tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55716870353576728942024-03-06T00:23:47.627+02:00My Africa, My CheetahsAfrica, beautiful, wild and exciting. Stupid at times! Funny lots of times. Wonderful wildlife. I specialize in Cheetahs, cheetah cubs, King cheetahs, cheetah photograhs, Working with cheetahs and wild animals. My travels, my troubles, my safaris in Africa. T.I.A. Tough In AfricaAlan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-64541858518497449632010-03-11T20:45:00.003+02:002010-03-11T20:51:50.041+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MI2wBDVm0qdpXhrp_7KJGRxpxwpNTBE4V9KkbvyTt7W2geEQYHo_z9G24QoUIq4ARXpXW0C_McOuSXwckiBvX7AILNlubg49jxCSOWI1mk2Nq_ksjJP8pApvB3tQS1Li23UgIfh_0WU/s1600-h/Ahokey+kokey.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 266px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447450640082585554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MI2wBDVm0qdpXhrp_7KJGRxpxwpNTBE4V9KkbvyTt7W2geEQYHo_z9G24QoUIq4ARXpXW0C_McOuSXwckiBvX7AILNlubg49jxCSOWI1mk2Nq_ksjJP8pApvB3tQS1Li23UgIfh_0WU/s400/Ahokey+kokey.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Michael the monkey decided to enter for a Michael Jackson dancing contest. He has been practicing for days and days. So we let him go, packed a few bananas, gave him 50 cents and wished him good luck. I think he has a good chance, as you see , he has the moves, can only improve with age. I do hope he wears some clothes though, he could embarrass us. It leaves his enclosure empty now, but I think Linda has ordered a Gorilla.</span></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-12449969138121002132010-03-11T20:42:00.002+02:002010-03-11T20:45:17.429+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QR-o0dJVpsQQ2hbeUpl9lYCj1aHcil8Yx08fR0iMKB7xjCv40SG5mtL5V515tFK6W28I4xStv_TgGE5Pu36UTQx6AtnupGtlUHQJdfl3yL0QXyszgD8-FFUDipSPIp0t-EMG4JCivyI/s1600-h/Anew+animals.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447449115916382818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QR-o0dJVpsQQ2hbeUpl9lYCj1aHcil8Yx08fR0iMKB7xjCv40SG5mtL5V515tFK6W28I4xStv_TgGE5Pu36UTQx6AtnupGtlUHQJdfl3yL0QXyszgD8-FFUDipSPIp0t-EMG4JCivyI/s400/Anew+animals.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">Linda got some new animals for her aviary. I try to stay away as they look a scary bunch. Probably cost us a fortune to feed them too.</span></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-71740305244538389562010-03-11T20:39:00.002+02:002010-03-11T20:59:30.220+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLt0XirWQ-wSVWPcPZRNtAdwlT44NfrAlgFgDXjSi-0nBvJRxGL5T4DWRy8HqXddfV0SQvXosZB7K2wuYIfysA7ozOmxmvr__jL6-HJldU-ncbAZuiMa2aCcqyjE0XY04yqR6iYrO53o/s1600-h/Arude+tree.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447448436567936882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLt0XirWQ-wSVWPcPZRNtAdwlT44NfrAlgFgDXjSi-0nBvJRxGL5T4DWRy8HqXddfV0SQvXosZB7K2wuYIfysA7ozOmxmvr__jL6-HJldU-ncbAZuiMa2aCcqyjE0XY04yqR6iYrO53o/s400/Arude+tree.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">I found this tree. <span style="color:#ff0000;">It seems to say everything</span></span></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-8902291205551289162010-03-11T20:36:00.002+02:002010-03-11T20:39:49.615+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5ACpAZjGPeyUcrEVBvNVDevMhnKJiHFiB_jESL3kBhyXYe4RfOpzhOvbDQbxzpEgbJ7_07h1gRYKSGafiS5wBtuqpvDUeiAsV8o2u47mmncChAysyrf9YXL4IARDEmBaD4cm9j_KiP8/s1600-h/aaaaalanfeeding.