Many of you are already in the new year. I've got a couple of hours to go, and others are just beginning the last day of the year.
To all, wherever you are, have a wonderful new year, full of all the good kind of adventures!
See you in 2006! :)
Neighbourly Rivalry
I have new neighbours. They didn't start off on the right foot... They still have to learn they can't just move in, mess with my stuff and start cutting down trees. They've made an awful mess of one right outside my window, which they decided was overhanging too much their way, so stripped one side bare without care for how the poor plant looks in the aftermath.
The day that they moved in, I started clearing out the mess left by the Department of Destruction (Maintenance) after painting this small block of flats. In fact, I've been in the garden every day since, sorting out plants, dividing irises, planting a bit of "edible landscaping" (beans among the flowers, peas up the new fence, watermelon in the side garden among the roses, zucchini among the ferns) and watering my newly-cut lawn. I've artfully trimmed the mulberry tree in an ongoing effort to help it grow upright instead of drooping. The roses are blooming, the daisies are trimmed.
And guess what? As soon as the new neighbours saw me at it, they got at it too.
Pity they can't keep up - my garden still looks better than theirs! :)
It's an unofficial rivalry, and I'm determined to both get and keep the upper hand. Perhaps I'm subconciously trying to prove I'm better than them, or perhaps I just enjoy a nice garden and get most of my exercise working outdoors. As a now-burst large blister on one finger attests to.
Whatever the motives, the garden's looking good. Best of the three so far.
The day that they moved in, I started clearing out the mess left by the Department of Destruction (Maintenance) after painting this small block of flats. In fact, I've been in the garden every day since, sorting out plants, dividing irises, planting a bit of "edible landscaping" (beans among the flowers, peas up the new fence, watermelon in the side garden among the roses, zucchini among the ferns) and watering my newly-cut lawn. I've artfully trimmed the mulberry tree in an ongoing effort to help it grow upright instead of drooping. The roses are blooming, the daisies are trimmed.
And guess what? As soon as the new neighbours saw me at it, they got at it too.
Pity they can't keep up - my garden still looks better than theirs! :)
It's an unofficial rivalry, and I'm determined to both get and keep the upper hand. Perhaps I'm subconciously trying to prove I'm better than them, or perhaps I just enjoy a nice garden and get most of my exercise working outdoors. As a now-burst large blister on one finger attests to.
Whatever the motives, the garden's looking good. Best of the three so far.
Addict
Hello, my name is Michelle, and I am a Power Tool Addict.
I went down to DeLaRey (hardware store) to get 2 metres of fencing, so the dogs would not escape nor bother the neighbours.
I came home with 5 metres of fencing, 3 fence posts, one very powerful drill at a discount price and a set of 50 Bosch bits in a very smart carry case. And a Customer Loyalty Card (why the heck not, seeing they're taking most of my money anyway. I may as well earn points for it...).
Last time I went to that shop I came home with a jigsaw and extra blades.
The previous time I went there, it was a cordless electric screwdriver.
Bless me father, for I have sinned. My annual bonus is completely blown.
I got new toys. YEAH!
I went down to DeLaRey (hardware store) to get 2 metres of fencing, so the dogs would not escape nor bother the neighbours.
I came home with 5 metres of fencing, 3 fence posts, one very powerful drill at a discount price and a set of 50 Bosch bits in a very smart carry case. And a Customer Loyalty Card (why the heck not, seeing they're taking most of my money anyway. I may as well earn points for it...).
Last time I went to that shop I came home with a jigsaw and extra blades.
The previous time I went there, it was a cordless electric screwdriver.
Bless me father, for I have sinned. My annual bonus is completely blown.
I got new toys. YEAH!
Goals, not resolutions
I don't have any new year's resolutions. But I do have some definite goals. It's a growing, evolving list, and I still need to take some time this week in silence to think through my life, decide where I want to be in a year's time.
One of my goals is to get a new job and move off-campus. It's a necessity that needs to be accomplished within the year. I cannot afford my son's high school fees unless I earn a (much) better salary, and to change jobs would mean I need to move away from here too. It's a big step to take, but it has to be done.
Tied in with that comes the business I've been on about for ages, the one I need to start and get sustainable enough to live off of. It needs to become more than just a sideline this coming year. It will mean a lot of hard slog initially - not only getting things off the ground, but also working full-time and being a single mom. I'll have to cut back on my tendancy to have "nothing" time, where I sit and vegetate, accomplish nothing. I'll need to cut back on TV time too - I really don't need to watch all the hours I do, and could be doing something useful instead.
Another goal is to improve my woodcraft skills. Not the tracking-something-in-the-woods variety, but working with wood to create beauty and usefulness. There are a number of projects planned, measured, worked out. Now I need the wood and have to get going. Some of them are essential to an organized home - like the room divider / bookshelves to house our ever-growing collection of reading matter. Others are nice-to-haves, like new storage for CDs and DVDs, something else to put the TV on, dining table and chairs (when space allows) and work spaces / shelves in the kitchen. I have the brains, some of the equipment and the muscles to do this, and I need to get cracking.
I also plan to improve a couple of areas that I'm just almost-good in - from computer skills (online selling software etc.) to organic gardening (I'm operating on a random-gardening technique currently, chucking stuff in various places and seeing what happens - fun, but sometimes impractical).
I have to improve my self - exercise, water intake, diet, relaxation. I want to make time, money and space for a massage now and then, or a treatment that will make me look and feel better. I need to feel worth something again, and that can only come from inner reserves.
Other goals will come, I'm sure. Once I make a space for them in my thoughts, take the time to think them through from start to completion. Visualize what I want in my life and get rid of what I don't.
One thing I'm doing in the next two weeks is calling in a lady who pays cash for second-hand goods, to clear out the car-load of clothing, assorted books / furnishings / linen and old fridge in the garage. Another is to clear the house, create calm instead of chaos in the rooms we occupy. My son has volunteered to help - to give me the holiday I have not yet taken on my time off. He's seen how hard I've been working at Xmas prezzies, organizing funeral services, dropping in to the office etc. I'm joyfully amazed at his thoughtfulness.
So as the new year approaches, my life is calming down, speeding up, clearing out - all at the same time. One affects the other, and I'm doing my best to create a circle of positive change, ready for what the future may bring.
One of my goals is to get a new job and move off-campus. It's a necessity that needs to be accomplished within the year. I cannot afford my son's high school fees unless I earn a (much) better salary, and to change jobs would mean I need to move away from here too. It's a big step to take, but it has to be done.
Tied in with that comes the business I've been on about for ages, the one I need to start and get sustainable enough to live off of. It needs to become more than just a sideline this coming year. It will mean a lot of hard slog initially - not only getting things off the ground, but also working full-time and being a single mom. I'll have to cut back on my tendancy to have "nothing" time, where I sit and vegetate, accomplish nothing. I'll need to cut back on TV time too - I really don't need to watch all the hours I do, and could be doing something useful instead.
Another goal is to improve my woodcraft skills. Not the tracking-something-in-the-woods variety, but working with wood to create beauty and usefulness. There are a number of projects planned, measured, worked out. Now I need the wood and have to get going. Some of them are essential to an organized home - like the room divider / bookshelves to house our ever-growing collection of reading matter. Others are nice-to-haves, like new storage for CDs and DVDs, something else to put the TV on, dining table and chairs (when space allows) and work spaces / shelves in the kitchen. I have the brains, some of the equipment and the muscles to do this, and I need to get cracking.
I also plan to improve a couple of areas that I'm just almost-good in - from computer skills (online selling software etc.) to organic gardening (I'm operating on a random-gardening technique currently, chucking stuff in various places and seeing what happens - fun, but sometimes impractical).
I have to improve my self - exercise, water intake, diet, relaxation. I want to make time, money and space for a massage now and then, or a treatment that will make me look and feel better. I need to feel worth something again, and that can only come from inner reserves.
Other goals will come, I'm sure. Once I make a space for them in my thoughts, take the time to think them through from start to completion. Visualize what I want in my life and get rid of what I don't.
One thing I'm doing in the next two weeks is calling in a lady who pays cash for second-hand goods, to clear out the car-load of clothing, assorted books / furnishings / linen and old fridge in the garage. Another is to clear the house, create calm instead of chaos in the rooms we occupy. My son has volunteered to help - to give me the holiday I have not yet taken on my time off. He's seen how hard I've been working at Xmas prezzies, organizing funeral services, dropping in to the office etc. I'm joyfully amazed at his thoughtfulness.
So as the new year approaches, my life is calming down, speeding up, clearing out - all at the same time. One affects the other, and I'm doing my best to create a circle of positive change, ready for what the future may bring.
More Cool Green Things
Today's jaw-dropping cool stuff sustainable-future-friendly website award goes to... Inhabitat. Click, scroll and drool!
The Ring
Dad's arrived, safe and sound, and still his old self. Strong, enjoying his children and grandchildren, able to talk about mom without too much heartache.
He brought a few mementos for us too. Among the many things I recieved was her wedding ring. And when he gave it to me, he turned away for a brief silence.
That must have been the hardest thing he's had to do today, perhaps for a long time. To give away the ring he placed on her finger 36 years ago, a symbol of their devotion and love, their everlasting soulmate status. The ring she never took off. A simple band of plain gold, slightly oval to fit her finger. Harder than showing us the two containers with her ashes, or handing over a life-story journal she's begun (and once mentioned she'd like me to continue with). Harder than talking over her service or that he'll eventually move out of the house they've shared.
I may never marry. It's likely that I will forever be single. But I will keep her wedding ring, and perhaps wear it now and then - not on my ring finger, her fingers were slimmer than mine, even when her hands swelled up unbelieveably. But on another finger, as a reminder of the woman who birthed and raised me. The woman I never really knew.
He brought a few mementos for us too. Among the many things I recieved was her wedding ring. And when he gave it to me, he turned away for a brief silence.
That must have been the hardest thing he's had to do today, perhaps for a long time. To give away the ring he placed on her finger 36 years ago, a symbol of their devotion and love, their everlasting soulmate status. The ring she never took off. A simple band of plain gold, slightly oval to fit her finger. Harder than showing us the two containers with her ashes, or handing over a life-story journal she's begun (and once mentioned she'd like me to continue with). Harder than talking over her service or that he'll eventually move out of the house they've shared.
I may never marry. It's likely that I will forever be single. But I will keep her wedding ring, and perhaps wear it now and then - not on my ring finger, her fingers were slimmer than mine, even when her hands swelled up unbelieveably. But on another finger, as a reminder of the woman who birthed and raised me. The woman I never really knew.
Words he'll never hear
It's 3 in the morning and I'm awake. Usually when I dream about you, you're distant, aloof, unspeaking - because during the short time we actually spent in each other's company, there wasn't much opportunity to talk.
This time it was so different, so real.
I could feel you in my arms, you against me, close in body and in heart. I could look into your eyes and see my heart reflected there. It wasn't one of those sexually-charged dreams one sometimes encounters, but rather the warm-fuzzy type of closeness that said "soulmates". And as I lie here in the dark, I realize you're still the one. Eight years of deep, unchanging love for you cannot be erased in mere months. It's lasted through distance, time, and you dating someone else. I said you were free to go (she there, me here - obvious choice!), gave you space, told you I would still be here if you wanted to contact me. And within 3 months the "other woman" was gone - according to our mutual friend, because you kept asking after me... And yet we've never really gotten it together. Soulmates on opposite ends of the planet - why is fate so cruel? I can't get there, you can't leave.
This dream brought everything flooding back. All the feelings I thought I'd purged from my heart, that rock-solid base that could see us through a lifetime together, if only we had that chance. The sense that you're still the only one for me. Strange things happen in the dark hours of the night.
As the new day dawns you're still on my mind, in my heart. I promised myself this time last year that I was going to move on, that eight years without anything "happening" was enough time to wait. Yet it seems my heart is not convinced. It still holds on to the dream that could be reality - if only circumstances were different.
Perhaps, when we're next in Australia, I need to put in the extra cash and time and turn up at your door. Put these feelings to the test, both of us, in person, and see if they're real.
Yes, I think that's what I'll do. I have to know.
This time it was so different, so real.
I could feel you in my arms, you against me, close in body and in heart. I could look into your eyes and see my heart reflected there. It wasn't one of those sexually-charged dreams one sometimes encounters, but rather the warm-fuzzy type of closeness that said "soulmates". And as I lie here in the dark, I realize you're still the one. Eight years of deep, unchanging love for you cannot be erased in mere months. It's lasted through distance, time, and you dating someone else. I said you were free to go (she there, me here - obvious choice!), gave you space, told you I would still be here if you wanted to contact me. And within 3 months the "other woman" was gone - according to our mutual friend, because you kept asking after me... And yet we've never really gotten it together. Soulmates on opposite ends of the planet - why is fate so cruel? I can't get there, you can't leave.
This dream brought everything flooding back. All the feelings I thought I'd purged from my heart, that rock-solid base that could see us through a lifetime together, if only we had that chance. The sense that you're still the only one for me. Strange things happen in the dark hours of the night.
As the new day dawns you're still on my mind, in my heart. I promised myself this time last year that I was going to move on, that eight years without anything "happening" was enough time to wait. Yet it seems my heart is not convinced. It still holds on to the dream that could be reality - if only circumstances were different.
Perhaps, when we're next in Australia, I need to put in the extra cash and time and turn up at your door. Put these feelings to the test, both of us, in person, and see if they're real.
Yes, I think that's what I'll do. I have to know.
Christmas: The Aftermath
Christmas is done for another year, and I'm literally exhausted!
It started with an early-morning wake-up-call on Saturday thanks to the wind going mad outside, banging things around, rattling windows and such. Early as in 5:00, and as much as I tried to sleep in, by 7:30 I'd had enough and got up. The remainder of the day was rather less than a Sabbath's rest - I had a few prezzies to wrap and complete, like the last photos to stick in albums, and the food to cook. We had to phone ahead to say we'd be late for our supper appointment with my brother Alan.
Once we were all done, the car was stuffed to the gills with goods. But 20km down the road, I realized I'd forgotten a bag of essentials on the desk at home, and we had to turn around again...
We finally made it to Cape Town, found a dodgy hill parking on the very narrow street, removed anything that might make it break-in-interesting, and settled in to enjoy some family time. An excellent meal and a huge pile of gifts was demolished. I got to care for my littlest nephew and play with my not-so-little one. Late, way late, we finally got to bed - near midnight.
