The first Magnolia blossom appears, three years after planting....

There was a great deal of excitement when we saw the very first bud appear on the magnolia tree. Each day I watched as it slowly unfurled, creamy white and beautifully scented. Iain said it took him right back to 'Maritzburg, when the magnolia tree in the garden there produced huge flowers each summer and filled the house with its perfume.

Our poetry book, 'Four by Four' was featured in the local community newspaper (Fourways Review) and though it is a bit late for anyone to purchase a copy as a Christmas gift, I will be ordering more copies in the New Year. If you would like a copy of this very special book, please let me know.

On the right is a small sample of one of my children's songs featured in the book, which I hope to use eventually in a small book titled 'Alfie's Silly Song Book'.

Mac's Lemon Marmalade - The First Batch

We have two lemon trees in our garden that have produced abundantly. These lemons are very juicy and perfect for the production of marmalade, so of course, I snapped into action and made my first batch for Spring 2009.

I found an outlet that sells glass jars, and soon I had 24 jars of wonderful marmalade. Those of you who know me well, will understand the next step. I HAD to design a label.

First idea. I thought of a stick-on label for the lid, and a stick-on label for the jar. I would need to print them on sticky-backed paper...cut them out...peel the backing off...stick them on the jars. Too much effort. I have gone through this sort of exercise before and it is murder on the nails, trying to find the edge of the label to peel it off the backing.

Next idea. Print labels on ordinary paper, cut them out and then stick them onto brown paper (home-made aspect). Pritt Stick? Spray Glue? They certainly did look homemade and the glue part was a mess.

Final idea. Design them so they LOOK as if they have a brown paper background and print them straight onto card. Punch a hole in one corner and attach with a rubber band. Done!

I am making the marmalade as gifts for family and friends and I know they will enjoy the intense flavour. This is what marmalade should taste like. No preservatives, additives, fillers or flavourings. No pesticides, just organic fertilizer and plenty of mulch and love.

Poetry Book Launch

Our new book, 'Four by Four' has been launched!

Denise, Jackie, Maryna and myself met at Stephanie's in Hyde Park Corner and celebrated this new arrival. This book is different to our first collaboration called 'Six by Six', in that we have included pages in colour. There are photographs, oil paintings, acrylics, watercolours and woodcuts included with the poems and stories. The response so far has been very encouraging.

Spring is almost here!

After a great deal of thought, our decision to sell our house (or not) has been put on hold. This means that I will see the garden come to life again in the Spring, and this is delightful to contemplate. I am already working on what to plant in the vegetable garden. It is August and I think a little too early to go full steam ahead, as there are bound to be a few more cold spells before the warmer weather settles in. I plan to put in some pumpkin and cabbage. The vegetable patch is small, and I have been contemplating expanding this by using the rest of the garden. So much lovely space. Will keep you posted on the progress.

Slow Book Club

A few weeks ago, I read an article in the Lifestyle section of the Sunday Times, written by Ann Donald, which really peaked my interest. To read the article called 'MacBooks to burn on the Grill' go to www.thetimes.co.za/Entertainment/Books/Article.aspx?id=926611.

She speaks about a 'slow book movement' and I thought this was a great concept. Sorry to muscle in on your idea, Ann, but if this was expanded to include music and movies, I am certain this could form the basis for a very interesting Club.

If anyone has ideas about how to set up or run such a club, I would love to hear from you.

Reading at Present

I am almost finished reading Marita van der Vyver's 'Where the Heart is' and I have enjoyed it so much. She is a well-known South African writer who went to live in Provence with her new French husband and writes about her life there. Settling in, gathering paperwork and all the other frustrations of finding her feet in a strange new location. Good fun. She writes in a light and humourous way, with many South Africanisms thrown in. Her most recent publication is a book called 'Traveling Light'. Will have to track it down.

Travel writing has a special place on my reading list. Some of my favourites are by Paul Theroux such as 'Elephanta Suite' and 'Dark Star Safari - Overland from Cairo to Cape'. His latest (2008) is 'Ghost Train to the Eastern Star'.

Other favourite authors are Bill Bryson, Chris Stewart, Frances Mayes, Peter Mayle and the team of Charlie Boorman and Ewan McGregor. Then there is Michael Palin and Ranulph Fiennes. Plenty to keep me busy for a while.

The Big Decision

Discussions have begun. Should we sell our house, rent it out or do what we can to stay? For weeks now, hubby (Iain) and myself have been mulling over this question, making lists, chatting to friends and generally having sleepless nights.

We built our home 27 years ago, and have been very happy here. My daughters, Jenny and Cris, grew up in this house and the memories are everywhere. The pool was built so that it would be safe for two toddlers learning to swim. Grass was planted, trees were carefully selected for colour, shade potential and size. Some deciduous, some evergreen so that we could mark the changing seasons. Walls, paving, security gates followed, and during all of this Jenny plastered her bedroom walls with posters of her favourite pin-ups, and Cris painted her walls deep turquoise and hung batik throws at her windows.

Sorting through photographs taken over the years, it is astonishing to see the progression from bare stand with anthills all over it, to the house we have today. Setting all that aside, we still have to answer the question 'to move or not'?

The main reason is that the house seems too large for the two of us now that our daughters are independent. Like many people around the world, we are trying to live in a more simple cost-effective way. As we age, it is becoming a mission to do housework without some assistance, so we have to add up these extras, and work out if it is worth it. Poolcare Company, gardener, maid, Security Company, Insurance Premiums and so on and on.

Friends have been encouraging, particularly those that have already made the move from a large property to a smaller one. Some say they should have done it sooner, others say that it gives them more time to go on holiday, visit the grandchildren in New Zealand, Australia or Canada. A proper 'lock up and go' situation.

The other extreme, as hubby dear has mentioned, is to sell up our entire household and buy a caravan, or a Harley with a sidecar and go on a grand tour of the world. He likes to take pictures, I like to write so we could find a lot of interesting ways to spend our time. The seed has been planted.....!