Blog 46: Road Tripping

Most of you (especially those of you on the book of Face) know I have been road tripping and so as Tracy so aptly predicted – this blog is about our road trip! It was fantastic and worthy of sharing. Funny it is – does this happen to you – when preparing for a road trip the behind the scenes that occur so you can go on said road trip. Your furry family priority number one! They will need food and treats for days (Elaine you started this trend, treats I am meaning!) So, you shop, shop, and shop some more and then you cook and then cook some more! And then we pack. We have discussed this subject in previous blogs. Dizabeth and her packing. Firstly, she starts about a month (huge exaggeration I know!) but a couple of days before. Everyday entails two outfit, so yip if you are going for ten days or more, well dearest Dizabeth should rather courier her whole wardrobe to chosen destination, it sure would alleviate a whole lot of stress (and strain having to haul the blady case all over the place! (For Gary)) What generally (ok, what always happens) is so many outfits never see the light of day – they journey there and back, never making it out of the suitcase. But hey they were there if Dizabeth needed them!

If you have been to Clarens and you never saw this car – I am afraid to say, you weren’t in Clarens.

So, destination one was Clarens. I know, right! What a truly delightful little town. I could gladly move there – perhaps run a BnB or an art gallery, write all my blogs and then some more (at least you would have a stead, regular flow of blogs – unlike right now – sorry dear reader – sigh! Sigh! Like Eskom “eish we have a problem”) it’s called Life and time! And yip I do know you all understand and appreciate what that’s about😊. So, as I was saying I could gladly move there – (Gary not so much – so nope that won’t be a consideration in the future!) The weather alone, oh my giddy aunt! I loved it – the highs were 11. Stunning, stunning, stunning! I was on a mission –I have no idea why, but Dizabeth was leaving Clarens with a new pair of leather boots. Again, I ask why? I have no idea, but she was! Until she wasn’t! There were two huge contenders – I was over the moon – which was going to win – and none did! The one blady pair I clearly ‘glanced’ at them – but not for long enough – so I wasted a whole blady day – dreaming of those boots! At the end of the day – because I had “subconsciously” decided on those boots – none were “that” nice – in fact thinking back they all were blady nice – anyhow, so I go back to the shop and on closer inspection – they didn’t have a blady lip – I mean who the hell makes boots and doesn’t have a lip! Disappointment reigned supreme for Dizz!

 We ate at some vibey restaurants – they had fireplaces, so they won my vote! Another thing – why oh blady why do none of the pubs and restaurants stock and offer “light” white wine! Every liquor shop offers a selection – so why oh blady why don’t they!! Gap in the market right there for any entrepreneurs that read my blog!

I really have to paint this tree – in fact I will do a few all in a row – a typical Clarens scene.

I loved the art galleries they truly made me ponder as to why I don’t paint and sketch regularly! We departed on Sunday morning, next stop our family, now in Wartburg! I need to make mention at this point – I had very sadly become oblivious as to just how truly beautiful our beloved country is! Wow, wow, wow – South Africa – you really don’t deserve all the shenanigans which occur and so both scar your beauty and cause scores to emigrate – you are far too beautiful a dame!

We arrived at Wartburg to our gorgeous grandson Tide, and his mama and papa bear. We had a ball – albeit it did involve a substantial amount of traveling. Each day we excitedly fetched Tide from school and we – as Tide says “ventured”. It was amazing – the memories made each and every waking moment were priceless – for both Tide his Nan and Grandad. I treasured a full day that was devoted totally to my sister – what fun we had – I reckon we both didn’t tick off all on our to tell and share lists! But we treasured the time together. Thank you, Karen.

On Sunday we seconded Ryan with his first comrades. Again. Priceless memories made – Tide was incredibly well behaved for a little chap that was told we were venturing to find dragons and such – and all he really saw were trillions of people running, he must have pondered as to just how big that dragon was with all these people running from it and him not having the pleasure of ever meeting the dragon.