There was no way I was going to stay awake for midnight mass, nor fight my way against the howling wind to get there. And I still had a surruptitious duty to perform once certain offspring were asleep - the filling of a stocking, that my son still believes is done by Santa. This time next year it will probably all be over! :)
Sleeping in a busy city is not easy when one lives in a place so quiet that you can hear storm-surge waves breaking on the beach 8km away at night. With a few hundred people as neighbours it was not exactly a peaceful night. I got about 3 hours sleep between cars, alarms, my nephew awakening next door and a couple of dogs going off at whatever went past outside.
Again, had to be up early. I was a "guest artist" at brother's church, and had 2 songs to learn quickly at the 8:00 practice. Before we left, I fed Max (littlest nephew) his bottle - he's such a sweetie, and even my 12 year old son is starting to take notice of his cousins. He played with 1 1/2 year old Ethan quite a bit and spent time with Max too. He's growing up fast!
Church went on. And on. But it went well. We finally left at 11, then had a bit of a drive to our lunch appointment. More prezzie-unwrapping frenzy followed, a stomach-stretching meal (including half a barnyard of assorted beasts, roasted and boiled and such), but I made sure we got in the Friggin'Ford and headed home by 4:30. I'd left the dogs to fend for themselves (food and water provided, along with their outdoor homes) and was starting to hanker after my own home again. Thankfully all our driving was safe and smooth, we survived and were blessed by the many thoughtful gifts we received - and the best part for me was the giving. All my hard work on wood blocks, fudge, energy crunch snack-packs, gift vouchers, sewing of bags and serviettes/napkins and pillowcases, and the photo albums carefully and lovingly put together was greatly appreciated by those who received their gifts.
So another Christmas ends. I could happily fall right into bed, but the son is not yet tired and wishes to watch one final movie for the day. I'm looking forward to my own bed, sleeping in, and taking a bit of a holiday before work starts up in the new year.
Did we remember the Reason behind the season? Yes we did. At church, at home and while travelling. Perhaps we should have taken more time to do so, and that's food for thought for next year's Christmas - along with plans to make a bigger impact on the lives of those who need it (instead, perhaps, of joining the planned escape to a cottage by the sea for the weekend). We'll see though. For now, rest will be sweet!
I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas day. I hope you were blessed with gifts both tangible and intangible. I hope that you found peace and joy. And I hope that the new year rapidly approaching will be filled with good things.
It started with an early-morning wake-up-call on Saturday thanks to the wind going mad outside, banging things around, rattling windows and such. Early as in 5:00, and as much as I tried to sleep in, by 7:30 I'd had enough and got up. The remainder of the day was rather less than a Sabbath's rest - I had a few prezzies to wrap and complete, like the last photos to stick in albums, and the food to cook. We had to phone ahead to say we'd be late for our supper appointment with my brother Alan.
Once we were all done, the car was stuffed to the gills with goods. But 20km down the road, I realized I'd forgotten a bag of essentials on the desk at home, and we had to turn around again...
We finally made it to Cape Town, found a dodgy hill parking on the very narrow street, removed anything that might make it break-in-interesting, and settled in to enjoy some family time. An excellent meal and a huge pile of gifts was demolished. I got to care for my littlest nephew and play with my not-so-little one. Late, way late, we finally got to bed - near midnight.
There was no way I was going to stay awake for midnight mass, nor fight my way against the howling wind to get there. And I still had a surruptitious duty to perform once certain offspring were asleep - the filling of a stocking, that my son still believes is done by Santa. This time next year it will probably all be over! :)
Sleeping in a busy city is not easy when one lives in a place so quiet that you can hear storm-surge waves breaking on the beach 8km away at night. With a few hundred people as neighbours it was not exactly a peaceful night. I got about 3 hours sleep between cars, alarms, my nephew awakening next door and a couple of dogs going off at whatever went past outside.
Again, had to be up early. I was a "guest artist" at brother's church, and had 2 songs to learn quickly at the 8:00 practice. Before we left, I fed Max (littlest nephew) his bottle - he's such a sweetie, and even my 12 year old son is starting to take notice of his cousins. He played with 1 1/2 year old Ethan quite a bit and spent time with Max too. He's growing up fast!
Church went on. And on. But it went well. We finally left at 11, then had a bit of a drive to our lunch appointment. More prezzie-unwrapping frenzy followed, a stomach-stretching meal (including half a barnyard of assorted beasts, roasted and boiled and such), but I made sure we got in the Friggin'Ford and headed home by 4:30. I'd left the dogs to fend for themselves (food and water provided, along with their outdoor homes) and was starting to hanker after my own home again. Thankfully all our driving was safe and smooth, we survived and were blessed by the many thoughtful gifts we received - and the best part for me was the giving. All my hard work on wood blocks, fudge, energy crunch snack-packs, gift vouchers, sewing of bags and serviettes/napkins and pillowcases, and the photo albums carefully and lovingly put together was greatly appreciated by those who received their gifts.
So another Christmas ends. I could happily fall right into bed, but the son is not yet tired and wishes to watch one final movie for the day. I'm looking forward to my own bed, sleeping in, and taking a bit of a holiday before work starts up in the new year.
Did we remember the Reason behind the season? Yes we did. At church, at home and while travelling. Perhaps we should have taken more time to do so, and that's food for thought for next year's Christmas - along with plans to make a bigger impact on the lives of those who need it (instead, perhaps, of joining the planned escape to a cottage by the sea for the weekend). We'll see though. For now, rest will be sweet!
I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas day. I hope you were blessed with gifts both tangible and intangible. I hope that you found peace and joy. And I hope that the new year rapidly approaching will be filled with good things.
Merry Christmas!
We'll be leaving in about an hour for Cape Town, to spend Christmas Eve with my brothers, sleep over and then spend Christmas lunch with my sis-in-law's family, who have adopted us regularly for the past few years.
There's still quite a bit I need to do before we leave, but the hair is auburn (or ginger!), the prezzies are wrapped, and the Friggin'Ford is going to start looking like Santa's sleigh soon. I sincerely hope we're not hijacked on the way there or back, or that we don't crash! It won't be a pretty sight... :)
Tonight, if I make it that far, I may attend my first Midnight Mass at the Catholic church down the road from my brother's. I heard their bells ring last year, but it was too late to jump out of bed and get there. And tomorrow morning, there's a good chance I'll be joining my brother's band at church on keyboards, for their Christmas service. I haven't played in months, but I suspect my fingers still remember their way round the keys.
So, as a full day winds up, or down, or something like that, let me wish you all the most wonderful Christmas you can imagine! Be safe, be joyful, be at peace. Thank you for being my cyber-community during the past two years. You guys are awesome!
Blessings to all.
There's still quite a bit I need to do before we leave, but the hair is auburn (or ginger!), the prezzies are wrapped, and the Friggin'Ford is going to start looking like Santa's sleigh soon. I sincerely hope we're not hijacked on the way there or back, or that we don't crash! It won't be a pretty sight... :)
Tonight, if I make it that far, I may attend my first Midnight Mass at the Catholic church down the road from my brother's. I heard their bells ring last year, but it was too late to jump out of bed and get there. And tomorrow morning, there's a good chance I'll be joining my brother's band at church on keyboards, for their Christmas service. I haven't played in months, but I suspect my fingers still remember their way round the keys.
So, as a full day winds up, or down, or something like that, let me wish you all the most wonderful Christmas you can imagine! Be safe, be joyful, be at peace. Thank you for being my cyber-community during the past two years. You guys are awesome!
Blessings to all.
Shabbat Shalom
As the Christmas rush descends on you and yours, don't forget to take a Sabbath - take time out to breathe deeply, look around at the many blessings you have, and give thanks.
What a nice young man!
Yesterday I had a half-naked young man sweating on my lawn, fulfilling one of my biggest desires.
Yup, I called in the experts to have my couches cleaned! :)
And what a difference it made. I've had them for 9 years now, and had forgotten just how nice they could look. Now all we have to do is keep the dogs from peeing/sleeping/hairing on them....
Yup, I called in the experts to have my couches cleaned! :)
And what a difference it made. I've had them for 9 years now, and had forgotten just how nice they could look. Now all we have to do is keep the dogs from peeing/sleeping/hairing on them....
Slowly, Surely
The Christmas gifts are coming along - slowly, but surely. It's amazing how much time goes into hand-making things. Take the Christmas stockings I'm busy with at the moment. It would be really easy to go and buy a factory-made one in the shops, but here I sit, making them and individually writing the owner's names on. In felt letters. Stuck on with fabric glue. (Or at least, that's the plan) I'm still busy sewing them though - all 7 of the things. Each one has to be cut out, stitched, the felt collar measured, stitched, sewn on the right way around to turn over and look good - and a ribbon added at the right place to hang it from.
And then there's the cushions, covers and table runner for one person. Those took me the entire day yesterday, bar 2 hours at the office (required, thanks to folk panicking for visas). If anyone asks me for large amounts of cerise stuff next year I'm going to scream! :) Last year I made another family member the same number of cerise items, and after a few hours looking at that bright pink colour, you look up and the world seems to have taken on a greenish tinge!
Still to do today is a huge job - vegetarian turkey. It takes hours and hours to make, but it's worth it. And it has to be done today, as it needs at least overnight or more to marinate after cooking and cooling.
So I'm getting there. Each year it's a mission to hand-make the gifts, and I should probably have started weeks ago, but sometimes inspiration strikes later rather than earlier. The nice thing is though that these gifts are truly appreciated for the hard work and individual thought that's gone into each. They're not run-of-the-mill shop-bought things, which anyone could pick up for a price. They're crafted (I love that word!), lovingly made with each person in mind.
And that, I think, is what makes them special.
And then there's the cushions, covers and table runner for one person. Those took me the entire day yesterday, bar 2 hours at the office (required, thanks to folk panicking for visas). If anyone asks me for large amounts of cerise stuff next year I'm going to scream! :) Last year I made another family member the same number of cerise items, and after a few hours looking at that bright pink colour, you look up and the world seems to have taken on a greenish tinge!
Still to do today is a huge job - vegetarian turkey. It takes hours and hours to make, but it's worth it. And it has to be done today, as it needs at least overnight or more to marinate after cooking and cooling.
So I'm getting there. Each year it's a mission to hand-make the gifts, and I should probably have started weeks ago, but sometimes inspiration strikes later rather than earlier. The nice thing is though that these gifts are truly appreciated for the hard work and individual thought that's gone into each. They're not run-of-the-mill shop-bought things, which anyone could pick up for a price. They're crafted (I love that word!), lovingly made with each person in mind.
And that, I think, is what makes them special.
SXMS: Flavourful Roast Potatoes
Discovered by "accident" (ie experimenting in the kitchen again...), these are truly yummy. Serve them on their own, or with a sour cream / plain yoghurt, fresh chives and garlic salt dip on the side.
Flavourful Roast Potatoes
Peel as many potatoes as you think you'll need, cut into large chunks or wedges. Place in a bowl, drizzle liberally with olive oil and sprinkle over 1/2 a packet white onion soup powder. Mix until they're all coated with the oil/flavouring.
Non-stick-spray a large baking dish or two, spread potatoes in a single layer in it/them and bake in a hot oven (200C or more) until cooked through inside and crispy on the outside. Around 1/2 an hour to 45 minutes, depending on size of potatoes and oven heat.
You might want to give the baking trays a bit of a shake or turn the potato bits over near the end of cooking, to get them browned all over and make sure they don't stick to the pan.
(Eat your heart out McCain - we don't need your frozen products no more! :) )
Flavourful Roast Potatoes
Peel as many potatoes as you think you'll need, cut into large chunks or wedges. Place in a bowl, drizzle liberally with olive oil and sprinkle over 1/2 a packet white onion soup powder. Mix until they're all coated with the oil/flavouring.
Non-stick-spray a large baking dish or two, spread potatoes in a single layer in it/them and bake in a hot oven (200C or more) until cooked through inside and crispy on the outside. Around 1/2 an hour to 45 minutes, depending on size of potatoes and oven heat.
You might want to give the baking trays a bit of a shake or turn the potato bits over near the end of cooking, to get them browned all over and make sure they don't stick to the pan.
(Eat your heart out McCain - we don't need your frozen products no more! :) )
SXMS: Fudge
Here's what's going into one of the gifts I'm making from scratch this year. Everyone's going to get a little bag of it, and they'd better not eat it all at once! :)
Old-Fashioned Fudge
Melt together:
250g margarine
1 c milk
1 Tbs syrup or honey
1 kg sugar (5c)
Bring to the boil, stirring frequently, and boil for 15 minutes (watch it, it likes to burn and boil up - use a BIG pot!).
Add 1 x 397g can condensed milk. Boil again, stirring continuously (15 minutes).
Remove from heat, beat in 1 tsp vanilla essence until thick and creamy. Pour into a well-greased tray or dish.
Cut into squares when half-set, remove from tray when cool (or steal warm bits when cool enough to handle, while no-one's looking).
Old-Fashioned Fudge
Melt together:
250g margarine
1 c milk
1 Tbs syrup or honey
1 kg sugar (5c)
Bring to the boil, stirring frequently, and boil for 15 minutes (watch it, it likes to burn and boil up - use a BIG pot!).
Add 1 x 397g can condensed milk. Boil again, stirring continuously (15 minutes).
Remove from heat, beat in 1 tsp vanilla essence until thick and creamy. Pour into a well-greased tray or dish.
Cut into squares when half-set, remove from tray when cool (or steal warm bits when cool enough to handle, while no-one's looking).
Blogmore/less
I thought with internet at home that I'd be blogging constantly - I guess I was wrong! :) Life, death and my son have taken over (the latter fights me for computer space, of course). And as Christmas looms in the very near future, I find my to-do list not getting any shorter....
But I have accomplished a few things since my last post. I've started and nearly finished most Christmas presents, and managed to add a few more home-mades to the list instead of store-boughts (shopper bags and real linen table napkins for the girls, for example, and individualized Xmas stockings for all!). I've thrown cash around, on fabric, paint, a stencil - and a full tank of petrol to get us to our appointments over the next week or so.
Today I got the hair chopped in preparation for tomorrow's going-red episode. Some might see it as a "tribute" to my auburn-haired mom, but the truth is that this has been planned far in advance, just waiting for the right time to do it. And that time is now. Sorta. The cut feels great - a lot shorter and now in good condition. We'll see tomorrow how the colour looks. And yes, there will be photo goodness at each stage of the before, during and after.
