There’s a Bike in my Lounge

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Helga

Friday

Today was the day…

We got a few more things done.

  1. Bought foreign currency
  2. Got some meds ie new Stugeron for sea sickness.
  3. Bought 50 medical masks

And now I’m going to start, with Mike’s help, constructing our itinerary for Varenna, because, LOOK at the weather! It’s been updated. I know this still may change (and maybe even for the worse) but for now, it’s looking promising. Just need the temperature to go up a degree or two.

Meanwhile, today there was a bike in my lounge. David bought this bike in Thailand and then used it to cycle 600km across South Korea. Quite an achievement.

It took him about a minute to fold it up.

Until eventually, it was this…

He picked it up and took it upstairs! It is super nifty. He can cycle down to the shop, fold it up and put it in a trolley while he does the shopping. He can cycle across town, feel tired, fold it up and Uber back.  He really has enjoyed it.

It’s weekend!

Titus 3:4-5

When the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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New Shoes

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Helga

Thursday

Today was the day…

We went to Claremont to pick up  my orthodontic retainer and finally, after 5 visits I don’t need to return!

Life is made up of helpful, happy little moments and today we had one of them. On the way back home, we stopped at the Blue Route to do some shoe shopping. I have found the sandals that will work perfectly for the dinners on the ship. They are comfortable and fit my inserts.  Ta-da.

You can hardly notice the inserts because they are also black. They make all the difference to the comfort of the shoe and they don’t need to be fixed to the shoe. I can take them out and put them back in my walking shoes if I need to.  We are on the ship for 30 nights, so I imagine they will have a few formal nights. I’ll have to mix and match but I’ve put three outfits in ziplock bags.

It’s getting close.

Of course there is still this hanging over our heads!

We’ll do our best to protect ourselves and hope for the best. The Lord knows! We are planning on a negative test!

At least we also have a week in Italy prior to the cruise commencing. I’m watching the Varenna weather daily. First there were 4 days of rain during the 6 days we are there. Then there were 2. Now, rain is forecast on the day we arrive and there will be two more, but at least Wed 9th, Sat 12th and Sun 13th will be dry. We catch a train to Milan on 14th. The 8th and the 10th look like heavy rain. The 11th we may get out between showers. Of course, this will become more accurate the closer it gets.

We’ll be sure to take umbrellas!

The weekend beckons!

Titus 2:11

The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

 

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It’s Not Over Yet

Posted on October 26, 2022 by Helga

Wednesday

Today was the day…

I went walking instead of swimming because the wind was blowing. As I walked I was reminded of how it’s not over yet. My mind went back 20 years to when Mike and I attended a Bible study at a home just a short walk from where we are now. We would stand on the balcony and ooh and aah at the amazing view and be in awe and admiration of the people who could enjoy the outlook from such a home. Of course, we could never afford a home in such a majestic position, so we just enjoyed the privilege of being able to visit. I didn’t think back then how it’s not over yet.

Then in the months after I left CCFm I attended a Bible study at the home of a lady who also lived on the mountainside. When I drove up, I used to park my car and always stopped to admire the delightful view from the road. What a view it is…

I have to admit being somewhat envious of this seascape. The owner admitted she spent a lot of time looking at the beach but not walking on it.  I didn’t have a clue that within the year, we would be going in 50/50 with Julian in buying a house just a few hundred meters up the road. The view we would enjoy wouldn’t be quite so spectacular but it was pretty special.

Little did we know it’s not over yet!

In 2015, while we may have half owned the little cottage, we seldom stayed there. David had the top floor and Julian the bottom when he visited Cape Town. We got to visit. In 2016, the idea of building behind the cottage began to grow. While Mike designed, I prayed. The plans went in, Werner the builder was found. It was hard to believe we were going to do this. The plans were almost passed and the piling was done.  I remember walking around Sun Valley  and saying to Mike, ‘when we move in….’ His response floored me. He said he was not sure we would get the build done and I shouldn’t get my hopes up! What? I was furious with him. I was really cross. How can he bring me so far and then drop doubts in my mind that we may never live in the new house?

