Family holiday in Mauritius (photos by Jo)

It looks wonderful, wish I could have been there.

Gratitude (2014)

• Chrisel didn't see pills
• Didn't get hit by the car when jumped for Mack. 
• Dani on track for kids. Heard about relationship when I was strong. 
• Lights in dining room ok. 
• Meeting Srini
• Meeting the hiking gang
• Car not fried (battery charge) 
• Leaking ceiling - not copper pipes. 
• The wedding photos were not corrupted. 
• Staggered pill so much better - doubled my ability to work, increased sense of well being. 
• Dani got back to me (after usb, after book.)  Liked my post. 
• Dylan better. 
• Shooting stars on Breede when bless Dani.
• Russell in South Africa when I was

Chrisel

After movie and lunch 

• Thanks for such a lovely afternoon. I forgot all about the cold dreary day chatting to you next to the cozy fire.  

After Babootie lunch

• It was lovely having you over yesterday and being able to share a tiny part of my life with you. Shame Mack couldn’t make it this time! I feel so comfortable just hanging out with you and cracking up at the odd funny anecdote or story.  

About blog

• I lost myself for a couple of hours in your treasure trove...what an incredible collection of memories you have created there. You must be so proud of yourself; seriously to be so in touch with all your most valued people/experiences is very admirable. And the photos! Those South America photos are amaaaaaaazing! 

Email with Liz

From Liz   

I Don't know if you watch the Big Bang Theory but at the end of every episode is a comedic note from the writers covering various topics.  This was tonight's:

"A young woman stepped forward from the throng and asked, 'O' great prophet, tell us how we might find love that is unconditional, unwavering, and unending.'  The prophet did not answer right away.  He looked off into the distance, gathering his thoughts.  Silence descended upon the crowd.  Then he turned his gaze upon the young woman and said, 'Get a dog.' " 

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran (1st draft) 

Haha...hopefully that's not true...otherwise I need to invest in a dog!

From me

Oh dear, you've got me onto a subject I can spout on forever!!
Firstly, I love the quote and have added it to my burgeoning collection. Secondly, I hate to break it to you, but it's so true!!!
Let me use this opportunity to try to convince you to choose a canine companion over a human companion...

First off, many famous women agree that no man can love you like a dog does...
• The more boys I meet the more I love my dog.  Carrie Underwood 
• Dogs never bite me. Just humans.  Marilyn Monroe 
• Why can't a man be more like a dog, huh? So sweet, loving, attentive.  Mary Adams 
• A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. Gilda Radner 

Secondly, unconditional love is only the tip of the iceberg of what a furry friend can bring you...
• A dog can give you a purpose in life: to become the person your dog thinks you are! 
• A dog can teach your children a lot of things:  like fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. 
• No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as a dog does.    
• Dogs provide oodles of comfort when you're feeling blue because they don't try to find out why. 

All in all, a dog can make you blissfully happy.  There is simply no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.

But in the interests of a balanced argument, maybe; just maybe it's all a crock of lies.  Maybe the "love" dogs give is just a sneaky façade to keep us in tow. After all, if aliens saw us walking our dogs and picking up their poop, who would they think is in charge?

Oh well, enough thoughts on the matter.  I'll leave you to make up your own mind!

From Liz  

Almost convincing Mr Myburgh.  But then I found this quote ...

“Just give me a comfortable couch, a dog, a good book, and a woman. Then if you can get the dog to go somewhere and read the book, I might have a little fun.”   Groucho Marx 

Haha..in saying that though, I've always been partial to a golden retriever.  But I think I just love them because as puppies they are the cutest things.  I don't know about actually looking after one full time.  Looking after two kids on my own is plenty for now...

From me

Ha ha!  That's another absolute gem of a quote. I'll capitulate. After all, a woman as a partner does indeed have some beautiful, marvellous and even sacred qualities that no dog, even on its best day, can possibly match...

... like being able to look in a drawer and find a pair of socks that aren't there!
And maybe we men as partners have more sweet-natured, loving, dog-like qualities to bestow than we're given credit for. As Robert Brault said  "I am not your dog, but if every time you saw me, you gave me a backrub, I would run to greet you, too." 

Perfect winter's day for a walk and picnic

A lovely walk at Berry Island and Balls Head with a picnic half way, followed by lamb shanks (my first attempt) which was delicious. Basically a day of non stop walking and eating.  The perfect way to spend a Sunday!  

Text to Chris

Hi Chris.

Thanks again so much for all your support, guidance and inspiration with the DIY for my home. You've opened up a whole new world. You give the term true friendship real meaning.

G

Lovely breakfast with Chris, Jilly and Rosie

Great company and the best French toast I think I've ever eaten ...

Gorgeous Sam

Thanks for the photos, Jo.

Jason

Jason, how I miss you!  Thanks for the photos, Jo.

Tribute to Henk

Henk, Antony's dad, passed away over the weekend. He was a very special man who treasured his family above all else. I didn't know him well but I remember him most for warmth and friendliness and smile. Below is a beautiful tribute that Jo has written, to be read out at his memorial service.

