What a lovely sunshine day we have in Rivonia, Johannesburg, South Africa. My plants are growing; and I still have seeds to attend to. A friend’s mother came from India to visit and she brought me some seeds as a gift. It is time for me to get on and get in the soil. And maybe I will be able to write about it later on.
Yesterday I looked at my tender plants that are barely breaking soil; I wonder
how on earth they are capable of doing that? They are so tender and fragile and
here they break thru soil. So strong and yet so tender and fragile.
I learn such a lot working with my plants and seeds and stuff. Life and
death are in my maternity ward. I think that I told you why I call it my “maternity
ward”? Because of the simple fact that it is the place where plants are born
and where some don’t make it and just pass on.
Today it is 22°; it is a lovely sunshine day and we have some wind. This
reminds me of my late uncle Cobus Vorster [my late mom’s brother] who was rather
blunt and fiery at times, especially when it comes to you expressing some
opinion about the weather. When I would say: “Uncle Cobus, it is too hot today!”
He would, without fail and hesitation, react to that: “Neels, keep quiet. You
can’t do anything about the weather!” “Yes, Uncle Cobus. I know that. I am just
saying.” He: “No, you were not just saying anything. We cannot do anything
about the weather.” Or if I would say: “Uncle Cobus, it is cold today.” By this
time, you can most probably read my mind – and you are spot on.
I am so proud of my Malawian pumpkin, well actually it is not mine. It is
my neighbours’. She grew it from one of my pumpkins I gave her and then it came
full circle back to me. And now I have some in the soil at my house in Rivonia.
The blue skies of South Africa are so spectacular! I took this image at
Franschhoek in the Western Cape round about March 2022. And I still look at it
and stand in awe and the spectacle it is.
Please write me a letter: neelscoertse@wirelessza.co.za
