Aboard Dignity (Lagoon 420) Blog

Calitzdorp turned out to be a beautiful sleepy escape tucked in the middle of nowhere. The trip was not long and we arrived at our accommodation, the aptly named Port Wine Guest House, late morning.

When we arrived we could find no one home so we strolled around the corner to the Boplass Winery for our first sampling. Despite being a free sampling the wines, ports and brandies were both delicious and copious. Knowing we have limited allowances to the UK we bought just one bottle of vintage port vowing that if we ever return, we’ll do so at the beginning of our trip, not near the end, so we can buy more of the very attractively priced wines.

When we returned (slightly staggered perhaps) to our accommodation we found the owner home and our room available so we were able to drop some of our gear off. The owner reassured us there was no crime in Calitzdorp and that we would be ok leaving most our stuff in the car. (It’s worth noting the houses still had bars on the windows and fearsome fences).

After a rest we headed out into town and followed a couple of historic walks around town we got from a printed guide. This took us back to our lodging so we continued on to our second tasting. Along the way we checked out the abandoned railway station only to find a surreal object one would normally find in Google Earth. See pics below for what I mean.

Our second tasting, at the De Krans winery, was shorter but perhaps more delicious than the first. We were consequently influenced to buy an 11 years old vintage port and a bottle of relatively inexpensive red plonk. We were out and about for over two hours walking continuously (except when sampling) so we had some good exercise.

After another return to our room we headed back into town to first hear the organist at the Dutch Reformed Church perform his 6pm daily recital. The organist was more interesting than his music as between each pair of songs he would come over and give us a flowing description of what he was about to play. To give a brief idea of this here is a short clip.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxi0pZYywaQ[/youtube]

After the recital came dinner which we had just by the church.

Here are some more pics. As you can see, the weather has finally turned nice.

Yesterday we said goodbye to my Dad. After battling lung cancer for the last few years, he finally succumbed to the disease earlier this week.

He hung on to see through the final events that mattered to him in his life. His move into their cottage, my sister’s family move into their (Mum & Dad’s) old home, my sister’s 50th and seeing the family here in South Africa, complete with a new generation and a new betrothal.

We believe he enjoyed his last day. He watched the Grand Prix, a couple of episodes of ‘Allo ‘Allo which both he and Mum loved. We were able to show him panoramic photos of what Sue had managed to do with their old kitchen.

We had a commemoration and celebration ceremony at his old home led by a very close family friend, Father Larry Kaufman. Per the families wishes, it was non-religious, very human service. My brother-in-law introduced Larry to the close friends invited. Larry then took us through a formal commemoration of Dad’s life before lighting a candle to represent my father’s life. Then, the seven family members there, my mother, my sister, Max, Jay, Sarah, Helen then myself took turns to pass the flame from my father’s candle to another one of seven representing each of us before we each read our own eulogy. Very apt and very emotional.

We had one further euolgy from Barbara Bull, the families doctor and very close friend before Larry summarized and transitioned the formal ceremony into the celebration by toasting his memory and inviting everyone to tuck in.

I don’t know if my Dad planned it this way but he picked the perfect moment to move on. He maximized his time with us and left before Jay’s daughters marriage next week and our own planned departure tomorrow. It was so heartening to be there and to see all the support from their friends and to know Mum will be surrounded by a cadre who will provide her an active life. In fact, Mum is transitioning so well, perhaps it is them that will need the support as she really is ready to move on.

Hopefully this caps the spectre that has been hovering over this family for the last year, in all it’s forms. Full speed ahead.