IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BIRDS AND THE BEES, REALLY

Why do I operate a guest house? What's in it for me, you may well ask? Besides the obvious income, there's the joy of knowing you've made visitors content, if not downright happy - something I really strive to do.
But for me it's also the gratification of learning something new every day - and this morning was one of those back-to-school moments.
Siegfried and Trudi, who stayed here with Hansruedi in January, returned with her Mom, Petro and friend Mari-Louise and over breakfast I was taxed with "What's the difference between swallows, swifts and martins?"
Now, I've often been called Mrs Reuter or Mrs Yellow Pages but, trust me, it's not because I have all the answers. Nyet, nay and not at all! It's just that I know where to find the answer. So quicker than you could say boo to a goose I was on the blower to avifaunal ace Trevor Hardaker (Don’t believe me? Go to www.zestforbirds.co.za for a right royal treat.) whose succinct reply was, “Swifts have no back toe so can’t perch”. And there you have it, dear followers of my Blog.
Anymore brain-teasers you want to throw my way this bright Monday morn?

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

An off-the-street enquiry resulted in Pierre and Mireille Klemm from Geneva, Switzerland spending three nights at Dolphin B&B+S/C and I was able to spoil them with a special breakfast on Valentine's Day morning. Mind you, methinks these two celebrate their relationship every day they're together (with Pierre referring to her as The Colonel I think they're set for many happy years yet to come).
This is their fifteenth trip to South Africa, but their first this far up the West Coast; usually they reach only Yzerfontein where they stay with now-friend Angelique at Villa Pescatore and from what they wrote in my visitor's book ("We have fallen in love with the area") I may see more of them in years to come. I certainly hope so!

CARING KID

I'm a very proud step-grandmother. Young Christian, aged 10, has subscribed to National Geographic Kids for about three years now. Then, lucky lad, he was drawn as subscriber of the month, which won him this drop-dead-fancy PawPaw watch. Last year he submitted a letter about the litter the family collected whilst hiking up Lion's Head - perhaps that went a long way towards his name having been selected. Personally I think it's very responsible of him to show concern regarding the planet he lives on and to have done something about it.