Wrapping Up January and this week...

Wanette had her birthday this week. Whoohoo! Congratulations again buddee! And I popped over on Wednesday after gym (yes…I’m still going) to give her her present and to wish her well. I didn’t have to sing (poor Wanette’s ears) as I did it earlier on the phone. She was out with her parents earlier for dinner but look in her other birthday suit (white linen I think…hahahahahah!).

This week was a lot more easy-going and I have to say that I felt more and more subdued the closer we got to Friday and my grandfather’s funeral. The funeral was held in Thabazimbi on a lovely sunny (34’C) day. It was of course a very emotional day especially seeing my grandmother’s grief. It was a long and sad day. My mom went through on the Thursday already to help out and spend some time with my gran so she asked me and my brother to drive her car back for her on Friday (my mom hates driving herself anywhere!). These are some pictures of the beautiful sunset that we saw on our way back…there was a storm brewing and initially the clouds looked like big purple bruises before the sun set them alight with shades of pink and gold. It was a good end to the day I think.

Saturday I spent with my old boarding school roommate Tania (a.k.a. Lofty) and her husband Hennie at their house in Pretoria for a prawn cook-out and some much needed girly talk. We have all been so busy that I haven’t managed to see them since their wedding middle of last year. This is a picture of Tania and another of her friends cleaning the prawns (I was supplying the moral support and wine). During the course of the day some of the conversation led to Tania and Monica who are both trying to get pregnant…I don’t know if it’s just my age group or what but it’s a conversation that I seem to be listening to a lot these days no

matter where I go. It feels like half the people I know are trying to have babies at the moment and almost all of them are having difficulties it seems. I sometimes wonder if this is a problem in general or if I just have a skewed impression because I know so many people who are having problems conceiving at the moment? Don’t get me wrong – I can get as broody as the next girl, but at the moment I just know a lot more about myths, gyenies, hormone treatments and sperm counts than I actually ever wanted to know. I think the husband may have felt a bit over-exposed talking about this because they took a two hour impromptu road trip to go and look for a cat that’s been missing for almost two weeks already. It a sensitive situation…luckily we did talk about plenty of other things too and had loads of fun playing rummy cup and 30 seconds! The girls ruled…of course.

Monthly update on resolutions:

One… Laugh…Love…Live

Difficult to give specific examples on this one but I feel that I did manage to do this quite well this month.

Two…Walk as often as possible…look at the sky ofte

n…enjoy the simple things…plan less and experience more…breathe deeply

I have walked a lot in the last month but I feel that I can still bump that up a notch or two so it’s on my to-do-more-seriously list for February. I looked at the sky often (and took photos mostly – what can I say I think the sky is beautiful), I enjoyed the simple things…I planned almost nothing and experienced loooads and I breathed deeply. So except for the walking I think this one is also under control.

Three…Study hard…be passionate in my thirst for knowledge again.

Although I have made some progress here I also feel this one needs more attention in the next month

Four…Listen

My ears are practically burning from all the listening I’ve done – this one is well and truly checked for January.

Five…Do enough yoga to master the four-legged-table position.

Yes…uhm…well. I have done no yoga whatsoever I have to admit. I actually considered trying to catch up before compiling this summary but I figured you can’t rush these things and I would probably just end up hurting myself and ruling it out for February too that way. Well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. On the to-do-more-seriously list too for this month.

Six…try new things…be unafraid

I’m trying to think if there was any occasions where I could live this one out and all I can come up with is that I was tricked into stating my resolutions in my broken (extremely broken…borderline sacrilege really) French on Les Malin, and instead of turning tail and chickening out I did it. Okay the group’s gone almost entirely silent so I may have shocked them all into silence with exactly how incomprehensible I was – but still I tried. Another occasion that comes to mind is when we were down at the coast when I went walking on my own despite numerous warnings about how dangerous it is. I feel it was a calculated risk? Nothing happened and I did try and avoid very isolated stretches on the beach and even though I never encountered anything more threatening that the tiniest line of bluebottles I felt a moment of pure panic just before I trotted out along the sea on m

y own…but I still did it. Yay! Here’s to not being afraid of your own shadow or crime statistics in SA. I should probably try and keep a more complete record of this one because I specifically remember turning down any new experiences so far? So far so good…

Seven…Host an awesome theme party…make time for old and new friends.

The first party of this is still to be done, but the second part is well and truly checked. For my next trick I will attempt to balance better between this resolution and number three.

Well, that’s my wrap up for this week and this month! I hope everyone is having as much fun with 2007 as I am? Have a great week!

And this weeks quotes are...

It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day-to-day basis – Margaret Bonnano

A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on – John F. Kennedy (thanks Adam!)

I will live this day as if it is my last. And what then shall I do? Forgetting about yesterday neither will I think of tomorrow. Why should I throw now after maybe? Can tomorrow’s sand flow through the glass before today’s? Will the sun rise twice this morning? Can I perform tomorrow’s deeds while still standing in today’s path? Can I place tomorrow’s gold in today’s purse? Can tomorrow’s death cast its shadow backward and darken today’s joy? Should I concern myself over events which may never come to pass? No! Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday and I will think of it no more. – Og Mandino (The greatest Salesman in the World)

Sometimes, the best answer is a more interesting question – Terry Pratchett

The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it – James M. Barrie

Quotes...

