JULY 2013 LENE MOVES; LAURA VISITS; TOUR DE FRANCE; YELLOWWOOD TREE; DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET RUNNING FIT.

BARBARA AND LENE RELAX ON THE BEACH -- SUNDAY PICNIC LUNCH WHILE WE PLAY IN THE SAND AND SWIM



JULY 2013
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
LENE MOVES TO 8TH AVE WALMER
ALLY TO CAPE TOWN WITH NICKY
WINTER HITS PE WITH RAIN AND COLD
LAURA GIDDY VISITS FROM MICHIGAN
STILL TRYING TO GET BACK INTO RUNNING
DARRYL IMPEY LEADS STAGE 6 AND 7 OF TDF WITH THE YELLOW JERSEY
Lene moves to 8th ave Walmer from the Flat at the back of our house.
BEACH FRONT RUN AND SWIM.
YELLOWWOOD TREE AND BENCH
ALLY VISITS SUTHERLAND WITH NICKY AND FAMILY
HOCKEY UMPIRING COURSE
RUNNING IS EXTREMELY SLOW BUT AT LEAST I AM ON THE ROAD


Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes


1 July 2013
Monday morning. I have a cold and am not up to running. Lene moves to a flat in 8th ave Walmer. Close to Clarendon School. Hire a trailer, Barbara's bakkie. Four men to help and we take four hours to do the move in three trips.

Boys having fun at Holiday Club

Walmer Methodist Church Holiday club

Nothing that Daniel like more than to play with friends, Joshua and mess at the July Holiday Club 2013

NOTHING QUITE LIKE A FACE FULL OF MUCK

UNDER ALL OF THIS LIES A DANIEL

This evening Ally spends with her friend Megan Clarkson. Barbara and I are home alone. Except for all the animals.
Tuesday: raining all night. So no running again. Supper and briudge with Charles and Ingrid this evening.
We love going to Charles and Ingrid for supper. Ingrid makes really good wholesome meals and they are a fun couple. We play bridge until we are starting to wobble. We collect Ally from LENE's new home where she has been watching DVD and entertaining her little cousins.
It rained again all night. Heavy down pours. So again no running on Wednesday morning. I am almost over a head cold and not keen to go out in the rain.

I am enjoying reading books loaded onto my IPad. Wake up early, make myself coffee and a rusk, finish the book. Then close my eyes again for a second sleep. The windows are open and I can hear the falling rain and feel the cool morning breeze on my face. Just how I love it.

Today Ally leaves for CT for a week of visiting Nicky. She is really looking forward to this trip. She was going to be traveling to Durban for Polo training but decided to change plans.
Wednesday evening I have a short meeting with Graham Richards to plan for next weekend hiking trail at Harkerville.

ALLY AND MIA IN CAPE TOWN.

The family spent the weekend in Sutherland. It was cold and wet but they had a fire place and kept themselves cosy

Thursday morning. I have managed to get rid of the worst of the cold that I had so go for an easy run this morning. The rain has let up but it is still quite chilly.
Friday: Laura and boyfriend Chris are in RSA. They all come over for drinks this evening. Laura teaches at a school in Michigan. She has completed her first year and is going back for a second. Today Isabelle left for Brasil.

Saturday morning.
I collect Andre; Adrienne and Sjani. Meet Stuart at the beach front and we do the Beach run. It is about 10km. Along the promenade to Walmer Boulevard; up to the top where we turn left next to the graveyard. Starting at 5;30am in winter means that the whole run is in the dark. We get water at the Caltex garage and then run along Strandfontein road to the next garage where we again get some water. Down second ave and right into Erasmus drive to 7th ave where we turn to the beach and finish along the promenade. Stuart is getting stronger; Andre has been off for weeks and is happy to be back on the road again; Sjani continues to battle with a hip injury and struggled to maintain the running.

After the run Adrienne and I had our swim before heading home. A little later I collected my credit card from the bank as I had lost my original. Then a short while in the office; Pastryworks where I buy some ciabatto bread and apple strudle for tea this morning.

