East London Photographs and Wild Ramblings

Stock Car Racing in East London

2011-02-25T12:17:00.001+02:00

In December 2010 I finally got to the East London stock car racing track. I had not been to the oval racing stock car track in over 20 years! I remembered a great atmosphere, watching stock car racing as a kid, and I wanted to take my boys to the track before they got too old. In December they were just turned 13, and almost 12. Tony enjoyed visiting the East London stock car racing track too.

As a kid I would mostly play beneath the grandstands, while my parents sat above me, cheering for my brother who used to do a bit of stock car racing. Basil Bosch. I remember once that my brother crashed his little yellow datsun no.36 stock car right in front of the grandstands, and my mother freaked out, but he was fine.

I also remember the tinny music playing from the loudspeakers. It's you it's you it's you was one song I often heard and remembered. As well as Islands in the Stream, Hey Micky, and Barbara's Daughter.

I did not feel like a kid again when we watched the stock cars racing around the track, but I still enjoyed myself, and I get a feeling my boys did too, including Tony. I think we'll be going back a few more times.

I cannot remember who took the stock car photo below. Obviously it was either me,
or Tony
or Basti
or Zooty

Jumping for joy on sand dunes at Igoda near East London

2010-06-24T15:26:00.004+02:00

These two photos show Basti and Zooty jumping off (down?) sand dunes at Igoda beach, yesterday 23 June 2010. When their homemade sandboard didn't work, the boys took to running down sand dunes and jumping down sand dunes instead. Even mom (me) and Tony had a turn.

Basti's Igoda story and photos

Zooty's Igoda story and photos

Basti flies up in the air down a sand dune at Igoda, near East London

Zooty flies up in the air down a sand dune at Igoda, near East London

Igoda beach near East London

2010-06-24T15:09:00.006+02:00

Tony, the boys and I took a drive out to Igoda beach yesterday afternoon, just for fun. It was quite late in the afternoon already and we could not stay long, but we took our cameras, romped around on the sand dunes a bit, tried out a homemade sandboard that didn't work, and generally just had a "winter outing to the beach." I haven't been to Igoda in years, but used to go to Igoda with my parents often when I was a kid. My parents used to like fishing there, and I would run around on the sand dunes, or try catch a few fish in the rock pools - further along the beach, as the first bit of beach is just beautiful sand and ocean. My mother used to put red ribbons in my hair in case I wandered off a little too far, she would be able to spot me easily (and reel me back in) :)

The route seems to have changed somewhat, from what I remember. Obviously it's still leave East London and travel past the East London airport, but now it's straight down into Winterstrand, then turn right at the bottom, drive along the coast through the little Winterstrand residential village, then as you start to head away from the ocean again, turn left onto a little dirt road, that ends in a small parking area at Igoda beach.

Basti's Igoda story and photos

Zooty's Igoda story and photos

Igoda beach, near East London, and not far from Winterstrand

As you walk down onto the sand at Igoda beach,

this little village and lagoon is off to the right, a bit magical, like Brigadoon.

Zooty (11) and Basti (12) stand on rocks at Igoda Beach. The beach itself is long and beautiful,

without any rocks unless you walk pretty far along the beach, but these rocks (and ideal fishing area)

are immediately off to the left as one walks down from the little Igoda beach parking area.

East London's beautful Nahoon River

2010-06-18T10:43:00.001+02:00

This short little video (about 13 seconds) of the Nahoon River in East London, was taken a little upstream from the Nahoon River mouth.

A little further upstream, one finds tranquil little picnic spots - pretty much in the middle of East London (if incorporating Gonubie too.)

Litter in East London, near the Nahoon River

2010-06-10T14:50:00.001+02:00

We took this short little video sometime back already, near a beautiful view of the Nahoon River in East London. It really was not a lot of litter we found there, but what we particularly didn't find appropriate was that the litter was right next to a sign reminding people to please not litter.

Related Article about litter on Tony's blog

Photos of sunrise and a train in Cambridge East London

2010-06-09T09:31:00.000+02:00

Tony and I haven't really been rambling lately, so when we popped in at OK Foods in Cambridge on the way back from dropping the boys at school this morning, we decided to pop over the road and see if we could take some photos of the railway line - we didn't have much time, so doubted we'd be lucky enough to have a train come along, but we thought wrong. We had hardly gotten there, next to the railway line, when a train came trundling along the tracks.

Here are the photo efforts of this morning's mini East London ramble:

Broken concrete gutter and wet road from a burst water pipe

2010-05-30T14:42:00.003+02:00

We didn't have to ramble far in East London for these photos - these photos of the wet road and the broken concrete gutter were taken in Garcia Street, Cambridge, East London, not far from where we live.

The water pipe burst on Saturday morning 29 May 2010, and the road, driveways, and gutter were flooded. Cars wheels whoosed through the water, causing water to spray up everywhere.

The East London municipality did not take long to arrive and repair the damaged water pipe, and luckily water supply to the nearby houses in Garcia Street was soon flowing once more.

More on the Garcia Street water pipe burst:

Daily Dispatch DispatchNow blog - Well done BCM!

Car wheels splashing in water from a burst water pipe in East London

I wanted dad to let go of my leash

View from The Edge at Hogsback in the Eastern Cape

2010-05-26T09:12:00.001+02:00

Beautiful view from the edge at The Edge in Hogsback, or not, Tony was not going beyond that gate. Although I'm not as scared of heights as Tony is, I wasn't all that keen to go beyond this gate either - although a super zoom lens on my camera would have been great.

But, here's the view, as I took it, so hope you like!

I took this photo during a day trip to Hogsback in early 2009.

The Gonubie beachfront Boardwalk at night

2010-05-23T21:18:00.000+02:00

This very short video shows what the Gonubie boardwalk looks like at night. Lots of little miggies flying around the light drew our attention too. Put your speakers on. Gonubie is an awesome Eastern Cape coastal holiday destination - and the locals of East London love it too. The Gonubie boardwalk stretches along the ocean's edge from the carpark near the Gonubie Hotel all the way to the beach near the Gonubie River mouth.

Tranquil picnic spot along the Nahoon River in the middle of East London

2010-05-21T12:35:00.001+02:00

This tranquil and beautiful Nahoon River picnic spot is quite a hidden little gem in East London, near the bridge separating the suburbs of Nahoon and Beacon Bay. Bonnie Doon, Vincent, Abortsford, Nahoon Valley, and Stirling are not too far away either.

What an ideal little riverside spot to take a break at in the middle of the day from shopping, or to relax at with the family on weekends, or late weekday afternoons.

Also see The bridge over the Nahoon River in East London

The bridge over the Nahoon River in East London

2010-05-21T12:15:00.002+02:00

This Nahoon River bridge seperates Nahoon from Beacon Bay in East London. The Nahoon River runs into the ocean at the mouth, at Nahoon Beach. One of the longer swims that Amakhosi Masters Swimming Club had when they hosted the South African Masters National Swimming Championships in East London in 2009, was held near this spot. There are another three bridges that cross the Nahoon River further up the river too. See the video below:

Anyone in SA remember the mid 80's SABC series The Volunteers?

2010-05-17T20:25:00.000+02:00

It was on the far bank of this river in the photo, near Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, that the SABC series The Volunteers was filmed in the mid 1980's. A group of "volunteers" lived like the 1820 settlers - I remember how they ended up arguing and moaning so much. Took this photo in 1985 on a standard 9 (grade 11) school English trip to Grahamstown and surrounding areas. We walked down a long road off to the right of where this photo was taken from, and jumped across rocks and used a little canoe (I think, was some time back now!) to get to the other side of the river and go look at the area where The Volunteers had lived, during the SABC filming of the series. Everything had basically been removed already, but, having had enjoyed the South African tv series, it was kinda cool to be standing exactly where The Volunteers had lived, and had been filmed.

