A must read for anyone that has lost a child or family member ...

The death of a reader's son ... I copied and pasted this post from Down to Earth by Rhonda, a lady I have followed for years. I am sure Rhonda would not mind me posting it here.
There will be some readers who'll prefer not to read today's post. You can see by the title what it's about. But I am writing for a reader who needs our help at this time. The fact that it's Christmas and everyone is full of joy is irrelevant. We are real people living real lives and when a world collapses, it is healthy to reach out and connect. If you only want to read about simplifying, please stop reading now and come back tomorrow.





This is part of an email I received a few days ago from "Amy", a regular reader:


" ... We have only 5 weeks ago lost our amazing, precious and most darling 26 year old son...Rhonda if I told you he was an angel who walked this earth I would not be exaggerating one bit. If at some time could you please just mention your thoughts on children who leave before their parents...I know it's not in line with your blog....but I would dearly love to hear just a few words from you....as you ALWAYS make sense, your life is about compassion and I just know that everything you say is true. With Christmas upon us it is probably not the time anyway to be anything but full of joy. I have been going to grief counselling only so that I can show my girls who are 15 and 16 and another who is 27 and married with a darling little 2 year old how to grieve in a healthy way. Through my torment and agony I have to show the girls that we will get through this. But, oh Rhonda, the pain... "


I have no idea what this would feel like. Can you help someone if you don't understand the depth of their pain? I know I would cope with almost everything that might happen to me but the one thing that would wipe me out would be if anything happened to my children, or my grandchildren. I would not get over that. The first thing I did when I read this email was to read it to Hanno and to ask his advice. I don't tell you everything about us, but Hanno said it's okay to share his story if it's going to help someone. Two children from Hanno's first marriage died. A son at age two and a daughter at age six, both died from unusual and unrelated diseases. Hanno said you never get over it, you just learn to live with it. "Sometimes, when you've been making progress, a memory or a smell will take you back, you remember and you're back to zero again. That never stops."


I have a big problems with that word "closure". It seems to me that all of a sudden people started saying it in relation to death and grief. I thought it was a made up "Oprah" word but I just looked up my Webster's American Dictionary and it's in there. I'm sure their meaning is closure as in a door or window but it's there none the less. I don't think there is closure and it's absurd to think there would be. How can you close off that part of your life when it is the one thing you think of every day, the one thing you want to remember every second of, even though it causes you more pain than any thing you could imagine. Why would you want closure? It beats me.


I think that counselling is good; talking to friends is good but often friends are trepidacious and don't want to bring up the subject thinking it might make things worse. I think when that happens, when the talking stops, when the person who died is not mentioned for fear of upsetting someone, those who are grieving the most feel their loved one is being forgotten. Talking makes a difference. Even this post will play a small part. It's recognising that a wonderful son, a young man who died young, is not here now and his life's promise was played out far too soon. His family and particularly his mother and father are devastated but all of us lose when this happens. We need good people.


There is another woman here who has gone through this pain herself with her daughter about the same age as this young man and I wonder if she would email me so I can connect her to Amy. There is some good in sharing grief but the sharing is best done with someone who has experienced it. Raw pain needs to meet raw pain - there is no half way mark with this kind of grief.


Hanno is right, I am sure of that. You never get over the death of a child. Parents aren't supposed to outlive their children and when it happens, you have to question if anything can be right again. My mum died 18 years ago but it seems like it was yesterday. I miss her so much and if someone were to offer me a million dollars or five minutes with my mother, I'd take that five minutes in an instant. I will never get over her death but I now know how to live with it. I do it by honouring the person she was, and wanted me to be, I do it by emulating her example. She was a very generous and open hearted women. I try to follow in her footsteps. Sometimes I step in them, sometimes I fail but the doing of this has helped me live without her.


I started writing this post yesterday afternoon and sent Amy an email asking if it was okay to share her story in the post. At this point in my post I received this reply from her: "Today has been the same, I need to really pull something out of my being to keep on, to make the bed, to wash the floors, to do a little cooking, but I say often to myself that I have to stay the person that my son knew and loved, I can't let that person slip away...in his honour." Amy, that is exactly what you need to do. Keep doing the practical things that gave structure to your days in the past. If there are days when you can't manage it, that's fine; rest on those days, or go out somewhere with the family, or alone. That is how I am dealing with my mother's death. It is the only way that makes sense to me.

If anyone tells you you need closure, don't listen to them. This is your son! You have to feel the pain. there is no closure. There is only you honouring the memory of him, being the mother he knew and staying true to that. There will be days when that will be easier than others. We live in a society that fears death and many people don't like talking about it. But it's the one true thing we all share. Don't let anyone sanitise your son's death, feel the pain, remember him, honour him by living well and true. One day there will come a time when the pain isn't as sharp. One day there will be the beginnings of acceptance. One day you'll be surprised by peace. I doubt there will ever be a time when you remember him without sadness and yearning but there is life to be lived. You have to do that for your daughters, and for him. He would want it. You need it.


Hanno and I send our sincere condolences to you and your family. I have no doubt there will be many readers who will do the same. There may be some who will share how they have coped with the death of a son or daughter. I hope this has given you some sort of comfort. I will be thinking of you in the days ahead and will stay in touch.

Each of our lives is like a painting and we are the master.
Each day and each act can be another stroke on the canvas.
If our hearts are in the right place, we will create something
of beauty that will touch peoples lives and be remembered.
Robert Duncan

Last Unicorn ...

Last Unicorn
When the last eagle flies over the last crumbling mountain.
And the last lion roars at the last dusty fountain.
In the shadow of the forest though she may be old and worn.
They will stare unbelieving at the Last Unicorn.
... When the first breath of winter through the flowers is icing.
You look to the north and a pale moon is rising.
It seems like all is dying and would leave the world to mourn in the distance.
Hear her laughter.
It's the Last Unicorn.
I'm alive

Don't Judge Life by One Difficult Season

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come bac...k, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said, “no – it was covered with green buds and full of promise”. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree’s life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.

Moral: Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don’t judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time or later.

~ Author Unknown

Ouma ...

So many years ago a special girl was born this day,
she grew up to be a strong woman,
a sheep farmer's wife,
a mother to her own and her sister's child,
a grandmother to me, special times we had many,
lessons learnt by listening and following in her foot steps and her ways,
there was nothing she could not do if she wanted too.
still loved and remembered very fondly to this day.
she left this place too soon.

Friday, April 30, 2010
Gemmerbier en Oumas

Kyk wie kon nou better Gemmerbier make as my Ouma, niks was fout met haar hande nie. Now die storie is oor Gemmer bier wat ons daar by Pelgrimsrus gekoop het in sukke mooi pottery bottels. Die kinder was nog baie klein toe, so dit is baie lank terug. Maar ek onthou dit was in die somer en ons het so lekker daar rondgeloop en alles bekyk. Gemmerbier gekoop en in die kar se boot gesit, hmmm die bier het warm geword en die proppe het begin skit ... watter gemors hoor.

Dit was wonderlik om so baie tyd saam met my Ouma en Oom Dan te kom spandeer, sommer maande op 'n slag. Oom Dan het aan bom skok gely en Ouma het vir haar broer gesorg. Saam het hulle meer as 'n akker groente en vrugte bome versorg, rye wit mielies jy kom wegkruipertjie speel. Sy was 'n regte boeretannie, so sterk soos 'n os met 'n hart van goud. Ouma het geglo 'n vrou se handed moet besig bly. Oupa hulle het vir jare met skape geboer daar anderkant Vryburg maar nadat hy oorlede is het Ouma koshuis moeder geword.



