Past and Present: 2009
Posted by Past and Present at 2:26 AM No comments:
Met Permissie van Rochelle, plaas ek die stukkie en ook sommer 'n Komment of 5. Dit maak ons sommer Homesick ne' Dis die klein goed so die wat mens die meeste mis.
Rochelle ek like jou skryf ... baie dankie
Ag f**... Ek's Kanadees nou. Suid Afrika was lekker vir 27 jaar, maar "I've moved on". Ek kyk neer op al daai mense wat hier in Kanada sit en leef asof hulle nog in SA is. Ek maak 'n punt daarvan om nie te sê "back home" as ek praat van SA nie. Ek het 'n kind hier ... hy is Kanadees. Ek gooi my solied in alles Kanadees in ... van hokkie tot snowboard, van Mountie tot maple syrup.
So hoekom sit ek nou hier en tjank voor die computer? Hoekom kan ek nie eers mooi in Engels skryf soos ek altyd op die site doen nie? Hoekom hoekom hoekom...Ag f** ... Dis nie eers "die verkeerde tyd van die maand" nie. Miskien het dit te doen met gister. Sien, gister was ons 2-jaar in Kanada anniversary. Ons noem dit "Hepworth Family Day", ons gaan uit vir ete, praat oor hoekom ons bly is om hier te wees. So mini-Thanksgiving. Lekker, man.
So nee, dis ook nie dit nie. Ons is gelukkig hier. Gaan maar woes nog party dae, maar niks wat ons nie vetter en sterker maak nie.Nou wat dan? Hmm, ja ... dis hierdie site waarop ek afgekom het. South African Television Sound Files noem hulle dit. Ag julle weet, daar's daai site met al die Springbok-radio goed op, maar dis bietjie voor my tyd.
Ek's 'n TV-kind - die enigste radio wat ek geluister het was tannie Susan se Siembamba (onthou julle nog Otterjasie???!!!) op 'n Saterdagoggend. Maar ai, hierdie site het die kenwysies van alles ... Trompie, Casimir, Haas Das, Wielie Walie, Liewe Heksie...As mens my jeug kon toonset, sou dit heel waarskynlik begin met "Ha ha haEk's vuur ek's vlamNiks wat my kan vangHa ha ha"Ja, Asblikfontein en Oscar en Knersus ... vir julle wat vergeet het.Ag f** ... Daar loop die trane al weer. Nee, ek is nie net 'n smartvraat wat daarvan hou om te remenis en 'n traantjie te stort nie. Genade, ek is dan nog nie eers 30 nie!
Dis my kind wat my so bodder. Wel, nie Jared self nie, maar eerder dit wat hy nooit sal hê nie. Dit het my net soos 'n vyfpondhamer geslaan dat hierdie hele legacy nooit vir hom beskore is nie. Ons praat Engels by die huis, en Oupa en Ouma is ver weg in SA ... hy, of eerder hulle, sal gelukkig wees as hy More, Totsiens, Asseblief en Dankie kan sê. Wat weet hy van Bennie Boekwurm en Mannemarak? Maar dit gaan nie oor die Afrikaans nie. Ek het net so lekker gekyk na Maya the Bee en Gummi Bears. Dit gaan oor wie ek en Rob is en hoe ons so uitgedraai het. Dit gaan oor elke koeksister wat jy al ooit in die middel deurgebyt het dat die stroop teen jou ken afdrup. Dit gaan oor Wimpy milkshakes en Steers burgers. Tameletjies en basaarpannekoek. Oor die Kaapse Klopse en die nannie wat enigiets op haar kop kan dra.
Mense word vriende wanneer hulle iets in gemeen het. Dis wat my na aan my ma laat voel wanneer ons praat oor dieselfde skool wat ons altwee bygewoon het. Dis wat Rob en sy pa laat lag oor dieselfde strand waarop hulle as kinders gespeel het. Dis wat 2 Suid Afrikaners wat mekaar van geen Adam ken nie 'n bier laat saamdrink en stories vertel van daai snaakse Sielkunde professor in Stellenbosch.Is ek en my kind al klaar vreemdelinge vir mekaar?
Sure, ek kan hom Afrikaans leer. En hy kan leer om Die Dapper Muis uit volle bors saam met my en sy pa te sing. Maar ek kan hom dit nie laat VOEL nie.Ek kan dit nie in sy hart sit nie.Ons sal vir hom stories vertel ... natuurlik ... en ons sal hom Suid-Afrika gaan wys ... maar hy sal heel waarskynlik met 'n halwe oor na "the ramblings of the elders" luister terwyl hy droom oor Barney en sy Gameboy en White Spot en McDonalds.
Ek troos myself daaraan dat hy ten minste vir sy kinders kan vertel van die dag wat hy en sy vriend 'n igloo probeer bou het, en die dag wat hulle die Skytrain vir 8 volle ure gery het, en toe hulle beavertails geeet het tot hulle siek was. En sy kinders sal smile en presies weet hoe dit VOEL om 'n kind in Kanada te wees.Maar daar ver weg in 2040 gaan daar nog 'n ouma wees wat wens sy kon haar kleinkinders vertel van die dag wat sy 'n hele melktert opgeeet het ... sonder om dit as "sorta like a custard pie" te beskryf. --------------------
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with their experience...
