Side View’s weekend Challenge

“Once upon a place, in a time long, long ago…..

 

Once upon a place, in a time long, long ago, was a little girl who at the age of 12 was made to take on the duties of a mother.  Not that she did not have a mother, but her mother was lazy!  This little girl had to look after her 3 sisters, cook food on a coal stove, after cleaning the stove to ensure that there was heat for the geyser so that everybody could have a bath and supper would be ready by the time her Daddy and Grandpa got home from work. 

She had been trained in household duties from as young as she could remember

Her day consisted of something like this….

Wake up at five, clean the stove, make a fire.  Make coffee for everyone in the home.  Get herself dressed for school.  Get her sisters up, dressed and fed.  Make lunches for those that needed it.  Once Daddy and Grandpa were off to work, make sure that mom had another cup of coffee in bed and ensure that all her requests were tended to and the little ones would not disturb her until she was ready to get up,  then  she and her younger sister cycled to school. 

After school she had to clean the stove, make a fire, get the food going.  Help her sister with homework, get her own homework done.  Then it was bath time for all of them.  First bath the two little ones, then she and her younger sister would bath.  Clean the bathroom.  Make sure the table was set and supper ready to be served. 

Once all had eaten and the little ones had been fed, then it was time for the dishes, stoke the fire and get the littles ones into bed.  Next it was time to get the clothes ready for work and school the next day.  Eventually she could sit with Grandpa and listen to the radio for a bit.  Make coffee for those that wanted and then off to bed herself.   So the days of her youth passed…

No time to go and play with friends, no time to play with toys, got into trouble if the little ones were naughty. she had a lot of responsibility at such a young age!

She was not always happy, she always felt as if she was missing something.  It was only in later years that she realised that she had missed out on being a child!

Today however, she is grateful  for all she learnt to do, clean, cook, sew, iron, embroider, knit, look after babies and children as well as a whole host of things. 

Her only regret is that once upon a place, in a time long, long ago she was not allowed to be a child!

 

 

 

Take care, love much and be safe out there

Blossom

xxx

Child Protection Services

A follow-up on my Mall story from last week.

I got back from JHB yesterday and have been trying since then to get hold of Child Protection Services!  My goodness what happens when there is an emergency?  Nobody answers their damn phones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will keep you posted

Take care, love much and be safe out there

Blossom

xxx

Irritation of the 100 degree

Today I am so irritated!!!!

I have no reason to feel like this and I dont want to feel like this because I am spending the day with Mel and my Twin Princesses and family.

Maybe it is because I have to work today instead of just chilling!

Maybe it is because I have left home on a Sunday and returned on a Thursday for the last five weeks!

Maybe it is because I am not getting my “Ganny time” with Little J and C-Bear!

Maybe I am missing little Sammy!

But irritated I am and it is not fair on my family.

I am quietly sitting working (and blogging) while they are busy with their normal things, maybe after lunch I will stop working for awhile and just spend time with them.

Anyway, now that I have got this off my chest’ let me read and leave this poem with you, and get back to work.

I hope you all have an awesome Sunday.

Take care, love much and be safe out there.

Blossom

xxx

 

 

My view on fear!

In the last few weeks we have had 4 break ins in our street.  3 Homes and cars.  In all 3 homes the people were at home.  These have occurred between 5 and 6 am.

Sammy slept with Tatti last night because I am on the road again.  He growled, then Kara growled and started barking.  Tatti jumped up immediately, then she heard a scream and an alarm go off.  She immediately phoned her neighbour, which is a woman alone, she was okay, then she started phoning the other neighbours. Just then,   ccross the road the cop cars started arriving.

Apparently the owners heard a noise, got up to investigate, found nothing then got back into bed.  Then they heard another noise and the dogs started barking.  J pressed the panic button and stood up, at the same time the robbers were entering their bedroom.  He moved forward and screamed at them, causing them to run off.  Within minutes the cops were there, but it took ADT 45 minutes to arrived.    Hmm I wonder what people are paying them for?

Apparently they broke the lock on the security gate at their door! It seems to be quite an easy thing to do.  I have always believed that the slamlock type gates are better than the solid ones.

Both of them are fine.  The best of the lot is that the cops tracked her blackberry and found the robbers  in the local township, this was at 8am,  recovering the cell phone, handbag and laptop.  Good on the SAP!!!!!   I was not aware that our BBs have a protection tracker on them.  Were you?  I still need to set mine up!

Tatti and others are now telling me that I must not go outside at 4am to have a smoke.  (I have now been given a can of Doom to take with me when I go outside for a smoke and let Sammy do his business.  You know what?  If you live in fear, it is my belief that you become a target!  I dont understand how it works, but I do know it works.  I watched a program on TV awhile ago, which confirmed my theory!   If you are confident and unafraid, people seem to leave you alone, or avoid you.    This has also been proven to me by simple events such as people harassing women for money when you get out the car.  I get out confidently and put an angry look on my face, then they seem to avoid me.  I do not fear people, there are other things I fear,  but not people.   anyway, this is just one of my views on life, I may be wrong, but I am still to be proven wrong!

