KatieB

I have read in 2011

2012-01-05T15:28:00.002+02:00

OK - so 2011 was the worst ever for reading..
I try..but to be honest, my Bible has been getting much more attention, and
I do prefer to read it above any other book.
Love reading books about the Bible, also did a lot of research about Judaism,which
was VERY interesting.

Die Bybelroman - Jaco Thom
Encounters with God - Jean Alison Bradfield
Talia vat grond - Melissa Scharneck
Gysey - Lesley Pearse
The Rescue - Nicolas Sparks
Lea - Jaco Thom

Will again make an concerted effort to read more in 2012..

Much love and gratitude.

Katie

Hold me now - Thompson Twins

2011-08-22T09:31:00.002+02:00

One of my all time favourites!!

I have a picture,
pinned to my wall.
An image of you and of me and we're laughing and loving it all.
Look at our life now, tattered and torn.
We fuss and we fight and delight in the tears that we cry until dawn

Hold me now, warm my heart
stay with me, let loving start (let loving start)

You say I'm a dreamer, we're two of a kind
Both of us searching for some perfect world we know we'll never find
So perhaps I should leave here, yeah yeah go far away
But you know that theres no where that I'd rather be than with you here
today

[Chorus]

You ask if I love you, well what can I say?
You know that I do and if this is just one of those games that we play
So I'll sing you a new song, please don't cry anymore
and then I'll ask your forgiveness, though I don't know just what I'm
asking it for

[Chorus]

Understanding the Tallit - Biblical roots of our faith by Elisabeth Syré

2011-08-16T08:51:00.007+02:00

Understanding the Tallit

Our faith in Yeshuah (Jesus) the Messiah has Hebraic background.
We have been robbed of much depth of understanding its roots due to persecutions over centuries against true believers and Jews alike.
Numbers 15:37-41." - Make tzitziots (tassels) on the corners of your garments "to remember all the commandments of the Lord.. to be holy before the Lord"

Why?
"because I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt to be your God.."

What Is A Tallit (Plural: Talliot)?

Meaning of the Prayer-Shawl:
It is a garment made of one piece of material worn around the shoulders.

What Is A Tzitzi? (Plural: Tzitziot)

Also called gadilim (twisted tassel with a knot)
It is a lock, a fringe, a tassel, forelock of hair.

Where is it in Scripture?

Deuteronomy 22:12.
"You shall make tassels on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself."

Background Of The Tallit:

In the tallit is a lot of teaching. The teaching of the numbers called Gematria (Hebrew) it is the knowledge about numerical values.
Each word and number have numerical values. (numerology).
Each tassel (Tzitzis) should have 39 windings (7+8+11+13) they are separated by double knots. 26 is the numerical value of YHWH. (Yahweh)

13 is the value of Echad and (1) unity. Therefore the windings of each Tzitzis equals the value of YHWH Echad (Jehovah G-d is One) This is called the "Shemah" in Hebrew on which the Jewish faith is built.Yeshuah suffered the same number of stripes for our healing in Isaiah 53:5 repeated in the NT: 1 Peter 2:24.

They were also commanded to give to them a blue strand called the "shamash" or servant. Shamash is also the center or middle candle of the menorah (a symbol for Yeshuah, the Servant of God, the Mediator, who stands between the Father and us).

Each Tzitzis has 7 white strands (number of perfection) surrounded by the blue servant (colour of royalty) It now adds up to 8.. the number of new beginnings. As you add 600 (is the value of the Tzitzis) and the 5 knots and 8 strands you have 613. This is the number of mitzvahs (commandments and Blessings of the Tenach (Old Testament) This represents the Word of God. In biblical times believers wore this all the time as a symbol to be surrounded by the Word of God and by the Presence of God.

Why Was the Tallit Worn?

To be surrounded by the Word and the presence of God in the symbols of the Prayer-Shawl.
Meaning Of Tallit: TALL is the Hebrew word for tent; IT is little in Hebrew.
Literal meaning is therefore:" little tent".
Paul coming from rabbinical background was not making a living from camping-tents. He was very intelligent and studied the Torah. Yes, he was a tallit maker understanding the meaning of each thread of the garment which needed study and accuracy.
See Acts 18:2-3.

Aquila and Priscilla had the same profession and could teach others. They were believing Jews persecuted in Rome for faith in Yeshuah. (See Acts 18)
A tallit is a garment used in prayer symbolizing (prophetically) embraced in the Spirit of G-d. It means to be physically, spiritually, emotionally covered by Hashem (God Adonai). It is a covering. A tallit is a prayer closet to experience the glory of the Lord when you are alone with Him. It is then put over the head to be free from worldly influences and concentrate on Him.

When Was It Used?

Believers in the Old Testament wore it all the time during prayer. Specially used at major festivals, funerals and major ceremonies:
Succoth (Feast of Tabernacles), Shavuot (Pentecost), Pesach (Easter), Yom Kippur (Day of atonement) etc.

Today:

Jewish believers use it for bar mitzvah's, circumcisions, Weddings (Ketubah’s) and burials. It is also used on Simchat Torah (the day after Succoth) to carry the Torah scrolls in the tallit. (first 5 books of the Old Testament are then carried in the prayer-shawl).

(A KETUBAH is a marriage contract. The ancient Hebrew wedding practice involving the marriage covenant and bride price: When a young man desired to marry a young woman in ancient Israel; the bride was usually chosen by the father of the bridegroom. The father made the arrangements as Samson’s father did for him (Judges 14:1-10). The father would send his trusted servant, known as the agent of the father, to search out the bride. An excellent example of this can be seen in Genesis 24. In this chapter, we see Abraham (a type of God the Father) wanting to secure a bride for Isaac (a type of the Messiah) and sends His servant Eliezer (a type of the Holy Spirit (Ruach Hakodesh) to do this task (Gen 15:2; 24:2-4). The young man would prepare a written contract (or covenant) for the engagement called, in Hebrew, a ‘Shitre Erusin.’ A second contract (or covenant) the ‘Ketubah’ is the marriage contract that states the bride price, the promises of the groom, and the rights of the bride. (The word Ketubah means ‘that which is written.’) The groom promised to work for her, to honor, support, and maintain her in truth, to provide food, clothing, and necessities, and to live together with her as husband and wife. The ‘Ketubah’ was the unalienable right of the bride. The ‘Ketubah’ must be executed and signed prior to the wedding ceremony. The young man would present the ‘Ketubah’ to the young woman and her father at the young woman's home. But the most important part of the contract was the bride price, the price that the young man was willing to pay to marry the young woman. This payment was to be made to the young woman's father in exchange for his permission to marry. The bride price was generally quite high.). Consider the price that the Lord Jesus Christ paid for each and every one of us!

The Tallit Symbolizes:

1. The brooding of God’s Spirit over the waters in Gen.1:2

2. The spreading of the wings of eagles in Deut. 32:11;Isa 40:31

3. Overshadowing of Most High (Holy Spirit) conception of Yeshuah in Luke 1:35 Shadow of Gods wings. Ps. 36:7

4. Overshadowing of God’s glory on Peter, John, James on Mt. Tabor. In Luke 9:28 (transfiguration),

5. Peter’s shadow for healing in Acts 5:14

6. The passing of the prophetic mantle from Elijah to Elisha In 2 Kin 2:13-14 Elisha struck the waters with the tallit.

7. The healing of the woman with the issue of blood Lk.8:43-48.

8. Raising the dead Mark 5:41 "tallit a cumi"; "come under my tallit and rise. "(tallit=covering; cumi=rise up).

9. Declaration that faith is for all nations. Jews and Gentiles alike. Acts 10:9, Peter, (his Hebrew name is Kefa) a Jew, receives a spiritual impression of a vision of a cloth coming down with unclean animals. This cloth is a tallit. Meaning: "He now can go and bring the Word to the Gentiles". Note: Peter did never eat the unclean animals. The vision of the tallit meant all nations are accepted by faith in Yeshuah and no-one is unclean, who follows the Lord. Peter got the message to not only teach Jews but also Gentiles.

10. Rev. 19:13-16 Tallit dipped in blood is the Word of God the robe Jesus wore had YHWH Echad on it meaning King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What kind of robe would our returning Yeshuah wear? When sitting upon His Throne with His tallit around Him saying: King of Kings and Lord of Lords...Yeshuah Ha Mashiah!!

11. Peter went into the empty tomb and found the tallit of Jesus. John 20:6-7 (a symbol of the Resurrection)

12. A covenant sign Ruth 3:9 "spread your tallit over me" During a Jewish wedding (called ketubah) the bride and groom are covered with the "chupah" a canopy which is a large tallit. It is either held over the couple by the four corners (Tzitzis) held by friends. We read in the Bible that in the last days goyim (gentiles) will cling to the Tzitzis of one Jew.

13. Matthew.14:36. The sick begged Him that they might only touch the Tzitzis of His garment and as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

14. In Revelations 4:8 we see the four living creatures with six wings who cry: "Holy, holy, holy." They surround the throne of God in the temple. Are we not the temple of the Holy Spirit of God? The Jewish flag is like a tallit: white and blue. If you put the Magen David in the middle (shield of David or Jewish star) it is. (Could this be a symbol for the Morning star too? The devil lost that title in Isaiah 14:12 and Yeshuah is the Morning star Rev. 22:16) To me personally the Jewish flag

Jesus Is The Lilley Of The Valley And The Bright And Morning star!!

In Numbers 24:5 Balaam had to curse Israel and could not.
"How lovely are your tents o Lord.. he said. All believers had the tallit over them in the desert making one big tabernacle. In the wilderness Moses set up a tent (tabernacle) of meeting according to the command of God. Two and a half million Jewish people could not have pitched a tent on desert sand. They were together each in their little tent. A protection from harm.
As the tallit is placed over the head, it forms a tent with the four Tzitzis on each corner. The word for corners in Hebrew is kanaph. This also means wings. It is the same word used for the wings of the Seraphim in Isa.6:2
As your arms are held out under the garment, wings are formed and each corner is a kanaph or wing.

Other Scriptures Mentioned In Connection With The Tallit:

Psalm 36:7: "shadow of Your wings"
Malachi 4:2: "healing in Your wings"
Ps. 84:1: "Lovely to be in Your tabernacles"
Ps. 61:4: "I will stay in your tent and trust in the shelter of Your wings."
Ps. 27:5-6: "In times of trouble, He hides me in His tallit and in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me etc."
In Ezekiel 16:8: the Lord speaks to Jerusalem: " I spread My (tallit) Wing over you (kanaph) and covered your nakedness.
In Psalm 91: we are able to abide "under the shadow of the Almighty" - and "under His wings."
Could there be a connection with the revival in England when Susanna Wesley prayed for her nation with a garment over her head? Her prayers changed the history of England.
There is power in the Name of Jesus. We may use our hands, feet and even clothes to help pray for revival in our homes, families and nations.

How To Wear The Tallit?

Wear it around your shoulders as you worship the Lord and intercede if you like. You can also wear it over your head. Some orthodox rabbis say that it is mandatory for a man to wear a tallit and it is optional for women. Do not let this stop you as a woman of God, from entering into its blessing by wearing it.
Galatians 3: 28 says that there is neither Greek nor Jew, male nor female. We are one in Christ Jesus. This is an antidote against inferiority. Use it prophetically.

Lettering On The Tallit:

This is called the "atarah" , the band on the top of the garment. It is called the crown of the garment. It is the blessing:
"Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to wrap ourselves in the Tzitzis."
The lettering is always on the outside just like the tent walls of the Holy Tabernacle so that they would always hang the same way.

Is Not It Religious To Wear A Tallit And Is It Necessary?

No it is not necessary at all and it is not religious either. It is in the Bible. God is teaching us through the natural Israel what it means to be in the Spirit of understanding for His Word. He is widening our tent-pegs. Is. 54:2..Every object-lesson is a step to understanding the full plan of God for our lives. It also teaches us to love the Bible and the Jewish background of the Word so we will not be tempted to be anti-Semitic. We will be ready for the End-time Plan and will be able to teach the Jewish people about their own Bible through the Spirit of Jesus.
Do you need covering today? Do you need healing? Do you need the love of the Almighty and the miracle power in your situation?
Come. For He is the God that healeth Thee. He is the Lord your Healer.

Thank You GOD!

2011-08-10T11:31:00.009+02:00

Ed Lunnon has a blog http://edlunnon.wordpress.com that thanks God daily. He says:

Every day I experience simple awesome things that highlight Life’s pleasures and keep me focused on the positive:

I now choose to follow his example and start a Journal that will express my joys and good fortunes. Keeping me focused on the good and pleasures of Life.

Thank You Lord for...

30.08.2011 - a wonderful friend and for a quick pop-in visit.

29.08.2011 - the joy of a quick chat in the middle of the road with a neighbour.

28.08.2011 - allowing me time to have a great nap!

27.08.2011 - spending the morning with a good friend

21.08.2011 - the unconditional love of a puppy climbing on my lap for a nap.

20.08.2011 - the first warmth after a bitterly cold winter.

19.08.2011 - bringing a group of friends together who ALL love you.

18.08.2011 - experiencing the love of family and friends on a special birthday.

17.08.2011 - your teaching on praise and worship.

16.08.2011 - creating an opportunity to share breakfast with a friend.

15.08.2011 - for the grace that protected my father-in-law through the operation.

14.08.2011 - feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit at the wedding on the beach.

13.08.2011 - waking up to the sound of the sea in the distance.

12.08.2011 - spending time with my parents and siblings.

11.08.2011 - the love I feel for my husband that is so big that I know it originates in You.

10.08.2011 - the emotional sensitivity to be able to feel this excruciating emotional pain that is proof of the fact that I am alive.

Thanking God

2011-08-10T11:20:00.003+02:00

Life has a way of taking you in a wrestling grip and throwing you down so that all the air in your lungs are expelled. Today sees me gasping for air. After life threw me down on the floor a while ago, it kicked me in the ribs last night, leaving me not only breathless but also with a pain that is penetrating my soul. Patience is getting me through the moment, but what the long term outcome will be only God will know. I believe in His Almighty wisdom, that He will set broken bones and bandage wounds. It takes moments like these to make you realize how much a person has to be grateful for.

I choose to give my own weaknesses and the current situation in His hands.

