Sunset is Meaningful

In the Northern Hemisphere

sunrise and sunset feel like they are on "the wrong side" for me.

This sunset on our way home at about 4pm-ish

feels like it is on the East.

Sunset is about 4:30pm at the moment.

Since I see the sunset easily every day from my spare bedroom in La Lucia,

I will think on these sunsets here on this trip and feel connected to

my loved-ones here.

Lunch Together

Gillian, Rob, Rachel, Corbin and I had lunch together at Ikea.

Then we enjoyed lovely Birthday/Christmas cake made by Rachel.

Then back to the ferry and back home. 

I was glad to be with them for the day.

Tender Mercies.

Christmas Greetings

I was grateful to attend the London Temple endowment session last Friday.

I loved the simple Nativity scene.

Thank you Dave and Gail Eaton for fetching me and taking me with you.

It's six months since I was able to go into a Temple.

I am grateful for the opportunity.

Blessed Christmas to you all from both of us.

Airport Christmas Lights

I felt proud to be South African as I walked through 

our major airport from Domestic arrivals to International departures.

Lunch with Doug and Nadia

On our way to the UK

we changed planes at Johannesburg.

Doug, Nadia, Jarom, Ethan, Daena and Cabryn joined us for lunch.

It was lovely to see them!

Goodbye mid-Summer,

Hello mid-Winter for a few weeks!.

Dinner at Roma

We joined the Durban Mission couples for dinner at Roma Restaurant.

Lovely views!

Lovely company!

Lovely evening.

Beauty All Around

 In my walking more as my toe heals

I walked a little along the 2 1/2 km Umhlanga promenade 

while Glenn walks the whole distance and back.

Sitting on a bench along the way and watching the sea

I saw this little bird alight and walk along.

It was so good to sit quietly, watch the bird, 

hear and see the sea, feel the wind, and rest.

Later that evening the sunset colours 

from the first floor of our building looking towards the East were lovely.

And to the West from our flat.

Gorgeous gentle colours.

I get tired sometimes of the buildings all around me.

I have learnt to look at the clouds

and enjoy the greenery I can see.

Our flat is lovely and cool because we can have a through-draft

by opening combinations of doors.

I enjoy being on the third floor.

A Pause...

Today two workers are attending to some waterproofing problems on the front balcony so I am home while they are here.  A welcome respite in my usual routine.

Time to think and to BE.  Sometime I get swirled up in the whirl of what is going on here and there.

Yesterday I went to fetch my passport from Home Affairs...  too many people in the queue that seemed not to be moving.  So I left - we left.  Glenn was with me.  So I have that to do sometime today, tomorrow or Friday.  Crowds... a challenge for me.  The waiting hall is noisy.  I might just pack my earplugs and feel more peaceful amid the madding crowd.

I must say applying for my passport this time around has been easier than ten years ago...  More automated, less waiting.  Glenn has his already, mine came a couple of days later.

The workers are finished on the balcony so I am off to the site soon.  Actually maybe not...  Glenn is due to come home for lunch soon, so I might wait for him and go this afternoon, or go and fetch my passport this afternoon.  I'll see how my courage level is after lunch.

Daily living sometimes takes courage for me.  I also need to attend to some business related to my Phillips House affairs.  At least I can go to a store here and don't have to go to Gauteng to do it!

Sometimes switching between various 'worlds' is challenging.  Our visit to Discovery for Glenn's medical matters in October was lovely and also unsettling for me.  Having to switch roles and be in different environments can be stressful.  I'm looking forward to our visit to England... and I think it will also take a toll on me.  I will need to be conscious and vigilant and take care of myself whilst I enjoy catching up and being with Beloved-ones there.  I'm really grateful we get to go...

I love being at the site.  Watching the work progress is interesting and filled with allegories and parables for me.  I thought not being able to go to the Johannesburg Temple each Friday morning, most Fridays, would be hard for me.  I realise I get the chance to go to the Durban Temple site five days a week now.  I feel the presence of my Heavenly Father as I watch and ponder, pause to talk and take photographs and write a piece for the historical record every week.

