THE WORLD IS MAD

You know I remember my mom always saying that the world had gone mad and I used to say to myself och its just cause your getting old. Well I must be getting old now as well because it has gone mad I am sure. So the other day when I got this from my friend Jaqi I thought how true it is.

An Obituary printed in the London Times........ Interesting and sadly rather true

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

• Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
• Why the early bird gets the worm;
• Life isn't always fair; and
• maybe it was my fault

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

In the modern world children run riot ad it is never the parents job to discipline them. I have seen these shows like Super Nanny etc and find it unbelievable that people actually admit how useless they are as parents. Perhaps they have inherited this from parents who were just as bad. I am not a super parent but my daughters always minded their manners and if they had a tantrum in a shop etc. they were left to have it. If you bounce your head off the floor and don't get rewarded for it you stop pretty soon.

Looking through the newspaper ad adverts the other day I was feeling a bit sorry for myself as I looked at all the nice things I could not afford and then I came across an advert for the Salvation Army and it made me realise how much I have to be thankful for. Yes just now things are tight financially but we are still better of than many and we should focus on that. Thank You God for all your gifts to me.

I intend to try and do my little bit to make the world less mad and to stand up to the idiots who encourage us to act stupid. Irons get hot as are coffee and tea by their very nature. Grow up and take responsibility for yourself

GRANDMA'S APRON

I got this email today and here is what it said

The History of 'APRONS'

I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was Easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material,

But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that ' old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her daughters and granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many Germs were on that apron. I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron.

This got me to thinking about the old days again. How many of your mothers wore aprons? I know mine had them - even though she worked full time as a 'clippy' she still had her apron. How many of us cook and do every thing now without an apron and how many of us have ruined clothes because of this? I know I have.

No I am not hankering over the old days cause they were also tough but it does seem like we left some good and practicle things behind in the journey along this road.

I remember granny's crossover pinny that she wore all the time. She wore it whilst doing the washing on a Monday with that old boiler and she had whites, whiter than any OMO could get them, even thought the men all worked down a pit.

She wore it whilst getting the zinc bath filled in front of the fire that she cooked on and heated water on and then sat beside at the end of a long hard day for 5 minutes just to relax.

When peeling the vegetables often grown in the garden and used to feed the 12 hungry mouths of her children and then her and her 'man'.

There were no spa treatments for her or a visit for a lip and eyebrow wax. Her gym was the house where she had two rooms and 14 people living. So don't lets kid ourselves of where we come from. Without my Grandma I wouldn't be the person I am today and I just want to say thank you to her who sacrificed so much to give us what we have today and which we so often forget to appreciate.

She didn't ask for accolades. All she asked was that her kids grew up hale and hearty, that they made good lives for themselves and that they acted honourably and treated people with respect. When her sons managed to buy a car she was amazed at how wealthy they were.

Funny millions never came into it!

Thanks Grandma and all those like you.

WET MONDAY

Well it is a very wet Monday here with a weekend that has just never stopped raining. I thought this morning we would wake up to blue skies - well last time I think I can tell you. It has been a steady down pour for most of the night and guess what! - it's still coming down.

Oh well what is a bit of rain - ask my dogs. They were very unhappy to go out this morning and Lizzie decided she would use the patio for her business not some wet grass. So once again she is in the 'dog box'. (Please read that as on my daughters bed sleeping)

The weather got me to thinking how it never used to rain when I was a kid! Did it rain when you were young? I mean I must have grown up in drought conditions in Scotland in the 50's, although I have tried to research this phenomenon on the web and they have a total lack of information on it. Really a big gap that needs filling.

Sure we had snow in winter and in fact I remember walking on the local 'burn' which was frozen over and there was a really sneaky thin patch and of course it moved to under my feet and I slipped through into the icy depths below. It doesn't matter that it was only six inches deep after my clothes soaked up the water, it was cold and did I get it from my mother when she walked down to find out where I was. It was only a thin walking stick she had and there was no child abuse involved just a good belt and then get hame tae that warm bath and the fire.

No Scotland definitely was dryer than South Africa and Gauteng in particular is today!!!! In fact if it doesn't improve I may just have to emigrate to the Dessert

DEAR GOD

Dear GOD:
I want to thank You for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better.
I'm not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed.

