on sensitive areas like AGE, I have never met Kerry before, so it's b'n awhile!!

And here we are toasting absent friends and relations (much like Rabbit of Pooh fame we have a great many, both absent and related!)

The evenings by the fireside with the aforementioned warming red, saw this jersey and beanie being created for the other princess in my life who lives in Canada and who cannot be forgotten whilst all this visiting is going on. Hopefully, this will be a treasured Nana jersey, sweet Matilda.
Red bush (!!!) tea - more commonly known as Rooibos tea, is just fantastic for little tummies - nana can at least give a bottle of that and feel more connected to her newest princess!

And so the last day dawns and Nana has to say her goodbyes -  it was such a special time and although I am missing being a 'hands-on' grandmother, we are looking forward to loads of photographs and mails for the next little while until the bank balance allows you to visit with us and be a part of our long white cloud adventure!

Dis al!

Georgia!

Expected on 9th June, Georgia arrived a week early and thus sent all the best laid plans awry, Kiwi grandmother gathered all the gifts and loaded up the suitcases, arriving on the 18th as originally planned. This is the picture of serenity that greeted the author at the airport after very long flights from New Zealand.

One could have been excused for believing that this is a calm and peaceful princess - (which she can be, but equally, is capable of volumes unexpectedly dramatic for one so tiny!)

Indeed, once she is fully wound up and extremely agitated, the picture of serenity and calmness dissolves into a face which demands instant reaction times from parents and/or grandparents!

Most littlies, once their caretakers have them better figured out, are capable of settling down and being warm and snuggly and gorgeous - as this picture shows.

Nana adores the 'rock star' hair!

Part of the 'figuring out' involved the acquisition of this kanga pouch and parents who are learning to do things that need doing whilst 'shooshing and rocking' the little one - the result has been a much happier little girl much of the time.

How fabulous to have a new daddy who can also turn his hand to cooking - taking some of the pressure off of both mum and nana - notice the box of red, purchased for the express purpose of enjoyment by the grandmother, since non-bottle fed

babies' mums can't touch the stuff or they run the risk of windy babies!

From a squawky infant (who usually loves her bath, but not on photo day!) to this little porcelain doll! Such gorgeousness!

A perfect new little family!

CONGRATULATIONS RICHARD AND PIPPA! She's gorgeous!