10.5 Hours of Work

Posted on August 1, 2022 by Helga

Monday

Today was the day…

The first day of a colleague being away and me covering for him. I’ve still go 38 of his emails to go through, but it certainly isn’t going to be tonight! On this 1st day of August, I’ve worked 10 hours and 32 minutes and 34 seconds. That’s what the clock says anyway.

It’s been a really busy day because for ‘eye’ breaks, I was up and down the stairs. The new washing machine arrived. The old one is in the garage. The honeymooning guests arrived. They plan on going up Table Mountain tomorrow and also paragliding or going out to see if they can spot some whales. It’s a little windy today but tomorrow is expected to be a little calmer.

We had leftover spagbol for dinner and walked to the end of the road and back. The wind was icy.

Then I started working again and now, I’ve had enough. I need a neck massage.

Time to go have a hot shower and call it a day. Blessed to be busy.

John 14:27

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or 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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An Active Sunday

Posted on July 31, 2022 by Helga

Sunday

Today was the day…

That was quite busy. We went to the beach and had our 4th swim this month. Just before we left for the beach, I got a photo from David. He’s living his best Bali life! His new cell phone takes great photos. This looks like it should be in a magazine!

Back in Fish Hoek, the water was not like Bali water – it was c-o-l-d. I swam for half an hour. Home for a hot shower and breakfast. Then I had a video call with Stacey and Elsie.

From there, Mike and I went down to the Seaview Apartment and gave it a clean. The weekend guests had checked out and a new couple who are on honeymoon are flying in overnight from India. They will arrive tomorrow afternoon.

With that done, I had a short break before having a lovely long call with my friend Debbie. She’s the friend who had a horse riding accident in January 2013, suffering, as a result,  a debilitating brain injury.  She made an amazing recovery and now speaks well and easily. She moved to England a few years after the accident because there she would be able to get benefits and health care not available to her in South Africa. She now lives alone with her two dogs and  has an active life living close to her sister and very elderly parents (aged 97 & 87).  It was good to catch up with her.

This evening, we had the Berettas over for spagbol and another catch up.

Now it’s time to wind down the weekend and look ahead to a busy week.

Last day of July:

Matthew 28:20

“Behold, I am with your always, to the end of the age”

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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Feeling Much Better

Posted on July 30, 2022 by Helga

Saturday

Today was the day…

I woke up feeling better – and I’m feeling almost back to normal.

The main event for the day was the arrival of guests into the cottage for a week. While I was waiting for them to arrive, I did some cleaning of our own home and also the laundry.

The guests arrived with their little son. They have been travelling in SA from  UK/Dubai – so they are British living in Dubai and are spending their summer holiday in a Cape Town winter. A very nice family who are particularly interesting to me because they are teaching in the UAE & I recruit teachers – so I was eager to hear their first hand account living and teaching in the UAE – they have been there for 5 years.

After they were settled in, I went walking. Down at Fish Hoek beach I bumped into Ray and Sue and had a bit of a catch up. It rained this morning and left the beach looking pristine.

I walked back along the mountain side, stopping to enjoy this sight.

Before dinner, I took another little walk up Echo and walked down to look at the house being built. It’s going to be a monster. I walked down to the bottom…

The other thing I did today was order a new washing machine for the cottage. With guests in for a week, a washing machine is useful and they have already asked about the broken one in the laundry. It was time and Makro had a special. Let’s hope it arrives before Friday!

David update – he’s in Bali for the next month. It’s part of Indonesia. He’s certainly getting around.

2 Corinthians 6:16

God said, “I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their god, and they shall be My people.”

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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Downside of the Hot Springs

Posted on July 29, 2022 by Helga

Friday

Today was the day…

I woke up with a raging UTI. It’s the downside of the hot springs. Somewhere along the line I picked up unwanted germs. I made an appointment with the doctor and dashed off to see him this afternoon.

I’ve just got home laden with the requirements to sort me out. By this time tomorrow, I should be back to normal. In a couple of hours time, I’ll be more comfortable.

