Ilifu

Maggie — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:33:10 +0000

more about "untitled", posted with vodpod

Son of nie….

Maggie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:06:07 +0000

Guest blog- the original post can be found here)

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Ja, so het Sondag se potensieel asemrowende sonsondergang toe nie heeltemal gematerialiseer nie. Vol verwagting het almal wat gereed was in twee motors ingeprop, gewapen met die gebruiklike proviant vir die ritueel en koers gekies na die uitkykpunt wat â€˜n tog op sigselwers is. Nie die mooiste paadjie waarvoor mens kan wens nie ( bedoelende ry oppervlak), maar met die eindproduk in vooruitsig het almal maar die ongemak verdra en al skertsend mekaar se siele uitgetrek. Die oomblik van vertrek was oorspoel met die heerlikste sonskyn, maar â€˜n briesie wat so al meer spoed opgetel het sou â€˜n meer oplettende geselskap onraad laat vermoed het….

Die uwe en RC wou onderskeidelik klaar blog en die laaste hoofstuk van â€˜n boek lees, so ons het so bietjie langer getalm voor ons sou ry en gevolglik voor ons vertrek , die vriendelike bedagsame wolkeboodskappie ontvang en ter harte geneem en knus die tuisfront bly bewaak in verwondering hoe die uitsig binne â€˜n kwessie van 10 minute van vriendelike sonoogknippe na wolksamesmelting na wind versnellings na gietende reen verander het. En ook in volle verwagting dat die groep binne minute op â€˜n druipstert ommekeer sou besin. Maar nee, hierdie groep is of te gedetermineerd of te dom om sulke realistiese besluite te kan neem, so is die volle tog na die uitkykpunt onderneem net die tema verandering van whiteriver rafting into a potential but not possible sunset en die onderskeie verhale van oorlewing met hul terugkeer was nogal stof tot verkneukeling…

Ja, so was die die asemsnak bekoring van â€˜n Hoggies sonsondergang tot op hede nog nie vir ons beskore nie, want â€˜n vorige poging saam met die vorige groep gaste het ook op â€˜n iewat premature noot geeindig . Die son het wel vrolik in die lug gehang toe ons op die sunset point arriveer, maar het die toenemende mis en wolkbedekking en koue wat gelykstaande aan een van die twee aardse poolstreke is, ons oorval en â€˜n bibberende groepie verwoed die sjerrie en port versnapperinge en eetgoed laat aanval totdat die ietwat aangeklamde verlammende alcohol verhitting nie meer â€˜n merk kon maak , en ons maar die handoek ingegooi het en al tandeklapperend huiswaarts gekeer het! En ja, ek is seker daarvan â€˜n paar van julle het iewers in die sonnige SA gesit en snak na jul asems van die hitte….

So, vandag is die laaste dag van hier die liewe 2008 en sy ervaringe en wie weet, net dalkies werk al die elemente saam en knip die son vir oulaas sy oog vir ons sodat ons in verwondering en elkeen met sy eie geheuebank verstrengel in die verstes kan tuur en die glans van die son vir oulaas die jaar kan begroet.

Maar op die oomblik dryf daar so â€˜n paar vlesige wolkies in die bloue hemelruim rond en sal ons maar moet wag en sien of dit ons beskore sal wees.

So op hierdie laaste dag van 2009, hoop ek dat julle met genoegdoening aan die lekker en sleg van die afgelope jaar sal kan herkou, die slegte sal kan uitspoeg en in die geheue drein sal laat kan verdwyn, en die goeie met â€˜n warm gloed in die hart sal kan bere om gedurende 2009 met nuwe ywer aan te vul. Mag julle almal geseend wees in 2009 met net die goeie gawes van BO!

Soulfood in Hoggies….

Maggie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:57:29 +0000

A guest blog about Hogsback…. (original blog can be found here)

Another sweet sweet day in Hoggies and everybody woke up a bit out of their normal pattern which just might be an indication of them letting go, slowly but surely, miniature step by miniature step of the iron grip of normal life as we all know and love/dread. Even the few more perfectionistic souls in our midst overslept today which caused a bit of a rush and some orginazational skills to get everyone cleaned ( you can`t attend church with bad breath…) dressed and ready for church.

The small quaint church on the hill seemed like a must visit during your stay on the mountain. And nobody wanted to miss this opportunity… Fully realizing that we probably will be able to fill half the church by ourselves, we meant to arrive early to be able to ensure good sitting positions (hopefully un obtrusively at the back), but alas, a minute before starting time, we hurried into the service… and filled the front half of the church due to the tendency of normal people to put as much distance between themselves and possible direct confrontation with their sins/weaknesses`/feelings of guilt or whatever…. nevertheless, due to being part of an small community/congregation, even the priest scheduled for the mornings service was still a bit unorganised herself, due to the no need to hurry in Hoggies….” I think…

And what a lovely service it was….