I am thanking you right now.
I am thanking you because I am alive.
I am thanking you because I made it through the days of difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.
I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.

I just had to share this because so often we focus on the things that are negative instead of the things that are positive. We have so many blessings in our life - the fact you can sit and read this means you have electricity, access to a computer and are able to read. That means you are not starving and livig on the street.

I remember a song that was sung when I was a young girl - Count Your Blessings Name them One By One, and you'll find out what the Lord hath done. It is so true. Count them and list them and say THANK YOU Lord

Have a wonderful day

LINDA AND ROSIE

Check out this challenging site for some great Art Work

BIG ART ADVENTURE

DIARY OF A BLONDE

Why do we give blondes such a hard time when so many of them - like all hair colours - are very intelligent. Maybe it is because we envy them so much as they do say they have more fun.

Anyway I got this via email yesterday and it made me LOL. So of course I had to share. I don't kow who created it but I want to say thank you for cheering me up no end.

SHAY

I received this from a friend and even though I have seen it before it still makes me hope and have faith in human kindness

What would you do?....you make the choice.

Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.The father continued.'I believe that when a child like Shay,who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked,'Do you think they'll let me play?'I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to theplate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the softgrounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing short stop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators,were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face,'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

LET US ALL PRAY TONIGHT

For those who have been following the story of chucky who is missing please see this message from Larry who is still hunting for him. Let us try for a miracle tonight

'Hi there my friends,
I received this from a dear “Chucky” friend ...

Dear Larry – thank you for your encouraging update regarding Chucky. It is wonderful to hear about those special people doing so much to help, Chucky and you now have a network of friends who will truly rejoice when he returns home! I know that I will be one of them.
I believe in the power of prayer and know that nothing is impossible for God. With that in mind could we not allocate a set time on a specific day when all the many people who care just down tools and pray to God for Chucky’s safe and soon return home. Perhaps you could send a request to all on your mailing list and then, with emails being forwarded we would end up with a united and really LOUD cry to God for help – then we just wait for His blessings.
In the meantime – we will carry on praying for you to be reunited with your beautiful little dog.

I think that this is an awesome idea ... don’t you?

Please could “we” all be united on Monday 6th October in the evening at 20h00 (eight PM) and pray for Chucky’s safe return home?

Larry Gordge
Cellular +27 83 337-7799'

So 8 o'clock this evening South Africa time (7 in UK)

A SPECIAL PRAYER

I received this today from a friend via email and just had to share it with you. The photo was also sent to me a while ago and it is just to cute

TO MY BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTERS ~ Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin'', I'm whispering 'I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven.'
When I say.... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say .. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect, my flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain... I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!'

Pretty is as pretty does. But beautiful is just plain beautiful!

TODAY IS BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTERS DAY - TAG, YOU'RE IT!

If you share this with other women, you will boost another woman's self esteem, and she will know that you care about her.

When I stand before God, at the end of my life, I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me!'"

Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with you where ever you go."
- Joshua 1:9

NEW SITE TO VISIT

Ok girls and guys a second post this morning but just checked out this new web site from a friend and had to share. Love the goodies and the sweeties and all that mojo that is going on

sweet hop to here

GOOD MORNING WORLD

Do you remember that catch phrase from Good Morning Vietnam? I just love Robin Williams and think he is one of the great actors of our time. Well as I sit here and write the world around me is waking up and I keep telling myself how lucky I am and how blessed. No everything is not wonderful but I will get through it and I have so much to be thankful for.

I must share some stuff with you that I received via email. I have had this poster for ages and in fact received it from ABSA on Women's Day and I just love the picture and the caption.

I am so proud to belong to that sex which is supposedly so weak and yet have you ever marvelled at how women adapt and just put their shoulder to the grind stone and make life work.

How many times have you seen a man lose his job and he is in pieces but a woman takes a deep breath and moves on. Is that because we raise our sons wrong? Do we make them feel that they are of no worth except what their job is?

Is it just a genetic coding that makes the hunter gatherer worthless if he is not out there agathering and ahunting?

Anyway that is my question to you wonderful people out there. I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

Hugs from a WOMAN

Jessie

LETS FIND CHUKKY

If you visit this website then please pass it's details on to everyone you know and ask them to visit as we need to find Chukky.