Sjoe Rochelle, jy sal nie glo nie, maar ek het vandag aan presies dieselfde ding gesit en dink. Daar is so baie dinge wat my kind nie gaan ken nie en dit maak my hart nogals seer. Dinge soos niggies en nefies en gereelde kuiers by ouma en oupa. Ek onthou hoe ons altyd by my ouma gaan kuier het en sy het elke keer 'n geskenk vir ons gehad iewers in haar huis. Of in haar tas as ons haar gaan haal het om by ons te kom bly. En my kind gaan dit nie hê nie. Sy gaan haar familie moet leer ken van foto's af, want dis net nie moontlik om mekaar so gereeld te sien nie.Ek is steeds ernstig van plan om vir haar Afrikaans te leer. Ek gaan beslis nie begin om Engels te praat in my eie huis nie! Maar dit voel soms soos 'n groot berg wat ek nie lekker weet hoe ons daaroor gaan kom nie. Ek vind myself naarstigtelik soek na boekies of iets wat stories en rympies in het - die goed wat ek geleer het toe ek 'n kind was. Dit voel nou alles so ver weg en asof ek dit nie weer gaan kan laat herleef nie. En net soos julle, is ons ook vir geen oomblik spyt oor die besluit wat ons geneem het om Kanada toe te kom nie. Ons is baie gelukkig en ek kan myself nie iets anders voorstel nie. Ek het vandag besef dis nie 'n geval van dat ek wil terug SA toe nie, want ek wil nie, ek sal eerder graag almal daar hiernatoe wil bring. Seker maar een van daai realiteite waarmee ek sal moet leer saamleef.So, weet net jy is nie die enigste een wat oor hierdie goed dink en wonder nie. En ek troos myself ook daaraan dat my kinders en hulle kinders 'n "legacy" sal kan deel in hierdie nuwe land.
Ai Rooikapie en Rochelle, waarom voel ek vanaand so saam met julle. Ek kyk na my oumagrootjie se vleismeuletjie wat nou op 'n klein eikehouttafeltjie in die sitkamer uitgestal staan, en ek wonder of sy ooit sou kon dink dat dit eendag in Kanada sou staan. Of dat dit eendag die erfstuk van 'n Indiese Kanadese Afrikaner gaan word.Dis oor hierdie klein klits wat ek so bly is dat ek haar ouma in Kanada kan wees. Ons maak elke dag herinneringe; kosbare herinneringe van haar Afrikaner oupa en ouma wat sy hopelik die res van haar lewe saam met haar gaan dra.Sy sing saam met oupa "Oom Jan sny koring op die land" en help ouma om regte karringmelkbeskuit en Jan Smuts koekies te bak, kompleet met haar voorskoot aan wat nes ouma s'n lyk.Ek kan onthou hoe ouma Katie altyd vir my 'n klein emalje koppie en piering gehad het vir koffie. Ek kon self die suiker inskep en was baie versigtig om dit nooit té veel te roer nie. Die lekker onder in die koppie moes heel laaste uitgelek word.Ons kleinkind se spesiale koppie is 'n fyn porselein ene, en die teelepel is een van ander oumagroot se koper apostel lepeltjies. Maar die suiker lagie is dieselfde lekkerte, iets wat onthou moet word.Ons doen tolletjie brei en oupa en sy vlieg haar vlieër, maar Afrikaans is lankal nie meer haar taal nie. Ons praat Afrikaans, sy antwoord op Engels. Behalwe saans, as sy daai sagte lyfie teen ons vasdruk en saggies sê: "Ouma/Oupa, ek's lief vir jou!Cathy K. --------------------
Aai! Julle maak dat ek nou tjank! My seun is in NZ. Hoe verlang ek darem nou! Hy het altyd so klip hard "Willie Walie die aap ry op die balie" gesing, of eintlik uit geskreeu van lekkerte.
Jare terug, pas na my aankoms en langer, het ek volumes gevul met gedagtes na' aan hierdie gedagtegan, maar dis 15 en meer jaar gelede. Ek het my amper heeltemaal in my Kanadese familie betrokke geraak (my vrou is Quebecois), ons dogter praat net Frans en Engels, en 'n bietjie Spaans.Maar voor-verlede jaar is my pa heen, en verlede jaar my ma... so sulke gedagtes en gevoelens het my van ver ingehaal. Spanspek, en waatlemoen-mekaar-smeer en biltong saam op die plaas maak... en vele meer gedagtes blits. En ja RSA is 'n plek wat my keel verstop en my hart vinniger laat klop. Elke keer as ek op JansSmuts aanland (ek verkies die ou naam). Maar ek is nou hier en my familie is nou hier. So die dit 'of dat is nie meer 'n keuse nie.Ek sien hoe swaar van my familie in RSA nou het (ek het 24 jaar gelede alleen Kanada toe getrek) - en soos een hierbo bemerk het - ek wou ok al my onmiddelike famile Kanada toe bring...maar hul keuse het daar in Suid Afrika gebly.So tragies is dit, dat net die geskryf wat die gedagtes oordra aan ander wat sulke besluite oorweeg. En ja aanhou verduidelik van melktert in plaas van custard werk regtig nie!Sinies - miskien - realistises - weereens tragies wel so.En dir vlam van geregverdiging word dikwels opgewakker as ek weereens hoor van 'n ou vriend - "kan jy nie my kind help om Kanada toe te gaan nie?"Dougie
