Another first!
This weekend I went into the ceiling to turn down the geyser temperature. Being summer, dropping the temperature is a simple means of saving on electricity. This should have been a two minute job in the ceiling which instead became a major mission.
My oldest son has always pestered me to take him into the roof with me. This time I agreed, except that I put him to work up there with me. Together we cleaned the space between the roof and the ceiling. This is not a job I recommend for the faint hearted, nor a job that should really ever be necessary. For some reason the various workmen who have worked on our house have left a frightful mess in the rafters. Luke and I removed three large sacks of junk; including geyser valves, piping, wiring, wood, bricks, a massive birds nest, newspapers, and boxes.
It was hard, hot work but now another item that was never on my to do list has been checked off it.
And I am now most likely the first person you have ever heard of, that has cleaned above his ceiling!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Belly on Film
Donna and I had heaps of fun the other night. We took pregnant belly photographs.
Donna trawled through the net and selected a couple of photographs that she really liked. Next we set up my alternative photographic studio and got busy recreating some really great pictures. Our sons were not the most willing of models, but we persevered and succeeded.
Our three children
My wonderful wife
My Family
We then tried to capture the sensual nature of pregnancy in a tasteful manner. Our bookkeeper almost blushed when she saw a large print of one of those pictures. Just kidding, she was seriously impressed. Unfortunatelythey cannot be found here...
No matter how hard you look!
Donna trawled through the net and selected a couple of photographs that she really liked. Next we set up my alternative photographic studio and got busy recreating some really great pictures. Our sons were not the most willing of models, but we persevered and succeeded.
Our three children
My wonderful wife
My Family
We then tried to capture the sensual nature of pregnancy in a tasteful manner. Our bookkeeper almost blushed when she saw a large print of one of those pictures. Just kidding, she was seriously impressed. Unfortunatelythey cannot be found here...
No matter how hard you look!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
More words
I have started to write again!
For so long my book has limped along. The days left over minutes used to distil the big idea. Last minute thoughts rushed into comprehension. Words pounded out before they flit away into nothingness. All tied together in a cacophony of noise.
I have been blessed with some time in between projects. Time to ponder. Time to revise my fourth book plan into my fifth. Time to carefully choose my thoughts, ideas, and words. To weave a story that pours forth love and hope. That asks uncomfortable questions. That challenges one to be more and do more.
The responsibility is big. The time has been given, but I must use it to produce this gift for others.
The new plan is different and bold, but for the first time since I started, I know I can deliver it!
For so long my book has limped along. The days left over minutes used to distil the big idea. Last minute thoughts rushed into comprehension. Words pounded out before they flit away into nothingness. All tied together in a cacophony of noise.
I have been blessed with some time in between projects. Time to ponder. Time to revise my fourth book plan into my fifth. Time to carefully choose my thoughts, ideas, and words. To weave a story that pours forth love and hope. That asks uncomfortable questions. That challenges one to be more and do more.
The responsibility is big. The time has been given, but I must use it to produce this gift for others.
The new plan is different and bold, but for the first time since I started, I know I can deliver it!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Neighbours and Friends
What a weekend. A medley of social interaction with friends and neighbours that was staggering in its fun quotient!
It all started off with drinks at a neighbour’s house. Drinks quickly became an impromptu dinner which was lovely in that it was good time shared. I have to wonder how many people can walk down their street and be surrounded by friends.
Saturday involved a walk up a mountain as part of a church youth group meeting. Presumably I was there in order to oversee a bunch of impressionable youngsters and was greeted instead to a rather large family event. The youngsters had all brought their parents and siblings. It was a wonderful morning of shared joy in the beauty of nature and the exertion of a good hard walk. My five year old did me proud and managed to complete the three hour expedition on his own albeit at his pace!
Later that evening another neighbour dropped in to drop off some stuff she had borrowed. Soon the rest of her family had been invited and we all sat down to share dinner and some of that red liquid stuff, rather famous in the Cape. Again, I had to wonder about our neighbourhood, does this happen to anyone else?
Sunday saw an old work college over to lunch. What a joy to hear and see her confidence and happiness in life again. The spark of life within completely renewed! And then dinner saw some more old friends and their family arrive and another thoroughly entertaining meal shared.
My wife and I are inordinately blessed with amazing friendships. Sometimes it takes a bit of effort to rekindle the connections but all of that effort is infinitely rewarded within the warm glow of sharing time together!
Oh yes, and friendship goes very well with food!
It all started off with drinks at a neighbour’s house. Drinks quickly became an impromptu dinner which was lovely in that it was good time shared. I have to wonder how many people can walk down their street and be surrounded by friends.
