tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176523236436664212024-03-19T09:55:20.928+02:00memorable meandersI'm currently writing my blog from my cottage in the Drakensberg, Champagne Valley, Kwa-Zulu Natal; South Africa Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.comBlogger3686125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-23429667841605972522024-03-18T11:46:00.003+02:002024-03-18T19:26:43.540+02:00All's well! <p> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Good morning, dear Blogger friends. THANK YOU so much for the care and kindness you showed after I shared Skabby's traumatic experience. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">All is back to normal now again, although my workload seems to have increased substantially. Whereas I am normally quite at liberty to do part of my accommodation and Avon sales admin at the farm office, this week, I have had to ready several documents (read dozens to be photocopied) of Farmer John's insurance policies and other paperwork) which is filed for a consultant to peruse. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">And as always, my guests are in and out at an alarming rate, meaning Thandi and I are up at The Bunker , cleaning after and prepping before guests.</span></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlThXousNSU6crTAQGaSZO0j0bxIAzY32dY8hiU1FZdpbt3ME_2ERvCs3tnocswqq664YhHe1YCqi_7AIFo0Z7JE6by21KpKctBK-dWXnZ6AlovaJ3zvwLJ0RAk3__GYl3OPXII9dNcnkB_WxsYzU0kUIttu18u3VOAiuDufzMLgc6GF7_7mtD-R5zy58/s1280/IMG-20240308-WA0020%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlThXousNSU6crTAQGaSZO0j0bxIAzY32dY8hiU1FZdpbt3ME_2ERvCs3tnocswqq664YhHe1YCqi_7AIFo0Z7JE6by21KpKctBK-dWXnZ6AlovaJ3zvwLJ0RAk3__GYl3OPXII9dNcnkB_WxsYzU0kUIttu18u3VOAiuDufzMLgc6GF7_7mtD-R5zy58/w640-h640/IMG-20240308-WA0020%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Comfortable and welcoming </i></b></div></i></b><p></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TPXsNByjgs2nXHnHE26CPCCbt1O28c84UZ43mpYk1tTvdpkwEbzByxAmVZiKD-LUBMyQg0AoGkoQ8H02Vlv4QiRBaaz-vV7uz793Jsok-kHAi_0ZMWd6sGkwlCH87TFHnyhNk2ODxV43dTadgykMnVwALaLmz_uwzwsXYbEufLSRKssaksM-pAdf3ic/s1280/IMG-20240308-WA0018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TPXsNByjgs2nXHnHE26CPCCbt1O28c84UZ43mpYk1tTvdpkwEbzByxAmVZiKD-LUBMyQg0AoGkoQ8H02Vlv4QiRBaaz-vV7uz793Jsok-kHAi_0ZMWd6sGkwlCH87TFHnyhNk2ODxV43dTadgykMnVwALaLmz_uwzwsXYbEufLSRKssaksM-pAdf3ic/w640-h640/IMG-20240308-WA0018.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Fresh fruit in season alongside the welcome card</i></b></div></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFgGw_G1PPNAqtuwIh2Zlh1Fsnjq-_3zYy9N3UXl67T6SDDM-CfDOsNsJukXZuqU6Ktzw8lRxAOMC70D9dv7v7kvI-L47k7c8X3XiWL8p0Xis675UiH7HBWarVieUdXjqUcEDAXHtxwnm9rIm44q0vfy7wB1tOaSEL-SfosjzqkOJb7EWgTbGFD0oKEc/s1280/IMG-20240308-WA0019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFgGw_G1PPNAqtuwIh2Zlh1Fsnjq-_3zYy9N3UXl67T6SDDM-CfDOsNsJukXZuqU6Ktzw8lRxAOMC70D9dv7v7kvI-L47k7c8X3XiWL8p0Xis675UiH7HBWarVieUdXjqUcEDAXHtxwnm9rIm44q0vfy7wB1tOaSEL-SfosjzqkOJb7EWgTbGFD0oKEc/w640-h640/IMG-20240308-WA0019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></b><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Continental breakfast self-service</i></b></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Back to town to collect Avon, bring the order home and make up parcels for the customers. This week I did just this; went to the car and because I had bought greeting cards (at the shop where my Avon is delivered), I put the Avon box on the car roof. Because I had bought greeting cards from the shop, I placed these inside my bag on the seat. Closing the car the door I then walked over to the grocery store where I spent at least 20 minutes shopping...</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When I walked out into the street, I noticed that someone had left something on the roof of their car. Looking again, I saw that someone was ME!</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5195-GJS4EjueMPjb-UXC6JrM-ZBznnU47Z-c_SIlomFIxVOVjWZDXYtQRi9jGduXEF03m47CKJ9Do_kuD2dwMUbzhT_sYCq4D6TnDpXTeRHN6rWIxeqZeNDTHhrLbp-fpG0sz0Og5LScTx5W217bf_ctafWyxtFmO6SSAE4atunCbThhj7aZl7lJXTI/s1280/IMG-20240301-WA0025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5195-GJS4EjueMPjb-UXC6JrM-ZBznnU47Z-c_SIlomFIxVOVjWZDXYtQRi9jGduXEF03m47CKJ9Do_kuD2dwMUbzhT_sYCq4D6TnDpXTeRHN6rWIxeqZeNDTHhrLbp-fpG0sz0Og5LScTx5W217bf_ctafWyxtFmO6SSAE4atunCbThhj7aZl7lJXTI/w640-h640/IMG-20240301-WA0025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mmm...</i></b></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In between, I have had Skabby clipped and groomed in time for winter.</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzmcvrvr4gDd9L51pUuddDVlMRShj-fJTZuE8I7BSG3fNhPjKO9s7VhX2fQPoJyVSA-gSGmSH_4sHPGa2_daegaVMI6m-WhzfRacWMCB2v0AGxmeVc4fz2UAhVPQRdCX9sbszFbk2R1zYs2oCerE_wjbw4dE_y-O5ttidrIA-B7A4xdCuR7ty0of-gl8/s4608/IMG_20240315_131323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzmcvrvr4gDd9L51pUuddDVlMRShj-fJTZuE8I7BSG3fNhPjKO9s7VhX2fQPoJyVSA-gSGmSH_4sHPGa2_daegaVMI6m-WhzfRacWMCB2v0AGxmeVc4fz2UAhVPQRdCX9sbszFbk2R1zYs2oCerE_wjbw4dE_y-O5ttidrIA-B7A4xdCuR7ty0of-gl8/w640-h480/IMG_20240315_131323.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Can you believe this is the same dog from two weeks ago?</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So all's well with the Champagne Valley Hedges household!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-large;"><i>HAPPY MONDAY TO YOU ALL!</i></span></b></div></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><p></p><p><br /></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-46692991340803984442024-03-16T16:33:00.006+02:002024-03-16T16:33:57.025+02:00Thirteen hundred meters too far: continued<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Good morning dear Blogger friends. As you know, I ended the previous post with Skabby having disappeard from the veranda. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I never slept a wink that night. From the time that he disappeared I walked through the garden in the dark and rain. I checked behind every tree and under every shrub. Not an easy task. One border of my garden has huge, thick shrubs lining the fence. Skabby lies under these shrubs during the day out of the hot sun, </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Every hour of that night, with a torch, and trying not to make too much noise, I checked behind all the bushes and trees, calling my dog. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nothing. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Later the moon appeared, and I went out again, trying to find Skabby. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nothing. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>At 4am I heard Jock from next door, barking furiously. When I went out, he was hurling his body against the fence at the bottom of my garden. With my heart in my mouth (I fully expected to find the body of my dog, nothing more) I crept under and behind a huge bottlebrush. Calling Skabby's name, I heard thud, thud, thud. Lighing the torch in that direction, I saw my darling boy, still soggy from last night's soaking and looking up at me. Even in his distress, this boy wags his tail. I fell on his neck and hugged him. Although emotions were welling up in my chest, I did NOT cry. I wanted to, but I knew I had too much to do and couldn't afford to stop and indulge in tears. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I had to cajole him out behind this hidey hole and onto the veranda and from there I brought him into the house. I wasn't going to risk him disappearing into the bushy garden again.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>At 7.15 I loaded him into the back of my car and drove to the vet. Jeff and an assistant were waiting with a stretcher to carry Skabby into the surgery. However, as Skabby saw Jeff, he wagged his tail slowly, and clambered out of the car onto the pavement. Jeff took his lead and with the assistant guiding the dog, they led him inside. Den, my neighbor's younger daughter, and I followed. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jeff ascertained that the poor dog was exhausted and suffering with sever muscle pain. He injected him with painkillers and a muscle relaxer and told me to try and get him to drink when we got home. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>However, once we got home and I led Skabby indoors, he made straight for my bathroom which has a tiled floor and flopped down there. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And stayed there</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFd1w5uIP2beahoczZK7pkAWa_RT2wCL2eLWwvNCwBdLQG7EJ7rK-OHkb83s4lCqAC-lKRAcVeaT1pWN0txInQKzcBeg4fuxSiZgRI1HlBT4DDKnas_v150DMjLRnBDZb0EFRRYirE9XK4o6N0IA1vtSVYBmcIQD5QBju_dhz8Id5_74_SAgLYDRbBIQU/s1025/AA%20Skabby%20day%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="899" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFd1w5uIP2beahoczZK7pkAWa_RT2wCL2eLWwvNCwBdLQG7EJ7rK-OHkb83s4lCqAC-lKRAcVeaT1pWN0txInQKzcBeg4fuxSiZgRI1HlBT4DDKnas_v150DMjLRnBDZb0EFRRYirE9XK4o6N0IA1vtSVYBmcIQD5QBju_dhz8Id5_74_SAgLYDRbBIQU/w562-h640/AA%20Skabby%20day%202.jpg" width="562" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Skabby lay on my bathroom floor from 10am on Saturday until Sunday morning when I urged him to his feet and outdoors for some fresh air</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp1LKaU-srCCICXOgWKqybM1oLRvNJ3Ys-odysmW8S-Ka8s0uiXRYAoWLEEoB_4MXVNqsA8RaT-r5mBNUd4-9HbQdOwoZeh8Z6J4EBn8PnJRm5D4sv0QhM4S-7bOnyagezxmgaATqoqrh1lNGefZ6rgrxpkWZMvSUvTvMcLG4L85X9ioqhzmA6MyaW10/s3060/IMG_20240225_061100%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp1LKaU-srCCICXOgWKqybM1oLRvNJ3Ys-odysmW8S-Ka8s0uiXRYAoWLEEoB_4MXVNqsA8RaT-r5mBNUd4-9HbQdOwoZeh8Z6J4EBn8PnJRm5D4sv0QhM4S-7bOnyagezxmgaATqoqrh1lNGefZ6rgrxpkWZMvSUvTvMcLG4L85X9ioqhzmA6MyaW10/w640-h640/IMG_20240225_061100%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>He drank quite a bit of water...</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWmXHxD38E9PnlHrTXBmbqJWDJOU67dIjSPnBJ7t96mUdGUvx8r60FdioytbEvpXiSbcrw8y7JW403QXIsB36pDahxwfZ0ZkCkXPTEP1osUd4V9RLUIkdND6dqAisg7tQvT-G7DIl36d37u-uXISprpy9NgnmK2q4_RiZ628qmNUg_51qmhrQ3fGP1Gc/s3060/IMG_20240225_061113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWmXHxD38E9PnlHrTXBmbqJWDJOU67dIjSPnBJ7t96mUdGUvx8r60FdioytbEvpXiSbcrw8y7JW403QXIsB36pDahxwfZ0ZkCkXPTEP1osUd4V9RLUIkdND6dqAisg7tQvT-G7DIl36d37u-uXISprpy9NgnmK2q4_RiZ628qmNUg_51qmhrQ3fGP1Gc/w640-h640/IMG_20240225_061113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>...and wandered onto the lawn </i></b></div></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Then he came indoors and collapsed on the floor in my office.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I phoned Jeff and said that Skabby was not using his limbs and although he had had a drink of water, he was not interested in anything I offered him to eat. Jeff then suggested I perform physio on the dog. He explained on the phone that I had to take Skabby's hind leg, which has three parts, move the foot to ankle part gently. Then move onto the ankle to knee part and massage and move it gently. Then the knee to hip part and move it. Then take the whole leg and move it outwards. Each move I had to do twenty times, every hour. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I set the alarm on my smartwatch and every hour I performed physio on my poochie. When he has all his wits about him, Skabby doesn't allow you to touch his feet, ears, legs. He runs around in circles. With me working on Skabby every hour, he never moved. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BEZauIaKF_LCK8GutjYihJ8CRQELzIEvhGSAsVBWyvawF_4sjpbkuT_arTfAjElrjv2ui_-I2pqe2-ErP_NtAiPhrbmo34dIWWPxnRI2F7_pz66JTY470IVqgUXrZNi5_-DanlsJnlhTvo2AXUucv_4Sa_5AjB6T5mPTfDDItotOyGcrFdnVJduWXsQ/s2448/IMG_20240225_083327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BEZauIaKF_LCK8GutjYihJ8CRQELzIEvhGSAsVBWyvawF_4sjpbkuT_arTfAjElrjv2ui_-I2pqe2-ErP_NtAiPhrbmo34dIWWPxnRI2F7_pz66JTY470IVqgUXrZNi5_-DanlsJnlhTvo2AXUucv_4Sa_5AjB6T5mPTfDDItotOyGcrFdnVJduWXsQ/w640-h640/IMG_20240225_083327.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Performing physio on Skabby , twenty time each section of each limb...</i></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ii5TsowP8CrnpZJQ-NUl_6ownqj9G2iIEqu_k9J14qAYufUnwouBritu98ws4PsyX5rCm5c8qr5IqDXBr0kL37TXodYes3OjfjETs7coiBlpQZSZWf9RczZEjeG_z0QuaVE-9dlhXCGfGrt1QkYis8asuuY2SXWC3uhXBSN6JlQYgHx6EEAuN3FEUiw/s2448/IMG_20240225_083353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ii5TsowP8CrnpZJQ-NUl_6ownqj9G2iIEqu_k9J14qAYufUnwouBritu98ws4PsyX5rCm5c8qr5IqDXBr0kL37TXodYes3OjfjETs7coiBlpQZSZWf9RczZEjeG_z0QuaVE-9dlhXCGfGrt1QkYis8asuuY2SXWC3uhXBSN6JlQYgHx6EEAuN3FEUiw/w640-h640/IMG_20240225_083353.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i>...every hour during the day on Sunday</i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In retrospect, I realize that the young vet was very wise in advising me to do this for Skabby on Sunday. I don't think anyone held out hope of him making it into the new week (for me, it didn't bear thinking about, I just willed the dog to keep living). Jeff knew that to keep a vintage lady busy administering help to the dog, would help keep my mind occupied. </span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Throughout the whole weekend, my Valley friends messaged me enquiring about Skabby's condition and encouraging me to keep positive. </span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">By Monday morning, there was no improvement. I loaded Skabby into the car again and drove to the vet. </span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Again.</span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">This time one of the other five vets met me at the door and between him and an assistant, carried Skabby into the surgery and onto the steel table. </span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwFLWDW0KXNc2Rr8mIo-MNHRp7cYtYSsvbA8ur8gZj6xZdMyEdVUW4eut37-yoLdxYGfSXeJnK2laDqon8rYtI-u9AzAVFnbf8_JBZ9u_LnAPlIQdMyh2QddXOpjDgDUIiNLlm7iw4YkczIOEgG2IWbFuOtzo5pMP19DgFuhEVidCAMxpRtj8rhl0tF0/s1530/IMG-20240226-WA0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="1530" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwFLWDW0KXNc2Rr8mIo-MNHRp7cYtYSsvbA8ur8gZj6xZdMyEdVUW4eut37-yoLdxYGfSXeJnK2laDqon8rYtI-u9AzAVFnbf8_JBZ9u_LnAPlIQdMyh2QddXOpjDgDUIiNLlm7iw4YkczIOEgG2IWbFuOtzo5pMP19DgFuhEVidCAMxpRtj8rhl0tF0/w640-h640/IMG-20240226-WA0005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A very sick doggie back at the vet!</i></b></div></i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The doctor told me he would be putting Skabby on a drip and would phone me in a couple of hours with what he had found. I kissed Skabby's foreheand and walked out quickly</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Within an hour the vet phoned me and said that Skabby had sever muscle damage and his kidneys were compromised. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eish. I was shattered. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nevertheless, the vet had him on a drip and would contact me at 4pm again. When he did, the first thing I said was: I have been so stressed about Skabby, to which he replied, you won't know how worried I have been about this dog, Jo. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But...</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">He said, they had a catheter in him and he had passed fluids, which was a good sign. The kidneys had not collapsed as he had thought earlier that morning. He said Skabby had a taste of special convalescent food from the vet's finger, and he was leaving the bowl of tasty food in his cage overnight. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next morning he phoned me and said that Skabby had urinated spontaneously which was a good sign. He also said that he thinks the boy is missing his mum and would start eating when I got him home.</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I could come and fetch him from the surgery! </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whoopeee!!!</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I arrived at the surgery, the ladies in reception were smiling broadly at Skabby's improvement. By now a <i>third </i>vet had checked Skabby earlier that morning but was at a farm working on calves. He phoned the receptionist and said that Thomas, the assistant was able to remove Skabby's catheter and then he could be discharged. While Thomas was preparing Skabby for release, I bought a new lead and collar. I told the receptionis that Skabby's made it this far; I <i>know </i>he will make complete recovery now. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOIrxlnMibap6sjTbvUIBYMhUK8EK-VhmIHpsnmPxfbX3GfezRnorlZvGAxNKk_C6g7Vu3jOx_3UhbGrZfh6Qk-zcx46p0lPO0QD6GNgV2lcLQzrOoxPNu6BdDrO8jqfWO9UV_5IPHlElq8D7ZK3awY8QpwasIc-7y5pTMgbRFkW7LbNa4W9KrHwzwLU/s1280/IMG-20240227-WA0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOIrxlnMibap6sjTbvUIBYMhUK8EK-VhmIHpsnmPxfbX3GfezRnorlZvGAxNKk_C6g7Vu3jOx_3UhbGrZfh6Qk-zcx46p0lPO0QD6GNgV2lcLQzrOoxPNu6BdDrO8jqfWO9UV_5IPHlElq8D7ZK3awY8QpwasIc-7y5pTMgbRFkW7LbNa4W9KrHwzwLU/w640-h640/IMG-20240227-WA0039.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>Thomas, using Skabby's new lead and collar, helped me take my boy to the car</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I sent all my friends the above photo saying: Skabby is going home! </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It took a further five days before Skabby ate a complete meal in the morning. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">One afternoon Gab came by to drop signed documents for me to take to the license bureau and found me on the floor snapping Skabby He said: is this a photo shoot! I said I am so relieved the dog had survived and no small thanks to him a Nune for their help on that first night. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKpD7V3Lv7YrH7bHTib27NyTNNLBCQ70qjhH1tqzAkf2hG6kAcuXZb59v2s634sqs1ge28URO0KEzrKiIbPl77CJBET8EA0ORL7hxCy1R-696__KAWvhYk-eht3oSwbUBa1pp7AxvnzFVZOpbe2M5pLPR6VIt2QmdBMSRH7Y4pgUg-MRJFlEIomjIm0w/s3060/IMG_20240229_171051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKpD7V3Lv7YrH7bHTib27NyTNNLBCQ70qjhH1tqzAkf2hG6kAcuXZb59v2s634sqs1ge28URO0KEzrKiIbPl77CJBET8EA0ORL7hxCy1R-696__KAWvhYk-eht3oSwbUBa1pp7AxvnzFVZOpbe2M5pLPR6VIt2QmdBMSRH7Y4pgUg-MRJFlEIomjIm0w/w640-h640/IMG_20240229_171051.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><i>Skabby had a serious demeanor for two weeks after returning from the vet. When I mentioned this to Ron, she said the dog had been through a traumatic experience, what else could one expect?</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday I took him to the other veterinarian surgery in another town. It's also owned by the same five vets. Skabby had his Autumn clip and grooming. When I collected him, Jeff was there and said, he was so pleased to see that Skabby has recovered so well. He told me that they had all been very worried that his kidneys would have collapsed. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">My friend, Marielle, who owns a coffee shop and sells natural honey, said Skabby knew his mom loved him and wanted to return to her no matter how sever his heatstroke symptoms had been. </span></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16qD1Bb5-LwY6KaD768Uq8ZHoGlMSXLzDIPcM0ygzhAAJAslQlpaK3DHFPNCIq4cFuuUajbYtqPyaxESWlnky04JbxRSNUzeTKOQscG0-PGFvHyYLeVTx1A9nT85j4U-_D19T-PfVfs8f1ZSPEZJdf9yxz0lWell2HmF8ieuDteqPMr7U-NmN_PdaJbE/s4608/IMG_20240315_131317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16qD1Bb5-LwY6KaD768Uq8ZHoGlMSXLzDIPcM0ygzhAAJAslQlpaK3DHFPNCIq4cFuuUajbYtqPyaxESWlnky04JbxRSNUzeTKOQscG0-PGFvHyYLeVTx1A9nT85j4U-_D19T-PfVfs8f1ZSPEZJdf9yxz0lWell2HmF8ieuDteqPMr7U-NmN_PdaJbE/w640-h480/IMG_20240315_131317.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Skabby groomed and ready for winter. No walkies. No Parkrun. He has a cool garden and veranda to relax on.</div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for reading this saga to the end. I had to chronicle it as it is one of the worst experiences I have every been through. It also serves to remind me that Skabby is not going for walks until the weather is cold and the African sun has lost its fierceness.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;">HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY!</span></i></span></div><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></i></div><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-39051659640218962432024-03-10T04:30:00.001+02:002024-03-10T04:30:00.140+02:00Thirteen hundred meters too far<p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Good morning, dear Blogger friends. Once again, I have been absent since posting about my recent birthday. As always work and social commitments pile up and I just don't get to post a blog.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, something happened the last weekend of February that almost ended in a disaster for me. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I have not taken Skabby to the weekly Parkrun during the summer, for obvious reasons - it's been too hot. However, once a month there is a 5km run/walk starting at a local hotel, meandering along a loop through rough bush terrain and returning to the hotel. It starts at 5pm and although the weather was 30</span></b><b><span face=""Century Gothic",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">°</span></b><b><span face=""Century Gothic",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> C</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">, I thought it would be cool enough to take Skabby,</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">He was ECSTATIC! He couldn't believe he was being taken in the car - for <i>WALKIES</i>. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">At the venue, everyone greeted him enthusiastically as he'd not been seen on walks with me since before Christmas. He lapped up all the attention and squealed and yelped in anticipation of the walk. </span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlZF2QaE5CtIBkr3rM0ftXrr_H5vHuNjZ2nSfSeVHVpGyR8ymoiZfkjyD0or9HfCedPBelc94epAAxGKKc2XP69vQoj9Ihr-U4rMjX0Bb8it0gLzbZsBLh-lLihyphenhyphenNGd3vjknovNZTlzWaK5kgxC6JL6vOP81ugM-vTrf9HhOdvmn5SnzIlCreAX9Vtd4/s1600/IMG-20240225-WA0039%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlZF2QaE5CtIBkr3rM0ftXrr_H5vHuNjZ2nSfSeVHVpGyR8ymoiZfkjyD0or9HfCedPBelc94epAAxGKKc2XP69vQoj9Ihr-U4rMjX0Bb8it0gLzbZsBLh-lLihyphenhyphenNGd3vjknovNZTlzWaK5kgxC6JL6vOP81ugM-vTrf9HhOdvmn5SnzIlCreAX9Vtd4/w640-h480/IMG-20240225-WA0039%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i>You will see by the way the dog is off the screen - he was pulling me to get started! </i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once we started to walk, I let Skabby off the leash. He galloped ahead, ran between the walkers and runners ahead; dashed back to see where I was; ran off into the bush beside the track. He was SO excited to be walking with Mum again after so long. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">All good and well. We covered 4.5km without mishap; I called Skabby back to me and leashed Skabby up again. As we started off again, I heard my dog's breath rasping. Loudly. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The weather had closed in and a storm, (of which Skabby is terrified) was brewing. We crested a hill on top of which Zama, one of the hotel receptionists, had a table a large carafe of iced water. I stopped, drank a glass; filled the glass and poured it over Skabby's neck while I drank another glass full, and poured another glass over Skabby. I asked Zama how far to the hotel from that point. I told her that I needed to get my dog to the end. She said that shortly along the track, I should take a sharp left, and within a few hundred meters I would be approaching the end. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, when I reached the sharp left fork, I noticed runners sprinting up a hill to the right. Tugging Skabby's leash, I urged him with me, and we started to climb. Near the top, one of the runners (coming back) told me to turn around as Skabby would NOT make it up the incline. Which I did, with the very tired dog dragging behind me.</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We reached the left fork with the river running along our right. By now, Skabby's back legs were buckling and at one stage he pulled me into some bushes next to the track and tried to lie down. I urged him to get up and we staggered onwards. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here I checked my steps on my smart watch: 6.3km. <i>Far more</i> than the 5km that we are normally used to. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqux3Po0Fz8g4KqwZlFOeDdIA27DZBI6NXKEcu4AxYas9upHX_NWe9y5tp2rvmlVDPI4UT4J34uluhYRykP0RI4fGFgBSD35fBPzELs5Rh0eJgPObPWl32lYwQbEq26dUudRXIA4J4HBfvWu0RZwaAFpnMLSAgmfMREUfv09H_idICKZMeldAf0yLpgw/s3060/IMG_20240307_113038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqux3Po0Fz8g4KqwZlFOeDdIA27DZBI6NXKEcu4AxYas9upHX_NWe9y5tp2rvmlVDPI4UT4J34uluhYRykP0RI4fGFgBSD35fBPzELs5Rh0eJgPObPWl32lYwQbEq26dUudRXIA4J4HBfvWu0RZwaAFpnMLSAgmfMREUfv09H_idICKZMeldAf0yLpgw/w640-h640/IMG_20240307_113038.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The steps leading up to the hotel lawn; I took this photo two days ago, facing downwards. You can see the steep gradient of these steps.</i>..</div></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We came to the bottom of a set of 20 medieval stone steps which lead up to the hotel lawn. I managed to put Skabby's front paws on the second step and lifted his hind legs onto the first step. Just then other friends of mine arrived, and the gentleman helped me walk the dog up the steps. We got him across the lawn, and he collapsed on a ramp leading onto the veranda. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>By now it was drizzling, and realizing that my dog was overheated and exhausted, I lay him out on the concrete. Another friend, Bellle, who loves Skabby, came by and seeing what was happening she dashed into the bar and emerged with the largest plastic container filled with ice from the machine. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>While she packed ice around Skabby, talking to him all the while I found a bowl and dipped it into a fountain on the veranda. I poured water over Skabby. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The hotel veranda was packed with guests enjoying the mountain view before going into dinner. The other runners from the walk, were sitting on a deck above where we were ministering to Skabby. As people walked past, they'd stop and inquire whether the dog had had a heart attack. Thinking to myself,<i> I hope not,</i> I'd say, no, he's suffering from the heat. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The hotel owner, Sunny, another a good friend of mine, arrived asking if she could assist in any way. I said I would like to phone the vet and ask his advice. She took me to her office, where I was able to raise the emergency vet on duty who happened to be engaged to the younger daughter of my farmer/neighbor's Gab and Nune. Jeff, who has known Skabby these past six years, advised me to cool him down (which Belle and I had been doing); to calm him down, as he'd be stressed with all the activity around him and to <i>get him home</i>! I shared this last instruction from the vet, with Sunny. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When we got back to the ramp where Belle had managed to cool Skabby quite significantly, although he was still very hot, a guest came by and asked if we needed help to get the dog my car. Sunny, who enlisted the help of a young male hotel employee. My Group Assistant from town had walked that night, while her husband, who has just had a heart attack scare, waited on the hotel deck. <i>He</i> took my car keys and within minutes had returned with a blanket which I use on my back seat when transporting Skabby. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We managed to roll Skabby onto a blanket; the two men lifted each end and between them carried the dog, sling style across the veranda, through a reception lounge, with Sunny going ahead and opening doors and out onto the side veranda to the car park. While wending my way through the guests sitting at small tables on the veranda, enjoying pre-dinner drinks, I thought of how <i>off the wall </i>I am. Recently several of my contemporaries have had scares with their husbands taking ill (like my elderly neighbor at Christmas time) and my Group Assistant who'd had to rush her husband to hospital only ten days before this, here I am following kind people carrying my very sick dog to the car. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When I arrived home, I parked the car and had no illusions about finding my darling Skabby alive. Miraculaously, when I opened the back door, he lifted his head. Hallelujah! I dragged him off the back seat onto the lawn next to my car. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> And thought, <i>now what?</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Punching Gab's number on my phone pad, he answered within seconds. I apologized for bothering him on a Friday night, but asked if he and Nune could please come and assist me with my dog which had collapsed next to the car. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A few minutes later and they both arrived: Nune wielding a handheld torch. They both bent to look at Skabby and when they felt the dog, they were horrified at how hot he was. Nune ran to my veranda and on my instructions had taken a sealed bag of ice cubes from the freezer. Gab and I dragged Skabby across the lawn and onto the veranda. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nune and I packed ice around his body while Gab fetched my fan from indoors, started it and angled it towards the dog. Then he took the hose pipe and gently tricked water over Skabby while Nune and I continued to layer ice blocks around and under his body. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DZY9n3d2qKxC8osODstoeRhf_JEW2YfnOiyjC6obnWkEtNqKMiC5POTky8rRCi0eZ7c73obxeWTA8Q-YZzZkY9e4_beYbSzyVzYJ3JHPpiNIVkPuoZveezVlrODJwBttXfQX4QQchizxwaRXysTw2ETJYAmcPWWkrrp4DU1cfioSQy5dmjq8wSm8DFM/s3060/IMG_20240223_201739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DZY9n3d2qKxC8osODstoeRhf_JEW2YfnOiyjC6obnWkEtNqKMiC5POTky8rRCi0eZ7c73obxeWTA8Q-YZzZkY9e4_beYbSzyVzYJ3JHPpiNIVkPuoZveezVlrODJwBttXfQX4QQchizxwaRXysTw2ETJYAmcPWWkrrp4DU1cfioSQy5dmjq8wSm8DFM/w640-h640/IMG_20240223_201739.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nune muttered that she could see Skabby drooling. The vet told me afterwards he was dehydrated through saliva and vomit emitting from his mouth. Skabby has very floppy lips and Nune gently placed ice cubes under his lips while I packed ice on the back of his neck. All the while, Gab was gently hosing Skabby's body down. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>After 45 minutes of the three of us, literally fighting for my dog's life, finally Gab said he thought Skabby's body heat was back to normal. He suggested I leave him on the veranda with the fan blowing directly onto him. He also said, he hoped not, but if ANYTHING happened, I was to call them during the night</b></span>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">These two wonderful people went back over the lawn to their home for the night. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nSPNkXST_sxtBsfuNkxSEXyfMl2jrRl7_KHPkw_9Yvv8phuB_6UBnf2Lrof_vTtsoZ4bpHVg3DdD6S5rR-ohWNM0sLPOMdDGIrKr-lQVv-qraRdaJx8-tSnlZeRUfeycMJS09AEG8dGl50Weaa4bpC6DCUcW7j6TxxeOJPblINCABNU0SCtXcFe1WME/s3060/IMG_20240223_201702.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nSPNkXST_sxtBsfuNkxSEXyfMl2jrRl7_KHPkw_9Yvv8phuB_6UBnf2Lrof_vTtsoZ4bpHVg3DdD6S5rR-ohWNM0sLPOMdDGIrKr-lQVv-qraRdaJx8-tSnlZeRUfeycMJS09AEG8dGl50Weaa4bpC6DCUcW7j6TxxeOJPblINCABNU0SCtXcFe1WME/w640-h640/IMG_20240223_201702.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><b><i>As you can see, my poor dog was sopping wet with ice melting under his body. However, here he seemed to be lying in a more natural pose compared to earlier</i></b></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once I had gone indoors (I needed a bath after my walk in the heat earlier), I kept coming back to look at Skabby through the glass panels of my door. I did this every couple of minutes. I couldn't imagine that I would get much sleep that night. </span></div></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then disaster struck! The storm which had built up while we were walking, arrived on the farm. As mentioned above, Skabby is terrified of storms. I heard a rather close thunderclap seconds before I sensed (rather than saw) the lightning strike. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And when I looked up again, Skabby was gone!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To be continued...</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-81778366062524795582024-03-09T15:19:00.005+02:002024-03-09T15:20:09.310+02:00Praying mantis<p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Good morning dear Blogger friends. Once again I have been absent from Blogger. Not intentionally</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here I am back again.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Last week I spotted this bright green praying mantis above my kitchen sink. I quickly took several photos and then, with the help of a glass, I captured it, placed a sheet of paper over the mouth of the glass, and then tipped the mantis out into the garden. </span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNY9GymtniPie9O-ZqamNl2nix4H2u1kJZfEj_ZpviPLr-HEuMnpWcV-O9SR5OhEGQsgvRdBIE3h3bWy00R7NO6qGxQGe8gWa9hWxLO75KiA_2bzgekDmTNeAFMNJxrLv3qkc1PZ_26shmSLQ-gDnn3d8C_gi2gfZp2jpOPte16TpFjOHGYKbE6WyM4g/s3060/IMG_20240304_200311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNY9GymtniPie9O-ZqamNl2nix4H2u1kJZfEj_ZpviPLr-HEuMnpWcV-O9SR5OhEGQsgvRdBIE3h3bWy00R7NO6qGxQGe8gWa9hWxLO75KiA_2bzgekDmTNeAFMNJxrLv3qkc1PZ_26shmSLQ-gDnn3d8C_gi2gfZp2jpOPte16TpFjOHGYKbE6WyM4g/w640-h640/IMG_20240304_200311.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Safe and sound back into the wild</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm linking up to Saturday Critters with Eileen, <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=viewingnaturewitheileen+blogspot&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgDEEUYwgMyBwgAEEUYwgMyBwgBEEUYwgMyBwgCEEUYwgMyBwgDEEUYwgMyBwgEEEUYwgMyBwgFEEUYwgMyBwgGEEUYwgMyBwgHEEUYwgPSAQ03NzYxMzQyMjdqMGoxqAIIsAIB&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=W000">here</a></span></b></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #04ff00; font-size: x-large;">HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! </span></i></b></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-17666926801873337152024-02-19T04:30:00.005+02:002024-02-19T04:30:00.243+02:00Another birthday celebration<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Good morning, dear Blogger friends.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Some of you may remember that when I celebrated my birthday last year - the BIG SEVEN OH - I had a week of parties, dinners, breakfasts and outings. So, when the 13th of February arrived this year, I thought, oh well, this will just be another birthday. Nothing more.</b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">This was further than the truth than ever!</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>From daybreak on Tuesday, I was inundated with messages on my WhatsApp and phone calls from various friends and family. Thank you to dear Penny, Snap that blog, for your wishes. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As I walked into Ron's office at the farm, she wished me and handed me a gift - a fragrant linen spray. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Later, on the way to the bookkeepers for the farm and Weigh-Less that afternoon, I first stopped off at the Waffle Hut. There I was greeted by friends from church who meet regularly every week for coffee. I was spoiled with beautiful gifts of fresh nuts; snack packs of dried fruit; handcream and designer nougat beautifully wrapped. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When I arrived at my Weigh-Less group, several members arrived with gift bags of spoils: bath salts and a loofah; a set of body butters and a trail pack of fruit n nut snacks; bath oil and handcream; a beautiful red candle in a jar (perfect a day before Valentines Day) and a pack of dried kiwi fruit which was delicious.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>That evening Steve and Estelle (I worked in Steve's art shop for two years before Covid enforced closure) took me to dinner at a restaurant at the foothills of mountains. </b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo-dfTo3QRDizrFUc22GIBTL8yRhaoB6r8-aCQnzK7FngRlIetQ_IKPpi97lg8SfvovsZoLROiPiD0gPXzGU0Zk-AEU6Rp3u2zPtsvmvABDk_sR4KD5k9nNPHV_0s73Z8W324ezTpea7SpZtPEq_Yq1pJuJzks3bhE_ny7XGhAGdpVs_lfzWJ0mXMEZU/s3060/IMG_20240213_185345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo-dfTo3QRDizrFUc22GIBTL8yRhaoB6r8-aCQnzK7FngRlIetQ_IKPpi97lg8SfvovsZoLROiPiD0gPXzGU0Zk-AEU6Rp3u2zPtsvmvABDk_sR4KD5k9nNPHV_0s73Z8W324ezTpea7SpZtPEq_Yq1pJuJzks3bhE_ny7XGhAGdpVs_lfzWJ0mXMEZU/w640-h640/IMG_20240213_185345.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Dinner with friends with the sun setting over the peaks</i></b></div></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When I walked into my little cottage at the farm later that evening, I realized I had not been home for long enough to check emails. I sat down at my laptop and checked my inbox.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>There, in between my accommodation booking reminders and other emails, was a BEAUTIFUL birthday card from Weigh-Less Head Office management and staff. </b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">+<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrIteVyIHpSX5uMU_Dvz2UAH2o1UStlJx_PhqKyZgAlmA08vUKJPTA1jFqOegrvelDHq4l2W4wTY5UZzlXPvUjX8rcJsfPY9VmdemahQisDssCczFYnVkQJL3USJcLBIYCHpcWfqao0zLBQeGWiAw5jzBpv8mrvMhFXMdgq8W6VA_BTr5uoHBmj2RCy0/s3060/IMG_20240218_204201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2288" data-original-width="3060" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrIteVyIHpSX5uMU_Dvz2UAH2o1UStlJx_PhqKyZgAlmA08vUKJPTA1jFqOegrvelDHq4l2W4wTY5UZzlXPvUjX8rcJsfPY9VmdemahQisDssCczFYnVkQJL3USJcLBIYCHpcWfqao0zLBQeGWiAw5jzBpv8mrvMhFXMdgq8W6VA_BTr5uoHBmj2RCy0/w640-h478/IMG_20240218_204201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Birthday card from Weigh-Less HO</i></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">All in all a wonderful 71st </span></b><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>birthday!</b></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: large;"><i>MAY YOU ALL ENJOY A WONDERFUL WEEK AHEAD! </i></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><br /><br /></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-81290082067388681342024-02-17T15:47:00.003+02:002024-02-17T15:47:29.877+02:00Teeny green critter<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Good morning, dear Blogger friends. </b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you all for the kind words and future good wishes for my little car. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Several other events have taken place since I posted this, but firstly I'd like to share rescuing a very small grasshopper just recently. By the photos you can see it is miniscule and by the photos of the glossy starlings on the lawn enjoying Skabby's leftover bone, you'll agree I managed to save the grasshopper's life. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>He would have been fodder for the starling, but I </b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>inadvertently </b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">supplied an alternative snack for the bird...</span></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PRLsXCxTjzAkLBdbeyns0k8kjlQwfzMuY2oHkO8HmGdyjL5Zzyr-_BVa_8d70l-Ru1JbXYnpdb0aYYI2yGOHAJDl9NHprs2LveHhS3cDl8ktS0E99z2pnKmJJpQxSGPTK4r27kPp4OZfLsCGWMNQe6Zs9nq32SPz3_ipV-QNJeiYRoaOhCN_pNEgZv8/s3060/IMG_20240205_141606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PRLsXCxTjzAkLBdbeyns0k8kjlQwfzMuY2oHkO8HmGdyjL5Zzyr-_BVa_8d70l-Ru1JbXYnpdb0aYYI2yGOHAJDl9NHprs2LveHhS3cDl8ktS0E99z2pnKmJJpQxSGPTK4r27kPp4OZfLsCGWMNQe6Zs9nq32SPz3_ipV-QNJeiYRoaOhCN_pNEgZv8/w640-h640/IMG_20240205_141606.