Last week Larry Gorge went to Oliver Thambo International Airport and was attacked by two people - a black man and a black woman - he was badly beaten and by luck he managed to get in his car and drive away. Unknown to him though his dog Chukky who goes everywhere with him had got out the car terrified at what was happening to his owner. Larry realised Chukky was missing nearly immediately but because of one way systems etc. he could not get back easily to the spot where Chukky was last seen.

When he got back covered in blood police were on the scene but there was no Chukky. It would appear that these scum bags had picked up his dog and put it in their BMW vehicle and driven off. CCTV seems to suggest this and a witness who was too scared to help at the time has come forward saying that the assailants stole the dog.

Larry is offering a R5,000 reward for this very special little dog. Chukky belonged to Larry's son who went overseas to live. When he came back for a visit Larry's son died and so Chukky is such a special link for Larry and him and Chukky went everywhere together. Hence why he was in the car at the airport.

PLEASE HELP US TO FIND HIM

JULIE ANDREWS TURNS 69

Well I am of the Sound Of Music Generation or at least nearly. I remember when this movie came out and I still love it. Julie Andrews has such a great voice and comes across as such a great person. So when I received an email telling of the song she sang at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan I just had to share it. So here goes. Come on you all know the tune.


'To commemorate her birthday , actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan 's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP. One of the musical numbers she performed was 'My Favorite Things' from the legendary movie 'Sound Of Music'. Here are the lyrics she used:

(Sing It!) - If you sing it, its especially hysterical!!!

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,

Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,

Bundles of magazines tied up in string,

These are a few of my favorite things.




Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,

Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,

Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,

These are a few of my favorite things.


When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,

When the knees go bad,

I simply remember my favorite things,

And then I don't feel so bad.




Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,

No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,

Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,

These are a few of my favorite things.




Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin',

Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',

And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,

When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache, When the hips break,

When the eyes grow dim,

Then I remember the great life I've had,

And then I don't feel so bad.


(Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores.)

NEW LINK

I just added a new link to my blog. Check out all the details at Beautiful and Fabulous by clicking on link on right that looks like this picture.

Go do it you know you want to and there is some great inspiration and hot topics to check out

Hugs

Jessie

BILLY THE BOXER

Well if you come here on the odd occasion you will know that a) I have not been blogging for a while and that is because too much work and b) you will know that I love to put in things that have been sent to me via email.

I love animals and this one just caught my eye and I thought it so great and cute and ahhhh that I just had to share.

These pictures are of Billy the boxer who has become the constant companion of a 12-day old kid called Lilly. He sleeps with the goat, licks her clean, and protects her from any dangers at Pennywell Farm wildlife centre at Buckfastleigh, near Totnes, Devon .

Lilly was abandoned by her mother when she was only a few hours old and adopted by paternal Billy when his owner Elizabeth Tozer began hand rearing the goat. The unusual bond has developed over the last month and the pair are now inseparable. Elizabeth said: 'Lilly follows Billy around which is really quite amusing to watch and Billy sleeps with the goat and cleans her mouth after she feeds.'

Lilly was the smallest of a litter of three kids and her mother abandoned her because she could only care for the two stronger ones. The pair have attracted quite a crowd at the animal centre and the staff are keen to see how their relationship will develop.

One of the reasons why I have been so quiet on my blog is that we have been busy organising a fund raising event for Benoni SPCA and we held the dinner dance on Saturday. It was a fantastic night and we are busy counting how much we have raised. I will be adding photos etc to the SPCA blog this week so keep on checking it out. We are also busy creating the Benoni SPCA web site so keep coming back for more.

MOTHERS KNOW EVERYTHING

Peter invited his mother for dinner, during the course of the meal his Mother couldn't help but notice how lovely Peter's flat mate, Joanne, was.

She had long been suspicious of a relationship between the two, and this only made her more curious. Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Peter and his flat mate than met the eye.

Reading his mum's thoughts, Peter volunteered, 'I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, Joanne & I are just flat mates'.

About a week later, Joanne came to Peter saying, 'ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the frying pan, you don't suppose she took it do you?

'Well I doubt it, but I'll e-mail her just to be sure' said Peter. So he sat down and wrote

DEAR MOTHER,I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU 'DID' TAKE THE FRYING PAN FROM MY HOUSE. I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU 'DID NOT' TAKE THE FRYING PAN BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT IT HAS BEEN MISSING EVER SINCE YOU WERE HERE FOR DINNER.