Saturday involved a walk up a mountain as part of a church youth group meeting. Presumably I was there in order to oversee a bunch of impressionable youngsters and was greeted instead to a rather large family event. The youngsters had all brought their parents and siblings. It was a wonderful morning of shared joy in the beauty of nature and the exertion of a good hard walk. My five year old did me proud and managed to complete the three hour expedition on his own albeit at his pace!
Later that evening another neighbour dropped in to drop off some stuff she had borrowed. Soon the rest of her family had been invited and we all sat down to share dinner and some of that red liquid stuff, rather famous in the Cape. Again, I had to wonder about our neighbourhood, does this happen to anyone else?
Sunday saw an old work college over to lunch. What a joy to hear and see her confidence and happiness in life again. The spark of life within completely renewed! And then dinner saw some more old friends and their family arrive and another thoroughly entertaining meal shared.
My wife and I are inordinately blessed with amazing friendships. Sometimes it takes a bit of effort to rekindle the connections but all of that effort is infinitely rewarded within the warm glow of sharing time together!
Oh yes, and friendship goes very well with food!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Salt Water & Camels
The emergency board meeting was held in fine conditions this morning. Hardly a breath of wind, a little bit of swell, and just three board members at the right spot made all of the difference. No notes were taken, although a couple of pictures were snapped. All were happy that it was pictures and not boards being snapped!
I was a little concerned about my ability this morning, especially considering my blow out just over a day ago. I was incredibly tired in the water but that did not stop me getting my quota of waves. Uncharacteristically I was able to call it quits at the right time, even thought the ocean kept on dishing up delectable wave slides for our pleasure. Perhaps I am starting to mature?
Take a good look at 2 of our Directors hard at work in the boardroom.
I was a little concerned about my ability this morning, especially considering my blow out just over a day ago. I was incredibly tired in the water but that did not stop me getting my quota of waves. Uncharacteristically I was able to call it quits at the right time, even thought the ocean kept on dishing up delectable wave slides for our pleasure. Perhaps I am starting to mature?
Take a good look at 2 of our Directors hard at work in the boardroom.
Back in my street, Christmas has come early! Our house has been kindly decorated, and the three wise men are planning on riding their camels up and down all day. Yes, just another bizarre day over here as an advert is shot for an overseas cell phone company. Camel rides will be offered to the children in the street a little later and I have no doubt that the film crew will be surprised by the number of little critters that live here!
Another incredible day in Africa!!
Another incredible day in Africa!!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Listen up
Last night I blew it again!
You would think that I know my body better than this. I have lived with it for all of my life and still it sneakily catches me out when I least suspect. Truthfully, I had a suspicion last night that not all was right, but used the override switch in my brain to keep on going.
I had a late night on Tuesday night, carousing with a visiting friend from Johannesburg. Then there was the issue of a lingering cold. Just a little cold, really the tail end of one! Added to that was a minimal intake of water for the day. I arrived at Judo last night with my boys and all of their stuff but sans top half of my judogi. Obviously my brain was way ahead of me by pretending to be behind! I took my time going home to collect it; including then taking a picture of a marvellous rainbow that graced the skies.
You would think that I know my body better than this. I have lived with it for all of my life and still it sneakily catches me out when I least suspect. Truthfully, I had a suspicion last night that not all was right, but used the override switch in my brain to keep on going.
I had a late night on Tuesday night, carousing with a visiting friend from Johannesburg. Then there was the issue of a lingering cold. Just a little cold, really the tail end of one! Added to that was a minimal intake of water for the day. I arrived at Judo last night with my boys and all of their stuff but sans top half of my judogi. Obviously my brain was way ahead of me by pretending to be behind! I took my time going home to collect it; including then taking a picture of a marvellous rainbow that graced the skies.
I had hoped to miss most of the exercise session but found the class still busy on my return. I hoped they were almost finished. Boy was I wrong. The exercise session seemed to be forever including some new and marvellous inventions which I may have enjoyed on other occasions. My body was saying nooooo, but the switch in my brain was firmly on.
Even Sensei asked me twice if I was OK. Eventually I had to admit defeat and leave the mat. My world was spinning, my stomach heaving, my head pounding, and my throat dry as a bone.
I had just pushed too hard and too far.
No fear, after a dismal night, I am fine and dandy now.
Just in time for some big waves in the morning. A friend up the road invited me to an EMERGENCY board meeting at 05h45. He suggested that I don’t make any notes. I can’t wait!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Love & Providence
Beware, this is deep!
I am struggling with a couple of concepts. The first is that when life is spent serving others with love, it is filled with an inner peace and joy that far surpasses that gained by any other means. Seems to be simple enough and surely everyone has experienced this at some or other point in their lives, but how on earth does one centre one’s life on this principle?
