Life Trove

Sydney Vivid Festival 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:15:39 +0000

I met up with Chris and Rory and we walked from Darling Harbour to Circular Quay, enjoying the Vivid Festival lights.

Trish and Mike celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:10:18 +0000

What an incredible milestone!

Breakfast in Clontarf with Xenia and Jane

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:08:08 +0000

It's always wonderful to spend time with these two beautiful people.

Sam and Antony go skydiving

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 02:05:32 +0000

Well done to Sam and Ant for their bravery! And to Sam's co-jumper who was piggytail whipped all the way down 😅

Memorable moments: The voice of the reef

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 17:46:19 +0000

In 2005, I traveled to Dahab in Egypt to complete a scuba diving course in the Red Sea. It was an extraordinary environment, but the true highlight arrived on the second day of our training when our group descended to a depth of twenty metres.

The coral reef was absolutely spectacular—a true wonderland of vibrant color and marine life. As we glided through the water, I was overcome by a profound sense of wonder and peace. I felt entirely present, experiencing a transcendent, spiritual moment of feeling completely at one with everything around me.

When I practice meditation at home, I often use a soft, humming "om" to anchor myself firmly in the present moment. Wrapped in the silence of the deep sea and filled with a sudden desire to express that connection, I let out a gentle, low "om" into my regulator as we swam alongside the reef.

After thirty minutes of exploring, our group finally ascended and exited the water. The moment we pulled off our masks, one of the girls from our group turned to the rest of us with wide, amazed eyes.

"My God," she gasped, "did you hear the coral humming?! I've never heard anything like it in my life!!"

I froze, caught in a wave of sudden embarrassment, and decided it was best to say absolutely nothing. To this very day, she is likely out there somewhere in the world, completely convinced that the coral reefs of the Red Sea sing a beautiful, spiritual song to those who dive deep enough to listen.

Memorable moments: The Dingle anchor

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:16:04 +0000

In 1997, Ally and I spent two wonderful weeks exploring Ireland by car. We fell completely in love with the pub culture—the live music, the rich Irish stew, and of course, Irish coffee, which I’m convinced contains all four essential food groups: fat, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. But most of all, I loved the Guinness.

One evening, we wandered into a cozy little pub in the town of Dingle. I stepped up to the bar and ordered a pint of the black stuff. While the bartender was performing the legendary, slow Irish pour to let the head settle, I decided to quickly slip away to the loo.

When I came back out, I immediately spotted a beautiful, freshly poured pint of Guinness sitting right there on the counter. Perfect timing, I thought. I reached out, wrapped my hand around the glass, and went to lift it to my lips.

It didn't move. It was stuck fast to the bar.

Confused, I gripped it a little tighter and gave it a proper tug. Still, it refused to budge. By this time, a few of the local patrons had noticed my silent wrestling match with the glassware and burst out laughing.

It turns out I was trying to drink a plastic marketing promotion that had been permanently glued to the counter. My actual, liquid pint was waiting for me completely untouched on a different section of the bar. It was highly embarrassing, but at least I provided the Dingle locals with some free entertainment to go with their evening drinks.

Table tennis and Wendy's Secret Garden with Chris and Rory

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:42:07 +0000

A super fun game of table tennis where I reigned as the champion after some very close matches. We then strolled to Wendy's Secret Garden via Luna Park. Chris and I then had a delicious salad for lunch at a local restaurant.

Fun at Luna Park in their distorting mirrors.

Manly Scenic Walk with Chris and Rory

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:50:35 +0000

Chris's lovely nephew is in town so we decided to show him some of the best harbour scenery in Sydney. I never grow tired of this fabulous 10 km walk.

Watson's bay with Shushann

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:27:52 +0000

It was wonderful catching up with Shushann after my time away and what better place than Watson's Bay. We had planned for Frenchies but took the wrong turn off. Some things are meant to be!

Cape Town & Zululand 2026 Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 May 2026 06:19:02 +0000

A wonderful 6 week visit to Cape Town and Zululand.

Diary

Diary

Highlights

An absolutely fabulous 9 days in Zululand exploring Mkuzi, Sodwana Bay, Hluhluwe and St Lucia.
A really fun weekend at the Good Hope Farm near Robertson with Russell and my Afrikaburn friends including two lovely hikes.
A restful weekend away at Melkbos with The Hardcore Hiking group.
Photographing a Gymnogene which Heather manifested.
Photographing an Eagle Owl at Kirstenbosch.
Lots of delicious lunches at Woodside Village.
Compiling Mike's memoirs.
Helping Jo purchase a new computer and screen and setting up her photos in Lightroom.
Creating a birthday song for Sam.
A fun night of poker with the boys.
Watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show. What a blast.
A delicious lunch in Melkbos with Mary-Anne.
Some nice walks and hikes: Hluhluwe game walk, Myburgh's Ravine, Eagle's Nest, Muizenberg, Chapman's Peak, The Greenbelt and 2 hikes at Good Hope Farm.