There's still so much to do in the next few days though, and before my dad gets here on Tuesday. Folk are still popping in or phoning - which makes it hard to finish a single task right through. And our house is starting to look like a florists shop!
I've found it interesting to see how different type of people relate to me at this time - the church folk, the not-so-church folk, those who think my salvation is in jeapordy, and the one dear friend of my mom's who is still laying on the guilt thickly for my not being there in the past few weeks in person. But I'm not letting it get to me - I can't afford to.
So blogging may be sporadic. My hands are needed to stir fudge and choc-chip cookie dough, to sew and cut, to sand and paint and keep my fingers on the pulse of each day. I haven't forgotten my cyber-friends - all of you - and one day soon, I'll be back, verbosity-supreme! :)
But now I've got to go "feed a hungry child in Africa" (mine), who is yet again baying for a meal......
But I have accomplished a few things since my last post. I've started and nearly finished most Christmas presents, and managed to add a few more home-mades to the list instead of store-boughts (shopper bags and real linen table napkins for the girls, for example, and individualized Xmas stockings for all!). I've thrown cash around, on fabric, paint, a stencil - and a full tank of petrol to get us to our appointments over the next week or so.
Today I got the hair chopped in preparation for tomorrow's going-red episode. Some might see it as a "tribute" to my auburn-haired mom, but the truth is that this has been planned far in advance, just waiting for the right time to do it. And that time is now. Sorta. The cut feels great - a lot shorter and now in good condition. We'll see tomorrow how the colour looks. And yes, there will be photo goodness at each stage of the before, during and after.
There's still so much to do in the next few days though, and before my dad gets here on Tuesday. Folk are still popping in or phoning - which makes it hard to finish a single task right through. And our house is starting to look like a florists shop!
I've found it interesting to see how different type of people relate to me at this time - the church folk, the not-so-church folk, those who think my salvation is in jeapordy, and the one dear friend of my mom's who is still laying on the guilt thickly for my not being there in the past few weeks in person. But I'm not letting it get to me - I can't afford to.
So blogging may be sporadic. My hands are needed to stir fudge and choc-chip cookie dough, to sew and cut, to sand and paint and keep my fingers on the pulse of each day. I haven't forgotten my cyber-friends - all of you - and one day soon, I'll be back, verbosity-supreme! :)
But now I've got to go "feed a hungry child in Africa" (mine), who is yet again baying for a meal......
A new day dawns
It's weird - grief has yet to hit me. I think I grieved a long time ago, and for a long time too, once we knew that mom was not going to survive this final bout with cancer. I did my crying then - though I do tear up with each phone-call and email and message that comes in, just a little. I feel compelete peace and not heart-rending sadness. I'm more concerned with how dad is coping now than anything else. Perhaps all that will still hit home later on, perhaps I've already been dealing with it all along. The mom we knew "died" a month or more ago, slowly becoming a stranger, and we greived the little signs of her passing then, as each happened.
Life marches on. Time does not stop when someone dies, those who are alive continue to go about their daily routines. Doing the washing, cleaning the house, cooking meals, talking over Christmas plans.
My dad will be here next week, as will my grandfather and aunt. We've started to prepare for their visit, ensuring it will be as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, giving them peace, space and time to process their thoughts and emotions as we bury my mom here - at the very place my parents met. Later on, Jason and I will plant a tree in her memory, a living thing to mark her life well lived.
And still life marches on. The sun rises and sets, the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness continues, dishes pile up and get washed, floors accumulate dirt and are cleaned.
I know we are not the only ones who have lost family this weekend - a horrific bus accident claimed 21 lives yesterday, and the ever-rising holiday death toll on South African roads spreads ripples through family and friends. Our loss was expected, silently awaited. Others have to deal with a violent passing, images of broken bodies and a feeling that it shouldn't have been time.
But life yet marches on.
::update::
The news reports our road death toll since 1 December stands near 600 lives lost already. Mostly as a result of either drunkenness or tiredness on the part of drivers. Another item highlighted the plight of the aged - one man needing constant care locked up by his daughter-in-law on Friday so she could attend a party, and by Saturday afternoon she still hadn't returned. He is now in the care of an old age home, and criminal charges are being pressed.
For many life goes on. For some it doesn't. For others life is a hard and harsh place, where lonliness and rejection reign, highlighted all the more by other families gathering over this festive season, but not for them.
As peace and joy are encouraged, celebrations planned - spare a thought for those for whom this is a time of incredible sadness. And if you can, do something about it, festive season and beyond.
Life marches on. Time does not stop when someone dies, those who are alive continue to go about their daily routines. Doing the washing, cleaning the house, cooking meals, talking over Christmas plans.
My dad will be here next week, as will my grandfather and aunt. We've started to prepare for their visit, ensuring it will be as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, giving them peace, space and time to process their thoughts and emotions as we bury my mom here - at the very place my parents met. Later on, Jason and I will plant a tree in her memory, a living thing to mark her life well lived.
And still life marches on. The sun rises and sets, the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness continues, dishes pile up and get washed, floors accumulate dirt and are cleaned.
I know we are not the only ones who have lost family this weekend - a horrific bus accident claimed 21 lives yesterday, and the ever-rising holiday death toll on South African roads spreads ripples through family and friends. Our loss was expected, silently awaited. Others have to deal with a violent passing, images of broken bodies and a feeling that it shouldn't have been time.
But life yet marches on.
::update::
The news reports our road death toll since 1 December stands near 600 lives lost already. Mostly as a result of either drunkenness or tiredness on the part of drivers. Another item highlighted the plight of the aged - one man needing constant care locked up by his daughter-in-law on Friday so she could attend a party, and by Saturday afternoon she still hadn't returned. He is now in the care of an old age home, and criminal charges are being pressed.
For many life goes on. For some it doesn't. For others life is a hard and harsh place, where lonliness and rejection reign, highlighted all the more by other families gathering over this festive season, but not for them.
As peace and joy are encouraged, celebrations planned - spare a thought for those for whom this is a time of incredible sadness. And if you can, do something about it, festive season and beyond.
Mom: 29 November 1948 - 17 December 2005
Mom passed away very peacefully about an hour ago, just after sunset on Saturday night in Sydney. Dad's just phoned to let us know and says the initial feeling is relief that she's at peace and at rest.Basic plans are underway for a memorial service later in the week in Australia, he'll try to fly out on Christmas day to spend time with her parents and then come down to Cape Town for the funeral service.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers during her illness, for your financial support that enabled us to spend a wonderful time with her while she was still able to enjoy it, and for being there for all of us.
Rest in peace mom. When we next see you, you'll be all new and shiny, forever free of pain and sickness. We so look forward to that day!
SXMS: Fruitcake
You may think that the time to bake your Christmas fruitcake has long come and gone. HA! You're wrong. You may also think that all fruitcakes are heavy, dry and awful, only useful to throw at the rellies, with harm intended. HA! Wrong again.
This recipe makes a deliciously-moist fruitcake that lasts for months. Sure, you can feed it brandy for a couple of months, but it doesn't really need it. Feel free to hide coins among the ingredients before baking - but warn great-aunt Nellie, or you may have a choking on your hands....
Quick, Easy Fruitcake
In a large pot (or microwave dish), heat:
- 500 g packet dried-fruit cake mix (sultanas, raisins, mixed peel etc.)
- 1 1/2 Tbs fruit mince (optional)
- 120 g pitted dates (seperate them if packed in a block, and chop in half or leave whole - they kinda disintegrate as you cook this)
- 1 c brown sugar
- 1 c margarine
- 1/2 c water
Boil and stir (or microwave till hot, then boil and stir) for 5 minutes. Allow to cool.
Add:
- 250 g (or 1/2 c) cherries - the preserved ones in syrup (red, red+green or bits and pieces of both) - halve them if you want them to go further
- 5 ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda
- 2 beaten eggs
- 1 1/2 c flour
- 5 ml (1 tsp) baking powder
- pinch of salt
Line a cake tin with baking paper, grease well (or non-stick-spray a rectangular baking dish if you want squares) and pour in cake mix. Bake at 160C for 45 minutes, or until done in the middle.
NOTE: You may need to watch that it doesn't burn around the edges if you're using a deep baking dish - it will cook better if baked shallow. If you're doing the deep-dish variety, bake at a lower temp for longer.
* If you've got leftovers a month or two down the line, they go well with hot custard or in a trifle-type dessert.
Amazing Grapes, how sweet they sound
One great thing about living in the Cape winelands is that grape season is long, lasting, and filled with a huge variety of delicious cultivars - grown right on your doorstep. (We're also in fruit-producing land - apples, pears, nectarines etc.)
I've just braved the mall for a final shop for groceries, prezzies for the boys, forgotten stocking-stuffers and fruit/veg. The latter including marvellous hanepoot and red globe grapes - the taste of summer.
We have an abundance of wine farms in the area, wine routes in every direction. But did you know that we also produce over 150 varieties of grape juice within a 100km radius? That's a pretty significant amount! And good for those that would rather leave off the alcoholic fruit of the vine. One can become an expert on which place produces the best of the red, white and rose varieties, subtle differences between each thanks to soil, production and what gets added (or not) to the mix. There's an excellent red from Malmesbury, wonderful roses from Robertson and Ashton, and the best whites from ... well, a whole pile of places. Depending on whether you like them sweet or slightly dryer.
Along with the vineyards come amazing scenes in autumn as each cultivar's leaves turn a different colour before falling off the vine. Add a sprinkling of snow on the background mountains, and you have postcard-photo opps around every corner. Spring sees a flush of bright green on hills and in valleys, as the vineyards come alive again after lying dormant through the cold, wet winter. Summer - and you're likely to get stuck in a traffic jam behind tractor and trailer hauling grapes to the winery. In the middle of town.
I used to have to drive to Paarl once a week for work purposes - a smallish town an hour from here. I loved it, just because it was a road through the winelands, with their vineyards, mountains, Cape Dutch architecture and sweeping vistas right through to Table Mountain.
Simple things make me happy. Living in the Fairest Cape is one of them.
I've just braved the mall for a final shop for groceries, prezzies for the boys, forgotten stocking-stuffers and fruit/veg. The latter including marvellous hanepoot and red globe grapes - the taste of summer.
We have an abundance of wine farms in the area, wine routes in every direction. But did you know that we also produce over 150 varieties of grape juice within a 100km radius? That's a pretty significant amount! And good for those that would rather leave off the alcoholic fruit of the vine. One can become an expert on which place produces the best of the red, white and rose varieties, subtle differences between each thanks to soil, production and what gets added (or not) to the mix. There's an excellent red from Malmesbury, wonderful roses from Robertson and Ashton, and the best whites from ... well, a whole pile of places. Depending on whether you like them sweet or slightly dryer.
Along with the vineyards come amazing scenes in autumn as each cultivar's leaves turn a different colour before falling off the vine. Add a sprinkling of snow on the background mountains, and you have postcard-photo opps around every corner. Spring sees a flush of bright green on hills and in valleys, as the vineyards come alive again after lying dormant through the cold, wet winter. Summer - and you're likely to get stuck in a traffic jam behind tractor and trailer hauling grapes to the winery. In the middle of town.
I used to have to drive to Paarl once a week for work purposes - a smallish town an hour from here. I loved it, just because it was a road through the winelands, with their vineyards, mountains, Cape Dutch architecture and sweeping vistas right through to Table Mountain.
Simple things make me happy. Living in the Fairest Cape is one of them.
SXMS: Three(or more)-bean salad
This is a must-have for Christmas, along with a few other things to be posted in days to come. Probably because it's one of those "special occasion" type things that one tends to eat out of the fridge, instead of allowing to meld into marinated bliss...
3+Bean Salad
1 tin green beans, drained (or lightly blanch a couple of fresh ones for added crunch - sliced into short lengths)
1 tin butter beans, drained
1 tin baked beans in tomato sauce, slightly drained
1 tin red beans (sugar beans?), drained
1 large onion, peeled, halved and finely sliced
2 tsp snipped fresh parsley
(throw in a shake of dried mixed herbs)
Dressing:
1 tsp dry mustard/paprika
1/3 c white wine vinegar
1/4 c oil
2 Tbs sugar
1/4 tsp salt
Mix veggies, mix dressing and toss together - or just dump it all in a bowl, one ingredient at a time until it's all tossed together, after a manner of speaking. (Decide that doesn't look like nearly enough dressing, and add another batch or half-batch - optional)
Chill for at least one hour before serving, or overnight if you can resist the urge to eat it out of the fridge around midnight.
Note: most of my recipes are "add until it looks right" ones, so don't get anal about amounts. Size of cans of beans matters not an iota - just top up or coat with enough dressing to make you happy.
3+Bean Salad
1 tin green beans, drained (or lightly blanch a couple of fresh ones for added crunch - sliced into short lengths)
1 tin butter beans, drained
1 tin baked beans in tomato sauce, slightly drained
1 tin red beans (sugar beans?), drained
1 large onion, peeled, halved and finely sliced
2 tsp snipped fresh parsley
(throw in a shake of dried mixed herbs)
Dressing:
1 tsp dry mustard/paprika
1/3 c white wine vinegar
1/4 c oil
2 Tbs sugar
1/4 tsp salt
Mix veggies, mix dressing and toss together - or just dump it all in a bowl, one ingredient at a time until it's all tossed together, after a manner of speaking. (Decide that doesn't look like nearly enough dressing, and add another batch or half-batch - optional)
Chill for at least one hour before serving, or overnight if you can resist the urge to eat it out of the fridge around midnight.
Note: most of my recipes are "add until it looks right" ones, so don't get anal about amounts. Size of cans of beans matters not an iota - just top up or coat with enough dressing to make you happy.
'Tis Done!
The working year, that is. Officially - though, suffering from an over-inflated sense of duty, I will be popping in to the office every day or so to check on anyone who might be panicking. And I'll be picking up work emails here at home to respond to... So much for Actual Holiday!
But nevertheless, I'm on leave. Tommorrow is a public holiday, and our offices closed at lunchtime. Yay!
Funny, I don't feel like it's holiday. Must have something to do with my last customers of the day being a p'd off Korean and an arrogant SAfrican. For reasons unknown to me, they say I've treated them badly - when in fact I've bent over backwards and gone out of my way to draw together the many strings of the many people they were trying to work through, and gather it into one place. Ah well, these things do happen. And dealing with it before leaving for the holiday is far better than being called in to deal with it while already on holiday! Unfortunately, from my office they went on to go upset another one. Snowball effect and all that.
