Unfortunately, it was a bit of a drizzly, windy day - not the best for enjoying the Parlotones (or their warm-up act, Trevor Rebello) at Fancourt in George (part of the golf club's Festive Season Event calendar).  I've played golf in worse weather, but somehow sitting huddled up under a wet blanket just doesn't cut it.  Oh, well - they can't all be beautiful days, right?  I suggested to my wife that maybe it's fitting for the holiday season. "What do you mean?" she asked naively.  Me: "Well, what would Christmas be without some reindeer?"  We left shortly after that.

Perhaps it's time to check out what's happening indoors at The Barns in Mossel Bay this season...

If you're looking for a bit of excitement on the beach, Day 1, Stage 1 of the 2014 Trans Agulhas Challenge (billed as "The World's Toughest Inflatable Boat Challenge") is due to hit Glentana at about 10:44 a.m. on Dec 28th, before reaching Great Brak River ariound 10:50 a.m.

You can read more about the event in this Mossel Bay Advertiser article (though it seems they have the dates wrong) - or check out the blog posts from last year's event.

I haven't managed to get my hands on Jan Braai's award-winning "Red Hot" cookbook yet (named one of the top 3 "Barbecue Books in the World" at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in June this year - and one of the best in South Africa in Dec 2013 - BTW, the term "barbecue" is their's not mine!) - Jan, is of course, the brains behind South Africa's National Braai Day - but I'm a big fan of Durban's Neil Roake and his Life's a Beach Cottage series (these are also former award winners but most are out of print as they go back 7-8 years now) and, of course, Carmen Niehaus of Huisgenoot fame.

This year's Christmas Dinner was a fantastic "Royal leg of lamb" (the butcher in town deboned it), a great couscous salad, a few veggies and a nice Kevin Arnold Shiraz 2010 (from Waterford Wine Estate).

Of course, what's a braai without a few improvisations?  Sometimes I wonder how I'd manage without a decent hammer (to mostly whack things besides nails) and then duct tape and vice-grips to hold the things I've whacked with the hammer back together...

And yes, my South African friends, I *do* know a gas Weber is not considered a *real* braai!  What can I say, I plead guilty and know I can't offer a suitable excuse.

For those of you who may not be from South Africa, there are pretty firm beliefs/rules here when it comes to what rates as a "real" braai:  a wood braai (the only "real" braai), followed by a charcoal braai (which is barely tolerated by most South African braai fundies), and then much, much further down the list is the lowly gas braai, which basically doesn't even count as a braai - I know, I know... But it was still lekker! :)

In keeping with the tradition of brass bands visiting The Island, the Boys Brigade brass band marched around The Island last night.  A bit of googling reveals that Boys Brigade is an interdenominational youth organization first founded in Scotland in 1883.  There are chapters throughout the world, including Great Brak River.  The name is a bit of a misnomer, as there are both boys and girls in the band these days.  They were fundraising for a trip to Durban in 2015.  I spoke with a few of the kids who were collecting funds while the others were playing - they were all well-spoken and enthusiastic, telling me they played the trumpet, the saxophone or the drums.  I also spoke with one of the adult leaders who told me they had other trips planned, including to Johannesburg.  I took some very poor photos in the dark, as you'll see (I have yet to discover my strong suit in this life of mine - clearly photography isn't one of them...).  One of the talented youngsters playing the drums was not much more than 3' tall!  Anyway ,it was great to see!

South Africa's newest budget airline, Flysafair, has economical fares to George from Cape Town and Johannesburg (routes from Jo'burg commence on Dec 3rd but can be booked now).  After the demise of 1Time, this is a welcome alternative to SAA, Mango and Kulula whose holiday season fares are rather extortionate.