Three Yuletime Stories

A gift of writing to share with my friends and family. No I am not the writer of these stories but please leave a comment for this talented writer. A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for everyone.

Mercian Muse Thank you for sharing Sarah.

Rosemary's Garden

Good Friends are like Stars .....
You don't always see them,
but you know they are there .....


I remember the days when you used to show me around your garden, dig up a little bit of this and that to plant. Not one of those designer gardens with only 5 different varieties, Murrayas and more marrayas and lots of paving. No it was a surprise garden, you name it and you loved to plant it. Lots of bees and birds visited your bottlebrush trees in the driveway. The little green tree frogs lived just outside you dining room window in the golden cane palms next to the little pond. stepping stones around the side of the house inviting you to follow into a wonderland of plants. Old John was your righthand man, he stay at your Mom's Alice's house in his little room he made homely for himself. He was just about a member of the clan.

You would kick off you black bata's runners just outside your front door and we would have a cup of tea together, sometime Dawn would join us. The kids were all such good friends .....

Then thing changed, we moved away to another continent, we all experienced change of some kind but life goes on, and we learn to cope. We grow older and start having grandkids of our own, Little Nathan with his wide baby smile and Leigh who growing up faster than you would like. Each holding a very special place in your heart. You are one very special Lady My Friend Rosie. The bond of friendship between us stays strong, we will be friends forever.

Love ya
Rina

Rosie

This message Was sent to me by my very special friend Rosie on Facebook, and before it disappears for ever I wanted a special place to remember it by. It's really just meant for me but I am not the special one. My friend Rosie is, she nursed her very sick husband Roy to the end, and you can tell it was true love, even now. Love ya my friend.

My Dear Dear Friend, I thank you again for opening you home to Roy, William an myself, when we were last in Aus........ So Long ago now...... But;, the way you opened your heart and home to us when we needed it most; will never ever be forgotten. I still remember you cooking all Roy's favourite foods and sneaking ou...t to buy groceries, so that I could not insist on paying for them!!! You; my girl are one amazing friend!!! I am so blessed to be able to call you my dear friend. A friendship like that is so hard to come by. I am indeed, so extremely fortunate to have you touch my life!!!! I wish all of your Family a really wonderful Xmas, But to you my dear darling friend; I wish I could give you all your heart desires, because when you were made, the mould was definately broken, you are truly a really "special person!!!!".....And, even though you are so far away, you are always in my mind and heart. Lots of Hugs, Love and Thoughts my Darling XXXXXXX

See now you made me cry ... Rosie you will always be my friend ... we live far away but your never far from our thoughts and prayers. Best Wishes and hugs for the Boys, their Families and a special hug for you too. love Ya Rina

From my Garden

Could you have a better recycled flower pot than a old garbage can.

For all the cat lovers out there and holidays.

I just been browsing this morning and found a wonderful writer, so please go visit her blog, if only I could be so creative as this Lady.

http://www.wethreecats.blogspot.com/

Kiti, this one is for you my friend.

Let me tell you when you have as many cat as we do, (don't tell the landlord please, they stay right next door, and still havent worked it out, touch wood), you realise cats are very special creatures. We lost old Chester a while back from old age, so our tally is 6 atm. Most are getting older now, so they will go to cat heaven soon. Sad but it part of life.

I will be away at the farm for a full 5 weeks leaving 26th Dec, taking Daisy the Goat and 11 ewes and lambs with me. Ever heard of sheep going on holidays! It's all that lovely green grass we got there. The heavens have been good to us ... lots of rain and lots of feed for my animals.

I will be trying to post on Our Slice of Heaven www.pumpkinpatchgarden.blogspot.com which is going to be hard as is, cause were we going there is no power, no phone reception except for G3 mobiles and I don't have one of those. But I will need to drive to town for supplies a few times then I could use the internet cafe.

So unless you hear from me before that. I wish you and your familie a lovely Christmas and am even better New Year.

Until nexttime
Rina

Christmas Quiz

I borrowed this from another blogger

As you bask in the glow of your finely lit Christmas tree, gather the family for a bookish Christmas quiz. Each paragraph below is a quote from seven beloved Christmas books. Guess the title of the book that corresponds to the quote. Sounds easy peasey, right? Well, I'm not going to give you the titles that derive from contemporary, classic and children's books. Answers found at the link titled "Christmas Quiz Answers". May I suggest a plate of angel-shaped cookies and eggnog to accompany your brain activity?

A. "The Kranks are skipping Christmas! No party! No tree! Nothing but money in their pockets so they can blow it on a cruise.

"B. "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.

"C. Chapter title "My Old Man And The Lascivious Special Award That Heralded The Birth Of Pop Art

"D. "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.

"E. "You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of underdone potato. There's more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!

"F. "The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire…

"G. "His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

"H. "On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets. I was listening for a sound—a sound a friend had told me I'd never hear—the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh.

"I. "…the Man, the Connection, Santa Claus himself"

J. "More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"K. "God bless us every one!"

Christmas Quiz (copy)
http://maggiereads.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-quiz-copy.html
at 9:18 AM
Tags: Booktalk

1 valued comments:

Sharon said...
A. Skipping Christmasb.
A Christmas Carolc. In god We Trust, All Others Pay Cashd.
How the Grinch Stole Christmase.
A Christmas Carolf.The Best Christmas Pageant Everg The Night Before christmash
The Polar Expressi.
In God We Trust, all others pay cashj.
The Night Before Christmask.
A Christmas CarolI think I got them all.
I read The Best Christmas Pageant ever last year. I watch A Christmas Story every year and have read the book once (In God We Trust...) this was fun!

The Boy's first Christmas

My grandson's very first Xmas stands out to be one I will always remember. My eldest son returned to africa a few years after we all moved here. There he meet DIL and the rest is history. Got this phone call oneday Mom we pregnant just 3 weeks before My other son announced they pregnant too. Needless to say the post man knew me by my first name.

Cobi was born in South Africa early Feb, except for photo's I had never held or cuddled him.We paid for their airfares to OZ for a 3 week holiday so we could spend a Christmas together. They arrived tried but in good spirit at the airport, while I was just about jumping out of my skin to see my boy again after 4 years. meet my DIL for the first time and got to cuddle my grandson. Poor DIL she must have not known what to think of this batty old woman and grumpy old man.

Anyway after we got home and had a little visit, Son wanted to go for a little drive to show DIL the nearby beach. I got to babysit this very tired baby, who had fallen asleep in my arms. To their amazement something he never did at home. We had a lovely Christmas ... the boys very first Christmas ... I bought a little teddy each that we hung on the tree with their first Xmas on it and gave each mom one.My other grandson was born on my Birthday in Sydney. They are both living in Brisbane now and go to the same school but not the same class. Best of friends.

Season's Greetings to all
Until nexttime
Rina

Aussie Christmas song

Check out this website http://www.mamalisa.com/?p=20&t=ec&c=19 for lots more Aussie Christmas songs including Six White Boomers . Boomers, by the way, are kangaroos –but I have never actually heard them called that other than this song)

AussieJingle Bells
Dashing through the bush
In a rusty Holden Ute
Kicking up the dust
Esky in the boot
Kelpie by my side
Singing Christmas songs
It's summer time and
I am in My singlet, shorts & thongs
CHORUS:OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLSJINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA ON A SCORCHING SUMMER'S DAY.
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE
Engine's getting hot
Dodge the kangaroos
Swaggy climbs aboardHe is welcome too
All the family is there
Sitting by the pool Christmas day,
the Aussie way by the barbecue!
CHORUS
Come the afternoonGrandpa has a doze
the kids and uncle Bruce Are swimming in their clothes
The time comes round to go
We take a family snap
Then pack the car and all shoot through
Before the washing up
CHORUS

The Translation into real English, American and New Zealandish, as far as I am able.
Bush – forest, woods
Ute – Utility, two door vehicle with a trayback
Esky - cooler, icebox, chilly bin
Boot – car trunk, the storage bit at the back of the car.
Kelpie – breed of farm dog, like the one in footrot flats (I’m humming Dave Dobbyn’s Slice of Heaven as I type)
singlet – sleeveless undershirtthongs –
flip-flops, jandals, I don’t know what you call them in the US – but they are footwear,
not uncomfortable undies
Swaggie – a swagman – a legendary Australian figure who wanders the bush carrying a bed-roll(swag)
Shoot through – leave
I think I’ll shoot through myself.
Hoo roo (that means good bye).

Last edited by paula hewitt.

Betsy's Skilpad grappie

Geduld, o, geduld....

Ek kry die iewers en die trane loop al weer...van die lag....

