My Life's Winding Roads: Christmas 2020

My Life's Winding Roads: Christmas 2020: Good morning everyone, I hope  you all had a good Christmas and are   relaxing now in this week before we say  goodbye o 2020 for good.  I w...

Christmas 2020

Good morning everyone, I hope 
you all had a good Christmas and are  
relaxing now in this week before we say 
goodbye o 2020 for good. 

I write this as a very happy and blessed lady, for the first time in two years we had all the South African family together under the same roof on Christmas Day.  Big Guy arrived as you know the Sunday before and we had a wonderful week with him, he was still working but just to have him home was a huge bonus.  The girls were kept really busy settling into their new home, they came through on Tuesday and we had a fabulous dinner together, luckily with the sun setting so late here at the moment, just after 8.30pm, it is easy to have dinner and for them to still drive home before dark.

On Wednesday we went through to Kleinmond to a new restaurant which has swings as tables and chairs, thankfully not all the tables are swings, but it has a wonderful atmosphere and their food is excellent.

Thursday dawned bright and sunny and we were up and out early to avoid the crowds, we took a drive through to Hermanus to a place called Ficks Pool.  This unique Restaurant is built into the cliff in a small cove where there is also a tidal pool, what a fabulous experience. We were so early that we had to wait for the restaurant to open and then enjoyed the most delicious smoothies, their huge drawcard is the atmosphere and location and I can only imagine that late afternoon when the sun is setting on a windless day it must be idyllic.  When we were there the sea put on a real show with huge waves and lots of turbulence, no one even thought about the tidal pool which looked more like a whirlpool 😁.  A quick, last stop at the shops and we were home before it got too hot and too crazy.

The long awaited Christmas Day dawned and the four of us exchanged gifts whilst having tea and mince pies (an absolute favourite in our family). We had a quick video call with Miss Muffet and Co  before going  through to lunch with Poppet, Princess, BigBear and BabyBear.  I must say this, those girls outdid themselves in every possible way, the decor, the food and everything in between was absolutely amazing and,   just like that the family was all together.  This was my greatest wish, prayer and Christmas gift and I count myself beyond blessed to have had that day with them all, especially when I know so many families could not be together, we still had two partners missing - Sonshine and Princess' boyfriend, but set out to enjoy the day and make it memorable.  Everyone had contributed in some way to the meal and in our 'new' tradition, which we started three years ago because of the size of our family, we did Secret Santa gifts.  There were many, many laughs, oohs and aaahs to be heard which continued throughout an exceptional lunch and the rest of the day. Memories of childhood fails, events, milestones and stories were retold and it was everything I could have possibly asked for. Charlie and Jill have become friends (princess' doggie) and I know that his second Christmas was a happy one and in direct contrast to last year when he was alone and on the streets.  The rest of the weekend we spent time at home just relaxing (including me baking up a huge batch of crunchies and rusks for Big Guy to take home)  just enjoying our time together.  Today Big Guy flies home which I am dreading, I am already praying that our next get together will not take as long.

This week will be spent quietly as I intend to rest and relax after today, also very prayerfully as Sonshine goes for his CoVid 'clearance' test and tries to find a way to get home before more restrictions are put in place.  I will say this, it is the quietest we have ever seen Bettys Bay over the Christmas period which has been much appreciated and enjoyed.  Hubby still has a server to build for Poppet as well as a Lap Stand for an order which came through on Thursday.  The Bears finally got the keys to their new home last week and have spent days cleaning, painting and sorting it out, they  are hoping to finally be in by the 4th of January, to begin the next step on their journey, I can't wait to see their home 😁.

There is not one of us who has any clue what the New Year will bring in, after 2020 I do believe that we are prepared for most if not all things.  I do know this for a certainty .......... the same God that brought us through this year and kept us safe will be taking us into and through 2021.  He has never ever let us down and is the one constant and unchangeable in our lives.  I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a blessed New Year, I pray it is filled with God's Grace, Mercy, Healing, Wisdom, Protection and Provision in EVERY one of our lives and families.  Please, please stay safe and well and make the absolute most of every opportunity you get with your loved ones.  I would also like to thank each one of you for your participation in this Blog and in my life.  God Bless.  Ciao ciao.

Christmas Lunch Table & decorations 

 

Swing In

Ficks Pool

My Life's Winding Roads: Four days before Christmas

My Life's Winding Roads: Four days before Christmas: Well good morning folks we did it, we have made it to the week of Christmas 2020. In one sense it felt like December was never going to ar...

Four days before Christmas

Well good morning folks we did it, we have made it to the week of Christmas 2020. In one sense it felt like December was never going to arrive and on the other hand it was just suddenly there, this has been without a doubt the strangest year I have ever lived through. Well not only did we make it to this week, but we made it through last week 😂😂, just that in itself was a major achievement. On Monday evening Poppet and Princess arrived together with dog and cat, by the time they had collected the animals, hired a vehicle and got to their house it was past 21.00. We greeted them with camping chairs, pizza, a welcome home cake and bottle of good champagne which were organized by Sonshine from the U.K. The rest of the week was spent with them trying to organize things before their furniture arrived, then coming through to us for dinner before going back to sleep at home. As Poppet was recovering from pharyngitis we tried to make sure they got home before dark which is 20.00. I also got the fabulous opportunity of teaching Princess how to Candlewick and she worked on my current square before I set up one for her to do, that was such a joy and privilege. On Friday, D day everyone was on high alert as the moving company had not proved to be very reliable as far as timing was concerned. I had, months ago booked the dogs for a grooming session on Friday which I could not change but in the end it all worked out. The truck was expected between 09.00 and 11.00 and eventually arrived well after lunch time. When Jelly Bean and I arrived the movers had left and there was two very tired, emotional ladies with Hubby, as well quite an efficient sense of chaos. Jelly Bean and I climbed in and tackled the main bedroom, Princess handled her room, Hubby had done all the connections of appliances and went to do shopping. By the time we left they were 90% unpacked and furniture placed and they more or less and spent Saturday cleaning and making it feel and loook like home. Sadly Friday was also a harbinger of bad news - Sonshine was due to fly out on Saturday and arrive yesterday, he went for his obligatory CoVid19 pre-flight test and tested positive so, even though he has no symptoms he is now in isolation for two weeks. This is the third flight he has 'lost' this year due to CoVid and lockdown and it is really very sad as after all the planning and preparations with the move and the fact that they were / are hosting Christmas this year and he won't even be able to celebrate it, so we've designated a 2020 Christmas .2 when he arrives. On Thursday afternoon Big Guy landed and was collected from the airport by the Bears where he spent three nights visiting and catching up, the girls went through for a visit on Saturday afternoon and then yesterday morning we all met up at Somerbosch Wine Farm for breakfast. It was my prayer of the last eleven months come true to have all my South African Family around the same table at the same time. Big Guy wasnt the brightest button in the tin as he was dealing with a 24 hour tummy bug 🤦🏻‍♀️ but at last he is here with us and ........ Today is the start of a brand new spanking week and we all intend to make the most of every minute. I feel so very, very blessed to have the family here, throughout these last nine months we have not personally known anyone whose family has been affected by the virus apart from one couple of dear friends who had to self isolate and now we have sonshine in isolation and, a very close friends daughter and family are having to isolate as well instead of being together on Friday. Folks let us keep in mind, this is very real and even though people have become more relaxed about sanitizing and mask wearing we need to be even stricter and more conscientious than we were during the first wave. A quick update on Charlie's new eating plan is that we are now on day 13 on the amended diet and we've had no vomiting or 'fasting', unwell days, this is a major achievement and I could not be happier. now to deal with his raw, red paws which are the result of an allergy and him gnawing at them As it has been super hectic and I am really going to try for a relaxed week, I am going to wish you ALL a very Blessed Christmas, wherever you are, whoever you celebrate it with make memories and please stay well and healthy. Charlie after his grooming session.

