Category: Lifestyle Blog

I decided on this chilly Youth Day to continue with Blog 42 – which I had started – and it was totally – totally not blady there! I know, I swear I remember saving and, and, and …. and somewhere in the dark and ghostly files on this blady tablet lurks Blog 42. But not for me to find.

This week I hadn’t decided on a subject matter, I was commenting on this and that – and now, well, I need to build a bridge as its time to start again. So, I didn’t have any particular subject. So we will chat this week about Life with Dizabeth in general. Last weekend we had an amazing Sunday. Not something you do every weekend (if you live in the Slowveld) and it made me wonder why we don’t. (Obviously because there aren’t regular events Dizabeth!) We with the rest of Nellies went to a concert in the park. We (I) packed snacks, and at this stage I must add, thank goodness I didn’t sneak any – no wait at this stage I can’t say “sneak” as I had no idea of the “rules” that lay ahead so luckily for me I didn’t lose any wine again – remember the disastrous incident at Cape Town International during lockdown? When uncle Cyril brought back the Booze Ban for the new year – and didn’t Dizabeth – well you all know me, I had ensured that I was sorted and had my supply – only to get it confiscated at the airport. I know right! If it hadn’t been so utterly tragic, I would have laughed. The lady who confiscated it, well I can still hear her plaintive “sooooooorrrrri” as she smashed the blady bottles in the bin! That shattering of glass – I needed a therapy session for weeks after (kidding – or am I?) digressing again Diz! Back to Sunday. I got some yummo snacks from good Ol’ Woolies and added a 1L of fruit juice (lucky for me!) and we arrived at the Botanic Gardens. At the last minute I grabbed a water. (Shucks my skin is so dry now, according to my Pedi Lady it’s because I am not drinking enough…… nope I was going to say water dear reader – I certainly drink enough wine!) anyhow huge digression there – so we arrive and doesn’t this young girl ask for my water – I was quite surprised was she asking for a gulp of it – what was her buzz? It turned out no – nado – none liquids allowed – blady cheek if you ask me – you had to buy inside! So of course, we all know Diz threw the hugest tantrum – that is until Gary gave me an extremely stern and embarassed “look” which I realised meant it was time to cut my tantrum short and instead I stomped off like a baby elephant! And what dear reader happened? Every blady body around us had – craftily – snuck in their refreshments and boldly blady brought them out and enjoyed their bubbly whilst Dizabeth watched – although I did luckily – if I am honest when I had checked, and checked and done a thorough recci of the area – and knew I wasn’t going to get “bust” I ‘casually’ poured some of our juice for us.

So back to the reason why we were sneaking juice at the Botanic Gardens: Gary had surprised me with tickets – so each Sunday for the past month there have been various artists performing at the Botanic gardens. Earlier this year Gary bought tickets to the Good Luck Jonathan concert however we had friends over that weekend and so we didn’t go. Now here I am serious when I tell you Gary seriously, seriously needed therapy (nope we didn’t get him to a therapist but sjoe he was bleak!) so when he came home and enthusiastically (and super chuffed with himself) told me he has got tickets to Jeremy Loops – I must admit I did do flick flacks. Now I need to admit – when I thought about it – I realized I didn’t know one song – nope not even half a song or even a title of his genre. Now after acting as if I really knew this chap, I realised it would be super weird to Gary that his dearest darling wife didn’t even know his music. It was at this point, on the quiet I what’s app’d Chad and asked what songs he sang. I waited and waited – and sure as nuts – as Jeremy opened with his first song – my phone pinged! Saved by the bell! My son said that “Down South” was one of his songs – as the introduction instruments started it dawned on me – I do know Jers music! And there was the song Chad had mentioned 😊 anyhow we arrived early, (super early) the idea was to chillax in the winter sun. Gary had his Sunday newspapers I had brought my tablet (Netflix dear reader – Netflix) my book …so I was sorted, bought a blanket. In fact, we got given the most stunning picnic blanket through MySchoolMyVillageMyPlanet (where I work for those that don’t know) and I brought a 2^nd blanket and of course a pillow for Dizabeth. We arrived and there weren’t that many people. So, we shook our blanket and laid them out. Now we had a fair amount of space. (I love my personal space and trust me I had more than enough). Anyhow this was all well and dandy, that is until it wasn’t – it became quite awkward if I am honest. As we got closer to Jer performing the peeps streamed in – I heard one lady proudly telling her friends – she had seen on her watch she had walked 4kms! So, what kind of irked me – since we had our huge land claim happening there – as the people arrived space became of prime concern. Well eventually the crowd on front, behind and both sides of us – well let’s just say I am sure they are still telling their beloved friends and family about the couple whose friends didn’t pitch – the Norman and Norma no friends who had TWO blankets spread out – in fact they had their own islands – whilst they all were crammed up together! And yes, dear reader – absobladalutely Dizabeth felt super embarrassed – their kids with all with their friends – especially little gang girls (oh my giddy aunt in Nelspruit – I never realized there are that many teen girls!) Anyhow they would wander back to mom, dad and friends camps and literally squash together whilst the Robbertze’s were spread eagled on their blady blankets!

And whilst we on awkward moments I must share; Jer was supposed to start performing at 3pm – well 3.15 there was still no sign of him. So Dizabeth in her usual booming voice – shouts across to Gary who is in the neighbouring country to me  “where the heck is this dude? He needs to realise he isnt in the same league as Robbie Williams!” it was then that I noticed an extremely good looking young man chatting with the people in front of us – in fact he helped himself to one of their samosas it was then that I also noticed the teen girls in front of us acting extremely silly – and it was then that it dawned on me “oh frik it was Jeremy himself ambling through the crowd” (I know nice touch hey?)

Other than that – not much is news with Diz. Besides the cold – oh my word! How blady cold is it? The other night I was lying (as always) on the couch, I had my winter pajammies, 2 x big winter socks, 2x gowns, and a beanie – watching The Block I suddenly thought I am about to combust – the heat emanating from me – however dear reader I decided to ignore the passing heat wave as in two seconds I would be frizzo whizzo again – mind you I also had 2 cats and Bandit surrounding me – three little hot water bottles – it was snug and warm – until it wasn’t for a split second! But I pushed through the wave, and all was good😊

And dear readers is all she wrote for this week.

Stay well, and definitely warm and always, always be kind to yourself.

Thanks for loving my blog the way you do.

Mwah mwah

I spent many a hot steamy, dripping in sweat, long (too long!) hazy, lazy summer daydreaming of winter. And now that winter is here, I am afraid to admit I am not so sure I am happily enjoying it. Are we ever happy? Well, me especially! Everyone knows that during the steaming heat of summer I longed for winter, but I guess only remembering the fun times of winter. And yip its only June – but sjoe its already a nippy winter don’t you agree? One wonderful thing I do love about winter. All the socks – the fluffy, big ones I am talking about that have those little paddy things on the underfoot, so you don’t slip. Bummer here is when there is water or some such on the floor and you step in it – yip you know what I am talking about -wet socks – argh!

Always ready for winter 😊

Yes, we have the most glorious summers, so I do believe our housing doesn’t warrant under floor heating, towel rack heating or central heating. But wouldn’t that be ideal. Well for me it would. It would be a definite! I went for a pedi, complete and utter digression here dear reader I am aware 😊 so as I was saying : Yip with my beloved beauty therapist who books her own therapy session when she knows the “landmine lady” is on her way. We have decided, next month we will leave the feet (sure she is breathing a silent breath of thanks and relief!) and rather do a facial as since its winter I don’t know about you ladies, but me and drinking water. Well, it isn’t happening as regularly as it should! I know it’s a mindset, but in that hot suffocating heat of summer all I really want is to drink water. Cooling, refreshing ice cold water with a dash of lemon, maybe some cucumber, heck even a rose petal to entice me to drink more! BUT now winter I am not that keen! That cold, harsh, icy looking water that trickles down your throat and chills the body! Nope not too keen at all. And due to not consuming my usual amount of water my face is dehydrated (I am quite sure this cold dry weather isn’t helping) so there you go – another reason for me to drink that cold water (meh☹).

Anyhow, I digressed (again) as I was saying, I was at the therapist, and she brought out the sander and the toe tools and did the necessary, so my feet look as pretty as a picture again. BUT I forgot – the nail polish needs to dry and in winter even the nail polish doth protest and takes longer to dry! The BT took one look at the closed shoes I arrived in and said: Those are not going to suffice – you will need to go barefoot – so indeed I did. My little feet frizzo whizzo but looking pretty!

Sitting on the loo how cold it that seat! Especially when you all warm with your winter woolies, your long coat and scarf and then having to remove all that – well not necessarily remove it but adjust it to sit on the loo for a brief cool second. The other day I could see my hair was in serious need of a wash, but I truly thought no way not in these current conditions. To walk from the shower to the dresser after quickly towel drying my hair, combing it through and then blow drying it – I seriously pondered as to whether perhaps it was indeed time for a “treat” other than my pedi of course, and phoning my hairdresser to see if she could fit me in for a quick wash and blow. It seriously, seriously took a lot, I mean a huge amount of talking – negotiating with myself to rather – firstly put on the heater, plug in the hairdryer and then worst of all. Very worst of all! Strip and shower! But I did it! Talking about dressing up for winter though – how many times has this happened to you…. you leave early, early in the morning so it’s the whole shebang – you toasty – you in your car doing your rounds and it gets to twelve noon! That thermal underwear together with the big trench coat and thick winter trousers – not such a brilliant idea anymore! Not to mention the blady woolie polo neck you thought complimented your outfit so perfectly in that early morning freeze you were trying to placate!

