My Life's Winding Roads: December has arrived

My Life's Winding Roads: December has arrived:   Wow, good morning family and friends - December snuck up on us and here we are.  Everything about this year has felt off kilter, the month...

December has arrived

 Wow, good morning family and friends - December snuck up on us and here we are.  Everything about this year has felt off kilter, the months seem to fly by and in the Cape our weather has been all upside down.  After a 'dry' winter by comparison to most we have already had our first heat wave (last week).  This kind of weather usually only comes through in February, it was most uncomfortable to say the least.

Well a quiet month socially but extremely busy here at home and also with trips to town for a variety of reasons.  Folks we did it ... we finished off the deck (see pic).  After having someone come in to lay the floor tiles I volunteered to do all the grouting, 30 sq m.  Perhaps I misjudged the amount of work in comparison to my strength and energy levels but, I did it and am very proud of the little bit of sweat equity I added to the project (and sweat I did haha).  After a couple of false starts in finding a comfortable position to work in, one of which was a foot pouffe which we aren't using and I thought might work to sit on.  Hubby brought it through covered in a black plastic bag, put it down and I sat down.  Then in the same movement slid right off the back of it with legs in the air 😂😂, I clearly never thought that one through and how we all laughed.  Anyway, eventually I sat on a low camping stool and I think for the most part did a good job of working and pacing myself. Until I got to the last bit.  I should have done it over two days but had reached a point physically where I just knew the tank was empty and there was no way I could do another day. So, I just knuckled down and did the whole section at once.  Then I could rest and recover.  Since then there has been a lot of resting all the while doing smaller things in between.  Hubby has gone off today to buy the wood for the benches seating and storage whoop whoop. He can truly
be extremely proud of himself for what he has built, well done and thank you my love.
I also started my Diamond Dot Art Painting I may have mentioned this last month.  It is totally addictive and such a calming hobby.  I am just under half way with it and am already planning my next one - such fun.

The family are all well, it has been an incredibly challenging year for all four of the 'kids' work wise but we are standing on God's promises and trusting Him for doors to open.  Princess has officially finished school, that also seems to have just come out of nowhere.  She is currently up country on holiday and having a well deserved rest. 
Within the family we have finally got Christmas planned and will all be gathering at the Bandy Clan's House on Christmas Day. Sadly Big Guy is not able to join us this year and there is going to be a very empty place at home and on Christmas Day 🥺.  Miss you son.

Folks that is about it from me as I look back on the year and see how God has sustained and carried us.  He has never once failed and is always faithful.  As you each head into this season whether you will be going away, staying at home, having a quiet Christmas or a busy one i would like to encourage you to look back on this year concentrating on the blessings and positives. We made it through 2022, we are still here wiser and stronger .  Please be safe on the roads wherever you may go and remember that a kind word or gesture can totally turn someone's day around.
Have a blessed Christmas all.  Ciao ciao.

Ta da - our gorgeous deck.

Before, when we bought our house 

My Life's Winding Roads: And I thought September was busy...

My Life's Winding Roads: And I thought September was busy...:   Good morning friends and family, it feels like an age since I last 'spoke' to you all. So much happened in October that I am not e...

And I thought September was busy...

 Good morning friends and family, it feels like an age since I last 'spoke' to you all. So much happened in October that I am not even quite sure where to start.  Good grief my head spins just trying to recall everything.  I actually thought of doing a mid month Blog just to keep up but then life accelerated and, obviously I never got there.

The family are all well ... Hmm maybe not jumping around like spring chickens as both Big Guy and Big Bear hurt their backs and are still not quite 100%. There has been severe flu, tummy bugs etc but, as I type this we are all  well.  Princess had an extremely busy month with her Valedictorian Assembly, which we were very blessed to be invited to.  School has changed so much since I was there and even my kids.  Being a small class it was very personal and very touching, watching their traditions.  One of the cutest of which is the Grade 1's hand over a white rose to every Matric student.  The new generation saying goodbye to the old.  Afterwards the guests were able to mingle with the students and teachers before the Matric class walked through a Guard of Honour made up of students, teachers, parents and guests.  The following week she had her final year Art Exhibition, oh my word the exhibits were incredible. Each one with a written narrative of their chosen piece.  Princess' was truly exceptional in the thought and meaning behind it and the execution.  She has SO much talent just oozing out of her, well done my angel it is such a privilege to see your work and get a glimpse into your soul, we are SO proud of you.  The week following the above they started with their final exams 🙏🤗

The Bears have managed to organise their upcoming move after the successful sale of their apartment and will be moving in December. Poppet has barely had time to lift her head with work and all the extras at school. Big Guy, apart from his sore back, is also head down and working all hours just to keep up.  Actually all of them including partners are finding they do not have enough hours in the day, it is a crazy world.  For birthday Sunday  we all met at a lovely restaurant out on the Stellenbosch road for a celebratory brunch.  Such a gorgeous place and the food and company were excellent.  

We met with my Sister-in-law, her son and his wife for an incredible afternoon of catch up at Benguela Cove, Hermanus, which was long overdue.  Oh my it was so good to see them,  exchange stories, laugh and hug each other.  It truly was a day to remember and we are still talking about it.  The restaurant is on a very snazzy wine farm, right on the lagoon which gives their wines a somewhat different taste, growing so close to the sea. There are many statues as well as an art gallery.  A lot of the works displayed were at times breath taking.

We also had a wonderful visit with ex neighbours of ours from Johannesburg. They are both older than us and it was truly special, it felt like Mom and Pop had come to visit.  The men never stopped talking but, then again neither did us girls.

In between all this our 'normal' life continued, we have had the deck painted and tiled, it is looking amazing and I am so  excited to see it finally coming together.  This past week Hubby and I started with grouting the tiles - I was possibly, just maybe, a little too excited and overdid things grrrr. I do so wish my body would keep up with my mind and work ethic haha.  Hubby also worked hard and so now we have decided this week we will work together, I will grout and he will come behind to wipe and clean the tiles. Doing it this way should be a lot quicker and as soon as that is done I will share a picture.  It will just need the benches, cushions and blinds to be done.

I managed to successfully lengthen the jersey that I mentioned last month and my client was delighted 👏.  I also eventually started and finished the wooden unit which has been waiting for almost two years. It now has place of honour in the lounge and I feel like an addict in the sense that I immediately started looking for the next thing to paint, it was so much fun.  As I stand now there are three vintage suitcases, two antique magazine racks, a small candle hurricane lantern, a metal cross with a rose on it and a small table.

It is so nice to have caught up on all the backlog 👏🏻 and to be thinking of new projects.  Chalk paint is definitely a very satisfying medium and opens up a whole new vista of projects.