My Life's Winding Roads: It is almost Christmas

My Life's Winding Roads: It is almost Christmas: Good morning folks, we are now in the last weeks of what has been one heck of a year. I think each one of us can attest to the fact that s...

Tis eleven days until Christmas

Wow we have eleven days until Christmas ....... after an unbelievably strange and 'quiet' year December crept up on some of us and exploded onto the calendar with a bang. Good morning everyone I hope you are all staying well and safe. Shooo my head has been spinning, it's like we made up for the last nine months in the last two weeks. There were quite a few things that should have been seen to during the year and because of Lockdown and sometimes the weather, just never got done. Things like cleaning carpets, washing curtains, washing windows (properly 😁), giving the garden a really good going over etc, we did ALL the above in the last ten days. At one point it felt like Grand Central Station, which in itself is odd as between the three of us there is never much if any traffic apart from watches coming and going. Thank the Lord we managed to get everything done, except painting our bathroom wall 🤦🏻‍♀️😂, I even managed to tidy every cupboard in the house and now know where everything is which, given we don't have a lot of cupboard space is valuable, that session then extended to the hanging storage platform in the garage. Quite an achievement even if I do say so myself. To add to all the crazy Hubby's mobile phone died a miserable and sudden death a couple of weeks ago, he resurrected it and this week it gave a last gasping breath. Because I keep my old phones as backups we were able to do a factory reset on my previous phone and he is now back in touch with the world, although he lost numbers and conversations and today had to post a message about a cuckoo clock who is missing his family and wants to go home. I have mentioned in the past how I have struggled with Charlie and his tummy, it has resulted in vet visits, numerous different kibble food of the range he eats, cooking especially for him, you name it and I have tried it. This week whilst a wonderful lady was busy with our windows we got talking and she suggested I call her aunt who is a Toy Poodle breeder, this I did and OMW . It would appear that we have a solution, I called and this absolute gem took all the time I needed to ask questions, and gave me solid answers. Charlie had been vomiting every night in the early morning hours and despite a voracious appetite had lost a bit of weight since he arrived here he was also having a 'fasting' really unwell day every two days. After a long chat she suggested his liver was not functioning correctly and gave me a list of natural/herbal medication, the 'correct' kibble and tinned food with all the instructions on how to administer and feed him. That was on Tuesday, I immediately went to Kleinmond and after four shops managed to get everything (not a cheap shopping trip 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️). I started him on the new regime immediately and please God so far I have a new doggy on my hands, we have not seen one negative or prior type of behavior since Tuesday. So I am praying that we finally have the answer and we are boosting his liver function as well. My thanks knows no bounds to this wonderful woman in Sedgefield for her wisdom, experience and help. On Friday we went through to SW and did as much preparation as we could for the girls' arrival tonight, everything is ready for them and Jill and Boude (dog and cat). Late this afternoon we will go through and await their arrival, welcome them home and settle them in, their furniture is being packed and loaded right now and will arrive on Friday. Just before we left on Friday Hubby and I went through the garage to make sure we had not forgotten anything and on the way back to the house I misjudged the top step and fell, again. At the time it was just too much, I was already very sore with Fibro and that was just the last straw, happily no injuries other than every muscle seemed to be rearranged and pulled, as a result I spent 90% of the weekend on the bed and am at last starting to feel just a little less stiff and sore. I really must watch where and how I walk. A major frustration for the Bears currently is that they still have no fixed moving date. They were originally supposed to move into their new home this week but it appears that the 'seller' had a heart attack and that has slowed down the apartment from actually being available. My heart goes out to them as the uncertainty is frustrating to say the absolute least and I am praying for a speedy resolution for them to be able to get settled. Princess ended her 2020 school year on a fantastic note, after what has hands down been the most challenging year for every scholar and her unbelievable self discipline and determination she has been promoted to Grade 11 with endorsement for Bachelors Degree. Well done and congratulations my beautiful girl, we are so proud of you that we could burst and you can pat yourself in the back knowing you did good and deserve a good rest now, and congratulations to Poppet on raising an amazing young lady. Big Guy will be arriving in Cape Town on Friday and we will all be together for the first time in almost two years, thank You Father God for creating a way and making it all possible. Now that I have literally scratched everything off my 'to do' list, I'm not quite sure how my week will pan out except for having my girls here and hopefully relaxing with them and seeing them and, next week Big Guy relax and unwind. Hopefully I can get to some baking and back to my quilting. Folks, that's is all for now, a new week lies before us and I pray that each of you reading this stays well and safe. A word from my heart to you as things escalate in the next two weeks everywhere please take time to breathe and take care of yourself, I am going to endeavor to do the same. Ciao ciao for now. My favourite little bird - a young mousebird drinking some water

It is almost Christmas

Good morning folks, we are now in the last weeks of what has been one heck of a year. I think each one of us can attest to the fact that so much has changed this year, from relationships and friendships to work, social activities ..... absolutely every aspect of our lives has been affected and to some degree changed. Praise the Lord for His goodness to us in the midst of hard times, we are still here and able to give Him the Glory. I know that for myself personally 2020 has brought much growth within myself, a deeper prayer life and a far deeper empathy for those who are hurting and lonely. I tried to set my mind to encouraging others at every opportunity, truly listening to what someone is saying and not saying, showing them that I am not there to offer advice but just, if needed, be a sounding board. I pray and trust that as we move towards 2021 we/ the world will not forgot what we have learnt and will not return to the impersonal rat race that was our lives. Having said all that our lives have barely seemed to slow down by a smidge, if anything this has been one of our busiest years. This past week was actually fairly quiet and I tried to use the time to get small things done in and around the house, things that just seem to pile up. On Monday with far less fuss than I expected I decorated our Christmas tree with loads of 'help' from Zeepha who tried to eat every piece of tinsel she could fine, not to mention swiping st the shiny balls. Hubby dearest had one appointment with the Eye Specialist who was happy with his progress and will see him again in January. Every day brings a little bit more clarity in his sight and he is more or less doing just about everything he normally does. He still has some spacial distancing weakness but is handling it extremely well and has been busy building the second furniture item for the girls as well as completing an order for a large Embroidery Lap Stand. On Thursday we had organized to borrow a carpet cleaner from a very kind chap near us and the two of us set to work cleaning our two carpets. I can attest that Vanish O2 Carpet Stain Remover is incredible, we have a very light beige carpet (it seemed like a good idea at the time 🤷🏻‍♀️) and after he did a thorough vacuum I got to work with the Kirby. For those of you who have never cleaned a carpet, it is very satisfying working in rows hahaha. As we started finishing up I warned Hubby about a wet patch on the lounge floor and carried on tidying up in the bedroom, I walked out and was in the middle of a sentence when I 'hit' said wet patch and did a 'road runner' impersonation. Hubby says he thought I had managed to correct myself and the next minute I was flat on my face in the carpet with quite a worried Husband standing over me. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ What can I say? I think it is my first fall for the year which is really good going for me 😂. I managed to whack my wrist in the coffee table and then tried to break the fall with my left hand before chin planting along the carpet, I just lay there ........... literally just too tired and sore to get up. Again, Praise God, no broken bones although for two days afterwards it felt like every organ and limb had been rearranged. I still can't move my left arm behind me without some pain and my right wrist is sore at certain angles, other than that I am fine ! AND .... our carpets are nice and clean hehe. I have started preparations for the 'christmas' holidays and am counting down sleeps until the girls arrive and then four days later Big Guy lands in Cape Town. The best news and answer to my prayers is that we will ALL be together as a family for Christmas lunch whoop whoop, that right there is my Christmas present. We have done about 98% of our gift shopping thanks to online shopping, I know for a fact that there is no way I would be able to muster up the energy to traipse through the Malls and Stores. Well guys and girls that is that from me for this week, if you are going to be away during the holidays please keep your children in sight at all times, adhere to all beach and road rules, stay safe and have FUN. Ciao ciao Our 2020 Christmas Tree and the little Elf that was of great help

My Life's Winding Roads: Some shenanigans including whale calls.

