Smithfield News

Smiffie Dames

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Tuinbouklub word 40

By geleentheid van sy 40-jarige bestaan sal die volgende Tuinbouklub vergadering op 13 Mei by The Willows in Bloemfontein gehou word. Die dag sal afskop met ‘n sjampanje ontbyt.

Lede sal ‘n week voor die tyd die besonderhede kry en besprekings kan gemaak word. ‘n Padkaart sal ook voorsien word.

Kontak Hercules op 083 518 8008.

Kuns by die BibberChill Fees

Hester Hattingh van Aliwal-Noord se kuns sal by die Red Barn uitgestal wees gedurende die BibberChill Fees. Haar kuns-werke word in verskeie gallerye in die land uitgestal en word baie suksesvol verkoop. Om haar kuns op te som is om die emosie van kleur in die natuur vas te vat. Sy skilder Lig van Bo. Dis in al haar werke sigbaar. Haar landskappe en figure is deel van die Suid Afrikaanse platteland wat ons almal na aan die hart is.

Moenie met die Aarde Kennismaak nie

Ons almal – jonk of oud – het al met die aarde kennis gemaak. Jou vermoë om jouself te red as jy eers jou balans verloor het, sal bepaal of jy op jou gesig beland of nie. Hier volg drie wenke van die RealAge dokters om jou balans te verbeter:

As jy oefeninge doen, gebruik handgewigte want as jy hulle optel moet jy hulle balanseer terwyl jy jouself ook balanseer.

Maak soos ‘n flamink. Probeer om jou op een been te balanseer terwyl jy byvoorbeeld jou tande borsel. Dit verbeter jou bewustheid van jouself in die ruimte.

Oefen met ‘n groot oefenbal om jou balansspiere te laat werk.

Verweerkuns, veral die stadige beweg-ings soos in Tai Chi, is ‘n uitstekende manier om jou balans te verbeter.

Walks on the Wild Side

Did you know that although South Africa occupies only two percent of the global land area, we have the third highest level of plant diversity? We are also told that visiting green spaces (for instance walks on our golf course), strolling in the fynbos or even pottering in our own gardens, has hugely psychological benefits. So, any walk on the wild side should make our spirits soar and ease stress. Try it.

Thinking of which, we recently spent ten days enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery in the Free State and Eastern Cape. This year the drive down to the coast through the autumn colours was spectacular and the unusually calm seas, clear windless days and flat, pollution free beaches of the Sunshine Coast, completely recharged our batteries. It certainly encourages one to try and preserve the fragile South African environment and make “others” more aware of it as well. We have so much to lose if we don’t try.

Shweshwe Story

Last month I mentioned the lovely bright colours of the Shweshwe fabrics, encouraging everyone to make more use of them. This magical fabric actually has a fascinating history. After a visit to the Amatola Museum in King Williams Town (a wonderful old building and most delightfully informative place) the story emerged in pictures and examples. It began in Europe where the fabric was imported from Asia, mainly India, and was originally made using a natural indigo dye. Later two other colours, a rich chocolate brown and a vibrant red, were added. The original German print, ‘Shweshwe’ fabric, was introduced to South Africa by the German settlers in 1858. The Xhosa women took a particular liking to this stiff blue fabric and gradually replaced their animal skin garments with these newly available cotton ones.

The stiff touch, smell and taste are also unique ways to ensure the fabric is genuine. (After washing, the stiffness and smell slowly disappear to leave you with a beautiful soft cotton). It is even more interesting to note that the reason for these characteristics lies in the fabric’s history: For the long sea voyage from the UK to South Africa, starch was used to preserve the material from the elements and this gave it the characteristic stiffness and smell. Nowadays it is starched for traditional reasons and recently has crossed the generation gap to become a fashion statement across all cultures. In fact it has fashion crowds in a frenzy of “where do you get that fabric?”

A Spiritual Checkup

We have to tread carefully here. The old saying is - never discuss religion or politics… but…. whether devout or agnostic we all see ourselves as theologians.

Consider this: Revisit words that are important in your spiritual practice, and why they should be so important to you. Start thinking of your own issues and dilemmas. To find answers, have a discussion with someone who takes the opposite side of a controversial issue - like the gay “union” debate.

Ask yourselves and each other: when did this become such an issue or so important to me?

Quoting the Bible is not usually the answer. Understanding your own meaning of what is written, however, could engender more compassion. We don’t necessarily need the domain of the experts to find our OWN meaning and truth. This is surely a virtue in any spiritual tradition?

Mother’s Day

In lighter vein, we hope your children remember to spoil you on Mother’s Day!

We have two daughters living in the UK who gave us their versions of last year’s Mother’s Day breakfasts. Elder daughter’s 14 year old daughter left her to sleep in until 12 noon then woke her with an empty tray and a note: “Wake up mum, there’s ice cold champagne waiting for you downstairs if you take us all to lunch”. What could she do? She says she turned over and went back to sleep and took them out to dinner instead. Knowing that she is a very hard-working mother, constantly jetting around the world, we believe her.

Second daughter has two young sons - six and two. She was attacked at 8 a.m. with a tray full of crisps, cool drink (spilling all over the crisps), much giggling, singing and shouting and with a huge placard saying We Luv U Get up Now. She is another hard-working mum with young children, who had no chance of going back to sleep. What we mothers only have to go through…..

To End With

Mothers know that the whole of life is in the verb “giving”.

The Alternative Smithfield News.