A week to remember.

Wow, good morning folks so much has happened between last week's Blog and today. As most of you know large areas of South Africa in particular Gauteng and Natal were besieged by rioters and looting on a horrific scale, Praise the Lord that in the Western Cape there has been not one incidence and I truly believe it is due to the fact that our Province is ruled by a different political party. In general it was a week of terror, shortages, destruction and fear BUT the one thing that I tried to focus on whilst reading and seeing all the photographs and videos was how this has pulled our country together like few other times in my living memory. Within one day entire communities of every race rallied together to clean up and bring order. People arrived on streets, at Malls, Warehouses and basically any area that had been burnt and vandalized, with brooms, black bags, gloves and got busy working side by side, young and old, completely cleaning and clearing all debris with the exception of not being able to repair glass doors or restock shelves. The rest of the country rallied on an magnificent level sending in trucks, big airlines, small planes all carrying food and necessities, babies products and everything else needed for people to begin the challenge of starting over. One of the most surprising things was how the taxi industry became involved in bringing order and helping the residents, Community Policing Forums, Neighbourhood Watches and the police maintain peace and protect shopping areas, suburbs etc. The Taxi industry in our country are notorious and generally feared by all so this has been an incredible sight and also done a lot towards people's mindset towa do them. People posted easy quick recipes on how to make bread, milk was transported in, people set up kitchens where in one instance they had 25 enormous black Poitjie pots making stamp and hot food and in another volunteers were gathered and learnt how to make Roti's (an Indian flatbread) which they were supplying one hospital, an old age centre and children's home with, they were making upward of 500 Rotis per day. I am so very proud of this country because we may get knocked down, bowled over BUT we always rise up and come back with a vengeance stronger, wiser and more united than before. I would like to believe that this past week can and will be a turning point for South Africa. On the home front all has been quiet, challenging in the sense of not allowing fear to gain a foothold, for some members of the family it was very difficult but in true family style each one of us is feeling better. I had asked for and we were organizing a family lunch for yesterday and it was the best timing, we had a fabulous day where everyone was relaxed and the food beyond compare. Thank you Poppet for hosting the crowd yet again and to everyone else to contributed in every way, food, jokes, laughter, hair styling ....... in general a truly well needed and thoroughly enjoyable day. For me the only downside was not having Big Guy, J, and C there with us. I give God unending thanks for blessing me with such an incredible family. There are a couple of private challenges being faced which I will soon share with you all, in general we are all good and standing strong. We have been on the search for months for doors for our deck and yesterday on our way to Poppet's house we stopped in at a 2nd hand building supply and the perfect pair were sitting there jus waiting for us. As they need some beautifying we were even given a discount, and drove home with our long awaited doors and frame tied to the roof of the car. Now we can close up the deck completely, quite a bit of work, but the end is in sight, I am so excited and yes, I admit I am kind of pushing Hubby now to get it done. In all the drama and hoo haa last week we had the most amazing three day visit with Princess, it was so special and just what I for one needed. We had two cold fronts roll through with huge winds and loads of rain, even leaving light snow on the mountains behind Somerset West. Right now I am busy rushing two loads of washing as the next two huge cold fronts make landfall tonight/tomorrow bringing rain, wind and more snow whoop, whoop. Well folks I am signing off for now, today I am taking the day to rest once all the chores are done. I wish you all a really good week, please stay safe and well. Ciao ciao 

Two pics taken yesterday.