Photos from Home

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Helga

Tuesday

Today was the day…

Of beautiful weather and an amazing sunset and moon rise. It is difficult for us to get our head around living here. Every day when we wake up, the view is still there. The sea sparkles with a slightly different light; the sun rises sometimes behind clouds or mist – other times in all its glorious shining unhidden splendor; the wind is erratic – sometimes soft and gentle – other times big and bold and rough – the air conditioner is on full blast. Today we had soft and gentle and then a medium breeze.

We walked early and when we got home, we had breakfast on the balcony. When we do that, it feels like we are on holiday at some exotic destination or on a ship. Breakfast view…

View from the couch….the umbrella is just enough to prevent the morning sun from shining in our eyes.

After breakfast I did a full day’s work. This evening we went for another walk, the tide was very low. I stepped down off the cat walk and onto the rocks and took some photos…

When we got home, the sun was setting and the moon was rising…now that was an amazing sight…

These are the things we didn’t expect when living here. The expansive view would beckon our attention,  luring us outside to admire its splendor and to remind us that God has set His glory in the heavens. Even now, the moon sits firm amidst mottled clouds spewing its light in zig-zagging trails…

Psalm 8:3-5
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.

This is as good as it gets this side of eternity.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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Framed!

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Helga

Monday

Today was the day…

We were framed! Don’t take me seriously – we weren’t ripped off! We took a lovely walk/jog for exercise early in the morning and then at lunchtime walked down to Fish Hoek to buy a few things. The day was spectacular… 

Meanwhile, we ended up at the end of our grocery shopping going into the Tears charity shop. I spotted a picture frame in our house colours, so we bought it. I started carrying it back along the cat walk. A lady on the walkway insisted on taking a photo of us…framed!

That’s a keeper. Nothing beats Fish Hoek on a sunny day. It was good to get out and have a break from work. I worked 6 hours today. Mondays are always busy.

It was great today to see a drop in our Covid stats. The Western Cape only had 218 new cases over the last 24 hours and yesterday the entire country recorded stats dropped to 8147, the lowest for a while.

Psalm 21:13
Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

 

 

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Calm Inside – Windy Outside

Posted on January 24, 2021 by Helga

Sunday

Today has been a calm and peaceful day, although it has been windy outside.

We had breakfast, a chat with Stacey, lunch with David, a bit of work and an afternoon sleep. Mike spent most of the day reading the memoirs of Donald Woods – (it’s called Asking for Trouble) – he was the editor of East London’s Daily Dispatch newspaper. His book was published in 1980 and initially was banned in South Africa.  Mike grew up in EL, so he is enthralled. He can’t put it down! Julian read it first and thought Mike would like it.

We spent the entire day inside, not even walking down the stairs – that was until 5ish when I went to Fish Hoek to buy milk. Mike continued reading!

Photos from my walk… Fish Hoek beach today…it looks so tranquil but the wind was blowing.

Sea…

A black oyster catcher contemplating his next move…

And just up the road outside one of the guesthouses – this car –

As I walked past I caught a whiff of my childhood. My parents had a white one and I remember going to the library every Saturday morning and being put in the very very back (over the engine). I also remember coming home after one excursion and was feeling unwell –  it turned out I had measles. Because I was the youngest, I always sat in the very very back and the whiff I caught as I walked past was that engine smell. I never wanted one because of that.  Anyway, this old lady is a long way from home it seems, if the Northern Cape number plate is anything to go by. It looked very well maintained.

It’s been a relaxing day.

Last week of the month.

Hebrews 11:6

Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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The House on the Rocks at Kalk Bay

Posted on January 23, 2021 by Helga

Saturday

Today was the day…

We went to take a look at the house on the rocks at Kalk Bay. Only when we moved to our new house on Fish Hoek mountainside did we notice this house.

