Got my baby back...

Well yup! I've got my laptop back but it don't help when you don't have all the necesary programs !!!! How do I know this is going to be a looooong and frustrating process????

Seems they may have been able to retrieve most of my stuff... The one thing they could not find at all... My e-mails and e-mail addresses... So if any of you want to get in touch privately ;-) then you're going to have to send me an e-mail with your address attached as I don't have a single e-mail address left in my contacts!!!! Although I can't yet get into my e-mail provider cos Paul has'nt sent me all the paswords for my stuffs yet ... (I'm still using Kelsey's laptop cos at least this has access to the net)

Oh I hate being so computer illiterate!!!! I don't have my Publisher, my Adobe Photoshop, my printer set up and I can't even find Google (how sad is that????) But on the bright side I probably have all my photos - that's if I can find where the dude has stored them lol!!!!

Now I really have to learn to 'backup' and that has nothing to do with reverse on my car !!! :->

Had a bit of a hectic week this week (these days what's new?)
Went to see Maxo Specialist on Monday got the run down (this is the simplified version) on how they gonna cut open my gum... add a piece of bone... stitch me back up and leave it to 'knit together' for 3 months !!! Then they gonna stick a screwy tooth in !!! (What another screw to go loose in my head!) lmao!!!

I helped out at school Tuesday and Wednesday with the Speech & Drama festival... that was really good... The talent some of these kids have and the fact that so many of them tried really hard... I'm glad all I was doing was 'gofer work' I could never had been a judge!!! I was so proud of my boy though... He said his poem word perfect and he got an A. !!! (he's not supposed to know his mark till the end of the Festival - the advantage of being a helper!!!)

Now did I moan somewhere about lack of sleep??? and planning a loooong lie in this weekend (talk about counting yer chickens!!!) Seems Kelsey's back on the rugby squad and he's been moved up to 2nd Team (maybe his mouthy mum didn't do that much damage after all lmao!!)

So they played Rugby on Wednesday afternoon against Ashley Primary (they lost but that team was really rough!!! A good few high tackles there!) And on Saturday (meet at 7am at school !!!! aaargh!!!) we have a local derby (Hillcrest vs Kloof) big rivals apparently !!! (another school that takes it's primary school rugby a little too seriously in my humble opinion) So I guess I'll try for that lie in next of next week !!!! Mind you only 4 more weeks of school and we have a long holiday !!! (I'll struggle on till then - fight the good fight what eh!)

Ok and before I forget ' Happy Birthday' to BNM1 and Wishy Washy for this week... I did drop a something in the post ... maybe a bit late???

Quiet Weekend - what's that???

So much for the idea that I'd get a lie in on Sunday and have a quiet day.!!! No chance...

Seems like sometime in the week I'd spotted the Pietermaritzburg Royal Show mentioned in a paper or on a poster or something, I said something about it being 18years since I'd last been!!! Then the idea was brought up again over the weekend... I said 'well it would have been fun to go but as the Comrades is on Sunday and the roads will all be closed etc. etc. (good enough excuse not to get up early and go!!! or so I thought...It's not that I like sleep a lot but as we get up at 5.30am every morning thru the week and I don't sleep that well anyway, I tend to look forward to my lie ins on the weekend!!!)

June says "We always get up early to watch Comrades and as long as we get across to the other side of the main road before 8am we'll be able to go to 'Maritzburg!" So how do I get out of that one ??? Well bye! bye! lie in for this week... But hey I started the day out moaning 'cos of the early start and lack of sleep... but we actually had a really good day... even Kelsey agreed he'd like to go again next year, so it had to be good...

We were all shattered when we got back but a nice shattered...

Bye! Bye! House Guest...

So it was up early this am and the House Guest had bags packed and off we went to the airport... She's off on the next leg of her journey ... to Cape Town. Safe Journey and have fun...

It has been nice having someone else to chat to - someone with (some) of the same hobbies and interests as mine!!! Also sometimes nice to have another point of view and opinion!!! l.o.l Plus now when I'm going on about 'stuff' at least I know there's someone else out there that understands...

When I got back from the airport mum was already back in 'her room'. The way the house is laid out - mum very kindly moved into Kelsey's room so our House Guest could have some privacy - the rest of the house is all open plan and you have to walk thru Kelsey's bedroom to get to mine. Kelsey had shared my room with me so the ladies each had their own room... but he talks in his sleep and he even tried to steal my pillows one night !!!! So hurray! it's him back in his own room tonight and everything back to as normal as normal can be here !!! lmao...

The rest of the weekend looks pretty dull now compared to the hectic week I've just had...