The other thing the doctor gave me was a lecture on my (too high) cholesterol. With the amount of heart disease in our family, he said I was absolutely destined for a surgical intervention if I didn’t do something.  My Dad had a bypass and my brother has a stent. My Mom had high blood pressure. I need to take the pills.  When he had tested my urine, I told him I’d like him to check my cholesterol, which he was happy to do. When the lecture started, I reminded him I had asked for it to be checked and I was okay with taking the pills as long as they were only 10mg. “No, 40mg” he said. “I roared! Don’t bother wasting your time on 40mg – if you give me those, I’ll quarter them.” In fact, when I had my last prescription (a year ago – okay my bad for not going back), I only took 5mg a day. I cut 10mg pills in half. It became messy when the chemist didn’t have 10 and I ended up trying to quarter 20mg pills. I hate chemicals. 5mg a day worked perfectly and within a month or two my cholesterol level was within normal levels – whatever that is meant to be. The very good news is my sugar levels are perfect and my blood pressure is normal.

Today, a cold front swept through. We also said goodbye to Herman, such a wonderful guest. He went onto give us one of the best reviews we’ve ever had. So kind of him. I hope he comes back.

When we drove through to Swellendam on Wednesday, it was a treat to see how much Elsie had grown. I took this photo of her and told her how little she was when I took the first photos.

As cute as a button in March 2020

So cute!

And now it’s weekend. (And I’m already feeling more comfortable thanks to extra special pill).

Leviticus 26:12

I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be My people.

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 Have a Gem in Courage

Posted on July 28, 2022 by Helga

Thursday

Today was the day…

We woke up in Caledon, slept in a bit and then went for a long pre-breakfast walk. It was cold and misty but a 40 minute walk warmed us up. There is a long dirt road that runs through the top of the Spa property – parallel to the N2. It is part of the boundary of the Caledon Zip lining course and on the right there are various tracks that lead to the zip lines. We passed not a soul.

Back at the hotel, we had breakfast, then brushed teeth, handed in our key cards and headed home. We arrived back in Fish Hoek to a majestic summer’s day. Summer in winter for sure.  The yacht in the bay is still sailing around the coast. Right now, it’s heading past us towards Simon’s Town.

We found Courage hard at work. He had been staying in the Little Lookout while we were away. With the day so warm and sunny, he had washed all the LL linen and it was hanging out to dry on our return. In fact, with the sunshine, it had dried and is now folded and ready to go back on the bed. He had also put up the new security gate at our main front door. We haven’t had one on that door for the (almost) 2 years we’ve been here, but we decided we’d feel more secure when we we are out, if there is one. It does make a difference.  We have a gem in Courage, that’s for sure. He is proving himself.

Tomorrow, Herman, a lovely guest from Pretoria checks out and new guests from Durban arrive. On Saturday, UK guests arrive in the cottage for a week, so things are picking up.

Back to work tomorrow and then the weekend!

Psalm 145:18

The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.

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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The Marvellous Overberg

Posted on July 27, 2022 by Helga

Wednesday

Today was the day…

That began with the sound of a very old, loud rumbling train that chugged very slowly along a railway line below the resort. It was a large industrial train carrying something like coal. It sounded like the groan of a plane flying very low. It was only when I heard it’s warning siren that I recognised it was a train. Having never heard a train from here before I went to the window to look. In time, it grunted and spluttered its way into sight and I watched it snake its way around a bend. There’s something about a train rumbling past. I think it makes me think of England.  We love the trains that run from Fish Hoek to Simon’s Town. They are far enough away to create a comforting holiday ambience. Close up they are smelly, screechy things! It was this morning’s train that got me up and out of bed.

The day was also welcomed by a plethora of bird life – the tweeting of birds and the incessant quack & cluck of a persistent Egyptian goose – one of a pair – reaching out to others in the property – it reminded me of a person yelling at the top of his voice to other people who were a little distance away. From time to time, other geese would respond!

Photo showing the Egyptian geese. The train disappeared behind the house and trees in the top right corner…

This is more of the view from our window…cat in the bottom left corner – cat’s paradise for sure.

