A South African Sojourn and in search of Charlie's footsteps 12/13 and 15 Jan

For various reasons this first blog is late and therefore a bumper edition. Fatigue, a very full timetable and technical problems have all contributed to this delay. So here goes and see if I can catch up three days in one go. To get fully in the picture you should read the prequel, which has the same title and has been published under As I Like It for some time.
We started at noon on Thursday 12th Jan when Cameron arrived bright and breezey to drive us to Heathrow. Here we are with our driver turning photographer.

Plenty of winter woollies on,  we had just heard the news that told us that Artic weather conditions had resulted in the cancellation of a hundred flights out of Heathrow for that day. As we have not heard anything about our flight we set off. No problems going down except it starts to rain as we hit the M1 and it gets progressively hard the nearer we get to Heathrow.
Again no problems at check-in so maybe we really are going to be on our way. Due no doubt to the cancellations the airport is not busy and security checks a doddle. Have a look at some pictures from the gate, note the large live animal cage being loaded.

Although you can't see it here, it has now started snowing quite hard. We took our seats which were all bulkhead ones which gives you much more legroom but unfortunately Cameron's bulkhead was a different one to ours. The takeoff was delayed by an hour whist the plane was deiced. The journey passed without incident but sadly also without sleep. 

We dropped into J'burg at just after 8am to be greeted by about 25 degrees and not a flake of snow in site.

We picked up the hire cars and set out for Edward House in Pretoria. In the next picture you can see a good shot of my wing mirror, Cameron's Park Ranger bus and the open electric gate of Edward House. 

We were the only guests because a water leak had prevented bookings being accepted until the problem is resolved. This place has superb ratings and you can see why. The property is a large colonial style house built in the 1940s. See for yourself.

We have the Rhodes Suite. I think the pictures tell their own story but you can see our balcony and the views of the pool and garden, our roll top bath (turn left for the toilet and right for the shower) and me unable to choose between the desk or the settee.
We head into town for refreshments and supplies and most importantly to visit Cameron's Alma Mater, Pretoria High School for Boys. I have run out time as we must be up at 6 in the morning to be continued.