Oh! tomorrow we've got all those crazy Comrades runners passing us on our highway - if you happen to watch sports etc. or even the news keep your eyes and ears open for mention of any places like Assegay, Gillitts, Hillcrest, Kloof, Fields Hill, these are all places around us. June and Irena are daft enough to get up early so they can get a good spot to see the runners come past, it is quite a sight and very inspirational to see all these athletes and their supporters, people come from all over the world to run the Comrades Marathon (89 km's are they mad!!! I won't be there I'll be having a lie in tomorrow, dreaming about running my own marathon :-)!!!

Pleased to say got the builders back working on the 'slab' of the Granny Flat this week... with all the holidays we've had and Bruce needing his guys for a few other things, works kinda ground to a halt over the last fortnight, but they will be back again next week... Hopefully we'll see some more movement on the buildings again... Mum does keep wondering if she'll live long enough to see the buildings complete!!!!

Next week school has a Speech & Drama festival on and all the kids are encouraged to take part in some aspect of the festival... They get extra credits for taking place... Kelsey has been learning a fantastic poem that we found (author unknown) I'll post it on the blog thru the week so you can read it... Well that stupid right arm of mine got carried away again when they asked for some mum's to help!!!!! (Next meeting I'm wearing a sling to keep it strapped down!!! lol) So I'll be busy helping out at school again next week... well I can't say I'm bored now that our guest has left eh? .:-0

Wow the weeks almost over again

Boy doesn't time fly when you're having fun ????

And even more so when you're kept busy too... It's always great to see familiar places thru someone else's eyes... The House Guest has got my A. in G. and I've actually been visiting places that I said we'd visit since we got here 9 months ago... Mum's also probably had her busiest week yet too... We've had a hectic but fun time... I know A. is on her way to Cape Town tomorrow for a rest !!!! l.m.a.o

Wednesday saw us at one of our local Malls - The Pavillion in Westville (looks exactly like Meadow Hall but with different shops) Mum didn't join us cos she was shattered from her busy Monday and Tuesday so she took a day off. A. and I had a leisurely stroll around the shops, learnt a few new things about each other (our likes and dislikes!!!)

I've always said you don't really get to know someone till you've slept and had breakfast with them .... lol!!!

Thursday started with a slight problem - my teeth AGAIN (some of you will know all the previous horror stories) well looks like I'm going to have another chapter to add to that already expensive story - seems I have a 'hairline crack' in my top jaw which has caused 2 of my caps to loosen and fall out!!! Now I have to go see a Maxillo Facial Specialist cos they may have to operate and put 'staples' into my jaw to stop the crack getting any bigger!!!! (nothing I do is ever simple or straight forward!!! I'll keep you posted)

Anyway I'm pleased to say the day got so much better later on, we (including mum today) took a drive up Botha's Hill into the Valley Of 1000 Hills, stunning scenery and breathtaking views, even though it was a bit hazy (I promise lots of photos soon) and we called into pheZulu, 'safari park' (now last time we were there about 6 years ago it was a crocodile/snake farm- changed a bit I have to say and for the better) One thing I learned about my House Guest that I didn't know before was that it was one of her dreams to see Giraffe in the wild - I'd told her at the beginning of the week not much chance of that cos we don't have 'true African' wildlife like that nearby!!!

Oh how wrong was I??? pheZulu now has a 'game drive' and we went on it and saw Zebra, Wildebeest, Impala and of course Nick and Nicola the Giraffes !!! (It was like having a kid in a candy store !!!! A. was just soooo excited l.o.l) Mum thoroughly enjoyed herself too cos she's never really been on a 'game drive' and to see all these animals so close and not afraid of us humans... In fact we've decided that when her mate Bella comes over at Christmas this would be something she would enjoy too... so Bella gotta get your flights sorted now....

Once I get my head around KB's computer and his photo program I'll try to get some photos on blog or facebook for you see what we saw. The weather was perfect and the day turned out just great too, I think a good time was had by all, Kelsey was jealous cos he says he never gets to do fun things like that ... so I guess we'll be game driving again soon... one weekend with him.

Well time running out now for our HG, we put her on a plane tomorrow to Cape Town as she's visiting folks she knows down there too... and phew! next week I can probably get back to my boring non - eventful life (fat chance of that - there's always something l.m.a.o)

OOOOOps another apology

I can't believe that I could forget the same thing twice and almost in the same week!!!! But this time I have a much better excuse ....