Then I walked to the Fresh Stop and picked up cappuccino for Mike and I. I don’t think I’ll do that tomorrow morning – it will be hotel coffee for us until we saunter down for breakfast.

The highlight of the day was visiting the Swellendam family. The marvellous Overberg is looking absolutely stunning…

It was a pleasure and joy to see Adrian, Stacey and Elsie. Elsie had my full and undivided attention. I don’t know how many times she went up and down this jungle gym but she soon learned that going down the slide on her tummy was also an option. We had a wonderful time together.

Now it’s time for dinner. Last night we sought out Fat Henrys. He has moved from his usual spot and while the new venue lacks ambience the food was as delicious as we remembered it. Tonight we are going further down the road to a restaurant we have not yet tried. The reviews are good, so we will see if it meets our needs.

At about 6am this morning, I woke suddenly to the thought I didn’t do my blog last night! When I realised I had, I quickly went back to sleep. Note to self: today’s blog is done!

Hebrews 12:1
Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

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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Hot Springs Time

Posted on July 26, 2022 by Helga

Tuesday

Today was the day…

I finished up work and we headed out of town. We dropped Julian at the airport on the way. By 1:40pm, I was in the hot springs. Mike generously went & bought cappuccino for us.  You are not allowed food or drink in the Victorian Spa area, but we didn’t know that initially.

The security guard came and sternly told us no food or drinks in the baths, so we moved outside to a recliner and drank them there. The day has been warm and sunny and soon it was too hot on the recliner. The water in the Victorian pool above was perfect. Not too hot and not too cold. It meant we could spend a goodly amount of time lolling around. It’s fresh spring water and so not as buoyant as the sea. It makes swimming harder!

It’s marvellous getting away for a few days. We fall into a bit of a routine with dinner tonight to be at one of our favourites. As we have only had breakfast today, it will possibly be an early dinner, followed by a night swim a little later on.

The reviews at the Caledon Hot springs have not been great over the last few months, but so far today it’s been fine. To start with the internet is working. That’s an improvement. And the breakfast is back in the main hotel dining room instead of squashed into the restaurant opposite the casino.  The quality of the food last time we were here was pretty bad, so we are hoping for an improvement in that department as well. During Covid, I felt it was unfair to rate any of these kind of establishments badly. Covid really has been difficult to cope with. Now we are mask free and things are slowly returning to normal, our expectations of the holiday industry are rising. We were really happy with MSC and the ship trip to Namibia. Apart from the 3 hours it took us to get on board, everything else was great.

Courage is home holding the fort.

This one I can memorise:

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray continually.

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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The Great Spaghetti Spill

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Helga

Monday

Today was the day…

I had a great spaghetti spill.  It was lunchtime and I went to make myself honey on  Finns. I opened the cupboard to get out the honey when suddenly an open packet of spaghetti started flowing. It had been stored with the open side facing the cupboard door and must have slipped forward. Out came the spaghetti in a perfect display of being poured out like pick-up-sticks. I gasped and then laughed.

There was no one around to witness the great spaghetti spill so I took the photos above to demonstrate my new version of pick-up-sticks. I then set about picking them all up and it was amazingly easy. Very few broke and as they are going to one day be boiled, I just gathered them all and put them back in the box. I was sure to put the box back with the closed side facing the cupboard door.

Mike has felt a little under the weather today. Tomorrow, we are taking off for a couple of nights. Courage is going to hold the fort. I worked 8 hours today. I’ll work a few hours tomorrow morning and then put auto response on my email.

Deuteronomy 31:8

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

Words to embrace.

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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End of a Good Restful Weekend

Posted on July 24, 2022 by Helga

Sunday

Today was the day…

That we took it all quite easy. Mike slept in. At 11am, the guests shipped on out and we spent an hour and a half cleaning the Seaview Apartment. The new guest arrived at just before 1pm, so our timing was perfect. With him settled, I went for a walk around the neighbourhood, walking down to Kommetjie Rd and spotting a sight that must have a back story. It’s the corner 13th Ave and Kom. Ouch!