My Life's Winding Roads: Some shenanigans including whale calls.: Good morning wonderful people, here we are on the last day of November and it's kind of a "where did the year go?" situation, ...

Some shenanigans including whale calls.

Good morning wonderful people, here we are on the last day of November and it's kind of a "where did the year go?" situation, so much has happened and yet so little.

Well, for one I am glad to see the end of this month and am looking forward to December and my biggest Christmas gif/wish has been answered - all the South African family will be together on Christmas Day, I am so excited I could burst.

Well another busy, interesting week behind us, full of highs and lows.  It went fairly predictably as far as weeks go, I actually took some time to re-charge on Wednesday, more by force than desire but it was just as well that I did. Monday evening I found two small pieces of soap so, being the thrifty soul that I am I have one to Jelly Bean and we each put one into the cistern of the toilets.  We are on a conservancy sewage system down here and were already waiting for the municipality to clear the tanks.  They arrived early Tuesday morning but, from then on JB's toilet and ours started emitting very odd noises, it sounded like we had a whale in the piping, almost ghostly sounds of groaning, as well as both loos constantly trickling water. Hubby was baffled which alone is strange.  He was contemplating getting on the roof to see if there were any taps malfunctioning, until ......... late Wednesday evening I decided to look in the cistern 👀 .......... the small piece of soap had wedged itself under the shut off valve, I asked JB to check hers and same story.  Ooops, we removed the soap and in so doing fixed the trickles AND the whales went back to singing in the sea. 🤣🤣🤣 We all had a good giggle and Hubby was extremely relieved.  On Thursday he had another another checkup scheduled with the Specialist and Jelly Bean and I decided it was a good idea to accompany him just in case he had another injection.  We used the opportunity and made four stops getting groceries, dog food, fruit and veg etc in really good time and all agreed at what a peaceful, easy shop it had been. We made a last stop at a 2nd hand furniture/building material shop before heading off to see the Dr.  Praise the Lord, all is going well and daily Hubby's vision is clearing as the viscous debris clears from his eye, he could now read an extra line in the eye chart and he will go back again this week, the Dr mentioned that he might consider another injection at which I told him just how much pain it had caused, so we are praying for NO more injections.  Feeling very satisfied with ourselves we got back home after 2.30pm, all quite exhausted and just wanting to sit down and rest.  Hahaha ...... what a laugh!!! everyone carried something into the house and I went back out to help Hubby with the rest but he had closed the boot hmmm, I asked him where the rest of the packets and bags were, his reply " there is nothing more".  Would you believe that we still had to go back and look, behold the boot was empty.  As far as we can figure, on our stop at the 2nd hand store when Hubby locked the car, someone blocked the remote.  Whilst we were in the store 'they' selectively helped themselves to close to R2000 worth of food and things. 😡😖😡. Once the reality had set in and with it anger and the feeling of violation all we had been left with was boerewors, sugar, Carlton paper rolls, and cat sand ??????? They even stole my Gammon and Jelly Beans's cake.  AAARGGHHH.  By now it was after 3pm and I realized I needed to move fast, so I asked Hubby to stay and contact our insurance, also because we had left Charlie at home and on returning found he had moved a rock, got out to look for me and thankfully parked himself on our neighbours verandah in the shade to wait for me.  So, off JB and I sped off, this time to Hermanus which is marginally closer and did a complete 'Groundhog Day' thing in doing all four shops and repeating to the letter our morning shop.  I cannot even begin to tell you how angry I was, when there is a need I can come to an understanding, this was pure opportunism and greed because they went through selecting everything they wanted. It also just heightened JB's stress levels enormously.  We got home just after 6, well and truly exhausted and also to find that God had turned the situation around in that, in hearing what hadn't happened someone blessed us with double the amount of the shop, thank you Lord.  What the devil meant for harm and lack, God in His grace and mercy turned around.  🙏🏻

Friday was spent dealing with normal life, our emotions and also the Insurance.  Poppet and Princess flew down late Friday afternoon for a work function and were able to see BigBear and BabyBear both Friday and Saturday.  I must say here, all our congratulations go to Princess who was awarded  her Half Colours for athletics, sadly there was no Prize giving thanks to CoVid but just the fact the that she was able to accomplish that achievement during this crazy year is a major feat.  Well done my gorgeous Princess, you are so talented and we are all so proud of you.  

On Saturday evening Hubby and I were enjoying our last cup of tea for the day when I had a wee accident and managed to topple my very full mug of boiling hot black tea over my chest, tummy and legs 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️, talk about move quickly haha.  It was so sore that I couldn't say words just a groan,  in what felt like minutes but was probably much less, I had yanked my Tshirt off and then trid applying a cold cloth, but there was too much burn so opted to stand under a cold shower.  After praying I applied the best burn cream called Flamazine, and got my frozen bag of flour out of the deep freeze and sat with it on my chest.   When I woke yesterday everything looked amazingly better, a little tenderness, a few small blisters and slight redness on my chest, the rest of me is great.  

For a total change of pace and much longed for, yesterday we met the girls at their new house and they were able to see it for the first time, they absolutely love their new home and we are all counting down sleeps now, to their move and arrival, the 'Bears' move,  Big Guy's arrival and then CHRISTMAS DAY as a family.  After seeing the house we took them to Lourensford Wine Farm which has a night market on Friday's and day markets through the weekend, it was so special to see them and then get to share a meal and just catch up, that it more than made up for all the shenanigans of the past few days, I believe it would be accurate to say they both LOVED the market.  Charlie came with us and it was his first trip out in such surroundings, his new meds worked like a dream and he was such a well behaved little chap 🐩

So folks ......... all in all a good week, I'm working on the forgiveness aspect, rejoicing in Gods goodness to us all and feeling the Christmas vibe, I do believe the tree will go up this week. I am going to get going with all that needs doing domestically and wish you all a wonderful week.  Please stay safe and stay well, Ciao Ciao.