Tuesday Craft Ladies - it was all her fault, she kept me too busy to send you a message, she's a slave driver --- :-) Running me ragged she is...L.M.A.O (you all know who I'm talking about)

We were both sitting here blogging when suddenly I realised it was Tuesday night and you had had your Craft Day today and I had completely forgotten to send you my jealousy monkeys too... so now I have to keep them all to myself (no I'll share a few with A.) until next month...

If I had some crafting for us to do I would be able to lie to you all and tell you we were crafting with you in 'Africa' (how funny am I???) But I did take her to a couple of craft shops in the area today so that was the next best thing eh?... I'm sure she'll fill you all in when she gets back...

On Monday we all went to Kloof (a nearby suburb) where we shopped and ate... then we all went to line dancing , I'm sure A. has some video footage that maybe I should edit!!! (some things should just not be shown in public !!! )

Today is our usual food shopping day (pensioners day!!!) so I thought I'd subject A. to one of our rituals ... (how exciting is that - food shopping) but I'm told it was interesting to compare products and prices (maybe we have a bit more in common than I thought, I happen to prefer food shopping to clothes etc... shoes now that's a different subject all together l.m.a.o)

We also visited Heritage Market which is a selection of 'nicky nacky' and ethnic kinda shops. I enjoy 'tappy lappy - ing' around places like that and the weather was gorgeous so it was a really good day again today!!! Like I said 'run of my feet I am' ha! ha! ha!

What another weekend over...

Well what can I say - other than it's gone by in a flash...

Kelsey went to his school disco on Friday night and apparently had a blast!!! ;-) Can't wait for the next one !!!!

Saturday morning woke early and I tidied up a bit cos I had to pretend we lived in some kinda semblance and order for when the house guest (HG) arrived ... lol... Looks can be so deceiving ha! ha! Got the text message to say the Eagle had Landed in Jo'burg ... funny I thought she was more like sparrow.... !!! lmao... :-)

Bugger me if her flight wasn't early phew!!! just made it to the airport on time (don't tell her how close it was) !!!!lol

I actually can't believe that she is finally here, to be honest I didn't think today was ever going to happen, but it's so nice to have someone here from 'home' and someone who 'understands' my language... (Crafts, Chocolate and Wine!!!)

Poor HG didn't even have time to gulp down a cuppa coffee before we were rushing her off to the stables for Kelsey's lesson... well at least we could show her a couple of our local wild life, spiders and things ....

The rest of the afternoon we played catch up, eventually after our usual Saturday night Pizza we all crashed into bed... and not a peep was heard from anyone!!!! :-))

This morning we had breakfast outside while we debated whether the weather was going to be kind to us or not and then we were off out - first we visited Krantzkloof Gorge and took some stunning photos as usual (can't put on blog cos I'm not using my own computer, and don't ask !!!)

Then we took a ride along the south coast and went to Umhlanga Beach... where we parked up in one of the local hotels, had a great lunch whilst sitting on the beach front, and then HG took a paddle in the Indian Ocean and Kelsey went swimming and boogie boarding... overall it was a lovely day... a quick (3hour) visit to my brothers for a cuppa, onto Spur for Steak Dinner and home to bed ... Hope she wasn't expecting a quiet holiday ... not in this house LMAO!!!loudly

What else this week???

Well other than running around panicking about my laptop, I started the week out fairly productively ... gotta tidy up and make some space for a visitor that is due on Saturday .... !!! :-)

Been doing more stock taking ... but that's gone now!!! (not the stock just the hard work writing it all down!!!, sorry, really feeling sorry for myself...) How stoopid am I found my Cuttlebug in a box but not the handle or the cutting plates !!!!

Met up with some gals that are interested in Scrapping on Tuesday night, my accountant a.k.a Personal Department of Information (lol) introduced me to them some time back, but as I had no computer and no photos.... !!! I sat and knitted... seems I've now got some of them started on knitting some scarves for winter... hope I get me some commission from the wool shop!!!

Went to a Birthday Coffee & Cake morning this am, one of the mum's from school, (did'nt take my kntting this time) very nice, yummy cakes and stuffs !!! But now I think she's set a president ... T.G. my birthday was back in April, I've got another year before it's my turn, any way my excuse is I don't have my own house YET!!!... Who knows at the rate we're going I may not have it for next year either... L.M.A.O !!!!

Kelsey not played Rugby this week ... wonder why????? lol...... So not too busy on that front ... !!!But he's going to a Disco tomorrow night, organised by the school for Gr6 & 7 kids. 6pm - 10pm and parents don't have to be there !!!! Now he wants a new outfit ... I thought only girls were like that ????? Help! I've got me a fashion diva!!!! lol lots .... :-0 Will keep you all posted ...

