Hard to believe...

But here we are almost at the end of 2010 !!! and WOW is all I can say ...

I know I haven't blogged for a while, but I thought I'd better put a few lines together to see this unusual year out ....

No I'm not going to bore everyone with the story of my year ... regular readers will know most of it ... all I have to do is fill you in on what's been happening this last month ... and then we're all up to date ...

I can hardly believe that only 1 more week and Paul returns to England AGAIN !!! 5 weeks gone in a flash !!!

So this month has seen ...

Kelsey finishing (1st in his class I might add) Primary School for the 2nd time in his life LOL ... when you consider 2 years ago he finished Primary School in England ... we have an incredibly exciting New Year ahead for him ... going to High School ... joining the big pond !!! LOL

Still go a few bits and pieces to sort out for him before he starts ... like uniforms and his school stationary !!! I waited as late as possible for the uniforms cos he has lost soooo much weight.

We decided to stay at home in KZN for December this year ... we've hardly seen anything of Kelsey ... he's now at that age where he wants to do his own Thang!!! Spends lots of time with his mates and new Girlfirend !!! Jessi (sadly for him ... she went away for Christmas to Mauritius!!! ... left on the 20th, but is back on the 6th !!!) ... BUT Heine and him have kept each other company ... he does have a pool you know !!! and Lynette (H's mum says they keep each other out of mischief) ... don't believe that for 1 minute!!!

Nan and the kids joined us for Christmas ... they stayed just over a week ... unfortunately she didn't stay to see the New Year in with us ... :-(

Christmas was AWESOME !!! Again June put on a fantastic spread on Christmas Eve ... with 20 people sitting down to a scrumptious dinner of Roast Lamb with all the trimmings ... this year June and the boys (Paul & Kelsey) decided as her lounge was too small for 20 people .. they changed her garage into a Santa's Grotto ... snow scenes and all ... it was great (well done to Paul & Kelsey for the decor and of course June for the food) ... they even moved the Christmas Tree into the garage after we had eaten dinner (and after the kids had all gone to bed) so we were very cruel on Christmas morning ... the kids woke ... rushed to where the tree had been and found No Tree and NO presents .... the look on their faces ... (such cruel buggers we are !!!)

When we eventually got everyone up and the kids had searched June's garden several times for the Christmas Tree it was decided we had to get the spare chairs out the garage for all the grown ups ... I thought the kids were going to start crying !!! Then we opened the doors and OMG !!! This year we were supposed to be 'economising' !!!! I'd hate to see what it would have looked like if we had done our usual OTT spend !!! LOL

There were twice as many presents this year as last year !!! BUT in fairness we did have more kids this year ... on the guest list was :
Granny, June & Irena, Babes, Nishi, Yudesh & Siana, Nan, Russell & Niki, Janet, Paul & Kelsey, Lawrence & Penny, Mariana & Wendy ... and don't forget the 4 dogs: Bella, Indi, Shadow & Kleo....IT WAS CRAZY...

Kelsey played Santa and handed out gifts, and gifts and more gifts ... the kids were over the moon... Wendy & Mariana had never experienced a Bell/Gembicki Christmas before, they were GOBSMACKED !!! to say the least ... and when they left they begged to be able to come back again next year ... in fact I think Mariana paid us the best compliment anyone could have "I never knew Christmas could be like this till I met you all ... Please can we come back again next year?"

(I have to mention ---in case you didn't know it - June & I both LOVE Christmas x;-)

So we do tend to get a little carried away ... but it's once a year and it is meant to be a very special time ...

With special friends & family together, spending time together, reminiscing together, talking about missing loved ones, wishing others could be there, filling the time with love & peace ... and that is exactly how I felt this Christmas Morning ... very blessed to have all these wonderful people in my life xxx

Penny's folks joined us on Christmas Day around lunch time and even though the weather was it's usual shitty rain and mist etc... we still had a braai ... ate drank and was Merry !!!

I was thoroughly spoilt for Christmas ... as was everyone I think ... but I just HAVE to mention that I got an UPGRADE on my camera ... what I mean to say is ... I got a NEW camera !!! The Nikon D3100 (Nikon SA was doing a deal Paul just could not resist apparently)... and I got an incredibly LARGE lens too: 170-500mm!!! Sure I'm gonna get some serious sports photography out of that eh??? And maybe the odd safari too LOL (Paul says that's me sorted for this Christmas and my next birthday)!!! Kelsey bought me the tri-pod that I NEED now to support camera and lens LOL !!! Oh well it is worth it ... and I do love my photography...

I wasn't going to even mention the weather in this post !!! but I guess I just have to ... considering we have only had 3 hot days since Paul got here !!! and 2 out of those 3 we just had to go to the beach and BURN !!!... so even though the weather has been shitty I'm sporting a summer tan LOL... Paul is hoping that there'll be a couple of hot days for him to top up his tan next week !!!