Lord, I give you this parcel. It contains hurt feelings, neglected feelings, feelings of rejection, and all the other feelings this situation has brought with it. I will wrap it nicely, put a bow around and nail it to Your cross. I want to take my human nature out of this situation and want to ask You to take over and lead and resolve this issue with Your words of wisdom and kindness, all according to Your perfect plan. Wipe our tears and hold us tight.

In the name of Jesus I bind all negative words and feelings and spirits that has tried to steal

our joy, and I speak life, love and joy into our lives.

I want to worship and praise You for all that You are about to do. I want to show You my gratitude by starting a "Journal of Gratitude" - where I will verbally report Your miracles and wonders in my life. You have never left me on my own - You've always been there with Your unending peace and comfort. I thank You for giving me the same today.

Amen

Kattie

2011-06-07T11:21:00.001+02:00

Kattie

03.01.1996 - 07.06.2011

♥♥♥

Blogoversary!!

2011-06-06T11:04:00.003+02:00

4 years and counting and this year I didn't miss it..Yay!
Happy Birthday KatieB! ♥

Sneeu

2011-05-26T15:29:00.001+02:00

Johan het v ons sneeu uit Barkly gebring..

Cheryl Cole - Parachute

2011-04-04T14:40:00.003+02:00

I don't tell anyone about the way you hold my hand
I don't tell anyone about the things that we have planned
Won't tell anybody, won't tell anybody
They wanna push me down, they wanna see you fall down

Won't tell anybody how you turn my world around
I won't tell anyone how your voice is my favorite sound
Won't tell anybody, won't tell anybody
They wanna see us fall, they wanna see us fall down

I don't need a parachute, baby, if I've got you
Baby, if I've got you, I don't need a parachute
You're gonna catch me
You're gonna catch if I fall down, down, down

I don't need a parachute, baby, if I've got you
Baby, if I've got you, I don't need a parachute
You're gonna catch me
You're gonna catch if I fall down, down, down

Don't believe the things you tell yourself so late night
You are your own worst enemy, you'll never win the fight
Just hold on to me, I'll hold on to you
It's you and me up against the world, it's you and me, love

I don't need a parachute, baby, if I've got you
Baby, if I've got you, I don't need a parachute
You're gonna catch me
You're gonna catch if I fall down, down, down

I don't need a parachute, baby, if I've got you
Baby, if I've got you, I don't need a parachute
You're gonna catch me
You're gonna catch if I fall down, down, down

I won't fall out of love, I won't fall out of
I won't fall out of love, I won't fall out of
I won't fall out of love, I won't fall out of
I won't fall out of love, I'll fall into you

I won't fall out of love, I won't fall out of
I won't fall out of love, I won't fall out of
I won't fall out of love, I won't fall out of
I won't fall out of love, I'll fall into you

I don't need a parachute, baby, if I've got you
Baby, if I've got you, I don't need a parachute
You're gonna catch me
You're gonna catch if I fall down, down, down

I don't need a parachute, baby, if I've got you
Baby, if I've got you, I don't need a parachute
You're gonna catch me
You're gonna catch if I fall down, down, down

Love the song - love the dancing

Gloria Estefan - Steal your heart

2011-03-03T11:30:00.002+02:00

This song keeps resounding in my soul and I dedicate it to MB, ME and MS

I don't mean to be the teardrop spilling over your resentments
Don't intend to be the cry with which you voice your discontentment
I don't wanna be a picture, fading slowly from your memory
Don't intend to be a shadow simply darkening your passage

Only wanna lose myself behind the mirror of your eyes
Be the only balm that soothes the secret passions in your life
Only want to lose my senses, lose your sorrow calm this madness
Be the only one you count on to alleviate your sadness

I'll steal your heart and set it free
Tear down the walls that would surround you
I may hold you close to me
But these ties will never bind you

I don't mean to be the fire that's igniting your temptations
Don't intend to be the sword that runs you through with adoration
I don't want to be a whisper my emotions wrapped in silence
Don't intend to be the shout reminding you that time is priceless

Only want to be the wind that lifts you high above the ground
Living only to unleash the sacred power that we've found
Only want to breathe your essence, be your comfort, fill with laughter
Every moment that we live from this day on, forever after

I'll steal your heart and set it free
So free, I'm sure it will astound you
Without my love you'll never be
In some way, I'll always find you

I'll steal your heart and set it free
Tear down the walls that would surround you
I may hold you close to me
But these ties will never bind you

Only want to be the wind that lifts you high above the ground
Living only to unleash the sacred powers that we've found
Only want to breathe your essence, be your comfort, fill with laughter
Every moment that we live from this day on, forever after

I'll steal your heart and set it free
So free, I'm sure it will astound you
Without my love you'll never be
In some way, I'll always find you

I'll steal your heart and set it free
Tear down the walls that would surround you
I may hold you close to me
But these ties will never bind you

I'll steal your heart and set it free

JOY!!

2011-02-19T22:25:00.014+02:00

Homecell: Wednesday, 16 February 2011

I had the opportunity to share what the Lord taught me about JOY at last week's homecell meeting.

Starting off my study it was clear that the Bible was filled with the message of joy and how it can be part of our lives if we chose to love the Lord. It is impossible to condense all the messages into an hour long chat, so I took a small part and shared the following:

Joy

Joy as an emotion is experienced through our senses and our thoughts. Because we are human:

When we experience positive emotions and thoughts, we are happy.
When we experience negative emotions and thoughts, we are unhappy.

Jesus teaches us about joy that is not based on our senses, experiences, surroundings or thoughts. How is this possible we ask ourselves?

John 15 (NIV)

v1: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener."
v7: "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you"

v9: "as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love"

v11: "I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

The 2 main thoughts in verse 11 are:

REMAIN IN GOD = COMPLETE JOY (measured as full)

Also look at Psalm 16:11: "You have made known to me the path of life; You fill me with JOY in your PRESENCE, with eternal PLEASURES at Your right hand."

As we move closer to God we are filled with JOY. He fills our senses with His presence and the interaction is pleasurable. The Lord speaks to our minds with words of approval like when He spoke to Jesus at His baptism. "This is My son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3: 17)

When you are in a loving relationship with God (characterized with love and intimacy), He wants to give us the things that brings joy into our lives.

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Now imagine yourself in the roll of a parent: we want to give our children the things that they want..it gives us joy.

JESUS AS A SOURCE OF JOY:

The message given to people before the birth of Jesus:

Luke 2:10 "But the angel said to them, "do not be afraid. I bring you good news of GREAT JOY that will be for ALL THE PEOPLE."

This message of joy is not meant for some people, or special people, or godly people. This message says that this JOY that Jesus will bring are for ALL PEOPLE!

Where can this joy be found?

Before His death, Jesus prepares His disciples for this message of joy by teaching them that His victory over death means that they will experience lasting joy.

John 16:22 "Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away you joy."

This means that:

1) God's only Son came to earth,

2) claimed victory over death (sin, unhappiness)

3) which means we have power over any enemy (in the name of Jesus)

4) there is no unhappiness/pain that will be lasting.

As in any conflict situation, victory leads to JOY!!

Jesus promises LASTING joy:

John 14: 13, 14 "and I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Now to say "anything" can lead to interesting arguments. Can we really ask ANYTHING?

Yes, we can..if what we ask falls within the PERFECT PLAN that God has for our lives.

But how do we know what this PERFECT PLAN is that God has for our lives?

(Imagine if you had the power to give your child exactly what he needs, exactly at the right time that he needs it, to make him perfectly happy...you realize that that is what the Lord wants for you life...Jer. 29.11)

The answer to the above question lies in an intimate relationship with God. The moment you have an intimate relationship with a person, you care so much about them that you know what they need, be it, emotionally, financially. You are willing to let your own needs take second place to the needs of the one you love.

In an intimate relationship with God, you are willing to submit to God's will, because you know that His will for your life is perfect.

Jeremiah 29:11, 13

v11: "For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (that is my favourite verse!! - just imagine what the Lord Almighty has planned for you and me!!!!)

v13:"You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with ALL your heart.

To live in obedience within God's will means freedom from bindings by satan. He will try his best to keep us living in sin, but we have to look past this temporary cross towards God's perfect plan for our lives like God promises in Jer.29:11. "Plans to give you hope and a future"

Paul explains in Phil. 4:11, how he was able to follow the Lord in good times and in bad:

"...I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances"
We should be willing to follow through humiliation and need and in the good times.
Isaiah 1:19;20. "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword."

The Lord has life lessons to teach us during good times and bad times.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AS SOURCE OF JOY:

Rom 14:17."for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,but of righteousness, peace and JOY in the Holy Spirit."

How do we then receive the Holy Spirit and this promised joy?

It is given to those who ask the Father for it: Luke 11:13.

It is given to those who live obediently: Acts 5:32

It is given to those who live in Him, so that He can fill them with His presence. John 14:23

When Jesus went to John to be baptized, he did it as an act of obedience. Like a parent who rewards a child who is obedient, the Lord rewards Jesus' obedience by giving him the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.

Matt. 3: 13-15 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.

Matt. 3:16-17 "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Obedience is not just complying to the letter of the law as given in the 10 commandments and as Jesus taught in His sermon on the mount (Matt.5,6,7)(Matt. 5:17) - it is something more personal and intimate between you and God, born in a loving relationship.

The Word also says:

2 Cor. 3:6 "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

Obedience originating in a feeling of obligation has no life in it. Jesus speaks about obedience born in a loving relationship.

I found this wonderful example of obedience that was not commanded, but a deed done to indicate level of commitment in a loving relationship.

2 Sam.23: 14-16 "At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead he poured it out before the Lord.

As I previously said, the topic of joy has many more dimensions but we'll look into that at a later stage.

Comfort

2011-02-19T22:19:00.002+02:00

I've often wondered where to start with studying the Bible and what it is that I should be focusing on, until I discovered the following verse:

Psalm 32:8

The Lord says: "I will teach you the way you should go, I will instruct you and advise you."

To me this is the most comforting thought, knowing that if I chose to stay in the Lord's presence, He will show me what I need to know. How can people still wonder about life and choices that they have to make when the Almighty Lord knows exactly what we need and what the best choice would be..we should just humble ourselves and ask..

God se Liefdesverklaring aan jou - Woorde deur Julius Magan

2011-02-07T09:18:00.002+02:00

DAAROM DINK EK AAN JOU, DAAROM DROOM EK OOR JOU.
DAAROM VERLANG EK NA JOU.
JY IS MYNE, JY IS MY LIEFLING.
JY IS MYNE EN JOU HET EK LIEF.
JY IS GEVORM (GEMAAK, GESKAPE) DEUR MY HAND.
JY IS BEMIN (BEHEER, BEVRY) DEUR MY HART.
JY IS GEVIND (GEWAS, GEKOOP) DEUR MY BLOED.
JY IS GEROEP (GERED, GEKIES) DEUR MY NAAM.
JY WORD GELEI (GETROOS, GEDRA) DEUR MY GEES.
JY WORD BEDIEN (BERAAD, BEHOU) DEUR MY WOORD.
JY WORD GENEES (GEKEN, GESOND) DEUR MY WONDE.
JY WORD ‘N KIND (‘N SEUN, ‘N DOGTER) DEUR MY LIEFDE.
EK IS NABY, NADER, ALTYD BY JOU. WATERS WAAR RUS IS GEE EK JOU.
DAAROM DINK EK AAN JOU, DAAROM DROOM EK OOR JOU.
DAAROM VERLANG EK NA JOU.
JY IS MYNE, JY IS MY LIEFLING.
JY IS MYNE EN JOU HET EK LIEF.

I have read in 2010...

2011-01-03T13:54:00.007+02:00

As done in previous years, I listed the books that I read during the course of the year. 2010 was not a good year for time spent on reading. Again I will attempt to read more this year.

Annelie Botes - Klawervier
Annelie Botes - Trippel Sewe
Lesley Pearse - Hope
Brandilyn Collins - Oë soos Elisa
Steve Hofmeyr - Vier briewe vir Jan Ellis
Stephenie Meyer - Eclipse
Stephenie Meyer - New Moon
Stephenie Meyer - Twilight
Rona Rupert - Woorde is soos Wors
Annelie Botes - Broodsonde
Martina Cole - Goodnight Lady

For my own convenience I will add the previous years' lists:

2009:

Sue Grafton - D is for Deadbeat
Kate Furnivall - The Russian Concubine
Anita Shreve - The Pilot's Wife
Retha & Aldo McPherson - 'n Boodskap van God
Charles Sobczak - a Choice of Angels
Erika Murray-Theron - 'n Tapisserie met klein diere
Natasha Sutherland - Bittersoet
Debbie Macomber - Thursdays at eight
William P. Young - The Shack
Susan Coetzer - Oros vir die siel

2008:

Annemari Coetser - Oop kaarte
David Baldacci - Simple Genius
David Morrell - Creepers
Dr. Spencer Johnson - Who moved my cheese?
Ellen Gunderson Traylor - Maria Magdalena
Gayton McKenzie - The Choice, as told to Charles Cilliers
John van de Ruit - Spud: The Madness Continues
Karen Kingsbury - Between Sundays
Kenneth Blanchard/William Olsen - The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey
L. Frank Baum - The Wizard of Oz
Margaret Craven - I heard the owl call my name
Michael Connelly - The Last Coyote
Nora Roberts - The Chesapeake Bay Quartet/Chesapeake Blue
Nora Roberts - The Chesapeake Bay Quartet/Inner Harbor
Nora Roberts - The Chesapeake Bay Quartet/Rising Tide
Nora Roberts - The Chesapeake Bay Quartet/Sea Swept
Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb - Strangers in Death
Paulo Coelho - The Zahir
Rhonda Byrne - The Secret
Sue Grafton - C is for Corpse
Sue Grafton - H is for Homicide
Sue Grafton - I is for Innocent
Sue Grafton - M is for Malice
Sue Grafton - T is for Trespass
William Golding - Lord of the Flies

2007:

Annalie Botes - Sabbatsreis
David Baldacci - The Collectors
Emma Lee-Potter - Taking Sides
Erin Hart - Lake of Sorrows
I.L de Villiers - 'n Vrou en haar God
James Patterson - Cross
Jodi Picoult - Taking Sides
John van de Ruit - Spud
Kahlil Gibran - Die Profeet
Lance Armstrong - Every Second Counts
Lance Armstrong - It's Not About The Bike
Liza Palmer - Conversations with a Fat Girl
Michael Connelly - The Closers
Michael Connelly - The Lincoln Lawyer
Michael Connelly - The Narrows
Michael Connelly - The Poet
Nicholas Sparks - True Believer
Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb - Born in Death
Patricia Cornwell - At Risk
Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist
Phillip Margolin - The Associate
Phillip Margolin - The Last Innocent Man
Richard Branson - Screw it - Let's Do It!
Sheikh & Shneider - I dared to call Him Father
Sue Grafton - G is for Gumshoe
Tess Gerritsen - The Apprentice
Tommy Tenney - Hadassa, One night with the King

Put the lime in the coconut..