As I sit in my rocking chair and admire the view, at no stage in my life could I ever have predicted we would live in a house with such a view.  I literally couldn’t dream of it. And when we were building it, there were also these misgivings that something may go wrong. No wonder I was so desperate to set a date for moving in!

Looking back, I would tell my younger self, ‘it’s not over yet.’

I have been reminded and pass the message on: Don’t give up hope of all you are dreaming of, of what you are praying for, of what your deepest need is – it’s not over yet. Your answer could be just around the corner. One day, you will get the call, open the mail or meet the person. The wait will make the answer all the more sweet.

Psalm 17:6

I am praying to You because I know You will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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We Got To Swim

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Helga

Tuesday

Today was the day…

We got to swim! With the wind having been howling since last week, it was a pleasure to get a swim in today. I didn’t quite make 2km, but I did get in about 35 minutes. The tide was super low…

I got in more than 7 hours work. Julian returned to Johannesburg. If all goes well, we next see him in Milan! How weird is that?!

I took a walk to the end of the street and watched the progress of 55 Echo with its impressive lift shaft. This was the other day…

…and this was today…

It’s always interesting watching a house grow.

It’s great to have David here again & we have been enjoying catching up with him. I’ve been looking at the calendar for the months ahead and blocking some of the units for family around Christmas and New Year. Time is going to fly by. Christmas 2 months today. The year will be over in a flash.

Our preparations for our 6 weeks away are largely complete. I’m so aware that time is going to fly past that I’m trying to enjoy the preparations and embark on the holiday stress-free. I remember in times past a crazy frenzy of preparation, last minute packing and collapsing exhausted into the plane hoping we had done everything! I’m trying to avoid that this time.

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

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David’s Coming Home

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Helga

Monday

Today was the day…

David is set to come home.

This was him leaving…6th July 2022

And while he was away, he had a good time…

We met up in Johannesburg when we went to the Drakensberg for a few nights.

We had a ball at the water park.

And now he’s about to catch a flight back to Cape Town for the next round of his activity which will be overseeing the rental units while we are away. Tonight we will go out to dinner with Julian and David. Julian is leaving tomorrow and not back in Cape Town for a while because he’s coming to Italy with us. We’ll all be in it together – come rain or shine.

I have got a few things to do this afternoon so I’m going to get this posted nice and early. I’ve wrapped up work and I’ll get ready to go out.

Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then My faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

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High Tea at Rhodes Cottage

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Helga

Sunday

Today was the day…

We had high tea at Rhodes Cottage. It was (and still is) blowing gales. Not an outdoor day at all, so imagine my surprise when we found ourselves seated in the garden.

There was a hedge on the wind side which assisted in reducing the wind so it wasn’t too bad. Tea was a fine affair.

Julian gave us a bit of history of Cecil John Rhodes who died aged 49 at this very cottage.

Rhodes died 120 years ago in 1902. He was Prime Minister of the Cape for 6 years – he was 37 when he became PM.  In those days, one mode of transport was the Cape Cart. CJR’s is still there.

It was a pleasant afternoon and one that was well worth it.

The wind should start blowing itself out tomorrow and by Tuesday we should be able to swim!

It’s been a good weekend. I’m quite excited because I’m sensing quiet days ahead, workwise, which means my holiday may be as I’m hoping for. A few hours of work a day should be fine. I’ve been watching the weather in Varenna and the latest for our time in November brings with it about 4 days of rain! Let’s hope that changes, but if it doesn’t I hope it will be like today. It looked like it would be terrible and unpleasant outside, but in the end it wasn’t.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

 

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Whistling Wind

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Helga

Saturday

Today was the day…

It blew gales. I sat in my rocking share watching a little sparrow cling to the cottage roof. He found shelter behind the chimney pot but then decided to brave the gale and sit on the roof. The wind knocked him off balance until eventually he darted away to take refuge in a nearby tree. The seagulls are more robust, flapping wildly as they move into the wind, while others get swept with the south-easter and hurtle in the opposite direction.  It’s quite entertaining to watch. Biggest beach activity was kite surfing. There were a number of colourful kites out from early this morning. The bravest surf-skiers also went out with the NSRI boat keeping a close eye. Not a sea day for the faint-hearted.

