Category Archives: Share Your World

Overcoming Diet Challenges: My Personal Secrets SYW 19 May 2025

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

Do you exercise regularly?
Over the years, my approach to staying active has evolved and I have adapted my routine according to my changing circumstances. At one point, I ran regularly with a friend, but when our schedules no longer aligned, I continued running on my own. Eventually, when running was no longer an option, I transitioned to aerobics and walking. There have been times when I made excuses to skip exercise, but I always found my way back after a few months.
Now, in my later years, I maintain a balanced routine of yoga, aerobics, and walking.
I follow Yoga with Adrienne for yoga sessions Walk at Home for an active aerobic workout.

Have you ever belonged to/visited a gym?
For years, I was a member of a gym, though I rarely joined the group classes. Instead, I followed my own personalized routine, focusing on the treadmill, rowing machine, and weight training circuit.
A decade before relocating to Struisbaai, I experienced a slipped disc—an injury that nearly required surgery. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that. Instead weeks of rest and then working with a personal trainer twice a week, played a significant role in my recovery. I continued training with him until we moved.

When it comes to diet, what is your greatest weakness?
Well – food in general. When I am hungry, I tend to grab anything that’s easy to get down my throat. In the bad old days when I was on a yet another miracle weight reducing diet, I would endure the hunger until the deliciousness that surrounded me could not be resisted and binge on chocolate!
I used to have huge problems sticking to diets. They all made me hungry. But then I discovered Banting and I have not looked back. I have maintained my perfect weight for ten years.
Some people believe that if you exercise sufficiently, you will not gain weight. This is not true. You can be fat and fit. However, even if you don’t exercise, you will maintain a healthy weight if you eat correctly. Yes, exercise helps, but the most important thing is to watch what you put in your mouth.

Do you know your waist size?
I do not know the exact measurement. I could check but then I would have to find a tape measure!

Gratitude

Once again, Di’s Meme resonated with me this week. I have recently been taking a moment to drink in my surroundings and really feel the appreciation for them. It is so easy to take the beauty of the southern tip of Africa for granted.

Appreciating a Cape Bulbul enjoying the view.

Celebrating Birthdays: A Personal Reflection

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It is Di’s birthday, so this week’s questions revolve around this theme. Here are my answers to the Share Your World Challenge of 12 May 2025.

Do you celebrate your birthday, or is it just another day?
Not celebrate my birthday – no chance of getting away with that where I live. My dear friends would insist we party! And really – why not? Life is short and people care so go ahead and celebrate! Gifts are not compulsory – The real gift is another trip around the sun, surrounded by laughter, good company, and a proper excuse to eat cake!

Did you have birthday parties as a child?
Oh, birthdays back in the day were a well-oiled machine, weren’t they? A strict guest limit, identical party setups, and a very structured sugar rush—jelly first, then an array of cupcakes, sweets, and fizzy drinks. The candles would twinkle, we’d huff and puff them out, and then the classic birthday anthem would commence—sometimes with the alternative zoo-themed remix Happy Birthday to you, You were born in the zoo, You look like a monkey and act like one too!
Games, ice cream, a slice of cake, and a balloon to take home rounded off the festivities—simple, predictable, and absolutely unforgettable.

Were there any special ‘traditions’ for the birthday person in your household?
Not really. Usually, the birthday kid would wake everyone up at ridiculous o’clock and then the present opening would be done in pajamas on Granny and Grandpa’s bed!

Birthday Boy (6) on the left – Big Brother (7) just as excited. (2004)

Of course, there would be a celebration but not like the ones I enjoyed as a child. We helped raise our oldest daughter’s two boys, and they would choose what type of celebration they would like. There was that one time when a sake-man showed up, bringing along a collection of wriggling reptiles. The little boys were absolutely thrilled—but Gran? She wisely maintained a safe distance from all the slithering excitement!

What was the worst birthday you had?
Turning 70 was a rollercoaster! First, a fantastic surprise weekend away with the whole family—ten of us celebrating properly a month early, which turned out to be a good thing because a week before my actual birthday, I ended up in the hospital while visiting our kids in Plettenberg Bay,
Back home for the big day, the grand home celebration had to be scaled down, but we still managed a lovely gathering at the Harbour Café for drinks and snacks, so not all was lost! And while my much-anticipated breakfast with my girlfriends in Cape Town had to take a little rain check, it eventually happened two months later. So, have I had a worst birthday? Not a chance! Every celebration was brilliant—even if some came a little late!