Vrinne,Hier sit ek in die "Land of the Long White Cloud - Aoteroa" en ek kan nie anders as om saam te praat nie.Dinge is nie hier veel anders nie, en ons dink net so hard aan hierdie goeters as wat julle doen in Kanada.Die aand toe ek op die vliegtuig klim op Jan Smuts (nie JHB International nie), toe huil ek net so hard oor wat ons verloor het. Daardie aand toe besef ek dat ek dit nie verloor oorlat ek op die vliegtuig klim en halfpad om die aarde gaan vlieg om te bly nie. Maar omlat ek en jy dinge lank gelede al begin verloor het. Ons het verloor toe ons begin skaam word het om Afrikaans met die dame by die toonbank te praat (sy kan in elkgeval nie afrikaans verstaan het nie - se sy). Toe ons, onselwers begin toespin het in beton en lemmetjies draad en ons nie meer geweet het wie buurman is nie. Toe ons besef boetie het sy tyd (en lewe) gemors toe hy gesterf het op die grens vir Pik en PW se volk en vaderland. Ons het maar gehoop dinge sal eendag weer beter word. As ons skuus vra vir ons vader se skulde, dat ons weer terug verwelkom sal word soos die Bybelse verlore seun. Die vlieg daai aand is maar die laaste strooi.Dit wat ons na verlang is nie meer nie. Nie in Suid Afrika nie, nie in Zimbabwe nie, ook nie in Suid Wes (Namibia) nie.Dit voel asof ons 'n verlore generasie is wat tussen die ou en die nuwe erens die pad verloor het. Ja, ek doen dit vir my kinders, oor die crime, en wat nog alles - meer daaroor later.Met die groot dink wat los gekom het, besef ek toe dat miskien is ons nie so op ons eie as wat ons dink nie. As jy vinnig tel dan besef jy dat ons (wat onself Afrikaner noem) kom maar in elk geval uit 'n trekkerige familie uit.Ons voorsate het so elke derde geslag maar die goedjies op die kop gesit, opgepak, en verder gestap (vlieg, seil, trek - Drakensberg of nie). Ek het my voorgeslag se spoor so rondom 1600 verloor in Holland to die Franse, Nore en Belge mekaar oorval het. Ek kon nie help om te wonder of die trekkerigheid nie maar van my groot groot Groot Oupa van Wyk (uit Noorwee) kom nie. Dit moes daai aand in Rotterdam gebeur het toe hy en groot groot groot Ouma so lekker gekuier het na die Franse op hulle herrie gekry het. Soos ek dinge verstaan kon hy ook maar nie vir lank stil sit nie, en hy moes fort met sy skuit, vooruit met Ouma agterna...Mense, ons verlang ja. Maar, ek dink nie dis 'n anderste verlang as wat 'n mens maar kry as jy agterkom dat die tyd vinniger begin loop as wat jy kan byhou nie. As jou jongman jou op die Playstation begin wen, en jy hom nie meer kan vang vir sy medisyne nie, dan weet jy dinge begin aanstap.Ek verlang ook. Hier in Auckland het ons, ons hanne gekry op van die ou Afrikaanse TV reekse: Nommer Asseblief, Orkie Snorkie, Bosvelt Hotel, ens. Ek het $300 gespandeer op die vidoes. My kinders geniet dit, maar as ek hulle weer kry dan is dit Barbie, Playstation en Star Wars.Ten minste weet ek die videos gaan lank hou - ek en vrou is die enigste wat nou nog kyk.As ek eendag oud is, en nie meer Afrikaans kan praat of mooi kan sien nie, dan weet ek ten minste hoe ek my klein kinders sal uitken van die Kanuks en Kiwi's: Myne sal die wees wat nog nie hulle Biltong tanne verloor het nie - nog iets wat groot groot groot Oupa van Noorwee saam laat kom het.Dankie vir die lees.Groete uit New Zealand.
Ag, sommer pragtig geskryf - so uit die maag van die siel uit! Ek sit nou hier voor die rekenaar, lanklaas my stuiwer in die armbeurs gegooi, maar raak lekker in vervoering oor wat ons vriend doer uit N.Zealand skryf. Geld sommer vir baie van ons natuurlik ook ....... die is verseker! Ek het vir jou en sommer van julle ander, wat dieselfde gevoelentes het oor waar ons vandaan kom en waarheen ons oppad is, die amper dappere wyses waarop ons probeer om ons kroos te leer verstaan waar ons vandaan kom - die bietjie kultuur nog oor (taal, Godsdiens en ek kan nie aan meer ander dink nie) te behou. Jy sien hulle hardloop met die geleenthede in hul nuwe land en jy wonder of hulle ook sal terugkyk na waar hulle vandaan kom -die dappere (so voel ek verseker steeds na 11 jaar in die buiteland) besluit wat hul ouers geneem het om hul geboorteland te verlaat. (Dankie vir die terugvoeringe van waar ons voorsate kom - myne van Holland en manlief'sn toevallig een van die eerste families wat uit Frankryk eers in Holland gaan vestig het en toe die skip geklim het S.Afrika toe - die man oorlede en net sy vrou en seun veilig geland!) So hier is nou die verbasend-goeie nuus - my seun trou binnekort met 'n fyne Amerikaanse aster wat hy op universiteit ontmoet het - sy wil weet hoe maak ek mieliepap gaar, hoe stop ek 'n skaapboud en kan ek asb raadgee met die gaarmaak daarvan en dankie, sy geniet Kook en Geniet (in Engels darem) vreeslik baie wat die S.Afrikaanse familie vir haar gestuur het uit S.Afrika! Nog meer, my seun, wat eintlik maar vrotsig Afrikaans praat, is besig om haar te leer van Oupa en Ouma en wat Bobotie is en dat ons asseblief en dankie se en hoe om in Afrikaans 'n tafelgebed te doen! Ten einde laaste is dit nog niet!
Mooigesê - albei van julle Hendrikvw en Engela.Ja die verlange is daar - maar met die tyd - en soveel se heen en weer met kuier na RSA, sien ek (en miskien bkykbaar julle) dat die verlange na daardie tyd en daardie dunge is. En ja dinge vernader so gou. Selfs hier in Kanada - en na soveel jaar is dinge hier so anders as wat dit geblyk het met aanlanding. Die hoop vir die toekoms - al is dit nie 'n Afrikaner toekoms vir my nie, is die prys wat ek met my besluit moes en steeds betaal. Ek het toeka se jare gelede geppog om ander in die familie hierheen toe lok. Met geen geluk nie. Dis nie vir almal nie!Maar soos Hendrikvw sê: ons is trekkers - self my ma en pa het alewig getrek - agter werk aan. Ek woon nou veel meer kere langer in Ottawa as wat ek ooit op een plek in RSA gewoon het. So in die een kant is ek soos my familie, maar aan die ander kant het ek na my GrootTrek - vasblysit!Bly om te hoor van julle in Kiwiland - en ook TorontoDougie (Ottawa)
Posted by Past and Present at 12:10 PM No comments:
Labels: Rochelle's Afrikaans post.