Jasper has become a fan of Scoobie Doo 🤣🤣

Never again please

Well ........ it is a new week, good morning everybody. I for one am extremely glad to welcome this new week and very happy to slam the door on the one just past. Since my last Blog we have been on a roller coaster ride and not necessarily a pleasant one. Last Sunday evening after having had excellent vision Hubby mentioned that his left eye was sore, we didn't think too much about it given the procedure a few days before and, I secretly wondered whether the smoke from our braai had aggravated it. Monday morning we awoke and he quickly realized he had almost no vision in that eye - no vision meaning he could not make out the fingers of his hand when held in front of his face 😢. We contacted the eye surgeon who told us to come in immediately, as you can imagine it was very scarey for Hubby, I just went into prayer mode. Off we went and from then on it was like being on a roller coaster. On testing his vision the Dr realized that Hubby could not even see the screen much less read the two biggest letters, we were asked to wait whilst he consulted with a Retinal Specialist. They made an immediate appointment and we drove off to the other side of Somerset West, what I can say is thank the Lord for excellent Doctors and a really good Medical Aid. They were all so efficient, comforting and explained everything to us clearly. Apparently a very rare complication from a cataract removal is something called TASS - Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome, no one is quite sure what causes it and because of that a swab was taken and sent off to the Lab and then began the process of trying to correct the condition and halt the damage. It involved a series of injections around the eye socket to anesthetise it, dilate the pupil as much as possible, and then several injections directly into the eye and behind the retina. YIKES. My dear Hubby was very brave, a patch was then put on the eye which had to stay in place until Wednesday when we had a follow up appointment. With the eye being completely covered there was no way of knowing what his vision was and despite people saying just take a peek, we didn't. The following morning Specialist No 1 called just after 8am to find out how Hubby was, I think he was very concerned. I spent the day catching up on the previous days housework and washing as well as everything Hubbs usually does. On Wednesday we were up and out early for his appointment, again with much trepidation because, if there was no improvement they were going to repeat Monday's procedure. Praise the Lord, there was a slight improvement - he could see the blob of his hand and light and dark, the Lab results had come back clear for virus/bacteria and they were still awaiting the results of cultures taken from the eye. Again much dilation of the pupil, which is apparently to stop the 'mucous plug' from adhering to the retina which would cause permanent damage, eventually when the Dr was satisfied that there was no adhesion we were allowed to go home, no eye patch except for when he is sleeping and, here's the fun part ...... we have to put two different types of drops in, alternately, every hour and then he must keep the eye closed for 3 mins. Do you know how quickly 57 minutes goes by ? 😂😂. I have put a timer on my phone and every hour it beeps us into action, I also figured a way of knowing which drops to use i.e. The cortisone are on the even number hours and the other are on odd number hours, such fun. On Thursday I had to go back into SW as Poppet and Co were expecting furniture deliveries at the new house, so we packed up garden chairs, a thermos, snacks, books, including Charlie and off we went around the mountain. Yaaay the deliveries were about half an hour apart and we were back home by 2.30. Through most of the week Jelly Bean was fighting a summer cold so spent a lot of the time at home alone. Friday was spent catching up on the entire weeks worth of housekeeping, washing and cooking up a big batch of my favorite Turkish Brinjal Bake. I had intended making it in Monday or Tuesday but that was not to be and I needed to cook those Brinjals before they went off. All the while Hubby has had to be fairly inactive, not his strong suite, but he really needed to take it easy and give his eye every chance of healing, he did however manage to cut the grass on Friday at the back of the house, thanks my love. Every day has brought a slight positive increase in his vision and yesterday for the first time he saw my hand coming to his eye with the drops whooo hoooo. To everyone family and friends who prayed and sent messages, thank you SO much for your love, prayers and care. God has truly been good and we are confident of full restoration of my Hubby's eyesight, today is another trip to SW to Specialist No 1 for a check up and I pray that will be the only one for the week. I will confess, over the weekend I did as little as possible in an effort to try and rest myself out of a nasty flare, not quite successful but we do life day by day. I have told the family that the next time I say I have no plans for the week, to throw something at me 😂, Hubby in his wisdom says in future I must say "currently there are no plans etc". Jelly Bean is also looking better and seems to have shaken the worst of it. Poor little Charlie is still struggling with his tummy, in fact since putting him onto the Hypoallergenic food, in my option he has been worse aaarrgghhhh. Yesterday I decided I am going to follow my gut instinct and boiled up some chicken for him and I intend to keep him on that until I see some improvement, one would think he has an entire orchestra in his tummy with all the noise it makes when he feels unwell. It has been so crazy that two weeks ago when Charlie was at the Vet, I bought tablets for him for motion sickness, despite emptying every drawer, handbag, packet etc and could not find them. So, on the way between Dr's appointments I literally phoned ahead and asked the wonderful Nurse if she could get a box ready for me as I was pushing time limits. As I walked in she held up her hand, passed the tablets over the people she was talking to and said "EFT me when you get home." Now that is service. Two days later, in the middle of the night I woke up and knew exactly where the first lot of tablets were - in Charlie's backpack 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣🤣 In amidst all the turmoil and driving back and forth last week, yesterday I eventually managed to finish the only quilt square that I started last Sunday, so yay for that hahaha. The positive highlight was when Big Guy sent through confirmation of his flight to Cape Town in December for Christmas, I am so excited I could explode. Can't wait to have everybody all together at once, I just wish Miss Muffett and her crew could join us. Well folks, as quick as this was to read, that's how last week feels in retrospect - it was a flash of traveling, sitting in Dr's rooms, complete exhaustion and being reminded of every hour as it passes. I wish YOU all a wonderful week, may it bring blessings and good health. Thank you for being part of my life and for your words of encouragement to each weeks Blog, you have no idea how precious they are to me. Be safe and stay well Ciao Ciao

Charlie helping with the housework.

My Life's Winding Roads: WHOOSH !

My Life's Winding Roads: WHOOSH !: Wow, it's Monday again where did the week go ? Hi everyone I hope you are all staying well and healthy? Just like that, in the blink o...

WHOOSH !

Wow, it's Monday again where did the week go ? Hi everyone I hope you are all staying well and healthy? Just like that, in the blink of an eye, the week just disappeared ........ whooosh !! I know that some of you think my life is very busy and, yes I agree it can be, last week however, takes the cake, even by my standards. First off let me say this - I had not really put much thought into why things are always so busy, but on Saturday whilst chatting with the family I could finally verbalize what I do. In short I set myself daily / weekly goals that either 'have' to be done or 'I want' to get done. On the former I really don't have much of a choice - all that goes into keeping a home and it's occupants clean, baking rusks, washing curtains etc. The latter consists of things that are not crucial for the week, they need to be done but it wouldn't be a huge train smash if they wait until next week - that darn bathroom wall, me making something just because I want to etc. Until chatting on Saturday this is just what I did but, whilst we spoke I realized that I set myself these goals because of one fundamental reason, I refuse to allow Fibromyalgia to define who I am. Many people with Fibro can easily find themselves all but bed ridden because of the exhaustion /pain etc, it is easier to stay in bed and try and sleep through the exhaustion and so on. Firstly just because of who I am that is not an option, secondly I get too sore lying in bed 😂, so my way of thumbing my nose at the condition, sometimes to my detriment, is to try and do what I would normally do. Does that make sense ? Anyway all that aside, last week was BUSY, but also SO good. On Monday we snuck in another visit with our friends who were visiting the Cape, we took them to Pringle Bay and had a wonderful time sitting in the sun having afternoon tea before saying a very emotional goodbye, it still feels strange knowing I won't see them for a while. On Tuesday Hubby dearest had his eye check up and I caught up with personal, domestic chores and baking. Wednesday I got a bee in my bonnet and hauled out the spare set of slipcovers for our two couches and dId the switch around, goood GRIEF it was hard work. We did everything but even before we got them all on and I knew it was not going to 'work' 🤷🏻‍♀️ but, it gave me the opportunity I've been needing to wash the white covers - eight cushion covers and two of the 'whole chair' covers which I eventually did on Friday - SIX loads in my big, top loader washing machine. Thursday was up early and into Somerset West for the second cataract procedure, this time Jelly Bean and Charlie stayed at home. The procedure when fantastically well and apart from the weather being 35c all was good. After leaving the Specialist I had to meet the agent to get the keys for Poppet's house, do a check through list with the agent as well as take delivery of some furniture that was being delivered. 😂 It all happened at the same time and we drove through the Estate in a convoy with the truck bringing up the rear. While Hubby supervised the unloading of the truck we got busy doing the handover of the house, which is absolutely gorgeous, so much so that before we left I did a video walk throughout for them from side to side. We arrived home to slightly cooler weather and then heard all about Charlie and how he behaves when I leave. Oh dear 🤦🏻‍♀️, my poor Jelly Bean really had her hands full - apart from crying and being very sad the entire time, he jumped on the coffee table (never been up there before) threw his head back, closed his eyes and howled, three times this was done. My little doggie really does love me. Friday was WASH day and then some and finally on Saturday we refitted all the white slipcovers and bathed the dogs before, Big Bear drove through after lunch and spent the day with us, we had a wonderful braai and watched three episodes of Catching the Sun, a local series about South African Rugby - it is excellent. We chatted, laughed, exchanged news, caught up with our lives and generally filled up our emotional tanks, it was soooo good to have family time. He slept over and left early on Sunday morning as he did a five km run in Grabouw. Sadly we didn't see Baby Bear because she was up in Bloemfontein visiting her mom, so counting the days until our next visit in two weeks. Yesterday I did precisely nothing and actually have nothing planned on my list for this week beyond some recovery time and hopefully cooking a few good meals. In all this Hubby's procedures have been a wonderful success, his world is a much brighter place now and, he still managed to build the first of the three furniture items for Poppet and Princess and we managed to get two Lap Stands ready for 📦 👍🏻 Hehe. Now, THAT my friends I will admit was a very busy week. I saw a post on FaceBook listing the Ten Things About Rerirement, in that number was .. 'Never having enough time to do everything', very true words. On that note folks, I am signing off and heading towards my Embroidery and my book, we will see how this works LOL. I pray each and every one of you has a good week, may your time be multiplied, may God give you wisdom for every situation you face, may you stay well and be filled with peace from His Throne Room. Ciao ciao. Max and Zeepha basking in the sun

My Life's Winding Roads: To friendship

My Life's Winding Roads: To friendship: Good morning everyone from a very damp Bettys Bay, just when I thought winter had moved on and forgotten is, she visited with a vengeance on...