Arrival

Flight and reunion (Apr)

Family

Zululand trip

Diary of my time in Cape Town & Zululand 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 May 2026 23:06:00 +0000

28-May	Thu	Fly home
27-May	Wed	Mum & Mike. Russell for roast lamb.
26-May	Tue	Shopping with Jo. Lightroom photos for her. Dinner with Russell at Peddlars.
25-May	Mon	Teeth cleaned. Mike memoirs & lunch. Help Jo dinner.
24-May	Sun	Drive home
23-May	Sat	Goodhope Farm weekend. 2 hikes.
22-May	Fri	Drive to Good Hope Farm near Robertson
21-May	Thu	Kirstenbosch, then lunch with mum, Mike, Jo
20-May	Wed	Work am. Melkbos lunch with Mary Ann
19-May	Tue	Full day work on LGM. Shop & make dinner
18-May	Mon	Mike stories re Africa. Shopping mum.
17-May	Sun	Myburgh Ravine with Russell & Brandon
16-May	Sat	Jo's birthday
15-May	Fri	Chapman's Peak walk with Russell
14-May	Thu	Dentist. Visit mum. Cavendish to get Jo gift.
13-May	Wed	Visit mum & Mike
12-May	Tue	Blog my photos. Shop and cook stirfry for family.
11-May	Mon	Huge storm. Blog my photos.
10-May	Sun	Boat trip & drive to airport
9-May	Sat	St Lucia
8-May	Fri	Drive to St Lucia
7-May	Thu	Hluhluwe
6-May	Wed	Hluhluwe
5-May	Tue	Drive to Hluhluwe
4-May	Mon	Sodwana Bay
3-May	Sun	Mkuzi
2-May	Sat	Mkuzi
1-May	Fri	Leave for Zululand. Drive to Mkuzi
30-Apr	Thu	St James to Muizenberg walk. Packing.
29-Apr	Wed	Dr for mole check.
28-Apr	Tue	Gymnogene
27-Apr	Mon	Drive home
26-Apr	Sun	Fossil museum
25-Apr	Sat	Langebaan & West Coast National Park
24-Apr	Fri	Leave for Langebaan
23-Apr	Thu	Anxious and lightheaded.
22-Apr	Wed	Walk in upper Constantia. Beef stirfry for Antony
21-Apr	Tue	Mum lunch lamb pie. Brandon dinner
20-Apr	Mon	11 km walk in Greenbelt
19-Apr	Sun	Chicken stirfry for Antony
18-Apr	Sat	Sam breakfast. Russell and Heather - water & stirfry
17-Apr	Fri	Lunch with mum & Mike, Sam's song, Poker evening
16-Apr	Thu	Arrive Cape Town. Dinner with family & Matt
15-Apr	Wed	Flight

Flight home

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 May 2026 18:14:00 +0000

An uneventful flight home. I was very happy to have two extra seats on my flight to Joberg and one extra seat on my flight to Sydney.

I found the perfect private nook to get some sleep at Singapore Airport where I had a 3.5 hour layover. Bliss!

Someone else had found the spot too!

The sleep spot was behind this.

Weekend away at Good Hope Farm near Robertson

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 May 2026 04:50:33 +0000

An absolutely fabulous weekend away with Russell, Rob, Dawn, Glen, Brandon, Shane, Graeme, Lucy, Wouter and Hayley.

Highlights

A rather roundabout 3.5 hour journey to get there due to the recent floods.
The stunning sunrise over the dam each morning.
A fun walk to a waterfall for an invigorating swim.
An adventurous walk up the mountain with Graeme and Lucy. Graeme ran out of power to navigate and I was able to save the day by whipping out my powerbank.
The wonderful, friendly farm animals including Blondey (the horse), Honky (the donkey), Broomhilda (the big pig), Snuffles (the small pig) and Pecky (the ostrich).
Making pizzas on the 2nd night with the pizza oven. I broke the Guinness Book of Records for the most toppings on a pizza.
Spending more fun time with dear Russell.
A special heart-to-heart chat with Dawn.
Glen having a precarious swing over the dam.
Discussing the joys of birding with Hailey.
The love so evident between Hailey and Wouter - you'd think they've been together a year, not 14 years.
Brandon and Shane introducing me to sugar free lemonade and icecream.

