Here are my answers to this week’s SYW from Di

1.  What was your favourite TV show as a kid?
Television only came to South Africa in 1976, and by then I was 23 years old. There were, however, some lovely programmes on the radio. At 7:15, after the evening news, the whole family would listen to “No place to hide”, which was a Cold War-era adventure in daily 15-minute slots! On Friday nights we got to listen to half-hour episodes of Squad Cars, which dramatised the South African Police solving crime on the streets of our cities!
My daughter’s favourite TV show when she was 2 years old was “Liewe Heksie,” which was in Afrikaans. She couldn’t understand a word but loved it anyway! When it ended, she would cry to watch it again. We did not have a VCR so I could not record it for her!

2.  Do you have a favourite ‘tipple’? (alcoholic drink, or something when you are out for a meal etc)
My favourite wine is Springfield’s Life from Stone, a Sauvignon Blanc from a Robertson Estate. It is a fairly expensive wine so we don’t have it every day. Instead I enjoy Van Louveren Sauvignon Blanc, which is also from a Robertson Estate. At home, wine o’clock is at around 5pm when we will indeed indulge in a glass or two before and with dinner.

3.  Is there a movie you can watch again and again and still enjoy?
There are quite a few that I always enjoy if they come up, and there’s little else that grabs me – Something’s Gotta Give, Yentl, Fiddler on the Roof, Scent of a Woman. These are some of my favourite movies.

4.  Did you have a favourite toy as a child? Or perhaps one you wanted and never got?
My sister and I were given infant dolls when our baby brother was born, and we both loved them. We also enjoyed playing with cut-out dolls. We would have loved to have had a Barbie or two but were in our teens when they became popular. However, we had a younger cousin who had several. We made the excuse that we were entertaining her so we could get to play with the dolls without being embarrassed.

Gratitude:
I grew up without television and became a bookworm instead. I am truly grateful for that, and the awesome childhood with its lack of adult supervision that I enjoyed. I find it ironic that our moms stayed at home to look after their offspring and yet we had more freedom than is given to the children of working moms today!
I am grateful for all the technological changes which make life very enjoyable for retirees. What would I do without television, computers, and smartphones? I have kept pace with technology and love that I can use it to my advantage.

Once again, I am answering this week’s SYW from Di

1. Did you ever keep a diary?
Keeping a diary — ah, what secrets used to go into that tiny book with the little key that I kept in my teens! When I found this little treasure trove of embarrassing comments while clearing out before leaving home, I destroyed it! Sometimes I regret that, but honestly, if anyone had found those scribblings, I think I would have been mortified. I believe Greta Garbo did the same thing, and for much the same reason.

2. Do you use a calendar that is NOT on a computer/smartphone?
Yes, I put a monthly appointment calendar on the fridge, but I also use a digital one and set alarms on them. I am very forgetful and even if I do remember I tend to get involved in a task and forget the time so having an alarm set with sufficient time to get me to an appointment is magic!

3. When was the last time you wrote a letter…… using pen and paper, not a computer.
I used to write snail mail letters right up to the nineties but what a joy when I discovered fax and email! I have always found writing by hand a chore. And when school record keeping became digital it changed my life. No more re-doing whole documents because of one tiny error and no Tippex allowed!

4. If you had a column of 10 figures, could you add them up or would you need a calculator?
I could but why would I? The calculator is quick and accurate unless you mistype a digit!

Gratitude

I am so grateful for technology! I very much doubt that I would keep a diary if it weren’t for computers. Emails and Whatsapp as well as social media keep me in touch with the many loved ones I have scattered around the country and the world. And then there’s the blogosphere which has widened my world even more. Many people of my generation say it was better in the old days – It was great in the old days, but better? No, I don’t think so. For me it’s better now.

Here are my answers to this week’s SYW from Di

1.  How do you like your eggs?
Aren’t eggs just the most versatile things to have in the kitchen. So many baking recipes call for them and they can be used to brush on pastry, make a batter, make custard and use as a topping for Bobotie! I love eggs any style – poached if I’m having Eggs Benedict, scrambled is usually my first choice but I also love an omelet or frittata, and boiled eggs are just great soft, medium or hard. I don’t mind them fried either. As they come – I will eat them! They’re healthy too – this tiny but mighty food source is high in protein, and a great way to take in Vitamins like B12, D, A, Selium, Folate and a touch of Iron!

2.  Do you have a cooked breakfast or something like cereal, fruit, toast etc?
Back in the day the only time we had a cooked breakfast was on the weekend. Now that we are retired with more time for leisure and cooking, we usually have a cooked breakfast. But sometimes I’ll make a fruit parfait type breakfast – layers of Greek yogurt, muesli, berries and/or other fruit.

3.  What is your favourite fruit?
I have love all fruit but I think Mango is my favourite. The best way to eat a fresh mango is in the sea!

But I love it in a prawn, avo and mango salad or in fact in any salad.

4.  Have you ever made wine or homemade beer?
No, I have not. My grandmother used to make ginger-beer and when the corks popped out, she knew it was done!

