After the past ten days out in sunny Joburg, we arrived back into London this morning after a rather long and turbulent flight and just home now. I decided to work from home today, hence the blog update this afternoon :) We flew out a week and a half ago on Thursday from Heathrow, after initially having a telephone fight with Virgin Atlantic about not getting the bulkhead seats which we had requested months ago. But it all worked out alright in the end, we had a spare seat next to us so Ellen managed to stretch out on Una's lap for the flight and get a good night's sleep which was handy.
After meeting the folks at O.R. Tambo, we made our way back to number 54 and spent the day at home, chilling out and catching up on a bit of sleep and rest after the flight. Bev popped round in the afternoon, and while Ellen entertained them, Una and myself chilled out in the sun and next to the pool :)
The next few days were all fairly similar, a bit of relaxing, lunch time braais, some time in the pool and a good bit of each afternoon soaking up the sun! On Monday we did pop over to Fahrenheit for lunch, and on Tuesday afternoon, Dale and Heidi popped in to say hi and meet Ellen.
On Wednesday after the morning at home and around the pool, we headed off around lunchtime into Sandton for our stay at the DaVinci Hotel for the night. After arriving there, the room wasn't quite ready for us to check in yet, so we decided to head down to Nelson Mandela Square for lunch at Tashas. After something to eat there, we checked into our room and while Ellen had her afternoon nap, Una stayed in the room while I grabbed a beer down at the poolside bar. That evening, before dinner, we took a walk around the mall and then over to The Butcher Shop & Grill for dinner.
Thursday morning started with breakfast downstairs at the hotel and then while Uns went for a massage in the spa downstairs, I chilled out in the room with Ellen until it was time to check out. We made our way back home and spent the afternoon in the sun and around the pool, and finished off that evening burning some pine cones outside :)
Friday and Saturday were fairly relaxing days, stopping in at Stone Ridge in the morning for a coffee, and then just in the sun and pool for the most part of the day. And then burning some more pine cones once again on Saturday evening.
Yesterday was our last day there and with a late flight last night, it meant we got to enjoy a full day before having to pack. Sue and Dave popped around briefly mid-morning to come say hi and meet Ellen, and otherwise the rest of the day was spent between the pool and sun, and of course a braai for lunch :) That evening after packing up, the folks dropped us off at the airport in time for our (rather turbulent) flight back to London.
After arriving into Heathrow this morning, we collected our bags and stopped in at the first cafe we saw in arrivals for some much needed coffee, as well as to feed Ellen, before getting a taxi all the way home, feeling nice and relaxed after our break.