#365grateful Post 30

Today’s little slice of “happitude” is...

Pasta, red wine and best friends on another Champagne Thursday...

This was an emotional week. Since returning from Cape Town I had been grappling with my feelings and fighting with myself about the decisions I knew I had to make. The heartache over the loss of my grandfathers had resurfaced and I was just emotionally exhausted. Thankfully it was Champagne Thursday and that meant a much needed catch-up with my girls was on its way.

I cooked some good, old-fashioned comfort food and we replaced our usual champagne with red wine and enjoyed dinner outside at my patio set among my fairy lights. We laughed and chatted and gave each other advice and then we drank more red wine, laughed and chatted some more.

And just like that, everything seemed so much better and I knew I was going to be strong enough for what was coming next. Because with loving and supportive friends like mine, I could make it through anything...

Image property of Candice Curtis

#365grateful Post 29

Today’s little slice of “happitude” is...

The pretty fairy lights (top) and Chinese lanterns (bottom) that my fabulous Dad strung up for me over the weekend. I’m grateful for their tiny sparkles of light at the end of a really difficult day...

It was a difficult day. My Grandad (on my Dad’s side) passed away a year ago today. His passing was heartbreaking for our family because we never really got the chance to say goodbye since he lived in the UK and we weren’t with him during his final days. I felt particularly emotional because, looking back, I realised that I hadn’t been a very good granddaughter. I had had a few opportunities to go abroad and visit with my Grandad and the rest of my Dad’s side of the family but I had always prioritised other things over those opportunities and once I realised the importance of family, it was too late and he was gone. I suppose I just thought that he would always just be there. That was a foolish notion. A week after my Grandad’s passing I found myself in the UK with my Dad saying my final goodbyes at the funeral.

What made the day more difficult was that my Oupa (on my Mom’s side) would have celebrated his birthday today had he not passed away in 2007. We grew up down the street from my Oupa, Ouma and Nana and naturally we were very close with them. Losing my Oupa was one of the most difficult things that our family has ever had to endure; again, we just never imagined a world in which he wouldn’t exist anymore.

So after a very emotional day spent thinking about my two grandfathers and missing them dearly, I was grateful to come home, sit quietly outside, cry and send out a prayer to each of them surrounded by the sparkles of my fairy lights and Chinese lanterns.

Image property of Candice Curtis

#365grateful Post 28

Today’s little slice of “happitude” is...

A tiny catch-up with a beautiful, dear friend...

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, one of my favourite things about my job is the fabulous friends I’ve made at work. Shiree is one of those dear souls, and between the craziness at work and the Christmas break and us both going on our own holidays at the beginning of January, a catch-up chat was long overdue!

We took a little time after work to chat about our holidays and our plans for the year ahead; it was such a treat for us to get back to being on the same page and I’m grateful to have someone to open up to at work.

Image property of Candice Curtis

#365grateful Post 27

Today’s little slice of “happitude” is...

A yummy, home-made dinner of linguine, sundried tomatoes, mozzarella and basil pesto... Here’s to trying new things!

As a child I was a very picky eater... even now there are certain things that I just refuse to eat. I’ve told myself that growing up means being brave enough to try new things and see if my taste has changed.

Some things I still can’t bring myself to eat include tomatoes, brie and paw paw. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I am now a huge fan of basil pesto and sundried tomatoes!

So that’s one more quick ‘n’ easy dinner for one to add to the (embarrassingly short) list of meals I’m able to cook!

Image property of Candice Curtis