Here are my answers to this week’s questions from Di 1. Which tastes better: black or green olives? I always have black olives in the fridge, but I also like the green ones. A friend nearby cures his own, and they are delicious. I often put both green and black in a salad. Which are tastier? Well, there are so many different ways they’re bottled, so it depends on what you prefer. I usually buy the normal olives in brine, but they’re so much nicer when infused with rosemary, thyme, oregano, or garlic.
Black olives with bacon, feta and avo on a pizza is to die for
2. What’s your favourite room in your home? The room I spend most time in is the open-plan lounge/kitchen, but I love the dining room, which we call the braai room, as it has an indoor braai place. The lounge has a wood-burning stove, which is stunning in winter as it makes the space cosy. It’s here that we entertain or spend time, just the two of us, watching TV or just being together. I actually enjoy my whole house as each space is specail it its own way.
This is the sitting room area beyond which is another sunny section which opens onto the garden.
3. What fictional family would you be a member of? We joke that we have a very happy dysfunctional family! The fictional family that comes to mind is “The Brady Bunch”. Our family resembles this one in that we are also a blended family – two kids are his and one is mine and we lived in happy chaos while Mr and Mrs Brady seemed more in control of their bunch. But just as our last child was about to fly the nest, the oldest returned with two babies so we became a blended, extended, and even more chaotic family for the next 18 years! No, the Brady Bunch was way too perfect. Now the fictional “My Family” with its abundance of dysfunction is more like it. Our youngest insists that I am just like Susan, and while my husband has certain shades of Ben, he is ever so much nicer. Michael is closest in likeness to my younger grandson, while my oldest grandson is as mischievous as Nick. Janey is cheekier than our oldest daughter, but also brought extra kids into the home. All in all, ours beats both the Bradys and the Harpers, so I’ll stick with them, thank you very much.
2016 Version of Our Blended Extended Family – Son-in-law, Grandpa, Oldest Daughter, Youngest Daughter, Middle Daughter, Grandchild 4, Grandchild 3, Grandson 1, Granny, Grandson 2
4. What did you appreciate or what made you smile this past week? We had the most glorious day at the Southern Tip of Africa yesterday. The Earl and I had breakfast at the new restaurant, Needles, near the Lighthouse in Agulhas. What a stunning venue with amazing views across the ocean. After a spell of chilly weather, I was freshly appreciative of the stunning place we now call home. There is no place in the world I’d rather live.
The Agulhas LighthouseThe food was excellentInside NeedlesView from out tableAnother view from the restaurantThe Road to the Southern TipTwo Cape Bulbuls posed for usThe rocky coastlineMeisho Maru No. 38, a Japanese tuna trawler that ran aground near Cape Agulhas in the early hours of 16 November 1982.
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.
A glass of white tastes even better in Italy
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.
Only the girls received dolls for gifts. A dagger and a cowboy hat for Big Brother!
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.
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.
I keep a diary for most of these reasons – not so sure I’ve improved myself!
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!
July Calendar – room to pencil in new reminders
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!
AI Generated – There is not real photo of me doing this because I don’t!
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.
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!
Boiled Eggs with tomato, camembert, avo and basil pesto is a favourite breakfast of mine.
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!
AI generated
But I love it in a prawn, avo and mango salad or in fact in any salad.
AI Generated – Making a prawn, avo and mango 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!
Ai Generated – Granny making ginger-beer
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!
1. What currency is used in your country? The currency in South Africa is the Rand. It looks good but not worth much! R100 ≈ £4.61, $6.10, €5.35
2. If you travel to a different country, do you rely on card payments, or get some local currency in cash? I arrange with my bank to use my credit card abroad. I make sure there is a healthy balance on it as things are way more expensive overseas than here at home.
3. Do you buy souvenirs for yourself or family? I certainly don’t go out of my way to search for gifts and souvenirs. But if I see something I like, I get it. I do like getting fridge magnets, pens or key rings as gifts – useful stuff! But really my aim is to enjoy experiences not to buy stuff. Having said that there have been times that I have splashed out extravagantly!
This key ring is super useful – It’s a bottle opener, a spoon and a pair of nail clippers! I have saved the day a few times with that bottle opener!I bought this necklace from the Buckingham Palace Gift Shop – A replica of the necklace that the South African People gave Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) on her 21st Birthday which she celebrated in Cape Town. Hers were diamonds – mine Swarovski Crystals
4. When using an unfamiliar currency, are you aware of how much you are spending in your own? Well, the South African Rand does not go far overseas. I plan ahead and budget wisely knowing that I will be spending a lot more overseas than I do at home. Then I try not to calculate in my head what every pound/euro/ dollar is worth when I part with it. Some things are much more expensive overseas but other things are the same. Eating out, transport, and accommodation are more expensive. Food from super-markets is around the same.