The worst sin - perhaps the only sin - passion can commit, is to be joyless (Thanks Erno – Kwaaiplaas)

Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even – Horace (Thanks Erno)

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so – Douglas Adams (Last Chance to See)

A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a lifetime’s experience – Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

To know is nothing at all; to imagine is everything – Anatole France Thibault

One week in paradise...well, the south coast at least? ;-)

As I told you last week, our family had a little brake away to the south coast (Uvongo) and we just arrived home today back from our welcome brake.

We had a great relaxing time…swimming and of course long walks on the beach…lots of family time…sleeping…playing cards and generally doing nothing.

It used to be that when you went down to the south coast that you got to see a hoard of
monkeys at least at some stage of your stay but this year I didn’t see any. Instead we were visited by a whole bunch of dassies who took a particular liking to the succulents growing in front of our flat and absolutely loved sunning themselves on the rocks just outside the gate on the path leading down to the beach.

The are
supposed to be fairly timid and skittish creatures but these ones have obviously been fed by some tourists in the past because they almost come when you call them and continuously try to sneak into the house. My dad eventually had to chase one out with a chair…to my mom they are just biggish rats, and will under no circumstances be allowed in the house!

We took a day to go and see the new(ish) aquarium at Durban called Ushaka Marine World. The whole thing is built to look like an enormous shipwreck and the tanks are set up so that you have excellent visibility of all the marine animals. I took more than a hundred photos but I’m sure you’ll swear at me if I had to put them all on here? So here are just a few of my favourites…

Other than that I also managed to drag the parents out to the beach one morning to see the sunrise with me. My plan was head down at about 5am and initially my mom said that she

wanted to come along, and then my dad also joined it but according to him the sun already starts rising at 4:30…so at 4:15 we set out for the rocks next to the jetty (only because we couldn’t get to the swim beach due to unforeseen – by us at least – high tide which had cut us off from it), and then sat round waiting for quite some time …until 5:18 to be exact for the actual sun to rise. It was still beautiful and well worth the walk and the early start. And once we saw it we calmly walked all the way back home and rewarded ourselves with a few more hours of sleep for our effort. Here’s a picture of the sunrise as seen at 5:18 on the rocks of Uvongo!

I have to admit that even after a fantastic week like this it’s great to be home. Tigger was waiting for me in anxiously and has not left my side for a second since we returned…poor baby.

Hope you all enjoy your week ahead – this week is the return of serious to my world, so next week’s update will not have nearly so many pictures I guarantee it!

Some sad news too...

My grandmother’s husband passed away this week from a heart attack following treatment in a Pretoria hospital for cancer over the last few months.

Oom Jan was only a part of our family, he was always good to my grandmother and he was very much like a grandfather to me.

A good man – he will be missed a lot.

(A picture of Oom Jan and my Grandmother)

trouble posting...

I am having a very had time posting and loading pictures…not sure if it’s on my side or Blogger’s. The weekly update will be late because of this. Sorry!

Quotes of the week...

You must be the change you wish to see in the world – Mohandas Gandhi (thanks Adam!)

Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes – Oscar Wilde (thanks Adam!)

He who praises everybody, praises nobody – Samuel Johnson (thanks Adam!)

What we learn to do, we learn by doing – Aristotle

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be – Douglas Adams (The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul)

Taking a break from doing nothing...

I’ve been taking it fairly easy since Christmas truth be known…I mean I have all my study books, schedules and so on and I’ve even knocked out an assignment two months early – but no real pressure yet if you know what I mean? I’ve been so relaxed I haven’t even bothered taking down the tree yet…*sigh* but I’ll do it next week or so… I’ve mostly sepnt some quality time with my cat Tigger (see attached)…and online of course ;-).

Although I have not been a complete slouch…there are those new years resolutions to keep in mind you know? I have made a first appearance at the gym for 2007 with my friend Annelie – and just to prove that I was actually there I actually took a picture of it. (I was extremely pleased that my membership card still worked I’ll have you know!).

Also had a great day visiting with my friend Louelle and her pooches on Wednesday, where she introduced me to the slinky hose…I can’t put that picture up sorry…a promise is a promise! But here’s one of her and Castro (the new puppy…very sweet). Nikita was feeling a bit camera shy…so no pics of her this week.

On Thursday the heavens opened up over Johannesburg…and just for you guys who might think that all of Africa looks like a desert here is a picture of the street I live in during the rain…see all the trees, mmmm? Actually I’ve heard it said a couple of times that Johannesburg is supposed to be the biggest man made forest around? I thought it was a well established fact but John told me he had never heard that rumour so I thought it would be agood idea to get the word out…now you know? You can wow all your friends at dinner parties with this bit of useless trivia…I think it might be true too? I definitely heard it on the radio at least once?