2010-10-28T10:42:00.003+02:00

a Loose thought that crossed my path today when I saw this picture:

I often stand astounded at how much time people spend on creating images like this one, and never mind the time, where do they get these ideas from!

First heard the song "Coconut" by Harry Nilsson in the movie "Practical Magic" - loved it immediately. It's such a silly song, you should have a look at the movie and how the women dance around the kitchen table drinking Margaritas.

Coconut - Leslie Nilsson

Bruder bought a coconut, he bought it for a dime,
His sister had anudder one she paid it for de lime.

She put de lime in de coconut, she drank 'em bot' up
She put de lime in de coconut, she drank 'em bot' up.
She put de lime in de coconut, she drank 'em bot' up
She put de lime in de coconut, she call de doctor, woke 'im up,

Said "doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take?"
I said "Doctor, to relieve this belly ache,"
I said "Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take?"
I said "Doctor, to relieve this belly ache."
Now lemme get this straight,

You put de lime in de coconut, you drank 'em bot' up,
You put de lime in de coconut, you drank 'em bot' up,
You put de lime in de coconut, you drank 'em bot'up,
You put de lime in de coconut, you call your doctor, woke 'im up,

Said " Doctor, ain't there nothing' I can take?"
I said, "Doctor, to relieve this belly ache."
I said "Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take?'
I said, "Doctor, to relieve this belly ache,"

You put de lime in de coconut, you drink 'em bot' togedder
Put de lime in de coconut and you'll feel better,
Put de lime in de coconut, drink 'em bot' up,
Put de lime in de coconut and call me in the morning."

Woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo.
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo.

Brudder bought a coconut, he bought it for a dime,
His sister had anudder one she paid it for a lime.
She put de lime in de coconut, she drank 'em bot' up
She put de lime in de coconut and called de doctor, woke 'im up.

And said, "Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take?'
I said, "Doctor, to relieve this belly ache."
I said "Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take?"
I said, "Doctor, now lemme get this straight,

You put the lime in the coconut, you drink 'em bot'up,
Put the lime in the coconut, you drink 'em bot' up,
Put the lime in the coconut, you drink 'em bot' up,
Put the lime in the coconut. You're such a silly woman.

Put a lime in the coconut and drink 'em bot' together
Put the lime in the coconut, then you'll feel better.
Put the lime in the coconut, drink 'em both down,
Put the lime in your coconut, and call me in the morning,

Woo--ain't there nothin' you can take?
I say, woo--to relieve your belly ache,
You say, well woo--ain't there nothin' I can take?
I say woo--woo, to relieve your belly ache,
You say yow--ain't there nothin' I can take,

I say wow--to relieve this belly ache,
I said "Doctor, ain't there nothing I can take,"
I said, "Doctor, ain't there nothing I can take,"
I said, "Doctor, ain't there nothing I can take,"
I said, "Doctor you're such a silly woman.

Put the lime in the coconut and drink 'em both together,
Put the lime in the coconut, and you'll feel better,
Put the lime in the coconut and drink 'em bot' up,
Put the lime in the coconut and call me in the morning.

Yes, you call me in the morning, You call me in the morning,
I'll tell you what to do if you call me in the morning.
I'll tell you what to do if you call me in the morning.
I'll tell you what to do if you call me in the morning.
I'll tell you what to do and if you call me in the morning
I'll tell you what to do.

Had a look and it seems lime and coconut are, although not the standard ingredients, a well known variation to the standard Margarita. If you wonder how they are combined, here is a recipe. I will definitely try the combination this summer.

Put the Lime & the Coconut in the Margarita

2 oz. gold tequila

1 oz. triple sec

1/2 – 1 tsp. sugar

2 oz. lime juice + 3 additional oz.

4 oz. coconut rum

lemon-lime seltzer

ice

kosher salt

Fill a martini shaker with ice. Add tequila, triple sec, sugar, 2 oz. lime juice, and coconut rum, and shake well. Pour 3 oz. lime juice in a small rimmed plate and kosher salt in another small rimmed plate. Dip the rim of a margarita glass in lime juice, and swirl to coat well. Then dip the rim in kosher salt, and press firmly to allow the salt to adhere. Repeat with second glass. Fill each glass with ice, and pour half of tequila mixture into each. Fill to rim with seltzer, and stir gently.

Recipe: www.parchednomore.com/put-the-lime-the-coconut-in-the-margarita/

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

2010-10-15T10:21:00.006+02:00

My father-in-law, Tom, is a wise man of few words (and many hilarious jokes). a Childhood memory of his is this poem of which he can still resite a couple of verses. He is in my thoughts this morning and I want to introduce you to this amazing poem and dedicate it to him.

Wikipedia has the following information about the poem:
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (originally The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere) is the longest major poem by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, written in 1797–98 and published in the first edition of Lyrical Ballads in 1798 (see 1798 in poetry). Modern editions use a later revised version printed in 1817 that featured a gloss. Along with other poems in Lyrical Ballads, it was a signal shift to modern poetry and the beginning of British Romantic literature.

Part I

It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
`By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?

The bridegroom's doors are opened wide,
And I am next of kin;
The guests are met, the feast is set:
Mayst hear the merry din.'

He holds him with his skinny hand,
"There was a ship," quoth he.
`Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!'
Eftsoons his hand dropped he.

He holds him with his glittering eye -
The Wedding-Guest stood still,
And listens like a three years' child:
The Mariner hath his will.

The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:
He cannot choose but hear;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.

"The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared,
Merrily did we drop
Below the kirk, below the hill,
Below the lighthouse top.

The sun came up upon the left,
Out of the sea came he!
And he shone bright, and on the right
Went down into the sea.

Higher and higher every day,
Till over the mast at noon -"
The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast,
For he heard the loud bassoon.

The bride hath paced into the hall,
Red as a rose is she;
Nodding their heads before her goes
The merry minstrelsy.

The Wedding-Guest he beat his breast,
Yet he cannot choose but hear;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.

"And now the storm-blast came, and he
Was tyrannous and strong:
He struck with his o'ertaking wings,
And chased us south along.

With sloping masts and dipping prow,
As who pursued with yell and blow
Still treads the shadow of his foe,
And foward bends his head,
The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast,
And southward aye we fled.

And now there came both mist and snow,
And it grew wondrous cold:
And ice, mast-high, came floating by,
As green as emerald.

And through the drifts the snowy clifts
Did send a dismal sheen:
Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken -
The ice was all between.

The ice was here, the ice was there,
The ice was all around:
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
Like noises in a swound!

At length did cross an Albatross,
Thorough the fog it came;
As it had been a Christian soul,
We hailed it in God's name.

It ate the food it ne'er had eat,
And round and round it flew.
The ice did split with a thunder-fit;
The helmsman steered us through!

And a good south wind sprung up behind;
The Albatross did follow,
And every day, for food or play,
Came to the mariner's hollo!

In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,
It perched for vespers nine;
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,
Glimmered the white moonshine."

`God save thee, ancient Mariner,
From the fiends that plague thee thus! -
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."

Part II

"The sun now rose upon the right:
Out of the sea came he,
Still hid in mist, and on the left
Went down into the sea.

And the good south wind still blew behind,
But no sweet bird did follow,
Nor any day for food or play
Came to the mariners' hollo!

And I had done a hellish thing,
And it would work 'em woe:
For all averred, I had killed the bird
That made the breeze to blow.
Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay,
That made the breeze to blow!

Nor dim nor red, like God's own head,
The glorious sun uprist:
Then all averred, I had killed the bird
That brought the fog and mist.
'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay,
That bring the fog and mist.

The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,
The furrow followed free;
We were the first that ever burst
Into that silent sea.

Down dropped the breeze, the sails dropped down,
'Twas sad as sad could be;
And we did speak only to break
The silence of the sea!

All in a hot and copper sky,
The bloody sun, at noon,
Right up above the mast did stand,
No bigger than the moon.

Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breath nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.

The very deep did rot: O Christ!
That ever this should be!
Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs
Upon the slimy sea.

About, about, in reel and rout
The death-fires danced at night;
The water, like a witch's oils,
Burnt green, and blue, and white.

And some in dreams assured were
Of the Spirit that plagued us so;
Nine fathom deep he had followed us
From the land of mist and snow.

And every tongue, through utter drought,
Was withered at the root;
We could not speak, no more than if
We had been choked with soot.

Ah! well-a-day! what evil looks
Had I from old and young!
Instead of the cross, the Albatross
About my neck was hung."

Part III

"There passed a weary time. Each throat
Was parched, and glazed each eye.
A weary time! a weary time!
How glazed each weary eye -
When looking westward, I beheld
A something in the sky.

At first it seemed a little speck,
And then it seemed a mist;
It moved and moved, and took at last
A certain shape, I wist.

A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist!
And still it neared and neared:
As if it dodged a water-sprite,
It plunged and tacked and veered.

With throats unslaked, with black lips baked,
We could nor laugh nor wail;
Through utter drought all dumb we stood!
I bit my arm, I sucked the blood,
And cried, A sail! a sail!

With throats unslaked, with black lips baked,
Agape they heard me call:
Gramercy! they for joy did grin,
And all at once their breath drew in,
As they were drinking all.

See! see! (I cried) she tacks no more!
Hither to work us weal;
Without a breeze, without a tide,
She steadies with upright keel!

The western wave was all a-flame,
The day was well nigh done!
Almost upon the western wave
Rested the broad bright sun;
When that strange shape drove suddenly
Betwixt us and the sun.

And straight the sun was flecked with bars,
(Heaven's Mother send us grace!)
As if through a dungeon-grate he peered
With broad and burning face.

Alas! (thought I, and my heart beat loud)
How fast she nears and nears!
Are those her sails that glance in the sun,
Like restless gossameres?

Are those her ribs through which the sun
Did peer, as through a grate?
And is that Woman all her crew?
Is that a Death? and are there two?
Is Death that Woman's mate?

Her lips were red, her looks were free,
Her locks were yellow as gold:
Her skin was as white as leprosy,
The Nightmare Life-in-Death was she,
Who thicks man's blood with cold.

The naked hulk alongside came,
And the twain were casting dice;
`The game is done! I've won! I've won!'
Quoth she, and whistles thrice.

The sun's rim dips; the stars rush out:
At one stride comes the dark;
With far-heard whisper o'er the sea,
Off shot the spectre-bark.

We listened and looked sideways up!
Fear at my heart, as at a cup,
My life-blood seemed to sip!
The stars were dim, and thick the night,
The steersman's face by his lamp gleamed white;
From the sails the dew did drip -
Till clomb above the eastern bar
The horned moon, with one bright star
Within the nether tip.

One after one, by the star-dogged moon,
Too quick for groan or sigh,
Each turned his face with a ghastly pang,
And cursed me with his eye.

Four times fifty living men,
(And I heard nor sigh nor groan)
With heavy thump, a lifeless lump,
They dropped down one by one.

The souls did from their bodies fly, -
They fled to bliss or woe!
And every soul it passed me by,
Like the whizz of my crossbow!"

Part IV

`I fear thee, ancient Mariner!
I fear thy skinny hand!
And thou art long, and lank, and brown,
As is the ribbed sea-sand.

I fear thee and thy glittering eye,
And thy skinny hand, so brown.' -
"Fear not, fear not, thou Wedding-Guest!
This body dropped not down.

Alone, alone, all, all alone,
Alone on a wide wide sea!
And never a saint took pity on
My soul in agony.

The many men, so beautiful!
And they all dead did lie;
And a thousand thousand slimy things
Lived on; and so did I.

I looked upon the rotting sea,
And drew my eyes away;
I looked upon the rotting deck,
And there the dead men lay.

I looked to heaven, and tried to pray;
But or ever a prayer had gusht,
A wicked whisper came and made
My heart as dry as dust.

I closed my lids, and kept them close,
And the balls like pulses beat;
Forthe sky and the sea, and the sea and the sky,
Lay like a load on my weary eye,
And the dead were at my feet.

The cold sweat melted from their limbs,
Nor rot nor reek did they:
The look with which they looked on me
Had never passed away.

An orphan's curse would drag to hell
A spirit from on high;
But oh! more horrible than that
Is the curse in a dead man's eye!
Seven days, seven nights, I saw that curse,
And yet I could not die.

The moving moon went up the sky,
And no where did abide:
Softly she was going up,
And a star or two beside -

Her beams bemocked the sultry main,
Like April hoar-frost spread;
But where the ship's huge shadow lay,
The charmed water burnt alway
A still and awful red.

Beyond the shadow of the ship
I watched the water-snakes:
They moved in tracks of shining white,
And when they reared, the elfish light
Fell off in hoary flakes.

Within the shadow of the ship
I watched their rich attire:
Blue, glossy green, and velvet black,
They coiled and swam; and every track
Was a flash of golden fire.

O happy living things! no tongue
Their beauty might declare:
A spring of love gushed from my heart,
And I blessed them unaware:
Sure my kind saint took pity on me,
And I blessed them unaware.

The selfsame moment I could pray;
And from my neck so free
The Albatross fell off, and sank
Like lead into the sea."

Part V

"Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing,
Beloved from pole to pole!
To Mary Queen the praise be given!
She sent the gentle sleep from heaven,
That slid into my soul.

The silly buckets on the deck,
That had so long remained,
I dreamt that they were filled with dew;
And when I awoke, it rained.

My lips were wet, my throat was cold,
My garments all were dank;
Sure I had drunken in my dreams,
And still my body drank.

I moved, and could not feel my limbs:
I was so light -almost
I thought that I had died in sleep,
And was a blessed ghost.

And soon I heard a roaring wind:
It did not come anear;
But with its sound it shook the sails,
That were so thin and sere.

