The building starts!

We have been watching the events unfolding this past week as the ground at Garlington has been levelled, the fences put up and the pegs placed for the foundataions.   This is so surreal yet so exciting.   To see something emerge from a flat piece of land.   Not just anything but something well planned to fit in with our lifestyle over the remaining years of our lives.   We are pouring everything into it.   Greg and I have been so blest over the years.   Yes we have had hard times but we have never really had to struggle.   We have done well materially and we have managed to educate our children well.   What more can anyone ask from life?   We have great families and lovely friends.   I am in awe at the way our lives are unfolding and I thank God for His wonderful gifts and for giving us the opportunity to pursue this adventure of a lifetime.

If there is one thing I have learnt during this venture and that is we all have far too much 'stuff'.   We all place far too much emphasis on 'stuff' and we should all learn to share all our'stuff'.   Somewhere I heard that if everyone shared their wealth with everyone else equally then we would all be millionaires!!!   There is so much poverty going on it is frightening.   Before we move into Garlington I will be reducing my stuff by half!

Life in Hilton

We are settled in our interim house in Hilton until 'Millwood on Garlingto' is built and I must say it is a very comfortable place to be.   There are lovely trees in the garden and lots and lots of birds.   Our furniture fits in as though it was made for this place and there is a certain sense of peace everywhere.   It is much cooler up the hill but the travelling is taking a bit of getting used to.   We were so spoilt living 2 kms from work.

I love it when the mist swirls in and the drizzle starts.   I come alive and have so much energy.   When the heat and humidity hit well that is another story.   We were told we would not need a pool up here but I have swum twice in one week!!!

The shops in the village are amazing and the restuarants are too.   Had supper at Little Poland last week and it was so different.   We are spoilt for choice here and they are just 2 minutes from our doorstep.   The most wonderful shop is the Rotunda and it is going to be the death of me!!!!    Homemade cakes, breads, pies etc and every spice and garnish you could wish for.   Beautiful fresh vegies and cheeses so different.   I think I may spend quite a bit of time there!!!   I will have to walk the 1 km there to get my waist back again.

The architect said our building will start in the next week and I cannot wait.   This will be the very last house we live in and we will pour our personalities into it.   I took photos on Monday and will go tomorrow to take more.   How blessed we are to have this opportunity.

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!

Today is the 9th January.   22 days until we move.   The packing is going really well but the sorting is going even better.   There is nothing like decluttering and downsizing.   I find it difficult to sell items I do not want.   It is easier to give them away.   I was never born to barter!

All of us have had to go through a cleansing time as we go through our papers and our memory boxes.   24 years in one place and for all my children the home they grew up in, had their 21st birthdays in, for the two oldest got married from.   It is sad for them but they have moved on and it is our time too.   We made sure they had roots that were solid and firm.    Wherever we go that will be their home from home.

What is amazing to me is the wrench both of us are feeling at leaving the garden.   We are very keen gardeners and have enjoyed planning, planting and living off our garden over the years.   It will be exciting developing a new garden but in the old one every plant could tell a story.   We have potted up a few of our old favourites and pray they will take but what we really will miss are the beautiful trees that afford us such absolute privacy and the birds we have encouraged to visit and stay over the years.

God Bless Millwood and guide all of us on our new journey.

61 is the new 21!

'61 is the new 21' - so my youngest son tells me.   This is on the occassion of my 61st birthday last week.   Is he just being nice or are we just starting out again?

My man and I are starting a whole new phase in our lives.   Our children have left the nest and are flying solo.   This is not an easy feat in today's financial climate and we are extremely proud of them.   We have been left to ramble around in a huge house with 23 years of extremely happy memories but now it is time to move on.

We both came from large Catholic families where we moved towns and schools often as our fathers climbed their career ladders.   Making friends was not that easy and it was extremely challenging starting new schools so we decided our children would not have to do that and we put down roots in Pietermaritzburg.   Our children went to the best schools we could afford and then on to the University on our doorstep.   They were extremely privileged and worked very hard.

We have now bitten the bullet.   Put our house on the market and it sold within a month.   We are going to rent another house for about 9 months while we build our dream house in a quiet little bit of heaven called Garlington.

The months ahead of us are rather daunting as packing up 23 years of stuff is going to be a nightmare and if 61 is the new 21 then I hope I still have that kind of energy!!!

Emmigration

There are many people in this country, especially White, Indian and Coloured, whose children have emmigrated to other countries due to the local Governement's policy of Afirmative Action.   Up until now I have not really been affected by this trend but have always held a deep sympathy for those parents whose children and grandchildren are far away.

I now fall into the same boat.   Maybe not because of Affirmative Action but because of the career path my son has taken.   Jobs in his line are not easily available in South Africa and so he is over in New Zealand eyeing out the potential of a new life for himself while he watches the Rugby World Cup.

The prospect of him living so far away is dauntling but maybe this is the opportunity we have all been waiting for to follow the footsteps of our fore fathers and find new ground where we can all live and work together happily.   Somewhere where our skills would be appreciated and nurtured.

