Here is my contribution to this week’s Share Your World From Sparks

QUESTIONS:

When was the last time you tried something new?

I am constantly trying new things especially in the realm of healthy eating.  Five years ago I tried a new eating plan. LCHF is huge in this country and many people I know are following it or have tried and fallen off the wagon for one reason or another.  Most stick to it at least 75% of the time.  I cheat sometimes and perhaps that is why I have been diagnosed as prediabetic!   Well!  I was gob-smacked as I don’t drink sodas or even fruit juice, I don’t add sugar to my tea or coffee, I don’t even add milk!   I very seldom indulge in confectionaries or junk food and the only treat I usually allow myself is dark chocolate!  However, over the Christmas season, I ate the odd slice of Christmas Cake and minced fruit pies are my favourite.   Perhaps that’s why my sugar levels went up?  There are several things putting you at risk for diabetes type 2.  The only thing I am guilty of is being over 65!  Life is so unfair.    But I digress – what have I tried new recently?   Because of this new diagnosis as well as having high cholesterol levels I have decided to go on a semi-plant based diet.  I am still sticking to LCHF but with less red meat and dairy and sticking to the ‘good’ fats while having fewer of the ‘bad’.   I simply refuse to cut meat out altogether.   I am a South African Greek for heaven’s sake! Life is too short.   But I am adding more vegetables, eating less red meat and of course adding lots of fish which is easily available where I live.  (The Earl, by the way, is also prediabetic) Oh, and I’ve given up wine and coffee!   If my posts become grumpier you’ll know the reason why!

Yesterday, I bought a juicer/blender set.   Today we started on celery juice.   Celery juice is supposed to be the new miracle drug – it is good for everything.   So what’s the harm?   It may do nothing and it may bring down the cholesterol and sugar levels!  Cheers!

The start of a new regime

If you were forced to eliminate every physical possession from your life with the exception of what could fit into a single backpack, what would you put in it?

A pair of Tomy takkies (sneakers/plimsolls), a pair of secret socks, two sets of underwear, a pair of black jeans, two short sleeve t-shirts, 2 long sleeve t-shirts, puffer jacket (I don’t have one but would get one ‘cos I can’t fit my other warm jacket in) toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, towel, sunscreen, moisturiser, lipstick,  Laptop computer, (my backpack has a special compartment for it), phone and camera + chargers in their respective compartments, passport and Flipfile of essential documents.

What simple fact do you wish more people understood?

You are enough.

What food item do you go through fastest in your house?  (credit to Sandmanjazz)

Now that I’ve started juicing, it’s going to be celery!

GRATITUDE (Not mandatory for participation)

Feel free to share something that really makes you happy! 

Lots of things make me happy but the one I will share today is stated below.

It makes me happy having friends and/or family to stay.

One of my dearest friends, Hanny, came to stay last week.  She is the bravest, most positive person I know.  In spite of all the challenges including cancer that she faces daily, she is everybody’s friend, always kind, and generous to a fault.  We walked on the beach, swam in the sea and bonded with long chats into the night.

Today she was admitted to hospital and will undergo surgery for a hernia on Wednesday.   Hope it all goes well Han!

Hanny  – always smiling

Here are my answers to  this week’s questions from Sparks

QUESTIONS:

1.  What age would you like to live to?

I don’t have a specific age in mind.  Of course, I would like to live for as long as possible but only if I am healthy right up to the last minute.   I plan to live each day to the full.  It doesn’t matter if I don’t fulfil every wish on my bucket list but I sure hope to have fun trying.

I realise that things can change in an instant and whatever happens I hope to be able to adapt and still live a fulfilling life in spite of any circumstances I find myself in.

2.  What mystery do you wish you knew the answer to?

There are so many mysteries but I don’t dwell on them.  I would, however, like to know how socks lose their mates.

3.  Does absolute power corrupt absolutely?

Yes!

