Catching Up With The Family

2018-06-04 | puppy1952

On Friday after enjoying a delicious breakfast at our favourite coffee shop, The Earl said, “I feel like going off somewhere for the weekend.”

“Where do you want to go?” I asked. It was cold and I didn’t relish a caravan excursion.

“To the kids in Plettenberg Bay!” came his reply. Well – why not! It’s a whole six weeks since we saw them last. And the novelty of having them only five hours away hasn’t yet worn off!

So we rushed home, phoned our son-in-law, packed a bag and hit the road at 10:30 am!

The drive from Struisbaai to Plett is an easy one. There is very little traffic and the roads are in good condition. But when we passed through George there was a congestion. What could be wrong? The Earl began to get anxious as the traffic police were not handling the situation very well. The road was blocked and the two officers didn’t seem to know what to do. They were letting a few cars through and only when we got close to them were we told that if we were going further than Victoria Bay we wouldn’t be able to get through. A truck had lost it’s load of beer on the pass. Sooo we had to turn around and take the narrow, windy Seven Passes Road. At one point there was a single lane bridge to cross and this caused a huge congestion. It took us two extra hours to get to our kids. But such is life and it was all part of the adventure. Imagine if we’d been in a hurry! We still made it to Jubilee Farm by just after five pm.

Lauren was teaching when we called our son-in-law so she and Simon only found out we were coming at the end of the school day. Allan cooked us a delicious lamb curry and had a fire going. It was, to say the least, a happy reunion.

A warming curry for supper

Grandpa and Si in front of the fire – Gramps has the extra warmth of Roger round his neck

Saturday was a much warmer day. The sun shone, the sky was blue and there was not a breath of wind. I was delighted to find that yellow-billed ducks now visit the pond in front of the house.

This duck called out his joy with gleeful quacks

Cheddar the cat likes hunting in the long grass and reeds next to the dam

We took the family to town for lunch. The Table is a lovely Italian restaurant with seating outdoors.

The Dolphin Statue in Plettenberg Bay

Lauren and Allan at The Table

Lauren and Allan had delicious pizza, The Earl and I chicken and avo salad and Simon a Blue cheese salad. Desserts were Creme Brulet and Fruit on sticks dipped in dark Belgium Chocolate. Yum!

Our granddaughter, Shannon, who attends Glenwood House in George, was not home for the weekend as she had choir rehearsal all Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. So on Sunday we had a leisurely late breakfast and enjoyed the morning with the family before setting off to George. Shan was with family friends for the day and we visited her there before taking her back to school. It was lovely catching up with her and The Bakers. It was also lovely to see Shan’s school and to meet her roommate. I am so proud of my well-adjusted granddaughter. It wasn’t easy leaving her much loved St John’s in Pietermaritzburg at the end of last term. But after only five weeks she is fitting in so well at Glenwood. You go Shan, Girl!

Shan and her roommate, Onika

After dropping Shan we went to Great Brak to see more family – Diane and Carey who live on a small holding in the mountains called Rondomooi. For my overseas readers Rondomooi means All Around Beautiful.

And all around where they live is truly beautiful!

Carey has a workshop on the property where he builds Motor Homes. They also grow veggies and keep chickens. Diane is going to start an orchid nursery.

Eggs from the Free-Range Hens

Diane collecting eggs

Kitty keeping an eye on things

Lettuce growing like trees!

Carey showing me the garden

We spent a lovely evening and morning with Carey and Diane and at 11 this morning headed back to Struisbaai. We stopped in Swellendam to refuel with diesel and coffee!

It was a lovely sunny day and we even stopped to snap this lovely rock kestrel

IMG_6924_InPixio

What a lovely little get-away that was. When you retire you can do these spur of the moment things! How lucky we are!

Day of Goodwill Picnic

2016-12-28 | puppy1952

26 December 2016

After all the excitement of Christmas, today was a chill day. The weather was warm and sunning in the morning. Earl, Laurie and I went to town to shop for our excursion to Wattle Cane Cottage tomorrow.