Due to having only one church available, different denominations takes turns on alternate Sundays to present the service and today was the turn of the Anglican priest/minister, a lovely lady who retired in Hoggies, but apparently are keeping herself busy with organising all kinds of communal projects, counselling any off-road injured souls who need direction in many facets of life and all of this for free as well as trying to council the towns cows to keep away from her agapanthus flowers (apparently a delicatessen for the cows in this community they are prepared to walk through barbed wired fences for with a smile)

Back to the service…

In a very matter of fact easy way, she welcomed the congregation, ensuring us that she will keep us up to speed with the service throughout and issuing a warning of what we may expect (Her skilled eye probably spotted the somewhat unsure body languish perspired by the boere complement of our party) and low and behold, she even incorporated an Afrikaans section into the service just to ensure us of our place amongst them.

What made it even more special was, the renewal of wedding wows, one couple were committed to before the start of the service, which set a very sentimental tone to the proceedings, as well as communion we all took part in at the end which created a feeling of togetherness of all present. But even more special was the sermon in between all the other goodies which distinguished between a happy Christmas and a joyful/ loving Christmas, meaning that happy is a sentimental entity causing you to stagnate and go nowhere, and can easily be created by happy pills with no effort…, but also with no result….

Oeps, my en RC se beurt om die slaai van die dag te ontwerp ….

OK, hier`s ek terug Waar was ek…??? O ja…

A loving Christmas on the other hand, involve the concept of love which doesn`t necessarily entails a smooth road ahead, but will at some points have hardships which is of utmost importance to shape and mould us into the people we are meant to became in His love and we can always be sure that his love will guide and be with us.

OK… to tell the truth I sort of condensed the sermon to a bit of a watered down version, because all this people around me have distracted me and are insisting at this moment that I put down the laptop and start to get ready to visit the lookout point for celebrating the anticipated awesome sunset!

Sooooo… off I am!!!

Tell you about that tomorrow… maybe… if I don’t fall off the mountain….;))

Xmas Blogging in Hogsback

Maggie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:46:44 +0000

My sister, as always, came to join me for Christmas and I admire her greatly for her dedicated blogging of her endeavours through life’s pathways. I felt that her beautiful blogging will be great to share in while she related her Hogsback experiences. (The original blogpost can be found here)

Hoggies en ongerepte wee….

Waar is ek…..?

Versmelt met die Hogsback heuwels , â€˜n fantasiewereld met feetjies en dwergies verskuil tussen lelies en dennenaalde met geheimsinnigee fluisteringe deur boomtoppe wat mens se voetstappe telkens lok na â€˜n ander kabbeling van waterdruppels wat al vallend na benede â€˜n energieke uitnodiging na, koele strome rondstrooi , om â€˜n lyflike afkoeling in kuile van onbepaalbare dieptes te ontdek…..

Dis die soete deel van die ontsnap uit die rieele wereld van besige gejaagde lewens en vol programme…

Maar die ongereptheid lewer ook allerhande wee na onbekende bestemmings wat vir die avontuurlike Robocop en sy perd â€˜n glinstering in die oog gee en die afwagting van â€˜n nuwe ontdekking, vars deur die are laat bruis.

So is ons toe ook vandag, ten spyte van â€˜n onverwagse hiitegloed ten volle gegear op die ysterperd se rug om â€˜n moontlike korter roete na die beoogde golffasiliteit waarvoor die ander manlike geledere van die geselskap hul tande slyp, te gaan verken en te bepaal wat die geskikste voertuig sal wees om die ekskursie mee aan te pak indien die roete begaanbaar sou wees. Soos wafferse verkenners, gewapen met die nodige proviant wat alle gebeurlikhede sal dek, pak ons toe die tog in versigtige afwagting aan.