THIS IS OUR SATURDAY MORNING RUNNING GROUP. STUART HAS JOINED US RECENTLY. SJANI COMES BACK FROM AN INJURY AND IS STILL HURTING. ANDRE HAS BEEN OFF INJURED FOR SOME TIME AND IS HAPPY TO BE BACK. ADRIENNE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THE GROUP TOGETHER. AFTER THE RUN SHE AND I HAVE A SHORT SWIM.

LAURA AND ALEX AT RUGBY. STORMERS BEAT KINGS WITH LAST MINUTE TRYS



Saturday afternoon. Rugby with Julia, Laura, Alex, Brigita, Jessica, Josh and Daniel. Kings play Stormers. The Kings play a hard game and take the lead with penalties. Stormers score a last minute try just before half time.
Children buy burgers and cold drinks which is the main reason for them being at rugby.



Second half is a battle for the Kings as they spend most of the game on defense. And again Stormers score with a minute to go in the second half. Overall a good outing for us. Happy to see Laura again after three years. The last time she was here we watched the final match at the old Boet Erasmus stadium.

Sunday morning

ANDRE AND I CYCLE AROUND THE MOFFET. HE HAS A PUNCTURE WHICH WE FIX ON THE ROAD.

Andre and I do a cycle around the Moffet. This is a nice easy ride but gets us up and out in the morning.
I have to ride my road bike to be able to stay with Andre who rides his MTB. On the way back he has a flat and we have to repair it on the road. This reminds Andre of the option of a bike mechanic course. It would be good to spend a couple of hours with a Bike Mechanic and learn how to fix a chain link. what to do with a derailer issue. basic bike maintenance. what to look for before going for a longer ride.

PURCHASE A YELLOWWOOD TREE. DONATED BY MPRG IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL

BARBARA BUYS A BENCH WHICH WILL BE A PERMANENT REMINDER OF OUR SON WHO DIED OF CANCER LAST MONTH

Barbara and I visited a Nursery where we bought a Yellowwood tree. This has been donated to us by MPRG as a memento of Michael. Barbara saw a concrete bench which she bought also to have as memory for Michael. I also stocked up on supplies needed for the Harkerville hike that I have planned for next weekend.

JOSHUA ON THE BEACH LEAPING OFF THE PIPE INTO THE WATER

BUILDING SAND CASTLES. BOYS WILL BE BOYS.



This afternoon we packed a picnic lunch and all went to the beach. Jessica, Josh and Daniel love the beach. Playing next to the water and building sand castles. I had a short swim .... not too cold. After our beach we stopped for ice creams. I had to pack up and leave for JHB meetings. I spent two days in JHB and the next two in EL. \

JOSH AND DANNY MAKE A FRIEND ON THE BEACH.

BIRD ROCK IN THE BACK GROUND. IT IS A PERFECT DAY FOR BEACH AND PLAY

JESSICA GETS INTO THE SPIRIT OF THE SAND CASTLE BUILDING AS THEY TRY TO BUILD A FORTRESS AGAINST THE INCOMING TIDE.

JULIA AND ENA IN PLETT AT LUNCH ON ENAS 97TH BIRTHDAY.

WEEKEND ON THE HARKERVILLE HIKING TRAIL.
With Graham, Fred, Maryna, Pieter, Chris and Markus.

THIS IS OUR LITTLE GROUP BEFORE WE SET OFF ON DAY TWO

PIETER, GRAHAM AND CHRIS BEFORE WE ATTACK THE KRANSHOEK CLIMB

HOLE IN THE WALL ON DAY TWO AS WE CLAMBER ACROSS ROCK FACES, WOODEN BRIDGES AND STEEP CLIMBS.


the hike was incredibly tough. I was stiff and sore for two days after the hike. But by Tuesday was able to back running. I am so fortunate to be fit and able to take part in activities like this.

