Lockdown 387

Lockdown Day 387 - 17 April 2021

The day started out with an awesome swim in fizzled out high tide. The water was 10 degrees and after an hour my hands and feet were numb but my spirit soared.

There were many birds diving in the sea, and as I drove back home I saw what looked like a huge school of fish in the bay, with many seals and birds enjoying the bounty. I briefly stopped to see what looked like a whale and to my surprise I saw an Orca also joining the feast. I then saw a whale blow just a couple of metres in from where the fish feast was. What a treat!

The sea, salty air and sightings in the bay made me feel normal for the first time in a long time, forgetting about all things virus. Being outside where masks are off and faces are real, breathing in the fresh air without effort, was like sanitising the body with sea spray and stocking up on vitamin D.

Stocking up on vitamins also includes the privelege of visiting with friends from afar. Friends that come a long way earn a certain right to carve out a niche in our heart. It's a kind of heart-soul imprint that is left on one another's spirit. Thank you IA and M for taking the time to see me!

With the quarter moon hanging above the horizon on another spectacular night sky, I offer up a prayer for the world, its people and their future. While I have no clue how to bridge this seemingly insurmountable challenge, I know God does. In fact, He has a plan. And He really has got this.

Lockdown 386

Lockdown Day 386 - 16 April 2021

Walker Bay. Where my heart lies. Where the surfing is best and the waves are near perfect.

After coffee with my cuz early morning and late avo on toast brunch, we left for Voëlklip Beach. My fave for a good wave. The afternoon was windless, warm and sunny, almost hot. My new RipCurl almost-wetsuit-cozzie worked like a charm and the 12 °C water was totally awesome.

On my way in, a boy no older than 10yrs came out with a disgusted look on his face. He looked up as he passed me and said in a warning tone, "you can't, it is too cold!" 😅

In the water I met a 9 year old girl called Mia. She reminded me of myself at that age. Fearless and thinking the sea is my oyster and my slave. She kept on saying, "don't you just love this, I can be here all day!"

Oh yes, she said it all. I do just love the salt against my skin,

the sun on the water and the cold temperature makes for the best social distancing sport on earth! 😁

We ended off our day with a heart warming braai at my sister's home, with mouth watering fillet and fabulous veg, sharing, chatting and laughing until we had to leave. Falling asleep, I thank God for all the muchness.

#Ggt

Lockdown 385

Lockdown Day 385 - 15 April 2021

Watching the clouds pull a shroud over the town and feeling the first winter cold roll in, we decided to take a stroll through part of the town, ending up having great coffee and many laughs about fond family memories.

We also took a peek inside an antique shop, utterly surprised by the clean and extremely organised interior, musing over porcelain tooth paste containers, silver cutlery and many familiar utility items from the past we grew up with.

As the skies grew darker, we took the opportunity to stay indoors for a quiet afternoon, busying ourselves with a little reading and catching up on tech.

After dinner we watched the SA KykNet version of Farmer wants a wife. It was the last episode of this series. As always we had much to say about all the forged relationships and single farmers walking out with nothing. Every year I vow not to follow this reality show again, and every year I find myself doing just that.

These people go through a  process of trying to find their other half. This while millions of viewers get to see (and relentlessly comment on, of course 😅) them go through happiness, heartache, troublesome decisions and poker facing all at once.

My only comment? Please do not enter this competition if you don't want a farmer or a wife.

So it is in life:  if you are not entirely vested in finding and reaching a clearly defined goal, no one and nothing will ever fit the unattainable criteria you have in your head. The key is to go in with a completely open mind and not to leave until you get what you came for.

So tonight while the wind is howling around the corners and knocking on the windows, I offer up a prayer for those in need of their "person". For clarity of the stakes at hand and faith that God has got this completely sorted.

Lockdown 384

Lockdown Day 384 - 14 April 2021

The precious nature of life and people often escapes us in our busy days. But every now and again people cross our paths with stories sounding like something out of a movie. Sometimes these people stay a while and walk our journey with us or only stop to tell their story and move on.

Whichever way, I believe these encounters are one of the missions God had when He created us on this earth. To learn from and be inspired by such people. To ask Him why He would want us to hear a particular person's story.

We recently met such a woman. In one year, the men in her and her daughter's lives were taken from them. A boyfriend, a father, a husband, a brother and a son. Sounds like Job reversed. Our eyes met a few times during our conversation and both mother and daughter left us touched and inspired.

I believe such encounters are the God kind and are never just a hi-and-bye moment, it always lingers or comes back.

God created us in His image. I am sure His idea was if everyone projects Him, we would feel surrounded by Him.

Maybe it's because He wants to remind us of His grace and mercy, or how wonderful and utterly fabulous He is. Or how strong He has created us to be so we can also be a showcase for Him when we tell our stories.

Never think you have nothing to tell, for by just living your life and staying true to who He designed you to be is the very thing He wants someone else to see!

#Ggt

Lockdown 383

Lockdown Day 383 - 13 April 2021

Waking up to the distant swoosh of the sea crashing on the beach not far from here, I was disoriented for a moment before realising where I was.

After our morning walk, we went to see all the sites of Hermanus I have grown to love over all the years. Grotto beach with its white sand and wide open space, Voëlklip beach where I love surfing, and Kwaaiwater where my amygdala dances.

Lunchtime was spent with my sister at the Eatery, officially now my new digs. From the flat white Margaret delivered with a smile to Rebecca's fabulous benedict and Susan's incredibly special touch with her flowers, our day was lit up by this little place with it's big heart.

Our day ended without electricity (looks like an outage only in Onrus area) and the discovery of one of the most beautiful stargazing night sky I have ever seen in this area. We stood outside in the cool air, stunned by what we were seeing. The milky way was strutting it's stuff sprawled across the night sky canopy.

I was instantly aware of God's presence in a way I haven't felt in a while. And I thought of this expanse we live in and speck we really are in comparison to God. He is bigger than all this and this little pandemic diminishes to nothing in the face of this expanse. He really has got this.

(The Eatery Link:

https://g.co/kgs/RnsBJR ) 

Lockdown 382

Lockdown Day 382 - 12 April 2021

Flying in Lockdown is not so bad, as long as you abide by the rules. But I would be lying if I said it is exciting and exhilarating. The whole experience has become rather like a hurry-up-and-get-on-with-it process like when you are queuing in the bank's customer care queue.

I will say though, there were much fewer people than I remember. Kulula was great, but their pre-lockdown humorous mojo has sadly made way for virus rambling they don't have a choice in.

My heart soared once seated, the aeroplane pushing me back into my seat as we took off. Although the masks were a tad irritating and the absence of chicken-or beef with a glass of champers was conspicuous in their absence, I had time to read half a book, something I rarely get the time for nowadays.

Approaching Cape Town, we flew over Paarl with the impressive Theewaterskloof dam in the background. Once over the Du Toitskloof Mountains the approach for landing felt as if we were descending like a feather on its way to the ground.

The spectacular view of False Bay lingered long enough to catch a glimpse of Cape Point. As Table Mountain came into view while taxiing after landing smoothly, I found myself emotional over so many things: seeing my Mom, missing Ma Daphne, a myriad of memories flood my brain of days gone by when CSE were still living here. Missing you guys always!

Mom and I enjoyed the drive home and spent the evening unpacking and catching up well into the night. It is good to finally be here again. I fall asleep thanking God for all the muchness.

"יהוה guards your going out and your coming in now and forever." Psalm 121:8

#Ggt

Lockdown 381

Lockdown Day 381 - 11 April 2021

Today consisted of packing a suitcase for a flight to Cape Town tomorrow. I realised yesterday the extended weather forecast was pretty much hectic with the week starting off with highs of 28 and 26°C. And then, it plummets over the weekend to highs of only 16 and 17°C.

So yesterday I first had to sort out winter clothes still stored elsewhere from the move. And then I had to decide how to pack a medium size bag with clothes and shoes and all things utility for literally four seasons.

Knowing how winter in the Cape can creep up and move in at a moment's notice, I eventually decided to Google what to wear.

I found the most awesome posts from people who have traveled frequently, posting what they call a vacation wardrobe capsule. Pictures and all.

I settled on an interesting blog of a girl who would've traveled abroad in 2020, but had to stay put because of lockdown.

She actually packed her bag and wore her outfits according to the weather at her destinations, and also posted what she would change if she actually got to go.

So I got my act together and did as the capsule people said. And got it done. Filled to the brim, my bag weighs approximately 17kg, well within limits.

Packing is as much a brain exercise as it is a spiritual one. Another thing our spirit has been equipped for in our design by God. Tonight I retire knowing God is in the driver's seat.

#Ggt