Tuesday 18th April 2023
I always used to dread winter. Highveld winters can be brutal. Dusty and dry with veldfires just making it all bleak, I used to feel very down at the thought about the end of summer.
Running through my 40s changed my perception because the Comrades marathon of 89km takes place in the winter. I know, it's strange to think that it was something to look forward to but that's another day's post. Suddenly I realised that the long veld looked like fields of gold ( cue music). The month after Comrades was the coldest so a perfect time to recover and snuggle down. Just in time to start the process all over again at the beginning of spring.
Today I found myself admiring the huge Oak trees signalling the change in seasons. The same trees that burst with new green leaves a few short months ago. Loadshedding at the traffic lights gave me a chance to sneak a photo while I waited to drive.
I had my weekly massage again and my back was less 'crunchy'. I blamed the soft mattress at my sister's house. It's wonderful. Lorna and I chat about everything and it's sad knowing that I only have about 2 or 3 sessions left.
I chatted about the sad feeling I have about leaving this time and although I'm excited about going, the leaving feels different from last year. I put it down to not travelling the country as much as last year. I came off of my road trip in my prize car on such a high and it was all 'go go go'. This time around, funds, circumstances and life had me a bit more settled as I moved from housesitting to housesitting.
I also realised how nerve wracking it can be cat-sitting. When I got back from my massage, the dogs were very happy to see me and Leyla came to meow hello. No sign of the new one. She loves food so I carried on sorting the lunches and no sign of Milo.
I looked in all the rooms, under beds, behind couches- nothing. I walked outside calling and ksksksk-ing but no wagging tail like Harley who kept me company on my search. I sat for a while and then started the hunt again. I walked slowly along the large flower bed, hoping that Harley would sniff her out when I spotted her lying quietly hidden between the plants. The relief was huge, and she looked annoyed that I'd found her. But she made an appearance for dinner and I realised how stressed I'd started to get. But now I know. She's comfortable in her new house and garden so I have to trust that she'll stay close.
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