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.

My Life's Winding Roads: A new month, new victories.

My Life's Winding Roads: A new month, new victories.: Hi everyone from our tiny corner of paradise.  Still not winter here but definitely cooler and  much more pleasant temperatures 😃. Our week...

A new month, new victories.

Hi everyone from our tiny corner of paradise.  Still not winter here but definitely cooler and  much more pleasant temperatures 😃.

Our week started off with a very early start and a visit to the Surgeon on Monday, not exactly my ideal haha.  He was not happy with the degree of chaffing and damage to my skin from the tight underband of my compression bra or the hole.  He immediately and without any ado put a stitch in to close it OUCH.   I have to report back this coming Friday to have the stitch removed.  The annoying thing was the following day a new hole formed right under the stitch 🤷🏻‍♀️.  JB and I are just doctoring it and keeping an eye on it, but so far it looks ok.

When we went in, for it was the three of us as well as Charlie as he was overdue for his injection.  Oh my goodness,  Charlie whined all the way to town (most unusual) and was generally unsettled.  After making a couple of stops Hubby dropped us off at the Mall as I needed to try and find a full support bra that won't cut into my skin.  A complete waste of time and energy as there was nothing that fitted, nevermind full support, an experience that made me discouraged and tearful.  When we arrived back at the car JB opened the back door to get in and there it was on the seat ... 💩.  That's why Charlie had been so unsettled and at none of the stops had he been out of the car.  Meanwhile Hubby claimed he thought he had stood in something 🤦🏻‍♀️.  Mercifully it was a quick and easy clean before we made our way  home, gratefully.  I spent a large portion of the week researching and trying to find the correct in between garment and hopefully did.  We are waiting to pick it up from the Surgeons rooms.

After all this time we are now able to start enjoying the deck, it still has a way to go aesthetically but what a beautiful space.  The whole of yesterday we had all three fold-back doors open, leading onto it and it was just one big, glorious space.  Not long now and I will post pics.  Hubby has had an influx of watches after months of receiving  mostly clocks.  People come with sometimes four or five watches needing repair and/or batteries.  Obviously they move to the front of the 'work' queue.  

Family wise everyone is doing well, all exceptionally busy with work and deadlines and for Princess it's exam time.  Yesterday we had the Bandy Clan over after not having seen them for three weeks, which felt much longer LOL.   It was soo good to see them, catch up, give and receive hugs - most definitely the best medicine in the world.  Humph arrived sporting one of his very smart Bow Ties and looking very dapper.

I am looking forward to hopefully being able to get back to my crafts and projects soon, my current 'interest' is Needle Punch Embroidery.  I have seen examples here and there, but had no idea that it is actually the modern version of Rug Pulling.  As I mentioned previously I am going to need to change scatter cushions in the lounge and happened to come across some that have been done with Needle Punch, they are beautiful and give a unique 3D effect to the cover.  It can be done on fine embroidery right through textures to actual rug making.  I am intrigued and cannot wait to try it out for myself.

Well folks, that is my news for this week.  Have a wonderful week. Take time to take those deep breaths. Smell the roses and in general be kind to yourself.  Please stay safe and well.  Ciao Ciao.

Pic is of a cushion by Botanicalboys.com