It's normal and home

We have been here almost 3 years!  Can you believe it!?

I was reminded of this today when, while pottering on my balcony checking on my plants, I looked up and saw my neighbour on his, having a mid-morning smoke. I yelled "Hey, howzit!" and we chatted for a few minutes, back and forth about gardens and long grass and goats... the usual stuff, until I eventually said "Cheers, probably see you later," and we both carried on doing what we were doing.

The truth is, we probably will see him later, down the road, at the pub!  He, like us, tends to waft down for a quick beer at the end of a long day, and we have, on occasion sat together down there and shot the breeze with something long and cold.

I know this probably all sounds so normal to you, and had we been in SA this activity would not have merited an entire blogpost - but it reminded me of  a post I wrote 4 months after we arrived.

I wouldn't choose to be anywhere else in Luxemboug.   I love this village.
This is home for now.

Thank God for it!

T20 Final. Thoughts on England.

Last night I kept waking up and seeing Stokes face after he bowled that final ball.

I thought I had to debrief myself or else I would sleep badly again tonight!  I can't have that.

So this post may be muddled and make no sense to you. It may jump around from random thought to random thought. Just let me go with it.

I am not used to feeling sympathy for England when they lose in cricket. I am used to celebrating their losses. I know exactly the day my disdain for them started and yesterday I believe it finally ended.

It started in 2009 (Yes, I know. A long time to hold a grudge). It started when Strauss refused Smith a runner in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy, saying he didn't think Smith was in enough pain to merit a runner. I wonder if he knew Smith at all, this was the man who batted previously with a broken hand... I reckon he knew what pain was, and if he said he was in pain from cramping, I reckon he was. Strauss said "It was a fitness issue" and "he wasn't cramping that badly,"  How did he know HOW MUCH PAIN he was in?  Smith had just been fielding and then batting for over 3 hours!!  It was certainly NOT a fitness issue! 

"Cramping is to some extent a preparation thing and to a certain extent a conditioning thing and I didn't feel that he merited having a runner at that stage. My personal view is that you shouldn't get a runner, full stop. I didn't feel he was cramping that badly — he was still able to run.''

The decision was essentially up to him. Yes, he was within his rights to deny it, but if there is one thing that really p's me off its a lack of sportsmanship. This was that. It's like a bowler stumping the non-striking end batsman if he is out of his crease, when he bowls. You are within your rights to stump him... but it's unsportsmanlike to do it without a warning. Case in point, I think it was Kapil Dev against us in the first World Cup we were back in, in 92. Peter Kirsten wasn't on strike but he kept moving out of his crease, but I think Dev warned him two or three times, and then stumped him. I can't be angry with that. The guy was overly gracious in his warnings and Kirsten got what he deserved then.  

After the runner incident England just plummeted to the depths of my list where Kevin Pietersen has kept them.

It's important that my feelings about the team is not misunderstood and taken to the nation. It's a bit like how I feel about the South African Provincial Sharks Team in the Super 15 (or however many it is now), they are just a team that can play quite dirty, but it doesn't mean I dislike everyone from KZN.  If that were true, I would be in trouble since I have family there!  :)

Anywaaayyyy..... this brings me to the last year. I first started getting to know this current English team during the ODI WC in 2015.  I remember thinking that these guys seemed different to their other teams, and emotionally I actually felt some unfamiliar sympathy for them going out so early. 

Then when they came to SA on tour just before this WC, of course I still wanted us to beat the pants off them, but I was so impressed by them. They were fighters and committed, they never gave up. There was the odd bit of rash disappointment from individuals when things didn't go their way but they are a young bunch and just need the experience and tools to deal with that. It would be unnatural to be without emotion in disappointment. Let's face it, all teams respond this way now and again!

Now today.. last night, waking up every hour with Stokes on his haunches after the game, reminded me of how our guys sat on the field after their defeat in last years WC game. The team was heartbroken, so were we.. how Stokes must have felt. The weight on his shoulders. 

It was difficult reading the comments of some on the English Cricket FB page that criticised the captain and the death bowling. I mean, just before that, was this:

I have come to the conclusion that there are fickle fans of their teams everywhere... it would seem that Stokes would be the natural bowler to take the final over. Some days it works.... and some days it doesn't.  Yesterday Braithewaite just wanted it over, and he did it. I hope Stokes doesn't take this too much to heart but rather chalks it up to experience. A tough day at the office - but we all have those.

It was a fantastic final. I was supporting West Indies to win, and after hearing of their lack of support from home, I am even happier for them. I had to make a choice last night though... I could choose to just keep England on the bottom of my list because "that's how it's always been for me" or I could say "It's a new team. It's a new day. I can't tar this team with the brush of their predecessors", and move on. 

I decided to go with the latter. HOWEVER, make no mistake, I will still savour beating them more than any other team and hate losing to them more than any other team - but the motivation behind that now is different. It's based more on a type of  'sibling rivalry' ... rather than a desire to see them lose. I know we are going to see some great cricket from this team and I look forward to it. 

So.... end of an era for me.

Sometimes going with things, no matter what they are, just because it's always been that way, doesn't make it right.

New beginnings are good too.

How do we look? Me and You?

I was on one of my many forest walks before we went to Barcelona, and I found myself chatting to the Author as often happens, and I remember in the middle of my chattering suddenly saying to Him, "Show me how we look, me and you." I didn't give it much more thought and continued along. 

Today, as I was walking I saw, as I have seen many times before, a huge tree with ivy climbing up and around it. "This is how we look. You and Me." I heard Him say.

I actually stopped in my tracks. I hadn't expected an answer to my request really.... if I am honest.  

"Oh!? Who is who?!" I said (out loud.... yes, I did!)  

"I am the tree, and you are the ivy."  Was the answer. 

"But it makes more sense for me to be the tree," I argued.... "because you encircle me."

"Um no..... I am the tree and you are the ivy." I felt Him say. (I am sure he was laughing)  

"Explain this to me" I said.

As I continued to walk, this is what I felt Him say:

"I am your anchor, but while I support you, you also have strong roots that root you in your faith. There are times when you go around and around me in circles, be it with unanswered questions, doubts or disappointments, or winters when you feel I am quiet, and withholding all my beauty from you... that  is only how it feels.  However, what you may not realise is that you are still growing during these times, and I love it that no matter what, you always cling to me.  

I call you upward, I call you to grow (up) toward the Light.

This is how we look. Me and You. We are beautiful together in every season."

* * * * * * 

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.