But I'm trying. I'm hoping to shake the work year a bit better over the next few days, and start to wind down (or up, as I have considerable work to do on those Xmas prezzies yet - but it's fun work). We had lunch at the Spur, our fave family restaurant, courtesy of a bit of birthday money someone dropped off on my desk while I wasn't looking. And a random stop at the bookstore nearby yielded a new UK Country Living magazine for me and a PS2 one for my son. Not bad, and it's just the thing I need to be looking at to get me in a deliciously-goosebumpy holiday spirit. (Oh, how I long for a 400-year old stone cottage and garden filled with blooms!)
On the darker side of today is the fact that my mom is steadily worsening. She woke up only once today, and was not terribly coherent - though she says she loves us. Her time is rapidly drawing to an end, and then both she and my dad can rest. They come through a-week-away-from-36-years together with few regrets - and the regrets my dad mentioned are really nothing (he being destination-oriented, while mom was journey-oriented). They've had the most perfect marriage I've ever seen, complete soul-mates, married just out of college and never looking back. It's been a long road, this cancer, but it's nearly over. However, it means we may have a funeral to cope with very soon, as soon as dad can arrange to get out here with her cremated remains. That sucks - and forever after our festive season will be a time to remember a death in the family. She's lived a good life though, and lives on in her children and grandchildren, as well as the hearts of many.
In the meantime, life for us doesn't pause. We rush forth into each day's opportunities (doing our best to avoid over-crowded malls and irate road-hogs, keeping the stress levels as low as possible). Every moment is a chance for renewal, a do-over if the last moment has been less than stellar. Every day insists on dawning, wiping clean yesterday's slate and giving us a chance to get up and do more, do better, live more fully.
And in that spirit I choose to release the anger I left work with, the feeling of being unfairly treated. I breathe deep, let go and move onwards toward a deliciously-open holiday period where anything is possible.
But nevertheless, I'm on leave. Tommorrow is a public holiday, and our offices closed at lunchtime. Yay!
Funny, I don't feel like it's holiday. Must have something to do with my last customers of the day being a p'd off Korean and an arrogant SAfrican. For reasons unknown to me, they say I've treated them badly - when in fact I've bent over backwards and gone out of my way to draw together the many strings of the many people they were trying to work through, and gather it into one place. Ah well, these things do happen. And dealing with it before leaving for the holiday is far better than being called in to deal with it while already on holiday! Unfortunately, from my office they went on to go upset another one. Snowball effect and all that.
But I'm trying. I'm hoping to shake the work year a bit better over the next few days, and start to wind down (or up, as I have considerable work to do on those Xmas prezzies yet - but it's fun work). We had lunch at the Spur, our fave family restaurant, courtesy of a bit of birthday money someone dropped off on my desk while I wasn't looking. And a random stop at the bookstore nearby yielded a new UK Country Living magazine for me and a PS2 one for my son. Not bad, and it's just the thing I need to be looking at to get me in a deliciously-goosebumpy holiday spirit. (Oh, how I long for a 400-year old stone cottage and garden filled with blooms!)
On the darker side of today is the fact that my mom is steadily worsening. She woke up only once today, and was not terribly coherent - though she says she loves us. Her time is rapidly drawing to an end, and then both she and my dad can rest. They come through a-week-away-from-36-years together with few regrets - and the regrets my dad mentioned are really nothing (he being destination-oriented, while mom was journey-oriented). They've had the most perfect marriage I've ever seen, complete soul-mates, married just out of college and never looking back. It's been a long road, this cancer, but it's nearly over. However, it means we may have a funeral to cope with very soon, as soon as dad can arrange to get out here with her cremated remains. That sucks - and forever after our festive season will be a time to remember a death in the family. She's lived a good life though, and lives on in her children and grandchildren, as well as the hearts of many.
In the meantime, life for us doesn't pause. We rush forth into each day's opportunities (doing our best to avoid over-crowded malls and irate road-hogs, keeping the stress levels as low as possible). Every moment is a chance for renewal, a do-over if the last moment has been less than stellar. Every day insists on dawning, wiping clean yesterday's slate and giving us a chance to get up and do more, do better, live more fully.
And in that spirit I choose to release the anger I left work with, the feeling of being unfairly treated. I breathe deep, let go and move onwards toward a deliciously-open holiday period where anything is possible.
SXMS: Citrus Cooler
When you're sweltering in repose under a thorn tree, feet in the pool (or a dish of ice water), a couple of jugs of this go down very well. Don't worry about exact amounts - just chuck it all together and adjust the taste later if necessary.
Citrus Cooler
- For every 2 litre jug you're making, dissolve 1 cup of sugar in about 1 cup of hot water.
- Squeeze the juice from 2 (ruby, if you can get them) grapefruit and 2 lemons, add to sugar-water. (If you can't find grapefruit, then just use 3 lemons, or to taste)
- Throw in a handful of fresh mint sprigs, top up the jug with ice (which will start to melt, but also to cool the hot water), and use ice to lightly crush the mint as you stir it.
- Re-top-up with more ice, fill in the gaps with water, and swirl/stir to dissolve.
image credit
::update::
Forgot to add - feel free to throw in something alcoholic if you are so inclined, and if you are not driving anywhere anytime soon! There are more than enough sozzled idiots on the road over the festive season - don't add to their numbers.
A Summertime Christmas Series!
While some of you are scraping ice off your windshields, I'm down to shirtsleeves. It's a nice hot day outside, just a smattering of high cloud above while heat and a hint of rain-to-come fills the air.
As Scott put it so well,
Watch for any post labelled "SXMS" (summer Xmas, of course - what were you thinking? :) )! First one coming right up.
As Scott put it so well,
Wish you were here. The mountain walks, the sun-kissed beaches, the wildlife and bizarre plants and flowers. The festive people, the general vibe. T-shirts all day, and ice-cold juice at the end of it all.In honour of the summer festive season, I'm going to be posting a couple of cool recipes, our favourites - both Christmassy, and summery. You may not want any summery ones if the snow lies up to the eaves, but perhaps you'd find the Christmassy ones to your taste - literally and figuratively.
Watch for any post labelled "SXMS" (summer Xmas, of course - what were you thinking? :) )! First one coming right up.
My Date
My son will not let me date. He doesn't like the idea of me seeing some bloke.
But, he says I CAN date this guy. Uri, the Smirnoff ad star. Why? Heaven alone knows - but I think it has something to do with him being "cool" and having a whole pile of huskies....
Pray for me! ;)
But, he says I CAN date this guy. Uri, the Smirnoff ad star. Why? Heaven alone knows - but I think it has something to do with him being "cool" and having a whole pile of huskies....
Pray for me! ;)
Cool and Green Things
I've been going "green" lately on the net. It all started when I got thinking about my woodworking daydreams, and wanted to garner a bit of inspiration. And boy, did I find it - along with a whole pile of really, really cool stuff.
So here are a few links (open in new windows) for you:
Greenlight Magazine - an online "print" magazine, with some excellent articles and this month's gift ideas.
Wood for Good - amazing ways to use this incredible natural substance in your house, home and decor.
KnockKnock - online shopping for gifts and goodies with a tongue-in-cheeck twist.
VivaTerra - "Eco Living with Style", including incredible root-ball carved bowls and baskets (see pic at right).
ReadyMade Magazine - can't subscribe unfortunately, but their website has many cool things to make yourself.
TrendDir - home decor trends online mag. For the lover of wow-factor in all of us.
0Footprint(zerofootprint) - sustainable commerce ideas, guide and magazine.
Modular Dwellings - small space, big style. Buy a plan and build it with easily-obtained materials, if you so desire!
Treehugger - my favourite stop for all things green, sustainable and nifty. And because it's basically a blog, I've got it blogrolled too.
Sublime - ethical lifestyle magazine. Some things online, others only available in print. With sound-enhanced website! :)
That should keep you clicking for a while - enjoy!
So here are a few links (open in new windows) for you:
Greenlight Magazine - an online "print" magazine, with some excellent articles and this month's gift ideas.
Wood for Good - amazing ways to use this incredible natural substance in your house, home and decor.
KnockKnock - online shopping for gifts and goodies with a tongue-in-cheeck twist.
ReadyMade Magazine - can't subscribe unfortunately, but their website has many cool things to make yourself.
TrendDir - home decor trends online mag. For the lover of wow-factor in all of us.
0Footprint(zerofootprint) - sustainable commerce ideas, guide and magazine.
Modular Dwellings - small space, big style. Buy a plan and build it with easily-obtained materials, if you so desire!
Treehugger - my favourite stop for all things green, sustainable and nifty. And because it's basically a blog, I've got it blogrolled too.
Sublime - ethical lifestyle magazine. Some things online, others only available in print. With sound-enhanced website! :)
That should keep you clicking for a while - enjoy!
Here we go again...
10 years without. 4 months for the body to kick in post Nur-Isterate injection. "Red letter day", "my grandma came to visit", "that time of the month" - call it what you will. But today I know why it's called a period. Because it brings you to a full stop. I forgot just how completely it does. But I ain't going back on that body-and-environment-destroying hormone treatment, not even for this.
Church and Me
I'm still on a church-attending break. It's still the best thing I could be doing. But now and then I get the urge to spend the day at my dad's church (that's it in the pic). Nearly everyone I know who has visited there has loved it right away - it's just got that whole good thing going.Well, I told my dad about it recently, and that there's really nothing like that around here, and he said, "perhaps you should start one"! Nice thought, but...
A church is the people. His has this exquisite mix of unique folk, who build each other up into even better folk constantly. There's no way one could duplicate that, and I wouldn't want to. It also has a lot of resources, ministries, a building, a band, a budget....
For me, here, now, the kind of church I want and need looks very different. It looks like a cafe-church, where art and creativity are welcomed and explored. It looks like hacking alien vegetation out of a riverbed and clearing out the rubbish. It looks like hand-in-hand building up of the poor in the squatter camps - getting your fingers into the soil of a new community garden and helping to patch roofs, rocking a baby and playing horse with the kids. It looks like a day at the animal shelter, on a regular basis. It looks like a meal and a living room. It looks like a safe place for the kids to be kids. It's got solar panels on the roof and a recycling bin out back. It's where the people are, not behind a security fence or out in the suburbs. There are beds in the corner for those who need an overnight home, and a small apartment across the courtyard for the single mom who just needs a break to get them back on their feet. There's no cross on the roof or denominational name on the door (which is always open) - just people coming together to live out the many aspects of their faith.
It's not the kind of thing you "start" nor is it the kind of thing you generally "find" already happening - not here! But it's what church looks like for me.
Talking to my family members over lunch this weekend, it's what church is starting to look like for them too. For a lot of people. Sheep without shepherds (too many of their shepherds are doing things I will not write about here, killing their congregations en masse). Turning around in confusion, wondering where to from here - knowing something has to change, something is changing. Each of us come with our own strengths and missions - sis-in-law's mother is making teddy bears for adult rape survivors, others are still discovering where God wants them. Maybe, just maybe, one day we'll all come together in a surge of strength toward that Living, that Being that our souls are panting for.
But no - I'm not going to start one. I'm not going to force anything or anyone into a pattern or copy of anything else (been there, done that, burned out). If something happens, it will be because God makes it so, brings people together, creates it. I will wait and listen, develop a passion, live out my faith as I can - and then, perhaps, when the time is right, join others in doing the same.
Living Space
As Christmas approaches, my house is becoming piled high with stuff. Cushions aim for the roof topped with fabric, ready to be covered. The jigsaw and nearly-done wooden blocks/box occupy a corner of the dressing table. Books and magazines and inspirational bits teeter on every available surface. Parts of 3 computers are scattered here and there. Donations from the moving-out neighbours overflow the top of the fridge and balance in cupboards. Everything is out of dog-pee reach (just in case), so the only thing free is the floor. Even that, though, is dodgy - the carpets ragged and old and in need of complete replacing.
And it's starting to affect me.
It's strange how clutter around the house makes me on edge. I get irritable, irritated, snap easily. Yup, I'm still seeking serenity - and uncleared table tops aren't conducive to it.
Serene spaces (in my head) are clear of junk, clean and visible. Light streams in unobstructed, there's a golden glow over comfortable furnishings, natural surfaces are free to reflect the sunshine or house gorgeous tactile goodies. (Yup, been at my UK Country Living magazines again - major wish-books! :) ) Not piled high with assortments of stuff, gathering dust or requiring removal simply to sit down.
I've been daydreaming about that jigsaw of mine again, wondering what I can make and fit into our tiny space that will create more of a peaceful environment. A couple of full-wall bookshelves would help (with the odd drawer or two) - or one of those room-divider type shelves on casters, moveable to screen off whatever destruction the kid has wrought on his part of the room that day. I've been eyeing the old, stained couches and wondering if my credit card will stretch to cover 12 yards of upholstery fabric on sale for slipcovers. I've looked at the garage and thought I may just be able to squeeze in a few more things - or maybe phone someone to simply come take it all away (free!). I've plotted enclosing the back 1 metre-wide porch, to give a place to either put the freezer or the computer and its table. Anything for a bit more space.
And I've kinda decided that we'll make a move off-campus to a bigger place at the end of next year. With my son's high school 20 minutes drive from here, I've been looking at rentals in that area - and they're not that bad, provided I can earn more than I am right now. My brother might have one of his usual inevitable contacts who has a house or knows someone who has a house. Relatives come in handy a lot! :) I just need to grit the teeth and stick it out for a bit longer, trying to create the calm and space and light and serenity my soul craves every single day, with what I already have.
Over the holiday week-or-so coming up, I'm going to start chucking out stuff, re-organizing, clearing, and maybe just getting a bit of sawdust in my hair as I attempt my Next Big Thing in the woodworking world. It's not only because I want to - for sanity's sake I have to.
::update::
Here's an appropriate quote, courtesy of Google's home page:
And it's starting to affect me.
It's strange how clutter around the house makes me on edge. I get irritable, irritated, snap easily. Yup, I'm still seeking serenity - and uncleared table tops aren't conducive to it.
Serene spaces (in my head) are clear of junk, clean and visible. Light streams in unobstructed, there's a golden glow over comfortable furnishings, natural surfaces are free to reflect the sunshine or house gorgeous tactile goodies. (Yup, been at my UK Country Living magazines again - major wish-books! :) ) Not piled high with assortments of stuff, gathering dust or requiring removal simply to sit down.
