Every weekend I phone my mum to find out how she is and ask what she has been up to, then for at least the next half hour she tells me about the lunches she has had, the meetings she has attended, the reports she has written, the sewing she has done, the people who have visited and the bills she has paid. Once I have heard about the week that has just gone, she always asks me the same question..."so how was your week, what have you been up to?" Of late I have been wondering myself what have I been doing and what have I been up to????? Do I really spend my time doing nothing????? Am I turning into one of those people who wile away their days achieving nothing in particular???? So I decided I was going to make a list of the things that I spend my week doing, so next weekend when I talk to my mum I can tell her quite emphatically exactly what it is that steals my time....
As most people who know me well, know, I am up at 3.30 in the morning. Yes, I know it is early and believe me I also wish I could lie in bed and sleep just a few more hours, but believe me if I don't get up at that time then the Lucas household would come to a standstill.
So, I'm up at 3.30 come winter or summer...my days all begin the same and I now know that I am the kind of person who likes routine. Routine means that I can go about my business almost in a trance, with my mind occupied elsewhere...always thinking about other people, wondering how they are, remembering conversations, saying a quick prayer. If I mess up my routine I am lost, absolutely lost, I can't think and my mind becomes a mass of sludge where nothing can be found. So the first thing I do is feed Rolo and Smokey...food, fresh water and milk. Then I fill and switch on the kettle for my first cup of tea. While the kettle is heating I pack the dishes that have drip dried overnight. Then I sterilize all the surfaces in the kitchen ready for the mornings work. I set out Johan's breakfast dishes, put coffee ready in his cup and pack him lunch and snacks for the day. Then I wash the extra bowls that came in from the aviary the night before when Johan locked up for the night. I strain the mealies and rinse them then put them on to cook ready to add to the parrots food. Next I strain the soaked fine seed and oats and mix it in to the laying mash, egg food and garlic, cut up the apples, adding some to the squirrel mix and the rest to the sunflower seed for the parrots. By this time, amazingly it is 5am and with my second cup of tea I sit down in the lounge in front of the TV to watch whatever preacher is on for the next half hour, while I grate more apples, carrots and beetroot. This usually takes half an hour and I know it would be so much quicker if I did it all in the magi-mix, but if I did that then first I would wake both Johan and NiQi and second I wouldn't be able to listen to Angus Buchan or Creflo Dollar or any of the others that are on at this time, because of the noise it would make...so hand grating is the best for me at this time. 5.30am and the grated vegetables are thoroughly mixed into the mash and soft food.... I feed William, who, because he is blind, eats in the kitchen, then unlock and let the 3 pups outside. Next I let Trinity and Purdy out from where they sleep, feed all the rest of the dogs, get the horse food and feed all 6 of them...separately and routinely....they all know who is fed where from the first to the last. Once they have been fed I open up the shed and bird room, switch on the lights and make my way to feed the peafowl and chickens, turning on the tap so the hose will top up the horses water as I go past....switch off the water, fill up
Life today with memories of years gone by...Larkwood has been since the beginning of our life together as a family...
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Missing My Children
I am not writing this on behalf of all parents and definitely not on behalf of fathers but as a mother...because I think that most mum's feel the same way at some point of their lives....
Throughout our lives as mums we go through separation anxiety, from that first day we return to work and leave our twelve week old baby in the care of granny or some other capable person, to the first morning at pre-primary school when we drop our 3 three year old off to spend almost 5 hours with other people's children who we don't know and a group of adults who, ultimately are going to help mould our child into the person they eventually become...or that first school trip where they spend a few nights sleeping in a strange environment without you, and even later when they are older, waving them goodbye as they drive off for their first year of university...or even still, to seek greener pastures. Life is made up of firsts and it doesn't matter how young or old our children are, every single time we feel the same pangs of loss and yearning.
Since NiQi moved over to Charlotte Maxeke hospital, it is quite usual for me after the first week to really start missing her presense at home here and I get quite sentimental and dewy eyed as Johan and I play 'Derby and Joan' together. I think as a mother we always try our best for our children...we want the best for them too and at the time, whatever decision we make we are sure to feel that it is the right one for now. There may be times that years later we look back and think to ourselves that we could have done things differently, but that is beside the point, because at that time, it was right.