Me then – little chubby checker but  ……… still dressed like an eskimo

What about when you are done for the day and – nope, I was not going to say “pour a glass of wine” as one would in summer – reason for me being – I don’t drink red wine only white wine – always, rule number one – ALWAYS with a block of ice. So, no I wasn’t going to suggest a glass of wine (not for me anyhow) as you make yourself comfy on the couch for a bit of Netflix and chill (being the operative word!) So, I have my Cape Union slippers on, my gown, pajammies the whole shebang – add to that my blanket and beanie (no wonder I must wash my hair that often! A beanie is a sure way to lose the style not to mention make it dirty (maybe…. maybe not?) so I am all toasty in front of the TV and what happens, invariably I fall asleep! Then, then, then, it is the horror of being snug as a bug in your warm cocoon and having to get up and amble off to bed – but the issue here is – you fell asleep – so didn’t put the electric blanket on – and the bed is like a slab of ice! First prize in most houses – sadly not in ours ☹ – a fireplace! Now I can hear you quietly asking – doesn’t she at least have a heater? I do dear reader I do. Our house however is tiled throughout.

Mind you there are one or two good things about winter. Ah! Two definites – No flies! No Mosquitoes! Another – yet another ‘downer’ of winter – Drying the laundry on the good ol’ windy drier! Ours is erected in the garden – like everyone else’s I guess – but the sun doesn’t hang about as long (or as vehemently) as it does in summer! Now here is a handy hint – obviously there is always the tumble drier as an option – but when there is load shedding – hmmmm that can be a problem – so what I do – I set up the foldable drier and place it on the driveway …. and bobs your uncle – my washing dries every time (sound like the Omo ad there don’t I).

How about washing dishes – yikes and that cold water! My poor goldfish are currently using a GPS to swim around their tank. I am always, always very pedantic about their tank in the summer – winter – not so much! The thought of changing the water, cleaning the tank – and my poor hands! Bear in mind – the whole exercise is all about cold water only!!!! So, tomorrow is another day – and hopefully a little bit warmer and I will clean their tank.

To wrap up our winter woes – when you suddenly out of no where, one minute you are great and the next – ‘that’ itchy scratchy throat, the tweak in your nose and you just generally don’t feel so great – that F word. Yip the Flu! Ah for me – there is nothing worse! It just drags on and on, from that silly tweak in your nose to full blown sore throat, headache, runny nose, headache …. my worst!

And that is all she wrote about my winter woes, thanks for loving my blog the way you do.

Stay well, warm, and always be kind to yourself

Mwah mwah

Me now ……… still dressed like an eskimo 😊

I spent many a hot steamy, dripping in sweat, long (too long!) hazy, lazy summer daydreaming of winter. And now that winter is here, I am afraid to admit I am not so sure I am happily enjoying it. Are we ever happy? Well, me especially! Everyone knows that during the steaming heat of summer I longed for winter, but I guess only remembering the fun times of winter. And yip its only June – but sjoe its already a nippy winter don’t you agree? One wonderful thing I do love about winter. All the socks – the fluffy, big ones I am talking about that have those little paddy things on the underfoot, so you don’t slip. Bummer here is when there is water or some such on the floor and you step in it – yip you know what I am talking about -wet socks – argh!

Yes, we have the most glorious summers, so I do believe our housing doesn’t warrant under floor heating, towel rack heating or central heating. But wouldn’t that be ideal. Well for me it would. It would be a definite! I went for a pedi, complete and utter digression here dear reader I am aware 😊 so as I was saying : Yip with my beloved beauty therapist who books her own therapy session when she knows the “landmine lady” is on her way. We have decided, next month we will leave the feet (sure she is breathing a silent breath of thanks and relief!) and rather do a facial as since its winter I don’t know about you ladies, but me and drinking water. Well, it isn’t happening as regularly as it should! I know it’s a mindset, but in that hot suffocating heat of summer all I really want is to drink water. Cooling, refreshing ice cold water with a dash of lemon, maybe some cucumber, heck even a rose petal to entice me to drink more! BUT now winter I am not that keen! That cold, harsh, icy looking water that trickles down your throat and chills the body! Nope not too keen at all. And due to not consuming my usual amount of water my face is dehydrated (I am quite sure this cold dry weather isn’t helping) so there you go – another reason for me to drink that cold water (meh☹).

Anyhow, I digressed (again) as I was saying, I was at the therapist, and she brought out the sander and the toe tools and did the necessary, so my feet look as pretty as a picture again. BUT I forgot – the nail polish needs to dry and in winter even the nail polish doth protest and takes longer to dry! The BT took one look at the closed shoes I arrived in and said: Those are not going to suffice – you will need to go barefoot – so indeed I did. My little feet frizzo whizzo but looking pretty!

Sitting on the loo how cold it that seat! Especially when you all warm with your winter woolies, your long coat and scarf and then having to remove all that – well not necessarily remove it but adjust it to sit on the loo for a brief cool second. The other day I could see my hair was in serious need of a wash, but I truly thought no way not in these current conditions. To walk from the shower to the dresser after quickly towel drying my hair, combing it through and then blow drying it – I seriously pondered as to whether perhaps it was indeed time for a “treat” other than my pedi of course, and phoning my hairdresser to see if she could fit me in for a quick wash and blow. It seriously, seriously took a lot, I mean a huge amount of talking – negotiating with myself to rather – firstly put on the heater, plug in the hairdryer and then worst of all. Very worst of all! Strip and shower! But I did it! Talking about dressing up for winter though – how many times has this happened to you…. you leave early, early in the morning so it’s the whole shebang – you toasty – you in your car doing your rounds and it gets to twelve noon! That thermal underwear together with the big trench coat and thick winter trousers – not such a brilliant idea anymore! Not to mention the blady woolie polo neck you thought complimented your outfit so perfectly in that early morning freeze you were trying to placate!

Me then – little chubby checker but  ……… still dressed like an eskimo

What about when you are done for the day and – nope, I was not going to say “pour a glass of wine” as one would in summer – reason for me being – I don’t drink red wine only white wine – always, rule number one – ALWAYS with a block of ice. So, no I wasn’t going to suggest a glass of wine (not for me anyhow) as you make yourself comfy on the couch for a bit of Netflix and chill (being the operative word!) So, I have my Cape Union slippers on, my gown, pajammies the whole shebang – add to that my blanket and beanie (no wonder I must wash my hair that often! A beanie is a sure way to lose the style not to mention make it dirty (maybe…. maybe not?) so I am all toasty in front of the TV and what happens, invariably I fall asleep! Then, then, then, it is the horror of being snug as a bug in your warm cocoon and having to get up and amble off to bed – but the issue here is – you fell asleep – so didn’t put the electric blanket on – and the bed is like a slab of ice! First prize in most houses – sadly not in ours ☹ – a fireplace! Now I can hear you quietly asking – doesn’t she at least have a heater? I do dear reader I do. Our house however is tiled throughout.

Mind you there are one or two good things about winter. Ah! Two definites – No flies! No Mosquitoes! Another – yet another ‘downer’ of winter – Drying the laundry on the good ol’ windy drier! Ours is erected in the garden – like everyone else’s I guess – but the sun doesn’t hang about as long (or as vehemently) as it does in summer! Now here is a handy hint – obviously there is always the tumble drier as an option – but when there is load shedding – hmmmm that can be a problem – so what I do – I set up the foldable drier and place it on the driveway …. and bobs your uncle – my washing dries every time (sound like the Omo ad there don’t I).

How about washing dishes – yikes and that cold water! My poor goldfish are currently using a GPS to swim around their tank. I am always, always very pedantic about their tank in the summer – winter – not so much! The thought of changing the water, cleaning the tank – and my poor hands! Bear in mind – the whole exercise is all about cold water only!!!! So, tomorrow is another day – and hopefully a little bit warmer and I will clean their tank.

To wrap up our winter woes – when you suddenly out of no where, one minute you are great and the next – ‘that’ itchy scratchy throat, the tweak in your nose and you just generally don’t feel so great – that F word. Yip the Flu! Ah for me – there is nothing worse! It just drags on and on, from that silly tweak in your nose to full blown sore throat, headache, runny nose, headache …. my worst!

And that is all she wrote about my winter woes, thanks for loving my blog the way you do.

Stay well, warm, and always be kind to yourself

Mwah mwah

It’s been a while I know, but here I am. Another year older, after celebrating my fifty-nineth birthday early in May. This week I thought we could chat about decisions we made when we were younger and decisions we make now as perhaps, an older, wiser woman (hmm debatable with you Dizabeth?) I have spent quite a bit of time of late when performing everyday activities pondering on the decisions the younger Diz made and the decisions older Diz makes. This morning as I was standing in front of the mirror, I was thinking back on when I was in my twenty’s and applying my make up. How that has changed from all those years back. I used to literally plaster the foundation on – I do still concentrate mainly on my eyes, so not much has changed there but yip me oh my I used to need a paint palette for that foundation I lathered on. Perhaps it did make a difference, and I looked slightly more perfect than I do these days. A photoshop version of what you see these days – perhaps? However, I recall that foundation, it would, as I got older (and if I am totally honest) I doubt I would have changed my make up routine if COVID and our “beloved” masks hadn’t come to play.

Clearly I cloned myself on Alex 0r was it Alec ?