Later koop sy 'n huis met die groot erf in Paris. Dis nou Paris in die Vrystaat. Dis waar ons gebak en brou het , regte botter in die glas bottel gemaak het, hoenders gevoer en eiers gaan soek, gehelp verre pluk as sy hoenders slag. Skaap slag was geen problem en as alles verby is dan maak sy lekker kerrie afval. Sondag na kerk was daar skaap boud met vars aartapples van die tuin. In die kerk mos jy stil sit anders kry jy nie 'n pepermintjie wat sy in haar handsak gebere het nie. Ouma het self biltong gemaak strepsakke vol, dan bere sy dit daar onder in die kombuis kas langs die droe vrugte. Ouma het my geleer hekel, skeef en krom, maar vandag kan ek vir my kleinseuns hulle eie bersies maak. Daar in my kis is nog ouma se knie kombersie +- 50 jaar oud en 'n resepte book wat ek by my ma vasgele het (nadat sy begin resepte inplak)

Maar die memories is nog by my en ek weet Ouma glimlag van daarbo. Ek het altyd daar op haar bed gesit en my verkyk hou sy daardie lang swart/grys hare uitkam en dan vleg totdat dit dun raak. More word die hare in 'n bollatjie gemaak en sy trek een van baie voorskote aan, reg vir nog 'n dag. Ek was 13 jaar oud en haar enigste kleinkind toe Ouma rustig in haar slaap oorlede is.

Ek het soveel mooi memories van my Ouma Mimmie, dinge wat sy gedoen het, my geleer het en gewys het wat tot vandag toe by my is. Ek hoop om eendag die selfde vir my Kleinseuns te kan betekken wat Ouma vir my was. Miskien was daar iemand anders in julle lewe met die selfde invloed op jou. Kom vertel 'n bietjie.

Until Nexttime
Rina

Trapped Like a Bird ...

trapped like a bird in a cage
limited to living between those wire walls
keeping you behind the wire bars
the door is open and you'r not free
free to go where you want to go
free of the chain around your ankle
so you make the best of it
you keep them entertained
instead of sitting in a corner
feeling miserable with it all
tomorrow it might be different
tomorrow you might be free

Trust ...

And once again my hearts scattered in a million pieces
No Jar of Hearts, just silver splinters aimed straight
No drops of red , but silver tears
And a hole in a tired heart
a tightness in the throat
tears to near
knowing I fail once again
the trust of a little boy
to be continued ...

Henry En Marelize Townsend
GET YOUR TISSUES OUT ... I was walking around in a supermarket when i saw a
cashier hand this little boy his money back, the boy
couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years old. The
Cashier said, 'I'm sorry, but you don't have enough
money to buy this doll.'' The little boy turned to the
... ... ... old woman next to him, ''Granny, are you sure I don't have enough money?'' She replied, ''You
know that you don't have enough money to buy
this doll, my dear.'' Then she asked him to stay
there for just 5 minutes while she went to look
around. She left quickly. The little boy was still
holding the doll in his hand. Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to
give this doll to. 'It's the doll that my sister loved
most and wanted so much for Christmas. She was
sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her.' I
replied to him that maybe Santa Claus would bring
it to her after all, and not to worry. But he replied to me sadly. 'No, Santa Claus can't bring it to her
where she is now. I have to give the doll to my
mommy so that she can give it to my sister when
she goes there.' His eyes were so sad while saying
this, 'My Sister has gone to be with God. Daddy
says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with
her to give it to my sister.'' My heart nearly
stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said, 'I
told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her
to wait until I come back from the mall.' Then he
showed me a very nice photo of himself. He was laughing. He then told me 'I want mommy to take
my picture with her so she won't forget me.' 'I
love my mommy and I wish she didn't have to
leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be
with my little sister.' Then he looked again at the
doll with sad eyes, very quietly. I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. 'Suppose we
check again, just in case you do have enough
money for the doll!'' OK' he said, 'I hope I do have
enough.' I added some of my money to his
without him seeing and we started to count it.
There was enough for the doll and even some spare money. The little boy said, 'Thank you God
for giving me enough money!' Then he looked at
me and added, 'I asked last night before I went to
sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to
buy this doll, so that mommy could give it to my
sister. He heard me!'' 'I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my
mommy, but I didn't dare to ask God for too much.
But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white
rose.'' 'My mommy loves white roses.' A few
minutes later, the old lady returned and I left with
my basket. I finished my shopping in a totally different state of mind from when I started. I
couldn't get the little boy out of my mind. Then I
remembered a local newspaper article two days
ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck,
who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a
little girl. The little girl died right away and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to
decide whether to pull the plug on the life-
sustaining machine because the young woman
would not be able to recover from the coma. Was
this the family of the little boy? Two days after this
encounter with the little boy I read in the newspaper that the young woman had passed
away. I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch of
white roses and I went to the funeral home where
the body of the young woman was for people to
see and make last wishes before her burial. She
was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy
and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place,
teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed
forever. The love that the little boy had for his
mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to
imagine, and in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him. Now you
have 2 choices: (1) Copy & Paste this on your wall
(2) Ignore it as if it never touched your heartSee more

Ode to an Old House


There it stands in the empty paddock,
Now all alone and forlorn
No longer glass in the windows.
No longer gardens or lawn.


The roof is lifting and rusty,
No paint on the walls to be seen.
Once a proud family home in the country.
Now a derelict. Just a has-been.


A sad looking picture. I feel
For that broken down building out there.
Where’s the family who once occupied it?
Who were they, I wonder, and where?


Did they leave all at once in a hurry?
Or all drift off one at a time?
Were they happy or sad? Were they good folk or bad?
When they left was there reason or rhyme?


Yet I feel some warmth for that lonely old house
As it stands on its own way out there.
In its tumbledown state it can only wait
For collapse. Would anyone care?


I do. I wish I had taken a photo
Of the old decayed building out there.
For I feel sad for the house which was once
A glad home of a family there. ©


Posted by Dave

Hold my hand ...

I wish I was there for you today
Take my hand in yours
Together we can do it
There is just a few stones to cross
Together we can do it
Tomorrow the sun will shine again

Jakobus van Niekerk ... my Dad

Today is the anniversary of My Dad passing, it's 12 ago that We got the phone call. Do you know I don't even remember who call me right now, I think they called and spoke to George. I just felt this huge hurt and sadness, I don't want to go down that road again, so I tried to shut it out, never really accepting he was gone. I was so disappointed he never made it over to Australia as we had planned for the 2000 Olympic Games, just a few months off. The last time I had hugged Dad was a few days before we left for Australia, we spoke on the phone a few time and wrote a few letters.

What can I tell you about My Dad. They came from the poor class folk of Johannesburg, living in a red bricked semi-detached house, the front door just about on the road, only a brick wall separating it. Grandpa van Niekerk worked on the railways as most men in that neighbourhood did those days. Grandma was a seamstress and even turned her hand making beautiful wedding dresses, all to help support 3 boys and their youngest a girl. Those were the days when most cars were all black heavy beasts. I remember when Grandpa died there were so many black cars parked down the street and everyone was dressed in black. I was only 4 years old then, the world looked very scary. The day before I had landed in hospital, my little finger was jammed in the backdoor, Mom closed the door and locked it before realising what happened. I lost the tip of my finger.

