My Life's Winding Roads: April 2023

Greetings and salutations to you all on this lovely Easter weekend. I hope wherever you are you have relaxed and have a safe journey home.

For the first time since we moved down autumn started on time and we have had a cool wet Easter weekend, in the '80's the first cold front always arrived over Easter. For the last number of years the heat and absence of rain have lasted right through into May so, imagine my delight at being able to wrap up a little 😁 truly a happy bunny. Last month was, as expected filled with all sorts of things. Despite his concern and the rush, my surgery went well, the Gynaecologist removed a tumour which was benign Praise God, everything else went as planned. I have finished with Physio for my arms and everyone is delighted with my progress. My right arm is still a little stiff but exercise is working. I also had to see my Oncologist for a scheduled check up, everything is good there and all tests normal 🙏. She still wants me to have a Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy but agreed to give me a 'month off' to recover and with no procedures. It feels like I'm on holiday haha.

It was Jelly Bean's birthday and she really wanted to go and see the penguins at Boulders Beach, Simonstown. We went with the girls and decided to make a day of it. There were so many people crowding the walkways which was quite a surprise, it has become a huge tourist attraction. No one can get close to the penguins but it was very special seeing them and seeing their eggs in their nests. From there we went to a wonderful restaurant in Kalk Bay where we sat and played Kwirkle, a really fun card game. Afterwards we decided that the next time we want to see and get close to the penguins, it will be to our colony 900m up the road from our house 😀.

Deck news - I spent one and a half weeks making curtains for the deck, oh my goodness....never again. I bought 2.8m wide material and just trying to cut the drops was a mission, eventually we cut the last four on the floor of the deck. The widest curtain is 5.6m wide 🤦🏻‍♀️. I had ordered eyelets for them from Takealot as I needed 120. Once the time came to put them in I realised they were totally unsuitable and also too small grrrrr. That is the point where you just want things finished. The next trip to town and I purchased the correct ones, not cheap by any means, and then spent two days cutting the holes and clipping them in. I asked Hubby to go after me and just click in the bits which I wasn't strong enough to do. He then tootled off to buy rods to hang them on which, once we started we realised the rods were not thick enough. So this week back to the shops for thicker, stronger rods and then HANG the curtains.

Awhile ago we had the Volvo towed into a Volvo repair centre where it sat whilst they tried to figure out the problem. It took a good long while and they came back to us saying that it needed a new ECU and a new Harness (I'm just repeating what I know, doesn't mean I KNOW what they are 😃). Again these things cost a small fortune. We had claimed on our householders policy for water damage to the ECU last year. With a prayer and crossed fingers we submitted the new quote and Praise God they paid out in full. We have had the car back for over a week and she is running well and Hubby is a very happy man. All in all it was just short of two years that she stood here. God is so good to us.

On Good Friday we were invited to the Bears for lunch and I must say it felt very smart driving along in the Volvo. We had the most delicious lunch, they truly outdid themselves and we enjoyed a memorable afternoon with them just chatting, catching up and generally relaxing together. Thank you both for such a special day.

The diamond art is still being thoroughly enjoyed by JB and myself. Princess has also been busy as she did a multi panel one for her boyfriend, after completing her first one. Poppet is also busy but I am not sure how far she is. JB and I sit and do ours in the afternoons during loadshedding. I have finished three and she is on her second. I ordered a beautiful one which I want to put in the bedroom and for Jelly Bean's birthday I was able to order her a custom painting of a Nebula, which is going to be stunning when done. I eventually found the right product to seal them with and now they are waiting for Mr Hubby to make frames. It is an addiction but quite the most rewarding and relaxing one I have come across.

And that folks is my month of March in a nutshell, as always busy with a number of different things and thoroughly enjoying my 'month off'. We have been given some plants which we are currently getting into the ground, cushions to make for the deck benches, watches and clocks to be repaired, frames to be made and so it goes on.

I pray you all have a good month of April, may it be a month of answered prayers, blessings, good health and God's protection. Ciao ciao.

Gorgeous view from Simonstown across False Bay to Rooi Els.