So was daar die twee skilpaaie van Beaufort Wes wat eendag besluit het om bietjie Kaap toe te stap vir die vakansie want, soos hulle reken, almal behoort darem seker een keer die see te sien. Vir padkos vat hulle ‘n halfjack brandewyn en ‘n pakkie sigarette saam. Nouja, hulle val in die pad en hulle stap en hulle stap en hulle stap ‘n jaar lank. Toe stap en stap hulle en hulle stap twee jaar lank, maar hulle hou aan met stap en toe hulle al drie jaar aan’t stap was toe’s hulle net duskant Worcester en die twee reken dis nou ver genoeg en tyd vir ‘n smokebreak. Hulle stop toe en die pakkie skywe word uitgehaal maar o gonna, hulle het vergeet om vuurhoutjies te bring. Dit was omtrent ‘n slag en om die vakansie te red bied die een skilpad toe aan om terug te stap Beaufort Wes toe en te gaan vuurhoutjies haal. Die ander skilpad sê toe dat hy ses jaar sal wag en as ta dan nog nie opgedaag het met die vuurhoutjies nie, dan sal hy solank die brandewyn opdrink. Hulle kom ooreen dis billik en so aan en die eerste skillie val in die pad. Skilpad nommer twee parkeer homself solank onder ‘n bos en hy wag. Hy wag en wag ‘n jaar, hy wag twee jaar, hy wag drie jaar en hy dink by homself dat daai ander skilpad nou seker al op Beaufort Wes is. Toe wag hy verder, en hy wag vier jaar, toe wag en wag hy vyf jaar, en met die grootste spanning wag hy toe die sesde jaar ook deur. Van skilpad nommer een is daar egter geen teken nie en hy besluit om nog ses maande te wag, in welke geval dit tickets sal wees met die brandewyn. Die ses maande kruip verby en met geen teken van die stapper of die vuurhoutjies nie besluit hy om die brandewyn te drink. Hy het net die halfjack nadergetrek en aan die prop gevat, of hy hoor die stem van die eerste skilpad van onder ‘n bos hier agter hom: ‘Drink net aan daardie brandewyn dan gaan haal ek nie die vuurhoutjies nie.’_________________

Old Truck

Just another day in a vet's life ... Shane's world (Afrikaans)

Just another day in a vet's life ... found on the internet.

Ek het die mail vanoggend ontvang dit het my nogal geraak........ Omdat ek 'n veearts is, is ek geroep om die tien jaar oue Ierse wolfhond Belker te ondersoek. Die hond se eienaars, Ron en Lisa en hul seuntjie, Shane, was almal baie lief vir Belker en het op 'n wonderwerk gehoop.

Ek het Belker ondersoek en gevind hy is besig om dood te gaan. Ek het die familie gesê ek kan niks meer vir hom doen nie en het genadedood voorgestel. Ron en Lisa het gesê hulle dink dit sal goed wees as die sesjarige Shane ook die ondervinding kan meemaak en dat hy dalk iets daaruit sal leer.

Die volgende dag was ons bymekaar om die prosedure by hul huis te doen. Shane was kalm en het die ou hond vir die laaste keer gevryf. Ek het gewonder of hy verstaan wat aangaan. Binne 'n paar minute het Belker sag heengegaan. Die seuntjie het gelyk of hy Belker se heengaan sonder moeite of verwarring aanvaar.

Ons het almal 'n paar oomblikke bly sit en gedink hoe jammer dit is dat diere korter lewe as mense. Shane het skielik gesê 'Ek weet hoekom.' Ons het almal na hom gekyk. Wat uit sy mond gekom het, het my verstom. Ek het nog nooit 'n meer vertroostende verduideliking gehoor nie. Hy het gesê: 'Mense word gebore sodat hulle kan leer hoe om goed te lewe soos om almal altyd lief te hê, nê? Honde weet reeds hoe om dit te doen en daarom hoef hulle nie so lank hier te bly nie.'

Leef eenvoudig. Gee liefde vryelik.. Gee werklik om. Praat vriendelik. Onthou, as 'n hond jou leermeester was, sou jy dinge geleer het soos:
• As iemand wat jy liefhet tuiskom, hardloop om hulle te groet;
• Moet nooit nee sê vir 'n pretrit nie;
• Geniet die vars lug en die wind in jou gesig ekstaties;
• Neem af en toe 'n slapie;
• Strek voordat jy opstaan;
• Hardloop, baljaar en speel daagliks;
• Gedy op aandag en laat mense aan jou raak;
• Moenie byt as 'n grom genoeg is nie;
• Staan 'n oomblik stil op 'n warm dag en lê op jou rug op die gras;
• Drink op 'n snikhete dag baie water en lê onder 'n skaduweeboom;
• As jy gelukkig is, dans rond en swaai jou hele lyf;
• Geniet 'n eenvoudige, lang uitstappie;
• Eet met smaak en entoesiasme, hou op as jy genoeg gehad het;
• Wees lojaal, moet nooit iets voorgee wat jy nie is nie;
• As dit wat jy wil hê diep ingespit is, grawe tot jy dit vind; en
• As iemand 'n slegte dag het, wees stil, sit naby en leun saggies teen hul aan..._________________

Talking to Animals

Can you really talk to animals Grandma says Cobi

(You may crack a little smile)

Yes my boy, you just got to listen very carefully.

(About 10 mins later)

Grandma I can talk to animals too.

(and I can believe him too cause he adores animals, and so who are we too tell him he can't)

Don't you just love the innocence.





But could there be some truth to my statement. Animals gravate towards me like you would not believe. They sense when you coming home, just like this Saturday. My cat "Rat" decided no way is she coming inside on Saturday night and it was with great difficulty that DD finally got her inside. It's like she knew we're nearly home and this happens everytime we 're away.

You know how cats choose their owners, well this one choose me (I think) I always say to DH she spoke to me promising to be the best puddycat, just take me home. And Boy I tried hard to walk away especially as DH said no more cats. But it was the best $10 I ever spend ... She gives you all the love anybody could ask for. Rat is going on for 13 years now and she is still so healthy. Just one of the examples of this bond between animals and myself.


Only bad thing the mozzies and Marsh Flies love me too but they don't get the message ... now where's the aeroguard ...

Until nexttime

Rina

Crying for a Lost Legecy

Met Permissie van Rochelle, plaas ek die stukkie en ook sommer 'n Komment of 5. Dit maak ons sommer Homesick ne' Dis die klein goed so die wat mens die meeste mis.
Rochelle ek like jou skryf ... baie dankie


Ag f**... Ek's Kanadees nou. Suid Afrika was lekker vir 27 jaar, maar "I've moved on". Ek kyk neer op al daai mense wat hier in Kanada sit en leef asof hulle nog in SA is. Ek maak 'n punt daarvan om nie te sê "back home" as ek praat van SA nie. Ek het 'n kind hier ... hy is Kanadees. Ek gooi my solied in alles Kanadees in ... van hokkie tot snowboard, van Mountie tot maple syrup.

So hoekom sit ek nou hier en tjank voor die computer? Hoekom kan ek nie eers mooi in Engels skryf soos ek altyd op die site doen nie? Hoekom hoekom hoekom...Ag f** ... Dis nie eers "die verkeerde tyd van die maand" nie. Miskien het dit te doen met gister. Sien, gister was ons 2-jaar in Kanada anniversary. Ons noem dit "Hepworth Family Day", ons gaan uit vir ete, praat oor hoekom ons bly is om hier te wees. So mini-Thanksgiving. Lekker, man.

So nee, dis ook nie dit nie. Ons is gelukkig hier. Gaan maar woes nog party dae, maar niks wat ons nie vetter en sterker maak nie.Nou wat dan? Hmm, ja ... dis hierdie site waarop ek afgekom het. South African Television Sound Files noem hulle dit. Ag julle weet, daar's daai site met al die Springbok-radio goed op, maar dis bietjie voor my tyd.

Ek's 'n TV-kind - die enigste radio wat ek geluister het was tannie Susan se Siembamba (onthou julle nog Otterjasie???!!!) op 'n Saterdagoggend. Maar ai, hierdie site het die kenwysies van alles ... Trompie, Casimir, Haas Das, Wielie Walie, Liewe Heksie...As mens my jeug kon toonset, sou dit heel waarskynlik begin met "Ha ha haEk's vuur ek's vlamNiks wat my kan vangHa ha ha"Ja, Asblikfontein en Oscar en Knersus ... vir julle wat vergeet het.Ag f** ... Daar loop die trane al weer. Nee, ek is nie net 'n smartvraat wat daarvan hou om te remenis en 'n traantjie te stort nie. Genade, ek is dan nog nie eers 30 nie!