My three grandsons helping me celebrate! (2022)

Gratitude:
The same thing that landed me in the hospital just before my 70th decided to pay me yet another visit. I am grateful that this attack of Diverticulitis did not mean a trip to the hospital but it’s not fun, especially when the last attack was just four months ago! But I am grateful that I do not suffer from anything terminal and that I am well on the way to recovery,

I just love Di’s Gratitude Meme for this week because it really resonates with me.

Share Your World 28 April – Exploring Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere

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

What season are you in where you live, and what time is it?
Down here in the Southern Hemisphere, we’re basking in the golden glow of Autumn. In the Western Cape, South Africa, it’s affectionately known as the Secret Season—a time when the weather seems to strike a perfect balance. No scorching heat, no icy chills, the winds take a well-earned break, and the rains aren’t quite ready to make an entrance.
Unlike some parts of the world, daylight saving doesn’t exist in the South African Standard Time (SAST) zone. With our clocks fixed two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), I find myself happily typing away as the clock strikes 16:00—right in the heart of a secret-season afternoon!

Autumn Sunset after a balmy day in Struisbaai yesterday.

What is your favourite season of the year?
Autumn/Fall/Secret Season is my favourite time of year. See above.

Autumn is my favourite season (AI generated)

Can you ski or ice skate?
Back in 1993, Verbier welcomed me to the snowy slopes of the Alps. Skiing was fun and we had a good instructor but I was not exactly the most graceful lady on skis. I was the one careening out of control down the slopes. It’s a small miracle I emerged without a collection of casts and crutches!
Ice skating, on the other hand, was a breeze. Having spent my childhood zooming around on roller skates, gliding across the ice felt like second nature—though thankfully with fewer driveway tumbles!

January 1993 – Our patient instructor, Me, The Earl on the slopes of the Alps in Verbier, Switzerland.

When was the last time you built a snowman?
I’ve never had the pleasure of building a snowman—South Africa’s general shortage of snowflakes is the reason for this! My grandchildren, on the other hand, got lucky. Kokstad, where they grew up, occasionally served up some snowfall as a rare treat. I visited Kokstad a few times during winter but never when the snow decided to bless the kids with a day or two off from school!

My granddaughter with her little snowman – Kokstad 2004

Gratitude

As a snow-starved South African, in my youth I imagined snow to be nothing but fun! Now that I am older and wiser, I am ever so grateful to be blessed to live in a warmer climate where the hazards of extreme weather are things I only read about! I can’t imagine having to get a kid into layers of clothing or a snowsuit before leaving the house. My grandsons would head off to school barefoot all year round. Their winter wardrobe was refreshingly simple: a fleece and tracksuit pants were all they needed to tackle the chilly mornings!

Share Your World Easter Monday

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

Have you had any Easter Eggs this weekend?
We are spending the Easter Weekend with our family in Plettenberg Bay—a lovely time, though these days we’ve traded egg hunts for a more laid-back celebration. Small children aren’t in the picture anymore, so no frenzied races for hidden treasures. Or so I thought.

Easter Sunday, bright and early, 7:30 a.m.—a casual bathroom trip turned into the ultimate plot twist: the bunny had struck! There, glistening in their glory, were two Lindt Easter Eggs just waiting to be discovered. I mean, avoiding chocolate is one thing, but on Easter Sunday? That’s sacrilege.

Is today a holiday in your country?
Yes, Easter Monday is now called ‘Family Day’. This change was made in 1994 to create a more inclusive holiday that could be celebrated by everyone, regardless of religious beliefs

Are you familiar with Cadbury Creme Eggs, and if so, which is your favourite?
These eggs are available in South Africa, and although I would kill to try them, they do not make their way into my shopping basket. I am a recovering chocoholic so I limit myself to Lindt dark chocolate only. My favourite flavours are ‘touch of salt, ‘chilly’ and ‘mint’.