Anyway Dad was probably rebellious, cause he ended up going to a boys boarding school in the eastern Cape Provence. Where he must have excelled at sport esp swimming, cause many year later He went there and his swimming record was still standing. Dad worked on the mines for a bit. Mom tells the story of when they helped move my Grandma, with a ute/bakkie, they loaded up the ute with some of her belongings and then her chooks in a crate. Dad being a smoker flicked the burnt cigarette bud and it landed in the back of the ute. By the time he noticed there was smoke, he panicked and ripped everything off the back, only to inform them afterwards he had a few sticks of dynamite on the back.

Dad joined the Police Force Later he joined the Correctional Services and we were stationed at Barberton. Somehow he was involved with riding horses in a parade in full uniform, that is a very faint memory. Mom came from good breeding stock as she used to say, never heard the end off I helped put your Dad through university. Dad was a bit of a Hermit, happy being by himself, spending many nights studying and finally receiving His Honors degree.

Dad dreamed of having a son, the go cart he built while Mom was pregnant never got used, cause on 12th January they had me. I had a happy childhood, Dad taught me to drive when I was just 6 yrs old, really only steer the car on his lap, he did the gears and clutch. I remember Dad having these coffee tins with holes punched in them in the garage, with snakes he caught while on duty, waiting to be posted off to the Hartebeesport dam Snake park. They used to milked them for anti venom. Never got to close to those coffee tins. Later Dad got a job in a Government Department and we moved to the city. Mom squashed so many of his dreams and schemes, 24 years later they divorced.

There's heaps more stories about Dad, he was one of the best. Love you Kosie

A Daisy A Day

A Daisy A Day ... wonderful old song


He remembers the first time he met er
He remembers the first thing she said
He remembers the first time he held her
And the night that she came to his bed

He remembers her sweet way of sayin
Honey has somethin gone wrong
He remembers the fun and the teasin
And the reason he wrote er this song

Ill give you a daisy a day, dear
Ill give you a daisy a day
Ill love you until the rivers run still
And the four winds we know blow away

They would walk down the street in the evenin
And for years I would see them go by
And their love that was more than the clothes that they wore
Could be seen in the gleam of their eyes

As a kid they would take me for candy
And I loved to go taggin along
Wed hold hands while we walked to the corner
And the old man would sing er his song

Ill give you a daisy a day, dear
Ill give you a daisy a day
Ill love you until the rivers run still
And the four winds we know blow away

Now he walks down the street in the evenin
And he stops by the old candy store
And I somehow believe hes believin
Hes holdin er hand like before

For he feels all her love walkin with him
And he smiles at the things she might say
Then the old man walks up to the hilltop
And gives her a daisy a day

Ill give you a daisy a day, dear
Ill give you a daisy a day
Ill love you until the rivers run still
And the four winds we know blow away




~sung by Jud Strunk

Borrowed from Note Song

Come take a walk with me ...

Please turn off the mixpod on the right. enjoy


Come on ...

No Monday blues here...

My heart beat just a little faster when I got mail today, you still make my day. Even this far apart, it makes no difference.

My boys are growing up so fast now, and it's nearly another school holiday again can't wait it's been a few months since I last saw them. Today I am going to book those plane tickets. Just to make sure you are both coming.I missed ya both.

and I got cookies to bake
before I go

A little something from a friend ... Carelene
There are 5 things in life you cannot recover: A stone...after it's thrown. A word...after it is said. An occasion...after it's missed. The time...after it's gone. A person...after they die. Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably; and never regret anything that made you smile, So very true! Treasure every moment life gives you!!

See ya
Rina

Tiny Angels ...

Prayers for Baby Sebastian on facebook .. my link woun't work sorryThis morning one of my friends Estelle asked us to say a little prayer for Sebastion ...
Please pray for baby Sebastian ♥ His mommy and daddy waited such a very very long time for him, he was a miracle even before he was born and we pray for him today and all the days after xxx
Prayers forbaby Sebastian. This is a prayer and dedication page for Baby Sebastian van Rooyen born 2 months premature on 28 July 2011 weighing in at 1.56kg. Sebastian progressed very well but suddenly took a turn last night (15th August) and was diagnosed with having NEC or inflammatory bowl disease.
A message on Sebastion and his parents Facebook would be really appreciated


I went blog hopping this morning and found Tyla's blog,felt like an intruder reading these blogposts but can't help myself. You can feel the pain of these poor parents. What I am most impressed about is the good that has come from their grief God it is still sad no matter which way you look at it. Please follow the link to other sites on Tyla's Blog. Tyla's Daddy died of Cancer (making it doubly as sad for her mommy)