Dis my kind wat my so bodder. Wel, nie Jared self nie, maar eerder dit wat hy nooit sal hê nie. Dit het my net soos 'n vyfpondhamer geslaan dat hierdie hele legacy nooit vir hom beskore is nie. Ons praat Engels by die huis, en Oupa en Ouma is ver weg in SA ... hy, of eerder hulle, sal gelukkig wees as hy More, Totsiens, Asseblief en Dankie kan sê. Wat weet hy van Bennie Boekwurm en Mannemarak? Maar dit gaan nie oor die Afrikaans nie. Ek het net so lekker gekyk na Maya the Bee en Gummi Bears. Dit gaan oor wie ek en Rob is en hoe ons so uitgedraai het. Dit gaan oor elke koeksister wat jy al ooit in die middel deurgebyt het dat die stroop teen jou ken afdrup. Dit gaan oor Wimpy milkshakes en Steers burgers. Tameletjies en basaarpannekoek. Oor die Kaapse Klopse en die nannie wat enigiets op haar kop kan dra.

Mense word vriende wanneer hulle iets in gemeen het. Dis wat my na aan my ma laat voel wanneer ons praat oor dieselfde skool wat ons altwee bygewoon het. Dis wat Rob en sy pa laat lag oor dieselfde strand waarop hulle as kinders gespeel het. Dis wat 2 Suid Afrikaners wat mekaar van geen Adam ken nie 'n bier laat saamdrink en stories vertel van daai snaakse Sielkunde professor in Stellenbosch.Is ek en my kind al klaar vreemdelinge vir mekaar?

Sure, ek kan hom Afrikaans leer. En hy kan leer om Die Dapper Muis uit volle bors saam met my en sy pa te sing. Maar ek kan hom dit nie laat VOEL nie.Ek kan dit nie in sy hart sit nie.Ons sal vir hom stories vertel ... natuurlik ... en ons sal hom Suid-Afrika gaan wys ... maar hy sal heel waarskynlik met 'n halwe oor na "the ramblings of the elders" luister terwyl hy droom oor Barney en sy Gameboy en White Spot en McDonalds.

Ek troos myself daaraan dat hy ten minste vir sy kinders kan vertel van die dag wat hy en sy vriend 'n igloo probeer bou het, en die dag wat hulle die Skytrain vir 8 volle ure gery het, en toe hulle beavertails geeet het tot hulle siek was. En sy kinders sal smile en presies weet hoe dit VOEL om 'n kind in Kanada te wees.Maar daar ver weg in 2040 gaan daar nog 'n ouma wees wat wens sy kon haar kleinkinders vertel van die dag wat sy 'n hele melktert opgeeet het ... sonder om dit as "sorta like a custard pie" te beskryf. --------------------

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with their experience...

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Sjoe Rochelle, jy sal nie glo nie, maar ek het vandag aan presies dieselfde ding gesit en dink. Daar is so baie dinge wat my kind nie gaan ken nie en dit maak my hart nogals seer. Dinge soos niggies en nefies en gereelde kuiers by ouma en oupa. Ek onthou hoe ons altyd by my ouma gaan kuier het en sy het elke keer 'n geskenk vir ons gehad iewers in haar huis. Of in haar tas as ons haar gaan haal het om by ons te kom bly. En my kind gaan dit nie hê nie. Sy gaan haar familie moet leer ken van foto's af, want dis net nie moontlik om mekaar so gereeld te sien nie.Ek is steeds ernstig van plan om vir haar Afrikaans te leer. Ek gaan beslis nie begin om Engels te praat in my eie huis nie! Maar dit voel soms soos 'n groot berg wat ek nie lekker weet hoe ons daaroor gaan kom nie. Ek vind myself naarstigtelik soek na boekies of iets wat stories en rympies in het - die goed wat ek geleer het toe ek 'n kind was. Dit voel nou alles so ver weg en asof ek dit nie weer gaan kan laat herleef nie. En net soos julle, is ons ook vir geen oomblik spyt oor die besluit wat ons geneem het om Kanada toe te kom nie. Ons is baie gelukkig en ek kan myself nie iets anders voorstel nie. Ek het vandag besef dis nie 'n geval van dat ek wil terug SA toe nie, want ek wil nie, ek sal eerder graag almal daar hiernatoe wil bring. Seker maar een van daai realiteite waarmee ek sal moet leer saamleef.So, weet net jy is nie die enigste een wat oor hierdie goed dink en wonder nie. En ek troos myself ook daaraan dat my kinders en hulle kinders 'n "legacy" sal kan deel in hierdie nuwe land.


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Ai Rooikapie en Rochelle, waarom voel ek vanaand so saam met julle. Ek kyk na my oumagrootjie se vleismeuletjie wat nou op 'n klein eikehouttafeltjie in die sitkamer uitgestal staan, en ek wonder of sy ooit sou kon dink dat dit eendag in Kanada sou staan. Of dat dit eendag die erfstuk van 'n Indiese Kanadese Afrikaner gaan word.Dis oor hierdie klein klits wat ek so bly is dat ek haar ouma in Kanada kan wees. Ons maak elke dag herinneringe; kosbare herinneringe van haar Afrikaner oupa en ouma wat sy hopelik die res van haar lewe saam met haar gaan dra.Sy sing saam met oupa "Oom Jan sny koring op die land" en help ouma om regte karringmelkbeskuit en Jan Smuts koekies te bak, kompleet met haar voorskoot aan wat nes ouma s'n lyk.Ek kan onthou hoe ouma Katie altyd vir my 'n klein emalje koppie en piering gehad het vir koffie. Ek kon self die suiker inskep en was baie versigtig om dit nooit té veel te roer nie. Die lekker onder in die koppie moes heel laaste uitgelek word.Ons kleinkind se spesiale koppie is 'n fyn porselein ene, en die teelepel is een van ander oumagroot se koper apostel lepeltjies. Maar die suiker lagie is dieselfde lekkerte, iets wat onthou moet word.Ons doen tolletjie brei en oupa en sy vlieg haar vlieër, maar Afrikaans is lankal nie meer haar taal nie. Ons praat Afrikaans, sy antwoord op Engels. Behalwe saans, as sy daai sagte lyfie teen ons vasdruk en saggies sê: "Ouma/Oupa, ek's lief vir jou!Cathy K. --------------------
Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away.

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Aai! Julle maak dat ek nou tjank! My seun is in NZ. Hoe verlang ek darem nou! Hy het altyd so klip hard "Willie Walie die aap ry op die balie" gesing, of eintlik uit geskreeu van lekkerte.


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Jare terug, pas na my aankoms en langer, het ek volumes gevul met gedagtes na' aan hierdie gedagtegan, maar dis 15 en meer jaar gelede. Ek het my amper heeltemaal in my Kanadese familie betrokke geraak (my vrou is Quebecois), ons dogter praat net Frans en Engels, en 'n bietjie Spaans.Maar voor-verlede jaar is my pa heen, en verlede jaar my ma... so sulke gedagtes en gevoelens het my van ver ingehaal. Spanspek, en waatlemoen-mekaar-smeer en biltong saam op die plaas maak... en vele meer gedagtes blits. En ja RSA is 'n plek wat my keel verstop en my hart vinniger laat klop. Elke keer as ek op JansSmuts aanland (ek verkies die ou naam). Maar ek is nou hier en my familie is nou hier. So die dit 'of dat is nie meer 'n keuse nie.Ek sien hoe swaar van my familie in RSA nou het (ek het 24 jaar gelede alleen Kanada toe getrek) - en soos een hierbo bemerk het - ek wou ok al my onmiddelike famile Kanada toe bring...maar hul keuse het daar in Suid Afrika gebly.So tragies is dit, dat net die geskryf wat die gedagtes oordra aan ander wat sulke besluite oorweeg. En ja aanhou verduidelik van melktert in plaas van custard werk regtig nie!Sinies - miskien - realistises - weereens tragies wel so.En dir vlam van geregverdiging word dikwels opgewakker as ek weereens hoor van 'n ou vriend - "kan jy nie my kind help om Kanada toe te gaan nie?"Dougie


