A Beautiful Life

Hi Friends

It's been a while, hasn't it?

I think the best way to explain how we're in the last bits of January is to tell you what I told Lee a few days ago...

We started off the year with positivity and excitement because we have such big plans for this year and I think G-d has just sent EVERY crazy thing our way. 

Lee started work - I hate this even more than he does. Going from every second spent together to seeing him at 6AM and only again at 6PM has not been an easy or fun thing to accept. Nonetheless, I've decided to get up *with* him at 6 in order to get in just a little more time with him before we both go our seperate ways to work. It's been notably better since.

As if all the major and minor changes that this year has brought about in our schedules, friend groups and social lives weren't enough, another bomb hit last week when my grandfather was admitted to Hospice because his cancer has spread all over and because the pain has become too much for him to handle. For those of you who do not know what Hospice is, you can read more about the wonderful work they do here.

I found out about the levity of this bout of illness he was going through and made immediate plans to rush through to the branch where he was being cared for. I truly did not expect what I found. My dear, always-cheerful and ready-for-a-laugh Oupa was incoherent. In fact he didn't even recognize me when I stepped up to hold his hand. My parents, whom I am not on good terms with were both there and showed no physical signs of emotional hurt. I was crying uncontrollably in seconds. I couldn't stop the emotions that were flowing through me. 

My Oupa is truly a pillar of strength and spiritual stature to many who know him. He has had so much good to contribute to the lives of those whom he has touched. And to think that this sweet man who was always ready to offer a hand of acceptance and love cannot even recognize the people around him, makes me feel sick to the pit of my stomach. 

This has taken such an emotional toll on me, and although my grandfather remains in a critical condition, we all know that his time is near.

I have learnt that time is not something that we can control and measure out when it suits us and that making the best of our valued relationships is the only way to avoid regret.

Have a wonderful week ahead friends. 

wends x

Hello Friends...

I am guilty of not keeping track of our last few days in Cape Town and having very few photos to show for it in addition to my lack of documenting skills. I think towards the end of the 12 days we  became anxious because we still had so much that we wanted to do and we just hadn't got to all those things yet. Anyhow...we went quite a few places and did QUITE a few things in the last 2/3 days. I think they ended up being the best days of the holidays because by that time we had actually relaxed. I will however say that NEITHER of us were keen on the drive home. Meh! We knew that there would most likely be a truckload of people on the roads and that the masses of cars would add serious time to our previously impressive travel time. We drove for four hours (If Lee is reading this at any point I would like to remind him about the very intense discussion/s we had!) and stopped at Wimpy (Dread!) for a quick breakfast. I couldn't stomach half of the food on my plate and fortunately had Lee to help me out.

Boy were we happy to be home? I think seeing Adi run down the stairs and the whole family there waiting for us just made that dreadful trip better! We loved our holiday alone, away from everyone, but we love our mishpochah more! ;)

Here are a FEW pics of our trip up Table Mountain which is now one of the new 7 wonders of the world (read more here)

A BEAUTIFUL view from the top!

This was so scary! I don't do cable cars. This was through an OPEN window going down. Oi!