Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Self Promotion Post

I have my first full length novel about ready to go up on Amazon Kindle. I actually wrote part of this book on a site called FanFiction and a number of readers suggested I take it down and work on it a bit and publish it. I have been working on a different novel but hey this one is almost finished so I might as well use it. My first short story on Amazon has to date sold just 27 copies. Ahem . Not really enough to make a living but it was a single and I didn't really think much would come of it.

This time I have done a lot of work and even though it is aimed more at young adults I really hope it will do well. I am taking advice from a writer friend Jeff Goins and doing lots of self promotion. I am even going so far as to put the book up on Amazon for free for a month. After that it will be $3 but maybe by then it will have generated some interest.

So if you didn't know KatinAfrica has its on FB group now and my pen name Kathleen Anne Duncan has also joined FB. So go on be friends with me and find out about this and other writing projects.


Friday, June 15, 2012

Kruger Series - Skukuza

Skukuza is not to everyones taste. In fact on my last trip I swore I would not step foot in the camp again but I have mellowed and forgiven the camp. It was my own stupid fault for being in Kruger on a long weekend. If you are going near Kruger on a long weekend stay North. The Southern part gets beyond crazy. We waited 45 min for three burgers and chips at the restaurant. Not great when you have a hungry and demading three year old in tow. So yes thats my lesson learnt. Onto the good parts of Skukuza

1. Its the headquaters of the park. Its actually interesting to see all the activity that goes into running Kruger.



2. I am not a golfer but even I think it would be great to play on a green where a lion could be around the corner. It adds a certain thrill to the game.


3. The view from the restaurant deck is amazing.


4. The wildlife around the camp is incredible. Sadly you will share the view with a number of other cars but you will see it.


5. This is the reason I go to Skukuza. Not just the Selati Grill which is great but the history. I am a history not and I love all the pieces of history that you find at this camp. The story of Kruger is an amazing story.


Photo Challenge 2

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Photo a day challenge 1

I have been inspired after watching a video on you tube where a woman took a photo of herself everyday for five years. Its an amazing video. I loved the idea of charting changes over a long period of time. I don't know if I am up to a five year challenge so I have decided on a one year challenge. I have to take a photo of Ewan and post it here everyday. Sometimes they might come in batches if we have been away but I will take a photo everyday. I think its a great way to document this time in his life when he is changing so much.

So here is the first photo of the Ewan Photo Challenge

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Time Warp Wednesday

Yes this was an idea I had ages ago but I sort of forgot about it. Anyway here is my blast from the past.

Oppikoppi Music Festival 2007.


Thats me on the left my SIL Frances and BIL Simon.


Oppikoppi is a music festival held in the far north of South Africa in August every year. Its 3 nights of drinking far too much, eating weird food and smelling pretty bad. I had a total blast and I would love to go back one day.


This photo was taken while waiting for Koos Kombuis to come on stage.Good memories.


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Three years

This month marks two big dates for us. Today three years ago at 8:05am Ewan Richard Taylor was born. I am to be honest feeling a little teary today. His babyhood seems to have gone by so fast. This morning he recieved a few small gifts from us, followed by Andrew and I taking a cake to school for him at 10 in the morning. I loved seeing his little classmates singing happy birthday to my little guy. He beamed the whole time and made a big show of blowing out his candles. This evening we are having a small party at my parents house. All his favourite people will be there except his beloved Uncle James and Alena. Its days like this that I wish I lived a little closer to my brother. Still they will be here in a few weeks and I am sure Ewan will want another party for that. Tomorrow we are having friends over for dinner and Ewan will get another cake and some more prezzies. Thursday we are heading to Durban for the weekend and thats where his parents will get him his actual birthday present. Lucky little boy right:) I am still not sure what to get him but the options in Vryheid are very limited. All his little gifts I bought at the crazy store.

The other big date (although the actual day is up for debate) is that this month nine years ago I met Andrew. I really can't believe its been nine years. Andrew and I in Dec 2004. The years really do fly by.


Our wedding anniversary September last year


The day he was born.Last month in Cape Town. I can't believe how big he is.

Monday, June 4, 2012

The Best of Kruger - Satara

In a few weeks I will be heading off on my 9th trip to Kruger in seven years. Yes I know I am very lucky. The best part is this is the second trip of this year and I am going again in September. On the last trip we left Vryheid at 5 in the morning and we were in the park just before 9. It takes longer for us to drive to Joburg which we sometimes have to do and we do that just for the day or a weekend. This got me thinking that I really don't take enough advantage of Kruger. So I have lots of weekend breaks planned for early next year.

Anyway I have decided to do a short series on the camps in Kruger starting with Satara. I promise I will get to writing about our trip around SA in the next few weeks but right now I am just far too busy. So this is a mini project.

Five great things about Satara

1. It has great open areas for kids to run around.


2. Satara is the only camp with a jungle gym


3. There is a lovely pool with a nice toddler pool.



4. If you want to see cats this is one of the best camps in the park.



5. The perimeter spots are fantastic for sundowner game viewing


Satara is one of the most popular camps in the park so book well in advance. Another option is to wait until a month before you would like to go and look for cancellations. Risky but if you can't plan ahead you can still get some great spots.


Satara is also great for spotting smaller animals such as genet, african wild cat and caracal.