Now I realise the foundation merely enhanced all the wrinkles. Like a 4D scan – all you really saw were the roads on the map of Dizabeth’s face. Now I happily own those lines. (I won’t say “fine” lines as they a little stronger than fine lines) but I will own them. Each and every one of them. Like my grey hairs – the few strands I have – each one of them is so much more than a grey hair – it’s a memory embedded in my heart of various events in my life. Invariably with either Ryan or Chad’s name attached to that particular strand. When both Ryan and Chad finished their school days and packed up and headed off to start the first chapter in their books of life. The heart break I experienced as a mom then, it truly devastated me. I will never forget visiting a school (for work) and Maureen kindly, gently even explaining (she is an older lady) that I would get over ‘this’ and one day when my boys came home for a visit, I would be delighted but just as delighted when their visit was finished. I remember feeling furious and even driving away and placating myself “Shew just because you clearly did not love your children it doesn’t mean the same for me ‘dearest’ Maureen!” and you know, today I say that very thing to younger friends whose kids are finishing off and heading onto their next chapter. She was right. I adore them, but you learn to live your life and I guess maybe even get selfish as you lie on your favourite couch resembling a beached whale clutching the TV remote while watching what you want to watch – because you can – because its only you in the house and you decide. You don’t need to take a back seat as the boys play PlayStation or watch some program that doesn’t appeal to you. In fact, if I am honest I no doubt would be in the kitchen cooking one of their favourite meals.  The interesting fact here ……if I am honest, what the heck was I expecting? For my boys to never grow up …to still be living in their boyhood bedrooms when they were 34?

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Three of my reasons ….. (and yip in that four is number 5 ….my skoon dogter Mich)

Dress style: I have to admit, I was quite excited and re–lived fond memories when I recently noticed leg warmers for sale in Woolies. It instantly took me back – shucks I actually don’t remember what age. I recall I did a Leigh Downing modelling course. I always wore these long, long and really flared skirts with these …. wait for it …. red – yip blady red leg warmers and boots. Ok the boots are still a firm favourite – no man – not that same pair! But yip boots – I still love them! And ALWAYS an oversized jersey with a V back that would conveniently fall off one of my shoulders. In fact, that’s it!!! It was the style of that dancer, Alex in Flashdance. With short always gelled spiky hair! And of course TONS of foundation. I cannot lie – I will admit – when I saw those leg warmers I was so excited and pondered very, very long on whether I should buy them! Then I decided – Dizabeth – let’s try grow old gracefully. Leg warmers on a 59 year old not so much as effective as when I was whatever age it was that Flashdance was the influencer in all young ladies lives! These days, mind you even back in the day – I have ALWAYS loved my coats. In fact, I think back on certain items and wonder where the heck they are in the world now. I recall when Alex and I – no, no dear reader not Alex from Flashdance, my bestie Alex from good old Durban. We moved to Camps Bay. I bought such a beautiful Trench coat. Where in the world is that now? I am obsessed with coats. In fact last year I was super lucky, on the Woolies sale I bought one of those camel ones, with fairly big buttons and its long – you always see it in the movies – in particular in New York – so they were selling for R1500 and at the end of the winter I bought it for ….wait for it! R200 – I know what a scoop hey! Woolworths nogal! And let me tell you that coat – well when I wear it I always gets compliments. I recall it was nearing the end of winter and yours truly – well didn’t she just have to wear it at the mere thought of a cloud forming in the sky! Just an add on at this point –  I remember buying the cutest socks – with each toe having its own space – in fact a foot glove from Smiley Blue boutique. Who remembers Smiley Blue?

So major digression there (again) – who remembers dearest Giovanni from a previous blog? He was the one who would leave a flower in my vespa basket in the morning. I recall one day he said that it was time for a clear out. He felt I wore clothes too big for me (perhaps I was hiding in them😊) and he came across and we went methodically through each and every outfit and he Yes or no’d whether it deserved to go back into the cupboard. I don’t know why I shared this – but it was just a sweet memory that filtered into my thoughts as I tap away at the keyboard!

So, my dress sense, in conclusion. I would say its – hmmm not really off the shoulder stuff – although wait a minute some tops in the summer are off the shoulder numbers? But yip Summer is 99% dresses – winter ALWAYS boots, coats and jerseys – lots of them! Perhaps a tad more mature style than those younger Dizabeth years.

Now the last thing I will compare from then and now – that dreaded word: exercise! Now this goes way back – hmmmm perhaps it started with my sister Karen. When we were younger and still lived in Johannesburg I have an extremely vivid memory of my three-wheeler (otherwise known as a blady Tricyle Diz!)  Karen and her mates being a good few yards ahead of me as I pedal, peda,l pedalled my skinny little legs as I tried to keep up with them on their bicycles. And Karen turning back and yelling at me in her angriest voice (which BTW she just has never had!) to go home. It was super uncool for her having her brat of a sister on her stupid little tricycle trailing behind. But in those younger days at least these was proof, and I have as I mentioned a vivid memory of actually exercising. Fast forward to high school and PE. Miss Turner every week being told by me I had some ailment and that was the reason I could and would not be participating in whatever the exercise was for that PE lesson. Now days I am proud to say, I truly, truly love my walking with my treasured Pammie! Some days we clock up 10kms – mainly because we so, so busy chatting – I love this time I truly do!

And that dear reader is all she wrote. I apologise for the long period that has past without an entry. It’s called Life. I will try not take this long next time – but cannot promise.

Stay well warm and always, ALWAYS be kind to you. Mwah Mwah xxxx

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A friend and I were reminiscing last weekend. We had an amazing Easter weekend away the bonus being, we traveled with them, what an enjoyable trip it was. With some truly sterling and nifty driving from Ockert. Thanks Tracy and Ockert. I don’t know what it is with the Easter weekend in South Africa! The drivers and the road tragedies – horrendous a huge shout out to Ockert who truly diverted an accident that could have turned out incredibly tragic.

 So, Tracy and I were chatting and commenting on how things have changed. We chatted about this in last week’s blog. Before you know it its another day, another week, frik another year! The world has and continues to advance every second of everyday that we live and breathe. I do not recall how the subject was raised but we discussed the difference of when we were kids and when our kids were kids.

Now I am not saying we have raised weaker kids – because we haven’t. In fact, my kids they are truly perfection personified I have no doubt so are your kids – so there you go, the future leaders thanks to us – are going to be perfect – so then by all accounts this world – will be perfect!

My mom was super strict! Yikes she truly was, however as I have mentioned before, I thank her from the bottom of my heart. Karen and I are well mannered, and I think well liked and I know for a fact both my boys are fine young men – they have impeccable manners and are very popular. Through the years Gary and I have received some amazing compliment regarding Ryan and Chad. And for this, I do give credit to my folks – my mama bear in particular! I don’t think she had the easiest of lives and I know she had her fair amount of tragedy. Her mom died in childbirth, and she was given to her gran whilst her dad took the little boy that was born. Hectic hey! Anyhow, so she was strict. However, I did my fair share of challenging her! Karen and my brother were the quieter – hm maybe “respectful” ones – shucks so now I am saying the exact opposite of what I was bragging about a paragraph ago hey? But I was – I used to watch how she could be with my siblings and stood my ground. We had many boxing matches, but we also had many good laughs. I recall one Christmas she and I decided we would walk to the Hypermarket in Durban North – we lived in Lonsdale drive, so I reckon it was a fair walk from our house to the Hyper. We were both in extremely high spirits as we walked through the neighbourhood. Appreciating all the birds nattering in the trees and commenting happily on the variety of “cute yapping” dogs as we passed their houses! Oh, my giddy aunt! On the way home those same blady dogs were now seen by us as such a bunch of vicious morons that needed to be harnessed! We were boiling – it was December so yip you know the humidity and heat in Durban then! I have no blady idea why the hell we even walked – shucks man she had a car!! WTF? Plus, the fact on the way there we only had ourselves to carry – never mind all the parcels we had on the way home. But I can remember with incredible fondness the laughter and fun we had that day, albeit our incredibly irritated frame of mind on the way home.

My giddy aunt I have digressed already this week from what my subject matter was in the beginning of this chat. The difference between us and our kids child-hoods. I must admit, maybe Karen would recall clearer than I do – but I am damn sure my mom never threatened us with “Wait until your father gets home” as she was the frikken Nanny McFee in our household. Yikes she would be furious and let loose with her fury. I recall the one occasion – it must have been my poor brother Vaughan’s turn to experience moms wrath – and all I can recall is Karen and I having major, uncontrollable giggles (we were probably nervous?) and mom saying “ja ja lekker lag now because after laughter comes the tears!” Another thing do you remember “don’t come crying to me”  ..… all these phrases – is that what they were called? Ah it’s an Idiom.

I do know, I guess I would have been the same – I actually cannot recall – on another occasion Karen and I – now heaven knows why the heck we did this – but we were obviously having mince for dinner – it must have been defrosting – and we both took a tiny bit and were throwing it onto the kitchen ceiling to see whose could stick the longest. My mom had no idea what we were on about, as we were once again in hysteric’s. You know writing this now – we did have plenty good laughs growing up.  I recall her being incredibly frustrated at the both of us and our giggling. Another idiom – no, no this actually wasn’t an Idiom she just used to say – in fact my friends moms also said it on a occasion: “I am not one of your friends!”