I've been daydreaming about that jigsaw of mine again, wondering what I can make and fit into our tiny space that will create more of a peaceful environment. A couple of full-wall bookshelves would help (with the odd drawer or two) - or one of those room-divider type shelves on casters, moveable to screen off whatever destruction the kid has wrought on his part of the room that day. I've been eyeing the old, stained couches and wondering if my credit card will stretch to cover 12 yards of upholstery fabric on sale for slipcovers. I've looked at the garage and thought I may just be able to squeeze in a few more things - or maybe phone someone to simply come take it all away (free!). I've plotted enclosing the back 1 metre-wide porch, to give a place to either put the freezer or the computer and its table. Anything for a bit more space.
And I've kinda decided that we'll make a move off-campus to a bigger place at the end of next year. With my son's high school 20 minutes drive from here, I've been looking at rentals in that area - and they're not that bad, provided I can earn more than I am right now. My brother might have one of his usual inevitable contacts who has a house or knows someone who has a house. Relatives come in handy a lot! :) I just need to grit the teeth and stick it out for a bit longer, trying to create the calm and space and light and serenity my soul craves every single day, with what I already have.
Over the holiday week-or-so coming up, I'm going to start chucking out stuff, re-organizing, clearing, and maybe just getting a bit of sawdust in my hair as I attempt my Next Big Thing in the woodworking world. It's not only because I want to - for sanity's sake I have to.
::update::
Here's an appropriate quote, courtesy of Google's home page:
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.
- George Bernard Shaw
Building Community
I've been pondering community lately - not only the churchy-type community, but your general social garden-variety community, and specifically the one in which I live and work. I've been wondering why we seem so disconnected, and why we'd prefer to try get out of this one than stay and make it good.
And I think it has a lot to do with vibes. Negative vibes. Though there are a lot of factors at work.
It's well known that local morale is down. There's quite a bit of in-fighting and a lack of communication. If a bottom-feeder has a good idea (that's us folk at the bottom of the organizational tree), it's more likely to be shot down than encouraged and worked with. Decisions hit walls before they hit the folk they influence, and all that kind of stuff. Which is sad, really. People often say "there's a lot of potential here", meaning good things could happen but they're not, and no-one quite knows how to fix it. Everyone tends to keep to themselves, living their own lives without really interacting beyond the office. A lot of top management don't even live here, they commute in from afar and yet still expect to be able to pinpoint the problem or influence what happens/doesn't happen.
And all of that gives a really negative vibe - you start to think "why bother" after a while, so community input and building just falls away, bit by bit.
Unfortunately I'm the sort that sees a problem and then uses up my brain-time to find solutions, and I'm wondering if a bit of effort on my part can't make a big difference.
You see, there are things I can do to disperse many of the negative vibes. Things I don't need top-feeder approval for, or a whole lot of cash. Like holding regular block parties to bring people together (bring and braai/barbecue type occasions). Or baking extra when I make something, and taking it to the folk next door. Without expecting reciprocation. Just greeting people and spending time chatting over the fence, or inviting them to join me for a meal. I've lived next to some neighbours for 8 years now, and we've never seen the inside of each other's houses!
Then there are things I'd like to speak to the mega-boss about. Creating a playground for the campus kids (they have nothing, nowhere to go, so they wander the property getting into trouble), perhaps with a skate-park and jungle-gym, a few shade trees and sandpits, and benches for parents to be there too. There's no shortage of land - just a shortage of effort and co-ordination to do something with it.
Or how about a community garden. We're constantly told we have "starving students" here, but there's no effort beyond occasional cash donations made to change it. Our cafeteria buys in its food from a market in the city - we could be producing just a little of that ourselves, and creating a place for people to interact with both their food and the wonderful natural world around us.
Many people are blessed to have fruit trees in their yards. Most of the fruit falls uneaten to the ground. Veggie gardens produce a lot, but it's not all used up. A system of collection, donation, re-distribution could make a big difference to the way we eat and the amounts we pay for our groceries. Edible landscaping - not chopping down everything in sight, as is the current trend (I've seen marvellous almond and plum trees felled in the past week).
Perhaps learning how to celebrate and party again would also help - taking note of events and occasions, or creating traditions here. Years ago the entire place would pack up into the bus once a year and go cherry-picking. Or they'd hold huge picnics regularly. Not anymore - but perhaps it's time to try it again?
Then there's the issue of "garbage removal". Yup, dumpster-diver me talking again. Too often I see things that could be re-used thrown out. Robbymac mentioned a while ago that while in college they had a "free" shop - if you had something that you didn't want/need anymore, you could take it there for someone else to use. Yesterday I received an old computer and printer, still in working order, which I'm trying to find a new home for. Same folk have given me pens, groceries, vases, you name it - they're moving to a smaller place, and can't take them with. Another neighbour has a fridge seeking a home. And my garage is filled with old clothes, a TV awaiting repair, various items of furniture that I can't fit in my house. I'm sure I'm not the only one. All of these could be used by someone else, if we could just co-ordinate the thing.
See, many ideas. But the negative vibes sometimes get so strong. I'm not sure I can stand up to them and push through. It's a whole lot easier just to keep to myself, not care, live life for me and let community slide. I'm thinking, though. I'm thinking. And perhaps all this thinking will finally result in action. Perhaps if I spread the ideas around, I won't have to do it alone.
And I think it has a lot to do with vibes. Negative vibes. Though there are a lot of factors at work.
It's well known that local morale is down. There's quite a bit of in-fighting and a lack of communication. If a bottom-feeder has a good idea (that's us folk at the bottom of the organizational tree), it's more likely to be shot down than encouraged and worked with. Decisions hit walls before they hit the folk they influence, and all that kind of stuff. Which is sad, really. People often say "there's a lot of potential here", meaning good things could happen but they're not, and no-one quite knows how to fix it. Everyone tends to keep to themselves, living their own lives without really interacting beyond the office. A lot of top management don't even live here, they commute in from afar and yet still expect to be able to pinpoint the problem or influence what happens/doesn't happen.
And all of that gives a really negative vibe - you start to think "why bother" after a while, so community input and building just falls away, bit by bit.
Unfortunately I'm the sort that sees a problem and then uses up my brain-time to find solutions, and I'm wondering if a bit of effort on my part can't make a big difference.
You see, there are things I can do to disperse many of the negative vibes. Things I don't need top-feeder approval for, or a whole lot of cash. Like holding regular block parties to bring people together (bring and braai/barbecue type occasions). Or baking extra when I make something, and taking it to the folk next door. Without expecting reciprocation. Just greeting people and spending time chatting over the fence, or inviting them to join me for a meal. I've lived next to some neighbours for 8 years now, and we've never seen the inside of each other's houses!
Then there are things I'd like to speak to the mega-boss about. Creating a playground for the campus kids (they have nothing, nowhere to go, so they wander the property getting into trouble), perhaps with a skate-park and jungle-gym, a few shade trees and sandpits, and benches for parents to be there too. There's no shortage of land - just a shortage of effort and co-ordination to do something with it.
Or how about a community garden. We're constantly told we have "starving students" here, but there's no effort beyond occasional cash donations made to change it. Our cafeteria buys in its food from a market in the city - we could be producing just a little of that ourselves, and creating a place for people to interact with both their food and the wonderful natural world around us.
Many people are blessed to have fruit trees in their yards. Most of the fruit falls uneaten to the ground. Veggie gardens produce a lot, but it's not all used up. A system of collection, donation, re-distribution could make a big difference to the way we eat and the amounts we pay for our groceries. Edible landscaping - not chopping down everything in sight, as is the current trend (I've seen marvellous almond and plum trees felled in the past week).
Perhaps learning how to celebrate and party again would also help - taking note of events and occasions, or creating traditions here. Years ago the entire place would pack up into the bus once a year and go cherry-picking. Or they'd hold huge picnics regularly. Not anymore - but perhaps it's time to try it again?
Then there's the issue of "garbage removal". Yup, dumpster-diver me talking again. Too often I see things that could be re-used thrown out. Robbymac mentioned a while ago that while in college they had a "free" shop - if you had something that you didn't want/need anymore, you could take it there for someone else to use. Yesterday I received an old computer and printer, still in working order, which I'm trying to find a new home for. Same folk have given me pens, groceries, vases, you name it - they're moving to a smaller place, and can't take them with. Another neighbour has a fridge seeking a home. And my garage is filled with old clothes, a TV awaiting repair, various items of furniture that I can't fit in my house. I'm sure I'm not the only one. All of these could be used by someone else, if we could just co-ordinate the thing.
See, many ideas. But the negative vibes sometimes get so strong. I'm not sure I can stand up to them and push through. It's a whole lot easier just to keep to myself, not care, live life for me and let community slide. I'm thinking, though. I'm thinking. And perhaps all this thinking will finally result in action. Perhaps if I spread the ideas around, I won't have to do it alone.
Nearly Time...
This in from my dad this morning. Mom's time with us is nearly up.
Just to let you know how things are going. As I smsed you, Mom took leave of the house with tears on Sabbath morning. She was nonetheless in pretty good spirits once she was settled into her hospital bed.
Saturday night I thought I would have my first unbroken night's sleep in a month (I told Mom this was payback for the months of getting up at night to feed you kids). But at 11:45 the phone rang--it was Mom phoning from hospital. She sounded sad and scared and said, "Can you come? I think the time has come." Josie (my mom's brother's wife) and I went across, and I could see that she was not close to dying, but she was aggitated and confused. I told the nurse to give her something to calm her, and then took half an hour or so to settle her down and put her to sleep again.
I had a wedding on Sunday but went early to the hospital (Josie left for the airport, per kind favour of a church member at 7:15). Mom was very tired. Ever since then she has been drifting in and out of sleep--an outcome of liver failure. She is getting more and more sleepy. Soon she will fall asleep and not wake up. If you phone her, she may not answer. If I am there, I will pick up the phone and pass it to her and she will be good for about 3 minutes of talk. If no one is there to help her, she won't be able to pick it up herself. I am helping her most of the times to eat. She did feed herself yesterday evening.
She wants so badly to go now. She is ready to die, but death isn't ready for her. I have had to tell her a few times that it can't be hastened on, it must come at its own time.
Just keep us both in your prayers. It's a tough time for both of us.
Love
Dad
Sunday Musings
Yes - SUNDAY! How good it is to blog from home...
Anyway "happy birthday to me" and all that. It would probably be happier if I wasn't doing my usual weekly wash and could figure out where I'm going wrong trying to install a darned CDRom on this home computer. It's (the computer) been created from bits and pieces, and I've just transferred the old CDRom and sound card from my dead computer - but for the life of me can't get it to work. Oh well. Blonde day. Birthday. Shouldn't actually be trying to do so much thinking on one day. Especially as I've just gained another year in age, and we all know what age does to the mind!
I am, however, planning on doing at least one good thing for this day of mine. We're off to watch the new Harry Potter movie this afternoon, using the R80 gift voucher I received last week in return for 10 year's service at work. Free movie! Cool. And with the price of tickets up to astronomical amounts again, the entire R80 will go on our outing.
I had a wonderful extended-family lunch with the rellies yesterday. My sis-in-law planned a good one, and we all hung out and ate way too much. Prezzies were opened, and to the amusement of all, two folk had given me EXACTLY the same thing! Same colour, everything. I can either keep one as a spare, or swap it at the shop for something else. Sis-in-law took it upon herself to give me 3/4 leg pants (again this year), as she reckons if she can wear them, they'll look good on anyone. I'm not so sure. They're a size too small, and the ones she bought me last year are still waiting in the cupboard for me to lose weight and look good in 3/4 leg pants. I know she thinks I need a life/look upgrade, and she's right. But I'm not sure the pants are going to help. Ah well, she's good to me - and I do appreciate her efforts (even the one where she said I "definitely need to lose a bit").
With this whole body/self-image thing I've got going, I've realized I actually don't like me. Sad, but true. I don't. Me inside is reasonable, but me outside is affecting me inside these days to the point where I muddle through each day and wonder why I loathe me so much. Horrible, horrible. But we all know birthdays are good points to start over, to press the re-do button and try something new.
And perhaps, today, I will. It's as good a day as any, don't you think? :)
Anyway "happy birthday to me" and all that. It would probably be happier if I wasn't doing my usual weekly wash and could figure out where I'm going wrong trying to install a darned CDRom on this home computer. It's (the computer) been created from bits and pieces, and I've just transferred the old CDRom and sound card from my dead computer - but for the life of me can't get it to work. Oh well. Blonde day. Birthday. Shouldn't actually be trying to do so much thinking on one day. Especially as I've just gained another year in age, and we all know what age does to the mind!
I am, however, planning on doing at least one good thing for this day of mine. We're off to watch the new Harry Potter movie this afternoon, using the R80 gift voucher I received last week in return for 10 year's service at work. Free movie! Cool. And with the price of tickets up to astronomical amounts again, the entire R80 will go on our outing.
I had a wonderful extended-family lunch with the rellies yesterday. My sis-in-law planned a good one, and we all hung out and ate way too much. Prezzies were opened, and to the amusement of all, two folk had given me EXACTLY the same thing! Same colour, everything. I can either keep one as a spare, or swap it at the shop for something else. Sis-in-law took it upon herself to give me 3/4 leg pants (again this year), as she reckons if she can wear them, they'll look good on anyone. I'm not so sure. They're a size too small, and the ones she bought me last year are still waiting in the cupboard for me to lose weight and look good in 3/4 leg pants. I know she thinks I need a life/look upgrade, and she's right. But I'm not sure the pants are going to help. Ah well, she's good to me - and I do appreciate her efforts (even the one where she said I "definitely need to lose a bit").
With this whole body/self-image thing I've got going, I've realized I actually don't like me. Sad, but true. I don't. Me inside is reasonable, but me outside is affecting me inside these days to the point where I muddle through each day and wonder why I loathe me so much. Horrible, horrible. But we all know birthdays are good points to start over, to press the re-do button and try something new.
And perhaps, today, I will. It's as good a day as any, don't you think? :)
(Skelm post)
(I know I'm not supposed to blog after I've posted my "Shabbat Shalom" each week - self-imposed rule, day off for a Sabbath and all that. But guess what - I'm blogging from home! And it's fast too...)
