Share your world Week 44

2016-11-04 | puppy1952

Sorry that I haven’t participated for a while – have not read or written blogs for a few months due to travel and other time consuming stuff. I am now trying to get back into it.

What was your favorite subject in school?

I loved English – even Grammar which seemed to be a problem for most kids but I found it quite logical.

If you could have a servant come to your house every day for two hours, what would you have them do?

I am used to help in the home but since retiring I’ve taken to doing my own housework. Cleaning windows is the worst chore so that is what I’d want done at least once a month. Other chores would include cleaning the bathroom and kitchen and and mopping my tiled floors.

Where did you live when you were in the third grade of school? Is it the same place or town you live now?

I lived in a delightful suburb of Cape Town called Fish Hoek and I lived there or not far from there for most of my life. In those early days it was a sleepy seaside village when children were free to play unsupervised and the beach and the mountain were our playgrounds. It is still a delightful place but more built up and the traffic is a nightmare.

And now I live in another sleepy seaside place at the southern tip of Africa. It is called Struisbaai and I love it.

Fish Hoek Beach in the sixties

The beach is still there! This is the upgraded Jager’s Walk

In your opinion, list some places that are great for shopping?

Paris of course. But seriously when I am in Cape Town I head straight to Woolworths. At home in Struisbaai I love the little shops we have in our tiny mall and our main business area. In spite of it being a small town most of our needs are met and we like to support local business where possible. And then there’s Bredasdorp 30km away. Once again you are assured of friendly and helpful service from the owners of the stores themselves.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful that my husband is returning to good health.

I look forward to finishing packing up the Cape Town home we’ve just sold.

Share Your World #29

2016-07-21 | puppy1952

Here are my answers to this week’s share your world

What is the perfect pizza?

My favourite pizza is never on the menu of most pizza places but I’ve seldom had a problem having them make it up for me. I call it a Greek Pizza – the toppings are fetta, olives, spinach and avo – delicious.

What is your favorite time of day?

I am a morning person but now that I’m retired I don’t get up early in winter! Summer is a different story – I love an early morning walk and swim on the beach.

When in the bush mornings are the best time to get those stunning sunrises and to catch the early activity of the birds and game.

Show us two of your favorites photographs? The photos can be from anytime in your life span. Explain why they are your favorite.

The first photograph is precious because it shows all four grandkids really enjoying each other’s company. It was taken in 2014 when we were all together in Struisbaai.

The next one is special for a similar reason but here they are under the milkwood tree with their precious grandfather – and they’re all smiling at the same time!

Complete this sentence: I’m looking forward to….

our trip to Italy!

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

It was wonderful having my grandson, Jay and his friends stay with us for a few days and I’m grateful that he doesn’t think he is too old to show affection to his gran in front of his mates.

The boys dwarfing Granny!

I have come down with diverticulitis this week and look forward to getting over it quickly!

Share your World #28

2016-07-12 | puppy1952

Here are my answers to this week’s Share your World questions.

What is your earliest memory?

I am always intrigued by what sticks in my mind and what doesn’t. I forget what I did yesterday but my memories from before I was four are still there! In my earliest memory I am three years old. Big Brother is already at school. He is six. I am holding Mommy’s hand and she is pushing Little Sister in her push chair. She is one. We are meeting Big Brother who is walking home from school. I have no idea why this memory sticks – nothing significant happens but I remember my brother looking very pleased with himself while I feel a tad jealous that I am not big enough to be at this important place called school. Other memories from this time in the southern suburbs of Johannesburg are vivid. Sitting on the pavement with our nanny Siena – she chatted to other nannies while we played with their young charges. The gold mine dump near our house, the
“bumpy” road we took as a shortcut to the main road that took us to wherever we were going, our enormous garden with its very long driveway and extremely tall trees – my first bird call memory is of the turtle doves calling at sunset. We left this house to live in Cape Town when I was five. I returned with my brother when we were in our thirties. He had not been there since he was 8 but he found the house without a hiccup. I couldn’t believe how the garden, trees and driveway had shrunk over the years!

