Paper daisies

Yes, more paper flowers. My niece asked me why I have paper flowers in the house, I told her its because they don't wilt and due. She asked why they don't have any.

For a laugh!

Eddie Izzard and John Cleese were both in town this past weekend but I stayed at home and read Woody Allen. In fact, I have been staying home a lot lately and have been reading a lot.

Empty nest

I found this on the ground in the garden.

Go home!

At first I was outraged, all I saw was 'Zimbabweans, go home' then the rest of the message revealed itself. Makes sense. Zimbabweans, go home and vote. Please.

English lesson 3

Please refer to English lesson 2. Thanks.

Winter Edition

And verily the temperature did plummet. And the flu smote the people with a mighty germ. And, yea, the people did cough and sneeze. Verily. And the germ saw it was good. It so it passed that on the seventh day the people did fall over and scream, “O Lord, give us antibiotics and cough drops.” And it was so. But the cough persisted. Words by Katharine Lanice Philippa Williams.

English lesson 2

I think the word you are looking for is desserts.

A desert is a landscape or region of land that is very dry because of low rainfall.

desert (someone or something) for (someone or something else)

to leave someone for someone else; to leave something or some place for some other thing or place.

Dessert is a typically sweet course that concludes a meal.

Duvet day

Our company gives us a bonus day's leave for our birthday. It's known as duvet day and that's exactly what I did – stayed in bed all day reading. Thanks MH for this gift.

Sunday, lunch with the family

Another glorious winter's day.

Menu: Starter – Biltong and blue cheese tartlets, garlic and herb bread. Main – beef stew and dumplings. Dessert – jelly and custard (again).

English lesson

My dear friend, a word of advice since English is not your first language. Sultry is sexy but sulky isn't.

Saturday lunch in the garden

Menu: Penne served with a creamy sauce - ham, mushrooms, spring onion, butternut and peas. Garlic and herb bread. Iced tea. Jelly and custard.
The balloons I had brought back from Turkey. The flowers were a gift, sunflowers are my favourite, thanks.

Fresh-baked, home-baked

I love baking. My mother used to bake every Saturday morning, cakes and biscuits that would last the week. It was wonderful. Saturday and Sunday afternoons we had kaffee und kuchen! Every night at 8, during the week, we would have coffee with a slice of cake.
This weekend I baked garlic and herb bread. Herbs from the garden. Biltong and blue cheese tartlets. Cranberry biscuits and a chocolate cake.

Little pots

I had these little pots and dipped them into some paint. Now it looks so pretty with the plants.

A lovely gift

Nikki gave me this lovely notebook. I feel I should write some poetry in it. I wrote some poems in my youth but they were so depressing, although it was during a happy time in my life, makes no sense.

Pink blossom

Hand made from torn paper. I had seen it on the internet but I should have downloaded the step-by-step guide, it probably would have been easier. Anyway, I think its very pretty. Might make another.

Walk in the park

Spent the whole long weekend reading then yesterday afternoon went for a short walk in the park. The air was fresh and crisp, and the sun was slowly sliding down.

Blog is in the post

Someone recommended I read 'Born to blog' and although it was an interesting read I could tick none of the boxes. My blog does not curate, teach, sell or tell a story. I have no life-changing experience/hardship to share. I give no thought to attracting readers with captivating headlines and keywords. It's just my journal, it's just for me (and my brother, and Trish, and Cobus) but I am grateful to every person who stumbles upon it and finds something of value.

Broken line

Last night I got out my sewing machine to make up a few things, but no matter how much I pushed the pedal or wiggled the wires it would not work. No! So I had to make this picture up on my Mac at work instead of with my sewing machine as intended. This is the sweet, cute little niece of mine, N.

Keep warm!

At last it's cold enough to call it winter! I realise I don't have anything warm enough to wear. I gave it all away end of last winter so I wouldn't wear the same things again. I think I've been wearing them since 2010. Well, I never replaced any of it. Knitting a scarf to ward off the chill ;-)

Blowing in the wind

This is the seed of a weed, but it's really pretty.
Come next summer I'll probably find this plant all over the garden.

Freedom

It was about freedom then, and it's about freedom now.

I had such a wonderful time in Istanbul, not so long ago. My heart goes out to the people of Turkey and I hope they move forward to the better future they desire.

The Unfit Diaries

A colleague of mine is going to celebrate a friend's 50th birthday by swimming 5 km a day in the Mediterranean. Yes, I know we would just have a party and drink, however...
Her writing is very funny and entertaining and her updates can be found on http://www.knowspickings.blogspot.com 
Below is her first enter of The Unfit Diaries.

I was recently invited to swim Turkey with a friend of mine who, in a midlife moment, thought it would be better than throwing a party.  
In the long term, I think she will prove to be right. However, now it's a different story. 
Anyway, now I have to start swimming training in order to swim my way down a tiny part of the Turkish coast.  To ensure that there are no drownings or unsightly sightings of Blue Whales in the Med, I am hoping that the swimming will tone me down to a lissom Orca.
I psyched myself up for the first swim. I changed into my suit and went through to the pool area where I then struggled for 15 minutes to get the cap on my head. Since when have swimming caps been made out of glue and hair grabbers?  Just as I was about to abort the mission and slink embarrassedly back into the change room, I managed to get it on - although I am sure my eyebrows were part of my hair line, which resulted in my looking extremely surprised the entire time. 
I jumped into the pool and struck out. Then I opened my eyes underwater.  Chlorine and eyes don't make a great mix. Anyway, I bravely swam 20 lengths (all the while looking surprised). It was great. 'This is a cinch' I thought to myself. 'I can do this.'  I was feeling quite proud of myself until I tried to heave myself out of the pool. Needless to say it didn't go well and only managed to get my boobs clear of the water before slithering - a bit like a manatee - back into the pool.  I stayed underwater for 5 minutes hoping no-one had seen and then doggy-paddled to the side where I found the steps.
Encouraged by my prowess, I had a look at the recommended daily swimming chart drawn up by the people.  I fear crack is readily available in the UK and may have had something to do with their suggestions.  I showed it to Chad le Clos who said it was 'impossible' and not to be recommended unless you were him which I'm not.  Clearly.

Exotic crane

Exotic crane or strelitzia?
I take my hat off to anyone who can photograph the Strelitzia and make it look awesome. Every year I try and fail. Oh well, at least I've made it look like an exotic bird – do you see it?

King protea

I bought two King proteas.
I have seen some beautiful painting of proteas lately. Unfortunately I don't have the patience (okay, or the talent) to do a painting. So it's photography and photoshop for me.

When I was in my 20s I thought the protea was the ugliest cut flower on earth – look at me now!

Heaven and earth

True story: I n a book shop a woman turns to show her husband the bible she's chosen. Across the aisle he's paging through a book detailing sexual massage.