Another christmas, another festive season, another year is gone. What a year 2008 has been ! My whole life was reshuffled … I certainly lived up to my motto “The only constant in my life is change”.
Willing changes, forced changes, positive changes, difficult changes, unexpected changes, brave changes … The list might go on but I am embracing them and believe that they were all for the greater good of my little universe. 2008 will certainly go down in the history books as the year of change for me !

And just like that, the first week of the new year is gone already … another reminder that we should always live for the moment … because if you dare to blink your eyes, the moment is gone forever and you might just regret it.  Yesterday is gone, tomorrow will get here on its own, the moment that counts is right now !

I enjoyed reading another Paulo Coelho book on the plane back to South Africa, and as usual, Coelho’s superb writing left me with so much food for thought …
The Alchemist is a story about a boy who has a dream and the courage to follow it. We read about his adventures and growth in his search for his ‘Personal Myth’.

Extracts from the Alchemist that left me pondering …

“Treasure lies where your heart belongs…”
“Simple things are the most valuable and only wise people appreciate them”

I always jokingly say that I get what I want … and when there is something that I truly want … I usually get it … making me appreciate this line from Coelho’s book :

“When you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true”

o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o

Every person on earth has the need to be happy, find fulfillment and understand their purpose on this earth. The secret to finding harmony on earth is to realize that this will be manifested in a different way for each person, and that everyone should be allowed to find happiness, fulfillment and purpose without judgement. Some people need stability and routine, others thrive on chaos.

Following your dreams will lead you on a road of self discovery beyond your wildest imagination … a path that is not always easy or understood, a path that will stretch you, throw you out of your comfort zone and bring about personal growth beyond measure.

Once again, dreams will be followed in different ways … and what is my path ?
I only need to listen to my heart. My home is truly where my heart belongs, and I find fulfillment in filling a tiny piece of my heart in every location, moment or memory on earth that truly made me happy. My heart will tell me when it is content to stay and when it is time to move on, and may the day never arrive when I stop hearing the call of my heart.

I was very fortunate to experience more than just the city life on my trip to China in April 2008. Not knowing what to expect when I got there the first time, I was amazed(and positively thrilled) by the high energy, fast paced modern life in Beijing … Enter a retreat to Cuandixia and you get to experience a part of China that is in line with images I’ve always had of rural China.

Following a winding road through the mountains we stopped seemingly in the middle of nowhere. A tiny village with a dirt road running through it, mountains all around and someone slaughtering a sheep for supper right there on the side of the road … It was as if the road through the mountains took us back in time and if it wasn’t for the cars in this village, you’d have a hard time convincing me that this did not in fact happen.

I’m leaving you with a few images …

Houses in the village

Following the dirt road along the mountain, perfect place for an ambush

Surprise on the other side of the ‘ambush’

Once upon a time, a woman moved to a cave in the mountains to study with a guru. She wanted, she said, to learn everything there was to know. The guru supplied her with stacks of books and left her alone so she could study. Every morning, the guru returned to the cave to monitor the woman’s progress. In his hand, he carried a heavy wooden cane.
Each morning, he asked her the same question: “Have you learned everything there is to know yet?” Each morning her answer was the same “No,” she said, “I haven’t”. The guru would then strike her over the head with his cane.
This scenario repeated itself for months. One day the guru entered the cave, asked the same question, heard the same answer, and raised his cane to hit her in the same way, but the woman grabbed the cane from the guru, stopping his assault in mid-air.
Relieved to end the daily batterings but fearing reprisal, the woman looked up at the guru. To her surprise, the guru smiled. “Congratulations,” he said, “you have graduated. You now know everything you need to know.”
“How is that?” the woman asked.
“You have learned that you will never learn everything there is to know,” he replied. “And you have learned to stop the pain.”

– Author Unknown

And so August turned out to be another one of those absolutely hectic months … here today and just about gone tomorrow. And I am sure glad to spend the few days that are left on holiday
My templates have once again found a little spot to call home … in fact more than one spot. In addition to posting my templates at Digitally Magic ( http://digitallymagic.com/blog/ ) , I was asked to join the team at Snap and Scrap ( http://snapandscrap.tv/blog/ ) where I will be hosting a Template Challenge every Thursday. Be sure to check those sites out !

Happy scrapping !

I went away for the weekend and about 3 hours after arriving at my destination total disaster struck. I forgot to pack my laptop’s power cable ! 3 Days without my constant companion proofed to be rather difficult, although I did enjoy my time away … A more detailed post will follow soon …. or perhaps ’soonish’ … al depending on when I can find a time to load my photos.

As you all know by now a decision was taken to close down the DSSA site and with that I will be posting my templates here on my blog for now. Thank you to all who have stopped by already and for your messages.

So, even though it is a few days late, (blame the forgotten power cable) here is last week’s template. Have Fun !

Download the template here

I believe in finding the perfect balance between enjoying whatever you are experiencing, and finding the time to capture your future memories on a photo or two … sometimes twenty.When I look at a single photo of something that happened 10 or 20 years ago, I can recall the whole experience, and therefore I will continuously be the one with the camera, wherever I go.

On Saturday I went on a horse riding safari through a game reserve … what an amazing experience … a memory that no-one can ever touch …

And I have returned to my home town. Strange does not quite describe it. I’m trying to figure out when it hit me that I have returned.

It was not at Cape Town Airport, taking 2 screaming cats through security checks and sending them off to the cargo department.

It was not after take-off, taking in the breathtaking sight of Table Mountain towering over Cape Town and the harbour in all it majestic glory just after dawn.

It was not during the approach to the runway at OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg.

It was not during the hour long drive from the airport to Vanderbijlpark.

And then it happened. The things that made me realize that I am back.

Having to wait for some cattle to cross the highway leading into town, it made me burst into uncontrollable laughter and I thought “This is it. I have returned home.”

A delicious lamb stew for lunch, like only mother can make it, with the oh-so-necessary nap after lunch to aid in the digestion of a heavy meal.

Afternoon tea with a slice of my favourite carrot cake (like mom makes it ) about 5 minutes after I woke up from my nap.

Yes. I am back. At least for now.

Words escape me … what more can one say after a sunset like this … I love living here !

Sunset from Bloubergstrand, South Africa, 31 May 2008