4.  What outdoor activity haven’t you tried, but would like to?

Parasailing!   I almost did once but my poor husband was so anxious about it I decided it would be unkind to put him through the stress of it.  That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!

GRATITUDE SECTION (Not mandatory)

Please free free to share some gratitude from your world!

The gardener came yesterday and I am so grateful for all the hard work he did.

Here is my contribution to this week’s Share Your World from Sparks

Where do you get your news?

I find the news boring and depressing.  In my country it’s the same old stuff repeated many times.  However, it is important to be informed so I sometimes watch “Morning Live” on SABC 2.   I prefer Sky or CNN  on DSTV. 

What ‘old person’ thing do you do?

I am not sure what an ‘old person’ thing is.  Is it doing things the old fashioned way?  Or is it the idiotic things old people do?

As far as the latter is concerned – I forget where I put things and waste a lot of time looking for such items and end up finding them exactly where they’re supposed to be!

The old fashioned way?   A friend, my age, and I were just discussing this yesterday.  She has a special way of making tea and does not fill the cup so there is room for stirring in the milk and sugar without spilling.   I always leave a little bit at the bottom of the cup – I was taught to do this as a child.  I think it was because we made tea with real tea leaves and not bags.  Although the tea was strained some would sneak through and settle at the bottom of the cup.   Sometimes an ancient aunt would ‘read’ your fortune in the tea leaves left behind.

Other ‘granny things’ I do:

• Keep tissues in my handbag (purse)
• Say – you’ll understand when you’re older
• Break into a sixties song if a memory prompts it.
• I said I never would but I did a really old people thing – I went on a cruise!
• Is it an old people thing to do crossword puzzles?   My gran did them and so do I. My grandkids don’t get it!

When was the coldest you’ve ever been?   The warmest?

The coldest was when I camped in a bell tent in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in July 1996.  We could not blow up our matress so used it as a groundsheet and slept on the hard, frozen ground.  It was -4 degrees centigrade and even though my hubby and I were fully dressed in tracksuits and snuggled up together, we froze!

The hottest temperature I have experienced was over 50 degrees centigrade in Botswana.  You could not touch the car without wearing gloves.  We had a flat tyre, the Earl did not have gloves but fortunately, we were travelling with friends who did! Sleeping in a rooftop tent in these conditions was extremely uncomfortable!

Do you eat food that’s past its expiration date if it still smells and looks fine?

Yes, I do.  I have never had ill effects from doing so.

Finally:

If you’d like to, please share some gratitude from your life.   

2019 was an awesome year of travel for us and I am hugely grateful that we were able to see so many amazing places both in our own land and abroad.

Caravanning in The Kruger National Park

Our Cruise ship docked at Port Victoria, Seychelles

I am now grateful to have some time in our lovely little home here at the southern tip of Africa.

I never grow tired of my harbour!

I am a bit late this week but here are my answers to this week’s Share Your World from Sparks.

What’s something your brain tries to make you do, which you have to will yourself NOT to do?  (could be a bad habit, a physical response to something…your interpretation is as good as mine! )

If I see chocolate my first reaction is to indulge!  I have to tell myself very firmly that if I eat it I will overindulge and feel sick.  It’s an addiction!

When someone finds out what you do, or where you are from, what question do they always ask you?

When they hear that I was a First Grade Teacher, the response is usually – “You must have a lot of patience. ”   Actually it has little to do with patience.  Your training prepares you for what you have to deal with when teaching small children.    It’s the most rewarding job in the world.

When I’m travelling abroad the question I am sometimes asked when I tell them I’m from South Africa  is, “Why aren’t you black?”  I am a teacher without the patience to explain genetics.

What’s something terrifying that we’ve all come to accept as a fact of life?

There are lots of terrifying facts of life.  Was there this much crime and abuse to women and children thirty years ago?

Corruption is a terrifying fact of life, not only in this country but all over the world.  What has happened to our leaders?  Why is there so much evil in the world?   Haven’t we learned from history that intolerance, war and dictatorship will only lead to our destruction?