Scenery on the way

Waking up to sunrise over the dam

The friendly farm animals

About to leave on our walk to the waterfall

Walk to the waterfall for an invigorating dip

Hike up the mountain with Graeme and Lucy

Braai on the 1st night and pizza on the 2nd

Chilling on the final day

Scenery on the way home

Eagle's Nest

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 May 2026 03:40:00 +0000

An early morning walk up to Eagle's Nest with Russell. Always an invigorating way to start the day.

A lovely morning at Kirstenbosch

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 May 2026 02:44:00 +0000

I loved my time at Kirstenbosch yesterday. It is such a beautiful and special place and so fully of memory. The highlight was seeing a Spotted Eagle Owl and getting some close up photos of it.

Melkbos for lunch with Mary-Anne

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 May 2026 04:58:33 +0000

Jo and I went out to Tableview to pick up Mary-Anne and we then went for lunch at The Melkbos Kitchen. What an awesome location and the poke bowl was delicious. Jo and I then went for a short stroll to look at the apartment our family used to own. It elicited great memories.

Quotes about nostalgia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 May 2026 07:21:45 +0000

Nostalgia sometimes gets a bad rap, as if looking back automatically means being stuck in the past. But I believe strongly that in moderation, nostalgia can be deeply enriching. It reconnects us with the people, places, music, experiences and versions of ourselves that helped shape our lives. A familiar song, old photograph or remembered moment can instantly bring warmth, meaning and perspective to the present. In many ways, this blog is a celebration of nostalgia — not as an escape from life now, but as a way of honouring the richness, beauty and texture of a life that has been genuinely lived.

Here are quotes about nostalgia that I resonate with

The out-of-date returns in due course as the picturesque. Agatha Christie
There's a certain nostalgia and romance in a place you left. David Guterson
True nostalgia is an ephemeral composition of disjointed memories. Florence King
Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days. Doug Larson
Nostalgia: A device that removes the ruts and potholes from memory lane. Doug Larson
Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory. Franklin P. Adams
Distance not only gives nostalgia, but perspective, and maybe objectivity. Robert Morgan
We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it. George Eliot
Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect! Owens Lee Pomeroy
We are torn between nostalgia for the familiar and an urge for the foreign and strange. Carson McCullers
Nostalgia, the vice of the aged. We watch so many old movies our memories come in monochrome. Angela Carter
If you're hung up on nostalgia, pretend today is yesterday and just go out and have one hell of a time. Art Buchwald
Remember this... develop a sense of nostalgia for something, or you'll never figure out what's important. Gary Shteyngart
You know what nostalgia is, don't you? It's basically a matter of recalling the fun without reliving the pain. Bette Davis
Nostalgia is the aching realization that you can't go back again. The longing, no matter how intense, can never be met. R. C. Sproul, Jr.
A feeling of sadness and longing, That is not akin to pain, And resembles sorrow only As the mist resembles the rain. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
There is a lovely warmness about feelings of nostalgia as though in one's head one is putting on a pair of comfy old slippers and curling up in front of a fire. Bill Geist
Nostalgia is a way of remembering people and places and things, and wishing things hadn't changed. It has a sweetness to it. Sadness is just--well--being sad. Linda Lael Miller
Nostalgia for what we have lost is more bearable than nostalgia for what we have never had, for the first involves knowledge and pleasure, the second only ignorance and pain. Mignon McLaughlin
We are so habitually nostalgic by now that we anticipate looking back in the midst of enjoyment, look forward to watching the videos we're taking of our children even as we make them. Deborah Tall
There are a few moments in your life when you are truly and completely happy, and you remember to give thanks. Even as it happens you are nostalgic for the moment, you are tucking it away in your scrapbook. David Benioff

Nostalgia quotes on Wisdom Trove

Ag please daddy!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 May 2026 06:52:50 +0000

Ah, the nostalgia!

Nostalgic South African adverts from the past

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 May 2026 06:45:55 +0000

Here are some adverts from the 80's that are enmeshed in my memory and the fabric of my childhood.

Cremora "It's not inside, its on top!"