I do remember one significant thing – I am standing in the dark street with my father (and mom and siblings) He is pointing to a moving star in the Sky- “That’s Sputnik,” – he said, “One day they’ll put a man into space!” That would have been in October 1957 and I was not yet five years old.

What was the last photo you took with your phone?

I don’t often take photos with my phone but if I see something interesting on my walk I like to show my hubby a proof shot. The last one was of a pair of rock kestrels but they’re too blurred to show here. Instead I will post one of harbour. I can never resist photographing it.

Struisbaai on a still, winter’s day.

Have you ever danced in the rain?

I can’t believe I haven’t because I have danced in the oddest places at inappropriate times but I don’t remember any dancing in the rain incidents.

What is the longest you have gone without sleep?

More than 24 hours. It was the last day of college. I was in a residence called Lincoln at Grahamstown Training College. We came from all over the country and had been together for three years. Now we were dispersing to different parts of the country and didn’t know when or if we would ever see each other again. We stayed up all night to get the very last of each other. The next day there was a final chapel service and we sang, “God be with you till we meet again” Well, the refrain, “till we meet at Jesus Feet” set me off and I couldn’t stop crying. A fellow student gave me a lift from Grahamstown to Port Elizabeth where I boarded a plane to Cape Town and I cried all the way in the car and on the plane. Of course, it was the lack of sleep the amplified all this emotion. I had just calmed down before deplaning and was ready to meet my father with a smile – but as soon as I saw him – I burst into tears again! However, it didn’t take long for me to get over it and enjoy the next phase of my life!

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful that the cupboards are complete, the workshop is painted, the bunk room is tidy, the burglar alarm is installed and all that is left is for the burglar bars to be fitted.

I am looking forward to my grandson and three of his friends arriving tomorrow for a five-day visit. We used to bring the boys and their friends for holidays to Struisbaai when they were kids – now they’re old enough to drive themselves here!

Share your world #26

2016-07-02 | puppy1952

Here are my answers to this week’s share your world questions

What’s your most memorable (good or bad) airplane flight?

I was 7 months pregnant and flying from Durban to Cape Town when suddenly we hit some horrific turbulence. The seat belt lights went on and the aircraft made the most frightening noises as it adjusted the pressure in the cabin. It felt like the plane was dropping thousands of metres then rising up again. I was terrified. Everybody on the plane remained uncanningly calm. My friend, Peggy, was with me and she agreed that she’d never had such a scary flight before. Luckily nothing happened but for many years after that I was terrified of flying. Years later I found myself stuck at the top of the Alps in a ski lift. The view was amazing and I didn’t have the slightest fear – although my legs were dangling thousands of metres above the ground with only a bar across my middle to protect me from falling out. Why then was I afraid of of flying? It put things in perspective and I was less nervous on an aircraft after that.

Recently I was once again on a scary flight. This time it was from Cape Town to Durban when we ran into a storm. It was dark and the sky was split with lightning. The plane shook and I turned to my husband and said, “I’m not scared – if we die now it will be okay – I’ve lived a good life!” The whole plane was restless and children were crying. The pilot had to land in this treacherous weather and it turned out to be the smoothest landing I’ve ever experienced. As we touched down the whole plane broke into spontaneous applause.

The flight attendant came over the speaker with the words, “Give that man a Bells”

(This is a quote from a commercial for Bell’s Whisky. When a heroic deed is done the punch line is – “Give that man a Bells.”)

How many bones, if any, have you broken?

I broke my foot by landing badly doing high jump in Grade 8. Got me out of athletics for the rest of the year.

When I was 19 I worked as a volunteer camp counsellor. There were strict rules about leaving the camp at night but some of the other counsellors and I snuck out for coffee at a nearby restaurant. On our way back some boys bothered us so we ran – I fell down an embankment and broke my leg. My friends helped me back to camp and we snuck back in. I spent the night in pain but had to confess the next morning. The leader was more sympathetic than angry and I was dispatched to the hospital to have it set. It ruined the rest of my summer holiday!