(post by Terry)

The East London beachfront in 1994

2010-05-17T18:58:00.001+02:00

This photo of the East London beachfront, and looking towards the dunes of Eastern Beach, was taken from an 8th floor apartment above the Kennaway Hotel where I was living at the time. This was in 1994, 16 years ago, now, when I was 25 (I'm now 41.) Numbers nightclub and disco was just across the way from the East London aquarium that you can see in the photo (the aquarium has a pale blue wall). (Numbers was next to where Virgin Active Gym is now.)

(post by Terry)

Looking at yachts on the Buffalo River in East London

2010-05-16T00:41:00.000+02:00

Tony's hair was still short! If you have an old nickname like Yottie, and you used to do sailing on dinghies and catamarans, and also had an interest in 1m radio controlled model racing yachts, then you'll also want to pop down to the East London harbour, to be reminded of what you love and miss, and, who knows, perhaps be motivated to make a plan about getting back into it, and onto the water again.

Spot the bus car train and boat

2010-05-16T00:32:00.000+02:00

Yes, there is a boat there - click to enlarge this photo taken at the Buffalo River in East London. Clue: the boat is not on the river (that's a jetty just on the other side of the man fishing). The other three modes of transport are all clear to see, one above the other, like in a triple story house. Hm, pity there wasn't a helicopter or something in the air too.

Yacht mooring ropes and metal bollard

2010-05-16T00:24:00.000+02:00

Into boating? Pop down to the East London harbour on the Buffalo River (a river port) to check out ropes, bollards, boats, a yacht or three or four, ships, or just relax nearby and have a snack or drink, while enjoying the salty air and smells, and maybe catch a glimpse of fishermen coming back from a day's fishing, who, if you're lucky might be holding their catches up and you can go home and say "It was thiiiiiiis big..."

Shell and rocks looks like a chameleon's head and eye

2010-05-15T23:37:00.001+02:00

And here below is a close up of the "eye" of the chameleon - the interesting swirling pattern in the middle of this shell reminds me of a little water nymph, or something. Something magical anyway. This section of rocks and the pretty little shell was found along the Gonubie coastline, East London.

The sun rises and slips behind clouds

2010-05-15T23:19:00.000+02:00

These two photos were taken in the East Coast Resorts area of East London early one morning. As the sun rose, it slipped behind some clouds, but the edges of the clouds were still lit up. I love the cooler colours of the sky and clouds in the top of the photos, then the warm glow near the bottom, coming all the way down to the bottom, now, to the dark foreground of silhouetted thorn trees to offset it all. This is a sunrise that is typical in the countryside of South Africa - but this one was in East London, my lovely little hometown, and so it's extra special.

Geese taking a walk near Seagulls Beach Hotel, Wild Coast

2010-05-12T23:49:00.000+02:00

These geese looked so happy and relaxed just taking an afternoon stroll, near Seagulls Beach Hotel, on the Wild Coast, not far from Kei Mouth. We spent one night at Seagulls Beach Hotel in early 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed our stay, and of course their divine Saturday night seafood, as well as meandering through the countryside - and all sorts of animals, not just geese - on the way there and back.

The beach between Glen Gariff and Glen Eden

2010-05-11T23:52:00.000+02:00

Spending some time on the beaches in and near East London is a great idea for both visitors and locals alike. East London beaches are stunning, the ocean waters are not too cold, and some of the quieter beaches allow dogs too. Explore and discover the East Coast Resorts area beaches, like the people in this photo are doing. This is a stretch of beach between Glen Gariff and Glen Eden. Go hiking along the coast, but don't forget you sun protection!

Kwelera River is a nature lover's delight

2010-05-11T23:40:00.000+02:00

This photo was taken a bit upriver from the mouth of Kwelera River, near East London, in South Africa - about 2km or so, upriver. It is near the Kwelera River mouth that the 16km (10 miles) Surfers Marathon Coastal Challenge starts each year. Yellow Sands beach is on the opposite side of the river mouth. Glen Gariff is not far along the coast, from the mouth either. Just a little downriver from these cliffs in this photo, one finds Areena Riverside Resort.

This is the perfect area for abseiling, tubing, canoeing, fishing, hiking, bird watching, swimming and more!

Hugging a log at Sunrise on Sea near East London

2010-05-09T14:47:00.000+02:00

Zooty was 3 or 4 in this photo taken at Sunrise on Sea beach, East Coast Resorts, near East London, about 7 years ago. Zooty is now naturally bigger, the log is the same size, and the beach is still there. Only thing really different now is that the log is missing Zooty's hugs.

Sunrise on Sea driftwood and ocean

2010-05-09T14:41:00.000+02:00

This photo was taken at Sunrise on Sea beach, using an old SLR camera, and focussing through a hole in a large piece of driftwood, to the background of rocks, ocean and waves. Sunrise on Sea is not far from Crossways supermarket at the Village Centre in the East Coast Resorts area of East London.

Bridge over the Buffalo River in East London

2010-05-09T14:34:00.000+02:00

This bridge over the Buffalo River in East London separates the east and west banks of East London. One would drive across this bridge, entering the city centre, if coming from Port Elizabeth, or from the East London airport.

Messing ice-cream at the Spur restaurant and steak house in East London

2010-05-08T15:38:00.000+02:00

What a mess! If kids don't make a bit of a mess though, at a Spur restaurant, they aren't having fun are they? The Spur is an ideal place to take kids - of just about any age, and we do have a few Spur restaurants here in East London. Love their texan chillie sauce for burgers, or on a steak, their cheddar melt sauce (creamy cheese and mushroom), their steaks, and of course, their ribs, YUM! Oh, and of course Spur waffles (with BOTH cream and ice-cream) aren't bad at all either. In this photo Basti has fun messing and enjoying his ice-cream and marshmallow - photo taken early January 2009.

Charming wood furnishings at Bramlyn b&b in Nahoon, East London

2010-05-04T11:42:00.001+02:00

Light and airy furnishings and neutral, natural tones of the furnishings and linen at Bramlyn bed and breakfast in Nahoon, East London, is welcoming indeed. Sunlight streams through the window of this room at Bramlyn, leaving delighful streaks of light across the wooden floor, highlighting part of the wooden desk and chair, and the welcoming bed. Whether you're needing to be active at the nearby shops in Nahoon, or want to pop down to Nahoon River, or go swimming or surfing at Nahoon beach or reef, or, are just needing to relax, Bramlyn b&b offers you the perfect, relaxing East London accommodation solution.

Plenty of secure parking at Lord Selborne Guest House in Selborne

2010-05-04T11:18:00.002+02:00

Parking at Lord Selborne Guest House in East London is secure. Cars can park securely behind a high wall, and the two gates are automated. Access to the parking area - and to Lord Selborne Guest House - is gained by drivers of the cars first speaking on the intercom at the entrance gate, to identify who they are.

Tennis court at Lord Selborne Guest House in Selborne

2010-05-04T10:06:00.001+02:00

Lord Selborne Guest House is ideally situated in Selborne, East London - behind Selborne Primary School, close to shops in the Vincent Park shopping area, the Joan Harrison public swimming pool, and of course not forgetting Boykies Biltong Bar. Even though it may sound like Lord Selborne Guest House is in a busy area, this East London accommodation establishment is behind high walls and is quiet once you're on the large premises. It has a lovely spacious garden, a bar, a small glass-encased gym, and a tennis court for social tennis players to keep fit on. We enjoyed designing a website for Lord Selborne, and taking photos of their upmarket accommodation establishment, which includes conference facilities.

Radio controlled racing cars in East London

2010-05-01T12:48:00.002+02:00

It's almost a sin that the boys were 10 and 11 (about a year ago) before we took them to see some radio controlled cars in East London. Watching these little radio controlled model racing cars racing around the track near Buffs Club in East London was not only enjoyed by the boys, but by Tony and I too. The paint jobs on the model cars enhanced their looks, and the boys found these attractive little cars really interesting. Being female, I guess, the word I would use to describe the colours of the model cars, is "pretty." There was even a pink one. We would like to take the boys to another race at the Buffs club model car racing grounds sometime, after all, they did quickly forget about wanting to make racing radio controlled model cars their new hobby quickly enough last time. We don't have enough extra money to support a hobby like this right now. There were other women that day at the racing event in East London, who were actually watching the cars race, so it's obvious to me that radio controlled model car racing is not just a hobby for men and boys, but for women too!

