Tag: Skype

I hate goodbyes!


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“Chloe, sweetie, wake up!  You have to go to school!”

“Nooooooo….I don’t want you to go!!” she wailed.

“We will see you again after Christmas….and Oupie is coming to see you next week!”

“Okay!”

For the last time in a long time I dressed my precious little Chloe.  I held her skinny little body and breathed in the smell of her hair.  Tears ran down my cheeks when I thought “How long before I can hold her again…”

I fed her… brushed her teeth and held her cup when she drank her tea.  Now I must tell you that my little Chloe is very independent and she only humoured me….

Georgia came and sat on my lap and said “Me want you to stay…”  She did not cry when I left.  I cried.

I hate goodbyes!  There are so many tears between “goodbye baby – see you soon” and “Hello my angel, I missed you”…

Tomorrow morning I am home.  I will see my beloved Vicky and all my grandchildren!  Jared has been posting on his BBM status how much he misses me… It is sad to leave but that is the way life is.  We can never have it all.

As much as we desire good health, joy, peace, financial security, love and laughter for us and our loved ones, it is impossible to achieve all of it!  We are a blessed family.  We have love, laughter, joy and peace.  Good health eludes us…  We cannot all be together and see one another on a regular basis.  Yet we are not separated from all the children and grandchildren.  And Skype is great!

I am surrounded by a wonderful family who care and love unconditionally!  I have an amazing husband who I adore.  I don’t have many friends but my few friends are loyal, supportive and caring.

Chloe loves treasure hunts. In May when we had a treasure hunt I hid Mr Maker surprises   Chloe promptly told me that the Pirates cheated.  They did not hide coins and Mr Maker presents don’t count!  So this time around I went armed with a map of my room and chocolate coins …. When she gets home from school today she will go to my room to double check that I have really left!  The postman delivered the Treasure Map this morning… I wish I was there to see her having fun…

Tomorrow I will go to gym with Jared and Jon-Daniel and I hope to see Henk and Yuri.  Maybe I will see Kari and Simone on Friday…

Life is what life is….


We spent the entire day chilling!  We had a great day filled with laughter and joy.

Yuri and Chloe last summer

Life is so uncomplicated here.  There is laughter and joy.  There is discipline and tears.  There are toys on the floor and the smell of food in the air…  There are little hands that pick up and scribble.  Shrill voices that shriek “Oumie!!” when they are threatened with disciplinary action…  Hugs and kisses and lots of “I love you’s.”

Laughter and joy

In two days’ time I will return to South Africa.

Henk

I will leave behind my beautiful granddaughters, my son and his lovely wife.  I will take with me the memories of 10 carefree days of laughter and no responsibilities.  I will return to my structured and ordered life, the antiseptic smell of illness and medicine that permeates the air….

Yuri, Simone and Kari

Kari and Simone will come and spend the weekend.  Yuri, (who thinks I am the coolest gran in the world because I build armoured vehicles) will jump into my arms and ask where his cuzzies are; Jared and Jon-Daniel will volunteer to make me tea and tell me how quiet the house was without me; Henk will say “Hello Ouma… Did you have a good holiday?” in his deep voice; Vic will tear up and I will finally hear the truth about how she has been….

My son Danie, his wife Michaela and the 3 girls

In two sleeps time I shall return to my beautiful South African family and my life as I know it.

Vic and her boys

Life is what life is!

 

Jared and his little bro Jon-Daniel

 

UK day 3


I woke up at the crack of dawn when Chloe climbed into my bed with me.

“Oumie I cried for you when you went back to South Africa” she whispered as she crawled into my arms

“I cried for you too my baby” I said

“No Oumie, I looked.  You did not cry…”

Chloe was right.  I worked so hard to control my emotions, to not upset the girls further, when I left.  I swallowed my tears until the girls drove off with their Grandad.  As they pulled off I broke down and sobbed.  The tears were streaming down little Chloe’s face…

Today was all about laughing and fun.  I painted Georgia’s face – she wanted whiskers and Chloe wanted the South African flag.   They then decided to paint my face.  Chloe also decided to improve Georgia’s painted face ….

It took a little while to clean off all the face paint!

Face paint!

Yesterday Vic did not a great day.  She vomited and had severe intestinal cramping.  By today she has settled down and doing well.  I am so relieved.  Technology is amazing.  We Skype at night and BBM all day.  I spoke to both the boys tonight.   I miss them so much.

Many years ago Danie Jnr once said to me he always misses someone.  When he is with his Mom he misses his Dad… I often remember those words.  When I am in Johannesburg I miss him and his family.  When I am with him and his family I miss the South African kids and grandkids.

But for now I am basking in the love of my UK grandchildren and kids.  Life is great!

UK Arrival


Mackenzie, Chloe and Georgia
Tears welled up in Vic’s eyes when I said goodbye.  “Have a wonderful time Mommy.  Give my love to my brother, Mac and the girls…”

“We will Skype every day angel”  I promised

“Bring our cuzzies back in your suitcase Oumie”  Jared said

And then we were on our way to the airport.  It took every ounce of my strength not to stay.  I kept seeing Vic’s tear filled eyes….

It was a wonderful flight.  I literally slept from Johannesburg to London.  I had a cup of tea at the airport and caught the coach to Coventry.  I slept from Heathrow to Coventry….

It was so great seeing Michaela again.  We had lots of tea and chatted non-stop.  Mackenzie, the one-year old baby cried and would not sit with me.  We pull faces at her and chat on Skype but that is so different to real life.  She will warm to her Oumie!

At 3pm we first collected Georgia from Nursery School.  She was quietly sitting on the carpet in her class and when she saw me she just mouthed “Oumie…”  We hugged and kissed and she held onto me as if to say “Don’t go…”

At 3.15pm Chloe’s classroom doors opened.  Chloe was sitting next to a little boy and did not notice me at first.  Her teacher called out her name and she got up to walk out of her classroom.  Her blue eyes connected with mine and disbelief spread over her little face.  She went from walking to flying!

We spent a wonderful afternoon playing and chatting.  I got to help with the girls bathing.  Mackenzie no longer cries when I come near her and her sister wanted to sleep in my bed with me….

I am such a blessed woman.  I am surrounded by love.