This reminds me of summers gone by. We used to have this huge Jacaranda tree in our front yard, and around the base of the tree sword fern grew about 2 mtrs wide. The lawn was covered in a carpet of purple flowers with bees visiting them for their last bit of nectar before they shriveled up and died
Posted by Past and Present at 12:23 PM 1 comment:
Welcome to my blog today Friends. Today a wonderful Lady ... Karen is my guest writer, also an Expat now living in Canada .....
This is my 12th year in Toronto. Twelve winters will soon be under my belt, so why do I still hate the frigid cold and the blowing snow? Should I by now, not have grown accustomed to a white world filled with frozen moon- clad people slipping and sliding to heated interiors and cursing the weather in the process?
Truth be told, I don't think that someone born and bred under the warmth of the African sun can ever totally fall in love with days like today. Why, even third and fourth generation Canadian colleagues of mine cuss and curse the elements and wish themselves to the Caribbean on such days, so I think a southern hemisphere- born gal can be forgiven for wondering why in the world she is here on a bitter and messy January day. I mean, there really are plenty of places in the world today where folk are not battling to get their cars up a short driveway just to get into a heated box- like house, I am sure.
When I first arrived in Toronto, the approaching winter actually filled me with awe. I could not wait for the first snow fall, to watch my kids building snow people ( we have to be politically correct here!) and to test my endurance for weather I had heard so much about. I was sure that I would survive, like the trouper I give myself credit for being! So, why was I so scared the first time I had to drive in a snowstorm to pick up ( not fetch - that's for dogs!) my little moon people from school?
And, why did I once crawl on my hands and knees down a sharp incline to get to the shops on one other torrid day? Yes, we laugh about it now, and it will become an urban legend in our family, no doubt, but I can tell you, that at the time, I was downright petrified of breaking all my limbs and other body parts on rink- like surfaces, and come to think of it, I still am.Still, winter, back in those early days, was interesting, even sometimes magical and it was rather fun to watch the snow falling from the sky ever so gently to the ground hour after hour from the safety of a townhouse window.
Back then, I marvelled at how life in Toronto moves on, despite the weather and that people go about every day chores just as they do in the summer, just far more padded up and pale- looking. Then, came the snowfall of '99 and the mayor of the time, called in the army to clear the streets of Toronto. It was quite the event of the year, but further east in Montreal, the locals there were splitting their sides with laughter at such a 'woosy city'! They really had no right to do that, as Montrealers, even with more snow than us, have very efficient snow, clearing services.
For some unknown reason, snowstorms still appear to catch Torontonians and their municipalities off guard. I can't understand why, though, as Harold Hussein is such a good weather news reader and he does tell us what to expect. Perhaps folk here think that for some reason, global warming will prove him wrong everytime!It takes just one ice - related traffic accident to knock all the trouper stuffing out of one.
Unfortunately, I had such an experience two years back, and believe me, I now have the greatest respect for those who travel at 20km/h on days when cars should not leave their garages. When you hit a patch of black ice, which is unseen by the human eye on tarmac, your vehicle develops and mind of its own, and you can do nothing, zero, zilch and nada to get it back to where it should be on the road. As it gains momentum in a dance faster than the tango, you pray like you have never prayed before that whatever you hit, will be soft enough not to maim or kill you. Make no mistake, this is a very frightening experience, in fact one I would only wish on terrorists and such like people! I have to tell you, that it takes guts, and I mean real guts, to get yourself back behind the wheel after an incident involving the evil black ice, and when you do venture out again, because you have no choice if you want to earn a living and not be recluse for the remainder of your days, you do so with great trepidation. You never truly get over an ice - related incident, and you join the ranks of so many others who can relate to what you are feeling.
Still, there is something about winter. Something cosy and different. This is a time when you do not have to mow the lawn, or worry about sun block on your exposed limbs, or your fat, hairy legs etc. This is a time when the layers you are bundled under will be your excuse for putting on a few pounds around the middle. This is the time, when you can sit in your family room and marvel at nature as she ices the trees and roofs with whiter- than- Surf soft powdery snow, whilst you sip a glass of red wine, watch a good video or play board games with the kids you never would in the summer months. This is a time to snuggle under your warm duvet and sleep like a baby whilst the softness of the cold, white world around you envelopes the houses in your suburb like a fleecy blanket. This is time for comfort, heartwarming food around a dancing fireplace - for hot chocolate drinks, potatoes and stew, hot breads, minestrone soups and chocolate ( did I mention chocolate before?!). No one eats like Canadians do in winter. After all, we need the extra blubber, just like seals and bears, to see us through until the Spring!
For the energetic and the young, there is skiing and skating and sledding on the non- snow storm days, which can make winter a real blast and empty your pockets quicker than you can say 'snowflake'!So, although frigid, icy blowing days will never be my favourites, I have to accept them as part and parcel of the Canadian experience. I can moan about them and millions will concur with me, but they will return each year to allow me to do so again.
Come the Spring, they will serve to remind me just how diverse nature is and how blessed I am to live in a country with such truly diverse seasons, each with its own special wonderment.
Weather like today's has taught me to treasure every good and bad day and to be grateful for everyone of them.So, when next you hear me complaining about the awful Toronto January weather, remember that I am truly grateful to it for teaching me so much, and allow me my little rant. I mean, I would not be Canadian if I did not allow the weather to get to me!
And to all my well- meaning family and friends back in sunny South Africa or Australia or Florida, please, and I say this with tears in my eyes, do not, and I re-iterate, do not call me and tell me how cold it is in your respective countries and how you are all freezing and shivering at 19C!!!