Gratitude: I’ve borrowed this one from Vanda.
This meme from Vanda is so true. I often say “this too will pass” and the bad times always do, and you’re left with a story to tell.
After my recent illness, I now look back and laugh about it, but I am ever so grateful it was not terminal! I am back to full and blooming health!

Here are my answers to this week’s SYW questions from Di

Did you have Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday or anytime over the holidays?
We did! I don’t usually indulge in processed carbs, but I have a friend whose baking is next level! My guest ordered two dozen of her delightful buns, and I enjoyed one or two over the weekend.

Did you go on, or organise, an Easter Egg hunt?
It was wet in the morning, so I did not organise an Easter Egg hunt for the young children I look after on a Saturday morning. Instead, I made up a parcel of eggs for their mom to give them on Easter Sunday. However, by 11 am, the weather had cleared, and I took them to our favourite place – Earth – which is a restaurant, play park, and petting farm. The kids went off to play and returned with an Easter Egg each – The Earth staff had hidden eggs for the kids to find! What a lovely thing to do!
But let’s call back the past! Easter Egg Hunts were a big thing when we were helping raise our two grandsons, and it continued into their adult years! Now, sadly, both are on different continents and no longer spend the Easter Weekend with Granny and Grandpa.

How many Easter Eggs did you have this year?
One or two. I bought two boxes of marshmallow eggs, most of which I still have. I bought for others rather than for self-indulgence. For the sponsor kids – A bunny and a small box of small eggs each – also for their lovely mom. For my daughter who was spending the weekend, – 1 dozen real’ egg Easter eggs which she shared with the Dad, Andrew (our guest) and me.

Do you believe the chocolate used in Easter Eggs is better than other times of the year?
I can’t say that I’ve noticed. Lindt Easter Eggs are the best, as is any Lindt chocolate.

Gratitude:
Today’s gratitude is a little different. My life is filled with delightful cats and kids. They all bring me great joy. Sometimes there’s a bit of mischief which makes me laugh. Below is a story of how I was almost ‘haunted’ by two boy ghosts!

A Ghost At My Door
Last Monday, as I was putting out the dirt, I saw my neighbour on his bike, returning from a fishing trip at the harbour.  Not far behind came his son at a trot with another young boy still a few paces behind.    I called out a cheery hello and asked how their recent camping weekend had been.  They stopped to tell me that it was ‘awesome’.  “And I’ve brought my friend back with me,” said my young neighbour, introducing me.  He was a lovely young boy who greeted me politely. I wished them all a lovely day, and they replied with the same to you and then went on their way.

Later that afternoon, the doorbell rang.   I rushed to answer – nobody.  But on the mat, I spied a bowl with a note weighted down by a small shiny stone.  I picked up the bowl and retrieved the note.  “The ghosts are back – and we are hungry!  Fill this bowl with sweets, or we will haunt you, but feel free to keep the stone!” 

Now this has happened before!  The last time, I replied with Beware – I am a vampire and not afraid of spooks!  The reply came with a whole garlic in the bowl!

Not wanting to be haunted, I filled the bowl with sweets.  These were quickly retrieved, and then the bell rang again.  This time a note – “It’s Easter, so where are the eggs? Fill this bowl before 12 tomorrow, as we won’t be around on Sunday!”

So, I duly went off to shop for eggs, placed them in the bowl and together with a note took them next door.  I placed the bowl of eggs on the mat, rapped loudly on the door and ran away!

Dear Ghost so spooky, silent and sly,
Your note was impressive — I won’t deny.
But ghosts don’t scare me, that much is true,
And little boys? I’ve taught quite a few!

The eggs are here, the threat is done,
Now off you float — and Happy Easter fun!

Mum answered the door – and saw nobody there!  But she messaged me shortly after, thanking me with a giggle in her voice.  “The boys are out at the beach. I’ll show them the bowl and note the minute they return,” she promised. (I don’t think she knew what they were up to until the Eggs arrived on the doormat!)

Half an hour later, my doorbell rang – On the mat – a note – “We are forever in your debt.  Thank you for the eggs.  You are now free from haunting!    Till next time – watch out for the signs!”

Whatever they’re up to next – I am prepared!