Nan left us on Wednesday with webbed feet !!! Now she knows I am serious when I say it does nothing but piss with rain here !!!

And the remainder of this week Paul has been playing D.I.Y Dan... Paul got fed up of falling over Kelsey's shoes in his bedroom so he started with a shoe rack, which has now progressed to a bedside cabinet for him and me !!! and a built in shelf/storage area in the dining room and 1 in my bedroom too !!! Well Paul was just looking for an excuse to buy himself some more power tools!!!

Tonight ... after everyone decided to bale on us !!! we are going to just have a family dinner out and celebrate the New Year with the 3 Bells,Granny, June & Irena , then we're gonna collect our 2 dogs and go up to June's to see the New Year in at her house ... we kinda have to be with our dogs cos people get a little stoopid with fireworks here over New Year and all the dogs get stressed and upset.

Mind you I'm not a huge fan of New Year celebrations anyway ... I'm more of a Christmas person ... so I'd be just as happy curling up in front of the TV till midnight ... but I'm gonna make the effort and try to enjoy it with the special people around me.

To everyone I know and love ....

WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST EVER 2011 ...
MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE,
MAY EACH OF US GET THAT LITTLE MIRACLE WE ARE PRAYING FOR :-*)
MY WISH TO YOU ALL IS THAT YOUR 2011 IS FILLED WITH PEACE, HOPE, LOVE & JOY ...

Gotta finish this now ...

The window banged and flew open wide
The final spirit was at his side
he heard a creak and opened one eye
Scrooge slowly looked out into the sky.

The room grew bright with a gentle glow
Come take my cloak on a journey we'll go
I am the ghost of what might come to be
Things of the future you are going to see.

Your future I'll show you I'll be at your side
Hold on tight for a bumpy ride
The spirit scratched his nose and rubbed his chin
I'm going to scare you out of your skin.

Off to the graveyard they flew like an arrow
The streets of London were dirty and narrow
They stopped by a grave that was open wide
The spirit moved to Scrooge's side.

A bony finger shot out from his cloak
This isn't funny this is not a joke
Carved deep in the headstone it read R.I.P
Inside the coffin just who could it be?

The man who lies here died without a friend
He really had a terrible end
Throughout his life he thought of only money and power
Scrooge gave a whimper and began to cower.

He looked at the writing set in the stone
His heart grew heavy he felt all alone
Carved in the granite two feet high
The name he saw brought a tear to his eye.

It's me he wailed and fell to his knees
Don't let this happen oh please, please, please
Can all this be changed or is it set in stone
I don't want to die all alone.

They visit Bob Cratchet in his tumbled down home
Mum sits at the table table crying alone
Their son Tim is sick and will soon be dead
He's wasting away in his filthy bed.

I'll pay Bob more and be loving and kind
The way I'll behave will blow his mind
The change in me will be instant and great
Now that I know it's not too late.

It's up to you to start being good
And act in a way we all know you should
I will, I will, I'll change my life
I may even find a beautiful wife.

They returned in a flash to his lonely room
The candle was out he was all in the gloom
I'm going to make Christmas the best one yet
On that my friends you can make a bet.

He fell back to sleep in the wink of an eye
The hours of darkness quickly flashed by
He dreamt of parties and lovely things
Of Jesus being born, of angel wings.

He woke with a stretch and a wink and a groan
From now on I never will be alone
I'm going to give and give and give
It's my life, yes my life and I'm going to live.

I've been a fool and wasted years
He laughed as he wiped away his tears.
I'm going to try to put things right
As I promised the spirit this very night.

He sent a boy to the poultry shop
Get a chicken , a turkey, no get the lot
Send the biggest and best to Bob's lovely wife
The meat on the turkey will save tiny Tim's life.

I'll raise Bob's salary up through the roof
I'll do it I mean it it's the honest truth
He went to his nephew for Christmas Day
They danced and danced the hours away.

For the rest of his life he was good and kind
The visiting spirit had changed his mind
People said he was kind and good
Helping other whenever he could.

The story tells us to think of others
Not just ourselves or sisters and brothers
We should listen with care and take good note
And think about what Dickens wrote

In school we should care for everyone
Just like Jesus Gods only son
In class at play and in the yard
We all work together and try real hard.

As tiny Tim said:
God bless us, one and all ......

And the story continues...

Part 12

They went back to the past, when Scrooge was quite slim
He saw himself Laughing and drinking gin.
He was chatting and laughing and looking dead smart
The thought of his past it nearly broke his heart

He'd been young and handsome and full of fun
Just look at him now he was really glum
I've got to change and be nice to folk
Laugh with people, have a joke.

Part 13

Back we must return the spirit said
Safe and snug to your warm bed
It's still very dark it's the middle of the night
The clock must have stopped it's not even light.