Wow How is that for a little taste of life in Canada ..... I like Karen's writing, can't wait to read more. Thank you so much for allowing me to post this in my Blog ...to share with others your fine writing and great sense of humour.
Posted by Past and Present at 1:11 PM No comments:
Labels: Karen's writings
I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people who comment on this post. I have 365 days to do it in…What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise!The catch is that you must participate as well: you must have a blog and before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. Just cut and paste this one if you like, which I did.
Now I invite you to do the same Click Here and join me Thank you.
Now as some of you will know, we're exSouth Africans been in OZ about 15 years now. Time flies when you having fun. The whole Big Trek thing can be a very hard and lonely thing to do, but for the sake of our children's safety and our own it is worth it. We miss our families, our friends and even our animals we had to leave behind. Some are lucky to return for holidays, some not so lucky only to return to bury loved ones ....we miss going to happy events, births, engagements and weddings. We even miss having a cup of tea with our best friend. Love ya Rosie.
What we do make is new friends, nice people like Nick and Poppie (Adele) and my adopted granddaughters. I meet Nick on another forum for SAfricans, they were coming to OZ and he needed a place to stay for 2 weeks before his wife and kids arrived. Nick was my second person we welcomed to our home. We picked him up from the airport, gave him accommodation and feed him, drove him around looking for rentals and a car until he bought a car then he could come and go as he pleased.
At the time Nick asked for help on the forum, nobody replied, even those who said yeh they will help anybody blah blah blah, but when the time comes they forget all about helping..... I think they all suffer from short memories.... Anyway I replied and let me tell you, they are lovely people who promised to pay it forward and help somebody else coming over. That promise they kept and another family is settling in nicely.
We see Nick and Poppie regularly and they have become like our own kids. It's something about us all going through this Big Trek(Groot Trek) together, we understand the loss of friendships, love of grandparents and not being able to be there for the birth of a new baby.
I have moved on from that forum and am now a member of Twisted Sisters Ladies Lounge, here we support our new internet friends, all lovely ladies one even as far as Canada, some live in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. Some are still back home waiting for their visas to be approved. We share weddings, births and even join baby showers. We are the Twisted Sisters family.
Posted by Past and Present at 10:27 PM 6 comments:
Labels: Our new friends Pay it Forward.
Kannie mooi onthou hoe die storie met die trailer begin het nie, maar ons het een nodig, so ons kyk maar in die "classifieds section" vir 'n tweede handse een. En daar is toe ook sommer een, bel en kry die adres om te gaan kyk, en daar staan toe 2 baie ou karavanne ook. LS en Ek koop sommer karavan en trailer vir $1000, hy demolish, ek ry gemors weg, maak skoon binnekant, verf die mure 'n mooi lig grys.
Manlief kla hy het geen tools nie, so ons kuire by Bunnings Hardeware. Now begin die werk eers, dis net 'n dop wat 'n queen size bed nodig het, nuwe mat en gordynjies,'n mooi kombuisie en lekker pakplek. Sommer 'n vars verfjob buite ook. Man sy lyk goed, nou moet sy karavanpark toe, elke naweek sit die De Lange's af karavan toe, in ons VW Beetle met daardie trailer agter, ons bou nou annex aan, lyk maar verk snaaks met al daai hout agterop. Ons maak pelle met die neighbours en gou begin die verfkwasse uitkom en almal begin hulle plekkies opknap. Baie mense pak sukke mal projekte aan sodra kinder groot is, party bou sielbote of ou karre...
Later word Manlief verplaas Victoria toe en ons besluit om maar karavan te verkoop en die eerste ou koop ook sommer, maak sommer 'n profit ook. Maar LDogter wil nie saam nie. Ons is ook nie mal oor Albury Wodonga nie en ry maar stadig aan ons goedjies terug Sydney toe. Dis toe dat Daai trailer mos los kom op die Hume highway. Man , manlief het nagskof gewerk en Ek bestuur maar, Kyk in die speljie en sien daai trailer "going bush", ploeg 'n paar boompies uit en tip om, nes die komiks vaar die karavan verby die kar gaan. Manlief skrik wakker soos ek lag. Gelukkige was daar geen sade nie.
Nou so 4 jaar later koop ons vir onself 3 acres waar ons wil aftree oor so 5 jaar en daar moet nou weer so 'n ou karavan gekoop word, kry hope bargains op EBay, paver, houte, fencing en 'n bad. Ons pak daai trailer en maak vas, LS haak trailer aan die UTE (bakkie) en daai trek ons nawerk. Net buite Sydney besluit daai trailer om los te kom, een oomblik sien jy bad in die speljie dan niks. Dit wat 'n rukkie voor Manlief dit vind, maar die keer is daar skade, sy le op haar sy, wiel ingebyg maar alles is nog vas boop. Met 'n groot gesukkel sleep ons haar daar uit, dis die einde. Huur 'n "car trailer by the servo" (Vulstasie) Nou moet sy op vrag en al, Met geen wince nie, manlief trek en ek stoot , na die 3rd probeer slaag kry ons dit reg.
Ons is terug by die huis net na 1 uur daai oggend. Kinder wil hulle verk lag vir ons.Besluit ons moet maar 'n nuwe trailer koop en daar staan sy splinter nuut in die driveway gepak vir more se trippe Bellbrook toe.( Lang naweek... Queens birthday.) Daar sit ons lekker en kyk na die Wallabies en Kangaroos met 'n koppie koffee en beskuit. Vir die wat wonder waar dit is, Net so 45 km berge in van Kempsey N.S.W. pop 130 , oppad na Brisbane. Plan is 'n klip huisie te bou, olywe en lavender te plant en baie groente en 'n paar honders te kry.
