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Here we are, almost at the end of another year. I’m gearing up for an annual Christmas Family Visit. It’s important for me to spend Christmas with family. Solo living is fine during the year, but Christmas is family time. So I’m offering you below a family-themed Christmas story, one of my favourites. I wrote it in 2017 when I was very active in the West Coast Writers’ Circle. I toyed with the…

Right. So here we are again, after my forced departure. I was so peeved: there I was, blogging away, enjoying being back in the Blogoverse, re-connecting with my Faithful Followers, adding to my list of future blog topics, when bam! no more typing for you, lady. Sigh. Ageing can can be a real pain, both literally and metaphorically. I was browsing my list of future topics and am still fascinated…

I’m announcing a pause in the daily blog posts. Due to unforeseen circumstances … normal transmission will resume shortly … Hopefully around the end of the week. Stay tuned!

Today I baffled an algorithm. Usually its the other way round. The circumstances? I was trying to register for a chain store’s loyalty program in order to get a nice, juicy discount. And pensioners love discounts. Well, this one does. But, alas! PEP Stores system just could not cope with my ID number, and refused to accept me as a loyal customer. The baffled shop assistant said apologetically…

Periodically I check in to see whats happening on the Dull Women’s Cat Club page, on Facebook. Predictably: not much. Many pictures of beloved furry companions, and accounts of reading, gardening, walking, coffee dates with friends, and of course, cat-keeping. Vignettes from quiet lives. The contributors often express gratitude for their humdrum, peaceful lives. Many of them are middle aged and…

I’m taking the day off. We’re having a heatwave. 34deg C for two days running: I don’t function in such heat. But here’s a link to one of my favourite short stories, something light and (I hope) entertaining. https://despatchesfromtimbuktu.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3098&actio If the link won’t co-operate, use the Search thingy and hunt for THE FAVOUR. Enjoy. P.S Treat neighbours…

Today I’m not on an outraged rant. No. Today I am absolutely BOGGLED. Yes, I’ve been listening to the 6 a.m. news. And I can hardly believe my ears. Apparently 400 (yes, 400, this is not a typo) political parties have registered for next year’s mid-year national and local elections. It’s cheap to register a party, on a sliding scale of R5 000 to R2 000, depending on category, national, local…

I have just engaged in my daily early morning convo with my companion. As I lurch out of bed, Gingi bustles in, issuing a string of low rumbles, chirps, trills, semi-purrs and a host of other sounds, which I fancifully assume to be a litany of : aatlast!where’smybreakfastwhydoyouhangaroundinbedsolongI’vebeenwideawakesince4 a.m.andI’mstarving!oh,allrightgoodmorningtoyoutoodogetaMOVEON ….. this…

My mood is bleak. Not the best time to be writing a blog post. Let’s face it, we can’t channel Pollyanna 24/7, 365 straight. Well, I can’t. I frequently receive Morning Greetings urging me to be positive, whatever happens: BE POSITIVE. Not after hearing the following stats on the radio morning news. In 2024 South Africa recorded 96 248 teenage births, that is: girls between the ages of 10 and…

I’m so glad Halloween is over. I am not a fan. I’ve always thought of it as an American holiday, and totally Disneyfied to boot. Here in the Southern Hemisphere during November, the African sun is blazing down, summer has arrived and there’s nothing dark or spooky anywhere. I get it that the Northern Hemisphere is dark, gloomy, and sombre at this time of year so I suppose it makes more sense…

Good morning., Yes, it’s Monday again. I want to talk about the Monday myth: Jubilation on Friday and Deepest Gloom on Monday. My WhatsApp feed is brimming with grim Monday memes, mostly from my contemporaries. Friends: did you not receive the memo? We are retired. In my case, for 25 years. We don’t have to report for work today, we can relax! Get with the plot! Have a fabulous Monday!

So here we are, Day 2. Morning, dear Faithful Followers. Yesterday’s comments cheered me no end. Thank you. Today I woke at 05h00, and I was COLD. A quick look at the Weather App on my phone, supplied the answer :10 degrees C. And this is the beginning of summer! no wonder I was cold! My hardy, weather-proof Northern hemisphere followers are probably scornfully muttering: 10 degrees :Hah! a…

That stalwart blogger, Jan Wilberg, of Red’s Wrap, reports that she’s going to post a blog-a-day, during November, prompted by a suggestion on the site BlogHer .And I know she will. So: I’m likewise inspired. My poor languishing, neglected blog desperately needs some TLC. Never mind the TLC, just a few posts would be helpful. Will I hit the target? Doubtful.I’m very bad at completing projects.…

This post has been languishing on my hard-drive for some years, because I had no photos to show you the charm of Obs. For whatever reason, I never took any pics on my visit, and I”ve failed to find any since, so I’m afraid you’ll just have to use your imagination. My friend has invited me to visit a coffee shop cum bookstore in Observatory. It goes without saying that I’m always keen to visit a…

Positively blinding, I tell you. Another long outstanding task done and dusted. Literally. My intricately carved Chinese chest stands in my entrance hall, and therefore close to the front door. Now Cape Town is notoriously windy, so every time the door is opened, more dust blows in, and nestles cozily around the aforementioned intricate carving, all those little notches, frets, folds and…

*JAP:  Just a paragraph to keep my blog ticking over, whilst I’m busy with longer writing projects. My very first Valentine’s Day  card was floral, pink and blue, and covered in glitter.  I knew who it was from : Love – Sven, was a bit of a giveaway! Sven was a pimply Swedish schoolboy, in the Sixth Form, at nearby Milton Boys School. His family were friendly with my BFF’s family, also Swedish…

This is a post about natural instinct, those hardwired drives, common to all living beings. In this instance a young mother dove, determined to hatch and raise chicks; my cat, very interested in a baby bird snack; and me, the observer and photographer. Not an easy combination. Gingi, got really fed up with house arrest, just before the chicks left the next. The photos were all taken from inside…