If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? (guest can be dead, alive, famous or someone you just know)

Helen Keller – She was deaf and blind but could talk – I find her story fascinating.

The late Duchess of Windsor – What was her secret? How did she captivate a king so much that he gave up the throne for her?

Barbara Streisand – my favourite female singer and actress. Just love her music and her movies.

Make a Currently List: What are you reading, watching, listening to, eating, needing, wanting, and missing right now?

Reading: The Cleaner of Chartres by Salley Vickers

Watching: Tennis at Wimbledon

Listening To: Cape Talk – now that I can get it on DSTV

Eating: Soups and stews in this cold wintry weather – Oxtail cooked by Hubby – delicious. Breakfasts at Shipwreck Cafe at least once a week!

Needing: I’m presently living a charmed life -so don’t really need anything.

Wanting: I want a new pair of jeans – actually three pairs – black, blue and white. But I don’t need them! Also a white shirt. I’m planning to shop in London in August.

Missing: I miss my mother. She often turns up in my dreams and I will miss her forever.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

The weather here has been freezing so I am grateful for the gas heater.

I am looking forward to spending this weekend with my kids who turned up to surprise Dad/Grandpa for his birthday today.

Share your world #25

2016-06-26 | puppy1952

Here are my answers to Cee’s Share you world Week 25

How many languages do you you speak?

English is my Home Language. Most English speakers are lazy about learning other languages as no matter where you go in the world you can almost always find somebody who knows English. But I like languages. I speak my second language, Afrikaans, fairly proficiently. Now that I live in a community that is 90% Afrikaans speaking I am becoming even better. I will soon be spending two months in Italy so have begun a Duolingo online course in that language and I’m loving it.

My father was Greek but all I ever learned in that language was a few greetings, to count and to swear!

What are some words that just make you smile?

Stunning, super and fabulous are words I use a lot and I guess they make me smile. A sentence that would make me smile – We’re going to Kruger!

If you were the original architect of one existing building, which building would you select?

When I was in Australia I couldn’t get enough of the Sydney Opera House – so I guess it would be that one!

Would you rather have telepathy or telekinesis? (Telepathy is the communication using your brain waves, telekinesis is channeling the energy onto physical objects to cause substantial, observable physical changes.)

Telepathy – My husband thinks I already have it and can’t understand why I don’t know what he wants before he asks.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful for an amazing week with friends visiting us and the fun we had birdwatching and exploring the area of the Southern Tip of Africa.

Next week I am looking forward to a quick visit to Cape Town to collect my British Visa and to collect my repaired car. Also I am anticipating that all alterations here is Struisbaai will be complete!

Share Your World #22

2016-06-02 | puppy1952

Here are my answers to Cee’s Share Your World Questions

Every country in the world has lost men and women in some kind of Armed Forces. When does your country celebrate their deaths?

We remember Poppy Day – 11 November – but it is not a public holiday.

Here in South Africa people lost their lives in their fight for freedom and so perhaps Human Rights Day celebrated on 21 March is when we remember those who lost their lives in that kind of war. Specifically the events of Sharpeville are remembered. On that day in 1960, 69 people died and 180 wounded when police fired on a peaceful crowd who protested the Pass Laws.

Similarly 16 June – Youth Day is an important day of remembrance. On this day we reflect upon the young protesters who were ambushed by the apartheid regime police in Soweto on 16 June 1976. Over 500 youths were killed. They were students from a number of Sowetan schools who took to the streets to protest against having Afrikaans at the medium of instruction in their schools. About 20 000 students took part in the protests which took place over a few days. This was in 1976.

What is your favorite holiday or holidays?

Of course this has to be Christmas although I find it stressful to have to think of how best to celebrate. With as large an extended family as we have, it is difficult to please everybody. So over the years, the way we do it has changed several times and is changing still. But in the end whatever we do turns out to be fun.

Easter is also great – who can resist all that chocolate?

How do you celebrate that holiday?