Visitor - Safe journey and I'll be at the airport on Saturday to collect you (and all the stuff Paul has filled your suitcase with l.o.l )

CRASH & BURN

The worst possible, horriblest thing that could ever happen to me ... MY LAPTOP HAS CRASHED AND BURNT... The 'hard drive' has gone (don't know where but I'd like it back please)!!!!! ;-(

T.G I have Kelsey's laptop and after only 2 nights of screaming and swearing (he needs it at school during the day) I have managed to find a way to get a message out to the world!!!! :-{

Apparently they don't now what's wrong with my HD but the data capture guy says it cud be cos I have too much stored on it??? (Paul says NOT) but I now feel like my arms, legs and eyes have all been taken away from me...

They may not even be able to capture everything that is on the HD. So I have to make a decision about what is most important (ALL OF IT) And before you ask - NO I do not have a back up. The only back-up I know is to put my car in reverse!!! Boo Hoo

So it cud be bye bye all photos that Paul does not have copies of i.e every photo that I have taken of the house and buildings, Kelsey at school, horse riding, rugby, Christmas 2008, etc. etc. etc.

EVERYONE READING THIS GO NOW AND BACK-UP YOUR PHOTOS !!!

How could I forget!!!

Forgot to mention ... Yesterday was also Mother's Day here in SA...

Kelsey woke me at 7.30am (thanks) to wish me Happy Mother's Day (he spent Saturday night at Uncle L's place - went with them after FFD) So sweet of him to phone!!! (I bet Uncle or Aunt had something to do with that! lol)

Then when I eventually dragged my sleepy butt out of bed this was waiting on the table for me... My darling hubby had arranged for these lovely flowers to be delivered/collected (whatever) specially for me from him and Kelsey. (Thanks my boys!!!)

The lavendar stuff - Kelsey had bought with the help of Granny.... so now I can pamper myself a bit too... :->

And thanks Granny and whoever else organised the flowers!!!

Family Fun Day aka FFD

Balloons if flight for the 'Grand Balloon Race'
Look at these lovely colourful tables for the tea garden ...
Getting the food tables ready for the mad dash!!!
Man has fire - will cook UUGH!! ;-)
The Inflatable Rides for the kids to enjoy.
Getting ready to let first 50 balloons go for the 'Grand Balloon Race'

And away they go don't they all look pretty...

Fly! Fly! you beauties...

Sorting out the second release...

Well.... where do I start???

Firstly with a bit of an apology, with all the craziness of FFD I forgot to send my best wishes and all my love and jealous monkeys to the Bolsover Saturday Craft Ladies ... I didn't forget about you, I just forgot about you!!! I did think about your craft day at about 6am our time (5am yours) then things just went their usual crazy way and poof 7pm I remembered again that I'd forgot to send at least one of you a message... Sorry gals hope you had a good one and hope Paul popped in and washed his own cup this time!!! lol... ;-)

OK onto FFD, well it all actually kicked off on Friday, The Mum's Committee (TMC) were sent from one side of town to tother collecting rolls, onions (my car still stinks), tomatoes and all sorts of other bits and pieces... We collected 1kg packs of bacon out of Kerry's boot at lunch time (!!!!) and we were all back at school from 4pm onwards - buttering rolls, slicing onions, tomatoes, lettuce washed and... and... and... Tables were set and moved and set again .... can you just feel the chaos???? ;-) But lots of laughing and the odd glass of wino consumed ... by the end of the night the butter was oil... (oops who left it in the microwave)

Once I got back home Friday night mum had very kindly grilled my packs of bacon for me (she wanted the fat for dripping bread so there was an ulterior motive!!!!) I pre-boiled 20kg of sliced onions for the hot dog and wors rolls (June and Irena have banned this practise from their house in the future - NEVER AGAIN we still stink of onions 3 days later!!!)

Saturday morning we were all up early - left the house at 7am. Unfortunately the sun did not show his happy face until after lunch time and then it was only for a short time... But that did'nt put us off, even though it was a bit chilly!!!

Lawrence, Penny and kids met us at the school - Lawrence was helping me with the Helium !!! I was so glad he was there because of course there was a problem with the bottle !!! So he dashed back to the suppliers to sort it all out for me (I luvs my bruvver for that kinda stuffs!)

Once the gas bottle got sorted out the rest of the day ran pretty smoothly (on the balloon stand) ... We actually sold a total of 84 balloons... (not bad considering the negativity from some about the whole idea !!! they have no sense of adventure !!! :-D)

After we'd let of our second batch of balloons we were pretty much finished on our stand, so everyone could have a wander around! We were sooo lucky we had the pancake stand next to ours so breakfast was the 'oopsies' and then by lunch time they had perfected their technique so we had to have more just to quality control of course !!!!

