Lynda Dean

 

My cellphone camera is not that great in low light photographs, so this evening I started messing with some filters on some photos taken at this evenings Connect. Here is Dean trying out a tiny chair while Lynda is on her phone in the background. 

Last Connect

 

That is how we all feel at this time of the year, screaming as we about to hit the brick wall. Uhmm, okay the truth, this is Kyle trying to catch popcorn that Nicolene  is throwing from across the room during the last Connect meeting of the year.

After this it is all downhill from here...

Model in da House

 

Oooooh we are so blessed to have a real live model in da house! Welcome Sadie, to our weird yet lovable Connect group. Okay we should not forget the male model and the ginger one too, but the UJ girls just connected with each other. What was that new word, Jess, oh yes racial hybrid, but we are just one happy connect family even though we are about to lose Lance and Kerry to the other Centre Church Connects, we are still tight and da best!

Baby it's cold outside

 

"I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside", or that is what I am sure Lance is thinking right now. Or do you have a better saying for this meme. Baby it's cold outside.

Yes the 1 September, the first day of Spring, has for most times been cold and today has not disappointed as can be seen how warm Lance has dressed. Now where is my latte?

Bradkyle

 

Bradkyle, interesting combination of 2 names, Bradley and Klye. It was good to get Bradley to Connect Group finally after about a year of absenteeism from the Connect Family. Anyways we had a good evening of catchup at Connect.

Nicolene and Kyle

I seem to be getting on top of this flu again, and it was about time that Connect started after a break for the holidays. Dressed warm for a winter's evening at Connect Group, it was great catching up with family and it was good seeing Nicolene and Kyle again, we sure missed them. 

Only Bean Can

It has been a long week for me as I am starting to feel the tiredness catching up. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday and this evening I found myself at Connect with family. Yip it is great just to wind down in a relaxed group of friends. Here is Lance and Dean being amazed at Beanca's balancing skills. I mean who can balance a rusk on your head while trying to drink hot chocolate? Only Bean can.

Tuff Duff

My friend Lance, aka Tuff Duff, turned 38 today. I think it is 38 or is it 39 although in this photograph he looks like a deer in front of the headlights about to hit the proverbial wall of year 40. Our Connect group gathered at his home for some "30 Seconds" as he waited at the gate for more people to arrive.

30 - Sup? The gate appears not to be working so send me a whattie and I’ll come out and open.

29 - Knock knock

28 - On my way

27 - Anyone else coming? Can I go home now?

26 - NO

25 - No to what Rome-Rome?

24 - I’m going home.

23 - Ahh but you already here Jerome. I didn't see you when Lynda arrived.

22 - Thank you for the card. Jess must have driven around all week getting the card signed.

21 - That's why we kept you out by the gate Duff.

20 - Okay how are we going to divide the teams

19 - There's 15 of us so 3 teams of 5

18 - No Kerry you on that team. 

17 - Team Duff (4), Team Red (4), Team ABD (3), and Team Millennial (4)

16 - Let the games begin

14 -  And the Team ABD are in the lead with Team Duff lagging far behind

13 - Cricketers? A bowler. Who is he? I don't know

12 -  Speak in Afrikaans or was it the other way

11 - Why does Team ABD always throws a 0

10 - Wow the crisps are flowing

9 - Team Duff draws with Team ABD

8 - Who is Brooke Shields?

7 - Milk tart served

6 - Lynda come back, your turn

5 - Team Duff wins or did the Connect just let the Birthday Boy win?

4 - Team Red comes in a sickly second. Now you can get better Kyle

3 - Give Team Millennial and Team ABD a chance to fight for last place

2 - Such a fun evening guys! So blessed to have family like you all. Rest well!

1 - TIMES UP

Breaking Bread

Last night many moons ago, Jesus and his disciples met in a small room for the seder meal, and this morning our Connect group met to break bread and have a meal in remembrance of what this day is all about, the day that Jesus gave up his life for me and you. 

Bean and Dean

Looking at the photo I realize that I need to get a better camera for these evening shots. Anyways I have looking forward to this evening as it is Connect and I have missed the company of friends. It has been a hard month yet God's hand protecting us has been evidence.  

Here is Beanca and Dean sitting opposite me. Okay Beanca spells her name with a "e" and not normally with a "i" and the young couple call themselves Bean and Dean, interesting.

Back to Connect

Tonight Connect restarted for the year but before we arrived I had cooked up a storm of chicken schnitzel served with baby potatoes, sweet corn cobs, gem squash, and salad, so supper first while a storm ragged outside.

After the thunderstorm we left for Connect and arrived just as they were about to start. Timing is everything. A new comer to our family is Colin, the son of an old Joburg Photowalker friend of mine Walter. Here is Jess showing Colin how to pour chips into the bowl, as if he didn't know already.

