The comedy that is my life.

Hi all on the beginning of a week which heralds the end of July, where has this year gone?    WOW it's been busy with one thing and another.  Today alone has been like  a series of trivial domestic calamities - after waking up to a weak sun and not a breath of wind I  jumped up all ready to get a huge load of washing in and on the line.  This included linen from two beds, towels, clothing etc, in the space of less than one hour we went from calm to a blessed gale.  I bravely hung up the linen on the line with extreme difficulty and no less than five minutes later the line had broken and was dragging a duvet cover (white) round and round against the fynbos.  I 'fixed' the problem or so I thought but ended up going out to rescue my linen about four times, the only good thing is it dried quickly so I could bring it in. The rest is now draped over the clothes horse and in the Dry Buddy #facepalm, while the  speed of the wind continues to increase bringing in another cold front.  While all this was going on my precious Hubby started the vacuuming only for the machine to die half way through,  after investigation he discovered the fridge was also off, it turns out the extension cord was having an emotional day so  off he went to finish and then not five minutes later heard it swallow something odd, after stopping again to look he saw that a tiny little wheel thing with its pin had fallen off and been swallowed up, once rescued the vacuuming was completed.  This follows on the heels of last week's disaster - our resident Horologist was working inside on a ceramic clock which came in for repair, when Zeepha got the zoomies and ran past the table catching her claw in the towel on which said clock was sitting, the result ......... A shattered clock and a Zeepha looking with interest at all the new things on the floor to play with, my poor Hubby just sat looking in total shock.  We picked it all up and immediately went onto the Internet to see if there was a replacement - nothing even close except for one from the USA which would have cost about R1000 to bring in.  Ever optimistic we decided to put the sad little clock back together again, this took days of painstaking work from my Hubby with glueing and sanding and filling in.  On Friday I was looking again on the Internet and found a place in Jhb who has the mold for this clock and if we need to we can replace it.  In the meantime I repainted it and it now looks almost better than before,  no stress in our lives at all HAHAHA.

We continued to take advantage of every precious visit with our friends from Cradock and felt quite odd when they left on Friday, as Jelly Bean said it feels as if they have moved away.  The family are all well Poppet is gearing up for a business trip to Australia for two weeks, she leaves on Friday, it couldn't come a worse time with her wedding less than two months away and J (Sunshine) arriving two days after she gets home, Princess will spend the time with close friends of theirs duno ing her trip.  Big Guy today finishes with the company he has been with for twelve years as it has been sold.  Right now he is taking the next two months to establish a normal routine of actually sleeping every night whilst considering his various options before he goes overseas on a long planned and much needed holiday, welcome to normal life son.  BigBear and BabyBear have been super busy, with her recovering from flu and him gearing up for a small surgery on Thursday which she will fly home for and to see him through the recovery period.  Jelly Bean has been given some work to do from home and is delighted with it, also recovering from a problem with her tooth which we thought might be an abscess but thankfully was not, a trip to the dentist on Friday sorted it all out.  In amongst all this our wedding anniversary crept up on us, a whole twelve years with this wonderful man, oh all the adventures, dramas, fun and games we have had, here's to the next couple of decades my Darling.  We went out yesterday for a wonderful three course lunch at the Kleinmond Golf Course which was a real treat,  before coming home to snuggle down in front of the fire.

Well folks that is this week's instalment of my perfectly ordinary, uneventful life, here is looking forward to see what the week ahead has to offer.  I wish you all a wonderful week filled with kindness, beauty and love.  Please stay safe and aware wherever you are.  Ciao ciao for now.

Zeepha being cute.

What a happy week

Good morning world from a blustery cold BB.  In response to all the weather forecasts and warnings, today we will be once again be securing everything that moves and bringing in extra wood for the fireplace, in anticipation of a massive cold front due to make landfall tonight.  We've had bitterly cold weather since last  wednesday, in fact the coldest since we have lived here and, this incoming front is said to be bigger and colder.  Time to fill up the rusk tin methinks.

