Lockdown 163

Lockdown Day 163 - 5 September 2020

Last night we stayed with André and Riëtte, our forever varsity friends. They are born and bred Port Elizabethans, salt of the earth and the most alternative crazy people I am fortunate to call friend. 

They make us feel alive, special, royal, their own people and make us laugh. To us they are all these things and more! We are kindred spirits who enjoy weird humour, intelligent jokes and of course exquisite company. 

We were spoilt rotten and ate 'till we physically couldn't anymore. We laughed untill our bellies ached and drank Nespresso coffee to the fill. This is how forever friends become family. We just carry on where we left off as if no time went by in-between. 

We left with heavy hearts until we are once again afforded the opportunity to see each other again. It was a cold morning and the sea grey and choppy as we drove out of Port Elizabeth on our way to Jansenville for one last stop before heading home. 

Tonight we enjoyed lip-smacking oxtail prepared on a slow fire all day, and the hearty Eastern Cape company of a lifetime brotherhood friendship I became part of when we became Mr and Mrs. 

The dry earth was crying out for water and as we reached the farm, soft rain started falling. This is an incredible blessing for all these farmers who are in desperate need of rain. 

So tonight as I retire, I speak a blessing  over this land and pray for ongoing rain through the night as a sign that God is alive, and walks among the heart's desires of His people. Because He's got this. Gbwy.

Lockdown 162

Lockdown Day 162 - 4 September 2020

This morning we left early after saying goodbye, thanks Neels and Juanita from De Old Drift, you are heart people 🤍. It's a privilege to have you as friends. 

While driving to Port Elizabeth I kept looking for the sea, and what a feeling when I saw it in the distance and later in full view. That feeling never fades. Driving on Settlers Way, I could enjoy the view from my window, seeing all the ships waiting outside the harbour. 

The sea was blue as ever with artsy clouds dancing on the horizon. PE is well known as the windy city, but this morning the sea was calm with little to no wind. 

After dropping hubby off for work and our stuff at our overnight destination (more about that tomorrow), I meandered to Remo's Italian, a wonderful restaurant in a shed called WERK_space in Baakens River valley where a couple of artisanal shops are housed together with the restaurant. WERK_space offers good coffee and a lot of creative vibes and inspirational musings. A special mention also of Invictus Leather: Clint and Naz you guys rock! And of course it is great to see artists at work again in a public place. The world is a better place because of them. 

I took a drive down to Something good, a roadhouse in Summerstrand. Took my camera and strolled onto the beach, enjoying the sun, sea water and salty air. I then got myself a spot on the verandah where I spent half an hour watching the silver bling on the water as the sun moved into the afternoon. 

I retire tonight, tired from the fresh sea air, listening to the sound of the ocean, carried in with the PE wind. God gave me the blessing of a perfect day in the windy city. I am grateful for the breath of God, feeding my lungs and for the life running through my veins. And I know God's got this.

Lockdown 161

Lockdown Day 161 - 3 September 2020

I woke up looking forward to a day of unwinding and most enjoyable girl talk. We had a lazy cuppa in our pj’s after which hubby left for a work day in PE. Our friends live directly adjacent to their guest house called De Old Drift, just outside the town of Addo. 

We walked through the beautiful gardens my friend planted herself, all the while aware of the silence between the endless rows of export lemons (the fragrance is intoxicating) and the beautiful coral aloes dotted throughout the natural vegetation garden. Nature always gives a free spa treatment I call O2R (Oxygen Rejuvenation).

After the O2R we left to pick up the grandkids at school and stopped at a local lodge for lunch (amazing gesture towards supporting locals, even if they are competition). 

What a pleasure to meet such wonderful kids, loved chatting with them and picking their brains about school and how they see things. We enjoyed tasty sushi, including fabulous deep fried tempura rolls. The double shot cappucinos were the perfect size and strength. 

We spent what was left of the afternoon on the verandah with tea in the sun untill the cold South wind came in, signalling the cold spell is far from over. 

I kept on thinking how time just has a way of passing quickly when you don't want a good experience to end. But also how the end of one good thing can lead to the start of something equally as wonderful. 

So now I need to leave, using new memories made as catalyst for the blessings that lie ahead for the rest of the journey. 

I believe this is how God teaches us on our life journey to store our treasures in heaven, by giving of ourselves and storing up eternal jewels of joy, love, peace and hope. 

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. " (Matthew 6:21)

God's got your heart. God's got you. 

Ggt.

Lockdown 160

Lockdown Day 160 - 2 September 2020

Today, while the wind was howling through the country, we were on its tail wind, hitching a ride to Addo. Diesel consumption: excellent. Company: outstanding. Coffee stops: satisfaction. Scenery: cloudy and electric, inspiring and photogenic. 

Our first stop was at Colesberg Caltex's Seattle Coffee company. A quick visit to the restrooms revealed squeaky clean ablutions after which we picked up our double short latte (Seattle language for flat white) and hit the road again. 

Thereafter we took the N10 past Middelburg to Cradock, stopping at Karoobrew where the aroma of their own freshly roasted beans met us in the street. 

We met vibrant new manager Liza who made me the perfect flat white and directed us to the shed a couple of blocks away for lunch. 

I had their lunch harvest of parmesan chicken with roast veg which was succulent and very tasty. Hubby had a homemade burger which hit all the right notes, from a flat bun and generous patty to hand cut chips. 

The next town, Cookhouse, took us down memory lane and I got to take a picture in front of the little church. Although Middleton's farm stall was closed I got another picture with the little church there as well. 

God sent us flowers on the way in the form of millions of little aloes flowering in the countryside. He also spoilt us with a herd of elephants in a camp across from Addo National Park. What a wonderful sight! 

After arriving safely and spending a wonderful evening with our friends, I retire with a grateful heart for God's provision and protection, looking forward to see what tomorrow holds. 

Ggt.

Lockdown 159

Lockdown Day 159 - 1 September 2020

Spring day. This is what 1 September has been called in the past. Even those that were cool and rainy. Because you could feel the winter has packed its bags. Normally this is the time of year you could feel a slight humidity in the air, with a constant smell of fresh green and rain, you donned those interim shoes that don't require socks, and the squishy jerseys suddenly feel like old dirty wool. 

Most of all you wanted to be outside, walking, playing, braaiing. Feeling alive and the sun on more skin than clothes. Not today, though.

But, as you know, South Africa and even Namibia and other neighbouring countries are caught in the icy grip of what seems like winter's last. But today I heard of a young man's utterance of wisdom. He said, "This weather is God's way to bless us with rain." I suddenly felt guilty for complaining about the wind and dark, cloudy conditions (fortunately the cold is my friend, it doesn't grip me, we just 'high five' 😅 ). 

As I am typing this blog, the wind is howling outside while the news reports come in of rain in Gauteng and parts of the Western Cape. I also hear of snow on Table Mountain. Now that is something out of the ordinary. Just like God.  He is out of the ordinary and can change even the seasons if it pleases Him. 

And that is why, we should maybe consider another approach.  In stead of uttering, "This weather is really bad", we should say, "Thank you God for what you will bless us with."

Our extraordinary God has even got this extraordinary weather in His control. 

Tomorrow, we will be driving to Addo and Port Elizabeth. I am very excited and can't wait to see what God will show us on the way (and of course I will also see the sea! 🤩). So for the next few days you will travel with me and 'see' a part of our country through my eyes/words. I hope you will join me on this road trip. Sleep well!

Gbwy. Ggt.

Lockdown 158

Lockdown Day 158 - 31 August 2020

Saturday I had lunch with the 'Wednesday coffee girls' at a restaurant we were at the day before Lockdown started. We vowed to go back when it re-opened, which was Friday. Just over 5 months since Lockdown started. We never thought it would be that long. 

A lovely Gin cocktail, stunning views and catching up on what everyone was up to, made the two hours fly. Hopefully it won't be too long before we resume our regular early Wednesday coffee date.

Today, while having a conversation with a close friend (also remembering how good it felt Saturday to have face to face conversations) I realised how lockdown emphasised the importance of human contact and interaction. I believe we were not created to be isolated from each other. And the artificial intelligence (AI) trying to take over this basic human need is now deemed as the next big thing. 

What we don't realise is a solitary style of living is just as dangerous as an abominable virus.  People may not contract the virus, but depression, anxiety and solitary insanity are taking over the world, as many studies are now showing more and more.

So it's up to ourselves to find a viable way to integrate these lifestyle changes without becoming robots. Talking to people helps of course, and talking to professionals also helps. But neither the professionals nor the people we talk to can do for us what we need to do for ourselves. 

And that is to choose to stay human according to our design, not denying the opportunity to be perfect in our imperfection. Because to God, we are exactly how He wants us, perfected in His eyes by the blood Yeshua shed so we can be free of condemnation and guilt. We blame ourselves easily in stead of accept Who we were designed by and accept that all we need to do is show up. He will be waiting and do the rest, because He's got this.

Lockdown 157

Lockdown Day 157 - 30 August 2020

This morning I decided Sunday lunch would be Woollies Roast Chicken. While at the square, there was a hive of activity with a little kiddies train, driving everywhere. The first time I passed the train on my way in, it was playing the famous Let it Go from the movie Frozen. 

I was mildly amused, partly because we should all let the baggage go that Lockdown loaded on us, and partly because I remember the movie scene really touched my heart. 

On my way out, chicken in hand, the train passed me again, this time playing one of my all-time favourites as far as animation goes, called Under the Sea from the movie The Little Mermaid.

As I climbed the stairs to my car, I suddenly thought about this little coincidence. Both these songs are about my two of my  favourite things: Winter and the Ocean! In Let it Go, Elsa sings of the cold that never bothered her, and in Under the Sea, Sebastian the crab tries to convince Ariel the mermaid not to go to the world outside the ocean, or as he calls it, 'up there', singing about life that is better under the sea. That's how I feel, cold never bothered me and life under the sea is indeed better! What's more, both songs contain lockdown and life elements.

The words from Let it Go resonate with much of what we all experienced throughout lockdown:

"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small. And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all.

It's time to see what I can do. To test the limits and break through. My power flurries through the air into the ground.

My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around. And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast:

I'm never going back, the past is in the past. Let it go. The cold never bothered me anyway."

Under the Sea highlights the life issues all generations have to cope with, especially not being satisfied with our own world:

"The human world, it's a mess. Life under the sea is better than anything they've got up there.

The seaweed is always greener, in somebody else's lake. You dream about going up there, but that is a big mistake.

Just look at the world around you, right here on the ocean floor. Such wonderful things surround you, what more is you lookin' for? (Sebastian is french, so his English isn't the best 😉 )

Under the sea, under the sea. Darling it's better down where it's wetter, take it from me."

Cold or wet, water is life. The life we have been given by our Creator. We are not made up of 70% water for nothing. Because He created us, He knows what's good for us, therefore He's got this. I share both songs below, so enjoy!

https://youtu.be/moSFlvxnbgk

https://youtu.be/GC_mV1IpjWA