To friendship

Good morning everyone from a very damp Bettys Bay, just when I thought winter had moved on and forgotten is, she visited with a vengeance on Friday and we had three very cold, windy and wet days, yaaaay. Every drop of water is precious and always needed. Wow, what a week we had with all sorts of surprises and excitement. On Monday I spoke to a very dear friend of mine and got very suspicious that a visit was imminent, I even said as much to Hubby and Jelly Bean, on Tuesday I received another call which confirmed my suspicions, they were heree in the Cape and we set up an appointment for Friday. One way to make a week go fast LOL. As usual I was busy within the house with all the usual things that seem to keep needing attention, whilst Hubby dearest got down and started on the first of the furniture items for Poppet and Princess. On Thursday we were off bight and early for his Cataract Procedure and had decided to combine the trip with a visit for Charlie to the Vet. Hubby's procedure went really well and was over very quickly, it would appear that it has been a great success as he is seeing well without his glasses and will be going back for a check up tomorrow and then possibly the other eye will be done on Thursday. I can only thank God for sending us to such an incredible Eye Surgeon, he is the same one who rectified my 'botched' procedure in 2018, there is literally no one else I would trust with our eyes. Charlie's visit to the Vet went well although I cannot at this stage say it was successful. He managed to travel all the way into town without being sick, holding on until the moment I opened the car door and then goodbye breakfast. The Vet has given me a stronger motion sickness medication and she feels that his tummy problems and itchy feet are due to allergies, to that end she changed his food to Hypoallergenic and so far we are not seeing a very happy pup. He has had an upset tummy since Friday and I am going to call in a little later to discuss it further with her. On Friday we had planned on going into Hermanus with our friends but Mother Nature had other ideas and opened heavens windows, making our part of the world incredibly wet and cold. As it usually happens when you have a few years to catch up on, time ran away from us and it was almost 1.30 before we thought about food, after a quick show of hands we decided to get in some take-away and just enjoy our time together. Oh how full my heart was - 31 years of friendship through thick and thin and we never stopped talking for a minute. That is one of the things that never cease to amaze me - when you don't see someone for years and yet getting together is the same as if you saw each other the day before, true friendship is precious beyond measure and one of life's biggest blessings. I have to say here M, my beautiful friend you have fought and won the battle for your life this year and have done it with such dignity and grace, your sense of humor never left and your faith and positivity are an example to all who know you. As for your amazing Hubby, he is without a doubt God's most precious gift to you. You guys are a shining example of a God centered marriage and sacrificial love. Thank you for taking time out of your special holiday to be with us it was a visit of immeasurable blessing and encouragement. On Saturday we 'dashed' into Hermanus for some essential shopping and the rest of the weekend was a lot slower paced hehe. As for the family, everyone is doing well and things are getting busy all around as this year starts drawing in to a close. Our traditional family Secret Santa draw happened and the subsequent list is published and we can now get on with the business end of Christmas nice and early. The girls and the Bears are all busy packing and making arrangements for their respective moves. Princess is writing year end exams and Big Guy is pushing hard with work, also to bring this year to a close. Miss Muffett and her 'guys' were lucky to have a few days break down in Cornwall before getting back home in time for the 'hard lockdown' in the U.K. I have to say this about all our children and extended family, you guys are amazing to watch as you take life's hurdles in your stride and keep pushing towards the finish line. We could not be prouder of each one of you...... whoop whoop. My next count down is to this weekend when Big Bear will be coming over for Sunday lunch and then the end of the month when Poppet has to fly down for business over the weekend and we will see her, Princess and the Bears on the Sunday before thy fly home for their last two weeks in Pretoria. Next is my BIG prayer that my precious eldest can get some time off over Christmas and to just have the whole family all together in one place to celebrate family and the end of this incredibly difficult and confusing year. Well folks, a busy week behind and a semi busy week ahead. With the seeming rise in CoVid cases in many places please don't drop your guard, if anything be as consistent as ever with wearing your mask, social distancing, sanitizing etc. We all want to be with those we love this Christmas so let's do our bit to make that happen, be safe. Ciao Ciao. Charlie watching me getting ready to go out.

My Life's Winding Roads: Cataracts, dogs, jam and cat caves

My Life's Winding Roads: Cataracts, dogs, jam and cat caves: Wow ....... it is November and we are nearing the end of this crazy, historical year. I saw a meme the other day which said "I am sta...

Cataracts, dogs, jam and cat caves

Wow ....... it is November and we are nearing the end of this crazy, historical year. I saw a meme the other day which said "I am staying up on New Years Eve, not to see in 2021, but to make sure 2020 is well and truly finished," I am sure there are many of us who feel the same way. I have seen good years and terrible years but never a year as upside down and topsy turvy as this year. Good morning everyone, I pray that for all of us the following months will bring good health, provision and protection in every area pertaining to our lives and families. As we face a brand new week, I am optimistic that it will be kind. Last week as I predicted was incredibly busy with trips to Hermanus, Somerset West, here there and everywhere. Quite exhausting to be honest but much was accomplished. Hubby dearest had an appointment with the Eye Specialist as his latest eye exam showed that he has cataracts, so off we trotted and met with the same Dr who finally fixed my eyes. He will go in again on Thrursday where they will remove the worst cataract under a local anaesthetic and when he goes for the post op check up the Dr will decide if and when the second one will be removed. Hubby also removed and sold the railing from the deck and we are now seeing more and more what it is going to look like as he is working on the front wall below the sliding windows and which will be the back of the benches, look out for lots of pics to come. With such a busy week and Charlie 🐩 battling with nausea when driving he stayed home on all our trips out, he gets so upset when I leave him at home that I feel like an absolute heel. Somehow he senses what is about to happen, even going as far as jumping onto my lap while I am trying to put my make up on, that added to his once a week 'fast' and very bad eczema on his feet he is on the diary for a trip to the Vet, either this week if there is a cancellation or next week. I must add here that coming home I get THE most amazing greetings, he jumps on me and will literally try and lick me skinless, he gets beyond himself with excitement - it's a nice way to come home hehe. The family are all doing well, I should be collecting the keys to the girl's new house this week, which is exciting as that means we can go in and have a look. We also have become a storage centre for items they have had to purchase i.e., school uniforms, text books etc, not long now and they will be here. Prayers are with all the school children who start writing their exams this week, I take my hat off to them all for having persevered with their work and studying under such extremely difficult circumstances. One of my pesonal deepest prayers and wishes is that somehow Big Guy will be able to get down here for Christmas, this is the longest time that I have not seen one of my kids. On a totally different note, on Saturday I undertook two creations which were interesting to say the very least. First I decided to make Gooseberry jam as we now have a supplier of all sorts of frozen berries and fruit. I found the recipe which called for sugar and gooseberries only and got to work. I usually make my jams in the Bread Machine but after the allotted time it was just berries floating on a very sweet syrup. Undeterred I transferred everything to a pot on the stove and set it to a slow simmer, some of you can guess where this is going 😀, I diligently stirred and kept an eye on it for hours. In the wink of an eye, a trip to the bathroom and I came back and my precious jam was all but toffee...... arrrggghhhh. It had not burnt but was perilously close and so thick that I could have made gooseberry toffee apples, I bottled it and mulled it over mentally all night. Yesterday I microwaved the almost solid block of gooseberry toffee for 30 seconds to soften it before putting it back into a pot and adding a little boiling water, I stood over that stupid pot not taking my eyes off it and continually stirring until at LAST I had jam, eureka! Things to know going forward - get a jam thermometer and don't go to the bathroom when there is jam on the stove 😂😂. Secondly I decided that seeing as Zeepha likes cardboard boxes so much I was going to make her a cat cave, I made one about five years ago and neither Gemma or Kiko were interested in it. We tend to have a variety of cardboard boxes constantly adorning our home as she takes occupancy of them as they come in, not always waiting for them to be emptied, and uses them as a 'no go area' when playtime gets too rough or she's trying to hide from something. Well this exercise was most interesting if not downright awkward - I cut the flaps off the box and then took an old T-shirt and stretched it over the box using the neck as an entrance. This means then that I had to sew up the sleeves etc to make it look neat and presentable, the problem started the moment I picked up the box - there was Madam just waiting to see what was going to happen. For the entire time is was working with her cave, on my lap, she was inside and trying to assist or direct my hands to where she thought they should be, the outcome is one very happy Zeepha, one cool cat cave and one very sore pinkie finger where she nailed me under the cuticle hahaha. Jasper got very confused yesterday when he was chasing her and she just seemingly vanished until, he walked past and she shot out her paw and whacked him, he leapt about 8 inches off the ground 🤣. Well folks that's all for this week, a bit of rambling, a catch up and some giggles which was our week. Please look after yourselves, stay safe and healthy and have a superb week. With love from Betty's Bay Ciao Ciao. Zeepha inspecting her cave

