Been meaning to share about the Christmas moments last week down on the West Coast at Langebaan with my family, my godfather and some good friends. We nipped down after Ruth’s work day for Christmas eve, leaving a bizarrely stormy Stellenbosch for the West Coast where the storm had passed already.
(Christmas eve sunset across Langebaan Lagoon)
My folks and two younger sisters had gone down earlier, and prepared a stunner meal, after some sun-downer cocktails on the ‘stoep’. The house was built by my great grandfather and as one of the first in Langebaan and as such is nestled on a beautiful small bay corner on the Lagoon’s edge. I’ve spent much time there through my youth, much as my mother did through hers. A special spot for the family, and a great hub to take Fraser, Andreas, and Christoph to. They’re all foreign athletes training in the Bosch, and although they say its not too painful being away from home for Christmas as it ‘feels nothing like Christmas with hot days and plenty sunshine’, it was great to be able to include them in my family for the day.
(Attempting to teach Andreas to paddle)
Its a family centred day for the Hugo’s, and although we’ll commemorate Christ on the 25th of December, as our Lord and Saviour, Christ was in fact not born on the 25th December. The date, as well as much of Christmas culture, was a moulding together of pagan religion and Christianity in 3rd Century AD by emperor Constantine. Either way, I believe Christmas like much else is what you make thereof, and for us its a special time.
Started the day out with a paddle up the lagoon with my father. The top part is littered with bird-life and beyond motor boat limits. The only real traffic there are schools of stingrays. It be wrong not to take the lads across the lagoon in the boat, to swim on back. Its a crossing we do every so often. Only 1,9km, but with the currents pushing in or out the lagoon, I’m sure the actual effort for distance would be closer to 2.5km or so.
(Frazer the Scott trailed by my sister Clare)
In the evening we went to an area of the lagoon that has a shallower sandy bay. The water there is always a degree or two warmer, the hillside shelters the normal summer breeze, and the sand is picture perfect for the foreigners to attempt water skiing. We had good laughs, but all more than succeeded. Especially Christoph, being at home in the snow in Switzerland, was carving up water beyond what a first timer out to have been.
(My Godfather Michael sailed his self built yacht across to Kraalbaai)
(Me instructing Andreas under Ruth’s watch)
(Instructions worked…)
Another magic meal, and reverse back to the Bosch. Sister Helen, my older sister, is making her way back from a stint abroad, and we sure missed her there. But bar that, it was a Christmas. Good food, good wine, good company and good laughs. My family are just incredible in their hospitality, and always seem to treat Ruth and I, and whoever we bring along, in an amazing way.
Belated merry Christmas…