Yesterday I took a day for myself, sort of, and started a Diamond Art canvas that Jelly Bean had gifted me with, also ages ago.  I have been waiting for just the right time to start, without a list of 'to do's' bugging my consciences.  On first opening it I was a little overwhelmed  when I saw all the markings and just how many dots there are.  Once I started it was really hard to stop, again my body started yelling at me and I needed to take a rest. I do believe this is as addictive as chalk painting and I find it very calming as it caters to my 'need' for things to be orderly and precise. So folks, watch this space in the future.

There have been numerous trips to Somerset West and Hermanus and on Friday JB and I went in as I had an Oncologist check up.  Thank the Lord all is well although she is not happy that I am still in so much pain and such limited mobility with my frozen shoulders.  She is referring me to an 'Orthopod' to have it seen to, ho hum 🤔.

Well folks those are the highlights of October, there were the usual 'blonde moments' and minor catastrophes which caused much laughter and teasing, but then I just seem prone to be the family entertainment.  There are two which stand out in particular.  At Princess' Valadiction I  walked over to pour myself a glass of bubbly.  I was aware that someone was on my left side briefly but was concentrating on my task.  The next minutes the cork popped off the bottle further down the table with such a loud bang. Instantly I said "it's not me" which caused much hilarity and embarrassment.  I was never anywhere near that bottle.  🤷🏻‍♀️  Last week when I started the grouting Hubby gave me an old pouffe, which was in a black garbage bag, to sit on.  Well I sat and slid right off the back 😂😂, naturally much laughter at my expense haha.

Now that I have caught up I am hoping to have new projects to share with you. I will say this though. If you have not tried Diamond dot art, it is well worth getting yourself one and giving it a go. Very calming and satisfying to do without great physical effort.

I am also extremely aware that everyone is under so much pressure at the moment. It is like looking at a world of pressure cookers just waiting to 'blow'.  The demands of life seem to have increased hugely, work has become harder and longer, life has become uncomfortably expensive to the point where one is working out just how much a trip to town is going to cost in petrol/diesel. In the midst of all the crazy, all the pressure, all the worry, God never leaves your side.  He Has NOT changed and "is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow." His ear is always attuned to our prayers, day or night, whatever the circumstance. 

Psalm 37 v 14. The LORD hears His people when they call to Him for help.  He rescues them from ALL their troubles.

  - When a child of God calls out to Him, He hears their cry.

  - At the very moment you call out to Him, He responds to bring relief.

  - There is no trouble that is so powerful that God cannot free us.

  - Things may seem impossible and complicated but they are not  too hard for Him. 

A friend shared the above with me this week and I really believe it is so relative right now.  God hears and sees you and your circumstances.  He is moving on your behalf. Very often He has to work through another human to resolve the situation and therefore we need to also pray that the people He speaks to are quick and obedient to do what He has told them, as well as ourselves.  When God prompts you to do something/ pray/  for another person, we need to get it done ASAP.  We are part of someone else's answer to prayer.

As I close off this very long Blog, I pray you will experience God's peace in the days and weeks ahead.  I appreciate you all and thank you for your support and encouragement.  Ciao Ciao

Surrender -Benguela Cove

My wooden unit before and after

The altered jersey, which ended at the blue,  i added on the black below.

My Life's Winding Roads: Busy, busy, busy.

My Life's Winding Roads: Busy, busy, busy.:   Happy October everyone, all I can say about September is "it was good and very busy".  Here we once again find ourselves with a ...

Busy, busy, busy.

 Happy October everyone, all I can say about September is "it was good and very busy".  Here we once again find ourselves with a brand new week in a new month ... It is a blank sheet of paper in your history at this stage, I hope you all make it memorable, even if that is just a mental adjustment to look for the blessings.

As September rolled in I made the decision that enough tasks had gathered dust bunnies and made a began to clear my list.  🎉 Pacing myself I  managed to get 90 % of my list finished and ticked off.  Eventually finishing Jelly Bean's shrug which in retrospect I could have left the original size as it is somewhat large 🤦🏻‍♀️. She loves it but as for me I'm not so sure hehe.  Then I got stuck in and completed an order from the Bandy's for two long thin hot water bottle covers and one small cover for a microwave hot 'bottle'.  They thankfully came out exactly as planned and they were delighted, even I was satisfied.  Next on the  list was tackling some of the awkward kitchen cupboards.  One of my pet hates in a kitchen is the corner cupboard that has two doors, you have to be an octopus, flat on the ground to find anything.  We have one under the counter and one right above the counter.  Needless to say that by the time I was finished there was a large box of a variety of kitchen containers, odds and ends that got donated to our local animal charity.  Then came the moment which I could no longer ignore and this past week I knuckled down and made six big scatter cushions for the lounge.   The material was bought  months ago, before my last surgery if I am correct.  It has been sitting here glaring at me ever since but because I find sewing on the machine extremely hard  on my back and shoulders, I kept putting it off.  No more,  the cushions are made and I am super chuffed at how they turned out.  

There are still four things on my list - to revarnish the kitchen counter and our dining room table, to paint the big wooden unit which has been waiting for more than a year.  Inspiration eventually landed and I am going to paint it with chalk paint, I can't wait.  The fourth task is to lengthen a bought jersey for someone in the Village.  The lady bought this jersey in the UK and it is just too short to be comfortable.  I managed to find the closest wool blend and intend getting started on it immediately.  My fingers are itching to get to the wooden unit.

Hubby has also been busy with a constant stream of clocks and watches.  He also hired a local chap who came in and helped him finish off the cladding on the deck.  Since then Hubs has filled in all  the gaps etc and we can now purchase the paint and get a painter in, 🤞🏻 within the next week or so.  After that it is tiling the floor and then it becomes liveable.  The benches will be the last step.

