I can hardly believe the first week of November has passed. Mom is nearly halfway through her 4 week visit. Dylan and Sean love Ouma’s cooking with each meal being a special request. Sean is spending many hours in the kitchen with Ouma learning her cooking techniques to help out on the evenings when I am not feeling too good. Next week Mom is going to be cooking up a storm to provide some frozen meals for the future. Even Dick (my youngest brother) has asked my mom to come to his home for a day…. to cook up a storm for them too. Nothing beats Mom’s cooking!!
I am feeling much better today on the emotional level, though I do have a sore hip. It is the same discomfort I had before the operation which I put down to the tumour. It is a little concern that I need to chat to Dr L about. I have had a very steady flow of visitors yesterday and today, and we are starting to apply boundaries in the afternoon for me to have my siestas.
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Dear Alida. Friday again! The days are going so fast and the year is almost through? Last year I said that this one I am going to bake wonderful Christmas cakes for all my friends, with lots and lots of fruit and brandy... I better get started!
I remembered a wonderful Chinese story last night that I thought I want to share with you this morning. Each morning this old man takes his two pots and hang it on the stick over his shoulders to go and fetch some water. It will take him the whole day down and up the steep hill. And very evening when he returns home he would have only one full pot as the other one leaks badly. So his son asked him "Dad, why do you keep on filling and carrying this heavy pot to your left while you know it will be empty by the time you return home?". "Ah", said the old man smiling "have you seen how the flowers are growing on that side of the road?". For balance we sometimes know we are carrying a leaking pot, but look how the flowers are growing on that side of the road!!! May you have a day and weekend full of grace.
Well this post has made my Friday morning seem much better - good to hear the 'positivity' again.
Your supporters out here feel the rollercoaster with you - even tho' we can't all imagine what the physical experience is like.
"Ouma" sounds like a real treat - after Dick, would she like a stop off in Pretoria too??
Alida - I think you need to continue thinking like one of those huge container ships - they just plough through the waves, rather than their smaller cousins who bob around on top getting rolled around an beaten up. Set the compass and forge ahead.
God bless!
Saying GOODbye to the old ladies ...
Safmarine bids farewell to the SA Helderberg after three decades
After almost 30 years of flawless service, the original four ‘Big Whites’ - the SA Helderberg, SA Winterberg, SA Sederberg and SA Waterberg (presently Maersk Constantia) - will bow out from the Safmarine fleet during 2007/2008.
The SA Helderberg , is the ship that Jean & Richard siled on from Southhampton to Cape Town, many years ago.
"Safmarine is sad to bid farewell to these reliable ships which have served South Africa, Safmarine and our valued customers well for three decades. It is also worth noting these four ships, along with sister ships from other lines, were deployed on the South Africa-Europe trade for 25 years and that it is unusual to have ships deployed together for this length of time on a single trade lane."
Respect for these much-loved vessels has resulted in the SA Helderberg and her sister ships being viewed as more than mere transporters of sea freight.
"In many ways, these ships have been synonymous with the spirit of Safmarine and we are therefore sad to see them go. However, it is important that Safmarine, in the interests of providing a leading shipping service - and owning and maintaining a modern fleet - invests in new, more technologically-advanced and environmentally-friendly ships."
Safmarine is currently part-way through an extensive fleet renewal programme and will take delivery of seven new, owned vessels in 2008.
The SA Helderberg and her sister ships – all built in French yards in the 70s – boasted several features not commonly found in cargo ships at the time. These features included stabilisers, twin engines, air conditioning and extensive capacity for perishable cargo.
Their high standard of building - coupled with Safmarine’s policy of ongoing, onboard preventative maintenance and scheduled dry-docking - ensured their exceptional reliability and longevity.
The first of these ships, the SA Helderberg, completed sea trials in 1977 and arrived at Cape Town in January 1978 under the command of Commodore Robin Thomson.
Another senior officer on that maiden voyage was Second Engineer Etienne (Smersh) Rabie, currently Safmarine’s Marine Executive.
Early in their careers, the ships were affectionately named ‘Big Whites’ because of their large size and their gleaming white hulls which reflected the bright South African sunshine on their regular port calls in South Africa.
Ends
In 1995 Safmarine created considerable public and media interest with the painting of the company logo (the name Safmarine in scroll lettering) in giant letters on the 258 metre long hulls of the four ships. Although it was not unusual for shipping lines to paint their name on their ships, it was unusual and perhaps unique to use the scroll lettering from a logo.
Richard had me going for a while there with his "Saying goodbye .... but then I saw the 'Old Ladies' so knew he couldn't be talking about you Alida.
It's good to see the positivity coming back today. I remember back in the days when you told me to have the 'P' days .... to always have at least one positive thought everyday. It works so keep thinking that way until this lot is behind you and then beyond.
Your Mums cooking sounds great ...... I'm sure you can look forward to Sean continuing to provide the good food after Ouma goes back home.
Keep up the fight
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