I have long been a student of business; thinking big and out of the box. Taking a concept and blowing away the world with it! How wonderful the financial rewards, the adulation, and heaps of respect from one’s peers! Yet if I am to centre my life on serving others, I would no longer be the hero but rather a support player. In fact, if I am to serve with love, the most important aspect of every interaction is the outpouring of my love for the other person. The rest is meaningless...
Another concept is based on Mother Theresa. MT founded and ran the Missionaries of Charity on the firm belief that God would provide. She went so far as to stipulate that none of her sisters would be involved in any form of fund raising. Incredible for an organisation that ran over 300 houses in 5 of the continents with more than 2400 women in the early 80’s, all focussed on loving the poorest of the poor. So how does one go about trusting God to look after one’s well being? How does one even begin to think like this when one must support a family?
I assume it is all possible; living a life of service, an outpouring of love, under God’s providence. But taking that first step...
I am struggling with a couple of concepts. The first is that when life is spent serving others with love, it is filled with an inner peace and joy that far surpasses that gained by any other means. Seems to be simple enough and surely everyone has experienced this at some or other point in their lives, but how on earth does one centre one’s life on this principle?
I have long been a student of business; thinking big and out of the box. Taking a concept and blowing away the world with it! How wonderful the financial rewards, the adulation, and heaps of respect from one’s peers! Yet if I am to centre my life on serving others, I would no longer be the hero but rather a support player. In fact, if I am to serve with love, the most important aspect of every interaction is the outpouring of my love for the other person. The rest is meaningless...
Another concept is based on Mother Theresa. MT founded and ran the Missionaries of Charity on the firm belief that God would provide. She went so far as to stipulate that none of her sisters would be involved in any form of fund raising. Incredible for an organisation that ran over 300 houses in 5 of the continents with more than 2400 women in the early 80’s, all focussed on loving the poorest of the poor. So how does one go about trusting God to look after one’s well being? How does one even begin to think like this when one must support a family?
I assume it is all possible; living a life of service, an outpouring of love, under God’s providence. But taking that first step...
Monday, October 5, 2009
Memories
While in Johannesburg, we descended on my wife’s parents. A suggestion was made that we eat in the restaurant on site in the complex where they stay. Rude son in law that I am, I proposed an alternative, ‘how about we eat at your place’. I thought that my proposal was rather attractive, especially seeing as my mother in law is a great cook. To sweeten the deal, I offered to clean up afterwards. This was probably the clincher!
Our arrival at their place was conjoined with inspiration. For all the years that I can remember, my father in law has been talking about the thousands of brilliant slides packed away in special wooden boxes in his garage. Somehow I badgered him into finding the slides and dusting off the old slide projector. After about 30 minutes of intellectualism, we finally figured out how to get the slide cartridge into the projector. Actually not we, I was clueless, having never worked a slide projector in my life. With much trepidation, the switch was flicked and the projector beamed out a brilliant white light, just as it was supposed to do.
We spent the better part of the day well down memory lane, immersed in family history. A wonderful insight into my wife’s family!
Recently one of my neighbours had requested some help with the scanning and retouching of old black and white photographs. That exercise probably precipitated my own thought on the wealth of photographic material within the family. Now armed with a large suitcase full of these slides, a rather challenging project awaits my attention. Hopefully I have not bitten off more than I can chew, but surely the right time to deal with memories of the past is while everyone is still able to enjoy them, instead of eventually leaving behind a bunch of useless and unappreciated treasures.
And the Steak and Guinness pie was nothing short of exquisite. As is the norm!
Our arrival at their place was conjoined with inspiration. For all the years that I can remember, my father in law has been talking about the thousands of brilliant slides packed away in special wooden boxes in his garage. Somehow I badgered him into finding the slides and dusting off the old slide projector. After about 30 minutes of intellectualism, we finally figured out how to get the slide cartridge into the projector. Actually not we, I was clueless, having never worked a slide projector in my life. With much trepidation, the switch was flicked and the projector beamed out a brilliant white light, just as it was supposed to do.
We spent the better part of the day well down memory lane, immersed in family history. A wonderful insight into my wife’s family!
Recently one of my neighbours had requested some help with the scanning and retouching of old black and white photographs. That exercise probably precipitated my own thought on the wealth of photographic material within the family. Now armed with a large suitcase full of these slides, a rather challenging project awaits my attention. Hopefully I have not bitten off more than I can chew, but surely the right time to deal with memories of the past is while everyone is still able to enjoy them, instead of eventually leaving behind a bunch of useless and unappreciated treasures.
And the Steak and Guinness pie was nothing short of exquisite. As is the norm!
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