Today I have been thinking about all the 'mistakes' I have made over the years, not intentionally of course, but there are definitely times that I have been consumed either with worry or guilt about one or other of my children. I remember the time that I 'lost' NiQi at Greys' Hospital....Matthew was safely ensconced at school over the road from the hospital, Mark was sick and I had to collect both his and NiQi's prescriptions from the hospital pharmacy. NiQi must have been about 2 or 3 at the time and if anyone knew her when she was younger, she was an absolute handful at the best of times so to go anywhere with her and keep her energy levels at bay was quite some feat. She could never sit still for longer than a few seconds and I needed to have those eyes in the back of my head to see where she was and what she was up to at any given time. (It was thought at one stage that she must be suffering from ADD, but sadly we could not blame her high spirits or passion for life on anything other than her just being 'NiQi'.....) On this particular ocassion we had already been sitting waiting for some time to be called. I used to creep in the back row of seating and with Mark sitting on the chair next to me, or more often lying with his bum on his chair and his head on my lap, NiQi would most often be on the floor, colouring in her book or lounging all over her seat, talking to anyone who wanted to listen...even at a young age she had a way with people and she knew she was cute...lol There comes a time though in any girls' life when the bladder gets full and needs to be emptied and when the bladder is little it must be now!!!! At almost the precise time that I was called up, NiQi decided that she needed the loo...while I was holding Mark and going through the two prescriptions - which were both very large and contained a number of different medications, NiQi was next to me hopping from one foot to another until eventually she told me she had to go 'now'!!!! The bathroom was directly opposite the pharmacy, she had been there on many ocassions and as I said to her okay she must run to the toilet and come back to me, she sped off with me watching her back until she was inside. We finished going through the scripts and now Mark had to walk beside me because I needed both hands to carry the box and packets filled with medicines. As you can imagine, walking with a sick child, who didn't complain mind you, was like walking with a sloth in tow but we made it to the bathroom door and went inside to find NiQi. NiQi wasn't there, all the toilet booths were empty, there was no-one there. Panic ensued and I felt heat taking over my whole body as I called her name. We went back out and into the pharmacy, she wasn't there, we walked up the passage thinking she may have missed me and thought I had gone that way, she wasn't there...Then we walked to reception which wasn't far, all the while telling myself to stay calm, she knew the hospital she wouldn't go far and suppressing any thoughts that someone had kidnapped my child. I asked a friend who was working in reception if she had seen NiQi go passed her - no she hadn't. With me panicing some more, she then asked the security guards to check inside the immediate areas of the pharmacy, bathroom, reception and outpatients department for me while I went out into the parking area to look for her. All the while I was praying to God not to let anyone harm her and to keep her safe. I walked along the ends of each row of cars, not seeing her at all until I came to the row where I had parked. My heart fell as I didn't see her, but made my way to the car anyway. As I came round the drivers side of our car, there sat NiQi on the ground waiting...I didn't know if I should hug her or shout at her I was so relieved to find her...I chose to hug her and cover her in kisses while the tears poured down my cheeks. We put the medicines in the car and then carrying them both, one on either hip I went back inside to let everyone know I had found her. To this day I do not know how she and we missed each other, all I can think is that she had gone out of the other door in the bathroom which lead into the clinic passage and from there made her way out to find our car to wait for me...
There was another episode with NiQi when she was going through the 'terrible two's'... she decided to throw herself down on the floor in the animal feed shop, because I said 'no' to buying her a sweet or juice or something. The shop was small and not only could I see her but I could hear her, so unperturbed I carried on with my other purchases. Finally when I had finished and made my way to the till to pay, I stopped next to her and asked if she had finished as I was going to pay and go home now, to which she picked herself up and stopped crying immediately. She obviously thought, 'well this hasn't got me anywhere has it' and decided to stop. She never had another tantrum, but I have to say that there was an elderly gentleman in the store who had watched, and heard the whole thing and he tore me off a strip or two in no uncertain terms. I just ignored him and walked out...hehe.