The upper air burst into life!
And a hundred fire-flags sheen,
To and fro they were hurried about!
And to and fro, and in and out,
The wan stars danced between.

And the coming wind did roar more loud,
And the sails did sigh like sedge;
And the rain poured down from one black cloud;
The moon was at its edge.

The thick black cloud was cleft, and still
The moon was at its side:
Like waters shot from some high crag,
The lightning fell with never a jag,
A river steep and wide.

The loud wind never reached the ship,
Yet now the ship moved on!
Beneath the lightning and the moon
The dead men gave a groan.

They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose,
Nor spake, nor moved their eyes;
It had been strange, even in a dream,
To have seen those dead men rise.

The helmsman steered, the ship moved on;
Yet never a breeze up blew;
The mariners all 'gan work the ropes,
Where they were wont to do;
They raised their limbs like lifeless tools -
We were a ghastly crew.

The body of my brother's son
Stood by me, knee to knee:
The body and I pulled at one rope,
But he said nought to me."

`I fear thee, ancient Mariner!'
"Be calm, thou Wedding-Guest!
'Twas not those souls that fled in pain,
Which to their corses came again,
But a troop of spirits blest:

For when it dawned -they dropped their arms,
And clustered round the mast;
Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths,
And from their bodies passed.

Around, around, flew each sweet sound,
Then darted to the sun;
Slowly the sounds came back again,
Now mixed, now one by one.

Sometimes a-dropping from the sky
I heard the skylark sing;
Sometimes all little birds that are,
How they seemed to fill the sea and air
With their sweet jargoning!

And now 'twas like all instruments,
Now like a lonely flute;
And now it is an angel's song,
That makes the heavens be mute.

It ceased; yet still the sails made on
A pleasant noise till noon,
A noise like of a hidden brook
In the leafy month of June,
That to the sleeping woods all night
Singeth a quiet tune.

Till noon we quietly sailed on,
Yet never a breeze did breathe;
Slowly and smoothly went the ship,
Moved onward from beneath.

Under the keel nine fathom deep,
From the land of mist and snow,
The spirit slid: and it was he
That made the ship to go.
The sails at noon left off their tune,
And the ship stood still also.

The sun, right up above the mast,
Had fixed her to the ocean:
But in a minute she 'gan stir,
With a short uneasy motion -
Backwards and forwards half her length
With a short uneasy motion.

Then like a pawing horse let go,
She made a sudden bound:
It flung the blood into my head,
And I fell down in a swound.

How long in that same fit I lay,
I have not to declare;
But ere my living life returned,
I heard and in my soul discerned
Two voices in the air.

`Is it he?' quoth one, `Is this the man?
By him who died on cross,
With his cruel bow he laid full low
The harmless Albatross.

The spirit who bideth by himself
In the land of mist and snow,
He loved the bird that loved the man
Who shot him with his bow.'

The other was a softer voice,
As soft as honey-dew:
Quoth he, `The man hath penance done,
And penance more will do.'

Part VI

First Voice

But tell me, tell me! speak again,
Thy soft response renewing -
What makes that ship drive on so fast?
What is the ocean doing?

Second Voice

Still as a slave before his lord,
The ocean hath no blast;
His great bright eye most silently
Up to the moon is cast -

If he may know which way to go;
For she guides him smooth or grim.
See, brother, see! how graciously
She looketh down on him.

First Voice

But why drives on that ship so fast,
Without or wave or wind?

Second Voice

The air is cut away before,
And closes from behind.

Fly, brother, fly! more high, more high!
Or we shall be belated:
For slow and slow that ship will go,
When the Mariner's trance is abated.

"I woke, and we were sailing on
As in a gentle weather:
'Twas night, calm night, the moon was high;
The dead men stood together.

All stood together on the deck,
For a charnel-dungeon fitter:
All fixed on me their stony eyes,
That in the moon did glitter.

The pang, the curse, with which they died,
Had never passed away:
I could not draw my eyes from theirs,
Nor turn them up to pray.

And now this spell was snapped: once more
I viewed the ocean green,
And looked far forth, yet little saw
Of what had else been seen -

Like one that on a lonesome road
Doth walk in fear and dread,
And having once turned round walks on,
And turns no more his head;
Because he knows a frightful fiend
Doth close behind him tread.

But soon there breathed a wind on me,
Nor sound nor motion made:
Its path was not upon the sea,
In ripple or in shade.

It raised my hair, it fanned my cheek
Like a meadow-gale of spring -
It mingled strangely with my fears,
Yet it felt like a welcoming.

Swiftly, swiftly flew the ship,
Yet she sailed softly too:
Sweetly, sweetly blew the breeze -
On me alone it blew.

Oh! dream of joy! is this indeed
The lighthouse top I see?
Is this the hill? is this the kirk?
Is this mine own country?

We drifted o'er the harbour-bar,
And I with sobs did pray -
O let me be awake, my God!
Or let me sleep alway.

The harbour-bay was clear as glass,
So smoothly it was strewn!
And on the bay the moonlight lay,
And the shadow of the moon.

The rock shone bright, the kirk no less,
That stands above the rock:
The moonlight steeped in silentness
The steady weathercock.

And the bay was white with silent light,
Till rising from the same,
Full many shapes, that shadows were,
In crimson colours came.

A little distance from the prow
Those crimson shadows were:
I turned my eyes upon the deck -
Oh, Christ! what saw I there!

Each corse lay flat, lifeless and flat,
And, by the holy rood!
A man all light, a seraph-man,
On every corse there stood.

This seraph-band, each waved his hand:
It was a heavenly sight!
They stood as signals to the land,
Each one a lovely light;

This seraph-band, each waved his hand,
No voice did they impart -
No voice; but oh! the silence sank
Like music on my heart.

But soon I heard the dash of oars,
I heard the Pilot's cheer;
My head was turned perforce away,
And I saw a boat appear.

The Pilot and the Pilot's boy,
I heard them coming fast:
Dear Lord in heaven! it was a joy
The dead men could not blast.

I saw a third -I heard his voice:
It is the Hermit good!
He singeth loud his godly hymns
That he makes in the wood.
He'll shrieve my soul, he'll wash away
The Albatross's blood."

Part VII

"This Hermit good lives in that wood
Which slopes down to the sea.
How loudly his sweet voice he rears!
He loves to talk with marineers
That come from a far country.

He kneels at morn, and noon, and eve -
He hath a cushion plump:
It is the moss that wholly hides
The rotted old oak-stump.

The skiff-boat neared: I heard them talk,
`Why, this is strange, I trow!
Where are those lights so many and fair,
That signal made but now?'

`Strange, by my faith!' the Hermit said -
`And they answered not our cheer!
The planks looked warped! and see those sails,
How thin they are and sere!
I never saw aught like to them,
Unless perchance it were

Brown skeletons of leaves that lag
My forest-brook along;
When the ivy-tod is heavy with snow,
And the owlet whoops to the wolf below,
That eats the she-wolf's young.'

`Dear Lord! it hath a fiendish look -
(The Pilot made reply)
I am afeared' -`Push on, push on!'
Said the Hermit cheerily.

The boat came closer to the ship,
But I nor spake nor stirred;
The boat came close beneath the ship,
And straight a sound was heard.

Under the water it rumbled on,
Still louder and more dread:
It reached the ship, it split the bay;
The ship went down like lead.

Stunned by that loud and dreadful sound,
Which sky and ocean smote,
Like one that hath been seven days drowned
My body lay afloat;
But swift as dreams, myself I found
Within the Pilot's boat.

Upon the whirl where sank the ship
The boat spun round and round;
And all was still, save that the hill
Was telling of the sound.

I moved my lips -the Pilot shrieked
And fell down in a fit;
The holy Hermit raised his eyes,
And prayed where he did sit.

I took the oars: the Pilot's boy,
Who now doth crazy go,
Laughed loud and long, and all the while
His eyes went to and fro.
`Ha! ha!' quoth he, `full plain I see,
The Devil knows how to row.'

And now, all in my own country,
I stood on the firm land!
The Hermit stepped forth from the boat,
And scarcely he could stand.

O shrieve me, shrieve me, holy man!
The Hermit crossed his brow.
`Say quick,' quoth he `I bid thee say -
What manner of man art thou?'

Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched
With a woeful agony,
Which forced me to begin my tale;
And then it left me free.

Since then, at an uncertain hour,
That agony returns;
And till my ghastly tale is told,
This heart within me burns.

I pass, like night, from land to land;
I have strange power of speech;
That moment that his face I see,
I know the man that must hear me:
To him my tale I teach.

What loud uproar bursts from that door!
The wedding-guests are there:
But in the garden-bower the bride
And bride-maids singing are;
And hark the little vesper bell,
Which biddeth me to prayer!

O Wedding-Guest! this soul hath been
Alone on a wide wide sea:
So lonely 'twas, that God himself
Scarce seemed there to be.

O sweeter than the marriage-feast,
'Tis sweeter far to me,
To walk together to the kirk
With a goodly company! -

To walk together to the kirk,
And all together pray,
While each to his great Father bends,
Old men, and babes, and loving friends,
And youths and maidens gay!

Farewell, farewell! but this I tell
To thee, thou Wedding-Guest!
He prayeth well, who loveth well
Both man and bird and beast.

He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all."

The Mariner, whose eye is bright,
Whose beard with age is hoar,
Is gone; and now the Wedding-Guest
Turned from the bridegroom's door.

He went like one that hath been stunned,
And is of sense forlorn:
A sadder and a wiser man
He rose the morrow morn.

Reading and other hobbies..

2010-09-27T16:55:00.003+02:00

Long time no blogging..feels nice to be back.
Haven't been reading much else than my Bible lately..as can be deducted from my list of books that I've read in 2010 below. My bedside table does look like a discarded library though..and am determined to get through the heap before I take on any other reading. Maybe the December holiday will provide some reading time with both the children off to their other parents. That is after the list of "to-do's" around the house is finished. And the list of needlework projects are finished. Started knitting the elephant that I plan to give to my mother for her birthday in November. She loves elephants and one made with love will surely find a special place in her room.
Tonight the first step will be taken towards finishing off the many, many lists in my life - I really need to get things in order. (says the control-enthusiast)
Reporting to be done on the progress later. Had a productive day, and that always makes me feel better. Have to run..chat again later.

International Radio Operator's Alphabet

2010-04-12T11:28:00.002+02:00

Because I always forget about it when spelling e-mail addresses etc....sigh!
INTERNATIONAL RADIO OPERATORS ALPHABET.
ALPHA
BRAVO
CHARLIE
DELTA
ECHO
FOXTROT
GOLF
HOTEL
INDIA
JULIET
KILO
LIMA
MIKE
NOVEMBER
OSCAR
PAPA
QUEBEC
ROMEO
SIERRA
TANGO
UNIFORM
VICTOR
WHISKEY
X-RAY
YANKEE
ZULU

Jealousy is..

2010-04-08T08:27:00.001+02:00

Read a brilliant quote the other day: Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius. Think about that!

Merie die Meerkat

2010-03-22T10:25:00.001+02:00

Haga-Haga Hotel Cabanas

2010-03-20T19:22:00.001+02:00

This self catering unit will definitely be a future option for a weekend away. The kids have a huge room that walks out on the balcony with a sea view. Victor has his own undercover built-in braai. There is enough light on the balcony for me to be able to read, with my feet up, gin and tonic in hand. Bliss.

Haga-Haga

2010-03-20T17:07:00.001+02:00

View from our stoep.

Where does Hope come from??

2010-03-18T11:39:00.002+02:00

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13(NIV)

True Love

2010-01-29T10:42:00.005+02:00

True love is your soul's recognition of it's counterpoint in another.

~ Owen Wilson's character in the movie "The Wedding Crashers"~

Found the solution. .

2010-01-21T14:33:00.005+02:00

Faced with an enormous task. Found the solution in a quote in my diary today...

Mark Twain said:

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."

How is that for a solution..the fact that I happened to stumble upon it today is proof of the Almighty One watching my every step. What a wonderful thought.

Sue Grafton's Alphabet Series

2010-01-08T20:15:00.002+02:00

Just to keep better record of Sue Grafton's books: These are the ones that I have read.

Sue Grafton – Alphabet Series

“A” is for Alibi
“B” is for Burglar
“C” is for Corpse √
“D” is for Deadbeat √
“E” is for Evidence
“F” is for Fugitive
“G” is for Gumshoe √
“H” is for Homicide √
“I” is for Innocent √
“J” is for Judgment
“K” is for Killer
“L” is for Lawless
“M” is for Malice √
“N” is for Noose
“O” is for Outlaw
“P” is for Peril
“Q” is for Quarry
“R” is for Ricochet
“S” is for Silence
“T” is for Trespass √
“U” is for Undertow

2010-01-08T20:06:00.002+02:00

"I may send you strange visitors. Make each desire to return. Nobody must come and feel unwanted. Share your love, joy, happiness, time and food gladly with all."

Swembad in Bloem

2010-01-05T19:03:00.001+02:00

11.03.2008.
Ek en Brené het elke aand gaan swem.

Cellphone blogging

2010-01-05T13:57:00.003+02:00

After the unfortunate incident where I washed my cellphone in the washing machine, I have now upgraded to a model of phone that allows blogging. Just finished the setup for blogging so OFF WE GO!!!

PS. I love technology. Was called an IT slut recently...still don't think I should see this in a negative light...

PPS. I should remember adding images to blogging. That always makes a difference.

I read in 2009

2010-01-05T13:45:00.003+02:00

As is customary at the beginning of every year, I blog the books that I have read the previous year. Here then the list:

Sue Grafton - D is for Deadbeat
Kate Furnivall - The Russian Concubine
Anita Shreve - The Pilot's Wife
Retha & Aldo McPherson - 'n Boodskap van God
Charles Sobczak - a Choice of Angels
Erika Murray-Theron - 'n Tapisserie met klein diere
Natasha Sutherland - Bittersoet
Debbie Macomber - Thursdays at eight
William P. Young - The Shack
Susan Coetzer - Oros vir die siel

Without making excuses for the pathetic little list (that was mostly read in the last two months of the year), I reckon that the year was emotionally eventful enough to occupy most of my time. I already have a stack of books ready for this year, just hope that I will have the enthusiasm to read and blog about them. One particular author that I look forward to meeting is Herman Charles Bosman. I also intend reading the Twilight series that is now all the rave. Thinking about it, I have been reading to a blind man for the past year, a novel that was written about the Bible. THAT was most certainly the best book and has been making Bible study pure JOY! More about that later. Love the fact that my husband is at this moment spending the last day of his holiday, reading. How fortunate I am to love a person that also loves reading and books. You should see our library, we will have to expand soon. Have I told you lately how much I love him? After a year of married life, our marriage is getting even better.