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRruJlH5wAX4LbeJ46YPhc3Qf0-U3WPLm_nvhiv2JIEnMyW0MTP6qRSkWIZhfNrJRUwkMcbu6u8EuHWbKyJWvUaJgSedfvlflGNjULklRDvGGbJFk5uhYVQnVcSh6sZgXSIFDh12Y0kyX12Y62JSgwYqxEhyYe3cJjjEKqf0C6DMrdaV4Qbpc7vAlF0JQ/s3060/IMG_20240205_141529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRruJlH5wAX4LbeJ46YPhc3Qf0-U3WPLm_nvhiv2JIEnMyW0MTP6qRSkWIZhfNrJRUwkMcbu6u8EuHWbKyJWvUaJgSedfvlflGNjULklRDvGGbJFk5uhYVQnVcSh6sZgXSIFDh12Y0kyX12Y62JSgwYqxEhyYe3cJjjEKqf0C6DMrdaV4Qbpc7vAlF0JQ/w640-h640/IMG_20240205_141529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The tiny grasshopper...</i></b></div></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1zbVnX1LRQM10rSNjvXGQU3mG17mLtYRzXG7VayqcVeftidNDDZnG1zLhrYqrAyr2ZkeJbP9Z1NtroSHAV8JmfUOUxSHT68-h87ohreAnwMweZuSG4lg_cKLtPGZPJXvWVBHFYb4JJZmE7nV98sPFlDDc2dYhJk9_nN60EyjIKqkbux8UNtErHv_ZIM/s3060/IMG_20240205_141524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1zbVnX1LRQM10rSNjvXGQU3mG17mLtYRzXG7VayqcVeftidNDDZnG1zLhrYqrAyr2ZkeJbP9Z1NtroSHAV8JmfUOUxSHT68-h87ohreAnwMweZuSG4lg_cKLtPGZPJXvWVBHFYb4JJZmE7nV98sPFlDDc2dYhJk9_nN60EyjIKqkbux8UNtErHv_ZIM/w640-h640/IMG_20240205_141524.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TS3hdruMfYHPDI8OzDWgAqoD3n1rZHVfbOIKZj9CQYkIqZb0xj0tgbfY98DOPRto-eyq9OUZ0R3JBJ0ykcuTZb35F94v1TXoy1ZmmPVx_tNIiS4UGGCmj_1WvMLO2dHNDKwy7IFa8wa7r9SqH8-13ZzToPqMbOzgYyDoGC6ITunRYgalTXyIognM68w/s3060/IMG_20240205_141514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TS3hdruMfYHPDI8OzDWgAqoD3n1rZHVfbOIKZj9CQYkIqZb0xj0tgbfY98DOPRto-eyq9OUZ0R3JBJ0ykcuTZb35F94v1TXoy1ZmmPVx_tNIiS4UGGCmj_1WvMLO2dHNDKwy7IFa8wa7r9SqH8-13ZzToPqMbOzgYyDoGC6ITunRYgalTXyIognM68w/w640-h640/IMG_20240205_141514.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>...perfect in every way...</i></b></div></b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuKGM-blgmNcMOViKg-tccE4FzZg8rdPO3mOQUKPeGPKtPsXZH1uevRBllNfUVWUgYfFcHjj30Sl1CoXG-CAXtAzJ-RAOewW9ublMFU5u-I90SXlg3hriH-jOuU5GO_MATxp1jbGV3v-mKS3B9Mz-oF0am8JM4bGlDIvMqMs_eMLHW5Dyw0nHo9QMlI0/s3060/IMG_20240206_180647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuKGM-blgmNcMOViKg-tccE4FzZg8rdPO3mOQUKPeGPKtPsXZH1uevRBllNfUVWUgYfFcHjj30Sl1CoXG-CAXtAzJ-RAOewW9ublMFU5u-I90SXlg3hriH-jOuU5GO_MATxp1jbGV3v-mKS3B9Mz-oF0am8JM4bGlDIvMqMs_eMLHW5Dyw0nHo9QMlI0/w640-h640/IMG_20240206_180647.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><i>Glossy starlings often land on my lawn and nibble at Skabby's leftover </i></b><span style="text-align: left;"><b><i>bone.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm linking toe Saturday Critters with Eileen, <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/">here</a></span></b></span></div></blockquote><p><span style="color: #04ff00; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Happy Saturday to you all! </b></i></span> </p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-78698130806903892022024-02-05T04:30:00.001+02:002024-02-05T04:30:00.285+02:00A milestone...<p> <b><span style="font-size: large;">... for my trusty chariot!</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good morning, dear Blogger friends. Thank you for all the well wishes with my recent bout of Covid. On Monday morning, I got up, got dressed and walked over to the farm office next door. Ron and John were off on a short holiday at the coast, so I was in charge for the week.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It was monthend, I had guests leaving The Bunker and the next guests checking in; I needed to run a Weigh-Less Group on Tuesday as the previous week had been online and I had to pay wages here on the farm. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It certainly jolted me from my previous week's slumbers and energized me!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>At the same time, I noticed that the speedometer on my little car was approaching the 100,000km mark. I taped a reminder on the dashboard a little earlier this week.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>On Saturday, as I drove to Parkrun - not to run but to volunteer - I saw that it was clocked in at 99,991.</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyV9YGFLaQeOMOycshCyAa1D_G8k26xoi22UYU4yxKxuhg4MNNlJk1o8F6qKzCJLKTp5XZdsa7knTNTSzaibstY7MY31pK0Xmm8TYXr_FE_ns_Lfuv7zZU7mtA9saNCSmquGlBLSgOYN8vnRmvxP33dcpsdANzflACbzsuKQegi0MRDoaBsW1rC7ARI5o/s3060/IMG_20240203_101804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyV9YGFLaQeOMOycshCyAa1D_G8k26xoi22UYU4yxKxuhg4MNNlJk1o8F6qKzCJLKTp5XZdsa7knTNTSzaibstY7MY31pK0Xmm8TYXr_FE_ns_Lfuv7zZU7mtA9saNCSmquGlBLSgOYN8vnRmvxP33dcpsdANzflACbzsuKQegi0MRDoaBsW1rC7ARI5o/w640-h640/IMG_20240203_101804.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Earlier this week, I added a printed note to remind me of the big one!</i></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGd1YWjo8c-E3lZo5cEzlWul31VrIVtOeouIbjffnKkOFAcLJU5IPf6cOyLFnNTh_yvJXnttdMNJB0paM6WTneowQHZbFGe6_1_UhIocHi8-FAzkklD8r2aEyI75DcS5pg96V5enpn1K-SyToE1c67vZbCFk0MqAUJBHE1HskNN9xSDTEdxP7b_dmvbZ0/s3060/IMG_20240203_101827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGd1YWjo8c-E3lZo5cEzlWul31VrIVtOeouIbjffnKkOFAcLJU5IPf6cOyLFnNTh_yvJXnttdMNJB0paM6WTneowQHZbFGe6_1_UhIocHi8-FAzkklD8r2aEyI75DcS5pg96V5enpn1K-SyToE1c67vZbCFk0MqAUJBHE1HskNN9xSDTEdxP7b_dmvbZ0/w640-h640/IMG_20240203_101827.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>On the main road traveling back home, I kept a beady eye on the speedometer. I stopped to take this photo above</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And then...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6WZBm7dPlVKn1mz05l6sA8I_c2n-ElQXfrymRCfQlEbws8O4woX84mMkBHuqDAd5fG-9YD1A2KjXU_NJaPvUHis_5eCjY1fsEQv6MWkZeY8PTz6aKUWnawwUTe7urdLvXvN1Zi8uTvEET0aGAq1z5JVpJ6qlqwteULzkUNgtenJsSFWOO2dbzWnozTI/s3060/IMG_20240203_101947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6WZBm7dPlVKn1mz05l6sA8I_c2n-ElQXfrymRCfQlEbws8O4woX84mMkBHuqDAd5fG-9YD1A2KjXU_NJaPvUHis_5eCjY1fsEQv6MWkZeY8PTz6aKUWnawwUTe7urdLvXvN1Zi8uTvEET0aGAq1z5JVpJ6qlqwteULzkUNgtenJsSFWOO2dbzWnozTI/w640-h640/IMG_20240203_101947.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>100,000 KM! </i></span></b></div></b></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLKrUB0SzuEPQ2ozLnPT7YFu2XKqm0oWD4mg1LSHMJ7a6mzdk5jTPKI_KjJLnnLAJ3Bx4NTMYky1QzkHcB9ek-rwz7ijVi0L5bvmYw_uOhWfxVbPX7lkWZas_i7eRdhG-ViLhKKcx652zQ1LokgXgNXzExB1rO9DaVepKbxlpLYa5D-d7_NnD7TcsBN8/s3060/IMG_20240203_102756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLKrUB0SzuEPQ2ozLnPT7YFu2XKqm0oWD4mg1LSHMJ7a6mzdk5jTPKI_KjJLnnLAJ3Bx4NTMYky1QzkHcB9ek-rwz7ijVi0L5bvmYw_uOhWfxVbPX7lkWZas_i7eRdhG-ViLhKKcx652zQ1LokgXgNXzExB1rO9DaVepKbxlpLYa5D-d7_NnD7TcsBN8/w640-h640/IMG_20240203_102756.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i>Parked in the car port, I patted my faithful little car and took a photo</i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why the fuss about mileage? (kilometers in this case).</span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Firstly, because I can. I had no-one in the car asking What are you stopping for? What are you photographing? So, I was free to record this milestone.</b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Secondly, for those dear friends who have known me for longer, you may remember how I posted about buying my own car way back in 2019. At the age of 66, I had to do the whole deal on my own. For the first time in my life.</span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And thirdly, this little has served me so well. And I trust it will continue to do so for a long time. I do take exceptionally good care of it even though it is used primarily for business.</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oh, and as many of you know, I love numbers and making a fuss off numbers. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ironically, I personally have not driven all those 100,000 km. I bought this lovely little car as a previously-loved car with 27,000km on the clock.</span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: x-large;"><i> </i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: x-large;"><i>MAY YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL MONDAY!</i></span></b></div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-9035785701810717892024-01-27T11:36:00.002+02:002024-01-27T11:36:19.369+02:00Explanation<p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Good morning, dear Blogger friends. Thank you for your comments and care on the previous post. The dogs in question are very friendly, within reason. However, they do not permit anyone without authority into their garden. Until that penultimate day in 2023, this always pertained to humans. With Scabby venturing into their turf (he was following me), they took great offence and attacked. Each one on its own would be a fair match for Scabby, but together, mother and son are a killer team.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">They are also the "yard or outside" dogs and when the owners (who treat them quite well, feeding and housing them) are away, they spend their days at my garden fence. And when I am in the office, they both lie at my feet under my desk. I bear them no animosity - at all! In fact, in the photos of the previous post, you see Scabby chewing his bone. These two dogs were waiting at the fence, as I have smaller bones (for economic purposes) which I throw over the fence for them. The young male is very agile and leaps into the air to catch his treat. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, this past week has been terrible for me. At Parkrun last week (minus Scabby, as it's too hot at the moment), I managed to reach the 800m mark; stopped and turned around. I never ever give up on anything I embark on, and this was a first for me. The volunteers at the end were horrified, as they knew something was amiss.</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I couldn't breathe properly, and my legs had just refused to obey me. I sat at the end, commiserating that I could perhaps have done the 5km. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Instead, I found myself driving into town to the doctor. He summarily did a Covid test - positive!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I drove home armed with painkillers and a three-day course of antibiotics. I had notified my neighbors and subsequently, I have been in quarantine for the past week.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I am still not out of the woods. Normally I can push through pain and discomfort and chivvy myself to get moving, but this [the second time] that I had the dreadful virus, has really floored me.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>On Friday, I drove to the Bunker to clean after the last guests and prepare for the next ones. As you can see by the photo below, not much enthusiasm went into polishing the wood surfaces! </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgPSmZAc1eE2zg5GAZiTOXkidRAMLaOgmUc0BMhQf63SzxXpS9KUlTCVMnELHn9U0evZoSAmFiE0g_bOh0W3C3oxIFXwCXdv6XNf8XqcEWZzWudyDtnPFBWfUxyWpxV8YSbk7vFjKkBx0Bdyv3mQbxwDLKvHBznVxMa0BD1s4AdxNsccJraIuvGnzmRU/s2448/IMG_20240126_090011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgPSmZAc1eE2zg5GAZiTOXkidRAMLaOgmUc0BMhQf63SzxXpS9KUlTCVMnELHn9U0evZoSAmFiE0g_bOh0W3C3oxIFXwCXdv6XNf8XqcEWZzWudyDtnPFBWfUxyWpxV8YSbk7vFjKkBx0Bdyv3mQbxwDLKvHBznVxMa0BD1s4AdxNsccJraIuvGnzmRU/w640-h640/IMG_20240126_090011.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> I am spending the weekend resting: no Parkrun (definitely!) and no church. I need to be re-energized and ready for work at the farm office on Monday morning. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I used my limited surrounds to look for interesting critters and sights. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKgAfK5cgFvhet6AggBpTN32WCarhaeBqCSRXBrNZkmRxbq8rie-DTtUqMdsTdWLrjdzTO4OOXRUMrfcyUC4OJtpr125Onea8r9u3uIu-BF6NEiXq4tCKPXcTmAVb90s8AX_JU07TuElYD2_9zqvu5pYTr-6bWAO1lqUSjmBuxQ2JbIckffutLNaM_R0/s3060/IMG_20240113_100948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKgAfK5cgFvhet6AggBpTN32WCarhaeBqCSRXBrNZkmRxbq8rie-DTtUqMdsTdWLrjdzTO4OOXRUMrfcyUC4OJtpr125Onea8r9u3uIu-BF6NEiXq4tCKPXcTmAVb90s8AX_JU07TuElYD2_9zqvu5pYTr-6bWAO1lqUSjmBuxQ2JbIckffutLNaM_R0/w640-h640/IMG_20240113_100948.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>A centipede found its way into my kitchen</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BuJIsm3-Z1UTFe__bJKsEKbOWezSKoJfgNkhkHc7ts1-pDsIQW2TlaaZDMtizNaRdFtN8tfpbUS-y8GyjKzMjF-c0Ni9ZJNz_f36mhjaXL6vFxyJoHzh93scp_LBI7RJMzOQucxjSuWDb7jJDpjBl0rfH1gsLKjXfKZmltJ-fh5DSsq73-kRLWq7Nzw/s3060/IMG_20240113_100941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BuJIsm3-Z1UTFe__bJKsEKbOWezSKoJfgNkhkHc7ts1-pDsIQW2TlaaZDMtizNaRdFtN8tfpbUS-y8GyjKzMjF-c0Ni9ZJNz_f36mhjaXL6vFxyJoHzh93scp_LBI7RJMzOQucxjSuWDb7jJDpjBl0rfH1gsLKjXfKZmltJ-fh5DSsq73-kRLWq7Nzw/w640-h640/IMG_20240113_100941.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Chappie not at all fazed by the creepy critter at her tail. Using a piece of paper, I let the centipete walk onto it and tipped it in the garden </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFscF7_yf2bQvIsMgpZmXeSmU_XP6k1g3FU5T0xLjtgiFoe1McBI3QSLWX4aDY6b9d75pwt8WPSb0GyTJu9BJTGmguf_zO-GCU15NOSQXusz_M2-an4Z2SmKO3LvvqCkXhmbSXl3PXYUpKeljRHNplnx2xEZPNjb-gMyka1z4c-8ADfYa2AwhavSBYb0E/s3060/IMG_20240113_054435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFscF7_yf2bQvIsMgpZmXeSmU_XP6k1g3FU5T0xLjtgiFoe1McBI3QSLWX4aDY6b9d75pwt8WPSb0GyTJu9BJTGmguf_zO-GCU15NOSQXusz_M2-an4Z2SmKO3LvvqCkXhmbSXl3PXYUpKeljRHNplnx2xEZPNjb-gMyka1z4c-8ADfYa2AwhavSBYb0E/w640-h640/IMG_20240113_054435.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b>The Tecomaria blooms reflected in Scabby's plodging bowl caught my eye and I had to share it!</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen, <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00; font-size: x-large;"><i>Here's wishing you all a healthy and happy Saturday! </i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><p></p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-27658684767672083342024-01-25T04:30:00.125+02:002024-01-27T10:29:57.555+02:00A distaster averted <p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Good morning, dear Blogger friends. As described on Wednesday, I was all alone on the farm, although during the day I had three staff here and the farmer next door whom I could call in an emergency. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Once I'd returned from Parkrun, I settled in at my desk to clear some of the admin for the week. While sitting there, I heard the two Labradors next door attack the old Staffie. This happened every time the owners were away. I always dashed into their yard and bellowed at them which seemed to work. They would leave the old dog and she would slink aways around the house to lick her wounds. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This Saturday, I reacted no different. I ran outside and through my gate, (which I realized afterwards I'd not latched properly,) into their garden, also leaving that gate unlocked. The dogs had left the Staffie, and I ran around the house to see where she was. She was not at the back, and I dashed back to the front. As I looked up the path, I saw a dog with a collar in the garden. Not one of the neighbor's dogs have collars and I realized that it was Skabby. He had followed me through both open gates. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My blood ran cold when I saw the two Labs running up and circling him. I pulled a couple of bricks from a crumbling garden wall (on a farm of over 100 years, things tend to crumble) and sprinted to the three dogs. By now the other two dogs had hold of Skabby. One had his right cheek and the other had him by the ear. I hurled the bricks at the male dog but he didn't even flinch.<span></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>By now I had reached the dogs and I was screaming blue murder. I had hold of Skabby's collar but as I'd pull him away from one dog, the other dog took a firmer grip. Skabby also got a few bites in. I thought of poking the male Lab in the eye, yet all the while I was concerned that I had my hands and arms so close the viciously snapping jaws. And all the time I was screaming like a banshee! In this milieu, I was thinking imagine the vet bill on a New Year's weekend. And I also thought, my dog is going to be killed. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I must have been calling Star, because she ran into the garden and also threw a brick at the male, but as he let go, his mother took hold of Skabby's cheek again. I shouted to Star to bring water. Thankfully, my Zulu studies helped her to understand me. She returned within a minute with a tiny 500ml bucket (we buy raw honey in these containers) filled with water. As she splashed it over the three dogs' heads, they all let go.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Incredible...</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>She chased the two dogs towards their home while I pushed Skabby out of the yard. She followed me to my gate and patting her chest she said; <i>Eish </i>(Zulu for <i>phew</i>). I, close to laughing hysterically, said: Star, I am forty years older than you, what do you think my heart is doing right now.</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>These dogs had known each other for the past six years I've lived here. They have snapped, growled and barked through the fence. But with Skabby trespassing on their turf, there had to be a confrontation. </b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkOMnyuJVXvrJm_DmqODWadOD9zFp5a6o8miaK5I1MwSZBkkkkFaK2sWN68xL8FKrQnivTVHdgJyr9VyivveWvrgQFbuKK2u7f93i7Mj-cKgj0RZ6pC_fPJdfnKlEA5A3Ebp_3hQdRzXgIMzMHPi9tFXEJ30rAyNMMlGC_0Y2TLbct1raYWKsScnj0RM/s3060/IMG_20231228_150818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkOMnyuJVXvrJm_DmqODWadOD9zFp5a6o8miaK5I1MwSZBkkkkFaK2sWN68xL8FKrQnivTVHdgJyr9VyivveWvrgQFbuKK2u7f93i7Mj-cKgj0RZ6pC_fPJdfnKlEA5A3Ebp_3hQdRzXgIMzMHPi9tFXEJ30rAyNMMlGC_0Y2TLbct1raYWKsScnj0RM/w640-h640/IMG_20231228_150818.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Skabby enjoying his bone on the lawn in my garden</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKN8xzrjhsHpuPz3jZ8BeJPXSEMU2DKH3SOeN_juruZ_5S-O3KZ_SPL9FQWeqUqXNnHR29XyXhzFULCaYC6h3yAs6kxe-EVevz0LJujy1rrnXvBWkeqmwc3tJnSjNRAt0DmhWkzy1_Ns3CuEs3uzbPJciyxaQ5tKYxX58yq1YVDSVVFH_4shjEjzBP_hA/s3060/IMG_20231228_150115%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKN8xzrjhsHpuPz3jZ8BeJPXSEMU2DKH3SOeN_juruZ_5S-O3KZ_SPL9FQWeqUqXNnHR29XyXhzFULCaYC6h3yAs6kxe-EVevz0LJujy1rrnXvBWkeqmwc3tJnSjNRAt0DmhWkzy1_Ns3CuEs3uzbPJciyxaQ5tKYxX58yq1YVDSVVFH_4shjEjzBP_hA/w640-h640/IMG_20231228_150115%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>The two Labs next door. </i><i><br /></i></b></div></b><p></p><p><b style="font-size: x-large;">All's well that ends well. Skabby got off with not a single puncture or wound. When I went into the house next door later to check on the dogs, I saw the male had dripped blood on the veranda floor. And his mother limped painfully to the corner when she saw me.</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">I have never, ever seen dogs fighting. Let alone been in the thick of it. This was the first time and hope the last. I never want to live through that again.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00; font-size: x-large;"><i>HAPPY FRIDAY TO YOU </i></span></b><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>ALL!</i></b></span></span></p><p><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-77744713960448594482024-01-24T04:30:00.002+02:002024-01-24T04:30:00.130+02:0023 days into the New Year!<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Good morning, Blogger friends. Once again, I played hookey from Blogging, but it was not intentional. From Christas through to 2nd January, I normally have the whole week off. And I had hoped to blog hop and post in that period. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As you all know, from Christmas post that Farmer John had a nasty turn and was transported by ambulance to the city. Unbeknown to us, he had convinced the doctor to discharge him. He said (and it was true) that his son was due to leave on an overseas trip with his wife and there would be no-one at the farm.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>However, on the Thursday night he began to have anxiety attacks. On Friday they had an appointment with the doctor who said his blood is very thick and he is in danger of a clot forming. The doctor said Farmer John needed to be hospitalized. Once again that evening we were standing on the farmyard waiting for the ambulance to arrive.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Once again, Farmer John was loaded into the ambulance and his wife got into the passenger seat next to the driver. When they drove off, I thought: well, that means I am all alone on this farm!