E - Vida

Since Tuesday, I decided to compile a Food Journal. I had heard that it was an excellent way to keep track of what I plough into my mouth. I mean, knowledge is power, right? So far this week we have enjoyed all of one sunny day in Cape Town, and P-J and I celebrated it all through morning peak hour traffic and up to the tennis courts in Gardens. Beautiful! Finishing off just before 10h00 I felt amped to live a healthier life! It reminded me of our time in Johannesburg, playing tennis at Zoo Lake and living on fast paced living, garden salad and freshly squeezed orange juice! And then came the rain... And it hasn't stopped since. So, I have deduced the following: 1. Keeping a Food Journal doesn't work when it rains. You stay indoors and you eat everything short of the door handle - just in case the rain eases up, you'll need to use that door handle to escape to the store to re-stock! 2. Keeping a Food Journal doesn't work when it's cold. You eat, and eat, and eat som

Take a look at these awesome before and after comparisons! BEFORE: and AFTER: Stained doors, new couches, laminated flooring, clean tiles, a sparkling wash basin, chic curtains, fresh coats of paint... ...And working lights overhead (that's a biggie)! The aim of the project was to "...expose the school to more helping hands..." and although many hands worked tirelessly to prep, work and decorate this now face-lifted Staff Room, they maintain that being able to serve others in this way was all the reward they could've asked for.

While some of us report to work as per usual, and others (in South Africa) enjoy an extended weekend snuggled warmly and relaxing indoors, there is a team of vivacious young ladies tackling ' Project Philippi' - as I've nicknamed it - the makeover of parts of the premises at Phillipi Children's Centre in Cape Town. Based in Weltevreden Road, Mitchells Plain, this Daycare hosts up to 120 children on a daily basis, providing them with basic education, food, shelter and general supplies. A request was made a few months ago for volunteers to tackle this project on the centre's behalf and these ladies; Kim Fisher, Candice Jonker and Ilana Jacobs rose to the challenge. For weeks they have been preparing for this task - sourcing materials, donations and man power to help them serve the staff and children at Philippi Children's Centre in this big way. On Thursday they started by cleaning and scrubbing all of the surfaces in preparation for Friday's plan: Paint! Onc

My Grandfather's Hands My Gramps' hands They held me tight The day that I was born I'm told he sang a lullaby and drew me close and warm Picking fruit in the back garden And bike rides 'round the block His hands would clean a scrape or cut Soothe when I took a knock When my plaster cast came off His hands stretched out to steady He said, "Move forward slowly girl, step when you are ready..." Gramps' hands provided A light mid-afternoon snack: Half a dumpie guava juice And Flanagans crisps - green pack To keep school extra-mural dates He'd help pick up the pace He'd call me Desperado and carry my violin case Gramps' hands would give me A sturdy birthday shake He'd say, "Another year older...Now behave for heaven's sake!" And as I walked the aisle that day And his hand just brushed past mine I had no doubt of his love for us As sure as the sun would shine! And when he took our baby girl So gently in his care My heart