I am a pyro at heart. I love fire, flame and torch alike. But if you really want to make me smile, don’t buy me tickets to the big sports game or concert, the newest style whatever… Buy me Fireworks!!!

Today was extremely long. I woke up from my nice Bed and Breakfast very close to the ocean in Durban and was back on the road to drive home again by 7am. I spent the better part of the previous day driving the previous clients to Durban International Airport. However, along the way we stopped by their taxidermist in Pongola to check on some of their trophies. Then we went on to a exotic cat rehab center. This was pretty cool because they let you in the big cages with the cats and if you were brave enough you could pet, hug, tackle or whatever you like with the cats (within reason of course lol)… and if they didn’t like it they would be like Hobbes from Calvin & Hobbes and pounce on you violently haha. I have a few pictures but here I sit and it is 12:37am and I am exhausted, but I just wanted to give everyone a tidbit of what has been going on. I feel bad because I realize I haven’t been able to post as much because of how busy I have been.

Anyways, one of the stupid “manly” guys thought he would show off in front of the crowd of people by being way to familiar with one of the cheetahs and started petting it aggressively like it was a normal pet. Well this idiot almost got his face bitten off. The Cheetah turned around and snapped at his face and pawed him. The guy who worked there and was an expert said that usually when they do that they go for and eye and some people did get cut on or around their eyes before in the past. I watched him and I watched the body language of the cat while he was doing this and I knew it was going to go South soon. Sure enough…

Anyways, it was funny to see him all shook-up afterwards haha.

Moving right along here… I thought I was going to have a leisurely morning waking up when I felt like it to the sound of the ocean waves crashing and the gentle sea breeze coming through my window ***Loud Buzzer Sound*** Wrong! Lol. I called Andre later lastnight and he said that he really could use my help with the other clients since he had to go to the airport to pick up some of his own clients. He asked me to try to be home by around noon today. I sighed in my mind and said ok. But I did go out for a nice fresh fish dinner on the coast nearby. I had Durado fish and chips (potato wedges), which was pretty good. I also had a nice tall Black Label beer as well 😉 Afterwards I walked down to the water to touch it. So now I have been in the Indian Ocean =)
It was about 9pm and the water felt like bath water. I felt like I could have jumped in right then and there and not be cold. This was WITH it being rainy outside at the time mind you!

I made it back just before noon today keeping the pedal to the metal at times hitting 150kph in the VW Amarok, manual 6 speed. I think I am starting to get a good feel for the chaos that is driving here in SA haha.
I went on to help one of our clients hunt for his Nyala. We got it within about 30 mins of hunting. He dropped it clean with one shot (we were able to get about 30 yards away for a nice easy shot) and we took all the necessary photos and then took it back to the butchery. After dinner with the new clients I stayed up with Andre to help him finish welding and installing his bull bar and winch. The good news is we FINISHED IT!! WoooHooooo!!! Finally after lots of work it is done. We even tested it out and it works great. Andre is about 50X more excited than even myself. He has been wanting something like this for a long time and I am very happy for him.

So it is now about 1am and I need to get some sleep. Fortunately I don’t have to wake up early tomorrow. I just have to be down at the lapa no later than 9am. I’m driving one of the vehicles to town after breakfast for some repairs. I should end up being in town for the better part of the day just waiting around. So hopefully I can find something fun to do. I wonder if they have a theater? I think I would almost feel normal again if I went to see a movie! lol

***UPDATE: Turns out they do NOT have a theater. Booo! I did however manage to get a much needed haircut. And I almost feel human again! Haha.

I hope all my American friends and family are enjoying our Independence Day. I sure wish I had some fireworks right now, I’m actually a lil bummed that I didn’t get a 4th of July…

So please, for me, light up something that sparkles and fizzes and bangs and pops. And even more importantly, enjoy the friends and family you have around you and know that that is something to be treasured.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Cheers!

-The Jonny