Alfred Thumser

Lumley, we’re off to the Bay [short story]

Lumley was somewhat restless, head on my lap, we were sitting on the stoep (veranda) enjoying the sunshine. A sugarbird was fluttering in and out, sipping nectar from the flowering cacti in the garden; it was meditatively peaceful, we were enjoying the quiet time together. I had not done much for the last few days,…

Lumley, shall we go find some rhino? [short story]

The excitement of seeing the elephants kept Lumley and me going as we trundled down the river bed towards the coast and the ‘Kop. A day later and I could see the bridge crossing the river, it was time to say good bye to the river and head into town. I stopped to breath in…

We find the elephants – Lumley’s adventure continues [short story]

Our last story had ended with me asking Lumley, my dog: “Are we going to see elephants tomorrow?” We do!

Lumley continues her desert adventure [short story]

A short story about my dog Lumley and myself, travelling through a desert in southern Africa, spotting desert lion and enjoying life in the slow lane (fiction)

Botswana – Moremi Game Reserve (part 2)

As the sun started heading towards the horizon, it was time to get back to South Gate camp, set up a tent and prepare the evening meal. While we were sitting around the fire, we spotted a honey badger circling around our camp site; fortunately, it was only passing through, these small animals are scary…

Lumley, it’s time for a road trip

A short story about a road trip in Nambia with my dog, Lumley

Chasing Butterflies [short story 2]

Clara and Charlie discuss his dream of a coffee shop, a little off the beaten track

Chasing Butterflies [short story]

The sun was heading towards the horizon, maybe another 2 hours of daylight left, so the boy had to get a move on. He wanted to go down to the river, about a 15 minute walk down the hill through a settlement where the kids always came running out to tell him what they had…

The Girl on the Platform [draft 2]

The boy looks back at the girl, now getting on a train, she smiles at him, teary-eyed… they don’t see each other again.

A Shadow of my Selfie

A while ago a long-term relationship came to an end and with it nearly me; well, I am still here… with some thoughts, musings, reflections on what I refer to as the “dark place” or “my crash”. First and foremost, I would not be here without the help and support of some amazing people, many…

Botswana – Moremi Game Reserve (part 1)

This post has been sitting in my draft folder for far too long, so here goes: In 2012 I undertook my first visit to Botswana, borrowing a car from Junior, my little sister, and her hubby who live near Windhoek, Namibia. This proved to be “godsend” for our Botswana trip as we got a Range…

Masai Mara – the adventure continues

Following on from the previous blog [https://alfredthumser.com/2017/09/17/masai-mara-kenya-day-1/], after lunch we headed towards the Mara river where we walked along the river bank accompanied, by a game ranger, observing hippo and crocodile sunbathing, while carcasses kept floating past. Fortunately, the crocodiles were on the opposite bank, apparently they know that tourists are coming and they prefer it a…