Here are my answers to this week’s SYW from Di

Can you speak a second language?
When I was growing up in South Africa, Afrikaans was introduced as a second language from the very first year of school. In my area, though, there weren’t many Afrikaans speakers, so I rarely heard the language outside the classroom. By the time I reached my final year, I could get by, but it was definitely my weakest subject. A second language really only settles in when you have plenty of everyday conversation, and that was something I’d never had.
After college, I spent a year at university completing a special diploma in Speech and Hearing. There were eight of us in the programme—four English-speaking and four Afrikaans-speaking—and I became close to the Afrikaans group. They took it upon themselves to teach me to speak their language properly. They refused to speak English to me or to respond if I slipped back into it. Their determination paid off: within three months, I was fluent.
To work as an itinerant speech and language teacher, you needed a higher-level bilingual certificate, essentially taking your second language on the higher grade. Thanks to my friends’ relentless coaching, I achieved it by the end of that year and went on to teach in both English and Afrikaans schools for five years.
I’m now mentoring a little girl who already juggles three languages. Her home language is Shona, and she attends a dual‑medium school nearby where she hears both English and Afrikaans in the classroom. She’s now completely fluent in English and Shona, and she understands and communicates beautifully in Afrikaans as well. It’s remarkable for an eight‑year‑old who is simultaneously learning to read, write, and calculate.
I’ve always believed that speaking more than one language is a tremendous advantage. English speakers, in particular, can be a bit complacent about learning other languages because there’s an assumption that everyone else will learn English, so why make the effort? The truth is, not everyone speaks English, and equipping yourself with even a basic vocabulary in the language of the country you’re visiting is absolutely worthwhile.
I’m grateful I did this with Italian, because my husband unexpectedly landed in an Italian hospital where, apart from the doctors, no one spoke English. Those few words and phrases I’d learned made a real difference. And of course, I‑Translate was a lifesaver too.

Can you remember any popular novelty gadget from the past that is not so widely available today?
Another item that’s not quite a gadget but definitely belongs in the “things we once took for granted” category is the old‑style warming cabinet. In the eighties and nineties, you could walk into almost any homeware store and find one, usually under the brand names Hostess or Butler. They were wonderfully practical, keeping dishes warm before a meal. Most of my friends owned Hostess warmers, while I owned a loyal old Butler. And because my husband did most of the cooking, a friend laughed and said, “Trust you to get a Butler rather than a Hostess!”

When we packed up to move to Struisbaai, I reluctantly sold my old Butler, convinced there wouldn’t be space for it in our new home. I replaced it with a smaller countertop version, which served me well for a decade, even though it needed the occasional repair. Then, as luck would have it, a friend decided to sell her old Hostess. I didn’t hesitate. A small payment and my little cabinet as a trade‑in, and I finally had a proper warming cabinet again. And yes – I found a space for it! This particular cabinet needed to be derusted, and I managed to get that done for a reasonable fee too. Money well spent – I am delighted to have such an item back in my inventory!

Can you juggle?
Lovely question! – I can juggle three small things in the true sense of the word – but not for very long.
In my past life, I could juggle everything I needed to do in a day quite effortlessly. Not so much nowadays!

What is your favourite snack food?
Chocolate counted as an essential food group in my teaching days, and I treated it accordingly. If the staffroom coffee/hot‑chocolate machine went on strike, I was not far behind. My principal would pat my arm and say, “Give it twenty‑four hours, Helen — it’ll rise again.”

I’m over that now that my life is calmer – a square of dark, chilly Lindt will keep me happy for days.

Gratitude:
A fun one from Susan this week. IMO a little dirt didn’t hurt anyone.

I am certainly grateful for the dirt roads I have taken, both literally and figuratively.

Here are my answers to this week’s fun questions from Di

Would you like to have your own private jet?
I was absolutely meant to have my own private jet but unfortunately, something went wrong and I have found myself travelling steerage along with the lesser mortals of this world. I have not even had the good luck to be upgraded for no reason whatsoever like a few of my luckier friends who tell me it was an awesome experience. If I had my own jet as the gods intended, it would be on standby to take me on urgent missions like seeking out where hostages are hidden and rescuing them from their evil captors!

Would you like a chauffeur to drive you everywhere?
Oh, without hesitation. I want a chauffeur who glides through traffic like a Zen master. Someone who can reverse‑park into a space the size of a shoebox while I sit in the back pretending to be extremely important. Ideally, the car would also have heated seats, a bottomless supply of biltong and champagne, and the ability to magically avoid every pothole on the South African roads.

Would you like to live on your own desert island?
A desert island? Absolutely not. I’ve seen enough survival shows to know I’d last about 14 minutes before trying to befriend a coconut. But a tropical island with warm breezes, turquoise water, and luxury accommodation — now that I could work with. I wouldn’t want to live there alone, though. I’d bring the people I love, plus a small staff who’d be treated like royalty and get plenty of time off to enjoy the island, too.

Have you ever had anything made to measure (suit, dress, shoes etc)
Oh yes — growing up, my mother made most of my clothes. She could look at a pattern, raise one eyebrow, and somehow produce a perfectly fitted outfit as if by sorcery. Later on, I made clothes for myself and my children, following the pattern instructions to the letter. I even made my middle daughter’s matric dance dress – with my mother’s expert guidance! I no longer do dress making!

In 1996, I paid a professional dressmaker R600 (£26) to custom-make a green silk dress for my daughter’s wedding. I have worn it to many glamorous functions, the latest being at my granddaughter’s wedding in 2024. To put things in perspective, today the same dress would cost R2700 (£120). Considering that I have had this dress for 30 years, I’d say I got my money’s worth!

And here are The Earl and me looking like we belong in the world of private jets and chauffeur-driven limousines. But really, we’re just guests at our granddaughter’s wedding!

Gratitude: One from Carolyn this week.

It was fun to fantasise about a different world this week but I love this meme above. It is the little things that matter and make one grateful.