• PK Limbering up for a dance

The school, in fact, Mooi Uitsig and all the villages along our coast, are still recovering from the savage weather that knocked us sideways a short while ago.

We are used to stormy weather in winter in our part of the world: high winds, heavy rain andtumultuous seas, but we have never before experienced a full two weeks of relentless windgusting to 120 kms per hour accompanied by driving rain. It is a blessing the school is built onthe side of the mountain so that the water runs past it and also that it was built by people whocared very much about doing an excellent job so it didn’t lose its roof or suffer other damage asa number of buildings in the overberg did.

The province closed the schools in the interests of the children’s safety but, of course most of the Pikkewyntjies are safer at school than at home and at school they get a hot meal and activities which took their minds off the often frightening storm. Zaan drove out every morning to pick up the children at their homes, not at the meeting point and took them home after school.

It was not surprising that the storm damaged the power lines so all the coastal villages were without electricity for most of a week. As the stove runs on gas there was lunch every day at the school but the teachers had to be creative to make up for the unlit classrooms and no outside play at break time. Fortunately our unspoilt, enthusiastic children find pleasure in even very simple tasks.

They felt quite important, actually when they realised they had lived through a really-truly cyclone, even if it was a low key one.

Once however, we all agree, was quite enough.