Memorial Service - Caitlyn Craig

I know 26 yr old Caitlyn's mother Wendy.

Life is sometimes very unexpected.

Caitlyn and twin girl-friends were killed in a motor accident.

I drove to the Krugersdorp Chapel along the hillside road for the service.

And this was the afternoon sky when I  got home.

Fare well Catlyn.

Blessings and comfort for your family and friends.

Our Warm Spot

This is where we used to have Saturday or Sunday breakfast or lunch.

It's the warm spot!

This is Sunday brunch 

- fruit salad with bread and cheese before Church at 12 noon.

Now that the desk is where Glenn is sitting in this picture...

We will see what we come up with until we leave.

Doug's 45th Birthday

Constantia Spur for a breakfast celebration...

And pasta bake and cake in the evening.

Amidst the alterations at their home.

Happy Birthday Doug!

 

Ward Movie Evening

Last Friday evening we watched "17 Miracles" at the Chapel

and then had soup and rolls.

I had some of the butternut soup made by Futhi Mdletshe.

Delicious!

Re-Arranging - Again!

Sorting out...

Making space for Doug and Nadia and children to move in with us.

Temporary storage of some stuff in the gym.

My computer on the way to Doug's office where it is now.

The two rooms got a good clean while they were empty.

Some of the 30 years accumulation of stuff for sorting...

Doug and Nadia move into the patio bedroom.

Daena and Cabryn in the room that used to be the girls' bedroom,

 then Dianne's room, then Doug's workshop, then my counselling room

 until we leave,

then they will move into our room.

 

Doug will then fit a kitchen into the cupboard area,

block off the passage with a door,

and that side will be ready for tenants when Doug and Nadia move.

********************* 

Jarom and Ethan are very comfortable in 

Gillian's and then Dianne's old room.

My Dad's old desk is now in the entrance hall temporarily.

I feel glad when I walk down the passage and see 

children's beds again in the two rooms where our children used to sleep.

Friday Afternoon Walk with Angela Simon

 Angela invited me last Friday to walk at the Botanical Gardens.

We had a lovely time together.

I really appreciate my friendship with her.

At the bird hide...

 

 

Some SERIOUS bird photographers

with BIG lenses...

 We had a cooldrink at the restaurant.

And off home.

Warm at the start of the afternoon, and getting decidedly cold by the time we left.

We made a good memory.

I shall miss seeing her often.

A Busy Day!

A full day of

hanging curtains in our new bedroom,
deciding what goes where from this side of the house to the other,
moving clothes and other items to our new bedroom cupboards,
clearing half the storeroom for Nadia to use,
sorting out items from the storeroom to go to the charity shop,
packing Nadia's supplies in the storeroom as Sylvester brought them from next door,
sorting out banking knots,
perusing accommodation where we are going,
applying to three estate agents for accommodation - we leave soon now,
writing important emails (Paulette van Tonder's husband Basil died last week,)
instructing Doctor who was here for the day.

I enjoyed my pause for my bath this lovely sunny Winter afternoon.
Very good pick-me-up my daily bath is for me on most afternoons.
It's the warmest time of the day, and the sunniest, and I can soak uninterrupted for as long as I want to.

Glenn has fitted a towel rail in the new bathroom,
he also fitted cup holders in the bathroom,
He has been working on the lawnmower which seized or something (I think,)

Simple omelettes for supper tonight.
We are both weary...

Patio Project - Carpet In!

Hooray!

Jarom is Sixteen!

 We met at five last night for hamburgers and cake

to celebrate Jarom's sixteenth birthday!

 

Lots of children...

 Lovely cake...

(Death by chocolate!)

Cake for all...

We had a good celebration!

Fallen Leaves

I had some ten minutes or so and stopped at the Roodepoort Theatre

up at the Civic Centre.

I loved the fallen leaves all around - and my time out.

Memories of My Parents...

 I remember the day I was miserable.

My Mom visited.

I poured out my woes of the time on her...

And finished with "And I don't even have a dictionary!"

My Mom brought be one the next time she visited.

I have loved it for many years.

And also enjoyed her sensitivity.

It's time for the dictionary to go the way of the earth...

Perhaps it will be useful to someone else.

And - do you remember the gurgling fish vase from my Dad?

He had great fun filling it part way and tipping it back and forward

enjoying the gurgling with his grandchildren.

I enjoyed watching the interpersonal interactions.

Time to send it on its way too.

I have too many things!

Anyone want these?

Nadia and Erin's Birthday

20 of us went to Spur at The Glen for 2-for-1 burgers last Monday evening.

Doug, Nadia and four, Lowell, Joanne and four,

Roisin and three, Erine and Kayla, and Glenn and I.

Enthusiastic waiters singing "Happy Birthday"

Sparklers out, and tuck into the ice-creams.

Wearing "The Badge"

 

I used to feel wonderfully invisible...

Now when I wear the badge people notice... and look.

Some look surreptitiously, some openly.

I miss not being noticed!

I will get used to it, and more comfortable with it.

I have also had a couple of opportunities

to have meaningful discussions.

That has been good.

Winter Peace...

The replaced foot bridge is now open.

No steps any more.

Side view.

My little retreat spot available again.

 

Someone's ladder washed away and come to rest.

 

And I leave again from my interlude!

I will avoid the botanic garden on Saturdays in future!