OH SHOOT!

If you had told me, 4 weeks ago, that I’d be going through to Cape Town this coming Tuesday to do a photo shoot for a magazine, my response would probably have been “yeah, right!” Well, it’s really happening…

In the November 2010 edition of Woman and Home, I had a (very edited) letter published. I’m still patiently awaiting the arrival of my gift of  hair products but that’s inconsequential right now. I was totally gobsmacked when the features editor emailed me and asked whether I’d like to be part of a story the magazine is running in the April 2011 issue entitled “When We Made The Time.” Of course I excitedly accepted, thinking I’d simply need to answer some questions to supplement the information in my letter.

Long and short of it is that I did have to answer questions via email and the final step is a photo shoot on 1st February! (I’m rather pleased it wasn’t on 1st April.) I received my call sheet with instructions yesterday and it appears I’ll be buying some new undies tomorrow (should take black, white and flesh-coloured bras) and will have makeup artist and hairstylist do their thing. (After that there’s always Photoshop, y’know.)

So, watch this space while I practice my breathing and meditation. Below is my original letter. Ciao for now!

IN PRAISE OF AGEING

I loved the inspiring stories in the September issue of your terrific magazine, a fine antidote to the current global climate of doom and gloom. However, your “anti-ageing” booklet is what really got me thinking and examining my own issues on growing older.

Women today are under enormous pressure to attain the unattainable, namely to retain ever-youthful bodies despite the passing of the years. I totally identify with the almost panicked pursuit of defying gravity and the natural body changes that are a part of ageing. I can attest, too, to wasted years focusing on the fat, wishing away the wrinkles and missing out on moments of fun and enjoyment that pass only once and then are gone forever.

As I face my 56^th birthday this month I am learning to embrace the blessings that fill my every day. Having relocated almost 3 years ago, I have spent time learning new things like painting and Tai Chi and discovered a passion for writing. I even have my own blog! Walks in the beautiful Kogelberg Biosphere are times of contemplation and paying careful attention to the important yet apparently “small” things that surround me.

I now nourish my body with goodness, but more importantly, I nurture my soul with gratitude and love. How blessed I am to be growing old at all!

Sandi Bryant

Kleinmond

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SHAKEN AND STIRRED

Surprise, disbelief, shock, fear, outrage, vulnerability, fierce protectiveness, violation and disillusionment. These must have been some of the emotions that Gill, Russ, Liam and Hannah must have felt this week on realising that an intruder/s had been in their home in Plumstead.

At first glance, all appeared to be normal and only on discovering that the burglar guards in Liam’s room had been forced back did they realise that strangers, up to no good, had stolen Gill’s camera and 2 watches. Photos of Hannah’s first day in Grade 1 were lost but, thankfully, Russ has more on his camera.

The children’s teachers have been wonderfully caring, as were neighbours and friends and Gill and Russ are arranging to have better security measures installed. It’s a sad and sobering wake-up call but we’re all thankful that they are all safe.

Alan and I are going through to Gill and Russ’ tomorrow morning, as we’ve not seen them since their wonderful Christmas holiday in U.K. It’s going to be good to catch up on the “overseas contingent’s” lives too!  Ciao till next time.

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…WITH WORDS & PICTURES

Our local writing group, the Betty’s Bay Writers’ Circle (B.B.W.C.,) held its A.G.M. and first meeting of the year last night. We were privileged to have Marjorie van Heerden, widely-acclaimed and published author and illustrator of children’s books, as our guest speaker.

I was fascinated as I listened to her describe her life journey thus far, beginning with a childhood passion for drawing creatures, especially dragons! Marjorie is dyslexic and her expression found wings through the medium of illustration. With a Fine Arts background and short time spent doing graphic design, she began exploring the world of children’s books. Through her study of early childhood development Marjorie realised the enormous impact that images and indeed fantasy stories have on the psyche of the adult in pupa phase and I now understand the role that these stories play in connecting the conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious mind. It’s a kind of chiaroscuro of the personality, exposing the light and dark within our natures.

Marjorie brought along a collection of some of her 110+ published books and it would be an understatement to say that her illustrations are remarkable. She took us through her process of establishing a complete character sketch of each individual within the story, including history and movement. This applies to the creation of characters in non-picture books too and has given me serious food for thought. Another parallel between drawing and writing is to get ideas down on paper quickly, not stopping to correct or consider. Get the words down – there are spell-checks and editors to deal with the small stuff! Next time you’re in a bookstore, have a look at the illustrations in Andre P. Brink’s 2010 translation of Alice in Wonderland.

