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In your memory ...

Driving back home from the funeral services, once again feeling the searing pain of my parents who pass away, my mind was visiting ancient memories of my teenage days. At the age of sixteen, I was into what my parents considered as unholy music - we simply called it "underground music". Older folk did not take easily to this 'rubbish'. It was considered evil, dangerous and full of devilish teachings. Typical of teenagers, I too was rebellious, swam against the current and insisted on being myself whilst actually knowing fuck all about myself. Those were still the days of the gramophones and the LP vinyl records it played. This was real music and none of this modern day mp3, CD and DVD shit! So I saved up my hard earned money for a couple of weeks and bought myself a vinyl record of the wildest music at the time as can only be done by Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath itself. The music was wild for it's time, the graphics on the cover sleeve was evil, outrageous and crazy. This all appealed to my ludicrous teenage mind as being different and a self image of being a tough guy. Hell, only tough guys dared listening to Black Sabbath music! No sissy boys allowed! It conjured up wondrous images of myself, I was free to explore these at leisure whilst listening to the wild music and getting high on a cigarette.

So I brought the LP record home and headed straight for the gramophone. Within seconds the wild music of Black Sabbath was booming and resonating through every crack of the house. In the midst of my head banging dance moves, my Dad rushes in and grabs the explicit cover sleeve of the LP record. For several minutes he stood there studying the art work on both sides of the cover sleeve. Then he exploded! In one swift move, he grabbed the gramophone, shaking it and jerking it about until it finally spat out my precious Sabbath Bloody Sabbath record. The way the gramophone rid itself of my valued belonging seemed like it was happy to vomit out some unspeakable and disgusting filth. Despite my protestations and desperate pleas, the cover sleeve was immediately ripped apart. The LP record ended up been thrown like a flying saucer. The strong arm of my Dad caused the LP record to disappear within seconds into thin air as he threw it like a demented discuss thrower. Despite me searching for it later in the general direction of it's flight path, I never did find the damned LP record again.

Many years later, we all laughed about the incident. By then and with music getting wilder by the genre, Black Sabbath seemed like a meek and mild band. By then, it was a well known fact that Black Sabbath used shock tactics, propaganda and media hype to further their music careers - that was that and nothing more to it. How times have moved on and my Dad even listened to the entire recording of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - this time on CD. I could hardly hide my smile when I saw him bobbing his head a couple of time in tune with the music. So tonight, I once again play this song in your great memory. I love you and will soon be with you!

Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

SabbathBloodySabbath1
SabbathBloodySabbath2
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2801 Hits
FEB
22
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Our good friends are in pain

Sue and I went to a funeral service in church today. At the age of 74 and suffering from cancer, the mother of our close friend passed away earlier this week. It was a moving service resonating deep within and bringing back memories of my own parents who passed away several years ago. One could feel the grief, sense the love of the immediate family and the sorrow was palpable. Clearly this was a close knit family who experienced genuine love and sorely felt the empty space left within. Although I have only met the deceased once many years ago, one could not resist the flood of tears as the similar circumstances resonated and struck cords within. For these reasons do I not cope well at funeral services and hospitals as it jerks you back to your own grief and losses. Although the funeral services was held for somebody I hardly knew, it was non the less heart breaking to see and experience this pain all over again.

Petru and Danie.
No words can describe your loss, the hurt and grief you must feel. Neither nothing we say or do, can make things better for you. Despite this, know that we feel your pain and know what you must be going through. She is in a safe place, without pain and the suffering she endured as she is in the hands of GOD the Almighty himself. Know that this is merely a separation and not the end. In due time, we will once again meet and all will be united again at our rightful home. Walk proud and take care to follow in her footsteps, be the person she always dreamt you would become.