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The next morning, Star arrived to feed both the other houses' dogs (there are twenty in total). The herdsman arrived to take the cattle from one paddock to the other. Nelsiwe was at her post in the mill, selling maize meal. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Farmer John's brother farms next door and <i>his </i>son came over to execute a few tasks that the Farmer John would have done that day. I handed him a bunch of keys and telling me to call him if I needed him, he went off into the shed. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Feeling quite proud of myself for managing the farm so well, so far, I got into my car and went to Parkrun. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To be continued...</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><br /></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-75930800632336019912023-12-30T21:19:00.007+02:002023-12-30T21:19:53.219+02:00Rainy Christmas week and critters <p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Good day dear Blogger friends. Living in a tourist destination, I feel sorry for guests who plan an extended Christmas holiday in the Central Drakensberg, and it is raining when they arrive; it rains for the duration of their stay and it's raining when they leave. Such has been the case this December. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>However, for me, cleaning my holiday accommodation on Boxing Day, I was rewarded with critters who enjoy inclement weather conditions. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSZlHe2akya583xP1X1AjqRSrg8xP9t_CIdSZ02GaEKairSTMTElMtrmfzMc9bs6HTgsbA_uXdqIMi-ddIMdPS7ZX71mAitSxJQSQvLcZYEzKaP2DTYtPo97PigrZjAhKGh7zfIqzNgAZK8VzOq9ckarvztbCe5Tb95k8NpO5uhgmtYSFQDABgWctZL4/s4608/IMG_2804.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSZlHe2akya583xP1X1AjqRSrg8xP9t_CIdSZ02GaEKairSTMTElMtrmfzMc9bs6HTgsbA_uXdqIMi-ddIMdPS7ZX71mAitSxJQSQvLcZYEzKaP2DTYtPo97PigrZjAhKGh7zfIqzNgAZK8VzOq9ckarvztbCe5Tb95k8NpO5uhgmtYSFQDABgWctZL4/w640-h480/IMG_2804.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJf6_ALrju2REHahXrYSEmAuQcXvIqhl3Xwbqx96fguoADazwGQmkjvHtXLRzcwpDf3xAK3X54jTYjvA_E2ioLOjKyDe9hCCAEUFLJegWEY7p9fAs6uPwg8mM_cy-VDsaqyArS9a_Xm1ayZ87o38MvNiEmXSQfH6LzVAtG7Yl9LpvHGaifeSwF3dLZ9k/s4608/IMG_2805.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJf6_ALrju2REHahXrYSEmAuQcXvIqhl3Xwbqx96fguoADazwGQmkjvHtXLRzcwpDf3xAK3X54jTYjvA_E2ioLOjKyDe9hCCAEUFLJegWEY7p9fAs6uPwg8mM_cy-VDsaqyArS9a_Xm1ayZ87o38MvNiEmXSQfH6LzVAtG7Yl9LpvHGaifeSwF3dLZ9k/w640-h480/IMG_2805.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I've never thought a grasshopper enjoyed wet weather, but here I snapped a teeny critter on the watery patio</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcfv8T_aHQwhhSolk91asZ3iSKHQG6JLuD2euRWfQ5Sf06AYnHvu8vuBHOoep89z_eBHHf4zDgzcn3i5_rv8PSsb0L5yGHygZV-3wBW7-bH5YjbMaUx6CQ560xNlCe7RbErs_Le4Awsg6QHJW8-YhxQLAmJwHasDAB-_O_dnLd9K6rLCE5HD34UGugQE/s4608/IMG_2813.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcfv8T_aHQwhhSolk91asZ3iSKHQG6JLuD2euRWfQ5Sf06AYnHvu8vuBHOoep89z_eBHHf4zDgzcn3i5_rv8PSsb0L5yGHygZV-3wBW7-bH5YjbMaUx6CQ560xNlCe7RbErs_Le4Awsg6QHJW8-YhxQLAmJwHasDAB-_O_dnLd9K6rLCE5HD34UGugQE/w640-h480/IMG_2813.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Frogs I equate with water. I snapped this little critter with a gammy back leg. When he moved, the leg reverted to a more normal position</i></div></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">After cleaning indoors, by the time I got to the patio, the weathr had warmed and dried up for a short period</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwPnarxfm-Ek7jo4icX6zVRzY1KYkdfpMCzEDH8CtsEX9r9oHd5IrgvJm_xYtJ7tydZdKz8nLspGq9nSkqNs43HYGtGi1s0Wrk3A7sezElAVmkaK88UXAvFTSmk7oFYI9NkzFsFzJmV0096b3KsC8yOBAtAtCW5ofcIVOaRyssmalFM7it_dmTi8izy8/s3060/IMG_20230618_095813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwPnarxfm-Ek7jo4icX6zVRzY1KYkdfpMCzEDH8CtsEX9r9oHd5IrgvJm_xYtJ7tydZdKz8nLspGq9nSkqNs43HYGtGi1s0Wrk3A7sezElAVmkaK88UXAvFTSmk7oFYI9NkzFsFzJmV0096b3KsC8yOBAtAtCW5ofcIVOaRyssmalFM7it_dmTi8izy8/w640-h640/IMG_20230618_095813.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Cape Robin-chat scrummaging for bits of meat which the guests had spilt while BBQ'ing</i></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLM7GTsHGQ5Rg9iDgVd7w9fKgg2lZyiSP9LBAbUEfPOgOsn__rRbP-xnenBYSGy5qW_b931QtR3hmpw4T-vGswDLvGA4x9NyoSULqP2GGWbCL6t6CWUZLERJbcc3M5p6_9rx8qSNSBWoidBD6tC_oYhjweFAmxkV5aGIyaLKj7ml1q5eiVHcaUbiitSr4/s3060/IMG_20230618_095839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLM7GTsHGQ5Rg9iDgVd7w9fKgg2lZyiSP9LBAbUEfPOgOsn__rRbP-xnenBYSGy5qW_b931QtR3hmpw4T-vGswDLvGA4x9NyoSULqP2GGWbCL6t6CWUZLERJbcc3M5p6_9rx8qSNSBWoidBD6tC_oYhjweFAmxkV5aGIyaLKj7ml1q5eiVHcaUbiitSr4/w640-h640/IMG_20230618_095839.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><i>This bird has distinctive markings...</i></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQeff0k0SO8hktHlL2FcUE7NeCgvNBY7KjO011BP8b2ivDuW044XKhUYQ3jxraHezk8YLGh6OBk08CetlyOMsBQpP56fzFt-ZKHbb86ez4q3Z8kqUVgX5cNPm-YaUgWobedfxW-kKUp1qbVv4rT0AqCmvAmIF3zJHEAQQxyxsucjnfHQl-S0aEmyhzms/s3060/IMG_20230618_095841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQeff0k0SO8hktHlL2FcUE7NeCgvNBY7KjO011BP8b2ivDuW044XKhUYQ3jxraHezk8YLGh6OBk08CetlyOMsBQpP56fzFt-ZKHbb86ez4q3Z8kqUVgX5cNPm-YaUgWobedfxW-kKUp1qbVv4rT0AqCmvAmIF3zJHEAQQxyxsucjnfHQl-S0aEmyhzms/w640-h640/IMG_20230618_095841.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>... and a very confident manner. I was standing above it while snapping with my Smartphone</i></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen, <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/">here</a></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #04ff00; font-size: x-large;">HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! </span></i></b></div><br /><p></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-65893157700375042232023-12-28T04:30:00.020+02:002023-12-28T04:30:00.146+02:00Christmas could have been different<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Good morning, dear Blogger friends. As posted and illustrated yesterday, Christmas at the farm was, as always, BRILLIANT! </b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">But... </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">...it almost was very different. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">On Saturday night, 23 December, I had fallen asleep at 8.45. I awoke with a start when Skabby (asleep on the floor beside my bed) gave a loud bark. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When I checked, he had continued to sleep. I sat up in bed, wondering what he had heard. Then I saw lights move across my bedroom window. I thought it was the nightwatchman doing his rounds with his flashlight. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Watching I realized that it was a car's headlights and heard the vehicle stop on the driveway. I got up and looked out of the window facing John and Ron's home and saw that their house was ablaze with lights. Just then I saw Mandy, their daughter from Johannesburg, spending the week in the Valley at their timeshare, running down the garden path.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I grabbed my dressing gown, slipped my feet into shoes and went outside. John has been poorly these past two weeks. His heart rate has been very high and he has been short of breath. Ron had him at two different doctors on three occasions. By Thursday last week, the doctor had adjusted his medication and said he'd like to see him after the holidays. When Ron told me this, I said but the holidays are ten days long. Who knows that John may need a doctor before then.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This is exactly what happened. On Saturday, John took a turn for the worse; Janine said he was incoherent, his eyes were closed, and he was perspiring profusely. Janine had already phoned the emergency team, Freddie's, who is always on call in the Valley and Winterton. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The chief (Freddie) told Janine he'd already dispatched an ambulance from the city and that he personally was on his way to the farm. Janine and her daughter had their phone torches on; Mand's SUV's hazard lights were flashing and I had an old fashioned torch in my hand. We were waiting to see Freddie's vehicle turn off the main road onto the farm and would be able to help him to enter the farm yard without delay.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Which is what Freddie did. He duly arrived and taking his emergency bag, he ran into the house to the bedroom. Through the stress and anxiety about John, I chuckled when I heard him greeting old John with: Yes, young man, and what are you up to now! </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I also entered the bedroom at one stage and was horrified to see the state that John was in. Freddie had lifted him to a seated position with his legs over the side of the bed. He attached the tags to his torso and checked the ECG machine on the bed behind John. His heart, although beating quite fast, was quite stable and strong according to Freddie. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ronnie was sitting on the bed on John's left and rubbing his arm and shoulder. John still had his eyes closed and was mumbling and groaning terribly. Watching Ron, I felt such compassion for her. I could just imagine the anguish she was experiencing yet she stayed strong for John's sake. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Freddie asked me to wait on the driveway as his daughter and another young woman were on their way. To show them into the house when they arrived. I did, and shortly Cassie arrived with her partner, Aneri, and I guided them to John and Ron's bedroom. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>While Cas set up the BP gadget. Aneri, moved to John' s right side, and with her knee on the bed behind John, she supported him. She rubbed his back and shoulders and continued to banter in reply to John's garbled chatter. At one stage she asked what John's age was. Janine, standing next to me, said he's 79. Aneri said, Mr. M, they tell me you're 79 but I think you're 21! He looked towards her voice, eyes still closed and a twisted smile on his face. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I swallowed hard at a lump in my throat. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I walked out onto the driveway again and met Gavin going to pack a small bag. He would travel behind the ambulance with his mother and sister in the car with him. I told him I would go back to the room and help his mom pack her bag and a few things for John. He said he would appreciate that.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">By now the Netcare 911 SUV arrived and parked on the lawn. Freddie met the paramedic and showed him into the house. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt6ACMF3OjPUmE36gMaL_cXe_AQPSX7nfoZfkUru8rgvnL2eRUZeMUE7cfK137-qSy7uFH1W9BVHXXcLX77d7H3UipMfLXn-qNAFYbIYuS8LdygUL2uv1SvRQA4_yPzU6E9qI4N8ch-FSqc3_KzBhQoantkXgoyb3rhuwpT7zDfVvthGAhrLqNmb_OKA/s3060/IMG_20231224_002736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt6ACMF3OjPUmE36gMaL_cXe_AQPSX7nfoZfkUru8rgvnL2eRUZeMUE7cfK137-qSy7uFH1W9BVHXXcLX77d7H3UipMfLXn-qNAFYbIYuS8LdygUL2uv1SvRQA4_yPzU6E9qI4N8ch-FSqc3_KzBhQoantkXgoyb3rhuwpT7zDfVvthGAhrLqNmb_OKA/w640-h640/IMG_20231224_002736.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i>Emergency response from the city</i></b></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Shortly afterwards, the ambulance arrived and entered the garden walking closely next to Gavin. They were very nervous of Jock and Smooch, the two black Labs on the veranda. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3DdeBR57P1ZnroW9F_0JrBfSLuK4bjfvn6a-30nramxcQKpj61uMW6aB9dd3yUywDIvpevPyHZPcplSGs8wywExHc9X06-wMH3aFg96aB8GN1wj7Xiy5tpjt3v2wl-vMGXpW0A4W2XBTZZmpblHHHYtRbKcyVuh-2hOZYcTtaxA98mfHS7MKdClMQNc/s3060/IMG_20231224_002206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3DdeBR57P1ZnroW9F_0JrBfSLuK4bjfvn6a-30nramxcQKpj61uMW6aB9dd3yUywDIvpevPyHZPcplSGs8wywExHc9X06-wMH3aFg96aB8GN1wj7Xiy5tpjt3v2wl-vMGXpW0A4W2XBTZZmpblHHHYtRbKcyVuh-2hOZYcTtaxA98mfHS7MKdClMQNc/w640-h640/IMG_20231224_002206.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i>The ambulance and flashing lights on the farmyard driveway</i></b></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Now the paramedics were busy tending to John so Ron could focus on packing a small bag I checked she had her insulin. I asked her to open her purse and we checked that she had her medical aid card, John's ID, her ID and her bank card. She is very organized, and everything was in place.</b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We women sat in the lounge with Ron trying to catch our breaths after the upheaval. We could hear the men in the bedroom and we heard the paramedic say: this man is diabetic and is in insulin shock! We looked at each other in horror. Not one of us had thought of John's sugar levels being so low; we'd been concerned about his heart. The GP had checked his sugar on Thursday and pronounced it normal. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">The administered a drip with dextrose intravenously and eight minutes later we heard John saying, l</span></b><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">ucidly and in true John </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>style: What are all you gentlemen doing here! </b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A little while later the men and Gavin came out helping John to walk to Gavin's SUV on the driveway. What a transformation!</span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We helped Ron collect her small bag and walked to Gavin's car with her. I told Janine in an aside, to check that their little beagle x Jack Russell, Dot hadn't got into Gavin's car. And sure enough, there she was. On her dad' s lap in the car!</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Janine told Ron she'd take Dot home with her. Amongst her twenty dogs (five of whom are indoor dogs) is Dot's brother, Blue, So Dot would be quite at home.</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I closed Ron's front door, ensured the two Labs and Meggie, the Staffie, were on the veranda and locked the gate.</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>By now John had been transferred to the ambulance and the paramedics were hanging his drip on a stand next to the gurney. Janine and I both went to the back of the ambulance and wished him well. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Finally, Freddie's emergency vehicles departed. The Netcare 911 SUV pulled out with the ambulance behind it and coming up in the rear was Gavin with his mother and sister. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nine, holding a heavy Dot in her arms, said she would keep me informed. It was 1.45am! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Next morning the WhatsApp message from Janine said John is stable; he's being held in hospital for observation. Gavin had returned home; Ron was in her house and Mandy had gone back to the timeshare. Each was trying to catch up on their sleep.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>On Christmas morning, Ron went back to the city with their oldest granddaughter to visit John. While she was there, the doctor arrived and discharged John.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What excitement on Boxing Day afternoon when we all congregated in John and Ron's lounge to welcome the patient back into the fold.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It could have been so different...</b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-72535515182264537862023-12-26T20:08:00.000+02:002023-12-26T20:08:15.760+02:00Christmas on the farm<p> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Compliments of the season to all my Blogger friends!</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">As usual, Christmas was celebrated on the farm; Christmas Eve is BIG here. We have a seated dinner for 23 guests. We ladies prepare the starters (a cheese and crackers board), meats, veg and dessert. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My contribution is pictured here below.</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LDvNcqVAMsj8t6sby4btMYeyuDbjbhySHfMZdaiDc3Kimxmauyvgsalm0z88-2Ogr0t-uBNWGeua__euEYoyxenKAM6ufhGwfrJPM9NYfb8X9bJKLcJlXozG8sP66app6-uxywk8CpEGOPFA0jg-r2zl8MnB6cDBHs0e0G7NvwgREfRGPN-cLnwACdM/s1280/IMG-20231224-WA0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LDvNcqVAMsj8t6sby4btMYeyuDbjbhySHfMZdaiDc3Kimxmauyvgsalm0z88-2Ogr0t-uBNWGeua__euEYoyxenKAM6ufhGwfrJPM9NYfb8X9bJKLcJlXozG8sP66app6-uxywk8CpEGOPFA0jg-r2zl8MnB6cDBHs0e0G7NvwgREfRGPN-cLnwACdM/w360-h640/IMG-20231224-WA0051.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I cooked and glazed two gammons</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuh7lI6FpYBh3So_Z7kuMPMG47gJQVbkkxhVhtbnKoOtE8PIgYU-ma_CPUNIURPGknO_B2egHlQBOniVwq6y78Nh1Ll2M2-hxIvWbtSYFiV814xFoeVd4iKfwP5s5V1sH1n-U3BHcqL5nLSYB1ZkZY0rfvuqFZr0vNFsGlz0gNqu4NjRbMEemIaR0og90/s1280/IMG-20231224-WA0053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuh7lI6FpYBh3So_Z7kuMPMG47gJQVbkkxhVhtbnKoOtE8PIgYU-ma_CPUNIURPGknO_B2egHlQBOniVwq6y78Nh1Ll2M2-hxIvWbtSYFiV814xFoeVd4iKfwP5s5V1sH1n-U3BHcqL5nLSYB1ZkZY0rfvuqFZr0vNFsGlz0gNqu4NjRbMEemIaR0og90/w360-h640/IMG-20231224-WA0053.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><i>I roasted a shoulder of mutton</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVoNo_4tBwGZ-Fku1EehmsV80Fyg2XFvB0beXklupyqZXCoO0Z0gs3C3gQAk9SYnoGK5jweT6vWQUuFYJa-Lpi2J79TaEZWcGb4mIj7o0LD1Gob-9FF631q-iE1HIYbdhoWd9VhXXKHVMMlj-_Z0pZ5p1iVDOyGkCvwrejfq8jBVqBwkwAaVQQtUHrZc/s3060/IMG_20231225_143926%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVoNo_4tBwGZ-Fku1EehmsV80Fyg2XFvB0beXklupyqZXCoO0Z0gs3C3gQAk9SYnoGK5jweT6vWQUuFYJa-Lpi2J79TaEZWcGb4mIj7o0LD1Gob-9FF631q-iE1HIYbdhoWd9VhXXKHVMMlj-_Z0pZ5p1iVDOyGkCvwrejfq8jBVqBwkwAaVQQtUHrZc/w640-h640/IMG_20231225_143926%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><i>I made a cranberry, celery and apple stuffing; cooked separately from the meat (so I could eat it!)</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I made green beans and also cooked up baby carrots which I sautéed in syrup.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL34hQM_wI_uOnSqPEFVwIif0iikje5Oj488U-pBx4WsrYJ4haxxQIHYCUGtdU3vF_Z-bxYbk834Mm7V0PuDBz0FjvA7jPLnrqY83VZiz5awNco_A_L5bBLfoZdUsU9hXt4bqUXvtlZvN2EK_RSv-zCqkS00HT6drRFhdYwVu3sRv6pYfsndMhaHc_HE/s3060/IMG_20231225_143716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL34hQM_wI_uOnSqPEFVwIif0iikje5Oj488U-pBx4WsrYJ4haxxQIHYCUGtdU3vF_Z-bxYbk834Mm7V0PuDBz0FjvA7jPLnrqY83VZiz5awNco_A_L5bBLfoZdUsU9hXt4bqUXvtlZvN2EK_RSv-zCqkS00HT6drRFhdYwVu3sRv6pYfsndMhaHc_HE/w640-h640/IMG_20231225_143716.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><b>I steamed a store-bought Christmas pudding</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZYBw20VpuNWr_ZOgAGfU8ZenUm_CAo2IUC9Wt3OlSm-GAxA_pXuNz_wI-2dwH84_lrr-25-KIqrysjPxtP_0Y6Znoo252eHlsPmxDzXFg0luLrYlirGV6o7FdXr96gsDYOxcV329L12iFNn9qV_J8jI1ymcuYB8px9mu7QANuahG5Mc9I3UiH4uJgus/s3060/IMG_20231225_143504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZYBw20VpuNWr_ZOgAGfU8ZenUm_CAo2IUC9Wt3OlSm-GAxA_pXuNz_wI-2dwH84_lrr-25-KIqrysjPxtP_0Y6Znoo252eHlsPmxDzXFg0luLrYlirGV6o7FdXr96gsDYOxcV329L12iFNn9qV_J8jI1ymcuYB8px9mu7QANuahG5Mc9I3UiH4uJgus/w640-h640/IMG_20231225_143504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>I made a trifle</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My neighbor, Janine, loves Christmas. Every year she creates beautiful table settings. This year, however, she excelled herself. She ran with an unusual color scheme in pastel pink linen and silver place mats paired soft turquoise dinnerware. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gWcXeRSU0f1vqUQDCCHO5-fwf4oWLll03Rn7fvexrBIqOXRqEcwbnkbKtLvcTvq089hc08LmCe8_8j-uUFepkqRMVnGkvvqe8mEtCI-rRuv9pJIUv4sTlfauJBjvyzlz2KgGRSfAf6wpE-opH_vDt6_vwJw5mq6KJcon1WwFT__LMh7llDl1pNX2-Ww/s1280/IMG-20231224-WA0056%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gWcXeRSU0f1vqUQDCCHO5-fwf4oWLll03Rn7fvexrBIqOXRqEcwbnkbKtLvcTvq089hc08LmCe8_8j-uUFepkqRMVnGkvvqe8mEtCI-rRuv9pJIUv4sTlfauJBjvyzlz2KgGRSfAf6wpE-opH_vDt6_vwJw5mq6KJcon1WwFT__LMh7llDl1pNX2-Ww/w640-h640/IMG-20231224-WA0056%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJlNyDrgNvZTJo077pZEYPfhK6c5vRnc5Gtors0-CbK-FtjQ5HrMHqwHoQhVvR_TPr5ILlYGY6fKcHoI15QCFaCIYUmeIRep37JQTL5Xa3EQTESB1HS73VMhWmAbfrKNm3NG-KeEm1-iB75YN9Yl5DBiuW1ebbg3gtEfJ_cK9XiWZvIFqumIzRuXe4vo/s1280/IMG-20231224-WA0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJlNyDrgNvZTJo077pZEYPfhK6c5vRnc5Gtors0-CbK-FtjQ5HrMHqwHoQhVvR_TPr5ILlYGY6fKcHoI15QCFaCIYUmeIRep37JQTL5Xa3EQTESB1HS73VMhWmAbfrKNm3NG-KeEm1-iB75YN9Yl5DBiuW1ebbg3gtEfJ_cK9XiWZvIFqumIzRuXe4vo/w640-h640/IMG-20231224-WA0057.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><i>The table linen, place settings and festive Christmas center pieces, were exquisite</i></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMlVS6Me2VjKK0erVP97G6fBfmG3K4Cg5wyqepy58UCQZKhSGoXkbygnC7gt1iT70qrxkNrhwnWJWqeVB758QBAo6ivznqae2Y6eNZWHz0AwwqJn6yHyiahUHi5A3NpBvBVQn_2EFVY8UbDIqIOhZOrj2SJd6tSaF9z6tDr6cSzoZV1UzJ7KqpB-ub6c/s1280/IMG-20231224-WA0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMlVS6Me2VjKK0erVP97G6fBfmG3K4Cg5wyqepy58UCQZKhSGoXkbygnC7gt1iT70qrxkNrhwnWJWqeVB758QBAo6ivznqae2Y6eNZWHz0AwwqJn6yHyiahUHi5A3NpBvBVQn_2EFVY8UbDIqIOhZOrj2SJd6tSaF9z6tDr6cSzoZV1UzJ7KqpB-ub6c/w640-h640/IMG-20231224-WA0058.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><i>The Christmas crackers (bon-bons) beside each plate, were also upmarket. The gifts which emerged once we'd made the crackers bang, were useful and interesting</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The guest list always consists of an eclectic mix of old and young. Ron and John live on the farm and always attend this dinner. Janine's 80-year-old widowed dad lives in the city and Janine brings him up for Christmas. The oldest daughter is married and she and her new husband are always at this dinner. The younger daughter is engaged and her fiancé's two sisters with their boyfriends, his parents AND his maternal grandmother join us for this annual dinner. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Of this whole group, I am the only lady (and a vintage one at that!) who is not a mother or grandmother to the youngsters connected to the farm family. When I phoned Gavin last night to thank him for another wonderful Christmas celebration, I also thanked him for making me feel part of their family, he replied: It's a pleasure, Jo, you <i>are</i> family! Isn't that sweet...</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This year was my sixth Christmas on the farm! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL! </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><i style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /><i><br /><br /></i></b></div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><p></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-44424640930328500542023-12-24T04:30:00.028+02:002023-12-24T04:30:00.243+02:00Uh-oh! <p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Dear Blogger friends. AGAIN, just when you thought it was safe to read Jo's blog without a post on the Parkrun, there she goes. Again.</span></b></p><p><span><b style="font-size: x-large;">I must explain here. Most gym clubs, yoga classes, weight </b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>loss societies</b></span>,<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>etc.</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;"> take a break over the festive season, All, except Parkrun. It's a like an analog clock. It just keeps going week after week! </b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Today was our Christmas Parkrun and Winterton, being in the tourist belt of the Central Drakensberg, we always have plenty of visitors at this time. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Today was also a very special day for Skabby. The weather was cool; the sky overcast, and I decided to take him along. He's been staying at home since mid-November when he developed a hotspot and was under veterinary treatment. The hotspot has healed, leaving a great white scar in his black skin. Just as a precaution, I covered his exposed flanks and back with total block out cream.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUw-vCXs3MgcrLpRUi2ntW6915AO70RqOb5P8yOgvcwwU_cbIxRJ2LKQk1LQD2WbDBEqTQtzLdCmYz5fMeowaOL1BhbamgzOWGv01RrYrSMytCQ_7hKdxzYI14_95gR245wB0WGy10FscZI8iesv4ue_11bj3wl9-qlLXfIxixuGizl0Im8D5TPETYNUc/s3060/IMG_20231223_073307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUw-vCXs3MgcrLpRUi2ntW6915AO70RqOb5P8yOgvcwwU_cbIxRJ2LKQk1LQD2WbDBEqTQtzLdCmYz5fMeowaOL1BhbamgzOWGv01RrYrSMytCQ_7hKdxzYI14_95gR245wB0WGy10FscZI8iesv4ue_11bj3wl9-qlLXfIxixuGizl0Im8D5TPETYNUc/w640-h640/IMG_20231223_073307.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ5iIM5HU8QWBJAQCbzB8dB8yrjE6vfN_9W_GZ-x9BIiNsOwQF1VLRIVryDVVzeU5SKe0w_c2kE-m7Xqib8bgKzGGnm_tiGcy9dnyMs_Mu9OTIo4tR483_H5J-1rgLbPqDjQ0604BIkVJzhcI7Ik49ENF98DsJ0pAdsRELX4EsqtlzLmlmNXMMFBjkH4/s3060/IMG_20231223_073451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ5iIM5HU8QWBJAQCbzB8dB8yrjE6vfN_9W_GZ-x9BIiNsOwQF1VLRIVryDVVzeU5SKe0w_c2kE-m7Xqib8bgKzGGnm_tiGcy9dnyMs_Mu9OTIo4tR483_H5J-1rgLbPqDjQ0604BIkVJzhcI7Ik49ENF98DsJ0pAdsRELX4EsqtlzLmlmNXMMFBjkH4/w640-h640/IMG_20231223_073451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>So excited to be included in the Parkrun outing again!</b></i></div></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2n5I1R_QPZHm03xHe4wqM9bUZddEJtapn8zW_upIdFXyKScVKCyucq_P2nVAvSUocHHI73i_qgB9hMl0O1KPC4A_XGXkrdRP5zCSMT4WeepVSrZbbKsq6J6NQ-l7UXG8Yrf5hpUUdMNfxK8oQdf5BhBpGhb3bd2kLwAv2O5b7Zf67FyNe7XynugokEE/s1024/IMG-20231223-WA0025%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="751" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2n5I1R_QPZHm03xHe4wqM9bUZddEJtapn8zW_upIdFXyKScVKCyucq_P2nVAvSUocHHI73i_qgB9hMl0O1KPC4A_XGXkrdRP5zCSMT4WeepVSrZbbKsq6J6NQ-l7UXG8Yrf5hpUUdMNfxK8oQdf5BhBpGhb3bd2kLwAv2O5b7Zf67FyNe7XynugokEE/w470-h640/IMG-20231223-WA0025%20(1).jpg" width="470" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Skabby and I both wore Christmas adornments to Parkrun</i></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFdFs9RgULKLSx1LzRAWu_5F0cv1BBIOcOTuGLNxC38yNJ_QkZ_XQNmuGe2iYDnLYvIN-lqfr4OdNeBMR1T_mKE0l1eKFG_FFXqSZbXXk6Kmg4hikpeY5S42nkETP9V5oUAlZhvZYFzxYLrG_MVd8WY2E0BWeHm8tvwsjJHQwQx_gpH8N38CinkYpOn0/s3060/IMG_20231223_133416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFdFs9RgULKLSx1LzRAWu_5F0cv1BBIOcOTuGLNxC38yNJ_QkZ_XQNmuGe2iYDnLYvIN-lqfr4OdNeBMR1T_mKE0l1eKFG_FFXqSZbXXk6Kmg4hikpeY5S42nkETP9V5oUAlZhvZYFzxYLrG_MVd8WY2E0BWeHm8tvwsjJHQwQx_gpH8N38CinkYpOn0/s320/IMG_20231223_133416.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A friend brought a Christmas gift for Skabby. A natty water bottle with a sprinkler stopper. So cool! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div></b><b style="font-size: x-large;">It had been raining all Friday night through Saturday morning. Until 7am. So, although we'd not had to walk in the rain, the going was very muddy and slippery.</b><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4fs-QGDznxKmJXwILYgmJ7rheTFb7G1QfwEdtvHtCl1cnVmBwanKgjMa6yhfAKkfoxPQcJ1SQdGZJGy-VSOsCheKo2OfafE01DN4Fc-dadEctUMxAUR5nHp_V7SnXc4Ly4jBPozbIm7VMgFPyA4yFWbe1fyguxD-7SFhk70dZQYznTjWCRcZeURGKnk/s1024/IMG-20231223-WA0020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4fs-QGDznxKmJXwILYgmJ7rheTFb7G1QfwEdtvHtCl1cnVmBwanKgjMa6yhfAKkfoxPQcJ1SQdGZJGy-VSOsCheKo2OfafE01DN4Fc-dadEctUMxAUR5nHp_V7SnXc4Ly4jBPozbIm7VMgFPyA4yFWbe1fyguxD-7SFhk70dZQYznTjWCRcZeURGKnk/w480-h640/IMG-20231223-WA0020.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></span><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>My Weigh-Less Group Assistant, Esme, and I did today's Parkrun together</b></i></div></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqswZGBvZ8rBlfEDSqDydJZc4jiT-YKdmFfitLafha2Ek79oIQ9mU0HNgQMWxB9RqAuZuLhf5VnrjOusQriO5qkqQCZGq-bY8GBb2GxKL-2SscNqcznRl61ynM4jB-kvjeMLZtnk2WpsJrY47j12eo0klfyeaKmcsEzP9T4Rh2MjmTg1uGoXpebuRakCw/s1024/IMG-20231223-WA0017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="473" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqswZGBvZ8rBlfEDSqDydJZc4jiT-YKdmFfitLafha2Ek79oIQ9mU0HNgQMWxB9RqAuZuLhf5VnrjOusQriO5qkqQCZGq-bY8GBb2GxKL-2SscNqcznRl61ynM4jB-kvjeMLZtnk2WpsJrY47j12eo0klfyeaKmcsEzP9T4Rh2MjmTg1uGoXpebuRakCw/w296-h640/IMG-20231223-WA0017.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I believe Skabby enjoyed today's walk because of the cooler weather. I know I did! </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">WISHING </span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">MY</span> <span style="color: #04ff00;">BLOGGER</span> <span style="color: #ffa400;">FRIENDS</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> A </span><span style="color: red;">MERRY</span> <span style="color: #01ffff;">AND </span><span style="color: #ff00fe;">BLESSED</span> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">CHRISTMAS</span></span></i></b></div><div><br /></div></div>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-61449596821546460082023-12-23T04:30:00.001+02:002023-12-23T04:30:00.253+02:00Dragon flies, bulbuls and a frog<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Good morning, Blogger friends, I'm determined to capture every interesting critter that crosses my path. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>While at the large house in October, with my visiting children, I snapped a dragon fly on just above the sliding door. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIngj91euNILGJh79M-IV8X7tFiKeMi0hq8lyEQDKnSUDxttqHgn6TwPzSIK3GgRg8u77m6r3wOUOmpW67eNwRZvTX40UAW1F7C2AMSI57reMZejeWW4hDTeBvknDq63tLxpF8YR2hKmolFo8FETLkOkmYTw50Z8i-IXUsCzTZjJBOnhDw6cYIi63D_w/s3060/IMG_20231022_110604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIngj91euNILGJh79M-IV8X7tFiKeMi0hq8lyEQDKnSUDxttqHgn6TwPzSIK3GgRg8u77m6r3wOUOmpW67eNwRZvTX40UAW1F7C2AMSI57reMZejeWW4hDTeBvknDq63tLxpF8YR2hKmolFo8FETLkOkmYTw50Z8i-IXUsCzTZjJBOnhDw6cYIi63D_w/w640-h640/IMG_20231022_110604.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>While waiting for our Taigelates class to start last Friday, a pair of bulbul landed on my car. One flew off and landed on the roof of the building in front of me. The other sat on my car's rear-view mirror offering several photo opportunities. </b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66kbhNWujXL0aTOOCvAXui2CRQNziINL6Nu_YDcidD9AgFDKelv-ND4WoAiOUsZdBXEaH6buZvaTBNaQ-4xOtr8QBdFAxFLr8hYZYRSv4h-rAm0x6dV9V07rc0kPZtcuDWnHXxfcmc39ljpmFZqKff45e5Tr9MXB2JRtsTAWcD7QnbZa0Vvi9TYqzMmo/s3060/IMG_20231215_071716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66kbhNWujXL0aTOOCvAXui2CRQNziINL6Nu_YDcidD9AgFDKelv-ND4WoAiOUsZdBXEaH6buZvaTBNaQ-4xOtr8QBdFAxFLr8hYZYRSv4h-rAm0x6dV9V07rc0kPZtcuDWnHXxfcmc39ljpmFZqKff45e5Tr9MXB2JRtsTAWcD7QnbZa0Vvi9TYqzMmo/w640-h640/IMG_20231215_071716.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSngZEvZN-AtGTGerMni6egDamYLpfbBUHj7E19RdSWKPIziuWg6HIDrkjCRQC8ci9PO6Bu8F3qi7-LlqeZBnLcqZFlfTK8Uu_4t0ngcXgRTROBBLEuS4UMuPGEqbSebb5Qc-s798my5btT5xbIN9AhL1BIrNTcY5hhd8mZjP1C8_gKIsJR2_LNQVm_E/s3060/IMG_20231215_071816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSngZEvZN-AtGTGerMni6egDamYLpfbBUHj7E19RdSWKPIziuWg6HIDrkjCRQC8ci9PO6Bu8F3qi7-LlqeZBnLcqZFlfTK8Uu_4t0ngcXgRTROBBLEuS4UMuPGEqbSebb5Qc-s798my5btT5xbIN9AhL1BIrNTcY5hhd8mZjP1C8_gKIsJR2_LNQVm_E/w640-h640/IMG_20231215_071816.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Dark-capped bulbul</i></b></div></b><b style="font-size: x-large;">Back home, I saw a movement in the dog's water bowl which is half concealed by my lush mint garden. Checking, I scooped out a tiny frog!</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROCytSFmgP4wveQxnfIV4xkhFrPlgiRWEvMrLooMfIK2rHJjT8hlyCR1QMWmEg3pWM7w27IIXAZzYd9VB91TlC1tt6ALofq-Pmrq_0dhamidLjEPnKLdT_hv8HCFe4SMXcBAoaZlScMQfdbrprSEEQZqNVjPkvyvjNdX2FtLZQV8B_C_I5MjOCRBdAcI/s1078/IMG_20231112_051106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1078" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROCytSFmgP4wveQxnfIV4xkhFrPlgiRWEvMrLooMfIK2rHJjT8hlyCR1QMWmEg3pWM7w27IIXAZzYd9VB91TlC1tt6ALofq-Pmrq_0dhamidLjEPnKLdT_hv8HCFe4SMXcBAoaZlScMQfdbrprSEEQZqNVjPkvyvjNdX2FtLZQV8B_C_I5MjOCRBdAcI/w640-h500/IMG_20231112_051106.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A type of tree or reed frog (I'm not able to ID it)</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen, <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/">here</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;"><i>HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! </i></span></div></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><p></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-2277922165694760952023-12-21T04:30:00.004+02:002023-12-21T04:30:00.315+02:00Life<p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Good morning, dear Blogger friends. Last week I drove to the nearby town of Estcourt to renew the second lot of vehicle licenses on the farm. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A few months ago, I renewed the other section of farm vehicles and at the end of August I renewed my own car's license. As you can imagine, I have built a strong relationship with the clerks who man the table outside the hallowed halls of the Estcourt Licence Bureau. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>After successfully renewing eight vehicles for Gavin and one for Ronnie, I traveled up to the supermarket. After my shopping, as I was preparing to reverse my car out of the parking lot, I spotted two elderly gentlemen approaching a pick-up truck parked in front of me.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>They were the image of Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence who acted together in the comedy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_(1999_film)">Life</a>.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3G7FrgYoCapkM53xtVfx0XtQFBLDQP0lO9bZ3SidSQSzzU7dSL1i3iHvmhiCqtsDMVjeUr166eQerUm0s19xYmBtxvxUCjE2r2blMOGuGil7icEAOhYOHyejiX5x03tbZWWLcpQdT9zdziaJ684Qj3aMAkObiuLwqZGCRem-KWQrdhcNkwq2ePWhI0lg/s328/Life_dvd_movie_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3G7FrgYoCapkM53xtVfx0XtQFBLDQP0lO9bZ3SidSQSzzU7dSL1i3iHvmhiCqtsDMVjeUr166eQerUm0s19xYmBtxvxUCjE2r2blMOGuGil7icEAOhYOHyejiX5x03tbZWWLcpQdT9zdziaJ684Qj3aMAkObiuLwqZGCRem-KWQrdhcNkwq2ePWhI0lg/w430-h640/Life_dvd_movie_cover.jpg" width="430" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Unfazed I went to the driver's window and greeted them in Zulu. They politely responded. I asked if they were brothers to which they replied, they were. I asked if they lived near to each other, to which they answered that they were next door neighbors. I also asked after their respective spouses whom they said were well. (I was thrilled that they understood my newly acquired Zulu) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When I asked if I could take a photo them, they said certainly and looked straight at my phone while I clicked. </b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi_ZQRnMzzYgm7aceyEOFY_sH0GPxQH9QVNeQKgWGVAS-pTMVGj5RVDGow-MouL-gUB9s9Np5vybijtcBBkQBXCWoG4mkv_3TSFRUrAUCTxSPj-8eSfKoLj2HaO1MLwyJ2A1_rkFPDsnfynK80xqHW4emK9EQn_2jTHninWtyqDn_rHjJyoGin__OsRI/s3060/IMG_20231213_135755~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi_ZQRnMzzYgm7aceyEOFY_sH0GPxQH9QVNeQKgWGVAS-pTMVGj5RVDGow-MouL-gUB9s9Np5vybijtcBBkQBXCWoG4mkv_3TSFRUrAUCTxSPj-8eSfKoLj2HaO1MLwyJ2A1_rkFPDsnfynK80xqHW4emK9EQn_2jTHninWtyqDn_rHjJyoGin__OsRI/w640-h640/IMG_20231213_135755~2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><b>Unbeknown to these two polite gentlemen,</b></i><i><b> they resembled the main actors in the film called Life</b></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;">HAVE A WONDERFUL THURSDAY! </span></i></b></p><p><i><b><br /></b></i></p><p><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-43111471141048292742023-12-20T04:30:00.063+02:002023-12-20T04:30:00.143+02:00Family holiday accommodation<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good morning, dear Blogger friends. My blog would be incomplete if I didn't share the other accommodation which I manage. Nyathi Valley Berg House. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I post quite regularly about The Bunker which is a two-sleeper holiday unit. Nyathi Valley Berg House belongs to Mark, who has his home base in Durban and works in Somalia. Mark is known as Buffalo in his work and social life. Hence the name of the holiday home. Nyathi Valley Berg House sleeps 14 people and has been very popular since I started managing for Mark in March 2021.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In October, my son, DIL and three grandchildren spent a long weekend in this house. In order to spend more time with them, once I had done Parkrun on Saturday, I drove up and spent the night with them. <br /><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Apart from having an enjoyable evening, it was good for me to actually to spend a night in the house as a guest. At one stage, we had a challenge trying to have a hot shower. I phoned Mark and he, in turn, guided Angus how to turn on the taps and activate the gas geyser. Hot showers for everyone! </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>One aspect of this accommodation is the spectacular view of Cathkin and Champagne Castle peaks.</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8jyie3EAuR7cozmmjeXPd1jSZIZD7FOnxEOi6ht2wb4ORAJfevYQSgeO8qUalIwbkbJSGJj4BK7eDVurOjkzT25tally-9r9k-9o-IaXoHlFuulXNAbYM5gqKuvxlIl15sqn_HJgm15Iu7gK-wJ5B3qBQYCiAMIJE90AVpcVUJBkWIEhr5JzKqtvQDU/s3060/IMG_20231021_171620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8jyie3EAuR7cozmmjeXPd1jSZIZD7FOnxEOi6ht2wb4ORAJfevYQSgeO8qUalIwbkbJSGJj4BK7eDVurOjkzT25tally-9r9k-9o-IaXoHlFuulXNAbYM5gqKuvxlIl15sqn_HJgm15Iu7gK-wJ5B3qBQYCiAMIJE90AVpcVUJBkWIEhr5JzKqtvQDU/w640-h640/IMG_20231021_171620.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A breathtaking image of the sun setting over the Central Drakensberg</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTt35BoYtk-KBAsXSTof6B_jFJNwPe9LTMz284u4R3sjVwrfsCsZ-JKLZVNMS3cxY3ZW0Upzr8-y4foQHrO10KXgJSPRYO_Ih_qwniFvWrGcTVzLarQZRwB31vwuSkyGCTzR0XeKTBx5jtZ6aSMwoeMxQLZpsr3bV-JMhZOPryEXr8paDkpQ8WU7DClX0/s1600/IMG-20231021-WA0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTt35BoYtk-KBAsXSTof6B_jFJNwPe9LTMz284u4R3sjVwrfsCsZ-JKLZVNMS3cxY3ZW0Upzr8-y4foQHrO10KXgJSPRYO_Ih_qwniFvWrGcTVzLarQZRwB31vwuSkyGCTzR0XeKTBx5jtZ6aSMwoeMxQLZpsr3bV-JMhZOPryEXr8paDkpQ8WU7DClX0/w640-h360/IMG-20231021-WA0024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>I was impressed with my photo at the top until I saw this one above... (Credit: Amanda Hedges) </i><br /><i><br /></i></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvwxfYijSesw7ZQen4MLUbZJ4wdpoSbAwdDgeUukQu4qefsFCirDAK2O2TaRTZ5lQwC9gUuCJp-hCdxhewW_DfxxOpCdUsfrzu9WYcN7EjKcwxa6nvfiNqNnfleaSVdH2m1n9sZVo76kT6HWssFCmYPggydqMZkSm35CrcTRf6dTpQyNUgH6MLPHgkIQ/s3060/IMG_20231019_141407%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvwxfYijSesw7ZQen4MLUbZJ4wdpoSbAwdDgeUukQu4qefsFCirDAK2O2TaRTZ5lQwC9gUuCJp-hCdxhewW_DfxxOpCdUsfrzu9WYcN7EjKcwxa6nvfiNqNnfleaSVdH2m1n9sZVo76kT6HWssFCmYPggydqMZkSm35CrcTRf6dTpQyNUgH6MLPHgkIQ/w640-h640/IMG_20231019_141407%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The children sitting on the rockery which my artist friend, Steven built for Mark</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqvsTVmlQUBlw4EEWHewNGOz0yV8eAGVf2ISLN7VxrJ2KBFa3trTBQAR2L3v_lJ1X6VpWtpTEnb8GxJTpBIldZKu7KkBIfwd2AVDY_VzXGDcGrLjcuRW0BsZfzNwVcOUYH-zv0awGa15zuYAz11YI09bwKdf6uZGZ32Q0NtjPXlB4oHuCxaLyc8irJ18/s1600/IMG-20231021-WA0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqvsTVmlQUBlw4EEWHewNGOz0yV8eAGVf2ISLN7VxrJ2KBFa3trTBQAR2L3v_lJ1X6VpWtpTEnb8GxJTpBIldZKu7KkBIfwd2AVDY_VzXGDcGrLjcuRW0BsZfzNwVcOUYH-zv0awGa15zuYAz11YI09bwKdf6uZGZ32Q0NtjPXlB4oHuCxaLyc8irJ18/w360-h640/IMG-20231021-WA0026.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><i>With Angus, Joel, Liam and Abby in the forest </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>behind Nyathi Valley Berg House</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: x-large;">HAPPY WEDNESDAY TO YOU ALL! </span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-60935516448606515082023-12-19T04:30:00.003+02:002023-12-19T04:30:00.127+02:00Weigh-Less Christmas party<p> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Good morning dear Blogger friends. Once again, the end of the year is upon us and it's CHRISTMAS! While members in my Weigh-Less groups are never "off Weigh-Less" (Weigh-Less is a lifestyle and not a diet), I close the venue meetings for approximately 20 days over this period. The members send their weights in via WhatsApp during that period. I keep motivating them online to be vigilant; to make the best choices that they can and always to revert to their healthy eating plan in between office parties, work functions, church lunches and family gatherings. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Last week we had our Christmas party to end of a very, very successful year of weight losses and goal weight achievements with Weigh-Less. </span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkuK-Lrzq5ziHodzIDxbN67TCApoU2tCSPTg2TKOuYhqFxns3EwavNU-6NlLvcSgXpDsm0uLF5r7D3IPwc4lsIVZs4KvDfZfawYz6NXqzvWUObaBwkTFqPpXB47-y2I_kgXkyyiV-e9tp1JAKGL_j46mGuiyQ-1J_265Xrbi8BnhAWbGbSvlU6G32BqA/s3060/IMG_20231212_151713.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkuK-Lrzq5ziHodzIDxbN67TCApoU2tCSPTg2TKOuYhqFxns3EwavNU-6NlLvcSgXpDsm0uLF5r7D3IPwc4lsIVZs4KvDfZfawYz6NXqzvWUObaBwkTFqPpXB47-y2I_kgXkyyiV-e9tp1JAKGL_j46mGuiyQ-1J_265Xrbi8BnhAWbGbSvlU6G32BqA/w640-h640/IMG_20231212_151713.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i>Before any eats or treats, I gave a lecture on how to cope during this challenging festive time! </i></b></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc70YcZBvIyNOAZ3xPx4-6ZA609tOToJsfzFXl8WbYWJOyqqkFaR-auz9C-Fw-ZU7w07tzFBObk3LBYfMqLCJhxKKgNsol2nrUxDVc-ajQ4XRoCU0Xm9UmJO6weB3270nXoZM1-yZq0e-pilvT_c3uzp06GeAAAlfRd55KyyKoPbLRAcZdRNOZoVYA5A8/s3060/IMG_20231212_151747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc70YcZBvIyNOAZ3xPx4-6ZA609tOToJsfzFXl8WbYWJOyqqkFaR-auz9C-Fw-ZU7w07tzFBObk3LBYfMqLCJhxKKgNsol2nrUxDVc-ajQ4XRoCU0Xm9UmJO6weB3270nXoZM1-yZq0e-pilvT_c3uzp06GeAAAlfRd55KyyKoPbLRAcZdRNOZoVYA5A8/w640-h640/IMG_20231212_151747.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Each member brought Weigh-Less approved snacks, cracker or dips for the table</b></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I was so proud of my members. Every one of them brought delicious eats which are compliant with the Weigh-Less eating plan. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the Champagne Valley and Winterton Weigh-Less Groups (two respective groups held on two different days to suit the members logistically), in 2023, there have been five goal weight achievements in the Valley and three in Winterton. Our WhatsApp group name is <i>Winchamp</i> (Go figure: Winterton and Champagne Valley aka Winners and Champions) These are the Venue Groups. I have another four online groups with members all over South Africa, in the neighboring states and worldwide. They all keep me on the hop! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLzr35CVSe2Z3xTa5l1SA-AegDFXnF6eK4ohvk76cPlWcUpImazHsu9YQtKysBsrNvCcsS2Zbyu-DkhdIy9F_8b4RkQHrg6mxvzPVYBqfJsad920RH_dXn0UUdD3z8sioZvWTxmHT6t_C2GTZldSvAHtrJjqWEXZ4RaIO0zS6KrcDv_NQDccfW8GB_Lw/s3060/IMG_20231212_152340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLzr35CVSe2Z3xTa5l1SA-AegDFXnF6eK4ohvk76cPlWcUpImazHsu9YQtKysBsrNvCcsS2Zbyu-DkhdIy9F_8b4RkQHrg6mxvzPVYBqfJsad920RH_dXn0UUdD3z8sioZvWTxmHT6t_C2GTZldSvAHtrJjqWEXZ4RaIO0zS6KrcDv_NQDccfW8GB_Lw/w640-h640/IMG_20231212_152340.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i><b>Members tuck into the snacks and drinks!</b></i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5hGPYcoHJsEZHwBAhYbqYETHS2Tyi_2M8WSc4k8L07VC3SlGLQnSUfu1QekfMhx7Hijgo2DxmNrjm6dJr5pmi1MkUzz-KWnizxhw5S_LnEW6rn6pSSSo5ZEPG5nU1h4ZVHkopm0j8ZKzG2JMgRagyPKmHsKag5-zkuS2C_XgWWiI1W4dggoUDmw-Qpo/s3060/IMG_20231212_152357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5hGPYcoHJsEZHwBAhYbqYETHS2Tyi_2M8WSc4k8L07VC3SlGLQnSUfu1QekfMhx7Hijgo2DxmNrjm6dJr5pmi1MkUzz-KWnizxhw5S_LnEW6rn6pSSSo5ZEPG5nU1h4ZVHkopm0j8ZKzG2JMgRagyPKmHsKag5-zkuS2C_XgWWiI1W4dggoUDmw-Qpo/w640-h640/IMG_20231212_152357.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b>Weigh-Less is suitable for everyone, men and women, from nine to 90 years old</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A year ago, a mother brought her 15-year-old son to Weigh-Less. Last week, I awarded this debonair young man with his Goal Weight </b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Certificate!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbtrbmagY-DHY3yfkA__uHCoiBmG_aeFsdAH6fvQJL7zk8IlkTTWNaBJULQOjrqV_9o6r6CqvZ_wATlqtwcMgutoRl_O7fh3RjGSAB2-Ov82NVUWhAik3EmjXy6w38J2KNtlmgZKGW42AXxwDJANqv3oFW0jYbhM-Dem-QtanDBX2FT10zbeXPkLvc10/s952/IMG-20231204-WA0042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="503" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbtrbmagY-DHY3yfkA__uHCoiBmG_aeFsdAH6fvQJL7zk8IlkTTWNaBJULQOjrqV_9o6r6CqvZ_wATlqtwcMgutoRl_O7fh3RjGSAB2-Ov82NVUWhAik3EmjXy6w38J2KNtlmgZKGW42AXxwDJANqv3oFW0jYbhM-Dem-QtanDBX2FT10zbeXPkLvc10/w338-h640/IMG-20231204-WA0042.jpg" width="338" /></a></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i>Zander, after losing 20kg in just over a year!</i></b></div><div style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJe56uHez3lbIGOTMlCSDeKxZJDawe76_ww9I6ZfFtfTR1t4qA68kCNMgUARSbwqcRw4VWVC2IZbgafSEwvHGcrUXmgIiRgfuXG6Zs0-t5lToOsVKQYW7zaEmwLzplyNMguhjg1yufg4zJFUfMVRwzLXyF6qQA1DlLv3A6Nz8RlcFgRs1NOjfRj3MnUQY/s900/IMG-20231218-WA0020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="336" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJe56uHez3lbIGOTMlCSDeKxZJDawe76_ww9I6ZfFtfTR1t4qA68kCNMgUARSbwqcRw4VWVC2IZbgafSEwvHGcrUXmgIiRgfuXG6Zs0-t5lToOsVKQYW7zaEmwLzplyNMguhjg1yufg4zJFUfMVRwzLXyF6qQA1DlLv3A6Nz8RlcFgRs1NOjfRj3MnUQY/w238-h640/IMG-20231218-WA0020.jpg" width="238" /></a></div></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>At the Christmas party, two sisters had reached their Weigh-Less goal weight simultaneously.</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b> They both lost the same amount of weight as well! Irma and Susan showing off their Goal Weight Certificates! </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;">HAPPY TUESDAY TO YOU ALL! </span></b></i></div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i><br /></i></b></div><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-44962186687076466902023-12-18T04:30:00.001+02:002023-12-18T04:30:00.213+02:00The show goes on<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Good morning, dear Blogger friends. In between my cosmetic sales, online life coaching and farm administrative tasks, I have had almost back-to-back bookings at my holiday accommodation.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>On Sunday Thandi and I went up to The Bunker to meet and check out the weekend guests. Once they had left, we started preparing for guests arriving at 2pm that afternoon. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As always, we strip and remake the king-sized bed together. Then Thandi cleans the kitchen counters, checks and wipes the kitchen cabinets. She sweeps the floor and mops it with household cleaner and water. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I set out the chocolates on rolled towels; fill the fridge with Continental breakfast food. I also polish all the wood surfaces, mirrors and television. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Because the outgoing guests had used the braai (BBQ) facilities on the patio, which Thandi cleans, I opted to help her by cleaning the shower and toilet area. </b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vcxQIRaVe0zM039cUQzKHIvL_zxaq-p8DBiF1KqUOghJk4aW8fBwhfAtwsDRPg1kkW-IMjyOVhNJYVOtjALo71DgMYAv8JPyT54QATHRO4FX77DXig_oLiQ9KfG2bf2LKohV1AVKv781gg8P281LttJIvfbVQ252AUZMvjc_y7-RJgg6ngauRG0Jpo4/s3060/IMG_20231113_131343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vcxQIRaVe0zM039cUQzKHIvL_zxaq-p8DBiF1KqUOghJk4aW8fBwhfAtwsDRPg1kkW-IMjyOVhNJYVOtjALo71DgMYAv8JPyT54QATHRO4FX77DXig_oLiQ9KfG2bf2LKohV1AVKv781gg8P281LttJIvfbVQ252AUZMvjc_y7-RJgg6ngauRG0Jpo4/w640-h640/IMG_20231113_131343.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The king-sized bed made up complete with rolled towels and chocolate treats! </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZxl8FAW21UfReJG5wv9CkEmHvJSKYjALaK8rcuQPhFOMMjP-s6teXMLsg143YTZj6s-o9NDyh5t-2ybfPhcHCwsohXd0svTClyfwGdMU2DyZEee-gAoCPQNqmXlnEX9m9gCJsj8Jy5l5AIv4pF5wUy8G6AQRUlRF5C3xwNLR_IzSyJQ1r7hdgKZ8nfE/s1224/IMG-20230303-WA0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1224" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZxl8FAW21UfReJG5wv9CkEmHvJSKYjALaK8rcuQPhFOMMjP-s6teXMLsg143YTZj6s-o9NDyh5t-2ybfPhcHCwsohXd0svTClyfwGdMU2DyZEee-gAoCPQNqmXlnEX9m9gCJsj8Jy5l5AIv4pF5wUy8G6AQRUlRF5C3xwNLR_IzSyJQ1r7hdgKZ8nfE/w640-h640/IMG-20230303-WA0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Scrubbing the shower cubicle</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8svNzaopi2sGKgeIpAWstB6M8CQPsp4ZZC-TcNHiIh6pTIGKqIaUMkmTeM7YzsYWUD3AVBFNCNpsTWJ3YjdMtJ6Ng4FM0z3v4A88YhgsI-VFEsLFya0EO7sKYzH_8LKyLGkWRMXU7zmvkYdqH4R55NIMGjv98lGO743YlTek8tn7aGiAb3rlctxE2Iqk/s3060/IMG_20231217_110741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8svNzaopi2sGKgeIpAWstB6M8CQPsp4ZZC-TcNHiIh6pTIGKqIaUMkmTeM7YzsYWUD3AVBFNCNpsTWJ3YjdMtJ6Ng4FM0z3v4A88YhgsI-VFEsLFya0EO7sKYzH_8LKyLGkWRMXU7zmvkYdqH4R55NIMGjv98lGO743YlTek8tn7aGiAb3rlctxE2Iqk/w640-h640/IMG_20231217_110741.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>Message in my guest book</i><br /><i><br /></i></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">On Tuesday morning, Thandi and I do this all over again. And again on Thursday...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My Christmas weekend guests arrive on Saturday and check out on 26th December. Thandi has the week between Christmas and New Year off, so I will go up and clean The Bunker and prepare it for the New Year week guests arriving at 2pm that day.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #fcff01; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #fcff01; font-size: large;"><i>HAVE A GREAT MONDAY, EVERYONE! </i></span></b></div></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /><br /><i><br /></i></b></div></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-8365607977588059832023-12-17T04:30:00.010+02:002023-12-17T04:30:00.360+02:00Just when you think...<p> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>... it's safe to read Jo's blog, there's<i> ANOTHER </i>Parkrun post!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Apologies, dear Blogger friends. Parkrun is my most favorite leisure pursuit (an oxymoron if ever there was one, LOL!) as one of the only TWO leisure activities (another oxymoron!) I take part in on a weekly basis. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Parkrun is what I do every Saturday. And Taigelates is tri-discipline class where I join five to six lovely friends in the Valley every Friday morning. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm still trying to catch up on my life since I posted about Mary's memorial service in early November this year. After the service as is traditional in South Africa, we moved to the church hall for tea and eats. By 4pm I said goodbye to Mary's daughter, Trasi, now owner and chairman of Weigh-Less and set off for Howick. I had phoned ahead to [Aunt] Gill to say I would be with her in under an hour. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I popped into the supermarket and bought a pizza and some dessert for our supper. Gill and I spent a lovely evening together. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Again, I was near a tour Parkrun and after conferring with my dear friend and Weigh-Less member, Judy, I arranged to collect her at 7.30 on Saturday morning. She would show me the way to the Hilton Parkrun. She had registered on the site and this would be her first official Parkrun. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It was a very different venue to the one we have in Winterton and looked a lot easier than my first "tour" Parkrun a month before. You started out on a school sports field, walked down a grassy track, through a forest (Hilton/Howick abound with pine forests!) and then out along the school grounds perimeter. And back to the start at the sports field. 2.5km. A marshal guides you to the tunnel which takes you onto the sports field again and you do the whole route a second time. 5km total. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Judy and I started together and although she said I should go at my pace, I told her I was staying with her. When we reached the grassy track which took us up to the first 2.5km point, Judy said: "Jo, I think I will wait here while you complete the Parkrun." I told her no way do you stop now, let's hit this second 2.5km.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Which we did. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When we returned to the start, the volunteers applauded loudly while we skipped into the finish paddock! I had done my second "tour" Parkrun and Judy had done her first official Parkrun. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Afterwards she said to me, "Not only do you watch what I eat but today you made me stay and finish the course." </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>I nodded sagely! </i></b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfChAFTYa0nBTGLW9jPtX-Ti5HMAoLMph9PjecWZrlrrfBPqyPyLpnK46AbbvPWqcyqNYdbNtxYp-kfzE4GUzfZOWSHFioqUZoSdO4qvMg3Kg5C5cVb1cSsctHtSuyZr9J2Jj83jQA8ZGNMOXcH_OXiiwO_J6dzshULyjllQXLQ0AlZNGUb4YoUHBTLKE/s1600/IMG-20231104-WA0023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfChAFTYa0nBTGLW9jPtX-Ti5HMAoLMph9PjecWZrlrrfBPqyPyLpnK46AbbvPWqcyqNYdbNtxYp-kfzE4GUzfZOWSHFioqUZoSdO4qvMg3Kg5C5cVb1cSsctHtSuyZr9J2Jj83jQA8ZGNMOXcH_OXiiwO_J6dzshULyjllQXLQ0AlZNGUb4YoUHBTLKE/w640-h480/IMG-20231104-WA0023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i><b>Judy and I at the end of the Hilton Parkrun on 4 November 2023</b></i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Once I'd dropped Judy at her home, I drove back to the retirement village where I had a final cup of tea and a chat with Gill. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I arrived home on the farm by mid-afternoon. I popped over to my neighbors, Ron and John to tell them I was home safely and tell them about the memorial service.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Regarding my Taigelates attendance. The classes take place on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. I work the first three days in the farm office, so Friday is the only day I can attend. Our instructor, Caroline has returned to Australia for two years. She sends two WhatsApp messages of 30 minutes each. Estelle, another dear friend of mine, attaches her mobile phone to a bluetooth enhancer and with this in the center of the room with our mats in a circle around it, we follow her instructions as if she is in the room with us!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks ago, in one discipline she exhorted us to, while sitting on our mats, to place our heads on the floor and then on each knee (leg straight), while gripping your toes. She said it was quite a challenging move and if anyone managed to get close, she would like photos. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Unbeknown to me, the other "younger" mid-sixty year-old ladies, and Estelle (my contemporary at 70 plus years) were struggling to do this. And photographed the person who was able to do it!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWJkgwCUn5v0467wRbBiJj5M1ZBu_7ZaMhMkeB2lupVgyDMf2b9shcl_FSsiKWoF7ysJYtUsWfMXWZdOy-ALwymYmYgzYKyCMGlXuOBRDZQlbaUUK1wWOLeJqkXfEp-hui0soQUBJcBQ6mp2lYM1VMH5xoUfb9H0AT4y6zgeecNo617P8oz2iymyhN-Q/s763/IMG-20231124-WA0032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="763" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWJkgwCUn5v0467wRbBiJj5M1ZBu_7ZaMhMkeB2lupVgyDMf2b9shcl_FSsiKWoF7ysJYtUsWfMXWZdOy-ALwymYmYgzYKyCMGlXuOBRDZQlbaUUK1wWOLeJqkXfEp-hui0soQUBJcBQ6mp2lYM1VMH5xoUfb9H0AT4y6zgeecNo617P8oz2iymyhN-Q/w640-h426/IMG-20231124-WA0032.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2-OadfkGQkwJn-nWG6_BiUh0-w2tiBnHzGzmabrmqOqoGz0MuZgiW7tIto-MoKYYYgMTXdlQG25eoTP20ukfsuQQqgMZgWEd5AvJfeqowJPLnoquSBCfc1faqQs7vQeUnm-V4FoRjhekvp4hylfmx8z0YhtOFPwL38tfS8nZ1-SsvqjJn-RG-XeLklA/s646/IMG-20231124-WA0030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="646" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2-OadfkGQkwJn-nWG6_BiUh0-w2tiBnHzGzmabrmqOqoGz0MuZgiW7tIto-MoKYYYgMTXdlQG25eoTP20ukfsuQQqgMZgWEd5AvJfeqowJPLnoquSBCfc1faqQs7vQeUnm-V4FoRjhekvp4hylfmx8z0YhtOFPwL38tfS8nZ1-SsvqjJn-RG-XeLklA/w640-h572/IMG-20231124-WA0030.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Mmm, one thing about a close up of one's feet, you realize that</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b> not only your hands give away your age! </b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This Friday past was our year end breakfast at the restaurant adjacent to where we exercise. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But...</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>first...</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We had an hour of exercise. Because it was my last session with the girls, and because of the season, I wore an appropriate head decoration. Estelle was so impressed; she wanted a photo of me to send to Caroline. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Yxl5SNtBBTdLuCAOZJGRGZmETdd-VMTG5-Olp7spFdYtxVSrh4w6FVQxLt9lPfeggbc7qEpkNIpFQwTuciP973rqRf7NmveNFFQ7MLscvwah6z3TmW_sjXq7uT7f82Yo-XQAcAaTi3z9KJAOc_2rWDmaC86R5ymlBMs4NvOJvX5O_5hSDs8jzbnUST0/s2051/IMG_20231215_061220.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2051" data-original-width="1534" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Yxl5SNtBBTdLuCAOZJGRGZmETdd-VMTG5-Olp7spFdYtxVSrh4w6FVQxLt9lPfeggbc7qEpkNIpFQwTuciP973rqRf7NmveNFFQ7MLscvwah6z3TmW_sjXq7uT7f82Yo-XQAcAaTi3z9KJAOc_2rWDmaC86R5ymlBMs4NvOJvX5O_5hSDs8jzbnUST0/w478-h640/IMG_20231215_061220.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><b>As Estelle aimed her phone at me, Anne said "Estelle, you stand with Jo, and I will take the photo." Then Monique, arriving that moment, said, "You three stand there and I will snap you." I said, "Hold it, girls. I'll set my phone up on the selfie function and a 10second timer; we all pose and ALL will appear in the photo." They had never heard of this before but trusted me and we got our group photo! </b><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiduN5sHJdBQBNE-GUsoW-pdrX0DwhCI9rR2riFKM2mfobkRGRIFhTKKTEaWBEvpdq6blf39onGGaVKvtVNt2ofMNZ6Yp4ngxkHlLHqtrdYZd4h8VfAX8W_1AZmTNfdjArYAuMo111BvhRASDVAS3dGeOwxEU4UQSz-Uz88enfK8bRhiAtpSecU5ncvrA/s1280/IMG-20231215-WA0008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1280" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiduN5sHJdBQBNE-GUsoW-pdrX0DwhCI9rR2riFKM2mfobkRGRIFhTKKTEaWBEvpdq6blf39onGGaVKvtVNt2ofMNZ6Yp4ngxkHlLHqtrdYZd4h8VfAX8W_1AZmTNfdjArYAuMo111BvhRASDVAS3dGeOwxEU4UQSz-Uz88enfK8bRhiAtpSecU5ncvrA/w640-h498/IMG-20231215-WA0008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span><i>We had a group photo to share with Caroline, thousands of kilometers Down Under! </i></span></b></div></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We certainly enjoyed a wonderful year together and rounded it off with a jovial breakfast!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>HAPPY SUNDAY TO YOU ALL! </i></b></span></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><p></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-90779873746943861922023-12-16T14:25:00.009+02:002023-12-16T14:25:55.476+02:00Farm walks <p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Good afternoon my Blogger readers. I've stopped taking Skabby to Parkrun due to the incredibly hot weather recently, Instead, we go out for a walk on the farm as we did in days gone by. And a swim in the dam. The dear lad LOVES it!</span></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLqmvQiPnplPg1gX9igCQKSCEtEskJunMlRDxqXfMBQWgulvBPLyDYHLYelpyjiDNkMiFk36J7MagyzDYCQk9qTDmO6e-C9akUmqDmyDuBLuCKwTaaHSdLTO_m1as3dBC4ru-A5309VkM1QcclH8lsa4Ke7BXUaePuAVcVsiJit6V6Yt2a2D1Ck5j1n0/s4608/IMG_2712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLqmvQiPnplPg1gX9igCQKSCEtEskJunMlRDxqXfMBQWgulvBPLyDYHLYelpyjiDNkMiFk36J7MagyzDYCQk9qTDmO6e-C9akUmqDmyDuBLuCKwTaaHSdLTO_m1as3dBC4ru-A5309VkM1QcclH8lsa4Ke7BXUaePuAVcVsiJit6V6Yt2a2D1Ck5j1n0/w640-h480/IMG_2712.JPG" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiuxlNyvLEMKmWt1HTnoRGOHGoAYA5HrTARn8-AiyEMAYMc5oJhWruL-vX1jvQEdUGxZKk36AtPl1GIvL-aEe9jc4KKbMAWYA7K838Ath-XEFjlIPFYxS7o2Lnzcq4bHWQtosgQoOPsXHg6fELvS7k2pd9upHCHzgoo5YnooyvseQSB9GEC8jPig5VLA/s4608/IMG_2713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiuxlNyvLEMKmWt1HTnoRGOHGoAYA5HrTARn8-AiyEMAYMc5oJhWruL-vX1jvQEdUGxZKk36AtPl1GIvL-aEe9jc4KKbMAWYA7K838Ath-XEFjlIPFYxS7o2Lnzcq4bHWQtosgQoOPsXHg6fELvS7k2pd9upHCHzgoo5YnooyvseQSB9GEC8jPig5VLA/w640-h480/IMG_2713.