Our house is built using a light steel frame and we wondered how it would stand up to the strong prevailing winds of summer. The only thing we hear is whistling wind which sometimes rattles the doors, mainly of Mike’s study. I can hear the wind, but can’t feel it.

Today we had breakfast at Peak in Fish Hoek and then went browsing through the second hand stores. We didn’t buy anything though.

We walked home in the wind and I had a good video chat with Stacey before getting stuck in and writing up some of the instructions for the rental units for when we are away. I also did the Guest Information for the Seaview Apartment, so a number of ticks on the to-do list.

Riana came for tea and now Mike has made spagbol for dinner.

Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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Hat Has a New Head

Posted on October 21, 2022 by Helga

Friday

Today was the day…

The wind blew and I had early morning meetings so swimming was never going to happen. It looks like it will be a windy weekend.

One of the funniest things that happened is my green hat got a new head. David once gave me a big green sunhat. It had become a bit worn and lost its shape. I took off the cute bow and will see if that can find a home somewhere.

The hat went into the donate pile and we gave Courage & Brian first dips. Imagine our amusement when we went outside and saw the hat had found a new unexpected, but appreciative  head. Brian worked the whole day with the hat shading him from the sun!

I’m glad he like it!

I worked about 5 or 6 hours. Mike and I drove to Claremont for me to pick up my retainer, only to find it didn’t fit. They took another cast and I’ll have to try pick it up next week.

Today I tweaked our holiday plans. I cancelled two nights in Milan and rebooked for one and then booked a night in Venice the day before the cruise so we can just walk to the passenger terminal on the day of embarkation. This weekend I’ll get through more of my to-do list.

Weekend! And I’m happy.

Psalm 40:8
I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

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Pretty Things

Posted on October 20, 2022 by Helga

Thursday

Today was the day…

We knew swimming would be in the best conditions for the next few days, so we went in calm weather and headed for the beach – it was bright and early. The water was colder than yesterday – my watch said 14C but you never know with these things. It didn’t feel quite that cold. I swam 2km, sat on the bench and then walked home. When we arrived home, Courage was finishing up washing my windows.

Courage also put up one of Julian’s birthday gifts for me…bought in the Drakensberg & now hanging up outside our front door.

The neighbour came over to get the keys for the cottage. The son of the German owner is coming for 2 weeks, so their tenants have rented the cottage for the duration.  I checked the cottage and made sure all was in order, put linen on the beds and gave the neighbour the keys.

After work, Julian and I went walking along Daisy Lane.

First part of the lane…

View from the first bench…

Further along the lane…

So pretty. It’s really a little piece of paradise in an unexpected spot in Fish Hoek.

A good day!

Psalm 51:12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

 

 

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To-Do List

Posted on October 19, 2022 by Helga

Wednesday

Today was the day…

We started dealing with the to-do list. It must be done by 4th November.  There are other things to get done, I’m sure, but my scribbled notes constitute the first round of list making.

We got a bit carried away today. Well not me, but Mike. He was off to the shops and asked if I needed any extra linen. That single question resulted in him (with eventually me joining him) taking apart the linen cupboard, sorting all the sets of linen out and packing them in the new scullery cupboards. He then went through all the storage boxes. He sorted those contents out and took the extra ones to the garage.