Jo's tribute to Henk

Today is a very sad day!  Although we have been expecting this day to come for a while, Henk finally passed away this morning.  He was such a gentle, brave man who fought Alzheimer's for many years.  Even when it was so hard for him to string a whole sentence together, he always would come out with the funniest one liners and make us laugh.

Henk was a true gentleman.  I never heard him say a bad word about anyone.  He was a great hugger and when we went to visit, he always gave you a tight squeeze and made you feel like he was the happiest man in the world to see you.

Henk loved old cars, planes, books and movies about world wars (uncanny how he died on the 70th anniversary of D-Day).  He loved travelling the world and around South Africa in his Sanjong  Musso.  He loved water and swimming and it brought out the fun and youthful side in him.  He would always be the first to jump in the pool and it was always done in style with a 10/10 forward flip.  When he arrived in Plett after the long drive over, he would say to the family "Lets go and wash the Free State dust off".

He loved grapetizer and always ordered the fish on the menu at a restaurant. I remember his love of icecream - but real vanilla, not the sorbet stuff!  Even better if it was smothered in chocolate sauce.  

Henk loved music and especially the song "when I grow to old to dream".  It was a common sight to see him sweep Sheila into a dance in the middle of the lounge.  He would put Jessica onto his lap and while Antony played the organ, Henk would take Jessie's hands and pretend to play the piano with her and then waltz her around the room.

Henk always had a whistle or a hum going and loved to show the kids how to draw aeroplanes or ships.  We were all impressed with his skill.

He loved the outdoors and hiking and nature.  He would take his stick and go up the Contour Path on a regular basis.  I first knew him in his Camps Bay house, and he loved the beach and to go walking along the Sea Point promenade . 

When we asked him how he was when we saw him, his first response was always 'first class' or "A1" Even when he was sick, when he saw Ants or Matt, he would say "hi Buster" or hi "Sonny Boy".

 But the thing that was the most important to him was his family and especially his wife Sheila.  I have never met a couple who doted on each other so much and never left each others sides.  They did everything together and even shared that teeny tiny bed right up to the end.  They shared a love that was so strong and so deep and if any of us can have what they did, we would be truly blessed.

Henk adored his grandchildren.  He loved walking Sam and Matt to the waterfall near to their Camps Bay house and skimming stones into the water.  My kids loved sleep overs at their house and they never left there without getting a chocolate.  I love how after a family meal, Sheila washed and Henk dried and how his garage was so impeccably neat and organized.  If there was any tool you needed, Henk had it.

He was so generous and loved taking the family out for Sunday meals.  In the early days, we would head out and explore different wine farms in the Stellenbosch and Franschoek area.

He was a keen member of the Crank Handle Club and after a Sunday drive with the club, he and Sheila would pop by to Constantia and visit us in his beautifully restored car.  It was a privilege to have him drive the car at my wedding.  Grandpa Tony was the proudest man to be sitting next to me in it but I secretly think he just loved being seen in Henks Bentley.  He kept waving at passers by!  Henk was always punctual and I think I was the only bride who was actually early to her own wedding!

Henk was a man who loved tea as much as I do and it was even better if it slipped down with a marie biscuit!  I remember many afternoons, having a cuppa tea at their Camps Bay house, looking out of the window at their gorgeous view while Henk sat on his favourite chair.

Henk, even though you suffered from Alzheimer's for many years and acutely for the last 3, you never forgot your family.  You knew who everyone was and with a family our size, that is truly remarkable!  

Your legacy will live on in your children and of course, your amazing and talented 8 grandchildren.  You were an inspiration and a true gentleman and your love will never be forgotten..........

Joanne xx

Sam's tribute

I'd like to start off by thanking everyone here for coming and for all the support you have given towards my family during this tough time.

I'm sure most of you had the privilege of meeting my truly amazing grandpa but I'd like to describe and say what I  remember most about him.

1. Adventurous - for all the seas he had sailed, mountains he had conquered and lands he had explored, my grandpa was never a man who would have nothing to do. He would always be hiking, walking or taking my cousins and I to the waterfall near their Campsbay house to skim stones.

2. Artistic - when I was in grade 5 and visited him in hospital, all he wanted was a piece of paper to draw on. I was star struck by his neat, realistic sketches of buildings, ships, aero planes and cartoon characters. I'd ask him to draw me a pirate-ship in my grade 2 school book whenever he came to my school for grandparents day. I would then go around bragging to everyone that my grandpa was the best drawer in the world! Unfortunately I did not inherit his drawing skills.

3. Loving - the one thing my grandpa loved more than life itself, was his family. From his greetings of "hi buster" and "hello there sonny boy", our visits with him were never a disappointment. The stories he read us (almost always about some sort of moving vehicle) to his long stories about The War, he always had something interesting to say. And even though I hated saying goodbye, it is one of my most treasured memories. He would stand with my granny in their drive way waving to us in the car and my brother and I would look out the back window until we couldn't see them anymore.

4. Inspirational - the way my grandpa lived his life to the fullest is something I can only dream of accomplishing. He was one of the kindest people I've met, a true gentleman, and the love he gave and received was priceless.

So grandpa, we will miss you, but this is not goodbye. For you will always live in our hearts, our memories and all things beautiful.

At the funeral