Do you prefer a bar of chocolate, a box of chocolates, or something with chocolate flavouring (ice cream, cake, etc).
All of the above in my chocoholic days. Breakfast? That was often a slab of chocolate, paired with coffee for balance. Bad day? Chocolate to the rescue! Hungry? Chocolate! Not hungry? Still chocolate. Supermarket queues were a nightmare with those chocolates begging to be popped into the shopping basket. Many a time I couldn’t resist and one would be half-eaten by the time I reached the check-out.

Chocolate-coated peanuts became my therapist—every packet a session, every bite a revelation. And when I found myself neck-deep in peanuts for three months, I decided drastic action was required. I quit my job. A bold move, but hey, a chocoholic knows when to take a stand (and when to sit back with some chocolate cake).

Now that I am older, wiser, and digestively humbled my chocolate cravings have been tamed. I now enjoy petite, polite portions of dark Lindt chocolate —just a square or two to enjoy with that cup of Nespresso. This maintains a semblance of sanity and provides a sweeter life without overdoing the sweetness.

Gratitude:-

On this Family Day, I am grateful that I am part of an awesome extended family. Even though we are scattered around the country and the world, we are always there for each other and always have a fabulous time when we are together.

Enjoying Braaied Yellow-tail with our Plett Family

Share Your World Monday 24 March 2025 – Ticklish Memories and the Joy of Eyewear.

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It’s been a while since I’ve participated in this challenge, but today, I am jumping back in to join Di’s Share Your World.

Are you ticklish?
Yes, I am.When we were kids, my siblings and I absolutely adored tickle-time with Dad. We’d try our best to tickle him back, but it was no use—he wasn’t the slightest bit ticklish!

What colour are your eyes?
Hazel/green

Do you wear glasses/contact lenses?
I’m 72 years old and I have been seeing the world through lenses since my early 40s. Back in my teaching days, my little learners would excitedly shove their work right up to my nose. I couldn’t fathom why they all thought I needed such an up-close inspection! Naturally, I’d grab the book and extend it out to arm’s length, marveling at the newfound clarity—until the day my arms officially ran out of real estate. That’s when the penny (and the specs) dropped. At first, it was just a cozy relationship with reading glasses. But by 45, I was introduced to the marvel of varifocals, and oh, what a game-changer! No more juggling frames like a magician with a clumsy assistant—my glasses stayed put, and life came back into focus. Finally, the age of short arms was over! From that point onward, I actually started enjoying wearing glasses. They cater to all my needs—long distance, middle distance, and close-up. Plus, they’re coated for everything: working on the computer, braving the sunshine, and even night driving. I have no idea how one pair of specs manages to do it all, but I absolutely adore them!

Gratitude:

This is the Meme that Di posted for this week’s SYW

This is exactly how I feel about my life.

SYW 10 February 2025 Exploring Collectibles: Personal Items That Tell Our Stories

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Here are my answers to this week’s Share Your World from Di at pensitivity101

Do/did you collect anything (stamps, cards, action figures, etc) now or as a child?
I am not a collector. My younger brother is. His home is like a mini museum and his collectibles bring him great pleasure. And if you were to visit him you would be fascinated by his collections too. Click on the link to see what I mean!

I don’t collect things but I do have a huge collection of diaries and photographs – mostly on my computer but some from the distant past, in hard copy too.

What is the silliest thing you’ve ever bought?
Probably a pair of zebra-striped braces. I liked them but only wore them once when I taught a lesson on patterns in nature.

When it comes to jewellery, do you prefer gold, silver, or gemstones?
I love jewellery – gold, silver, diamonds, pearls – all of it. I even like ‘junk’ jewellery. I own a few good pieces but usually only wear my wedding and engagement rings, pearl earrings and gold bangles regularly. I have two strings of pearls but they both need re-stringing – I will get them done soon!

Do you know what your birthstone is?
I had to look it up. Topaz is my birthstone and I don’t own anything made from it. This is what I found out.

Topaz is a birthstone. Its name comes from the Greek word Topazios, which means “to search.” It says, “In my life, I find what I need.” It’s a charm that can help you get good ideas or information. It’s also a good idea if you want to get your confidence and likeability back.

Topaz can be blue, light blue, yellow, orange, or pink. All of these colors are beautiful. No matter what color you use, you will get Topaz’s power.

This sounds like a very good stone – I think I might invest in one!

