Blog 2 of 2024

Never mind the greener grass, these dazzling fields catch my eye everyday!

As I sit and type I can hear the rain pounding on the windowpane, a day that started as a bright yellow sunshiny day is now grey – and wet. In saying that – I still prefer this weather to the intense heat we endured in the last days of both Nelspruit and Durban. The big difference however, no Kruger or pounding crashing waves – just bright yellow daffodils everywhere! But that will suffice.  So, as I check through my latest blog before posting it (you know it takes me a month of Sunday’s to complete each one!) today has been Sally sunshine all day. The summer is one its way, 8pm at the moment is when our sun contemplates setting!

This is a rapeseed field in our hood. Exquisite I am sure you will agree.

A lot has happened since last I wrote, there have been many bumpy roads and freeways I have traversed – although one thing I am still doing each day I drive, dodging the potholes! Oh yes, my dearest reader don’t let anyone tell you there are no potholes – there are plenty of them! I do believe though they never get time to fix them because its forever raining. So, digress again she does! Where was I, when last we chatted? We had arrived, sight-seeing, etc.,. A quick recap; I do believe I did mention the job that lasted a day and a half. And all because Dizabeth felt she wouldn’t cope. In retrospect I look back now and know I would have coped. By now I would have aced my probation and been an ace at being a dental receptionist. Who knows why these things happen, but one thing – it clearly wasn’t meant to be! Because we were seeking a new home I needed to be working, so walking out of my 1 and a half day job certainly wasn’t my finest moment! But thanks to Michelle I was able to secure – yes! I am recalling now – I did mention the house keeping job! And the horrid bullying boss! So, thank goodness that chapter came to an end once we had secured our home.  I have been “blessed” as I have been a stay-at-home lady – definitely not a lady of leisure for just over a month, when I start work next week it is probably a month and a half that I have had time to regroup, gather my thoughts; read, watch copious amounts of TV, sort my house.  Our cube arrived – so we moved in on the 3^rd March and our cube with all our personal goodies arrived on the 7^th March, perfect timing I agree! I am extremely betwixed and between at the moment, there is a part of Liz that is rearing to go and there is the other part saying – golly gosh I would love to stay home and be a lady of leisure. In saying that though I think it is definitely important for me to feel I have a purpose and right now, hmmm I definitely don’t have one. So yes, it will be lovely to get dressed each morning, put some make up on and go to work.

I am beyond delighted to share with you dear readers just how much Gary and I are loving our new home, it really is beautiful in a teeny tiny village known as North Fawley in Wantage.  When I think back on all those nights wide eyed, definitely not bushy tailed, tossing and turning, worrying if we were making the right decision, the safety net of our family and friends a mere phone call away, to flying across many oceans and having a handful of friends and one family member, was it worth it? Hell yes! So much has confirmed we made the correct decision – certain things have changed dramatically so if we had stayed in SA, I do believe we would soon be facing far scarier situations than the ones we have faced here in the UK.  The other day I had this vision of myself,  who cannot tolerate puzzle building – I envisioned me opening the box, the puzzle pieces falling haphazardly onto the table, and me – again definitely not a vision that any of you would ever see, I am certainly not a puzzler, but as I was saying, me searching through the pile of pieces and slowly fitting the puzzle together, each piece fitting perfectly into place with the others! This is how I see my life, all those years and occasions when I have tossed and turned and angst beyond a particular situation and it turned out exactly as it was supposed to. Gary’s aunt nailed it – she said sometimes it’s best to do nothing – and by doing nothing it all falls into place! Damn straight and thank you darling Wends!

Chad has been amazing too, him and beautiful Monet have spent weekends with us, recently it was the Easter weekend, I have to say I do believe I was the happiest mom on God’s green earth. Chad and Monet don’t sit around and wait for the paint to dry. They paint that wall and seek their next adventure as it dries. Hence, we have had two amazing weekends with them! We explored the Cotswolds, in particular Burford and Stow. What true perfectly perfect little Countryside villages they were! There is no denying I am in total awe of just how exquisite the UK is, again I stipulate the countryside in particular. Our village is currently wrapped up on all sides by vibrant bright yellow fields as far as the eye can see, its rapeseed fields. Soon apparently, they will be replaced with Poppy fields and my personal favourite, Sunflowers. Truly breath taking. A trip to the little village centre is a delight each trip we take. Talking trips, I also am a proud owner of another Suzuki. This one is the big brother of my little Suzuki Swift I so reluctantly sold in SA. I have always been a small car driver, and now without much thought I decided on the Suzuki Grand Vitara. She is a grand old lady and I love that together her and I are steering through all my journeys.