East London police on horses bigger than the cars they're watching

2010-05-01T12:05:00.000+02:00

East London police sit on their horses behind the fence at the East London radio controlled cars track near Buffs Club. The horses actually looked a little interested in the small radio controlled cars too. These policemen must have been having a bit of break, and probably thought "Why not go show our horses what else we enjoy?" Little cars or big cars, cars will always be fascinating to boys of all ages - we didn't check, but maybe all those horses were boys too?

Self-catering interior decor in Kwelera, East London

2010-05-01T11:44:00.002+02:00

Interior decor is certainly not just for city-dwellers or accommodation places within the city. Get creative and liven up your countryside self-catering interior decor like Petra and Spuds Self Catering have. Wooden antique looks are just so quaint and it makes more sense when this kind of interior decor is found in the countryside, blending, somewhat, with the area. This photo was taken just inside the entrance to Petra and Spuds Self-Catering in Kwelera Village, East London - in the East Coast Resorts area.

Who wants to join the circus?

2010-04-27T23:57:00.000+02:00

I think Basti wants to joins the circus, but then again, that makes sense, as he's my child and when I was little I wanted to join the circus too. I used to dream about joining a circus, like some children in the books I read were doing. Okay, Basti does not want to join the circus, but he certainly enjoyed trying out his balancing skills on this tightrope, and later, tried some more balancing on the stilts.

(post by Terry)

The huge slide at the Gonubie Agricultural Show in East London

2010-04-27T23:51:00.000+02:00

That's a pretty big slide. I wonder how fast the kids would slide down if they poured some water and soap onto this slide? Wheeeeeeeee! That's Basti at the bottom of the slide, having just climbed up those steps to the right of the slide. He said there was one step that was a little faulty and one could see down to the ground. Hm, this slide is not for me, and definitely not for Tony. Too high!

A picture of the swings at the Gonubie Show, and a picture of the bubble balls one climbs inside

Walking on stilts at the Gonubie Agricultural Show

2010-04-27T23:42:00.001+02:00

Tony on stilts at the Gonubie show!

Not fair - he could walk, hop, and even just stand there balancing perfectly!

With some practice on stilts, Basti might one day manage to walk on stilts, and balance on stilts, as well as Tony does.

Read about our trip to the Gonubie Agricultural Show in East London.

Being inside a big plastic bubble ball at the Gonubie Agricultural Show

2010-04-27T23:32:00.001+02:00

Basti had loads of fun in these huge big plastic bubble balls. The fun see-through plastic balls were just one of the many attractions for children at the recent Gonubie Agricultural Show in East London - some adults enjoyed the rides too!

Two more photos and the whole story of our visit to the Gonubie Agricultural Show.

Walking dogs in East London 365 days a year

2010-04-24T07:27:00.000+02:00

This is Khatu and Isha and they're very fit, healthy, and happy dogs. Their 70 year old East London owner, Dave, is fit too. The three of them walk about 3 km 365 days a year! Walking dogs is not just for the dogs! And to stick to walking dogs 365 days a year is a remarkable achievement indeed. Well done Dave, Khatu and Isha!

Powerful ocean near Nahoon Reef in East London

2010-04-23T22:47:00.001+02:00

The first and last photos of these 6 photos above had us flying backwards to avoid being splashed. These photos were taken today (Friday 23 April) down on the beach near Footprints Cafe in Nahoon. We were there to meet a client, and had some time to kill before she arrived. The ocean was rough and beautifully alive and we couldn't resist strolling down to the water's edge for a few photos of the waves spashing over the rocks. This was in the morning and the tide was high. Later in the day we were in the Kwelera area of the East Coast Resorts area, when it was low tide, and the sea still looked just as rough, with huge and powerful swells approaching Yellowsands and Kwelera River mouth. The sea is terribly powerful, and although it's exciting to watch the ocean and the waves when it's rough like this, it's a little scary too.

Get a canoe and go canoeing in East London

2010-04-07T17:01:00.001+02:00

This lone canoe at Areena, near East London, is just waiting for somebody to hop into it, and go canoeing up or down the river. If you're not actually racing in a canoe, canoeing is not that strenuous, and can be quite relaxing. Get a canoe and some oars, or borrow a canoe, or hire a canoe at a holiday resort like Areena, and have some family fun on a river - perhaps on a relaxing, lazy Sunday afternoon in East London.

Dining on Seafood at Seagulls Beach Hotel, Wild Coast

2010-03-31T00:13:00.000+02:00

The Seafood on Saturday nights at Seagulls Beach Hotel on the Wild Coast is just divine! When we spent one night at Seagulls Beach Hotel in January 2009, we made sure it was a Saturday night so that we could enjoy dining on their famous seafood dishes - and did we eat a lot of seafood and enjoy it? Of course! We feasted on delicious and beautifully presented oysters, cockles, prawns, calamari, mussels and fish. All the seafood eaten in the Seagulls Beach Hotel dining room is refreshingly fresh, and just simply delicious!

Old telephone booth at Naturel in Kei Mouth, Eastern Cape

2010-03-30T23:58:00.000+02:00

This old post office telephone booth is pretty antique and can be seen at Naturel in Kei Mouth, about an hour's drive out of East London. Stooping beneath the tree that shaded the telephone booth, we were hoping to see an antique phone inside, but there was nothing. We were still impressed with the telephone booth itself though. A nice glimpse back into history, when one used to have to use coins for dialing, before modern mobile cellphones started to become "normal" everywhere.

Large rose quartz crystal at Naturel in Kei Mouth

2010-03-30T23:48:00.000+02:00

Well, we thought this rose quartz crystal was quite large anyway. There are smaller crystals for sale inside the Naturel deli and restaurant. Naturel in Kei Mouth, Eastern Cape, sells all kinds of arts and crafts, and a variety of colourful crystals too. This rose quartz crystal is right at the entrance to the little Naturel shop, and many more little treasures await visitors inside.

Areena giraffe eating Eastern Cape thorn trees for breakfast

2010-03-30T09:38:00.005+02:00

This giraffe at Areena Riverside Resort is still young, but already so tall, and is enjoying lovely dark green leaves for breakfast. The green leaves are amongst the thorns of the sweet thorn acacia thorn tree which grow all over the Eastern Cape. Acacia sweet thorn trees also make for wonderful bonsai trees. Imagine your own collection of little thorn tree bonsai trees in your own garden, whether you live in the countryside or not. These thorn trees blossom with beautiful puffy yellow blossoms once a year. It's a wonderful sight to view yellow (thorn tree blossoms), green (thorn trees), and blue (lovely blue skies) all over the countryside at certain times of the year - then, just add a giraffe or two, and you have the perfect countryside. This giraffe at Areena is fairly tame and you can go right up to it and pet it. One only really gets the full idea of how tall a giraffe really is when one is standing right next to a giraffe, stroking its head.

Giraffe at Areena Riverside Resort, East London

2010-03-29T18:01:00.003+02:00

Tony and this tall but still young giraffe get to know each other at Areena Resort, East London. Areena Riverside Resort is on the East Coast Resorts Road just outside East London, on the Jikeleza route, and is a super riverside resort for the whole family. Spend a day - or a few days - at Areena, on the Kwelera River, canoeing, fishing, bird watching, swimming in the river or pool, braaing, or jumping on the trampoline! This giraffe is not the only wildlife at Areena, so why not get on a quad bike to go exploring and visit the other wildlife at Areena too? Areena is also a great spot for conferences, corporate team building events, or tasty meals at the delightful restaurant overlooking the Kwelera river.