So many memories but this will be the last for today as I am loving thinking of my children, but also have work to do...lol
When Matthew was almost a teenager, he decided he was going to run away from home....I can't remember his reason, but I am pretty sure it had something to do with NiQi being in his stuff again... He hated her touching his things and I didn't blame him, but most times I didn't even realize it until he came to ask me... Oooh teenage boys and their sisters who are almost 7 years younger than them didn't always get on and although Matthew was highly tolerant of NiQi, there were some ocassions that she just overstepped the mark. Anyway in this instance, he decided he had had enough and he was going to leave home. He packed a few things, none of which I can remember now, took the key to the gate that led between our property and the plantation next door and off he went. I didn't think he was serious but NiQi did and I remember her running behind him, crying her eyes out and begging him not to go. He unlocked the gate, went out and closed it behind him. NiQi came running inside telling me that Matthew was gone and I must call him back again. I went out, stood at the gate and looked into the plantation...there I caught him from the corner of my eye, hiding behind the wall where NiQi couldn't see him. I went backinside and heard NiQi calling to Matthew for ages, begging him to come home. Eventually she came inside and much later I saw Matthew slip back in when she wasn't looking. I didn't think he would really run away and NiQi was pleased as punch when she realised he was home again.
I know I am not a perfect mother, but I am a loving mother and I have tried my best for my children. It is at times like this when I miss them so much and all I want is for them come home...
Throughout our lives as mums we go through separation anxiety, from that first day we return to work and leave our twelve week old baby in the care of granny or some other capable person, to the first morning at pre-primary school when we drop our 3 three year old off to spend almost 5 hours with other people's children who we don't know and a group of adults who, ultimately are going to help mould our child into the person they eventually become...or that first school trip where they spend a few nights sleeping in a strange environment without you, and even later when they are older, waving them goodbye as they drive off for their first year of university...or even still, to seek greener pastures. Life is made up of firsts and it doesn't matter how young or old our children are, every single time we feel the same pangs of loss and yearning.
Since NiQi moved over to Charlotte Maxeke hospital, it is quite usual for me after the first week to really start missing her presense at home here and I get quite sentimental and dewy eyed as Johan and I play 'Derby and Joan' together. I think as a mother we always try our best for our children...we want the best for them too and at the time, whatever decision we make we are sure to feel that it is the right one for now. There may be times that years later we look back and think to ourselves that we could have done things differently, but that is beside the point, because at that time, it was right.
Today I have been thinking about all the 'mistakes' I have made over the years, not intentionally of course, but there are definitely times that I have been consumed either with worry or guilt about one or other of my children. I remember the time that I 'lost' NiQi at Greys' Hospital....Matthew was safely ensconced at school over the road from the hospital, Mark was sick and I had to collect both his and NiQi's prescriptions from the hospital pharmacy. NiQi must have been about 2 or 3 at the time and if anyone knew her when she was younger, she was an absolute handful at the best of times so to go anywhere with her and keep her energy levels at bay was quite some feat. She could never sit still for longer than a few seconds and I needed to have those eyes in the back of my head to see where she was and what she was up to at any given time. (It was thought at one stage that she must be suffering from ADD, but sadly we could not blame her high spirits or passion for life on anything other than her just being 'NiQi'.....) On this particular ocassion we had already been sitting waiting for some time to be called. I used to creep in the back row of seating and with Mark sitting on the chair next to me, or more often lying with his bum on his chair and his head on my lap, NiQi would most often be on the floor, colouring in her book or lounging all over her seat, talking to anyone who wanted to listen...even at a young age she had a way with people and she knew she was cute...lol There comes a time though in any girls' life when the bladder gets full and needs to be emptied and when the bladder is little it must be now!!!! At almost the precise time that I was called up, NiQi decided that she needed the loo...while I was holding Mark and going through the two prescriptions - which were both very large and contained a number of different medications, NiQi was next to me hopping from one foot to another until eventually she told me she