Wednesday evening we start with 2013 Alpha.

ALLY IN ACTION AGAINST DSG

 PEARSON LOST TO HERSCHEL IN THE SECOND GAME IN GRAHAMSTOWN AT THE RHODES ASTRO

ALLY PLAYED THE THIRD GAME OF THE DAY AGAINST PEGS AT COLLEGIATE.

UNFORTUNATELY ALL OF THIS WEEKEND HOCKEY HURT ALLY. I TRIED THE TENS MACHINE. ELECTRIC PULSES ON HER LEGS. AND GEL ON HER ANKLE BUT ON MONDAY SHE WAS IN SUCH PAIN THAT SHE HAD TO MISS SCHOOL.

SUNDAY MORNING ALLY HAD TO WORK HARD FOR THE WIN

 ALLY GETS RIGHT INTO THE MIX. THIS MORNING SHE HAD AN EXCELLENT GAME WITH PRAISE COMING FROM THE PARENT GROUP.

 SUNDAY AFTERNOON -- 5TH GAME OF THE WEEKEND. ALLY HAS TO CHARGE DOWN THE SHORT CORNER PENALTY AND IS FIRST OUT THE BLOCKS

ALLY TAKES THE LINE SHOTS. ALWAYS MAKES SURE THAT SHE PLAYS TO HER OWN PLAYERS. A COMMON MISTAKE IS TO HIT THE BALL AS HARD AS YOU CAN AND GIVE POSSESSION AWAY.


A couple of cold and windy days. Not much running this week. And then Saturday morning we were in Grahamstown at 7am for Ally's two Pearson Hockey Matches. Then charge back home for an Academy match in the afternoon at Collegiate. Sunday morning we are at Alex for the fourth match where Ally plays for Academy with the fifth and final match of the weekend at NMMU as Ally was asked to play for Prem B. I have been studying the rules as seen by the Umpire and learning a lot about the game at the same time both from an academic as well as an on field lesson. We had a lunch time meeting with Mat and Delene and Andre regarding their new venture. later this afternoon we met the Cell Group at Pink Fig for tea and to meet the new addition to the Zeelie family.

Monday morning I planned to run but my knees were too sore so just did a short walk. Today I spent the day in Port Alfred with the FSAM team. Ally was in so much pain that she had to miss school today. Saw the doctor who will do more extensive tests.
This evening in our cell group we watched a talk by Joyce Meters. Very interesting and inspiring.

Tuesday and Wednesday, my knees are swollen and sore. Not able to walk or run. But amazingly on Thursday I woke up feeling a whole lot better and was able to run and to keep up with the slow group. This morning there was a cold west wind but despite that there were 18 of us running. At the back; Pat and Ronel (Gerald had come but gone for a short walk for the first time in many months), Stuart, Carol,

Wednesday evening I attended the Hockey Umpiring course. I had been studying the rule book for the past week and later this evening wrote the exam. Not easy with multiple choice questions with a variety of scenarios to answer. I will be surprised if I pass this test.

Thursday I spent the day in Port Alfred with Desiree. Met up with Grant Locklear for a short Nippers meeting.
Ally had a Pearson School induction dinner at St George's cricket ground this evening.

Friday morning I take an easy jog with neighbours, Georgea and Megan. Again, no pain in the knees.

This week has been full moon and I am drawn to the chorus which we sang on Sunday evening:

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are brightWe are amazed in the light of the stars
It's all proclaiming who You are
You're beautiful, You're beautiful

Saturday we do our beach front run. Stuart is now back on track with his training and is getting more and more dedicated. We run up to third ave Walmer, left to the Airport, back to Strandfontein road to 2nd ave and then along Erasmus Dr to Admiralty. Pat and Gerald are marshaling for their 10k event, I feel guilty that I am not taking part, but until a few days ago I was not sure that I could run at all. Down Admiralty, running with Warren du Rand, Annie, Stuart and Adrienne. Mike had turned off earlier. I prefer to stay close to the beachfront as I really do not want conflict with any Achilles runners.