But again, I diverse. Getting back to what Tracy and I were chatting about last weekend. The difference when we were ill as children and when our kids (and now our grandkids) are ill. I recall on two occasions, the one we were at the Beef n Barrel at the La Lucia Mall for dinner. (It must have been some family occasion) and my brother proceeded to vomit all over the table! Oh, my giddy aunt did my mom go ballistic! The second occasion I recall – it was me! To this day I cannot traverse without taking motion sickness muti. Planes and boats! Hmmmmmm, I go a greener shade of green. It is imperative I take a tablet and then am as right as rain (another Idiom😊) so as an adult, I of course, pre-empt and take the necessary precautions. I cannot recall – probably I never told my mom I felt ill and this time, the flight was over – we were waiting for our luggage and didn’t I spew the contents of my stomach all over other people and their luggage! Perhaps it was embarrassment my mom felt and hence reacted in such a way. But she would start smacking and just not stop! (Yikes imagine if she dared do that now! – although perhaps if the kids of today did get a smack or two, this world would be a slightly better place?) Our moms would “ruk” us back from even beginning to think we felt the slightest bit ill – no sympathy from that quarter! Well especially my mom – remember when you were small, and your mom would say “Do you want me to give your something to cry about?” – now our kids – well definitely mine. They would just be beginning to heave or go a slight shade of green and there would be me – bucket, bowl, towel, dishcloth, mop the whole shebang! And of course, my caring sympathy tone “ah my angel I am so sorry” as I rub their back and let them vomit all over my new leather boots and stylish new cardigan. “Tsk it doesn’t matter my angel Aah I am so sorry you not feeling great….” And if we don’t happen to have a spare set of clothes on hand –  thanks to Sheilagh  I am googling where the closest clothing store is so I can replace the vomity clothes my angel is current wearing. Whereas back in our kiddy days – my mom would be creating a wider, in fact the widest berth she could, between myself and her so the vomit didn’t enter into her space and would be bolloxing me from a dizzy height for being sick “and young lady you can stay in those clothes until we get home!” as she harumphed away! What about when we had a tummy bug – you got what was served on your plate – bug or no bug! If you didn’t eat it – sure as nuts, it would be served to you again next mealtime. Aka us as a mama bear. Serving this, and then that and then the next thing – all being tossed aside until all the little sick bugs favourites  had been served and if that still wasn’t acceptable – grab Sheilagh and guide me to the closest KFC, Steers, Wimpy or whatever would suffice for my little green faced angel! And lying awake next to your little angel as they fought the fever. As against me tossing and turning as a child and being sure I was about to combust with my raging fever, as I heard my mom snoring peacefully in her room!

And the last “woe is me as a child” story I will relate this week.  I recall having tooth ache. Firstly, mom tried a peppercorn, and every other old wives tale remedy you could imagine. Before informing me at the dinner table – she had secured me a dentist’s appointment. “Karen, after school tomorrow take Elizabeth to the dentist. Then young ladies ensure its straight home to get on with your homework ….” (bear in mind Karen was a little older than me so she was not driving us to the blady dentist!)

What doesn’t kill they say hey? As I mentioned my mom – she certainly had her quirks – as I certainly have mine! She was as strict as heck – but she was my mama bear and for that – I love her.

And that is all she wrote dear reader. Thanks for loving my blog the way you do.

Hope you have enjoyed all these short weeks as that is them for now, back to a fiver working week we go.

Also, apparently another bout of COVID is creeping in – so please take care, stay healthy and always, ALWAYS be kind to yourself.

Tracy, thanks for inspiring me for this week’s blog.

Mwah Mwah

The old telephone table

Each week I ponder what to chat about this week – and generally it comes to me as I am doing something arbitrary. So whilst I was brushing my teeth I was thinking, its so crazy hey – one day – okay I wasn’t actually doing anything momentous when I thought to myself time flies. I used to get, irritated when my mom used to say that – but its true. All these years later – it still flies dear mom – I finally agree with you! So, I was brushing my teeth and thought I cannot believe it’s another Thursday. Life happens and changes so quickly, everyday without us even being aware most of the time how time is marching by, and things are becoming out of date and new things are becoming hip, hop and happening!  Why am I saying this? Recently in my tidying I found an old cassette of the Fine Young Cannibals. I chucked it into the garage bag and then thought “Keep it” – anyhow whilst in the study the other day I happened to glance up and there stood the dustiest, seriously dustiest radio/cassette player. I put the cassette in – and besides the squeaky noise of the cassette turning I could faintly hear the Fine Young Cannibals. When we played that back in the day we had no idea we would be downloading music on our phones of all things! Back in the day who would have thought that we would be walking down the road and talking on a phone – or driving whilst Sheilagh guide’s you to your destination. I remember ensuring the bedroom door was closed before dialing my friend. Remember dialing the number and after all that effort it would be engaged so yu would have to redial. My word – I wonder if the elderly peruses this modern world in awe and think how times have changed – or if they, like us, just step into the changes and the future? One thing though, everybody – E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y has a cellular device – have you noticed that!

Our Fingers and arms must have been so strong!

Who recalls, – well firstly when I was at school, one of my subjects was typing! On a good old typewriter! On your report it was always crucial the teacher included how many words per minute you could type. Shucks remember the Tippex ribbon, but before the fancy tippex ribbon – didn’t that come out with the golf ball typewriters – IBM I think it was? Anyhow, you would get out the Tippex bottle – invariably that was always thick! You would put a blob on your mistake, and it would take forever to dry, and when you reckoned it was dry and you retyped, sure as Bob was your uncle it hadn’t dried, so your key would have a huge blady blog of tippex on it!!!! Then replacing the typewriter – well first you had the manual typewriter replaced by the electric typewriter – I don’t even recall but imagine how noisy that was in a typing class or in a typing pool at the office. We most certainly wouldn’t have had time to chat away as we do now whilst we type away on our little laptops and/or tablets! And remember when all, I mean me included – the whole office smoked! Yuck imagine how clothes must have stank and we probably didn’t even notice; the walls – they were probably a shade of yellow from the smoke and nicotine! I cannot lie Gary says I am a “reformed whore” but there is nothing, nothing,  N-O-T-H-I-N-G I detest more than smoking! (BUT I do love you all my smoker friends😊) Recently, I was given a typewriter I was over the moon. But I searched high and low there are no typewriter ribbons anymore. Remember the first computers took up your whole desk! Mind you I have no doubt we all made sure there was space for our ashtrays! But yip they were huge, and that was just the screen – the flashing green that little box thingy that as you typed it flashed along and the background was a black colour with the green almost robotic alphabet as you typed!

And there is that luminous green!

Gary was saying he used to go and see a client and take the computer with! What? My word that must have been a five-day event! Then remember the Beta max and the VCR? Going back even further, I recall my family hiring home movies. It was every Friday night. We would all be given a choice. There was always a half an hour funny – I recall it was “The Brady Bunch” sometimes. My bestest ever was “I dream of Genie” then a comedy followed by a horror. We (kids) would have to go to bed when the horror was screened and I recall my sister and I hiding on the stairs and watching. BUT Yikes that wasn’t always the best idea as I would have nightmares but couldn’t confess or call my folks! Remember the movie came in that ginormous box all strapped up. There were three huge reels with the film which we (my dad) would thread through the movie projector. Most of the time you couldn’t hear what they were saying as the projector made such a blady noise! I recall one night the film didn’t go onto the reel. It was actually amazing how it didn’t fall over – but ja, it just kept going round and round as the movie progressed. When the reel was finished, it was time for popcorn and cooldrink whilst my dad changed the reel he literally picked up the reel and placed it back in its movie box – sjoe what a job for the people when he took it back and they would have to re-wind it back onto its reel!  That reel seriously looked like a blady tractor tyre!

The old school movie nights either the wall or a sheet sufficed!

From the old home movies, we progressed to TV’s. I know dear reader; I am repeating myself now but I recall if one had a TV wow you were the hip and happening. At school if you had a TV – sjoe you certainly were “one of the girls”. Ours lived in its own cabinet. Thinking of furniture now that served a purpose back in the day – how about the telephone table – there was a little table and a seat and, on the table, lived that huge phone directory and then of course the phone itself! My dearest darling friend – gosh I adore her – where Charmaine’s telephone was – it was in the passage in a little nook but on their wall were thousands and thousands of phone numbers and names. I guess one day someone couldn’t find a notepad and started the trend!

Oh my hat – who remembers the cabinet we had, they had ball and claw feet and were all glass. Your mom used to display all her ornaments in it – I mean what the heck – why place them all in one place – and under lock and key nogal! And then who can forget the set of Encyclopedia’s. All the knowledge you ever needed was right there – somewhere in those set of books! I mean who the heck needed Google? You would need to get started on a school project weeks before it was due with all the paging through those books.

In my tidying I came upon an invitation pad for one of the boys birthdays. Remember we used to send them via their school or even post them! Now you just whats app – and even the parties – so different today – no hiring of venues, the party was in your own garden, with your kids toys there for all the friends to play with. A table laid out with every sweet treat you could imagine! They would be exhausted at the end of the afternoon. Gosh I remember as a little girl how your mom would dress you up. You had a party dress, with bobbie socks and those Jack & Jill coloured shoes! Wow now that’s a flash back.

Talking Betamax I will never forget I went for my first scan and they placed it on that tape. And didn’t Gary tape the blady rugby over it!!! Was our one and only scan of Ryan ☹ how about how the scan’s have developed? 4D – gosh you can see exactly who baby takes after looks wise! None of that for us! If you had an affair and fell pregnant you had nine months to figure out an excuse as to why the baby looked nothing like its dad! Remember with the first scan – when you were confirming you were in fact pregnant that almost Polaroid picture they gave you with that little grey dot!

I came upon a heap; I mean shucks at least ten bags at the top of my cupboard. What the heck, no wonder I have back problems now. They were huge! I had the library, the kitchen and a chemist plus plus in those bags. Now I have a little – truly the tiniest bag ever – cellphone – check – tiniest wallet for cards and money – check – and that is it! Off Dizabeth goes! I always took whatever book I was reading for that “in case moment” but when those “in case moments” arose I never hauled my book out! I rather chat up a storm with a complete stranger as we wait alllllll day for the doctor to be ready for the appointment. Another thing – ok I still do this and no doubt will till my dying day! It could be 40 degrees out but Dizabeth in case she gets cold, ok, ok there I must be honest that is now chucked into the car’s backseat because you never know! You know how “you will always find me in the kitchen at parties” (sung by Jona Lewie) well in Dizzy’s case you will always find Dizabeth with a cardigan/Jacket etc.,So, as much as I detest smoking, I detest being cold so even when it is a heat wave and we out for the evening – yip dearest Dizabeth takes a cardigan – hey you never know. Rather safe then sorry!

And that dear reader is all she wrote.

Thanks for loving my blog the way you do.