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Vrinne,Hier sit ek in die "Land of the Long White Cloud - Aoteroa" en ek kan nie anders as om saam te praat nie.Dinge is nie hier veel anders nie, en ons dink net so hard aan hierdie goeters as wat julle doen in Kanada.Die aand toe ek op die vliegtuig klim op Jan Smuts (nie JHB International nie), toe huil ek net so hard oor wat ons verloor het. Daardie aand toe besef ek dat ek dit nie verloor oorlat ek op die vliegtuig klim en halfpad om die aarde gaan vlieg om te bly nie. Maar omlat ek en jy dinge lank gelede al begin verloor het. Ons het verloor toe ons begin skaam word het om Afrikaans met die dame by die toonbank te praat (sy kan in elkgeval nie afrikaans verstaan het nie - se sy). Toe ons, onselwers begin toespin het in beton en lemmetjies draad en ons nie meer geweet het wie buurman is nie. Toe ons besef boetie het sy tyd (en lewe) gemors toe hy gesterf het op die grens vir Pik en PW se volk en vaderland. Ons het maar gehoop dinge sal eendag weer beter word. As ons skuus vra vir ons vader se skulde, dat ons weer terug verwelkom sal word soos die Bybelse verlore seun. Die vlieg daai aand is maar die laaste strooi.Dit wat ons na verlang is nie meer nie. Nie in Suid Afrika nie, nie in Zimbabwe nie, ook nie in Suid Wes (Namibia) nie.Dit voel asof ons 'n verlore generasie is wat tussen die ou en die nuwe erens die pad verloor het. Ja, ek doen dit vir my kinders, oor die crime, en wat nog alles - meer daaroor later.Met die groot dink wat los gekom het, besef ek toe dat miskien is ons nie so op ons eie as wat ons dink nie. As jy vinnig tel dan besef jy dat ons (wat onself Afrikaner noem) kom maar in elk geval uit 'n trekkerige familie uit.Ons voorsate het so elke derde geslag maar die goedjies op die kop gesit, opgepak, en verder gestap (vlieg, seil, trek - Drakensberg of nie). Ek het my voorgeslag se spoor so rondom 1600 verloor in Holland to die Franse, Nore en Belge mekaar oorval het. Ek kon nie help om te wonder of die trekkerigheid nie maar van my groot groot Groot Oupa van Wyk (uit Noorwee) kom nie. Dit moes daai aand in Rotterdam gebeur het toe hy en groot groot groot Ouma so lekker gekuier het na die Franse op hulle herrie gekry het. Soos ek dinge verstaan kon hy ook maar nie vir lank stil sit nie, en hy moes fort met sy skuit, vooruit met Ouma agterna...Mense, ons verlang ja. Maar, ek dink nie dis 'n anderste verlang as wat 'n mens maar kry as jy agterkom dat die tyd vinniger begin loop as wat jy kan byhou nie. As jou jongman jou op die Playstation begin wen, en jy hom nie meer kan vang vir sy medisyne nie, dan weet jy dinge begin aanstap.Ek verlang ook. Hier in Auckland het ons, ons hanne gekry op van die ou Afrikaanse TV reekse: Nommer Asseblief, Orkie Snorkie, Bosvelt Hotel, ens. Ek het $300 gespandeer op die vidoes. My kinders geniet dit, maar as ek hulle weer kry dan is dit Barbie, Playstation en Star Wars.Ten minste weet ek die videos gaan lank hou - ek en vrou is die enigste wat nou nog kyk.As ek eendag oud is, en nie meer Afrikaans kan praat of mooi kan sien nie, dan weet ek ten minste hoe ek my klein kinders sal uitken van die Kanuks en Kiwi's: Myne sal die wees wat nog nie hulle Biltong tanne verloor het nie - nog iets wat groot groot groot Oupa van Noorwee saam laat kom het.Dankie vir die lees.Groete uit New Zealand.

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Ag, sommer pragtig geskryf - so uit die maag van die siel uit! Ek sit nou hier voor die rekenaar, lanklaas my stuiwer in die armbeurs gegooi, maar raak lekker in vervoering oor wat ons vriend doer uit N.Zealand skryf. Geld sommer vir baie van ons natuurlik ook ....... die is verseker! Ek het vir jou en sommer van julle ander, wat dieselfde gevoelentes het oor waar ons vandaan kom en waarheen ons oppad is, die amper dappere wyses waarop ons probeer om ons kroos te leer verstaan waar ons vandaan kom - die bietjie kultuur nog oor (taal, Godsdiens en ek kan nie aan meer ander dink nie) te behou. Jy sien hulle hardloop met die geleenthede in hul nuwe land en jy wonder of hulle ook sal terugkyk na waar hulle vandaan kom -die dappere (so voel ek verseker steeds na 11 jaar in die buiteland) besluit wat hul ouers geneem het om hul geboorteland te verlaat. (Dankie vir die terugvoeringe van waar ons voorsate kom - myne van Holland en manlief'sn toevallig een van die eerste families wat uit Frankryk eers in Holland gaan vestig het en toe die skip geklim het S.Afrika toe - die man oorlede en net sy vrou en seun veilig geland!) So hier is nou die verbasend-goeie nuus - my seun trou binnekort met 'n fyne Amerikaanse aster wat hy op universiteit ontmoet het - sy wil weet hoe maak ek mieliepap gaar, hoe stop ek 'n skaapboud en kan ek asb raadgee met die gaarmaak daarvan en dankie, sy geniet Kook en Geniet (in Engels darem) vreeslik baie wat die S.Afrikaanse familie vir haar gestuur het uit S.Afrika! Nog meer, my seun, wat eintlik maar vrotsig Afrikaans praat, is besig om haar te leer van Oupa en Ouma en wat Bobotie is en dat ons asseblief en dankie se en hoe om in Afrikaans 'n tafelgebed te doen! Ten einde laaste is dit nog niet!


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Mooigesê - albei van julle Hendrikvw en Engela.Ja die verlange is daar - maar met die tyd - en soveel se heen en weer met kuier na RSA, sien ek (en miskien bkykbaar julle) dat die verlange na daardie tyd en daardie dunge is. En ja dinge vernader so gou. Selfs hier in Kanada - en na soveel jaar is dinge hier so anders as wat dit geblyk het met aanlanding. Die hoop vir die toekoms - al is dit nie 'n Afrikaner toekoms vir my nie, is die prys wat ek met my besluit moes en steeds betaal. Ek het toeka se jare gelede geppog om ander in die familie hierheen toe lok. Met geen geluk nie. Dis nie vir almal nie!Maar soos Hendrikvw sê: ons is trekkers - self my ma en pa het alewig getrek - agter werk aan. Ek woon nou veel meer kere langer in Ottawa as wat ek ooit op een plek in RSA gewoon het. So in die een kant is ek soos my familie, maar aan die ander kant het ek na my GrootTrek - vasblysit!Bly om te hoor van julle in Kiwiland - en ook TorontoDougie (Ottawa)

Jacarandas in bloom

This reminds me of summers gone by. We used to have this huge Jacaranda tree in our front yard, and around the base of the tree sword fern grew about 2 mtrs wide. The lawn was covered in a carpet of purple flowers with bees visiting them for their last bit of nectar before they shriveled up and died

Who wants to live in the freezer?

Welcome to my blog today Friends. Today a wonderful Lady ... Karen is my guest writer, also an Expat now living in Canada .....

This is my 12th year in Toronto. Twelve winters will soon be under my belt, so why do I still hate the frigid cold and the blowing snow? Should I by now, not have grown accustomed to a white world filled with frozen moon- clad people slipping and sliding to heated interiors and cursing the weather in the process?

Truth be told, I don't think that someone born and bred under the warmth of the African sun can ever totally fall in love with days like today. Why, even third and fourth generation Canadian colleagues of mine cuss and curse the elements and wish themselves to the Caribbean on such days, so I think a southern hemisphere- born gal can be forgiven for wondering why in the world she is here on a bitter and messy January day. I mean, there really are plenty of places in the world today where folk are not battling to get their cars up a short driveway just to get into a heated box- like house, I am sure.

When I first arrived in Toronto, the approaching winter actually filled me with awe. I could not wait for the first snow fall, to watch my kids building snow people ( we have to be politically correct here!) and to test my endurance for weather I had heard so much about. I was sure that I would survive, like the trouper I give myself credit for being! So, why was I so scared the first time I had to drive in a snowstorm to pick up ( not fetch - that's for dogs!) my little moon people from school?

And, why did I once crawl on my hands and knees down a sharp incline to get to the shops on one other torrid day? Yes, we laugh about it now, and it will become an urban legend in our family, no doubt, but I can tell you, that at the time, I was downright petrified of breaking all my limbs and other body parts on rink- like surfaces, and come to think of it, I still am.Still, winter, back in those early days, was interesting, even sometimes magical and it was rather fun to watch the snow falling from the sky ever so gently to the ground hour after hour from the safety of a townhouse window.

Back then, I marvelled at how life in Toronto moves on, despite the weather and that people go about every day chores just as they do in the summer, just far more padded up and pale- looking. Then, came the snowfall of '99 and the mayor of the time, called in the army to clear the streets of Toronto. It was quite the event of the year, but further east in Montreal, the locals there were splitting their sides with laughter at such a 'woosy city'! They really had no right to do that, as Montrealers, even with more snow than us, have very efficient snow, clearing services.