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Gulping a mouthful of water while swimming! </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkJSj8DOsQKU9U2L4vN7k0IFva-acs9hAxa9B8ePlg7BwyqiUwcnCBylNzHAYjVMUFC9kSZ8BozQI55qGGDa2kfCH9uefH7qmgqVOZqd0Qy60Sbl08gFyOOgFUK_iPbIv5_CbLF9xZNxqdGGTovDiFWmwd_JogNEeftkdFuPP29x3SNMlohjPzIvY2F4/s4608/IMG_2709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkJSj8DOsQKU9U2L4vN7k0IFva-acs9hAxa9B8ePlg7BwyqiUwcnCBylNzHAYjVMUFC9kSZ8BozQI55qGGDa2kfCH9uefH7qmgqVOZqd0Qy60Sbl08gFyOOgFUK_iPbIv5_CbLF9xZNxqdGGTovDiFWmwd_JogNEeftkdFuPP29x3SNMlohjPzIvY2F4/w640-h480/IMG_2709.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3meGx_Xek-22qm7VOpaPJVtKF7e3MQls4h_SToL_Hyqphs9C_MUy5wbeJPxT_XL7oDpkWuIzCMTHS2M70zkmQ3PVfKfJuiib12jMlUjH36zCtxS2E_Tud3-mv5zZVguewuyx517SKPY7OClJWOPnD7TW4gHIdvhXN9lH2dBBzo6hJGyHXifaHY67HBM/s4608/IMG_2710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3meGx_Xek-22qm7VOpaPJVtKF7e3MQls4h_SToL_Hyqphs9C_MUy5wbeJPxT_XL7oDpkWuIzCMTHS2M70zkmQ3PVfKfJuiib12jMlUjH36zCtxS2E_Tud3-mv5zZVguewuyx517SKPY7OClJWOPnD7TW4gHIdvhXN9lH2dBBzo6hJGyHXifaHY67HBM/w640-h480/IMG_2710.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWs8pUUNdseWgUlo0LkNL0RVZeZMjJ3EMGx-JtpvmWhaCY7ydr9Esi1ZmUBmEu9K19_qWPNH2bpx0K7L6D2jobSsRdZgTtt9M5pRE_GhMx0nNhVxa41uKVCH_jc7QVOvdbtIbwk3wBlslt8B9wu6zujeKep7r599FgAZjgnvqB8OkiDgSz_nIJyYd9ho/s4608/IMG_2714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWs8pUUNdseWgUlo0LkNL0RVZeZMjJ3EMGx-JtpvmWhaCY7ydr9Esi1ZmUBmEu9K19_qWPNH2bpx0K7L6D2jobSsRdZgTtt9M5pRE_GhMx0nNhVxa41uKVCH_jc7QVOvdbtIbwk3wBlslt8B9wu6zujeKep7r599FgAZjgnvqB8OkiDgSz_nIJyYd9ho/w640-h480/IMG_2714.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course, the local wildlife residents have not seen this big black dog for 18 months. The pair of Egyptian Geese with goslings were quite skittish! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAc0NrujeO5NPZZcIVHHk9WgrNRnthAE6nvI2JBC_HKstYBWpuIaSc2DMuY2yt-T8vVv0b2A2hlo0Ore-z9Ctvl8jtG8D5NoV5tLczunkhM1ZOfKMuwkXFRmoZzEbYZ_OfSl_YutjoLcX0gxr4YvVfM6S8bD2mbrlAS0qL7LKnTz8IWXch5dHqNhMx60I/s4608/IMG_2750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAc0NrujeO5NPZZcIVHHk9WgrNRnthAE6nvI2JBC_HKstYBWpuIaSc2DMuY2yt-T8vVv0b2A2hlo0Ore-z9Ctvl8jtG8D5NoV5tLczunkhM1ZOfKMuwkXFRmoZzEbYZ_OfSl_YutjoLcX0gxr4YvVfM6S8bD2mbrlAS0qL7LKnTz8IWXch5dHqNhMx60I/w640-h480/IMG_2750.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyDuQX7IDzljtQgEYkOqJKlYS8CdLD_J56ego831P1gGBbaFmPWkp1HtvdZrsEs9XPQhkWo6RGvJ3hEqUZN_Bw_UQFaWuHWNBj1ZECSjkt5tni3LfJqT66GPFkItEqO0DjBGQJyvToUkJeOLYPyu-B2jEOvqwinc3R6wNdI-gUijyhBlPc7rFbcrDabA/s4608/IMG_2752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyDuQX7IDzljtQgEYkOqJKlYS8CdLD_J56ego831P1gGBbaFmPWkp1HtvdZrsEs9XPQhkWo6RGvJ3hEqUZN_Bw_UQFaWuHWNBj1ZECSjkt5tni3LfJqT66GPFkItEqO0DjBGQJyvToUkJeOLYPyu-B2jEOvqwinc3R6wNdI-gUijyhBlPc7rFbcrDabA/w640-h480/IMG_2752.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></i></b><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Back home, Skabby is treated to a bone. When he's finished with it, the Glossy Starlings arrive on the lawn, picking a bits of fat, sinew, meat and bone left in the grass!</i></b> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen,<a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/"> here</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b><i></i></b><b><i></i></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-7336781744554857232023-12-16T05:00:00.028+02:002023-12-16T05:00:00.161+02:00Her legacy lives on<p> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Good morning, dear Blogger readers. Exactly four weeks after we'd met with Mary, we were all back in Durban. This time for Mary's memorial service. </span></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSJd39gTiD6oI2ZTwc4ALCbnczZvpr7TZsdKlytCmReuH1Gn96kX2Sev8h3nUQNmFm47zCRtuswNBsHSkKg1bylFXEV4krdYwKKHhpaVjsJk90SGcAmDN6D7HSSQigwvR0waXzyr5VyRvwBoSGCp7iBuBWG-95CrIAFN9wIPg0SHc9d6NCMY9nb-Zqf4/s3060/IMG_20231103_130949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSJd39gTiD6oI2ZTwc4ALCbnczZvpr7TZsdKlytCmReuH1Gn96kX2Sev8h3nUQNmFm47zCRtuswNBsHSkKg1bylFXEV4krdYwKKHhpaVjsJk90SGcAmDN6D7HSSQigwvR0waXzyr5VyRvwBoSGCp7iBuBWG-95CrIAFN9wIPg0SHc9d6NCMY9nb-Zqf4/w640-h640/IMG_20231103_130949.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><i>Mary was a devout Catholic. It was very special to attend a memorial service where the priest had known and respected the deceased</i></b></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This tiny lady was larger-than-life in the world of health and wellness. She was a visionary and as far back as the early eighties, she was an activist fighting for women's rights especially in the business world. See one of the many obituaries to Mary </b><a href="https://www.mosselbayadvertiser.com/Entertainment/Article/mary-holroyd-founder-and-chairman-of-weigh-less-passes-away-at-age-76-202310310405" style="font-weight: bold;">here</a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>Recognizing</b></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"> the need for a comprehensive and sustainable weight loss program, she founded Weigh-Less in 1975. Under her visionary leadership, Weigh-Less grew from a small local initiative to a global phenomenon. </b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mary also extended an opportunity to successful members who had reached their Goal Weight to generate an income by taking on roles as Group Leaders. Weigh-Less offered comprehensive support, including training, equipment, and collateral, empowering these individuals to transform not only their own lives but also the lives of others — truly a win-win situation.</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">With the Covid pandemic Lockdown in April 2020, Weigh-Less went virtual with incredible success. At the time Mary asked which Group Leaders would like to run Virtual Groups. I was the first to put up my hand. Today I have hundreds of Weigh-Less members across South Africa, in the </b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>neighboring</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;"> states and worldwide. </b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBezIUUJHNWtYu93kHdNOfOE-AM18OYovQ39rXeGYDnKfX4m6WJ_g4AJw96HkeXzaX2d_69SxGUa95y_yj0AtYjL6k72PcI7fjJJObT3qgYYGVh6VFPIJded5AC2VzhHbeyjwEtdi5B9nd5PU8wHlyZVWmTo2ttjy2ghs31B0Hi6SNw06UEXvvv3cqQvE/s618/Screenshot_20231104_181508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="618" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBezIUUJHNWtYu93kHdNOfOE-AM18OYovQ39rXeGYDnKfX4m6WJ_g4AJw96HkeXzaX2d_69SxGUa95y_yj0AtYjL6k72PcI7fjJJObT3qgYYGVh6VFPIJded5AC2VzhHbeyjwEtdi5B9nd5PU8wHlyZVWmTo2ttjy2ghs31B0Hi6SNw06UEXvvv3cqQvE/w640-h376/Screenshot_20231104_181508.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The service was life streamed. I managed to capture a screenshot of myself meeting the Weigh-Less bookkeeper who had helped me with an intricate problem the week before. The young lady with vibrant red hair, is in charge of the Weigh-Less art and visuals department</i></b></div></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Throughout her illustrious career, Mary received numerous accolades and recognition for her contributions to the health and wellness industry. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and her tireless efforts to improve the lives of others earned her the respect and admiration of her peers and members alike.</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">At the memorial service celebrating the amazing life of Mary Holroyd, both her daughters and oldest granddaughter delivered moving and emotional </b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><b>obituaries</b></span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">. After this, three men paid tribute to Mary reiterating just how </b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><b>influential</b></span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"> this lady had been in the business and marketing world. </b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>Mary's impact on the health and wellness industry was so powerful, that even without her, the core values and ethics are set in stone.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17.5px; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">While the loss of Mary is deeply felt by all who knew her, her family is determined to carry on her legacy and continue the work she started. They are committed to upholding the values and principles that she held dear, ensuring that Weigh-Less remains a beacon of hope and support for those seeking a healthier lifestyle.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;">REST IN PEACE, MARY</span></i></span></p><p><br /></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-469511153765625222023-12-16T04:30:00.044+02:002023-12-16T04:30:00.175+02:00Away without leave - again<p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> My dear Blogger friends, once again I have been AWOL for more than two months. Thank you, all for your kind comments on my Spain Trip posts. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Apart from my usual busy work schedule and long periods of Loadshedding which affects our Internet, I have been to Durban. TWICE.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Firstly, it was to an important Weigh-Less event with Mary Holroyd, Founder and Chairman of the company.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Again, I stayed with Gill, my dear aunt - by - marriage, in a retirement village in Howick. It's always good to catch up with Gill who now has reached her 88th year. She is sharp and healthy, but sadly suffering with macular degeneration. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">While in Howick, I popped into a business on the main street where one of my loyal Goal Weight Members sells beautiful goose down linen and, wait for it...</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">...a selection of Dutch sauces and snacks. Yes! She sells Stroopwafels which I'd discovered in Amsterdam. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>While visiting Corrie, he husband, who runs a Tax office adjoining her shop, called us to have coffee. Not only was Russell ultra friendly and answered my queries about business developments I saw taking place in town. He also suggested I do the Piggly Wiggly Parkrun the next day.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As many of my blog friends know, I reached my 100th Parkrun milestone, shortly after my 70th birthday Fortunately this took place three days before I tripped on my veranda, fell and cracked my knee in three places. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Back to my 100th, I was one of the few Winterton Parkrun participants who had done all 100 in Winterton. I had never done an "away" Parkrun. I had already decided to do the Howick Parkrun before driving down to Durban on Saturday 30th September, and told Russ I would be at the start by 8am the next day. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Back home with Gill, one of my other loyal Goal Weight Members, Judy, contacted me and asked if was intending to do the Parkrun. She had never done one and would like to go with me. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The next morning, I collected Judy on the way to the Piggly Wiggly venue and we duly arrived at the Parkrun to be welcomed by Russ and several other gents who have already done 250 Parkruns. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oh, and the temperature that morning was 37</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">° C.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Judy had already opted to walk for 20 minutes and then she'd turn around and return to the start. I told her that in 40 minutes she would probably have covered 3km so why not just persevere and complete the 5km . She agreed to try.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We were set off and I'd covered the about 750m when I heard a man calling: <i>Jo Hedges/Jo Hedges. </i> I spent a week in in Howick in February, training new Group Leaders and opening Weigh-Less Groups so I suspect I am already quite well known in Howick. But here at Parkrun? As I turned to see a man running up behind me, he handed me my Parkrun barcode. Phew. I was relieved. I had dropped it when I started and would have been denied my completion at the end. You have to have your barcode to be scanned and counted at the Parkrun. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Unbeknown to her, I had selected a lady who seemed to be in my age group and used her as my pacer. At 2.5km, a younger, forty- something, woman ran up behind us. As she passed, she said: "Wow, you two are setting a cracking pace! Do you do race walking?" I shook my head; I don't think the other lady reacted. In fact, throughout the Parkrun, she was quite taciturn. As I kept up with her, I asked if this was her home Parkrun. A terse <i>Yes, </i>was all I got! </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oh OK. I thought, suit yourself! In any case, I now needed all my energy to focus on the task at hand. </b></span></p><p><b style="font-size: x-large;">The walk wound through a pine forest, then out and through another pine forest. Pure bliss and relief from the heat. At one point, I took a left turn at the race marker tape and my "non-companion" barked: <i> wrong way. S</i>he continued straight. As I made to follow her, at the bottom of the track, a marshal </b><b style="font-size: x-large;">pointed to me calling out: you</b><b style="font-size: x-large;"> are correct. This way please. </b></p><p><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Ahem! </i></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We emerged into the sunshine again. At 3.5km, I looked up and gulped. The sand track rose up in front of me at a steep 60</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">° </span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>incline. I was shattered. I couldn't imagine how I was going to get up it. The fence running on the right of this track is electrified, so no hope of using the wire to pull me up. I quipped to my silent companion: <i>So, where's our cracking pace now? </i>No reply. She was bent over double, gasping for breath. </b></span></span></p><p><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just then a little dog ran past me. Her owner came up behind me and said: don't you wish you had four legs. As he came alongside me, he put his hand on my back and pushed me to the top. </span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>He patted my shoulder and said, <i>now you can finish.</i> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How's that for camaraderie, hey? I literally skipped home on the last kilometer. Well, "skipped" is stretching it a bit, but I had much more energy than I had after 2.8km. </b></span></p><p><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And so, I clocked into my first "touring" Parkrun. Albeit, as one of my Parkrun friends at Winterton said, I chose the worst one ever. It turned out to be my baptism of fire. </b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmWdijnqBVBWy_o2Ez_sdWrBJtbvMlMbDhABcNnmgdnwK0SRLZOnfZuYjfikM5lsMAxPGg0RQ0Zl4dVH3RDJRhVl9ITa86Kr3yFI6xQlMFRmltxNWIMXMCpubURx-vL5v2G6g_gUNTQ3JJfuVGxO7LcEqtDeAx84y48ABp5PKRS6Zw7VcxOfN2SgP-iY/s3060/IMG_20230930_091414%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmWdijnqBVBWy_o2Ez_sdWrBJtbvMlMbDhABcNnmgdnwK0SRLZOnfZuYjfikM5lsMAxPGg0RQ0Zl4dVH3RDJRhVl9ITa86Kr3yFI6xQlMFRmltxNWIMXMCpubURx-vL5v2G6g_gUNTQ3JJfuVGxO7LcEqtDeAx84y48ABp5PKRS6Zw7VcxOfN2SgP-iY/w640-h640/IMG_20230930_091414%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span><b><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>My very first "away" Parkrun: Piggly Wiggly in Howick, KZN</i></b></div></i></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A little later, Judy appeared in the distance with a lady brandishing a hiking stick. I had told the Run Director that it was Judy's first Parkrun and although she's not registered, I would show her how to do it. From then they would have her and often her grandson at their Parkrun. When Judy came into the finishing stretch, I gave her a loud applause with some of the volunteers joining in. </b></span></p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUSmV22cOFtsu80482tTGQlhSPZg8t2iWXvq5fkuHA5N7tbGazx4zrAq0-wHSnSt8gP7wzO3rItHqeYzot1tTEiVWfeQ3z6Pm6Rz2x00GVx_rvO2fNhdu1TBOjvduhHJFCYi3REOTVVxTz-5G0YmA-IW3q9vPv9Nm_TyFkwVsPKRmmM0cfPLtxdlDrp8/s3060/IMG_20230930_091244%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUSmV22cOFtsu80482tTGQlhSPZg8t2iWXvq5fkuHA5N7tbGazx4zrAq0-wHSnSt8gP7wzO3rItHqeYzot1tTEiVWfeQ3z6Pm6Rz2x00GVx_rvO2fNhdu1TBOjvduhHJFCYi3REOTVVxTz-5G0YmA-IW3q9vPv9Nm_TyFkwVsPKRmmM0cfPLtxdlDrp8/w640-h640/IMG_20230930_091244%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Judy at the end of the 5km Parkrun</b></i></div></i></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>After I'd dropped Judy at her home, I made a dash back to Gill to bath and prepare for a Group Leaders meeting at 12.30. In Durban: a 90-minute drive from Howick. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I have posted about traveling the N3 before and this day it was no different. It was terrible!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>However, I arrived at Weigh-Less Head Office at 12.25 where Mary, Chairman and Founder of the company welcomed me. Inside I greeted the Group Leaders whom I knew and was introduced to the new Group Leaders. We had not had a face-to-face meeting since January 2020. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mary gave us a very interesting talk on the history of Weigh-Less which she founded in February 1975. She also said that everything was in place for her daughter, Trasi (at the time CEO of Weigh-Less) to take over. But... Mary added, she is still very much at the helm and was not going anywhere (or on retirement).</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mary handed out long service badges - several Group Leaders at the meeting that day had been with the company for 20years and longer. </b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpVA8Ch3cOhpEnulGUR7nKjWtVCaUkD2bHiQhYF3EOdiE5oThkmTrjH6D-nFPkLd_cL29EA8cm2_RX-AztBDYMaJdy7vB0m72cqZKUQT5Y2mUZsKG5Q8jXwPZTjG_w86BQ1FBudaTfEVihp07C0IhCtCTUkOWCnKq8WZfo4YGpbEFQ1CCsF0aWljguBM/s645/IMG-20230930-WA0038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="326" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpVA8Ch3cOhpEnulGUR7nKjWtVCaUkD2bHiQhYF3EOdiE5oThkmTrjH6D-nFPkLd_cL29EA8cm2_RX-AztBDYMaJdy7vB0m72cqZKUQT5Y2mUZsKG5Q8jXwPZTjG_w86BQ1FBudaTfEVihp07C0IhCtCTUkOWCnKq8WZfo4YGpbEFQ1CCsF0aWljguBM/w324-h640/IMG-20230930-WA0038.jpg" width="324" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>When Mary gave me my six-year award, she said it felt as though </b></i><i><b>I'd been with the company forever!</b></i></div></i><p></p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPvbFetpRCXC6KB1FA5j5eC7JnW2n3n9Ng9wyVQUQ2943dh3a-hsH8rvspiaOUdU899kgaZmTlkfHaxgrsi8mn1hyQOsWmCcCFRLrjzH6FLeME61v41RVFX-ZZ-P8Rhq4bFbI-09oUiK21aU7L5pt-tdxf8sXCPS-9oFS5qozs6zLZVq-hNyBMu6YhwQ/s435/IMG-20230930-WA0039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="346" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPvbFetpRCXC6KB1FA5j5eC7JnW2n3n9Ng9wyVQUQ2943dh3a-hsH8rvspiaOUdU899kgaZmTlkfHaxgrsi8mn1hyQOsWmCcCFRLrjzH6FLeME61v41RVFX-ZZ-P8Rhq4bFbI-09oUiK21aU7L5pt-tdxf8sXCPS-9oFS5qozs6zLZVq-hNyBMu6YhwQ/w510-h640/IMG-20230930-WA0039.jpg" width="510" /></a></span></div><span><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I was also awarded with a certificate for the most members online; the most members paying by debit order and the most members achieving their goal weight. </i></b></div></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span><b style="font-size: x-large;">Afterwards we all enjoyed a lovely lunch with fruit juice. Just as we thought we'd been spoiled enough, Mary arrived with chocolate iced cupcakes to celebrate one of the Group Leader's birthdays that day! How special was that!</b></span></p><p><span><b style="font-size: x-large;">By 3pm we said goodbye to Mary and each other, never realizing that this was the last time we would ever meet with her.</b></span></p><p><span><b style="font-size: x-large;">To be continued...