Take care! We love you.
Wiets & Sue

  2368 Hits
2368 Hits
NOV
28
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Remarkable!

When I saw Britsie some 3 days ago, seeing what I call a miracle right before my eyes, he was still in very bad shape. He could not talk, he could barely move, he was unable to swallow and he was awake for only the briefest periods of time. I once again saw Britsie last night and I was astounded by his recovery! Still feeble and very weak, he is now able to say the odd word and he is certainly more mobile (moving his limbs). His attention span is now much longer and more engaging. However, he is extremely weak from not getting any nutrition. Yes, you heard correctly! He is in hospital and not getting enough nutrition! Unbelievable! The man needs assistance and neck massaging to swallow the food. This simple nursing task is too much for the nurses and sisters on duty. It is too much work, so fuck him - let him lie there without food. With a lot of fuzz and fighting, the family finally got a dietician involved who after examination and checking the reports said that Britsie was not fed any food for five days! This is unbelievable that a responsible hospital and their nurses/sister can be so negligent in their duties.

He is on the mend and there is no further reason for him to be in the hospital any longer. Earlier today, Britsie left the hospital and is now in what they call a "step down" facility where he will recuperate, undergo speech and physio therapy. Britsie does not cope well when he is away from home and we all hope this will be a short stay.

Thank you God for your mercy and this miracle!

  2318 Hits
2318 Hits
NOV
26
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Never lose hope!

NeverLoseHope

About 2 weeks ago, trimming and cutting plants at his home, Sue's dad (Britsie) broke his hip bone (where the ball joins the upper leg bone). Not always aware of the fact, the man is 70 years old and is by no means a youngster anymore. His health has been deteriorating the past 3 years or so and he is now frail and fragile. He gets checked into hospital and they decide to do a complete hip replacement, but there is a problem - the operation cannot be done immediately as he is on blood thinning medication from some past complications he had with blood clots. He must first come off the blood thinning medication otherwise he will not stop bleeding during the operation. Seven days later, the operation is successfully done, everything looks good and he is back in ICU for recovery. The next day he is moved out of ICU into a general ward and we all start anticipating his return home.

The next day Sue gets a urgent call from the hospital saying that Britsie is back in ICU! Not only that, but that his condition is critical and life threatening. Sue gets to the hospital first and find's her dad in a coma and completely out of it - he had a stroke. Cat scans and other medical scans shows that he has lots of small blood clots and several lodged in his brain causing massive and permanent brain damage. The doctors tell her that a large part of his brain is dead, that the brain is incapable of healing itself and that he will therefor never recover from his current state. He is alive, but just and is in a deep permanent coma. Other than alive, there is no consciuos brain activity and there is nothing anybody can do about his condition.

Devastated, we all visit the hospital to pay our respects, silently pray our prayers and generally feel totally helpless. The situation is traumatic, hopeless and we can only watch for any sign of intelligence. Whether we want to or not, reality kicks in and slowly we all come to terms with the inevitable. We all come to terms that Britsie will never recover from this vegetative state and although alive, it was only his body and that we have lost him for all means and purposes. Now and then, Britsie would open his eyes and it would seem that he is looking at you. We were all desperate to find signs of brain activity or intelligence - but there is nothing tangible.

Last night was one such occasions. Lying in his hospital bed, he opened his eyes and "looked" at me. Unsure of myself, I asked him if he could hear me. He briefly had a puzzled look in his eyes and then he nodded his head! Not sure whether this was just a natural movement of his head, I asked him if he understood me - again he nodded his head! With tears now rolling down my face, I then asked him if he had any pain and he shook his head from side too side! Sue and her mom joined and he was smiling faintly when Sue's mom embraced him. Britsie was able to hear and understand us! This was a GREAT moment for all of us and we are absolutely overjoyed! But shortly after this, he slipped back into a deep sleep/coma. He woke up again this morning whilst he was being shaven by somebody else. Britsie then took the electric shaver and feebly shaved a section of his beard! WOW!!! This is incredible!

Miracles certainly do happen and we thank God Almighty!

  37667 Hits
37667 Hits
JUL
27
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Goodbye Meatloaf - We love you!

Meatloaf, our canine child, close companion and dear friend of the past 13 years, passed away at 16H30 this afternoon. As a intelligent and adventurous young pup, he added tremendous value and graced our lives with his incredible character, personality, style and mannerisms - this endured to the last day of his life. His passing is a tremendous loss to us, our lives are empty and we will continue feeling the heart ache for many years to come. Meatloaf, we love you and will miss you dearly! In your absence, your life will continue in our memories until we again meet up with you. Rest in Peace Meatloaf - our most precious one!

 

Meatloaf

 

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