Link to Tyla's Memory Boxes,www.tylatreasuresblog.blogspot.com




~~~ Babybear ~~~
Today is babybear's 6th birthday.

Hard to believe 6 years has passed
since I said hello and good bye
to my little girl.
It seems like only yesterday
and forever ago.

On her angel day (Friday),
I had a few people over for a BBQ.
I made these sad looking cupcake bears.
At least they tasted better than they looked.

The balloon place closed
so I didn't get to do a balloon release.

What I wouldn't do
to have a real birthday party instead.
With a little birthday princess
instead of an angel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ A Song for Daniel~~~
Stillborn
by Jean Felice Eilbert (his mother)


When I held you in my arms that day
Born so still, born anyway
How was I to know to say goodbye?
No one knew just what to do
Except tell me I'd get over you
As if forgetting makes it all untrue -- a lie

But I remember to remember
I can't forget just to forget
Your memories are a part of me
Connecting me to what comes next.

And even after all this while
I think of you, sometimes I smile
Memories of my unknown child, fade slow.
I've held you in my heart each day
Life so short, life anyway
Memories are meant to say hello


Maybe I could ask each of you to think about helping make a suitable baby item, Bev's on the right handside of Tyla's Blog has the link, and donate it to a hospital near you or maybe a lending hand with these beautiful memory boxes.

Thought I would just update this post, firstly I must thank everyone who read this post and prayed for Sebastion, 13 September he passed on after taking a turn for the worse.

God has tiny angels,
Flying in his heaven,
Looking over you and me
Now it has little Sebastion,
We shed a tear for you today
You are in our thoughts
A tiny Angel has received his wings.
Fly high little one

Our thoughts, prayers and love are with you today. So sorry for your loss. Sebastian put up a brave fight.

Set Fire to the Rain ... Adele

Don't forget to go down to the Mixpod on the right and switch it off before starting Adele's Set Fire to the Rain. Thanks and enjoy listening ... Rina

Making a Baby.. This is hilarious!

Making a Baby.. This is hilarious!
This is just so funny!--
The Smiths were unable to conceive children and decided to use a surrogate father to start their family. On the day the proxy father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife goodbye and said, 'Well, I'm off now.
The man should be here soon.'
Half an hour later, just by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer happened to ring the doorbell, hoping to make a sale. 'Good morning, Ma'am', he said, 'I've come to...'
'Oh, no need to explain, 'Mrs. Smith cut in, embarrassed, 'I've been expecting you.'
'Have you really?' said the photographer. 'Well, that's good. Did you know babies are my specialty?'
'Well that's what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a seat!.
After a moment she asked, blushing,
'Well, where do we start?'
'Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the couch, and perhaps a couple on the bed. And sometimes the living room floor is fun. You can really spread out there.'
'Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn't work out for Harry and me!'
'Well, Ma'am, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven angles, I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results.'
'My, that's a lot!', gasped Mrs. Smith.
'Ma'am, in my line of work a man has to take his time. I'd love to be in and out in five minutes, but I'm sure you'd be disappointed with that.'
'Don't I know it,' said Mrs. Smith quietly.
The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his baby pictures. 'This was done on the top of a bus,' he said.
'Oh, my God!' Mrs. Smith exclaimed,
grasping at her throat.
'And these twins turned out exceptionally well - when you consider their mother was so difficult to work with.'
'She was difficult?' asked Mrs. Smith.
'Yes, I'm afraid so. I finally had to take her to the park to get the job done right. People were crowding around four and five deep
to get a good look'
'Four and five deep?' said Mrs. Smith,
her eyes wide with amazement.
'Yes', the photographer replied. 'And for
more than three hours, too. The mother was constantly squealing and yelling - I could hardly concentrate, and when darkness approached I had to rush my shots. Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had to pack it all in.'
Mrs. Smith leaned forward.
'Do you mean they actually
chewed on your, uh...equipment?'
'It's true, Ma'am, yes.. Well, if you're ready, I'll set-up my tripod and we can
get to work right away..'
'Tripod?'
'Oh yes, Ma'am. I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It's much too big to be held in the hand very long.'
Mrs.Smith fainted.

The One ...

Destiny


The minute I saw him I knew that he was THE ONE.

He was standing there all tall and lanky, looking so fine.

The connection was instant.

The minute I touched him, shivers went up my spine.

I know he felt it too.

There have been others, so many others.

But, they never satisfied me the way he does.



His name is Charles and I know we are going to have many happy years together.

Maxine Monday
Mel's Backyard

Living Masks ..

Living Masks
-
What’s the point of tears,
If there’s no remorse in the heart;

What’s the point of a smile,
If there’s no joy in the heart;

What’s the use of a thanks,
If there’s no gratitude in the heart;

Just what is the use of bravado,
If there’s no real courage in the heart...

Such hollow masks people adopt to live in this world…

What’s the point of living,
If you are dead in the heart…


posted by Ayan Bhattacharya

Anonymous said...
what is happiness... its a sensation, what is a sensation... its a feeling, what is a feeling ... it is belief , what if such masks and pretentions make u believe u r happy and you actually start believing you are happy. isnt the object of lyf is to be happy and if some sweet nothings make u happy for a while y shud u bother. coz tomorrow you are not going to think about today and if today u r happy y shud u think about tomorrow.

Helene ...

We meet at our kids pre primary school and soon we became really good friends, two peas in a pod, we had so much fun visiting, sewing curtains and other stuff. We baked together, laughed and cried together. Our kids played together, helped you look after the kids when you got sick. Many a Saturday I pick you and the kids up, we'd have a BBQ, then Hubby would drive you home, see you in safely. Never could I for one minute have guessed why you pulled back, why it seemed I was the only one calling, why you became so busy or why you had other plans. I knew your husband was away at a training camp, not the first one either. Then he came back and he was transferred, I even helped you pack.

We lost contact for a while, and then I found you, we decided to visit you for a weekend, it's was lovely. But something was not the same anymore. It never dawned on me. You must have been feeling very guilty, embarrassed I am not sure, a moment of weakness cost our friendship. The truth game we played so many years later, was the moment my hubby told me, only then did I understand why our friendship suffered a slow death. I had lost a best friend ...

Who matters,
Who never did,
Who won't anymore...
And who always will.
So, don't worry about people from your past,
There's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

Carelene posted this on FB

Or

Who does not matter, cause they choose not to
Who always did, cause they shared of themselves
Who will forever... And who never made the grade.
So, worry about the people in your future,
They deserve to be rewarded with your love,
Forever is timeless, or it could be as short as a day.

My version
Until nexttime
Rina

Falling into a black hole ...

I have dug myself into such a big hole,
fallen into it head first,
it deep, very deep.
It not just the last few months it years of digging,
at this bottomless pit.
My hands and nails claw at the sides trying to get out
but the sides are wet and slippery.
my face is streaked from mud and tears,
my hair a mess.
Can't see the light anymore,
I don't care anymore
more downs than ups,
why bother writing,
it just makes it worse.

When life throws you lemons make lemonade ...

Rina, I think of you everyday because I have this little treasure hanging in my kitchen. You sent this to me in California in 93, before you moved to Australia. You embroidered the lemons and I framed it.....I love it!



What a pleasant supprise, I really did forget all about this little cross stitch I did so many years ago, then sent it over to my good friend Dalene. We walked a mile together on the PTA and then at the Halfway home for Abused Ladies and their kids. Tanya and Nicky were friends for a while, Nicky into her swimming and Tanya her dancing. Jolene was in Michael's class at Westville Junior School and still after all this time, they now chat on Facebook. Then Dave and Dalene moved all the way to California, we still kept in contact all this time. Christmas newsletter with a family photo, invites to graduation days were just so exciting to receive.

So nice to see all the girls together, Grandma Bessie, Nicky who's expecting your first grandbaby, Jolene at the back and Dalene.
Thanks for the memory
