Skimming Stones | Sula's Blog | Sula1968 A South African poet, potter and mother

Yesterday I heard a radio ad for Private Property and I decided to share our experience using them when I sold my flat 8 years ago.  Prior to that I sold 2 properties using estate agents and really felt that for the enormous chunk which they take I did not get proportional value.  When selling my flat I signed up …

When Mum was sewing my matric dance dress in 1986 she bought an Elna sewing machine for the job.  It had a great innings but eventually gave up the ghost.  We sent it in for a quote to have it repaired and the cost of repair would have been more than the cost of other brands new machines.  I got …

Today’s Daily Prompt is Undo – “If you could un-invent something, what would it be? Discuss why, potential repercussions, or a possible alternative.” If I could un-invent guns the almost Shakespearean tragedy of Oscar Pistorious’ fall from hero to murderer would not be playing out in our courts.  More than that, millions of deaths would never have happened.  The victims …

Like Fox Mulder, I want to believe but in the case of tissue salts I’m looking for some testemonials.  This blog is not about me sharing something with you but rather I would like you to please share your experiences with me.  We recently visited Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre.   Mum bought me a copy of Margaret Roberts book ‘Tissue …

Coming up with lunch box ideas for a 5 year old is a challenge, particularly when the 5 year old in question has a host of allergies.  We don’t have many options with sandwiches and I was stuck in a groove of honey, ham or jam. I was reminded of the lovely idea which my sister in law uses, she …

This week my Mum was visiting from Durban, I took her to my favourite place, the Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre.  It’s a long drive, about 100km from home in Boksburg but so worth the trip, the scenery in the area makes you feel that you are on a mini holiday.  The centre is only open on Wednesdays and the 1st …

This morning as my 5 year old set off to school blissfully unaware that it is Valentines Day, I thought back on my childhood.  I’m not in favour of schools making a fuss of the day.  They do, it’s a great fundraising springboard, kids pay x amount to send cards to each other.  You can see the problem here, can’t …

My husband wrote the blog below, which offers valuable information regarding insurance and the benefits of shopping around. Obtaining insurance quotes is a tedious, time consuming process and most people would rather walk on hot coals than shop around for insurance quotes. Nonetheless you can save a significant amount of money by doing so. A couple of years back I …

Our son Fjord is 5 years old, over a period of about 4 months he developed terrible insomnia.  His bed time is between 7.30pm and 8pm but he would lie in bed for up to 2 hours every night unable to fall asleep.  He has a fixed bed time routine, we eat around 5.30pm, he baths at about 6.30pm then …

It’s that lovely time of the year again.  Growing up Catholic I have issues with eating Hot Cross Buns all year round, and if I did the novelty would wear off.  When I got my bread machine I discovered that shop bought Hot Cross Buns are not a patch on home made ones and they really are easy.  I searched …

For a while I have wanted a cookie press, particularly since making Viennese Biscuits  by pushing the dough through an icing nozzle thus creating what looked like a gemors (mess) but tasted divine.  As with anything costing over R100 we shopped around.  Cliff found a new baking shop in Boksburg called ‘The Cake Tin’  and bought me one as a …

“There is a need for media and education campaigns to educate citizens about the benefits of patriotism, because the love for one’s country is crucial in national development.” I heard about the book “Why Africa Fails” when Jenny Crwys Williams interviewed the author Elly Twineyo-Kamugisha on her book show.  Normally I do not read non-fiction but I was interested in …

He had fire in his fingertips An Eagle on his arm A little boy chained in his eyes The above few lines found saved under notes on my phone.  What or who was I thinking of? Were those lines meant to be pondered later to form a poem? Like memories of a dream in the afternoon those thoughts are all …

I chose Thaba Thipa as our destination for Cliff’s birthday weekend away for a few reasons.  It is relatively close to home, just outside Bela Bela (Warmbaths) and only 180 km from our home in Boksburg.  It has 2 swimming pools and for the children there is a jungle gym and an enclosure with farm animals and a few tortoises.  …