4 lives down ... only 5 to go.

My life is NEVER dull ... anything but.

The ‘cat who lived’ who went MISSING 3 ½ months ago .... yes,
THREE and a HALF MONTHS ago
 ... has been found!!  

The recently returned Shimmer

I remember blogging on the 28th August last year about finding her after she’d been missing for 4 weeks and commented then that she’d used up 3 of her lives and had 6 to go.  
Well, guess what ... she’s now used up ONE more!!

She is skeletal thin, the bones merely supporting her fur coat, but apart from that appears HEALTHY and EXTREMELY happy to be re-united with the middle lemming.

Despite how thin she is, her collar was still intact with name and number visible, 
hence the phone call this morning.

It’s Sod’s law.  Just this last week the middle lemming had cancelled the pet insurance she had on Shimmer as she’d given up hope of ever seeing her again.  In addition, a few weeks ago her and the ‘favourite child’ had adopted another kitty as their house had felt too quiet without Shimmer.

Fergus and his DIRTY paws.

It’s not quiet anymore!

A seagull taking off

Shimmer is NOT impressed with this usurper on her turf and is showing her feelings in true feline style.  Poor little Kora, who’s all of six months old, is scared spitless by the venomous hissing and volatile spitting of this rather large, rather skinny tortoiseshell kitty.

For the middle lemming and the ‘favourite child’ it must feel a bit like a war zone.

There were 3 Chinese Warships in Princes Wharf this weekend 

It’s a wonderful ending to what has been an unbelievably hectic week.  Between extra shifts at the shop for an unwell co-worker, having the studio open for it’s usual 2 afternoons a week, baking and setting up for the oldest lemming’s birthday party on Friday and being a volunteer for Breast Cancer’s street collection on Saturday afternoon it’s been go, go, GO.

I breathed a sigh of relief when our planned kayak trip for today was cancelled due to the weather.  

Enjoying my ice-cream ... which the hound wanted to share!

I needed some time out AND some extra hours of sleep!

Despite shorter rambles because of the extra hours I’ve had to work, the hound’s had a wonderful time.  She had a play date with Indy all day on Friday and has had umpteen balloons to chase along the beach .... courtesy of the Star Walk last weekend, the oldest lemming’s birthday party and from the collection point yesterday.  It’s been like Christmas and her birthday all at the same time!  
She just LOVES balls that POP!

It brings to mind a quotation a friend posted on FB tonight.  No matter what difficulties we face
 ... and mine resemble a bit of a soap opera at the moment
 .... life is very much what you make of it.  
This quotation is a timely reminder to ALWAYS count your blessings!

“A good life is when you assume NOTHING, DO more, SMILE often, DREAM big, LAUGH a lot, and realize how BLESSED you are.” 

~ unknown

Memories .... vivid ones.

The hound and her co-hort .... double trouble!

Memories.  Sometimes they’re so vivid you can feel the moment happening in your mind.

The oldest lemming and the ‘noise’ have bought another vehicle.  It happens to be a Mercedes, an old one but still a Mercedes ... a 300E.

Looking out from Amanda's garden

The reason for the emphasis on the make of vehicle is that the oldest lemming, in his later teenage years, abhored anything to do with Mercedes.  I have a clear recollection of the look on his face when, on a weeks holiday in Cape Town, we collected a rental vehicle from the airport.  Much to the oldest lemming’s dismay our vehicle had been upgraded.... to a Mercedes.  The look on his face was priceless.

What made matters worse is that someone, knowingly or unknowingly, had set the speed limiter to 30k/hr and said Mercedes wouldn’t accelerate past 30k/hr.  It was like driving with the brakes on.

After a few frustrating moments on the road and snide remarks from the peanut gallery, the speed limiter was deactivated and the vehicle able to function correctly.

Oldest lemming admits now that it had been a very comfortable ride but there’s no way he would have admitted that out loud at the time.

Table decor ... gorgeous.

How the tables have turned.

The two of them now own a Mercedes .... what we have termed the “Ma en Pa” car ... just because we can.  

It’s large and very comfortable and has tremendous acceleration, something which appeals to the speed demon in the both of them.

Delicious decadent birthday cake!

... which they wanted to share in!

Here’s hoping the speed demons DON’T collect any fines.

It’s been another weekend of busy-ness!  

Markets to set up at, rugby matches to watch ... and yes, my Bokke won theirs ... birthday parties to attend and sunset rambles to be had.  

Our sunset ramble took us down to the beach around 5.30pm this evening.  Three adventurous teens had found themselves trapped by the incoming tide on the cliffs between Ladies Bay and our beach. We weren’t the only ones concerned at their plight.

The three teens who got trapped by the incoming tide

Some kind soul had alerted the coast guard and they’d sent a crew across to ensure the youngsters were ok.  Two kayakers had also paddled across to the cliff-face to ascertain the seriousness or not of the youngsters’ predicament.

The kayakers checking that they're ok

It’s not that the waters very deep there ... it isn't.

I think they were rueing their foolishness and waiting till dark to return to the beach.  One abandoned all dignity, jumped into the waves and waded to shore where he promptly hid behind a tree.  The other 2 were still trying to scramble along the cliff without getting their feet wet.  We didn’t stay to witness their eventual plop into the waves.

“Sometimes all you can do is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not obsess. Just breathe and have faith that everything will work out for the best.” 

~ anon.