In all the many times I’ve walked that way, I’ve never seen it. Today we decided to park in Fish Hoek and walk to Kalk Bay for breakfast. With the Western Cape’s Covid numbers dropping, I finally felt confident to venture out to a restaurant to sit down and eat. And I wished Julian were with us. We will have to do this again next weekend when he is here.

We walked past Wooley’s tidal pool…

And then we went down a side street, under the railway line and onto the rocks right in front of this amazing house…

It is in an enviable position and, and….it has it’s own tidal pool!

We walked across the tidal wall to the Kalk Bay Harbour side.

I wonder who owns it? We concluded it could be owned by the Railways. It needs a load of maintenance but the position is unparalleled. You can’t see it from the road and the houses on the sea side of Main Rd block the traffic noise, so all you hear is the sea crashing against the rocks.  The compromise is that people like us can walk right in front of the house, gawk and take pictures.

This is looking from the rocks to our piece of paradise…

A bit further from the ocean but no gawkers walking past our lounge window.  It’s very peaceful here. We cannot complain.

We walked on through the Kalk Bay Harbour car park and onto the Main Rd. Kalk Bay was buzzing with visitors and the Main Rd restaurants and cafes were busy. We went under the subway to the Brass Bell. We haven’t been there for years, but it was very quiet and with only a few tables taken, we took our seat next to the window. Breakfast view…

Back in Fish Hoek, we had parked outside a second hand furniture shop. This last week I had noticed bedside tables and I wanted Mike to see them. He loved them, so we went and bought them. Turns out at R400 each they were an absolute bargain.  The lamp came from another second hand shop this last week. They were only R200 each.

Grateful! So is Mike – he doesn’t have to make them & they go perfectly with Granny’s sideboard, which we also have in our bedroom…

The day passed by peacefully. We drove to Harbour Bay and did a bit of a shop, which included sushi.  David, never one to turn down sushi, joined us for dinner.

And now we are having a quiet evening.

Proverbs 3:3

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

Love and faithfulness.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

 

 

 

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No Exercise Today!?

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Helga

Friday

Today was the day…

We broke the decision we made yesterday to have no exercise today.

I am very sluggish in the morning until I’ve had my cappuccino, so when Mike said he was walking down to the shops to buy yoghurt, it was never going to be a good idea for me to go with him. But, coffee-less, I did. I just about crawled back!

It was a good work day (more than 5 hours).  Then this afternoon, I decided to take my car back to the garage of our old house until we need it again and I would walk home. I ended up walking up the hills and jogging downhill. I passed a couple of houses on Ranger Rd that we have watched go up during our build. Credit to Werner that ours is done. These ones are almost finished but not yet occupied. They are looking pretty good.

I think the pandemic slowed things down for them more than it did for us. This blue one above took R500 000 to excavate the plot. And it seems like the owner owns the plot next door as well as he’s put in an electricity box for that plot as well. I can’t find before photos, but while looking, I did find photos of our build . All things take time…this is July 2018 – Mike marking out the where the house would go.

Dream big…this was taken 18 September 2018 and I labelled it :The-plot-where-we-will-God-willing-be-building-the-sticks-are-where-side-of-the-house-will-be

When I arrived home from my walk today…there it was!

The sticks were accurate by the way! This was when the stairs were being built right at the beginning…October 2019.

If you have a big mountain to climb, take one step at a time.

And we are still reciting Psalm 127:1 – Unless the Lord builds the house, they that build it labour in vain.

83 steps to our front door is the compromise, but it’s worth every step.

Acts 16:31

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

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Neighbourhood Farm

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Helga

Thursday

Today was the day…

Mike and I walked to Paul Greyling Neighbourhood Farm…

There are so many food plants and many of them are at different stages of growth.

The shop wasn’t open but it was fun to look and see what was growing.  My veggies on the other hand, have some way to go…

Good for a start.

Today a black south-easter has been blowing. It hasn’t rained but it has been cloudy and overcast and a little ominous.