So, of the list, 14, 15 & 16 are done. I emailed the hotel to cancel one night at the IBIS but I haven’t heard back. I may need to cancel and rebook. Some of these things are items for the check list, like cleaning the shower drains & keeping the patios clean. We’ll get this done and be oh, so much more organised when we we get back from our trip.

One of the other things that happened today was Julian, Courage and Brian went looking for a boundary peg out the back of the property. Mike had given them a photo and showed them where it should be. After about 20 minutes, they couldn’t find it and were giving in. As they were coming down the hill, Mike came out to see how they were getting on. They said they couldn’t find it. Mike took the photo and went up the hill and said, ‘it’s here somewhere’. And there it was! Mike’s land-surveying helped. All those years of finding pegs has stood him in good stead!

I worked 6 hours.

Oh, and we swam. The water was sparkling and clear and it was a perfect day for swimming. I wasn’t very fast, but I swam to the barrel, across to the lighthouse, back to the barrel and finished up at the beach. 2km.

My watch said the temperature of the water was 16C so it’s warming up nicely. We sat on the bench for a while and noticed the shark spotters had put their green flag up.

If there was a shark, it would be easily seen. Fortunately, there wasn’t.  Perhaps, maybe, we’ll go again tomorrow. I think conditions over the weekend are going to be a bit windy.

Time to wrap up for the day.

Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

 

 

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Scullery Cupboards Finished

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Helga

Tuesday

Today was the day…

Mike finished the scullery cupboards.

This is the other day….

And this is after! What a difference

Now we have a place to store the Airbnb linen and cleaning material that’s close to the washing machine.

It’s another big project done. I’ve got a list of smaller projects I’ve got to get started on. Three weeks before we leave. Maybe I will set a goal to have them all done in a week. It shouldn’t take too long. One of the big things that I did today was made contact with a couple of Italian taxi drivers who can pick us up from the airport when we arrive. I got their details from our Airbnb host in Varenna. Alessio is our man that hopefully will meet us in Milano and drop us in Varenna!

Today I worked a full 8 hours but it meant I didn’t get to swim or go for a long walk. Julian arrived and so the three of us did the obligatory walk to the end of the road and back.

I’ve interrupted this blog to have a chat with a teacher who is trying to get into China. It’s such a complicated, slow process. I’m not sure it’s going to get back to normal any time soon.

Anyway, bed time!

Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Good advice!

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

6.

 

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Old Cell Phones

Posted on October 17, 2022 by Helga

Monday

Today was the day….

That I went swimming and Mike stayed at home. I went quite early – about 7:30am, walked down, swam for about 35 minutes, dried off and walked home. I was home by about 9am. The sea was warm and the waves perfect. I swam beyond the barrel. At that time of the morning, there are a number of swimmers and there were two paddlers as well, which is helpful. Just after lunch, I took a walk to Fish Hoek to pick something up.  Days like these are ones to embrace…that’s a swimmer in the middle of the picture.

Mike didn’t join me because he has been super busy trying to finish the scullery cupboards and is very nearly done. They need handles and some other tweaks but he should be finished by tomorrow. I can’t wait to start using them.

This evening, we went through one of our storage boxes & found some old cell phones. So funny to see them. Motorola, Samsung, LG & Blackberry!

It was a quest to find our old Italian sim cards, not that we could use them but they may give us an idea of which ones to get. We didn’t find them.

This evening, after dinner, Mike and I sat on the balcony and enjoyed the calm evening and sunset.  I am trying to capture joy in a nugget of time so we make the most of every day.

A lovely evening.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

 

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2 Years

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Helga

Sunday

Today was the day…

We’ve been 2 years at the new house.  Two years climbing 85 steps to our front door (Julian has 100). We enjoyed the day. We had a slow start, going to the beach after 8am once I’d seen the shark exclusion net go out.  The water was warm and the beach crowded.

After yesterday’s wind, it wasn’t super clear and there was a lot of seaweed that had been ripped up from the buoyant ocean of the last couple of days. There’s not too much wind expected in the few days ahead so I think the sea will be clearer.  Maybe I’ll get some work done tonight, so we can go tomorrow.