 STUART AND ADRIENNE AS WE COMPLETE THIS SATURDAY MORNING BEACH RUN WHICH WAS A BIT LONGER THAN OTHERS WITH A TRIP AROUND THE AIRPORT AND THEN ON TO ADMIRALTY

IT WAS A COLD MORNING AND RON WAS TRYING TO WARM UP WITH ANNIE. WARREN IS A GREAT RUNNING MATE FOR THESE SATURDAY MORNING RUNS.

As we near Hobie Beach I see Ron sitting on the wall. The sun is just rising. There is a fresh Westerly blowing, the sky is clear and the sea is flat. A beautiful PE morning. John has been watching the runners of the 5 and 10k event go by and joins us. Adrienne and I go for our swim. It always seems much colder until you are in the water. This has been a perfect start to the weekend.


RON LOVES HIS MORNING VISITS TO THE BEACH. THIS MORNING HE ARRIVED WITHOUT COSTUME BUT DECLINED A BAREBACK SWIM

I visit Pastryworks for some nice stuff for the weekend. There has been a lot of rugby on the go this weekend. EP lost to Lions on Friday evening. Grey loses to Grey Bloem this afternoon. But for me the best is to go to Pearson and watch them win against DF Malherber. I meet up with Franelee. Ally and Lara are watching together with all their school friends, cheering and making a huge fuss over their players. The west wind is cold and an indoor afternoon seems quite attractive, Later this afternoon I take Ally to her friend, Sarah and they go to the Pearson dance.

RUGBY AT PEARSON. THIS GAME WAS FOR ME THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND. GREY HAD LOST IN BLOEM, EP KINGS HAD LOST TO THE LIONS AT THE STADIUM, BULLS LOST IN LOFTUS SO WHEN PEARSON WON I FELT THAT THE WEEKEND RUGBY WAS NOT ALL LOST.

ALLY PLAYED FOR PREM B ON SUNDAY MORNING. SHE IS A FORMIDIBLE DEFENSIVE PLAYER.

Sunday Ally has a hockey match for Prem B. At Gelvandale. Against Rhodes. OC loses 3-1 but a good hard game. LENE and family are with us for lunch. Then Delene and Mat come over to talk about their farm. This afternoon I planted the Yellowwood tree given us by the MPRG.

Sunday evening we sing this wonderful chorus:
Both of these two songs remind me of my own love for life.


The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name

I SEE YOUR FACE IN EVERY SUNRISE

I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You're beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It's all proclaiming who You are
You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see You there hanging on a tree
You bled and then You died and then You rose again for me
Now You are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You're beautiful, You're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful (x2)

I see Your face,
You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face,
You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face,
I see Your face

I see Your face,
You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

Monday 29th July.
I drive through to Alice for the day. Desiree and I were to have interviewed a prospective FSM but this turned out to be a bit of a washout. We had a long and tiring day but in the end it was not completely wasted.
Cell group in the evening: Joyce Meyers: quite inspiring.

Tuesday morning. Amazingly, despite a chilly west wind, we have around 24 in the group this morning. The Slow group consists of 10 of us. Some of the girls go ahead. Stuart, Mike, Viv and I try to keep up.

I am slow and battle to stay with our back of the back group. The fast group comes charging past. I try to stay and as we pass sort of half way I realise that I can stay with them. We do the full Tuesday run and I am able to stay with this group of four ladies including Cathy Nel (Julian;s Daughter and Lynn's sister Joan who has an Endomondo that tell us that we have run 9.7kays which I have always thought is the full Tuesday run distance.

I have to rush home, quick shower and take Ally to school for early morning Hockey training. This morning is the first run in a long time where I have felt able to stay with the pace. It takes me quite a while to warm up but once I feel  ready I am able to pick up the pace. Not as fast as some but fast enough for the group.

Lene:s Birthday to day

Wednesday evening is Alpha.