Should governments make laws to protect people from harming themselves?  Could that even work?  (yes this one is deep, maybe too deep).

Governments should first put things in place to make sure that all their citizens can live a life that prevents them from wanting to harm themselves.  Proper education, housing, health care etc. instead of making laws that they have to police.

Some laws, of course, are necessary.  We need those speed limits, seat belt rules and car seats for babies.
Sadly many adults have no common sense so unless there is a rule in place they will go ahead and do something stupid that could harm them.   You can enforce a law that makes you not drink and drive but what about swimming where there are no lifeguards?  I don’t think so.  A warning will do.   If someone feels he is a strong enough swimmer he ought to have the freedom to choose where he swims.

Gratitude is an Attitude…

Please share your gratitude for this past week in the form of a photo, a quote or a thought.   🙂

Here is my contribution to this week’s Share Your World

QUESTIONS:

Is ‘hello” enough for you these days?  (credit to Rory – https://aguycalledbloke.blog/2019/12/29/is-hello-enough-for-you-these-days/ )

Yes, hello is enough.  One would expect a small place to be friendly but where I live it is not always so.  I quite often greet people I pass in the street.  Some greet back but others stare and walk on.  First prize is when you get more than the hello as happened to me once in this small town. We ended up chatting for 10 minutes and we had never met before!

Do you believe in Murphy?   For those who aren’t familiar with Murphy, here’s a wee explanation:  Murphy’s law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”.

Not really although I often use the term Murphy’s Law when things go wrong.

The fact is that when lots of things can go wrong, they don’t!  So Murphy chooses his time and place to cause chaos.

Does evil come from within?  If so, why?

I honestly believe that evil is an external force in the ether.  There are two forces at play – good and evil.  They are fighting against each other. Where there is good, there is also evil.  We need to choose which side we’re on.

Are intelligent people more or less happy than others?   What defines intelligence?

I don’t think intelligence makes the least bit of difference to people’s happiness. I know many unhappy intelligent people.  Perhaps they’re unhappy because they overthink things and analyse a situation and the negative side influences their thinking more than the positive side.  I also know a great many unhappy stupid people.  Sadly there’s no cure for stupid. You just have to be tolerant of them.   Just as many stupid people are blissfully happy.   My mother always told me ignorance is bliss.

What defines intelligence?  According to Howard Gardner there are eight types of intelligence

A few special people will be gifted in all eight.  I am equally mediocre in about three of them – verbal/linguistic, naturalistic and interpersonal.

Gratitude Section

Please feel free to share a quote, photo or thought about gratitude.

I could go on and on about this one because I have just returned from an awesome two-month long trip.  What’s not to be grateful for.

During our travels, we communed with nature, bonded with family, ate extravagantly, re-united with friends we hadn’t seen in ages and maintained good health.  Then we finally returned to our awesome home in the most beautiful part of the Western Cape.

Yes – I am grateful. Life is Good.

Here is my contribution to this week’s Share Your World from Sparks

QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK 12-23-19:

Do dogs ‘talk’ (communicate) with their own species?   (credit to Marilyn of Serendipity)   And not just on Christmas Eve, as the old legend says all animals do.   I know that Ziggy ‘speaks’ husky (apparently) even though he’s not a husky, he’s a terrier/Chihuahua mix.   The movie the other night proved it, as there were huskies in the show, and when they barked, Ziggy got excited and stared at the TV screen with his head cocked to one side, and barked at the screen.  

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/72843/how-talking-animals-became-christmas-legend

I am pretty sure they do.  They also send Pee-mails.

Have you ever had to work on Christmas Day?

Yes, I have.   When I was seventeen years old I worked as a nurse’s aid at the hospital in Fish Hoek where I lived at the time.   It was an awesome experience as the staff tried to make Christmas special for the patients.

If someone gifts you something that you immediately loathe, do you pretend to really like it anyway or are you brutally honest about your opinion?