Terry and Tony at Mermaid's Pool, Nahoon, East London, South Africa

2010-03-29T16:46:00.000+02:00

Samantha took this photo of us during her first ever visit to East London in March 2010. We enjoyed taking photographs at Mermaind's Pool, near Nahoon beach and Nahoon Reef. Mermaid's Pool is not far from Footprints Cafe, which has a cute little museum that highlights the history of the Nahoon beach coastal area.

50 year old slides down fireman's pole at East London zoo

2010-03-20T13:57:00.000+02:00

The East London zoo has a lovely playground for children of all ages. In this zoo playground photo, Tony shows that he can still slide down a fireman's pole too. Later, he even showed the boys how to climb up a fireman's pole. The playground at the East London zoo is a great place for parents to relax with a snack or cooldrink from the zoo kiosk (if they're not also trying out the playground equipment) while the children get rid of a little more energy after having already seen all the animals. The zoo is also a great venue for children's birthday parties.
(post by Terry)

East London zoo free birds and birds in cages

2010-03-20T13:47:00.000+02:00

Zooty enjoyed feeding the birds at the East London zoo - he fed the birds peanuts. He fed many animals at the zoo the peanuts that are available for purchase at the zoo kiosk, but he particularly enjoyed feeding the birds, the quite tame doves, that hang around the zoo - although he did feed the birds that were in cages too. I wonder if the birds in the cages feel sad when they see those free birds so close to them, in the same zoo, yet free?
(post by Terry)

East London Queens Park Zoo bears

2010-03-20T13:37:00.000+02:00

These two bears at the East London zoo enjoyed the peanuts people were throwing down to them. The bears seem cute, lazy, and relaxed, but I still wouldn't like myself or anybody really, falling into the bears' enclosure - the bears may suddenly become very active indeed! The East London zoo is a super place for both adults and children to enjoy looking at and watching the behaviour of animals - still wish all the animals had much larger enclosures though.
(post by Terry)

East London Friesland milkshakes on a hot day

2010-03-19T15:16:00.000+02:00

During Tony's daughter's recent visit to East London, we took her to the Friesland for a milkshake. Friesland milkshakes go down well at any time, but especially on a hot day - wish I knew how to make Friesland milkshakes at home - Friesland milkshakes have been famous in East London for many years now, and I'll never grow tired of them, they're so yummy. We could always make some other kinds of homemade milkshakes at home, but nothing will come close to a good old East London Friesland milkshake!
In this photo, the boys cool down near the fridges in Friesland in the Quigney, as it was a really hot day. We had each ordered a different flavour milkshake and couldn't wait for them to be made - chocolate, fiesta fruit, butterscotch, strawberry and lime - deciding on which flavour milkshake to get is never easy as there are many other flavours to choose from too, and of course all the milkshakes we ordered were large and double thick. Yummy!
(post by Terry)

Walking along the beach near Nahoon beach, East London

2010-03-19T15:00:00.001+02:00

Father and daughter get their feet wet, and their toes sandy, at Mermaid's Pool, Nahoon, in East London. Mermaid's Pool in Nahoon is a super spot for taking photographs too. Tony's daughter was visiting East London for the first time, and stayed in East London for 3 nights and 2 days - we took her to Mermaid's Pool on the first day, soon after she arrived.
(post by Terry)

Mermaid's Pool, Nahoon, East London sepia photograph

2010-03-19T14:51:00.000+02:00

Here, Tony celebrates his daughter's visit to East London, down at Mermaid's Pool, Nahoon - or is he showing how big the tidal wave is that's approaching Nahoon beach? Father was happy to show his daughter the ocean as she had not seen the ocean or touched the ocean or even gotten her feet wet in the ocean in about 7 years.
(post by Terry)

East London karate training lesson at Nahoon beach photos

2010-03-03T16:43:00.006+02:00

Karate lessons in East London are fun, and even more so when karate lessons are sometimes held at the beach. These karate photos were taken during a karate training session at Nahoon beach in East London recently.

Self-defence martial arts training like karate is not only done and used for self-defence, learning self-control, respect and discipline, but also for keeping fit, strong, and supple.

Find out more about karate lessons in East London for your children, or for yourself - some adults may even be keen to learn a little about cage fighting, a little extreme at times, but if that kind of fighting appeals to you, pop on over to our other blog post about karate to find out more about who you can contact about cage fighting lessons - and also find out more about karate lessons in East London - if you're a parent who worries a great deal about your children and you are not keen that they get involved in cage fighting, not to worry, the karate lessons are very different and held at a different time!

Rusty old chain

2010-02-24T20:54:00.000+02:00

The wall of an outbuilding at the boys school had a built in metal pole, with a piece of rusty old chain hanging from it, which was presumably used to lock a no longer in existence gate. The wall, chain and pole seemed to be a good study for texture and composition etc. however, the colour just didn't do anything for me, so I cropped it, and changed the colours.

(post by Tony)

Go Goth

2010-02-24T20:45:00.000+02:00

The stark black and white of the average goth type make-up look inspired this image. Kinda. At the height of the rolling power outtages in South Africa, we came across this power thingie, and a little photoshop later we were able to tell the light from the dark. Even though Eskom couldn't, and still seems to have the odd problem discerning light and dark.

(post by Tony)

Construction crane boom at Hemingways in East London

2010-02-24T20:37:00.000+02:00

While the Hemingways Mall in East London was under construction, there were these massive great cranes on the site. We stopped there one morning so that Terry could take some photos of the cranes. I was sitting in the car, and noticed that one of the cranes had swung its boom out over the roadway. I had only a cell phone with me, but used that to take this crane pic.

(post by Tony)

Stuck away

2010-02-24T20:30:00.000+02:00

This is another study in apparent futility. I saw a picture, and tried to get it into the camera. The camera saw another picture, and went its own way. At the end of the day, I was stuck with a picture of a wall with, in a distant corner, a fern growing out of it. I cropped, color-tinted and swore at Photoshop until I got this result.

(post by Tony)

Sand Ladies

2010-02-24T20:26:00.000+02:00

Sometime in the winter of a few years ago, we were messing around the shallow waters of the Gonubie river, the boys were playing, and Terry was taking photos. I was wading around, ankle deep in the raging waters, watching little fish get swept away, when I noticed this interesting pattern in the sand under the ankle deep water. Out came cell phone, and I got these sand ladies.

(post by Tony)

Surf photo

2010-02-24T20:13:00.000+02:00

Somewhere along the line I took a photo of the surf and sea, across some rocks. While playing with the photo, I was astounded at how dull and boring the surf seemed, and how the photo was! The photo was grey and miserable, and had no colour or atmosphere. It had nothing! A little Photoshop, a lot of profanity, and I think I captured something in this photo that could mean anything, depending on who is viewing it.

(post by Tony)

Water boys in Gonubie in Gonubie River

2010-02-24T19:46:00.000+02:00

Gonubie river, about two or three hundred metres from the river mouth, somewhere during high tide and low tide, there is an island thing, separated from the shore by a 7 metre wide channel. The water in the channel is, at that stage of the tide, less than a metre deep, and is a great place for kids to play semi-safely.

(post by Tony)

Terry at the beach

2010-02-24T19:33:00.001+02:00

The boys were sand wrestling or something, and I was driving the camera. I took this photo of Terry and her smile, not totally unawares, but not totally prepared. She doesn't like this photo, but I do. It's one of very few taken in the year or so before then that her smile was totally relaxed and spontaneous, and the eyes....

(post by Tony)

Sand message

2010-02-24T17:26:00.002+02:00

While I was trying to make sense of exactly how to get what I was seeing into the camera, (not easy, cos no matter what I see, and point out to the camera, the camera gets the impression wrong) Terry got a tad bored, and started doodling in the sand. Not only did she write the english message, but she translated the message into advanced aztec-peruvian glyphs, which are just below the original text. The glyphs look like footprints.

(post by Tony)

Rock at Glen Eden near East London

2010-02-24T17:12:00.001+02:00

On the same morning that the footprint photos were taken, I took this rock photo. At the time all I was trying to capture was the impression of this solid gigantic rock formation, silhouetted against the sky. When I was playing with the image later I noticed the anguished screaming face in the formation. The entire thing is about 900mm high!