With overindulgence of course! Last year we celebrated in Cape Town – very unusual! We had a tree and opened gifts before breakfast. Then at midday we had a roast turkey and roast lamb with all the trimmings. We did not have the traditional pudding but usually we do. This time we had my sister in law’s amazing trifle.

Even though our grandkids are quite big now, we still have an Easter Egg hunt. Great fun.

I know that some people take holidays very seriously and while we appreciate the significance of each one, we treat the day as we would any other – grateful for what they signify but we don’t attend events that make a big thing of them.

What are you grateful for in the week that’s past?

A great deal! So much change has taken place in our home. The highlight was receiving our recovered recliner. I just love the colour and it makes a huge difference to our lounge. The workshop extension to the garage is almost complete, the desk unit in the lounge is in use and the bedroom cupboards and bookshelf in the braai room will hopefully be completed by the weekend.

This chair had become quite shabby but I had a sentimental attachment to it so I couldn’t part with it – love the result of the reupholstering.

Our new double work station

What are you looking forward to in the week to come?

Our Schengen Visas are ready for collection and I need to apply for the UK Visa. Am I looking forward to that? Well it will be a chore and another trip to Cape Town but at least it’s a step closer to what’s needed to go on an overseas trip – and who can complain about that! It is also great to see the kids and friends back in our old home town!

Share your world Week 21

2016-05-26 | puppy1952

I have been neglecting my blogging for the past fortnight but I have an excuse! There is a lot happening in my life right now. Now that I’m retired I tend to go with the flow and don’t stick to a routine but just let things happen as they crop up. This is fine some of the time but it does mean that I forget things that I am supposed to be doing – like I forgot a dinner date with a very dear friend – that is inexcusable – So sorry, Chantal!

We have a wonderful life here at the southern tip of Africa but because we are planning a trip to Italy we had to go to Cape Town to sort out our Schengen Visas. I went ahead of Hubby and excavated the junk from our family home in Sun Valley. Thanks to Romilla for taking a lot of it for the charity for which she works! Hubby joined me on Monday and on Wednesday we went to Capago to do the Visa thing. Because we are are doing renovations to our Struisbaai home he was itching to get back so after packing the Land Rover to the hilt we hit the road for home at 11 am this morning. I had caught up with friends while there and last night we met up with folk we will be travelling to Kruger with in October – such a stunning evening.

And now I must get back to the Blog – I will start with answering Cee’s lovely questions on Share your World.

What is your favorite go to beverage? Water, coffee, tea, coke, soda (non-alcoholic)

Yes – I am a coffee addict – but I don’t overdo the coffee thing otherwise I would never sleep! I love my coffee – it has to be hot, strong and black – strong – but not too bitter because I don’t take sugar 0r milk to disguise the taste – so you see a good barrister is important here. I judge a restaurant by the quality of its coffee – not its food!

Having said all this I also enjoy a good cup of rooibos tea. Recently I have tried a Rooibos Chai – delicious. My Indian friend, Romilla says I mush have it with milk – but I don’t do milk so I take it black = but I am thinking of trying it with milk.

I avoid fizzy drinks but Coke I use medicinally if I or my family have upset stomachs- but it must be the original recipe made with sugar – not corn syrup. Believe me this is not psychological – it really works.

– Can you change a car tire?

Absolutely not! – That’s why I married a man with a plan. A very handy man he is and he is able to get me out of a thousand different scrapes. I like to think that I am a Feminist but I’m not -I like a hero to come around and rescue me from my plight – if my man with a plan is not about I’ll call someone else!

Are you a listener or talker?

I like to think that I am both! I love to listen to people with something to say! I can listen to Romilla for hours – she has such wonderful stories of a culture different to my own and i find this fascinating. I do listen to people’s problems but then I like to fix them. Not a good idea -a sounding board is all they need – a sympathetic ear and somebody who cares – not somebody who thinks she has all the answers to the world’s problems.

I talk a lot and hope that the listener is interested!

Would you rather have no internet or no cell phone?

I wouldn’t choose to be without either but if I have to choose the cell phone would go – I often don’t even know where mine is! My generation I believe are digital aliens while the younger generation are digital citizens.

