I have to admit, I had my doubts we could pull it off.
We had invited 25 guests to Valley Lodge for a final Friendsgiving in South Africa ... on the eve of my leaving the country to fly to the USA, the movers and packers coming to pack and ship our household goods to Singapore and the USA, and the dogs and Vince leaving for Singapore the next day.
Especially since at the last minute I was invited to be inducted into La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs at the Westcliffe Four Seasons. I had to dash out for two hours at the height of rush hour and leave our guests in the middle of the festivities to take my oath and receive my sash. How rude! And a little hectic to say the least.
But it all worked out! So thankful we braved it.
Menu - our farewell cocktail? A Singapore Sling!
Friendsgiving Bunting by B's Pin-Cushion in Parkmore
Jonnie was one of three American guests invited for dinner
deep fry (photo by Theresa Vermeulen)
pre-dinner party (photo by Theresa Vermeulen)
Bye-bye tree! (photo by Theresa Vermeulen) Enjoy it Strauss family!
(photo by Theresa Vermeulen)
Fried Turduckenwors: Turkey, Duck, Chicken and Boerewors!
Dinner is served buffet-style (photo by Theresa Vermeulen)
speeches (photo by Theresa Vermeulen)
(photo by Sarmistha Bhattacharya)
we're going where? (photo by Theresa Vermeulen)
Farewell speech (photo by Theresa Vermeulen)
Happy Friendsgiving! (photo by Theresa Vermeulen)
And thank you Marguerite for the beautiful beaded lariat you made for me using some of the flamingo feathers I brought back from Tanzania. Everyone loved it!
It is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Johannesburg is positively awash in pink.
Pink goes so well with purple!
Hyde Park Corner's pink tower
At the end of September, Hyde Park Corner in Johannesburg was
illuminated in pink to commemorate The Estée Lauder Companies’ 2015
Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Campaign all during October.
Hyde Park Corner joined the Eiffel Tower in Paris, The Empire State Building in New
York and other landmarks in Mumbai, Dubai, Warsaw, Chile, Milan and
Munich, in support of Breast
Cancer Awareness Month and to help focus attention on the importance of
breast health and early detection. (Interesting choice. I am not sure if I've ever thought of Hyde Park Corner Shopping Centre as a landmark per se. I would have thought one of the iconic towers and buildings dotting the skylines of Sandton and Johannesburg would be more on par with the Empire State Building but TIA.)
Drive by after dark before the end of Pinktober and check out the giant illuminated pink ribbon yourself!
Le Crueset is selling special products in chiffon pink with proceeds to benefit CANSA Care Centers. Le Crueset has also sponsored and encouraged Cuppa 4 CANSA parties (like mine) throughout South Africa.
Tea Merchant @ Morningside Shopping Center
Even the Tea Merchant and Woolworths are selling pink products to benefit Cancer Research.
jewelry from Woolworths and Sandton Radiology
I had my mammogram done this week as I do every Pinktober and Dr. Bloch gave me this pretty pink pearl bracelet on the right as a parting gift.
The HRC got in on the act...
... with commemorative HRC Pinktober pins
And today was the 10th Annual Avon Justine iThemba "Beauty for a Purpose" Walkathon. With more than 35,000 participants, it is the largest Breast Cancer Walkathon in the world!
I brought Serge with me to walk the 5K circuit. (Lou was home sick recovering from some recent surgery and Vince is in Dubai. They missed a beautiful day for a walk.)
It was Serge's first walkathon!
the start
Avon supplied pink lipsticks in the goody bags and asked us to "pout for a purpose" on social media
sitting on the curb waiting for the start
Pout for a purpose, Serge!
The ladies love Serge! These ladies own doxies too!
helicopter overhead following the walk
the walk started off with the parade of survivors, many of whom rode in golf carts
crossing the starting line
and we're off!
Emmerentia was positively pinkalicious!
This being South Africa, there was singing ...
almost finished
the after-walk celebration in Marks Park
Serge received a medal for finishing thanks to Pic n Pay and Nutriphase