Last week was great fun, we had a surprise visit from very dear friends of ours from Cradock on Monday afternoon.  Big Guy and Jelly Bean had both been in on the surprise and it was wonderful, just what what I needed.  On of the biggest blessings to me is when you haven't seen friends /family for years and yet the moment you reunite it is as if you were together the day before.  What wonderful fellowship we all had, so many stories, so much catch up.  Even better is that they are dog/house sitting just around the corner from us and on Wednesday we had lunch together - venison from the Karoo cooked to absolute perfection, and then the next time we looked at watches it was after 5pm hahaha.  Due to circumstances changing they will be here in BB until the end of this week woohoo.

The family are all well thank the Lord, some of us in various stages of shaking off the flu but, essentially all well and happy.  The house is currently devoid of clocks as those that we have are still in the workshop and not yet ready to come in for testing.  After me telling everyone last week that our pair of breeding Dikkop birds were back for a second year, when I went out to check on them I could only find one. He stayed around until Wednesday on his own and then by chance we happened to see a pair across the road, I am not sure if this is 'our' birds but am sincerely hoping so as Dikkop pair for life, just the thought that something had happened to one of them, I found extremely distressing.  There was a lot of activity in the road over the previous weekend with people walking dogs and children running up and down and, if there is one thing I would beg visitors to do, that is to respect our wildlife.  The locals know and respect their presence amongst us, it brings so much joy to see a buck across the road, or a porcupine waddling along and yet visitors seem to have little to no respect and let their dogs (off leash) chase the animals and  allow their kids to do the same, it really makes my blood boil.
Zeepha is still quite the cutest little thing with such a unique personality, although she really battles with the cold (probably because she is so small and only weighs about 2.3 kg) and despite wearing her jersey will always be looking for the brightest ray of sun, a warm blanketed lap or failing both of those she will park herself behind the fire stove.  It is unbelievably hot there but she will lie down right behind it whether it's on logs or cones, as long as it's warm hehe. Jasper will just find Hubby's lap, usually, and park himself there for as long as possible lol.
On Saturday with all th sport on TV it was difficult to decide what to watch, so we did a lot of toggling back and forth, later in the afternoon our neighbour, who weekends here and was on his own, came over and he and my dearest Hubby spent the next 80 minutes talking and coaching the Springboks to their win over Australiea in the Rugby LOL.

Well folks that's it for this week, I trust and pray you will have a stress free week, a healthy week and most of all, this week take the time to let the people in your life know just how much you love and appreciate them.  Stay warm and safe as always Ciao ciao .

Zeepha sleeping behind the fire which was roaring, using a pine cone as a pillow.

Not a week to be repeated......

And a bonny good morning to all our family and friends from a sunny, cool BB.  Remind me to never ever 'gloat' in having had a quiet week, wow what a reversal we had last week.  Before I get to the ins and outs let me start by saying that at this moment we have clocks coming and going at a rate that I am having a hard time keeping track of, thankfully my precious Hubby knows exactly what belongs to whom and at what stage of repair each one is.  Today my favourite is going home, this is the 'old' 1850 clock, it is such a dignified, elegant little clock which only gives one gentle ting on the hour. One of his regular customers brought back a clock he had inadvertently overwound and along with it three others all needing repair, amongst these is a tiny little cuckoo, kuckolino clock which I have fallen in love with and am now on the look out for a similar one for our home.