My life motto has always been 'sit back and let life take its course - what will be will be'

The Snake Lady

THE SNAKE LADY

THE WITNESS KZN TRUE STORY COMPETITION

SNAPSHOT CATEGORY 2011

I was working behind the counter at the Veterinary surgery one Sunday morning, a task I have to perform on the odd occasion as the wife of a veterinarian, when a strange looking lady came in.

I say ‘strange looking’ as she did not conform to the normal way ladies dress.   She was not eccentric or bohemian or anything like that, she was not even very colourful,  in fact she was quite drab.  She was just different. Her hair was cropped short around her face yet it hung in a perfect bob into her neck.   It was a beautiful blonde colour. 

She wore what appeared to be navy security guard apparel with big boots.   Blue jersey, blue combat pants with lots of pockets.   The overall impression was lots of navy blue everywhere.   She had big blue eyes and blonde, blonde hair.   

The lady was in such a state!   Tears were pouring down her face as she placed a one litre icecream container on the counter.   I noticed her hands, they were scrubbed red and her finger nails had been bitten to the quick.   They looked as if they were bleeding.

‘Can I help you’ I asked.

‘Yes’ she replied ‘I need a hug’.

This took me by surprise but we aim to please in our practice so I went around the counter and gave her a big hug.   She clung to me.

‘What is the problem’ I asked as I patted her back like a good mother would do.

‘My snake has kept me up all night’ she replied, ‘and I am exhausted.’

I froze!    Snake!    Oh no, I am petrified of snakes.

I released her and looked at the ice cream container sitting innocently on the counter.

‘What is wrong with your snake?’ I questioned while retreating behind the counter again.

‘She is egg bound’ was the reply.

‘I am so sorry to hear that’ I replied and hoped like mad that the vet would know what to do with an ‘egg bound’ snake as he did not often get the chance to treat many of them.  

I became very efficient and brisk as I asked for her name and address and put her details into the computer and added her to the queue.   By now the other clients were showing a lot of interest in the snake lady and especially in her snake.

Oh please don’t ask her to open the box!

What kind of snake is it?

I think she said a Garter snake but I was not listening too well as my heart was hammering in my chest.  I could see she was about to take the lid off the ice cream container.

Please don’t let it escape, oh please don’t.   I have had to rescue puppies that slip their leads and cats that escape their cat boxes but I would not be very professional if any snake, no matter what it is, escaped over the counter and hid behind the desk.

Luckily the snake was almost comatose and just lay there.   I suppose if I was ‘egg bound’ I would also just lie there!  Poor thing must have been very uncomfortable and very sore.  

All the clients had a good look as she stoked her ‘baby’ and ‘coochie cooed’ at it.   They offered the right words of sympathy and interest.   The Snake lady reveled in the attention.

Eventually it was her turn to be taken into the consulting room and I could give a sigh of relief. 

After many long minutes the vet and the snake lady emerged from the consulting room.   She had a saintly smile on her face and was clutching a hypodermic needle and syringe in her hand.   The syringe contained about 2.5mm of fluid.

‘Will you manage to give her the rest of the injection yourself?’ asked the vet.

‘Oh yes, doctor, no problem’ answered the snake lady.  

‘At least we will have a good night’s sleep, won’t we baby?’ she cooed.

‘Thanks for everything and especially the hug’ she called to me as she ran excitedly out the door and away down the street.   I did not see a car parked anyway.   I wondered where she lived.

Many months passed after that little incident and I completely forgot about the snake lady until one day in the Witness I read about a reclusive lady who had been found dead in her home in Hayfields, Pietermaritzburg. She had inherited the house from her parents and lived quietly and unobtrusively, so her neighbours said.   She had been dead for quite a few days before anyone had found her.  

How had she died?

She had been bitten by one of her pet snakes.

The end.

INDIGO DREAMS

The adventure started when the school I worked for gave me a very special voucher to one of the popular KZN Midlands Meander Spas.  

I was so excited at the prospect of being pampered and spoilt because there was no ways I would  have afforded to spend time at a prestigious establishment such as it was under normal circumstances.   The only drawback was that I did not want to go on my own.   I approached my BFF, Sonja,  and she jumped at the opportunity but took it one stage further.   If we go why dont we stay the night.   Why not indeed!

The day dawned bright and freezing cold!   There had been snow on the mountains over the past two days.   The Mills voodoo does it again.   Our Motto is 'wherever we go we take the weather with us.'   The prospect of donning bikini (dont laugh that is what was on the requirement sheet!) and heading out into the bush on a landie to a boma to have a full body massage was to say the least -daunting!

We packed scarves, tracksuits, socks, beanies and lots of coats just in case and meandered our way through the Midlands.   Our booking was for 12 noon so a very pleasant morning was had moving from one fireplace to another as we visted establishment after establishment.