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 266px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447447715972572706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5ACpAZjGPeyUcrEVBvNVDevMhnKJiHFiB_jESL3kBhyXYe4RfOpzhOvbDQbxzpEgbJ7_07h1gRYKSGafiS5wBtuqpvDUeiAsV8o2u47mmncChAysyrf9YXL4IARDEmBaD4cm9j_KiP8/s400/aaaaalanfeeding.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">I spend a lot of my time making sure everything is up to standard. Quality control, I test the food, the conditions etc etc.</span></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-81077678525934775712010-03-11T20:28:00.003+02:002010-03-11T21:00:06.916+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICOh6f3P3Acif19ouxQLp6IQu-IeJTZR6D5v2vi0CT9y5zJFAbYNAVwPdTVL_Oe3tDHsND_SRau5BvnWK9GROrnYqoCGfc5SNFwf5xuE_U9Ka_6anW3s3uzXFBLd6Pjlp6jZxleodd8w/s1600-h/aaaaAt+lovers+lane.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447446817211708194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICOh6f3P3Acif19ouxQLp6IQu-IeJTZR6D5v2vi0CT9y5zJFAbYNAVwPdTVL_Oe3tDHsND_SRau5BvnWK9GROrnYqoCGfc5SNFwf5xuE_U9Ka_6anW3s3uzXFBLd6Pjlp6jZxleodd8w/s400/aaaaAt+lovers+lane.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">A new year, getting on with work!!!!!!!!!!! It is also cheetah breeding time. Here I am with Brettie and Gondor, two of our breeding males up Lovers lane. They are still new at this and were more noise than action. Gondor did introduce himself to "Mona L'eyesa" and got quite a hiding. Luckily he took well, as part of the ritual but you could see he was glad when I called him out</span>.</div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-7516299029272170412010-03-11T20:25:00.003+02:002010-03-11T21:00:33.083+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWYrMVhKAaOIc6c99lkA8dQvvK3X7Tm4OLcERZ1DcUoaFiJdkefSUprOQPMkpgyzD8XtysZqxVaxqc68CjMLMBqIcKJ-yPZH4Ikf2pMHRTM6MNhgdPHPWoKyg6Xcv0gkb_XxtoqNFMl8/s1600-h/dog+training.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447444934908586882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWYrMVhKAaOIc6c99lkA8dQvvK3X7Tm4OLcERZ1DcUoaFiJdkefSUprOQPMkpgyzD8XtysZqxVaxqc68CjMLMBqIcKJ-yPZH4Ikf2pMHRTM6MNhgdPHPWoKyg6Xcv0gkb_XxtoqNFMl8/s400/dog+training.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">One of the current jobs is getting the wild dogs organised. Wild dogs are one of the most intelligent predators around and can be very dangerous. I always like to speak to them before they get too big!!</span></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-29399295974572237632010-03-11T20:22:00.001+02:002010-03-11T20:25:15.604+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kJVcAvEooAa1ju6eCkuNkYlp5UI9yEhq-0X9MLn1oq7c_9hKWbrjp529EC3UNw10mTGeSFhlvUs05R8o_PE0seHxs9Lc1yzlWqsCX_6r0LJLOh-2AfUF0ADhDBet9VWsSTOKAoGAUeQ/s1600-h/aaaaattack+dog.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447443944770996466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kJVcAvEooAa1ju6eCkuNkYlp5UI9yEhq-0X9MLn1oq7c_9hKWbrjp529EC3UNw10mTGeSFhlvUs05R8o_PE0seHxs9Lc1yzlWqsCX_6r0LJLOh-2AfUF0ADhDBet9VWsSTOKAoGAUeQ/s400/aaaaattack+dog.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">This wild dog puppy didn't quite get the last lesson</span>.