Saturday
Dear Elsie
Today was a very chilled day. It was cold and squalls of rain blew across the Peninsula. We had a late start. It was sometime around 11am that we began doing something useful. I did some cleaning. I also did some clothes retrieving. I had looked over the balcony and seen something lying below. Obviously, with the rain, it was getting wetter and more bedraggled, as was David’s cap that had somehow landed on one of the gabion baskets on the right side of the house – that was weeks ago. Today, I scrambled down and found what I discovered was a t-shirt. Then I did some Pilate like maneuvers to get David’s cap. Both need to dry out, then be shaken free of excess dirt and then put through the washing machine.
In the afternoon, it looked like the rain was holding off. I needed to get some walking done so I set off doing a round circuit of 6km. Water is pouring off Fish Hoek mountain, causing streams of water to flow steadily down the road.
There are always interesting things to be seen when I go out walking. I saw two dead fish in a drainpipe. I went via Valyland, did a walk through and on my return passed 3rd Crescent. I couldn’t help myself but to walk that road. 32, 3rd Crescent was where the Beales live in the 90s. Almost every Thursday I went to this house and had lunch with Aunty Wyn.
Back then, it only had a single drive entrance and they had not built the upstairs section. There’s a boat in the front garden now. The Beales used the same spot for a caravan. I stood opposite the house and let my mind wander back to the countless times I had entered that front door and enjoyed many hours of meaningful conversation. Aunty Wyn was certainly another Mother and a great mentor. I found this photo of her from what must have been the late 80s. That’s Aunty Wyn on the right with Oupes,. In red is Wyn’s Mom, Violet and Violet’s younger sister Fuscia. Violet and Fuscia emigrated to South Africa in about 1984ish. They were both in their 80s and tired of the English weather.
I remember going to stay a couple of nights to ‘Granny sit’ while Aunty Wyn and Oupes had a break. Fuscia welcomed me warmly, offering me a drink. She opened the fridge & took out a can. Squinting at it she said, “Oh, Coke. Have you heard of it?” So sweet.
My walk eventually took me via the Beach where I managed to get a photo of this cheery gent before his visitor flapped it. I’ve never seen a seagull land on someone’s head on Fish Hoek beach before.
Just on a coincidental side note, the blue roof house above the seagull was another of the Beale’s homes for a season. I remember celebrating Christmas 1984 with them there.
We’ve had a good day today. While I was not doing much, Mike turned his office upside down and inside out. It’s looking much better.
This Bible verse is of significance to me. In 2023, I remember crying out to the Lord and pleading for answers – for an improvement in David’s health. There seemed to be no response. I learned God’s silence is not His absence. When we call, He answers.
Psalm 3:4
I call out to the Lord, and He answers me
It’s not about now – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx 🙂