Lockdown 353

Lockdown Day 353 - 14 March 2021

Yesterday morning, we decided to explore more of our new surrounds and went to the Busstop7 open air market. Situated on the edges of town, this newly established market originated from the need for local produce as well as opportunities for local artisans suffering because of lockdown-losses. 

The green fields away from the hustle and bustle from the city, already set the mood on approach over the hill. My eye immediately caught the red London bus, parked inside the entrance. The market boasts a wood shaving floor to walk on between the stalls. There is something for everyone, from great coffee to handmade hats, second hand books and vinyl records to essential oil based fragrances. 

There is a playground and restaurant with outdoor and indoor seating, as well as farm animals for the kids. The food explosion is well worth your while, boasting farm fresh goods and bread, confectionery to satisfy the sweet tooth as well as cultural foods including Egyptian, Greek and traditional South African to cheffy rolls. Many people also had pooches on short leashes and for the adventurous there is a target shooting range.

My favourite was the Greek lady Elise. Her Baklava is out of this world and Spanakothiropita (phyllo triangles with feta and spinach). And of course, the essential oil fragrances Noor and Jerome had to offer. The sample they sprayed on my wrist lasted through a shower, well into today. We took milktart-filled pancakes (double the size of a normal pancake) home for coffee, but ended up having them for lunch, they were so good.

The market made me forget a little about lockdown things such as sanitiser and masks (even though we did both). If we didn't sit down for coffee and breakfast, it may have dampened the experience a little. I suppose that's why the market decided to balance the number of food stalls with other stalls.

Busstop7 has found a success recipe and are definitely worth a regular visit. Even if it's just for the outing, fresh air and to support our own.

At the end of a restful Sunday the night sounds include a hoo-hoo from the local owl and a few cries from guinea fowl saying goodnight. My spirit is content as I drift off to sleep, thanking God for His love.

#Ggt

Lockdown 352

Lockdown Day 352 - 13 March 2021

About our brain and the function it has to drain fluid:

According to newscientist. com, research in 2014 showed Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) is regulated by an area in the brain called the meningeal lymphatic vessels in the outer brain,  specifically flushing out excess protein that can build up in the brain. Exactly where this happens in the brain has been inconclusive in brain research.

Assisting in this function from our side is virtually impossible, apart from making sure we feed our brain sufficient water.  So when your brain has difficulty, operative intervention is needed.

So tonight I offer up a prayer for my friend Nina and anyone else struggling with hydroencephaly. I pray for God to supernaturally touch her brain, fixing the mechanism He created. I pray for the anointing of the Spirit to heal the meningeal lymphatic vessels so they can do the job they were designed for.

In closing I would like to share a touching and inspirational video with you for times such as these. And because God has got this:

https://youtu.be/-sx8wTnnfSc

#Gbwy

#Ggt

Lockdown 351

Lockdown Day 351 - 12 March 2021

Today I chose to look for the little blessings life sometimes  unexpectedly draws our attention to. My choice was inspired by a heart-touching conversation with a dear friend whose brain has difficulty draining the fluid it produces.

While sitting in a garden restaurant, the little hens and giant rooster potted around the garden. I realised later this rooster is a very opinionated rooster🐓, crowing on the balustrade right next to me whenever I gestured or spoke.

Luckily he crowed way more than three  times 😂, causing everyone around to erupt in spontaneous bouts of laughter. I was intoxicated by the green canopy and the serotonin rush released by all the laughing.

After lunch I went to check on my Bestie's recovery and headed home for a quiet evening on the stoep.

In the back of my mind and the pit of my stomach I still carry my friend's news.

This is the way life goes... ups and downs, highs and lows, the ebb and flow like the tides of the sea. Relentlessly pounding the shores, day in and day out. There is beauty in it all, the timeless, ageless treasures from God.

#Ggt

Lockdown 350

Lockdown Day 350 - 11 March 2021

Day 350.

350 Days from today will be 24 February 2022.

This gives us an idea of what we have already come through.

In the beginning of Lockdown I wrote about the 42 days it takes to change a habit. But to change a life...well, that is something entirely different. To change a life requires a radical transformation. Like it or not, we are changed. Through a radical transformation we did not solicit.

So, in a way we are all either still looking for our old self or discovering the locked down masked version. And, in a weird way, that's a relief. Because there isn't a week that goes by that I dont feel like hiding in a corner, confused, lost and definitely not myself.

But God..... He knows and that simple fact matters a whole lot. Because of Him, I am safe and feel I belong. Because of Him I can look up and have abundant joy in spite of......