The most beautiful little Hathaway cottages nestling in fields of lavender greeted us as we rounded the bend in the road.   The hotel was bathed in brilliant noonday sunshine.   We were welcomed enthusiastically and shown our suite.  Luxury suite! We had two double beds, one in a mezzanine loft room above the lounge.   There was underfloor heating and a wonderful heater in the ceiling of the bathroom.   So cosy and warm.

We were escorted to the dining room where we had an exquisite lunch of caramilized onion and blue cheese tart with salad and fresh olive rolls, piping hot and dripping with real farm butter.   Champagne was offered and very welcomely received!!!    This did not bode well for things to come.

After lunch we were advised to return to our rooms and change into our bikinis.    Fresh white towelling gowns were laid out on the beds together with taupe coloured hooded ponchos made of thick polar fleece.   Sonja was the first to dress and nearly drowned in her gown.   I put mine on and it could not even meet in the middle so we had to swop.   By this time we were screaming with laughter.   I am 6osomething and Sonja much younger, bikinis were something from our very distant past.   Luckily were are best friends!
When dressed in our hoodies we looked like two monks escaped from the monastery.   Added to this we had on tracksuit pants, socks and shoes.   What a sight!

We were escorted to the rooms where the steam bath and jacuzzi were.   Two lovely ladies greeted us and requested we sit down and take our shoes and socks off.   These were prized off our feet as it was so cold.   Luckily they were placed in bowls of warm water with hundreds of orange petals floating in them.   Our feet were washed thoroughly clean and dried carefully.   Then we were taken to the steam bath.   The tiles on the floors were ice cold but once we had disrobed and climbed into the fibreglass steam room we started to thaw out a bit.   I began to get claustrophobic when the steam started pumping out but the thought of going out into the cold air held me back.   Champagne started oozing out of every pore in my body.   I was scared Sonja was going to get more drunk on the smell of it!  Luckily the ladies rescued her by calling us to another treatment room after ten long minutes in the steam.   We scuttled down the frozen passage with just our towels wrapped around us.
The next phase was  a salt scrub.   Kilos and kilos of salt mixed with lavender oils were poured over us from top to bottom and our skins were brushed this way and that to exfoliate.    It was an amazing sensation and each time the cold salt was poured over me I screamed and hissed at the chill.

Eventually we were whisked back to a steaming hot jacuzzi and we gratefully slipped into the welcoming water.    What a treat!    To make matters even more pleassant we were offered more champagne!  I have never really enjoyed a jacuzzi before, it  seemed such a pointless exercise just sitting in one place, but my eyes were opened.   This was pure and utter luxury and quite decadent to be sipping champagne in a steaming hot jacuzzi in the middle of the afternoon in the middle of the week was just too marvelous!!!!

Too bad it had to end.   Pickled like the proverbial prune we valiantly dried ourselves, tried dressing as best we could and made our way back to our suite.   Note I did not say room because this was hardly a 'room' it was much too elegant and luxurious.
We got out of our wet bikinis, quite chuffed with ourselves at being able to pull this one off at our ages and not really looking too bad.   You must realise we had had quite a skinful of champagne by this stage!
Dressed like the escaped monks again were were offered hot water bottles, climbed onto a open sided landie and driven down into the valley, past fields and fields of lavender, to where a river runs through.   The landie dropped us off and there in the middle of the bush were two deck chairs where we had to wait.   It was so peaceful and quiet and I really was most grateful that it was not raining.   We could see a curl of smoke rising from the tree tops further in to the bush and looked forward to being close to a fire wherever we were going.

The real treat of the day then took place.   A full body massage, which took one and a half hours, in a cosy boma with a beautiful log fire burning away and the only sounds we heard were the river running gently past and the cattle lowing in the distance.    All the cares resting on our shoulders were pummelled and pushed and gently rubbed away.  

The experience moved me to write a poem:

INDIGO DREAMS

A thoughtful voucher graciously given

to experience a little bit of heaven.

My bestfriend and I set off for a day

to be pampered and spoilt.

What can we say?

Steam baths, jacuzzis, salt scrubs,

champagne and amazing food.

Hoodies and gowns, hot water bottles,

snow on the mountains

and a ride in a open landie with a hood.

A place in the bush where a river

runs through.

Healing hands that pummelled and pushed,

pampered and soothed.

Truffles and Amarulla -

what more can we ask?

We are so blest to have been given this rest.

No work, no cooking not one little task!

Lavender hues, lavender perfume,

acres and acres of Indigo fields

sets the scene for

INDIGO DREAMS!



With hair standing on end we looked like trolls in our outfits but rubbed warm and glowing all over we had not a care in the world.   Dinner in pyjamas with lots of red wine.   Decadent food, delicious puddings and Amarulla ands truffles finished the day on a high and bed was a welcome retreat.

Who says a day at the Spa is gruelling and tough?   

Who says you have to exist on a lettuce leaf?  

Who says it is a boot camp of note?

We are so lucky to have on our doorstep
Our Midlands Meander -
the best Spas in the world and

my Indigo dreams.