Sunday
Today was the day…
We thought it would be a lovely cloudless day. It really only became warm and sunny in the afternoon. In the morning, when we were at the beach, a massive, gloomy cloud sat threateningly over the sun, obliterating the required warmth after a cold swim. In fact a little shower mercilessly came out of it.
The water was cold, but largely clear. I swam to the barrel and back a couple of times and enjoyed 30 minutes of being wrapped in cold. The air temperature was higher than the water, so it was warmer out than in. There is a sense that spring is coming. Today I watched a sweet robin sitting on top of the cottage roof and calling at the top of its voice. The binoculars helped in identifying it. It had an orange breast and black over its eyes with a white stripe. With that description, the internet told me it is a Cape Robin-chat and the SANBI photo is accurate.
It’s incessant vocals reminded me our bird bottle was empty. I had taken it down to clean it out. I’d actually prepared the sugar water but not returned it. I did that little task and soon had the neighbourhood avian population started gathering with enthusiasm. The robin is not one of them. I haven’t seen the robin-chats at the bottle at all. Maybe they are not partial to my juice. Common are the little white-eyes as well as sunbirds, sparrows and Cape bulbuls. The long-tailed sugar-birds sometimes also swoop in, freaking everyone out and dominating the drink. Occasionally they will be challenged by a bossy sunbird who may not be deterred and will cheekily peck the sugar-bird’s under-feathers causing a little ruckus. It’s common for more than one breed to be on the feeder at the same time, but usually it’s the smaller birds – sunbirds and white-eyes may be patient enough to share, along with the docile Cape canary.
There were two other major things that happened today:
Firstly, I booked and paid for the ship internet package. This was mainly to see if I could do a ship booking with my international bank card. It worked, with unusual security.
And Mike has redesigned the scullery. It’s become a bit of a messy place with stuff (like spare drinking water for when we have burst water mains) on the floor. Mike wants it behind closed doors so he has designed storage. He’ll sit for hours, deep in thought staring at his design seeing where it can improve or how he will put it together.
I’m really happy with his plans.
It also comes with a desk on wheels that can be used in the space under the stairs. It rolls out for access to the storage boxes behind. When Mike does a diagram like this, you know he is serious about a project. It’s gone beyond the thinking stage to the ‘about to order the wood’ stage.
Mike is on leave from all the outside work at the moment. Courage is working on the plot behind, ordering supplies and coordinating his helper. He seems to be doing well and enjoying it. He comes to Mike for advice or clarification every now and again.
The bookings have picked up. The Seaview Apartment is booked for most of October.
My sweet memory of Elsie is from our feet in the sand when they were here last. 
John 6:29
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: To believe in the One He has sent.”
The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