</div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-3070633285038653982010-03-11T20:19:00.003+02:002010-03-11T21:01:10.140+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzTN8ABPUryAPqHjXgGgPiFfUwHBCqeU5aHaVDfm_AiiuWp6MzE60zedIi9guNwuq2zYH4SYQesB7GUB0-WXX3lTNLd_g52RSyELYrnzkRjNRZxDpm9073miwdZSVeZgWxrkg1qSyl5Q/s1600-h/Aaa+gertie+charge.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447443204574596418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzTN8ABPUryAPqHjXgGgPiFfUwHBCqeU5aHaVDfm_AiiuWp6MzE60zedIi9guNwuq2zYH4SYQesB7GUB0-WXX3lTNLd_g52RSyELYrnzkRjNRZxDpm9073miwdZSVeZgWxrkg1qSyl5Q/s400/Aaa+gertie+charge.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">We managed to make a trip up to Shingwedzi and had Gertie the hippo do her famous charge. This is the second to last photo. The last one was blurred as I was running away.</span></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-68313598681833885532010-03-11T20:15:00.003+02:002010-03-11T21:01:38.857+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuz_JmufE0EQ7E2GYklPjXPRJ1PvDjr1qCbcfjRUMjOrN_Ne595_d6MVPAyxf9fGSARqS73ppEqCiwAn5E4w3uQlB3xo7uAsvIP1Dmm2zb_FVrCSH4qDPDIV3YdG4JiVGfC5PqQiVzV7g/s1600-h/Aaatruelove.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447442619935636642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuz_JmufE0EQ7E2GYklPjXPRJ1PvDjr1qCbcfjRUMjOrN_Ne595_d6MVPAyxf9fGSARqS73ppEqCiwAn5E4w3uQlB3xo7uAsvIP1Dmm2zb_FVrCSH4qDPDIV3YdG4JiVGfC5PqQiVzV7g/s400/Aaatruelove.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Linda's mom and her husband came down just after Christmas. Linda managed to pack 3 months of visiting places into 10 days. Angela and Stig needed a holiday when they got home. Angela got to to see her favourite cheetah, Freya, again and it made her so happy. And Freya was happy to see her, I don;t think she had so much attention for so long. Linda, as usual, took about 5 million photographs</span>.</div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-75772740381742622762010-03-11T20:12:00.003+02:002010-03-11T21:02:04.190+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_t352qGLlJlBamHFsYgHWOpGGeAiOeqKTz00cXKfmLY39qGvGywpH0or6pPcr_3wp_aewj8wPCBEmqtgVQIxYBX33tMOdhI3gnLfwiqL5smvAVwkicz3aGon61FnJARzivjrS3h1T6fg/s1600-h/Aaa+lindas+pack.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447441413015234546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_t352qGLlJlBamHFsYgHWOpGGeAiOeqKTz00cXKfmLY39qGvGywpH0or6pPcr_3wp_aewj8wPCBEmqtgVQIxYBX33tMOdhI3gnLfwiqL5smvAVwkicz3aGon61FnJARzivjrS3h1T6fg/s400/Aaa+lindas+pack.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">Linda's folks also brought down some of her favourite food. Enough to keep her going for about 6 months. It took up about half of angela and Stig's luggage</span>.</div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-25599089712952399012010-03-11T20:10:00.003+02:002010-03-11T21:02:53.204+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN4Lt6dTJG-uYMERG46rRoytfOKjbMrWUrFW1vpO4z7BNHw6B3SCMbNbGkOgcVvVMGGdxf1fwD6fwLREJeO_L1kicd6F5fxsLpe-eSyCpIH76asLV6hNWke78r-7payAyMJmY1KRPwIQ/s1600-h/aaaadirty+pool.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447440670286075042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN4Lt6dTJG-uYMERG46rRoytfOKjbMrWUrFW1vpO4z7BNHw6B3SCMbNbGkOgcVvVMGGdxf1fwD6fwLREJeO_L1kicd6F5fxsLpe-eSyCpIH76asLV6hNWke78r-7payAyMJmY1KRPwIQ/s400/aaaadirty+pool.