Is it ok to have a good time when death surrounds you?

We finished filming yesterday on the commercials I am shooting in Cape Town - a long 9 day slog - but I finally pulled us all through some stressful days and my reward is a day off today so I booked to go Horse riding on the beach and then went off to see the penguins but on arrival at the riding stables the owner told me that there were some dolphins stranded on the beach and that they were all dead, I felt very sad to hear this and was pleased when the owner gave my guide the instruction to keep off the beach until we had passed the dead dolphins, I did not want to see them as I knew it would really upset me.

When we got onto the beach I could see lots of vehicles and people at the edge of the water but couldn't see the dolphins so we cantered a bit in the soft sand until we got to the water front and then we were walking through the small waves when my guide pointed out this big black thing up the beach from where we were and he said that was a dead dolphin - I don't know any species of black dolphin but I am not an expert so took him at his word and was sad for the dead dolphin and felt guilty that I was enjoying the wind blowing through my brain and loving my horse riding.  I was sad but happy at the same time - quite an odd feeling.  I sent healing to the dolphin in the hope that it has a speedy reincarnation to something just as beautiful.

We then passed a surfer that the guide knew and he explained they were actually pilot whales and there were 19 of them and only 4 were dead and their was a huge rescue effort going on to try to save the others, which explained all the vehicles and people.  That explained why the black animal I had looked at didn't look like a dolphin.  I was very sad for the 4 dead animals and sent healing to them and to the 15 that were struggling for life.

By the time I got back from my ride I heard they were thinking of putting the 15 whales onto flat bed trucks and taking them round to the harbour where the water is deeper.  I will continue to send healing in the hope these lovely big whales get back to the water and continue their journey.

So while I was so sad about the whales I loved my ride - it has been about 12 to 13 years since I have ridden on a beach - last time was on a scary loony horse called Mulder!  This time I was on an ex racehorse who had the fastest trot I have ever experience - it took me a good half hour to figure out rising trot on him as he was fast and bouncy!  Then when he cantered it was long fast strides but once I got into the swing of it he was lovely.  He was really responsive to the bit so I only had to give him a tiny bit of pressure for him to slow down.

After riding I headed off to the Crystal store which was huge and brilliant, my suitcase is going to be very heavy on the way back home! and after that I headed to the Penguins - African Penguins are so cute and small, I really wasn't expecting them to be so small but they were cute and there were a few babies but they were the size of the mum but just had grey fluffy feathers.  very cute.

Here is Pingu.....

also here is a wee pic of Mr Naughty as he is called at the hotel, he has taken up residence on my terrace while I have been staying at the hotel - funny how the animals find me or I find them.....

and for the arachnophobics that follow my blog look away now....

Here is a spider the size of my hand, apparently it isn't poisonous but if it bites you it lays its eggs under your skin aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh.......