I am learning and growing!  I have discovered how to manipulate photographs on a word document. It is amazing to me!  I am learning all sorts of construction terms and processes.  I am learning more of "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."  That pleases me enormously.  I am also learning what I choose not to do without, and giving those things and experiences to myself.

I'm grateful the Couple Missionaries of the Durban Mission have included us in their periodic gatherings.  I miss our monthly Dessert Club get togethers.  These Couple Missionary events fill a little of that emptiness.  On Monday evening they joined us here for Home Evening of Show and Tell.  On Friday we are going to the Roma revolving restaurant in Durban for supper with them. One of the couples is leaving to go home and another couple has arrived to take their places.

And so... on to do what I need to do...  The day is gorgeous!  When the wind blows, like it is today, I am grateful - it cools the site down, it cools the flat down.  When there are clouds, like there are today, I am grateful - it gives shade where there is otherwise blazing Summer sun.  Life is good!

The two workers left, and now another two are here to do some waterproofing.

I have been missing my Nativity Scene at home.  I have been missing Cabryn coming and rearranging my choir of angels.  Saturday I saw a Nativity Scene I liked and bought it.  I added my three new little angels: Dom, Cindy and Scarlett.  I brought down these three little angels I bought this year with me when we came on Mission.  My heart feels happy when I look at my little Nativity Scene next to my stove and remember the Reason for the Season.  "How silently, how silently the wondrous gift was given..."

Blessed Christmas to you all!

I'm grateful for my many blessings - my Beloved Ones amongst them.

I'm glad to know you!  I'm glad to be a part of you!

A Breath of Naturalness...

November 30th I needed to collect my BOTSOC membership card

from the Durban Botanical Gardens office.

While we were there we walked a bit, not knowing how much I would be able to walk.

My toe is healing bit by bit I am thankful to say.

It was refreshing to be in all this (cultivated) naturalness...

Wonderful sound of wind chimes.

Interesting art installations.

I love public art!

Intereesting bark colours.

I realised this is an unusual Botanical Garden - lots of exotic species here.

And we came home to...

our interesting, neat, tidy, well maintained concrete jungle - 

where we will live for these next about two years.

After the feeling of refreshment being in the Botanical Gardens, I will make sure

I take time out to be amongst trees more often.

Thanksgiving

Lots, lots, lots going on at the site.
And I am confined to my car because my toe is still tender.
At least I am wearing shoes this week.  There is one pair of sandals I can wear, so that is progress.
I am grateful to be out of slippers all the time.
I gave the pair I wore most a good wash.
I'm glad I had them to wear while I needed them!

Thanksgiving today - not that we celebrate it...
I am thankful for much, many people, many things.

Especially I am glad to be alive.
I am grateful to live in these times.
I am grateful to be me.
I'm glad to associate with those I love.
I'm grateful to be living in green, green, green KZN for now.
I am grateful for all the physical peace and quiet of my life at the moment.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving day whether you celebrate it or not!

May we all develop our gratitude until it is our 'state of being.'

R2000.00 Tip

I had my car serviced.  Among the things I mentioned was "My car is hard to start sometimes."

As the challenge was unravelled it started here...

A few weeks ago I came to start my car.
I couldn't get it to start at all.
I sent Glenn a message and waited...
Eventually he arrived.  He also couldn't get it to start.
Was the starting lock system faulty?
I had visions of my car being put on a flat-bed lorry and taken to a Toyota dealer.
Glenn said "Let's get your spare key and see if that works."
We came home - then the thing was "Where did I put the spare key!"
Eventually I found it.  I sometimes know how I think and where I am likely to put things.
We went back and the car started with no problem.
So - the key was the problem?
When we examined the old and the spare key, we could see that the teeth of old key were worn thin on the sides.
Tried it again.  No luck.  Tried the spare. Started first time.
So - we went and had a new spare key cut from the spare (original of two).
We decided to keep the original spare for future reference.
The expert locksmith asked some questions about the key and then cut another from my.original spare,
So on my keyring I had the spare original and the new key.
Sometimes the car would start and sometimes it would not.