In the afternoon we had a brief thunderstorm and almost abandoned our plans to picnic on the neighbouring peach farm. But in the end it cleared up and it was very pleasant next to the river. The men braied some boerewors and steak and there was other left over Christmas fare. The Baker Clan were there along with Sean’s sister and family and also his brother. It is beautiful there next to the river under some shady trees. The kids enjoyed themselves at the water’s edge and also played an energetic ball game.

A lovely late lunch spread

Baker Cousins and a friend of the family

Our youngest and oldest

Our perfect middle child on the right

The handome grandson

Granddaughter has mischief written all over her face

No – you are still too young to drink!

A lovely place to hide

Joshua made us laugh

A cute shot 0f Simon who is camera shy! Thanks Josh.

A good game to work off all the food

Robyn keeping order

#NABLOPOMO 9 I’m not too old.

2015-11-09 | puppy1952

NABLOPOMO

You hear it all the time – Age is just a number – it doesn’t mean a thing. Yeah Yeah – but I still wonder – when is ‘old’ going to happen? What is it that makes one old? Is it the colour of one’s hair? The changing shape of one’s body? The failing of one’s health? Or is it just in the eye of the beholder?

When I was a child I thought my grandparents were old. They were fit and healthy but to me grandparent meant old. And Granny used to say quite cheerfully – “I’m getting old you know my darling.” And I didn’t disagree. But my grandchildren – oh no – they don’t believe I’m old at all! Okay – so I was pretty young by modern standards when they were born – but I was the same age as my grandmother when she had grandchildren their age. Firstborn Grandson said to me one day when he was about 12 “Granny – all my friends’ grandmothers have grey hair – why don’t you have grey hair?”

“Oh but I do, my boy. I just have a very good hairdresser.” He was horrified – “You mean it’s died?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“So you mean you really are old?”

But I am afraid it did not bring about new respect. On the contrary – If I said – I can’t ride bikes with you anymore – I’m too old. He would reply – get real Gran of course you can! It’s a precedent, I’m afraid that I set – and now that they’re almost grown men they are still finding it hard to accept that Granny is getting on you know!

When they were in Primary School, I wrote this silly poem.

Over the Hill

I am getting older, I’m
nearly fifty five.

Over half a century I have
been alive.

I should be slowing down now,
and easing up my life.

I should be getting mellow
like every older wife.

But here I am a-peddling up
this bloody hill.

I hear my grandsons calling, their
voices loud and shrill.

You can make it Granny. You’re
really doing well.

(I do not want to tell them
that I almost fell.)

They think I am their
playmate. They think its rather fun

that Granny takes them
cycling when their homework’s done.

And as they dash through
puddles and do wheelies up the curb

they encourage me to follow;
but really that’s absurd!

They fall and seconds later
they’re back up on their bikes,

a band-aid heals their
scrapes but Granny falls, and yikes –

She needs a month of physio
to get her muscles right.

So falling off her bicycle
would not be very bright.

Now they’re heading down hill
at a break-neck speed.

Those boys are getting all
the adrenalin they need.

With screeching breaks I
follow at a calmer pace.

“Go Grandma”, calls a smart ass
Aloof, I turn my face.

I could be baking cookies, I
could be knitting socks.

Instead I join my grandsons
scrambling over rocks.

I could be watching T.V.
or at a ladies’ club.

Instead I join them hiking
when they go with the cubs.

I’m glad that I, a grandma
can still do all these things.

Being active with my
grandsons – oh what joy that brings.

We have such fun together out
in the cool fresh air.

And if people think it’s
funny – I really couldn’t care!

October 2007

Now climbing mountains with them is even scarier – Firstborn and Second born are 15 months apart in age and tower above me. They race up the mountain like mountain goats with no consideration for their safety and laugh at me when I tell them to please be careful. Their younger cousins, are not far behind either while I huff and puff and worry that I’m going to have to call emergency services to bring them down in a helicopter! When did this happen? I thought I was still fit but I can’t rock hop anymore!

