My Life's Winding Roads: A very quick check in

My Life's Winding Roads: A very quick check in: Hello, hello family and friends this is just a very quick note to say hi and also to say a huge thank you to everyone who has messaged and...

A very quick check in

Hello, hello family and friends this is just a very quick note to say hi and also to say a huge thank you to everyone who has messaged and or called over the last two weeks, your  thoughts and prayers have meant so much to me.   The surgery went well if not very long, somewhere just under six hours and the first few days I was kept heavily dosed on numerous pain Meds before being discharged exactly a week later. Poppet and Princess drove me home in comfort and great style.  On the Sunday BigBear drove all the way through for a visit as well as giving Jelly Bean a day off by making us the most delicious lunch.  This past week at home has possibly been one of the longest weeks of my life as I am learning to manage the pain, discomfort and dressings as well as two trips into Somerset West to see both Surgeons - those trips along my favourite road I now dread the most, for all the corners, bumps and jiggled lol.  The one thing that became apparent within hours of waking up was this phrase - The expectation is vastly different to the experience, and once again I can say that without God I do not know how I would have coped, He is ever present and indeed my comfort and strength. As I said this is really just a "Hi" and "I am still here" check in folks.  Hopefully by next week I will up to a more chatty Blog but as far as the family are concerned everyone is doing well, the animals are up to their normal antics, with Charlie quite literally barely leaving my side.  Apparently he became quite depressed whilst I was in hospital and now that I am back he is making sure I don't disappear again hehe. Well folks I wish each of you a wonderful week, make the most of your health and time and as always stay safe.  Ciao ciao with love 

My Life's Winding Roads: The wait is almost over.

My Life's Winding Roads: The wait is almost over.: Well at long last the wait is almost over and I wish you all a happy Monday from a mild weathered BB, we have even had some glorious rain an...

The wait is almost over.

Well at long last the wait is almost over and I wish you all a happy Monday from a mild weathered BB, we have even had some glorious rain and our first official South Easter of the season.   One annoying thing with this time of the year is there are certain grass and weed seeds which get stuck in the dogs fur and require multiple combing sessions during the day to get them out with a fine tooth comb, it is nice bonding time though.

Last week passed in a blur of busyness, stress and a fair amount of drama and lovely surprises, and I am SO glad it is now history, I almost feel like I should issue a disclaimer saying "Please don't hold me accountable for anything I said or did last week". 😂 Sasha had 6 teeth pulled and came through the whole ordeal like the trooper she is and has finished her antibiotics and pain pills, she is livelier than ever. I spent the week completing the cat caves (can you believe it?) at last after redoing the one that was already finished and yesterday they went off to their new owners  ..... Yaaay

On Wednesday we had a visit from very old friends of mine whom I have not seen in over 16 years, what a lovely visit and special time of catching up with each other.  Thanks D,A and M for taking the time to come all the way out here and for my gorgeous gift.

On Thursday our day exploded with a bang when Zeepha  ate one of Sasha's pain pills, while Hubby was busy doing  her breakfast.  I jumped onto Google and found out it was highly toxic for cats so then it was a call to the Vet who told me to give her one tablespoon of charcoal mixed with one teaspoon of washing powder mixed into a paste, to induce vomiting.   Well, I had carbon pellets, which don't crush, and mixed them with washing powder, added a little water in an effort to dissolve them, even tried pulverizing them which also didn't work.  Jelly Bean and I tried pouring it down her throat not very successfully and managed to scrape together a teaspoonful of gritty mix and get that in but nothing we did caused her to bring up the tablet.  More calls to the vet who then asked us to rush her in, I don't think we have every driven that fast on Clarence Drive.  As we arrived they were waiting and first thing was to weigh her and because she had picked up 500gm it put the tablet slightly over the overdose limit, this was a crucial plus.  The vet gave her a proper syringe of charcoal and we came  home with a cat who has still not until today vomited the tablet out.  She seemed ok and was eating although I was worried about her breathing as it sounded very chesty, I now realise that when giving her the carbon we must have got some in her lungs 😢.  On Friday she  ate breakfast and by that night her breathing became very interesting rapid and crackly, we honestly did not think she would make it through the night, she was not eating at all and hardly moving.  I awoke in the middle of the night and was too scared to go see where she was as I was convinced she wasn't going to make it.  Saturday morning Hubby was also up early because of worrying about her and there she was, ready for food, her breathing normal and on the mend, I prayed so hard and truly believe that God intervened although undoubtedly she used one of her lives.  Good grief talk about stress..

On Friday whilst JB and I were in Somerset West I received a message for other very dear friends who were in town and they spent Friday afternoon with us.  How to be truly blessed beyond measure with old friendships that never change despite time and distance and, having two visits in one week 💗 

We are in another family birthday week  - Poppet celebrated her birthday yesterday and Hubby dearest is on Tuesday, as a result everyone came over to our house yesterday with the guys doing the braai and I did salads and a pudding (which I forgot to serve 🤦🏻‍♀️), BabyBear also did a salad and Princess had organized and left me with a decadent cake and all Poppet's favorite pastries.  We missed Big Guy and Princess who is in Pretoria for the week,  you two missed out on a feast..... sorry 🤗 .  Needless to say I sent everyone home with a pudding packet and memories of a really special day hehehe.

This week ahead is going to be one of preparation including another CoVid test prior to my surgery on Friday, the wait has been so long which was not necessarily a good thing mentally and emotionally and now that I'm in the final approach I will admit to being a little nervous.  I know beyond a shadow of doubt that God is in control and has already gone before me and in that I am trusting, for every single aspect, from the diagnosis to my complete recovery.  Due to the fact that I will be in hospital next week I am going to take a brief 'Blog Break' for a week or two, just until I get up and comfortable enough to carry on.  To every single person, some of whom I have never even met, that has messaged, called, encouraged and is praying for me ....... Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your care and love.  Messages and calls come just when I need them most, picking me up and encouraging me when I feel overwhelmed.  I am truly blessed to have such special people in my life. 😘 

I trust and pray that this week will be one of peace and blessings for each one of you, thank you for your support on this Blog as I share My Life's Winding Road.  Please stay well and safe Ciao Ciao 

Cat Caves ready 

A bit of this and a bit of that

Good morning everyone on this last week of September, I don't know about you but it has been a very long month as far as I am concerned. As I type this I look up out of our roof height windows and the mountain is shrouded in grey cloud, looking beautiful and dark. Weatherwise we have been really blessed with mild temperatures, some rain and mild winds, just what I call comfortable 🙂 After many times of crocheting and undoing the Cat Cave I eventually got it just right and oh my word was I a happy camper. The pattern is now amended properly and I should be able to knock the second one out this week 🤞🏻. Zeepha took such a liking to it that I have decided to undo her's and remake it according to the new, amended pattern before I go into hospital. I got some baking done and quite a bit of catch up within the house. Hubby spent the majority of the week working on clocks and watches and has come a long way in clearing the queue that had begun to build up. I would say that production wise, we had a good week. Sasha has been 'coughing' of late and we noticed that it seems to be more prevelant when the temperatures drop or it rains so, on Thursday we took her into the Vet for a checkup of her teeth and the 'cough'. Seeing as she is now 12 and apart from vaccinations this is her first ever visit to the Vet, I think she is doing very well and is still very active. The diagnosis was that she needs to have her teeth cleaned as the back molars are in a bad state and the Vet believes that this could also be the cause of her cough, kind of like a post nasal drip. Her heart sounds good and so this morning Hubby is taking her in and they will do her teeth under anaesthetic and I pray that will fix it all, poor old girl. After the check-up Jelly Bean and I were dropped off with the girls where we were able to relax while my very energetic Hubby did all the stops that seem to accrue with annoying regularity. Just going in exhausts me at the moment so I really appreciated the down time at Poppet's house. Friday was a Public Holiday and we invited the girls over for a braai which turned out quite different to what we had planned. At the last minute we decided to use the Air Fryer instead of making a fire - we do not eat a lot of meat but oh gosh, the lamb chops and pork steaks were absolutely delicious, done to perfection. The more I use it the more uses I find for it 😁. The rest of the family are doing well although BabyBear twisted her ankle last week and it turned out to be a torn ligament, she is now in a brace/boot and more than frustrated at not being able to exercise and get about. Praying for a quick recovery Angel. Now that I am down to less than two weeks of waiting for my surgery I will be honest and admit that I am nervous, yes a little about the actual surgery but also about the post-op recovery with all that it will entail. I think the wait has just been too long and I will be glad to have at least the first major step behind me and know that I am on the recovery road. It is impossible to 'imagine' how I will feel waking up after the surgery to effectively having lost my 'boobs' but, I am still just as determined to beat this and do it in faith and with grace, I also know that it is going to involve a huge amount of prayer and resilience. Without God I would be lost, it is only in His strength that I can come through this. As a quick follow up on all the drama regarding Scar Face last week, it seems that that the three Villages - Bettys Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els are going to come together to protect our baboons and preserve our Biosphere for future generations. There is still much anger and grief around last weeks situation and the best way to channel it is to form a strong enough group to stand up to those who are totally unscrupulous. Well folks that is it for now , I wish you all a wonderful week, for those who are struggling and hurting in whatever way I pray that you experience the Peace and Comfort of the Holy Spirit and that God Himself will make your road smooth and give you the wisdom needed in all your decisions. Please stay safe and stay well, Ciao Ciao . My Interior Decor is designed around cardboard boxes for Zeepha's pleasure, even if she doesn't fit.

My Life's Winding Roads: #R.I.P. Scarface

My Life's Winding Roads: #R.I.P. Scarface: Good morning greetings everyone, here we are at the beginning of yet another new week and I hope you are all ready to tackle whatever comes...