had to go 'now'!!!! The bathroom was directly opposite the pharmacy, she had been there on many ocassions and as I said to her okay she must run to the toilet and come back to me, she sped off with me watching her back until she was inside. We finished going through the scripts and now Mark had to walk beside me because I needed both hands to carry the box and packets filled with medicines. As you can imagine, walking with a sick child, who didn't complain mind you, was like walking with a sloth in tow but we made it to the bathroom door and went inside to find NiQi. NiQi wasn't there, all the toilet booths were empty, there was no-one there. Panic ensued and I felt heat taking over my whole body as I called her name. We went back out and into the pharmacy, she wasn't there, we walked up the passage thinking she may have missed me and thought I had gone that way, she wasn't there...Then we walked to reception which wasn't far, all the while telling myself to stay calm, she knew the hospital she wouldn't go far and suppressing any thoughts that someone had kidnapped my child. I asked a friend who was working in reception if she had seen NiQi go passed her - no she hadn't. With me panicing some more, she then asked the security guards to check inside the immediate areas of the pharmacy, bathroom, reception and outpatients department for me while I went out into the parking area to look for her. All the while I was praying to God not to let anyone harm her and to keep her safe. I walked along the ends of each row of cars, not seeing her at all until I came to the row where I had parked. My heart fell as I didn't see her, but made my way to the car anyway. As I came round the drivers side of our car, there sat NiQi on the ground waiting...I didn't know if I should hug her or shout at her I was so relieved to find her...I chose to hug her and cover her in kisses while the tears poured down my cheeks. We put the medicines in the car and then carrying them both, one on either hip I went back inside to let everyone know I had found her. To this day I do not know how she and we missed each other, all I can think is that she had gone out of the other door in the bathroom which lead into the clinic passage and from there made her way out to find our car to wait for me...
There was another episode with NiQi when she was going through the 'terrible two's'... she decided to throw herself down on the floor in the animal feed shop, because I said 'no' to buying her a sweet or juice or something. The shop was small and not only could I see her but I could hear her, so unperturbed I carried on with my other purchases. Finally when I had finished and made my way to the till to pay, I stopped next to her and asked if she had finished as I was going to pay and go home now, to which she picked herself up and stopped crying immediately. She obviously thought, 'well this hasn't got me anywhere has it' and decided to stop. She never had another tantrum, but I have to say that there was an elderly gentleman in the store who had watched, and heard the whole thing and he tore me off a strip or two in no uncertain terms. I just ignored him and walked out...hehe.
So many memories but this will be the last for today as I am loving thinking of my children, but also have work to do...lol
When Matthew was almost a teenager, he decided he was going to run away from home....I can't remember his reason, but I am pretty sure it had something to do with NiQi being in his stuff again... He hated her touching his things and I didn't blame him, but most times I didn't even realize it until he came to ask me... Oooh teenage boys and their sisters who are almost 7 years younger than them didn't always get on and although Matthew was highly tolerant of NiQi, there were some ocassions that she just overstepped the mark. Anyway in this instance, he decided he had had enough and he was going to leave home. He packed a few things, none of which I can remember now, took the key to the gate that led between our property and the plantation next door and off he went. I didn't think he was serious but NiQi did and I remember her running behind him, crying her eyes out and begging him not to go. He unlocked the gate, went out and closed it behind him. NiQi came running inside telling me that Matthew was gone and I must call him back again. I went out, stood at the gate and looked into the plantation...there I caught him from the corner of my eye, hiding behind the wall where NiQi couldn't see him. I went backinside and heard NiQi calling to Matthew for ages, begging him to come home. Eventually she came inside and much later I saw Matthew slip back in when she wasn't looking. I didn't think he would really run away and NiQi was pleased as punch when she realised he was home again.
I know I am not a perfect mother, but I am a loving mother and I have tried my best for my children. It is at times like this when I miss them so much and all I want is for them come home...
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Not Loadshedding but Electricity Interruption
I wonder whether the rest of the world has as many problems with their electricity as we seem to have here or whether Africa is unique?