On our way home, I mentioned to Mike a crazy thing. One month today, we are due to be in Venice to embark on the ship. Wow, that is suddenly very close. Then it occurred to me that two months today, we disembark in Cape Town. Two months. It’s going to fly by. We both agreed, we need to try to embrace each and every moment we are away, from the tedium of the plane trip, to any trains we need to catch, to the rain of Varenna and all the fun bits in between. We have lots to do before we leave – in 22 days time! Eek!

This afternoon, we took ourselves off to Tokai forecast and had a walk around. It was hot. I was overdressed for the occasion, but at least there is a lot of shade.

From there we went to Constantia Emporium and sat at the Sushi bar eating Sushi! That was cool. We did some shopping, came home, watched a Morse. Then I walked to the end of the street and back.

A lovely day.

2 Corinthians 9:7
God loves a cheerful giver.

Go on then.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

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Ruth Made Bread

Posted on October 15, 2022 by Helga

Saturday

Today was the day…

Ruth  came to clean the units and bought with her some of her amazing seed bread.

It was really good. She said she wanted to make it for us to thank us. Very sweet of her and she’s learning such a lot working a few days a week for a chef. She’s learning a lot which is excellent news.

Mike and I went out shopping – came home and put the finishing touches to the Seaview Apartment before new guests arrived. They are here for 2 weeks. A very nice couple here to see their parents. The parents collected them from the airport and bought them to us, so we got to meet them as well.

Once they were settled Mike and I watched a Morse. I also got to speak to Stacey & Elsie today. All is going well with them. Just very busy.

Let me mention the weather. Firstly Fish Hoek weather has been a black south-easter with strong winds and squally rain. It hasn’t been particularly cold, but it has been blustery. Tomorrow, however, is expected to be windless, so I’m hoping for a swim to celebrate 2 years on Fish Hoek mountainside.

Last night I looked up Accuweather Varenna and see that they have updated the weather. We still get some rain but it looks like a few days of decent weather and not overly cold. It looks like we arrive in the rain and leave in the rain but have 3 days of reasonable weather. Of course, this could change but the closer we get to the dates, the more accurate it will become.

Now with guests safely settled, we are off for dinner.

John 1:5
The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

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Flight Changes

Posted on October 14, 2022 by Helga

Friday

Today was the day…

Mike worked really hard to complete most of the scullery cupboards. They are not quite finished but Mike’s broken the back of the work that needs to be done.

I worked about 7 hours. I got in a walk to Fish Hoek to do a few happy chores. I bought something for Elsie as well!

When I got home, I got a message from Julian saying his KLM flight had been pushed ahead 24 hours, so instead of him arriving in Milan with us, he will be arriving a day later! I was less than impressed. I couldn’t think of a solution until Mike said look and see what other KLM flight is available that day. That was when I found an Air France flight that would work. KLM and Air France have an arrangement, so I called the KLM customer service line (0102050101) and got through to a really nice lady, who I could actually understand and she changed the  flight. Then I went to check our KLM booking only to find they had changed our flight from Amsterdam to Milan and instead of arriving at 4:10pm, our flight would only leave Amsterdam at about 5:30pm. KLM are a nightmare right now. There was an option to cancel the flight, so I followed those directions, cancelled from Cape Town to Milan, got a full refund and rebooked on Qatar Air. Now we arrive in Milan a couple of hours after Julian. But what a gedoente!

Let’s hope there are no more changes! If Air France start messing around with the flights Julian is on, I’ll cancel those and book him on Qatar Air as well. Let’s just hope they don’t. I just read  some KLM reviews and it seems you really don’t want to fly via Amsterdam at the moment.

Anyway, enough. I’ll sleep well now that that is done.

And I’ll enjoy the weekend!

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

It’s not always easy to know God’s will.

The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

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