(post by Tony)

Footprint and footprint sunrise

2010-02-24T17:02:00.000+02:00

Early one winter morning, down at the beach, there was evidence that someone had passed this way earlier. Barefoot. We were a tad curious, but not that curious that we were going to follow the prints. Not knowing the origin of the prints adds an air of mystery to them... What we do know about these prints is that they are human, and were left by a male or female...

So, to preserve the footprint in the sand, and to give the impression that we had nothing better to do with our time, we aged the print a bit, and made it seem that we got to it in the early early morning, while it was still bathing in the early golden glow of the rising sun. It is very likely that the prints weren't there that early though. Nor were we.

(post by Tony)

Yellow lemons in the lemon tree

2010-02-17T23:30:00.006+02:00

Something made us look up a song on You Tube today, that we used to kinda enjoy in the 90's - Lemon Tree sung by Fools Garden and we enjoyed listening to it again.

Lemons are quite something to look back on as a fond memory - and even still use to create future memories. Plenty of fresh lemon juice as well as a bit of cinnamon and sugar on a lovely warm, thin and very flat and smooth pancake goes down really well. The pancake must be dripping with lemon. Never quite sure if the yellow colour of a lemon is considered bright yellow, dull yellow, pale yellow, or just plain good yellow - but it was obviously a similar colour that I wanted my hair to be when I used to sit out in the sun with sticky fresh lemon juice on my hair, trying to get my hair more blonde - when I was much younger than I am now! Whatever the kind of yellow a lemon is, lemons are here to stay, and a lemon tree looks good in the garden with those yellow lemons showing up against lovely green leaves - those fresh lemon tree leaves smell just divine too when they are crushed and held up to your nose. Every garden should have a lemon tree.
ps - do you see the "face" in the top right corner of the lemon tree picture? If you can, spend more time looking at the picture, and you'll be able to make out some other faces in that lemon tree too!
(post by Terry)

Fireworks display in East London at the East London harbour

2010-02-17T22:55:00.005+02:00

I took these firworks display photos some years ago - about 8 years ago I think, at the East London harbour festival. I had an old manual SLR camera, and this was my first attempt at taking fireworks pictures. I used the "B" setting, and kept the shutter down for as long as I wanted, to capture the light in the sky - I didn't have a tripod, and just held my breath trying to keep very still. I think I held the camera shutter in position for about only 4 seconds, perhaps even less. Although these photos are not as clear as I would have liked, I'm relatively pleased with the results. I haven't seen a great fireworks display in a few years now, and am keen to also take my boys to see a good fireworks display - I wonder when there will be another good display in East London? I don't mean little sparklers and small displays, but great big rockets exploding all over the sky - like the display that night at the East London harbour which was awesome.
(post by Terry)

Surfers Marathon photos taken at Bonza Bay beach

2010-02-14T15:15:00.002+02:00

THESE BONZA BAY BEACH SURFERS MARATHON 2010 PHOTOS ARE NOT FOR SALE! Neither are the ones on our TnT Blog. SEE, ORDER, AND BUY SURFERS MARATHON PHOTOS IN VINCENT PARK CENTRE AT POLLOCKS PRO PHOTO.

These 2010 surfers marathon photos displayed beneath were taken for fun only. View a few more 2010 surfers marathon photographs on the blog of TnT Unleashed 1pic4twenty

There are also another 3 posts on this blog containing more Surfers photos:

More Bonza Bay Surfers Marathon photographs

Photographs of the 2010 Surfers Marathon near Gonubie Hotel

2010 Surfers Marathon photos taken at Gonubie River, in East London

UPDATE:
Also see:
Surfers Marathon 2011 East London Planning and Tips
and
2011 Surfers Marathon is Tomorrow!

Photographs of the 2010 Surfers Marathon near Gonubie Hotel

2010-02-14T15:13:00.004+02:00

THESE SURFERS MARATHON 2010 PHOTOS were taken for fun, near the Gonubie Hotel, in Gonubie, East London, and some Surfers photos are on our other blog too.

IMPORTANT: THESE PHOTOS ARE NOT FOR SALE.
POLLOCKS PRO PHOTO SITUATED IN VINCENT PARK CENTRE, EAST LONDON, IS WHERE YOU ORDER AND BUY SURFERS MARATHON PHOTOS.

We had a fun afternoon taking these photographs of the runners enjoying this annual East London Coastal Challenge race - enjoy!

View even more of the 2010 East London coastal challenge photos on this blog here:

Surfers Marathon photos taken at Bonza Bay beach

More Bonza Bay Surfers Marathon photographs

2010 Surfers Marathon photos taken at Gonubie River, in East London

More Bonza Bay Surfers Marathon photographs

2010-02-14T15:13:00.003+02:00

THESE SURFERS MARATHON 2010 PHOTOS ARE NOT FOR SALE.
POLLOCKS PRO PHOTO IS WHERE YOU BUY SURFERS MARATHON PHOTOS.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS DISPLAYED HERE, and on our TnT Blog, ARE JUST FOR FUN AND TO ENJOY LOOKING AT. ENJOY!

There are 3 more posts on this blog that have 2010 Surfers Marathon photos:

Surfers Marathon photos taken at Bonza Bay beach

Photographs of the 2010 Surfers Marathon near Gonubie Hotel

2010 Surfers Marathon photos taken at Gonubie River, in East London

Bonza Bay beach is a stunning beach in Bonza Bay, East London (Bonza Bay is at the bottom end of Main Road Bonza Bay in Beacon Bay) and it was a great beach to relax on, and cheer on the East London 2010 Surfers Marathon runners. We had fun taking a few photos of the runners too.

2010 Surfers Marathon photos taken at Gonubie River, in East London

2010-02-14T12:36:00.021+02:00

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GONUBIE RIVER SURFERS MARATHON 2010 PHOTOGRAPHS IN THIS BLOG POST, and on our TnT blog too, ARE NOT FOR SALE. POLLOCKS PRO PHOTO IN VINCENT PARK CENTRE IS WHERE YOU VIEW AND ORDER YOUR 2010 SURFERS MARATHON PHOTOS.

Please see Surfers Marathon 2010, and surfers marathon photos on our TnT blog as well!

3 more places where you can see 2010 Surfers pictures on this blog are:
Surfers Marathon photos taken at Bonza Bay beach
More Bonza Bay Surfers Marathon photographs
Photographs of the 2010 Surfers Marathon near Gonubie Hotel

UPDATE:
Also see:
Surfers Marathon 2011 East London Planning and Tips
and
2011 Surfers Marathon is Tomorrow!

We took these Surfers Marathon 2010 photos below just for fun, and hope you enjoy them!

White and silver wedding table decorations

2010-02-05T16:53:00.008+02:00

Wedding table decorations add to the theme of a wedding and wedding table decorators or wedding planners can get quite creative with their table decorations. The wedding table in this photograph is meant only for displaying decorations, and is not where anyone at the wedding is going to sit. Good use has been made of white flowers, material, glass, and the colours white, silver and grey.

Table Decor: Festive Occasions, Weddings, & Other Special Events
(book)

Beautiful white wedding flowers

2010-02-05T16:28:00.004+02:00

A wedding is so often all about white - and here, these beautiful white wedding flowers stand out against a backdrop of a dark sky, at this outdoor wedding on the deck at Michaela's Restaurant in Cintsa East. There are plenty of beautiful white flowers in this large wedding flower arrangement. Also see 25 wedding photographs taken at Cintsa East, East London.

Seaweed that looks like a flower

2010-02-05T14:47:00.000+02:00

This very dark purple, almost dark maroon, or even almost black seaweed looks like a flower, we think. Perhaps a rose or a carnation? Well, it's not a flower, but some seaweed on rocks at the beach near Gonubie in East London. There are always interesting forms of marine life to photograph down at the seaside!