When we first moved here we became quite frustrated on a daily basis by the electricity going off every single day for hours and hours on end. I remember the worst was when it was off for almost 3 days in a row and by that time I was beside myself and close to crying...maybe I was even crying by then, I don't know, but I do remember how desperate I felt and it was then that I realized just how dependant we are on electricity. You must realize that living here and to go for so long without electricity affects much more than not being able to cook supper, do the laundry or vacuum the carpets...it also means you can't charge your cell phone, which is your only means of communication with the outside world and you can't pump water for amongst other things a bath, albeit cold water because the geyser is not heating, or even to have a cup of tea - for which you need a gas plate and teapot. Those were the days when we were totally unprepared for such events and they happened so frequently that it became part and parcel of our daily life living here. If the power didn't go off, you were left wondering what was wrong and expecting it to happen any time soon...haha. Then one year the municipality decided that we had pulled the long straw to be upgraded, and we were. My word, it was as if we were living in a new country and from having outages every day, we were now able to have a continuous supply of electricity with no worries at all.
In recent years there has been much said and joked about ESKOM, our country's only electricity provider...what with 'load shedding' and other such nonsense...but WE have also become wiser over the years and more from necessity than anything else, have 'upgraded'. Admittedly if it weren't for the fact that NiQi has special needs on a daily basis to keep her health to an optimum level, we may not be quite as prepared as we are now. Our first investment was a generator, which is okay to use during the day but flippin noisy at night. To run necessary appliances, like the fridge and freezer, charge cell phones and be able to use a hair dryer made life more bearable for me when the power was off for any time longer than 6 hours. Obviously at that stage too, NiQi was only needing electricity for her nebulizer and humidifier, which weren't running for lengthy time periods. However as she has become more ill it has been essential to keep up to supply her requirements. Using oxygen every night, throughout the night and sometimes during the day, as well as having a nightly feed has meant that in an emergency we have to have something to supply us with the electricity needed to power the machines. She does have an oxygen cylinder which is usually kept in the car that could be used at night, but if it is not full then it will not last the hours it would need to run for. So more recently, Johan invested in an inverter which has been put to good use on a number of ocassions already. I have to say though that I am glad that NiQi is in hospital at the moment as we have just gone through almost 30 hours without power and I am not sure whether our back up plan would have lasted so long. We used the inverter very sparingly indeed and in the early hours of this morning as I was busy in the kitchen I could hear it's energy levels too were failing...I even had to boil the water for tea on the gas as there wasn't enough to get the kettle going and it grumbled at me in a very loud tone to let me know it was not happy.
So prepared we are for long time periods without electricity, but it's really not ideal and I would rather not have to go through it too often thank you very much....
When we first moved here we became quite frustrated on a daily basis by the electricity going off every single day for hours and hours on end. I remember the worst was when it was off for almost 3 days in a row and by that time I was beside myself and close to crying...maybe I was even crying by then, I don't know, but I do remember how desperate I felt and it was then that I realized just how dependant we are on electricity. You must realize that living here and to go for so long without electricity affects much more than not being able to cook supper, do the laundry or vacuum the carpets...it also means you can't charge your cell phone, which is your only means of communication with the outside world and you can't pump water for amongst other things a bath, albeit cold water because the geyser is not heating, or even to have a cup of tea - for which you need a gas plate and teapot. Those were the days when we were totally unprepared for such events and they happened so frequently that it became part and parcel of our daily life living here. If the power didn't go off, you were left wondering what was wrong and expecting it to happen any time soon...haha. Then one year the municipality decided that we had pulled the long straw to be upgraded, and we were. My word, it was as if we were living in a new country and from having outages every day, we were now able to have a continuous supply of electricity with no worries at all.