A fresh bright week

Good morning friends and family on a very busy Monday morning in our house. Apart from all the normal Monday household activities, I had to get all THREE dogs to the grooming parlour by 8.30, sheeesh great fun. I had decided to change groomers as there is now a local lady who has a mobile grooming setup, silly me. I contacted her last week and she is fully booked for the next six weeks???? So, I had to make a quick decision, I quickly booked them in for Christmas 😁 , then made an appointment for today with their current groomer with some very specific instructions, she has recently taken over the shop and not quite as good as the previous owner. Boooom and that's how my week has started - it is already busy right up to Friday and My brain has barely registered that it is Monday. Given all the activity above and to come this week, I am just grateful that it is a new week and last week is well and truly finished. It was not the best week by any stretch of the imagination for a variety of reasons, despite that statement I actually managed to get quite a lot done (nope, not the bathroom wall 😭). I successfully, completely re-fashioned two outfits, one an old pure cotton nightie which I did a makeover on, secondly and the most exciting was a pair of jeans. There is a story (isn't there always?) I bought these Soviet jeans about 2 years ago at a charity shop for R15, they were too small, there is always that secret hope that some diet will magically gobble up all the excess weight but, they are extremely soft, lightweight, long, faded and have a slight stretch, just perfect. There they sat all this time until. ....... I cut them right up the outer seam from hem to waistband (I would NEVER do that to a pair of jeans I had paid a proper price for LOL). The previous week when Jelly Bean and I had our girls day I bought some super 'almost' granny print cotton material, I then proceeded to insert a panel on the outside of each leg. It got a wee big complicated at the waist band but I had figured it out ahead of time 💡and inserted a plain piece of denim looking material at the top of the panel. VOILA it worked fantastically and I now have a stunning pair of super comfy denim jeans that hark right back to the mid 70's which has always been by favourite style era. Next, to tackle the rest of the pile of clothes awaiting transformation and wearing. All this activity plus a number of other factors left me about as sore and low as I have been in many years, definitely not my best moments. Poppet just happened to call me during this time and we had a long chat, she is a very wise lady my daughter. Long story short, I am feeling much better and have realized that I'm not superwoman, much as I would like to be. Let me say this here - having a chronic health condition, whoever you are and whatever the condition, is extremely frustrating. In addition to dealing with the pain and various symptoms, there are dozens of things one wants to do /used to do /need to do but one is limited for various reasons, not only is this frustrating but it is confusing for those around you because you do not necessarily look ill. I am encompasing many different conditions and illnesses here i.e., Diabetes, Anxiety, Fibromyalgia, Mood Disorders, Epilepsy, Chrohns Disease, just off the top of my head. You look normal, mentally feel like you always have and yet are limited in certain areas. As I explained to my precious Hubby while we were chatting about it and he said he understands that I don't like going out and I said no, on the contrary I love going out but depending on what the 'out' is sometimes it is just too much for me. I will cope fairly well whilst I am out but the moment I stop the the pain / fatigue /symptoms will hit me like a freight train. For example a shopping trip which takes all day and involves many stops will flatten me as opposed to going out for coffee or a walk on the beach or a quick shopping trip with one or two stops, I will be tired and sore but I can deal with it. The reason I share this today is twofold : A. I am not the only person with a debilitating, at times,chronic condition. B. If my Blog is to be about the twists and turns of my life then it means honesty regarding the ups and downs. I am sure that among you, the readers of my Blog, some of you may have different conditions and symptoms but we all struggle with the same feelings of inadequacy, failure, grief for the person you used to be, frustration, and so the list goes on. What I am learning is that even though I may feel it, I am not alone. To this end we are making small but significant changes to still lead a 'normal' and exciting life as we've always wanted to do. On Saturday there was a Family Spring Day in Pringle Bay and at the last minute the three of us decided to go and investigate, there was not much different to a normal Saturday market day with various stalls selling the usual books, clothes, food etc. it was beyond busy, Jelly Bean actually asked "where do ALL these people come from?" After a quick browse during which Charlie came face to face with his first sheep 🐑 and was more than startled hehe, we took ourselves off for a superb cup of coffee/tea at our favourite Coffee Shop, bought a few odds and ends for the grocery cupboard and came home. Hubby and I then proceeded to wash down the deck, oh my goodness it was a big job but I actually had so much fun. I washed with the hose and he swept with a big broom. There is something very soothing and satisfying in washing dirt across and off a surface, then I discovered that if the hose was set hard and sharp I could wash away even the moss and algae growth left from winter. I probably used way more water than I should have but our deck is looking wonderful. Hubby put an ad on Facebook for the galvanized railing that went around the deck and within minutes someone contacted him and arranged to collect yesterday, which they did. Now we can really begin to see the difference and visualize how it is going to look when finished. He also has an order for three furniture items for Poppet and family which will begin this week. So folks, that is my news in a very small nutshell. I would like to thank you for your continued support and readership of this Blog. IF by sharing events, twists and turns from my life I can reach or help someone else, then the purpose of writing My Life's Winding Roads is worth it. particularly after what this year has thrown at us, should any of you feel down or in any way overwhelmed, please feel free to message me in the comments section and I will do my best to listen to you and share any tips that I have found to be helpful. I bid you all a wonderful week, please stay well, continue to take all precautions to protect yourselves against Corona and stay safe. Ciao Ciao. 

The sea yesterday morning.

My 70'Jeans. 

My Life's Winding Roads: To busy !!

My Life's Winding Roads: To busy !!: Good morning all you wonderful people, I saw a post somewhere this past week that there were only ten weekends to Christmas, I admit to a mo...

To busy !!

Good morning all you wonderful people, I saw a post somewhere this past week that there were only ten weekends to Christmas, I admit to a moment of fleeting panic as Christmas just hasn't been on the radar this year.  Normally by now we have most of the logistics worked out - October 2020 and so far nothing, that is SO not me.  I am going to have to get onto the situation quickly.

Wow, last week !!!! Was just jolly busy, I'm still trying to catch up.  On Monday the three of us went through to Hermanus as there were just a few odds and ends we needed to get, Charlie came with us and I dosed him with the natural anti nausea pills the one vet gave me.  Well, the shopping went well, quick and efficient, Charlie did well going in, but in the way home Hubby made a sharp stop then a turn and it was good bye breakfast, I'm so glad I planned for that eventuality, so now it's back to the drawing board on fighting his travel sickness.