Perfection

2010-01-05T13:25:00.001+02:00

Waterlily from the garden at Ninky Noo's.

Missionary Man - Eurythmics

2009-07-07T16:03:00.002+02:00

Well I was born an original sinner.
I was borne from original sin.
And if I had a dollar bill
For all the things Ive done
Thered be a mountain of money
Piled up to my chin...

My mother told me good
My mother told me strong.
She said be true to yourself
And you cant go wrong.
But theres just one thing
That you must understand.
You can fool with your brother -
But dont mess with a missionary man.

Dont mess with a missionary man.
Dont mess with a missionary man.

Well the missionary man
Hes got God on his side.
Hes got the saints and apostles
Backin up from behind.
Black eyed looks from those Bible books.
Hes a man with a mission
Got a serious mind.
There was a woman in the jungle
And a monkey on a tree.
The missionary man he was followin me.
He said stop what youre doing.
Get down upon your knees.
Ive got a message for you that you better believe.

Plettenbergbaai

2009-06-23T18:34:00.001+02:00

Sonsopkoms oor Robberg. Periwinkle Lodge. 13 April 2009. Uitsig was van Tsitsikammaberge tot by Robberg. Asemrowend.

Hole-in-the-Wall, Wild Coast, South Africa

2009-06-23T03:11:00.001+02:00

16 June 2009 Hole-in-the-Wall is one of those places that you find so often on the Transkei's Wild Coast that moves your being with it's unspoilt beauty. The beach itself, accessable only by foot takes your breath away, and the cattle that stroll there makes you realize that this must have been the way that God intended the earth to be. Uncomplicated, unspoilt by man and his technology. This beautiful piece of rock made my soul grind to a screeching halt to realise the benefits of living slower and less complicated. Lord. My being praises you for the ultimate beauty that you intended for man, and my soul moarn man's inability to realize Your intention.

Kuiergas

2009-06-23T02:53:00.001+02:00

Welkome kuiergas vroeg maandagoggend 15 Junie 2009 by ons chalet by The Haven aan die Transkei se wildekus. Die honde was natuurlik net so opgewonde oor d kuiergas.

Koffiebaai - Transkei

2009-06-23T02:45:00.001+02:00

Veilige sloep waarin d kinders baljaar het.

Koffiebaai

2009-06-23T02:41:00.000+02:00

15 Junie 2009

2009-06-15T17:00:00.001+02:00

Hole-in-the-Wall

2009-06-15T13:31:00.001+02:00

I am. . .

2009-05-04T17:48:00.001+02:00

I AM...
1. A Child of God (Romans 8:16)

2. Redeemed from the Hand of the Enemy (Psalms 107:2)

3. Forgiven (Colossians 1:13-14)

4. Saved by Grace through Faith (Ephesians 2:8)

5. Justified (Romans 5:1)

6. Sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11)

7. A New Creature (2 Corinthians 5:17)

8. Partaker of His Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4)

9. Redeemed from the Curse of the law (Galatians 3:13)

10. Delivered from the Powers of Darkness (Colossians 1:13)

11. Led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)

12. A Son of God (Romans 8:14)

13. Kept in Safety Wherever I Go (Psalms 91:11)

14. Getting All My Needs Met by Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:19)

15. Casting All My cares upon Jesus (1 Peter 5:7)

16. Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might (Ephesians 6:10)

17. Doing All Thing through Christ Who Strengthens Me (Philippians 4:13)

18. An Heir with God and a Joint Heir with Jesus (Romans 8:17)

19. An Heir of Eternal Life (1 John 5:11-12)

20. Observing and Doing the Lord's Commandments (Deuteronomy 28:12)

21. Blessed Coming in and Blessed Going out (Deuteronomy 26:6)

22. An Imitator of Jesus (Ephesians 5:1)

23. The Light of the World (Matthew 5:14)

24. Blessed with All Spiritual Blessings (Ephesians 1:3)

25. Healed by His Stripes (1 Peter 2:24)

26. Exercising My Authority over the Enemy (Luke 10:19)

27. More Than a Conqueror (Romans 8:37)

28. An Overcomer by the Blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11)

29. Daily Overcoming the Devil (1 John 4:4)

30. Walking by Faith and Not by Sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)

31. Bringing Every Thought into Captivity (2 Corinthians 10:5)

32. Being Transformed by Renewing My Mind (Romans 12:1-2)

33. A Laborer Together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9)

34. The Righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21)

35. Continually Praising the Lord with My Mouth (Psalms 34:1)

Psalm 46:19

2009-04-28T12:30:00.002+02:00

Psalm 46:19
'Be Still and Know that I AM GOD'

2009-04-28T10:58:00.003+02:00

Just for today. .

Smile at a stranger

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Listen to someone's heart

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Learn something new, then teach it to someone else

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tell someone you're thinking about them

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hug a loved one

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't hold a grudge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Look a child in the eye and tell them how great they are

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't kill that spider in your house, he's just lost,

so show him the way out

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Look beyond the face of a person into their heart

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make a promise and keep it

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call someone, for no other reason than to say "Hi."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Show kindness to an animal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stand up for what you believe in

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Smell the rain, feel the breeze, listen to the wind, enjoy the sun

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Use all your senses to their fullest

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cherish all your todays!

Sarah Brightman - Anytime Anywhere

2009-01-19T14:23:00.002+02:00

Another one of those songs that refuses to leave your head for days on end. .

SARAH BRIGHTMAN - ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

Strade son' cambiate.
Faccie son' diverse.
Era la mia città.
Non la conosco più.
La ora io sono solo un' estranea
Senza patria.

I remember you were there.
Any one emotion.
Any true devotion.
Anytime, anywhere.

Case son' cambiate.
Voci son' diverse.
Era la mia città.
Non la conosco più.
La ora io sono solo un' estranea
Senza patria.

I remember you were there.
Any one emotion.
Any true devotion.
Anytime, anywhere.

Tanti, anni son' passati.
Vite son' cambiate.
Era la mia città.
Non la conosco più.
E ora io sono solo un' estranea
Senza patria.

Psalm 8

2009-01-03T09:33:00.003+02:00

PSALM 8 - DIE BOODSKAP

As ek opkyk na alles wat U in die hemelruim gemaak het - al die planete, melkwegstelsels en miljoene sterre, dan snak ek na my asem en ek sien hoe piepklein die mens regtig is. En tog, hoeveel gee U nie om vir hierdie piepklein mensie nie! Dink net: U sorg vir hom. Hy is vir U belangrik. U het hom so belangrik gemaak dat hy amper soos U is; U behandel hom soos 'n koning; U gee 'n baie hoe posisie aan om. U wil he dat die mens oral moet wys hoe groot U is. Hy is mos U verteenwoordiger. U lat hom soos 'n groot leier regeer oor U handewerk. Hy moet vir alles sorg wat U gemaak het, veral die diere is van hom afhanklik.

~ 5 November 2004, Drakensberg Sun ~

Reading in 2008

2009-01-01T21:34:00.003+02:00

When I promised myself in 2008 that I would try to do more reading. . I did not have the slightest idea what turmoil the year would bring. . I only read 24 books and missed the target of 27. . my husband enjoys non-fiction and philosophy so let's see what this year's reading will entail. I'm actually quite excited about the type of books I now have access to, but I hope there will be a bit of light reading in between.

Annemari Coetser - Oop kaarte
David Baldacci - Simple Genius
David Morrell - Creepers
Dr. Spencer Johnson - Who moved my cheese?
Ellen Gunderson Traylor - Maria Magdalena
Gayton McKenzie - The Choice, as told to Charles Cilliers
John van de Ruit - Spud: The Madness Continues
Karen Kingsbury - Between Sundays
Kenneth Blanchard/William Olsen - The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey
L. Frank Baum - The Wizard of Oz
Margaret Craven - I heard the owl call my name
Michael Connelly - The Last Coyote
Nora Roberts - The Chesapeake Bay Quartet/Chesapeake Blue
Nora Roberts - The Chesapeake Bay Quartet/Inner Harbor
Nora Roberts - The Chesapeake Bay Quartet/Rising Tide
Nora Roberts - The Chesapeake Bay Quartet/Sea Swept
Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb - Strangers in Death
Paulo Coelho - The Zahir
Rhonda Byrne - The Secret
Sue Grafton - C is for Corpse
Sue Grafton - H is for Homicide
Sue Grafton - I is for Innocent
Sue Grafton - M is for Malice
Sue Grafton - T is for Trespass
William Golding - Lord of the Flies

The Optimist's Creed - Christian D. Larson

2009-01-01T12:35:00.004+02:00

The Optimist's Creed was written by Christian D. Larson in 1912. C.D.Larson was an Inspirational Teacher. The Creed was written with the intent of summoning ALL GOOD into your life. .

On the first day of 2009 - I think these twelve promises are a good starting point:

I PROMISE MYSELF. .

to be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.

to talk health and happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.

to make all my friends feel that there is something worthwile in them.

to look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.

to think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.

to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

to wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature that I meet.

to give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.

to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

to think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.

to live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

December Prayer

2008-12-28T12:28:00.001+02:00

My hartewens ook:

Prayer for December

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.”
Amen

The prayer of Francis of Assisi (1181-1226).

Gummi Bears

2008-12-11T14:09:00.002+02:00

This one came back to me in a BIG way!

GUMMI BEARS THEME SONG

Dashing and daring,
Courageous and caring,
Faithful and friendly,
With stories to share.
All through the forest,
They sing out in chorus,
Marching along,
As their song fills the air.

Gummi Bears!!
Bouncing here and there and everywhere.
High adventure that's beyond compare.
They are the Gummi Bears.

Magic and mystery,
Are part of their history,
Along with the secret,
Of gummiberry juice.
Their legend is growing,
They take pride in knowing,
They'll fight for what's right,
In whatever they do.

Gummi Bears!!
Bouncing here and there and everywhere.
High adventure that's beyond compare.
They are the Gummi Bears.
They are the Gummi Bears!!

Mushrooms

2008-11-16T21:08:00.003+02:00

Sylvia, the movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig introduced me to the poetry of Sylvia Plath. Below, one of her best known poems.

Mushrooms

Overnight, very
Whitely, discreetly,
Very quietly

Our toes, our noses
Take hold on the loam,
Acquire the air.

Nobody sees us,
Stops us, betrays us;
The small grains make room.

Soft fists insist on
Heaving the needles,
The leafy bedding,

Even the paving.
Our hammers, our rams,
Earless and eyeless,

Perfectly voiceless,
Widen the crannies,
Shoulder through holes. We

Diet on water,
On crumbs of shadow,
Bland-mannered, asking

Little or nothing.
So many of us!
So many of us!

We are shelves, we are
Tables, we are meek,
We are edible,

Nudgers and shovers
In spite of ourselves.
Our kind multiplies:

We shall by morning
Inherit the earth.
Our foot's in the door.

Sylvia Plath

Love Languages

2008-11-16T20:45:00.001+02:00

The love of my life, V, is one of the emotionally intelligent men that I have ever met. I appreciate this so much. We had a conversation the other day about Dr. Chapman's 5 Love Languages. We both appreciate Physical Touch the most – but being at the beginning of such a beautiful relationship, I think we use all the love languages at the moment. I believe our relationship will be blessed with this knowledge. I have been surprised about how many people are ignorant about Love Languages, so below a very summerized version of his theory of communication.

Dr. Gary D. Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to your mate focuses on communication between couples in a manner that entails more than just words. Do you relationship a favour and see what your love language is, it can only have a positive effect. He has a 30 second assessment that you can do to determine your love language on his website http://www.fivelovelanguages.com/30sec.html#love

Love Language 1 – Physical Touch

Kisses, Hugs, Holding Hands, Massage and Sexual Touch

Love Language 2 – Acts of Service

Mowing the lawn, making the bed, cooking, cleaning, fixing the gate and taking coffee in bed, taking out the garbage without being asked.

Love Language 3 – Receiving Gifts

Flowers, perfume, chocolates, note in his briefcase & the drill he’s always wanted.

Love Language 4 – Uplifting Words

“you look beautiful“, “I appreciated you“, “you did a good job and I’m proud of you“, “I miss you.”

Love Language 5 – Quality Time

Intimate dinners, conversation without the TV on, talking in bed, really listening & sharing, doing things together both parties love, being interested in each other’s hopes & dreams.

I am in love. . !

2008-10-29T16:44:00.005+02:00

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart.

It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

~ Judy Garland ~

Two souls. .

2008-10-25T09:59:00.004+02:00

I have to take back every negative thing that I have ever said about love. .because. .

I am in love. .Truly. Utterly.

Two souls and one thought, two hearts and one pulse.

~ Halen ~

Faith

2008-10-11T10:49:00.001+02:00

Faith is like radar that sees through the fog - the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see.

~ Corrie Ten Boom ~

God wants to talk to you. .

2008-10-08T16:42:00.004+02:00

In this blog I have focused on adventure and the journey of life - at least I have tried to. Through the past couple of weeks after the news of being retrenched, I have gone through so many emotions. That in itself has been a journey. Many people have had me in their prayers and in my own Bible Study I have found so many messages of comfort and messages that kept me smiling. On my iGoogle homepage I have something called "Reminders from God" - this afternoon's message is: "Know I have prepared the way. My Spirit supplies the wisdom and strength for your journey" - now how can people not believe that our God is a living God???

He knows that I see life as a journey - He knows that I need strength and wisdom to find new employment. Last night I read about the new Jerusalem that is described in Revelations, I think it was Chapter 21. Whatever happens in the future, what a comforting thought to know that life on earth is temporary and that we should keep the focus of our journey to the goal of getting to the new Jerusalem.