Take care, stay healthy and be kind to yourself always.

Mwah Mwah

A trip to the hairdresser. Who can honestly say it isn’t a gossip session, one where either or both of you say “if you repeat this I will deny it BUT have you heard……” Hmmmm actually I guess quite a few ladies, now that I ponder this – I know my dearest Pam – she always enjoys the quietness and the pamper and doesn’t talk or encourage her hairdresser to converse. (Interesting as we both go to the same hairdresser). Late last year I lost a truly, truly dear friend – so Tersh this blog is dedicated to you. I miss you. Since you’ve been gone, I no longer have a therapy session or a “promise to deny it if its repeated”. I can’t really say that my current hairdresser is a “if you repeat this I will deny it” kind of hairdresser – as she never allows me to get a word in edge ways! I know dear reader – can you imagine that!! ME of all people not being able to get a word in?  I literally sit there – shake my head – try very, very, hard to show that I am totally, totally disinterested but she doesn’t notice it! In fact, if I am honest this was the exact reason, I met Tersh. See I do truly believe that everything happens as it should in life. And if my current hairdresser hadn’t got too much for me – I wouldn’t have gone to Tersh. Mind you, Tersh – you also got a bit irritating. Ok so for those of you getting as confused as me right now, a few years back I was with my current hairdresser. But her hubby had an affair, each time I would hear about the dream she had where her mom came to give her a message about her husband, and the fortune teller (Yes!yes I know!) said he was going to come back to her – in fact he never did! So now that I have given you an explanation what it amounts to at the end of the day. I have done a full circle and have gone back to the good ol’ bob. Years ago, I had the bob – and no jokes – as Bob’s your uncle – Tersh would flippen cut it – and it would be uneven! I need to add at this point – thanks to COVID I obviously didn’t have a haircut in forever. In fact, we all didn’t hey – but I left it until it grew and grew (Did a Rapunzel on the crowd) and then I reached a point when I looked at my reflection in the mirror I quite frankly enjoyed this long locks look. Now a few of my friends kind of hinted that it wasn’t as pretty as I saw it – I chose to ignore them. Truth be told I actually loved the whole idea of up styles, down styles, plaits or whatever I felt! Ok when I was a little girl – two things I detested! My mom never, ever allowed us to have long hair (in fact Karen did! Blady hell she had a page boy style – it was to her shoulders!WTF??) and the other thing – my whole school life, every year I wanted Baby dolls – and what did I get – nope, I wasn’t given a choice (shucks wonder if Karen was?) anyhow it was blady lace ups! Now I know I have bleated about this in a previous blog! I frikken hated that! You know I would have even been happy to have settled for plain old buckle ups – but nope never was given a choice!

Would love to say this is what I looked like back I the day with my perm – but sadly my memory does serve me correct and I looked NOTHING like this! Remember this actress – sure she was in Dallas – she was Pamela Ewing wasn’t she?

 Now dear reader – as much as you are going to find this hard to believe – as yip, there is no denying I do have a fanny flap when people want to teach me how to make an ordinary or gourmet sandwich – but now here’s the crazy thing. When it counts for more – so what I mean by “more” is the fact that when I am paying money – I keep quiet. I know – cray, cray, crazzzzzzy aren’t I! I just sit there with a mouthful of really dreadful and truly ugly teeth (hate, hate ….H-A-T-E!!!!! my teeth!) and see the unevenness  (no – well yes my teeth too but in this case my hair!) you know in the end when they have blow dried – gelled, hair sprayed and they show you the back and sides of your hair in the mirror – and you can see it – how the heck can they NOT?? Your hair is wonky – most certainly not straight as a blady ruler! And what do I do ….”Ahhhh thanks its gorgeous, love, love, LURRRRRVE it!” meanwhile – I am seething internally. And God help those people that see me when I walk out the salon. Never mind when Gary gets home – and he never, I mean N-E-V-E-R ever, ever blady ever notices anything – new dress? Nope. New shoes? Nope! Um lost weight – definitely not! Put on weight – without a blady doubt! Burnt dinner – afraid so! Spent money on the credit card – a DEFINITE YES! But my hair – nope. Thing is the boys would always (when they lived at home) always notice my new hair, dress, and they would definitely know I had spent money on the credit card – because it would have been spent on them 😊. So, when she cuts it wonky, Gary will walk in – and no jokes – “Hey what’s with the the squiff hair-do aunty?” –  I kid you not dear reader. And then of course I “pretend” I actually love it – and that it is “supposed” to look like this! As toughees for him for not knowing the current hair fashions (Not!)! Another thing, doesnt it irritate you when the hairdresser says as she runs her fingers through your hair “Your hair is really dry, I do feel you should have a treatment” – and if you go ahead – well dear reader you broke for the remainder of the month!

Who doesn’t remember this!

Ok, so where was I going with this – hairdressers. Hm the chitty chats we have – or don’t have and that they have with us! Remember the days of the perm? Oh, my giddy aunt I loved my perms. Looking back, I have no idea why. I seriously looked like a thatched roof. In fact, damn I cannot remember the term Gary would use – but he always used to say it looked like ….. damn can’t remember. Or perhaps I have subconsciously blocked it out of my mind! Oh! my word you know what has just popped into my thoughts! Who used to watch, so this was when TV was new in our country and there was half-an-hour of English and half-an-hour of Afrikaans. There used to be the program on Plakton ….ok no that was the very, very early days. When the program was finished the TV pattern appeared. I remember if you had a TV you were one of the “rich” families. Sjoe imagine these days, my word with families having a TV now in each bedroom and then in the second lounge. We would be classed as frikken billionaires – never mind a simple millionaire!  – Ok digressed there for a bit as I was saying – TV programs – we used to watch The New Avengers. I styled myself on Purdy – Joanna Lumley – with that step in the back of the hair – golly and didn’t I think I was the hottest thing around! Hmm I think it was when I was in maybe standard eight? Who remembers the guy’s name? It was Gambit – I used to have posters of them both nogal on my bedroom wall! And our dogs the one was an Airdale I think – well she was Purdy and the other dog….yip you guessed he was Gambit! Right second digression. Getting back to the hairstyles. Then there was the punk era. I used to dye my hair black and gel it up something silly!

And there they are …Purdy, Gambit and I think he was Steed?

You know I am always so chuffed with myself that I never colour my hair – well now that I reminisce it’s probably a godsend! No doubt back in the day when I used to frikken perm it – colour it – it’s a blady wonder I have hair these days! It’s quite interesting – my mom – I have to say she was “me gray no way” for many, many years. I notice my darling sister Karen is the same – and so am I. I have maybe six strands in the front of my hair – which are grey whilst the remainder are brown. I always ponder to myself and tell myself it wouldn’t really bother me if I was grey – hm I actually don’t think it would. Let’s be honest it is what it is – no use fighting the inevitable really.

Ok so where was I going with the hairdressing story. All I can guarantee – if I had had a daughter, long locks for her! After the debacle earlier this week with Chris Rock and Will Smith – it got me thinking. I truly admire woman who either shave (GI Jane) their hair or are bald. Now I was going to say “obviously” but no I guess it isn’t really “obvious” hey as I was going to say no woman would choice to be bald. But there are those that bravely have chosen to be bald. I work with a beautiful soul. During her second pregnancy she had a life changing event and developed (is that the word ?) Alopecia. When she joined the team she would wear a variety of wigs – one day she decided she was tired of wearing wigs to please others! To alleviate them feeling uncomfortable because she was bald. I truly cannot lie – the first time we were to meet in person I did think “Yikes what will I say?” the time arrived and I didn’t have to have angst over what I would say. She looked and still is the most beautiful woman I know, inside and out! She truly is gorgeous – and she exudes confidence. I remember her telling me – everyday, I literally mean everyday people stare or even worse, they blady have the cheek – no its not a cheek – its flippen stupidity – or is it stupidty – yes, I think that is one of many words that I could use in this instance! They actually ask her – now these are frikken strangers and they stop and ask her – shame do you have cancer, does she have this….why is she bald! And then you have the prize idiots that blatantly stare!  How blady rude and – well dear reader I reckon its in the breeding. A person who has been brought up decently certainly would never ask nor stare! I truly admire her and have the utmost respect for this amazing young woman.

 What do they say? “Hair is a woman’s crowning glory” (or something similar) however, not so much in my case, there have been many times – sadly I even have proof (photos) that this didn’t always apply to me! I have had the fuzzball look, the blue bird shiny blue black look – and recently the “long locks I am so proud of coz I look so good (not) look” but if I am honest, its really not the most vital asset – whether you have damaged, short, long, frizzy, purple or no hair – its  surely more vital as to what’s inside that counts!

And that dear reader – whether you Rapunzel, GI Jane or Jade Pinkett Smith is all she wrote for this week. Thanks for loving my blog the way you do – stay safe and be blessed.

Mwah Mwah

As the year commenced, I had a very strong feeling about changes occurring. Now for those of you grabbing your cellular device to contact me for a reading, erm slow down. If I am honest, it’s not because I am psychic and more because my friends/family have told me of their plans.  Some of them could possibly even affect my life path! So nope it isn’t a hidden talent that I am yet to expose – nothing as romantic as that!  Interesting fact that though hey – I know there are those that are not into “that” type of belief. In fact, I do know some people feel it is not at all acceptable. The interesting fact is even those that are totally, I mean totally against it – the funniest – you tell them you went to a fortune teller – and they poo poo it. However in the next breath they very excitedly ask you to share detail by detail what the hocus Pocus lady (or man) said to you! It is intriguing, well, I find the subject quite intriguing I have to admit. For those of you that are like minded and have Netflix – go take a peek at “Tyler Henry”. Obviously, you cannot live your life according to “it” but how the heck do “they” know all that info. Before I go any further – for those that could be offended – I apologise but hey these days the world accepts the most bizarre as the new norm – I definitely am not going to go into the long scary list of the bizarre bits that are now an everyday part of this world we live in. All I will say – no, in fact I won’t even say that – however these days to be a kid is a scary reality. So yes, let’s leave it at that – let’s just agree to disagree.

