Window on George

The George Farmer's Market is held every Saturday morning. It was one of the highlights of my holiday. Food, food and more food. Arts and Crafts. Live music. Beets and Carrot Cake.  Rich and moist. Boerekaas with Cumin from the Cheeseman. The floor reminded me of theVillage Green at the Graham's Town Art Festival.   Happy memories! What a  beautiful country we have! These guys put a smile on EVERYONE'S faces.   I won't go into the details, but Mandy's meeting with the owner of South Cape Flowers turned out happy this time.   When I left 3 weeks later, they will still as fresh as the day we bought them.   The pride of South Africa! If you are in the area on a Saturday morning, please support the local artisans and pay them a visit.   

Since coming to Hong Kong nearly 5 years ago, I've gone home every summer, except one year when my children came to visit me instead. Which means that I've had 2 winters per year. So I reckon "one day" when I retire, I will come to Hong Kong every winter, so that I can have 2 summers per year. This was a milestone summer/winter for me in so many respects.  Coming face-to-face with people from my past sort of put my whole life into perspective.    Closure.   Move On. And then the door opens and new people walk into one's life. It was also a blessing to spend time with my 80-year old mother who is still going strong,  the man my son has become, who walked with me through the entire Company Gardens, the sixty-year old softy my sis has become, her husband and their sons,  the grand children and last but not least my daughter, who despite all her travels and packed holiday schedule, still managed to spend a few days at home with me i...

Between the mountains and the deep blue sea, in the heart of the Garden Route that is where you will, this summer (winter) find me.

I went to Bali from Taiwan in the summer of 2001, my first trip to an exotic island. One would think,having lived in Taiwan, which is an exotic island  after all, that Bali would just be another island, maybe with prettier beaches... I was not prepared for the total onslaught on my senses. I fell in love... The total contrast to the dirty, smelly, grey, and very ugly Changhua were I was living, was beyond anything I could imagine. Fragrant flowers everywhere,  hanging from creepers on the pavements, tucked behind the ears of the hotel staff, cascading over ancient walls of houses, packed into tiny woven baskets with rice as offerings to the gods. The beautiful people, with names I could not only say, but actually spell and write as well! And the biggest surprise of it all :  The cultural connection with South Africa, or the Cape, to be exact. I could read and understand many of the Balinese words in the streets, on road signs, shops, cafes, ...

 One day, one day, I will grow peonies in my own garden.  One day!  I can have Pincushions in my garden... but I want Peonies!  Hydrangeas can grow in my garden, but I want Peonies!  I could plant Irises, for my daughter, but I want Peonies!  Pure Perfect Peonies  My garden in Hong Kong