I worked for most of the day, although I also went to the second hand shop in Fish Hoek to buy a kitchen table. We’ve decided it’s going into the basement and Mike will design a smaller one that will carry the kitchen sink for the basement.  Yesterday we were at the same place and I found two lovely bedside lamps which I picked up for R400 for both. They really work well in our bedroom. We are still looking for bedside tables. And we need a table and 4 chairs for the cottage.  Courage has been working in the cottage kitchen and it’s already looking better. We have a way to go though.

Julian went back to Johannesburg today, so the house is so quiet!

Yesterday Anne had her 7th Chemo. 5 to go.

Psalm 18:28

You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

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Sunset Walk

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Helga

Wednesday

Today was the day…

The wind picked up. We enjoyed two walks today. The first to the wetlands again, but not quite as far as yesterday and the second in the howling wind this evening. It was a lovely sunset walk…onto the Sunny Cove railway bridge…

From the bridge looking towards Simon’s Town…

And looking towards Fish Hoek…

Boulders…

Cat walk at sunset…

Sunlight on the water…

When we arrived at the beach, the welcoming part consisted of a flock of very stationary seagulls…

They hardly moved the closer I got…

Just amazing!

We walked home via the mountainside. A lovely way to end the day.

I’d done 6 and a half hours of work and managed to get out with Julian to buy some more furniture for the cottage, although I don’t know if this counts as ‘furniture!’ Massive vase does make a statement!

Something different!

We are working hard on getting the cottage ready for weekend letting. Hopefully, we’ll be done in a month.

Just for history sake – today Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the USA.

Romans 10:11

Anyone who trusts in Him (Jesus) will never be disgraced.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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Wetlands Walk

Posted on January 19, 2021 by Helga

Tuesday

Today was the day…

Mike and I got a bit carried away with our morning walk. As we left quite early, I suggested we take a walk around the Silvermine Wetlands. We ended up walking much further than we usually would, mainly because we got sucked into trying to find where a picture was painted. We have two pictures painted by the same artist. One is of Fish Hoek mountain and the other is this one…

In the old days, the Silvermine River flowed through the valley, but to try locate this point was not so simple. We got close though…or so we think…

Very hard to tell. The walk was lovely…we started by passing the beach…

And then down Main Rd, Fish Hoek to the Wetlands by the Clovelly turn-off…

By the time we turned for home, we were miles away. We went home as directly and as quickly as we could, even jogging from time to time. We had been away for more than an hour and a half!

This afternoon, we had a meeting (Julian, Mike and I) in the cottage to decide what goes and what stays and who will do what. Mike will sort out the kitchen. Julian and I will choose and buy furniture for the lounge. There is quite a lot of work to be done, but we do have Courage!

Right after the meeting, Julian and I went and got started. We went to one of the second hand shops in Fish Hoek and bought a couple of coffee tables. Tomorrow we will go and look some more.

Anyway, time for me to wrap up and head for bed.

John 6:29

The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

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Work and Walk

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Helga

Monday

Today was the day…

I worked 7 hours and walked twice.

The first time, we walked to Fish Hoek passing Woolworths. To our dismay, a group of Woolworths workers had gathered before work to pay their respects to one of their employees who had passed away. They had photographs of this young woman – looked like she was in her 20s, who had died. They were holding a memorial. I don’t know if she had died of Covid but it was so sobering.

Our lives are in God’s hands.

At lunchtime, Mike and I walked again. It was warm and the outing contributed to my tan.  The sea looked majestic, but with the lockdown, you can look but not touch! It won’t be forever.

Mike has gone walking again – this time with Julian. He’s certainly packing on the kilometres – he’s probably walked 10km today.

Mike also worked a bit with Courage to start the massive landscaping project. First is the area outside Mike’s study where an experimental wall will be built. Courage dug the foundation. Hot and thirsty work in the sunshine today.

We look forward to how it’s going to turn out. It’s Mike’s “practice” wall as if it works well, he’ll maybe do the same round the other side.

It’s been a productive day.