Thoughts

2008-10-01T11:25:00.004+02:00

I have always blogged at least once a month. September was the first month this year that I had absolutely nothing to say. I'll tell you why. I was caught up in the turmoil of experiencing one of the prettiest Spring seasons I have ever seen and the shock and horror of being retrenched. YES! The ONE thing that I thought would never happen to me - happened. The shock because it was only six months ago that I left a steady and well-paying job with wonderful perks for the adventure of working in the private sector again. I changed my WHOLE life around. Worst part was the enthusiasm that I did it with - I had a horrible first 6 months and now that I am finally settling down and starting to enjoy my surroundings and family - this. I still believe that the Lord has sent me here for a reason. I believe that like Esther, I am being positioned to help when the time is right. She didn't like the change at first. She adapted with grace, was prepared for years and finally could serve her people when she had to.
I am finishing my current job at the end of October so please pray with me that I will accept the position where the Lord places me with the same grace and enthusiasm that Esther showed. Please note that I am not saying WHEN the Lord places me, because I believe that His grace is never too late.
Then.
At the beginning of this year, I think around February, I saw a video of one of Def Leppards' songs called "Tonight". I made a note of the song's name and planned to blog on it, but never got around to it. Yesterday the memory of the song surfaced with such vigour that I YouTubed it, got the lyrics and again was amazed how perfectly the words expressed what I have been battling to verbalise the past few days. I think maybe through verbalising the thoughts I might chase the source away. I am experiencing spring in more than one sense is all that I am going to divulge at the moment.
This is a BEAUTIFUL song.

Def Leppard - Tonite (The DVD spells the song's title as Tonite, not Tonight)

DEF LEPPARD - TONITE

I don't wanna play the waiting game
And drift away leavin' an illusion
I don't wanna hide, It's foolish pride
To close my eyes a touch away from holdin' you

Don't try to look away when you're face to face
I see your eyes that animal emotion
You don't have to set your tender trap
It's in those eyes, it's gonna happen anyway

Movin' to the rhythm of your heartbeat, yeah
I'm wantin', willin', touchin' you, we'll be
Movin' to the rhythm of your heartbeat
Ooh babe, when you get that rhythm
Gonna move into your room

Tonight - Gimme love with no disguise
Tonight - I see the fire in your eyes
Tonight - So right, this night could be dynamite
Wait'n'see, if it pleases you it pleases me

There's nothing I can say, it's no mystery
It's in your eyes, those eyes are where I wanted them
So give me heart 'n' soul, I lose control
Can't stop my eyes from fallin' into fantasy

Movin' to the rhythm of your heartbeat, oh
I'm wantin', willin', touchin' you, we'll be
Movin' to the rhythm of your heartbeat
Ooh yeah, when you get that rhythm
Gonna move into your room

Tonight - Gimme love with no disguise
Tonight - I see the fire in your eyes
Tonight - So right, this night could be dynamite
Wait'n'see
Check it out

Tonight - Gimme love with no disguise
Tonight - I see the fire in your eyes
Tonight - I wanna win the greatest prize
Tonight - So right this night could be dynamite
Wait'n'see, if it pleases you it pleases me

The Dolls do it again..

2008-08-20T16:23:00.004+02:00

Everytime they have a hit song I doubt that they'll be able to top it. But the Pussycat Dolls seem to have done it again. This is one of those songs that gets you jumping up, dancing and singing along!

When I grow up - The Pussycat Dolls

Intro, x2]
Boys call you sexy (What's up, sexy)
And you don’t care what they say
See, every time you turn around
They screamin' your name

[Verse 1]
Now I've got a confession
When I was young I wanted attention
And I promised myself that I’d do anything
Anything at all for the boys to notice me

[Bridge]
But I ain't complaining
We all wanna be famous
So go ahead and say what you wanna say
You know what it's like to be nameless
Want them to know what your name is
'Cause see when I was younger I would say

[Chorus]
When I grow up
I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star
I wanna be in movies

When I grow up
I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars
I wanna have Groupies

When I grow up
Be on TV
People know me
Be on magazines

When I grow up
Fresh and clean
Number one chick when I step out on the scene

[Hook x2]
But be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
But you just might get it
But You just might get it

[Verse 2]
They used to tell me I was silly
Until I popped up on the TV
I always wanted to be a superstar
And knew that singing songs would get me this far

[Bridge]
But I ain't complaining
We all wanna be famous
So go ahead and say what you wanna say
You know what it's like to be nameless
Want them to know what your name is
'Cause see, when I was younger I would say

[Chorus]
When I grow up
I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star
I wanna be in movies

When I grow up
I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars
I wanna have Groupies

When I grow up
Be on TV
People know me
Be on magazines

When I grow up
Fresh and clean
Number one chick when I step out on the scene

[Hook x2]
Be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
You just might get it
You just might get it

[Verse]
I see them staring at me
Oh I'm a trendsetter
Yes this is true 'cause what I do, no one can do it better
You can talk about me
'Cause I'm a hot topic
I see you watching me, watching me, and I know you want it

[Chorus]
When I grow up
I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star
I wanna be in movies

[Chorus]
When I grow up
I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star
I wanna be in movies

When I grow up
I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars
I wanna have Groupies

When I grow up
Be on TV
People know me
Be on magazines

When I grow up
Fresh and clean
Number one chick when I step out on the scene

[Hook x2]
Be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
You just might get it
You just might get it

[Chorus]
When I grow up
I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star
I wanna be in movies

When I grow up
I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars
I wanna have Groupies

When I grow up
Be on TV
People know me
Be on magazines

When I grow up
Fresh and clean
Number one chick when I step out on the scene

[Hook x2]
Be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
You just might get it
You just might get it

Some good advice

2008-08-13T10:42:00.003+02:00

One of my friends said to me the other day. .
Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.

Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie. Don't pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger.

Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough and know better.

Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.
Don't stagnate.

Don't regress.
Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr/Mrs Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr Wrong because your
biological clock is ticking.

Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won. Only a price to be paid for
some of life's more hasty decisions.

To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfil your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.

To make yourself happy, pursue your passions and be the best of what you can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.

Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.

Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.

Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.

Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.

Take care of yourself. Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life.
You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except YOU.

It is true that life does not get easier with age. It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid.
Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.

Live your dreams.
Don't grow old. Just grow YOU!
Make the most of your life

Small, smaller, smallest

2008-08-12T12:09:00.008+02:00

My friend rObC's blog from the 1st of August and this e-mail that I received tied up beautifully.

How do you measure God?

You try and measure that! Makes you feel so small. . .

It's never too late to have a happy childhood..

2008-07-31T09:02:00.005+02:00

It's never too late to have a happy childhood - Wayne Dyer

Somehow I missed the Wizard of Oz during my childhood, and now, after reading the book, I am besotted with the story! Do you know the words to the song "We're off to see the Wizard?

Sing along!

We're off to see the Wizard
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
We hear he is a Whiz of a Wiz
If ever a Wiz there was
If ever, oh ever, a Wiz there was
The Wizard of Oz is one because
Because, because, because, because, because
Because of the wonderful things he does
We're off the see the wizard
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Oh these bottles of wine..

2008-07-29T16:50:00.003+02:00

Over another bottle of wine, my sister's wise and witty friend, L, who I am beginning to see as my friend too...told me about the Desiderata. What a beautiful set of rules to live by. As my spiritual mentor always used to say - read, but never forget to read your Bible first. True.

DESIDERATA
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all people.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to all even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive people, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself to others you will become vain and bitter;
There will always be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in you business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
but let not this blind you to the virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
neither be cynical about love;
in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
You have the right to be here.
And wether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive God to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Alien Song

2008-07-25T15:36:00.001+02:00

One of the first videos I ever saw after discovering the joys of internet:

An absolute classic..

As long as I am here..

2008-06-19T16:21:00.001+02:00

Listen to this beautiful song:

AS LONG AS I AM HERE – PRIME CIRCLE
I find that I am shaking,
From my head down to my feet,
My hands are sweating so bad
And I can barely speak.
Read between the lines here
Dunno what to think,
It’s a guessing game…

Was it the face?
Was it the moves?
Was it the way that she just knew me?
Was it the meaning behind every smile
I Try to walk, but can’t leave
Her eyes, they pierce right through me
But I don’t care
As long as I am here

Chorus

I can’t move cos I’m under her spell
Can’t breath, as a side-effect from this
And I know that this will be, the ends of me…
I can’t move cos I’m under her spell
Can’t breath, as a side-effect from this
And I don’t care,
As long as I am here

My head’s a mess
But at the time clearer,
And I’m feeling so content
But unsure,
Reaching out, reaching in,
Wish I knew what you were dreaming,
And I never want to ever let this go.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

2008-06-12T13:45:00.003+02:00

rObC - I missed your birthday yesterday!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

E - I am going to borrow the picture you have on your blog - hope you don't mind.

2008-06-11T16:23:00.003+02:00

Seems the focus of my life has changed from adventure to journey. The frustrations encountered on my journey has had me in tears for the past week and again I think that I am too eager to reach my destination and not enjoying the scenery along the road. Busy reading Paulo Coelho's "The Zahir" and the introduction addressed all the above. I believe there will be adventure again on this new road that I have taken.

ITHACA

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca, pray that the road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge. The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops, the angry Poseidon-do not fear them: You will never find such as these on your path if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine emotion touches your spirit and your body. The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops, the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter, if you do not carry them within your soul, if your heart does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long. That the summer mornings are many, when, with such pleasure, with such joy you will enter ports seen for the first time; stop at Phoenician markets, and purchase fine merchandise, mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony, and sensual perfumes of all kinds, as many sensual perfumes as you can; visit many Egyptian cities, to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind. To arrive there is your ultimate goal. But do not hurry the voyage at all. It is better to let it last for many years; and to anchor at the island when you are old, rich with all you have gained on the way, not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage. Without her you would never have set out on the road. She has nothing more to give you. And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you. Wise as you have become, with so much experience, you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.

Blogoversary!

2008-06-10T15:16:00.002+02:00

Had my first blogoversary and MISSED IT!!!!

Only as..

2008-06-05T09:14:00.003+02:00

Only as high as I can reach can I grow

Only as far as I seek can I go

Only as deep as I look can I see

Only as much as I dream can I be

Just to say...

2008-05-16T17:46:00.004+02:00

Miss blogging..

Came across this quote the other day. Loved it. The Universe made sure it got my attention by motivating one of my friends to send it to me without knowing that it touched my heart...the Universe sometimes has funny ways of showing comfort!

"One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time."

~ André Gide ~

The first month..

2008-04-27T21:01:00.003+02:00

Visiting the in-laws for the weekend in Kei Mouth. Haven't visited in ...7 years! B was over the moon with the fact that we could visit together and I suspect that visiting together will happen more often in the future now that we stay only 180km away and not nearly 600kms! We've been down to the beach, but the town was very busy with the Bush Pig Rally that was hosted here.
The first month of our new life has been fine. We might have found a place to stay and if we decide to take the new cottage, I will be moving in next weekend. The cost still has me gasping! B has decided to stay in Kei Mouth with her grandparents until next weekend.
Work is fine - finally getting a good grip on what needs to be done daily. Still adapting to the long working hours, but they go by so fast that it doesn't really matter.
Read "Who moved my cheese" this weekend and could relate to all the principles explained in the book. Change happens and should be anticipated and lived through with a positive attitude. We have so much to be thankful for, that makes it a lot easier to be positive.
Blogged about the song "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis on the 4th of February, but somehow the first paragraph reverberated this week:
Closed off from love
I didn't need the pain
Once or twice was enough
and it was all in vain
Time starts to pass and before
you know it, you're frozen.
Yes. True. Frozen. Oh well.
Still miss my music. Hopefully will be able to indulge soon when I have my own place.
Surfing on the web these days is a true luxury. Access is not so much the problem as being able to spend time looking around and writing. Dreams are plenty..just can't get to getting them all together and writing them down. Soon. They revolve around a KTM 640, a "words" room and dancing. Like Martin Luther King Jnr. said on the 28th of August in 1963... "I have a dream!"

Autumn

2008-04-06T18:29:00.004+02:00

Everywhere I look the leaves on trees are changing colour. Leaves are crunching under my feet and the fresh chill in the air makes for cosy sleeping at night. Autumn to me is a magical season. I think my experience of autumn this year is made more intense because I am personally experiencing an autumn period in my life. For the next couple of months I will have to adapt and learn so many things in my new work and living environment, to be able to get to an emotional summer where all will be comfortable again. I am enjoying every minute of this new world that I have entered. I have met wonderful people and everybody has been so kind. I would love though to have my own place to stay and have my own things around me so that I can merge the old with the new. I miss my friends so much. Already they feel a thousand kilometers away and although I still have regular contact with them, they seem very far from my new world.

I miss my computer and mostly my music. Work days are so busy and time seems to be a luxury that evades me. Last night I was just about to indulge in a pool of negative thoughts when my sister's best friend took me under her wing by inviting me over for a glass of wine. A bottle of wine later my sister joined us and the evening turned out a gem. We listened to 70's and 80's music and L's husband took out all their old cassettes! What a trip down memory lane! Modern Talking, Indecent Obesession, Wilson Phillips.
Discovered this song, that apparently was my sister and W's dancefloor opening song at their wedding...I fail to remember...but it fits perfectly my emotional mood.

The UK mission - Butterfly on a wheel

Silver and gold and it's growing cold
Autumn leaves lay as thick as thieves
Shivers down your spine chill you to the bone
'Cos the mandolin wind is the melody that turns
Your heart to stone

The heat of your breath carving shadows on the mist
Every angel has the wish that she's never been kissed

A broken dream haunting in your sleep
And hiding in your smile a secret you must keep
Love cuts you deep

Love breaks the wings of a butterfly on a wheel
Love breaks the wings of a butterfly on a wheel

There's no scarlet in you, lay your veil down for me
As sure as God made wine, you can't wrap your arms
Around a memory
Take warmth from me, cold Autumn winds cut sharp as
a
knife
And in the dark for me, you're the candle flame that
Flickers to life

Love breaks the wings of a butterlfy on a wheel
Love will break the wings of a butterfly on a wheel

Wise men say all is fair in love and war
There's no right or wrong in the design of love
And I could only watch as the wind crushed your wings
Broken and torn crushed like the flower under the snow
And like the flower in spring
Love will rise again to heal your wings

Love heals the wings of a butterfly on a wheel
Love will heal the wings of a butterfly on a wheel

2008-03-17T14:58:00.000+02:00

The end of this chapter..