As I walk I drummed Psalm 139:11-12 into my head. It’s been a struggle getting these two verses under my belt, but I’m almost there. I walked back on the mountainside, walking on a path upon which I hadn’t yet trod. As I took a step down, I noticed a piece of steel under the ground. I pushed it with my foot and it moved, so I leaned down and picked it up.  It was solid and  heavy.  A relic of the past from who knows where!

I bought it home with me.  Maybe it can be imbedded in one of the future walls.

While Friday I felt frazzled and very tired, by this afternoon, I felt far more rested.  Tomorrow, we start afresh with the pleasure of looking forward to a few days off this week.

2 Corinthians 6:16

God said, “I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, & I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

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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Covering Table Mountain

Posted on July 23, 2022 by Helga

Saturday

Today was the day…

We took a drive into the city centre and mooched around a few places. We started off by going to the Wild Sprout for breakfast which is a health restaurant in Constantia. This is where Mike and my taste part company. I loved it. Mike will never go there again! Mike is an egg and bacons guy. I am happy to experiment. Mike ordered a green omelet and really didn’t like it. I ordered eggs benedict and it was great. Half way through our breakfasts Mike & I swapped and he ate the rest of my more traditional eggs. I finished his green ones! I thought it was delish! Lol. Julian stayed safe and had French toast.

Onwards to the Waterfront where I wanted to see if you can walk to the end of the Breakwater. As you can see from the map it’s temporarily closed. We walked as far as the helicopter companies, but then it’s blocked.

Saw some great sights.

From there we drove into Cape Town and parked on Queen Victoria Street. While we were there, we noticed a couple of huge heavy duty crane carriers maneuvering massive screens. We stopped to ask what they were doing. They told us they were filming for a Swedish (or was it Finnish?)  film and needed to cover (or block out) Table Mountain so no one knew they were in Cape Town. Quite a mission, but certainly it seems Cape Town is a good venue for international film makers.  Not something you see every day.

We went to the Cape Town museum where we learned a couple of things. The first is the ownership of Prince Edward Islands falls to not only South Africa, but it comes under the Western Cape and a phone line on the islands even has the 021 dialing code.  I think people may have heard of Marion Island. It’s 2000 km south east of the Mother City and no place to want to call home. Weather is terrible.

We admired the whale skeleton- next time we see a whale in False Bay, I’ll have a greater idea of how big it is.

We then sauntered through the company gardens, admiring the sights, including this cute family. Mother had a broken foot and father was very protective.

We admired the massive yellow wood tree.

And guessed its age. We were completely out.

We then went and had coffee and cheesecake at this cute little restaurant. There are two restaurants in the company gardens. The bigger one we have been to before. This one is very close by.

It was the Director’s house in years gone by.

This would have been the director’s view.

Turned out to be a beautiful day. Julian has recently returned from the UK where he visited Hyde Park (established 1536) . Today he kept commenting on the similarity between Hyde Park and the Company Gardens. The Company Gardens were established in the 1650s, are the oldest gardens in the country and were established by the Dutch East India Company.  Such a beautiful place to wander around.

We came home, I had a little snooze, then chatted to Stacey and Elsie before hearing from David as well, so my cup is full.

A lovely day.

Psalm 18:28

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

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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My Dad Would Have Turned 90

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Helga

Friday

Today was the day…

If my Dad had lived he would have turned 90. He was born on 22nd July 1932 and would have loved to live deep into old age. He passed away at aged 76, after having heart issues for many years. His 14th earthly birthday celebrated in his heavenly home.  Just a bit of trivia : we’ll always remember the birthdays of the sons of  Prince William. His elder son Prince George celebrates his birthday today and his younger brother Prince Louis has his birthday on 23rd April which was my Mom’s birthday.

My Dad…

His handwriting…

Today I worked the day and took a brisk walk to Fish Hoek late afternoon to pick up milk. Julian, meantime, had walked to the end of Fish Hoek Beach, so I walked down to meet him.

Mike spent the day holed up in the solar room, making the adjustment to meet the legal requirements. It has been a far bigger job than expected but he’s broken the back of it.

This weekend we hope to get out and about a bit. I’m so glad the weekend has come. It’s been a long week.

