Blog 53: And just like that its 2023

“Move to Hillcrest” they said (ok, ok because of work I had to be in this area anyhow, however for dramatic effect let me stick to this!) “move to Hillcrest they said …. Its cool up there, a totally different weather pattern – lovely “bearable” days and cool evenings” they said. Another thing  – why do we always say “they” – who in fact is “they”? Major digression: but food for thought I am sure you agree. So anyhow back to the moving to Hillcrest bit. Ok, so yip they were right about that – it is lovely cool (ish) evenings but the days! WTF? While I “endured” those hot (oven hot) days in Nelspruit I never really sweated, I never had to wipe my brow, I would always remind myself when it got too hot that at least it wasn’t the humidity of Durban. Now, yes at this point my Nellies friends will argue the point and say, “but there is humidity in Nelspruit……” and to that I say “B…llsh.t” I never ever knew the humidity as I am even blady feeling it in blady Hillcrest. But I do need to add here, I started dieting yesterday, so this constant sauna vibe is going well – I swear its like I have been pushed in a pool – I thought Nellies was extreme – come back Nellies – all, I mean ALL is forgiven. This blady heat is frikken ruthless man! RUTHLESS I tell you! As I type, I can feel the sweat running down my back – flippen running isn’t even the word I would use, more like gushing! So, I reckon by day three of my diet I should be good to go – with a tremendous amount of weight lost! So footnote here, today (yip you know I take a month of Sunday’s to write each blog) so today I was truly that hot, I mean that hot when I got home from seeing clients I literally took my shoes off and stepped into the pool. Instant – I mean  I N S T A N T relief! I have always had the logic “nah I would rather go have shower, when it gets that hot” which is what I do, until I arrived home today and said to Chad I am going to shower to which he replied “ma there is no relief like a dip I the pool” so I have renewed faith in pools again! (Thanks Chad)

Anyhow moving along swiftly (gushingly!!) Happy 2023. May it be jam packed with abundant blessings, and please please, let winter hurry up and arrive! Mind you I am sure you all heard about the bizarre weather that occurred during the Festive season in New York and Florida. Perhaps I should ease up on the hurry it up winter vibe and …nah it’s too bizarrely hot here – I do wish upon a star for winter! So how was your end of year break? I hope it was damn fine! As you know we ended the year with a big whammy and moved! Looking back you know as humans (well speaking for myself now!) I am such a stress Sally! Oh my giddy aunt when I look back on the last two months in Nelspruit, and you know, I know, sooner than soon I will forget that I am now lecturing myself, and some issue will get me all riled up, enduring sleepless nights and letting my every waking moment be consumed with whatever it is that is worrying me! But I wish I could capture in a bottle and blady sell the knowledge I now know! What a blady waste of time those worries were, never mind the additional grey strands its added. Although mind you – you know, I always do ponder, “you giving me grey hairs” – really! Isn’t it more genetics – hereditary? Some of my friends (no names mentioned) are younger than me – and even those the same age that I have been friends with since the beginning of time – we all greyed at various stages – I have one or ten strands – but generally my hair is still its mousy brown it has been all my life! So that whole grey hair through worry – debatable!

One thing this move back has really made me ponder about – coincidence – or is that the word you would use. No, it isn’t – damn cannot think of what the word we use is! Anyhow, ok I think its Fate? It has been amazing, right time right place, maybe? I don’t know but when it happens I always think, this thing called life is amazing. To be in the exact same place, at the exact same time and in some instances – in fact in all these that I have recently experienced there always have been plenty people around – and whamo you bump into someone you haven’t seen in forever! Now with lots of friends I do keep in contact, maybe not daily but I do. However, these occasions, well they gob smack me and make my heart fuller than full. The first occasion I was in our new mall, and bumped into an old work colleague, it was wonderful seeing her and we live in neighbouring hoods – you know now I just look back and think years, years ago when I last saw her – I guess I never thought then that it would take so many years before seeing her again and lets face it in some instances we don’t see people we once knew ever again – so this truly fascinates me these times when we do bump into a person after all these years.

The other two incidents, well we in regular contact (what’s app) but obviously me being in Nellies for fifteen years and these specials living in Natal clearly we didn’t bump into each other but sure as nuts – we did! One at Shongweni Market and the other one at the Sharks rugby on old years evening. Do you see where I am going with this – in this big city – if its meant to be – the right time right place and there that special is before you eyes. That is when I do really think – how small is our world. Amazing! So on Tuesday night we went to movies – Chad now – remember he has been in the USA for a year – ok now wait, this could be slightly different hey? So, we at the movies and Chad says hello to a friend. It was not just a casual hello but a high five moment. Sticky beak mom asks who that was – it was a Durban guy who he had never met –  went to USA – Met this guy there – they both finish their time there and what’s the chances hey – yip see what I am saying – we in a blady Mall and whamo they meet up!

Being back in the hood, I must say it is lovely. I cannot lie I miss Nelspruit and those that found a place in my heart BIG TIME! But AGAIN I believe it all happens as it should and we will know one day. How many times in our lives (well certainly in mine) I ask the powers that be, and it doesn’t happen and I am more than a bit peeved. Then down the line you see exactly why it worked out the way it did and not the way I had begged for it to turn out!  So, yip enjoying being back in the hood. I have to have a shout out at this stage for my darling, darling sister. Karen its our time! I adore you. Again dear reader we have always been close, but fifteen years ago we had polar opposite lives. Karen had her kids I had mine but there was quite a gap – so we didn’t really see each other as much as we could/should have. We spoke often and she did visit us often in Nellies and those visits were priceless. BUT you know when you know and its now our time! I cannot wait – its time for us aunts to live for us – to do for us and in all this laughing and living I look forward to many, many memorable fun and belly laugh occasions. I LOVE YOU – TREASURE YOU MY SIS.

And that my dearest darling reader is all she wrote for now – till next blog remember:

Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind, rather be led by the dreams in your heart.

Be kind to yourself – I truly hope 2023 is very kind to you, and when she isn’t just smile and know this too shall pass.

Thanks for loving my blog the way you do till next blog, take care.

Mwah mwah