Blog for Sunday 1st February 2026

Shoo! First day of the second month of this year! Time stands still for no one!

I woke up at four o’clock and was up and out of bed as soon as my alarm began her ditty.

I made myself a steaming hot mug of coffee and went up to my studio to have my Quiet Time and then get ready for church.

G-r-e-a-t! I could not find my car keys! Now, that is something that does not often happen to me as I always put them in the same place each time – in my handbag. But … nope! Not today, Josephine! Instead of going into an overwind I retraced my steps from the last time I was out in my car.

Ahah! I thought, the keys will be in the ute’ or on the ground alongside my car. I sometimes throw the keys onto the ground when I have to pull the cover over my car before getting into the ute’ to cross the river. So, I glanced into the ute’ – nope, no keys. But the passenger door of the ute’ was locked then, so I only tried to get in there later.  There my keys were, down between the seats. Hallelujah!

I drove us into Wauchope to church and as the service began two of our very good friends Tinus and Mariaan came in – we were all (eight of us ex-South Africans) meeting for lunch as a sort of farewell to us.

In church today we did something unusual – Tony had us all fill in a form to find our ‘Gifts of the Spirit’. I find is fascinating that for me, the same three gifts come up every time I do this test – sometimes in a slightly different order, but always the same three.

Mariaan was so pleased that they had come to our church this morning as she had never done that particular test and so found it very interesting.

It was so nice for us ex-Saffas (ex South Africans) to get together again – unfortunately Frank was missing as he was away visiting his sons in Queensland – so it was just the seven of us. But oh, my goodness gracious golly gee, what a lovely get together it was. So much laughter, chattering, caring and just good food shared around a table at the Wauchope Country Club.

Hester, one of my friend's there at lunch, had written in a beautiful card with such lovely wishes for our move, and had given me a gift of linen and pillow perfume to ‘help give us happy and soft landing’.

What a wonderful way to spend a day – with really such good friends.

Ken and I eventually got back home at about four o’clock in the afternoon.

Ah yes! I stopped at Ritchies on our way out of town to get a few items, and what a lovely surprise I got when arriving at the checkout counter as there was Micah – one of my good friend’s – Cathy’s eldest son’s now working there! It was so nice to see him, and he was polite, efficient and checked me out chip-chop! Impressive!

When Ken and I got home Ken peeled off to have his siesta and I sat down on the couch and refused to move! You know those moments when you plop down on the couch and feel as if you are stuck to it? Yep, well, that was me.

I decided that I would watch something on TV and start to knit a new baby jersey seeing I undid what I began yesterday! Instead of using the palest of pink wool, I chose to knit with the merino light mulberry wool instead. It is beautiful to knit with.

I knitted and watched at the same time some documentary on a missing woman – murdered by her incredibly famous, adored and worshipped soccer player boyfriend. Incredible story about someone who thinks themselves God-like and invincible.

From my position on the couch, I then changed it to lying horizontal on our bed and on which I was soon sound asleep!

I had so enjoyed today!

What lesson did I learn today? Birds of a feather flock together no matter where – at work, at church, in families blah blah fish paste.

What am I grateful for today? Good forever friends.

My saying for today is …