He's most definitely got this.

Lockdown 349

Lockdown Day 349 - 10 March 2021

Today I stumbled across a variety of did-you-knows. So here we go.

Did you know......

>You can blur your house on Google Street view? Go to your house, click on it, and then click "report a problem" at the bottom or top of the screen. You will then be prompted to state the problem, whether you would like to blur your name, car, etc. 

> Ancient civilisation believed a wedding ring should be worn on the left 4th finger because we had a vein running straight to our heart from that finger. Fortunately detailed human anatomy rid us of that peculiar thought, sadly proving there is no such vein. But..... knowing that the heart is a blood pumping organ hasn’t stopped us talking about it in a romantic and emotional context. Likewise, we still wear wedding rings on our fourth fingers!

>MacDonald's bubblegum-flavored broccoli, which the fast-food chain developed in 2014 as a tastier version of the leafy green for children, was a complete failure. McDonald’s CEO admitted confusion among children about the taste.

>The longest place name in the world is 85 letters long. 

Taumatawhakatangi­hangakoauauotamatea­turipukakapikimaunga­horonukupokaiwhen­uakitanatahu is in New Zealand. On the list of other super long place names, this one is followed by Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in Wales, Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg in the States,  Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein in South Africa, 

and Azpilicuetagaraycosaroyarenberecolarre in Spain.

> There is a Starbucks cup in every scene in the 1999 movie Fight Club starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. The cup’s appearance was reportedly inspired by a line in the film, when Norton’s character explains, “When deep space exploration ramps up, it’ll be the corporations that name everything, for example : the IBM Stellar Sphere, the Microsoft Galaxy and Planet Starbucks.”

>It’s illegal to own just one Guinea pig in Switzerland. Thankfully, if one of your fuzzy pets passes away and you’re not ready to commit to another, you are allowed to rent a guinea pig for your remaining pet.

>There is actually a toilet museum. Yes, it's called the Sulabh International Museum Of Toilets in New Delhi, India, featuring a rare collection of toilets from 2500 BCE until today. There are elaborately decorated toilets of the European 18th- and 19th century, and even an Austrian toilet shaped like a lion. 

I wonder if this isn't a play on the atrocious plumbing in India? And while the website states this museum has been closed since the virus hit, why is the website also closed for viewing?

>When Queen Elizabeth paid a royal visit to the set of Game of Thrones in Northern Ireland, she refused to sit on the Iron Throne for legal reasons. The reason? "Apparently the Queen of England is not allowed to sit on a foreign throne… This is an esoteric rule we didn't know about until that moment, " her spokesman said.

>Lastly, a bit of good news. It is believed the Earth’s ozone layer will make a full recovery in 50 years. Climate change experts believe the ozone layer will fully heal within 50 years, according to a 2018 report from the United Nations.

The recovery is largely thanks to the Montreal Protocol of 1987, which put a global ban on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which had previously been common in refrigerators, aerosol cans, and dry-cleaning chemicals.

This world still has many surprising things for us to discover. There will always be a reason to find the humour or the hidden qualities of this life we are living. And God will always be the One who's running the show.

He's got this.

Lockdown 348

Lockdown Day 348 - 9 March 2021

Today we did our usual 5km walk. Towards the end a few little white feathers dotted our way. I couldn't wait to add them to my new blue feather bottle - each feather representing hope and joy promised from God throughout lockdown.

The past two weeks I have spent in prayer for two of my closest and core friends who were ill, battling various severe flu symptoms (thankfully not the abominable virus). Working in the front lines is no joke and takes its toll on the mind and body.  Resting is essential, but what do you do when the essential service demands your attention?

With reports of the virus flaring up in Europe and no hope for relaxed lockdown measures, Africa and the rest of the southern hemisphere are starting to gear up for another wave. Our essential services need all our prayers at this time. And if you can make a difference in a safe way, then do it!

The joy and hope promised by God is every bit as real as this virus, and definitely lasting.

"Now may God, the Fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in Him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with His super-abundance until you radiate with hope! "

Romans 15:13

God says it. I believe it. 

That does it. He's got this.

Lockdown 347

Lockdown Day 347 - 8 March 2021

Another kick start session for your brain to get those joy muscles working. Joy causes relaxation in the brain which opens up the wells of creative juices on many levels. So here's part two of exercising the neuroplasticity of your brain:

Unpacking your creativity as per design is part of your calling. Take notes if you have to, but listen to your heart/spirit.

"Guard your heart diligently, for from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23

#Ggt