Tuesday was a day of doing in the house, as most of you will have gathered, I am always on the look out for cleaning tips. I came across an article about Scrubbs Amonia and suddenly realized I had not had that in my house for decades.  Tuesday was a bit of an experimentation day and so far I can say 👍🏻 , it works like a shot.  I mixed amonia, bicarbonate and a little water to make a paste, put it on some mildew and about ten minutes later just rubbed a toothbrush gently over it and it removed all but the smallest amount.  Hopefully this week I can prove my theory on a bunch of different areas 😁.

Wednesday  Jelly Bean and I had planned a girls day out.  We went through to Somerset West, bought some fabric, meandered in a clothing store with her getting a couple of nice pieces for summer, went through one or two other stores which we never get to before going for lunch on the beachfront in Strand.  It did us both the world of good and is something we used to do regularly in Johannesburg, but have hardly done  here at all.  Needless to say it is going to become a regular thing despite the fact that I received a few calls from Hubby dearest telling me how much Charlie was missing me and whimpering 😪 he, Charlie not Hubby, almost licked me skinless when I got home hahaha. I think Hubby was fairly glad to have us back home as well.

The rest of the week was pretty much a right off for me but I still got most things done, although I have not yet gotten to the sewing or painting that bathroom wall.  The more I look around the more I see things that need doing 😱.

Hubby has been busy with some big clocks that came in, we had to send out a 'shipment' of Stands and he has now completed the proposed diagram for the first of the furniture items for Poppet, Sonshine and Princess.  We were talking over the weekend and have decided the best way for him to get things done is to divide his time up to some of each every day, I already do that and its the only way I cope.  

The weather has become a tad warmer but  mecifully still comfortable and on the cool side, I am already dreading the full onset of summer.  Yesterday with no wind and it being incredibly quiet and peaceful outside we had another little braai, I suddenly realized we had not bought 'braai breads' / roosterkoek - these are usually  either cheese or garlic/butter filled dough rolls that you cook on the fire.  I have done normal toasted cheese and tomato sandwiches on the fire before but decided to take a chance and try and make the original thing.  I made a dough, let it rise and not being totally sure how to 'fill' it, I rolled it out and cut it into six pieces which I filled and then folded over.  They were delicious apart from being a wee bit too big and could have cooked a little longer, now I am on a mission to perfect them hehe, so watch this space as I try different recipes and methods of filling.

The quilt is coming along steadily although there have been one or two days when I just did not have the oooompphh to do any work, it is usually my 'happy, peaceful time' and helps me relax.

Well folks, that's it - even I will admit this was a busy week ... yikes.  I am not planning on moving beyond the gate this week.  With all the ongoing effects of CoVid 19 and Lockdown so many people are struggling in so many ways, mentally and emotionally being one of the areas most affected.  As someone who has a family member who struggles depression and anxiety on a daily basis, I would like to encourage you to reach out to those you know who perhaps have gone 'quiet, maybe not as active on social media, keeping contact, going  out or any similar scenarios.  They don't need our advice,  what they DO need is our ears to listen without judgement, criticism, advice, suggestions, being told to 'get over it' or 'try doing exercise/getting out' etc.  If they could they would, trust me.  They just need your compassion to listen and let them know they are not alone and there is always someone who will listen and care.  It is time to look beyond the automatic smile and the 'I'm fine' and look a little deeper.  Please I am asking each of you, my readers to look around those you have contact with and be 'THAT' person they can talk to and turn to.

Have a fantastic week folks, stay safe and stay healthy.  Ciao ciao.

P.S.  A giggle for you - weeks ago in my vegetable farm box we received a basil, parsley and spring onion plant combo.   Like a good girl I planted all three.  The basil died 😢  but the other two are thriving. I have been chopping the 'spring onion' greens onto omelette, salads etc.  Just now I saw Jasper eating the greens ?????? So I took a closer look and it really registered that the leaves are flat and not tubular (I kind of noticed but didn't think about it before)  I asked Hubby to taste and it appears I'm growing, successfully, kikuyu grass 🤣🤣🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️.  Clearly I never got spring onions.  Tip kikuyu grass won't kill you if you eat it.

Our view at lunch on Wednesday.

Braai Breads

My Life's Winding Roads: Interesting times

My Life's Winding Roads: Interesting times: Hello all on this beautiful Monday morning, I hope everyone had a good weekend and you are all ready for the new week. We had an unusual wee...

Interesting times

Hello all on this beautiful Monday morning, I hope everyone had a good weekend and you are all ready for the new week. We had an unusual weekend - it didn't rain all the time😀. Saturday was cool and we have had a lot of wind but yesterday was a little warmer and eventually the wind died down, leaving a very quiet little Village with only the sound of birds and the sea to keep us company. Weather wise, we had a mild week, no major lows or highs just a comfortable temperature. As usual lots of things going on in and around the house, it just never ends. We have had a leaking sink plug hitch Hubby replaced only to discover yesterday that three of the pipes themselves were loose and also, leaking grrrr. We were without internet on Friday and after trying all the usual tricks we called our service provider who came out very quickly and changed a cable (which they had replaced only three weeks ago). The Technician said he would come back on Saturday morning and when he did it was to discover that the cable from the Antenna to the Wi-Fi Router was full of water, with all the rains and winds, the cable had somehow sucked in water like a straw and then it 'fritzed' the antenna's electronics. So, we now have a new, thicker cable AND a new smalle, but stronger dish/antenna, such fun🤦🏻‍♀️😬. Hubby has been quite busy as we received an order for a few more Embroidery Stands as well as two big Grandfather clocks which came in. Along with that there are also some furniture items on the agenda from Poppet and Princess for when they move down. Things have come together nicely for them with regard to their move and as far as I know, everything is now booked and ready to roll. I will be able to get their keys at the end of this month which will enable me to measure up for curtains where needed and also take delivery of anything that needs to be delivered. The rest of the family are all well and very busy from what I can tell, they were all fairly quiet last week. Last Monday for Hubbys birthday we took ourselves off for breakfast at a lovely little restaurant in Pringle Bay, so much atmosphere, fantastic food and really friendly hosts, thank you La Galleria for a lovely morning. From there we 'explored' a teeny bit by going down to the small beach in PB. It is small and secluded but an easy path to access it, there also has a lovely bench to sit on above the sand. Charlie eventually got his feet onto the beach and was more interested in all the new smells than actually venturing into the water, he really enjoyed his outing and is such a well behaved little boy when it comes to going out with me, we just need to conquer his travel sickness and then do longer trips. So far, on the short local trips he does well. Today he is going with us into Hermanus so here is holding thumbs (and taking a towel with hehe) This week is already looking busy, oh my !!! I'm still on my quest with the bedroom /bathroom make over, I haven't painted the wall yet but yesterday I got fed up with the floor so I grabbed my small steam machine, floor and tile cleaner, scrubbing brush and old toothbrush and got down to do some cleaning. Well ............. perhaps overdid it just a tad and I can't even say it looks that much better 😏, I did however discover a couple of new uses for the steam machine but was just too tired to get to them. Needless to say I have not put it very far away, it needs to be close to hand. I also did the winter / summer clothes switch over earlier on in the week which is just going to equal more work because I found a few items which could do with some re-purposing and experimentation, this I AM looking forward to doing. My quilting carries on unabated and I am already thinking of what I will make when the big quilt is finished. So folks, no dramas apart from anhialiating a small scorpion I found next to the bed, and no specific events as such. Just a lot of 'life' and all that it entails. We did have a wonderful, surprise visit from friends yesterday afternoon who popped in for coffee, what a joy and just lovely to visit. I wish you all a wonderful week ahead, please stay masked, stay well and stay safe. Please don't get complacent with your CoVid procedures. Ciao ciao. Pringle Bay.