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">We had a bit of a problem with our swimming pool when we moved back here. <span style="color:#ff6600;">Linda wouldn't get in and clean it</span> so I had to make another plan!!!</span></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-86797780792249637762010-03-11T20:08:00.004+02:002010-03-11T21:03:28.020+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhziBPLmYYvu3_FESu1PFvYspK-r2cAcsnu-kg-esgxo9KoMOss8Y5QjBUjN-wStBxDq20TTnuH9brI8dt_a35922I2Q5694q9EWLVUqGSCM9Cp6GnU8guSko5aoKmDduozIQyzXhAX78/s1600-h/Aaaa+pool+cleaner.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447440156548244802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhziBPLmYYvu3_FESu1PFvYspK-r2cAcsnu-kg-esgxo9KoMOss8Y5QjBUjN-wStBxDq20TTnuH9brI8dt_a35922I2Q5694q9EWLVUqGSCM9Cp6GnU8guSko5aoKmDduozIQyzXhAX78/s400/Aaaa+pool+cleaner.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">We had a to hire a professional pool cleaner. he soon made quick work of the job. And it cost us peanuts!!! But took us a week to clean up the droppings he left.</span></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-30532591615791723272010-03-11T20:04:00.002+02:002010-03-11T21:05:11.499+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmxsvQH-yuvvzJ7d5LsEpUgq4vVh7g4czOFEu-zI3z6y-TWHaiixOtrB19LfU8mVWayntm2H-AVNKXhLNvnSSHu1ifEV4uWzYu-5YoUS3Zs3Zbs1x3KA_AhdnuiH2VcdCMIgDwKzUzKs/s1600-h/Aaaa+lindacroc.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 215px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447439606575420674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmxsvQH-yuvvzJ7d5LsEpUgq4vVh7g4czOFEu-zI3z6y-TWHaiixOtrB19LfU8mVWayntm2H-AVNKXhLNvnSSHu1ifEV4uWzYu-5YoUS3Zs3Zbs1x3KA_AhdnuiH2VcdCMIgDwKzUzKs/s400/Aaaa+lindacroc.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">Linda had to remove a few ugly things from the pool after it was emptied. Took it to the zoo, then a movie and supper. The things we do for wildlife. We let him go in a local dam. Lots of fishermen there.</span></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-13438618184694326982010-03-11T19:36:00.003+02:002010-03-11T21:05:57.433+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Vdx9AF0MPKx6voRUzAjdc0mVh7zfhig8Zz0oHw9YGDd4XpBwzXen1Dx1kwc3yo0Sa-bTXNJh0PkfAD8CGzALuhWB8AdnYYSXkm9we6rWxAtNhEEKQWLBuCgaY1w-7F2Ui6c7t5jUpJg/s1600-h/aablownaway.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447432359448183362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Vdx9AF0MPKx6voRUzAjdc0mVh7zfhig8Zz0oHw9YGDd4XpBwzXen1Dx1kwc3yo0Sa-bTXNJh0PkfAD8CGzALuhWB8AdnYYSXkm9we6rWxAtNhEEKQWLBuCgaY1w-7F2Ui6c7t5jUpJg/s400/aablownaway.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Well, so much for the snow!!! We had a quiet christmas with my daughter, sitting outside at night when it had cooled down to about 25 degrees. I dont drink but did try to open the champagne. Tough job, even the silver foil shot off and knocked the poor kid in the background off his feet. It was fun when i eventually had the top off.</span></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-40321962040426344882010-03-11T19:33:00.003+02:002010-03-11T21:07:35.334+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLnWgRZmDA1jZkIUhxZZRxgWzKA6-Ghg4TnJFZUB-qifwXChGD56YTuFyRTtQL9tlKMMhulV4ZqcxpRXIyk9GganT8hgdMR9U6enQlNR1e_5ojEFsZg6v6W-OgSt4XFDHHcRkWLpwAMI/s1600-h/aaericxmas.