Gaudi...and pictures

We have just returned from a lovely sunny holiday in Barcelona. It was a welcome change to have blue skies and temperatures in the high teens.

The highlight for me was discovering Gaudi, aka 'Gods Architect'. Yes, I had heard his name, but was not familiar with him or his work.

Among the many things I read of him, one thing stood out. When speaking of the construction of the Sagrada Familia Basilica, he was told that he will not see his vision, his building finished, to which he replied "My client has no time constraints, He has all the time in the world."

What an amazing perspective. I have seen many struggle to delegate the simplest of tasks, not trusting anyone else with the work that needs doing. Even I say if I want a job done properly I must do it myself. (Of course some discernment is required in delegating.... but I think you get where I am going with this?)

Then here is this man, with this literally, HUGE vision, who trusts people he will never know, to fulfill his dream --- and they are doing it, and they are so proud to be part of it, it's become their vision to fulfil his vision. It's the darling of the city.

There's a lesson here I think.

I hope you enjoy my clip even just a fraction of as much as I loved visiting there. The building is due to be finished in 2030. Maybe I will be around to see it then.

Enjoy these pictures I took. No artificial coloured lighting - all natural light through stained glass windows. He was inspired by Nature and Light, and it shows in this building, and all his others.

I love the sculptures, they are so different and kinda edgy.

Notice the imprint.

Such a stairwell....

Breathtaking 

What can I say?

Just .... wow.

  

So, it's Thanksgiving.

Hey. OK so I am not American, and am not a fan of adopting anything American if it's not your culture. HOWEVER, that being said, after the year I have had, today seems as good a time as any to reflect on that which I am thankful for. So here goes (in no order whatsoever):

• I am thankful for My Man and My Girl. I am crazy about them and they add colour and sparkle to every day.
• I am thankful for My family: Parentals, siblings, nieces, nephews and in-laws. Although we are separated by lots of miles - our closeness to one another is not hindered by distance. 
• I am thankful for my Friends everywhere. For "Bus friends" / village friends, Skype friend dinners, for Friends Suppers,  for  running friends, for bookclub friends, for foreign accent friends, for friends of different cultures, and friends of different faiths, friends who are way younger than me, and friends who are older, friends who I have known forever, and those who are becoming friends. I am thankful for you all. 
• I am thankful for Sport. Weird. But true. It brings people from all over the world together.  I am really thankful for our local pub who has proved this to be true! :)   #sportbringsallpeopletogether #proteafire #gobokke
• I am thankful for My dogs. They accompany me, or I accompany them on so many great walks and have filled my days with specialness.
• I am thankful for technology- with all its flaws it keeps me in touch with those I love.
• I am thankful for where I live. Not only the town but the country. I am thankful for the opportunities here to meet people, travel and experience a whole new way of living. I am thankful for this wonderful adventure.
• I am thankful for busses!!  :)
• I am thankful for French lessons. Seriously. I really am. I am thankful that I am learning, and using this brain for more than what to make for supper! 
• I am thankful for people who still have manners and common courtesy. For the men who still give their seats up for women. For people who don't spit in public, for people who shift up when seats are needed, for people who still smile and greet, and wish you a good day. 
• I am thankful for music. For dancing and singing out loud, for being silly and not caring. 
• I am thankful for time. Time for chilling, walking, running, reading... time for me.
• I am thankful for all my senses. For seeing beauty, hearing friends, for warm hugs and for tasting good food and wine.
• I am thankful for those who show compassion and mercy, for those who treat others with integrity and dignity, for those who look for ways to show kindness and serve others during an era when everyone looks out for #1. 
•  I am thankful for sunsets and sunrises, for wildlife and birds, for forests and trails, for seasons. For beauty. 
• I am thankful that I am South African and from the most beautiful city in the world: Cape Town.
• Finally, I am thankful to the Author of Life, for giving me this one life to adventure through with Him.

What are you thankful for?

On the Shoulders of the Saints.

I was browsing through my status updates I had posted when I first joined Facebook (yes, I was a little bored at the time!) and I saw that I had shared this... and I fell in love with the quote all over again:

Then I saw this shared by Brian McLaren on Facebook today, and it comes from here originally. 

I just love it.  

These are my meditations for this week.

Defending Mr President

I find myself in a position of sympathy and wanting to defend our President. This is SUCH a foreign feeling since we all have an abundant of information at our fingertips that affirms that he has said and done MANY foolish things in the past that make us ashamed of him. (I am NOT defending his presidency, because we all know that he is an ongoing source of constant embarrassment to us as a nation).

However, this clip does not make me ashamed of him... my heart actually feels sympathy, and even empathy for the man.  Firstly  people, this has nothing to do counting, and everything to do with translating a language that is not his mother tongue!!  My guess is that the figure is in numbers for him to read out - and this is why I feel for him:

• Can you read a number, written in digits, in Zulu (in the millions)?  I can't, not even in the tens. 
• I am learning French and when we got to counting, it completely did my head in. I still am not able to give my year of birth without considering for about a minute what it is before I allow the words to tentatively escape my lips - and even then I make mistakes. Even worse in front of a class (or a crowd) when you make a mistake, and the nerves kick in....

