IT'S SAD WHEN YOU HAVE TO BUY HOPE!

This sign has been up, near where we live, for a number of weeks now.

Whilst it purpose is obviously to attract people to an event, my own way of thinking is otherwise.

To me, this sign suggests that I will have to pay for my seat in some way...

Have we really come to the place, in this world, where we have to BUY hope?

Is an outlook to positivity nowadays reliant on paying a fee?

Does the spreading of goodwill and fellowship now require you to dig into your coffers to secure a personally desired outlook?

It's just a question!

RAND PARK PRIMARY SPRING DAY

My favourite day of the year happens in the first week of September every year, when I am asked to be part of the Spring Day Celebrations at

RAND PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL

in South Africa

This is an incredibly special day!

It is the "Randpark Primary Spring day" and is usually a beautiful sunny, South African day! The school is alive with the excitement as each learner brings flowers to school. Masses of bouquets are collected at the Friday assembly and these are later distributed to various Retirement communities in the area. The resident Coral Tree seems to herald in the generosity of this really wonderful school...

Approximately 950 learners gather in the school hall at the beginning of the day for their weekly assembly and the special opportunity of wearing their "Civvies" (non-uniform) clothes.

The assembly is alive with Choirs, Song and celebration!

As the headmaster makes his entrance, all the children hold up their flowers in welcome!

Later, the bouquets are gathered in boxes at the exits of the hall.

These boxes are gathered up and packed into waiting vehicles to be transported to the various Retirement villages.

As you can see, the cars are packed with flowers!!!!

Well this is where I come in...

My special and pleasurable task is to take these flowers to a particular Old age community (Where my own mother resides with about 50 other villagers) at

FAIRLAND VILLAGE

At the village, a team of volunteers awaits to unpack, organise and arrange the various little vases with the beautiful flowers from the children of Rand park Primary School.

It is a full mornings' work!

These arrangements are packed onto trolleys and distributed to the eager villagers.

What a blessing it is to watch their surprise, delight and wonder at an unexpected gift.



This year, a class of grade 3 learners made 'good wishes' cards and each message was soaked up and cherished by the residents.

So, it is with very grateful thanks that we applaud the efforts of this special school!

THANK YOU RAND PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL!

Thank you to Mrs Mol and her team for organising Spring Day!

Thank you to the children and their parents for all your floral gifts!

Thank you to the Principal, Educators and Staff of Rand Park Primary School!

and

Thank you to the various transporters and the teams of volunteers who helped at the villages!

You have truly touched some tender hearts!

Finally I would like to thank you too for allowing me to be part of this special day!

I am so blessed to be part of it all!

Caryl Moll

TRYING TOO HARD.

It's Tuesday...almost Wednesday. Just two more days and then it will be Friday!

Yes, you got it! I'm counting the days to my hecticness again. Ironically I'm wishing the days away, simply because I miss my kids.

As a 'half-nester' (some of my chicks are in the process of flying the coupe), the weekends are treasured times. They are times to absorb the presence of my loved ones; to take in their lives and make up for any lost time.

Ironically though, the weekends end up rather stressful. Not only is it hard work, but it is motivated by an intense desire to make our home the best it can be. My goal is to "Stock the cupboards, plan the meals and cater for their every whim" . My desire is to forecasts their every need and align myself to fulfilling that void. In return, all I desire is their presence and companionship. But it seems that is sometimes a price too high!

Some of my best laid plans.... trip me up! I end up frazzled and frantic, desperate to make it work! The process renders me short-tempered and unattractive. Soon I discover that I have politely been isolated.

Perhaps the lesson here is that I try too hard. Perhaps its better to learn to let go, to have neither expectations nor boundaries. Perhaps then the nestlings which I set free will indeed return and I will know they were truly mine.

I DO SO LOVE THEM!