12-26pm
I was very saddened to hear the sudden passing of well known South African chef Bruce Robertson. In recent years, he had a very popular exclusive eatery in Simonstown called The Flagship. With a fresh new style of restaurant entertaining, he opened his ocean-front home to exclusive diners, set a menu and cooked up a free range, organic storm that brought new meaning to fine dining. Word spread like wild-fire and when I went onto his website some months ago to possibly book lunch for my birthday, I found large chunks of November already booked up.
Friends who went found his barefoot, down-to-earth, detailed approach both refreshing and fascinating. Not only would he cook the food, but he would tell the stories of the food too – where it had come from, nutritional value, how to prepare it….endless snippets of interesting information that made the experience completely memorable. So it was with great shock that diners heard that just one week ago today, Chef Bruce was diagnosed with a catastrophic advanced leukaemia. With an apparent internal haemorrage, he went onto have a stroke and passed away on Monday morning, 3rd November 2014 at the age of 44. Apparently, he died very peacefully and in his sleep. It is such a shock to his family. His memorial service is tomorrow.
Life is fragile. My Friday ladies await news of our dear friend Toni, who is very close to the end of her life. After a long and hard fought battle against liver cancer, it will not be long now before she sees Jesus face to face. She will be out of her pain and suffering. She has lived an exuberant life, filled with humour. We all love her and are very sad to see her go.
This is life. We are born, we live, we die. It’s not about now. It’s about eternal life. We do the best that we can and live the happiest that we are able, this side of eternity. We can eat carefully and exercise diligently, but eventually we will breathe our last breath. It is then, that real life begins. And we must be ready.
I am most probably more than half way through my life. I am grateful to have got this far. My friend Peppi sent me this – with which I completely identified…
Our lives are in God’s hands. That’s the safest place for them. Trust Him with everything. When difficulties come, you’ve just got to keep going. God is sovereign. God is in control. He will give you all you need to cope. God will power you through! Don’t give up. Don’t back down. Just push on.
Hebrews 7:25
“Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.”
He is interceding for you.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx
Gratitude Pic….yesterday evening when I got in, these were waiting for me from my sister Anne! What a beautiful bowl of flowers. I’m taking great care of them…..