That's the back story.
And the Toyota service man solved the problem!

My original keys have some sort of chip (I think it is called) in the plastic housing.
The car will not start with a key without it.  Security feature.
The locksmith had asked "Does this key have a chip in it?"
We had decided after talking about it and the age of the car, that it did not.
So he cut me the new key.

So the end of the story...
I have to have a spare key - that's important to me.
So a new one would have to be ordered - after I produced all sorts of original papers which are in Gauteng.  All told the new spare key would cost around R2000.00.
I decided I would have to pay it, because a spare key was mandatory for me.

Then Mr Toyota man Ravi said "Let me show you something."
He put the newly cut key in, put the spare key black plastic housing next to it and turned it on.
It worked!
"That's a R2000.00 tip." he said.
We laughed and thanked him profusely - and relievedly!

Now I must go and get the CV joints attended to - there is a leak apparently, and get the wheels balanced and rotated.  Then I'll be good to go for the next while.

Always details to attend to!

Mr Magic

How blessed I am to have Glenn in my life!

I marvel over and over.

We inherited a paper shredder.

When I came to use it last week, it wouldn't work!

I asked Glenn if he could look at it.

Out came his toolbox.

The shredder was stripped, 

cleaned and cleared of the paper jam,

and it works!

Thank you Mr Magic.

You are a great blessing in my life.

Monkey Business

On our remarkably secure Estate we had a break-in.

We came back from Church to find that monkey/s had opened the window

and come in.  Five bananas and an apple were gone 

and an avocado was abandoned on the front balcony.

Glenn created our Monkey Proofing from two strong bull-dog clips 

and a shaped piece of wire-coathanger.

Creative!

It doesn't damage the window or window frame.

It works!

Good job Glenn!

Sore Toe

We took a walk to the beach last  Wednesday latish afternoon.

As we stepped onto the sand leaving the dune vegetation my foot 

in my sandal slipped on the sand/stone/root/path.

Ouch!

Drat! I have been so careful to protect my body so I can function on site!

I took my sandal off and hobbled back the short distance to the car.

Before we went to bed Glenn made me this splint from a mango juice box 

to protect my very tender toe from the pressure of the bedding.

I used the splint Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights.

I don't need the splint any more, 

but I can't put on shoes yet or

the safety boots I need to wear on the site.

Slippers it is for me for now.

Not sure if its a strain/sprain/bruise/crack/break...

Time will tell (how long it takes to heal).

So I am car and office bound on the site for now,

and fairly home-bound off the site.

Time to catch up administration, 

correspondence and other things.

Always more for me to do than I have time for!

Constant choosing priorities.

Braai Stand

 We went to Discovery last weekend for Glenn to

attend the Diabetic Clinic.

Before we left we looked at exisiting portable stands.

Glenn decided he would make a better one to suit our purposes.

He designed and bought some of the supplies.

While we were there he spent happy hours making it.

(It has two small swiveling wheels the other side.)

It looks good!  It works!

Good to have the braai portable for these reasons - so far.

Glenn enjoyed planning and making it.

We can move it the braai where we want it - weather depending.

The heavy gas bottle is off the floor.

I can move the whole unit to sweep and clean underneath it.

The Wind Howls

"The winds howl around the highest peaks."  Ovid

It howls often here I must say.

A few days ago we had gusting and extra howling wind.

I happened to look out on the front balcony and noticed the 

braai cover ballooning and lifting!

I went out and wedged one of the chairs against it so it could not take flight.

We figured the best way we could think of to solve this problem 

should we forget to wedge the chair, 

and also to keep our chairs tidy and in place.

We got two elastic bungee cords with hooks at the ends.

They hook together and around the braai.

In all probability, the problem is solved.

"I love it when a plan comes together."

The A team.

Juicing

The juicing begins...

Glenn has taken the plunge.

I take my hat off to him.

Apples, orange, lemon, carrot, beet, pineapple, cabbage, broccoli,

spinach, celery, cucumber, ginger.

He just passed day 10.

Juice for breakfast, lunch most days and supper as usual.

His blood sugar is perfect every time he takes the reading.