Timotei "It's so mild, you can wash your hair everyday"

Cadburys Lunch Bar "Mac Atini Makatini"

Chomp "You'll just have to grow some more kid"

Jan Spies Cremora

Castrol GTX: "A can of the best"

Blackcat Peanut Butter

Vaseline intensive care

Redro

Hooked on classics

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 May 2026 06:18:57 +0000

On our Zululand trip, through Antony, I rediscovered the album Hooked on Classics — one we listened to over and over on childhood car journeys in the 1980s. Dad absolutely loved it. The moment it started playing, the nostalgia came flooding back. It really was a phenomenon at the time, becoming one of the bestselling classical crossover albums ever and introducing a whole generation to classical music through its catchy disco-style arrangements.

Rocky Horror Picture show

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 May 2026 02:39:12 +0000

My first time seeing this crazy musical. A real blast! It was at the Camps Bay theatre and we were there with Wendy and Graeme.

The Rocky Horror Show, the legendary cult rock musical, was created by Richard O'Brien, blending science fiction, horror, comedy, and glam rock into one wildly unconventional theatrical experience. First performed in London in 1973, it tells the story of an innocent young couple who stumble into the bizarre mansion of the eccentric Dr Frank-N-Furter and encounter a cast of strange and unforgettable characters. Packed with iconic songs, outrageous costumes, and audience participation, it became one of the most famous cult musicals of all time and later inspired the hugely successful film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

One of Sam's ex classmates played Brad. He was amazing.

What a setting for a theatre!

Myburgh's Ravine with Russell and Brandon

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 May 2026 02:11:34 +0000

A lovely short hike half way up Myburgh's Ravine. Brandon and I had a wonderful, deep philosophical conversation on the way. On the way home, I had my first ice cream in ages - a delicious sugar free ice-cream at Kirsten's Kickass Ice cream.

Stories from my life

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 May 2026 05:59:00 +0000

"A human being is nothing but a story with skin around it." Fred Allen

I've been having so much fun remembering and writing the stories from my life and some of the stories of the people I love. Lots more stories to come. When my memory gets going, there seems to be an endless supply!

Stories by theme

Stories by life stage

People involved

⬇︎ Keep scrolling for all posts tagged as “Story”

Jo's 54th birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 May 2026 02:16:00 +0000

A fun day celebrating Jo's birthday. The Botings were in town and all came over for tea. Michael, Annelies and their gorgeous baby stayed over. In the evening, we went to the Happy Rooster, a very nice Portuguese restaurant in the Muizenberg station.

Jo in her element

Chapman's Peak with Russell at sunset

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 16 May 2026 03:51:56 +0000

One of my favourite places in Cape Town, especially at this time of day.

Wonderful tattoo

We met this lovely lass with a wonderful tattoo of a half-collared kingfisher. She got it in commemorated of her dad who recently passed away. It was his favourite bird.

Life Trove

Sydney Vivid Festival 2026

Trish and Mike celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary

Breakfast in Clontarf with Xenia and Jane

Sam and Antony go skydiving

Memorable moments: The voice of the reef

Memorable moments: The Dingle anchor

Table tennis and Wendy's Secret Garden with Chris and Rory

Manly Scenic Walk with Chris and Rory

Watson's bay with Shushann

Cape Town & Zululand 2026 Highlights

Diary

Highlights

Arrival

Family

Social

Weekends away

Walks & Hikes

Photography

Show

Zululand trip

Diary of my time in Cape Town & Zululand 2026

Flight home

Weekend away at Good Hope Farm near Robertson

Highlights

Scenery on the way

Waking up to sunrise over the dam

The friendly farm animals

About to leave on our walk to the waterfall

Walk to the waterfall for an invigorating dip

Hike up the mountain with Graeme and Lucy

Braai on the 1st night and pizza on the 2nd

Chilling on the final day

Scenery on the way home

Eagle's Nest

A lovely morning at Kirstenbosch

Melkbos for lunch with Mary-Anne

Quotes about nostalgia

Here are quotes about nostalgia that I resonate with

Related

Ag please daddy!

Nostalgic South African adverts from the past

Cremora "It's not inside, its on top!"

Timotei "It's so mild, you can wash your hair everyday"

Cadburys Lunch Bar "Mac Atini Makatini"

Chomp "You'll just have to grow some more kid"

Jan Spies Cremora

Castrol GTX: "A can of the best"

Blackcat Peanut Butter

Vaseline intensive care

Redro

Hooked on classics

Rocky Horror Picture show

What a setting for a theatre!

Myburgh's Ravine with Russell and Brandon

Stories from my life

"A human being is nothing but a story with skin around it." Fred Allen

Stories by theme

Stories by life stage

People involved

Jo's 54th birthday

Chapman's Peak with Russell at sunset

Wonderful tattoo