Matthew 16:15-16
“What about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

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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Thailand

Posted on July 21, 2022 by Helga

Thursday

Today was the day…

David started sending photos of his trip to Thailand. Long overdue, they were great to see. Some are Krabi and some are PhiPhi island.

Krabi stairs to no where…

Kho Phi Phi resort…

Phi Phi island…

The tsunami of 2004 came from both sides of the bay.

He’s really enjoying himself. He’s in Phuket for a week now meeting all sorts of interesting people, including a number of Ukrainians who fled to Thailand to work remotely.

Meanwhile, after 8 hours of work, I took a walk to the end of the street and enjoyed our own spectacular view. What a still day.

It was also good to hear from Stacey and catch up with some of Elsie’s activities. I hope to see them soon.

Today has been a long work day and I’m glad it is at an end. It’s time for me to shower and curl up in my rocking chair. That sounds like a good idea!

Psalm 23:4

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort 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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Perhaps Today & It Was!

Posted on July 20, 2022 by Helga

Wednesday

Today was the day…

I placed a teacher who has been waiting all year to get a job. It was very satisfying! Some of these teachers are on my mind when I go to bed at night and when I wake up in the  morning. I say to myself, ‘perhaps today is the day J will get an offer’ and today it was!

I worked the day and half way through went for a skin treatment appointment which was absolutely great. With the swimming and exposure to salt and sea water, my skin needed a good moisturising and it got it.

This afternoon, I got back to work and spotted this massive schooner kind of boat going by. It was highlighting plastic in the oceans so was sailing close to the shore.

In the photo above, you can see a small section of the railway line which runs from Fish Hoek to Simon’s Town. This post appeared on Facebook today…

We don’t object, in theory, but it does depend on what their intentions are. If the railway line is turned into a walk way that everyone can enjoy between Fish Hoek and Simon’s Town with restaurants and cafes established at Sunny Cove and Glencairn stations, it will certainly be a welcome tourist attraction. But, if SARAL sells off the land to developers, it would be a different story. Their plan is to create opportunities between Fish Hoek beach and the Fish Hoek CBD, but what will be the plan for the rest of the railway line – that is what does need to be addressed as well. We will be watching.

A lovely dinner at Sav Cafe at Harbour Bay.

Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

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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Looking Back Two Years

Posted on July 19, 2022 by Helga

Tuesday

Today was the day…

I worked 7 hours. Riana visited for tea. Julian arrived from Johannesburg and I looked back on what was going down two years ago. This was written 20th July 2020…

This is how far we had got in July 2020

This was what the steps looked like in September!

We have done so much wall building, land scaping, artificial lawn and privacy gates. Still lots of work to do. One day when I take a ride (God willing) up our funicular, I’ll look in awe at these photos below.

So grateful for Mike and Courage and their hard work. They have been relentless at getting to this point. And it’s only the one side of the house that you can see. The other side which has the tanks is also taking shape.

It’s always a reminder to me that if you start something, take small steps & just keep going, it will get done. As we have just passed the 21 month mark since we moved in, we are still enjoying and embracing every single day.

Deuteronomy 20:4

The Lord your God is He who goes with you  to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.

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 in Koh Phi Phi

Posted on July 18, 2022 by Helga

Monday

Today was the day…

That was really busy. The highlight was speaking to David. He is on the Phi Phi island group off Thailand. The entire infrastructure of Koh Phi Phi island was just about wiped out by the tsunami of 2004. About 4000 people died.

David hiked from his hotel up the hill to see the view and gave us a call.

He said the water was ridiculously warm and spectacularly blue and clear. He’s on the island for a couple of nights before returning to Phuket. He’s teaching as he goes and because he’s closer to China, he’s not having to get up in the early hours of the morning. He’s only an hour off China’s time zone.  He’s having a great time.

A first today was for Elsie! She went to the dentist! She had a good first dentist experience – all her teeth are perfect. She was treated for sushi for lunch. Girl after my own heart!

And I worked for 8 hours. To clear my head, I walked to the end of the road and back and now I’m in for a quiet evening.

Genesis 21:22

God is with you in all that you do.

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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