Rina

Ships passing in the night ...

waves smashing against the rocks

Have I learnt something from all this? it just confirms we are here to walk a path choosen way before our births, it's how we walk that path that counts. Sometimes there is no solution to our problems and we will just have to live with it until that line in our palm ends.

Never really believed in all that stuff but found it a little amusing, but the older I get the more things happen and the more I start believing. There must be a reason why things happen the way they do. And why we meet people on our lifes journey, the special ones. Someone said recently to me I believe that we come to this life to learn by our past life mistakes. Once a relationship brakes down we have learnt what we had to. You have to continue on your new journey where ever it takes you . Wise words

Too many problems lie in my path to do just that and it's just a little to late for that. So we move on again a little tattered around the edge, wishing a good journey ahead. Maybe we meet again in another lifetime ...

when thing have gone bad .....

WEES BLY VIR ELKE DAG..
Met ‘n traan in my oë skryf ek dit en nie omdat ek bang is om oud te raak nie maar omdat ek bly is die kameraman het die foto van agter af en nie van voor af geneem nie...:) LOL

*********************************************************
What are the odds of things working out? The odds are good but only if a couple follows some important rules. Here are the rules for relighting the fire between you:
Relight Rule No.1: The pressure's on — so your ex is putting enormous pressure on you to get back together — phone calls, texts, wanting to wine and dine you — but you both have to want it. Yes, one of you may be the instigator, coaxing the other along, but it shouldn't take huge pressure to do so. If there's loads it's a sign that person desperately wants to control you and get you back under their thumb.

Relight Rule No. 2: Only the lonely — are you tempted to try again because you're so lonely or feeling insecure and nobody else is ever going to want you? These are definitely bad reasons to try again. Going back to your ex full of insecurities will only compound your previous problems.

Relight Rule No. 3: Honesty is the best policy — be honest with yourself and ask if the annoying issues that broke you up in the first place have changed. If in your heart you know these issues are still hanging over your heads this is a bad basis for getting back together.

But if things have changed — e.g., one of you used to party too much, causing rows, but now has calmed down — then you have a chance of it working.

Relight Rule No. 4: Rose coloured specs — is hindsight playing tricks on you making you think your old relationship was actually pretty rosie? If this is the case think again. Take some time, close your eyes, and remember the last couple arguments. The problems you two had will probably come flooding back — it might make you re-evaluate your desire to go back.

Relight Rule No. 5: Take the blame — are you both ready to hold your hands up to the part you played in your relationship breaking up? If yes, that's an excellent sign that you realise it's a two-way street when relationships end. Use this new, responsible attitude that you both have to work out how you can do things differently.


VIEW GALLERY: Why sex is good for your health

Relight Rule No. 6: Strangers in the night — did your relationship finish because of "relationship drift", i.e., you let things drift apart and became strangers. If you both recognise this you'll take more care a second time around and not take each other for granted.

Relight Rule No. 7: Let's get physical — are you missing the hot sex you had with your ex? Often major relationship issues are ignored because fantastic sex can keep a couple together for a time. Having been apart for a while you might be missing that sexual compatibility you had and end up tempted to try again. If nothing else has changed, though, great sex won't make it work second time around.

Relight Rule No. 8: Let's get practical — in discussing trying again have you both made suggestions of what might help make it work this time? It's all well and good thinking you can rekindle your love — and that love will conquer all — but it won't. As well as realising you still love each other, you both must think practically about what things you should do differently.

Relight Rule No. 9: It's a whirlwind — do you both feel like rushing back into a full-on, living-together relationship? Think again — it's far better to rekindle things through a slow build-up, and to date again, rather than jumping in head first to a fully fledged relationship.

Relight Rule No. 10: Proceed with caution — finally, are you getting back together for the sake children? Think long and hard. Of course your children would've taken your breakup badly. And maybe they're finding it hard to adjust to the status quo.

But getting back together again without ensuring it's going to work will only make things worse for them. If you've considered all the above rules — and think you've got an excellent chance — then go for it.

Mr Fox you better watch out ...

Now I have mentioned before we got a big problem with Mr Fox,he's making a real pest of himself stalking the chookhouse, digging his way in and having a field day with the white chooks, killed 3. If only I could lay my hands on the bugger, I put those dead chooks on a orange bag, tie it around his neck and send him on his way. Oh you don't know how delightful that smell could be after a few day, Mr Fox woun't be able to live with himself. For sure Mrs Fox would pack her bags and bugger off. Oh I can see him begging me to just take it off, no mercy from me ... just give me a gun.

Talking about guns, while sitting in front of the computer having my cup of tea in my pj's and pink gown, see no more poison coffee, a shadow passes the window, this time there's no Miss Daisy's hoove noises on the concrete, strange! It's landlords wife Gayle with a air rifle stalking past the window, heading towards the chookhouse. She had spied Mr Fox from her kitchen window, got one kid to watch while she grabbed the rifle, got it out of the case and loaded it, slipping out her backdoor and heading towards our place. But Mr Fox had seen her coming and had taken off through the fence, all you see is a orange flash jumping in and out the tall grass,gone with the wind he was. 10/10 for trying Gayle, she lost 2 of her hens to that fox and boy she's on the war path.

Now really Mr Fox would not even feel that slug if she managed to hit him, she needs a real gun or maybe shotgun, maybe a visit to the hood, would be a great idea. There you can buy just about anything if you got the money
Maybe not ...

Gotta watch this ...

Roses from a friend ...

A thoughtfull friend brought me Some roses Saturday, they just so beautiful.
Thank you Pina x0x

I put a dollar in a change machine. Nothing changed.???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Well i am off to hospital ... se ya when I see ya

Good Morning my Fellow Blogger,

Well I need to apologize in advance, not much news is going to be coming from this side of the country for the next few weeks. Reason I off to hospital tomorrow, having all the girlie bits removed, they in bad shape and the Gynie wants them out. Now I am not sure if she only going to take the Ovaries and tubes, or we going the whole hog,that she will decide in theater. so it could be just day surgery or I be in there for 1 week. Who knows but i have full confidence in my Doctor to do the right thing.

Either way I have made a heap of meals inadvance, sauces and soups, just incase I am not up too doing much around the kitchen. Yeah I know take it easy, I'll try. Emotionally I have been a wreck for more than one reason, not sleeping that well for the last two months. Also there's this ... I am a Capricorn and find deligating very hard, well who can blame me, found the chook house twice wide open at 11pm with foxes in the neighbourhood, when I have asked for help. My main concern is the meat chooks, you know how hungry and thirsty they can get.

I know not to expect anyone to be doing a spring clean, but boy a clean cup would be nice (sorry I ranting again)
well that's what's going on here
see ya when I see ya
Rina

You will be there, won't you? ...

You will be there, won't you?
-
When lost in life's tenuous maze,
Alone, forelorn and defeated,
Gagged and blinded, confused in haze,
You will be there for me, won't you?

When subsumed in ignominy of failure,
Ostracized by men of the world,
Beyond all balm, beyond all cure,
You will be there for me, won't you?

When drained hollow by aspirations of life,
Enervated, enfeebled and effete,
Barren and infecund, only dissipation rife,
You will be there for me, won't you?

You will be there for me, won't you...
--
originally written on March 25, 2005
Borrowed from another blog, should have put it in favorites but forgot to.
Oh I did save it, A curious Mind by Ayan Bhattacharya

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
...I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
~Diane Loomans, from "If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again"
Australian Missing and Endangered Children (FB)

