WyrdSeeker

"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviours. Keep your behaviours positive because your behaviours become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." - Gandhi

It's really hit home to me that it wont be long before we'll be seeing in another new year! This morning I went to put some dates in the diary and realised they are all for 2010 and that I needed to buy a new diary.

Time does fly when you're having fun, doesn't it!!!

Was reading an article entitled "Fate vs Free Will". Realised as I started reading it that I actually believe in both Fate and Free Will. I don't think it's one or the other.

There are certain events in our lives which are predetermined. How we deal with those events is down to choice and that's where free will kicks in. So, I do think we all have a destiny, but whether we fulfill our destiny depends on the choices we make. To quote Dr Stephen A Diamond (clinical psychologist and author) "Destiny is what we do with fate, how we play the hand we're each dealt by fate. Destiny is determined not soley by fate, but by how we choose to respond to fate. We are responsible for those choices. Part of each person's fate includes a personal destiny. But whether that destiny is fulfilled or not depends in part on the person and whether he or she is willing to accept responsibility for and courageously pursue that destiny."

The only card fate deals us that we don't have any choice over is Death. I really do believe that when it is your time to die, it's time - the last grain of sand has passed through the hourglass of life. As a child I nearly drowned 3 times. I therefore honestly believe that if it was my time I wouldn't be here today. And that's not even mentioning the time when I considered ending it all, but didn't in the end due to the strong feeling I had inside that it wasn't my time. (The potential embarrassment of trying to end my life and not succeeding was enough to make me not try! )

Safe and sound!! Travelling via Dubai may be the most cost effective way of travelling to CT but it is knackering. Not someone who can really sleep on a plane. Having said that, I'm sure if I could afford Business or First, then sleeping reclined would be OK!

Anyway, some pictures which show that the weather wasn't really all bad.

This is the view that I saw each day from my mother's flat. Trees have grown quite a bit since I was last over as you used to be able to see a lot more of the mountain than you can now.

Went to Simon's Town (naval town) as my Grandfather (father's side) used to train seaman in the late 1920's until his death in 1931. Thought we might find some references to him at the local museaum. Stopped off at Bolders Beach and saw a few little penguins.

As mentioned before, we also went to Hermanus and were lucky enough to see the whales. No photographs of the whales but in the picture somewhere behind me are a few whales!

Although I enjoyed seeing my family again, it is good to be back. The UK is very much home. I'm off to have a relaxing bath and an early night. Night!!!

....the time has come and this afternoon I'll be boarding the plane back to the UK. Having read the news, it looks like the weather has been foul in the UK too! Although in SA there's been a lot of cloud and rain, the sun did manage to come out at times.

Yesterday drove over to Hermanus and watched the whales in the bay. They really come in close. There were around 5 mothers with their calves. Unfortunately the zoom on my camera isn't that good so couldn't get clear photo's.

This trip was very much about seeing my mother and spending time with her. We didn't get out that much (or as much as I'd have liked) but next time I come down, I'll make it more of a holiday.

Being away from "home" it's easy to forget that my mother is turning 70 next year. She does look good for her age and although still bright and breezy, there will be the odd thing that she does or says which betrays her age. Driving is one of them!! Really surprised she hasn't had an accident. Someone is definately looking after her from above, and hope they continue to do so!!

Anyway, it's time to come back to my real home. Enjoyed my stay but would go a bit nutty if I stayed longer!

In many ways there's Cape Town very much looks and feels the same as it did back in 1997. Crime and violence is still the hot topic when it comes to conversation. That's one of the "problems" of visiting the country and just seeing my family. It's so easy to get caught up once again with the "fear". Accept that as a country it is still more violent than many but people do go about their lives in fear.

Went to look round a large shopping mall. It was very pleasant and I didn't feel in any danger!! Surprised with how many different shops there were and how many foreign labels there are. Now that is a huge change since I was last here. Prices were almost comparable with the UK but was pleasantly surprised by the variety.

So far the visit has been very pedestrian in pace. Weather has improved slightly - clouds but no rain. Boy has it rained over the last 2 days!! But least it is still warmer than the UK.

Hope to get out more the rest of the week.

After what seems an eternity of travelling, I've eventually arrived in CT. Don't know what's happend the the sun as it is overcast and a bit nippy

Flight over was OK. It was just the waiting at Dubai airport that was a real killer. I was transiting there and had to wait 7 hours. Flight ended up being delayed for an hour and half due to fog. Never before have I been in an airport where the announcements are basically crap. No announcements to apologise for the delay and what's worse, they changed our gate number 3 times and didn't make any announcements. The last change happend just before boarding and no-one came to tell us. Luckily someone went to go see what was happening and found out. We were all a bunch of grumpy and tired passengers.

But I've arrived safe and sound and being looked after by mum. Just as well as the day I finished work (Tuesday) I came down with a bit of a chest infection. Blame stress at work!! But as said, I'm now here, being looked after and relaxing. Just hope the sun will come out to play soon enough!

By the way, Bushka, sent your regards as we flew into CT!! x