Die naweek het maar sleg begin, ons trek weg met so 'n ligte reenjie en na so 45 min is ons deur Sydney se verkeer. Toe begin die sports mos, die wind waai en dit reen en die karre staan amper geparkeer soos in die carpark. Ons arme Ford st/wagon wil net vrek as ons deur 'n puddle water ry, maar ons maak Newcastle na 4 uur (normaal weg 2 uur). Dit reen amper die hele pad na Port Macquarie 400km. Ek hoef nie te se hoe dit lyk na 16 duim reen op een slag nie. Groot skade en nou reen dit alweer daar die naweek.
Ons trek in by die hek so laat aand, vergeet maar van uit pak reguit bed toe, hoor nie eers die hoender haan se gekraai nie. Sal probeer 'n foto te post. ons stukkie hemel in die bos, verskoon ons daar is nog baie werk om te doen.
Rina, I envy you, mate. Ek dink ons almal soek so 'n stukkie paradys. Was vandag by 'n veiling vir 3 hektaar. Die uitsig was pragtig. Prys? $370 000. In rande is dit R2,2miljoen. Vir daai prys kon jy vir jou 'n klein wynplasie in die Kaap koop. To rich for my blood. Sal maar weer vanaand die LOTTO speel. Who knows?
Nee Jan, dit was maar net 'n bietjie geluk dat ons die 3 acres in die sticks gekry het vir goed koop. Nie eers die agent het mooi geweet waar die boundries was nie, en soos jy kan sien daar is baie skoonmaak werk. Ons het nie mooi geweet wat ons koop nie. geen krag of water nie maar niks sit my af nie. Ek spandeer baie tyd alleen daar met net die 2 honde vir geselskap. In die 1 1/2 jaar wat ons die plekkie het was daar nog geen problemme nie. Sodra ons better geriewe het kan jy maar jou karavan of tent opslaan en saam koffee en beskuit kom eet. Baie welkome
Same view a few years later.
Posted by Past and Present at 5:00 AM No comments:
Labels: Afrikaanse Blog, dreaming of Our Slice of Heaven
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject: Mielies plant ...
Dagse Julle Mooi Mensies Dit gaan goed, net die ou knieg pla bietjie, authuritis of so iets.
Kyk geen mens kan groentetuin maak met diere nie. Manlief het vir my 'n heining gespan so rondom die groete tuin soday Miss Daisy nie alles opvreet nie en daardie groot hoender pote nie alles uit skrop nie. Hout bokse gemaak en mooi vol gemaak met mis en grond en gelevel met die hark. Die mielie pitte wat so mooi opgekom het was amper opgevret, maar gelukkig was daar nog 'n paartjies oor wat OK was. Ek het hulle getransplant in die nuwe bedding en goed natgemaak, en hulle survive mooi, hoor. En die boontjies is op, kon dit amper nie glo nie.
Laas naweek kom kuier Poppie en Nick met hulle two dogtertjies, hulle is ook van SA, Nick het mos daarby ons gebly vir 2 weke terwyl hy gehuis en gekar soek het, tyd vlieg en dis nou al amper 1 1/2 terug. Anyways sy Oom George net en dra net koekies sonder suiker vir hom aan. Ek en dogters kuier lekker in die tuin, ons plant bone so by die mielietjies en so 'n paar gem squash pitte. Hulle grou gatte vir die strawberries wat ek daar by Wombat se kant gekoop het. Daar so 'n oulikke kwekery daar vir herbs en saad. Nee nie Flowerpower nie!
Ag hulle kyk net hoenderjies en voer vir Daisy haar bottel. Wens julle kon daardie smiles sien. Hulle is weg met vars eiers en springbok se wors wat ons daar by African Delights gekry het. En 'n groot sak Tastic rys. Amper soos by Ma se huis ne. Ouma en Oupa kuier mos ook van SA hier by hulle op die oomblik maar gaan Januarie huis toe. Daardie Ouma Kan lekker Melktert en Vetkoek maak. Oom George maak skoon 'n vraat van homself, laas toe ons daar by hulle gekuier het.
Ag dis nou weer al nuus van die kant Lekker dag vir julle almal... Rina
Chester you seem to enjoy that farm and the planting and the animals. Me, I'm a city girl and farming is not for me that's why I'm grateful for people like you. Different strokes for different folks - just shows you we are all different, but all a part of this TS family. Wombat
I love my gardening. Wombat, Have you been to that small nursery opp. the BP servo? I still want to go get a few cherry trees there.
Chester ek hoop maar jou diere gaan jou iets oorlos. Ek het eendag gelees dat vandag se kinders wat nooit op 'n plaas kom nie, nie eers mer weet waar kos werklik vandaan kom nie. Is dit nie hartseer nie? Ons almal het nog die kans gehad om iewers op 'n plaas te gaan kuier en dit te sien en beleef.. Retha
No, I haven't. Which BP servo?
The new Caltex is on the corner by African Delights(I used to work there many moons ago He he I was a servo chick, best job, they pay you to talk allday.) On round Corner rd, drive towards the roundabout on old Northern rd, on the right.
Hetha die tweejies kom kuier so elke 3 weke, laas het hulle vir my ornament paddatjies gebring, wat wag hou by die groente. Maandag /dinsdag behoort die kuikens te hatch, dan facebook ek Poppie net dan kom kyk hulle weer. Lyk my ek het nog "kleinkinders by gekry. Sal 'n pic opsit vir julle ook. My mannetjie plant lekker saad en werk en maak nat. voer, haal eiers uit. Hier is 'n pic van C0bi wat Daisy voer, hy is sommer baie lief vir diere hoor.
Hi Chester jy is geseend om sommer so 2 kleinkinders by te kry. Ek wens ek kon ook vir Miss Daisy kom bottel gee, sy is pragtig. Laat my so dink aan die plaas toe ons klein was. Ons het altyd die varkies so groot gemaak.
Do you have any advice or tips for new bloggers?