LOVE PETER

Several days later, Peter received an email from his mother which read

DEAR SON, I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU 'DO' SLEEP WITH JOANNE, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU 'DO NOT' SLEEP WITH JOANNE, BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT IF SHE WAS SLEEPING IN HER OWN BED, SHE WOULD HAVE FOUND THE F*****G FRYING PAN BY NOW.

LOVE MUM

I PASS ON THE AWARD

Well I got the award and I had to give it away to seven other sites. It is tough because there are so many good blogs around and to get to them all is hard if not impossible. So I surfed and visited and came up with these sites which mean a lot to me.

cens loft I love the look of this and it has so many freebies girls. A very talented lady.

Bloggin our art out I just love the art on here and great inspiration. Must try the bag chains as a gift

Gillian I love Gillian's blog as it is just so professional and she is such a great person. Visit her shop at Snap and Scrap

Heron dance Heron Dance has such great imagery and wonderful paintings.

calamity kim Kim has so much wonderful stuff including that practical old fashioned thing called an apron. Check out the collage ones

my cup 2yours Genny's blog just makes me think sometimes. Great philosophy.

http://afroginmysoup.com/ And Genny led me here to this great sounding blog. When I checked it out I read 'not one day for granted' and realised we all spend so much time trying to be superwoman and forget what matters.

Stop you are a child of God and are entitled to be you and take time out for a cup of java

I did not give to the wonderful friends who drop by so often or who give me awards because I wanted to use this to hopefully expand our visits and maybe meet new friends

OH BOY

Am I lucky or am I lucky?

I received a lovely award from Denise today even though I feel like I have been so quiet recently. Just now things are a bit hectic and have a septic finger. middle one on right hand of course and am not feeling too well. I think I need to go to doc as I don't think my medication for diabetes is working to well. Oh well will get sorted out soon I hope.

Just everything is a bit of a strain and am missing hubby for some dam reason. Maybe tired of carrying out the trash or some such silly thing.

I want to just let everyone out there know how much your interaction and cyber friendship means to me. I really need to start on an award to give out but I am so busy my head keeps spinning around on my shoulders and am maybe feeling my age for a bit. Oh well never mind.

I just loved this joke I got through the mail box the other day. It is just so me I think in fact the picture is a very good likeness also

MY LIVING WILL
Last night, my friend and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her, 'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.'

She got up, unplugged the Computer, and threw out my wine.She's such a bitch.....

AWARD

Well it is so long since I have been here or so it seems, but still people keep visiting and leaving me love. That is why blogging is so much fun and so inspiring. It lets you feel the love that is all around out there.

Chrissy from the ATC club sent me a message and a little award and it is so stunning. If you click on the Wylde Women award it will take you to a great site hosted by Tammy Vitale with some amazing things to view. Visit it and enjoy

Meanwhile I want to give this award to sarah, Francis who swam the English Channel - amazing and my very good friend Denise who listens to my moans and gripes without batting an eye lid. Thanks Denise for being a good friend.

Hugs to all.

HELP

I need some help from all those great bloggers out there!

Can anyone please tell me if it is possible to add a blinkie to your blog? I have looked in every category but without success. I love them because they add a little bit of action and they are great to use as hyperlinks.

Come on back and let me know some great magical wizard out there

Jessie

LAUGH OUT LOUD

Well as I keep saying I get loads through on email from inspirational stories to jokes.

I recently received a load of cartoons from my friend Denise which were entitled 'for the twisted mind' and I loved some of them so much that I just have to add them to my blog now and then. I hope you will find them just as funny as I did. Click on the image to make it bigger


Hugs
Jessie

will post now and then and not all at once as that would spoil the fun.

HANG IN THERE

I know I still have to chose who to tag but life is so hectic this week I will be back to give out the names and some sort of accolade that I am busy with.

Hugs and love

Jessie

I'VE BEEN TAGGED

Well my friend Denise at Bless This Mess has tagged me and I have to answer five questions and then tag five people who must answer then.

OK so

Ten years ago I was living in Benoni and working for the Insurance Institute of South Africa as a research and development officer. I helped with putting together exam papers, writing text books, representing IISA at the NQF forum where we were developing standards and also facilitating training for insurance people. I loved it and left when we went to the UK for a while.