I am just glad that all the owners are okay after their experiences.

So Dear Hearts, make sure you are safe in your homes, but don’t live in fear!

Take care, love much and be safe out there!

Blossom

xxx

A bit of a serious quandary…..

As some of you know, I always look for the good in people before I notice the bad! 

Every Friday night we go for a “brown bag” supper (a take-away at the mall, Belinda!), we always order our food and sit and watch people.  

For the last 3 weeks I have been watching an elderly gentleman watching young girls!

Now my good nature says that 

“Shame maybe he is missing his grandaughter and thinking about her when he watches the youngsters”, but somewhere a little voice is telling me this is not so!  

I hate these situations, because I would really hate to cause trouble for an innocent man, but equally I would hate to hear that something has happened to a youngster! 

It is not my imagination!  He watches these youngsters all the time, even if a parent is with them.   He never orders anything.  When they get up, he gets up and follows them, only to return a few minutes later, then he walks around the eating area and when he spots a youngster he finds a seat and sits and watches them.  This happens a number of times, depending if their are youngsters in the eating area.  He always seems to zoom in on blondes to light brunettes, below about 16 years old.  .  

I mentioned it to Hubby and he has also been keeping an eye on him and he agrees with me, it is happening and it is not my imagination. 

Tonight I took photos of him.

What do I do?  Any suggestions?

The Girl I used to Be

THE GIRL I USED TO BE     She came tonight as I sat alone, The girl I used to be. And she gazed at me with her earnest eye And questioned reproachfully, “Have you forgotten the many plans And hopes that I had for you?” “The great career, the splendid fame, All the wonderful things to do?”   “Where is the mansion of stately height With all of its gardens rare?” “The silken robes that I dreamed for you And the jewels in your hair?” And as she spoke, I was very sad For I wanted her pleased with me … This slender girl that I used to be.   So gently rising, I took her hand, And guided her up the stairs Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay So innocent, sweet, and fair. I told her that these are my only gems, And Precious they are to me; That silken robe is my Motherhood Of costly simplicity.   And my mansion of stately height is love, And the only career I know, Is serving each day in these sheltered walls For the dear ones who come and go. And as I spoke to my shadowy guest, She smiled through her tears at me; And I saw the woman I am now … Pleased the girl I used to be.   ~ Rowena K. Lewis -Copyright © 2001

Digter Rowena K. Lewis.  © 2001

A half week of hard long work, freezing cold and picnicing

Wow what a week this turned out to be!  Long hours of work,  and freezing nights.

On Sunday night I was incredibly cold,  I could not just warm up.  I had 2 showers, put on pj’s, jersey, 2 pairs of socks and gloves, piled the pillows around me to try and get warm enough to sleep.  No go!  I eventually got up and wrapped a blanket around myself and caught up with some work.  At 2 am I got back into bed and fell asleep, only to wake up again at about 4.30.   Had another shower and got ready for work.

Work on Monday was good, got a lot of things done.  Monday night I was a little warmer as the guest house had supplied an additional blanket.   I love the percale bedding, but dammit, it is so cold in the winter!  Tuesday was a very long day.  Started at 7 and got back to the guest house at 22h15, only to find the lights were out.  Had to wait for them to purchase more electricity before I could have a shower and get to bed.  I slept right through until 4am.  Up and working.

Today was not a bad day, driving around “Die Baai” doing noise, dust and temperature measurements.  The manager was taking me around (female) at lunch time we decided to have some fresh breadrolls and chicken, which we bought at PnP in Uitenhage and found a tree to sit under, on the outskirts of the parking lot, where we proceeded to enjoy our lunch.  Two white women sitting on the ground having lunch, just like the locals.  It was so different and unusual, but most enjoyable.  Sometimes it is good to go back to basics.

Now sitting at the airport, waiting for my flight which only leaves at 18h00, so I still have a bit of a wait.  Will give me time to work on my reports.  Tomorrow Im off to the dentist to try and have my broken tooth repaired before I leave for JHB on Saturday.   It would be interesting to calculate how many kms I have travelled since the 11th of April.  But it is soon to end for a month or two travel break, then we start all over again.

Tatti sent me this photo of Little Sammy fast asleep on her bed last night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully tomorrow I can fetch Little J for a few hours, as I wont see her on Saturday!  Goodness we really are missing her Ganny Time!

Well Dear Hearts, take care, love much.

Will catch up with you soon.

Blossom

xxx

 

Need Washing?

NEED WASHING?

A little girl had been shopping with her Mum in Woolies.

She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Woolies.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.

I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world.  Memories of running, splashing, so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, ‘Mum let’s run through the rain,’ she said.

‘What?’ Mum asked.

‘Let’s run through the rain!’ She repeated.

‘No, darling, we’ll wait until it slows down a bit,’ Mum replied.