Verlede jaar het â€˜n soortgelyke ontdekkingstog ons so val val Mitchelspas afgelei, en laat besef dat â€˜n grondpad, wat duidlike nie juis meer mooi weet of sy naam pad werd is nie, maar eerder weens die kenmerke van dongas en reusagtige rotsstortings vir â€˜n betreklik styl voetslaanpaadjie kan kwalifiseer, nie sonder handskoentjies aangepak moet word nie…. Dus was ons maar katvoet… of is dit nou fietsvoet, versigting en enige iets te wagte wat die berg na ons kant toe kon gooi! Weens my mindere kennis van die beweeg oor rowwe terrein met â€˜n motorfiets en my meer instinktiewe gevoel van stadig oor klippe waar die ou obstacletjies skynbaar eerder met durf en spoed oorrompel moet word, het ek my lyf al klaar in val antisipasie georienteer en as RC so vetgee, eerder my oe toegeknyp (moenie vir hom se nie… hy dink ek gallop dapper saam….) en gehoop vir die beste.

Wonder bo wonder het die grondpaadjie â€˜n opwindende klipperige tog, deur allerhande plantryke kontoere opgelewer, wat vir die gemiddelde avontuurlustige biker met â€˜n glimlag op die gevreetjie sou laat. Ek en RC was dit egter eens dat â€˜n groep afwagtende opgewonde golfbelustigtes nie die stadige pas, nodig om die roete te kon waardeer, sou kon handhaaf nie en die klipperige effens donga agtige voorkoms van die roete verseker nie die gemiddelde motortjie se kos sal wees nie.

Daarmee was ons sending afgehandel en kon ons triomvanklik terugkeer om verslag te lewer en ons volgende stukkie brood as verkenners te verdien. Die langer grondpad, met minder klippe ( maar tog sy fair share om dit opwindend genoeg te hou…), wat ons met die terugtog beproef het, sou die aangewese roete vir die golfekskursie na Katberg se lokende golf bane wees.

En dit kon ons onomwonde sÃª sonder enige wonde opgetel tydens die ontdekkingstog!!!

Feww!!!

Working in peace

Maggie — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:51:20 +0000

I have just returned from paradise (very reluctantly) and look back on a very productive and peaceful week in my favourite place.

I flew into East Londen and my dear friends Larisse and Athol was so kind to give me a lift up to Hogsback. It was truly a step back in time as we wound our way up the pass (now fully tarred), as next to the road were tons and tons of excusite lilies, just like the first time I accidently wandered up into this magic little kingdom. I realised then that Hogsback gives you snippets of beauty, depending on when you choose to visit. I have also never seen the bush roses in full bloom till now. Lovely!

We were joined for the weekend by Phillip and Sarah from Port Elizabeth and they treated is to a lovely homecooked meal and animated arguments about the exciting political flavours currently wafting around our little country. It blended well with our food. On Sunday we frequented the cosy little chapel were I found harmony and love and a welcome cup of tea and eats at the end of it. Margeret entertained us with her cow stories while we sipped our tea and giggled.

My first two days were spend in front of the fireplace, with thick mist providing a cosy cover, while I slaved away at trying to complete as many learning objects for my project as I possibly can. I also tried to keep up to speed with my online blogging workshop, and sudenly realised that I have to stop running, stop running, focus and settle down to peacefulness and one thing at a time!

I thought that as I do not have wheels I would be isolated and lonely (good conditions for stirring me on to more work), but alas, this friendly little village and its people will never allow that! I was dragged out almost every night for a meal and even ventured to cook up a dinner party for my neughbours, whom I abuse from time to time! Thank you to Sonia and Tim, Carol, Ticia, the Vices and the Walkers for keeping me entertained and balanced!

I also have to say that I am very pleasantly amoured with our new evening restaurant at the Enchanted treehouse. I had fillet medalians, a stunning salad and good company all around me and welcome our new reatauranteurs to Hogsback. May you go from strenght to strenght!

So sadly I had to return back to the hussle and bussle of Johannesburg. I caught the backpackers little bus and low and behold, made it safely back to the airport. The on-bus entertainment in the form of two young english volunteers was amusing which made the road short and I got to the airport with time tom spare, contrasting sharply with my normal scramble not to miss my plane!

As always, I come away from Hogsback with new resolve (for my projects and for my life) and a sense of what is important. I will be back, shortly, in time for the christmas flowers…..

e/merge 2008 in Hogsback

Maggie — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:06:58 +0000

After last week hectic face 2 face conference in Port Elizabeth, I have been looking forward to “catch up with myself” in my serene mountain paradise. But unfortunately I have brought the work monster with me and unleashed him (must be a him…;-)) up here in the mountains. But then again, having the privilege to look up and stare out over the valley and tree tops gave me a sense of serenity in the face of “virtual” challenges.

I have been joined here by my amazing friend and teacher colleague, Sandra, who also has a special bond with this magical place. We have been stuck with our noses in our laptops taking part in the e/merge2008 online conference which is an amazing experience! Every morning we get up, make a fire and “emerge” ourselves in the world of online learning practices and collaboration.