If you’d like to view Marjorie’s outstanding work, here are some links:

http://www.grafikon.co.za

Sketch blog: http://www.marjorie-van-heerden.blogspot.com/

Marjorie is also co-regional advisor for SCBWI (SA) which is The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, an organisation with over 20000 members globally. So have a browse when you need an escape from the mundane and s.o.s.o. – you’re in for a treat.

Ciao for now.

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TUBERS FOR GNOMES !

A good few months ago, in the flush of my new-found gardening enthusiasm (which is still there, by the way) I planted 2 pots with baby potatoes. I dutifully covered them as they grew, obeying the info I gleaned from a reliable gardening website. The big question was: when did I harvest them? The advice was to allow the flowers to die off and then turn the pot on its head, remove and voila! – a crop of potatoes would be revealed. Well, the flowers duly bloomed and were surprisingly beautiful.

PRETTY,HEY?

LOOKS PROMISING...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is said that patience is a virtue. Well, I’m clearly not virtuous as my eagerness to see what treasures the pot held conned me into believing that the flowers had all died. Able-bodied Alan lifted the pot. I stood with camera at the ready. On its head it went and all was revealed. What a joke! I’m quite adept at making a meal out of pretty-much anything but even a garden gnome (no, I don’t have any) would have chosen KFC instead. But, they were duly photographed (Alan’s hiding the big hole that something munched out of the biggest one) and then – ditched! Oh dear.

ALL LAUGH......NOW!

But…there’s ANOTHER bucket waiting in the wings (actually outside the laundry) and I shall wait until everything that CAN die HAS died on this plant before repeating the unveiling. Watch this space and yes, it’s okay if you laugh…

Ciao!

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WIND AND WORDS

The good ol’ Cape Doctor is visiting today, giving us all a dose of his special medicine. We visited Sue in Gordon’s Bay on Saturday (Piet is away birding in Mozambique) and enjoyed a snack and chat with her. (I always love time spent with her and Piet.)

SUE MAKING LUNCH

As you probably know, Gordon’s Bay really gets buffeted by the south east wind in the summer months and below is a poem which this talented lady had published in the Gordon’s Bay Reviews, their local paper.

ODE TO THE SOUTH EASTER

Oh Tormentor of human beings

You blow my world to smithereens!

My garden’s ruined beyond repair

With plants destroyed – you do not care.

You are so mean, you are so cruel,

You violate my swimming pool!

Unwelcome guest, hateful intruder

Choker-up of Barracuda,

With leaves and sticks and vegetation –

You have an evil reputation.

All night you blow without abating,

I cannot sleep, it’s so frustrating.

Then, just like that, without a warning

I wake to find you gone one morning.

What bliss! I start with good intending

To fix the damage, cleaning, mending.

As I complete my final chore

I hear the sound that I abhor –

A whistling, howling, laughing rumble

As down the mountainside you tumble

Wrecking all that’s in your way,

South Easter,

Scourge of Gordon’s Bay.

Thanks, Sue and ciao for now.

 

 

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TWO SHORT WORDS

Well, would you believe it – today is International Thank You Day! It seems there’s a day dedicated to just about anything you can imagine. Any unusual ideas out there for dedicating a day to? How about “Eat an Ice Cream Cone While Standing On Your Head” Day?

Actually, I think it’s a rather good idea to be reminded about the importance of saying “thank you.” Giving and receiving of gifts happens throughout our lives, from the time we’re born – and even before that, beginning with baby showers. Receiving a gift is something very special, I think, no matter how large or small, no matter the cost involved. Sometimes the simplest ones (like the gifts that children make) are really precious. I find the giving of a gift even more gratifying, though. A great part of giving is knowing that the recipient is aware that you care.

We’re not always present when the gifts we give are received but, even when we are, it is customary to say “thank you.” In today’s inter-connected world, this may be in the form of an SMS or an email with snail mail coming last in the queue. I still love receiving letters via snail mail; reading the handwriting, turning the envelope over to open it and then unfolding the page. I receive letters from Pauline in the U.K. from time to time and there’s a tactile connection, somehow, a hand to hand passing on of information. I KNOW it takes ages but sometimes slow is good.

“Thank you” doesn’t only apply to the receiving of gifts or other tangibles but can also apply to acts of kindness. I’ve read many reports of individuals assisting in a situation and often leaving before anyone has a moment to thank them. So what happens there – even a letter to the newspaper may never be read by the person who offered help? This is where the term “pay it forward” comes in. One can express gratitude through doing a kindness for someone else, consciously passing it over as you do.

