For Georgia ...

My darling little girl, when you read this I will be on my way back to South Africa. I want you to know that I love you very, very much and I think about you and miss you every single day of my life. Always remember that you have grandmother who adores you and even though we are far apart you are always in my heart and we will see each soon - in Scotland! Thank you for all the gifts you gave me and thank you for making my holiday so special. You are the best granddaughter any granny could wish for. Watch this blog for lots and lots of pictures and messages for you.

Big kisses and hugs. Your Granny.

2009

To all my dear one's

Happy, happy New Year. May 2009 be absolutely fabulous. May it hold health and prosperity and peace and acceptance for that which we cannot change. And to all the South African friends - please take care on those terrifying roads! In a few hours Ed and I will be leaving Gracemere to take a plane from Rockhampton to Brisbane to Sydney and tomorrow afternoon we will be home. Emotions are running very high right now here in Fenwick Street, Gracemere but by tomorrow evening all will be calm again and back to normal. What a wonderful holiday we have had. It is 37 degrees today and very tropical.

A little truth ...

To my South African friends visiting my blog ...

there is absolutely no place like home!!

South Africans are warm and friendly and funny and mostly dysfunctional and they have beautiful faces and lovely bodies and fabulously white teeth and over-the-top style and most importantly they are my people and SA is my place.

MY FAMILY .. OZ, DEC. 2008

Downunder

Well, here I am in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia! It is hot ... much, much hotter than South Africa. But it is fabulous to be with my family again especially as I haven't seen them for two years. I adore my eldest granddaughter Georgia who matches her maternal grandmother's magnificent talent for shopping. Not only does she have the ability but she has the perfect pose as well. Things that money cannot buy ... walking out of a boutique with your granddaughter, looking at her face and seeing your satisfaction and achievement reflected in her eyes. And little Caleb, my youngest grandson who I have now met for the very first time. A magic little boy with dimples and the cutest smile and personality. How absolutely blessed I am to have two beautiful granddaughters and two very gorgeous grandsons. A girl could not ask for more.

I am off downunder ...

Goodbye, so long. Have a wonderful, blessed Christmas.

Oops - Christmas 2008

Oh dear, I'm ahead of myself again ...

Christmas 2009

Alas, I have run out of time and have been unable to decorate my home. A few Christmas bears are on display, a lonely little Santa and that's about it. Tonight I have to pack our bags and tomorrow night I need to give all the instructions to Pam who is going to babysit Jemima whilst we are in Australia. And then Friday we fly away to that far, far country - to my family, to have a wonderful, glorious Christmas with them. Oh, the anticipation of wrapping the gifts with Georgia, decorating them, last minute shopping and finally the opening of the gifts on Christmas Day and seeing the joy on the little faces of Georgia and Caleb. The greatest gift of all is being able to see my child again.

This year has ended on a surprisingly positive note for me and I am so grateful for all that 2008 brought me.

Here is my last entry for 2008 ...

"Let us do our duty in our shop or our kitchen,

in the market, the street, the office, the school,

the home, just as faithfully s if we stood in the front rank

of some great battle, and knew that victory for mankind

depended on our bravery, strength, and skill.

When we do that, the humblest of us will be serving

in that great army which achieves the welfare of the world."

- Theodore Parker

Upside Down Teddy

This little guy was cut against the fur pile and I thought he was going to be a failure. However, he looks very scruffy and a bit confused and when I completed him, he actually had a little personality. He is so cute and he informed me that his name is Daniel.

Pot o' gold

I saw a photograph of a rainbow on someone else's blog and simply could not resist posting my own picture, taken by Eddie from our balcony. It was taken in January this year.

Scottish Biltong!

Well, I never thought I would live to see the day that my family would be making biltong in Scotland. David and his new little business. Those Scots just don't know what they have been missing but I'm sure my son-in-law is going to educate them!

The Beautiful Baby

Abigail, my wee Scottish granddaughter. She's made of sugar and spice and coconut ice!

The Xmas Bear

Here is the picture of the Christmas bear, as described yesterday.

I'm definitely a day behind - oh dear.

The dates on my blog seem to be messed up. Let's try this one!

'Tis the Season to be Jolly .......

The "SEASON" has finally arrived! In my household today, the 4th of December, is the official opening of the Christmas Season. Today is Ed's birthday and the first of the celebrations for the Festive period. Although we will not be in our home for Christmas, we have decided that we will still put most of our decorations up this weekend. We wait 12 months to enjoy these objects that we collect so carefully and in so many places throughout the world and we have such a short time in which to look at them with pleasure. I know that I cannot skip this opportunity and wait ANOTHER 12 months before I see them! I wanted to work on my new little bear last night but I was so exhausted and all I could manage was to take out the Christmas Bear. He arrived in this country from the USA, some twenty years ago. Candy went to America to visit her dad and when I collected her from the airport on her return, she was carrying the Christmas bear and he was so large and she so small that it looked as he was floating along unaided. He was brought home as a gift for little sister Karen. Somehow he became my property and somehow he became the Christmas bear who only made his appearance at Christmas. He is huge and beautiful and huggable and every year he looks so delighted to see me! I took a picture of him last night, brought my camera with me to work but discovered that I have left the PC cable at home. So you can meet him tomorrow.

A letter to my daughters

To my lovely girls in faraway places -

Life goes on, differently, but it goes on and I miss my best friends, the two of you. I miss belonging to a family, I miss having coffee with you two, I miss shopping with you, I miss fighting with you, I miss sharing my life with you and sharing your lives. I miss watching you grow and achieve, I miss seeing you laugh and cry, I miss your husbands and I miss your children so much. I miss your advice and I miss giving you advice, I miss hearing about your work and your frustrations and your joys. I miss hearing your voices and I miss seeing your smiles. I pray for your success and happiness but there isn't a moment that I don't wish with all my heart tht you would decide to come back to me. I hope with all my heart that your decisions justify the loss, that you succeed and reach your goals and have happy, safe children so that all this can be worthwhile. I hope that you keep me fresh in their memories, that you make me a reality in their lives, otherwise why did I build a family?

The View from my sitting room

The top of this tree is eye-level on the sixth floor!


And a view of the lake.

.. the garden

Wrinkle, Bejamin
and Jasmine

Cleo

My friend's garden. A place filled with fairies and surprises and wonderful creatures called cats and dogs. These pictures speak for themselves ...

Teddies .... and a beautiful garden.

I completed this teddy over the weekend. Although not perfect, he is a huge improvement on the mini bear. His name is Alexander.

I also went to a teddy bear fair and it was absolutely delightful. This bear making is a world of magic and helps me to cope with all the ugly, harsh realities of this country.

Teddies. Toy Run and a beautiful garden ........

Toy Run 2008