Tag Archives: family

Far South

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Decision made.

It’s been a rough couple of weeks deciding what the best move would be, for me.

A couple of deciding factors. One, it’s high season in Panama and I am concerned that once there, I wouldn’t be able to find a rental. And as I will have, by then, sold my car, everything here, I really would have nothing to come back to. It would be like starting all over and it is way too expensive to do that here.

The other factor is the comfort zone as far as working goes. My work at ecology.com is expanding, which of course means more hours. If I was in a new country, I would be so tempted to be out and about more, exploring, instead of working. In South Africa, I won’t have that pressure on me. I need to work and make the money. I don’t have the luxury of being retired. But I don’t plan on spending all my time working. All work, no play etc etc! No more dull days and years for this girl!

And of course, going to SA is going home for me. As I am giving up my home here in the States, it feels like a safer stepping stone for me. Once there, I can also adjust to the heat which I have to find out if I can still handle. Supposedly one of the issues with my supposed affliction - inability to handle heat. That would be a real shame!

Once I have settled into the idea of being a rolling stone again, probably towards the middle of next year, I will decide where to go.

The time frame is still October. I am planning to go to SoCal and spend time with Ryan and Cody and family before heading out. I also would like to meet the people I am working with in Carpinteria so hope I can do that too.

So I have really started to get my stuff together, discarding and packing for storage the few things I will save, like my beautiful woven baskets, all my photos from eons ago. Things I just cannot give up. Sorting through the things I need to take with me, like the small “world phone” I had when I went to New Zealand and important papers. Most of the really important ones I will leave with Ryan.

Not sure which route to take. Depends on the fares, but I prefer to fly Malaysia Air. That way I can break my flight in Kuala Lumpur. Hopefully they still have the same setup, where the layover is something like 18 hours and they put you up in an hotel so you can get some sleep, a shower etc. Makes a huge difference. I don’t think I will take the four day detour to Langkawi, though that would be fun!

Oh, and mymixednuts is dead. Sad. I am selling off all the inventory this Saturday and Sunday. The lease on the warehouse is up next week so it is done. A relief but sad because I put so much of myself into it.

Travels with Susan – Sunday

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I slept like a log last night – went to bed at 8:30 and woke at 9:40 – and I feel sooooo much better. Amazing how important sleep is.

Our plan for the day is lunch with Biff. So it was hurry up and run into town – Pietermaritzburg – and get fresh bread and rolls from the bakery, load up the bakkie (pickup truck) and head down to Hillcrest, about half an hour away.

Driving into town, nothing much has changed. It is still a pretty little city with lovely old homes. but there was a lot of trash alongside the roads, and Mick says the city center is awful. But we didn’t go all the way into town. I checked out prices in the store and it is still considerably – make that a lot- less expensive than the U.S. And there is a large variety of goods available, more than when I was here four years ago.

Driving south, the hills stretch for miles and lots of open space dotted with the typical flat topped trees and an occasional house. The hills are still a summer green but you can tell it is turning to winter, with areas of tawny grass. Again, nothing much has changed. More traffic though, and a lot of heavies – big rigs – making the drive between Durban, the port, and Johannesburg.

Right near Biff is a railway line, and when we were living here, we went on the steam train which is used for tourist runs. As we got near the line, the puffer went by. Brought back a lot of memories.

At Biff’s, where Zoze and Bryan are staying until they move into their little place, we were greeted by the two dogs and Biff, Zoze and Bryan. The house and garden look wonderful, orchids blooming in the trees, roses all trimmed back, waterfall and pond looking beautiful. Lunch was a braai (bbq) with a leg of lamb done on the grill, wine and shandies (beer and 7-up) and lots of laughs. It seems not five minutes can go by without the conversation turning raunchy! I didn’t know my brothers’ minds were in the gutter! And the teasing and kidding didn’t stop.

It’s good to be home – and “in the arms of” the family. Just to able to sit back and just be. Not have to worry about what they think of me, or what I am doing, or anything else. No judgement. I think this is what family is all about.

Media Hype

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I became rather concerned with all the news about swine flu that the media is picking up on. I’ve been so busy I have hardly looked at the news but it filtered into the conversation last night when “the girls” gave me a little send off at Janet’s.

The air on planes is bad enough, recycled as it is, so I was pleasantly surprise when I ran into the this article that really debunks the hype. I thought you all might be interested in reading it.

I will certainly take precautions, anti-bacterial wipes for the plane etc, neosporin in the nostrils, all that, but I feel relieved now and continue my packing.

I looked at the 10-day forecast for Durban/Pietermaritzburg and it is around 75F! Whoo hoo, bare feet time. So now I can fine tune what clothes I am taking.

I’m a granny!

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So my most beautiful grandson was born on Monday night in San Diego. Oliver West Simpkins weighed in at eight pounds! And he was only a day late – can’t imagine how big he would have been if he had waited another week.

I spent some time with them at the hospital yesterday afternoon and Cody was amazing with the little guy. Totally enamored with him. He was the one changing the diapers and holding Oliver as Melissa was very tired. The had a shared hospital room and the baby in the next bed had colic and was crying all night so they got no sleep. I’m amazed the nurses didn’t take the baby to the nursery so everyone else could get some rest. It certainly isn’t like when we had babies. Oh well…

Tomorrow I will go to the house to see them as they will be much more settled and comfortable. Karen, Mel’s mum is with them for a few days, but then when she leaves, I worry that Mel will be by herself a lot with no support.
I called about a job in San Diego today but it was already gone – Program Director for Challenged America. I still don’t have a clue what I will be doing. I do know that I like being warm and the thought of a cold, wet, gray winter up north is depressing. So as fast as I can, I will get the house on the market and get the hell out of there.