Today's to do list isn't too bad as it is Sunday but

• I have to go to the SPCA this morning as we have vets in who are doing 75 spays/neutering for us for people who can't afford to pay. The Vets are from Germany, & Cape Town with nursing assistants from Canada and SA.


• Make Butternut soup for them to have for lunch with roles. No meat they are all vegetarian


• have meting to discuss staff salaries at SPCA as we need to finalise pay rise and get it approved before the end of this week


• I have to go pick up banners for a show house I am sitting at this afternoon


• sit show at house from 2 til 4 and try and get leads for my own business of Express Agent doing home loans

My favourite snacks are savoury and are a bit restricted as I am diabetic and need to try and eat LOW GL foods - not very good at this afraid. One of my favourites though is pita bread sprinkled with oil and seasoning - garlic and sun dried tomato is favourite. Then toast in oven and eat with a bean paste made from olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and chick peas or butter beans. All blitzed up and a sprinkle of coriander leaves. Great

If I was a millionaire I would get husband back living at home - he lives in Abu Dhabi because of work and I would do all the things I want to do but can't because of money. I would go full time at SPCA and travel to Italy and Greece and Canada and OZ and all those places - on and Russia which I would love to visit.

Places I have lived are Benoni in SA, Pietermaritzburg in SA, Linlithgow, Scotland and Bo-Ness in Scotland. Born at a little place called Gateside about 11 miles from Edinburgh and 4 miles from Linlithgow. Also lived in Portchester, Fareham (down near Portsmouth) also in Scunthorpe where my husband is from. Have moved about 35 times so quite mobile.

Now who can I tag let me think. Will have to add to to do list as I need to shower and get to the SPCA as a matter of some urgency even though only 7 o'clock on Sunday morning.

Watch this space to see if you get tagged

The painting by the way is from a web site called Heron Dance and you should visit it as you can purchase the paintings etc. http://www.herondance.org/index.aspx?SID=1& I hope he doesn't mind me showing it to you as the stuff is stunning.

Hugs

Jessie

KIDS TODAY

Well I have to be honest when I received this email from my friend Denise of 'Bless This Mess' I really laughed because it is so true. Do you remember being told by your parents how tough life had been and they did have it tough. Mine came through 2nd World War and The Depression and life was just so different for them. I remember I was 16 before they had a refrigerator. Who do you know who doesn't have one of those today.

We went to the phone box to make a call - we had no home phone let alone a mobile phone. I walked to school so I could save the penny that I got for bus fare to buy a treat. It wasn't a long walk just about a mile and a half and that walked of the podge I would have got from the sweets.

Well anyway read this little story from the over 30's

THE SPOILED UNDER-30 CROWD!!!

'If you are 30 or older you will think this is hilarious!!!!When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears With their tedious diatribes about how hard things were.

When they were growing up; what with walking Twenty-five miles to school every morning Uphill. BOTH ways.

Yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay A bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it And how easy they've got it! But now that...I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today.You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it but you kids today you don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet. If we wanted to know something, We had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalogue!! There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter, with a pen! .Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!

There were no MP3's or Napsters! You wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the damn record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and mess it all up!

We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal; that's it!And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your Bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!!

You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony Play station video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'asteroids'. Your guy was a little square!You actually had to use your Imagination!! And there were no multiple levels or screens; it was just one screen! Forever!!!!!!!!

And you could never win.

The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

Sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only m-net and there was no on screen menu and no remote control! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing!

You had to get off your ass and walk over to the TV to change the Channel and there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning.

Do you hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-b…..ds!

And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up we had to use the stove. Imagine that! If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid Jiffy Pop thing and shake it over the stove forever like an idiot.

That's exactly what I'm talking about!

You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled.

You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980!

Regards,The over 30 Crowd'

Yes kids have a lot of strain in some ways today but I honestly believe there were bad people around then as well. Life was slower and families looked out for each other much more than we do today. Life was sweeter because I had no mortgage no debt . The state of the economy was not something I had to worry about. I remember JFK being killed and then Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy.