Snippets
A few blog-snippets, none worthy of an entire post on their own!
* Just had a call from my parents, to wish me a happy birthday for later this weekend. Mom's going back into hospital tomorrow, as my aunt goes home on Sunday and dad can't care for her on his own. She is sound a LOT better on the phone - her symptoms are improved, but she's not getting better as such. Just feels more able to walk/talk/live. And STILL hanging in there. Her doc says he's never had a liver-failure patient last this long. Could the anointing service she requested 2 weeks back have something to do with it? One thing made me sad when she phoned, and that was her wishing me "a longer life than I've had"....
* Got Metallica's "I Disappear" blasting forth from my speakers at the moment - I'm such a closet metal-head... :) Super song though. Been looking for it for ages, and finally located! (certain conservative Christians passing by don't look all that impressed though. tough luck) I've come to the conclusiong that my music tastes do rather run to the alternative. And all the time I thought I was kinda mainstream. Oh well.
* My home computer and internet access is nearly a go (blogging from home a reality soon!). The computer is getting a few tweaks, then we'll plug it in and see if the entire network system works. I'm a guinea-pig for some technology they're trying, so it's a bit of hit-and-miss at the moment as to what I will and won't be able to accomplish. But it's a whole lot better then nothing at all!
* Is it December already? Where the heck did the year go? It seems like only yesterday I was planning nothing for my birthday - and now I'm planning nothing again! :) Fortunately, my sis-in-law has taken it upon herself to plan something, so we're off to Cape Town for a meal tomorrow in celebration of a few more wrinkles and grey hairs on my part.
* The roadworks here have taken over. I'll be lucky to get anywhere when I have to do my grocery shopping this afternoon. Let's hope they do a proper job and finish within the two weeks they've stated.
* Wind. Man, I hate it. And I live in the wrong part of the world as a wind-hater. Last night we had such gusting, strong wind that the neighbour's ill-secured window came crashing down into my garden. Still discovering shards of glass, though I thought I'd nabbed them all.
* And nabbing is what I seem to be doing every day with the dogs. They're getting out somehow and running the property ragged. I see them passing the office and have to go running after them! I suspect the leak is where the maintenance/destruction team took out plants to paint, as we've wired the gate closed when not in use and they can't be getting out that way. Seems I may have to invest in a few extra metres of proper fencing. The makeshift stuff I've got up right now doesn't seem to be helping. But at least I don't need to walk them now! :)
* I'm totally looking forward to the Christmas baking coming up at the end of next week when I "officially" go on leave (but still have to check in here daily for urgent stuff, though will be able to access and respond to emails from home). This time of year I get stuck into all sorts of goodies, and as half my Xmas prezzies are going to be home-made foodstuffs, the kitchen is going to see some action. Diet? What diet? It's CHRISTMAS, for goodness sake!
* I'm a complete dumpster-diver. Born and bred, and inherited from generations up the family tree. Those wood blocks I've made for my nephew? The box they will come in is "recycled" from old drawers chucked out here during renovations. The sides are beautiful golden gum wood. How can you throw out something like that? I'm considering asking them to dump any other wood they assume to chuck, right at my back door. And here's more proof of my pack-rat capabilities - driving to town the other day I spotted an old metal garden hose reel, the kind with a handle to wind the hose onto the reel. Been wanting one for ages, so of course I stopped and aquired it! And the most fun my son and I ever had at the mall was fossicking behind it - we came away with loads of interesting stuff, and a whole lot of chipboard too! Most of my home furniture (tables and such) is reclaimed from rubbish heaps, and still works jolly well, thank you very much. But I'm considering making a few new things, once cash-flow allows me to. I've been eyeing a couple of book-cases and room dividers that I want to try. Basic, easy stuff. I'm no expert. Yet.
* Friday. Don't you love switching off the alarm on a Friday for the weekend? Knowing you can wake up at whatever time you choose for the next few days. Not being shocked awake by some electronic bleeping. Lovely stuff (provided the neighbours shut up).
* Just had a call from my parents, to wish me a happy birthday for later this weekend. Mom's going back into hospital tomorrow, as my aunt goes home on Sunday and dad can't care for her on his own. She is sound a LOT better on the phone - her symptoms are improved, but she's not getting better as such. Just feels more able to walk/talk/live. And STILL hanging in there. Her doc says he's never had a liver-failure patient last this long. Could the anointing service she requested 2 weeks back have something to do with it? One thing made me sad when she phoned, and that was her wishing me "a longer life than I've had"....
* Got Metallica's "I Disappear" blasting forth from my speakers at the moment - I'm such a closet metal-head... :) Super song though. Been looking for it for ages, and finally located! (certain conservative Christians passing by don't look all that impressed though. tough luck) I've come to the conclusiong that my music tastes do rather run to the alternative. And all the time I thought I was kinda mainstream. Oh well.
* My home computer and internet access is nearly a go (blogging from home a reality soon!). The computer is getting a few tweaks, then we'll plug it in and see if the entire network system works. I'm a guinea-pig for some technology they're trying, so it's a bit of hit-and-miss at the moment as to what I will and won't be able to accomplish. But it's a whole lot better then nothing at all!
* Is it December already? Where the heck did the year go? It seems like only yesterday I was planning nothing for my birthday - and now I'm planning nothing again! :) Fortunately, my sis-in-law has taken it upon herself to plan something, so we're off to Cape Town for a meal tomorrow in celebration of a few more wrinkles and grey hairs on my part.
* The roadworks here have taken over. I'll be lucky to get anywhere when I have to do my grocery shopping this afternoon. Let's hope they do a proper job and finish within the two weeks they've stated.
* Wind. Man, I hate it. And I live in the wrong part of the world as a wind-hater. Last night we had such gusting, strong wind that the neighbour's ill-secured window came crashing down into my garden. Still discovering shards of glass, though I thought I'd nabbed them all.
* And nabbing is what I seem to be doing every day with the dogs. They're getting out somehow and running the property ragged. I see them passing the office and have to go running after them! I suspect the leak is where the maintenance/destruction team took out plants to paint, as we've wired the gate closed when not in use and they can't be getting out that way. Seems I may have to invest in a few extra metres of proper fencing. The makeshift stuff I've got up right now doesn't seem to be helping. But at least I don't need to walk them now! :)
* I'm totally looking forward to the Christmas baking coming up at the end of next week when I "officially" go on leave (but still have to check in here daily for urgent stuff, though will be able to access and respond to emails from home). This time of year I get stuck into all sorts of goodies, and as half my Xmas prezzies are going to be home-made foodstuffs, the kitchen is going to see some action. Diet? What diet? It's CHRISTMAS, for goodness sake!
* I'm a complete dumpster-diver. Born and bred, and inherited from generations up the family tree. Those wood blocks I've made for my nephew? The box they will come in is "recycled" from old drawers chucked out here during renovations. The sides are beautiful golden gum wood. How can you throw out something like that? I'm considering asking them to dump any other wood they assume to chuck, right at my back door. And here's more proof of my pack-rat capabilities - driving to town the other day I spotted an old metal garden hose reel, the kind with a handle to wind the hose onto the reel. Been wanting one for ages, so of course I stopped and aquired it! And the most fun my son and I ever had at the mall was fossicking behind it - we came away with loads of interesting stuff, and a whole lot of chipboard too! Most of my home furniture (tables and such) is reclaimed from rubbish heaps, and still works jolly well, thank you very much. But I'm considering making a few new things, once cash-flow allows me to. I've been eyeing a couple of book-cases and room dividers that I want to try. Basic, easy stuff. I'm no expert. Yet.
* Friday. Don't you love switching off the alarm on a Friday for the weekend? Knowing you can wake up at whatever time you choose for the next few days. Not being shocked awake by some electronic bleeping. Lovely stuff (provided the neighbours shut up).
Why so quiet?
It's not that I don't like you guys (and am thus ignoring both you and my blog), and it's not that I don't have a whole lot to say (though when I get near a computer it seems to drain away).
But I've been busy. Real busy. There's work, and then there's updating an extensive Loot books wishlist (if you want to fulfil a wish, ask me how! :) ), and then there's browsing a couple of sites for research - and getting side-tracked.
Going to see how the road resurfacing is progressing doesn't help (though with a total of 10 large machines of various varieties available to watch, it certainly is fascinating). Nor does mindless clicking at a Konfabulator game in the name of procrastination. To say nothing of just staring out the window.
But it hasn't been a completely lost cause. There is hope of some regular blogging on the horizon, that I promise you! A number of posts rattling around the empty shelves of my brain, waiting for cohesion and a chance to make enough sense to appear in writing.
One day soon. And if you're an RSS type, you'll know exactly when.
In the meantime, thanks for stopping by here now and then, even when I don't have anything really to say.
But I've been busy. Real busy. There's work, and then there's updating an extensive Loot books wishlist (if you want to fulfil a wish, ask me how! :) ), and then there's browsing a couple of sites for research - and getting side-tracked.
Going to see how the road resurfacing is progressing doesn't help (though with a total of 10 large machines of various varieties available to watch, it certainly is fascinating). Nor does mindless clicking at a Konfabulator game in the name of procrastination. To say nothing of just staring out the window.
But it hasn't been a completely lost cause. There is hope of some regular blogging on the horizon, that I promise you! A number of posts rattling around the empty shelves of my brain, waiting for cohesion and a chance to make enough sense to appear in writing.
One day soon. And if you're an RSS type, you'll know exactly when.
In the meantime, thanks for stopping by here now and then, even when I don't have anything really to say.
It's not every day...
....that I get this view from my office window!
It seems they're redoing some of the roads around here, and have brought in the Big Guns - heavy roller, tar-spreading machine and truckload of gravel.
A while back I read of a construction business in Germany that's started hiring out their machinery on the weekends for men to come and play with. The idea is that boys never really outgrow their toys - their toys just get way bigger. And with all their trucks, lifters, graders and stuff sitting idle on the weekends, they opened up the plot the machines are stored on, attached an entry fee - and now let grown men and their sons in to move gravel from one pile to another, drop and pick up things, or simply drive massive machinery around in circles. And they're making more cash on the weekends than they do during the week! :)
I'm pretty sure the stuff parked outside my window would provide the average man with a few hours of blissful enjoyment, could they but get their hands on it.
::update::
My desk is rumbling. Not vibrating, rumbling! I guess it's the next-best thing to a hand massage???
It seems they're redoing some of the roads around here, and have brought in the Big Guns - heavy roller, tar-spreading machine and truckload of gravel.
A while back I read of a construction business in Germany that's started hiring out their machinery on the weekends for men to come and play with. The idea is that boys never really outgrow their toys - their toys just get way bigger. And with all their trucks, lifters, graders and stuff sitting idle on the weekends, they opened up the plot the machines are stored on, attached an entry fee - and now let grown men and their sons in to move gravel from one pile to another, drop and pick up things, or simply drive massive machinery around in circles. And they're making more cash on the weekends than they do during the week! :)
I'm pretty sure the stuff parked outside my window would provide the average man with a few hours of blissful enjoyment, could they but get their hands on it.
::update::
My desk is rumbling. Not vibrating, rumbling! I guess it's the next-best thing to a hand massage???
Panic Stations!
Q.
What do you do when you get a phonecall from an up-country aunt who happens to be in the area on business, and will bring supper if you let her watch "Survivor" with you?
A.
That's right - phone the kid and tell him to sort out his toys/room/disaster-zone, then HURRY HOME AND START SCRUBBING THE FLOORS!!!!
What do you do when you get a phonecall from an up-country aunt who happens to be in the area on business, and will bring supper if you let her watch "Survivor" with you?
A.
That's right - phone the kid and tell him to sort out his toys/room/disaster-zone, then HURRY HOME AND START SCRUBBING THE FLOORS!!!!
There must be more...
I don't mean to sound ungrateful. Really, I am immensely honoured to be "adopted" by married-in family for the festive season, and fed a belt-busting meal. I'm thankful that yet again I've been invited to join the group (and provide prezzies of course!). I know there will be gifts for all and I'm aware that this is a blessing many don't have.
But there must be more than this. Our same menu, our same guest (again, not really wanted - but what can one do when he invites himself year after year), our same sense that something is not quite right, a gnawing emptiness behind full bellies.
There must be more than simply stuffing ourselves with well-prepared food, making an obligatory stop at whatever church we will, trundling home again with the car laden like Santa's sleigh.
What of the homeless and the lonely? What of those who put on a brave face, who we don't know will spend this year yet again in tears? What of the forgotten in the old age homes, the street kids sniffing glue to forget their lives, the shack-dwellers battling yet another fire that sweeps away life and property? What of the person you pass every day, but never really see?
What of the money we will lavish on everything from season-specific wrapping paper to exotic treats, yet-another-toy to an overcatered table? And what of those to whom a quarter of what we've spent would make the difference between dispair and hope?
What of the Meaning behind the season? Is our passing reference to God as heads bow to bless the meal all we'll do again this year? Will we shrug off familiar carols piped over the mall's speakers as we plod on to ever-deeping materialism? Will our church services be lip-service only, an annual trek to a Big Production?
There must be more than this...
But there must be more than this. Our same menu, our same guest (again, not really wanted - but what can one do when he invites himself year after year), our same sense that something is not quite right, a gnawing emptiness behind full bellies.
There must be more than simply stuffing ourselves with well-prepared food, making an obligatory stop at whatever church we will, trundling home again with the car laden like Santa's sleigh.
What of the homeless and the lonely? What of those who put on a brave face, who we don't know will spend this year yet again in tears? What of the forgotten in the old age homes, the street kids sniffing glue to forget their lives, the shack-dwellers battling yet another fire that sweeps away life and property? What of the person you pass every day, but never really see?
What of the money we will lavish on everything from season-specific wrapping paper to exotic treats, yet-another-toy to an overcatered table? And what of those to whom a quarter of what we've spent would make the difference between dispair and hope?
What of the Meaning behind the season? Is our passing reference to God as heads bow to bless the meal all we'll do again this year? Will we shrug off familiar carols piped over the mall's speakers as we plod on to ever-deeping materialism? Will our church services be lip-service only, an annual trek to a Big Production?
There must be more than this...
Ancient History
One of the gifts I'm giving this Christmas is a family photo album, one for each brother (with wife and child).