In recent years there has been much said and joked about ESKOM, our country's only electricity provider...what with 'load shedding' and other such nonsense...but WE have also become wiser over the years and more from necessity than anything else, have 'upgraded'. Admittedly if it weren't for the fact that NiQi has special needs on a daily basis to keep her health to an optimum level, we may not be quite as prepared as we are now. Our first investment was a generator, which is okay to use during the day but flippin noisy at night. To run necessary appliances, like the fridge and freezer, charge cell phones and be able to use a hair dryer made life more bearable for me when the power was off for any time longer than 6 hours. Obviously at that stage too, NiQi was only needing electricity for her nebulizer and humidifier, which weren't running for lengthy time periods. However as she has become more ill it has been essential to keep up to supply her requirements. Using oxygen every night, throughout the night and sometimes during the day, as well as having a nightly feed has meant that in an emergency we have to have something to supply us with the electricity needed to power the machines. She does have an oxygen cylinder which is usually kept in the car that could be used at night, but if it is not full then it will not last the hours it would need to run for. So more recently, Johan invested in an inverter which has been put to good use on a number of ocassions already. I have to say though that I am glad that NiQi is in hospital at the moment as we have just gone through almost 30 hours without power and I am not sure whether our back up plan would have lasted so long. We used the inverter very sparingly indeed and in the early hours of this morning as I was busy in the kitchen I could hear it's energy levels too were failing...I even had to boil the water for tea on the gas as there wasn't enough to get the kettle going and it grumbled at me in a very loud tone to let me know it was not happy.
So prepared we are for long time periods without electricity, but it's really not ideal and I would rather not have to go through it too often thank you very much....
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Our Boys
In two days time it will be the 13th March...the birth date of our late son, Mark. If he were alive today he would celebrate his 28th birthday.... sadly he died when he was just 9 years old. Mark was our younger son, born 22 1/2 months after Matthew.
Matthew our first born and eldest child was born in May 1984. He was what could be termed a good baby. He slept and fed his way through life and the only problem I seemed to have with him in those first six months or so, was making sure he woke so I could feed him. He made being a parent so easy and it was because of that we decided to try for a second baby.
When Mark arrived, we involved Matthew with as much as we could so he wouldn't feel left out, from him picking out Mark's clothes for the day to him helping at bath time.
As a young mother I made a vow to myself that I would have no favourites, love each of our children equally and divide my time so none felt left out. (I put Johan firmly in the catergory of children too so he would feel loved as much as our boys...hehe)
This went well I think until Mark was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis then suddenly I found I was having to spread myself thinner as Mark needed more attention and both Johan and Matthew deserved equal time. I always thought I did a good job until recently, and on looking back I realize how difficult it was... AND yet here is Matthew today, almost 30 years old and I am so proud of him.
As a scholar he was a high achiever every single year both in the classroom and on the sports field. If he didn't succeed at something first time round, he would persevere until he got it right. I never had to tell him to do his homework or eat his vegetables, or clean his room or pick up his clothes...he just did it because he knew what was expected of him. When he was in high school I taught him how to cook and once a week, every week he would make supper for us. When Johan was working away from home for many years, Matthew was our protector...the grown up for his dad. He was also my sounding board for so many decisions with regard to NiQi, just because he was there and he could see things from a different perspective to me.
After Mark died, Matthew's life changed forever, he had lost his brother and best friend and it took him a while to accept it and move on...but he did, in a mature and quiet manner. Matthew is one of those people who know what he wants from life...he has plans and goals and there is no time frame so long as he gets there in the end.
Like both Johan and I, he does not like tardiness in others, has little time for stupidity, expects everyone to work as diligently as he does, will not accept liers, cheaters and thieves making excuses for the situation they have made for themselves and yet he is the kindest most caring soul I know. He has compassion for the downtrodden and love for the weak and sickly. He loves his granny to bits and will anything to help her. These days he has Jess by his side, his wife who he cherishes and loves. Where I failed, God took over and He has blessed us with the amazing son I can admire today...two personalities...two individuals that we have loved and still love...these are our boys.
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Matthew our first born and eldest child was born in May 1984. He was what could be termed a good baby. He slept and fed his way through life and the only problem I seemed to have with him in those first six months or so, was making sure he woke so I could feed him. He made being a parent so easy and it was because of that we decided to try for a second baby.
When Mark arrived, we involved Matthew with as much as we could so he wouldn't feel left out, from him picking out Mark's clothes for the day to him helping at bath time.