Nog 'n ou storie ...

# Chester
Gold Member


Het net gou terug gekyk na my post "Going Bush" net om seker te maak ek het nog nie vir julle die storie vertel. Kersdag 2 jaar terug, sit manlief en kuier op EBay, ons het net die stukkie hemel gekoop en wonder hou ons dinge gaan doen. Ek kom uit die kombuis en vra wat maak hy, kyk karavanne se hy, hier's een vir cheap en net 1 min oor. Wil nog vra wat dink hy doen hy, cheap ek like van cheap, jag hom daar af en sit my bid in, koop net daar vir my 'n karavan. Nou om die ding by die plaas te kry, nie tyd gehad om mooi te lees nie, die towbar het erg roes, geen lisensie nie, tyres is amper op maar sy lek nie, and that a good thing. Boer is nou nie gelukkig nie, hy moet nou plan maak, maak so 'n ding met yster en nuts & bolts by die werk, gooi 'n mattrass in die stasiewa en daar gaan ons. Nou ons volg nie altyd all die reels nie en besluit vandag hak ons karavan, dit reen en ons koes maar die Cops. Dis 'n lang pad plaas toe amper 8 uur se ry want Manlief wil nie te vinnig ry nie, net ingeval, sy nerves kan dit ook nie meer hou nie.

Dit het lekker gereen en die grond is maar sag, so ons haak haar af, level dit sodat ons nie afdrane rol nie. Bad sommer in een van daardie kinder plastic skulpie, daar buite. Ry dorp toe, kry the nodige en bekyk daardie karavan en groen skulpie bad so van die pad af, o koek jy sien alles van die pad af. Dink nou net wat gaan hulle se van ons nudiste kamp en hulle is nog nie eers 'n paar uur hier nie. Manlief moet maar daardie ding skuif en van voor begin.

Het julle al die TV program gekyk Changing rooms waar hulle die blik verf oop maak, wel die volgende keer laai ons die compressor in en 'n blik verf, hy moet nou skoon gemaak word en geverf word. Manlief maak daardie blik verf oop en se nee, ek se ja, hy begin maar verf en skud kop, pers kan nie wees nie. Hy kan maar net nie gewond raak daaraan nie, either you like it or you don't maar almal weet van die purple caravan

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#2 Guest_Mauritz_*

Group:
Guests Posted 16 January 2008 - 08:36 AM



Sit pics op van die Purple Flowerchild Caravan en baba bad - dan sit ek pics op van ons blikhuis

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#3 JayJay

Gold Member


Het jou gecheck van die begin af -daai karavaan wat julle gekoop het vir somma cheap, plaas toe gevat het - ek dink jy't nog pics opgesit, of het ek die kat aan die gat beet?
As ek nie te gesuip is nie, het jy op een van my threads van braaipap geanswer dat julle hier deer Newcastele ry plaas toe, en vi my mieliemeel sal aflaai as ek so erg gestres is??
Lekker Chester!! Wanneer gaan ons - ('n moerse klomp mense!) daai braai bou??? Jy moet net kans gee dat ons settle!!
Groete



Life is about attitude
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#4 chester


Ek sal try, my photo attachments werk nie altyd so lekker nie
Ok Sy's op, Vir net $300 het 'n ek droe bed om in te slaap. In die agter grond is die fence wat al die pad on die plek gaan wees eendag, Check my bad so bo op daardie water tank, net reg vir 'n bietjie water te vang. Die yskas onder die pink plastic het ek ook cheap opgetel vir $10, en het lekker gevries.


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Chester
Dit lyk baie gemaaklik, kan ons maar ruil Toemaar goed things come to everyone that waits, only I have been waiting forever, wanting to live as self surfficeintly as possible, grow my own food, keep chooks for eggs and just become a hermit. Only don't take my computer away.

JJ no problems with the mielie meel, just say when. Need lift from the Airport ? maybe stay over a few nights.
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#7 Nilo

Citizen

Julle ek kan nie wag vr daai lekker bymekaar kom nie!!!

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#8 Suidwes


Blikhuis oppie 'plaas'. Die pics het ek geneem, die eerste dag toe ek na die plek kom kyk het. Grond is 10 akker groot.



Hi Mauritz...

Hoe lank het julle al die stukkie grond en wys bietjie fotos van hoe dit nou lyk.

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#9 Guest_Mauritz_*

Group:
Guests Posted 16 January 2008 - 08:52 PM

Suidwes, on Jan 16 2008, 03:43 PM, said:

Hoe lank het julle al die stukkie grond en wys bietjie fotos van hoe dit nou lyk.


Ons is net so oor die 2 jaar oppie 'plaas'. Ons kan nog 'n huis op die 10 akker bou, maar kan dit nog nie onderverdeel nie. Ek het dit gekoop omdat dit op 'n hoek is en dit onderverdeel kan word, indien nodig.

Ek wik en weeg om die blikhuis in iets unieks om te sit - 'n meer Japanese ontwerp. Ek wil alles self doen - die tyd is net nie altyd daar nie - ons is mos sonder die 'handjies'.

Die 6 perde en 5 honde (wat so groot soos perde is), 3 kinders en 'n besigheid in die doeke stadium innie gatkant van Aus - maak die tyd 'n relatief ingewikkeld konsep. Ek sal die plek seker regkry as ek so 80 is.

Ek sal later iets oor die 'plaas' & plot bedrywery skryf en ook fotos plaas, want dit is wat baie mense in Aus doen. Dit is soortvan bie mense se droom - 'n stuk grond met kalkoene, pampoene en 'n perd wat bokspring - julle weet mos.

This post has been edited by Mauritz: 16 January 2008 - 08:53 PM

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#10 Annette


nou's ek verlief. Daai pers karavaan is NET FANTASTIES!!!

Gooi nog 'n doop ...

Just been going through all the old posts on SAForum and found one I never transvered here, so nou it's here and I still have strong feelings on the subject. There was one particular person on that forum that wrote and in every post mentioned what a great time he and his mates had drunk as skunks ... is it not possible to have a fun time without alcohol or at least in moderation. No I don't think I just cranky....

Man hier is nou 'n ding wat nie so lekker by my sit, en ongelukkige gaan ek 'n paar Saaffers goed nors maak. Hoe is dit dat drank so 'n groot problem geword het, ons manne is so trots op hulself..........
Ek self was met so 'n man getroud en het so 'n skoonpa gehad. Die dinge wat hulle aangevang het, laat my skoon skaam kry vir hul ontwil.

Die tyd saam met my eerste man, was beslis "an eye opener" in baie opsigte, geweld en baie beklei en sommer alles wat by dit gaan. My twee seuns was al waaraan ek kon dink, en as ek dit kon help sou hulle nooit hulle gesin so behandel nie. Hy wou skoon sy eie kind laat aanneem en dit is waar ek die lyn in die sand getrek het. My tweede man het ook in so 'n huis groot geword maar het goed gesien wat dit aan sy gesin gedoen het. Skoonpa het sommer daar in die tuin uitgepas, nadat hy daardie bottel klipdrief in die ventsterbank leeggemaak het. More moet hy maar weer een gaan koop, of 'n boks wyn. Hy vra mors eendag vir my om vir hom 'n boks wyn te koop, man ek kry toe die slegster asyn wat te kry was, hy trek sy bek so en kla, suip dit maar alles op. Wel dit was die laaste dat hy my weer gevra het

Manlief vertel stories van skoonpa wat jy maar net jou kop kan skuid. LM het by die vliek gewerk vir saakgeld, en daar sien hy mos sy fiets wat gesteel was en vang die klein vetter en sleep hom polisie kantoor toe. Die kops kom neem 'n statement by die huis, skoonpa is in die tuine besig en sien net die kar in sy driveway en gaan blaas ook sommer die tyres af. Natuurlik vang die kops hom met 'n stokkie nog in die hand. Hy mos maar tyre opblaas met 'n fiets pump.

Ek het ook teen my better wete my VW beetlejie by my skoon ouers se huis gelos omdat ons Namiba toe is vir 2 jaar en maak toe mooi reelings om dit te stuur. Man Hy was toe mooi kort aan drank geld en verkoop toe sommer my karretjie vir spares. Ek hoef nie vir julle te se hou kwaad ek was nie.

Vandag sit ek die TV aan en daar is DR Phil en sy Vrou Robyne besig om met so 'n jong 15 Jarige seun te praat wat nog nooit sy pa nugter gesien sien het nie, jy kan sien en hoor die pyn in die kind, die haat in sy vrou se stem vir wat hy geword het. Is dit wat Julle wil he?

Ek het geen probleem met 'n glasie wyn met ete nie, of 'n paar biere met 'n vlies braai, maar om misbruik te maak is nie reg nie.

Until nexttime
Rina

It really has been a long time between updates ...

But Rina's be busy with work, then cleaning the house, tending animals you know the normal old things we women folk need to do. I try to do dishes once a day, to save wasting water cause we on tank water here. But somehow I can't face that sink with it just piling up when I am home. Just not right is it? It was 2 degree this morning old man winter is showing his face around here.A layer of snow fell on the Snowy mountains and blew that cold wind right at us.

And then we got 40 fluffy yellow meat chicks to look after as well

Many years ago, we still lived in Tsumbe,Namibia my babies were still little then, we had a neighbour across the street from us, a nice little blond thingy. Boy she was the best little housewife I had ever seen, washing on the line everyday, soft toys washed and hung up by their ears and tails pegged. I used to wonder if those little kiddies ever got dirty, they were bathed and in their pj's by 4.30 pm and fed before hubby got home from work. She had her little face all pretty and hair taken from curlers, bushed and shiny too.(I am for real)