One Year

Little Kamden is now 1 year old and we joined Kyle, Nicolene, and Kaylen to celebrate his first year. Happy birthday little Kamden, may you live long and prosper.  

Connect of 3

I left work and rushed home to start the supper so that we could get to Connect Group on time but the connect family starting sending messages that they could not make it. In the end it was just Lance, Kerry, and myself that had a small connect meeting for 3.

It was a good evening and we caught up on life.

Rose Tattoo

As I stood behind a father and his son in church this morning, I felt a connection as they put there arms around each other during the the song Who you say I am. Yes the know I am nothing but I know the I AM and He knows who I am. Like this father who put his arm around his son, the I AM calls me His son and puts His arms around me.

Among the son's tattoos was a dove and further down a rose tattoo. And that song Rose Tattoo came to my lips, ..."some may be from showing up, others are from growing up, sometimes I was so messed up and didn't have a clue" BUT what I do know is the the I AM is standing by my side, always.

All the Ladies

All the ladies in the house lets PARTY!!!

Okay lets backtrack a bit. Last Saturday, Robynne was due to have her second daughter but baby was on her own time. This morning Robynne's waters broke and she went through to the birthing clinic. It was here that they noticed that she was only 1cm dilated and baby seemed to be stressed. So she was rushed to have an emergency caesarean.

This afternoon we are proud to announce the birth of baby Dakotah into the world. So now Lynda has to spend the night at Robynne and Marko's house and babysit Rebekah. So that gives me time to do anything I want.

Yay, so ladies, I decided to go to Connect group. With Lance chaperoning, Monique, Kerry, and Jesse joined us for some deep decisions of what was preached on Sunday about Moses before the burning bush and when God asked Moses what was in his hand. So when Lynda's away, this is how I party, by catching up with my Connect family. 

Oh and both mother and baby are all fine.

This is Just to Say

This is just to say, no one has yet claimed responsibility for this act of terrorism against the residents of the City of Johannesburg, as we queue up at the Cresswells for our shower. We have just received a press statement from Mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, and in it, he states that the fire that damaged the substation that feeds Johannesburg’s main water pumps yesterday afternoon was an act of sabotage.

Sabotage? This is just to say that this is way more serious. This is an act of terrorism, as the US Code of Federal Regulations defines terrorism as "the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives".

The fire originated outside the transformer and it was not caused by an electrical fault. Furthermore the transformer was maliciously damaged so that it would leak oil onto the fire. This transformer supplied a large area electricity and powered the pump station that feeds approximately 40% of Johannesburg with water, as well as Rustenburg.

One word Mr Mayor - "Terrorism!"

So now we queue for our showers while Lance aka Duff shown above shares with us the 84 year old poem that Jesse just had in her exam, "This is just to say" by William Carlos Williams...

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

This is just to say, that someone ate our plums, and while I take a minute to think about it, those plums in the icebox where meant for all to share.

Strelitzias and Strawberries

 It was a beautiful spring morning, when I stepped out of my garage while preparing to mount my Vespa and slice through the rush hour traffic towards work. Then it caught my eye, a brightly coloured strelitzia, in my garden. Not just one but a number of them all flowering orange and purple.

And now this, Monique arrived at Connect group still eating her lunch of fresh fruit. And she pulled this super large strawberry out of her supper box of fruit.

Cooking up a Storm

Our Connect Group is cooking up a storm by making some Cottage Pies and Chicken Pies for future frozen pre cooked meals for those that need them. I am not sure what this ministry is called but we took up the call and got stuck into some cooking. Along with Shaun, Lynda and I; Taryn, Nicolene, Jesse, and Monique who are shown above got stuck into preparations. While Kyle, Lance joined Angie and Kerry wo/manned the kitchen.

Ginger Beer and Beard

Two meetings this evening and I could only go to one so I decided that the neighbourhood watch meeting won over the Connect meeting. So as evening arrived the electricity in the entire area tripped so the watch meeting was postponed and I could now make the Connect meeting which was down the hill and still had electricity and brownies. 

Arriving at Connect this evening, I found Kyle and Lance proudly showing off there latest endeavour, the beard oil and balms. So here is Ginger Beard or aka Ginger Beer showing off a well oiled beard. 

Coffee Cake

Coffee cake, since I missed Kerry's chelsa buns last week, Kerry made a lovely and sweet coffee cake for Connect group today. Did I mention how cold this evening was, no? Brrrrrrr, I should have stayed in Hilton, as down there it was 9°C but here it was a freezing 0°C.

Kerry informed us that there was no coffee per say in the cake, but cinnamon. The cake is called coffee cake because you have it with coffee, dah. What ever ingredients, it was certainly a repeat.