I’ve never really received a present that I loathed!   But if I did I certainly would not express it honestly.  I don’t like hurting people’s feelings.  I would thank them regardless.

On the other hand, I would be quite happy if a gift I give somebody is not to their liking.  They’re welcome to return it and to swap for something else.

Which popular drink, found during the Christmas season most often, is called “milk punch?”

I have no idea.

How many ghosts show up during “A Christmas Carol?” 

Four  – Jacob Marley,  The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Present and The Ghost of Christmas Future.

Are you all about the holly and jolly or more about remembering the alleged ‘true’ meaning of Christmas?    

I am quite into the true meaning of Christmas but don’t mind the holly and jolly.   Let’s not spoil the fun part.

Many years ago – My brother Nicholas giving Father Christmas his wish list.  This photograph was published in the newspaper.   

Please share a memory or thought about the holiday season if you’d like, whatever kind of celebration you may observe. 

I remember my childhood Christmases as they were very traditional.   My grandfather would decorate the big pine tree in his garden with lights.  Nobody else did that in his neighbourhood.   He and our grandmother would take us Christmas shopping in the city and we would visit every single department store and visit each Father Christmas and get a Lucky Dip from each one too.   In those days the toys and sweets in these dips were awesome.  Our other treat was to have lunch at Wimpy in the OK Bazaars.  It was the only time in the year that we ever ate anywhere other than at home.

On Christmas day the entire extended family would gather together around Granny’s table and enjoy a hot Christmas lunch with Christmas pudding that contained ‘tickies’.  A ticky for those who don’t know was a small silver coin worth three pence.

Another memory is of my mother on Christmas Eve reading us A Visit From St Nicholas – a poem by Clement Clarke Moore.

Here are my answers to this week’s Share Your World from Sparks

What’s your remedy for the Holiday Blues?

I am in the fortunate position of not suffering from the blues very often no matter what time of the year it may be.  What we do over the Christmas season has changed over the years.   When I was a child it was a very important day and there was an exciting build-up to it.  My mother read “A Visit from St Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore to us on Christmas Eve and when we were old enough we went to Midnight Mass returning at one in the morning to open one present each before going off to bed.   I read the same story to my kids but not every year, I don’t think.  One year I read The Grinch who Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss to my grandchildren.  Christmas in our family, these days, is a very relaxed affair.

Your favourite beverage (if it differs) during the holiday season?  If it doesn’t differ, just answer the ‘what’s your favourite beverage” part. 

We don’t do mulled wine or egg nog and that kind of stuff in our hot climate.   My drink of choice is an excellent Sauvignon Blanc called Life from Stone from the Springfield Estate in Robertson, Western Cape, South Africa.

This one has been asked before, but what’s your take on pumpkin spice?

I have no idea what pumpkin spice is.  I prefer butternut squash to pumpkin and I don’t spice it at all.  It’s lovely with chutney and tomato and onion mix.

Americans, please don’t judge me – I have never eaten pumpkin pie!

Is there is a person or god connected with your holiday? 

Yes.

• Who are they and do you believe in them?

We follow the Christian tradition of Chrismas.

• If you do not believe in these people or gods, does the celebration/honouring of that being, bother you in any way (e.g., ignored, dismissed, angry, etc.)?

It doesn’t bother me if non-believers of the Christian Faith celebrate this holiday.  If I  lived in a country with different traditions to my homeland, I would go along with it too.    I love diversity. We are all different yet we’re the same.  Live and let live.  Enjoy your own traditions and get to know about others too.   That is what makes the world go round.

Share a song that you enjoy during this Winter season (whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, The Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa and so forth).

I find the South African version of The Twelve Days of Christmas very amusing.   Non-South Africans may not understand this one!

Here is my contribution to this week’s Share Your World from Sparks

What is the meaning of true love?