You know the kind: ancient black & white pictures with fancy cut edges, stuck with little corners onto card sheets in an album, and each set protected by a glassine (tracing-paper like) sheet. Ancestors staring stonily, arranged in a studio or caught in bellbottoms and wild hair. Formal wedding photos, grainy images of the ancients and not-so-ancients. Lurking in every family's back cupboard is one of those. Time to make sure there's one lurking in my brother's cupboards too!
You know how HARD it is to find albums like that these days??? :) I searched the entire mall and finally found two - basically the same, just different colour covers - at precisely R100 price difference! Which, for a change (not the pushy type), I queried - and got them both at the lesser price. It helps that I'm a regular customer and the manager recognized me.
Last night I sat down with my box of old photos, looking for pictures to scan, print on photo paper, edge (got the fancy scissors!) and place in albums (finally found the little corner thingies!). There is nothing - NOTHING! - like a box of old photos to give the memory a good jolt. Mostly pleasant jolts, except for a couple of old boyfriends and a reminder of rejection or hurt.
Last week I was sorting through images on my computer and came across the ones my dad spent ages scanning from slides and photos, burnt onto a CD for each of us kids. A priceless gift.
Combined, these two mediums give a pretty accurate picture of our family history, of all we've been through and how we've grown up and grown old. I can see my son in my own photos at his age and younger. I can only laugh at some of the clothes we used to wear (like purple satin ties with yellow jerseys/sweaters!). There are the "braces" stages some went through, and a record of girls my brothers dated. There's dad pulling funny faces, and mom with her so-70's outfits. There's me - fat, thin, fat again. Some creepy boyfriends, my son's dad, high school mates.
And then there was one photo that totally hit home. A family picture, one of the few professionally-posed ones. I was just out of high school, my younger brothers still scholars. Mom and dad a lot younger. Nothing really unusual.
Except that I've completely turned into my mom!
Same face-shape, same expression. Oh. My. Goodness. :)
You know the kind: ancient black & white pictures with fancy cut edges, stuck with little corners onto card sheets in an album, and each set protected by a glassine (tracing-paper like) sheet. Ancestors staring stonily, arranged in a studio or caught in bellbottoms and wild hair. Formal wedding photos, grainy images of the ancients and not-so-ancients. Lurking in every family's back cupboard is one of those. Time to make sure there's one lurking in my brother's cupboards too!
You know how HARD it is to find albums like that these days??? :) I searched the entire mall and finally found two - basically the same, just different colour covers - at precisely R100 price difference! Which, for a change (not the pushy type), I queried - and got them both at the lesser price. It helps that I'm a regular customer and the manager recognized me.
Last night I sat down with my box of old photos, looking for pictures to scan, print on photo paper, edge (got the fancy scissors!) and place in albums (finally found the little corner thingies!). There is nothing - NOTHING! - like a box of old photos to give the memory a good jolt. Mostly pleasant jolts, except for a couple of old boyfriends and a reminder of rejection or hurt.
Last week I was sorting through images on my computer and came across the ones my dad spent ages scanning from slides and photos, burnt onto a CD for each of us kids. A priceless gift.
Combined, these two mediums give a pretty accurate picture of our family history, of all we've been through and how we've grown up and grown old. I can see my son in my own photos at his age and younger. I can only laugh at some of the clothes we used to wear (like purple satin ties with yellow jerseys/sweaters!). There are the "braces" stages some went through, and a record of girls my brothers dated. There's dad pulling funny faces, and mom with her so-70's outfits. There's me - fat, thin, fat again. Some creepy boyfriends, my son's dad, high school mates.
And then there was one photo that totally hit home. A family picture, one of the few professionally-posed ones. I was just out of high school, my younger brothers still scholars. Mom and dad a lot younger. Nothing really unusual.
Except that I've completely turned into my mom!
Same face-shape, same expression. Oh. My. Goodness. :)
Woodwork & Hair colour
What a (long) weekend it's been! Someone asked me this morning if I enjoyed my day off yesterday - I had to reply that it was as busy as a day here, but only in a different place.
But it's been a good one, I have to admit.
You see, I've got a new toy and I bought my own Christmas prezzie. The new toy is a jigsaw, my first official Power Tool! And the Christmas prezzie is, finally, a rather-redder-than-normal hair colour.
So what's the deal with the jigsaw? Well, it's been on my wishlist for years now. Along with a circular saw, router, drill and such. But as I'm busy making Christmas prezzies, I finally needed one. Not to cut a fruitcake or the fabric for cushion covers, but because I am actually Making some 4,5cm square wooden blocks for my nephew! You just don't find those kind of toys in the shops anymore - the sort that feel good in your hand, that don't have "made in China" stamped on their plastic bases, and that don't break a few days after they are received. So on Friday I not only bought a jigsaw, but a long piece of pine which I've been patiently turning into blocks, sanding out the sharp corners and smoothing the sides. I saw this last week and a rather large light-bulb went off in my head. "I can do that!" So I am. Except that instead of a number of animal puzzles, there's just one - the other sides are taken up by letters, numbers, shapes and plain blocks of colour. Nifty! And I'm even making the wooden box they go into - made to fit both the blocks and the current size of said nephew. It's a gift I hope will last a long time, long enough to pass on to siblings and perhaps even a generation or two down the line.
In the process I've discovered that certain unworked muscles are likely to be rather stiff after a few hours at the jigsaw - especially if one is using one's knee to hold the wood steady, thanks to no real work space and definitely no clamps. Let's just say I have some interesting bruises today! I've also discovered the usefulness of leather gloves and protective eye-wear...
And, while I was expanding my horizons, I sucked it up and finally bought that hair colour I've been hankering after for a few months. The one my son has "given me permission" to try. It's a L'Oreal Colour Experte variety called "Ginger Twist" - and let's hope it works... Certain folk have been urging me to go red-head for a while already. So it's not exactly RED-head, but it's close enough.
Perhaps it's something about the end of the year that wakes one up with a deep breath and asks "what can you change?". I know of blogger friends starting new work, moving location, ending or beginning relationships. The air seems to be charged with a feeling that something new is on its way - the holiday spirit creating both a sense of relaxation and urgency to pull one's self up by the bootstraps. As 2006 approaches, there's another chance for those New Year resolutions, self-examination and a good hard look at where you're heading. There's a positive vibe tingling in each of us (well, perhaps just most of us), a chance to do something new and wonderful with the months ahead.
And as lowly as jigsaws and hair colour are, somehow they seem part of the larger steps my soul is taking in new directions.
But it's been a good one, I have to admit.
You see, I've got a new toy and I bought my own Christmas prezzie. The new toy is a jigsaw, my first official Power Tool! And the Christmas prezzie is, finally, a rather-redder-than-normal hair colour.
So what's the deal with the jigsaw? Well, it's been on my wishlist for years now. Along with a circular saw, router, drill and such. But as I'm busy making Christmas prezzies, I finally needed one. Not to cut a fruitcake or the fabric for cushion covers, but because I am actually Making some 4,5cm square wooden blocks for my nephew! You just don't find those kind of toys in the shops anymore - the sort that feel good in your hand, that don't have "made in China" stamped on their plastic bases, and that don't break a few days after they are received. So on Friday I not only bought a jigsaw, but a long piece of pine which I've been patiently turning into blocks, sanding out the sharp corners and smoothing the sides. I saw this last week and a rather large light-bulb went off in my head. "I can do that!" So I am. Except that instead of a number of animal puzzles, there's just one - the other sides are taken up by letters, numbers, shapes and plain blocks of colour. Nifty! And I'm even making the wooden box they go into - made to fit both the blocks and the current size of said nephew. It's a gift I hope will last a long time, long enough to pass on to siblings and perhaps even a generation or two down the line.
In the process I've discovered that certain unworked muscles are likely to be rather stiff after a few hours at the jigsaw - especially if one is using one's knee to hold the wood steady, thanks to no real work space and definitely no clamps. Let's just say I have some interesting bruises today! I've also discovered the usefulness of leather gloves and protective eye-wear...
And, while I was expanding my horizons, I sucked it up and finally bought that hair colour I've been hankering after for a few months. The one my son has "given me permission" to try. It's a L'Oreal Colour Experte variety called "Ginger Twist" - and let's hope it works... Certain folk have been urging me to go red-head for a while already. So it's not exactly RED-head, but it's close enough.
Perhaps it's something about the end of the year that wakes one up with a deep breath and asks "what can you change?". I know of blogger friends starting new work, moving location, ending or beginning relationships. The air seems to be charged with a feeling that something new is on its way - the holiday spirit creating both a sense of relaxation and urgency to pull one's self up by the bootstraps. As 2006 approaches, there's another chance for those New Year resolutions, self-examination and a good hard look at where you're heading. There's a positive vibe tingling in each of us (well, perhaps just most of us), a chance to do something new and wonderful with the months ahead.
And as lowly as jigsaws and hair colour are, somehow they seem part of the larger steps my soul is taking in new directions.
Shabbat Shalom
(Click here for larger image)
Take time this weekend to be still. If there is a prayer below that speaks to you, use it in silence, in movement or in speech.
--------------------
Purple is the colour that reminds us when we pray
To let God know we're sorry for the things we should not say.
Blue reminds us daily of the sadness that some feel
And our prayers are then for others and the pain with which they deal.
Green is for our growth and development each day
And so a prayer for guidance too, is one we daily pray.
Yellow lets us know that God is always somewhere near
Listening to our thoughts and prayers for those that we hold dear.
Orange is such a happy shade and reminds us all to say
A prayer of true thanksgiving for all we have each day.
The colour that comes last upon this bracelet now is red
Reminding us to say our prayers before we go to bed.
(written to accompany a child's rainbow prayer bracelet)
------------
Dear God, thank you for—
All things purple—the brave crocus head that dares to face the frost's strong bite; for mountaintops cloaked in purple lavender; for grapes forming on vines; for...
All things blue—the bright blue sky after a summer's storm; for the bright cheery flight of a blue bird; for the first taste of wild blueberries; for...
All things green—the rich unfolding colours of leaves unfurling to new growth; for garden slips promising the richness of future harvests; for...
All things yellow—the sun as it slowly rises on the horizon at mornings break; for yellow daisy's perky flower that brightens the day and makes me smile; for...
All things orange—the sunset's glorious setting that marks the end of another day; for juicy oranges and melons that tempt our palette; for...
All things red—the luscious fruit of the watermelon; for poppy's sturdy stem and bright flower; for...
For all things named—thank you God for the wondrous diversity of your creation.
Amen.
----------
God of sunshine and rain
God of green grass and mud
God of butterflies and puppy dogs
God of holy days, holidays, and all our days
We thank you for the gifts that touch our lives
In the shared laughter with loved ones
In the tears of pain
In the moments of silence too intense for words
In the words that comfort and challenge
Be with us, and with all who laugh, cry, struggle, seek comfort, and embrace the challenges of living this day.
Thank you.
Amen.
---------------
Creating God,
You made the ant and the elephant
and declared them good!
You made the sun and the moon, day and night
and declared them good!
You made the birds and the bees and the fish of the sea
and declared them good!
You made each one of us—from east and west, from north and south
and you declared us good!
Help us to cherish the richness and diversity
of your creation,
and of one another.
So that together we may begin to grasp the vastness of your creativity, your delight and your love for all your creation, including me (us).
Amen.
---------------
(Prayers taken from here)
Tagged for Sevens
Ben at Marriages Restored tagged me - so here goes! (Ben, I still think you look South African... :) )
Seven Things I Want To Do Before I Die
1. See the Himalayas.
2. Own my own farm and develop it to the point where it dwells in my imagination.
3. Build my own house. From scratch. Everything.
4. Learn how to lathe-turn wooden objects.
5. See the Amazon.
6. Give my son a snowy-white Christmas experience.
7. See the Australian Outback up close.
Seven Things I Cannot Do
1. Swim a length underwater at our half-olympic size pool - though I used to do a length and a half in high school.
2. Run. Comfortably, or for more than a couple of steps.
3. Hit a high C - used to do that too, but now I'm more a contralto singer than anything else.
4. Stop blogging.
5. Eat red meat. Most meat, for that matter.
6. A backbend - though used to, again, without bending my legs to do it!
7. The splits - " " "...., I see a pattern here! :)
Seven Things That Attract Me To My (romantic interest, best friend, whatever applies to you)
Don't have one - no best friend, no spouse, no romantic interest. Oh well.
Seven Things I Say Most Often
1. Anyway..
2. Eish!
3. Oh GREAT...
4. Ummm..
5. No ways! (more an expression of disbelief than anything else)
6. Gatvol
7. Lekker
Seven Books, Or Series, That I Love
1-6. All my Reader's Digest Condensed Books - 130 of them...
7. Brian McLaren's "A Generous Orthodoxy"
Seven Movies I Would Watch Over and Over Again
1. Lord of the Rings trilogy
2. Gone in 60 seconds
3. The Four Feathers
4. The Mummy & The Mummy Returns (I know, I'm weird)
5. Braveheart
6. Out of Africa
7. Monty Python - any/all of them
Seven People I Want To Join In Too
1. Scott (Husbands Anon)
2. Liz (Messy Christian)
3. Patchouli
4. Robbymac
5. Tripeak (SomeNoOne)
6. Rodney (The Journey)
7. Kel (X-facta)
Seven Things I Want To Do Before I Die
1. See the Himalayas.
2. Own my own farm and develop it to the point where it dwells in my imagination.
3. Build my own house. From scratch. Everything.
4. Learn how to lathe-turn wooden objects.
5. See the Amazon.
6. Give my son a snowy-white Christmas experience.
7. See the Australian Outback up close.
Seven Things I Cannot Do
1. Swim a length underwater at our half-olympic size pool - though I used to do a length and a half in high school.
2. Run. Comfortably, or for more than a couple of steps.
3. Hit a high C - used to do that too, but now I'm more a contralto singer than anything else.
4. Stop blogging.
5. Eat red meat. Most meat, for that matter.
6. A backbend - though used to, again, without bending my legs to do it!
7. The splits - " " "...., I see a pattern here! :)
Seven Things That Attract Me To My (romantic interest, best friend, whatever applies to you)
Don't have one - no best friend, no spouse, no romantic interest. Oh well.
Seven Things I Say Most Often
1. Anyway..
2. Eish!
3. Oh GREAT...
4. Ummm..
5. No ways! (more an expression of disbelief than anything else)
6. Gatvol
7. Lekker
Seven Books, Or Series, That I Love
1-6. All my Reader's Digest Condensed Books - 130 of them...