I certainly have caught up on the books I had hung onto for many months with the thought that someday I would read that book! Been loving the early morning laze in bed and read before starting my very quiet day! I am extremely happy Gary and I decided on bringing a cube. The thought there was after all the years (and monies spent!) collecting Santa’s I didn’t want to leave them behind, so it commenced with just the Santa’s coming along for the ride, it soon developed into a cube, and I am so delighted we decided on that! Albeit not in real life but seeing all my specials in the form of many, many framed photos each day certainly fills that missing them feeling quite a bit!

It’s crazy too, those little bits and bobs that were scattered all around our house, the white rabbit ornament that so and so gave to you, the pink bowl that was given to me – all of these little biddy bits each have their place – and when I take out that pink bowl in this instance – my Lis – I always think of you – thank you for giving it to me back in the day. 

It’s crazy how home will always be home! The first Saturday morning we decided to amble into “town” to explore – unbeknown to us there was a flea market (of course there was – no matter where you are in the world, have you noticed?  Saturday mornings are for ambling the local “farmer’s market” on alternatively doing Parkrun (in my case, walk! Which I do terribly Pam, I miss park walk and you alot) so digressing slightly again from afar we spotted the SA flag flying regally and high against the bright blue skies of Wantage.  Well Gary and I just about did flick flacks making our way over to the SA flag table, it is a local Saffer who makes Boeri rolls, sells biltong, boerewors and a few local supermarket things – ie Ghost pops, Ouma rusks etc., the other day I was casually trotting around the aisle of Sainsbury, remember right now my time is truly my time – so yes I amble everywhere – and my eye spotted Milo – good ol Milo – so of course that was scooped into my trolley. Talking trolleys – dearest Dizabeth was shopping for household goodies (cleaning stuff, feather duster etc.,) before we moved into our new home. Now in the UK, you need to always have a pound handy as that pound gives you access to a trolley. So, there I was, oh another thing, remembering to take your own bags (and packing your own groceries! Sigh sigh!). So, I put my pound in, took the trolley, threw my collection of bags (that you pay for when you acquire them!) into said trolley and started wandering the aisle of some home shop. I soon realised that they didn’t have what I required, so didn’t dearest Diz take a quick peak around and make a hurried departure out of that store leaving said trolley in the middle of an aisle!! Only to get to the next store and realise – I had not only ditched my trolley in the middle of the useless to me store, but in doing this I have forfeited my collection of bags and my one and only blady one pound! I was a bit taken aback yesterday, driving home I frikken noticed an empty trolley lying sideways on the pavement – it actually wasn’t a pavement it was a lovely grassy green sidewalk, and there lay this trolley! Wasn’t that a familiar sight back home, abandoned trolleys along the side of the roads! Well in my hood there were plenty.

What’s also fascinated me. I have always thought I don’t have an accent; well it would seem I do! I have had two incidents; one I was looking without any success for a packet of ice. Eventually I asked a shop attendant, well the shock and horror on his face when I asked “Sorry (why do we Saffers always apologise!) so I said “sorry where would I find your ice?” – he was well and truly speechless and asked me to repeat myself, so I changed my wording slightly  “where would I find a packet of ice” – he roared with laughter as relief replaced fear on his face. “ah he said I thought you were asking me where is my arse!!” The second incident I was looking for pies, also the confusion reigned supreme eventually I said “a pasty” and then said a “pie” he said “oh ok” he took me to the pies I asked if  I had said it incorrectly he replied: “No it’s your accent” I was horrified and asked was it that bad to which he very diplomatically responded “Ah its just been a long day” – really!

I have also signed up as a Pet Sitter, my first dog was Teddy the German Shepherd who tore into my house like a blady tornado, he jumped up and literally swallowed one of my ornaments, the lady was still here, she laughed and said don’t worry he eats rocks I was thinking – and you don’t clearly have a sark with him eating the pet sitters ornaments either! We went for a walk, we came upon two horseback riders, well next to them I considered joining them and riding Teddy! He loved counter surfing, he was WILD! Today I have Lenny the Daschund who is staying far far away from me- must be my perfume (well I hope its that and not me!) I have also painted (water colour) that was fun and as I approach my last weekend, I guess I am ready for that blady working world again (sigh sigh!)

And on that note, this is all she wrote (for now!)

Treasure you all.

Till next time.

Mwah mwah

PS – the days are coming to and end, after 4 months our Rosie Rose should be with us sooner than soon. HAPPY HAPPIER HAPPIEST DANCE EVER!