We do a great deal of reading aloud in our family, and many a tale gets woven into the fabric of our lives. Over time, we begin to feel we are personally acquainted with the characters and places in the books. Long after I have put our basketful of stories away for the day I… Continue reading

“Sticks and stones might break my bones but names can never harm me,” sing the children, and it’s lies. As you read that, maybe you remember a time when words were spoken, even in jest, and you felt that they were aimed at you like arrows, piercing your tender heart before the sentence was complete.… Continue reading

Man, it’s all happening. Life is never dull around here, ‘specially at the moment. We are in a season of visas and travels plans, extra lessons and exams for the older children and nightmares, bed wetting and teething pain for the younger ones. The days require action and the nights are interrupted. Everywhere I turn… Continue reading

I’m all for good, old-fashioned remedies when it comes to matters of the heart. A brisk walk, a mug of hot, sweet tea, watching free-range chickens pecking around the garden, an uninterrupted chat with a close friend, counting to ten, deep breaths, things like these. The pressure has been building of late and I had… Continue reading

“Mommy, look! The sun is following us!” We were driving along when my amazed little boy notified me from his car seat of this impossibility. After all, the sun is as unmoving as a rock. Isn’t it? I glanced to the side to where that fiery ball was shimmering red in a dusty sky, and… Continue reading

In addition to a long list of maintenance jobs, we have been dealing with four separate leaks for a good long while; enough to make one tired. Imagine my delight when I walked into the kitchen after a long day, turned on the tap and realised it wasn’t even our tap! A brand new tap… Continue reading

Twice, I have had conversations with people who have lost spouses and have marvelled over how ‘clean’ the parting was. Each one was sudden, traumatic and painful for those left behind but, without a doubt, a goodbye free of the sorrows that come from far more than just the loss of a loved one. No… Continue reading

It’s always wise to treat everybody well. Asserting dominance over the juniors at school and treating those in the B stream like they haven’t made the grade could go badly if you end up working for them one day. Some connections make perfect sense, but often time spins a web of surprising attachments. Think of… Continue reading

One of the best blooms in our garden is shooting up out of a very drought stricken little cactus pot. The plant itself looks as if it might have been on the verge of death. It has, nonetheless, courageously reached for the sky; with long, delicate cords culminating in a fire works display of pinkish… Continue reading

We were all having a lovely time at the rugby, supporting family members who were playing. One family member was telling off another family member for playing dirty. She said he might have gotten a yellow card for his manoeuvre and the way he dropped his shoulder whilst he stood firm and the other player… Continue reading