True love can start with wine and roses but it doesn’t go on that way.  I believe we’re talking about romantic love here?   When I met my current husband I was not sure that he was ‘the one’ but he was so amazingly nice to me that after a couple of weeks dating I fell in love. We both had kids from previous marriages so it was complicated.  However, we married and lived ‘happily ever after,’  In spite of our ups and downs I can honestly say that I have had a brilliantly happy marriage.  We made a decision to love each other forever.   It doesn’t just happen.   You have to work at it.  There were times when I would gladly have walked out and I’m sure he would have too.  But we worked it out.  We were honest with each other and the uppermost thing for each of us was to try to make the other happy.  We met 37 years ago and if this is not true love I don’t know what is.  We have been through stuff that would have driven others apart but it only drew us closer together.   I believe that if you can survive hardship together then nothing can drive you apart.   I have definitely found TRUE LOVE

Do acts of kindness have a motive? 

I think sometimes they do.   But usually not.

I know plenty of people who do acts of kindness to score points so they can call in a  favour.

I have taught my children that there are two types of people – the givers and the takers.  We, I tell them, are the givers.  Don’t ever do a favour if you want it returned.  Do it out of the kindness of your heart and also learn to say, no, if your kindness is going to harm you.  If you lend money – kiss it goodbye.  If you’re repaid, fine – if not it’s okay – you lent the money to help someone who needed it more than you did.

I love the concept of paying it forward – it works.   Do a kind deed and it will be passed on to somebody else and one day it may just come back to you too.

A funny story – My hubby who is the most generous person in the world was once dithering at the check out in a supermarket.  He was not dressed in his most attractive clothes.  In fact, he could have been mistaken for a homeless man!   Well the man behind him saw him scratching in his wallet to find the correct cash and thought – Poor old man – he can’t really afford these groceries – and before he could protest paid the bill for both his and hubby’s purchases and rushed off!   The Earl was hugely embarrassed but of course, paid it forward sometime later himself!

If we live in a civilized world why do we see so many distinctions between rich and poor?

I just don’t know! We need to be charitable to lessen the burden of the poor.  We live in an imperfect world.  In some countries, there is more poverty than in others but quite honestly it’s horrific.

Education should be the priority in order to help even the most indigent to better their situation.

Do we love ourselves more in the virtual world than in the real world?

I’m not sure.   Some people might try to look better in the virtual world but they still have the same feelings.  Loving ourselves comes from within.  If we accept ourselves the way we are, we will love ourselves both in cyberspace and in the real world.

Gratitude Question:

Are you grateful?

Yes, I am grateful.   I am grateful for my family, friends, health and lifestyle.  I am very lucky to be me.

Here is my contribution to this week’s Share Your World

QUESTIONS:

Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat) a good thing, a bad thing or a mixture of both?

I think all these are great if you use them intelligently. Nobody is forcing you to share your every action or thought. Nor do you have to read absolutely everything that is shared by others. Personally, I love Facebook as it keeps me in touch with people I would long ago have lost contact with. I don’t use the other apps much but they’re also fun. My granddaughter is not on Facebook.  I encouraged her to open an account and this was her reply. – “Really Gran? It’s for old people! My generation uses Instagram!” And here was me thinking I was so up to date!

Parents need to be aware of what is going on with their children and modern ones have their work cut out for them controlling their kids’ social media.   It’s a matter of teaching them how to use the apps correctly.  I know plenty who seem to have the right balance.

Are you camera shy or do you pose for the camera with confidence?

I used to hate being photographed. I thought I was not photogenic. Then when I started being the one who took the photos I found that those who ‘spoke’ to the camera were more photogenic than those who shied away.  Now I at least pretend to be confident in front of the lense and ‘talk’ to the camera too.  It has helped ever so slightly.  Photographs are memories and I do want to be remembered by my descendants when I die.

Is there anything you’ve kept from younger years for sentimental reasons alone?

I do have mementos given to me by pupils and/or their parents that I will never part with. I also have paintings and ornaments that I inherited. And I’ve kept Birthday and Mother’s Day cards that my kids have given me.  

Do you like to decorate for different holidays?