My biggest dread was she'd pop in before 9am and find me not finished or as that particular morning she knocked and found my sink full of breakfast dishes, soaking while I lay reading over a half made up bed. Needless to say I could not find a hole big enough to crawl into. Don't let me get started on a book that's the end off me for the day.

Now our home was full of fun, lots of water fights, sometimes it even came in the house when least expected, Michael my eldest throw a bucket of cold water at me were he cornered me in the kitchen, while I just stood there helpless from laughter, no threat was going to stop him. I did instigate that fight by hosing him first. Lots of fun and laughter. Now it's the grandsons carring on the tradition ...

Gosh Sorry I strayed off from the topic of the day, I was going to tell ya all about the baby chookies, they growing so fast see their little white wing feathers are starting to come out they so cute now. Already they are grow so much taking up double the space where they sitting under the heat lamp. Sure need it to keep them warm.

Song for Elsa ... and her story

Have you heard there's another lioness named after Elsa of Born Free, the movie from long ago. Well now you can be part of Elsa's fan club, maybe even buy a T-Shirt or visit Elsa. Read her story and Miekie Van Tonder's


The Story of Elsa:
During a cold winter day in July 2008 a lioness was darted in a field on a game ranch in the KROONSTAD district, as she was to be transported. Only after she was asleep, game rangers found a lion cub next to her - approximately 5 days old. As a lion will never accept the cub again after such a traumatic experience, other plans had to be made with the cub. That is how Elsa ended up with me.



I raised Elsa by hand in the house. She was fed by hand with a baby bottle and a special milk formula which was tested and tried until it was suitable for Elsa’s sensitive digestive system. She slept with me on my bed as to enable me to monitor her throughout the night. When Elsa turned one month, we celebrated ...Elsa shared the room - and bed - with three Bengal tiger cubs and she thrived on the personal attention. The four cubs shared the same play area, toys, food and attention. As the days went by and winter turned to summer, Elsa also shared the swimming pool with her tiger brothers and sister! When Elsa and her tiger family turned 3 months, the tigers went to a game ranch. As Elsa was then alone, she was moved to the yard where all the other wild cats roamed. Her new companions consist of 2 adult cheetahs, 2 young cheetahs and 2 wolf puppies. She immediately took to the wolf pups and played with them as if she too was a wolf.All too soon Elsa was eight months old, and I was, according to law, forced to move her to an enclosure, which she shared with 2 male lion cubs - slightly bigger than herself. This was the first time in her life that Elsa interacted with other lions. The bigger males were very active and played rough lion-games with Elsa. Unfortunately, Elsa did not understand these games although she played along, and as a result of the rough play, she sustained an injury to her neck. A piece of her neck vertebra broke and pressed on a nerve in her neck. This caused her legs to give way and she fell down continuously, causing more injury.I then took Elsa to a vetenarian (Dr Fanie Naudé) in North Rand Ridge - with the help of Elsa’s foster parents. After a thorough examination by Dr Naudé, it was decided to operate on Elsa’s neck. The operation lasted approximately two hours, and Elsa, her foster mother and myself stayed on for another 4 days before we could return to Bloemfontein. Elsa was now almost 1 year old.For the next two weeks Elsa was closely observed. During this time I slept with her on the ground as to monitor her every move. During the period of her recuperation, I had to escort Elsa whenever nature was calling - day and night - as I had to prevent her from falling down and injuring her neck again.

As she grew stronger and was more mobile, Elsa was gradually introduced to her wolf-family again. In this time we also celebrated her first birthday. After the crucial first two months, Elsa was introduced to five new lion cubs, all younger and smaller than herself. She was still closely monitored, but showed remarkable improvement and after just about three weeks she was already playing with these cubs. Approximately four months after Elsa’s operation, three of the lion cubs were moved to a game ranch. Elsa and the remaining two lion cubs were then moved to an enclosed lion camp as required by law. Elsa’s wolf family also moved to the lion camp with her.
Although Elsa was still a bit unsteady, she hardly fell down anymore and improved daily. She was healthy and happy and enjoyed her stay with the other lions. I greeted her daily and fed her myself. She actually allowed me to touch her while she was eating. After the day’s work - round about 17:00 - I spend quality “family time” with Elsa. This included playing hide-and-seek patting, swimming, licking each others’ faces and chasing each other around. Elsa was now one year and eight months old and weighing a whooping 120 kg!! During the middle of January this year, I noticed a change in Elsa’s condition. She was falling down more frequently and it was obvious that she experienced balancing problems.

,

This is the story of Elsa ... from a human mother’s heart.
Due to the deterioration in Elsa’s condition, I contacted Professor Schwalbach of the University of the Free State, who observed Elsa’s interaction with me. His diagnosis was that either Elsa’s neck injury was not completely healed or that she has an infection that could effect her brain. He then advised me to take Elsa to Onderstepoort for an MRI (cat scan) to establish the cause and severity of her deterioration. I also contacted Dr Naudé from North Rand Ridge, who undertook to be present at Onderstepoort if I can arrange for the MRI to be taken. If it was necessary to operate on Elsa again, Dr Naudé undertook to accompany us back to his surgery and perform the needed operation.


I then started with enquiries concerning the cost for the injections to put Elsa to sleep for the journey, the cost of the MRI, transport and the estimated cost of the operation if needed. I was shocked - the total amount needed before I could take Elsa to Onderstepoort amounted to at least R21 000. As Elsa is my baby, I wanted to give her the very best in life - including the chance of complete recovery so that she can live a full, happy life. Unfortunately I was not in a financial position to cover the expenditures that were needed. I then took to the streets in an attempt to raise the needed funds. Deidre of i-party sponsored a lion suit and I stood at intersections at LANGENHOVENPARK and Mimosa Mall with a donation tin. I handed out flyers telling Elsa’s story and explaining my need. Motorists and passers-by donated and although I was tired every night, I could see the bank balance growing daily. A friend of mine sponsored cupcakes which we sold in a shopping centre to also strengthen Elsa’s funds. In this time I registered a face book group, Elsa the lioness, and told Elsa’s story there. In no time at all we had 250 members and then all the members started donating. Soon members were challenging each other to equal their donations and Elsa’s bank account (and my hopes) soared. A friend arranged for an MRI to be done at a local hospital. I send a copy of the MRI report to Dr Naudé and he contacted me as soon as he received it. Elsa’s condition was far worse that we had anticipated and Elsa was to be taken to JOHANNESBURG the very next week. I knew that I did not have all the money for everything that had to be done, but I made traveling arrangements and on 22 March Elsa and myself left for Johannesburg. Transport was sponsored by Mr Willem VAN SCHALKWYK who also made available his driver, Johan. We arrived at the veterinarian at about 06:30 on the 23 March and Elsa was taken to a private hospital again to take another MRI scan. That afternoon the veterinarian called me to his office and showed me the report - it was not good news. Another piece of vertebrae had broken off and was pressing against her spinal cord. There was also a lot of scar tissue as a result of the previous operation that also pressed against a nerve in Elsa’s neck. I had to take a very serious decision: Either Elsa must be operated upon on 25 March, or I would have to consider letting her being put down. Obviously there was only one decision to be taken : Elsa would be operated on. As we anticipated that Elsa will stay at most 10 days in “hospital” after the operation, my aunt, Yvonne Schreiber, offered me accommodation as well as the use of her vehicle as I would need to travel between Pretoria and Johannesburg. On Thursday, 25 March, Elsa was prepared for the operation, and I injected her myself with an initial aesthetic to enable personnel to move her to the theatre. Although I was prepared for a period of 45 min for the operation to be completed, it took a whole 3 hours before Elsa was returned to her “room”. Apparently the scar tissue was much more that showed on the MRI and there was also some bone pieces present very near to Elsa’s spinal cord that had to be removed delicately. Elsa was very drowsy for the remainder of that day, and I stayed with her until 19:00 when the veterinarian’s offices closed. The next day I was there again at 06:30 - to find Elsa standing at the gate of her “room” - waiting for me! I was so excited., That whole day Elsa and I was cuddling, sleeping, I fed her and she was even playful. I felt much better when I had to leave her that evening.



