Farewell

I think getting older is the stage of saying "Farewell" and "Farewell."

I have read the Saturday Star almost every week since I can remember - probably my teen years.
Now it is not relevant to me living here in KZN.
I have tried the local Saturday paper.
It does not hit the spot.
I tried the Friday paper "Mail and Guardian."
Also doesn't quite meet the need - interesting though it surely is.
So... "Farewell Saturday Star - for now..."
Hopefully it will still be there when we return from our Mission.

I have read the Reader's Digest ever since I can remember.
Last year in January I went looking for the January one.
I gave up subscribing a long time ago -
I didn't want the blurb of advertising that goes with subscriptions.
I looked in vain.
I asked and asked.
Eventually someone told me Reader's Digest South Africa had closed down.
All of Reader's Digest too?  I don't know.
We were called on mission soon after finding out...
The portability and size of Reader's Digest - and the marvellous information.
So - "Farewell Reader's Digest - I really miss you!"

I came back from visiting England and went to buy my face cleansing milk.
Gone!
"Farewell Like Silk deep cleansing milk."
I so miss that!
I am still trying others until I find one that suits me.

There's something else that also was not there when I came back from
that trip to England - I can't remember now what it was.

Time of transition.

Thank you for the years and years of association.  Thank you for all I have learnt.
Thank you for all I have enjoyed.  Thanks for the memories...

Morning Moon

This morning at just after 6am.

"The moon that shines over me shines over my children."

And my other loved-ones...

I had some beautiful morning moments, 

did some Tai Chi and enjoyed thinking about you all.

God bless you - and me, and us too.

Laundering 100% Cotton Sheets

Along with the accommodation came 100% cotton sheets.

I have had them before... I find them hard to launder.

I solved my problem at home.

I had the colour of the bedspread in the picture at home.

They took light wear there.

The ones I have here are white.

We work on a site with red soil.

The sun is fierce, we use a ten hour sunscreen.

It has a warning on the bottle: "May stain clothing."

Our clothes are stained...  

If every bit of sunscreen and dust is not washed off skin/hair when we shower or bath,

the sheets and pillowcases show it.

I have solved my problem here.

I put them in the cotton setting of my machine and click it to cold wash.

I let the machine run for about five minutes to thoroughly mix laundry and washing solution.

Then I turn off the machine and go to the site.

When I get home I set the machine to run the full cycle - cold again.

Out it comes and goes into the clothes basket wet.

The following morning into the tumble drier - 

pillowcases first for about three to five minutes, until they are partly dry.

I take them out, flatten them on the bed and let them dry.

The poly/cotton ones get shaken out and hung on the clothes horse to dry.

I use the poly/cotton ones for under pillowcases to help spare the pillows from stains.

Then into the drier goes the fitted sheet.

When partly dry - about half probably - about three to five minutes maybe, 

I take it out and fold in half, and put on lower part of the spare bed, flatten, 

and leave to finish drying.

Finally into the drier goes the top sheet until about half dry.

I fold it in half, flatten it with my hands and let it dry.

And off to the site I go again.

When I come home, the sheets are dry and ready to fold and store away.

The 100% cotton pillowcases get a light iron, are folded and stored.

That's how I have been inspired to do it - for now.

My sheets and pillowcases stay white, and I only lightly iron the two 100% cotton pillowcases.

Birthday and Anniversary 2017

We did some housekeeping in the morning after exchanging gifts.
Then we went to the Spur at Umhlanga Sands on the beachfront for early lunch.
I couldn't have wished for a more perfectly memorable setting!
We had not been there yet.  We will go again...

The sight and sound of the sea just over the bush was lovely!

Cape Town Called

Jane was in Cape Town from England for two weeks.

Les invited me to come and join them 

so that we siblings could be all together in the same town.

We hoped to get a sibling photo of the five of us.

Les organised a cousins Friday afternoon at Kirstenbosch.

My cousins Gillian and her husband Alan, Elisabeth and Patrick were there.

Others were: Sally, Cindy, Dom and Scarlett, Les, 

Ron (Pamela in England) and I.  Lovely afternoon!

Ron, Jane and I  took a Saturday drive to Hout Bay.

We took a boat trip to Seal Island.

We sat wave-watching at Seapoint - very good.

Sunday lunch with Nikky, Jonathan and Tim,

a motor-bike jaunt with Tim,

and Sunday afternoon tea with Les, Sally and family.

Precious.

Monday morning with Les and Sally.

Les and I visited Mom's grave and whited some of the lettering on her headstone.

A lovely labour of love.

And the Sunday afternoon photograph that I am so glad about and grateful for.

Perhaps the last time we can all be together?

Thank you Les for inviting me to come along.

Thanks me, and Tim, for being able to be all together.

Time Out

   

Saturday we took some time-out.  We drove to Salt Rock Hotel and had lunch together.

In the quiet of the surroundings with the peaceful sound of the sea this lovely old Baptist hymn came to my mind.  I'm grateful for lovely hymns in my mind and comforting times remembering them...

e    Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

2.    Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

3.    Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

4.    Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

     Words by William D Longstaff

Brenda, John and Vi

We had them for lunch last Saturday...  I remembered to take a photo!