This young child waited a minute and repeated: ‘Mum, let’s run through the rain.’

‘We’ll get soaked if we do,’ Mum said.

‘No, we won’t, Mum. That’s not what you said this morning,’the young girl said as she tugged at her Mum’s arm.

‘This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?’

‘Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! ‘

The entire crowd were completely silent. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one left. Mum paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

‘Darling, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If GOD let’s us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,’ Mum said.

Then off they ran.

We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles.

They got soaked.

They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did.  I ran.  I got wet.  I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health.

But no one can ever take away your precious memories…

So, don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

If you don’t send it to anyone, it means you’re in a hurry.

Take the time to live!!!

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you’ll need each other -

- And don’t forget to run in the rain!

What a Day!

I woke up a 00h16 with something in my mouth, I thought this strange as I did not go to sleep with anything in my mouth.  I went to the bathroom and spat it out to see what it is.  Once again it was a bottom front tooth! Oh man I was thinking now I must fly with a  passion gap again!!!!  There is no way I would get to see a dentist before my flight, and that on a Sunday!!!!!  Anyway I saved the tooth and went back to bed.  Tried to superglue it in when I woke up, but no go!

At 01h00 Sammy started growling and barking.  I picked him up and put him into bed with me.  He carried on and on.  Eventually I got up and checked the house, nothing, nada, niks!  Yet he carried on growling and barking, this time waking Hubby!  So I took him outside to do his business and checked around the house,  the only thing I could hear was music and people singing, no sign of an intruder, human or animal!   Stood outside for about 20 mins freezing my butt off while he sat at the gate and did his own investigation.  Eventually I picked him up, made a cup of coffee and went and sat in the office, doing some work while he calmed down on my lap, under my jersey.  He fell asleep at 03h00, then I eventually got to bed.

Woke up again at 07h00 which is exceptionally late for me, even for a Sunday.  Got my packing done, did some work, took Sammy to Tracy and then off to the airport.  This was a bit of a battle as this time I had to take all my monitoring equipment with.  So four bags it was, two into baggage and two into the cabin.

Arrived at a very, very windy PE airport.  The Manager arrived and decided he wanted to go and eat.  Oh man, there goes my diet!  I managed 2 small fishcakes and some mash.  then off to the Guest house.

Just got in when my sister arrived to pick me up.  Now, I am estranged from my family, thanks to my mother, and I havent seen any of my siblings for 8 years.  Only when my sister contacted me to wish my son happy birthday did we start chatting, actually she is the only one that has kept birthday and Christmas contact with me over the years.  Anyway we discovered that she is now living in PE right next to the mine I work at.  We decided to meet.  I was so pleasantly surprised at how well we got on. Both her and her husband are really nice.  They have been together for 10 years and are still so in love.  At times like this I really get mad at my mother for all the harm she caused.  It was a really great evening!  Guess what, I had to have my second meal of the afternoon, oh man my diet has gone to hell today!!!!!!!!

Now I am supposed to be sitting working, instead I am blogging!  I will get to work shortly.  Its going to be another long few days.  One consolation is that after this trip I only have one more! Then a little bit of peace until August!

I had a fab Saturday morning with Little J.  She just wants to help me cook and she wants to paint.  She has now learnt to colour in between the lines, just like Ganny has taught her.  Oh my word this child has crept so deep into my heart!  When I took her home I managed to spend some time with C-Bear who is now crawling around like an F1 car around the track.  Goodness but she is fast.  Not at all interested in sitting with Ganny, she is on the go all the time.  Standing up against the furniture, down again off to somewhere else, then up against the furniture again.  She is so adorable too!

Next weekend I will be seeing my Twin Princesses again.  We are hoping to go JHB at the end of July for their 18th birthday.  I can believe that they will be 18 this year, its amazing how time flies, it feels like the other day they were babies in my arms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well Dear Hearts, thats it for now.  I need to get some work done!
Take care, love much and be safe out therehats it for today.  Tomorrow is a long day and I hope I will be able to catch up with you again.

Blossom

xxx

A Very Special Thank You

Roly (Sarchasm) Now at Comedy In Crisis

Thank you so much for making my blog so great.  You have made it so easy for me to navigate and work with.  I really appreciate the time and all the work you put into it.  You really are a cyber star!

To my Blogger Friends

I asked Roly a while ago if he could do something to my blog as I do not have the time or knowledge to do anything to it and I really wanted it to be attractive and easy.  Roly obliged and really made a great effort to help me.  I am so impressed with what he has done and I hope you too can approach him and ask him for help.

Hopefully now that my blog is sorted out and my Mad Month of May is almost over I will be able to get back to blogging on a more regular basis.

I will be spending this morning with Little J, who I really miss in this MMM, then packing this afternoon and off to PE tomorrow.  I so miss my Little Princesses, Little Sammy and my Blog Friends!

Hopefully soon I can join in again.

In the meantime, Take Care, Love Much and be Very Safe out There.

Blossom

xxx