#R.I.P. Scarface

Good morning greetings everyone, here we are at the beginning of yet another new week and I hope you are all ready to tackle whatever comes with it. Weather wise we have had a glorious week of mild temperatures and strong winds (they do make getting the washing dry so easy). There is definitely a bit more warmth in the air but thank goodness no major heat 🤞🏻. My week started off with a determination to solve the pyjama 'crisis' and my course of action was that on Tuesday I got into my car and drove through to Somerset West to find the appropriate garments. It was the first time since we moved down, I think, that I went by myself into town to do some shopping for myself and was just what I needed. I did try and get some extra Tyarn but that proved unsuccessful so I then turned my attention to my most hated place, the Mall. Clever me, I phoned ahead to find out who had what and bingo ........ I got exactly what I wanted and needed. The store I had called were keeping two pairs aside which I took to try on and whilst walking throughout the shop I noticed a rail pushed to the side with old stock of winter pyjamas, as I ran my eye across I noticed a shorter sleeve and just managed to conceal my delight on seeing that it was last years stock of summer pj's, one size bigger than I wear and THE only summer pair on the rack. Whooo hooo, into the changing room and they were perfect - roomy enough to deal with dressings and drains and extra bonus, R100 less than this years stock. I was beyond chuffed and now have two new pairs 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. I consider that a successful trip and even though I paid the price the next day physically it was SO worth it, even stopping at the roadside Coffee trailer on the way home and indulging in a steaming cappuccino. I will be honest the waiting is certainly proving beyond tedious and I'm almost down to counting days, currently two weeks and 3 days. On Friday we received an email from the Surgeon letting us know that our Medical Aid has waived all the co-payments for the hospital, thank you Father God. That has been such a concern, now we are praying and waiting to hear about the co-payments for the Plastic Surgeon. Hubby is still being inundated with clocks and watches which is amazing but, also means the deck is on hold added to which it is well nigh impossible to Install glass with a gale blowing. On Thursday for some reason Jasper was very unwell and had a very unhappy tummy, by that evening when he started vomiting we were really beginning to get worried. I continued giving him tummy meds and just plain boiled chicken and happily he is now completely back to normal. 🙏🏻 On Friday our little Village exploded with the news that the baboon monitors (an extremely contentious issue as they terrorize the baboons with paintball guns, trying to drive them back into the mountains) had been given permission to euthanase the one Alpha male called Scarface. He has been a lone baboon ever since we've been here and is extremely intelligent in that he learnt how to lift sliding doors off their frames. To back up a little as most of you know we live in a what has been identified as a world protected bio-sphere. Most of the residents, like us, made a conscious decision to move here for all that being in a bio-sphere encompasses - dirt roads, free roaming wild life, protected vegetation, no light pollution etc. The baboons come with the package and as such every responsible resident has a baboon safe rubbish cage or bin and devices have been developed to protect sliding doors and windows etc. As the population has grown and with it irresponsibility, the baboons have been introduced to human food and will come down into the Village to look for it. There are quite literally a handful of not even full time residents who have not put in place the necessary protocols and they somehow raised enough noise to cause the Municipality to hire a 'firm', the 'monitors' mentioned above. These people will rampage through anyone's property chasing and shooting the baboons in an endeavor to herd them back into the mountain, I know of one family personally who have moved out of BB due to the gun (paintball) toting idiots, the constant sound of said guns firing and the desperate cries of the baboons being hurt. Back to Friday, once it was discovered what they intended doing a group of residents got together to try and protect the troop and Scarface in particular. He has NEVER hurt or attacked a human or a domestic pet, except in trying to defend himself against unleashed dogs. As you can imagine this has caused a complete uproar and by Saturday morning Beauty Without Cruelty had become involved in absolute desperation. After their talks with the Mayor he was given a stay of execution and the decision to re-locate him was made. Relocation as far as we are concerned was just as unacceptable, but infinitely better than being killed. We have local residents who spend all day every day with the troop watching them, following them and where necessary warning residents if they go in amongst the houses. Everyone did absolutely everything they could and just before lunch on Saturday he was enticed into a cage using potato crisps and then murdered. Their excuse was they had caught him and could not keep him locked up with no relocation papers available despite two locations being made available for him. As you can imagine this has left almost our entire village in a state of mourning for the cold blooded killing of a magnificent animal. As I said on one of the forums "It is just as well that humans down through the ages have not been 'euthanased' for being too clever, because if so we would still be living in the Stone Age. All I can do is pray that somehow, somewhere, some organization which is bigger than these bullies will come in remove them and cancel their contract. They were fired from the City of Cape Town for similar unsuccessful conduct on the Peninsular and are now on our side intent on wiping out a species which is endemic only to this area, the Chacma Baboon. As you can probably gather I feel very strongly about this and if I could I would do whatever it takes. Anyway folks, that is my news and my rant for the week, I wish you all a blessed week as God goes before you to make flat all the hills and surround you with His peace. Ciao Ciao 

#Scarface relaxing on the  grass. 

Photos shared with permission #peteoxford

Enjoying the gardens.