When doing a road trip in Australia we self catered and found the food prices pretty much the same as in South Africa – but prawns were cheaper!
Gratitude I am truly grateful that I have had to opportunity to travel. Been there, done that, got the photos and the stories!
I love the poem, Cats Sleep Anywhere by Eleanor Farjeon and it often comes to mind when the cats visit Milkwood Manor!
Cats sleep, anywhere, Any table, any chair Top of piano, window-ledge, In the middle, on the edge, Open drawer, empty shoe, Anybody’s lap will do, Fitted in a cardboard box, In the cupboard, with your frocks- Anywhere! They don’t care! Cats sleep anywhere.
They certainly don’t care and they don’t have any respect for personal space – except of course, their own. Don’t you dare try to insist they come for a cuddle or sleep next to you on the couch – Oh no – Only when it suits them and then their choice of cosy position may be right under you neck with their tail in your face!
Charlie on a freshly made bedBut in the garden will do tooMike agreesAlan improving the decorMike thinks the laundry cupboard is there for his comfortDon’t leave a drawer open – Alan will just think it’s his bedGrandma’s chest will do perfectylSo will Grandpa’s legBaby it’s cold outside – much warmer under the covers with GranRight under for MikeBut on a warm day let’s just stretch out on the couch
These are just a few of the places cats think are comfy – we won’t start on empty boxes and the smallest spaces they can find!
1. It’s a Bank Holiday here in the UK, so a lot of us don’t have to go to work. Are you working today? It is not a holiday here is South Africa but no I am not at work as I am retired.
Visiting De Hoop Nature Reserve on a Work Day!
2. What do you like to do on your days off (not holiday/vacation) In the days that I had a day-job my off days would be spent catching up with reading, visiting friends and relatives, or catching up with chores that needed to be done at home.
Catching up on chores
3. Have you booked a holiday/vacation this year? Perhaps for the first time ever we have not booked a proper vacation or trip this year. We were going join friends an a five-day trip to a game reserve but had to cancel when I took ill and landed up in hospital. I am fully recovered now but did not want to risk having a relapse in the bush, far from medical back-up! We will be going to our children in Plettenberg Bay for the Christmas holidays and will also spend two nights at Addo Elephant park.
Looking forward to visiting Addo in December
4. Have you ever had a Staycation (question definition revised) as per WIKI extract: In the UK, Ireland and Hong Kong, the term has increasingly come to encompass domestic tourism, or taking a holiday in one’s resident country or territory as opposed to traveling abroad. Personal note: this could also be seen as a ‘holiday’ at home or within close proximity of home.
I love the idea of local tourism and yes, we have done a lot of staycations in our own country. There are lots of wonderful places to explore within our own borders and of course the game reserves are our main choice for staycations. I have visited every province in South Africa and seen most of the main tourist attractions but there are still plenty more that are calling to me. I also enjoy exploring our own ‘backyard’ and visiting places that are less than an hour from where we live. It is also fun showing visitors our own special hot spots. I grew up in Cape Town and have visited most of the attractions there except for Robben Island.
Caravanning in Kruger National Park
Gratitude
I recently spent two weeks in hospital and am grateful to the amazing doctors and nursing staff who looked after me. The carers (previously called nurse-aids) were the most tolerant and caring people I have ever met. Nothing was too much trouble and their patience with some difficult patients was humbling.
The thing about me is this: I can be perfectly healthy one minute — bustling about, doing normal chores, feeling quite pleased with myself — and then, without so much as a polite warning, wham! Something sneaks up behind me and floors me into a limp wimp.
Friday, 24 April was meant to be a happy day. My Cape Town kids were on their way, the lodger had vacated their room after breakfast, and I attacked the linen-changing, vacuuming and bathroom-mopping with great enthusiasm. Everything was sparkling, I was sparkling, and the whole house was practically humming with anticipation.
Baby Daughter had taken a week’s leave and was already there. The weather looked promising. Life was good. And then — at precisely 11 a.m. — my body decided to stage a dramatic collapse. A wave of exhaustion hit me so hard I thought, “Oh no. I’ve just survived a UTI and I’m on the last of the antibiotics. I absolutely refuse to be sick again.”
Baby Daughter took one look at my face and said, “Mom, go lie down. You don’t look well.” When your child uses that tone, you obey.
I thought a short nap would sort me out. Instead, I woke at 3 p.m. with a slight cough and a fever of 38.5°C. Lovely.
My GP, naturally, had chosen that exact weekend to be out of town. So off I went the next morning to a different doctor who took one look at me and declared, “It’s Flu.” She prescribed Tamiflu and paracetamol and told me to rest — which was no problem at all because at that point I could barely lift my eyelashes.
Meanwhile, my poor visiting family tiptoed around the house, keeping a respectful distance lest they catch the dreaded lurgy. They carried on gamely without me while I slept, coughed, and generally impersonated a wilted houseplant.