BECKY: Be true to who you are. If you're not yourself you won't stick with it. It's a lot of work growing a blog and it has be something you're passionate about. Leave lots of comments and visit your "followers" often. I have developed such wonderful friendships though blogging, and really that's the goal. Oh and make your blog attractive. It's not hard. Pay attention to your favorite blogs and make a list of what you like. Ask them for advice if you need it. Get a great background and a pretty picture for a header. It doesn't have to be hard. It makes a huge difference. Lastly, be patient. I blogged for several months before I had even one comment. If you keep at it, they will find you and when they do... it is such a gift!!See? Total sweetheart. Jump over to Farm Girl Paints and give Becky some shabby love! :)
Posted by Past and Present at 1:34 PM 2 comments:
Posted by Past and Present at 3:33 PM No comments:
Chicken surprise ... A couple go for a meal at a Chinese restaurant and order the “Chicken Surprise” The waiter brings the meal, served in a lidded cast iron pot. Just as the wife is about to serve herself, the lid of the pot rises slightly and she briefly sees two beady little eyes looking around before the lid slams back down. “Good grief, did you see that?” she asks her husband. He hasn’t, so she asks him to look in the pot. He reaches for it and again the lid rises, and he sees two little eyes looking around before it slams down. Rather perturbed, he calls the waiter over, explains what is happening, and demands an explanation. “Please sir,” says the waiter, “what you order?” The husband replies, “Chicken Surprise.” Ahh… so sorry,” says the waiter, “I bring you Peeking Duck”
Thanks Whachy, it so cute, I thought I would save the joke.
Posted by Past and Present at 6:43 PM No comments:
Can you answer these questions with the least words truthfully ..... just a bit of fun.
1. Where is your cell phone? donno
2. Your hair? mousie
6. Your dream last night? confronting
8. Your dream/goal? getting there
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Farm
14. Something that you aren’t? fishwife
16. Wish list item? cottage
17. Where did you grow up? Africa
18. Last thing you did? housework
25. Missing someone?Grandsons
28. Your favorite store? craftshop
31. Last time you cried? Movies
32. Your best friend? Rosemary
34. One person who emails me regularly? Daughter -inlaw
and number 36. Do you like my blog ... so why haven't you commented yet
Posted by Past and Present at 2:31 PM 1 comment:
Who was the farmer who drove his sheep through those old rusty gates?
How many sheep passed through them?
How many years ago had a farmer dug the holes and planted wooden posts there while the hot sun backed on his back.
That fence won't hold anything back anymore!
No slasher has mowed this paddock for yonks.
Questions but no answers ....
Posted by Past and Present at 2:04 AM No comments:
I have a friend back in Texas who is a Vet technician...today she sent me this piece she wrote, and I'm sharing it here in hopes it will be passed on...in hopes it might reach those who might be thinking about buying that cute kitten or puppy for Christmas.
I Cry.....Sometimes I sit here on my day off, its quiet, nobody is home… and I cry.. it’s a healing cry. It is the time of the week, where I thank God I don’t have to kill anything. I don’t have to look into a sick cats eyes and take its life. I don’t have to look into the eyes of a scared or sick dog, and take its life. What really hurts is looking into the eyes of a perfectly healthy dog and I have to take its life because there is no more room at the Shelter.
I blame it on overpopulation. The selfish act of people who don’t want to spend the money to spay or neuter their animal. The people who stupidly think that their dog or cat is really cute so lets let them have a litter of puppies/kittens. Or this excuse…. I want my kids to witness the miracle of birth! Ok, let them get on the web and watch it… or you can also let them watch me kill ¾’s of that litter because statistics show that only 1/4th of an average litter will make it past 2 years old… Even full blooded, registered litters.
Anyway, its my job… I do it because its required of me. My friends and aquaintances ask me… “How can you put those animals to sleep? How can you look them in the eyes and kill them?” Well, I am going to explain it. How can I “NOT” do it? How can I trust that job to anyone else BUT me? I want the last few days of their lives to be with me. I want them to feel all the love, hugs and kisses in those last hours that they didn’t get before. I want them to experience warmth, a full belly, clean fresh water, and lots of hugs and kisses! Can I trust anyone else to do that?
Then “IF” the time comes where I have to put them to sleep.. I want to be the one to do it. I WANT to make sure that I gently give the tranquilizer that will drift them off to a peaceful slumber. I want to hold them and kiss and hug them so that they are happy when they fall asleep. I want to be the one that gives that final, fatal injection… because I will pray for each and every one of them that their journey over the rainbow bridge is safe. How can I trust this important job to anyone else? So, I do it… and that one day a week, when its quiet and nobody is home…. I cry.
Taken from ALS, Pheonixx in OZ thank you for sharing. As an animal lover I feel for your friend
Posted by Past and Present at 3:59 AM No comments:
Posted by Past and Present at 11:54 AM No comments:
It'd early morning as I stand here looking towards the river and across to the otherside. Only I know it's there but can't see more than a few feet in front of me but for the fog. The Tawny Frogmouth is cuddling up next to his mate near the stem of the gum tree. Huge gum trees stand like grey soldiers near the Lone Pine and monument with the names of the men from this valley that lost their lives at war. Families lost thier sons and wives their husbands and children their farthers .....
The Villiage hall was recently been restored to it's former beauty, a great meeting place for all functions held here. The park with it's new undercover picnic area wait for someone to visit. The tennis court's gates look locked but I am not sure if it is. The lawns have be cut recently .....
Only the odd rooster is crowing, inviting the sleepy villiage to wake up. Soon the school bus will stop near the Trading Store, waiting to drive the older kids to the next town for school. While the little ones, hop off and walk across the broad tarred road. It's only a little villiage school, maybe 45 kids. Across the river a low cement bridge leads to more farms, the first field huge grey braghman beast look up from munching grass, some coming closer to see where you going. Slowly a few cars head past to town 60km away, while others head Up River to farms.
Here you came forget what day it is or what time. You get up with the rooster's crow and sleep when you like. Some heading home after closing time at the Local Pub, overlooking the river below.