Trish who was only my friend it would appear for – oh and ONE of my bestfriends for 79&77! – and look how I wrote an F

 Anyhow so I totally digressed there. What I was saying is it seems every month these days, friends (and families) lives are changing more so than they ever did in recent years. I think we can safely blame COVID. Being humans, have you noticed that? There must always be a responsible party! It rarely is “thanks to me” that you in a particular situation – especially when it’s a bad situation – we could never have possibly done anything for it for be our fault. What! Never! And the main culprit in the history of the world thus far – let’s face it – without a doubt – its COVID! You misplaced your diary (I really did and to this day have never found it!) but it isn’t my fault – nope it’s because I am so distracted with all the goings on surrounding COVID that I misplaced it. I have a sore throat –  simple sore throat – two years ago I would have said “ah shucks I have a sore throat” and that would have been the end of the conversation, these days – firstly if you even brave enough to admit you have a sore throat – those that you have shared your sore throat news with – very – ever so casually step back – and then step back again – until they are the required 1.5m away from you (in some cases even further back from you). Then they suddenly need the loo and you know they are going to wash their hands, faces, masks, clothes, probably even step into that tray of treated water so that their shoes are even good to go! Why? Because of COVID! I remember the very, very early days – when it was still “rumoured” remember there was that guy that ate a bat and died in China – and hell man China was so, so far away it wasn’t a biggy. I remember when I first decided to wear a mask. Sitting in the car – should I? Shouldn’t I? On .Off. On. Ok step out the car – ah goodness no, no everyone will stare – quickly Liz whip it off before anyone notices!!! Now if you dare get out the car and you haven’t got your mask on – those looks you are given!! Although I am sure you have heard that Uncle Cyril has changed the wearing of the mask rules – not as vital as it was. Which my two cents worth – with winter coming – doesn’t it make sense for us all to continue wearing our masks?

My dearest Trish

Do you dear reader also battle with concentration? I am so sure it is an age thing (frik if it is and I am this bad now, what the heck will I be like in twenty years’ time!!)I love reading, in fact my mom, dad and my dearest sister – all of us (my brother – not so much) passionate readers. Give us a book anytime. Oh! my personal favourite – a new – just off the printer – that new, new book. The smell of a new book. Oh my giddy aunt – my absolute bestest! I am a book exchange fan but, but, but there is nothing more off putting than an old book. You know the one – crusty, yellowing pages. Even worse you are more than halfway through the book and there are pages missing!  Ah how awful. Anyhow of late, I am finding it quite bizarre. I read a few pages before nid-nodding off to LaLa land each night. But more often than not, these nights I am having to back track, I mean blady chapters as I cannot remember what the heck happened. The worst is when you reading about a character and you are totally, totally lost – who the heck is this now?? Meanwhile they were introduced to you on  page 1. In fact, with my luck they are the main blady character!

Whilst we on the subject of reading dear reader. I don’t know if I ever shared with you. I found a truly dilapidated copy of “Fiela se kind” in Chads room. It was that bad that I had to sticky tape it together and in the end it did fall apart, but the reason I bring this up. it was the english copy. So “Fiela’s child” – all those weeks (yip, was more than likely months!) I was reading it. My beloved hubby was so, so, so very, but quietly, impressed. He thought I was actually reading the Afrikaans copy. Did I lose many, many points when he realised it was the english version!

As you know, I started this week’s blog with that feeling of changes happening this year. It got me looking at my house – taking off my rose-tinted glasses and really looking at my house and all the crap that we have collected and continue to collect! Oh my giddy aunt – Gary and blady brochures. Now bear in mind we live in one of the most touristy parts of South Africa – so every second person has a B&B or a lodge or whatever it is that attracts tourists. These establishments are on our blady doorstep! But nope Gary always, always finds it necessary to pick up their brochure. We live in Nelspruit – why the heck would we be looking to stay in their B&B? So now when he brings them home, once he sets off to work (or walks out the room after placing it on the pool table – yip the pool table is our go to for everything everything that is, except my 2021 Diary!) – in the bin it goes! I sit and watch TV at night looking around at the (and there are plenty of them!) un-opened cupboards that are jam blady packed with stuff! The other day I opened a drawer. Inside the draw was a puzzle. It is the size of a match box – in fact it came in a match box. It was cute (years ago) it was – I say “was” because a piece is missing – it is Winnie the Pooh but its no longer Winnie the pooh since that particular piece was lost ions ago – so why the heck is it still in that drawer? Its not as if I am going to suddenly find the missing piece. I have no doubt that piece was dropped centuries ago and swept away the next day. Landed in the thingy that you pick up all the sweepings with – probably noticed by whomever swept – but never given a second thought rather just chucked in the bin! So throw the blady thing away the rest of the puzzle I am meaning here dear reader! Pens, there are more pens in this drawer than in CNA ….and the beauty of these pens : none, not one of them work! So why the heck are they there? A key ring – interestingly it is from Florida – whenever it was given to me – I have no, not an inkling or recollection as to who visited Florida and bought me back a keyring. But now its on my car key! Yip after all these years – and why – because of course my little chap is there – so now it bears significance to me! When whomever (thank you whomever you were) gave it to me – it meant nothing. But in saying that – this lonesome key ring is probably the only thing that has lived in that drawer for the last ten years and only now it means something to me. What about the single BROKEN key that is in that drawer? What the hell did I ever think I was going to do with a BROKEN key! What was amazing is I came upon photos.  Friends that are still in my life – the one I had to smile to myself. I had written on the photo “My best friend 1977 – 1979” – so what……   did her friendship contract expire and not get renewed at the end of 1979? Nah, it didn’t, she is still a big part of my life. In fact, she is one of my keenest and kindest readers. Patty Pancake its YOU. I also found plenty of my dearest Charmaine and her sister Debbie. In fact, I remember the day we took the photos – as clear as day. Remember, we used to take the most random photos – and then we would get the spool developed. In my case it would be frikken months later (sometimes even years) and what a delight it was to look back on those photos you had totally forgotten you had taken.  One or two of the photos I found – it made me seriously question whether as a younger young lady, when I met Gary in fact:  a) was he blind? B) did I not have any love for myself? C)Did Gary not love me enough yet to say “babe WTF is with your hair???” My hair style! AND to make it worse the colour, it was a blue black colour!!

And you thought I was exaggerating!

I also found a whole heap, in fact a lifetime of CD’s. What a treat finding them – Ronan Keating, Blondie, I even found a cassette  – Fine Young cannibals! The beauty here is dearest Dizabeth still has a CD player in her car! So, I will be pumping up the volume as I beetle here and there around our little Nellies 😊 I have promised myself – well, I wouldn’t say “promised” myself as that is a true crappy promise to make to oneself – but I guess it is a bitter sweet “promise” – as as much as I am covered in dust when finished in the cupboard I decide to tidy – it is also a true treat discovering hidden treasures and re-awakening the fondest of memories. So, the aim is to at least get through a cupboard or two before each weekend ends. In all this tidying – who agrees – somewhere in all this mayhem I am sure to find my 2021 diary!😊

And that dear reader is all she wrote.

Thanks for loving my blog the way you do.

Be safe, healthy and always be kind to you.

Mwah mwah.

Hello my dearest reader, I trust all is going well in your world. My word isn’t it amazing how COVID has disappeared off the world radar and now all anyone can focus on is the war – (in fact I had typed the word as a Capital W, no way I changed that to a little w – we certainly not going to give this a capital W – Not on my watch!) “Which war” I hear you ask? When you think about us humans. Forever and a day Palestine and Israel have been fighting. That has become the “norm” as we continue with our lives each day with very little, or no thought for those folk. However now with Ukraine every news channels focuses on nothing else. Don’t get me wrong it is tragic what is happening to the people in the Ukraine. All those families that have packed a bag and crossed the border to Poland etc., how hectic is that for the little kids (well any kid really!)  and the elderly (again young, old, middle aged what does it matter its terrible for all)! Families like you and me – with pets and kids and bonds to pay (what? “You don’t have a bond to pay” hmmmmm well you can always take over mine – kidding😊) anyhow, the whole idea of this blog is to keep it light, fun with heaps of glasses filled to the brim with bubbly champagne (or wine,whiskey whatever is your preferred poison hmm these days could be CBD or the good old cigarette maybe?) so I will stop this now.

The day we adopted dearest Rosie and Bandit

Ok so today we going to have a “fluffy” chat all bout my precious pets. For those that are nan’s and grans and obviously if you (hm guess not obvious hey?) are a nan or gran you are a mama bear too. So, with most of us our kids grown up and living their own lives (so, so many of them across the seas, one or two right across town, or even better, across the hall from your room 😊) we enter a new chapter in our book of Life. Being a nan is amazing albeit our precious Tide is quite far away. (I know! I know he is in Durban so in fact for some of you it would be a case of he really is just around the corner 😊 as your kiddies are truly over the seas and in some cases over many seas).