For some unknown reason, snowstorms still appear to catch Torontonians and their municipalities off guard. I can't understand why, though, as Harold Hussein is such a good weather news reader and he does tell us what to expect. Perhaps folk here think that for some reason, global warming will prove him wrong everytime!It takes just one ice - related traffic accident to knock all the trouper stuffing out of one.

Unfortunately, I had such an experience two years back, and believe me, I now have the greatest respect for those who travel at 20km/h on days when cars should not leave their garages. When you hit a patch of black ice, which is unseen by the human eye on tarmac, your vehicle develops and mind of its own, and you can do nothing, zero, zilch and nada to get it back to where it should be on the road. As it gains momentum in a dance faster than the tango, you pray like you have never prayed before that whatever you hit, will be soft enough not to maim or kill you. Make no mistake, this is a very frightening experience, in fact one I would only wish on terrorists and such like people! I have to tell you, that it takes guts, and I mean real guts, to get yourself back behind the wheel after an incident involving the evil black ice, and when you do venture out again, because you have no choice if you want to earn a living and not be recluse for the remainder of your days, you do so with great trepidation. You never truly get over an ice - related incident, and you join the ranks of so many others who can relate to what you are feeling.

Still, there is something about winter. Something cosy and different. This is a time when you do not have to mow the lawn, or worry about sun block on your exposed limbs, or your fat, hairy legs etc. This is a time when the layers you are bundled under will be your excuse for putting on a few pounds around the middle. This is the time, when you can sit in your family room and marvel at nature as she ices the trees and roofs with whiter- than- Surf soft powdery snow, whilst you sip a glass of red wine, watch a good video or play board games with the kids you never would in the summer months. This is a time to snuggle under your warm duvet and sleep like a baby whilst the softness of the cold, white world around you envelopes the houses in your suburb like a fleecy blanket. This is time for comfort, heartwarming food around a dancing fireplace - for hot chocolate drinks, potatoes and stew, hot breads, minestrone soups and chocolate ( did I mention chocolate before?!). No one eats like Canadians do in winter. After all, we need the extra blubber, just like seals and bears, to see us through until the Spring!

For the energetic and the young, there is skiing and skating and sledding on the non- snow storm days, which can make winter a real blast and empty your pockets quicker than you can say 'snowflake'!So, although frigid, icy blowing days will never be my favourites, I have to accept them as part and parcel of the Canadian experience. I can moan about them and millions will concur with me, but they will return each year to allow me to do so again.

Come the Spring, they will serve to remind me just how diverse nature is and how blessed I am to live in a country with such truly diverse seasons, each with its own special wonderment.

Weather like today's has taught me to treasure every good and bad day and to be grateful for everyone of them.So, when next you hear me complaining about the awful Toronto January weather, remember that I am truly grateful to it for teaching me so much, and allow me my little rant. I mean, I would not be Canadian if I did not allow the weather to get to me!

And to all my well- meaning family and friends back in sunny South Africa or Australia or Florida, please, and I say this with tears in my eyes, do not, and I re-iterate, do not call me and tell me how cold it is in your respective countries and how you are all freezing and shivering at 19C!!!


Wow How is that for a little taste of life in Canada ..... I like Karen's writing, can't wait to read more. Thank you so much for allowing me to post this in my Blog ...to share with others your fine writing and great sense of humour.

Until nexttime
Rina

Pay it Forward Storie

Pay if Forward

I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people who comment on this post. I have 365 days to do it in…What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise!The catch is that you must participate as well: you must have a blog and before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. Just cut and paste this one if you like, which I did.
Now I invite you to do the same Click Here and join me Thank you.
Here's my story.

Now as some of you will know, we're exSouth Africans been in OZ about 15 years now. Time flies when you having fun. The whole Big Trek thing can be a very hard and lonely thing to do, but for the sake of our children's safety and our own it is worth it. We miss our families, our friends and even our animals we had to leave behind. Some are lucky to return for holidays, some not so lucky only to return to bury loved ones ....we miss going to happy events, births, engagements and weddings. We even miss having a cup of tea with our best friend. Love ya Rosie.

What we do make is new friends, nice people like Nick and Poppie (Adele) and my adopted granddaughters. I meet Nick on another forum for SAfricans, they were coming to OZ and he needed a place to stay for 2 weeks before his wife and kids arrived. Nick was my second person we welcomed to our home. We picked him up from the airport, gave him accommodation and feed him, drove him around looking for rentals and a car until he bought a car then he could come and go as he pleased.

At the time Nick asked for help on the forum, nobody replied, even those who said yeh they will help anybody blah blah blah, but when the time comes they forget all about helping..... I think they all suffer from short memories.... Anyway I replied and let me tell you, they are lovely people who promised to pay it forward and help somebody else coming over. That promise they kept and another family is settling in nicely.

We see Nick and Poppie regularly and they have become like our own kids. It's something about us all going through this Big Trek(Groot Trek) together, we understand the loss of friendships, love of grandparents and not being able to be there for the birth of a new baby.

I have moved on from that forum and am now a member of Twisted Sisters Ladies Lounge, here we support our new internet friends, all lovely ladies one even as far as Canada, some live in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. Some are still back home waiting for their visas to be approved. We share weddings, births and even join baby showers. We are the Twisted Sisters family.

Kannie mooi onthou hoe die storie met die trailer begin het nie, maar ons het een nodig, so ons kyk maar in die "classifieds section" vir 'n tweede handse een. En daar is toe ook sommer een, bel en kry die adres om te gaan kyk, en daar staan toe 2 baie ou karavanne ook. LS en Ek koop sommer karavan en trailer vir $1000, hy demolish, ek ry gemors weg, maak skoon binnekant, verf die mure 'n mooi lig grys.

Manlief kla hy het geen tools nie, so ons kuire by Bunnings Hardeware. Now begin die werk eers, dis net 'n dop wat 'n queen size bed nodig het, nuwe mat en gordynjies,'n mooi kombuisie en lekker pakplek. Sommer 'n vars verfjob buite ook. Man sy lyk goed, nou moet sy karavanpark toe, elke naweek sit die De Lange's af karavan toe, in ons VW Beetle met daardie trailer agter, ons bou nou annex aan, lyk maar verk snaaks met al daai hout agterop. Ons maak pelle met die neighbours en gou begin die verfkwasse uitkom en almal begin hulle plekkies opknap. Baie mense pak sukke mal projekte aan sodra kinder groot is, party bou sielbote of ou karre...

Later word Manlief verplaas Victoria toe en ons besluit om maar karavan te verkoop en die eerste ou koop ook sommer, maak sommer 'n profit ook. Maar LDogter wil nie saam nie. Ons is ook nie mal oor Albury Wodonga nie en ry maar stadig aan ons goedjies terug Sydney toe. Dis toe dat Daai trailer mos los kom op die Hume highway. Man , manlief het nagskof gewerk en Ek bestuur maar, Kyk in die speljie en sien daai trailer "going bush", ploeg 'n paar boompies uit en tip om, nes die komiks vaar die karavan verby die kar gaan. Manlief skrik wakker soos ek lag. Gelukkige was daar geen sade nie.

Nou so 4 jaar later koop ons vir onself 3 acres waar ons wil aftree oor so 5 jaar en daar moet nou weer so 'n ou karavan gekoop word, kry hope bargains op EBay, paver, houte, fencing en 'n bad. Ons pak daai trailer en maak vas, LS haak trailer aan die UTE (bakkie) en daai trek ons nawerk. Net buite Sydney besluit daai trailer om los te kom, een oomblik sien jy bad in die speljie dan niks. Dit wat 'n rukkie voor Manlief dit vind, maar die keer is daar skade, sy le op haar sy, wiel ingebyg maar alles is nog vas boop. Met 'n groot gesukkel sleep ons haar daar uit, dis die einde. Huur 'n "car trailer by the servo" (Vulstasie) Nou moet sy op vrag en al, Met geen wince nie, manlief trek en ek stoot , na die 3rd probeer slaag kry ons dit reg.

Ons is terug by die huis net na 1 uur daai oggend. Kinder wil hulle verk lag vir ons.Besluit ons moet maar 'n nuwe trailer koop en daar staan sy splinter nuut in die driveway gepak vir more se trippe Bellbrook toe.( Lang naweek... Queens birthday.) Daar sit ons lekker en kyk na die Wallabies en Kangaroos met 'n koppie koffee en beskuit. Vir die wat wonder waar dit is, Net so 45 km berge in van Kempsey N.S.W. pop 130 , oppad na Brisbane. Plan is 'n klip huisie te bou, olywe en lavender te plant en baie groente en 'n paar honders te kry.