Gratitude:
Today I am feeling both bereft and grateful. I am bereft because I sold my Gecko caravan. I am grateful because of all the exciting and happy adventures I have had in this fantastic home on wheels.
Our holidays from now on will be different but I am grateful that we are still in good health and able to have many more adventures even if it means doing it differently.

Share Your World Monday 20 January 2025

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Here are my answers to this week’s SYW

If you wanted to do something completely against your character, would you dye your hair a shocking colour, shave your head or get a tattoo?
I would never ever get a tattoo. What makes a person want to put a permanent mark on his/her body that he/she might not like later on in life? I get tired of wearing the same jewelry so imagine a tattoo that’s there for life!

The most outrageous thing I would do is die my hair turquoise, purple or bright pink! It would cause a stir but ultimately it would eventually grow out! Outrageous hairstyles appeal to me. When I was young, I had a spiky haircut!

What is your dream/perfect job?
I had my dream job – a teacher. It might sound dull to most people but I enjoyed every day of it. Nothing in life is perfect and there were plenty of things that irked me about our educational system. But there are ways of teaching creatively while paying lip service to the gods in their ivory towers.

I think it might have been fabulous to be a spy or an undercover cop!

Would you like to learn how to fly an aeroplane?
It’s not something that I have on my bucket list but if the opportunity presented itself, I think I would go for it!

Have you been on a hovercraft?
I think it was a hovercraft that I travelled on in 1993 when I crossed the channel to France. The memory of it has faded almost completely. However, the week in France is clear in my memory. I went on a mine train roller coaster that was terrifying, but I wanted to go again. Instead, my husband got us into the Space Mountain ride, which felt exactly like being in outer space and was twice as terrifying. But I loved it! Sorry, this isn’t the answer to the question, but it brought back all the memories!

Gratitude:
A quote from Roy T Bennett, my photo of Maggie’s rose.

I love the above quote and hope that I can live those words. I certainly try.

Share Your World Monay 13 January 2025

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

1. Of all the household chores (laundry, dusting, hoovering, washing up, cooking etc) which is your least favourite?
I can’t say that I am particularly fond of any household chore but I don’t mind doing the general tidying and cleaning up. I have a dishwasher and other labour-saving devices as well as a weekly helper to do the major cleaning so I can’t complain. Perhaps the least favourite chore is dusting which is a thankless task when the wind blows constantly.

2. With food prices going up all the time, do you buy less, find substitutes, or don’t buy at all?
I often face challenges regarding my food choices. I have a health problem which requires that I avoid certain foods. Maintaining a healthy diet is important to me, so I prioritize purchasing foods that I believe are best for my well-being. I don’t include pasta, rice, breakfast cereals or other processed foods on my shopping list. Additionally, I avoid junk food entirely—I don’t buy biscuits, baked goods, chips, or fizzy drinks.

When responding to my critics, who tell me they cannot afford to eat my way, I ask them to consider how much they spend on rusks, biscuits, Coke, and flour for baking and desserts. What I save by not buying junk food I choose to spend on more expensive fruits and vegetables.

3. Do you enjoy meals with leftovers?
We often have leftovers, and I ‘recycle’ them. Recently, I cooked a leg of lamb for six people. There was enough left over to heat up in a pan and serve again the next evening. I served it with stir-fried cabbage, roast potatoes, and salad. Our guests brought 3 mini Eisbeins which we divided up to add to the dinner. There was still too much for six of us to finish so the following day I minced it all together and made a moussaka which served three of us. Thus a 1.7 kg leg of lamb which cost about R 320 (14 pounds) went quite a long way.

4. Do you prefer bagels, crusty bread, or toast?
Bread and baked goods are rare in my home. However, I find it hard to resist croissants and will have one occasionally. (I am not such a goody two-shoes!)

Gratitude:
I am grateful for the abundance in my life—delicious food, wonderful friends and family, and the good health to enjoy it all. Since returning from a holiday with my family, our home at the tip of Africa has been filled with visitors. How lucky I am!

Share Your World Monday 06 January 2025

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

1. What is the weather like today where you are?
Today is Tuesday 7 January 2025 – I am answering a day after the challenge was posted. I live at the southern tip of Africa. If we’re lucky our mornings will be windless. However, it will blow in the afternoons! So today started slightly overcast with no wind, but now it is hot and windy. Yesterday was also hot and windy. Tomorrow will be hot an windy!