Proud Mama bear – Comrades 1 done and Dusted

 Now I take great pride in my “fitness” levels and the walking I do with dearest Pammie each Saturday. Well not necessarily a Saturday but during the weekend. On Sunday seconding Ryan we walked, walked and walked a thousand steps and more. We drove, drove, and drove some more! I was all good, in fact I was blady chuffed as we probably walked about 12 kms. Well let me tell you dear reader, this week, ohhhhh my frikken blady giddy aunt! Aren’t I stiff – swear you would think I had actually participated in the race! Every body part is quietly whispering an “ahh no” as I walk or stretch to reach for a glass, as I live my everyday life! Who would have blady thought! Unless of course it’s in silent sympathy of my darling Ryan – we are so blady proud. It was his first Comrades – this mama bear bleated and bleated some more – I was NOT AT ALL happy that a family member of mine was daring that blady race – but he is chuffed. He looked strong all the way – and he finished in 9h13min. Not too shabby I thought. Proud mama that I am😊. Now whilst on the subject of my fitness, I am going to dive right in here and chat about my ever so wrinkly face that I truly, truly had no idea I actually had! No jokes dear, dear reader, for the past thirteen years I have been looking in the same mirror each and every morning. Perhaps it was the ‘gentle’ morning light that fibbed to me? Perhaps it was the positioning of that blady fibbing mirror? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps doesn’t change the reality I spotted whilst in the bathroom at Michelle and Ryan’s house! Oh, my word – when the hell did I get so, so old! Years ago (in fact that long ago that Chad wasn’t even born – so perhaps I should have taken heed and listened when Ryan spoke that day!) Ryan and I were driving, and I laughed – with shocked exclamation Ryan said, “Mom when you laugh you get such stripes on your face!” Well, my dearest darling son it was only now, years blady later when I looked at that old woman staring back at me in that blady bathroom mirror in Wartburg – did I flash back and think – he said it alllllll those years ago Dizz – you did you not take heed then – and now those stripes – well they are bold crevices on a rocky mountain!

We headed home on Monday – what a loooooooooooong trip that was! Especially since I had the whole day to sneak a look in the mirror and realise that I am wrinkly and old – it was not the light in my son’s bathroom! Anyhow, the hip, hop happy vibe as we set out ten days ago – definitely was missing – although I do need to say I was uber, which is waaaaay, waaaay more than just super excited to see my furry family. Oh, my word Rosie ran a trillion excited laps around the garden – and did her usual springkaan jumps for us – so yes, I am very, very happy to be back in the hood and at home (and back to my fibbing mirror). I do miss Tide and his mama and papa bear. However, it’s not forever. Sooner than soon, we will see them again – and I must add at this time – sooner than soon I have no doubt I will be seeing Angela and Gail again. So, till next time – I will love following you on the Book of face ladies.  It was truly wonderful seeing you two again – you are truly both salt of the earth and such a pleasure bumping into each and every time I visit Durban.  I also want to say Alex what an absolute pleasure meeting Magic and seeing you and Geoff 😊. Shaz and Greg lovely seeing you guys too.

Amazing family this lot

And that dear reader, for this time, is all she wrote. Thanks for loving my blog the way you do. It was also lovely hearing, Nola thanks for the lovely compliment regarding my blog. I was super, in fact beyond touched at your kind words – thank you. 😊

My dearest blog buddies remember always be kind to yourself.

Stay safe, ahhhh and today is the 1^{st of} September – that means one thing – the heat is coming again. Funny I have noticed, not too sure about your gardens, but in mine you would never think Spring has sprung. There are no flowers (well, ok exaggeration again!) but very, very few, in fact if you blink you will miss them! My orchids which in previous years have shooting buds, and my Jazzy Jazmine – so far nothing! Hmm it makes you think – all that talk about global warming?

Till next time that really is all she wrote 😊

Mwah mwah