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447431444843784690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLnWgRZmDA1jZkIUhxZZRxgWzKA6-Ghg4TnJFZUB-qifwXChGD56YTuFyRTtQL9tlKMMhulV4ZqcxpRXIyk9GganT8hgdMR9U6enQlNR1e_5ojEFsZg6v6W-OgSt4XFDHHcRkWLpwAMI/s320/aaericxmas.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">Hi Everyone, another 3 months have passed since I was on here. Where does time go? Christmas was quiet at home, busy at work. This is what christmas was like back at my brother in Edinburgh. Don't recognise the guy in the middle.</span></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-73775660795209123172009-11-09T19:08:00.002+02:002009-11-09T19:16:04.240+02:00Back to Botswana<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTntZXyyguQuofebgu4LRf6bkum334ZQK08nWbWKLv0caLwK-W-StH5ZErZ8cETLLgl2dXyE_YIGxIhXK1xeRQdUVU-gOsCNtxHCn7l-qd7PBaWwaOOrR03Kx5ZszuNshv64P4Fdmpqs0/s1600-h/blogleopard.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402153563603742946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTntZXyyguQuofebgu4LRf6bkum334ZQK08nWbWKLv0caLwK-W-StH5ZErZ8cETLLgl2dXyE_YIGxIhXK1xeRQdUVU-gOsCNtxHCn7l-qd7PBaWwaOOrR03Kx5ZszuNshv64P4Fdmpqs0/s320/blogleopard.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSQ51E_PAjmfFsVihgE_ebz0Brr_TNJJ5ZShKw2-JzxWi0P7bSnC0dGbGWwjpR20wGrqrU8-mKKnPAvCsERS8XobcP9vlAYpqR4FtXhGcnMcxvRQEo3M-qw27TFlPEJKbfJjw0fLPeUE/s1600-h/bloglindahidebed.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402153561173182898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSQ51E_PAjmfFsVihgE_ebz0Brr_TNJJ5ZShKw2-JzxWi0P7bSnC0dGbGWwjpR20wGrqrU8-mKKnPAvCsERS8XobcP9vlAYpqR4FtXhGcnMcxvRQEo3M-qw27TFlPEJKbfJjw0fLPeUE/s320/bloglindahidebed.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyi3ovT-TLGmgmOwex6Dn4sZQWzo0zDTBINlKr6pOdBY66WZp23hE-Ecc5Lvbz9yXR7xYXDYHt5-Klo22nExjwJ0jYmseQbQtKSpcsZ0OT7C4pzc3xFbRu2KGxMURwczSjL80DyFs2WA/s1600-h/bloghide.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402153557268086530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyi3ovT-TLGmgmOwex6Dn4sZQWzo0zDTBINlKr6pOdBY66WZp23hE-Ecc5Lvbz9yXR7xYXDYHt5-Klo22nExjwJ0jYmseQbQtKSpcsZ0OT7C4pzc3xFbRu2KGxMURwczSjL80DyFs2WA/s320/bloghide.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>One of the exciting things we did when we were in Botswana was to spend the night in "THE HIDE"!!! It is a hide way out in the middle of nowhere. If you really wanted to you could get yourself really worked up. Especially with the Elephants using the downstairs toilets and the Hyenas fighting over who gets the last cheese sandwich. It was very dark until the moon came up, then you could see everything in a wierd monochrome. No door on the upstairs bedroom so luckily it was warm.</div></div></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-3086748861443279132009-11-09T19:06:00.002+02:002009-11-09T19:08:39.779+02:00Good Lawyer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPLkBq_0HXjviYpBvE0OsMZgGd0Htg-afESdI_txEIqdBiILACe183qf1GrcXil16HTmjl0EWi-lP9dbS0ZegPCimdce1fFUcUnDCChJ0cIUPTYKnliQf2qNVwuQEINo7Jr4rBXo4jGE/s1600-h/bloglemurbanana.