Monday, November 4, 2019

Huge highs and a sudden low.

The last few weeks have been a blur, all I have thought about is rugby.  I haven't even looked to see what cricket is on!

The initial blow of losing to the Kiwis in the opening game, was a harsh blow, especially considering that I think we could have won it, had it not been for our "favourite" ref presiding over that game.

However, as Madiba said, we as a nation, should be judged by how often we get back up, rather than our successes, and get back up we did. We just never give up. We as a nation, are a bit like Faf - we are tenacious and brave, we don't submit to bullies and we give it horns!  AND we do it with smiles on our faces.

I feel like I have to write this now to "debrief" after all the emotions of the last few days. 




We made arrangements to watch the game at a really cool sports bar in Luxembourg City. We had watched the last two games there, and I reckon they knew us by then.

In typical South African style, I was amped and prepared. I made my banner, I made and printed out some Good Luck stickers, that I stuck onto little chocolates that I bought, to give out to supporters of both sides, I had my flags, shirts, socks, my face paints, I even took my bluetooth speaker so I could pump out IMPI as our boys walked onto the pitch - and, I KNEW THEY WOULD WIN, so I already had Shosholoza all lined up to play loudly at the end. I have never been so ready to be a champion! :)

I was fully prepared to be outnumbered by English supporters, and I was happy because we all love watching with the opposition, it just adds so much of a vibe. I had visions of the place decked out in English flags, but not one was to be found. Not even painted on a face! I thought that was so weird! 

A lot of interesting facts came out about this RWC final, and I am going to place them here, although they have been shared a gazillion times online, but this way I have a record.
  • 32 points is the most SA ever scored in a Final.
  • The Bokke win margin of 20 pts is the 2nd biggest in World Cup history.
  • Chester Williams and James Small, the Bokke who wore the 11 and 14 jerseys in the 1995 World Cup Final, both passed away in 2019. Our two tries scored in the 2019 Final came from Bok jerseys 11 and 14.
  • Today was also the first time the Bokke scored tries in a Final.
  • The Bokke are the only team in history to never concede a try in the Final.
  • The Bokke are the only team in the world who have never lost in a World Cup final.
  • The Bokke are also the first team in history to win the World Cup after losing their first World Cup opening pool game.
  • The Bokke became the first team in history to win the Rugby Championship (old Tri Nations) and the World Cup in one year.
  • The Bokke have won 3 World Cups in 7 tournaments. (New Zealand could only win 3 World Cups in 9 tournaments).
  • Frans Steyn became only the second Springbok player in history to win 2 World Cup medals.
  • Handre Pollards 20 points today is the most points ever scored by a South African in a Final.
  • Siya Kolisi is the first black Captain of the Springboks. His full name, Siyamthanda, means “We love him” (and love him, we do!) and it was his 50th cap for the Bokke.

Aannnyyywaayyy - we arrived there and "decorated" our corner with SA flags and banners, chatted to people as they came in, probably just annoyed people in general, you know what we're like, talking to random strangers is easy - especially in a sporting environment. Suddenly we spotted another couple come in in BOK shirts. I just rushed over and hugged them! They hadn't booked and it was full, we had 2 seats that were not being used, so I invited them to sit with us, and it was good to have some back up of our own mense (considering we were also sharing the table with an Englishman!) 

As the guys started coming out, I blared my IMPI out, but ai foeitog, my speaker was only heard by about 2 tables, and so it did not have the impact of Johnny Clegg, but jirre, I tried. I was going to attempt to sing REALLY loudly myself... but realised that without significant Saffer support, I would just look like a crazy person, which technically I don't mind (as you know) but I didn't want to be thrown out and then miss the game. So I decided to just conform to the norm. 



Then the anthems. You have to stand people. It's your anthem! Sang my little heart out, tried verrrry hard not to cry - and then, I think I stopped breathing for 80 minutes.  

Those of you who had stuff to say about Fafs kicking and Willies catching - I hope you have grovelled your repenting hearts out. We TOLD you there was a plan people!!  You mos know Rassie - the man with a plan.  (I said that in an Afrikaans accent - can you hear it?!) 

 I had been screaming every time the ball got anywhere near Cheslin - "GET IT TO CHESLIN!!!!!!!!!!   At one point, I thought I may lose my voice!  I was so desperate for the loo, (I had a beer with breakfast - holly ha) but I thought I cannot go, because if I go, there will be a try and I will miss it.  Eventually, I had to go, and blow me down with a feather, if I did not hear screaming the minute I closed the booths door. I just thought "Dammit Donner, that's so loud the flipping English have scored."  I opened the door, and a lady said "You scored!" Freaking heck, for the handful of Saffers there, we made a lot of noise. AND I MISSED CHESLINS TRY!!!  I MISSED IT AND HAD TO WATCH THE REPLAY.  I did consider just going to sit in the loo for the last few minutes, because maybe they would score again, but I didn't. Obviously.  I was too excited.

That 2nd half, it was all us. They didn't stand a chance. It was such a moment - I don't know if I teared up only because we won, or also because if I could have transported my whole self to Cape Town at that moment, I would have, just to be there for the celebrations. I have realised that we really KNOW HOW to celebrate.

