Another Whirr of a Week

Sunday morning – 15^th December 2019 

A week of sorting, saving and sharing -

Bringing increasing order and familiarity to my home and world.

This week I shared some more things with the Charity Shop.

Then I thought “I wonder if anyone in the Ward needs any of this…”

I’m not on the Relief Society WhatsApp group yet…

So that is what I will be sure to have happen today.

I asked to be put on last Sunday… it’s not been done yet.

On Wednesday I went to the hair-dresser.

I always feel better after taking care of my hair…

Somehow or other I have developed a breath-gasping back-ache.

That’s required flat bed rest when it gets too intrusive.

On Friday I sought a chiropractor.

The one I used to go to was going on leave.

So was another I know.

I found one up the road, near the Junction Spar.

I went to him of Friday.

A work-out of note…

Today I feel more comfortable than I have for a week.

Here’s hoping my comfort level increases to my normal soon.

Friday evening we gathered at Doug and Nadia.

After a simple supper, and family socializing,

Ethan was ordained an Elder by Doug, assisted by Glenn and

Sheldon Torr representing the Soweto Stake.

Jarom was able to be “there” via phone.

It was a heart-warming experience.

I joined my WeighLess group in Weltevreden Park on Saturday.

I will be checking in every Saturday at 8am.

That just reminds me of accountability for maintaining my goal weight.

I made a resolution about 48 years ago to maintain a healthy weight.

It saves money on clothes!  And saves pain and discomfort…  I hope.

I’ve been in my goal-weight range for many years – thanks to checking-in

almost weekly with WeightWatchers (now pulled out of the country.)

and now WeighLess – a South African programme.  Better than WeightWatchers –

though I prefer the name WeightWatchers I must say...

(Last Saturday morning we were at the Temple with Richard and Emily.)

(Another Emily in the ‘family!’)

I have now found a dry-cleaner to take Glenn’s suit to…

I bought and put together a dual rail for the spare-room store-room.

I’m proud of myself!  I thought along the way “Not all the pieces are here…”

But they were… and I found a way to put it together…

(Glenn was at the chiropractor on Saturday morning.)

We joined Arthur and Denise Butterfield and the Dessert Club for lunch on Saturday.

We enjoyed a delicious meal – thank you Arthur and Denise.

I enjoyed catching-up with those whom we have met with monthly for many years.

I’m shocked I must say.  They all look so much older…

Sobering…  I wonder if we look “so much older…” to them.

Food for thought…  

I don’t feel older… except for the recovering back-ache…

Glenn and I both spoke in our Discovery Ward Sacrament meeting this morning.

Monday Morning (public holiday - Day of Reconciliation)

This morning I feel a little tearful.  Not sure why.

Maybe I’m just peopled-out.

Time to go and spend a couple of hours in the Botanic Garden.

I’ll go and visit my Dad’s grave too.

I have stones to add to those probably still there.

(I take stones from where I have been and lay them there when I can.)

I did a Tai Chi routine this morning in the front garden

Then spent 10 minutes in the garden.

One patch is a little clearer.

I will do ten minutes when I can – back permitting.

My back feels a little easier this morning.

I will take care of it so it can take care of me!

Have a good week!

We Went Home For Christmas...

I wondered if I would want to stay there!
As it happened, I loved being there, and was glad to come back -
Having started the history of the construction of the Durban Temple,
I dearly want to finish it, if at all possible.

Before we left, we drove through to Amanzimtoti for Glenn to fit a fan light
in Vi/'s bedroom/John's study, 
He also fitted two outside security lights -
one outside their bedroom window on the bush side, and one outside their bathroom.
Ladder work... tiring...

We took some time to rest and then started our journey -
the weather was gorgeously cool and cloudy.

We arrived home safely...  

Always a pleasure to complete an 'uneventful' and safe journey...

Each time we have returned there is some progress in what needs to be done.  

This is the entrance hall.  

Front door not accessible at present - no fuss, we used the laundry and back door.

This is the piano room - I could access part of my cupboard in there. 

I decided I would sew some curtains for our new bedroom.  

We bought the block-out fabric.  

I asked if Nadia knew where my sewing machine was.  

From her answer I understood it was in this pile against the wooden door. (in the background.) 

I decided I'd rather borrow her's than try and unpack all that stock-pile to find 

my sewing machine.

Then it was a case of getting used to hers!  

After her needing to help me a couple, or more, times to thread her machine, 

she suggested we find mine.  

