The home of Max and Judy on the North Shore was host to a large gathering for a pot-luck dinner and an
armchair trip to Africa following the footsteps of Max and Judy as they went on a safari tour there three
months before.
People arrived from 6pm to a mix-and-mingle over punch, rice biscuits and dips.
Our hosts said grace about 7pm, and contributions brought by the guests made for a yumptious smorgasbord
- ham, salami, chicken, fish, salads and pasta for mains, and several types of cake and icecream for
dessert.
We were able to browse several photo albums, including the Club Album and Max and Judy’s
album of their safari, which included several nations including Namibia and Botswana.
Lin introduced
the rest of the evening by pulling out a wig and other pieces representing Redford and Streep, film stars
in the movie Out of Africa.
About 8:45am we found ourselves setting out on the video armchair
safari with Max and Judy. We travelled in a variety of safari vehicles looking closely at giraffes, elephants,
crocodiles and other four-legged wildlife. We saw a leopard climb a tree and eat meat that was left on
one of the branches. In one place we got into 2-person punts and were poled along a quiet waterway -
we had to keep quiet and discreet as soon as we saw a herd of elephants, otherwise they would charge
at us and send up to the pearly gates. At one of the camps we stayed at, as we went out, a group of hyenas
would come in and look after the camp through the day. The sunsets were lovely; we had fine sunny weather
and temperatures in the 20s all the way. We took a scenic flight and could see the herds of different
animals below us. Back in the safari vehicle again we came to a desert whose bright orange sand dunes
and dark shadows made a spectacular picture in the late afternoon sun. Other spectacular scenery we saw
included a large canyon reminiscent of the Grand Canyon but with more rounded features, and a view of
the surrounding desert from a high mountaintop. In one place we saw someone feeding the birds - and along
came a little mouse-like creature which would help gobble up all the bread!
All good things have
to come to an end, and we found ourselves once again in the lounge of chez Max and Judy, having just
come Out of Africa and a fantastic and interesting evening.
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