So grateful today to see the Covid stats in the Western Cape coming down. Today they dropped below 1000 new cases.

Jeremiah 17:7

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

Blessed.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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Working Sunday

Posted on January 17, 2021 by Helga

Sunday

Today was the day…

I ended up working for more than 3 hours. It’s just the nature of the season. January is a busy work month so I just had to jump in and work.

Mike and I started the day with a walk around Fish Hoek. We walked down to the beach and sat at the lighthouse enjoying the view…

The two of us enjoying the view and the sunshine…

The walk included coming home via the start of Ravine Steps.

Onto Hillside, past picturesque paths…

And eventually down Highway to Echo Rd…

It was a lovely morning. We did the same walk this evening with Julian who had never been that way before.

I also got to video call with Stacey and Elsie.

This afternoon the wind picked up so it’s been blowing, but I believe it’s going to drop overnight.

The other thing about today is that it is 7 months since my jaw surgery. It does surprise me that, now I have my braces off, I can feel more numb-ness in my left lower gums. No pain, just numbness. I guess it’s going to take a while to come back to normal. I’ve just Googled it and it says full sensation should return by 12 months. It’s wonderful having my braces off. That certainly is a treat.

I’m ready for bed now!

Psalm 145:17

The Lord is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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Three Months

Posted on January 16, 2021 by Helga

Saturday

Today was the day..

We celebrated 3 months in our new home.

The day dawned still and fresh. We slept in and then walked to the village for some supplies.

After breakfast, we spent the morning at home. I had some work to do.

In the afternoon, we walked down to the Sushi restaurant and bought take away sushi for 4. Dinner was delicious and filling. Julian and David chilling on the couches…

Mike on his cell phone…

Sunset…

There are a number of things we did not expect when we moved in…

  1. We didn’t imagine that the expansive view would result in feeling so much closer to nature and the weather.
  2. Living so close to the mountain would be such a pleasure.
  3. Being so high would result in it being cooler up here especially on warm summer days.
  4. The bird life is amazing. Apart from the birds which come to the nectar bottles, we get a great deal of pleasure from passing sea gulls and the swarms of cormorants. We didn’t see that coming.
  5. I didn’t expect to walk so much.
  6. I didn’t expect that there would always be something outside to watch –  today it was a yacht towing an inflatable boat across the bay. There was also a massive speedboat speeding towards Simon’s Town.  Then I saw some newly weds having their photos taken on the rocks off the cat walk. There are often divers in the sea just off shore. Sometimes there are seals, or the birds busy feeding, or yachts or navy boats or helicopters. And an endless number of surf-skis and fishing boats.
  7. I didn’t expect to feel like we’re on holiday so often.
  8. The city lights at night are always spectacular.
  9. I never expected to sit outside on the balcony so much. I can do this several times a day even when the wind is blowing.
  10. I didn’t expect to get used to the stairs so quickly. Because we are walking so much, my legs have got conditioned to going up stairs. When we walk to Fish Hoek, most times we only have 177 steps to climb to get home, that’s if we go up Sunny Cove steps. It’s 242 if we come home via Echo Steps. That includes our 83.

Some of the stairs taken from our side balcony…the stairs of course are the compromise and it’s fine while we are healthy and able, so we’ll keep walking them for as long as possible.

I feel humbled and privileged both at the same time.

We still have a long way to go with landscaping, but we’ll get there eventually. In the meantime, we are enjoying each day.

Romans 5:1

Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you!

In His Grip.

Helga xx 🙂

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Rainy Summer’s Day

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Helga

Friday

Today was the day…

It rained. The sea was calm and the clouds low. This was sunrise…

Mike and I went off for our walk to the shops as usual. On the way home again there was a light drizzle. Recreation Rd approaching Beach Rd…

Over the railway line…

Entrance to Fish Hoek beach…

Past the beach….

Along the cat walk…

Over the Sunny Cove Bridge and up the Sunny Cove steps. Mike motored up there…

By then the gentle drizzle had become light rain and we arrived home with wet hair and clothes!