On Friday Simone’ invited me to her work’s Christmas beach party - No! No! - Not an early start for 2007! Apparently they were simply too busy to have it last year so they decided to kick of this year with festivities instead.

Seems like a great plan to me, and how nice that they didn’t boot me out for not working there? This is actually her second office party that I attend, so maybe some people there think that I actually work there?

After the party I went to Tiaan and Marizca’s place for dinner. You guys rock! We had so much food it almost felt like Christmas again…wow! I really had a lot of fun guys, let’s do this more often? And your puppy is super-cute too…big black Labrador called Jessie that just wanted to nibble my feet and wrestle me for the best spot on the couch. She actually reminds me soo much of a black lab that I used to have called Pieter. I think me and Jessie just bonded straight away. I didn’t get a good pic of Jessie but here are some nice ones of Tiaan and Marizca…she’s cooking in this one and he’s sitting on a computer box fixing a computer! He’s not sitting on the floor cause they were recently burgled or anything (even though they were), but because at Tiaan and Marizca’s everything happens close to the ground…they are a down to earth couple you could say…;-) I like sitting on the floor so I absolutely love the way that everything is set up there. Thank you guys for welcoming me into your home and for being such great friends!

I had just gotten home from a nice relaxing and fun evening with my friends when I had to pack and get ready for our little impromptu family vacation. Well, truthfully – not that impromptu for the rest of the family, but I only let myself be convinced to go a few days ago so it was still pretty impromptu for me. Long roadtrip – see the picture! And eventually we arrived at the beautifull beach of Uvongo.

This is a picture of the lagoon and waaaaay in the corner you can make out the roaring waterfall…well look closely and you should be able to!

This is the view from our patio looking doen on the beach and sea…

This is a picture of my dad on the rocks when we took a stroll along the caost line today…

This is a pic of me and my baby brother on the beach this morning…

These is a pics of palm trees which just makes this feel so tropical… *sigh - bliss*

We’ll be here until next week Sunday so I should have even more pictures for you on next week’s update. I feel a little bit guilty for taking abreak from doing almost nothing. But I did bring my books along and if I can stay awake and off the beach for long enough I might actually open them and try my hand at another assignment while we’re here. I think it’s the fresh air and the sound of the waves breaking so close – but I am having a really hard time staying awake here…so relaxing…

I hope that you will all have a great week ahead – see you soon!

Brand new quotes for this week...

It's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission – Brom: Eragon (Thanks Adam)

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail – Ralph Waldo Emerson (Thanks Adam!)

Vain attempts to imitate others no longer will I make. Instead I will place my uniqueness on display.. – Og Mandino (The Greatest Salesman in the World)

Nothing stands out so conspicuously, or remains so firmly fixed in the memory, as something which you blundered – Cicero (Jodi Picoult:Vanishing Acts)

All animals except man know that the ultimate of life is to enjoy it – Samuel Butler (Dolphin Encounters Info)

Easy does it...

After the hectic socialising of the last few months I am actually a little relieved to say that this week has been very easy going and relaxed…That’s the nice way of saying I am a lazy cow who needs her butt kicked to get going!

New years: first off new years was really nice – but unlike the normal new years bash that I’ve been part of in the past. To give you an example: the new year’s before this one we spent at the club and I was silly enough to be one of the last people to try and get off the dance floor when midnight struck…every single person in the club had their own bottle of champagne and I was showered in it…it smelled horrible and my hair was instantly transformed into a giant candy floss like dread lock! This year I went to a combination house warming/ new year’s braai at Wanette’s new house. A very pretty place where I am sure she will be extremely happy…(and loads of parking – which is something I love). We braai-ed chicken and fish (pic included) and attempted to empty a huge crate of booze that they had collected during the course of the year in the form of exotic bite sized cocktails. Good company, good food, and at midnight a magnificent view of the entire area and all the illegal fireworks (probably some legitimate ones too). Since fireworks have been outlawed for people who are not qualified to use them they have become a lot harder to source and this year also saw the arrival of pretty red emergency flares (still very available). I actually preferred that…not so noisy and it bathed the world in a warm and soft red light for much longer than the normal showier stuff.

Also I have noticed this week that my garden is taking on a life of it’s own! I started out with 8 bonsai and a little corner herb garden…this is a picture of my corner now! I received quite a lot of plants as gifts and my mom has given me a whole trolley full of ferns to rescue too. I am going to have to relook my set-up to accommodate all the new comers soon. Still…it’s nice to be surrounded by green!

Other things that happened this week is that I went to go see Eragon with Freddy and Adam…the company was brilliant as always… the movie however was a complete let down. Very erratic camera and music work with a really weak plot. Don’t go there! If you feel that you just HAVE to see it, I recommend catching it on TV (the free variety if you can).

Over this weekend I also took it nice and easy. I went text book shopping with Freddy on Saturday and had a nice Sunday lunch at *Esmerelda* and Jacobus’ place today. I’ll leave you with a nice sunset picture that I took on my drive home from there today and wish you a nice second week for 2007 from sunny South Africa. (How are you doing on your resolutions?)