 As we “mature” Gary and I decided (Gary’s folks had a pet shop so yip through the years we have had a menagerie of pets and we still do!) With the boys no longer being home, when Gary and I go away it is quite important that we have a Pet Sitter (in my opinion a second mama when I am not here). This can also become quite stressful when none of our regulars are able to pet sit! Thank you though – really do want to do a shout out to my beloved neighhour at this point. Thank you always Elaine. Anyhow, so with us and our beloved pets maturing we decided that as our little furry family depart from this earth, we will not add any more furry family members to the Robbertze clan. It was going quite swimmingly. That is until my dearest, darling neighbour – yip its Elaine again, sent me a photo on a casual Saturday afternoon. I was besotted with this little furry four-legged friend I hadn’t as yet met. Monday morning I had school visits planned which were in White River (which is not across the seas but the next town) so I did all the necessary before fetching Bandit (ok so now here is a question – with the price of petrol right now I wonder if I would do this differently now – hmmm nope – you know me – when I make up my mind – it happens regardless of how many mountains I need to climb). Another major digression there! As I was saying I collected my “son” Bandit who loves the car, in fact so does his sister. I am not kidding, every evening, yes dear reader every day when Gary arrives home from work, he takes the furry kids for a drive around the block. In fact, it concerns him – how many neighbours’ have noticed this daily routine and think he is a stalker! I was so touched when Chad was home before he departed for his USA adventure the one day he came back from gym. I noticed he was gone as quickly as he had arrived. Turns out. He took them for a drive too!

Two of my most loved

Right, that was the second digression wasn’t it? So, I was saying I fetched Bandit and we headed for Prolife. When we arrived we were introduced to Rosie (actually her name was Tatiana – frik I know hey – blady pole dancer name!!!) anyhow within seconds we fell in love (her, me and Bandit). They fetched a cat and we did the cat test to see if she jelled with cats – in fact that was silly of us, as she was so anxious and I don’t think at that stage she gave a tinkers toss if a blady dinosaur was presented to her! She had been at Prolife for quite a few months apparently (I still wonder what deep dark secret she had hidden that no one had adopted her yet, I would like to think she doesn’t have any shady past and it was rather meant that she became Rosie Robbertze). So that was it …. there and then (as Dizabeth ALWAYS does, no deep thought goes into this decision and we most certainly DON’T pass it by Gary as he will definitely say a big fat no!) she was signed for, paid for and was in the car on the journey home. Karin did ask – “are you not perhaps keen to foster her and see how it goes?” “Ah absobladalutely not” (Again not really thinking this through!) I replied very, very adamantly. Ok, so we stopped off at dad’s (Gary for those of you getting confused) work for us to introduce our daughter to dad. Then we were home. Well, well, well I would be lying to say it was a perfect happy homely haven. Absolutely not! In fact, if I am honest. For the first time in many years I thought “Dizabeth, Dizabeth – frikken Dizzy blady Lizzy what the F…bomb have you done?” the peace and calmness of our happy home was destroyed! Rosie’s “stella performance” at Prolife when a cat was presented to her – well let’s say – it was nothing, I mean NOTHING! like that at home. Frikken hell I literally had three cats with their hair continuously raised and no exaggeration spitting mad! And then we had Rosie! Now Fraidy Cat has lots – I mean lots of spirit (Fiesty-niss) God knows why I ever named her Fraidy Cat as that she certainly is not! She literally was a case of “bring it on you little white & tan with that blady Flash Gordon never stops wagging tail of yours – Brrrring it on!” she literally went out of her way to find, spit and strike at Rosie. Oh, my giddy aunt and when she did that – Rosie would yelp and yelp and yelp some more! Eventually I thought perhaps it’s time for me to pack my blady bags and move into the car! (and this was only an hour since we had gotten home!) I truly felt what the hell have I done, the previously peaceful happy home we had was gone. People said: “Give it a few days ‘it will all settle down”. Really? Really, a few days? Nope more like a blady month of hell!! Another thing, Rosie wouldn’t step into the house. She would stop at the front or back door and not dare set a paw into the house. And now, well she is well and truly a Robbertze. It’s a fight between dad, mom and Rosie who dibs the comfy couch first each evening. She has settled in so beautifully. She adores the car and (now) her leash. When she first arrived she truly hated the leash. Now every morning early bells (hmmmmm definitely cannot see this enthusiasm for my early morning walk continuing when winter sets in☹ – as much as I am counting the minutes never mind the blady days for winter to come!) we all three love our morning routine of “Barbara Woodhouse Walkies!” It’s crazy how quickly the neighbourhood peeps get into the routine of you walking past their houses. The now “usuals” wave good morning – I even have a mom who drops her kids off – and waits once she has driven back into her driveway to give me a big morning wave. Hm actually thinking about this, it could turn out quite handy. If I ever land up on the side of the milk carton she will say “Wait a minute I know her , just show me a photo of her dogs and I will confirm whether it’s her or not!”

Too sweet our morning walkies usually are until this morning, where we had a bit of an iffy moment.

Bandit

 Bandit is very disciplined and does not fancy walking with a leash. But because he is so good – yes, he has the odd moment of madness where he loses his discipline and is tempted by the dogs taunting him as we walk past. Now I haven’t mastered the language of dog – so as we walk past, they (other dogs) can go wild – and just every now and then they obviously say something that is too close to the truth, and he reacts. (Hm maybe he doesn’t enjoy them explaining to him how to make a sandwich – even if it is a gourmet sandwich! Blog 34). So, this morning – now here’s a thing there are four labbies that live on our route.  Each morning my giddy aunt these four show a totally different side to me to the nature of Labbies that I have been led to believe. They are quite aggressive, so anyhow, this morning we happily walking. Missy and me when Bandit decides: Hmm maybe they said “your sister is ugly or your mama looks funny in them shorts with her funny pins for legs”  or maybe said they both of these things and he reacted. Now as he reacted there was a woman who was in her garage, the garage door was open and at her feet was a little sausage dog – I can tell you with absolute certainty his name is Noah. Well as Bandit ran at the labbies – so Noah ran for Bandit – and didn’t Bandit totally forget about the labbies, Rosie and myself as he beetled it down the road. Alllll, alllll all the blady way back down the hilly part we had just panted up. I was “well Bandit I aint going down that blady hill again, I aint going nowhere!”. Garage lady ran after Noah and I stood, my pins supporting me – Rosie carried on smelling all around – not a clue of what was going down. Thank goodness she isn’t a German Shepherd or Blood hound – how useless would she be as a working dog! Garage lady retrieved Noah and entered her house. No doubt flooking me all the way while Bandit was a pin prick in my vision. I stood, he stood and Rosie sniffed around. I stood some more, he stood some more and Rosie continued smelling. I eventually called to him. He kinda was hmm is it her, was I donnered up and am in Doggie Heaven – where am I? I see what appears to be her in the farrrrrrr off distance. I called again and he very hesitantly came to me – when he got close enough he realized Ahh it is not Doggie Heaven it is her and my super, in fact uber caring sister who not for a moment hesitated in assisting me – erm NOT! Needless to say I carried him the remainder of the way home. With a very stern talking going on to him .Rosie carried on regardless of any drama that had occured! Today somewhere in my day I will be popping in at a collar and leash shop – his carefree days are over! (Update: my dearest Pammie has saved the day she has one, what a scoop😊 Thanks Pammie.)

Rosie no longer hesitant to step her paws over the front/back door and very much at home on the couch. (Even your friends couch in this instance! Thanks Lis 🙂 )

Rosie the other day – we were joyfully and happily walking the neighbourhood. Now as in most neighbourhood’s you get those peeps that have pride and those that don’t. You have some well tendered pavements and some not so much. This particular morning, we happened to have just stepped onto a well tendered pavement when Rosie decided it was time to make a deposit! And no dear reader this far it had never entered my mind to take along a packet for such occasions. Yes, they both do the occasional (ok plenty) piddles along the route but never a number two! And isn’t this just Dizabeth’s luck. As we step onto the well tendered pavement the automated gate springs to life! A fancy car reversing out the driveway and Rosie is squatting! Well for a half a minute she was squatting before I literally dragged her as she tried to continue making her deposit. I waved super enthusiastically to the owner of the house, trying as best as I could to distract him from noticing I had a dog and a leash attached to the other hand that wasn’t waving at him – now totally reversed he waved at me – a big smile on his dial not noticing the tinest, teenest bit of doggie do on his lawn. And Rosie; truthfully it was like she was as embarrassed as I was. We continued our walk in silence not another word about doing doggie deposits on any lawns – well tendered or not! At this point I do need to add, we (well obviously only me) chitty chat all the way as we walk.

And that dear reader is all she wrote.

Take care out there. If going away for the long weekend, travel safe. If you staying home – enjoy the couch.

Thanks for loving my blog the way you do.

Mwah mwah.

PS : Just re-reading through this – we actually have added two new members. How could I possibly have forgotten dearest Neeny Beanie – the cat from Stellies 😊 is also now a Robbertze oh my word someday I will relate the drama a week ago of him and the cobra! Tooo much to chat about today – doggie doo doo and a cobra – I think not😊

A few weeks ago, we completed our 2^nd duty as Kruger HR Applicants so yip you guessed correctly – that’s what we are chatting about today! We have already done the Snaring duty – which you know was rather grueling but lovely people and we will do it again. The huge, frikken hugest downside of the snaring – well, we been told it is totally different in the winter – but those pesky pepper ticks – ohhhhhh my giddy aunt – it is truly the worst ever. Take chicken pox and multiply it by 1000. In fact now that I think about it – you know in the movies – American movies – they always get poison ivy. Perhaps that is what it is – ticks – nah I think I am getting ahead of myself now – this is America the biggest (well for now) nation in the living world I am very, very sure they would know the difference between Pepper ticks and poison ivy so Dizabeth will actually, on second thoughts keep that theory to herself.