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402151923462388370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPLkBq_0HXjviYpBvE0OsMZgGd0Htg-afESdI_txEIqdBiILACe183qf1GrcXil16HTmjl0EWi-lP9dbS0ZegPCimdce1fFUcUnDCChJ0cIUPTYKnliQf2qNVwuQEINo7Jr4rBXo4jGE/s320/bloglemurbanana.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Luckily for me I had contacts!!!!!!!! I got myself a good lawyer through a friend who knows things!! Ask no more or we will have to kill you!!</div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-8454470017423566772009-11-09T18:55:00.004+02:002009-11-09T19:05:49.772+02:00My Friends Laughed??<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lt4B0wtCYwKYNa4ITi-1cYLGMxs-8XEC_4lvQKeH1_6C03eLfEIwb8JEcvOu2mB7y0jNn7Po8Y3_vtWGzGEKpGZHVVKb8S70-c04i_mYH85Bln-lEUhQiFxj30Qg63dvVcvFny7PIP4/s1600-h/blogtortoiselaugh.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402151182378324818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lt4B0wtCYwKYNa4ITi-1cYLGMxs-8XEC_4lvQKeH1_6C03eLfEIwb8JEcvOu2mB7y0jNn7Po8Y3_vtWGzGEKpGZHVVKb8S70-c04i_mYH85Bln-lEUhQiFxj30Qg63dvVcvFny7PIP4/s320/blogtortoiselaugh.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eZxoEJi4pFAoi4VtSNNe7ETzvr7LSlqTouXRSQONXW7hjAk39b5MD8hJZJKOJ_4uVsEqgSTUeqO6F0efitDUkraw-3gcDmYsmE5_SbmW68F53bLr-QnIBiQKqeME7hwCZQbAp1l_oms/s1600-h/bloglionlaugh.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402151176934919458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eZxoEJi4pFAoi4VtSNNe7ETzvr7LSlqTouXRSQONXW7hjAk39b5MD8hJZJKOJ_4uVsEqgSTUeqO6F0efitDUkraw-3gcDmYsmE5_SbmW68F53bLr-QnIBiQKqeME7hwCZQbAp1l_oms/s320/bloglionlaugh.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nbmjokx2kqHjXiRAjqXhv26S813GeDg1fzYTlMLcKABttp28p4UWDgpFa3SqQix_qtBW6pNrRdO7cULHB-nUq-ieZlkz6H1FyNiFWFgO7wYFnRciOLipeaUjKIMlJer-pO-XUuJJFXg/s1600-h/blogcheetahlaugh.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402151171718261090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nbmjokx2kqHjXiRAjqXhv26S813GeDg1fzYTlMLcKABttp28p4UWDgpFa3SqQix_qtBW6pNrRdO7cULHB-nUq-ieZlkz6H1FyNiFWFgO7wYFnRciOLipeaUjKIMlJer-pO-XUuJJFXg/s320/blogcheetahlaugh.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>All my friends came to visit me while I was in the stocks. Some even threw things at me, nothing really bad, cotton balls, plastic balloons. They are good friends. But did they laugh!!!!!!!!</div></div></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-71489887169979564802009-11-09T18:54:00.003+02:002009-11-09T18:55:49.111+02:00CAUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRXTTQErdwG7use1mBZLL0pcIpN6Cuo9KXcg2AL3hrea8jIH1MQvfhKTLGDd4_Nbx7J4cy6vw7MX2I2_32OZUAlmEOVZ_peGhSTIZxLQdAcG6EjpgwWCCjb670vwH6J-7e2sCnyQ84DQ/s1600-h/blogalanstocks.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402148581102129266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRXTTQErdwG7use1mBZLL0pcIpN6Cuo9KXcg2AL3hrea8jIH1MQvfhKTLGDd4_Nbx7J4cy6vw7MX2I2_32OZUAlmEOVZ_peGhSTIZxLQdAcG6EjpgwWCCjb670vwH6J-7e2sCnyQ84DQ/s320/blogalanstocks.jpg" /></a><br /><div>You can run, but you can't hide. I was caught and sentenced.</div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-73285933664551408292009-11-09T18:46:00.003+02:002009-11-09T18:53:53.816+02:00Speeding Fines<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQeK_iYS2aTSerA6PyhwdUOkRb9hK-XYkOF1GvThY0W_Z0Rel1MLrHl-KI0oHpRJk46H81OyzbO-su38yfbfNSFpP5ynE5V6ETzaOHhldJ1fn2HQnhEa0iD6T8B69emyusN0WPRzjmyo/s1600-h/blogalanwanted.