Musings
When The S**** Hits The Fan That's Not Amore!
When that unambiguous missile hits, no one is left unscathed. It’s uncanny how annoying minor inconveniences are, yet we refuse to recognise that first little glitch in our perfectly manicured life. It only takes one insignificant, imperfectly placed tile to shudder unbalanced to hit the next,...
Celebrating One Year Of Travel - 22nd September 2022 -22nd September 2023 - A Retrospective
A year ago to the day, we set off from Worcester, in the Western Cape, on our African Adventure. Our route took us all along the west coast, the Richtersveld, Kgalagadi, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique for prawns and onwards north we bobbed with the tides and the tradewinds. The open road...
Arusha and Life With A Honey Badger
There are three of us on this trip (besides old “somebody”); believe me, Miss Honey Badger can throw her weight around and cause havoc . She appears all gentle and chilled but has a will of her own and lets us know all about it if she doesn’t have her way. She will not be ignored. Much of our...
The Good Knight Nurse’s Health Report
A health report from a Knight nurse who's no Nightingale. The patient, although uncomplaining, shows signs of fatigue and exasperation. His night sweats are uncontrolled, forcing the Good Knight Nurse to seek other sleeping options. This, in a 7.2mX2.5m (18sqm) truck, poses a problem. She...
The Nitty Gritty Of Getting The Ball Rolling.
In life, taking the first step is possibly the hardest; that fact was evident this weekend as I watched my Granddaughter Miss Maeva take her first wobbly steps and reluctantly let go of her dad’s fingers. She’s been crawling for months, and we all expected her to bounce up onto the soft,...
Tying The Knot - An Elopement
We did it! With only my brother Percy and Sue, my sister-in-law, in attendance Butch and I tied the knot. As we say in Afrikaans, “ons het die knoop deurgehaak!” The decision to take this bold step was made last week. Butch called on our old friend, a retired but refired minister and...
An Impasse At The Crossroads
Honestly, where I’m going with this story is anyone’s guess. The fact that I’m running away from writing this blog is a testament to my current state of mind. Or is it that I might, unintentionally, open the proverbial can of worms? Let’s see. But let me start at the very beginning....
Our Honey Badger Always Has The Last Word
As we all know, Honey Badgers do not take kindly to being ignored. They’re feisty, resilient and crafty. Only she knows why her nose twitched out of joint. It could’ve been the Khoudom corrugations, tall trees, narrow roads, or a field mouse that might’ve done the trick. We’ll never know....
On A Personal Note – When A Spicy Curry Becomes Too Hot To Handle
Sometimes, during a journey, there comes a moment when one’s personal life gets in the way. Like a cloud bank before the sun, all the Kumbaya moments vapourise. Like a vrot kumquat, life sours bitterly. When you least expect it, the wind’s out of your sails, and you’re stuck rudderless in...
Surprise!
My telephone ping-pinged, and my wristwatch vibrated. A message from Joe, he’d completed another work-out, got a badge and wanted to rub my nose it in, I thought. At least I’d cycled, I applauded myself while rolling my eyes. He could be so irksome about my exercise regime. I took a sneak...
Fully Vaxxed We Celebrate Family, Friends and Firstborns
I've raged against injustice, prayed with prayer sisters for healing, we’ve wept for the grieving and consoled friends, colleagues and acquaintances in mourning; we’ve given thanks for healing and been enthralled by those who’ve recovered, often miraculously. While we wait for these...
The Week According To Weatherman Pete
Weatherwise, it doesn’t bode well in our neck of the woods. Forecasts have been on the nail lately. Right now it's raining, which means there should be snowfalls again, pristine white landscapes are on the cards. Families that haven't had an opportunity to see snow or to play in the snow might...
The Chase – Homeward Bound
There comes a time on every trip that one’s nose turns homeward bound. In Afrikaans, one likens it to a spirited horse stopping in his tracks, cocking his head and galloping back to his stables. Nothing can stop him when his head’s down. Indomitable they are then. Our heads turned when...
Big B and Little B Go On Safari
This Kgalagadi trip was an experience for the books. During a recent weekend away, I realised how special it is to go on holiday with family, especially with one’s children and grandchildren. Butch’s greatest dream has always been to spend time with all our children, especially in the...
Death And Mourning In Times Of The Corona Virus
Maybe it’s just me who dwells on death today as a photograph pops up on my screen, taken three years ago, before the unthinkable. One of my very best friends passed away and will never feature in another photograph. Technology and Social Media is our new memory keeper. ---oOo--- With...
Could be, Should be, Would Be. The Year that was – 2020
– the very long and short of it. This is my retrospective of annus horribilis – the year that was 2020. To approach it, I wriggle my fingers into kid gloves and swallow heaped spoons of political correctness. Kindness and empathy I have, but, I also have a liberal sprinkling of...
My Fear of Failure - An Albatross
The deadweight of the rotting Albatross I was lugging around was weighing me down. Day and night, I was consumed by fear, uncertainty and doubt. Knowing I had no choice, my fate sealed. The reality; Butch's sight is compromised. If we continue to believe that our retirement dream to travel...
My Namaqualand Journal - Madeliefie, Pietsnotjie, Katstertjie -
Every year at about this time a wayward uncle would stop over in his rusty, vintage Kombi, to stock up on fresh supplies, before setting off on his annual pilgrimage into the Namaqualand to paint. My father-in-law would beckon him into his flat, stepping back from the front door, frowning...
Covid19 Confessions
Covid19 stumped even the writers of Horoscopes who did not predict this devastating pandemic. No, as far as all the psychics go, we’re still plain sailing. They’ve let us down miserably. My prediction for today. Cancerian. “Since Mercury is just about to turn retrograde, it’s best to keep...
