Friday
Dear Elsie
Today was the day that I had a ‘slack attack!’ I didn’t do much except lie around reading and playing some of the word games I love. I did work for a short time, but there was so little work, it hardly commanded any of my attention. We did go shopping twice. First we drove to the Mall for pots for the cottage. Then this afternoon, we walked to Fish Hoek to buy dinner for tonight. Jess, Gerrie and David are joining us.
I’m reading two books at the moment. I’m not as big a reader as I should be. Julian is a prolific reader, of course. I don’t know anyone who has a better knowledge of books and authors. If I have time to read, there are always books in the rental units to browse through. It was there that I found Robin McGraw’s first book, “Inside my Heart.” It has made for interesting reading. Then Julian gave Mike the first novel of Evelyn Waugh which was published in 1928. Mike absolutely loved it and thought I might too, so I’ve started reading that as well.
Elsie, I know you are a great reader and I hope it continues throughout your life. I am hoping I can get a better balance in 2023, so I work perhaps a little less and read a little more. One thing about Mike is he has the most amazing concentration to read for hours on end. That is something I can’t do. I read for short periods only.
Mike and I were talking this morning – I can’t even remember what we were talking about but he said something so sweet, that I wrote it down so that I would remember it. He said, “You’re in my soul and I can’t get you out.” It made me feel very warm and fuzzy!
The south-easter has started to blow vociferously across the Cape. When it’s blowing at this velocity, it whistles past parts of the house. The seagulls strain to fly. Flapping seems such hard work when they are flying into the wind & that’s the direction most of them take. It’s only occasionally I see one going in the other direction – then they bullet past – no flapping required as the wind barrels them uncontrollably towards the beach. Perhaps, therein lies the reason they fly into the wind. They can control themselves. Sometimes they seem as if they are flying on the spot the wind is so strong! When we were on the ship and we saw sea birds, we knew land was near. It was an amusing moment when we arrived home and I looked out the window and saw seagulls swooping and thought ‘oh…there must be….duh!’ It took a few days for us to readjust to the enormous amount of space we have. In the ship cabin everything was so close. I didn’t need to call to Mike. He was always right there. Even if one of us were in the bathroom, conversations could be had.
With New Year on our doorstep, there are new faces also appearing in the neighbourhood. Across the road, a new family has moved in. Next door, plus two doors down is occupied and the blue cottage had a family of 4, heavily laden with mountains of luggage, labour up the 100 steps to their digs for the weekend. I don’t think we will be disturbed by NY parties. The wind should keep everyone inside.
From my window…
Good words to take into 2023.
John 16:33
[Jesus said,] “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx 🙂