some things never date..

Winnie the Pooh - written nearly 90 years ago - still gives me that "warm, being safe and little feeling".  The beautiful illustrations in the copy I had, so long ago, are still imprinted in my mind. Perfect for a Wednesday....

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why we call it the present." 

“Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.” 



“What I like doing best is Nothing."

"How do you do Nothing," asked Pooh after he had wondered for a long time.

"Well, it's when people call out at you just as you're going off to do it, 'What are you going to do, Christopher Robin?' and you say, 'Oh, Nothing,' and then you go and do it.

It means just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering."

"Oh!" said Pooh.” 




“Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.” 

I must remember to look for an old copy in Cafda Bookshop when I am next there.

series addicts

I read this article a while back and wondered how anyone could find the time to watch hours and hours of a television series, never mind over a weekend, sometimes in one sitting.

I have kind-of given up on series television as I always forget a week and then never remember what day or time the show is on.  No excuse now with PVR but still for some reason episodes do not get recorded.  I have missed out on Homeland, Modern Family, Smash, Revenge and many others.  I hate to admit it (but I will) but we watched the first series of Downton Abbey, loved it but have never got around to watching the second season and now I have completely forgotten the characters in the first season (which I don't have recorded).

I was looking through what we had recorded yesterday as our memory is nearly full.  Matthew has been recording "Smash" and "Grand Designs" and besides 3 Currie Cup rugby seasons, 2 Varsity Cup seasons, in which he features, it is no surprise that there is no space on our PVR.   Matthew told me that Grand Designs is worth watching and after watching one episode with some woodcutter building his own house in an Essex forest, I am hooked.  

So now I have to find time to watch these 19 episodes of Grand Designs but with the rugby yesterday, cricket today and golf every night since Thursday, I don't stand much chance.

I had also completely forgotten that there is a new series of "Greys" on at the moment as I really thought after the plane crash they had no choice but to finish it off forever.  However, I see that they are back, albeit all suffering from aerophobia and behaving strangely.  What happened to Mc? the one who fathered the child for the lesbian couple and who was in love with the main lady's sister (I never know the names)?  

On the public holiday last week I happened to have the remote to myself so did a bit of catch up but could only start at Episode 4 of the latest series, so I watched two episodes.  I am trying quite hard to work out what has happened since the plane crash.  It does not really matter, does it?  It is all made up nonsense so I have invented, in my mind, my own stories about what has happened but just when I think that a certain character must be dead, she appears, without a limb. Her name is Arizona (the only name I can remember) and I must confess to getting quite a fright when she appeared.  She seems very angry too.  Ohio should watch out.  Mc? is definitely dead because in two episodes he has not featured but the other Mc? is there but with a sore hand and he cannot operate anymore.  There is a very pretty new intern (who gets vomited on all the time) and I am sure that the gingered haired ex-husband of the squint oriental doctor (who irritates me to death) (why does she never ever smile?) is going to get together with her (the pretty vomited on one, not funny eyes) - probably also in a cupboard where they all seem to have sex - even the big, loud, bulging eyes fat one who has the hottest guy in the show after her (weird) and, even more surprising, she fits into the cupboard!!  Then there is the religious red haired doctor who has the hot green eyed doctor chasing her and they ended up in the cupboard together but he left the cupboard when she started apologising to Jesus for being a bad person because she was enjoying her "dessert" so much.

Did I say I don't get caught up in "series shows"?  Please does anyone have this latest series of "Grey's" for me?  I feel like I am missing out on something

.

sun moon stars

21 March

The Vernal Equinox

The time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator, 

making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth.

Since I have been living with Michael I have grown to love his quirky habits - some of them quirkier than others.  To make sure that his mattress gets turned at regular intervals he invented the solstice and equinox turns, which he has done ever since he bought his first bed. This ensures that the mattress gets turned 4 times a year, at regular intervals.  Today because it was an "equinox" the mattress got turned from side to side; on the 21 June it will be turned from top to toe; 23 September side to side and 21 December top to toe again.  Gareth loves this idea and he is often the one to send Michael the reminder sms early in the morning (as if he would ever forget?).

So the long summer days are shortening.  There is a slight chill in the air in the early mornings and as the sun goes down.  We have had the most beautiful summer (if slightly too hot for menopausal me) and today (being Human Rights Day in SA) Michael and I had a long walk on Fish Hoek beach and an awesome swim in the sea. 

I have also been spending time just fiddling around with my camera, moving stuff around the garden and having some fun:-

 Courtyard through the kitchen window tonight

 New plants and pots moved around under the plane tree.  Note the solar jars

My beautiful birthday glasses, tray and vase
(thanks Gill, Lesley, Gareth, Hayley and Helen)

One more thing to share before I take my salty self off for a shower.  How awesome is this music video and the song?  The singer, Josh Ritter's wife apparently walked out on him after only one year of marriage.  Besides the video being great, I love his timing and the upbeat tune, although you can feel his pain.  