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402148082175260130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQeK_iYS2aTSerA6PyhwdUOkRb9hK-XYkOF1GvThY0W_Z0Rel1MLrHl-KI0oHpRJk46H81OyzbO-su38yfbfNSFpP5ynE5V6ETzaOHhldJ1fn2HQnhEa0iD6T8B69emyusN0WPRzjmyo/s320/blogalanwanted.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItnc4UnGalK-Bl8RB00xv8UrMz3Yv6fo0jsKc3L2cjbmTRMBehczmZmd5FP90n3KdrvlIo0O_7pmSK-80LY06uj0EGW6s1fUs-zAknnkDmctYqX2G8ZM7ULqT9CyieNNsXzmIcDPAZ4c/s1600-h/blogalanstocks.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div>During our stay in the Cape Linda and I did a lot of travelling. If you look further back you will see my ex car!! It was a Ford Focus TDCi. Magic, i could do my high speed driving when I thought no one was looking. Unfortunately the Cape has lots of cameras!!!! I came back to pretoria and there were about 30 fines waiting for me. I knew I had time to pay them so ignored them for a while. You have to be careful though. next thing I knew there were wanted posters up for me!</div></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-76696540192317792272009-11-08T20:38:00.002+02:002009-11-08T20:47:24.987+02:00BOTSWANA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX4vXrCzkt2crTrcsslY7Lslq7dZCi3euah1PW5OJOwmoxA5fEC1Wx9ECNLMadyDadYwIJUYn4sbkxfkKzi-3pi11k8mv6NyIrMaEkJWsS59P_is9tTwtAoKlbmvK_3bCOfg2qamxwKY/s1600-h/namibia+065.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401806220782384322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX4vXrCzkt2crTrcsslY7Lslq7dZCi3euah1PW5OJOwmoxA5fEC1Wx9ECNLMadyDadYwIJUYn4sbkxfkKzi-3pi11k8mv6NyIrMaEkJWsS59P_is9tTwtAoKlbmvK_3bCOfg2qamxwKY/s320/namibia+065.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Linda and I did a short trip to Botswana recently. The camp we were going to was near enough to drive to, 5 hours. In the Tuli Block, reknowned for its elephants. Everyone knows I love elephants, you have to cook them right though, but I am very wary of them. This place we went to, The Tuli Safari Lodge, has elephants right outside your tent. A canvas tent for goodness sake! An elephant could break wind and blow it away!! But these elephants are cool, no worry man. If you look closely at the picture you will see the elephant just beyond Linda. </div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-38640703758832922922009-11-08T20:32:00.004+02:002009-11-08T20:38:05.151+02:00The Rain Came<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXTolGW4S5Hq1bskeli-crKnn8dCIOi7bTp83YpcL_YzsywnlfFCK6-9hKg4htLi2ebFq4xg-qWfcJSUsMBc-jGid58eOXYTzXgFtTpETz5J28f2KoXpBx_KmFyGJ4suezogEKCnadeA/s1600-h/blograin.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401803763373559570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXTolGW4S5Hq1bskeli-crKnn8dCIOi7bTp83YpcL_YzsywnlfFCK6-9hKg4htLi2ebFq4xg-qWfcJSUsMBc-jGid58eOXYTzXgFtTpETz5J28f2KoXpBx_KmFyGJ4suezogEKCnadeA/s320/blograin.jpg" /></a><br /><div>October is a very special month. At last the summer rains came. Those who say there is no change in the weather pattern must be living in caves. Our storms are fiercer, wilder and heavier than ever. Thunder to shake the house, Lighting to wet your pants!! October is also a time when hail can catch you by surprise. Tonight I was standing outside watching the rain when the wind turned cold and