Our week started with the news that my Brother-in-law on my late husbands side of the family had passed away.  I think very often we just 'assume' everyone is immortal and it comes as a shock when someone we know passes away, I will always have fond memories of E.   On Tuesday Poppet called me to tell me that she had found a lump in her breast, which given her previous history caused us all a big jolt.  We immediately prayed for complete healing, she was put on a Prayer list of trusted Intercessors and we held fast to Gods promises to and for her.  She immediately contacted her Oncologist who arranged a Sonar and Mammogram for Thursday morning.  A few really uncomfortable days and many hours of prayer and both tests showed that it was just a small cyst and nothing untoward or distressing.  Thank you Father God for You continued Hand of protection and healing over every member of my family and for the valued and precious prayers of all who prayed for her.  I awoke on Monday morning with what felt like a sharp stitch in my left side which I tried my best to treat and ignore, unsuccessfully as it turned out as it is still there but no longer sharp, it is now more of a niggle and discomfort.  I eventually took myself off to the Dr on Thursday and she ran a battery of blood tests as she suspected Chrones or Ulcerated Colitis, which I refused to accept and gave me some medication which sort of helps.  Late Friday evening I got an email from her saying it was neither of the above and therefore yet another convoluted symptom of Fibromyalgia and IBS.  Now to find a way of figuring out what brought it on and how to get rid of and avoid it for the future.  As if the week had not already been difficult enough Princess had what they thought was just a sore throat and by Friday morning she was absolutely burning up with fever, couldn't talk or eat so it was off to the Dr for her.  Poppet messaged me to say because she was so ill they were testing her for swine flu ......... SERIOUSLY??????? I was just so mad (and yes stressed) enough is enough already.  Back to praying, not that we ever stop but some warfare was required and I got a call later on to  say NOT swine flu but a very bad case of a different flu.  She is now slowly on the mend and taking all her meds.  The hits just kept coming, a very dear friend of mine in Bloemfontein contacted me to let me know her husband who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's has now also been diagnosed as having Parkinsons, my precious friend you are in my prayers God is holding you all in the palm of His hand and giving you the  strength you need.  She also told me that a mutual friend of ours from way back, who has been fighting cancer for the last 9 years is in her last days as it has spread to her brain.  This was such a shock as I truly thought she had beaten breast cancer, yet another precious family in my prayers for the time ahead.

Having shared all this news, let me just say right here - yes it was an awful week in every way but I remain charged up spiritually and emotionally even if physically I feel considerably less than charged.  That too I will get past and I am praying this week remains calm and trouble free.  We also took Jasper to the vet last week because of licking all his fur off, the verdict there was that he has a flea allergy and will hopefully stop licking,  R600 later on two flea treatments and I cannot see any evidence of fleas, not to train him to stop licking, he is looking a tad motheat n at the moment........ Oh JOY.  This is my beloved cat who will be purring and loving me one minute and the next have the stare of death in his eyes and sharp teeth clamped into my skin.    The two Dikkop birds we had nesting next to our fence last year are back, which is a great joy to me, I will keep you updated on their progress as they go along.

Well folks that is WAY more than enough news for anyone and I am now signing out, hopefully to continue enjoying the Tour de France and catch up on some domestic chores that have fallen behind.  To my amazing Hubby, thank you for always being so patient and taking up the slack when I just cannot, I love and appreciate you.  I wish you all a healthy, peaceful, God centered week.  Please remember, it does not matter what the devil tries to throw at you it will never negate the Power of Our Mighty God, keep your eyes and mind firmly fixed on Him.  Stay safe and always aware.  Ciao ciao .

Zeepha checking out what I'm reading.  She investigates every single thing I do 

A quiet week

Good morning friends and family I hope this finds everyone well and ready for the week ahead. It would seem that winter has well and truly arrived down here at least, we have had a week of battering winds followed by rain which is always appreciated and needed, our little fire has been faithfully keeping us warm and cosy.  Needless to say much reading was accomplished as well as watching the Cricket.