But if this is old – that’s okay! They laugh at me now because I fuss about their safety but they still won’t let me off coming along for the fun. Aren’t I a lucky grandma!

Second and Fourth grandchild scary me silly

Second and Fourth grandchild scaring me silly

#NABLOPOMO 8 Life is Good

2015-11-08 | puppy1952

NABLOPOMO

It has been such a happy day today and it got me thinking about how lucky I have been in my life. Even though there have been hard times and struggles and days where I’ve thought I can’t do this anymore. But looking back nothing seems bad at all. Everything seems so worthwhile. Some things I used to stress over make me laugh now and I wonder why was I so fussed about it all! I am talking about raising kids of course. All that nagging and training and insisting on good manners and responsible attitudes – I took it all so seriously. That’s the great thing about being a grandparent – you’ve done it all and the kids turn out fine – well most of them do. I do know the most amazing parents who did everything right who’ve had little demons that turned bad and I am not one to blame the parents – there comes a point where the child has to take responsibility for the path he chooses! But when one’s child does make wrong choices in his adult life it is heart-breaking for the parent. How does one cope with that! Tough Love – that’s how. I strongly believe that you allow so much and no more. Let that adult child know – I’m here for you – but there are the rules. Allowing them to abuse you is not love. Giving in to their demands is destructive to you both. It is hard but there comes a time when you have to let them go their own way and then to move on with your own life because usually you’re not the only one affected and you are needed by other people in your life too.

But I am so lucky – my daughters and granddaughter are perfect and my grandboys are getting there – hey – boys take a little longer.

I had a good giggle when I saw this on Facebook this morning – this could have been written by me!

This has been the story of my life! But lucky for me my hubby catches the fish, cleans it and I don’t even have to cook it – he does that perfectly too. So he takes his rod and goes fishing and I take the gold card and go shopping!

Today was such a day – look at the happy faces of these two guys out on the boat.

My hubby on the boat with his mate, Tommy

While this fishing excursion was on the go, I took Baby Daughter and Second Grandson out for a bonding breakfast. I had not seen them in some time and had some catching up to do. I wanted First Grandson to come too but he was gamed out and sleeping it off so we left him at home. Hubby phoned to say he’d hooked enough food to feed half of African and that I should be sure to invite two couples over for dinner. Baby Daughter had plans for lunch so bade us farewell and off she went while Second Grandson and I finished the shopping – what a pleasure to have him as my assistant – he put all sorts of things in the basket that I might have forgotten – cupcakes being an example! But seriously – having a 17 year old push the trolley, pack the car then unpack it is such a privilege and saves an old lady’s back. And it’s all done with a smile. Then as I was setting the table I knocked one of the candles of the chandelier with the tablecloth and it broke. He rushed to my assistance and informed me that actually they were all dead and needed replacing – I wouldn’t have found this out till the evening – remember I’ve been away for 4 months! And hooray we had enough replacement candles which he changed for me and helped give the dusty chandelier a clean!

First Grandson was gaming – again. “I don’t need to study, Gran, I know my Physics.” No arguments – I just switched off the internet and said, “Then get an A, boytjie – Study some more” And he did! When Grandpa got home he asked him all kinds of questions about his work which he ‘knew’ and now ‘knows’ better! Yes I am a lucky gran!

Our guests arrived at 6:30 and what a great evening we had. It’s so good to get together with wonderful friends who have always been around in good times and bad. These are the kind of friends you hang onto forever. Some people come into your lives for a season and a reason and sometimes you’ll see them again and sometimes not. If you do it’s great if you don’t you’ve valued the time you did have and no regrets – but then there are those with whom you have a real bond and that is what I appreciate about the friends we had this evening. Always a pleasure to be together.