Archive for the ‘Personal Journey’ Category

I care very deeply. About people, nature, wildlife, … and life itself. I burn many a midnight oil contemplating the intricacies of the things we do and how we do them.

New perceptions have helped me resolve deep issues, like conflicts within my marriage (learning how to hear my husband in spite of how much it hurts) and my approach towards global problems highlighted on the ‘net.

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If this was Top Gear, I have no doubt that Jeremy Clarkson would be guffawing at my car history.

First there was an Opel Kadett, a simple sewing machine – no frills, no fuss – got me from A to B. Then a step up, with a gorgeously deep red Opel Astra.   Read the rest »

Beep. The Kettler announces today’s regime. I take a deep breath and start rowing. 45, 77, 83, the strokes per minute are climbing. I steady around 90 and relax into my rythm.

“What are my plans for this morning?” I close my eyes and wander off.  I need to write that article about the football radio before the world cup is over, those invoices need to be sent off, … my list continues. Read the rest »

I look back at the noughties with mixed feelings. It’s been the toughest decade ever and yet my most rewarding. We gave up the sunny comfort of South Africa and chose to migrate to the Netherlands.

Emmen was our first port of call. Where Marcel started life and still has some family. More to the point, it was chosen ‘cos of the work. For Marcel. And for me? Glad you asked. I couldn’t speak Dutch and being in the North East, there aren’t many English speaking jobs available. So I stayed at home.

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Marcel was born in Holland and grew up in South Africa as his folks emigrated in 1971. Fortunately over the years, Marcel learned how to speak Dutch from his parents.

Another real blessing for us, he lived in Holland for five years (from 1990) and then returned to South Africa, where we met and got married. At the end of 2001, we moved to The Netherlands. Read the rest »