Die naweek het maar sleg begin, ons trek weg met so 'n ligte reenjie en na so 45 min is ons deur Sydney se verkeer. Toe begin die sports mos, die wind waai en dit reen en die karre staan amper geparkeer soos in die carpark. Ons arme Ford st/wagon wil net vrek as ons deur 'n puddle water ry, maar ons maak Newcastle na 4 uur (normaal weg 2 uur). Dit reen amper die hele pad na Port Macquarie 400km. Ek hoef nie te se hoe dit lyk na 16 duim reen op een slag nie. Groot skade en nou reen dit alweer daar die naweek.

Ons trek in by die hek so laat aand, vergeet maar van uit pak reguit bed toe, hoor nie eers die hoender haan se gekraai nie. Sal probeer 'n foto te post. ons stukkie hemel in die bos, verskoon ons daar is nog baie werk om te doen.

Comments

Rina, I envy you, mate. Ek dink ons almal soek so 'n stukkie paradys. Was vandag by 'n veiling vir 3 hektaar. Die uitsig was pragtig. Prys? $370 000. In rande is dit R2,2miljoen. Vir daai prys kon jy vir jou 'n klein wynplasie in die Kaap koop. To rich for my blood. Sal maar weer vanaand die LOTTO speel. Who knows?

Nee Jan, dit was maar net 'n bietjie geluk dat ons die 3 acres in die sticks gekry het vir goed koop. Nie eers die agent het mooi geweet waar die boundries was nie, en soos jy kan sien daar is baie skoonmaak werk. Ons het nie mooi geweet wat ons koop nie. geen krag of water nie maar niks sit my af nie. Ek spandeer baie tyd alleen daar met net die 2 honde vir geselskap. In die 1 1/2 jaar wat ons die plekkie het was daar nog geen problemme nie. Sodra ons better geriewe het kan jy maar jou karavan of tent opslaan en saam koffee en beskuit kom eet. Baie welkome

Same view a few years later.

Until nexttime

Rina

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject: Mielies plant ...

Dagse Julle Mooi Mensies Dit gaan goed, net die ou knieg pla bietjie, authuritis of so iets.

Kyk geen mens kan groentetuin maak met diere nie. Manlief het vir my 'n heining gespan so rondom die groete tuin soday Miss Daisy nie alles opvreet nie en daardie groot hoender pote nie alles uit skrop nie. Hout bokse gemaak en mooi vol gemaak met mis en grond en gelevel met die hark. Die mielie pitte wat so mooi opgekom het was amper opgevret, maar gelukkig was daar nog 'n paartjies oor wat OK was. Ek het hulle getransplant in die nuwe bedding en goed natgemaak, en hulle survive mooi, hoor. En die boontjies is op, kon dit amper nie glo nie.

Laas naweek kom kuier Poppie en Nick met hulle two dogtertjies, hulle is ook van SA, Nick het mos daarby ons gebly vir 2 weke terwyl hy gehuis en gekar soek het, tyd vlieg en dis nou al amper 1 1/2 terug. Anyways sy Oom George net en dra net koekies sonder suiker vir hom aan. Ek en dogters kuier lekker in die tuin, ons plant bone so by die mielietjies en so 'n paar gem squash pitte. Hulle grou gatte vir die strawberries wat ek daar by Wombat se kant gekoop het. Daar so 'n oulikke kwekery daar vir herbs en saad. Nee nie Flowerpower nie!

Ag hulle kyk net hoenderjies en voer vir Daisy haar bottel. Wens julle kon daardie smiles sien. Hulle is weg met vars eiers en springbok se wors wat ons daar by African Delights gekry het. En 'n groot sak Tastic rys. Amper soos by Ma se huis ne. Ouma en Oupa kuier mos ook van SA hier by hulle op die oomblik maar gaan Januarie huis toe. Daardie Ouma Kan lekker Melktert en Vetkoek maak. Oom George maak skoon 'n vraat van homself, laas toe ons daar by hulle gekuier het.

Ag dis nou weer al nuus van die kant Lekker dag vir julle almal... Rina

Comments.

Chester you seem to enjoy that farm and the planting and the animals. Me, I'm a city girl and farming is not for me that's why I'm grateful for people like you. Different strokes for different folks - just shows you we are all different, but all a part of this TS family. Wombat

I love my gardening. Wombat, Have you been to that small nursery opp. the BP servo? I still want to go get a few cherry trees there.

Chester ek hoop maar jou diere gaan jou iets oorlos. Ek het eendag gelees dat vandag se kinders wat nooit op 'n plaas kom nie, nie eers mer weet waar kos werklik vandaan kom nie. Is dit nie hartseer nie? Ons almal het nog die kans gehad om iewers op 'n plaas te gaan kuier en dit te sien en beleef.. Retha

No, I haven't. Which BP servo?

The new Caltex is on the corner by African Delights(I used to work there many moons ago He he I was a servo chick, best job, they pay you to talk allday.) On round Corner rd, drive towards the roundabout on old Northern rd, on the right.

Hetha die tweejies kom kuier so elke 3 weke, laas het hulle vir my ornament paddatjies gebring, wat wag hou by die groente. Maandag /dinsdag behoort die kuikens te hatch, dan facebook ek Poppie net dan kom kyk hulle weer. Lyk my ek het nog "kleinkinders by gekry. Sal 'n pic opsit vir julle ook. My mannetjie plant lekker saad en werk en maak nat. voer, haal eiers uit. Hier is 'n pic van C0bi wat Daisy voer, hy is sommer baie lief vir diere hoor.



Hi Chester jy is geseend om sommer so 2 kleinkinders by te kry. Ek wens ek kon ook vir Miss Daisy kom bottel gee, sy is pragtig. Laat my so dink aan die plaas toe ons klein was. Ons het altyd die varkies so groot gemaak.

Good advice from a fellow blogger

Do you have any advice or tips for new bloggers?
BECKY: Be true to who you are. If you're not yourself you won't stick with it. It's a lot of work growing a blog and it has be something you're passionate about. Leave lots of comments and visit your "followers" often. I have developed such wonderful friendships though blogging, and really that's the goal. Oh and make your blog attractive. It's not hard. Pay attention to your favorite blogs and make a list of what you like. Ask them for advice if you need it. Get a great background and a pretty picture for a header. It doesn't have to be hard. It makes a huge difference. Lastly, be patient. I blogged for several months before I had even one comment. If you keep at it, they will find you and when they do... it is such a gift!!See? Total sweetheart. Jump over to Farm Girl Paints and give Becky some shabby love! :)

Pretty climber

Chicken Surprice ... Joke

Chicken surprise ... A couple go for a meal at a Chinese restaurant and order the “Chicken Surprise” The waiter brings the meal, served in a lidded cast iron pot. Just as the wife is about to serve herself, the lid of the pot rises slightly and she briefly sees two beady little eyes looking around before the lid slams back down. “Good grief, did you see that?” she asks her husband. He hasn’t, so she asks him to look in the pot. He reaches for it and again the lid rises, and he sees two little eyes looking around before it slams down. Rather perturbed, he calls the waiter over, explains what is happening, and demands an explanation. “Please sir,” says the waiter, “what you order?” The husband replies, “Chicken Surprise.” Ahh… so sorry,” says the waiter, “I bring you Peeking Duck”

Thanks Whachy, it so cute, I thought I would save the joke.


__________________

35 question please anwer them ....

Can you answer these questions with the least words truthfully ..... just a bit of fun.

1. Where is your cell phone? donno
2. Your hair? mousie
3. Your mother? Friend
4. Your father? Funny
5. Your favorite food? Potatoes
6. Your dream last night? confronting
7. Your favorite drink? Coffee
8. Your dream/goal? getting there
9. What room are you in? study
10. Your hobby? Creating
11. Your fear? Heights
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Farm
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren’t? fishwife
15. Muffins? Blueberry
16. Wish list item? cottage
17. Where did you grow up? Africa
18. Last thing you did? housework
19. What are you wearing? Preloved.
20. Your TV? Off
21. Your pets? cats
22. Friends? special
23. Your life? rollercoaster
24. Your mood? Content
25. Missing someone?Grandsons
26. Vehicle? Dirty
27. Something you’re not wearing? Bra
28. Your favorite store? craftshop
29. Your favorite color? Green
30. When was the last time you laughed? This Afternoon
31. Last time you cried? Movies
32. Your best friend? Rosemary
33. One place that I go to over and over? Nursery
34. One person who emails me regularly? Daughter -inlaw
35. Favorite place to eat? Home

and number 36. Do you like my blog ... so why haven't you commented yet

Until nexttime
Rina

Rusty Gates

I wonder ....
Who was the farmer who drove his sheep through those old rusty gates?
How many sheep passed through them?
How many years ago had a farmer dug the holes and planted wooden posts there while the hot sun backed on his back.
That fence won't hold anything back anymore!
No slasher has mowed this paddock for yonks.
Questions but no answers ....

a letter of dispair ..... I Cry

I have a friend back in Texas who is a Vet technician...today she sent me this piece she wrote, and I'm sharing it here in hopes it will be passed on...in hopes it might reach those who might be thinking about buying that cute kitten or puppy for Christmas.

