When the sun is setting, between dusk and darkness, there is a moment when the light turns blue. And the world stops for a heartbeat.
I’ve moved ~13 times in the last 12 years -to 9 different countries and 4 different continents. The more times I move, the more important for me is that I take the time (and effort) to build a real home. Home makes me feel at home. Even when I’m still unsure where to buy my lightbulbs.
Thus the topic of my new fooling-around-in-Photoshop-project is quite appropriate. My ‘home’ world.
Photoshop is still something I need to put more effort in to learn. I started an online course, but I’m not finding enough time to practise. Somehow life gets in the way – work, family, friend and this little project called 365. But I’ll keep taking baby steps…
So, today I made this ‘classic’ play with shadows.
I don’t drink coffee. I absolutely love the idea of it – the Something-to-start-your-day, the flavours, the warm cup… I would love to drink coffee. I just detest the taste. Hate it.
So I would choose breakfast every morning. And Stuart would always choose coffee.
Saturday was Midsummer in Finland. It is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in the north, and always makes me a little homesick. To celebrate, we had a little mid-winter fire and some good food with friends. And ironically, the weather was better in Joburg than what is was in Finland…
When Merlin was very little, I was working from home. Thus he initially felt he was more ‘my dog’ than Stuart’s. But that has changed. My lap is still the favourite in the evenings, but Stuart is definitely more fun. And more reliable in all this food-delivery business.
People of Mpumalanga don’t suffer from undue modesty – or how else do you explain a place called ‘God’s Window’. But I have to admit, the views are phenomenal. Along the winding mountain roads are little villages with crafts, great restaurant, whisky and – naturally – curios to all tastes.
One of the places we visited was Pilgrim’s Rest – a little village with number of houses restored to their ‘previous glory’. My favourite spot is the old BP Garage and it’s famous car that has been left to ‘Rust in Peace’.
Sunday was cold. Because we were travelling with Merlin, restaurants did not let us inside, so brunch was a chilly – if tasty – affair. However, a walk to a Bridal Veil waterfall warmed us right up – and made both Merlin and myself comfortably snoozy for the drive back home. Luckily, Stuart is made of stronger stuff.
I’ve been to Mpumalanga three times before, and twice I was unable to see much further than my own hand due to heavy mist, and thus unable to enjoy the famous views from the Panorama Route. The third time I was white water rafting in Blyde River and never got high enough to enjoy the views. Fourth time lucky.
This Friday was a public holiday in South Africa (Youth Day). Both Stuart and I have been so busy we only realised this on Tuesday – and decided it was too late to book a trip somewhere. In the Friday morning we promptly regretted the decision, and book a cottage in Mpumalanga anyway. Only 3h drive away from Joburg, it is a beautiful mountainous area. There is a lot of coal mining in the area, which explains the rail tracks in the middle of nowhere.
On some days playing guitar can be frustrating to Stuart. On others it seems to sing in his hands. Both ways, it is a passion. Albeit one he doesn’t have as much time as he’d like.
Blue Moment 