That was actually the first of three walks down the cat walk. The third was later this afternoon when the sun had come out and the tide was high….

In between all the walks, I still got in more than 5 hours of work.

Dinner at home and the weekend has begun.  😀

John 14:1

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In  His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

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They Just Keep on Coming

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Helga

Thursday

Today was the day…

The wind dropped and it was a glorious day. It was a day for cleaning windows. We did ours. Courage did the rest…

This was my tea break view –

Mike working on his tan…

And the birds! They just keep on coming. The side windows are tinted so the birds can’t see us looking at them…

The variety of sun and sugar birds is amazing…

And this little one is getting his big boy feathers…

He’ll soon look like his Dad….

So spectacular. They are bringing me a lot of pleasure.

Mike and I did our usual walk this morning. The trek fishermen were out in full force. They had two large nets out and were pulling in one that was loaded with yellowtail. They were busy for most of the day.

This afternoon Mike and I took another walk – this time across to our old house where my car is parked in the garage. We went to pick it up as Julian arrives this evening. David has gone to collect him.

Yay! It’s almost weekend.

John 3:36

Anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life.

So simple.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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Fresh OJ

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Helga

Wednesday

Today was the day…

We made fresh orange juice. Mike likes fresh preservative-free orange juice but it’s not always available. Today on our morning walk, I bought a 2.5kg bag of oranges and David bought up his juicer…

It was delicious. The pulp will be recycled into the composer, but not before a hungry rock pigeon had a snack…he was really excited about it and didn’t quite know how to tackle it. David had made apple juice first and he (the pigeon, not David!) picked through the pulp looking for seeds.

I did 6 hours of work today and I see a pile of emails in my inbox. I work with different time zones and to be efficient I should do a little more work now, so my Australian colleague can deal with my emails when I am asleep.

The wind has continued to blow but according to wind guru, that will all change by tomorrow morning and we’ll have several days of calm, interrupted by a windy day on Sunday.

Exciting news is that Julian arrives tomorrow evening.

It’s been a satisfying day.

2 Timothy 4:7 – something we want to be able to say at the end of our lives…

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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Daily Routine

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Helga

Tuesday

Today was the day…

We saw our regular daily routine unfold. We usually wake up around 6am and have coffee first. Most times Mike makes it, but a few times a week, I’ll do the cappuccino run. I do my Bible reading after that and then we go for our morning walk which is usually about an hour. A shower and breakfast follows.

By then Courage has arrived and he gets on with whatever he is working on for the day. Today he did something in the cottage, put up outside lights and took down the scaffolding. Mike is keeping him busy.

By 9am, I’m at my desk and work commences. Today, I had Skype calls at hourly interviews – 9:30am, 10:30am and 11:30am. After lunch I did a bit more work and after I’ve done this blog, I’ll do a little more. We are busy at the moment.

Just after 3pm, I went for a walk along the firebreak. Now that it has been cut, it’s easy to walk there and easier to see any snakes. Our place in the sun…

A little way along the firebreak I came upon a bush cave. Some of the shrubs had been cut away – I’m presuming by the firebreak workers so they could get some shade…

Inside…

Not much to see, but something to keep an eye on. An exciting place for kids to explore.  There is a path that goes up the mountain, but I’ve never followed it. Perhaps one day I will.

The wind has been blowing again today, but not quite as strong as yesterday. Tomorrow, I think, is the last windy day for about a week. Julian was due to come this evening, but has extra work commitments up in Johannesburg so has had to delay his regular visit. He’s planning on coming next week. It’s so quiet without him.

So last night the President spoke. Lockdown 3 has been extended into next month. News 24 summarised it like this..

I also found this, which may temporarily put an end to our walks to Fish Hoek along the cat walk…

“Technically”. We’ll see if the law enforcement implement this tomorrow. At least we know this is temporary.

Philippians 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

The best is yet to come.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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