Silly me!!! but I'd put my name down to help out on the food tables for an hour.... !!! was there from 1.30pm till we shut up shop at 4pm .... Lots of cleaning up to do and stuff to sort out ... that's the worst part of the day I think. Packed as much of the 'dirty' stuff in my car and took it home to wash ... in hot soapy water ...

But overall I think a good time was had by all ... I crashed into bed exhausted at 8pm with my hot water bottle (i was frozen to the bone by this time) ... and slept right through ...

I'll keep you updated to the final feedback after the next TMC meeting and how much we raised for the school...

Oooops Mum Upsets Coach!!!

Yup I've gone and done it - opened my big mouth and probably blown Kelsey's chances of ever getting another rugby match in this school.... :-(

Some of you may not know me that well but I'm always one to fight for the 'underdog!'. In the past I have lost jobs, friends and many hours of sleep by opening my big mouth and standing up for a cause I've felt is JUST !!! (maybe I need to get this mouth of mine stitched shut!!!)

And lo I've done it again... Kelsey's team played rugby yesterday against Glenwood Prep and the kids had a great match, they played fantasticly well together and they WON... ;-) something like 38 - 0. But what got me up on my soap box was their 'coach' (don't slander now J this is going on the net!!!)

The kids score their first try within about 10 mins of the match and they all turn around for the 'support' they should be getting from their coach - AND HE'S NOT EVEN ON THE FIELD, NEVER MIND WATCHING THEIR GAME!!!! (The referee (from the opponents team) is coaching our kids on the field, telling them what they have to do next!!!)

When their coach does evetually 'honour' the kids with his presence, there's no words of encouragement, he's only screaming and shouting at them for not running fast enough or they're not in the right place or (negative, negative, negative) blah blah blah... The kids just look at him and then do their own thing anyway cos they finally pulling together as a team... ;-}

How do I know all this? Well I'm right there on the side line, camera and all, and when you're that close you hear EVERYTHING!!!

I just got so 'p'd' off cos these kids are running their asses off, working together and doing a great job and they get stuff all support or encouragement... Needless to say I did'nt keep my comments to myself and told 'everyone' what I thought about our crap coach !!!

What annoys me the most is that this is the 3rd match we've attended and it's the same each time. The opposition teams always seem to have at least 2 coaches per team and their coaches are running up and down the field during play with the kids shouting encouragement and support, even ' believe it or not' COACHING THEM from the side lines !!!

DO YOU THINK I'VE GOT A NEW CAUSE???

Wacky Week never mind just Wednesday

Here we are again... Mid week and guess what we're off to Rugby this afternoon, gotta make the ham sarmmies, get the flask of coffee (tea doesn't taste right in a flask), get the deck chair out for the old lady !!! (lsts) pack the car and probably get lost on the way to the match !!!! The fun!!!

I'm bound to take hundreds of photos again this afternoon so I'll post again later probably...

I've actually had a bit of a wacky week this week, the 'Mum's Committee' are all preparing for the 'FAMILY FUN DAY' on Saturday (I'll let you know just how much fun was had) so I've been busy all week (faint! I know) collecting boxes (don't ask!) balloon race forms (eh em!) and sifting thru other folks 'junk' for the White Elephant stall (seems it's a world wide phenomena, Anne B you're not the only one!!!) And on Friday we are preparing the catering for 5000!!! (that's how many they say turn up for this event - we'll see eh?, we might be eating burgers and hot dogs for a while!!!) LOL

This just about sums it up!!!!

This was a poem I was sent by a friend of mine and 'this just about sums it all up'!!!! lol... :-)

Forgetter Be Forgotten

My forgetter's getting better,

But my rememberer is broke

To you that may seem funny

But, to me, that is no joke

For when I'm 'here' I'm wondering

If I really should be 'there'

And, when I try to think it through,

I haven't got a prayer!

Oft times I walk into a room,

Say 'what am I here for?'

I wrack my brain, but all in vain!

A zero, is my score.

At times I put something away

Where it is safe, but, Gee!

The person it is safest from

Is, generally, me!

When shopping I may see someone,

Say 'Hi' and have a chat,

Then, when the person walks away

I ask myself, 'who the hell was that?'

Yes, my forgetter's getting better

While my rememberer is broke,

And it's driving me plumb crazy

And that isn't any joke.

Have a really great day !!!! ;-D