I Cry.....Sometimes I sit here on my day off, its quiet, nobody is home… and I cry.. it’s a healing cry. It is the time of the week, where I thank God I don’t have to kill anything. I don’t have to look into a sick cats eyes and take its life. I don’t have to look into the eyes of a scared or sick dog, and take its life. What really hurts is looking into the eyes of a perfectly healthy dog and I have to take its life because there is no more room at the Shelter.

I blame it on overpopulation. The selfish act of people who don’t want to spend the money to spay or neuter their animal. The people who stupidly think that their dog or cat is really cute so lets let them have a litter of puppies/kittens. Or this excuse…. I want my kids to witness the miracle of birth! Ok, let them get on the web and watch it… or you can also let them watch me kill ¾’s of that litter because statistics show that only 1/4th of an average litter will make it past 2 years old… Even full blooded, registered litters.

Anyway, its my job… I do it because its required of me. My friends and aquaintances ask me… “How can you put those animals to sleep? How can you look them in the eyes and kill them?” Well, I am going to explain it. How can I “NOT” do it? How can I trust that job to anyone else BUT me? I want the last few days of their lives to be with me. I want them to feel all the love, hugs and kisses in those last hours that they didn’t get before. I want them to experience warmth, a full belly, clean fresh water, and lots of hugs and kisses! Can I trust anyone else to do that?

Then “IF” the time comes where I have to put them to sleep.. I want to be the one to do it. I WANT to make sure that I gently give the tranquilizer that will drift them off to a peaceful slumber. I want to hold them and kiss and hug them so that they are happy when they fall asleep. I want to be the one that gives that final, fatal injection… because I will pray for each and every one of them that their journey over the rainbow bridge is safe. How can I trust this important job to anyone else? So, I do it… and that one day a week, when its quiet and nobody is home…. I cry.

Taken from ALS, Pheonixx in OZ thank you for sharing. As an animal lover I feel for your friend
Until next time
Rina

A little something nice

Pretty Banksia Rose near the driveway.

Misty Fields below

It'd early morning as I stand here looking towards the river and across to the otherside. Only I know it's there but can't see more than a few feet in front of me but for the fog. The Tawny Frogmouth is cuddling up next to his mate near the stem of the gum tree. Huge gum trees stand like grey soldiers near the Lone Pine and monument with the names of the men from this valley that lost their lives at war. Families lost thier sons and wives their husbands and children their farthers .....



The Villiage hall was recently been restored to it's former beauty, a great meeting place for all functions held here. The park with it's new undercover picnic area wait for someone to visit. The tennis court's gates look locked but I am not sure if it is. The lawns have be cut recently .....

Only the odd rooster is crowing, inviting the sleepy villiage to wake up. Soon the school bus will stop near the Trading Store, waiting to drive the older kids to the next town for school. While the little ones, hop off and walk across the broad tarred road. It's only a little villiage school, maybe 45 kids. Across the river a low cement bridge leads to more farms, the first field huge grey braghman beast look up from munching grass, some coming closer to see where you going. Slowly a few cars head past to town 60km away, while others head Up River to farms.

Here you came forget what day it is or what time. You get up with the rooster's crow and sleep when you like. Some heading home after closing time at the Local Pub, overlooking the river below.

Looking for the Cat .....

OK everyone knows we nuts about cats, rescue more cats than is good for us sometimes. But Gypsy is very special because we literally saved her little life, she just sat there and let me bath her (twice) without a peep out of her, wrapped her in a towel, and put the heater on for her to warm up. The water was red/chocolate from flea bites not sure she would have survived much longer. You know all animals need is love , food and shelter is that so hard to understand.

Anyway to get back to the story, Gypsy survived and turned into the most beautiful, and loving cat. We were staying next to a park so to give them a little extra space to wonder around in, but come night time all cats had to be inside, all but Gypsy who loved to stay outside if given half a chance. And so here Dear Daughter and myself called for her, by 9.30 pm it was getting very late, so we each grab a touch and start seaching the neighbour's front yards and the park. Peeping over the fences backing the park, calling her, still nothing.

Well not long into the search about 4 Cop cars pulled up into our little Cul de Sac, and suddenly it was swarming cops all with torches. Telling us to please go inside as they have just had a call about some prowlers from a very frantic person. The more we telling them it's can only be us and we just looking for the cat. It took some explaining before they left ... bet they saw the funny side of it all.

Anyway Gypsy turned up the next morning, .......

The Cops in OZ do respond to call's quickly, not like in SA thank goodness. Hope ya enjoyed the story ...Catz

Until nexttime
Rina

Moving on ..... For EX Wives and Partners

A young monk and an old monk were travelling together.After a while they came to the bank of a river and found a damaged bridge. The two monks waded across the river, and when they reached the other side, they found a woman sobbing by the damaged bridge. "What is wrong asked the young monk?" The bridge is damaged and I am afraid to cross the river in case I am swept away, and I must get to my home before nightfall" she replied.Without a word, the old monk picked up the woman and carried her across the river and set her down.The young monk watched this and was horrified, for he knew that their order had strict rules about chastity and propriety.The young monk became angrier and angrier for he felt the old monk had disregarded his vows. When the old monk rejoined him, the young monk could not speak,he was so angry and as they continued on their journey he went over and over the accusations he had against the old monks behaviour.Finally they came to a rest point and the young monk could not contain himself any longer, and burst out angrily at the old monk."How could you do such a thing? We have strict rules about contact with women. As your student I have heard many times your talk of chastity and propriety, but you nonchalantly disregarded all and touched that woman and carried her. You are a hypocrite. Did you enjoy the feel of her as you carried her? Did you enjoy the pleasure of her in your arms old monk?"The old monk looked surprised and said, "I carried the woman across the river and put her down 3 hours ago, why are you still carrying her?".


We keep on carrying the baggage of the "unpleasant memory" with us. We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony. Why?Simply because we are not willing to put down or letgo the baggage of the "unpleasant memory/feelings". We should let it go immediately after the unpleasant event is over. This will help in removing the agony.

I read this thread in a forum about EX Husbands and Partners, then I came across this post and thought it very good and deserves to be saved and shared with you.

Until nexttime
Rina

Betsy's sheep storie

Chester, Many. many moons ago we had a flock of sheep on a smallholding on the West Rand. Near Mohlakeng location it was and those times we were brave enough to venture into those places. We had a big-ish trailer which took up to ten sheep at a time. We loaded them on the trailer with water and food and parked on an empty, dusty roadside corner. There we sold them to the local people. Priced according to size, the sheep sold like hot cakes. They love their sheep, those people.

Little did we know that we took one hell of a risk to do so. We did that for a few weeks on weekends and made good money. Till one day. I had one little old, black soul to assist me and to be the go between me and the customers. A real little shifty eye, son of a gun, he was. When ever I asked him "what did he say?" he just laughed "gie gie gie" and said they like the sheep very much.

That day Hubby had to leave me there with Shifty eyes and the ten sheep for some reason. We sold the first few sheep without any hiccups and I hid the money in my pocket. The next moment three of them came out of the blue and just opened the trailers latch and let the sheep loose into the road. It became a free for all with everybody running and chasing sheep. Once caught it became their property and the more I screamed and told Shifty to go and get them, the more he just Gie gie gie and did nothing at all. No merrem, it's no use, they will get angry and kill us. Leave them. We lost eight sheep that day, I am sure it were old Shifty's friends.

The fat old aia's just stood across the road and laughed at me while tears streamed down my face. You could read the hatred in their eyes. We never went into the location again, I am sure we were so ignorant and never realized the danger we were in. We sold the sheep directly from the smallholding from then on.

It did not last very long after that. They grazed the land empty, we had to buy bales of lucern and blocks of salt and we had to herd them into a closed kraal at night. What a job! When you walked past the kraal at night all you heard was the sound of them urinating where they stand and I hated the smell.