I tried to play Shosholoza - but again, speaker too soft and not enough Saffers to make it happen. Within about 15 minutes the bar had pretty much emptied, except for a handful of English who were just waiting for the next soccer game, and some Saffers. I think that was also a shock to us. At home, we would watch with the opposition, and then hang out together, win or lose, laughing or crying, we would braai and make it a day to remember. It's the FINAL. So My Man and I had a beer, a couple of people popped over so we could all have photos taken together - another Saffer, one Englishman, and the manager of the place.  But the place was basically empty.

Then we left. That is really when I wanted to find an alleyway and just tjunk my heart out. I was waving my flag, it was a Saturday morning, the markets were on, the squares were full - and no-one knew what just happened. I was just some woman carrying an unknown flag. Nothing was different.  Yet, for us - EVERYTHING was different. It was such a let down leaving the pub. It made the whole morning feel like a dream, and now you've awoken and it never happened. Stuff it, I still carried my flag, and I held it out of the car window all the way home, and put it outside our house for the night. 

Sure, there has to be a winner and a loser. England thought they had it in the bag, because, to be fair, they had a damn good series, all the wins... their one mistake was underestimating us. Never listen to the stats. The united force of a whole nation behind a team doesn't adhere to stats.


On top of that excitement - Our Coach won Coach of the Year, Pieter Steph du Toit won Player of the Year and the Bokke won Team of the Year and the whole darn thing. This is how we celebrate at home. Bokke, you biscuits - we love you!



.


Wednesday, October 9, 2019

In Memory of My Aunt...

My aunt passed away suddenly last week. It was so unexpected and we found ourselves reeling in shock, trying to process everything. 

I think she would cringe at the thought of this post, and even more so if I had to put a photograph of her on a public platform, so I won't put up a pic.

I remember growing up and living pretty close to Aunty L. We spent quite a bit of time there and she was always happy to see me and we would just chat away  - I remember one day clearly. I wanted to sew something. I must have been 7 or 8 years old. She found me some brown material,  a big piece, I could lie on it, and she gave me some scissors, buttons and bits 'n pieces, and just let me basically destroy that material, which I am now sure, must have been earmarked for something else.  

I also remember when I was still little, I must have been cross with my mom, so I wanted to run away to Aunty L. I packed my little old brown box suitcase, and headed off. But I had to cross the road, and I wasn't allowed to without my mom, so I had to go home!  

More recently, our encounters were often while we had both just "popped down to Spar" to find supper, and we would find ourselves catching up in the carpark, rather than over coffee!

She reminded me of a pixie. She wore her hair short, and she was beautiful, and oh my gosh, she was funny. When she laughed her eyes just lit up. She had a wonderful sense of humour and a quick wit. She was a talented draftswoman, and also so gifted in the prophetic, often writing out, in the most beautiful calligraphy, a word for people that she had been given for them. She loved Hebrew, and spent so much time learning it, which gave her real insight into Scripture and the Jewish culture that she loved so much.

Having said all that, she was almost reclusive, and I don't think she saw in herself what others saw. She seemed to live her life almost trapped as an "extra" in her own movie, playing a brilliant supporting role rather than being the main actress.

I keep thinking of 2 Cor. 3:17-19: " Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

and I am grateful that she is free.

I have this image of her, a part of his Bride, seeing Him now with an unveiled view, looking radiant, laughing, and dancing. Seeing Him, and seeing herself as He sees her.  She is bursting with joy. She is truly free.

More people than you ever dreamed would miss you, will miss you. 

You are so loved.

We'll see you again.

Shalom.


Tuesday, October 1, 2019

#Illbeback

We are beyond the halfway mark of our adventure here, and we find ourselves saying..... "When we go home, we ..."

People often ask us why we want to come back, with everything that goes on at home - but honestly, things go on everywhere. Nowhere is perfect, but so far SA is about as close to perfect a place for me.  (Funnily enough, foreigners who have been to SA ask what are doing here!)


Don't misunderstand me, I am not unhappy here, I am completely content - but I am excited that I have so much to look forward to.

Every time I come home on holiday, and I get out of that plane at CPT INT, my heart skips a beat. I am so warmly greeted by huge smiles and at customs they welcome me home, and I know I am, indeed, home.   The longer we are away, the more I miss it.

I cannot wait to:

This is where my heart is.  This is my home.

  • smell the sea every morning.
  • see the whales, penguins, seals and dolphins
  • feel serious wind, the kind that slams your car door shut, lifts your dress and causes you hair to tangle,
  • see our mountains every.single.day.
  • see sunset every. single. night
  • go for runs in wide open spaces
  • hear the crickets at night... even if it's behind the fridge!
  • hear people yelling at one another across the road
  • feel the energy and the noise and the colour and the accents,
  • to talk to the petrol attendant, the car guard or lady at the till
  • to eat fish and chips while watching the sun go down
  • to go to my "office", complain about the terrible coffee, but live with it because of the view
  • to go and watch cricket at Newlands
  • to hear the Hadeda at 04h00, and curse him for waking us up
  • to be able to jump in the pool after gardening
  • have varied landscapes around every corner
  • to have people just "pop in" for a visit on the way to wherever they were going
  • just be able to see my family whenever I want to.