If I am at home for Christmas then I put up and decorate a tree. We are usually at our daughter’s and the decor is there. I like to be sure the table is set appropriately. At Easer I hide eggs even though the kids are all over 14! We don’t do Halloween to the same degree as the USA so no decorating for that. However, the sweets are ready just in case trick and treaters come to the door.

GRATITUDE 

Do you feel you’re a strong person character-wise?   

If a strong character is one who is loyal, has integrity and a mind of her own – then Yes I am a person of strong character.

Also, if you do have a gratitude thought or picture you’d like to share, please feel free!   The world can always use more positive vibes!

In January 1999 our daughter brought her two young sons, aged 4 months and 18 months to live with us and we helped her raise them.   After a deep discussion with my oldest grandson about why this happened and how it might have turned out differently had a Judge made a different decision regarding their custody, he said, “Well, Gran, I had an awesome childhood!”  And for this, I am truly grateful.   What else could a grandmother wish for?

I have shared these photos before – but they are just so appropriate for this question that here they are again.

Gran with her boys when they were little

A re-take with them all grown up sometime later!

Here is my response to the questions asked by Melanie below

QUESTIONS:

Earlier this week Rory asked a question that I found so interesting, I thought I’d share it.  Another question, similar to this one was asked in August, but this one is unique.

If confronted with a violent crime against a single individual in progress (severe beating, rape, assault) do you try to do something about it (phone authorities or confront the criminal, stop the crime) or do you figure it’s none of your business and walk or drive on by?  Worse (to me) would you record the crime for social media use without doing anything else? 

If someone attacked a person I was with, I’d probably instinctively confront the attacker. If I came across an incident I would call the police or rally others to help.

Recording the incident would be a good idea for evidence – not for social media.  The problem is, does one think to do it at the time?!

Okay now we got the heavy stuff out of the way, let’s get to some less stressful questions.

If someone asked to be your apprentice and learn all that you know, what would you teach them?

At school, I often had a student-teacher with me in the classroom and while he/she was there I would always tell them why I was doing things the way that I did – even if they didn’t ask.  I hope some good rubbed off!
But this question I’m guessing is about life-skills.   These are the things I try to pass on to my grandchildren.  I

• Keep a diary even if it’s only a sentence a day or a quick summary of your week.  Write down how you feel and what you do – it will be interesting to look back on later in life.   I have journalled on and off for many years and it’s fun to go back and see what I did on this day 20 years ago!  Also, take lots of photographs and keep them in orderly files and label them well.
• Keep up with good friends.   Don’t neglect your girlfriends/boyfriends when you start a serious relationship.
• Keep conflicts with siblings to a minimum. Family feuds are just not worth it.  It’s almost impossible to get over a broken relationship with a sibling. Your shared history bonds you too closely.
• Work hard and play hard.  Keep a healthy balance in your life.
• It’s all very well to Follow your Dream but you also have to make a living so if you want to become a rock star don’t neglect to find something else to do if that doesn’t work out!  Find something to do so that you don’t rely on others to support you.
• Listen to your parents’ and grandparents’ advice.  They know you well, love you unconditionally and want you to be happy.  They may be wrong but they’re more likely to be right, so consider carefully what they’re trying to tell you.

First, think of a product. Now, what would be the absolute worst brand name for one of those products?

I just don’t know – but I have named a restaurant The Bug and Mean because their staff bug me and I think they’re mean.

What ridiculous and untrue, yet slightly plausible, theories can you come up with for the cause of common ailments like headaches or cavities?

Crabby children cause headaches and aches in other parts of the body too.  This is because their carers can’t wrap their heads around their problems fast enough causing the blood vessels to clog up and press against the temples causing severe pain.

GRATITUDE:

If you’d like to, please share a photo or an example of gratitude that you have.  Thanks!  🙂

I am grateful for the time I can spend on the farm with my grandchildren. Nothing can beat these beautiful surroundings. My grandson fishes in the dam right in front of the house while my granddaughter plays the guitar and sings ballads on the lawn. Bliss!