My Run-in With Covid 19
I think we’re all of the opinion that our world has changed with Covid 19 in one way or another. Mine certainly has. But, not so much my daily life as my outlook on life. For the first time in almost 65 years, I have had to really take a close look at how I view life. For a South African...
Rather Late Than Never
Hallo! I have missed you old friend. And, like some relationships, if neglected, one could become estranged. I am back! We will be on track in no time, good friends, although separated, don’t need much to become reacquainted! After almost three months I have all my balls in the air...
Moaning Minnie on Monday
I hate complaining, it does no one any good does it? But sometimes I am so disappointed that the only way to get over myself is to vent my frustration. Today I see red. On Friday, as is customary, I telephonically ordered Almond Croissants from Daly Bread in Worcester. There is no denying...
Setting The Record Straight
A very interesting article was written by some very clever people all about perception, comprehension and fake news. We are bombarded by news and most of it is fake. "Humans can transform fake information into fake memories, especially when the fabricated details align with our system of...
A Gut-Wrenching Confession
If you're interested in the whole sordid disaster then this is it! Shake, Rattle and Roll, without the big band, was what happened to me this morning. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try or work at something it fails. Coming to terms with failure and moving on is also a learning curve I...
Changing Lanes
Not only am I trying to negotiate my way to a heavy duty driving license, which in itself is nerve wracking, we are gearing down to change lanes in our lives too. Once we took the plunge to put the indicators on signaling a changing of lanes in our personal life it was inevitable that many...
If Eyes Are Dim Eye Cannot See
This morning while driving in congested traffic I decided to close my right eye in an experiment to see what it’s like to have only one good eye. It’s dreadful. Scary. One’s whole perspective changes. With only one eye my focus changed, my distance calculations were horrid and I lost...
Tips And Tricks For Camping, Overlanding Or Roadtripping
Every trip has its unique challenges and it’s impossible to plan for every eventuality especially when space is of the essence. African roads are often bad, always take that into account. Here are some of the things I learned on this trip. 1. Less is more.2. When catering have a menu. Some...
The Story Of My Crochet Blanket
I dread coming home, not the actual being home, but the flight, it scares the living daylights out of me. I am a wreck, no custom official leaves me be, I will always be the lucky one to be “randomly checked”, scrutinized and frisked. Do I really look like a drug-couriering-terrorist I wonder, do...
"Maricha! Where have you been?"
It’s Monday the 8th July, 2019 and will be the very first time I open my laptop to scroll down to Word to take up my keyboard once again and write. It’s been a while. I hope my words don’t let me down after all these months. I opened this scribbling written while in Canada and thought it a...
Butch With An Eye - Update
This nightmare started 8 months ago and has changed the way he sees. Everything. In the wink of an eye Butch’s plans and dreams changed when he suffered a “stroke” in the Retina. Central Retina Vein Occlusion was the diagnosis. Going from having a clear vision he was left with minimal vision...
18 Fabulous Things To Do in April
These are my 18 fabulous things to do in April. Winter is not my favourite season so I need to have a few highlights to look forward to. For some reason a lot of eating goes into this list, will have to curb my enthusiasm! It is also time to prune and do some maintenance work before we have...
The Heart's Invisible Furies - John Boyne
My book of the year. Devoured by our book club and thoroughly enjoyable this coming of age story is deeply touching. John Boyne put his heart and soul into writing this book and told the story with humour, compassion and illustrated the stark realities of growing up in Catholic Ireland in...
The Company We Keep
It's true, birds of a feather flock together. Just like Lilian's Lovebirds. Although we travel very well together and comfortably do it without company we were delighted to know that we would not be alone for the entire time we were in Mana. We are social animals after all and I definitely...
Butch With An Eye - A progress report
Shortly after we arrived back in Worcester I sent Butch off to the stand-in Ophthalmologist for an update and check-up. With me in tow. This was duly done with unsatisfactory results. The Dr. had nothing to add to the initial investigation, he simply shrugged his shoulders and with wringing...
A Spoke In The Wheel
What we see on social media is not the sum total of who we are. I have a cloud hanging over my head right now. I don’t have the ability to see the so called silver lining, although I do believe there is one, it’s just shining somewhere else. Maybe someone else needs it more than I do right...
Keep Korma And Curry On
My new favourite quote, especially when my tiara slips fractionally. Yes! Sometimes it takes a change of heart, a change of attitude and courage to be in control of our minds and emotions. It’s unlikely that we all wake up each morning and feel on top of the world. Years ago someone said...
The End Is Nigh And Other Arbitrary Observations
There was a time when I thought I’d never say those words. I am delighted to report The End is nigh. This might be my birthday month with the Honey Badger as the final prize to celebrate the New Year and the end of a long, hard, traumatic and often disappointing 2½ years building our...
Don't Mind The Gap
Age gaps and generation gaps are getting narrower and narrower at my age. I have a beautiful friend who turns 18 today and shares the day with another who turns 80, yet another BFF turned 70 last week, I’ll be celebrating my 40th for the 21st time in a few days, later on I’m going to enjoy...
I Can Conclude I'm No (Food) Prude
My beloved, who eats anything and everything, never complains and always says “thank you that was a delicious meal” (even when, on the rare occasion, we have deli pies, accompanied by a good dose of salts, for lunch) decided he had a weekend menu; comfort food. On the one hand I was delighted,...
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
Dear Marie, Teachers and Learners, I can think of no other way to express my astonishment at the achievements made at Sinetemba Aftercare School. I just had to write! A year ago I visited the school and I was impressed. This afternoon’s visit bowled me over. Thank you for inviting me...