Publc Holiday again

One thing about holidays in SA is that sometimes one day gives you two. That is why today, the day after Womens Day, I can once again take time out to do whatever I want. Not that any other day is any different after all I am a pensioner. My time is my own every day. I wanted to let you know what a great day I had yesterday - Womens Day. The economy forces us to cut back on many things, eating out, travelling etc etc. We have all cut down somewhere. We do not drive around just for the fun of it any more as the cost of petrol keeps going up then down a little, but yesterday it was such a lovely day we had to drive out somewhere. There was no wind, glorious sunshine and an urge to leave my knitting and get outside. So.... I persuaded my man to take my sister and me for a drive to the countryside just up the road from where we live. Philadephia and Klipheuvel were on the route always wanted to see them, I don't quite know why but am glad we went. It was great driving through fields of canola which made the hills look as if the sun had landed on them, the young wheat plants stretching up towards the blue sky. What a beautiful part of the world we live in. When we reached Philadephia we parked in the shade under an enormous gum tree and walked to the business centre - the one street with shops. There is a wonderful shop called Magic Minerals which is like an Aladdins cave of beautiful things. The shop and street were filled with people who had obviously discovered this little place of surprises before us. After wandering around the shop for a while we crossed the road to have lunch sitting outside in the courtyard of The Peppertree Art Stable and Coffee Shop. The pepper tree in the name is gigantic with an interesting trunk we heard it is 150 year old. The art gallery and other little shops were so interesting and lovely people who own them. The menu for the day is printed on a blackboard which the waitress willingly carries around to the tables which I might add had all been reserved for lunch. We were extremely lucky to sit at the only table not reserved. Lunch is only ready at 1pm and so we were able to sit and enjoy the passing parade and the free range chickens as they walked around us, stopping every now and again to scratch in the sand. The food was great Roast Lamb and veg. Chicken Pie baby potatoes and Feta and Spinach Pie with veg. A few glasses of refreshment and we were ready to drive back home once again marvelling at the fields around us that looked so healthy. I throughly enjoyed being out and again give thanks that we stay in such a beautiful province. I can't help but wonder why we sometimes miss the treasures that are right on our doorstep. I hope you all had a great time and enjoyed being a woman.

I am Woman

Today is Womens Day - and I have been thinking of the women in my family those who have gone before and those who are, thank God, still with me. Most of the women in my life were on my fathers side of the family mainly because we were so fortunate to live in close proximity with one another. My paternal grandmother lived with us for about 25 years after our Irish grandfather passed away. She was a person who had gone through very hard times raising a family of four on a blacksmiths wage. Also through a depression which only served to make her a very strong character with ways of making her income stretch well beyond its worth. Living with her was not always easy but if we look back at how she did that miracle we can see lessons to be learnt. I will not yet resort to ironing Christmas paper and collecting every bit of string but..... there are ways of cutting back. My mother was another who through trial and error learnt how to keep three daughters happy and very seldom did we feel deprived. Looking back now of course we know that we did have less in the way of what we wanted but never what we needed. The main thing we and her grandchildren remember is the thing that no money can buy and that is the love she gave without looking for reward. The reward then and now is that we remember her love as a warm blanket that kept us all together when times were hard. I can remember three times when my father was out of work but somehow we never lost our dignity thanks to that strong woman we called Mom. She was and will always be our shining light, our example of loving loyalty especially in hard times. Today I still am blessed with strong women in my much depleted family. I see them as examples of what has gone before. Never, never let the bad times keep you permanently in a bad place. Keep striving as you continue through the dark days. Give what you have love, laughter, happiness and faithfulness. My sisters and niece are the best of women. Loving me in all my loudness without giving up on me. Sure they are going through a lean time but we will be there for one another, sharing what we have to the benefit of each other. These times are a worry for us all but we are strong we will survive. I have loyal friends who continue to love me with love and their friendship, I am blessed. To my family especially my sisters and niece I love you more than you will ever know. To my American granddaughter and great nieces I hope you too will look back one day and see the strength you have inherited to carry you through whatever life throws at you. God bless you all.