When I arrived on Saturday - 2 days after the operation - I was shocked when I saw Elsa. She was falling down a lot and obviously in a lot of pain. She still ate her food (3 chickens) though and allowed Yvonne and her family to enter her “room”, touch her and take photo’s of her. When I left het that evening, I was really worried. From then on Elsa’s condition deteriorated daily. So much so that on the next week Wednesday -31 March - Elsa was dehydrated so much that we had to administer an intravenous drip. She was so exhausted that she allowed the personnel of the veterinarian to do that without anaesthetic. On Friday 2 April, Elsa received another intravenous drip as she was almost comatose by then. She was knocking at death’s door, but I believed that she was going to survive as she is a fighter.What a lovely surprise I got!! On arriving at the veterinarian on Saturday 3 April, Elsa was lying in front of the gate of her “room” - waiting for me!! She was “talking” to me - making little grunting and roaring sounds - and I then KNEW that she was going to be OK. As she was very weak, we had to do physiotherapy with her daily, turning her from her left side to her right side to prevent bedsores and pumping her legs to stimulate blood flow and exercise her muscles. I also fed her 1 kg of chicken hearts daily in addition to her 3 to 4 chickens as she considers it a treat. From then on Elsa went from strength to strength and on the next Thursday - 8 April - she walked to a piece of garden in the yard - with our help. I was elated, as were Dr Naudé and his personnel. I also received the good news that I got a job at a farm outside of Parys. Elsa would have a smaller enclosure to enable her to recuperate after The operation as well as 1 ha camp as required by Law. I contacted Mr VAN SCHALKWYK again and he agreed to send Johan again to transport Elsa and me to Parys- on Saturday 10 April. I arranged with Yvonne, who made one of her trucks available to transport my possessions from Bloemfontein to Parys, I was so happy and positive and could not wait for Saturday!!On Saturday 10 April I was up and above long before dawn and on my way to Elsa. I think she sensed my excitement as she was very playful. I had an interview with a journalist from Beeld and then the “limo” arrived to take us to Parys. As it was quite hot, we packed bags of ice on top of Elsa’s crate, and covered the inside of the crate with wet blankets. I also kept bottles of water with me in the back of the truck to prevent Elsa from dehydrating. Yvonne and her family also accompanied us to Parys to welcome Elsa to her new environment and help me unpack. Elsa just loved the new camp, marking her territory and roaring at her cheetah neighbours.Everything went smooth. I arranged for a sponsorship by Almur Smith chicken farm for Elsa’s chickens (5 chickens per day) and when we
were shooting on the farm, Elsa also got her share of game, especially the carcass. She was blossoming, and getting stronger daily. She was soon running around and I had to open the gate to her bigger enclosure. I saw her everyday, for the whole day, as I had a lot of spare time on hand. It was like heaven for the both of us.


However, at the end of April some major changes took place, forcing me to quit the job in Parys. I had to arrange again for Elsa to be transported, and was frantically searching for a new place for her to stay. I also had to arrange for my belongings to be moved back to Bloemfontein. I then got a temporary enclosure for Elsa on Donkerhoek farm, outside of Bloemfontein. Here she could stay for a month, after which I had to move her again. Yvonne and some friends of her’s joined us on 1 May for a picnic in Elsa’s enclosure and we had a marvellous time. Mr van Schalkwyk again assisted me with Johan’s help to transport Elsa to Donkerhoek. Unfortunately I was unemployed then and have to travel more than 20 km to visit Elsa. That resulted in me not being able to visit Elsa daily, as I make use of a motorcycle and on rainy or windy days it is impossible for me to drive the 20 km to Elsa. Mr Ingleton of Donkerhoek assists me in feeding Elsa on days that I do not visit her. In the meantime I enquired on Elsa’s face book group about permanent accommodation for Elsa, but without success. I received a lot of offers to build my own camp on other farms, however, but for that I needed at least between R60 000 to R70 000. Again Mr van Schalkwyk came to our rescue with an offer to build the camp on his farm - with my assistance. Again I turned to Elsa’s face book group - who have more than 780 members - for help. And I was not disappointed, as a lot of Elsa fans donated fencing, poles, cement, tiles, etc. Although I do not have nearly enough, Mr van Schalkwyk has already started with the camp! Elsa has to be moved at the end of May, as Mr Ingleton needs the enclosure for other lions. Due to Elsa’s weak neck and the fact that she is a foreigner on Donkerhoek, she can not mingle with the other lions. An injury at this stage could mean the end of her.On Saturday 15 May on my way to visit Elsa, I was in a motorcycle accident and as a result of it I suffered severe injuries to my right arm and right knee. My motorcycle is also a write-off. Now I must rely on others to taxi me to Elsa and back. Elsa is doing fine, and she loves my visits. I also still give updates on Elsa the Lioness (facebook group) on Elsa’s condition, her daily routine, her eating habits and some titbits of “nice-to-knows” concerning Elsa. We currently have a competition running on the group, where donators towards Elsa’s camp are entered in a draw to win an Elsa-package consisting of an Elsa t-shirt, meet and greet Elsa, and an A5 colour photo of the winner with Elsa as a lifetime memento of their encounter with a real lion. Also running currently on the group is a challenge between male / female to determine who donated the most towards Elsa’s camp. During my stay in Johannesburg I met a lot of people in the same financial position that I experienced when Elsa had to have her operation. That gave me the idea of registering a non-profitable organization, Elsa’s Haven, to assist these people and animals. The registering is time-consuming though, as I have no experience of the process, and no money to employ someone to do it for me. I am coping however and the process is coming along.
MIEKIE AND ELSA



PS Donations can be made by Paypal to Miekie's brother Werner Paypal a/c: vtwerner@gmail.com
Or go to Elsa's Haven or Elsa the Lioness on Facebook for more news of Elsa.
Thank you Rina

Tracy Chapman - Telling Stories (lyrics)

What an afternoon ...

Is there a better way to spend an afternoon watching a few fishermen cast a line into Botany Bay waiting to be rescued by a tow truck. Not that I be complaining, for who could complain with a beautiful view overlooking the bay, Million dollar homes and boats to match line the shores. A few yachts with trims of royal blue bopping on the water, the water so calm with barely a ripple. Only a slight backwash from a boat, slowly cruising past up the George's River.

Before we moved out west to the foot of the Blue Mountain, I used to pass this beautiful spot, wishing I could pull off and watch the sun rise. Looking towards the east you see the beautiful bridge, with lights of blue and green reflecting on the dark water, just before the sun comes up. There was barely enough time to wake up before opening the servo, duties call and regular customers waiting to fill up before heading off to work.

After a while (4yrs) you start knowing their names and lots about them, it's a community "The Shire" everyone knows everyone, I'd have my first cup of coffee with a local bricklayer, on his way to work. Russell the prosecutor, would pull up in his crappy 4 wheeldrive, mostly grabbing a morning paper and a coffee, but then he'd pull the bonnet and fill up the oil with his clean white longsleeve shirt on, I'd cringe thinking of washing the darm thing with grease all over it. I did blast him a few times nicely, even filled it up for him a few times. Then there was the nice old man with his yellow dog, who'd be waiting outside the door, while he got the paper and milk. You'd get to know them all.

Many Collared and tied, smelling of aftershave made me think of my dad, so neat and tidy, smelling of old spice with his black hair gelled back with brylcream, dressed in a suit on his way to the office. There he had a saying for the day on his desk. What a disappointment, I wasn't a son like he wanted, the go cart he built while waiting to become a father, never got used, no idea what happened to it. He finally got his wish with two grandsons. He would have enjoyed their teenage years for sure.

And yes the ute is broken, some electonic thingy, I got a ride with the towtruck driver, can't say I liked him much. Just lucky it was'nt peak hour yet and I could pull off to such a nice little fishing spot, now if only there was a fishing rod in the back with a little bait ...