#ImStaying





Monday, July 1, 2019

About Loss and Worth

I love feeding the birds in my garden. I only have a couple of varieties that frequent, but they bring me so much  joy. I have just witnessed a couple of batches of babies, I have begun to recognise individuals, and have named a few.  This will be the last week I feed them, because they need to be wild and free.

Last week I was watching them, and a whole family of sparrows descended at once, and I caught myself thinking, "Eh, it's just sparrows."  Of all the birds that visit, they are the least colourful, most difficult to recognise individually and most plentiful. 

I was suddenly reminded of the verse where Jesus says:   

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care."

God has no trouble recognising individual sparrows. He knows each one and when one falls, he knows, and he cares.

Recently a beautiful friend of mine passed away. She was anything but a common sparrow. She stood out from the crowd, not because she was 7ft tall, (which she wasn't) but because of who she was. 

M was this extraordinary person who always seemed to be "saving" people. She had a knack of seeing people through their darkest times and always listening.  She was one of the most empathetic and compassionate people I've known.

She was an optimist who always saw the glass half full, with a wonderful sense of humour and a great full-on laugh!  We didn't agree on everything, but that didn't deter the friendship. 

She was also one of the most determined people I have ever met. I remember vividly a conversation we had when she wanted to have a baby. She was a nurse, so she had an understanding of the medical profession, and the medical profession had told her that she would never have a child. She was hearing all the usual stuff, "everything happens for a reason", "God has a plan" all the religious cliches that get hauled out. She wouldn't hear them. We sat and chatted and she told me that God had promised her a child, and she listed all the reasons and ways that he had reiterated that promise. I told her to just believe God.  

She did fall pregnant and it was not easy. I remember visiting her in hospital where she had to be for the last few months (I think.) It was a long time. I don't know if I have ever seen someone who was so ready to be a mom or so excited. 

What joy her son brought her - I don't think any child could have been more wanted, more waited on or more loved,  than he was.

M, you were never a common sparrow, we grieve your falling, and you leave a huge gap in so many lives.


Every time I see the candlestick you brought me from Israel, I remember you.  
Tonight, I will light it in remembrance of you.

All I know is we will see each other again.
Until then,

Shalom.





Friday, April 26, 2019

OOooo Marelize!! - Cafe de Langues

In my continued commitment to learn Letzenbuergish, I signed up for Cafe de Langues.

For those who don't know what that is, (which was me a few weeks ago, but I signed up anyway), it's basically a "Language Cafe". There are tables set out, each with a facilitator who is a native speaker, then you have a table full of learner speakers with them. The idea is that the learner speakers attempt to converse with one another in the new language, and the facilitators are there to help you if and when you become unstuck with a word, or phrase or grammar, whatever.

On Tuesday evening, I skipped ever so happily down to the commune, brimming with enthusiasm. Imagine my despair when it was two facilitators (really wonderful, friendly ladies) and only two learners, me and one other lady.

We sat at the pub, a nice chilled and familiar environment, we ordered something to drink, they all ordered water, and I joked and said I needed wine. (Note: I wasn't really joking).  I ordered water.  That was when the carnage started.

2 facilitators + 2 learners =  focussed attention! 

I was about to take my first swig of my Spruddelwaasser (sparkling water) when the one lady turned to me and asked me something in Luxish. At that moment, I felt like I was in Std 7 and my maths teacher had just asked me something, and I had no freaking clue what the question even meant, let alone how to answer it.  That was just the beginning...


Panic.
Intimidated.
Shock.
Horror.
Humiliation.

After 80 minutes, I was toast.

I won't lie - I did not skip enthusiastically home. In spite of the patience and kindness of those two lovely ladies, I felt defeated and humiliated, and wondered what the heck I was doing. It was not fun.

Fast forward to last night which was the second get-together. I tried so hard to think of reasons why not to go: I had to cook (!), I was tired, it was too late.... but there was no good reason, other than that I would have to go through all of that again. So, I went.

Walking down the road, I sent what was probably in hindsight, quite an emotional voicemail plea for prayer to some people. It would be awesome if they could pray that I would just suddenly know the language, but since I am a realist, I asked them just to pray for peace for me.

On arrival, it was again, only two of us, myself and another older gentleman this time. We sat in the pub again, I ordered my drink in Luxish, and although I stammered a bit and needed help, I remembered a lot more of what I know and didn't feel like a deer in headlights.  Dare I say..... I actually had fun!?  God is kind - and I think this episode probably gave him a bit of a chuckle!

When I left, some of the "usuals" where in the pub, so I went and said hello, asked them how they were, and told them what we were doing - all in simple Lux sentences. I doubt it all made sense - but they are so kind, and I think they like that we try!

So bring on next month - I should know a bit more vocab by then!







Reverse Culture Shock & Difficult Questions

The days are moving on and soon we will be home home. There seems to be a common thought coming through from friends there and here - Prepar...