Here are my answers to this week’s Share Your World from Cee

What are you reading right now?

Mostly blogs and magazines including “go!”, “AFRICAN birdlife”and FAIRLADY.

I have just finished “And Babies Make Seven” by V.J. Keelan.  It is a true story about raising natural quadruplets – 4 little boys born to a couple who already had a little girl aged three.    As a teenager the mother had almost lost her life in a car accident that left six of her friends dead. She had a long hard battle to recovery and was left with some mobility impairments.  Yet she managed to raise five children all of whom did well at school and graduated from College.   It was an inspiring read.

I then started another book, The Letter, by Kathryn Hughes. It is the type of book I have probably outgrown as it is light reading with a predictable story line.  Not really gripping but I will finish it.

What was your first adult job?

If this question refers to my first full time employment then it would be my first teaching post as an Itinerant Speech Correction Teacher.  I had three schools on my circuit – two English Medium and One Afrikaans.  I took individual or small groups of children and corrected their lisps and stutters etc.  I also did hearing tests with an audiometer and checked on learners with hearing impairments some of whom needed language enrichment.  I remained in this job for five years and then did a short spell in a school for the deaf before I started class teaching.  My checkered career lasted for forty years.

However, my first ‘real’ job was at the age of 17 when I worked for a month as a nurse’s aid before I went to college.

I grew up fast that month.  One of my patients was terminally ill and took a shine to me and when I was on duty called for my assistance all the time. She died toward the end of my time at the hospital which had a profound affect on me.  I also watched the birth of a baby which was totally amazing.

 What’s your favorite breakfast cereal?

I do not eat high carbohydrate or processed foods so cereals are a No-No.  However, Woolworth’s has a Carb Clever Range of products which includes a type of low carbohydrate cereal called Almond and Cocoa Nib Granola. I have this with Greek Yogurt if I can’t have a cooked breakfast.  It contains sunflower seeds, coconut flakes, linseed, almonds, pumpkin seeds and cocoa nibs.   It is delicious.

What did you appreciate or what made you smile this past week?  Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination.

It’s has been a struggle trying to get my garden back into shape after our long absence so when the gardener turned up up after we’d given up on ever seeing him again,  I appreciated all the hard work he put into helping it look just lovely again.

Here are my answers to this week’s Share your world from Cee

How do you like your eggs?

Breakfast is my favourite meal.  So yes – I love eggs.  Any style will do but I usually go for fried – medium please.  Soft poached on spinach is also delicious.  Hubby cooks brekkie most days. Our standard is medium fried eggs on black mushrooms with banana, bacon and fried tomato. But he also does scrambled with a variety of ingredients – bacon, mushroom, tomato, cheddar, blue cheese – very rich and totally delicious.  Sometimes I do omelettes filled with bacon, feta, tomato and sweet peppers – or whatever comes to hand.

Going out to eat breakfast is also something we do twice or three times a week.

The Earl cooking breakfast in the bush

Have you ever met anyone famous?

I have! I met Charlene Surtie- Richards  and got to know her quite well when we were staying at The High Rustenberg Hydro some years ago.   We had tremendous fun with her. I have a non-digital photo but can’t put my hand on it right now as we have things packed in locked cupboards while the builders are busy with our renovations.   Charlene is a South African actress who I first saw perform on stage in a Pieter Dirk Uys play the name of which I  can’t recall.  She was also in a movie I saw called Fiela’s se kind.  (Fiela’s child) but at the time I met her she was playing the part of Nenna in a South African Soap Opera called Egoli – Place of Gold.

I have also met Pieter-Dirk Uys a South African satirist, author and political activist.  This was after a show I organised for a Cape Bird Club fundraiser.  He was kind enough to come out into the foyer and mix with the patrons.   He is great fun.

Pieter-Dirk and Me

What was the first thing you bought with your own money?

I really don’t remember!   I used to get R 2.00 a month pocket money in my teens and I guess that was “my own money” I know I used it to go to a movie and buy magazines but other than that I simply can’t remember.  My first salary, I think, after paying a minimal amount of board and lodging to my parents went on clothes!

What did you appreciate or what made you smile this past week?  Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination. 

There was so much to smile about this past week.  The Two Oceans Marlin Tournament took place here in Stuisbaai and with all those fishermen about who couldn’t smile or even laugh out loud.   The Earl and I were the official photographers and we hosted Andrew who was responsible for radio communication.   (I have blogged about it for those of you who are interested in fishing)