Seaweed marine life near Gonubie

2010-02-05T14:27:00.002+02:00

Green and purple seaweed form part of the marine life amongst various other forms of marine life and examples in and around a small rockpool on the coast near Gonubie, East London. A trip to the beach is always a great opportunity for taking photos. When visiting the ocean, photographers should not forget to take close up, or macro photographs too, of various forms of marine life, rockpools, seaweed and shells, instead of only concentrating on sunsets over the ocean, sandy beaches, or oceanscape photos.

Musical instruments at Cypress Dale near East London

2010-02-05T13:59:00.001+02:00

These musical instruments almost glow in the lighting conditions present. Drums and guitars form part of this group of musical instruments next to the dance floor at Cypress Dale on the East Coast Resorts Road, near East London. The Elevators were the live band that played at Cypress Dale, using these musical instruments, during a 42nd birthday party bash held there. A good party, a live band, musical instruments and great lyrics! At a 42nd birthday party, what more could one want?

We think this hadeda was shot with a pellet gun

2010-02-01T15:01:00.000+02:00

This poor hadeda was in our garden, just sitting on the grass and breathing rapidly. Its mate was sitting on a wall nearby, but would occassionally fly down to be close to its mate, who was looking scared and hurt. The hadeda had a wound near its eye that looked like a bullet wound. We suspect from a pellet gun. It was saddening to see this beautiful bird in pain on the gound when it should have been able to fly around. It's one leg was squashed under its body too. The bird was really weak when we found it, and the spca didn't come in time after we phoned them. This poor hadeda died, and it was about two hours before its mate left the scene.

Gilly the jack russell down on the beach

2010-02-01T14:45:00.002+02:00

Gilly is more than just a jack russell. This little jack russell is our baby. Although she's no longer a cute little puppy, she is still cute and will always be our baby. She's a dog that enjoyed her first trip to the beach so much, that at times she was overwhelmed and just stood there, staring at the sea. At other times, she would run around like a mad dog, exhilirating in the feel of the damp sand beneath her paws. Jack russells are just adorable dogs and we are very pleased to have our own little jack russell baby. We are very proud dog owners. Gilly is nice and small - not as small as a chihuahua, but more manageable than a large labrador or boxer. A jack russell is a perfect family pet. We love dogs and a jack russell called Gilly is our perfect family pet - our baby.

Delicious party snacks at Cypress Dale, East Coast Resorts, East London

2010-02-01T14:22:00.002+02:00

A photo of food at a birthday party at Cypress Dale, on the East Coast Resorts Road, near East London. We were invited to the party and also hired to take some photographs for the couple - a friend was throwing a 42nd birthday party bash for her husband. The party eats were yummy, and there was a large variety of savoury tasty snacks on offer. What's a party without great party food!?

Fish in a big fish tank at the East London Aquarium

2010-02-01T13:40:00.003+02:00

Some photo cropping done to this picture of these silvery fish in one of the large fish tanks at the East London aquarium. Then, just for fun, and to make the fish appear more silvery, changed the picture to black and white.

Taking photos on the beach near the surfers marathon start, in Kwelera Village, East London

2010-02-01T13:13:00.004+02:00

Also see some 2010 Surfers Marathon photos

The annual 16km East London Surfers Marathon coastal challenge is tackled by many runners, walkers and paddlers every year, so February is a good time to mention this popular East London race! Probably even a little late, if training has not yet begun, and you are keen to enter. In this photo, Basti is taking photographs of the rocks and ocean on the beach near Kwelera Village - this is about 1km after the start of the Surfers Marathon, and about only 100 metres from Petra and Spuds self catering accommodation within the little Kwelera Village itself. Photographers must be very careful with their cameras on beaches, and try not to expose their cameras to too much sand, water, and salty air. If it's a windy day, rather keep your camera off the beach completely!

Rural countryside near Kei Mouth and Seagulls beach hotel in the Transkei

2010-02-01T06:37:00.003+02:00

These sheep were just a few of the many farm animals we encountered on the way to Seagulls beach hotel in January 2009. The drive on this 20 km dirt road between the pontoon at Kei River in Kei Mouth, and the gorgeous little seaside holiday spot, Seagulls beach hotel, is all part of the holiday getaway and escape from the city - East London, in South Africa is not a terribly large city, but this little countryside road is still an escape! Some of the other animals that we met in this wonderful little country environment were: cows, bulls, goats, ducks, geese, chickens, donkeys - plenty of animals. Ah, the countryside!

Kids floating in the ocean

2010-01-30T00:47:00.004+02:00

The boys enjoying a trip to the beach, and floating in the ocean near Gonubie, during the East London summer school holidays. We had our dog Gilly the jack russell with us, so we stayed away from the main Gonubie beach, but the boys still had fun at this rocky beach.

Hair blowing in Africa - well, in South Africa

2010-01-11T00:58:00.002+02:00

Actually in Cintsa East near East London, in South Africa, but had fun editing this photo that Tony took of me, and think it looks like it was taken in some dry rural African farmland area - (I loved the movie Out of Africa) Actually taken up at Michaela's Restaurant in Cintsa East, and it was really windy out on the deck, which is why my hair is blowing all over my face in this photo! (post by Terry)

My hair is getting quite long!

2010-01-11T00:34:00.002+02:00

That's me, Terry, third from the left. This photo was taken by Tony at my cousin Janine's wedding at Michaela's Restaurant in Cintsa East, near East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa, in January 2010. My hair is getting pretty long - I'm happy with long hair, but perhaps it needs just a little trim. That's Uncle John on the left (the bride's father), then I'm standing between husband and wife Christine and Alan. Alan is my cousin - and the bride's cousin. Check out some more of my cousin's wedding photos. (post by Terry)

Smoking and taking a photo in Hogsback

2010-01-09T23:01:00.002+02:00

Tony smokes a cigarette while using his mobile phone to take a photo of Madonna and Child waterfall in Hogsback in the Eastern Cape, in 2009. Read about Terry and Tony's day trip to Hogsback. Terry's two sons went on the trip too and everyone took lots of photos.
Also read about Terry and Tony deciding to stop smoking standard cigarettes, as they now smoke electronic cigarettes that they bought in East London in December 2009.

Construction cranes at Hemingways shopping complex and casino in East London

2010-01-09T22:11:00.002+02:00

These metal construction giants at Hemingways in East London looked impressive against the early morning sky. Construction equipment like cranes really can actually look quite beautiful!
Building the Hemingways shopping complex involved a mean bit of contruction work, and we're glad we took a photo before the building work was complete. You may like to visit our site about building too, or perhaps read about the frustrations of slow traffic and long lines of cars on the roads prior to the completion of the Hemingways shopping complex, when lots of road construction was also going on in the area. We think there were lots of angry, frustrated and impatient drivers on the roads in East London around that time, who simply couldn't wait for all the Hemingways complex and road construction work to be over!

The abstract surface of an old and rusty metal drum

2010-01-07T20:20:00.002+02:00

The abstract and interesting surface of an abandoned old and rusty metal drum. The metallic abstract surface caught our eye, and we snapped away with our cameras! The old metal drum was in a slightly overgrown area, so we didn't really get too close to it, for fear of snakes.

Seagulls near the East London Aquarium

2010-01-07T19:47:00.003+02:00

Seagulls swoop, soar and fly near the East London aquarium in the hope of being able to steal some fish being fed to the penguins. Naughty but clever seagulls! See a free online short story for children with photographs taken at the East London aquarium, entitled
Percy Penguin's great escape from the East London aquarium, featuring fish, penguins, a seal, and a lobster.

Collection of shells in Gonubie in East London

2010-01-06T13:23:00.004+02:00

This photo of this little collection of shells was taken in the coastal area of Gonubie in East London. It is also one of the free photos in our small collection of free public domain pictures on one of our other sites, free for people to take and use in places like on their websites or websites they're designing.

Gonubie coastline rocks

2010-01-05T00:21:00.015+02:00

These weathered rocks make an interesting abstract photography subject. There are many colourful rocks along the coastline of Gonubie, near East London.