Posted by Past and Present at 2:54 AM No comments:
Moving on ..... For EX Wives and Partners
A young monk and an old monk were travelling together.After a while they came to the bank of a river and found a damaged bridge. The two monks waded across the river, and when they reached the other side, they found a woman sobbing by the damaged bridge. "What is wrong asked the young monk?" The bridge is damaged and I am afraid to cross the river in case I am swept away, and I must get to my home before nightfall" she replied.Without a word, the old monk picked up the woman and carried her across the river and set her down.The young monk watched this and was horrified, for he knew that their order had strict rules about chastity and propriety.The young monk became angrier and angrier for he felt the old monk had disregarded his vows. When the old monk rejoined him, the young monk could not speak,he was so angry and as they continued on their journey he went over and over the accusations he had against the old monks behaviour.Finally they came to a rest point and the young monk could not contain himself any longer, and burst out angrily at the old monk."How could you do such a thing? We have strict rules about contact with women. As your student I have heard many times your talk of chastity and propriety, but you nonchalantly disregarded all and touched that woman and carried her. You are a hypocrite. Did you enjoy the feel of her as you carried her? Did you enjoy the pleasure of her in your arms old monk?"The old monk looked surprised and said, "I carried the woman across the river and put her down 3 hours ago, why are you still carrying her?".
We keep on carrying the baggage of the "unpleasant memory" with us. We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony. Why?Simply because we are not willing to put down or letgo the baggage of the "unpleasant memory/feelings". We should let it go immediately after the unpleasant event is over. This will help in removing the agony.
I read this thread in a forum about EX Husbands and Partners, then I came across this post and thought it very good and deserves to be saved and shared with you.
Posted by Past and Present at 7:38 PM No comments:
Betsy's sheep storie
Chester, Many. many moons ago we had a flock of sheep on a smallholding on the West Rand. Near Mohlakeng location it was and those times we were brave enough to venture into those places. We had a big-ish trailer which took up to ten sheep at a time. We loaded them on the trailer with water and food and parked on an empty, dusty roadside corner. There we sold them to the local people. Priced according to size, the sheep sold like hot cakes. They love their sheep, those people.
Little did we know that we took one hell of a risk to do so. We did that for a few weeks on weekends and made good money. Till one day. I had one little old, black soul to assist me and to be the go between me and the customers. A real little shifty eye, son of a gun, he was. When ever I asked him "what did he say?" he just laughed "gie gie gie" and said they like the sheep very much.
That day Hubby had to leave me there with Shifty eyes and the ten sheep for some reason. We sold the first few sheep without any hiccups and I hid the money in my pocket. The next moment three of them came out of the blue and just opened the trailers latch and let the sheep loose into the road. It became a free for all with everybody running and chasing sheep. Once caught it became their property and the more I screamed and told Shifty to go and get them, the more he just Gie gie gie and did nothing at all. No merrem, it's no use, they will get angry and kill us. Leave them. We lost eight sheep that day, I am sure it were old Shifty's friends.
The fat old aia's just stood across the road and laughed at me while tears streamed down my face. You could read the hatred in their eyes. We never went into the location again, I am sure we were so ignorant and never realized the danger we were in. We sold the sheep directly from the smallholding from then on.
It did not last very long after that. They grazed the land empty, we had to buy bales of lucern and blocks of salt and we had to herd them into a closed kraal at night. What a job! When you walked past the kraal at night all you heard was the sound of them urinating where they stand and I hated the smell.
I am long winded again tonight...all I want to say is that you must enjoy your little 'boerdery' and I love your stories. How is the blog coming on? Nightie night...
Posted by Past and Present at 2:30 PM No comments:
Vaders's dag skaap storie
Ag een van die dae gaan ek RSI kry van al die skryf hoor! en my kop is al siff gedink van al die dinge, maar hiers nog 'n storie wat die naweek gebeur het. En dan moet ek nog Daisy ekke 4 uur bottel gee so tussin alles deur.
Daar waar ons woon op Mulgoa se plaas is nie baie gras op die oomblik nie, die frost en geen reen die laaste 2 maande, is maar net halfde van die problem. Ander is daardie skape wat eet en eet en nie ophou eet nie. Ek gee droe ou brood van die bakery, skaap pellets by die sakke vol, hulle kry opgekreefde wortels, kool en selery, en luserne. Dan loop die mal vrou nog in die veld en trek bossies (fireweed skape vrek vir dit) uit by die emmers vol. En hulle is spek vet glo my!!
Nou is daar nog 'n stukkie gras waar hulle lekker groengrassies kan eet, so ons sit heining op Sondag op vadersdag. Nou is ons reg vir hulle, so 13 skape moet 'n hele ent aanstap na die grassies toe, slim dis nou ekke, kry 'n 1 lt icecream bakkie en maak so half vol met pellets. As skaap hoor daar's kos, dan hol hulle draad toe, en dan maak hulle net soos jy wil. So ons is by die 2 de hek uit, net een dom rammetjie vind nie die hek, wat 'n gesukkel met van een kant na die ander. Finally we on our way. Dis net skape om my, moet mooi trap of ek ploeg, soos hulle voor en om my hol.
Maar so bruin skaap besluit, as ek nou nie wil kos gee nie dan moet ek voel, en sy hap ook sommer my mooi ronde boud. Gelukkig die jean is styf en sy kry nie lekker vasbyt plek nie, ander het ek nou 'n paar tande merke gehad.. Ek kon dit anper nie glo, verwag 'n stamp, maar byt? Wonder of sy weet sy is een sonder 'n naam en gaan 'n lekker stew maak.
Vandag reen dit so 'n bietjie hier in Sydney, maar skaap kuier lekker en smul aan die groen grassies. So onder die sitrus en pruim bome.
Until next time Rina
Posted by Past and Present at 2:22 PM No comments: