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Over the weekend we visited Pretoria Zoo.  Whilst seeing animals in captivity is sad, I believe that zoos have an important role in education and creating an environment where compassion and knowledge are nurtured. For the 1st time we hired a toddler buggy which was easier than carrying children on the other hand it meant that Fjord was more interested ... Read More »

The blog below is written by my husband.  We are a real yin and yang couple I’m the arty farty one and he’s a metallurgical engineer.  A true case of opposites attract. In South Africa we have the Retail Motor Industry Organisation or RMI, a collective body whose goal is to “promote, protect an encourage the interests of their members”. ... Read More »

Finding myself mid life.  Vulture thoughts circle dead things, the white bones of past pasts.  Future  shadow of the scythe touches today, an intruder stalking my boundaries.  I lose more golden moments picking over carcass memories.   Blurred recall, a swirl of what was and what might have been, mixed up and hazy.  Wish and reality, guilt and reality, truth and ... Read More »

I have started reading ‘The Remains of the Day’ and the discourse on dignity and greatness is thought provoking.  It led me to musing about the people in my life whom I either respect or don’t and the qualities which they possess or lack. The two men who I respect most are my father and step father.  My step father ... Read More »

A picture paints a 1000 words.  When you are the subject senses and memories are captured too.  Mixed in with the colour the brush immortalizes a fragment of your essence. My mother’s friend Di lived in a house who’s terracotta walls blended into the setting of her home in the Valley of 1000 hills in Natal.  Mum placed a wicker ... Read More »

** please don’t click ‘like’ if you’re not bothered to open a post ** I was quite mystified when a few times after posting a blog I would see that a few people had ‘liked’ the post but my stats showed 0 views yet.  Then I noticed on the reader page that you can ‘like’ a post without actually clicking ... Read More »

This morning we visited the Neighbourgoods market @ 73 Juta street in the Jo’burg inner city.  What a find!  The foods on offer are really special.  I first heard about it when I bought olives from Chrisna’s olives at a champagne tasting, they are outstanding.  We sat down at a table for a Cappachino and came home with yummy Thai ... Read More »

I have a big problem with political correctness, in my view it highlights differences more than anything.  It also creates stress and tension as people have become afraid to address others in case they get it wrong. In South Africa most white South Africans have a deep sense of shame due to Apartheid even though most of us did not ... Read More »

Recently I got around to watching ‘Pride and Prejudice’.  What struck me more than the famous Darcy gaze was the romance of the lifestyle.  It left me longing for the days before cell phones & computers.  Make not mistake, I love using them but they have created a social void.  Facebook can never compete with visiting a friend for a ... Read More »

One big problem with life is that the bad guys don’t carry sabres or dress in black gowns.  There may be heavy breathing but it’s not a dead giveaway that evil lurks behind a mask.  In reality the bad guy’s mask may well be a mop of blonde hair, blue eyes and a cute smile.  Of course the lines between good and ... Read More »