Just a thought....
Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

Saturday, 29 October 2011

Where did the time go?

I promised to come online and post volumes describing our experience in Wales, but I've only had time online in 10 minute snatches. The computer is down in the main house. In a couple of hours, the family will be back and we'll be offline - at least, until we can get a laptop or something up in the cabin. I'll catch up properly then.

Thinking of you all and missing you. Thanks so much for all your support and encouragement through this rather dramatic change in our lives!

Saturday, 15 October 2011

We see stars!! Many stars!! Clear, dark skies!!

Coity Bach

Here I am in the beautiful Brecon Beacons. This is a really quick post with no photos. I have to figure out how to get my photos into my blogs without installing software on this pc.

We're on our own here now. The family have gone on their holidays. The sun is still shining... that cold front that was promised hasn't hit us yet, which is something of a relief. As I sit here, the birds are fluttering around the feeders outside my window. I've done the milking and taken the goats to the top field. There's SO much to do! But it's all good. Our cabin is just that... a cabin. It's tiny, but as it will be used, quite literally, just for flopping exhausted into bed at night, all's good.

Thank you Soooooooo much to Kippy for the awesome, amazing, splendiferous box!! It goes well in the cabin and the box has proven invaluable in there too. Oh... and Tat got her portion *laugh* Katey, thank you for the sugar overload. We needed it to stay awake and it helped. It was warming too for the cooler nights. Please thank your mom for me. I assume she did the knitting. Those gloves are going to be Well Used! They're perfect! The card was sweet too.

In all, the Welsh people are wonderful... so, so friendly. Everyone, wherever we go, is ready for a chat. They're open, helpful, friendly, smiley... what's not to like?

Coity Bach, the farm, has two holiday cottages. They're part of my duties here. We have people in both cottages. Oh they're lovely! If you ever come to Wales, you must stay in the cottages! The walks are delightful and the scenery spectacular. We have our own Black Mountain, Table Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain. I'm inundated with new names. The goats... charming creatures ('cept when Lilly kicked the bucket of milk over me), the pigs, the horses (Tat's in horse-heaven), the geese, chickens, peacocks - yes, even the peacocks are charming. I don't know why people complain about them.

Anyway... got to dash. I'll try and get back on here as soon as I can to catch up with everyone and post photos. Missing you all!

Sunday, 09 October 2011

Last post in Brazil

Oooh! That sounded good!

I get a daily post with new Portuguese vocabulary to learn. Yesterday's word was paciencia (patience). Very appropriate! I wondered if they're snooping *looks around for hidden cameras* Today's got even better!


Ah... that about says it, right? We leave home in about an hour. This is it!

Saturday, 08 October 2011

Pizza on paper plates

I forgot we had paper plates. How nice! Paper plates are super rare here. They usually use plastic plates. I found paper plates once and bought a huge quantity... just because. I hate eating off plastic plates. Paper plates take me back to braai's and picnics, an essential for any event, from school fétes to camps.

Tonight's grandiose supper is pizza... on paper plates... with cheap, fizzy wine, what they call a 'frizzante'. Food fit for a king *laugh* Just before we leave, we have finally found the perfect pizzaria. Thick, soft, light bases with a filled border and Loaded with topping... super fresh and a quick delivery. Typical.

We're all packed. At least... what we can take is packed. Funny thing about possessions. I keep hearing things like... you can't take it with you when you die anyway. Trouble is, many possessions are tied up with experiences and memories. Sure, you can take a photo or three and sure you can remember, but it's somehow not the same. I learned that once before, a truly tough lesson. I'm doing it again. This will be the last time I ever do something like that. Never again. Ever.

But... we're packed! What a relief! Now we can relax a bit, though at 8pm, I'm yawning my head off. Weather here right now is 29ºC (can't be bothered to convert - just believe me, it's hot!) and tomorrow's going to be hot too and raining. It was raining here this afternoon. Many parts of the city are flooded. Thank goodness we weren't flooded for a change. The pizza delivery boy managed to come! London will apparently be cool and... guess what.... wet! Brecon's the same. We'll be going to the airport laden with warm clothes. The trip should be fun.

This will be my last post on this end of the Atlantic. I'll see you all on the flip side. I don't know what our access to the internet will be like on the other side. I'll go online with my mobile, though, depending on connectivity. Thank you all so, so much for your support through all this!! You will never know how much it's meant to me!

Sunday, 02 October 2011

Sharing the mood



*****
Yes, we can!

Weeeeeeeeee!!

I changed my address details on ebay this morning, so that I could buy and ship a couple of adapter plugs (ah... small things) and got a message from ebay: "Congratulations on your move to the UK!" Got all jumpity, skippity excited *happy grins*

I shed a few tears when I said goodbye to the kidlets this week. Little Zara has started walking. Her mom was so excited to show me. When she has her walking harness on, she holds the 'leash' out in front of her (alone) and walks. She won't walk without it. She just needs the feeling of the harness around her chest to feel secure enough to take those steps. I think she's much like many of us... we need to *feel* as though we're being helped/supported to progress, even if the help or support is an illusion. I was so happy for them though. This child is special and any progress is a miracle. When I arrive, she demands her 'lesson'. Too cute.

Right now, I have two cases packed and sooo much more to organise. The weather has been agonisingly hot with temps sitting around 35ºC. Today, the sky pulled over. 3pm was dark outside with a deep purple sky. Apparently we're heading into a wet week. I'm so glad I'm not teaching!

*yawns* Think a cup of coffee and some biscuits are a good idea....

"A better world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day I can hear her breathing" Arundhati Roy