I am enormously grateful for the internet and couldn’t imagine life without it. What on earth did we do before it became an essential in our lives. I love modern technology – the aps and the readily available information most of which is free! Right now I am grateful for Duolingo which is teaching me Italian.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

There is just so much that I am grateful for – Meeting up with old friends last week made me so happy and delighted that I still have them in my life. I am also so grateful that I have my health and the energy to excavate the junk from my family home. I am grateful for stunning kids and grandkids. I am grateful for the funds to travel to distant lands and for still having a sound enough mind to enjoy learning a new language.

I am looking forward to rearranging things in my home in Struisbaai! Our renovations are nearly complete – I have brought things from Cape Town to help redecorate in Struisbaai and it’s going to be fun sorting everything out.

Share your World Week 18

2016-05-03 | puppy1952

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

Who was your best friend in elementary school?

My only friend in Grade 2 was my cousin, Philip, and then I met the most amazing little girl, Jennifer. I was shy and insecure and she was friendly and confident. She included me in all the games and made sure the other girls accepted me. Having such a good friend made me feel more comfortable at school and I changed from an under-achiever to one who coped quite well. We were inseparable for the next four years and then her father was transferred to another city. Over the years we kept up a correspondence and saw each others for the odd holiday. Since then we have lived in the same city for only a brief time. Yet we are still best friends. She lives in England and I live in South Africa but our friendship has survived for 50 years.

What things could people do for you on a really bad day that would really help you?

Take me out for cup of strong black coffee and a chat!

If you could make a 15 second speech to the entire world, what would you say?

Choose your attitude, choose to be happy, choose to deal with problems in a positive way. Work hard, play hard, accept challenges and embrace every opportunity that comes your way and remember that “Life’s not about the breaths you take but the moments that take your breath away.” Cherish those moments!

Would you rather be an amazing dancer or an amazing singer?

I’m bad at both but it doesn’t stop me singing at the top of my voice much to the distress of my children. I also enjoy dancing with my husband. I guess if I had to choose it would be an amazing singer.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful that I was able to have a very good friend and my daughter here for the Workers’ Day Weekend. The weather was stunning and we had a great time catching up and enjoying each other’s company.

If all goes well I will have a man building new cupboards in my house this week. I’m really looking forward to that.

Share Your World Week 17

2016-04-25 | puppy1952

Here is my contribution to Cees Share Your World questions this week.

When writing by hand do you prefer to use a pencil or pen?

Good question! I much prefer typing on a device than actually using pen and paper as I find writing a struggle. When personal computers became hit the world I immediately started using them for all my school work and was the first in my school to hand in computer generated mark schedules and attendance registers – it certainly eliminated the pain of re-doing them when I made frequent mistakes. But when I do have to write my first choice would be a pencil – so I can erase errors! Of course certain things have to be written in pen and then I use one with a fine nib.

What’s your choice: jigsaw, word, maze or numeric puzzles?

Oh word puzzles without doubt although I also enjoy Sudoku. And of course I do them in pencil with an eraser close at hand! I am useless and jigsaw but I have a daughter who loves them!

Do you prefer long hair or short hair for yourself?

I love long hair as tying it up in a ponytail or bun is really easy but it is doesn’t suit me, so I go to the opposite extreme and keep my hair pretty short.

List five of your favorite blogs.

This is difficult. I love reading blogs. I am going to name five in no particular order. Others I read are also very much enjoyed.

Crazy Train to Tinky Town A young woman’s writings about her experiences with parents, lovers, travel and people she meets. Truly delightful.

Just left awkward suddenly approaching old – A woman my age writing about the past and the present. We have such a similar take on life.

Shail’s Nest – Completely different – writing from India about many different topics including Indian culture and values, family, pets and we have a common interest in birds.

So here’s us A moving blog by a brave and wonderful mother. Her family includes biological and adopted children, special needs children and now cancer has struck one of her little ones. It’s an honest account of how she copes.