What my grand kids learn in history I lived through a lot of it. I lived through the 80's in SA and the 90's and when I visited the Apartheid Museum at Gold Reef City with them I was amazed at what I had forgotten and what they had never known as the eldest was born in 1975.

We didn't have take aways every night or eat out ever night we were lucky we had home cooked meals and I remember I loved toast with dripping not realising we were hard up and ate it cause there was no bacon and eggs.

I wonder what the next generation will have that this one doesn't or perhaps they won't have cars that guzzle non existent fossil fuels and load shedding will mean having electricity occasionally. Will there be food or will they have moved continents for a better life - just as we did way back when I was under 30!!!!!!!!

BATS

I love this little cartoon that came through via email. Had to share it

CALLING THE SHEEP

Well I get so many great things via email and when I received these pictures I just had to share them. I don't know where they are or who took the photos but aren't these fabulous.

When I first looked didn't even pick up the phone as a head.

Someone is very creative and makes some weird associations. Like would you think of telephones and sheep?

Thanks George for sending me these great pics.

SUNNY WARM SOUTH AFRICA

I received some pictures via email so don't know who posted them but I just have to share them with you as I was so amazed. Ceres is a place in the Cape where we grow loads of fruit and veg. In fact we have a fruit juice brand here called Ceres. Cold - or cold

A LOVELY TALE

I don't know about you but i get so many emails with inspirational stories and the like. This one really touched because we can all make a difference if we just reach out a small hand. It is like a small ripple in a pond and it grows and grows until we can achieve great things. Read on and remember it only takes you to make a difference.

MY boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two. Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared.Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds.He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries.

Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either.

If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it.

I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress, loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job.

The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. No luck.The kids stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince who ever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job.Still no luck.

The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town, was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in t hat had been converted to a truck stop. It was called the Big Wheel.An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids. She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning.She paid 65 cents an hour, and I could start that night.

I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people. I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night. She could arrive with her pyjamas on and the kids would already be asleepThis seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal.

That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers, we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel.

When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money-- fully half of what I averaged every night.

As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my meagre wage.

The tires on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home. One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires!There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tires.

Had angels taken up residence in Indiana ? I wondered.

I made a deal with the local service station. In exchange for his mounting the new tires, I would clean up his office. I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tires.

I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn't enough.

Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids. I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning.

Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boys pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair.

On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. There were the truckers, Les, Frank , and Jim , and a state trooper named Joe . A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine. The regulars all just sat around and talked through the wee hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up..

When it was time for me to go home at seven o'clock on Christmas morning, to my amazement, my old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes.

I quickly opened the driver's side door, crawled inside and kneeled in the front facing the back seat.Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box. Inside was whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10! I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans. Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes.

There was candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was an enormous ham for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items. And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll.

As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on the most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude. And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning.

Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop....

THE POWER OF PRAYER. I believe that God only gives three answers to prayer:

1. "Yes!"

2. "Not yet."

3. "I have something better in mind."

God still sits on the throne, the devil is a liar. You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that you cannot imagine.

My instructions were to pick four people that I wanted God to bless,and I picked you.

Please pass this to at least four people you want to be blessed and a copy back to me.This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards Let's continue to pray for one another.

Here is the prayer:....

Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and email buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power.

Amen.

FAREWELL AND SEE YOU AGAIN

Well last night we took Dottie to the airport for her flight on board the Virgin Atlantic flight to London. It was so sad to see her go as we had enjoyed having her with us so much.


Yesterday was quite restful as we new she would have loads of packing and then we had to be at the airport two hours before the scheduled flight time of 20h40. I hope she got a good seat with someone friendly beside her.





Oh bye bye Dottie see you soon and remember the recipe for those Cosmo's and treat Jaqi and Chrissy to one. I am sure they would enjoy them.

Hugs Jessie

HELLO AGAIN FROM ALL OF US

Well I am back blogging away to keep you up to date on Dottie and her adventures in SA.

Her and DD have gone for a coffee at the local Mall and so I have 10 minutes on my own. Oh what a luxury.

Last night we had a great girl’s night in. It was cold and foggy outside but we girls made it warm and cosy inside with some heavenly cocktails, Nigella type food and a great movie.

We started of with some Cosmopolitans which are divine. Made from Vanilla Vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and a dash of lime juice they are like cold drink and very more-ish. After a couple each of these we got down to some great food which I have to say I copied from Nigella.

