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