As a young mother I made a vow to myself that I would have no favourites, love each of our children equally and divide my time so none felt left out. (I put Johan firmly in the catergory of children too so he would feel loved as much as our boys...hehe)
This went well I think until Mark was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis then suddenly I found I was having to spread myself thinner as Mark needed more attention and both Johan and Matthew deserved equal time. I always thought I did a good job until recently, and on looking back I realize how difficult it was... AND yet here is Matthew today, almost 30 years old and I am so proud of him.
As a scholar he was a high achiever every single year both in the classroom and on the sports field. If he didn't succeed at something first time round, he would persevere until he got it right. I never had to tell him to do his homework or eat his vegetables, or clean his room or pick up his clothes...he just did it because he knew what was expected of him. When he was in high school I taught him how to cook and once a week, every week he would make supper for us. When Johan was working away from home for many years, Matthew was our protector...the grown up for his dad. He was also my sounding board for so many decisions with regard to NiQi, just because he was there and he could see things from a different perspective to me.
After Mark died, Matthew's life changed forever, he had lost his brother and best friend and it took him a while to accept it and move on...but he did, in a mature and quiet manner. Matthew is one of those people who know what he wants from life...he has plans and goals and there is no time frame so long as he gets there in the end.
Like both Johan and I, he does not like tardiness in others, has little time for stupidity, expects everyone to work as diligently as he does, will not accept liers, cheaters and thieves making excuses for the situation they have made for themselves and yet he is the kindest most caring soul I know. He has compassion for the downtrodden and love for the weak and sickly. He loves his granny to bits and will anything to help her. These days he has Jess by his side, his wife who he cherishes and loves. Where I failed, God took over and He has blessed us with the amazing son I can admire today...two personalities...two individuals that we have loved and still love...these are our boys.
Matthew wearing the military beret of his uncle, home from the army
Matthew sitting at four months old
Mark and Matthew in East London
Matthew happy with his Christmas presents
Matthew kitted out to get going on his skateboard
Sitting silently waiting for the fish at Hartbeespoort dam
A silly moment
At a private game park
Fishing at Chelmsford Dam
Fishing from a boat on the Zambezi River, Namibia
Writing in the sand at Nata Lodge, Botswana
With Jess
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Navajo is Injured
My poor boy Navajo...yes he is supposed to be my horse...lol...is injured!!!!! Friday we noticed that he was limping and at first we thought it was his front left leg that was giving him problems. As with the sheep, when it is wet for a while, horses pick up foot rot so quickly and the thought crossed our minds that with a week of constant and heavy rain, he may just have developed that. NiQi went off to our vet and he gave her an anti-imflammatory, told her we should soak the foot, clean out the hoof and try to determine where it may be sore as it could be a number of things causing the problem. We did all that, including mixing the anti-imflammatory with Purity apple puree because it is so bitter, but he didn't seem to have any pain that we noticed when NiQi examined his hoof and lower leg.
Sunday morning Peet came to remove Zorro's shoes and cut and file the horses hooves and when he got to work on Navajo's feet, Navajo could not balance or put weight on the back. We had seen some days before that he had a gash on the inside of his back right leg, but at the time didn't think it to be any problem. We had been spraying it with a wound spray, but now it appeared the wound was actually worse than we thought.
Yesterday morning I noticed that overnight it had started oozing and I made a trip to the vet to get an antibiotic for him....
I had to wait for Johan to return from work in the afternoon before we injected him and this morning I was pleased to note that it already looks better and he is walking easier. We have one more injection to give to him tomorrow and then I hope the wound will heal sufficiently for him to return to grazing with the other horses. It's still a mystery as to what caused the gash in the first place...Johan thought maybe someone fired a shot and the bullet flew past him and grazed his leg!!!! (It could be a possibility with the people in our area who fire willy nilly anytime and at anything....) Or he could have bolted with fright at hearing a shot and run into the fence, catching it on the wire... Or it could be from a stripy legged tick... whatever, it will remain a mystery and we are just glad he is recovering.