The Volvo is still not going but the computer is currently in Johannesburg being repaired, so please God that will be back soon and he can get her back on the road. 🙏

The family are all well and Princess had two Matric dances last week in as many days.  On Wednesday she was in Pretoria for C's dance and then they flew back on Thursday for her dance that same night.  Talk about a tight schedule.  She also had her hair cut on the day of her dance to just below her shoulders which was a big surprise and looks stunning.  She is donating her ponytail to the Cancer Association 😍.  Someone is going to be truly blessed with an incredible wig.  I am still trying to figure out where the years have gone, all of a sudden she is this gorgeous, mature woman.  Her school starts writing their final matric exams on the 25th October 🙏.   This weekend she and C her boyfriend came through and spent Saturday night with us, leaving just before lunch yesterday.  We had the most amazing time with them and ended up playing card games til late on Saturday evening.   We tried taking all the dogs to our local Coffee Shop because they now serve Pupachinos and I have been promising Charlie one for ages hehe.  Good old Murphy's law was in full  effect and due to Loadshedding they could not make any of the fancy coffees or Pupachinos.  Oh dear, one day I will get one for him but, oh my goodness try taking three dogs to a dog friendly Coffee Shop and it was bound to get rowdy.  Humphrey is a rescue like Charlie and he gets very vocal when he sees any dog on the street (even if he is in the car), he bark/howls. Charlie just gets over excited period, and Sasha gets so nervous that she shivers and shakes.  Yikes ... It was interesting but none the less good fun and I am glad we did it.  This week is another birthday week in the family with Poppet celebrating her birthday today and Hubster celebrates his on Wednesday, they are exactly 30 years and 2 days apart.  Happy Birthday precious family I pray your coming year is going to be blessed beyond measure.

Health wise I am gaining my strength steadily. I have tried Physio for the frozen shoulders but it truly made no difference so for now I just curtail painful movements and am waiting for it to go.  I think the biggest boost for me has been making headway, albeit slowly, on all the things that had accumulated over the past sixteen months and clearing my 'list'. I feel like a functional, productive woman again.  I can only give God all the Glory for that fact that on this Saturday I will be one year Cancer free. It has been a long year, but one in which my faith has grown in leaps and bounds.  The Lord has held me, comforted me, taught me many lessons and healed me.  As October is Breast Cancer awareness month I am going to ask the question.  Ladies when last did you have a Mammogram ?  As hateful as they are they can save your life, please don't put it off. 

Well folks, this is what we've been up to and I intend having pictures of further projects finished or on the go by the time next month rolls around.  

To you all, wherever you may be, may God be your Comforter, your Saviour and your Healer. He is faithful and just waiting for you to ask, there is nothing too small or too big for Him to handle.

Stay safe folks and stay well. Ciao ciao.

Charlie looking cute at the coffee shop.

Finished scatter cushions  
 

My Life's Winding Roads: September already !

My Life's Winding Roads: September already !: Morning greetings to you all from a cold, wet and windy Betty's Bay, as we are right in the midst of cold fronts.  The wind has been rea...

September already !

Morning greetings to you all from a cold, wet and windy Betty's Bay, as we are right in the midst of cold fronts.  The wind has been really pumping since Friday becoming incredibly strong yesterday, lessening slightly once the rain started.  I've said all winter that it has been an odd winter with not enough rain.

So much has happened since my last Blog that it feels like months. The family are all well although the business world seems to be an extremely difficult place to be at the moment, the various daily challenges just keep coming. Big Guy is doing well and has a few new pans on his fire. The Bandy Clan are all settled in their house despite having a disastrous moving day.  The Bears are safely back from Spain and we have seen just some of their photos which are incredible.  We had a wonderful three days with Miss Muffet and her family, it was fantastic seeing them again after a five year a sense and getting to know our grandsons a little bit better and knowing that they are now old enough to remember us.  They have grown so much and were a pleasure to have.  After they all left us they have really seen all sorts of things having gone to Natal to another Granny and family, managing to get in a Game Reserve trip as well.

As some of you know August is "birthday month" in our family with three of us celebrating within 6 days of each other.  This year we had a real celebration and Hubby took Jelly Bean and I to my favourite restaurant in Hermanus for lunch - Char'd Grill.  They are a Steam Punk themed restaurant with the added cuteness of having giant Teddy Bears occupying empty tables.  I was so thoroughly.blessed with all the calls and messages I received.  On the Sunday we all gathered at our home, which was wonderful and had a fantastic day of celebration, food and laughter.  Good grief there was enough meat on the braai to feed a battalion never mind 8 people haha.  All that meat was included in meals for a day or two in our house at least.  I had a couple of extremely 'blonde" but incredibly funny experiences.  Hubby had given me a new hairdryer and curling tongs. I have used tongs on the girls' hair before but GOOD GRIEF using them on my own hair turned out to be hysterical.  The left hand side went perfectly but, the right side was impossible.  The more JB told me to move the tongs forward to meet my hair the more they went backwards.  Eventually we were both laughing so hard we had tears rolling down our faces.  It was only on the Sunday that Poppet explained that you have to hold the tongs in the  hand of the side you are working on. I had been using my right hand on both sides and it was like trying to reverse a caravan through a zig  zag course. 😂😂 Amazingly the next time I used them, following Poppets instructions it was a breeze. The second event was not quite as funny whilst it was happening.  JB and I went to Pringle Bay on a Saturday to buy some sherry plus fire kindling and starters.  I was so chuffed to find I could get everything in the one shop and when I had gathered everything together on the counter, it was rung up and I happily reached for my credit card which I had just taken out of Hubby's wallet (I had given it to him the day before), everything seemed to slow  down as I pulled it out and realised it was not my credit card but my ... Clicks benefit card 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️.  There I stood with my brain frantically scrambling for a solution.  We had taken the dogs with us and all I could hear was Charlie performing in the car because I had disappeared.  After what felt like an age my brain clicked in and I asked whether I could do an EFT.  Understandably the lady was cautious, having never laid eyes on me before.  Eventually she said fine as long as she received an immediate clearance notice, I duly paid becoming more and more aware of two people waiting for me to finish. Then we had to wait for the notification to come through, as to be expected, she had no cel signal so it took a further few minutes.  Oh my word, seriously ? Sometimes I feel as if I am a living circus act.

Last week JB and I had a girls day out in Somerset West. On our way in just past Pringle Bay, we were blessed to see a gorgeous buck standing on a rock a short way off the road and just gazing out over the vista of mountains.  We went armed with our list of stops and I must say it went smoothly as we ticked off one stop after another. Our first stop was to get her a new mattress.  I don't think either she or Hubby realised I was intending to bring it home with me. Once we had selected the right one I asked the salesman if he could get it into my car and received a doubtful shake of the head.  I know my car and just how big it is, so was quite unperturbed and suggested we  just try.  I have a Citroen Picasso and promptly dropped the back seats and then watched as he slid the mattress in with a slight bend and it fit.  Woohoooo.  Ten minutes later Jelly Bean was still shaking her head trying to take it all in. Hehe. Into the bargain we discovered two 'new' little shopping centres which are absolute gems.  We ended our day off with a stop at Bootleggers Coffee Bar to refuel our energy levels, they make the most incredible Hot Chocolate and according to JB Iced Coffee, well worth the stop.

