A winter warmer

On Saturday we went to brother in law, Marthinus's birthday celebration at his sister's house in Waverley. Half the guests watched the super 14 rugby semifinal between the Bulls (Pretoria's rugby team in case you didn't know) and the Crusaders (from Christchurch, Nea-Zealand - our rugby arch rivals). The Bulls won (of course)! While half the guests were glued to the T.V. some of us preferred chatting around the coffee table. Louise had the most scrumptious goodies as usual and well... goodbye diet! You can guess that I was one of the coffee table guests!

Marthinus's sister and husband had been to Russia in 1991 and they had travelled here, there and everywhere. I talked about what we were planning to wear on our trip later this year - to dress in layers etc. and she gave me the following tip:

Take a pair of pantyhose and cut out the gusset and cut off the feet - pull it over your head and you have a wonderful spencer! (Head through the hole you cut out, arms in the legs and the panty part over your torso.)

Today was a bit chilly, so I tried it out. (Had to search for pantyhose though - hardly ever wear them nowadays). I thought I would have to cut out a bigger hole than just the gusset, but it stretches incredibly -you really need cut out only the gusset. It fits like... well like the 2nd skin pantyhose is. It was wonderfully warm and not bulky at all. It fit under my tight fitting T-shirt. (I didn't buy the T-shirt tightfitting, it just sort of became tight fitting because I guess I sort of grew...) There is definitely no space for an ordinary spencer under this T-shirt and anyway, even if there was, a spencer would have stuck out at the neck. It seems all T-shirts and jerseys (sweaters) have open necks these days.

So, if you are like me, lucky enough not to suffer from hot flushes, (hormones are such bliss) I can really recommend this. I was feeling snug as bug all day - without layers of jerseys and jackets. (I only put on a thin jacket when Jan and I went for a walk at 18:00.) And the "spencer" did not stick out anywhere, anytime. And it did not itch or scratch or anything.

Of course if it does get too hot on the trip and I want to take it off, the "pantyhose spencer" will easily squash into my handbag.. or I can throw it away. It's not like it cost the earth. I think this is the best invention since..... well since pantyhose!

Russia, here we come!

What is a journal without photos? Martelize was the only pebble on the beach this weekend. She has discovered the fun of crawling outside. She is a very determined crawler and it takes her only seconds to get up the stair of the scullery and out the back door....

Why does Pharaoh move away when I get near?

I just want to pat you...

Crawling on the lawn is better.

Crawling on stony terrain slows her down, but it doesn't stop her. Here she is on her way to her Oupa who came back from inspecting the newly made fire breaks.
Have a great week!