Fatoush made with toasted pita and crisp lettuce. I also love to add some fresh rocket as I think it just adds to it. With mini meatballs and raita it was really yummy.

Dessert was easy as Woolworth make the best small custard tarts based on the Pasteis de Nata (Portuguese custard tarts) they really are rich and creamy. We had ours with a nice glass of Hannepoot wine which is sweet and a bit like a Sauternes so good for dessert.

A great meal which left all of us all a bit full and ready to chill with a good movie. So we settled down to watch ‘The Bucket List’ and oh it was so good. A real teary movie with two great actors. If you haven’t seen it we suggest you do so. A sad movie is one which of course we girls always enjoy.

Even though we were full we ended up having popcorn – home made and tumble chocolates.

After the movie we just sat and chatted for hours and ended up going to bed with hot chocolate with some whipped cream and mini marshmallows. Oh boy was it a feast or was it not.

ORA BELLAS AND ALL THAT FUN

Well back a bit later than expected as yesterday turned out to be quite a traumatic days with so much happening and time flying south that I am writing this on Sunday morning. Actually it is quite nice as I am remembering the good night we had on Friday with so much fun and Dottie was even on the table at one point. Oh boy did we enjoy it. The pictures we took were by the darling grandchildren and their friend. Hope you enjoy the latest antics of Dottie. I must say I think her oriental inspired outfit was really nice.

On Friday we had a pretty quiet day as Dottie need a little r & r after all the travelling she has been doing. We had a trip to the Beauty Shop where she had a nice relaxing pedicure and then a little bit of waxing – as you girls know always a problem. No pictures as Dottie wanted some privacy and relaxation.

She loved having her feet massaged and oh those wonderful creams with the peppermint mask it is just to die for. After that we had lunch at the local seafood restaurant – Jimmy’s Killer Prawns – where you can eat as many as you want for a reasonable price. Didn’t know Dottie liked them but she had a whale of a time – sorry about the pun as no whale was consumed. Back home we talked and cleaned and just generally chilled out.

But on Friday night we went to Ora Bella a local Italian restaurant that we quite like – must admit they have refurbished and added on to the place and the seat we had was in between two external doors and the temperature was so cold we all sat with coats on whilst eating, but we are not hardy South Africans for nothing.

Anyway the food we ate was as follows – no you can’t ignore it.

Starters consisted of chicken soup, snails, grilled calamari (squid) focaccia and small home baked Italian loaves. Guess which one Dottie had? The clue is it crawls or slithers around and came in a lovely white wine sauce. Actually her and I shared the plate of s….s!

Main course was haloumi cheese for me with a salad, trinchado (a spicy beef in a creamy sauce) for DH and DD, calamari for DGD and her friend, Pizza for DGS and DD and her DH had a huge seafood platter for two. Prawns, calamari, kabeljou, crab sticks and mussels. There was so much they couldn’t finish it. Dottie decided that she would try a bit of everyone’s. I was so impressed with her because she was so adventurous. Normally we find people going oh couldn’t eat that My DH can’t stand the sight of prawns with shells tails and head but he loves to eat them so I always end up peeling them but not Dottie she was in there like a trooper. She said the garlic and lemon butter they had been grilled with was divine.

Of course we had no room for dessert but rather had espresso for me, Irish coffee for Dottie, French coffee for DH and decaf latte for DS in Law. Of course we did have a few glasses of wine with dinner in the Italian tradition.

A great day with pampering eating and good company who could ask for more.

On Saturday DH left at lunch time so breakfast at 10h00 at our place with DD and DS in law and kids. No champagne though just simple bacon and eggs with mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and toast. Also Dottie met Elizabeth the lady who comes in on a Saturday to do some cleaning and the dreaded chore of – IRONING. That is a swear word as far as I am concerned as I am useless at it and just hate it!!!!!!!!! And Saturday night is girls night in. Back soon

Here is DD with Dottie. They got on so well as Dottie and her have similar interests and had so much to talk about.

Here is DGS the photographer who was quite shocked at Dottie having some wine and getting on the table. Oh he is still so young

STAY TUNED

Well sorry to do this but such a hectic day ahead and we overslept until 5h45. I will give you all the low down on yesterday and what Dottie did later on. It was great fun though and she had a great time being pampered and fed.

