Tag Archives: 2007

Precious Gifts

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I got a letter in last week from the NHS, the National Health Service. I’ll have to make an appointment with the nurse to have another screening done. Ever since I had surgery in March this year, I slightly dread these regular letters but I was fine in August so I’m sure I’ll be fine in January. I should be positive, not worry too much and instead appreciate those precious gifts in life. Gifts that come in all sorts of shapes and colours and most of the time when you least expect it.

I’ve been given a most intriguing gift this year from a special person, it’s like unwrapping layers of shiny, glittery paper, to find another one underneath and I feel like a little girl eager to get to the soul of the present enjoying each moment of unwrapping. I received another one in the shape of an email from a reader a few weeks ago when I wrote a somewhat personal post, a gift that left such an impression on me, I have been speechless for some time thinking about her touching words. She is one beautiful colourful inspiring person.

Then there are: ex-colleagues who became friends over the years, new friends and friends that have been in my life for some time giving me their unconditional gifts in the shape of trust, love, patience and comfort. And let’s not forget the wonderful blog readers and writers out there who leave their gifts on each post that I write. Sharing their thoughts with me, saying hi or reading quietly in the background. Offering me help, comforting words and showing me their amazing support when I need it most.

I believe I have crossed paths with these people for a reason and my life has enriched in many ways by getting to know them each in their own shimmering rainbow coloured way… This morning when I woke up the city was covered with a soft fluffy blanket of fog. And I just stood there for a while enjoying the mesmerising view and let my mind drift away. I counted my blessings. Yes, life can be good and it doesn’t have to be xmas to find gifts: for those who wish to see there is a gift each day of the year…

Happy birthday dad…

© Zesty Gal, A stroll, Lowlands 1998

© Zesty Gal, A stroll, Lowlands 1998

© Zesty Gal, A stroll, Lowlands 1998

New Year’s

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I have been seriously ill over the weekend, I reckon it was the side effect of the flu vaccination that I got earlier. So I ended up having a terrible cold which then turned into a nice sinus infection, I sounded hoarse or couldn’t speak at all [still do but it’s getting better] and I had a good solid cough to keep all awake at night.
It started on Wednesday last week. Thursday I really wanted to stay in bed but had to get up and be ready for JMB to collect the key to IS. and CS.’s place. He had come all the way over from Toronto so I invited him in for a coffee and a chat. He left after half an hour to go ‘home’ and get some sleep. By the time he left I was so awake I ended up cleaning the house…
I had some energy but needed to take breaks in between because the fever was causing extreme sweating. I managed to get the house done plus three laundries in four hours. Everything was spick and span and ready for our visitors CH. and TH. who would arrive on Saturday morning at 09.50 Friday I finally had some time to myself and I took it slow that day, called my aunt to vent a bit and ask her opinion.
We had a great weekend even though I was not feeling well. We did a bus tour in the rain which was cool, jumped off half way and ended up in a pub near Trafalgar Square to warm ourselves with booze. I had a few whiskies to soothe the throat and warm up. Sunday we went to Greenwich by DLR and then we took the river trip from Greenwich Pier, which was really cool but again very cold and windy.
We ended the boat trip at Embankment Pier where we crossed the Thames by foot bridge, bought a warm coffee and went looking for the tour bus which was supposed to stop right behind the London Eye. They were setting up the fireworks displays already which was cool to watch. It took ages for the bus to show up so we took a cab back to Tower Hill and took the DLR to Canary Wharf where our car was parked.
We spent the evening at home, it was too cold, too wet and too windy to go anywhere and I wasn’t really feeling that well by the time we came home the fever had kicked in big time. So we were all happy to stay in and watch the fireworks on tv. That was amazing! I could not imagine that afternoon what it would be like at midnight, what a show! We stayed up till 03.30.
Monday morning we had to take CH. and TH. back to the airport so we left at 11.00. It was a beautiful sunny day…
ps Thanks Barbara and Christiaan for your nice SMS text message!