 Those are the highlights folks, as of this month I will add recipes, hints and/or interesting hacks as I come across them.  I will try to post them to Facebook as they are added but, just keep an eye on those pages.  I did have some during the month and now cannot remember where they are grrrr.  🤪

Have a wonderful month folks and if/ when things get rough or you feel overwhelmed try and remind yourself that you have made it this far.  Your track record speaks for itself and every battle fought has an end.   Jeremiah 29 v 11.  God has your future in His hands. 

I have had this as my lock screen on my phone since my diagnosis last year, it always brings me comfort.

The waiting 

The meantime 

The in-between 

It all serves a purpose

Trust your process 

Even the delays and detours.

Flo- Grace

Stay safe and stay healthy.  Ciao Ciao

Some pics from my birthday lunch @Char'd Grill

 

My Life's Winding Roads: No repeat of this week please.

My Life's Winding Roads: No repeat of this week please.: Good morning wonderful people I hope today's Blog finds you all well and ready for the week ahead.  There is much news to share so I am ...

No repeat of this week please.

Good morning wonderful people I hope today's Blog finds you all well and ready for the week ahead.  There is much news to share so I am going to get straight into it.  What a week, awful would be one description that works lol.

It started with me needing to see my GP for ongoing tummy issues and having been quite ill since I had the Calcium Bone Drip.  Well, as per usual it was not a quick in and out but Praise the Lord for a thorough Doctor.  The UTI she treated weeks ago was still lingering and having had the drip had caused a flare of stomach pain etc.  The short story is I have been given medication and she did blood tests. Certain vitamins in my body are almost non existent despite taking tablets every day so for good measure a 'zappy' injection got thrown into the mix.  I am having to make some alterations in my diet and am doing all I know to do as well as standing on God's Word.

On the way home the sun was setting and the sea had taken on that silver mercury look as well as being very flat.  Hubby thought he may have seen something in the water, just past Gordons Bay and when I looked, I saw this large black 'line' which at first had the look of a wave, it was a whale who rolled and then lifted his tail before smacking it back to the surface of the water, with an enormous splash.  Oh my goodness talk about excitement.  Every trip we take my eyes are always scanning for whales and dolphins and I get so frustrated when I see someone on the other side of the bay talking about a sighting.  Well, poor Hubby was trying to look, drive and negotiate corners all at the same time and all in the blink of an eye.    As if that was not excitement enough, by the time we were heading up to Blousteen, near to Rooi Els, the sun had set completely and as we came around a sharp corner, there standing in the middle of our side of the road were two buck, frozen in the headlights.  Well we all gasped at the same time, Hubby did some really snappy braking and swerving only missing the one by a literal hair's breadth.  Mr and Mrs Buck just looked at us and slowly sauntered off to the side of the road, which I may add is steep mountainside.  The adrenaline was pumping after that trip I can assure you, but my word what wonderful encounters and even more so because we didn't harm the buck.

Then the week took a left turn when I was awakened very early by my oldest friend's husband on Tuesday morning to tell me that she has passed away in her sleep.  I am heartbroken as we go back to before Poppet was born and have been each other's confidant and comfort all these years, she was also an honorary Gammy to all of my kids.  She had been experiencing slight dementia but  about 6 weeks ago fell and broke her hip.  From there she just went downhill so very fast.  I had tried to video call her the week before and was shattered when she showed no recognition or emotion whatsoever.  I so wish I had been able to say goodbye while at the same time knowing that she is where she has wanted to be for a very long time. She is home with God and no longer suffering or confused, but whole and happy.  Her Husband and son are understandably broken hearted and battling to come to terms with their loss, 57 years of marriage is a long time and my heart breaks every time I talk to them. R.I.P. Thea my precious friend you always loved and believed in me. We shared so much and you leave a huge void.

To compound all the above Sonshine had to go back to the UK for business and was on his way to Heathrow on Wednesday to return home in time to move house when his taxi was involved in an accident, he hurt his back, missed his flight and the next day x-rays showed that he has a compression fracture near the top of his back and is now on bed rest as the risk of travelling is too high.  This fracture is in  exactly the same place as a previous one, when he last did a sky dive with Princess.  Thank God it wasn't worse and he will be fine, long term.  Naturally this was a huge shock and worry for the girls and with the move looming up was over whelming.  But, my precious girls woke up on Friday morning, decided that this was it and got stuck in,  when the truck arrives this morning only the heavy furniture is left to be loaded.  All boxes as well as the entire kitchen and some pieces of furniture, clothes, linen etc have been moved and unpacked.  Well done you two as always I am so proud of you.  One of Poppets friends was able to help and to have accomplished this much is amazing, princess is still in a leg brace as well.

On Wednesday I was on a phone call when I heard a lot of noise so moved away from the bedroom, on going back in I again heard the noise and looked up.  Lo and behold from the lounge JB had seen exactly what happened.  The fittings on the solar geyser which were plastic had obviously perished from the sun and the heat and pressure of the water caused the pipe fitting to literally blow off, across the roof followed by a spray of boiling water.  Poor old Hubby got up onto the roof and switched off the necessary before going to the local hardware shop and buying new brass fittings, which he fitted.  Then the pressure caused another blow out with the same results. So back up the ladder he went.  As a result of the bright sunshine the water temperature went up to 109 C, and due to the force of the water the solar pump burnt out.  Such fun ... NOT !!  We could only get a new pump the following day in Hermanus so I eventually came up with the idea of covering the solar panels with flattened cardboard boxes to protect them just a little from the sun and drop the temperature.  The next day up he went again and replaced the pump and voila, we are all working again. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️. 

Just to ensure that not one day was drama free, on Friday the Hubster went into Kleinmond for a few things. On his way out he was turning left at a 4-way stop street.  The guy in a bakkie behind him, tried to pass on the right and  ended up bumping our car.  Hubby jumped out to assess the damage and asked the driver to pull over in order to exchange details.  As soon as Hubby was back in the car this guy sped off in the opposite direction.   My dear husband gave chase and managed to get a picture of the vehicle and registration number to be reported to the police.  Some people have absolutely no manners or decency anymore 😡.  Thank the Lord it was just a few slight scratches on the bumper and no structural or other damage.

 I did say it was quite the week. 🙄

Thankfully that is the end of the sad / bad news and time for the good news.  The Bears are currently in Spain on holiday. Up until today they have been with some friends but today they head off on their own for a few days before returning home.  The pictures and videos they have kept us updated with have been, in a word, exquisite.  JB and I have been positively green with envy, although delighted to see them having such an awesome time. They have been in Barcelona and then Ibiza so far. The pictures of Ibiza are what you expect to see in a postcard.  Clear, incredible sea waters with no waves and gorgeous cliffs and beaches, gorgeous alley ways and restaurants.  The architecture is amazing especially some of the churches they toured in Barcelona.  What a privilege and blessing.

