Home - Kate + Ginger

What My Sick Days Taught Me About Real Rest (It’s Not What You Think)

This morning, before I’d even opened my eyes, I knew.Not from a calendar reminder or a “you’re due for a flare-up” ping. Just the weight of my own body. Heavy. Cement-heavy. Fire-in-my-veins heavy. Welcome to the delightful surprise party that is chronic illness. No...

Autumn in Stellenbosch: A Healing Season for Trauma Recovery

Discover how the beauty of autumn in Stellenbosch mirrors the trauma healing journey—with fire-red trees, grounding sensory experiences, and permission to slow down and let go.

Kate

I’ve spent two decades navigating chronic illness, mental health, and self-recovery. This blog is where I share what’s real—no perfection, just honesty, growth, and community. You’re not alone here.

Aging Like a Woman: The Invisibility Spell They Cast at 40

A raw, honest take on how the anti-aging industry and societal beauty standards conspire to make women over 40 feel invisible, and why it’s time we burn the spellbook.

The Quiet Feels Different Without Bugs

My dog, Bugsy, is at my mum’s this weekend. He’s being absolutely spoiled, no doubt about that. She’s probably made him scrambled eggs and is reading him bedtime stories while feeding him snacks off a Royal Doulton plate. He’s living the high life. I know he’s happy. I know she adores having him. And he loves her too.

Learning to Respect a Body That Doesn’t Always Feel Lovable

There are days my body feels like a battlefield.Days when getting out of bed is a full-contact sport.Days when nothing fits right, nothing looks right, and my reflection feels like it belongs to someone else — someone heavier, sicker, older, and more broken than the...

“You Don’t Look Disabled”: The Reality of Living with an Invisible Illness

Today, I had a horrible experience in town — and sadly, it’s one that many people with invisible disabilities know all too well. I parked in a disabled bay. I’m allowed to. I live with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic, degenerative illness that affects me every...

Movement That Heals: The Benefits of Walking in Nature

Some mornings, everything feels heavy. My body aches. My mind spins. The noise of the world — the pressure, the pain, the never-ending to-do lists — builds up. And then I take my dog, Bugsy, and we walk along the river. It’s nothing dramatic. No intense cardio. No...

Nutrition for Real People – The Braai Edition

You haven’t really tasted life until you’ve eaten something that’s been kissed by flame and flipped by someone who calls everyone "dude"—even their dog. That, dear reader, is the essence of the braai. I’ve been standing by a fire for over 30 years, tongs in one hand,...