Thunderstorms, rain and hail hit the South this Easter weekend with many residents affected. Some had their homes flooded, their gardens destroyed and even though it was terrible here in the South of Johannesburg, my heart goes out to KwaZulu-Natal residents.
To all those who have lost loved ones, their homes and are having to come to terms with their terrible losses, I really feel for you. Ridiculously, I was upset some of my shrubs had been left with hardly any foliage due to hail which battered our complex, but as I began to hear of the terrible events unfolding in KZN I felt so bad.
If you were one of the fortunate ones not affected I’m sure you enjoyed the four-day break. On Easter Monday we went to Mall of the South’s Exclusive Books and you know the year is flying by when the calendars are being sold with 50 percent off the full price. Scary hey how fast this year is going!
ALSO READ: WATCH: Hailstorm leaves Joburg South homeowners with thousands worth of damages
The end of an era
I think I’ve known in my heart for quite some time the Bag Lady column could come to an end and I’m afraid this has happened! I could carry on writing it just for online, but quite honestly I think most of you who read it, read it in the newspaper.
I can’t quite remember when I wrote my first Bag Lady column, but I think it was about 14 years ago. I began the column with great excitement as I was fed up with all the bad and dreary news that went into the newspapers and thought the readers needed some light reading.
Very soon I made myself a lot of Bag Lady followers and I certainly made many good friends through my column. I hasten to add I became quite a “celebrity” and was often stopped in shopping centres and asked: “Are you the Bag Lady?”
After a while I knew I was onto a winner and the popularity of the column grew. Readers would often say my column was the only thing worth reading in the paper, others said it was the first page they turned to. I even had a few men followers and John Curran, who sadly died nearly four years ago, was a firm favourite.
If, and it wasn’t very often, my column didn’t appear, he would complain bitterly. I’ve often thought of him up in heaven sitting in an armchair reading my column.
To all of you who have been followers and have become friends, thank you. You’ve made my life that much richer and it’s with sadness that my column is coming to an end this week.
I wish you all happy shopping days and I know I’ll be seeing you around, probably in the malls, where all good people meet!
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, but the friendships I’ve made along the way will carry on.
With that said – shop till you drop!
Julie
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
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