As one chapter ends, another begins.   This week ends the 27 year journey I have had with mothering my two offspring as children.  From Saturday on, I will be the mom of two wonderful, capable,  ......adults.  TD turns 18 - that magic age when childhood steps through an invisible veil into a new adventure of independence.  It is a process of course, and I will always fiercely be their protective mother ready to swoop in, when invited.  They are part of me, and turning 18 will not change any of our history, present or future ..read more

It just happened to be Valentine Day two weeks ago when we decided we needed a day out.  Valentines day has always struck me as a celebration of the power of commercialism and going along with the flow mindlessly, rather than any romantic notions.   So, it wasn't a Valentine's picnic - it was just a much needed Smell-The Country- Air expedition.  I made egg mayo sandwiches and slapped some cheese and jam onto rolls, packed some flasks of hot water for the tea and coffee, made a few cupcakes and we were good to go. We picked up TD's significant other, and headed out to Betty's Ba ..read more

Ketones.  The word has a  lyrical sound.....It makes me think of a music flowing pleasantly from appealing chords to melody, or of soft palettes of colour for creative expression. Ketones are not benevolent or pleasant though.  At least not for people with type 1 diabetes. (There are some  pancreatic-enabled people who choose a ketogenic diet of low or no carbs and high fat.as a weight control method)  Essentially ketones are toxic acids.   Glucose is our usual source of energy, but if that glucose can't be used in the blood (that's the role of insulin), the ..read more

In the digital age, this family still relies on a paper calendar.  Each year, usually in October or November, I print out 13 A4 sheets of different coloured papers and create a write-on calendar for the following year.  Each day gets a block, and the family knows - if an event is not filled in on this paper calendar, it isn't happening. (The 13th page is for January the following year - I like being prepared).  I finally managed to motivate myself to do this task today, and I filled in all the recurring important days like birthdays and anniversaries, added the public holidays ..read more

⏹ Not for sensitive readers.  I am banging this blog out on a Sunday morning because the words are tumbling inside me and curdling my sense of peace.  Betrayal is a strong word, but it sums up what I have been feeling the past few days. Speedy attacked Tolstoy with an intent to kill.  (For any new readers to this blog, I am referring to two of the free range tortoises that allow us to live in the house in their garden.).  It was Friday morning, and TD was taking a study break (chemistry this time) and wandering around the garden.  I heard anguished cries which got more ..read more

Many moons ago, before the TD era, I was involved with  teaching adults who had been denied an education because of the apartheid system, how to read.  It was immensely rewarding to meet these strong, determined people and share my love of reading and writing with them.  I might have taught them how to read, but they taught me so much more about life.   The slogan adopted by the forum I belonged to was "You're never too old to learn".  Learners ranged in age from 30- 85, each one inspired me with  their tenacity and determination. It is never too late to lear ..read more

 A promise is a promise - it's tortoise time.  One of our family rituals, is playing Hide and Seek with 5 of the 6 reptile members of our family.  Well, just Seek really.  They are incredibly good at "disappearing", sometimes only letting us find them after a few days.  I love how when they know they have been found, they simply stop, completely still, and retract their heads into their shells.  It's the "if I can't see you, you can't see me" defense mechanism that a lot of species, especially humans, employ. This is Olaf   Speedy keeping safe ..read more

TD is sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a clove of garlic as if warding off evil spirits or fleas, and we are discussing this blog.  I initially was going to tell you all about the MiaoMiao, but she thinks it is too soon.  So she was suggesting other topics :  the garden, Andrew and my 30th wedding anniversary,  tortoises, our mother/daughter relationship, the weird dreams we had last night, arum lilies and water systems of plants.  Meanwhile Andrew is bringing freshly baked cheese biscuits for us to sample  - they are delicious - and I realize that there ..read more

   2020 is being stubbornly relentless. No one knew how things would pan out when Covid 19 hit the world, and it has been a long, tough season of readjustment. Some people predicted it would come and go, and life would return to what it had been.  Others suspected it would be a long term, on-going change to our way of life.  Most people are just taking it in small chunks, because that makes it all manageable. I think it is the uncertainty that can be the most stressful - the social, economic and personal unsettling cause tensions to rise. And just when you think you might b ..read more

We get great pleasure from wandering around our little garden every day, looking at which new plants are popping up, which are flowering and which are flourishing. Some, of course, have decided that this new environment is not for them, but the majority have been nurtured and talked to most days, and are growing despite our enthusiastic ignorance of horticulture.  Weeds abound too, as do mushrooms, as it has been damp (and we put down a mushroom top dressing).  To get the best view, you need to sit on the bench in the shady corner and squint a bit.  That way you can see the w ..read more