Hello to you all, dear fellows!  I’m about ready to surface again after the most difficult time in my whole life.

 My life is still very much “deurmekaar”.  I like a routine to live by but at present it’s a case of do what my hand finds to do.  I have so many things to do as I’ve fallen behind, especially as far as work is concerned.  Most days I just sit and do nothing but worry about all the the things I have to do.  I do not understand myself.  Something, the will to live, died in me when my wife passed away.  But I realise I must go on, for the sake of my kids, my clients and my friends. And maybe even for myself.

As far as snuffing is concerned, I only take one or two pinches a day.  I mainly smoke my pipes of which I now have 50.  I don’t even know many different tobaccos I have, must be around 30 or 40.  I still have tons of snuff as I’ve kept every single tin and box.  I also have some fresh tobacco which I’ve harvested myself and on which I must still work.

I’m planning to take a short break away from home and office as soos as I’ve tidied up things.  Hopefully that will be by end March or early April.  I’ve put on a lot of weight last year, reaching 118kg. I could not ride my bikes because of my wife illness and that’s why I got so fat.  I’m down to 103kg now and still working on it. I would like to reach 98kg soon as I’m planning to take part in some mountain bike events again this year.  First one will be the Argus Mountain Bike Challenge on the 3rd of March for which I’ve already entered.  I’m looking forward to it although I know I’m going to suffer because I’m so unfit. But it will get better in time.

I want to thank all of you for your support.  I received numerous PM’s from old and new friends, inviting me to talk. Thank you so much for that.  I’ve received a generous sample of Abraxas (?) from Snuffster and, thank you for  that as well. I love the stuff and take a few pinches every couple of days. Lovely stuff, all the way.

I’m ready to make a comeback, that’s if I still may? 

Once more, a big thank you to each and everyone of my friends here on forum.  I still love all of you!!

Cheers

Pieter

Welcome back Pieter!  

I’m glad you are here.

Pieter, dear friend, you don’t need to ask. You are always welcome back here. I’m quite glad to see you here and I was a bit worried about you. However, you coming back here shows to me that you are moving in the right direction of recovery. Healing oneself of grief is a lifelong process, but one must have the will to do so. I would strongly encourage you to get on the bikes again. For me, nothing else puts my mind in a state of tranquility than a long bike ride. After my father died, and while he was sick, that was one of the few places I found peace.

So glad you are doing well … thoughts are with you … glad you are back.

Welcome back, Pieter. We missed you!

Welcome back pieter.

Welcome back Pieter.

Glad to see you back Pieter!

Welcome back Pieter, your posts are missed by me as well, bit of a lurker though I am.

Welcome back, my friend.  I am overjoyed at your return. to the forum and a more normal lifestyle.

@PieterClaassen

Welkom terug. Ek hoop dat jy goed is. Ek mis jou poste hier op sunffhouse.org en sien uit daarna om jou gedagtes weer te sien. My meegevoel vir jou verlies. Jy is onder vriende hier wat sal jou help om vorentoe te beweeg.

Nightcap…

There are lot of us here now that are grooving on pipe smoking too. Glad to see a post here from you. I was getting a bit concerned. I just picked up a mountain bike myself. Good for us to be back on them for sure. I may be asking for some of your expertise on them soon. Anyway, drag up a few old posts why don’t you. They are just waiting for your comments.

Don’t know you well, but I’ve been wondering when you’d show up again! Nice to see you’re back Pieter. Good luck on the mountain biking! I do a decent amount of cycling myself.

Pieter, our old friend, you will ALWAYS be welcome here, to post everyday, once in a while or just to sit and read - you are part of the site and will be for as long as the site is around. I am very sorry for your loss, we all are, but it is great that you have come back; just take it at your own pace. I am glad you liked the Abraxas - as long as I make it you will have a supply.

Good to see you here Pieter!! Good luck on your upcomming Argus Mtn Challenge. You are already a ‘winner’ just by entering! Looking forward to hearing how it goes!

Welcome back, Pieter! Glad you have chosen the high road instead of the low. Missed you!

Welcome back, Pieter, you have been sorely missed, and many thoughts and prayers have been sent your way. It hasn’t been quite the same here without you.

It is heartening news that you are going to get back on the bike, the best of luck for your challenge. I hope your break does you the world of good, and I look forward to seing you around here again. xxx

Thanks for the update Pieter. You have been missed and often thought of. Hearts can share a loss halfway round the world. They say time heals all but what if you don’t want to be fixed? The will to go on will grow and joy can return, there is no timetable, so don’t beat yourself up. Thanks for the update Pieter.

Welcome back!

You have to ask? You have been missed and our collective thoughts have been with you.

Pieter, great to have you back here and posting again, I know I’m not alone in saying I’m missed your wit, wisdom and insight in your absence. I’m so sorry to hear you speak of your loss and the difficulties you’ve experienced in re-adjusting to life after your bereavement, it must have been (and must still be) a hellish time for you. In your absence, I’ve found myself getting more and more engrossed in pipe smoking (partially inspired by your enthusiasm on the subject!), building an ever-growing collection of estate pipes that I’ve enjoyed refurbishing myself, and amassing a small but increasing tobacco cellar. We’ve all missed you-great to see you posting again!

Welcome home again.

Blij dat je weer terug bent en dat weer fietst. Keep up the good work!

Jaap Bes.

Pieter,

Need we say more?

Welcome back Pieter stay strong!

There has been a Pieter sized hole in the forum since you have been gone. I am glad to see you back.

I knew you would return,you just needed your time away.  Welcome back Pieter.

Welcome back, Pieter.

Welcome back.

edm

Welcome back!

Grief is a process and we don’t get through it overnight. Allow us the privelege of offering as much moral support as we can.

Glad to see you’ve decided to come back Pieter.  

Welcome back!

 It is very nice to meet you Pieter.

Welcome back!

Pieter,

It is so good to see your post!

I have had a hard time logging in for some reason, it’s been a while.  Happy to see you.

Good for you, getting back on the bikes!
All the best,

Jeff

Of course. And grieving is a personal process. That works on what ever you need to do, be alone hangout hangout online it’s all good. Well it all helps if you follow your instincts on it.

Good to see you again, Pieter; you have been missed!

Welcome back Pieter!

Glad to see you’ve returned!

I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, I feel at home already!  I missed you a lot but it was very difficult to start “moving out” again.  You made it so much easier for me.

A big THANK YOU once more.

glad we can help. It’s one of the better parts of being human, being able to help our fellows and give them comfort and support.

The same from me, good to see you back.

Welcome back Pieter! it’s great to see you on the forum once more.

Hi Pieter, I am very sorry for your loss. I am new in this world and is nice to see how this forum is part of your lives. I am not capable to say welcome back, but I can say it was nice to read your post and to have you around.

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

Tomorrow I will ride my first mtb event in more than a year.  And it has to be the gruelling  Argus Pick 'n Pay Mountain Bike challenge.  I’m doing the short 25km event but still, I know what’s waiting for me.

If I’m still in one piece by tomorrow night, I will tell you how it went. Watch this space!!!

Good luck!

+1 … Good Luck Pieter!

Good Luck Pieter!

 It’s good to see people with courage who perservere even when times are tough. Pleasure to meet you.