The Restory Retreat Centre

  A Christmas Story “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you.  You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack,  so don’t call attention to yourselves.  Be as shrewd as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭16‬ ‭MSG‬‬                       CAROL OF THE FRIENDLY BEASTS Jesus, our brother, strong and good Was humbly born in stable rude And the friendly beasts around him stood, Jesus, our brother, kind and good. I, said the donkey, shaggy and brown, Carried his Mother uphill and down I carried her safe to Bethlehem town, I, said the donkey, shaggy and brown. I, said the cow, all white and red, Gave him my manger for his bed, I gave him my hay to pillow his head, I, said the cow, all white and red. I, said the sheep with curly horn, Gave him my wool to keep him warm, He wore my coat on Christmas morn, I, said the sheep with curly horn. I, said the dove, in the rafters high, Cooed hi...

Advent: Love The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Music With all our love and deep wishes for a very meaningful Christmas.  George & Matilda

  Giving And Receiving The Conversation Elements From The Conversation And probably the biggest gift we can give: to give birth to God in our own lives and circumstances.  Music We wish you a blessed, beautiful Christmas.  With our love.  George & Matilda

  Christmas 2022 The Conversation  Elements From The Conversation  Music With love and wishes for a blessed Christmas.  George & Matilda 

Photo courtesy of Flickr Party van hulle steel. Ek is daarvan amper 100% seker. Tweemaal al, op 'n Woensdag, net mooi op die tyd as die vullislorrie verbykom, was daar al pogings om by my huis in te breek en het die alarm hulle verjaag. Ek was albei kere nie by die huis nie. Van toe af probeer ek wag tot die spulletjie verbygetrek het en ek my leë vullisdrom kan terugsleep agterplaas toe. Dan eers ry ek. Want hulle stuur verkenners, dink ek. Wat kyk wie is tuis en wie nie in 'n straat. Ek het die polisie ook van my vermoede gesê. Die konstabel het my met 'n belangelose "dit kan wees" getroos. Maar deesdae is die tye waarop hulle verbykom so random. Dan staak dit vir 'n week en bly die dromme tot oorlopens toe in gelid staan in die straat. En dan skielik hoor mens hulle elfuur in die nag in die straat afkom! Nou is dit net ‘n paar weke voor Kersfees. En stadigaan begin die straat stiller word. Ekstra versigtig wees, sê ek vir myself. Ons ...

Inspiration most often strikes like a match in the dark. One moment there's nothing; not an inkling of light, sound or anything remotely detectable by any of the senses. And then, the next moment its all there: starting with the small, unmistakable sound, then the smell, warmth and sight of sensuous flame flickering against the nothingness. I've had the mere sight of a knitting pattern set me off on a range of ceramics entitled Windswept; with the feel and look of a deserted beach in winter, the wind sweeping sand and whipping waves. I have planned menus on a single inspirational flicker of a flame: a Christmas lunch on a jar of rosemary, tomato and apple jelly; breakfast of stewed fruit and yogurt on one perfect cape gooseberry in its golden husk; a sushi party on the color of a tablecloth. To make gifts for Christmas is a personal indulgence I have allowed myself since I was old enough to hold and use a needle and thread, which was way before I went to school. I mad...

How does one tell about Prague? Three weeks of Prague? You try but know you’re not doing it justice. Also one doesn’t show too many photo’s. Someone else’s travel pics are hardly ever gripping stuff. So, you tell about the historical background, the art, the music that’s everywhere: on market squares, street corners, bridges. In churches and chapels. You tell about the dark periods of war and communism that left  scars throughout the city. About the river, the legends, the funeral of Vaclav Havel. You marvel at the many many sculptures everywhere: on bridges, against walls, inside walls, on rooftops. Sculptures as pillars for roof structures, sculptures that grace the corners of buildings, or crown them. Sculptures kneeling, praying, dancing, suffering. You tell about a strange sculpture of a dead horse hanging upside down from it’s legs with the knighted St. Wenscelas sitting on it’s stomach. It hangs from the ceiling of an Art deco palace where a movie theatre shows po...