Where to start?
I felt like I'd stepped into a time machine when going through my Hive feed, trying to decide which posts are my favourite three. What a fabulous way to go down memory lane, one that I've been safekeeping here in my Hive Forever Memory Bank since July 2017.
It's been a blast, a wonderful trip full of twists and turns, ups and downs, some blogs even going back to a time when I was just a little babe.
My mind went into a whirl after reading about My Three Favourite posts challenge in the new Three Challenges Community started by @livinguktaiwan, a lady who thinks outside the box and the LooLoo, always hard at work at making Hive an even better space for newbies and oldies.
Which would I choose, was the burning question!
Hive makes searching through my Memory Bank such a breeze, but it still felt like I'd stepped into a maze, one filled with magical stops, some had become dim memories, but sprung back to life again when reading the posts and seeing photos that had not yellowed with age.
The three standout blogs for me all revolve around travel; and taking breakaways. One went down the south coast, another inland to the majestic Drakensberg Mountains, and the last one was a simple day's outing to a beautiful park on the outskirts of the city.
The very best unforgettable memories are made when we break away from everyday life to enjoy the wonder of the natural world around us, and the togetherness with friends and family.
Of course, my favourite blogs are those where I still had my darling man beside me.
These images are from three of my favourite blogs, and I will tell you why they are just some of the standouts.
Unwinding at Glenmore after a Stormy Year was the last real holiday hubby and I had together. Some of our favourite people were with us, it was a carefree week on the South Coast. We walked and talked, the men went fishing and we laughed. A lot!
Those who know me well, also know that the ocean was both hubby and my favourite escape. There is nothing like the sound of the waves lulling one to sleep, walking on the wet sand, smelling and feeling the fine cooling spray from the ocean.
Of course, we always rose early to see those awesome sunrises over the ocean.
I am so glad that we went to our favourite South Coast resort for our last breakaway, blissfully unaware that an even stormier year was waiting. It was a truly memorable week and something I will always treasure.
The Blue Grotto Drakensberg Hike is another favourite that means a ton to me.
It was to be the last breakaway with our son and his gal before they emigrated to the Netherlands, and their last one with Dad.
We were spoilt rotten, as usual; did all our favourite things that go with the Central Drakensberg.
The best was the togetherness, exploring the area, sitting around the fire at night and chatting about what was in store for their future. I still treasure the sight of father and son enjoying the togetherness and fly-fishing!
We showed the kids that we were still a little fitter than they thought when we went on the Blue Grotto hike, as we made it across the river from boulder to boulder, which was the point they thought we'd stop. We went up the steep pathway and made it to the waterfall, but not to the Grotto.
Hubby and I were very chuffed that we made it that far, and sat in silence, just listening to the sound of the waterfall, a very special time of togetherness, but unreal that he was still feeling fit then, and how soon that was to change!
I will always remember that as a time of tranquillity, deep conversations, and excitement about their big move away from their home country. I remember hubby telling them that they must never forget their roots and that they will always have a home to come back to.
We were excited, but also sad that we would not be able to get into our car for a six-hour drive and surprise them with an impromptu visit.
Hubby and I shared a very special time just eight months before he
He wasn't keen to go to 'the city park' but once there, he was just as entranced as I was on a previous visit with a friend. We hopped onto a golf cart and were given a tour of the gardens. The tour guide is a keen photographer and knew all the spots that made the best backdrop, so I have a load of memories from that on my Dropbox.
We walked and talked afterwards, he loved gardening, and had a keen interest in plants, but had not seen many of the exotic trees found in this park.
He was pleasantly surprised to find an oasis like this on the outskirts of the city centre, and so impressed that we took our best buddies there just over two weeks later.
I thoroughly enjoyed writing about our special time in this beautiful park, a green lung in the city, and a place where city dwellers can escape.
I've been promoting it to our BnB guests as well.
That is it for now, I'm a sentimental fool old gal, and have tons more 'favourite blogs' so I'm sure I will be back!
Thank you for this opportunity to revisit our favourite blogs, and to think about why we enjoyed writing a particular one; remember all the editing, and editing; again, and again, before hitting that publish button, which I'm sure many agree is the most gratifying feeling!
But the best is yet to come, and that is when the conversations start between fellow Hivers from all over the world.
There is no place like home Hive to store my forever memories!
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Artwork by @artywink