2008-03-17T13:58:00.008+02:00

I did it! I resigned from the company that I have been working for for 11 years.
I will be starting my new job on the 1st of April.
Feelings?
Anticipation!
Excitement!
a Little bit of fear - I think the healthy kind..:-)
And . .I am very impatient! I want to finish up with this moving business!
I will be moving to a town in the Eastern Cape. I will miss the luxuries of the city and the friends that I have made in the 16 years that I have lived in Bloemfontein. I will be moving back to my hometown though...so the landing on that side will be extremely soft...my parents..my brother..my sister..my best friend...all stay there and they have all promised to make the landing as soft as possible.
My daughter will be going to the same school I went to as a child, we will be going to the same church..what more could I ask for?

If you ever wondered if the concepts as explained in "The Secret" are the truth, then I can now tell you that they are. Thoughts become things. I just believe that all this is brought about by a living, loving God - as described in the Bible...He truly wants the best for His children as described in John 10:10.

I want to thank the Lord for knowing exactly what my life would entail, what roads I would travel and people I would meet. For protecting me every single second of every single day and for making my heart so full of joy that it wants to burst! Looking at what my new job would entail, I realise that He as been preparing me for years and years..

To all the friends I leave behind.. I will not be further away than a call or an e-mail. I promise to stay in touch as best I can..I just wonder if my new job in the private sector will allow me much time!!

To all the ones that I have said goodbye to last week..

The guys at work...you really are the best! Thanks for the wonderful gift. I appreciate it more than you know. I had the pleasure of working with you for one short year and still you made me feel so special!

To AKD and LR...dinner at New York was fabulous. I will miss our ladies nights.

To rObC and the wonderful new lady in his life..E (Moondancer) - thank you for a wonderful braai and all the trouble you went through to make the evening so memorable..I believe that our paths will definitely cross again next to a Motocross track or Off-Road Race somewhere in South Africa!

To all the people who have looked at me with sceptical eyes at the news of my resignation..yes the future is uncertain but I will not let fear of the unknown or negative words spoken over my future hold me back. I know that the Lord has given me this new direction in my life and why would I fear your eyes or thoughts when I have the Almighty on my side. I praise Him for all that I am and will become. I now know joy!

To Florence Thom who one day said:

Every person should have at least three careers in their lifetime..

Thank you Florence. I doubt that you will remember my name or face, but I took your words to heart.

and then one final quote that struck me as SO real, in my life particularly...and as I look back I see that it was only my inner fears that kept me from greater heights.

I forgive myself for having believed for so long that... I was never good enough to have, get, be what I wanted.
Ceanne DeRohan

Speak to you soon, to start off the next chapter!

The Miracle of Love

2008-02-28T11:58:00.002+02:00

Know how you can listen to a song everyday and then one day, for reasons unknown, the melody just echoes in your soul..and it turns your insides upside down!
My soul found this song today..

The Miracle of Love – Eurythmics

How many sorrows
Do you try to hide
In a world of illusions
That's covering your mind?
I'll show you something good
Oh I'll show you something good.
When you open your mind
You'll discover the sign
That there's something
You're longing to find...

The miracle of love
Will take away your pain
When the miracle of love
Comes your way again.

Cruel is the night
That covers up your fears.
Tender is the one
Who wipes away your tears.
There must be a bitter breeze
To make you sting so viciously-
They say the greatest cowards
Can hurt the most ferociously.
But I'll show you something good
Oh I'll show you something good.
If you open your heart
You can make a new start
When your crumbling world falls apart.

Life is too short.

2008-02-27T10:26:00.003+02:00

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.

So, love the people who treat you right,

forget about the ones who don't,

and believe that everything happens for a reason.

Know a good thing when you see it,

and don't let it slip away.

If you get a chance, take it.

If it changes your life, let it.

Nobody said it would be easy,

they just said it would be worth it!

Thank you Liezel for that one..

FEAR...

2008-02-19T07:48:00.002+02:00

This logo I saw on the clothes that are sold at the place where we went to Bungy. Isn't it just so true..I would rather live with fear than regret, because fear usually is just temporary...well fear associated with adrenaline sports is.
Now that I have made the mental shift of fear being temporary, I face the
possibility of making a career change, moving to another town and uprooting out of my comfort zone with anticipation.. We'll see what the future holds in store.

WuZZuP

2008-02-18T12:54:00.005+02:00

My brother moved into a new place the weekend, and while they were unpacking, his girlfriend produced a photo of a cat that made me think of this picture:

Thanks bro for the music and hope you enjoy your new place.

To all you other people..

Hope you had a great weekend..

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2008-02-14T09:28:00.003+02:00

I hope that in the near future I get the opportunity to change my opinion, that..

Love is just different degrees of mutual dependence...

(that's dark hey!)
It is fun however to get sucked up in the hype of the day...

BUT I still wear black just to clearly state my opinion..

Hope you have a good one!

Jeff Dunham's Peanut and José

2008-02-12T11:58:00.000+02:00

This is BRILLIANT!

You have seen Achmed the Dead Terrorist also done by Jeff? I have referred to Achmed, but you really should look for yourself.

Crazy

2008-02-11T10:51:00.000+02:00

This song strikes a chord! :-)

Gnarls Barkley – Crazy

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place.
Even your emotions have an echo
In so much space

And when you're out there
Without care,
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Probably [Possibly (radio version)]

And I hope that you are having the time of your life
But think twice, that's my only advice

Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are,

Ha ha ha bless your soul
You really think you're in control

Well, I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
Just like me

My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember is thinking, I wanna be like them
Ever since I was little, ever since I was little it looked like fun
And it's no coincidence I've come
And I can die when I'm done

But Maybe I'm crazy
Maybe you're crazy
Maybe we're crazy
Probably

Uh, uh

High's and Low's

2008-02-11T09:34:00.000+02:00

What an adventure! 216 meters..the highest in the world.. Every moment was fun..

And then the next morning I woke up with a song in my head...a song that's been in my life for some time, but I never REALLY listened...and then, it's like a puzzle clicking into place..clarity regarding the relationship with my "partner in adventure"

So the low settles in and has been overwhelming my emotions for the past three days. .flashing memories only emphasizing the hurt.

But first listen to the song in my head:

Delerium - After All Lyrics

She knows the voices in her mind
They tell her
To leave

She's tired of smiling madly
Until silence becomes very silently
A noise in her mind

After all she has nothing inside
No good to give
No meaning to live
The mist engulfed tonight
Every single star

After all they shared
How could he simply say no
After all they shared
He turned away from her to go
She said she wouldn't cry
That was really just a lie

She knows the noises in her mind
Nothing's left but
Screaming silence

After all she feels numbness inside
The feeling's gone
She's upside down
The pictures behind her closed eyes
This time you went too far

After all they shared
How could he simply say no
After all they shared
He turned away from her to go
She said she wouldn't cry
That was really just a lie

After all they shared
How could he simply say no
After all they shared
He turned away from her to go
She said she wouldn't cry
That was really just a lie

After all she has nothing inside
No good to give
No meaning to live
The mist engulfed tonight
Every single star

After all they shared
How could he simply say no
After all they shared
He turned away from her to go
She said she wouldn't cry
That was really just a lie

After all they shared
How could he simply say no (simply say no)
After all they shared
He turned away from her to go
She said she wouldn't cry
That was really just a lie

After all they shared
How could he simply say no (simply say no)
After all they shared
He turned away from her to go
She said she wouldn't cry
That was really just a lie

After all they shared
How could he simply say no (how could he simply say no)
After all they shared (after all)
He turned away from her to go (he just turned away)
She said she wouldn't cry
That was really just a lie

Realising that I have been in this position before, I paged through my journal and came across the following..Ironic that 3 years later I have not learnt my lesson.

A moment of clarity.

'n Oomblik van helderheid..

Jy was 'n tydsverdryf, 'n
verbeeldingsvlug, 'n fantasie op voete.
Om energie aan jou te spandeer sal wees soos
om 'n droe put met 'n drupper te probeer opvul.

Maybe the biggest part of the hurt is the dissappointment with myself that I keep on making the same mistakes..what will it take to finally let the lesson sink in??

The Adventure

2008-02-06T13:14:00.000+02:00

Ever slip reality for a while to go on an awesome adventure??
The Universe was right..every thought can become reality.
I LOVE my life!
In light of my soon to be taken adventure, a theme song..

Brick & Lace: Love is Wicked

Yeah Ah Ah Ah
Brick N Lace Inna Di Place
Your Love Is Wicked, Wicked , Wicked
Oh Come On

[Verse 1:]
Runnin' around I Can't Get Through My Day (You Feel Me)
Thoughts Of You Just Keep Consuming Me
(Inna My Head Inna My Head) (Okay)
Cause I Thought I Could Do It But Now I See
That You're Not Mine And I Was Wrong To Think You'd Change Yeah

[Bridge:]
I Wish You Could Stay With Me Another Day
I Wish I Could Change Your Mind And Make You Stay (Stay)
(Cos I) I'd Give Anything To Hear You Say (Sayayayay)
"I've Been Loving You Eternally"
(You Know Way)

[Chorus:]
(Your Love Is Wicked)
Tears On My Pillow Cause Your Love Is Wicked
Cry Me A River Cause Your Love Is Wicked
(Your Love Is Wicked)
Friends Come Around Say Your Love Is Wicked
But The Kisses Way You Get Dont You Know It's Wicked?
(Your Love Is Wicked)
Wait For Your Call Cause Your Love Is Wicked
Can't Sleep At All Cause Your Love Is Wicked
(Your Love Is Wicked)
Playing With My Heart Cause Your Love Is Wicked
By The Loving Way You Get Don't You Know It's Wicked(Wah)

(Wah?)
What Mi Gonna Do If I Get Over You?
Anybody Have A Remedy Or A Cure,
Someone Call A Doctor Or Emergancy Crew,
Cause Mi Carry Feelings Fi Yuh, Fi Yuh Fi Yuh
[X2]

[Verse 2:]
Baby I Loved You From The Very Start
Even Though I Knew That You Would Break My Heart (Break Ma Heart) And I (Yeah Baby) Couldn't Resist The Way You Touch Me Babe
Was I A Fool (Been A Fool)
To Think I'd Play Nothing but 2

[Bridge:]
I Wish You Could Stay With Me Another Day (Stay With Me Another Day)
I Wish I Could Change Your Mind And Make You Stay (Make You Stay Baby)
(Cos I) I'd Give Anything To Hear You Say(Sayayayay)
"I've Been Loving You Eternally" (Loving Ma Man Eternally)

[Chorus:]
(Your Love Is Wicked)
Tears On My Pillow Cause Your Love Is Wicked
Cry Me A River Cause Your Love Is Wicked
(Your Love Is Wicked)
Friends Come Around Say Your Love Is Wicked
But The Kisses Way You Get Dont You Know It's Wicked?
(Your Love Is Wicked)
Wait For Your Call Cause Your Love Is Wicked
Can't Sleep At All Cause Your Love Is Wicked
Playing With My Heart Cause Your Love Is Wicked
By The Loving Way You Get Don't You Know It's Wicked(Oh Baby I Am Missing You)

What Mi Gonna Do If I Get Over You?
Anybody Have A Remedy Or A Cure,
Someone Call A Doctor Or Emergency Crew,
Cause Mi Carry Feelings Fi Yuh Fi Yuh Fi Yuh (Hear Wah Wi Tell Dem Man)
[X2]

Boy Your Kissing De Hugging,
De Loving De Sexing

[Chorus:]
(Your Love Is Wicked)
Tears On My Pillow Cause Your Love Is Wicked
Cry Me A River Cause Your Love Is Wicked
(Your Love Is Wicked)
Friends Come Around Say Your Love Is Wicked
But The Kisses Way You Get Dont You Know It's Wicked?
(Your Love Is Wicked)
Wait For Your Call Cause Your Love Is Wicked
(Boy Your Love Is Wicked)
Can't Sleep At All Cause Your Love Is Wicked
(Boy Your Love Is Wicked)
Playing With My Heart Cause Your Love Is Wicked (Boy Your Love Is Wicked)
By The Loving Way You Get Don't You Know It's Wicked(Wah)

(Your Love Is Wicked)
Tears On My Pillow Cause Your Love Is Wicked
Cry Me A River Cause Your Love Is Wicked
(Your Love Is Wicked)
Friends Come Around Say Your Love Is Wicked
But The Kisses Way You Get Dont You Know It's Wicked?

Boy Your Kissing De Hugging,
De Loving De Sexing

Oh My Baby I Am Missing You

Thanx DJ Cake for introducing me to this song - I enjoy every second of it!

The Future. .

2008-02-05T12:09:00.000+02:00

Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love

2008-02-04T08:18:00.000+02:00

First heard this song as part of a mix made by my friend DJ Cake. Only later heard the full song and then this morning I read the lyrics. That first paragraph...mmm..
But back to DJ Cake. He makes these mixes himself as a hobby. They are available for free at this stage on his site and you only need to register with the site to be able to download them. Read his profile too, he loves his music and has been doing the DJ thing from the age of 14..
Raccoon...this one is for you, always think of you when I hear this song!

Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love

Add to My Profile More Videos

Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love Lyrics

Closed off from love
I didn’t need the pain
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass
Before you know it you’re frozen

But something happened
For the very first time with you
My heart melts into the ground
Found something true
And everyone’s looking round
Thinking I’m going crazy

But I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

Trying hard not to hear
But they talk so loud
Their piercing sounds fill my ears
Try to fill me with doubt
Yet I know that the goal
Is to keep me from falling

But nothing’s greater
Than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I’m going crazy, maybe, maybe

But I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

And it’s draining all of me
Oh they find it hard to believe
I’ll be wearing these scars
For everyone to see

I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love

Love is Blind. .

2008-01-30T11:32:00.000+02:00

This photo has always been one of my favourites..

Heath Ledger's death 22.01.2008

2008-01-23T15:45:00.000+02:00

What sad news!!
Loved Knight's Tale and Brokeback Mountain..

Heath Ledger's Birthday: April 4, 1979
Place of Birth: Perth, Australia

Sounds familiar!

2008-01-21T08:24:00.001+02:00

Brilliant Documentary - Spiders on Drugs

2008-01-18T14:47:00.001+02:00

Fergie

2008-01-18T08:44:00.000+02:00

This song refuses to leave my head..

Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry

Da Da Da Da
The smell of your skin lingers on me now
Your probably on your flight back to your home town
I need some shelter of my own protection baby
To be with myself instead of calamity
Peace, Serenity

[CHORUS]
I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, Myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do
And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But Ive got to get a move on with my life
Its time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry

The path that I'm walking
I must go alone
I must take the baby steps until I'm full grown
Fairytales don't always have a happy ending, do they
And I foresee the dark ahead if I stay

[CHORUS]
I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to with you
It's personal, Myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do
And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I've got to get a move on with my life
Its time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry

Like the little school mate in the school yard
We'll play jacks and uno cards
Ill be your best friend and you'll be mine
Valentine
Yes you can hold my hand if u want to
Cause I want to hold yours too
Well be playmates and lovers and share our secret worlds
But its time for me to go home
Its getting late, dark outside
I need to be with myself instead of calamity
Peace, Serenity

[CHORUS]
I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, Myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do
And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I've got to get a move on with my life
Its time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry

La Da Da Da Da Da

I think it got stuck in my head because it's so relevant.

Reading in 2007

2008-01-18T08:25:00.000+02:00

Promised myself in 2007 that I would do more reading. .and not just fiction. I have also been watching the Best Sellers Lists and I am trying to enlarge my own personal collection of classic books. It was interesting to see how much I got to read - I doubt 27 books in a year is a record, but taking into account that most evenings I either spend on mxit or just fall into bed and sleep like the dead, I think it's not too bad.
Let's see what happens in 2008.

What I read in 2007:

Annalie Botes - Sabbatsreis
David Baldacci - The Collectors
Emma Lee-Potter - Taking Sides
Erin Hart - Lake of Sorrows
I.L de Villiers - 'n Vrou en haar God
James Patterson - Cross
Jodi Picoult - Taking Sides
John van de Ruit - Spud
Kahlil Gibran - Die Profeet
Lance Armstrong - Every Second Counts
Lance Armstrong - It's Not About The Bike
Liza Palmer - Conversations with a Fat Girl
Michael Connelly - The Closers
Michael Connelly - The Lincoln Lawyer
Michael Connelly - The Narrows
Michael Connelly - The Poet
Nicholas Sparks - True Believer
Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb - Born in Death
Patricia Cornwell - At Risk
Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist
Phillip Margolin - The Associate
Phillip Margolin - The Last Innocent Man
Richard Branson - Screw it - Let's Do It!
Sheikh & Shneider - I dared to call Him Father
Sue Grafton - G is for Gumshoe
Tess Gerritsen - The Apprentice
Tommy Tenney - Hadassa, One night with the King

Load Shedding..

2008-01-16T14:42:00.000+02:00

We are experiencing the second day of Electricity load shedding in Bloemfontein. Traffic is hectic and people are sitting in their cars looking angry.. saw a car flipped over on it's roof in Park Road this morning.. The owner is definitely not a fan of load shedding. Shouldn't robots be on a different electrical circuit? Understand that traffic has never been a problem in Bloemfontein, driving 30minutes on 4 kilometers is a brand new experience to us!
Oh and by the way...shouldn't consumers be informed about schedules for load shedding?

Since observing is one of the few acceptable pass times in traffic jams..have you ever wondered how observant you really are?
The quiz is USA based..so please bear that in mind.

Your Observation Skills Get A B-

Your senses are pretty sharp (okay, most of the time)
And it takes something big to distract you!

How Observant Are You?

Thought I was more observant than that..:-)

Rainy Days..

2008-01-03T14:59:00.000+02:00

It's raining again..I have pity for the parents who have to keep their kids busy indoors for another day..
The view from my bedroom window, is spectacular with the mist

just covering the mountain top.
Raindrops clinging to leaves..looks likebeads of crystal on a Christmas tree.

I reminisce about an evening spent with my best friend over a lovely bottle of wine.
She loves the Dixie Chicks and her favourite song at the moment is this one:
Not ready to make nice

The lyrics are beautiful.

Dixie Chicks - Not ready to make nice

Forgive, sounds good.
Forget, I'm not sure I could.
They say time heals everything,
But I'm still waiting

I'm through, with doubt,
There's nothing left for me to figure out,
I've paid a price, and i'll keep paying

I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

I know you said
Why can't you just get over it,
It turned my whole world around
and i kind of like it

I made by bed, and I sleep like a baby,
With no regrets and I don't mind saying,
It's a sad sad story
That a mother will teach her daughter
that she ought to hate a perfect stranger.
And how in the world
Can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Saying that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over

I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

Forgive, sounds good.
Forget, I'm not sure I could.
They say time heals everything,
But I'm still waiting

KT's music

2007-12-29T18:35:00.000+02:00

Have a look how this woman creates a full song by starting off with the beat and gradually adding instruments and her voice until it sounds like she has a whole band and background singers! And let's face it, it's a catchy tune.. Is it my imagination or does she sound a lot like Allanah Myles..there's some serious memories from my late teenager years! LOL!!!
The lyrics aren't mind blowing, but the rhythm makes up for that.
(and then maybe, just maybe..the KT..got my attention too..:-)

KT Tunstall - Black Horse and the Cherry Tree

Well my heart knows me better than I know myself
So I'm gonna let it do all the talking.
I came across a place in the middle of nowhere
With a big black horse and a cherry tree.

I felt a little fear upon my back
He said "Don't look back, just keep on walking."
When the big black horse said, "Hey lady!" {When the big black horse said, "Look this way"}
Said, "Look this way, will you marry me?" {Said, "Hey, lady, will you marry me?"}

But I said no, no, no, no-no-no
I said no, no, you're not the one for me
No, no, no, no-no-no
I said no, no, you're not the one for me

And my heart hit a problem, in the early hours,
So I stopped it dead for a beat or two.
But I cut some cord, and I shouldn't have done it,
And it won't forgive me after all these years

So I sent it to a place in the middle of nowhere
With a big black horse and a cherry tree.
Now it won't come back, 'cause it's oh so happy
And now I've got a hole for the world to see

And it said no, no, no, no-no-no
Said no, no, you're not the one for me
No, no, no, no-no-no-no
Said no, no, you're not the one for me

{Not the one for me}

Said no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
You're not the one for me
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
You're not the one for me

(do, do, do, do)

Well I was
Big black horse and a cherry tree
I can't quite get there 'cause my heart's forsaken me
Big black horse and a cherry tree
(Big black horse and a cherry tree) I can't quite get there 'cause my heart's forsaken me
(Big black horse and a cherry tree) I can't quite get there 'cause my heart's forsaken me
(Big black horse and a cherry tree) I can't quite get there 'cause my heart's forsaken me
No, no, no, no
(Big black horse and a cherry tree) I can't quite get there 'cause my heart's forsaken me
No, no, no, no
(Big black horse and a cherry tree) I can't quite get there 'cause my heart's forsaken me
(Big black horse and a cherry tree) I can't quite get there 'cause my heart's forsaken me
(Big black horse and a cherry tree) I can't quite get there 'cause my heart's forsaken me
I can't quite get there cause my heart's forsaken me
(Big black horse and a cherry tree) I can't quite get there 'cause my heart's forsaken me
(Big black horse and a cherry tree) I can't quite get there 'cause my heart's forsaken me

Achmed says Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T20:32:00.000+02:00

Jeff Dunham and Achmed I only recently discovered, and YES their humor is sometimes dark and maybe this clip is not appropriate for a christian celebrated holiday, but if you keep and open mind and reserve your values, this is a VERY good laugh.
Do yourself a favour and look at their other video on YouTube and that ought to give you the correct background for this video that is brilliant..
Achmed the dead Terrorist – Jingle Bombs

Apologize

2007-12-25T20:22:00.000+02:00

Love this song!

One Republic Feat.Timbaland - Apologize

I'm holding on your rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground
I'm hearin what you say but I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around, and say...

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

I'd take another chance, take a fall
Take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
But it's nothin new - yeah yeah
I loved you with a fire red-
Now it's turning blue, and you say...
"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you
But I'm afraid...

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
It's too late to apologize, yeah
I said it's too late to apologize, yeah-
I'm holdin on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground...

The words ring true when I think of M - whom I thought was my best friend, but twice interrupted time spent together, to run after the company of other people.
Like the words above says: you said sorry, but I thought you were an angel and now all I can say is..it's too late to apologize.
I'm just horribly horribly sad for this friendship that is now lost.

Piano Music. .

2007-12-19T15:26:00.000+02:00

Speaking about music... Michael Nyman's The heart asks pleasure first..

Wonderful piece of music!
From the movie - The Piano.

Music

2007-12-19T14:57:00.000+02:00

Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music.

~ George Elliot ~

Pride & Prejudice - The Movie

2007-12-18T10:57:00.000+02:00

Watched the movie Pride & Prejudice last night, and as the final titles scrolled by, I thought about the author, Jane Austen and imagined her putting this story together in her head and how she was influenced by things that she saw, like Wilton House in Salisbury. In her novel she describes Pemberley in such a way that it most likely was Wilton House.
It is such a beautiful story..the love scenes had me in tears. Particularly these two:
The first where Mr.Darcy declares his love..

and then this last scene..

The soundtrack is amazing.
The soundtrack was composed by Dario Marianelli and performed by Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the English Chamber Orchestra. Marianelli received an Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score and two World Soundtrack Academy nominations for "Best Original Soundtrack of the Year" and "Soundtrack Composer of the Year".
This is a piece of the soundtrack music that is called "Darcy's Letter" and I love the first minute of it - it reminds me of a similar piece heard in the movie "Great Expectations" where Finn (Ethan Hawke) runs in the rain to meet Estella (Gwyneth Paltrow)in the restaurant.

Landslide..

2007-12-12T10:22:00.000+02:00

If you are part of the so called "X" generation, then you are familiar with the band Transvision Vamp and their lead singer Wendy James - who some believe was thé sexiest singer of that era. Whether everybody would agree with that is debatable, but I definitely do agree.
Walk down memory lane with me, and decide for yourself.
P.S. That pink lipstick was a serious 80's craze... :-)

Transvision Vamp - Landslide Of Love

Landslide of love
Tonight the stars are shining
But inside I feel I'm dying
And there's no whisper in the wind
In my room I'm all alone
Waiting on the telephone
But I know it ain't gonna ring
That ain't the way it's meant to be
Every hour so long and empty
But I know that it ain't everything

Landslide of love you thrill me
Landslide of love you could kill me
Landslide you hit me from above
Landslide of love you keep calling
Landslide of love I keep falling
But I can never get enough
Landslide of love

A thousand times I've spared a thought
To all those whose hearts are torn
But it's so far way from home
Right until the bitter end
Who believes it would fall on them
'Till it cuts you to the very bone
Tragedy ain't for me
I was born to be free
But there's no escaping these chains
These chains of love
That will defy me
Like a power from above
These chains of love

Landslide of love you thrill me
Landslide of love you could kill me
Landslide you hit me from above
Landslide of love you keep calling
Landslide of love I keep falling
But I can never get enough
Landslide of love
Of love..

Mojito!

2007-12-11T11:12:00.000+02:00

(Finally??)Discovered this amazingly refreshing cocktail and just had to share it!

Mojito (pronounced IPA: /məˈhiːtoʊ/ (English) IPA: [moˈxito] (Spanish)) is a traditional Cuban cocktail which became popular in the United States during the late 1980s, and has recently seen a resurgence in popularity.
A mojito is traditionally made of five ingredients: rum, sugar (traditionally sugar cane juice), lime, carbonated water and mint [1]. Its combination of sweetness and refreshing citrus and mint flavors are intended to mask the potent kick of the rum, and have made this clear cocktail a popular summer drink. Many hotels in Havana also add Angostura bitters to cut the sweetness of the mojito; while a popular variation, it is not the original version created in La Bodeguita del Medio[1].
To make a Mojito, juice from a lime is added to sugar and mint leaves in a tall glass. The mixture is then gently mashed repeatedly with a muddler. Crushed ice is then added, followed by rum and topped off with club soda.
The word mojito is derived from the diminutive of the word mojo.[2]

Got a recipe from the site TasteofCuba.com

Cuban Mojito recipe
the original authentic recipe from Havana Cuba

1 teaspoon powdered sugar

Juice from 1 lime (2 ounces)

4 mint leaves - 1 sprig of mint

Havana Club white Rum (2 ounces)

2 ounces club soda

There are countless recipes for the Mojito (pronounced moh-HEE-toh), but this version is for the one Hemingway himself enjoyed at the Mojito's place of birth:

La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana, Cuba.
Place the mint leaves into a long mojito glass and squeeze the juice from a cut lime over it. You'll want about two ounces of lime juice, so it may not require all of the juice from a single lime. Add the powdered sugar, then gently smash the mint into the lime juice and sugar with a muddler. Add ice (preferably crushed) then add the rum and stir, and top off with the club soda (you can also stir the club soda in as per your taste). Garnish with a mint sprig.

So if you're ever in need of "mojo"....:-)

The Fairy of Eagle Nebula

2007-12-11T10:58:00.000+02:00

Astronomy Picture of the Day - 9 December 2007

Credit: The Hubble Heritage Team, (STScI/AURA), ESA, NASA
Explanation: The dust sculptures of the Eagle Nebula are evaporating. As powerful starlight whittles away these cool cosmic mountains, the statuesque pillars that remain might be imagined as mythical beasts. Pictured above is one of several striking dust pillars of the Eagle Nebula that might be described as a gigantic alien fairy. This fairy, however, is ten light years tall and spews radiation much hotter than common fire. The greater Eagle Nebula, M16, is actually a giant evaporating shell of gas and dust inside of which is a growing cavity filled with a spectacular stellar nursery currently forming an open cluster of stars. The above image in scientifically re-assigned colors was released as part of the fifteenth anniversary celebration of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Beautiful Picture isn't it?

You Tube taught me. .

2007-12-07T15:05:00.001+02:00

Now one new thing that I did learn recently, is the joys of You Tube. The first person who's video's I really enjoyed is Cory "Mr. Safety" Williams, he is SMPFILMS, and through him, the "Angry Aussie" - they recently met up in Melbourne, Australia for the YouTube Gathering and Angry Aussie taught Mr. Safety things about his country. Cory even says that many of his childhood dreams came true during the trip that he made to Australia. Cory tried new things and and through them met amazing people and made friends around the world.

Just to show you that trying new things can lead to wonderful adventures.

PS..Isn't Cory just soooooo HANDSOME..pity he is engaged..lucky her!