The weekend drifted by in a sort of feverish fog — my temperature rising and falling in perfect synchrony with my paracetamol intake. But improvement? None.
Then came Freedom Day, the Cape Town clan bade me farewell and told me to get well soon as they took their departure. But my body celebrated by staging a small rebellion. A sharp pain in my right breast appeared out of nowhere. Pneumonia, I thought immediately, because the symptom was similar to my 2012 and 2019 attack. The first being no hospital, the second a five-day stint in hospital. Still, I decided to wait for my own GP to return the next day.
First thing Tuesday morning I phoned the practice sister, who told me to come in at 13:15. Perfect. I could manage that, get some antibiotics, and be back to normal in no time.
But at 12 noon — precisely when I was congratulating myself on my timing — a savage chest pain attacked me, shooting down behind my shoulder blade like a lightning bolt with bad manners. I yelled for Baby Daughter, who bundled me into the car. Just as she was about to drive off, a wave of nausea hit me. She shouted for Dad to bring a bucket, but too late – alas, the gutter received the full performance. Not my finest moment.
At the practice they whisked me straight into an examination room. The doctor listened to my heart, started a drip, did an ECG, and Sister handed me a sick-bag while I dry‑heaved like an amateur actress in a medical drama. Something soothing went into the drip, and the nausea finally surrendered.
Then the doctor told Baby Daughter to go home and pack me a bag because they were calling an ambulance. She returned with Dad, who looked only mildly concerned — he’s survived enough of his own medical adventures and knew I would be in good hands.
Hooked to a drip and clutching my treacherous shoulder, I endured the most bone‑rattling ambulance ride imaginable. By the time we arrived, I felt I deserved a bravery medal for surviving the potholes alone.
At casualty I was greeted by a doctor, a sister, and a physician who was casually eating an apple. Naturally, I quipped, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away — yet here you are.” He was not amused.
Then came the usual hospital rituals: blood drawn, probes attached, drip adjusted, and a gown clearly designed by someone with no idea about human dignity. The physician announced, quite calmly, “Your heart is racing. We’re going to shock it back to normal.”
That sounds scary,” I said.
“Not for me,” he replied.
“Nor for me,” added Sister.
Before I could lodge a formal complaint, I was out cold. When I woke, the pain was gone, so naturally I asked if I could go home.
“No,” said Doctor, with the firmness of someone used to stubborn patients.
“Do I have pneumonia?”
“I think so. Your lungs don’t sound good.”
Soon a film crew arrived — not for glamorous me, sadly, but for my misbehaving lungs.
All I wanted was a proper bed and some peace, but instead I was sent to ICU, as both lungs had pneumonia. My area was sealed off with red tape beyond which none should cross unless appropriately attired because I had H1N1 flu as well.
I remained in that appalling backless gown unable to do anything for myself. Masked, gloved angels handled all ablutions with saintly kindness. Most of the time I slept and slept disturbed only to answer questions and endure blood pressure monitoring, prodding, blood-letting and drip insertions.
The meals looked perfectly decent, but my body rejected the idea of food. Alcohol was scandalously forbidden. Drugs, however, were plentiful.
By Thursday the 3rd I was improving and moved to a private ward. Visitors still had to mask up as did I if I left my ward. Assisted by a physiotherapist I shuffled around the nurses’ station for exercise. She also pummelled my back and had me blowing bubbles through a straw into water — ridiculous, yes, but apparently excellent for the lungs.
Then on Sunday, just as I was feeling almost human again, my heart staged another protest, sending pain through my chest and shoulder blade. Back I went to high security, where Doctor treated it with a nil‑by‑mouth medicinal drip. After dreadful pain, half a painkiller, and a sleeping tablet, I drifted off like a tranquilised astronaut.
The next morning, I felt like a wrung‑out dishcloth, but at least the pain had vanished. By Tuesday I was allowed back to my private ward.
After sleeping most of Tuesday, I felt nearly myself by Wednesday. Then an X‑ray, scan, and sonar revealed fluid on my lungs, so on Thursday morning I had a pulmonary tap. I felt fine if a little tired but was sure I was ready to go home with my husband and daughter when they arrived to visit. However, Doctor and Baby Daughter insisted that I first go to a rehab facility to fully recover.
I was meant to be transferred immediately, but the ambulance only collected me the next afternoon (Friday). By then I felt much better, though still tired easily.
As I said in my opening paragraph, I can go from perfect health to an invalid in an instant and the same is true in reverse – I tend to bounce right back. And right now, I am feeling perfectly fine and a fraud for still being in hospital. But the doctor and my family insist that I spend a few days in step-down to ensure I don’t overdo things and have a relapse. Well let me out of here – let me tell you about STEP-DOWN
A lovely new doctor welcomed me and told me that Medical-Aid had approved a week or so of rehab – just lots of rest and gentle exercise, he assured me. Saturday physio began with a brisk walk around the grounds followed by a few leg lifts and squats in the gym – nothing too daunting – I could do this.
