Subscribe to Blog via Email
Join 598 other subscribers-
Recent Posts
Categories
- A Thousand Thanks (811)
- Apartment living (1,047)
- Audio (7)
- Banting (62)
- Being a Tourist in Cape Town (78)
- Braces (46)
- Building a house on a mountainside (419)
- Cape Town Drought (45)
- Cruising (71)
- Day to Day Blogs (4,211)
- Echo Photos (226)
- Games Helga plays! (10)
- Helga's random thoughts (82)
- Hiking in Kalk Bay (7)
- Home renovations (7)
- Italy (12)
- Letter to Elsie (19)
- Living on Fish Hoek mountainside (790)
- Marriage (86)
- Mountain Hikes in Cape Town (21)
- Prose (12)
- Recipes (48)
- Uncategorized (83)
Category Archives: Letter to Elsie
Hanging Out With Elsie
Tuesday Dear Elsie Today was the day you and I hung out. I hope you remember this day. We had a lot of fun together. Mama and Papa had to go to Worcester, so I got to take you to … Continue reading
Posted in Day to Day Blogs, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Elsie, Family
Comments Off on Hanging Out With Elsie
Satisfying Saturday
Saturday Dear Elsie Today was the day you went to Nora’s 5th birthday party! We exchanged voice notes in the morning. One of the things that has crossed my mind over the last day is your impression of my daily … Continue reading
Posted in Apartment living, Day to Day Blogs, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Elsies Peak
Comments Off on Satisfying Saturday
Joie de vie
Friday Dear Elsie Today was the day I was filled with joie de vie – joy of life – but it looks so much more emphatic in French! It’s the enormous sense of happiness and well-being, contentment and gratitude which … Continue reading
Posted in Apartment living, Day to Day Blogs, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Fish Hoek, Fish Hoek summer, Open water swimming
Comments Off on Joie de vie
Teddy on the Tree
Thursday Dear Elsie Today was the day we got to swim in windless conditions. I forgot to take my goggles so I did a lot of breast stroke. I found myself close to the surf-ski club and there were a … Continue reading
Posted in Day to Day Blogs, Letter to Elsie, Living on Fish Hoek mountainside
Tagged Christmas, Surf-skiers, Teddy Tales
Comments Off on Teddy on the Tree
Surprise in Safaga, Egypt
Friday Dear Elsie, Sometimes you go places and don’t expect much and then you get a big surprise when you find some good thing about it. That’s what happened today is Safaga, Egypt. We arrived to a majestic sunrise. I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Cruising, Egypt, Hurghada Egypt, Red Sea, Safaga, Sinfonia 2022
Comments Off on Surprise in Safaga, Egypt
Camel Rides in the Sinai Desert
Thursday Dear Elsie Today was the day we went on a camel ride! We arrived in Sharm El-Sheik, which is a sunny holiday resort on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It looked rather grand when we arrived this morning with … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Egypt, Sinai, Sinfonia 2022
Comments Off on Camel Rides in the Sinai Desert
A Special Ship Night
Sunday Dear Elsie Today is an exciting night on the ship because it’s Gala Night. That means that everyone dresses up in their very nice clothes and go and have a very nice dinner. So we are preparing for that … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs, Letter to Elsie
Tagged At sea on the Sinfonia, Cruising, MSC Sinfonia
Comments Off on A Special Ship Night
Katakolon Greece
Saturday Dear Elsie The first thing about Katakolon in Greece is we have been mis-pronouncing it. We came here in 2017 and went to Olympia which is about 30km away. Having done that main excursion, the next best thing was … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Cruising, Katakolon, MSC Sinfonia, Sinfonia 2022
Comments Off on Katakolon Greece
Venice!
Tuesday.. Dear Elsie Today was the day we arrived in Venice but there were a few tense moments! We woke up in Milan, had breakfast and then I chilled while Mike went and collected Julian. Then we wondered around Milan … Continue reading
Posted in Day to Day Blogs, Italy, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Covid test, Italy 2022, Venice
Comments Off on Venice!
Milan!
Monday Dearest Elsie Today was the day we all arrived in Milan. We got up early in Varenna and went to the local coffee shop for cappuccino and then went for a last walk around this beautiful little village. Surely, … Continue reading
Posted in Day to Day Blogs, Italy, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Italy 2022, Milan, Milan Duomo
Comments Off on Milan!
Last Day in Varenna
Sunday Dear Elsie Today was our last day in Varenna. We went out early as we had no milk so we took a walk to the village. We bought milk and croissants which are fresh daily at the little convenience … Continue reading
Posted in Day to Day Blogs, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Italy 2022, Varenna
Comments Off on Last Day in Varenna
Walking and Varenna Botanical Gardens
Saturday Dear Elsie Today was the day we went walking! We walked up a very steep stairway to what we hoped was going to be the monastery but it was closed. We did find some other fun places though and … Continue reading
Posted in Day to Day Blogs, Italy, Letter to Elsie
Tagged faith, Hiking, Italy 2022, Varenna, Varenna Botanical gardens
Comments Off on Walking and Varenna Botanical Gardens
Teddy Goes to Switzerland
Friday Dear Elsie Today was the day that Teddy went to Switzerland! We were very sad that Granpa couldn’t come with us. He stayed behind to get better. We caught the Bernina Express which is a big red train that … Continue reading
Posted in Day to Day Blogs, Italy, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Bernina Express, Italy 2022, St. Moritz, Teddy Tales
Comments Off on Teddy Goes to Switzerland
A Rough Night
Thursday Dear Elsie Some days are harder than others. I’m sure you have found that too. Some days you have a rough day and last night was a rough night for Granpa. He coughed so much and then eventually fell … Continue reading
Posted in Day to Day Blogs, Italy, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Italy 2022, Lake Como
Comments Off on A Rough Night
Varenna and Bellagio
Wednesday Dear Elsie, Today it was expected to pour with rain in Varenna but it hardly rained at all. We went out early, armed with umbrellas to the convenience shop a little way down the road. It is a tiny … Continue reading
Posted in Day to Day Blogs, Letter to Elsie
Tagged Bellagio, Varenna
Comments Off on Varenna and Bellagio