Is it ever too late to say “thank you/thanks/tks/ta/tx?” I don’t think so. Sometimes we feel that too much time has elapsed and it wouldn’t be right, too much like an afterthought. Why not say it anyhow and see what happens. The outcome may surprise you.

So, from a pleasantly warm but windy Kleinmond – enjoy saying “thank you” on this auspicious day and whenever the occasion arises! Ciao till later.

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CAN’T A CAT NAP?

Roxy wasn’t too sure how the day’s weather was going to pan out this morning so she snuggled herself into Alan’s pillow. Totally contrary to house rules, you understand, but ag shame.

PILLOW TALK

I was taking a few pics as she lay there in feline felicity when the doorbell suddenly rang and…

"WHAT THE..."

…oh, just a visitor. Sigh. I can get back to business, then…

AH, WHAT A LIFE

Till next time, ciao! (Miao?)

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DON’T WASTE TIME

I’ve just come in from a walk along my usual route, along Beach Road and finishing up close to the mountain. The last stretch of the walk takes me past a home where, on the 30th of January last year, the family’s daughter( who’d just finished Matric) hanged herself from one of the tall pine trees that surround the property. Having spoken with her father from time to time as they try to navigate the first Christmas, birthdays etc. and then being so tangibly reminded of the tragedy of that day led me to thinking about time. Time allotted, time snatched away, time used and most importantly – time wasted.

Today marks 18 years since our niece, Cathy, died and I think of how these families long to have had more time together with their loved ones. So many families and relationships lie fractured and hurting, as 10, 20, 30 years of resentment and bitterness and unresolved issues lie pile up around them. To heal relationships, both/all of those involved need to take a step forward, to put a hand out and to speak across the void. If this is your situation today, my plea to you is: DON’T WASTE TIME.

With a heavy heart, I say ciao till next time.

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TO LIFE!

As I sit and write this, a thick mist has swirled across the sea and up over the mountain which is now almost obscured. It’s a blessing after the heat of the morning (not that I’m complaining, of course.) I spent much of the morning in my veggie patch, tidying and tying up the masses of tomato plants that have practically taken over! “Mr Bean” from last summer is back, reaching for the roof again and he has a little brother/nephew/cousin/friend/whatever growing alongside, trying hard to catch up. I had such a good bean harvest from that plant last year.

While tying up the plants, I was most indignant to see a whopping great grandpa of a locust marching arrogantly up the stake, eyeing me as if to say: “so, what you gonna do about it, lady?” When he hopped onto the wall, I let him have it with my croc (probably the only purpose you think they serve, hey Chris?) but when I looked again he limped off into the undergrowth! Huh – darn cheek.

Last night Jane and Chris joined us from 6.30 for a swim and champagne celebration. Once everyone had cooled off, we sat on the patio and had a D.I.Y. roll supper, with a gallimaufry of toppings and fillings, followed later by a few hands of bridge.

CHEERS!CHRIS, JANE, AL & I

Dave and Hannah are staying over tonight and Mandy and Arthur will spend the day with us tomorrow. I hope our mountain’s back by then – it’s completely disappeared now! I had intended to watch the second half of Alan’s bowls singles match but he’s phoned to say it’s all over – he won 21-2 and is top of the points board at the moment!

Below is a rose from our back garden which has a most unusual colour but sadly, no fragrance. I guess you can’t have it all, right?

DELICATE BEAUTY

 

Ciao till next time.

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GO WELL, FIREFIGHTER!

D’you know the feeling when you summon up the courage to do something and then afterwards think you must have been crazy? That’s pretty much how I felt some months ago after displaying my “Firefighter” painting in the  Simply Coffee coffee shop in Pringle Bay (see Harvests, Hills and Wedding Bells post of 04.10.2010.) The painting was taken from a photograph which appeared in the newspaper during the devastating fire season of 2 years ago and it evolved into something which was very special to me. For the past few months it’s been at the back of my mind and I was hoping that someone visiting during the festive (silly?) season would want to take it home. Well – someone did! Yesterday, in the midst of a sudden heatwave, I had a call from Simply Coffee’s owner, the affable Morne, telling me that my painting has a new home.

After I’d stopped doing cartwheels and jumping up and down, I was really overawed by the fact that a complete stranger also loved that picture. I find myself trying to imagine where it’s hanging right now and I hope that it brings great pleasure to many people. Below are 2 photos I took last year, the second one an enlargement of one section.

FIREFIGHTER

CLOSE UP

I guess it’s time now to dust that easel off and fill my nostrils with the inimitable smell of oil paint…. Ciao!

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