I am long winded again tonight...all I want to say is that you must enjoy your little 'boerdery' and I love your stories. How is the blog coming on? Nightie night...
Betsy

Vaders's dag skaap storie

Ag een van die dae gaan ek RSI kry van al die skryf hoor! en my kop is al siff gedink van al die dinge, maar hiers nog 'n storie wat die naweek gebeur het. En dan moet ek nog Daisy ekke 4 uur bottel gee so tussin alles deur.

Daar waar ons woon op Mulgoa se plaas is nie baie gras op die oomblik nie, die frost en geen reen die laaste 2 maande, is maar net halfde van die problem. Ander is daardie skape wat eet en eet en nie ophou eet nie. Ek gee droe ou brood van die bakery, skaap pellets by die sakke vol, hulle kry opgekreefde wortels, kool en selery, en luserne. Dan loop die mal vrou nog in die veld en trek bossies (fireweed skape vrek vir dit) uit by die emmers vol. En hulle is spek vet glo my!!

Nou is daar nog 'n stukkie gras waar hulle lekker groengrassies kan eet, so ons sit heining op Sondag op vadersdag. Nou is ons reg vir hulle, so 13 skape moet 'n hele ent aanstap na die grassies toe, slim dis nou ekke, kry 'n 1 lt icecream bakkie en maak so half vol met pellets. As skaap hoor daar's kos, dan hol hulle draad toe, en dan maak hulle net soos jy wil. So ons is by die 2 de hek uit, net een dom rammetjie vind nie die hek, wat 'n gesukkel met van een kant na die ander. Finally we on our way. Dis net skape om my, moet mooi trap of ek ploeg, soos hulle voor en om my hol.

Maar so bruin skaap besluit, as ek nou nie wil kos gee nie dan moet ek voel, en sy hap ook sommer my mooi ronde boud. Gelukkig die jean is styf en sy kry nie lekker vasbyt plek nie, ander het ek nou 'n paar tande merke gehad.. Ek kon dit anper nie glo, verwag 'n stamp, maar byt? Wonder of sy weet sy is een sonder 'n naam en gaan 'n lekker stew maak.

Vandag reen dit so 'n bietjie hier in Sydney, maar skaap kuier lekker en smul aan die groen grassies. So onder die sitrus en pruim bome.

Until next time Rina

Spring is finally here ..... Wattle Day

1st September is the start of Spring, but Wattle Day sounds nice too, that when the little yellow round puffs appear on the wattle trees in New South Wales. It depends on what part of Australia you live, Queensland the flowers come out in August already, and down in Victoria, it's closer to October. But offically it's the start of Spring, 1 September. I went hunting for a poem about wattles but could only come up with this one by Amy Mack.

"Spring is here! Spring is here!
And the skies are blue and clear.
Winter with it's cold is past.
And the summer's coming fast.

"Spring is here! Spring is here!
Flowers are opening everywhere,
New buds sprout upon the trees,
Butterflies float in the breeze.

"Spring is here! Spring is here!
Each bird calls unto his dear,
Little mate, I love you best,
Come with me and build a nest."

(Taken from Bushland Stories by Amy Eleanor Mack, written/published over 70 years ago. Amy Mack's stories were amongst the first to introduce children to the unique nature of the Australian Bush. With beautiful illustralions by Joyce Dennys)

Mosaic waterbowl with flowers

A Lesson of Life .....

A lesson of life Read the following and have A GREAT day!

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked greenpeas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?
' 'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.' 'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?' 'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.
' 'Good. Anything I can help you with?
' 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' th em peas.
' 'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with
.' 'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?
' 'All I got's my prize marble here.
' 'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller.
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.
' 'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked. 'Not zackley but almost.
' 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.
'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.

' Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.

' I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and Moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them.. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.' 'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ...'
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

TheMoral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself... An unexpected phone call from an old friend ....... Green stoplights on your way to work... The fastest line at the grocery store... A good sing-along song on the radio... Your keys found right where you left them.

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED

Thanks To Ingrid from Twisted Sisters for this lovely story she found, and shared with us.
Until next time
Rina

Bliss of Grandparenthood

Grandparents...

1. She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!" I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye.......

2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 62. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"

3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was THAT?"

4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: "We used to skate outside on a pond I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

5. My grandson was visiting one day when he said "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?'' "You're both old," he replied.

6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. "What's it about?" he asked. "I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."

7. I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these, yourself!"

8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised, "mine says I'm 4 to 6."

10. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting," she said, "how do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."

11. Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked. "Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."

12. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog.. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one child. "No," said another. "He's just for good luck." A third child brought the argument to a close. "They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."

13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."

14. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!

15. My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over; you hear gas leaks, and they blame their dog.

Thanks to Wilna and Her MIL for letting me share this with you.
Until nexttime
Rina

Flowers and plants at the farm

Water lillies on our creek at Bellbrook

Life is like a Patchwork Quilt

Life is like a Patchwork Quilt. Made up of all sorts of leftover bits and pieces of material, adding a little shiny thread, a button or two, and finished off with a little bit of love. Then loved by all who feel and touch it.
A little like our lives with new and old experiences, which we will draw from for the rest of our lives, remembering and loving.

Places we've been too and things we have done, and holidays we have shared with our loved ones. Some have a way of showing up quite unexpectantly. Since I been journalling (blogging) for and with my SA expat sisters which has been mostly in African. I decided to translate a few to share with others friends as well. So bear with me please as I will be posting the original one as well.
Moving to a new country has been quite stressfull for many families, esp for us girls as the boys go off to work and make friends there, while many girls stay at home to be with the kids until they are settled in. My advice: Don't sit at home, get out there, pack a picnic basket and head for the local park to relax with your families. Make new memories and have a great day out.

Many of our weekends were spend walking through a park, letting the littlies play on the swings and feeding ducks. We usd to lie flat on our backs looking up at clouds , imagining all sorts of shapes of animals. Did you do that when your were little?

When I used to have spare time to read, that was a long time ago, one of the books I really enjoyed was Circles in the Forest (Kringe in die Bos) written by Dalene Matthee, which was then made into a film. It's about a family of woodcutters living in the Knysna Forest in South Africa in the good old days, having it tough just surviving. One of the sons rose out of the poverty but alienates his family ... later to return to protect the keepers of the forest ... The Elephants from being slaughtered for their tusks ... esp Big Foot.

Until next time
Rina

Aging Gracefully

Old age is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometimes despair over my bones - the wrinkles, the baggy eyes and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother), but I don't agonise over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less grey hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself and less critical of myself. I have become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need but look so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon, before they undestood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4am and sleep till noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60's and 70's and if I , at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ..... I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body and will dive into the waves with abandon if I chooses to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They too will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But, there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what gives us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn grey and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.So many have never laughed and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've earned the right to be wrong. I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting on what could have been or worrying about what will be.

And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it)!




I found this lovely piece, and borrowed it from Interface. Hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time
Rina

Winter colour from my garden.

Kathryn with a K

Dedicated to a wonderful Lady, Kathryn.

Surrounded by all your friends and family, here to celebrate your 60th Birthday. You look Beautiful in your black lacy skirt and black top with a flower pinned. Your Hair just beautifully done and just a touch of make on your lovely face. What a picture, You don't look 60 more like 50 I'd say. Your husband John by your side looking as proud as punch, your daughter Rene making sure everybody is seated and happy. Your youngest carring in a beautiful fruit cake with white masipan, with verses of praise in pink. A 3 yr old granddaughter entertaining herself quitely waiting to cut the cake and sing Happy Birthday. Your radiate goodness, kindness and careing, those that love you know how true that is. A Christian Lady in stilling all that is good in your family ...... and it shows. With pray we open your celebrations tonight, Sarah singing and playing music, my she was wonderful.



A pray was offered before the meal by one of your friends. The meal was lovely serviced to your guests with dessert following, so much to choose from. Thank you so much.



Your Brother George did a wonderfull speech dedicated to you and gave you the biggest hug. Your sister Alma who came all the way from Namiba to be here with you, what a charming Lady she is, had us all in stitches telling stories from your family's past, growing up in South Africa. All with so much pride in her voice. What a loving and caring family you have.

To close the proceedings, we sang a hymne "Trust and Obey" and end with a prayer.



On the invitation you wrote:

"For Myself I would like no gfts, however, If you

would like to make a donation, this would be

greatly appreciated and donated

to Bear Cottage"

Your wonderful husband John built a beautiful little cottage with a slot for donations, in his workshop, painted the roof red. You exceeded your goal in donations for your cause and managed to collect more than $1200. Enjoy your visit to Bear Cottage. ...

Bear Cottage is a children's hospice established by the Hospital as a ... Bear Cottage is funded entirely by donations from the community ...Bear Cottage is the first children's hospice in NSW, a place where children and young people with terminal illnesses and their families can stay from time ...www.forpeaceofmind.com.au