2. Have you booked your annual vacation yet?
We take multiple vacations each year and have just returned from our summer stay in Plettenberg Bay, where we spent time with our daughter. All three of our daughters and two of our grandchildren were also there. After that, we spent a week in Cape Town with another of our daughters. We haven’t booked our next vacation yet. We tend to do things spur of the moment. However, traveling internationally with a South African passport requires careful planning, as most countries require SA tourists to obtain visas. The process of applying for these visas can be both costly and time-consuming. Since we plan to cruise later this year, it’s time to start our preparations.

3. Do you have a passport, and when does it expire?
I do. It expires next month which means I need to go to Home Affairs to renew it next week! In the city this would mean queues hours long. But where I live, it won’t take long.

Taken from the internet – no queues but that’s unusual in most places!

4. When was the last (or first) time you went abroad?
The first time I embarked on an international journey was back in 1988. At thirty-six, I had my adventurous 9-year-old daughter by my side. Our destination? London, to visit my younger brother who resided there. We spent an entire month soaking in the city’s charm. We explored every nook and cranny of London, and the excitement of navigating the tube trains and London buses was an experience my daughter cherished deeply. She fell head over heels for London, later working there for two years in her twenties. To this day, she seizes any opportunity to return.

Christmas in London 1988 – Paddington Bear was a gift from her uncle.

The last time I traveled abroad was in June 2024. My husband, our London-loving daughter, and I spent two weeks exploring London. Afterwards, we joined another daughter for a 10-day Adriatic cruise.

Gratitude:
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to travel both within my own country and abroad. Some of my best travel adventures have been right here in South Africa, where I have explored every province and visited nearly every national park our country has to offer.

Share Your World Monday 30 December 2024

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This is the last SYW of 2024. Here are my answers. Thanks, Di for some lovely questions.

1. Would you consider 2024 to have been a good year?
It hasn’t been a bad year and also not a very busy one. As we get older we are slowing down but having said that when I look back I realise how much we have done compared to other people of our age.

2. What has been the highlight of 2024 for you?
What a great question. Before I looked at this challenge, I had made a list of the highlights of 2024, and there are a few. At the top of the list is our granddaughter’s wedding in April, which included a weekend of fun activities in Cape St. Francis. Then in June, we took an overseas trip – two weeks in England and a 10-day cruise with two of our daughters.

Each month had a highlight of its own.
January – visited my sister at Breede River.
February – We attended the Gecko Caravan Rally at Wilderness.
I was photographer and blogger for the annual Marlin Competition in Struisbaai. March – our quietest month – we stayed home and enjoyed our friend.
May – I was the official photographer for the International Bottom Fish Competition.
In July, my husband turned 80.
We went to Cape Town to attend a special presentation of Springbok/Protea Caps to all those who had represented their country internationally in the past. Earl was the only one to receive a Springbok cap and he received a standing ovation.
In August, we had a visit from our friend Yolandi, and our son-in-law Allan made a detour to a business meeting specifically to visit us.
In September we hosted and catered for Nampo guests for a week.
In October we had a wonderful Caravanning trip to Karoo National Park, Camdeboo National Park and Mountain Zebra National Park.
November and December were marred a little by a severe dose of Diverticulitis but that didn’t stop us travelling to Warmwaterberg and then Plettenberg Bay and Cape Town to end a great year.

3. Did you keep any New Year resolutions if you made any in January?

This is what I wrote in my diary on 1 January 2024 – I do not make New’s Resolutions, but every year I pledge to take one day at a time and live each moment to the fullest. Earl and I are getting older – that is a fact – and may we continue to live a good, interesting, adventurous, and fun life.
I suppose the answer to the question is yes, we have lived each moment to the fullest.

4. Are you looking forward to 2025
Yes, I am. I have no idea what the future holds but a new year is always a time to make fresh plans or just go with the flow. The slate is clean at the moment. We have no plans yet but will embrace any opportunities that come our way.

Gratitude

I love the Meme that Di included in this challenge. I am truly grateful for the blessings I have captured this past year.

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