</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-61265803202974968822023-10-25T04:30:00.005+02:002023-10-25T04:30:00.148+02:00Finally, a sad farewell<p> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good morning, dear Blogger friends. As all good things do, the holiday in Spain came to an end. </b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">But hey ho! We had SUCH a wonderful stay with my dear sister Rose, and BIL, Pete. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">When Celia and I were shopping on our own, we desperately searched for a "fun medal". But no such luck. That last Sunday while we sat in Pete's car hire business office, I spotted a medal hanging on the wall behind my nephew's desk.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">When Rose popped into the powder room, Celia and I asked Mark if we could borrow it. He took it down and handed it to Celia. It was our intention to present Rose with a "Best driver and tour director" award.</span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPyBLYub-Uq89Xes5iIMsVHOniq6EqdeUtr4fHu-jvjsdsUXWhEjbGWhBn4p_aYhQuLk1POkSlVuqs8VWEzHUB_xfa2EYJKzMxQR-yvSidCwIQDtqgh1NRxIh5vofoxyoamjxMbtFU_o88vyZwByFuVVLgUlyPGWNRO_tptuY8dPk4iKO6ZLqqAfyG2g/s1280/IMG-20231024-WA0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPyBLYub-Uq89Xes5iIMsVHOniq6EqdeUtr4fHu-jvjsdsUXWhEjbGWhBn4p_aYhQuLk1POkSlVuqs8VWEzHUB_xfa2EYJKzMxQR-yvSidCwIQDtqgh1NRxIh5vofoxyoamjxMbtFU_o88vyZwByFuVVLgUlyPGWNRO_tptuY8dPk4iKO6ZLqqAfyG2g/w640-h640/IMG-20231024-WA0082.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i>The medal hanging on the wall behind my nephew, Mark</i></b></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8kb-qaT4FZJD8SLdwa85ctXbbc9dzaKAD2BxtRvl8xzX8R5jEdRiGtnUeMO9f8sre63-cq8vFRxs4Wbqv8JVvkVkv8-v09O7SU09BUcE-QXrDQXo84RG34fFq3v669us6FAIDi7rO8t-OOxElh_ecDrYrz994U-ARDZNZBueH4_ITorhHthWSWG01sY/s3060/IMG_20230521_113447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8kb-qaT4FZJD8SLdwa85ctXbbc9dzaKAD2BxtRvl8xzX8R5jEdRiGtnUeMO9f8sre63-cq8vFRxs4Wbqv8JVvkVkv8-v09O7SU09BUcE-QXrDQXo84RG34fFq3v669us6FAIDi7rO8t-OOxElh_ecDrYrz994U-ARDZNZBueH4_ITorhHthWSWG01sY/w640-h640/IMG_20230521_113447.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Medal of excellence awarded to Rose as the best driver, tour director, restrateur and hostess in Europe! </b></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're grateful that the men in the office, humored us and even photographed the awards ceremony! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then it was time to be taken to the Malaga airport. Oh sigh. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgX1rmesPrXUMxVTd1ZNhAsMWcC4l8PtsTRNqvXebLjOiYsU0bCNZcnG_J6xlxfZ4qLe4aqITXGoY9i6ruPv2wSkYXgZcGr2eiqkVa6dzPTxU-Q-qTgwlY1uSsXQ7w6AdBHRfzUqBCpErHXkQg_iIHb20kkpsYPZp0dsXEYhUUOJPpyBPaykbpNqq7IE/s3060/IMG_20230508_205303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgX1rmesPrXUMxVTd1ZNhAsMWcC4l8PtsTRNqvXebLjOiYsU0bCNZcnG_J6xlxfZ4qLe4aqITXGoY9i6ruPv2wSkYXgZcGr2eiqkVa6dzPTxU-Q-qTgwlY1uSsXQ7w6AdBHRfzUqBCpErHXkQg_iIHb20kkpsYPZp0dsXEYhUUOJPpyBPaykbpNqq7IE/w640-h640/IMG_20230508_205303.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span></span><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-weight: 700;">Just two weeks earlier we had been collected from here and Rose drove us to </span><span style="text-align: center;"><b>Fuengirola to start our Spanish holiday!</b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div></i><span style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEq2EOh4ZHYTlv4JSgRGdiDYN_1mMJx5_L-wd30UUbG_WW8Y_MppR-QLV82jKDA83OOv6_7elIuGiWBssNwwkAp1_4b5pGorsPjZi9AxJpCkkf6te9ylRY8ZNYsjC6Gpn_KJVbkRZm7P87JAOq8cCyHlMZwBQrus3bGhuRtjZtAMb__pyFHCxyn0eM_Vs/s1551/IMG-20230522-WA0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1551" data-original-width="895" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEq2EOh4ZHYTlv4JSgRGdiDYN_1mMJx5_L-wd30UUbG_WW8Y_MppR-QLV82jKDA83OOv6_7elIuGiWBssNwwkAp1_4b5pGorsPjZi9AxJpCkkf6te9ylRY8ZNYsjC6Gpn_KJVbkRZm7P87JAOq8cCyHlMZwBQrus3bGhuRtjZtAMb__pyFHCxyn0eM_Vs/w370-h640/IMG-20230522-WA0033.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><b><i><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: center;"><i>Although I'd been walking unaided on holiday, I had to use my crutches on the return trip for two reasons: 1) I had nowhere to store my crutches which had to return to SA and, 2) once again, we were booked as asssisted travel on the airplane! What a pleasure! </i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9hXyHDqSh5MAc5rdIr9JclB839p8gMPLLtxZzaHf0h78IDNYdpkuzyV0XUonZu-46uVxioMC5BfDd0-AJM-BLCVimlKFtecypr9J0bOXmNrdnFkFMC4hL1bJldV9AA0TrUbWwQ2cD6Pi-DVbi-I2RSsGd3M_qzGKZLUpHMOz2eZID3CsIKoyr0GNHQM/s2048/IMG-20230522-WA0036%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="923" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9hXyHDqSh5MAc5rdIr9JclB839p8gMPLLtxZzaHf0h78IDNYdpkuzyV0XUonZu-46uVxioMC5BfDd0-AJM-BLCVimlKFtecypr9J0bOXmNrdnFkFMC4hL1bJldV9AA0TrUbWwQ2cD6Pi-DVbi-I2RSsGd3M_qzGKZLUpHMOz2eZID3CsIKoyr0GNHQM/w288-h640/IMG-20230522-WA0036%20(1).jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i>Celia turns to send Rose a heart gesture. </i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i>I didn't turn around: goodbyes are just so sad </i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4PHFPVs486JMqYzPnH1HBSWxBcpELLQTUe2Q9u9ePKm3qRTdOp_naNfa7BbZm1XLemdi3qf-jyF5qW2eFMCk9YqeUxBmial65aodSewY63dXiIfv29Kzd67c1zBQgsRQiW4DcIjh3zka0EPq8qqXcGJ0FlF6hMwjmbEk13YGxo2A9K75il9U2OL1XZI/s1600/IMG-20230522-WA0038%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4PHFPVs486JMqYzPnH1HBSWxBcpELLQTUe2Q9u9ePKm3qRTdOp_naNfa7BbZm1XLemdi3qf-jyF5qW2eFMCk9YqeUxBmial65aodSewY63dXiIfv29Kzd67c1zBQgsRQiW4DcIjh3zka0EPq8qqXcGJ0FlF6hMwjmbEk13YGxo2A9K75il9U2OL1XZI/w640-h480/IMG-20230522-WA0038%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>Off to be checked into the boarding lounge</i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAAQV_t4LQNty59LesHfJL9o2oW2Rpy6mVXeBe6pisxzDBPKP0IhPBw2743sIXzvUNp-M823idi7pUQWpC93rGbIYmF8VMwTho_Zvz5e_J7fDHfHqQbbiXbPq-X9Jb3gwkiXAlH05i1EVm5cZaSbGVIy9vU8MPxG-fjyBX9ulgFAa0xHbhP2lqQNpkmY/s687/IMG-20230523-WA0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="662" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAAQV_t4LQNty59LesHfJL9o2oW2Rpy6mVXeBe6pisxzDBPKP0IhPBw2743sIXzvUNp-M823idi7pUQWpC93rGbIYmF8VMwTho_Zvz5e_J7fDHfHqQbbiXbPq-X9Jb3gwkiXAlH05i1EVm5cZaSbGVIy9vU8MPxG-fjyBX9ulgFAa0xHbhP2lqQNpkmY/w616-h640/IMG-20230523-WA0006.jpg" width="616" /></a></div><i>During the two-hour layover at Charles de Gaulle (Paris), I had an airport official trundle me through to the boarding lounge. Celia trotted alongside, taking photos!</i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">After a pleasant overnight flight on Air France (we loved KLM on the way out but found Air France very professional on the way home), we landed at OR Tambo airport, Johannesburg, South Africa</span><i>.</i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fkhylp6NR_2allM0TQML945E0lIE3MTCmL7RB1mBpIFzEoRf6s4cND8KWEa8O0C3kJXlq_OLmJ3Y7gbRlav5JheZgOgIJEMBJtM10H5kSPyoHwNpNae58-8Ub4duFFeedJa34yeUXmTZx-SHLB8xcsfT4Ve0C3AvP3o3jz8mif9qeMy1rNx62ffT7xM/s1280/IMG-20230523-WA0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fkhylp6NR_2allM0TQML945E0lIE3MTCmL7RB1mBpIFzEoRf6s4cND8KWEa8O0C3kJXlq_OLmJ3Y7gbRlav5JheZgOgIJEMBJtM10H5kSPyoHwNpNae58-8Ub4duFFeedJa34yeUXmTZx-SHLB8xcsfT4Ve0C3AvP3o3jz8mif9qeMy1rNx62ffT7xM/w480-h640/IMG-20230523-WA0007.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i>Back home we were assisted to the boarding lounge by a very friendly airport official. WE WERE HOME! </i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBC0Gpt4HkEj1bnQKR1Cil0A4wAWn98yZNH-WP2QLPcpulPIlR5trJqhQJFaNWbDQ7IBsdt5DJ-MSiyptyeqlz-pvkXYzU6lLYjrkWqCuUodZtFINP6oFceqbdWGVrfnwdbfXaJgaKLfl2_3iAqUeEmL3fU7u1XimoVEHpMRLVU-CFntayUrvP3GERDjI/s637/IMG-20230524-WA0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="637" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBC0Gpt4HkEj1bnQKR1Cil0A4wAWn98yZNH-WP2QLPcpulPIlR5trJqhQJFaNWbDQ7IBsdt5DJ-MSiyptyeqlz-pvkXYzU6lLYjrkWqCuUodZtFINP6oFceqbdWGVrfnwdbfXaJgaKLfl2_3iAqUeEmL3fU7u1XimoVEHpMRLVU-CFntayUrvP3GERDjI/w640-h640/IMG-20230524-WA0035.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;"><i>THANK YOU ROSE AND PETE, FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE HOLIDAY! </i></span><br /><i><br /><br /><br /></i><i><br /></i></b></div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></span></div><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i><br /></i></b></div><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><p></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617652323643666421.post-49333559442740156592023-10-24T04:30:00.222+02:002023-10-24T04:30:00.162+02:00Shopping Spainish style<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Good morning, dear Blogger friends. I'm trying to visit your blogs to show I am up and about again in Blogland. However, on Saturday evening, we had a heavy storm with a terrifying lightning strike which knocked out the universal cell phone tower in the Valley. Last night, I couldn't access blog comments, try as I might. I will get to blog hopping and visiting soon. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meanwhile I'll share the last couple of days of our Spain trip with my sister. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When women go on a shopping excursion together, you'll often find one of them is looking for something special. And rather than being an irritant to her shopper mates, they dive in enthusiastically in the quest to source her treasure. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I was that lady who was looking for a special headdress for a wedding back in South Africa in July. I wanted long black or red gloves. No problem, said my sister, I know just the shop. Off we sped through the city, down a side street and stopped at a haberdashery which she said would have this item. Entering a shop where two ladies were sitting behind sewing machines with swathes of beautiful cloth around the workspace, my sister explained in Spanish, what we were looking for. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>They did INDEED have gloves but not satin or cotton as I seemed to want. They had black lacy gloves. Too beautiful. And the price was so good that I bought two pairs with different patterns.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As we passed the window display from the inside, my sister reminded me that I had wanted a fascinator - and there were several set out beautifully in the window. Rose asked the shopkeeper to bring out the one I pointed out. Here the price was exorbitant, (I mean, this is a piece of lace, with a couple of feathers and a clasp to secure it to your hair.) Unfazed, my sister said she would pay for it. I had my gloves and fascinator!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Next Celia said she was looking for a piece of cloth to take home to a lady in her church. Of course, it wouldn't be just any cloth. It had to be a special piece of material. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Once again Rose said, no problem. We three piled back into her car and she set off in another direction. This time I could see that the surrounds was less upmarket. Suddenly she turned the car into an alley and parked on the sidewalk. She indicated that Celia and I accompany her into her Arabic cloth merchant.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Inside the large warehouse type shop, were bales and bales of different cloth. All very reasonably priced. I'm no seamstress, but Celia and Rose are talented sewers and oohed and aahed over the selection on display. </b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HZT0PkGiwk0eFjn-C60qJMydHYkkqAdj9YuO5jOLUfOqTzYKyUGbkkZ4kgf9jKAkiy1BQMntfMlA0xiboshn3STova_pVGlhgH4JkutRnqWIEPCoFPLJVOg8dGIY6kbZJndT87rp20iSnbqH3DjnfLkPLRLZRFz-76u_GHlZucaUxQI9ufUoxVaXtGw/s1380/IMG-20230519-WA0026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="923" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HZT0PkGiwk0eFjn-C60qJMydHYkkqAdj9YuO5jOLUfOqTzYKyUGbkkZ4kgf9jKAkiy1BQMntfMlA0xiboshn3STova_pVGlhgH4JkutRnqWIEPCoFPLJVOg8dGIY6kbZJndT87rp20iSnbqH3DjnfLkPLRLZRFz-76u_GHlZucaUxQI9ufUoxVaXtGw/w428-h640/IMG-20230519-WA0026.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b>This Arabic shop was nostalgically reminiscent of my furors into the </b><span style="font-weight: bold;">souks </span></i><b><i>of Khartoum many years ago. Here Celia proudly displays her purchase.</i><i> I suggested that we have a photo outside the shop for Celia to prove to her friend she'd not bought the cloth in South Africa! </i></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUOX6Yj7meFAthPU-4rSGc-9Ib8mTaCjvduJDtUq2gr7al0dRUSsQnoucCUiMmUdshrDvaRBNEEguy2jyz5OihHhZ8eMNmHigtYF4MveEfx173Eckh3Ld6jx_WjzamYsr1kGm-XDd8sGrHevrSjCbiDnVnNm8pUv2PIBxVvNlEz4VSUUmOJrnux39o_g/s721/IMG-20230519-WA0023%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="428" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUOX6Yj7meFAthPU-4rSGc-9Ib8mTaCjvduJDtUq2gr7al0dRUSsQnoucCUiMmUdshrDvaRBNEEguy2jyz5OihHhZ8eMNmHigtYF4MveEfx173Eckh3Ld6jx_WjzamYsr1kGm-XDd8sGrHevrSjCbiDnVnNm8pUv2PIBxVvNlEz4VSUUmOJrnux39o_g/w380-h640/IMG-20230519-WA0023%20(1).jpg" width="380" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span><b><i>Me wearing my Africa dress in Spain.</i></b></span></p><b style="font-size: x-large;">I asked Celia to snap me in this dress. I knew I was going to blog about our trip and this dress played a significant role in me deciding when we would travel. Way back in November last year, Rose had told me they would like to gift me with a flight to Spain for my 70th birthday. Because she is aware of my various irons in the fire, she said: don't stress; you decide when you would like to come. </b><p></p><p><b style="font-size: x-large;">In February this year I saw this dress displayed in a quaint supermarket/gift shop, The Oaks, in the Valley. I bought it; phoned Rose and said I would like to come and visit in May 2023. I then notified my SIL, Celia, who had been rearing to go. She was thrilled that I had set a date! </b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Back in the city that day, we had shopped up a storm, and were mighty thirsty by now, so Rose took us to their favorite barista Mia Coffee shop for refreshments.</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7-0zlX-1WaongVZNTKf6-1GxxiPyofmt64ZRm5ro6V7dhQKAEQsBwtG93P1xB6rdMcmerNUHzOiDEa8SkdFJC1qpBgUUyt7J1lm_-qvLmI33NT5vvtgpgy4ua1vecxJZHtXuXZWs7QL6P97GAtsmg-C2FDaGsdO6v-bABfQW3Tbw13SE1idB3M02GX4/s1334/IMG-20230519-WA0021%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7-0zlX-1WaongVZNTKf6-1GxxiPyofmt64ZRm5ro6V7dhQKAEQsBwtG93P1xB6rdMcmerNUHzOiDEa8SkdFJC1qpBgUUyt7J1lm_-qvLmI33NT5vvtgpgy4ua1vecxJZHtXuXZWs7QL6P97GAtsmg-C2FDaGsdO6v-bABfQW3Tbw13SE1idB3M02GX4/w360-h640/IMG-20230519-WA0021%20(1).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><i>Three shoppers stopping for a cuppa and a </i></b><span style="text-align: left;"><b><i>bite.</i></b></span></div><b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqHryQ3Lgfrr3f4gJqRXEDa1BvKI4JHQ2QUz41h8qGxmrb9BGc6XesKl-UpAnsCSQdZ1RMs9vv3hHlchHY5Oic2Vh9-mvgy1ZmGZygHZUkBxzPK4XRPhvvc9tcB7q30yFPyPFkYuWzxqFLvbMycq3sM5_qrO0l0BJhDtpqnSOR9YOZLcFla_HyImeUDQ/s2048/IMG-20230720-WA0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="923" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqHryQ3Lgfrr3f4gJqRXEDa1BvKI4JHQ2QUz41h8qGxmrb9BGc6XesKl-UpAnsCSQdZ1RMs9vv3hHlchHY5Oic2Vh9-mvgy1ZmGZygHZUkBxzPK4XRPhvvc9tcB7q30yFPyPFkYuWzxqFLvbMycq3sM5_qrO0l0BJhDtpqnSOR9YOZLcFla_HyImeUDQ/w288-h640/IMG-20230720-WA0003.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Back at the apartment, we three relaxed at the pool </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>after our city shopping spree</i><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></div></i><p></p><p style="font-size: x-large;">The next morning, Saturday, was our penultimate day of our lovely holiday with Rose. And Saturday markets in Fuengorila are not to be missed. </p><p style="font-size: x-large;">Before we set out, Rose cooked us breakfast while Celia and I dressed for our day's shopping. Again. </p><p style="font-size: x-large;">I popped into the kitchen showing Rose how thrilled I was with the previous day's purchases. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gVW34j79_8fk0UcBWyyueobCfMh5x3naiJXH3Qj_verXRW61Nl3LBljns08sglX7Dn8dMnqJ6Kuq4inR2eByHM3jKyaqMXuYGkmvzb-YzhpZB692jauukxdOlRTjcQ4VkRtSpzheU-x0E3elfdPpnjvRIOtFwqP-37-gd7XkUAcp8euPvsgSyZFyQ48/s2048/IMG-20230520-WA0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="923" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gVW34j79_8fk0UcBWyyueobCfMh5x3naiJXH3Qj_verXRW61Nl3LBljns08sglX7Dn8dMnqJ6Kuq4inR2eByHM3jKyaqMXuYGkmvzb-YzhpZB692jauukxdOlRTjcQ4VkRtSpzheU-x0E3elfdPpnjvRIOtFwqP-37-gd7XkUAcp8euPvsgSyZFyQ48/w288-h640/IMG-20230520-WA0002.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><b><i>Happy! </i></b></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived at the Saturday market held weekly in the Fuengirola fairground and which boasts some 300 stalls. You are simply SPOILT FOR CHOICE! </span></div><p style="font-size: x-large;">Rose waited at the entrance to the markets while Celia and I shopped. We were glad because we wanted to buy two plants for our hosts: Peace Lily which originates from the rainforests of Columbia and Venezuela. We wanted one for their car hire office and one for their apartment. Peace lily is associated with tranquility and serenity. Apparently having this plant in your home, also promotes health and wellbeing. </p><p style="font-size: x-large;">At first, we thought we were looking for a needle in a haystack. Finally, I spotted a stall with plants on display. And lo and behold, they had healthy peace lilies in pots! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CwpqwVpTxZiiw8_x6r5ymFWHxjEWmN1AaKd45Fr33ReoLMdjUk8hc3kqRrdQaa45aqYoC_BO89M4VsEOy_USHyqiSkeg3uNKGa9p86xUjf7WbUdQvC0HjjCroUC0a_Jhg2ryyvTSE6VQ8VALR-B__ptkrpRMlkCAAFBejTK7O0wWfZeMHWsCqYlk088/s923/IMG-20230520-WA0018%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="923" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CwpqwVpTxZiiw8_x6r5ymFWHxjEWmN1AaKd45Fr33ReoLMdjUk8hc3kqRrdQaa45aqYoC_BO89M4VsEOy_USHyqiSkeg3uNKGa9p86xUjf7WbUdQvC0HjjCroUC0a_Jhg2ryyvTSE6VQ8VALR-B__ptkrpRMlkCAAFBejTK7O0wWfZeMHWsCqYlk088/w640-h534/IMG-20230520-WA0018%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Emerging victorious from the street market! </i></b></div></i><p style="font-size: x-large;">Later back at the apartment, Rose was preparing a light lunch for us; Celia was watching Italian Open Tennis. </p><p style="font-size: x-large;"> I was relaxing...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBsHbFvi0Ga26cGwB_DxzvmhYReLsoYiwgikNLZPtE3-7yTamv_Udvbbw8vwNWkBiLQmsl4w8xC3WH-aQxCbROp7OCaZAqi617YE7kzBi7oBsNOVEn37s0wZWGnRXe_xd2JuZkUXWmBoKnEL_mB83u9mIfiFKETYMDzbUKvmKmSwBBOV2-CfiwgetRnM/s840/IMG-20230520-WA0028%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large;"><i><b><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="540" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBsHbFvi0Ga26cGwB_DxzvmhYReLsoYiwgikNLZPtE3-7yTamv_Udvbbw8vwNWkBiLQmsl4w8xC3WH-aQxCbROp7OCaZAqi617YE7kzBi7oBsNOVEn37s0wZWGnRXe_xd2JuZkUXWmBoKnEL_mB83u9mIfiFKETYMDzbUKvmKmSwBBOV2-CfiwgetRnM/w412-h640/IMG-20230520-WA0028%20(1).jpg" width="412" /></b></i></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>I am doing Legs up the wall yoga discipline as we learnt in our Taigelates class</b></i><i><b>** </b></i><i style="font-weight: bold;"><b>here in the Valley. The benefits of Legs up the Wall are, among other things, deep relaxation, stress relief, knee pain reduction and neck tension relief.</b></i><i><b><br /><br /></b></i><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Another memorable day with my beloved sister, Rose and SIL, Celia. </span></b></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;">Note: ** Taigalates: our exercise class here in the Valley, is a combination of three disciplines: Tai chi; yoga and pilates. The word is an orginal coined by our exercise guru, Caroline. </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-size: medium;"></b></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00; font-size: x-large;"><i>WISHING YOU A GREAT TUESDAY</i></span></b></div><br /><br /></b><p></p>Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666316882168582862noreply@blogger.com5