South African buck in the bush

2010-01-05T00:05:00.006+02:00

We couldn't get in too close with our cameras and didn't have good zoom on our cameras either, but were still happy with our photography efforts when we captured these buck in the Brakfontein area of East London, in South Africa.

A goat in the Brakfontein countryside near East London

2010-01-05T00:00:00.004+02:00

A goat eats thorn tree leaves in the countryside in Brakfontein, near East London, in South Africa.

Brakfontein countryside in East London

2010-01-04T23:55:00.003+02:00

The beautiful Brakfontein countryside near East London. This image is also nice and large on the home page of our Sunburst International website.

Terry and Tony at a church in Hogsback

2010-01-04T22:39:00.006+02:00

Terry and Tony (us) visiting St Patrick on the Hill church in Hogsback. A delighful little church with stone walls in a quaint setting. Neat garden and lawn runs off into wild forest at the back. Many happy couples in the Eastern Cape area choose this little St Patrick on the Hill church in Hogsback to get married at.
View more Hogsback photos and read the full story about our daytrip to Hogsback

Madonna and Child waterfall in Hogsback

2010-01-04T21:59:00.006+02:00

Madonna and Child waterfall in Hogsback is delightfully refreshing! Take a dip in the cold shallow water or simply stand in it and enjoy feeling the gentle spray of the Madonna and Child falls on your face - or even stand right under the falls and take a refreshing and fun shower! The walk back up to the parking area can be a little tiring for those not very fit, so make sure to take something to drink with you too! The walk itself is lovely and refreshing too. The forests and forest walks of Hogsback are cool, green, and beautiful.
The full story of our daytrip to Hogsback, with more photos.

Kettlespout waterfall in Hogsback

2010-01-04T21:44:00.006+02:00

This lovely little waterfall in Hogsback is quite high up, even though the waterfall itself is very narrow, and one can actually just hop over the little stream at the top before it (the stream) tumbles over the cliff. The path to the waterfall is safe, but for those scared of heights, it could be a little worrying. Also, there is nothing to prevent a person from slipping over the edge at the actual waterfall if a person gets too close to the edge in an effort to see more of the waterfall. Stay well away from the edge (this is possible, so don't let this little story put you off going to see Kettle Spout waterfall!)
The full story of our day trip to Hogsback, with more photos

Tony moves the blown down sign out of the road

2010-01-04T21:28:00.007+02:00

There you go! See? It was you, Tony, that took the sign out of the road :) (see previous post). Your hair was blowing all over the place in that wind, that wind was really blowing hard! You're lucky you could see what you were doing! (post by Terry)

A very windy day in East London in 2009

2010-01-04T20:38:00.005+02:00

This sign was blown into the road in Beacon Bay in East London on a very windy day in 2009 when the one pole to which it was secured snapped at the base due to the strong gusts of wind. Cars were either just just missing it, or having to travel very slightly out of the lane.

Our newer blog (not this one) is more interesting right now

2009-07-19T14:39:00.012+02:00

We've neglected this blog, but will be getting back to it as soon as we can.
We have another one, that, although new, has interesting posts on it, and quite a few comments already.
Please visit OUR OTHER BLOG. Generally, anyone who comments there, usually gets a comment back on their own blog, within a few days.
Thanks.

When we do get the time to sort out this blog you're on now, we're thinking of making it just about displaying our photographs, and rambling on about whatever, and mostly avoiding mention of business or work, so more of a fun site, that hopefully all will enjoy.

This doesn't mean our other newer site is all about business - it has a wide variety of topics to cater to all tastes. Link to any of the latest posts, featured in the TnT Unleashed 1pic4twenty blog feed on the right. (near the bottom - where it says "recent posts on our OTHER blog.")
Enjoy!

Terry and Tony

A chat between us......candid and off-the-cuff.