My Life's Winding Roads: The Wind Huffed and it Puffed

My Life's Winding Roads: The Wind Huffed and it Puffed: Good morning everyone from beautiful Bettys Bay. Since yesterday it looks like we might just be approaching spring, that is certainly no g...

The Wind Huffed and it Puffed

Good morning everyone from beautiful Bettys Bay. Since yesterday it looks like we might just be approaching spring, that is certainly no guarantee but a possibility. Here we have three or four days a week of having the fire going all day and then a couple of days of sunny, wind free, mild weather so it's a 50/50 situation right now. Praise the Lord our dams are now full as we have had the most wonderful rains. This past week saw some extremely hectic winds in Cape Town itself, many trees uprooted and blocking roadways, roofs blown off in the Strand etc, it was very windy here but no damage reported or possessions flying around. Well, so much for painting the section of wall in our bathroom - I did not even get near the paint tin much less prepare the wall tiles, it just was not on my capability/energy scale. I did however bake rusks (they just seem to vanish into thin air 🤷🏻‍♀️), I did some good cooking and even made a ciabatta bread for the first time this year, yes I know that is shocking given that I used to make one or two a week. We had an odd week with a lot of catching up on chores regarding house maintenance, I did a nice amount of embroidery, sent out some letters to hopefully new distributors, learnt how to 'more or less' use Sheets which is the Google version of Excel. Thank you Poppet for taking time out of your very busy month end to show me what to do and set up the formulas, at least now we can keep an up to date record of what wood/screws etc we have and when we are running low. It is amazing how much time Admin takes up, I had forgotten. For the first time I noticed a very significant reaction with regard to Fibromyalgia and the change in weather. We went from hot and sunny to freezing cold and wet overnight and my body was not impressed, it pushed me into a flare which I'm not quite out of hence no painting. Yesterday just doing my embroidery was too much for my arms, beyond annoying is what it is. We have also come to the end of birthdays for the year, Poppet celebrated her birthday on Saturday and I truly pray this is the last one we cannot celebrate with her. Hubby dearest celebrates his 71st today and is exactly 30 yrs and 2 days older than Poppet. His celebration of choice for today was to go out for a nice breakfast which is what we will be doing. By this time next month we will have the keys for Poppet and Princess' beautiful new home down here prior to their big move. They have been very blessed to find a home within spitting distance of Princess' new school, it is an Estate within a secure Estate and utterly gorgeous. The Bears have bought their first 'home' which is equally beautiful and very 'them', a loft apartment in Gardens, Cape Town, in a much quieter more peaceful area, the only downside is the beach and promenade are not just a three minute walk away. So much change wherever I look, but change for the good. I have to give a 'hats off to Big Guy' here as well, he started a brand new job in a totally different field in January and although things have been incredibly rough and uphill with CoVid 19 and the lockdown he has, through sheer grit, prayer and determination, continued to work really hard, storing up contracts for as and when Lockdown levels drop and is doing very well. To all of our children, and grand children, we admire your work ethic, and the people you are, We could not be prouder. Well folks that brings me to the end of today's Blog, I wish you a wonderful week. Climb those mountains, fight the battles and enjoy the victories. Stay safe and say well. Ciao ciao Charlie looking to share my food.

My completed quilt squares to date.

My Life's Winding Roads: Always interesting!

My Life's Winding Roads: Always interesting!: Good morning one and all, can you believe we are in the last week of September? Good grief it has been a long year and yet in some ways it...

Always interesting!

Good morning one and all, can you believe we are in the last week of September? Good grief it has been a long year and yet in some ways it still feels like April. I am going through a case of the 'missing my family' - it feels like a decade since I last saw Big Guy, Poppet and Princess, I can only thank the Lord that we have been able to see the 'Bears' or I might literally have exploded. We were also scheduled to see Miss Muffet and her family in August which was also cancelled, it is just as well that our lives are beyond busy. Speaking of which we had a pretty good week, both Hubby and I managed to catch up on a lot of small chores and repairs in and around the house that have been filling up the blackboard for ages, clearing the backlog so to speak which is a very nice feeling. We are going into this week feeling a bit freer and it is my intention to contact some more possible retailers about our Stands as well as sending out pics of the Big Stand to our existing customers. I even managed to find someone who made us a gorgeous Dragonfly stamp which we will then put onto every stand - woohooo. We had the 'Happy Hackers' back on Wednesday and they finished cutting down all the alien growth on the plot next to us. Where once I was a bit sad about all the greenery being gone, now we can see the little vlei which has developed there the view now is beyond special. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago about how I could hear the geese splashing in the water next door, well now I can actually see them if I'm outside or standing at the kitchen window (see the video below). What a treat to see them and hear all the frogs etc, in fact the house directly behind the vlei even had their chairs out there last week, sheer bliss. We seem to have a pattern with the weather at the moment which is, lovely balmy days, cold nights and wet weekends. I can handle anything but the heat. After some really wonderful days a couple of cold fronts started rolling in on Friday and yesterday was clear and sunny but still cool which, given there is snow on some of the mountains again is to be expected. Last week one of Hubby's watch clients brought in some bracelets which needed fixing and a calculator which needed a new battery. Whilst talking she saw Charlie and mentioned that she had seen him and Sasha running down the road on the Friday before. On that day we were out in Hermanus sending off stands and now I know what that little rascal does when I go out. He finds a weak spot in the fence and chews a hole which then enables him to run off looking for Mom. The moment I pick him up prior to opening and closing the gate he starts crying and whimpering 😭. How to feel like a bad pet parent, all I can be grateful for is that he at least came back. Once again, Hubby has done further fence repairs and I had a metal tag made for Charlie's collar with his name and my number on it, he is chipped as well, but the disc is very visible 🤦🏻‍♀️🐩. While I am on the pet topic - one of last week's tasks was cutting the grass which was very long. Our neighbour had asked us to keep the cuttings for him to use as mulch, so Hubby had all the bags lined up along the fence and someone/something had torn one open (perhaps a mongoose? Haha ) obviously Sasha and Charlie just had to get into them, it was very wet when he went out first thing in the morning and when he is let back in his first thing is to take a flying leap onto me in bed. Well ..... he leapt and as he landed, in those split seconds I saw what a state he was in and managed to catch him with one hand and hold him off the bedding. We had to get a towel to dry him off and clean him as he was covered in grass and weeds and anything else that once was growing, he was more green than white oh my, he brings so much joy and laughter and really does keep me on my toes. On Saturday the jewellary was collected and paid for and Hubby dearest left a R100 not on the kist, a little while later we watched as Charlie stood up on his hind feet to investigate, grabbed the note and was on his way to the couch which is his storage place for all things precious. We managed to rescue the R100 before any damage was done haha. A wee bit of extra news which has been all over social media is that there was an earthquake of approximately 6.2 happened 1600m off the Cape coast on Saturday evening which thankfully did not cause any damage, but was felt in all of Cape Towns northern suburbs as far afield as Malmsbury. Apparently there was a very small quake later on, along with the after shock tremors, we never felt a thing 😬, but all of yesterday were kept apprised of the situation and also to expect lower tides than normal, I would have thought they would be higher but then what do I know 😀. For the rest everyone is well, the girls' application on their absolutely gorgeous new home rental was approved and the removal truck booked so it's a go on all fronts for their big 'trek'. Big Guy has been super busy with site visits and working hard and the Bears are well and as always busy, busy, busy. Folks that is it from my side, I am going to keep an eye on the geese 😍, keep on quilting (about to finish square number 21), marketing our stands AND I want to paint over some slate looking tiles in our bathroom as another step in my 'bedroom makeover' - it should be fun. Have a truly wonderful week folks, please stay safe and keep wearing your masks. With love from all in BB Ciao Ciao. Our little vlei next door - please put your sound up to hear all the frogs in chorus.