Sunday morning Peet came to remove Zorro's shoes and cut and file the horses hooves and when he got to work on Navajo's feet, Navajo could not balance or put weight on the back. We had seen some days before that he had a gash on the inside of his back right leg, but at the time didn't think it to be any problem. We had been spraying it with a wound spray, but now it appeared the wound was actually worse than we thought.
Yesterday morning I noticed that overnight it had started oozing and I made a trip to the vet to get an antibiotic for him....
I had to wait for Johan to return from work in the afternoon before we injected him and this morning I was pleased to note that it already looks better and he is walking easier. We have one more injection to give to him tomorrow and then I hope the wound will heal sufficiently for him to return to grazing with the other horses. It's still a mystery as to what caused the gash in the first place...Johan thought maybe someone fired a shot and the bullet flew past him and grazed his leg!!!! (It could be a possibility with the people in our area who fire willy nilly anytime and at anything....) Or he could have bolted with fright at hearing a shot and run into the fence, catching it on the wire... Or it could be from a stripy legged tick... whatever, it will remain a mystery and we are just glad he is recovering.
Wild Mushrooms
I have to admit that with all the rain that we have been having of late, there have been an abundance and variety of wild mushrooms growing on our plot that I am enjoying looking at. Every morning I see new ones popping up and poking their heads out from the soil and from day to day I watch the spurt of growth that each of them give from the day before.
Just as my favourite flower is a hydrangea, I love to see mushrooms....not the supermarket type, but the ones that grow wild in the garden. There is a certain kind of beauty that surrounds them and have you noticed that they only grow when it is wet and the soil is damp...it's as if they have been waiting for those drops of rain to fall on the ground before they decide to make an appearance. Amazingly I never really noticed many growing where we were in KZN, but here there are plenty around for me to enjoy....just one of the beauties of nature that God created to show us that He is all around us, in everything we see....if we will only take the time to stop and have a good look...
Just as my favourite flower is a hydrangea, I love to see mushrooms....not the supermarket type, but the ones that grow wild in the garden. There is a certain kind of beauty that surrounds them and have you noticed that they only grow when it is wet and the soil is damp...it's as if they have been waiting for those drops of rain to fall on the ground before they decide to make an appearance. Amazingly I never really noticed many growing where we were in KZN, but here there are plenty around for me to enjoy....just one of the beauties of nature that God created to show us that He is all around us, in everything we see....if we will only take the time to stop and have a good look...
Friday, March 7, 2014
Lunch at Ludwig Roses
NiQi and I were invited to have lunch at Ludwig Roses today with Mary- a friend and neighbour from 'The Hood' ...lol
We were a few minutes late and said to Mary when we saw her that we were thinking what excuse we could give her for our tardiness - traffic was bad, weather not good for travelling, too many puddles...all tongue in cheek and quite ridiculous considering she travelled almost the same route as us.
Mary kept us entertained with stories for a couple of hours while we enjoyed our lunch together....I love to listen to her anytime as she is clever, knowledgeable and witty all rolled into one.
Eventually we decided we better make our way back home as it was mid afternoon and I don't like leaving our pooches home alone for too long.
As always Ludwig Roses was beautiful and NiQi and I were trying to remember the last time we were there...always a favourite place for us when family come to visit, it was no doubt with one or other of them. Thanks Mary for both the company and treating us today.
We were a few minutes late and said to Mary when we saw her that we were thinking what excuse we could give her for our tardiness - traffic was bad, weather not good for travelling, too many puddles...all tongue in cheek and quite ridiculous considering she travelled almost the same route as us.
Mary kept us entertained with stories for a couple of hours while we enjoyed our lunch together....I love to listen to her anytime as she is clever, knowledgeable and witty all rolled into one.
Eventually we decided we better make our way back home as it was mid afternoon and I don't like leaving our pooches home alone for too long.
As always Ludwig Roses was beautiful and NiQi and I were trying to remember the last time we were there...always a favourite place for us when family come to visit, it was no doubt with one or other of them. Thanks Mary for both the company and treating us today.
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