Well folks that takes me to my new decision.  Of late I have been feeling that the Blog has lacked worthy news and been pretty boring, so to that end I have decided that I will rather post once a month,  where I have something more substantial and interesting to share. Ideally I would like to get back to sharing recipes, tips, possible scriptures etc.   I will continue to post onto to Facebook as well as publishing on the blog site.  Should anything momentous occur during the month I will naturally share it but in general I am looking to go to one solid, interesting and worthwhile Blog per month.  I truly do appreciate each and every one of you who follows the Blog, for your support and ongoing encouragement over the years.

I wish you all a wonderful week, may it be peaceful, successful and may you walk in good health.  Stay safe. Ciao Ciao.

Ibiza, Spain. 

My Life's Winding Roads: Light and dark

My Life's Winding Roads: Light and dark:   Good morning folks wherever you may be.  My goodness how did we get to August so quickly? I am not even thinking about how close to the en...

Light and dark

 Good morning folks wherever you may be.  My goodness how did we get to August so quickly? I am not even thinking about how close to the end of the year we find ourselves 🤦🏻‍♀️.

There has been a lot going on within the family whilst my week was remarkably quiet.  As this gets published the Bears should be safely in Barcelona, Spain where they have gone for a two week holiday.  This week they will be in Barcelona and move on to Ibiza before going to Valencia next week.  They are with a group of friends this week so it promises to be loads of fun.   

The Bandy Clan are on the move and this has been quick. Their lease expired and the owners intend selling.  Poppet got cracking immediately and within three days had found a gorgeous house which is available immediately. They move in ten days. As a family we never do things in small measures hehehe.  It will be all hands on deck  I am sure and I can guarantee they will be settled in within days.  Happily Princess has now been cleared to walk without her crutches and can sleep without her leg brace.  These are huge milestones for her; she doesn't handle inactivity easily hehe.  

The rest of the family are doing well and as always busy.  We had an extremely quiet, somewhat frustrating week with a planned electricity outage on Tuesday from 8am to about 6.30 pm. It ran longer than planned naturally.  As a result of this and as often happens here after 'maintenance' the power went out at 7 am and only came on 8.02 pm (JB's precise observation 😂).  The technicians struggled to find and fix the fault which was in the mountains and we had a cold front moving through, making their work even more difficult.  Saturday with everyone more than ready for a powered up day we woke to ... no electricity.  A new fault in a different place. Happily we were switched back on just after 4 pm.  Despite having installed an inverter we have discovered the battery is not strong enough to keep the television going for more than 20 minutes. It has declined steadily since installation.  Hubby is now investigating a lithium ion battery as opposed to the gel one we have. 

I had my Calcium Bone Drip on Monday as planned but was totally unprepared for the side effects.  My Dr had told me to clear three or four days off my calendar and I glibly agreed.  It is now a week and I still do not feel well.  I won't go into details but suffice to say having Fibro I live with daily pain. This however was on a different level altogether. On speaking to other ladies who have had this the consensus seems to be that the first drip is worse than a chemo drip.  This happy event is supposed to occur every six months,  right now I am not so sure that is going to happen.

As I may have mentioned we have neighbours building a wooden home next door to us. On Thursday the builders put styrofoam insulation on the roof and on Friday when went outside the force of the wind had blown the frame of the house crooked.  Thankfully the roofing insulation remained in place but they now have some corrective work to do to get it square.  Oh the joys of living here! There is always something interesting going on.  There was a reason Bartholomew Diaz named this part of our world The Cape of Storms 💨💦💨.

That is me for now folks, I pray that you have a wonderful week.  May you accomplish all you need to with time over for yourselves.  Stay safe and healthy.  Ciao Ciao

The crooked house next door. The wind huffed and it puffed.

My Life's Winding Roads: Always something happening.

My Life's Winding Roads: Always something happening.: Good morning folks wherever you find yourselves.  Firstly I would like to just say thank you for all the kind messages  sent last week after...

Always something happening.

Good morning folks wherever you find yourselves.  Firstly I would like to just say thank you for all the kind messages  sent last week after hearing that I am cancer free.  It was all your prayers, love and support that carried me through this past year.  I am delighted to also be able to say that Poppet has also just finished her annual tests and has received the same wonderful news of being cancer free.  We give our Father God all the glory.

Well not the quietest week in history but then we all know that those are quite rare haha.  There is a lot going on within the family, all good, which I should be in a position to share with you next week

hopefully.  We've had some lovely cool weather and a fairly good amount of rain; this has resulted in some lovely cosy days and even more cosy fires 😍.  I went in for my first Physio session and at least I now have some answers. It would appear that I have  Rotator Cuff injuries in both shoulders, although much more so in the left, hence all the pain and limited mobility.  So now I'm busy with exercises and further Physio to clear it all up, ho hum 🙄.  After Physio I had a visit with the Plastic Surgeon's Nursing Sister who very kindly removed about 7 internal stitches which had been poking through my skin, THAT was not fun , but I am just glad they are out.  There are still a few more which are too deep as yet to pull out.   

There was a very funny evening (in retrospect) which turned out to be educational as well.  We were watching television when I heard Charlie barking outside.  When we hear them barking we usually call them back inside which I duly did.  Within seconds JB sounded the alarm to the most hideous smell, I'm not talking just a bad smell, I mean truly hideous, like being in the back of a garbage truck.  Charlie was also desperately rubbing his face on the mat.  Groaning and somewhat annoyed I sniffed around and on finding it was mostly his face and head, pulled out the shampoo and towel while I tried to clean as much as I could, all the while chastising him for rolling in pooh.  The wierd thing is there was nothing stuck on or in his fur 🤔, strange.  Later that evening Hubby let them both out for their last trip of the evening and Charlie barely moved from his side.  While they were out there I was in bed and thought to myself that, if I didn't know better I would have said he got sprayed by a skunk.   Whilst in town the following day I mentioned it to the vet whilst  collecting something,  she immediately said "oh but you have skunks in Betty's Bay and badgers too".  Well blow me over with a feather.  I know we have mongoose behind the garage, otters near the rivers but I did not know we have skunks and badgers.  Apparently mongoose, badgers and skunks spray their anal fluid when threatened.  I was speechless, the best we can figure from the smell, the fact that it was just his face /head and him furiously rubbing his eyes/nose on the mat is -  he must have cornered a skunk and whilst barking at it, Monsieur Skunk just turned around and let rip with his vile fluids. Who knew we had skunks ? Not us that's for sure haha.  He was quite cautious outside for a day or two and now back to his normal, irrepressible self. 🤦🏻‍♀️. Truly there is never a dull moment.