the hail began. I still have my little motor car, it's all I have, and didn't want it damaged. Luckily I have a fairly big verandah and reverse parked on that. I think I would have got a gold star from a driving instructor. </div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-83407383558646570432009-11-08T20:27:00.002+02:002009-11-08T20:29:29.116+02:00Bob Marley<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyW9nVqT4oMKJD5ggkVot2BXmprQrUPkZdn2-gTIcmg-_wTif8YLDaKRtZThth_kGANYjC7qYKUjcm8ptI-c35XwvgukU_CxjL1-QPhE5ME-gptRBN9EKatV18r_I7YqZrD3M6zqyU0Q/s1600-h/blogbobm.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401801643269414450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyW9nVqT4oMKJD5ggkVot2BXmprQrUPkZdn2-gTIcmg-_wTif8YLDaKRtZThth_kGANYjC7qYKUjcm8ptI-c35XwvgukU_CxjL1-QPhE5ME-gptRBN9EKatV18r_I7YqZrD3M6zqyU0Q/s320/blogbobm.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpBCTp-ftoyqZQXzjWpMiRhMkEQNE8qgpCTKt9ufc0plUD2EHO0VSx112A9IG8V7VQcwA9DNSyTJX3Ro8Uexy_aTvpVox6LMU-OIAvBFY_lRtsvaGNh0gdJJDiFu9wn7XDo3Sa0nBM3g/s1600-h/blogbobm3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401801643764921138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpBCTp-ftoyqZQXzjWpMiRhMkEQNE8qgpCTKt9ufc0plUD2EHO0VSx112A9IG8V7VQcwA9DNSyTJX3Ro8Uexy_aTvpVox6LMU-OIAvBFY_lRtsvaGNh0gdJJDiFu9wn7XDo3Sa0nBM3g/s320/blogbobm3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>One of my favourite singers was the late Bob Marley. I'm glad to see his style is still alive and well in Africa</div></div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-25302089556099184782009-11-08T20:22:00.001+02:002009-11-08T20:26:50.457+02:00Not Another Fire!!! it's the Sun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA5BMrwzwHN2pjje1CoR-XhVDRCoB6AIPMFl26kaIitXpxwMNVC9Ti6yWtox5lYkiPe5RaOh46fAv_eNzD-2jc6uwpl9zqHnYGDM2aXa6k6Uh28jWXYZ2Sa4LRVrY23ygOWOrof0541U/s1600-h/blogsunset1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401800973423707986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA5BMrwzwHN2pjje1CoR-XhVDRCoB6AIPMFl26kaIitXpxwMNVC9Ti6yWtox5lYkiPe5RaOh46fAv_eNzD-2jc6uwpl9zqHnYGDM2aXa6k6Uh28jWXYZ2Sa4LRVrY23ygOWOrof0541U/s320/blogsunset1.jpg" /></a><br /><div>What looks like a big fire from my back door is actually the sun setting. quite amazing. I actually rushed off with my little fire extinguisher!!</div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571687035357672894.post-37805446611631792512009-11-08T20:18:00.004+02:002009-11-08T20:22:13.826+02:00Another Fire!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljyAz92tLxS2VM27wmUl6MArzIlih3JqbA4Id2YhJ7AuKlmwIZqwgHL213NLSGc3rzdJWz-UknK8Uaa0yAUogpMHm1S23CxPZcxCzWx9YkvWf17hgzn5MEsjblTcjPjsDZSmFkItul_Y/s1600-h/blogfiremagalies.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401799786140548194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljyAz92tLxS2VM27wmUl6MArzIlih3JqbA4Id2YhJ7AuKlmwIZqwgHL213NLSGc3rzdJWz-UknK8Uaa0yAUogpMHm1S23CxPZcxCzWx9YkvWf17hgzn5MEsjblTcjPjsDZSmFkItul_Y/s320/blogfiremagalies.jpg" /></a><br /><div>September is a bad time for fires. Hot, dry weather makes it very easy for fires to start. We had one on the Magaliesberg mountains behind us. Unfortunately it has to run its course and die out itself.</div>Alan Strachanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03664945668962939026noreply@blogger.com0