Something over Tea Delightfully written by a like-minded nature loving, tea-drinking South African.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last week I wrote that I was looking forward to whatever surprises the following week had in store – and wow – what surprises there were. We’re making changes to our home and one of the things on the list was to get a fake cane suite for the lounge. After much researching on the internet we did a 24-hour round trip to Cape Town to visit the showrooms and Bingo we found just the thing for a fraction of what we thought we might have to pay!

So of course I am looking forward to its delivery and rearranging my living room. But I might have to wait more than a week for that.

Another surprise was a spur-of-the-moment trip to Warmwaterberg for two nights – and one of the highlights was an excellent ‘Boerekos’ meal at the restaurant – Lamb Pie for Hubby and Bobotie for me. Because we said, “Hold the rice and potatoes,” they gave us extra vegetables – gem squash filled with peas, cauliflower and broccoli with cheese sauce and sweet pumpkin – all delicious!

Share your world Week 16

2016-04-20 | puppy1952

If you had to have your vision corrected would you rather: glasses or contacts? Or what do you use if you need to have your vision corrected?

After enjoying enjoying perfect vision for the first forty or so years of my life I thought that I would only need reading glasses when I reached a certain age. So I started with those Readers you get without prescription and was hugely irritated by having to take them on and off all day long – off to look at my class – on to write on the board – off again and then on again to look at a child’s work. Very irritating. Finally I decided to have a proper eye test and was shocked to be told I needed to wear glasses all the time! But my varifocals are fan-tas-tic – They’re coated for sun, computer and night driving and suited for near and far visionary tasks. It took me only two weeks to get used to them and after 20 years I just love them. Contacts? No way – I think they would irritate my sensitive eyes.

If you had to describe your day as a traffic sign, what would it be?

I have never thought of my day in terms of traffic signs but here is one that made me think.

When we travel in the bush we watch out carefully for the small creatures. If we’re not mindful of them the whole balance of nature can be upset. In my everyday life the dung beetles are metaphors for other things that should have right of way.

Was school easy or difficult for you? How so?

School was not the easiest time of my life, I certainly had to work hard. But it was not that bad either and mostly I enjoyed it. The most important skills I learned at school were Reading and Touch Typing. Couldn’t manage without either of those two things 🙂

Would you rather take a 1 or 2 week vacation with an organized tour or take a cruise of your choice?

Neither of these appeal to me. I have been cruising twice before and enjoyed them but I prefer a self-drive, self-guide kind of holiday. First choice – a Wildlife reserve in Africa – Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park being my favourites. But a trip to the Greek Isles, Italy and the rest of Europe is also on the bucket list.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful for my caravan and the fact that I can pick up and go on a whim (just returned from such a trip) I am also grateful that I am financially secure enough to enjoy my retirement.

The coming week could hold anything, I am looking forward to its surprises.

Share your world Week 8 2016

2016-02-23 | puppy1952

Here are my answers to Cee’s Share Your World Week 8

What household chore do you absolutely hate doing?

Cleaning windows. I don’t mind any other household chores but somehow the cleaning of windows is too much for me – I just can’t get them clean. So I never clean them – instead I employ somebody else to do it. It’s well worth the money.

What was the last URL that you bookmarked?

It was about making a Banting Toasted sandwich – but I haven’t tried it yet! Low Carb toasted sandwich

Close your eyes. Listen to your body. What part of your body is seeking attention? What is it telling you?

My stomach is telling me that I am hungry. I’ve been busy doing household chores, made the salad and am now ready for some flash fried tuna. (Hubby is going to make it!)

Would you rather have a two-bedroom apartment in a big city of your choosing or a mansion in the country side in the state or country where you currently live?

I am happy with the house at the sea-side where I live. My caravan is also an attractive option. The mansion would require too much time doing household chores – imagine all those windows!

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful for the stunning weather we’ve been having -lovely sunny days but not too hot and we’ve even had a shower or two of much needed rain. I’m making the most of the sunny days and usually have a morning and afternoon swim in the sea. Whatever the coming week has to offer I am sure I’m going to love it.