My time in Cape Town comes to a close

I'm feeling very grateful for my time in Cape Town. Grateful to mum for her generosity.  Grateful to Jo and Antony for their amazing hospitality. Thankful to Russell for his friendship and motivating me go to Afrikaburn. Grateful to Rob and Dawn for making Afrikaburn happen. Grateful to Mike, Matt, Sam, Mike, Ivor, Joanna, Rory and Ross and the girls (Jo's friends) for further enriching my Cape Town experience.  Thank you, thank you, thank  you!

Tina's 90th birthday in Carcour

Tina’s party was very special indeed. It was held at Shalom, an old Catholic convent, under a gorgeous blossom tree. Such a perfect venue. Dom and Ruth organised some live music, including a cellist,  which was absolutely sublime. Tina was so moved by the cellist playing Bach as she walked in that she was moved to tears (Tina was an avid cello player earlier in her life).  All the people at the party were beautiful. There was so much love and it was so wonderful to share this experience. 

Unfortunately Shushann and Marion & Alun weren’t there due to their being unwell but Marion sent Tina a wonderful poem which you can read below. 

Tina's party

The two amazing musicians who played a wonderful variety of songs.

Listening to the music

Tina moved by the cellist playing Bach

A wonderful spread of food

Eating lunch under the blossom tree

Some spontaneous words said, all beautiful and from the heart

Sitting by the fire

Family photo

All of us

An engraved stone that is part of a beautiful labyrinth at Shalom.

Ah, what a beautiful friendship 🧡

This little fellow was in the field next door

My card and gift for Tina

Marion's poem

Carcoar life

Two beautiful but rather scary brown snakes have taken residence under Ruth's house !

Ruth's new beautiful horse

Another gorgeous horse who has moved in

Beautiful Meli and Gypsy

Views from Ruth's home

Family photo

My 52nd birthday

Lovely cards from Mum and Jo.

Card from Jo

Card from mum

Mum's 75th birthday

 

Hi there mum

Happy, happy birthday.  What a wonderful milestone. A great opportunity to reflect on the full and meaningful life you've lived so far and look forward to the years ahead. Thank you for being such a wonderful mum, I honestly couldn't have asked for a better one.  It's not a surprise that you're so loved by your all your family and life-long friends. It comes from being the beautiful, generous, loving person you are.  Hope you have a wonderful, special day.

Love

G

A lovely birthday collage from Jo

So very special. So many great memories here.  So great to share my life's journey with such a wonderful sister.

Letters and gifts on my 40th birthday

Gift from Jo

Jo's beautiful pillow case that she sent to me on my birthday.

Letter from Jo

Dear Graeme

I hope that you have a fantastic 40th birthday today. May this be the start of a new chapter in your life that is filled with love, wonder, excitement, passion, creativity and contentment. You deserve every good thing that comes into your life!

Thanks for being such a special brother. You were always the patient one, giving me gentle encouragement and support when I needed it. You are going to make / and already are a fantastic teacher. You had it in you from many years back.

We shared so much together growing up. Sunday morning escapades, lots of laughs, secrets and chocolates eaten on the sly. I remember drinking milk with you, then spinning round making ourselves so dizzy and laughing so much that it ended up coming out of my nose!!! Christmas with the Culley's, then the Rusconi's, camping trips that I was jealous not to be able to come on and spending hours playing lego, marbles and Marco Polo in the pool. I remember Sunday roasts"with" "Granny' Doris, "white"cheese sandwhiches eaten at Muizenberg with grandpa and waiting in Dad's car in the parking lot while he combed his hair after surfing - while 10 drivers waited for his spot!!

Dinners to Casanova with Granny and Grandpa Freeway and eating Italian kisses. The joy of cycling round to their Epworth Road house and sleeping over, Granny's crispy roast potatoes and lumpy custard. Mom, who was always there for us, making sure we had everything we needed. Friday nights at Youth and then all the lovely, hysterically funny letters you wrote to me while I was overseas I remember your face through the hospital glass when you saw Sam for the first time. I love the fact that you wear your heart on your sleeve and show emotion - both happy and sad.

My only wish is that lived closer together and got to see more of each other but thank goodness for skype, e-mail and of course picasa!!! Once again, we will be thinking of you all day and I will even drink a dinky champagne in your honour.

With all my love
Joey

Poem from Mum

Anniversary

Jo and Sam made us these exquisite cards for our 9th year wedding anniversary. Aren't they beautiful! Carleen, I thought you would be particuarly impressed!
.

This birthday card had me in hysterics...

Thanks Carleen!

Happy 5th year wedding anniversary

Wow, are we on the same wavelength or what! Ally and I made cards for each other for our anniversary. Ally made her card a week ago, I made mine yesterday. Isn't it amazing that the themes are the same! Two rose together. Almost surreal. I really like the poem above so included it in the card - it's particularly special because Ally adores "cream coloured" roses.