Amazing lyrics - "and she only looks like you when she's in a certain light".  Very Dylanish, I love it.

a book, a song, a thought a breakfast???

I liked this.  I don't mind being my favourite books or even the songs that are stuck in my head ("I don't ever want you let you down, I don't ever want to leave this town.....")

Let's listen to the Glee version (just for Kelly and Anton)

BUT to be my Saturday morning breakfast is not what I should aspire to be....

Kathy is off to New York (yes, AGAIN) and we are having breakfast at Cassis at 10.

The Breakfast Pot, The Stuffed Croissant, Eggs Benedict or a Potato Croquette Special?

What should I be???

I can be anything I want to be....

And then to end off with another cruel line...

"You are where you are going, and I would like to be there too" 

New York?  

my garden this evening...

It has been a long, hot and busy summer and I have neglected many things

friends, family,

my garden....

Yet they are forgiving

I have not spent time or money on my garden this summer but it has still surprised,

rewarded and given me so much pleasure

by growing abundantly, not asking for much

and being there for me when I needed it most

Just like the special people in my life

who understand and

who don't ask for much

and are there when I need them most

.........

These are not the clearest or the best pictures I have ever taken 

but I thought I would share 

 the Plectranthus which are in full bloom, many with scorched leaves but still flowering proudly

 the "Ice Cream Bushes" which are popping up on the other side of the wall and in the grass

a surprising burst of colour in my monochrome or two coloured world - not supposed to be there and last year would have been removed to the "naughty corner" for plants which were not white or purple, but for now I am thoroughly enjoying the defiance of  the vivid orange bloom 

 dusk and our amazing mountain silhouetted through the silky oak leaves

It was a wonderful evening in my garden tonight

with time to slow down, take stock and be grateful for the important things in life....

family, friends, health and the incredible beauty of the world from my doorstep

stuff to share

My mojo for blogging is coming back, I am starting to think of things to tell you and things I would like to share.  I apologise for being so erratic and gone for so long and I hope I have not lost you forever.  I know that when I keep clicking on a blog site and there are no updates, I eventually stop clicking and that would be sad (and all my own fault) if it happened to me.

Matthew left last night and is still in the air heading for Los Angeles (two long 12 hour flights). He should be landing in about 4 hours time.  The house feels empty and quiet (not that he is a noisy one) and, like the house, I also feel a tad empty and quiet.  However I am now also starting to feel the excitement that he must be experiencing.  I remind myself that this is such an adventure and experience for him that it is selfish to feel sad. So I'll go to bed now and keep checking my phone through the night to check that he has landed and that the people who are suppose to collect him, find him.

My aching nerves

PS for Matt - Albertina found your sunglasses in the Nicky Deacon pouch.  They were under your bed with your old laptop.  Should I bring them over to you? 

Oupa, Nanna and Matt
Especially for you Mom (cos you never stop "clicking")

i'm back...

Six awesome days in Salt Rock.  Wonderful to get away, lie and read in the sun, swim in the warm sea and socialise with old friends and make some new ones.  A good mix of quiet times and lively company, lots of naps and even more laughs.  Good times.  

Thanks Wayne and Lesley for your generous hospitality.

From the doorway, step on to grass, then a bit of sand, then the warm sea.

Supper being prepared!!  Sorry Kelly and Caroline but could not resist

This was a trip to the Durban market - the only touristy thing we did

Michael was recovering from a tummy bug was almost in total decline.

Some colourful stuff as well

The view from the hill in the estate called Dunkirk where my friend Gill now lives

View of the forest where she walks everyday

The most stunning place called Sage Cafe in Salt Rock where we had coffee.  It is almost it's own little village.  Pizza place, kiddies play area, coffee shop, bakery and a couple of lovely gift shops.  

 My kind of place

 This was our Sunday buffet.

So it was a great break but it is back home and to reality.  The reality that Matthew is off on Sunday to just about the furthest place he could go to from here.  Long Beach, California.  Such a wonderful opportunity for him but my head is in a spin and I have butterflies in my stomach. He has been home for probably the longest time in 3 years and this week is flying by too quickly.  I keep reminding myself that this is the way things are for so many of my friends and that I have done it before and it will happen again.  I have been so spoilt having all three boys close by for the couple of months and now I feel as though I have not taken enough advantage of this time.

No time to get soppy and sad.  "It is an exciting time so embrace it, Jennifer" (says she to herself).   I am now googling to find him the way from Long Beach to Hollywood on Tuesday night to see a Frightened Rabbit concert that he has the ticket for in his wallet.  Now what is there to be sad about? As my other two would tell me "Get a grip, Mom" (but I know they are also feeling like I do but combined with a whole lot more jealously than me about the FR concert).