On Saturday the Bandy Clan came through and we spent a lovely day in front of the fire, eating comfort food and catching up.  JB spent the afternoon helping Princess with a big English task she had.  She is still on her crutches and in the leg brace, beyond frustrated with both would be an accurate assessment.

Hubby  managed to get some Grandfather Clocks sorted out as well as one particular watch that he has waited for 6 months for the part to arrive.

Miss Muffet and her family will be visiting SA in a couple of weeks for the first time in a long time.  It has been so long since we saw them and the boys have grown from toddlers to Pre teens.  We are looking forward to having them spend some time with us and 

catching up there as well.

I wish you all a blessed week, stay safe and healthy folks, oh ... and stay away from skunks, badgers and mongoose.  May God give you wisdom and strength to turn each day into a victory.  Ciao Ciao.

 A very unhappy Charlie after his adventure.

My Life's Winding Roads: Time for ... Some good news

My Life's Winding Roads: Time for ... Some good news:   Greeting folks from the bottom of the continent.  Every now and then the absolute wonder of where we live kind of knows me sideways.  Here...

Time for ... Some good news

 Greeting folks from the bottom of the continent.  Every now and then the absolute wonder of where we live kind of knows me sideways.  Here we are almost at the tip of an entire continent, Africa behind me and the South Pole in front.  Being able to watch the sea every day is of itself awe inspiring, it's moods and ever changing colours.  Underneath what we can see is an entire world carrying on with its existence and, here we are  nestled between the mountains and the deep blue sea.  I'm tired of saying winter is here, it's well past what should be the middle of winter and closer to spring and yet we really have not had a noticeable winter.  This week was mild with weak sunshine and by afternoon a mist creeping over the mountains and down to the sea. It was beautiful even though not cold. 

After all the running around of the last month I finally saw my Oncologist and was given the best news I could receive "there is no cancer present".  Thank You Father God for my health and all the provision and ways He has shown Himself real just in the last year alone.   There are 'minor' things to be addressed but I am cancer free.  Having said that the last month's busyness caught up with me with a vengeance and I have been in an increased Fibro flare which means I accomplished nothing on my list of 'to do's' .  I tackled one task a day to keep up to date and will pace myself through the balance.

On Friday Hubby stocked up on firewood hehe, in anticipation of some cold weather and also successfully resurrected our lawnmower.  It had rusted to the point of being unusable and he hAd been to a store to try and find the chassis of a similar one, our motor still works perfectly.  They had nothing and,  on the way home I had the bright idea of asking on our local What's App group if anyone had a lawnmower that they weren't using or the motor was not working.  Within minutes a chap replied that he had one and we could have it for R100, so off went Hubby to collect it.  Apparently he had bought it for R100 but the motor would not start.  We got a fabulous chassis which is cast aluminium (won't rust) and my clever Husband did some cutting and what have you to put our motor on the good chassis - it sits a little bit crooked but runs like a Boeing 😂.  Voila one new lawn mower to tackle our current jungle.

It was a quiet week from my side but, not a wasted one.  I have been looking after myself and maybe, just possibly I am learning that when I am not physically doing something, I am doing something for my body ... I am re-charging.  I have done a huge amount of reading and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. There is a little voice in my head constantly reminding me of what needs to be done,  I am only now slowly coming to accept that the world won't come to a standstill if I don't have everything done today.

Having said that I am going to end off for this week.  Thank you for your continued readership and support.  I wish you all a wonderful week. Stay safe and healthy folks.  Ciao Ciao.

Some Misty mountains.

One retired  and one revived lawnmower.

My Life's Winding Roads: Brrr from a wonderful chilly, wet Betty's Bay.

My Life's Winding Roads: Brrr from a wonderful chilly, wet Betty's Bay.:   Good morning folks from our little Village by the sea.  Perhaps it is just me but life seems to be moving so fast that nothing stays the s...

Brrr from a wonderful chilly, wet Betty's Bay.

 Good morning folks from our little Village by the sea.  Perhaps it is just me but life seems to be moving so fast that nothing stays the same from one day to the next.  Last week the plot next to us was empty, it has been cleared and messy for more than a year.  Today as I type, a wooden house is on it way to growing up, the first level framing is in and these guys are fast.  Two very excited new owners who come to look every evening.  My guess is, in a couple of weeks they will be moving in.  Betty's Bay has seen a huge building boom in the last eighteen months which is not always a good thing.  Being a bio -sphere has a lot of pros and cons. Many people are drawn to the quietness and the nature aspect but then when they move here they try to make it the same as the city.  We see this happening in Villages and towns all along the coast here, even in bigger places such as Hermanus. Hmmmmm 🤔

It is still a very strange winter but on the whole much cooler and we have had some lovely rain, much more needed but we are grateful for every drop.  I took advantage of the one clear sunny day this week to get the couch covers washed and was delighted at how they came out.  Before we bought these I was washing huge throws every week, what a pleasure to just do it every few months.  I was also shocked at how strange the room looked with the white couches, which we've had since moving down.  How quickly our brains re-adjust and move forward.

Last week was again back and forth with different tests, Sheesh talk about drawing things out.  Today is the last test and then tomorrow I see the Oncologist for all the results.  Poppet has also just done all her annual tests and waiting for the last results.  She is an 'old hand' at this and organised everything over a couple of days.  I will definitely be taking a leaf out of her book in the future,  I still have much to learn.

We joined them yesterday for a very quick lunch before Princess's boyfriend flew back to Pretoria.  It was so good just to have a little time to catch up, exchange news and hugs.  My heart goes out to Princess as she still has another three weeks to go before she can stop using the crutches, her frustration levels are high and the temptation to take the odd step alone is almost overwhelming.  Hang in there my angel, it will be worth it in the end.

Hubby has made good progress this past week on the deck and the last side is almost completely clad and finished off on the outside.  He has also had a flood of clocks coming in and many that require him to go and collect the movement and bring it home to work on.   I have started getting back into my tasks ie: the covers.  This week I would like to steam clean our floors which are sealed concrete.  Poppet lent me her steam cleaner and I am itching to get busy with it.  As is 'usual' I will take it bit by bit until they are all clean to my satisfaction.  I also managed to get a fair amount of knitting done and Jelly Bean's shrug  is growing steadily at long last, hopefully before winter ends she will be wearing it.

