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

brilliant

My Dad started out as a photographer with the mining magazine Horizon in Zambia, then Northern Rhodesia (I have bound issues if a collector is interested).  When my parents moved to Pinetown in South Africa my 1st memory of his office was a tiny portrait studio in Knowles store. Then as Paul Changuion photographer he had a lovely studio in …

There has been no rain for about 8 days but that’s about to change.  This wonderful flower tells me so.  I would love to know the name of this plant which is a small round cactus.  Weather forecasts may be wrong but this flower never is.  When they open I know that it will rain in the next 48 hours, …

When I have read or heard a story about someone being scammed I always said “If you’re stupid enough to fall for that you deserve to lose your money”.  Today those words are biting my bum.  So why broadcast the fact that I was a sucker?  My reason is twofold.  First I want to warn people in my area about …

Generally I have a clear conscience.  I gave up work and financial independence to be a stay at home Mum, my time is generally spent being a constructive parent and wife.  Deon Meyer messes up this picture of selfless domesticity.  This week reading ‘The Heart of the Hunter” (my 3rd Deon Meyer), the children were plonked in front of the …

Not so long ago approaching 40 I visited the grounds of my pre-school Regina Pacis, The roofs of the buildings were falling in, the old playground chocked with weeds but the memories still there. It felt so sad and neglected, still I heard the voices and laughter of children long since past. It was only 3 years of my life …

Cliff and I married in March 2005 and planned an African Adventure honeymoon, the highlights would be Victoria Falls and a place called Bovu Island on the Zambezi river. The plan was to drive through Botswana, stay at Chobe Safari Lodge (my brother’s wedding present to us), cross over to Zambia by ferry, visit Vic falls and Bovu Island then …

After I was given my  Prestigo e reader for my birthday, I loved it so much that the Presigio brand is now a hit in our family.  My daughter Dominique who is in her 1st year teaching bought the Prestigio 8″ Tablet, she was so thrilled with it that family members clubbed in to buy one for my 70 year …

When it comes to health matters before running to a doctor I like to try natural healing methods.  This week I had rotten sinusitis and a bad cough.  I had a look at what herbs I had available then looked up the medicinal benefits in my herb books.  I have 2 books by Jekka McVicar and a Margaret Roberts book.  …

Here in South Africa Halloween is not a tradition but it seemed like a good excuse to have fun with the kids.  Yesterday Fjord was so excited when Cliff carved a Jack O Lantern!  When he got home from school today I gave him a pack of streamers and he spent over an hour decorating the garden with them.  Cliff …

In 2008 The Sunday Times published a cartoon titled “Rape of Justice”  by the brilliant cartoonist Zapiro.  It depicted Jacob Zuma preparing to rape Lady Justice whilst being held down by alliance leaders.  It is probably the most famous cartoon in our history or certainly in my life time although Zapiro generally sums up current events with breathtaking precision.  The …

We discovered Martin Waddell at the library when Fjord was 2 the first book being ‘Tom Rabbit’.  I always choose books quite randomly but it was the Martin Waddell books which he asked for over and over.  I bought 2 packs of 10 Walker books at different times and despite the illustrators being different it was the Martin Waddell books …

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 …

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”. …

We hung onto our little retro box TV for longer than most but this week we upgraded.  We went from one extreme to the other, now the proud owners of a 42″ LG 3D TV. The TV also has a cool function which converts 2D viewing to 3D, great novelty in that. I had read a few articles which mentioned …