So come back later today. I have to zoom out now to SPCA (voluntary work) shopping (DD and DS in law coming for breakfast)

No tea bags no bread and need to get the usual culprits for breakfast as DH leaves at around noon today so real rushed. Give me until this afternoon please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hugs

Jessie (stressed)

Gremlins

Please forgive the squashed up text below. Blogger is playing up and have edited etc. but it does not like it so sorry guys and gals out there

SURPRISE SURPRISE

Well I told you that we were going somewhere special and we did. GOLD REEF CITY.

As you may know Jozi as she is affectionately known was non existent until 1886 when Gold was discovered at Langlaagte (the last g is pronounced like a guttural sound in your throat.) Jozi sprang up in no time and went from dusty mining camp to metropolis within a matter of about 5 years.

Anyway Gold Reef City is a theme park with hotel and casino and is also the site of the Apartheid Museum where you see many sites which we had forgotten. Dottie was up there on the wheel but you can't see her.

The theme park is great as the houses are Victorian in style but there is also this ultra modern casino and hotel over the road from the theme park. Anyway here are some pictures to enjoy.

Unfortunately it was not carnival time yesterday but from these web pictures you can see how great it is.

The casino and hotel complex.

The streets with Victorian buildings and the people dressed in the clothes of the late 19th century

Tribal dancers perform each day at Gold Reef City and you can see them doing the traditional 'gum boot' dance. They have beer bottle caps strung around their boots to make a shuffling noise. By the way in the gold mines they have a separate language which miners need to learn and is made up of a mixture of so many different languages. It is called fanagalore. Anyway way to serious here so lets get a move on with this update.

There are also water rides and the big wheel. We couldn't get a picture of Dottie on here as it just went to fast. Also tended to get me soaked, which on a day when temperatures were around 8 degrees was not too pleasant. We are having a real cold spell just now and even was down to -4 the other morning although day time it is around 10 to 12 degrees but at least the sun is shining like mad with no clouds around. I love high veld winters although this one is having to many cold spells in fact can a spell be two months long?

Well the highlight I think for Dottie was a trip down the mine. Mines in Jozi go down for miles and can be quite scary. You get in the cage and travel down with miners and see how they drill for gold the real stuff. You even get to see them melting the gold into an ingot and if you can lift with your one hand you get to keep it. Well of course Dottie thought she ought to give it a go but it was way to heavy for her and so we had to come home without the gold bar. Ach well you can't win them all.

Here she is in the mine. We did try getting her to wear a hard hat but unfortunately she got covered by and so it was a no go for her. But we made sure she was safe and at the first sign of trouble e would have grabbed her and covered with ourselves. My DD was so paranoid about Dottie but she seemed to like all the attention she got from the miners. Big muscle bound men. Okay enough now I guess you get the picture.

Well next we went to the casino for a look around and to see all those glittering machines which pay out occasionally. Dottie spent R50 in the casino just for a flutter you know and she came away with R100. So not too bad for a half hours playing.

Oh by the way guys Dottie has been reading those comments from you on the blog and she just wants to let you know that Woolies here is Marks & Spencers in UK. They sell the same products but instead of marks and sparks label it is Princess label inside.

Anyway we wound our weary way home late yesterday afternoon - as usual writing this at 5h30 in the morning and have decided not to fight it as I am a mornings person and with Dottie in bed I can sit down and think much clearer. Tonight we are going for supper at a local restaurant called Ora Bellas as DH goes back to Abu Dhabi tomorrow and it is going to be a traumatic weekend as Dottie flies home with Virgin Atlantic on Sunday - oh weep I will miss her as I have had a ball showing her things around home. You know I always think we live in a boring place with nothing to do but that is utter rubbish. I have realised how much there is to do within about 50kms of home - although with petrol at R10.50 per litre it is not cheap. I know that if you convert from Rands to Pounds it doesn't seem bad but salaries here are much lower with average one being probably about R7000 per month or £500 before tax.

Anyway enough griping check out these show girls we saw.

Hugs and kisses from Dottie and from me have a great day.

Love Jessie

ps just heard on the news that in Bethlehem in the Free State it is -8 degrees. Now remember we have no central heating or double glazing and our homes are built to keep cool