We were also joined every day by on eof the local hobbits, Diana, who has been learning the “art” of online facilitation and who has been responsible for keeping us going with loads of chocolates. She has also created her very own Hogsback blog at http://dianeh.edublogs.org as practise for the task ahead of teaching all the other hobbits who are not blogged down how to be a presence in the blogosphere!

So this week has given new meaning to the term virtual office for me. I am starting to worry about my chill-out places being invaded by my workspacesâ€¦.

Thought for the week

Maggie — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:53:29 +0000

“Every day is a new day of learning. We can excel and exceed our own standards by consistently upgrading our outlook and attitude towards those around us. Our position, our power, our status… nothing is permanent. What will remain in fond memories of those around us is not the altitude of our achievements, but our attitude, acts of kindness, and consideration towards others.”

– CV Varghese

A buzzy week in Hogsback

Maggie — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:47:45 +0000

Coming back to Hogsback was especially wonderful for me seeing that my son decided to join us. He brought with him a buzzy new girlfriend and lots of enthusiasm for all the walks. Jd’s niece, Nicole and her hubbie, Graham, also decided to join us as they are in between projects and needed some inspiration!

We started off, as I said with lots of enthusiasm for all the walks (why am I stressing this point?). Of course, we first had to show off our delightful garden with all the little fairy pathways down to the stream. JD, as is his custom, also dragged Nicole and Graham to the dainty waterfall on our property (steep stuff), while I relaxed on a rock contemplating a peaceful week in my favourite place.

We then decided to tone things down and went for an (always) inspirational tour of the Eco Shrine, were Diana gave my guests a quick insight into the eco cycles and our role in the bigger scheme of things through the medium of her ever inspiring eco artworks. We followed that up with a quiet walk on the Labyrinth (in and out) at the Edge, while collecting our thoughts. While we were there a young mother castigated her energetic son about skipping over the pathways of the Labyrinth as it brings bad luck which prompted Nicole to point out to me that we tend to stress bad things that can happen instead of saying that it could bring GOOD LUCK if you walk the walk! So my mind wandered off about the negative messages that we perpetuateâ€¦â€¦.as I walked round and round and roundâ€¦â€¦.in and outâ€¦.MMM wonder when my good luck will arriveâ€¦

The Madonna and child is a MUST walk, so we tackled that next. I descended into the realm of the forest surrounding the Madonna and Child waterfall with my stick and two brave knees. I made sure I was the leader of the pack, which forced everybody else to go at my pace. This resulted in a slow crab-like procession down into the belly of the forest surrounding the waterfall. I must say, I absolutely HATE downhills. It always feels as if though my bud has a heavy magnet ready to acquaint the inviting slope of the steep downhills. Reaching the inviting spray veil of Madonna and Child is always a relief and a pleasure. I parked myself on a rock and watched the family doing the rock jump procedure in an effort to capture the perfect camera angle. Been there, done that, got the picciesâ€¦now I can just watch and breathe inâ€¦and out!

For more photies of the week, click here

Wobbits in Hogsback

Maggie — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:10:45 +0000

During last week I was so fortunate to do a Web 2.0 workshop in my favourite place. It was quite a daunting prospect as Gaylin has asked me to do it for a mixed group of Hogsbakians which consisted of children from the age of 11 to a few hobbits (Hogsback characters of undisclosed age). So I actually ended up having a sleepless night worrying how I will be able to keep the attention of such a diverse group.

But I did not have to worry. I thought that Hogsback only had fairies and hobbits, but it turned out that the children (and young adults) where angels as well! And Web 2 took care of the rest. Even though we only had 5 laptops among 15 of us, we all managed to get involved in different aspects of Web 2.

We spend the first day just getting an overview of all the tools and as we had loadshedding, we ran my laptop and data projector for almost 1 3/4 hours from an inverter provided by Gaylin. I used this time to do a “show(off) and tell”. We also managed to play on the new Hogsback social network, uploaded photos and looked how to use videos online. Everybody was introduced to the concept of blogging,social networks and why websites are DEAD.

The second day was more hands on and even though there were a few technical hitches with the audio (thanks to Vista) we managed to get a headstart on creating mindmaps, cartoons, a blog for the school and played with some of the other Del.icio.us tools. We learned about how tags can be useful for marketing and for finding things.

I am loooking forward to seeing some real Web 2.0 activity in and around Hogsback in future….

Ps What do you call a web2-hobbit…..a wobbit

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Maggie — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:57:47 +0000

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