7. Brian McLaren's "A Generous Orthodoxy"
Seven Movies I Would Watch Over and Over Again
1. Lord of the Rings trilogy
2. Gone in 60 seconds
3. The Four Feathers
4. The Mummy & The Mummy Returns (I know, I'm weird)
5. Braveheart
6. Out of Africa
7. Monty Python - any/all of them
Seven People I Want To Join In Too
1. Scott (Husbands Anon)
2. Liz (Messy Christian)
3. Patchouli
4. Robbymac
5. Tripeak (SomeNoOne)
6. Rodney (The Journey)
7. Kel (X-facta)
World AIDS Day
My circle of friends and acquaintences is small. I know only one person who has died of AIDS, which is quite something to say in a country where so many are infected. Vaughn was always a bit of an outsider. With jet-black hair and striking blue eyes, he was attractive - but an outsider nonetheless. His mom attended the church my dad pastored, and his sister was a class ahead of me in primary school. After a few years our lives parted.
I later saw him was at a friend's wedding. He was mere skin and bones. Post-high school he had entered the gay scene and there contracted this killer virus. Pre-anti-retroviral days there was virtually no treatment to keep him healthy and alive. A few months later I heard he had died.
That has been my sole personal experience with AIDS. I am one of the lucky ones. I am not at risk because I have chosen sexual abstinence and have not needed a blood transfusion. I could be at risk should I fall victim to rape or violent crime. Possible infection during my "wild" years has proved to be a lucky miss.
But many in South Africa and around the world are infected, living and dying with AIDS. It is eating away at our workforce, depleting the pool of experience and knowledge, tearing through families and creating child/parents who give up their lives to raise younger siblings once orphaned. Our government is either in denial, or failing to deliver on promised help. Other governments simply ignore the problem, hoping that if they can't see it, it's not there. Some work to create solutions in the face of incurable inevitability.
And today the world is remembering just what AIDS is all about. Tales of hope, stories of dispair. Lives affected, lives changed. Accidental infection, purposeful infection by someone who believes sex with a (very) young virgin will cure him. Beliefs and ignorance all hauled out and examined as today we pause and consider.
There is much we can do, those of us who have been left standing. Lobby for change, be there for sufferers, befriend and volunteer, adopt an AIDS orphan.
On this day, if on no other day, what will you do?
Things to do while working
..especially if you're the only one at work and your desktop is empty.
1. Sort all your digital pics into folders. Geez - 50MB of dog pictures??? Burn them to CD as backups, just in case the computer gets the holiday spirit and crashes.
2. Delete all old files in My Documents. Just as you finish deleting them, someone asks for one from 2003...
3. Water the plants, clean the leaves of the big one so it can actually breathe without a layer of dust choking it.
4. Drink lots of water, as per earlier-in-the-year resolution. Realize after about half an hour that this also entails running to the loo a lot. And that you feel hungrier sooner. Go dig out the last peanuts & raisins and eat them.
5. Daydream. A lot.
6. Check for ftp server updates and listen to your music. Loudly.
7. Go through desk drawers and chuck out junk. Realize you missed a few people's birthdays when you discover your birthday list.
8. Turn the chair upside-down, adjust it so it no longer cuts off the circulation in your legs when you sit all day.
9. Stare out the window and wonder what everyone else is doing with their time off.
10. Rework that home-made goodies Xmas list. Surf a bit to find other ideas. Make a list for yourself and email it to your sis-in-law's mother, cos she asked for it a few days ago and you forgot all about it.
11. Write. You do have deadlines, after all.
12. Blog. Because it's been awfully quiet around here lately.
13. Re-organize your files. Again. Decide they were better the first way and re-re-organize them.
14. Blog again.
15. Repeat.
1. Sort all your digital pics into folders. Geez - 50MB of dog pictures??? Burn them to CD as backups, just in case the computer gets the holiday spirit and crashes.
2. Delete all old files in My Documents. Just as you finish deleting them, someone asks for one from 2003...
3. Water the plants, clean the leaves of the big one so it can actually breathe without a layer of dust choking it.
4. Drink lots of water, as per earlier-in-the-year resolution. Realize after about half an hour that this also entails running to the loo a lot. And that you feel hungrier sooner. Go dig out the last peanuts & raisins and eat them.
5. Daydream. A lot.
6. Check for ftp server updates and listen to your music. Loudly.
7. Go through desk drawers and chuck out junk. Realize you missed a few people's birthdays when you discover your birthday list.
8. Turn the chair upside-down, adjust it so it no longer cuts off the circulation in your legs when you sit all day.
9. Stare out the window and wonder what everyone else is doing with their time off.
10. Rework that home-made goodies Xmas list. Surf a bit to find other ideas. Make a list for yourself and email it to your sis-in-law's mother, cos she asked for it a few days ago and you forgot all about it.
11. Write. You do have deadlines, after all.
12. Blog. Because it's been awfully quiet around here lately.
13. Re-organize your files. Again. Decide they were better the first way and re-re-organize them.
14. Blog again.
15. Repeat.
She works hard for a living
Every year from October to March the following year, I literally run. It's my busy time, and expecting me to be at meetings or take time off just isn't going to happen. I'm responsible for accepting students (and I'm the only one doing it), which influences our salaries, student numbers etc. I am custodian of application forms and my policy is to respond immediately to both requests and applications. So it's all on my head! Or at least so it seems.
Which is why, while everyone else took yesterday morning for a meeting, yesterday afternoon off, and will take this afternoon off too, here I sit. Working. Or should I say, here I run - from fax machine to office to phones to postbox. That's just how it goes. Yesterday I was picking up switchboard calls and taking messages too. Just to add to my busyness and convince anyone from the meeting that I wasn't simply bunking, but was working.
I was hoping to get the few items I need to actually buy for Christmas this afternoon (fabric for tablecloths, for example). But I've realized that the mall is going to be PACKED today. So I've arranged that while everyone is here on Monday morning, and they're liberally supplied with information to hand out to anyone needing it, I'm going to head off early to the mall, before the day's rush takes over. I am still owed an afternoon off for November, and will take that too on Monday. This week I've cleared my desk right down to the wood, so I think it will be OK.
Although I suffer from an over-inflated sense of duty, I'm sure the place won't collapse without me for a few hours.
Which is why, while everyone else took yesterday morning for a meeting, yesterday afternoon off, and will take this afternoon off too, here I sit. Working. Or should I say, here I run - from fax machine to office to phones to postbox. That's just how it goes. Yesterday I was picking up switchboard calls and taking messages too. Just to add to my busyness and convince anyone from the meeting that I wasn't simply bunking, but was working.
I was hoping to get the few items I need to actually buy for Christmas this afternoon (fabric for tablecloths, for example). But I've realized that the mall is going to be PACKED today. So I've arranged that while everyone is here on Monday morning, and they're liberally supplied with information to hand out to anyone needing it, I'm going to head off early to the mall, before the day's rush takes over. I am still owed an afternoon off for November, and will take that too on Monday. This week I've cleared my desk right down to the wood, so I think it will be OK.
Although I suffer from an over-inflated sense of duty, I'm sure the place won't collapse without me for a few hours.
Hybrids and other Green Things
I've been diving into research for two of my articles (due soon!), and of course I tend to get a bit side-tracked. In fact, if you look carefully at my ever-increasing blogroll, you may notice a couple of new "greener" links there. Ample evidence of just how side-tracked I can get...! :)
One such track led me down the road (scuse the pun) of hybrid cars. I know they're all over the place in non-African countries, but I don't think I've seen one here, or know of anyone who owns one. So I hit my local motoring news site to see what's up with that, and what price range we're looking at for one. You see, I drive a 1982 Friggin'Ford 2.0L Sierra. It takes leaded petrol (which apparently is being phased out in SA in January), guzzles gas and probably emits a host of nasties into our atmosphere. So, as someone striving to live lightly on our planet and perhaps even reverse my impact, I really want to rethink my driving. Not that I do a lot, but when I do, it probably makes up for the week the car sits idle at home.
Of course one of the best-known hybrids is the Toyota Prius. So I went looking for it online and found out you cannot own one in South Africa! You get to "rent" it from Toyota for 4 years at around 5 thousand bucks a month, and then ownership reverts back to Toyota. How weird is that? Makes absolutely no sense at all.
Other varieties available are a Citroen or, well... apparently nothing. Prices kick in at around the R200,000 price range - way out of reach for the man on the street. You can buy a house, or you can buy a car and live in it!
So what's with this? Why can't we get decent, well-priced hybrid cars in South Africa? With all the talk about the environment and that we're in crisis-mode already, surely we'd have more variety, better prices, more options available!
Or perhaps we're expected to modify our own cars as we see fit, to create a genuine South African hybrid - or range of them? (I'd love to, but don't have the knowledge. Yet...)
One alternative I'd like to see is the government stepping in to tell the big car manufacturers "Develop and import/build a cheap hybrid here FIRST, or you'll get no other business". Like that will happen, but still it's something I'd like to see.
And then after I got off my side-track I managed to drag myself back to what I initially started to research. Green Giving for the festive season. Gifts with heart that matter, that don't misuse our resources or clog up the landfills with Christmas-specific non-reuseable wrapping paper.
The shopping malls are filling up. Already they are a pain to get to - long queues everywhere, no parking, kids running amok on their summer holiday (parents tend to drop them at the mall for the day and then go to work), everywhere scenes of snow and such - quite ridiculous for a southern-hemisphere sweltering Christmas, but I guess it's tradition we've inherited from colder climes.
And as usual, many are shopping just to buy something - anything! - as a gift, whether it's wanted/needed or not. More queues will form after Christmas to return or exchange unwanted goodies...
So I've been looking at alternatives. And I've found a whole pile.
For the third year in a row I'm going to be practising what I've preached and giving hand-made, carefully-considered and recycled gifts. My packaging has been reclaimed from other offices over the year in the form of nifty boxes that pens or ink cartridges arrived in. Many of my relatives will receive a variety of home-made fudge, rocky road, chocolate-dipped cherries and truffles in these boxes, ingredients for which are already in my cupboard. I am making both scatter cushions and table cloths/runners for one family member. Others may receive framed photos of their offspring or other hand-made gifts. And should there need to be wrapping paper involved, it's brown paper with re-useable "real" ribbons - the remainder of which goes to cover my son's books for school in 2006 (where I'm not reusing the 2005 covers).
Not only does this save me cash, but also the stress of running around a packed mall. Gifts have become individualized, something you can't just buy in the shops. The only people getting ready-made and bought things will be the three little kids (my son and his cousins) - but there again I may be able to get away with home-made in two cases. We'll see.
Other options are magazine subscriptions (gifts that keep giving every month), books of service vouchers (babysitting, a batch of brownies etc.) and online gift certificates (cutting out even the need for a single scrap of paper!).
I'm going simple, sustainable, trying to make as little impact on our already-strained environment as possible. And in the process I hope that each gift will be loved by those that receive it.
One such track led me down the road (scuse the pun) of hybrid cars. I know they're all over the place in non-African countries, but I don't think I've seen one here, or know of anyone who owns one. So I hit my local motoring news site to see what's up with that, and what price range we're looking at for one. You see, I drive a 1982 Friggin'Ford 2.0L Sierra. It takes leaded petrol (which apparently is being phased out in SA in January), guzzles gas and probably emits a host of nasties into our atmosphere. So, as someone striving to live lightly on our planet and perhaps even reverse my impact, I really want to rethink my driving. Not that I do a lot, but when I do, it probably makes up for the week the car sits idle at home.
Of course one of the best-known hybrids is the Toyota Prius. So I went looking for it online and found out you cannot own one in South Africa! You get to "rent" it from Toyota for 4 years at around 5 thousand bucks a month, and then ownership reverts back to Toyota. How weird is that? Makes absolutely no sense at all.
Other varieties available are a Citroen or, well... apparently nothing. Prices kick in at around the R200,000 price range - way out of reach for the man on the street. You can buy a house, or you can buy a car and live in it!
So what's with this? Why can't we get decent, well-priced hybrid cars in South Africa? With all the talk about the environment and that we're in crisis-mode already, surely we'd have more variety, better prices, more options available!
Or perhaps we're expected to modify our own cars as we see fit, to create a genuine South African hybrid - or range of them? (I'd love to, but don't have the knowledge. Yet...)
One alternative I'd like to see is the government stepping in to tell the big car manufacturers "Develop and import/build a cheap hybrid here FIRST, or you'll get no other business". Like that will happen, but still it's something I'd like to see.
And then after I got off my side-track I managed to drag myself back to what I initially started to research. Green Giving for the festive season. Gifts with heart that matter, that don't misuse our resources or clog up the landfills with Christmas-specific non-reuseable wrapping paper.
The shopping malls are filling up. Already they are a pain to get to - long queues everywhere, no parking, kids running amok on their summer holiday (parents tend to drop them at the mall for the day and then go to work), everywhere scenes of snow and such - quite ridiculous for a southern-hemisphere sweltering Christmas, but I guess it's tradition we've inherited from colder climes.
And as usual, many are shopping just to buy something - anything! - as a gift, whether it's wanted/needed or not. More queues will form after Christmas to return or exchange unwanted goodies...
So I've been looking at alternatives. And I've found a whole pile.
For the third year in a row I'm going to be practising what I've preached and giving hand-made, carefully-considered and recycled gifts. My packaging has been reclaimed from other offices over the year in the form of nifty boxes that pens or ink cartridges arrived in. Many of my relatives will receive a variety of home-made fudge, rocky road, chocolate-dipped cherries and truffles in these boxes, ingredients for which are already in my cupboard. I am making both scatter cushions and table cloths/runners for one family member. Others may receive framed photos of their offspring or other hand-made gifts. And should there need to be wrapping paper involved, it's brown paper with re-useable "real" ribbons - the remainder of which goes to cover my son's books for school in 2006 (where I'm not reusing the 2005 covers).
Not only does this save me cash, but also the stress of running around a packed mall. Gifts have become individualized, something you can't just buy in the shops. The only people getting ready-made and bought things will be the three little kids (my son and his cousins) - but there again I may be able to get away with home-made in two cases. We'll see.
Other options are magazine subscriptions (gifts that keep giving every month), books of service vouchers (babysitting, a batch of brownies etc.) and online gift certificates (cutting out even the need for a single scrap of paper!).
I'm going simple, sustainable, trying to make as little impact on our already-strained environment as possible. And in the process I hope that each gift will be loved by those that receive it.
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