2008-03-28T21:59:00.000+02:00

2008

Terry: So you think I should give a little history about my photography? What about your web design and wooden thinggies?
Tony: Mmm....You first. Your background as a photographer is far more interesting than mine as a web designer or wooden thingier.
Terry: Ai yai yai, you! I don't like this me first stuff; how about we share this story, afterall, we work so well together.
Tony: Story? Oh. Okay. We take turns?
Terry: Eish, I'm taking long sorry. Ai lost for words. I prefer pictures.
Tony: Me too. They don't argue back. Okay, my story, in a nutshell...
Terry: Yeah?
Tony: I design websites.
Terry: Hm.
Tony: And I make wooden thingies.
Terry: Not two 'g's in thinggies?
Tony: Ai tog! I dunno... Thtss why I prefer pitches, you cant make spelling mistakes with them.
Terry: Hee hee, yeah I see somewhat of a problem. If my pictures could spell what do you think they'd say?
Tony: Oh hell! Which picher? They all have their own story...
Terry: And your webs and woodens don't?
Tony: Ah! Good question. My webs tell my clients story, and the wooden thing(g)ies know not to talk too much.
Terry: Talk? How? As in not turn out perfect?
Tony: If they're not perfect they start the next fire. Easy.
Terry: Ag shame man! They all seem to have character to me.
Tony: Hm? And some have pretty poor characters. Now you tell me, what happens to your pictures that you're not 110% happy with?
Terry: Aaaw, so you don't like all of my photos?
Tony: Um....er...... Well, you see.....I know you dont have them all on display.
Terry: Ai okay you right, I can't fit them all onto one cd. And then theres all the photos I still want to take..........
Tony: You talk of one cd? I know you have far more than that!
Terry: Ai I mean the one cd I make copies of to present my work to everyone. Yes I do have many other photos on cd, and also on negatives. I've been taking photos since I was twelve.
Tony: Hm. So I subtract that from er...? You are legal aren't you? So its at least 4 years since you started taking photos? At most 4 years?
Terry: Hee hee. Ai! I be 39 this year. And you?
Tony: Me? Took my first photo when I was 10. An old disposable black and white camera.
Terry: Kwl! No wonder you such a help with my photos. I love black and white, and now lately, sepia too. Black and white was what the old photography masters stuck to for ages after colour film.
Tony: Hee Hee. Just because I can point a camera doesn't mean I know anything. What I do know is what I like, and I see a lot of what I like in your work.
Terry: Thank you. Hee hee, I didn't expect you to point out about your camera pointing, I expected you to notice the reference to old master and take offence!
Tony: Ai you! Why would I take offence? I'm not old.
Terry: Exactly! Can we have your age now please?
Tony: No. Ag okay. 48. on a BAD day.
Terry: And 28 on a good?
Tony: If you dont have a problem with that, yeah.
Terry: No, not at all. I think your youthful approach to life helps you with designing webs for both young and ....... er........ mature? "masters".
Tony: Hee hee! Call them old! they'll know if its true or not.
Terry: Hm, now I'm feeling old and tired. How about we continue this tomorrow? All this working, late into the night, er, morning, to ensure I always give my clients the best work I can do, with variety too, takes time and effort. I know you apply the same enthusiasm and pride to your own work.
Tony: Our work.
Terry: Yes.
Tony: Night night babygirl. Go crash. When you're done working.
Terry: Yawn. Okay boytjie. Nite nite.
continued.....................
Terry: Eish! Another late night. What's new? Aaah, thanks for the coffee, angel.
Tony: What's new? You tell me. Hee hee.... In less than 500 words...
Terry: What you mean, less than 500 words? Hm.
Tony: Hee hee. You know I have to tease you about your passion for detail.
Terry: Ja ja ja, okay, in short, hm and I battle with that, I do like detail and tend to go off on a tangent, ah damn where did I write it down?
Tony: Ai tog! It fascinates me that what is good enough for most people is just not enough for you! Perfection plus is what you demand! And give!
Terry: Yeah its a pain at times, but I just can't help it.
Tony: Don't even think of trying to help it! The customer satisfaction is worth the pain......
Terry: And you cope with me niggle niggle at you to alter, delete, improve your web designs as I see fit?
Tony; If I didn't would I still be here? And looking forward to the next web? And don't we help each other stay on track and focussed?
Terry: Yes, I guess so, you have certainly helped me find my way around a computer - less than a year ago I didn't even know where to switch it on! And I see more and more that you are much more creative than you believe yourself to be.
Tony: Ai. You were on track to finding yourself with a pc. And I dont see that I'm creative. hm...
Terry: Okay, I say you are creative and you don't believe it. You say my photos blow you away and I don't believe I'm that good. We just call it quits?
Tony: For now yes. But remember one tiny little itsy bitsy thing...
Terry: You see my skwiff look? What you on about?
Tony: I've never won awards or prizes for my work. You have for yours!
Terry: Ai, I'm pleased about the prizes yes, but ultimately I feel like I'm receiving a prize everytime my photos please someone, just like your webs do.
Tony: And isn't that what our business is? Pleasing others?
Terry: Yeah! Aren't we lucky to be doing things we love and pleasing others at the same time!?
Tony: Yes! And I have the added bonus of being able to work with someone I love and respect.
Terry: Aw damn, who dat?
tony: Eish! A MAJOR blonde moment has collapsed over us...
Terry: Sjoe I'm hot from laughing. Are we EVER going to tell our background?
Tony: Is that what we're supposed to be doing?
Terry: Ai yinna tog.
Tony: Okay, okay. Ai tog. Divorced white male, originally from Cape Town, and lately from Bloem. Been in marketing and sales most of my life. Your turn.
Terry: Divorced white female, born and bred East Londoner, ex Hudson High, where I enjoyed athletics, cross country, writing short stories and poetry.
Tony: I also went to school.
Terry: Yes I know you did sweetie, don't sulk.
Tony: Hee hee. I enjoyed finishing matric. And rugby. And sailing.
Terry: You still enjoy sailing.
Tony: If we had the time I would enjoy it more. Hm. I enjoy working too. And we both enjoy moaning about training....
Terry: Ja ja but we really must hey, got some more surfers runs to fit into our schedule somewhere.
Tony: And a whole veggie garden too, with cabbage patches and tomato trots in our future.
Terry: Hope too many veggies don't give us the runs!
Tony: Ai ya yai. And I was just thinking that you can't be a real blonde because you're too smart.
Terry: Oops!
Tony: Never mind, you have a great sense of humour!
Terry: Hee hee.
Tony: Hee hee. And the rest of you is also pretty good! Seriously now, tell me about some of the prizes you've won. And then I'll tell you about mine.
Terry: You have won prizes too?
Tony: Of course I have! hm.... Only one actually...
Terry: Oh?
Tony: Yes. You!
Terry: Hee hee. I not a prize baby, I is jus yours.
Tony: Ai ya Yai! Your english are delicious! But dont let it bother you much....., You are still my prize!
Terry: Ai tog! Back to business, K? Okay, hm, can't find the paper I wrote it down on, I got to work backwards. In my mind. Then forward here.
Tony: Eish! Are you going to manage?
Terry: Shh I'm thinking. Let me see. It was just over two years ago, that last one, um maybe three? No I think two. Ai, no dirty looks please, I'll get there, you wanna take a nap so long?
Tony: I'm just concerned about you thinking and seeing at the same time. I know you don't multi task well....
Terry: Ai, you know that female dog?
Tony: Sasha? Sheba? Shaney?
Terry: Hmmph! Whatever. Shh now, I'm thinking more.
Tony: Whew! This is like heavy serious multi tasking now!
Terry: Hee hee. Okay, I'm just doing a rough version: I've always enjoyed taking snapshots, but about 8 years ago I decided to enter five photos in a local EL tourism photographic competition. I was really pleased to have two of my photos make the top twenty out of over one hundred entries.
Tony: Was that the only EL Tourism competition you entered?
Terry: I don't know if that was the first one they held, but they held only two more, about 6 years ago, and about 4 years ago. I entered all three. The second time I made the top twenty again, and again won a hamper to the value of about R100. The prize was not what pleased me the most, it was that I had found a talent I enjoyed, and realised other people liked my photos too. It made me pursue photography further. I read many books, magazines and manuals. I still do.
Tony: Which pictures did you enter?
Terry: One of the two that did well 8 years ago was a crowded nahoon beach at the end of the surfers marathon, dark clouds above the nahoon river. The other was of my then ten month old son sitting on my suntanning brother's stomach under a colourful beach umbrella at Morgan Bay. Both photos were taken with a R100 point and shoot camera.
Tony: And the more recent photos? I know you have one that was being used quite regularly.
Terry: Also taken with a point and shoot camera, one of yachts on the Buffallo river. I took it early in the morning, standing on the old bridge, into the sun. EL tourism used it a few times in brochures etc.
Tony: So you enjoy taking photos into the sun? Isn't that against the rules?
Terry: I don't believe in rules. I believe in feelings. I try capture an atmosphere. A moment. My 'into the sun' pictures have worked well for me. My third entry into the EL tourism photographic competition was third time lucky. I won that round with a photo of my two sons playing in rock pools at Sunrise on Sea. A misty morning, photo taken into the sun. The prize was a weekend for two at Katberg Hotel. I had great fun there taking many more photos.
Tony: The tourism competition wasn't the only competition you entered was it?
Terry: There was one more. Go! newspaper ran a competition about two or three years ago. I was very anxious about that one; I so badly wanted to win. The prize was a 6 week art of photography course with renowned local photographer Marlene Neumann that I couldn't otherwise afford.
Tony: I know how anxious you can get! Did it help any being anxious and stressy?
Terry: Yes it did. I set myself up to be disappointed and was over the moon when two photos of my two sons helped me win! One photo of my eldest son feeling ill standing at a window, and one of the two of them sitting on sand in shallow water at the edges of the ocean being splashed by a wave.
Tony: That figures. You've always enjoyed photographing children. Somehow or other you and your camera always manage to get the best out of a child! Did the Art of Photography course teach you anything?
Terry: Hee hee. It taught me that I kinda freak out in a dark room, er darkroom.
Tony: Both?
Terry: Yeah, I guess so hey. I found I'm definately happier when I can see. I 'see' potential photos around me all the time. It can be quite annoying at times when I'm trying to concentrate on something else. I also learnt that its okay to break the rules. I can take photos into the sun if I want to.
Tony: Um? If you're allowed to break a rule, why is it a rule?
Terry: The rules do need to be there to learn the basics. Then take the basics and explore! Have fun!
Tony: So the one basic rule is that there are no real rules?
Terry: I more than like you. You such a clever thing!
Tony: Groovy baby! Yeah!
Terry: Hee hee. Okay, now tell me about what I admire about you and your web designs.
Tony: Huh?
Terry: All that ggg stuff. How on earth do you know what's going on? How did you first learn it or even want to?
Tony: ggg stuff?
Terry: gobbledy gook gibberrish coding stuff thats, like, ALL over the pc screen, to make, like, just a teeny weeny part of one web page, like, just a colour choice for eg.
Tony: Oh that stuff! Its called html coding. I wanted a website but couldn't afford to have one done. So I taught myself. I dont use WYSIWYG editing at all. (What you see is what you get) Its far too limiting.
Terry: Eish. Still don't know what you talking about, but as long as you do it good, keep it up baby. And don't stand in my way when I'm pointing the camera into the sun. Although......, that would make a good silhouette...................
Tony: Okay! And you keep challenging me with what you want to see in a website!
Terry: It's a deal! Are we done here? Sun going to come up just now.
Tony: Again? Doesn't it ever rest?
Terry: Naa, it's a, er, female dog.
Tony: That doesn't rest? Have it fixed.
Terry: We sort it out together, okay?
Tony: The sun or the dog?
Terry: Ai tog!
Tony: Sod them both, I need some sleep! Night night babygirl, I'm going now...
Terry: Wait
Tony: For you? Always!
Terry: Hee hee, just wanted to say thanks for all your help with OUR work. And I love you. K. Go.
Tony: Ai tog. The little I do. You do the work, I have fun. And I L O V E you to bits! Night night angel.
Terry: Mwah! Nite nite boytjie.