You all know how much I enjoy a glass (bottle) of wine. On the Saturday night before the Kruger duty we were invited to friends for a braai. Now I still am wondering what exactly what went wrong –  Dizabeth had a ball (as she always does but she also over did the wine – yip – very, extremely unusual for her as you all know) so we had to get up at 4ish… that was AM . So 4am! Well, that was the instruction from Gary however we all know Dizabeth likes to eat all her frogs first – so her to do list was complete; all I had to do was zip up my bag – throw my toothbrush and toothpaste in before I zipped it up – and jump into the car. I snoozed till – no wait man – I am exaggerating hugely. The instruction from Gary was 5am. I lazed in till 5.30 and then dragged myself out of bed. Now before I dragged myself out of bed – when I opened my eyes, I was aware that Dizabeth was not feeling particularly spritely! You know that offish feeling that greenish feeling. Well, that was me! Anyhow so we packed the car, what was so amazing this time is we didn’t need to take camping chairs, food, cooler boxes etc., it was literally us, our booze and our bags. (Yip in that order😊). It was an exceptionally hot (another blady one) day and we had to be at the meeting point in Skakuza by 9am which we did – of course we did Gary was at the helm. By the time we reached our destination I was feeling decidedly green – so you are not going to believe what I did. In fact, I still cannot believe I did this but I did. I ordered a chicken and mushroom pie. Shucks and it had to be the greasiest pie I have had in my entire life, and you know what, all it did was add a few more layers of fat onto my body – it definitely didn’t make me feel any better!

When we got to the hostesses house it was all hands-on deck and let me tell you – that was only the beginning – no I lie. When we arrived, I think she was in the shower and so we chilled in her lounge. Now if I had known just how blady hard I was going to work when she got out that shower, and how I would continue working so blady hard till we left on Wednesday I swear I would have laid down on her comfy couch grabbed the remote and watched a bit of TV. (Nah I know, I wouldn’t have dared do that!) but shucks I would most certainly have appreciated the couch time, as little did, I know but I certainly would not be seeing no couch again until we arrived home on Wednesday. So, when she came through, we started packing the bakkie. And we packed and packed and frikken packed. The concession where we were hosting – it literally is a structure dear reader. There is nothing laid out – you (well our hostess) bring it all with and we literally set up camp – from blady loo paper to dishwash liquid to the fancy foods that we would be cooking for the guests.  The lanterns and fairy lights for the dinner table.

To try paint a picture for you – it is like when you move into a new house – there is nothing! And when we left on Wednesday, we left nothing – the next hostess arrives with all her goods and shackles and sets up her camp as she sees fit, as did we. Ok wait a minute – in the kitchen there is the usual kitchen stuff so the only thing that is fully kitted is the kitchen and there is a cupboard with the crockery etc ., but table clothes etc you bring as per the theme you will be setting up as. Another thing to bear in mind whilst you are imagining this empty house – add to that – no power! There is solar but really nothing, I mean n-o-t-h-i-n-g to write home about. No fans, no luxuries. Now for me, why the heck would I want to pay trillions of rands to sweat and toss and turn at night in my room and be on red alert for any Kruger spiders or snakes that may decide my room is a great escape from the heat of the day – why I ask with tears in my eyes. If I was going to spend “that” type of money – believe me, I would want all the bells and whistles – the air conditioning (or a fan at least!) a bed side lamp and PLENTY of ice (we kept running out – we did receive a new supply each day but shucks considering the heat it surely is understandable however some of the men since they would need to use the ice sparingly – well let’s just say they were true Grumpasaruses😊). But in saying that the guests; one couple had landed back in SA on the Friday from overseas, so ja I guess they do live the hob knob life and occasionally decide to slum it like we do everyday to maybe see how we live! (God I wouldn’t even do that – swear if money was no object I would keep it exactly like that – as noooooo object and I would live the life of Riley!) Oh, and the other thing whilst we on the bare necessities of life – there was no wifi. Nothing! So, no contact with the outside world from the Sunday till the Wednesday. Ok so I hear a lot of you saying “Pure bliss” – well I don’t see the point. Although I have to add – because I was extremely, hectically concerned about my specials back in the wifi world. I sent them all a message saying that the mother and father person would be unreachable for the said four days.  Now the reality here is – each and everyday of their lives – (they are both far away) so its not like I can jump in my car should the need arise and go to the rescue – so God alone knows why: a) I felt it suddenly necessary to message them b) worry intensely what would they do if they couldn’t reach us. After all everyday they continue with us in Nellies and them in Durban and USA. When we were back in Wifi world I noticed a number of missed calls from Chad my heart skipped a trillion beats – that is until I looked at the whats app messages – and there he had written – after mother dearest had written a book on the family group explaining we would be unreachable etc., there he wrote and only on the blady Wednesday morning nogal! “Ah sorry mom I tried to call you to say hi – and only now just seen your messages that you away.” I know I should be grateful, however I did think – there I had taken the time to write a best seller explaining where we would be and he had missed it! Boys I tell you dear reader! Although in saying that Ryan did reply on the book I wrote – perhaps it’s more a case of where you are in your chapter of life. Chad is carefree and on a great American adventure – Ryan is a papa bear and has chickens to count each day. Hm, I think that is it – the different chapters we are in our book of life.

Ok, back to the camp we go – so we set up camp and awaited the arrival of our guests. They arrived at 3pmish – by then we had worked incredibly hard and had achieved a real at home, welcome to the camp feel. We greeted them enthusiastically albeit all of us resembling walking beetroots because of  the intense heat, no electricity – hence no blady fans!

Our day would begin at 5ish (yip AM)  setting out their breakfast options. They would arise at 5.30ish grab a quick bite and head off on a morning walk. We would get their teatime treats set out before continuing making whatever was for lunch, followed by 3 o clock teatime, and then dinner. It truly was a never ending – I don’t want to say “slog” but sjoey Louis it was blady hard work. Oh and in between doing the meals, washing ENDLESS dishes we still needed to check the loo’s each morning for loo paper and that all was in order. Hm now we all know – no, maybe we don’t know – but ja I will leave it at that as at the end of the camp we were all assigned packing up duties. Mine dear reader, cleaning the ablutions. I know right!

The very tragic reality is – you will recall last blog I chatted about the pro’s and cons of a Pedi. Well dear reader I had that blady Pedi BEFORE, yip you read correctly, before I went on this four-day grueling duty. So, who saw my “beautiful feet” – no one – by the time we hit the bed at night the last blady thing Gary wanted to see was me – never mind my blady feet! Now whilst we on the subject of Mr Robbertze. Let me tell you! I swear I have never, never, known this person that possessed Gary’s body during these four days. I am not lying when I tell you – the best way to say it is – at home – I don’t know if I have ever shared with you dear readers? But – ahhhh….. yes I have – you will recall the Lockdown blog! Where he literally did Jackshit! I kid you not!!! So, we sign up for this duty and I am needing therapy on the quiet because I am thinking – how the heck – its going to be so embarrassing when the others see how lazy my husband is. And what dear reader occurred? Well, I wish to goodness I had taken a sneak photo or two but since there was no Wifi my phone was on a mini Vacay. He – in fact If I am honest, I do believe the man actually worked harder than me! Yip I swear to you – no kidding. He washed dishes, peeled veggies, stirred food on the stove, made sarmies (ah another story to share with you with regards to the sarmie making ☹) swept, even greeted the guests with their cool facecloths when they returned from a walk or game drive! He was the guardian of the gate,oh and he braaied – he was the Braai Master but that he is at home so that wasn’t really a biggy. The one morning he even checked the ablutions! I asked him when we got home, and he slunk back into his usual sloth self – why he doesn’t continue helping me around the house – he nonchalantly replied: “I don’t know” – I was spitting mad – but I did manage to build a bridge and get over it (not worth wasting energy on something that wont ever change if you love that person I guess!)

Now me being me – of course there was a moment of “yikes” once or twice. I mentioned I needed therapy worrying about my lazy assed hubby – well let me tell you – he definitely needed therapy on returning home! Why I hear you ask? Well on the one day – there were four of us and we did really get on well. But you know how you always have to get one who thinks they the genius of the group? So we making sarmies – now bear in mind – every – every blady Sunday I make sarmies for thirty six under privileged kids and deliver them to a local school and I make sarmies every day for Gary – so we standing in the boiling – kitchen that seriously, no absolutely no exaggeration was hotter than hell and we start off the next duty. Preparing sarmies for the morning walk. I finish washing another load of endless dishes and step up to the work bench and ask “what can I do?” – when my dearest – um what do you call them – I guess your fellow sloggers is apt. We as I mentioned are making the sarmies and she says as she picks up a roll, “well you cut the roll like this” as she cuts it. Now at this stage I am thinking “Um seriously???” but I am also wondering “ok give her the benefit of the doubt as surely, surely the next step will follow” …. Which it does dear reader! She says to me “You take the teaspoon and take a spoon full of the egg mayo”……………..

Well, well, well dear reader! It was at this stage I lost my shit! I bellowed out “You are kidding me ….. you seriously have GOT to be frikken kidding me right?????” as I stood there spitting mad I continued “I frikken make sandwiches every day of my frikken life – I seriously don’t NOT need to be shown that!” – as you can imagine – an awkwardness descended, literally smothering the whole kitchen as the others looked awkwardly away and this deathly silence filled the kitchen! The funny side of it was for the remainder of the duties it became a standing joke: “whatever you do don’t show Dizabeth the bleeding obvious!” I do need to add – I believe Gary literally was praying that the earth opened at that precise moment and swallowed him up. So dear reader, going forward – if ever you feel the need to show me how to make a sarmie – no not even a gourmet sarmie – trust me – DON’T!

Towards the end of last year – Gary spied an amazing special for a night in Kruger. He booked it – I completely forgot about it – last weekend was that amazing night away. It was truly fantastic we were treated like royalty – and having recently completed the duty of hostessing – it was an incredibly welcoming treat. It also was interesting and going forward I will always appreciate the staff who do take care of their guests. I promise to be mindful and be that extra bit more appreciative after experiencing it from the other side. (Especially of the sandwich maker 😊).

And that dear reader is all she wrote.

Thanks for loving my blog the way you do.

Till next time

Stay safe and healthy.

Mwah Mwah