It was only on Sunday that I realised that this was not going to be a walk in the park with gentle strolls around the lovely facility. Oh no – it’s more like a Prison camp with a Gestapo Officer after your blood. Sunday afternoon and the torture began.
The Gestapo Officer for marched me round the prison to the torture chamber at a crisp pace then forced me into ankle chains and made me march on the spot for 2 minutes non-stop. This, however, was not enough for her so she made me do Step-ups for another 2 minutes. My pleas for mercy were ignored when, still in chains, she chased me up and down the training steps. After that it was dead lifting a 4kg ball up above my head and down again several times while she yelled keep your back straight. By this time, I was ready to confess all but no I then had to return to my cell by going up and down a flight of steps. Only then was I allowed to confess to the reason I’d landed here in the first place.
Fine – she said – The rest of The Gestapo and I will discuss your case on Tuesday and then make a decision on your release date – depending on your behaviour!
And now there’s an added element that might prevent my early parole – the weather! The hospital is an hour and a half from home and it is storming, trees across roads, flooding, rooves blowing off buildings etc. etc. Too dangerous for Dad and Baby Daughter to come and rescue me. I coped with another torture session this morning and again this afternoon. I did okay so it will be interesting to hear what the parole hearing reveals tomorrow. Weather permitting will I be allowed out? I certainly feel fit enough and if I can endure the tortures of the prison what can possibly go wrong at home?
Do you remember your first date? I had to rummage around my memory for this on as I am not sure what my first date actually was. But this one seems to fit the bill. In primary school I floated happily between boy‑friends and girl‑friends (the innocent kind), and the idea of “dating” was something I had not yet considered. Then came Standard Five (Seventh Grade/Year 7). I was a particularly naive 12-year-old, and was quite annoyed when my girlfriends suggested that Henry was more than ‘just a friend’. He ‘likes’ you,” they informed me. And to be honest he was a really good-looking lad, a year or two older than I was. Now back in the day in South Africa drive-in movies were a thing and families would often head off to one on a Friday or Saturday night. Henry’s family were no exception so when I was invited to go along with them I innocently accepted, I sat next to Henry in the back seat while his younger brother sat shotgun with Mom. Halfway through the movie, Henry took my hand. Before I could even decide whether this was thrilling or terrifying, his mother turned around, spotted us, and chirped, “Oh, how cute!” I almost died of embarrassment. This was just before they were due to move to another city. His mom cheekily asked, ‘Henry, what are you going to do when we leave?” He broke into song with lyrics from The Searchers – “
Goodbye, my love Goodbye, my love Though I love you truly It was meant to be That I’d lose your love Goodbye, my love, goodbye
AI Generated
He was not embarrassed in the slightest. Meanwhile, I was busy evaporating from mortification.Twelve‑year‑old me was not built for that level of drama.
Did you belong to a youth club or similar in your teens? Yes indeed. Back in the day I travelled by train from Fish Hoek to Plumstead – a half hour ride – along with some others to attend a lovely church youth club. Today there is no way that it would be safe to travel on a train, there and back at night and then walk home in the dark!
AI generated – Teens on a train in the sixties
Can you roller skate? Well, I could – and maybe I still can but I wouldn’t put that to the test. When I was a child we used to roller skate on the paving outside some shops – after closing time. The windows were plate glass and the shop owners were terrified we’d crash into them – but we never did!
AI generated Image
What did you have for breakfast this morning? This morning I cooked scrambled eggs, bacon, banana, mushrooms and tomatoes which I served to my hubby and my guest, Andrew. On the side was toast, butter and jam. And of course a good strong cup of coffee made in the Nespresso Machine with StarbuckS Italian Blend Pods. Breakfast is my favourite meal and all my married life my darling husband has been the one to cook them both at home, in the bush and wherever we might find ourselves. These days I have had to take over most of the cooking of all meals and I thought I had to have a photo of one of my breakfasts, but I don’t! So here I am posting one of his.
Breakfast alfresco at our home in the early days of Struisbaai – Garden still very bare! Scrambled eggs filled with delectable mushrooms, bacon and banana!
This is the meme for this week’s Gratitude
I have learned in my old age that indeed I am enough as I am. But I am grateful for all the awesome people in my life who are also enough as they are!
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.
Sonja’s Homemade Hot Cross Buns
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.
Hunting eggsA long time agoNot so long agoA different yearStill loving their eggs
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.
Photo from the internet – for once, I was not playing paparazzi!
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.
I bought ones like these for the kids
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!
AI Generated
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!”
Adventuring into Retirement 