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Bits and bobs about my life in my lovely home, Thatchwick Cottage, Pretoria, South Africa.

Friday, October 10, 2008

10 October, 2008: Cloudless skywatching over Pretoria


Cloudless skies over the geometric shapes of the buildings of my alma mater and the university where I have been teaching for twenty-two years. The University of South Africa, fondly known as UNISA to hundreds of thousands of alumni, including Nelson Mandela.

The admin block at Unisa. Teaching is done through distance education (mainly print, but rapidly changing to hi-tech).

Pretoria lies in a mauve haze as the jakaranda trees flaunt their glorious blossoms in honour of Persephone. In the far distance are the stately sandstone Union Buildings, the seat of the administrative section of the government of South Africa.

The skyline of down town Pretoria where shoppers bustle under mauve pools of shade.

The view from the 10th floor of the Theo van Wjik Building at Unisa.


Now what to do under skies so blue? Gal finds working tedious on such a magnificent day and takes to the pool in Thatchwick's backgarden for a little exercise.
Not true to his water-loving breed, Trist prefers to look on with just a hint of a tolerant smile.


Thank you all Skywatchers and good blog friends for popping in to enjoy my part of the world! Now I am off to enjoy yours!

28 comments:

Unknown said...

hi there... will be replying to your mail in a minute or so. great meeting a fellow SA blogger.

duopastorale said...

What an amazingly clear blue.
My Skywatch

SmilingSally said...

Impressive campus, and that mauve bloom! Thank you for sharing.

Ivar Østtun said...

A wonderful SWF post. Have a nice weekend :-)

Nola said...

Eleanor, Thanks for the photos. I am amazed at the trees! Such a beautiful blanket of color; from a distance, it looks like wisteria!

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

The trees are just awesome !! I wish I had a fiels of them !

imac said...

Beautiful photos and colours.

Lavinia said...

Eleanor! I'm delighted! I'm in Jacaranda heaven! Thanks so much for the special tree, of my very own......these trees speak to me....they are so pretty, so elegant, how I would love to be beneath one....

Anonymous said...

Lovely blue sky, no clouds at all.

Anonymous said...

Ahh, such sweet babies and lovely city pics.
Alexandra

S said...

Beautiful photos! I especially like the one of the UNISA admin building. I see you're having fun with your new camera! Keep up the brilliant photos.
Sreddy

Anonymous said...

That sky looks hot... it is getting chill here.

Carrie said...

I enjoyed looking at your beautiful photos of Pretoria.

tsduff said...

Spring? Here in California it is nye on to Fall... looking to be winter soon. Your pictures are lovely - a beautiful mix of pictures :)

Gemma Wiseman said...

Enjoyed seeing and reading about UNISIA! Loved that pic of the jacaranda mauves from the 10th floor! And of course, the dog pics are priceless!

Tess Kincaid said...

Gal is the splitting image of our dear Ralphy, God rest his soul! It is fun to see pictures of Pretoria. I don't know much about it, actually. Very beautiful.

Let me know what you think of Brideshead! I haven't seen it yet, but must!

Jane Hards Photography said...

All such lovley images, and the blog header to is wonderful

Barbara Martin said...

Beautiful sunny photos to ease the chill that's been creeping into the air here. I'm thinking I need to move to a warmer climate.

The photo of the garden inside is very nice. Thanks for sharing.

earthlingorgeous said...

Oh wow! Thanks for the trip to UNISA I love the photo with the skyscrapers lovely perspective! Thanks for visiting my place too. Happy Weekend!

Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...

Great photos! Thanks for stopping by my blog...we are thrilled and excited with our new arrival.

Your dog has the right idea...the pool looks so refreshing! Enjoy!

Jillian

SandyCarlson said...

That's a lovely day. Gorgeous. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for visiting my page - I appreciate all visits!!!
You've captured some great SWF photographs - Perfect for such a day as today!!!

Anonymous said...

Someone had to explain to me too how to enlarge my pictures. I'm going to attempt to return the favor.
Go to photobucket.com and register for an account - then when you log in, there's a drop down box below where it says Upload Images & Video and you can choose the size you want your picture to be on your page then click the blue button that says "Choose Files" and find the photo you want to upload from your computer (I always put the picture on the desktop when I'm about to upload it, that just makes it easier to find) - when it's finished, copy the html code under your photo that appears on the page. Then go to New Post on your blog and click the Edit HTML tab & paste that html code there - then type your words the way you want & boom, there you have it.
Please let me know if this works for you - I'm anxious to know if I helped. hehehe!
If not, I'll help you any way I can - I know how frustrating it is - I tried & tried & tried to get my photos larger up until about 2 months ago - then someone was kind enough to explain it to me. Thank Heavens!!!

Dirkjogt said...

Mooie foto's! Bedankt voor jouw bezoek en ik begrijp het Zuidafrikaans heel goed. Ik denk dat jij ook Nederlands kunt lezen. Ik ben verrast door het vele groen in Pretoria, had dit helemaal niet verwacht.

Anonymous said...

Hello Eleanor, what a wonderful couple of dogs you have. And I love the mauve/blueish colour of the jacaranda's. May I ask what you teached at UNISA? Hartelijke groeten uit Nederland.

Yrsa said...

This was interesting - to see and read about life in Pretoria!

Muriel said...

Beautiful photo's!!!

Thanks for visiting my page!!!

love
M

Sweetie said...

What a beautiful view from theTheo van Wjik Building. Each picture is special. And - who could not love Gal and Trist.
Sweetie