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

If a distant uncle dies and you were always his favorite and leaves you $50,000 (any currency) in his will, what would you do?

I’ll take the money in American Dollars please.  If the uncle is distant he would definitely be in the USA as some of the Greek side of the family emigrated there from Ithaca.  And the only way I could have been his favourite would be because he kept up with me via this blog!

Anyway – we’re in Share Your World Land so we can have some fun.  So I would use this lovely inheritance to take a Mediterranean Cruise – The Greek Islands, Spain, Italy, France etc.  I’d have a balcony suite which for my hubby and me would cost about $30 000 dollars for three weeks.   The rest I would use for the air fares and still have some spending money left over!   Yes – that would be the perfect way to blow $ 50 000.

What sound or sounds do you love?

The dawn chorus of birds on waking up.   Nothing more cheerful than that.  Children laughing, the school choir singing and the waves breaking on the shore are also rather lovely to hear.

What’s your middle name?  Why?

I think middle names are unnecessary and can be embarrassing if they’re somewhat unusual – or rather they were when I was a kid. Today strange names are the norm and in my experience as a teacher I seldom found kids being teased for having an odd name – first or middle.  I was given two middle names so that neither grandmother felt left out for not having me named after her. In the Greek tradition the first born daughter is supposed to be named after the Paternal Grandmother.  My mother who was not Greek refused to comply so instead of being named Maria – I was given an Anglicized version of the name – Mary – as my second name and Edwina after my Maternal grandmother as a third name.    I found these names cumbersome as a child but now I rather like them.

I did not want to give my child a second name but ended up doing so to placate her father who wanted it as a first.    She doesn’t like her second name but is perfectly happy with her first – so at least that was a good decision.

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. 

Last week was busy and rather fun so I had a lot to smile about.   But the biggest thing that made me smile was the completion of my bedroom extension. Being able to move in after more than two weeks in alternate digs was lovely.

The extension – would it ever be done?!

Yes – At Last!

The original section with new floors

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

What did you or did not like about the first place you lived without your parents?

The first place I lived without my parents was at my college residence.   There were four houses and mine was called Lincoln.  To say that it was Spartan would not be an understatement but I thought it was amazing.   In my first year I had my own little ‘cell’, which was part of a partitioned dormitory which housed five of us.  The only private part about these cells was that you could not see each other but you certainly could hear each other!   My cell had a narrow single bed, a dressing table with three drawers and a curtained off hanging space.   It was tiny!   The bathrooms were also partitioned and there was but one loo per floor. But what fun we had in spite of the very strict rules of the establishment.  Today’s girls would be horrified at what we thought was perfectly normal.

What is your most favorite smell/scent?

I think that would be the sea.  Jasmine comes a close second.

Would you prefer snowy winters, or not, and why?

Snowy winters?  I have not had many of those but when I have been in a snowy environment I have absolutely loved it.  I grew up fantasizing about playing in the snow, building snowmen and skiing down steep mountain slopes and it only became a reality when I was forty years old!  I had only been in snow once before aged nineteen when  on a College educational trip in The Hogsback Mountains of the Eastern Cape. We were all hugely excited to wake to a snowy landscape and we all ran out in inadequate clothing to experience it.   By midday it had all melted.

But then my dream came true when I went on a skiing holiday to Verbier in Switzerland.  It was awesome!

Me on the Alpine Slopes

Not even falling snow will stop South Africans having their braai! – That’s me in pink hat and scarf!

But of course I have never had to deal with constantly clearing driveways of snow, being housebound because it’s too cold to go out without donning layers of furry clothing or braving icy roads in a motor car.   So – Yes – I think I am perfectly happy with the mild climate I am privileged to live in.

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. 

I smiled this week when while visiting my friends, I was mobbed by a flock of Cape Sugar-birds.   They know that it’s humans that fill the sugar water feeder and so when they see someone who might be about to do that, they fly toward them in anticipation.   I feed the birds in my garden but have never been quite as warmly welcomed as I was when my friends’ birds came to greet me.

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)

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

Was school easy or difficult for you? How so?

In the beginning school was a challenge.  I was a year younger than my classmates and I believe that’s where the trouble began.  However, after repeating Grade 2 things improved and I coped reasonably well for the rest of my school career – no prizes for brilliance though!

List some of your favorite types of animals

I love wild birds and animals.   My favourites change from time to time.  Right now I’m preparing for a visit Kruger National Park and these are the animals that always give me a big thrill when I see them.

• Leopard
• Lion
• Cheetah
• Wild Dog
• Hyena
• Giraffe
• Honey Badger
• Martial Eagle
• Lilac breasted roller
• Woodland’s Kingfisher
• And all the others will bring me joy of course

What is your favorite large city you have been to? What is the one thing you remember most?

Next to city where I was born – Cape Town – Sydney, Australia is my favourite.   There is nothing I don’t like about it.   The Sydney Harbour Bridge and The Opera House are really stunning landmarks.   Too many memories to single out just one.   Maybe a ride in a beach buggy from our Air B&B to Bondi Beach was an unusual and memorable occasion

What’s not to love

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

I realise that my mind is not as sharp as it used to be but I appreciate that I’m still okay!

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

What do you consider is the most perfect food for you? (It can be your favorite food to something extremely healthy.)

I think I’ve mentioned before in my blogging that a good South African braai is my favourite meal.

I also love anything Greek – Roast lamb Greek style is to die for, Moussaka is irresistible and if spanakopita is on the menu, I’ll have it!

Are you focussed on tomorrow or now?

I believe in savouring the moment and living each day as if it’s your last.  But also enjoy planning for a future event like a holiday.  Part of the fun is getting ready for the coming event and if it’s to go somewhere new I do research what to do and what not to miss.  I do not stick rigidly to a plan though.  I enjoy spontaneity and going with the flow.

If you could interview one of your great-great-great grandparents, who would it be (if you know their name) and what would you ask?

This is the domain of my youngest brother.  He enjoys researching the ancestors and finding out about what they did in the distant past.  I love hearing about it from him but he has not managed to go too far back.

I have no idea who my great-great-great parents were. They would have lived in the 1700s. Were they peasants or lords?  Some would have lived in Greece, some in Italy. Then there’s the British and German ancestry too.   Perhaps it would be nice to hear from a  great-great-great grandmother. There would have been sixteen of them!   In those days I believe women were seen as being inferior to men and that their sole purpose was childbearing. Perhaps they were subservient to their husbands – perhaps they or some of them rebelled against that and were in fact the real rulers of their homes.  Certainly they had no civic rights and probably did not attend school.  But perhaps they were educated at home?   It would be fun to find out whether they had dreams or aspirations of doing more than becoming a wife and mother or perhaps they were content with their lives and just got on with what had to be done.  I can’t believe that all my 16 great-great-great grandmothers had fabulous lives but perhaps some did.  Perhaps they were beautiful society ladies who attended the king’s caught regularly.  On the other hand perhaps some were parlour maids or cooks in grand homes and worked hard just to keep body and soul together.

They were certainly all from different countries and would not have been at all like each other.  It would be fun to get them all together now to say – Hey -look at your descendants – would you ever have believed that this is how things would work out for them?

Hopefully it will be easier for my descendents to find out about me and get to read my blog!