So, in this instance - I want to be a little gracious to the man. I know there will be times again in the future when he will make me want to swear with frustration... but for now Mr President, I am sorry for your humiliation.

*Update:  A year later, and I just watched Trevor Noah back up this blogpost. Thank you Trevor.  

Cool Runnings

The last couple of months have been a blur. It's been just over a month since my brother-in-law passed away.

He was passionate about anything that gripped him whether it was his family, greening the environment, his faith or healthy living. We didn't always agree on everything - I think I gave him a grey hair or two with how much Oros we could consume, but nonetheless I always admired his passion.

Lots of people are going to miss him for a variety of reasons. As for me, one thing I know for certain that I will miss, are our conversations around faith. We'd spend many hours talking about spiritual things, not necessarily theology, but living it. I felt safe chatting to him about my thoughts around spiritual issues, no matter how unconventional they may sometimes have been, and I would like to think he felt the same about chatting to me about such things too.

Now he really is living. Spiritually alive and whole. 

For those still here, it's so tough: but he left us with the certainty of the "true-ness" of what is yet to come.  For that, I thank him.

Peace be the journey.

Nothing more to add

This is how I feel right now.

Instead of spewing aimlessly into the universe, I shall just decide how best to say nothing until I formulate something meaningful.

Until then... remember this:

May the grace and love of Christ follow you relentlessly and capture your heart.

Peace be the journey...

Boring Random Stuff Really.

Summer is here!

I cannot actually express in words my absolute joy at that statement. It felt as though it took an eternity getting here, but when it arrived it did so in style with a week of temperatures between 33 - 39 deg, which is unheard of here.  Even I, who like a lizard love the sun, began to think some rain would be a relief. Today will go to about 31 which, although hot, is still do-able!

I am going to just list a couple of things that are making my days right now (in no particular order):

Summer Evenings.... the best!

Summer: Late sunsets & outdoor concerts.  Last night I packed a picnic and met My Man in the city. Complete with fresh flowers from our garden, we found a picnic bench in the Petrusse Valley and enjoyed our supper and a shandy, under the shade of the Viaduct and green leafy trees. When we left around 19h30 the sun was still shining brightly and we stopped for an ice-cream in the square and wandered around like tourists on the way to the bus home.

Working in the garden: We have bought so many flowers and shrubs, been working hard to make the house, home... as well as the garden. Sometimes I wonder why we spend so much money on a house that is not ours, but we can't help it. If we want it to be home.... we can't just live in it, we have to make it ours.

Loving gardening and the fresh flowers

Our dogs:  Their presence here made our transition so much easier - especially mine! I hope that I am not the only one who speaks to their hounds and basically would not be surprised if they did answer! In fact, I am sure that I see in their eyes that they totally know what I am saying. They are a source of great companionship!

My Sacred Space

Learning French: We just signed up for the Autumn class and I can't wait to begin again. Not that I want summer to be over - but there is something to look forward to.

The forest: The forest has become my "sacred space" - it's where I feel most connected to The Author and where I feel my story unfold. It's where I hear him loudest and me least.

The Family WA Thread: A moment of genius and created by my brother that makes me feel not so far away!

Short hair: Am really enjoying the change!

Short for summer

Masterchef:  Yes, I know. But it has inspired me to try new dishes. I have made pork chops with apple and maple syrup, and duck with a plum jus, next is pork chops with pear and blue cheese! Who knew?

Reading: I have not had the chance to read "for pleasure" as opposed to "for study" for years. I have devoured books in the past two years and am loving being able to do so again. I am especially happy that I have so many nice places to go and read.

My Favourite Reading Spot and the book I am about to finish.

Scrabble: My Man surprised me and bought Scrabble in SA for me. It's wonderful sitting out on the balcony in the evening, having a glass of wine, snacks and a game. I really don't miss TV at all - it really guzzles one's time... unless of course you are watching........................cricket. ;-)

Cricket: Lots of cricket coming up - that's all I can say about that!

Gratitude: My Man and I have been talking about how privileged we feel and wondered how we would have felt if we hadn't take this opportunity. A normal reaction would be to think that at 53 you don't just pack up and start again in a new country - especially when it may not work, and you would have to come back to find a new job. Had we decided not to come, we would always have wondered "What if we had taken it?" Sometimes one just has to make the leap, and I am so glad we did. Although there is a price to pay that we are aware of daily, we do feel grateful for this opportunity which brings us so much joy.

Last, but actually first - is My Man, my partner-in-adventure. Thank you for being a great balance of practicality and risk-taker.  Always with us in our adventures (via Skype!) is Our Girl - our gift.
 Love you lots Chickenwing!

My Man and My Girl  -  They Rock My World!