My ever kind Hubby had a fairly busy week with numerous trips into Somerset West for a number of reasons, thank you my love for all your hard work and kindness.   He also finished the 'old' clock which he refurbished, it was made in 1850 first serviced in 1905 and then again in 1938.  When a clockmaker works on /services a clock he writes the date and his initials on the inside, it is now working like a charm and awaiting collection (pic below).  He is now busy with a very old Dutch clock.  Princess had a wonderful week down in Natal and returned home safely on Saturday and is about to start her third term for the year.  The rest of the family are doing well and working hard and we had a special morning on Saturday when we met with BigBear for brunch in the Strand, I so love these times that we get to spend together, catching up on news and chatting about everything and anything, BabyBear we always miss my you and are looking forward to the next get together with you.  Big Guy, Poppet and Princess we miss you guys and I'm counting days until we are all together.  After brunch we came home in and to even higher winds than when we left home, gusts topping at 100 kmph, so we nestled down in front of the fire to watch the start of The Tour de France,  my favourite sporting event of the year, which will keep us busy for the next few weeks hehe.
This week we have to take Jasper into see the Vet, for the last couple of months he has taken to licking his coat obsessively.  We initially thought it was a food allergy and went back to his previous food, which has not helped one iota.  It could be any number of things but now that he is actually licking bald spots and we need to get to the bottom of the problem and hopefully it will be easily treated and he can regain his glorious long silky coat.

Folks that's about it for this week, I wish you and yours a wonderful week, stay warm and safe and share some kindness with those you come in contact with.  Ciao ciao for now.

The 'old' clock sporting a new face / dial and fully working.

Our view at brunch on Sarurday

How can it be July already ?

Brrrr good morning friends and family I hope this finds you all well and warm.   As I sit to type today's Blog I have my heating pad on and am wrapped up in a throw, with a hot cup of tea on hand.  I am also being harassed by a certain little tabby cat hehe.  Over this past week we have had a succession of cold fronts coming through which resulted in having a lot of roaring fires and lots of reading, absolute bliss.  Having said all that it wasn't quite as quiet a week as it sounds, with the normal day to day events and a trip into Kleinmond and then yesterday we did a ''mammoth' expedition into Somerset West.

During the week my dearest Hubby went through with a friend of his to the Franschoek Motor Museum, a guys and cars day which they both thoroughly enjoyed.  BigBear had a bit of a health scare but Praise the Lord it was nothing serious and will require a minor surgery to correct, thank you Father for Your continued healing power.  Big Guy is facing some huge challenges like a champ and we have full confidence that God's blueprint for his life is busy unfolding.  The girls are all well with Princess being down in Durban for the week with family friends, enjoying the last week of the school holidays.  Miss Muffet celebrated her birthday on Tuesday but because her Hubby was away on a cycling tour they had the big celebration over the weekend when he got back.  On Saturday BigBear and BabyBear took part in the Knysna Marathon and both had a fantastic race.  BabyBear bettered her best time by 8 minutes and BigBear bettered his best time by 12 minutes, so quite an achievement for both of them, well done you two we are very proud of you both.

As I mentioned yesterday we went through to Somerset West, dropped Jelly Bean off to visit with a friend of hers.  Hubby and I then proceeded to work down the list of stops we had and despite the fact that the stores were crazy busy we actually crossed every item off the list, plus some hehe and surprisingly were both relaxed by the time we had finished.  We then skeedaddeled back home to watch the Grand Prix, relax and enjoy the rest of the weekend.  Hubby had a quick 'emergency' watch repair come in which he did and returned to a very happy customer.

As for this week I have no clue which way it is going to go, but suffice to say it will be interesting I am sure.  One thing I am becoming very aware of is how tough this year has and is continuing to be, so  many people are facing challenges on so many different fronts.  I wish there was a way to take all heartache and pain away from people, the ONLY answer I can give is to give those hurts, cares and pain to God our Father.  He is the ONLY One who can bring about healing, peace and give you solutions.  I know how difficult it can be not to allow the worry and grief to drown you but, from experience past and present I know first hand that He is the only way to survive life and its challenges.  Accepting Jesus as your Saviour and allowing the Holy Spirit to have control of your life is the only way, without having that knowledge and assurance there is no possible way I and my family would be here and overcoming the challenges we face.  We are not alone in this world folks we have an almighty, all powerful, loving Father who cares for us and wants only the best outcome in our lives.  On that note I pray you have a blessed week, stay safe. Ciao Ciao
 John 10 v 10.  The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  
John 3 v 16   .. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1 Peter 5 v 7. Cast ALL your cares, anxiety on Him because He cares for you

Jasper and Zeepha enjoying the cuddles.