With all that has been going on I failed to mention a very special encounter we had two weeks ago.  One night whilst getting ready for bed we heard the very distinct sound of an owl, really close by.  The next morning when I walked through he must have been sitting on our chimney and said a few good morning wooo's.  This is only the second time we have heard one, despite knowing they are in the area.  This chap has caused quite a stir as a couple of other people have had sightings of him and one managed to get a lovely photo of him in a tree.  I so hope they will breed and become more active, it was an amazing sound to hear.

Folks that's all for today.  Please have a good week. Take time to breathe in peace, smell the fynbos / roses, and shake off the negative issues.  Stay safe and healthy folks.  Ciao Ciao 

One of the many streams flowing freely.

My Life's Winding Roads: Can we apply the brakes please?

My Life's Winding Roads: Can we apply the brakes please?:   Hi everyone, I hope today's post finds you well and ready to face the new month and new week.   Wow, how did things get so darn busy? ...

Can we apply the brakes please?

 Hi everyone, I hope today's post finds you well and ready to face the new month and new week.   Wow, how did things get so darn busy?  I would really like to get off the merry-go-round.  

As I expected last week started with a bang.  We left home on Monday at 6.30 to be in Stellenbosch by 8 for my fasting blood tests, things went well until I was finished with the Pathology Sister.  I duly reported to Radiology for my CAT Scan and subsequent MRI only to have them look blank  and tell me my appointments were the following day, Tuesday and not Monday 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️. Oh my goodness did I feel like a fool.  We decided to break the fast with breakfast at the hospital before trundling back home.  The next morning was like Ground Hog Day with the only exception being we did not leave as early.  Truly a waste of time, energy and diesel, not my finest moment to be sure. Needless to say the double trip and examinations left me feeling like a wet rag for a few days.  On Thursday I received a call asking me to go back today as the MRI Lumbar was inconclusive but, everything else was 'fine'.  Therefore as soon as I post this we will once again toddle off to Stellenbosch for round three.  Thank goodness for a patient Hubby.

The balance of the week just seemed to maintain the same pace with me ten steps behind on the energy scale and twenty steps ahead on the pain scale.  On Friday the Bandy Clan were off for a four day weekend to St Helena Bay up the West Coast. The original plan was for Jelly Bean and I to house sit the cats for them on Saturday and Sunday. At the last minute Jelly Bean was invited to go with which I was delighted about as she had been fighting a sore throat all week and hasn't had a break since December 2015.  That left me to go through and play with the cats which was wonderful. Charlie went with me and was so well behaved I that I was truly surprised,  he never left my side.  As far as the cats were concerned they were  like "oh hi human, you've come to wait on our every demand".  😃😃. Beau got really annoyed with me as I refused to allow him outside, he has a tendency to take extra long walks.  With the weather having turned wet and very cold I was not chancing being unable to get him back inside.  Human 1 vs Cat 10 on the annoyed scale.  

As Poppet has an amazing, deep, long bath and that was the one thing I was looking forward to ... A long, hot soak.  HAHA funny woman.  As I lowered myself into the water I realised my mistake, but by then it was too late.  I never took into account the depth, the fact there are no handles on the bath and, the limited range of motion in my shoulders.  Dropping into the water was breath holding painful and then instead of enjoying the water I spent half an hour trying to figure out how I was getting out. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️. At one point phoning Hubby was even an option until I remembered all the doors were locked 😃. I will spare you the graphics and just say this.  It  took a half an hour and immense pain, but I got myself out. 😂😂. So, never mind having a shining day on Monday let's just say it was not a week of brightness.

Yesterday Charlie and I duly toddled off back home inin time to say goodbye to good friends of ours who have left BB and fly back to Austria on Wednesday.  Safe travels E and D, praying your next adventure is even better, you are already missed.

Well folks, hopefully I've managed to get a chuckle out of you with all my antics.  I wish you all a spectacular week, stay safe and healthy. With love from BB Ciao Ciao.

A cold and moody sea yesterday.

My Life's Winding Roads: Vroom, just like that the week is gone.

My Life's Winding Roads: Vroom, just like that the week is gone.:  A chilly good morning to everyone from a very happy lady.  I am so enjoying the cooler weather, we have had some really good, soaking rains...

Vroom, just like that the week is gone.

 A chilly good morning to everyone from a very happy lady.  I am so enjoying the cooler weather, we have had some really good, soaking rains and are all loving the evenings of having a fire going.  As a friend said to me yesterday, it is not Bloemfontein cold but, it is cold.

Last week seemed to be a hive of activity from the get go.  All three of us needed to see our GP's for script repeats and all appointments were on different days, in different places, wouldn't you guess!  Jelly Bean and I also went on a bit of a book trail. A good friend has moved from BB and as they are going back overseas they had left boxes of books with a couple of different neighbours, and told us to go and look for what we wanted.  As you can imagine JB needed no second encouragement and was almost ready to leave before I had finished arranging it.  She got a pile of books and I chose one, thank you E xx.   

It just seemed to be one of those weeks.  I have mentioned that I was crocheting a shrug (since last year 🤦🏻‍♀️) for JB.  As it got longer and further along, the less I liked it anyway,  when I was finished we tried it on and after all that it was just not right. So ... I immediately unwound it and restarted from scratch, this time knitting.  I have not knitted anything major for such a long time because with Fibro my hands and arms get very sore.  To this end I found someone who sold circular needles, which I have never really been a fan of, Hubby quickly drove up to buy them and they are wonderful !!! The actual needle fits into my hand exactly and all the weight is on the wire, why has it taken me 65 odd years to figure this out?   So now, the twice unwound wool (it was originally an Aran cardigan which I made and fitted no one) is once again being purposed, successfully this time into a loose, cosy shrug. It is growing quickly and no doubt I will be able to post a pic in the near future🤞🏻.  I have also been busy measuring and planning to make new lounge cushions, so another project about to be started.  I still have a big wooden unit which needs to be stripped, also from last year, but that is on the back burner.  This last surgery in particular has left me with very shoulder / arm strength and very limited mobility of my arms, so for now it is all light crafts that I can do.

On Thursday on our way home from town we came across a huge boulder that had fallen off the mountain and landed in the middle of the road.  It could only have been a few minutes before we got there.  Most people just drove around it but Hubby stopped and so did another local behind us.  Between him and the Hubster they managed to roll it to the side of the road and out of trouble, estimating that it weighed over 200kg.  This is a common occurrence along Clarence Drive, especially when there are high winds and rain.  We often see smaller rockfalls, also caused by the baboons climbing up, and have seen pics of bigger falls but, this was the biggest one we have actually seen right in the middle of the road. 