She went to the door opposite the old bathroom door - the one leading to the passage.  

I was surprised!  

There were shelves against it!  

She moved the plastic shelving unit and opened the door! 

 A storage space!  

Doug has boarded a divider making two sides of the house as we originally planned.  

There, amidst some of the things moved from the other side of the house, 

I found my sewing machine, fairly easily accessible.  

I was so happy to use my beloved sewing machine again!  

Many happy memories using my machine!

For the record... below is the space in front of the north glass doors in our new bedroom.  

Also stockpiled with chairs, and other goods for now.  

Our bed is against the cupboards for now.  

A view the other way towards our new bathroom en suite.  

Cabryn does her school work at the dressing table/desk to the right of the picture.  

The plastic banks of drawers are Nadia's.  

This down-sizing for both of us is a sobering exercise!

The view from the bathroom door - the windows on the left overlook the pool.  

Lovely view!  Eventually our bed will be where the plastic drawers are now.  

We will be able to sit up in bed and look out on the pool.

On Christmas eve we drove through to Springs to spend the evening 

with Lowell and Joanne's family.  (Nadia's brother and sister-in-law)  

I liked this simple fountain in the front garden area.

A lovely meal for many people!  

Lowell and Joanne's family of six, Doug and Nadia's family of six, 

Joanne's parents and a grandmother, Joanne's brother, 

Nadia's mother Erene, and grandmother Miriam and the two of us.  

Two long tables full of cheerful people.  

Lowell and Joanne were lovely hosts.

After supper there was a present for each...

Christmas morning we joined Doug and Nadia in the flat.  

Nadia loves Christmas!  

This year the presents for their children were in boxes arranged like reindeers. 

Many presents inside the boxes to form each reindeer...

Hat's off to Nadia... She had fourteen people for Christmas lunch...

Their six, her mother and gran, the two of us and four missionaries.

The table was set under the carport.  It was heatwave weather!

I was anxious... I wondered whether we might be bothered by random beggars.  

I prepared seven parcels for them...  Not a one!  Things must be changing...

And no dustbin collecters knocked for a "Christmas box"...

Things must be changing...

I am an optimist - I feel like they are changing for the better...

I hope I am right...

After lunch, Jarom (now driving!) and I went to visit Joyce John, 

a (newly divided from Florida 1) Discovery Ward sister in hospital.

We couldn't find her there.

When I visited a few days later with Angel Simon I discovered 

she had booked in under her maiden name something like Darnia Hoodia.  

No wonder Jarom and I couldn't find her!

We actually looked in each hospital room...

And she looked so unlike herself, I didn't recognise her 

when I looked in the room she was in.

My mission each Christmas is to keep sane if I possibly can... 
I baked cookies for everyone I gave gifts to and shared my mother's recipe with each. 

After Christmas Doug, Nadia and family, and Glenn and I,
went and had supper at Spur together and to see the new Mary Poppins movie
at Siverstar Casino complex near Krugersdorp for our Christmas gift to them.

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!

Christmas Day 2015 Late Afternoon

Amy, Chloe and Jasmin (Daena's cousins Nadia's sister's 

and Nadia's brother's children) and Daena.

Ethan is always so good with the little ones.

He is with Jessie (Colleen's son).

Nadia's brother, Lowell, and fourth child. 

Nadia's sister, Kayla, and Gran, Marian, and Mom Erene.

Two of the about ten or twelve missionaries who joined us late in the afternoon.

We were back all together at about five thirty for dessert.

Les, Doug, Jarom, Colleen, Richard, Andrew.

Jarom, Andrew, Richard.

Colleen, Rohan.

Richard, Dom's Dad Lawrence,  and the others you know now.

Gorgeous cloudy late afternoon.

Baby Kelly taking a nap.  So sweet!

Missionaries playing pool and later table tennis.

Desserts table.

Early evening swimmers.

The birthday candle after burning for twelve hours.

And at about ten thirty Dom and Cindy's baby girl was born...

This morning I heard more of the details

from Sally (Doctor and Cindy's Mom) of Scarlett's long delivery.

I felt concerned.

This afternoon Ron and Pamela (Midwife) visited.

Pamela went straight from arriving at the airport to the Birthing Facility

and has given even more perspective.

Dom and Cindy have just visited too.

Scarlett is still in high care,

it seems they expect her to come home tomorrow or the day after.

I look forward to meeting her.
What a special privilege to be around a newborn.