My Dr's visit resulted in a long list of required blood tests and whilst I was busy organising the week, the  follow up appointment with my Oncologist is nearing and all of a sudden I have been swamped with appointments urghhh.  Today I have to be in Stellenbosch by 8 am for blood tests, followed by a CT Scan, followed by an MRI.  Sjoe. I am not ready for this,  it has caused a wee bit of stress as it feels like I've been thrown right back to exactly a year ago when the whole business started. It is what it is and will be an annual thing for many years, so I figure I just need to keep praying and get it over with.  There is also a Mammogram coming up which should be interesting given I now have implants 😃.  The very best part of the week was when I went into a lingerie shop and bought my 'first' bras in a year.  I actually felt like a women walking out of the shop, wearing one of them. Baby steps is what is has all been about and God has been so faithful guiding and carrying me through each step of the journey.

Folks that is the news for now, this week is not showing any signs of being significantly quieter but we will see what unfolds.  I wish you all a really good week. Take each day as it comes and if necessary take it minute by minute.  Please stay safe and healthy.

Ciao Ciao.

My Life's Winding Roads: Here and there, this and that.

My Life's Winding Roads: Here and there, this and that.:  Greetings one and all from a glorious soggy BB.  We have been plunged into winter with the full works, gale force winds from every directio...

Here and there, this and that.

 Greetings one and all from a glorious soggy BB.  We have been plunged into winter with the full works, gale force winds from every direction and soo much rain.  I read someone's post yesterday on FB which said "If your house does not leak it's not in Betty's Bay".  We sprung two new leaks, one being right in above the middle of our bed 🤦🏻‍♀️ and,  one in the dining room.  Oh dear poor Hubby,  he has been up on the roof so many times sealing every possible area and yet it still comes in.  I have decided that its because the wind blows so hard from literally every direction.

We had a good week, although not without its stress as Princess had her surgery on Wednesday.  Thank the Lord it went very well and she only spent one night in hospital. She has a very complicated / technical brace which is immovable and naturally causing her no small amount of discomfort.  Learning to master crutches brings its own particular set of challenges.  As is typical of the women in our family she has probably been too active but after everyone explaining that it is her time to heal, hopefully she will slow down.  

As her birthday was last Sunday and she was still writing exams Poppet deferred her celebration to yesterday. The whole family (Cape Town) gathered at their house and as is our tradition, birthday girl got to choose the menu.  We had so much food to eat with a choice of two curries, rice, samoosas, naan breads, sambals and then cake.  OMW no one in my family ate supper.  It was also a Father's Day celebration so a wonderful day, with my favourite people.  I just wish Big Guy was closer and Miss Muffett and her family.  I will say that the Bandy Clan absolutely outdid themselves, thank you guys.

As you may have guessed with the weather, work on the deck almost came to a standstill but the clocks and watches received a lot of attention.  Hubby has his hands full there trying to keep up.

On Thursday we went into SW to do a little bit of shopping and then to deliver some flowers to the patient as well as hugs and kisses from Granny. 🤗

As I come to the six week mark post surgery, I can at last say goodbye to the compression bra and start looking for pretty, comfy underwear.  I realised over the weekend that I am going to need physio on my arms and shoulders.  Just since this last operation, I am unable to lift my arms above shoulder height or reach backwards without severe pain.   

Apart from that we are all doing well,  maybe not all quite ready for the week, but will tackle it head on.  I may have mentioned that I have been crocheting Jelly Bean a shrug, since last year.  Well ... I finished it on Friday and as I was stitching the sleeves I asked her if if was 'right', knowing in my heart that it was just too 'stiff' and not soft or loose enough.  Haha.  She confirmed my fears and so, within minutes said shrug was being unwound.  I have now re-started but am knitting it in loose stocking stitch.  I am aiming to get it finished before winter ends and not take another year 🤦🏻‍♀️.  As I said to BabyBear yesterday, what's the point of making it just for the sake of getting it done, if it is not right?  I am a firm believer in unwinding something that doesn't work.

Well folks, that's my news for the week.  I wish you all a good week. May you not be overwhelmed, take a minute or two to breathe and, take it one task at a time.

Stay safe and healthy. Ciao Ciao.

View along Clarence Drive. Cape Point in the background across the bay.

My Life's Winding Roads: The rain has arrived.

My Life's Winding Roads: The rain has arrived.:  Good morning folks, I hope you are all well.  I am guessing that for most of you in South Africa you have been enjoying the colder weather ...

The rain has arrived.

 Good morning folks, I hope you are all well.  I am guessing that for most of you in South Africa you have been enjoying the colder weather of winter for awhile.  Sadly Mother Nature has thus far kept winter locked up for the Western Cape, I kid you not.  We have had a very few cold days but of late oh my goodness, it has been full on summer, especially this past week.  Short sleeves, barefoot, doors and windows open for the slightest breath of air.  For the last three days the wind has huffed and puffed and blown gales of hot berg wind!  Never have I known winter to start so late and I for one am in serious withdrawal hehe.  This changed yesterday early evening when the long promised cold front blew in over the Cape bringing with it cooler temperatures and the blessed rain which started falling at 20.20 and has not stopped 👏🏻.  We should be having almost a week of good rains which will, please God put out the two wild fires that have been burning for the last five days.

It was a quiet week from my side although I did manage to catch up on all my mending so I guess that is something haha.   Hubby had a busy week with watches and also worked hard as he is sealing up areas along the deck.  Sometimes difficult going with the wind which is when he changes hats and goes to the watches. 

On Friday we trekked into town for my Drs appointment,.where eventually the last three stitches were removed, yaaay.  The new compression bra has made such a difference and  I was finally given the all clear and only need to go back in two months 👏.

Jasper has been having a rough week as we have builders in front of us. They have been there for weeks now but ha e also become progressively louder.  This has just freaked him out to the point that he won't come out of hiding and stopped eating 🤦🏻‍♀️.  It took the weekend to settle him and make him feel secure and today with the rain on the roof we are back to insecure and hiding. My little braveheart... not !!

It is going to be a busy week for Princess as yesterday was her birthday.  I cannot believe she is 19 and have been trying to figure how those years have gone by so quickly.  From the tiny little bundle that arrived in this world flashing her dimple to the exquisite, composed young women she is.  Well done Poppet you have done an amazing job of raising an incredible human.  Today she writes her last mid-year exam, it has been a long slog of four solid weeks of exams.  On Wednesday she is going in for surgery to repair the torn miniscus in her knee.  We will all be glad to see her  out of pain, it has been almost six months now 😥.  Please keep them in your prayers.

Folks, despite the rain housework continues so I must get going.  Have a wonderful week, stay warm, safe and healthy. Ciao Ciao.

Jasper the Brave in relaxed mode.