Again he crept silently under the sheet
A hot water bottle tucked at his feet.
He dropped off to sleep straight away
Like the baby Jesus laid in the hay.

Part 14

The clock struck three he woke with a start
Through his chest he felt hi pounding heart
The next ghost came with a flash and a roar
She didn't even use the bedroom door.

Come with me out into our street
The poor of London you will very soon meet
I am the ghost of this present year
I'll show you how people live in poverty and fear.

Part 15

This is what Christmas is like for some folk
It's really not funny it's no sort of a joke
He showed him the squalor out in the street
Beggars and children with nothing to eat

Animals and children on the pavement they lay
Would their horror and suffering ever go away?
Gangs of thieves robbed and stole
There was no such thing as the dole.

Part 16

Scrooge began to weep and cried out in shame
His life would never be the same
Enough for now the spirit said
Most of these poor folk will soon be dead.

Go back to your house and say a prayer
We really need people who honestly care
This time he found it hard to get back to sleep
He lay in his bed counting sheep.

Next Episode ...

Part 7
Scrooge worked late till the fire died out of sight

Then set off home into the night

He reached out for his big cast iron gate

It was really dark and very late.

For a second he got a terrible scare
His door knocker slowly grew long grey hair.
Reflected in the brass Jacob his friend
The one who'd come to a sticky end.

Part 8
It vanished as quickly as it had come,
Scrooge must have drunk too much rum.
He went up the stairs up to his room,
And lit a candle to ease the gloom.

He strode to the kitchen and made some tea
The snuggled down on his settee.
He went to sleep, he went out like a light.
He woke with a start in the middle of the night.

Part 9
He heard some groans and a clanking chain,
His life would never be the same.
What could it be? His eyes grew wide
His tummy rumbled deep inside.

Jacob Marley stood before him, his skin glowing green
Scrooge went white he began to scream.
I've come to warn you, you miserable man.
You must change your ways if you possibly can.

Part 10
Humbug, nonsense, balderdash.
I've never heard such utter trash.
I'm serious cried Jacob, you must change your mind
Be nice to people try to be kind.

I'll send three friends to put you straight
I really hope it's not too late
With that he floated above the floor,
Then walked straight out through a solid door.

Part 11
Scrooge trembled then shook with fear
Had Jacob his friend really been here?
He got into bed wrapped the sheet around his head
He prayed very hard that he was'nt dead.

The clock struck one, he woke once more

The figure of a child peeped through the door.
I've come to show you times gone by,
Back through the time with me you must fly.

Paul's Home ...

Hurray ... we can start enjoying our December now ... Paul has finally arrived back here/home again ...

Well he arrived on Sunday morning !!! Left Friday Afternoon ... his flight was delay 4 hours because of stoopid passengers who got all upset when they saw the airlines 'de-icing' the planes engines ... they panicked and asked to get off the plane !!! So UAE let them get off ... unpacked their baggage and then had to de-ice the plane a second time which caused them a 4 hour delay ...

So Paul arrived in Dubai 15mins AFTER his connecting flight to SA had left !!! He was furious !!! The next best thing UAE could do for him was put him on s flight to Johannesburg ... BUT they could'nt get him on a flight to Durban till 8am Sunday morning ..... AAAAArgh ... BUT not to worry he arrived safely yesterday ...

Kelsey & I collected him from the Airport and he'd only been travelling 40 hours !!!!

So our weekend ended up being a bit hickledy pickledy !!! Thankfully the sun shone all day Saturday as GRADE 7K ... Kelseys's class had their 'farewell party' at Heine's house ... it was a great afternoon ... the kids swam, braaied and stuffed their faces ... he!he! we sent them home filled with Ice cream and tons of chocolate sauce ... keep them buzzing for the night !!!( I'm not going to mention the disastrous rugby match of SA vs Barbarians ... what a shambles !!!) so as I didn't have to collect Paul I too enjoyed my day with a couple of glasses of wine, some great company ... the other parents and Kelsey's teacher (who I have to say I am going to miss next year)

Then my SON'shine informs me he has been invited to a party by his 'GIRLFRIEND!!!' yes you read right ... a lovely young lady - Jessi ... so mum played taxi driver ... whoops had to get a couple of strong coffees down my gullet ... and then I had to sit around till 10pm to collect him ... but bless him he came home all 'loved' up LOL ...

AND Sunday ... after collecting dad ... he asks .... "can I go over to Jessi's for the afternoon?" ... well I left it up to his dad who of course said no problem ... my brother & family called round to see Paul ... funny how we haven't seen much of them since the last time he was here (PMSL) ... (bet LB has a comment to say about this if he ever gets to read it LOL)... But the weather was shitty ... turned cold again, however as Paul says nowhere near the -6 it was in the UK when he left !!!

And hey ho ... before you know it the weekend is over (AGAIN) ...

Paul and Kelsey fell asleep in his room last night watching DVDs and I went to bed with the puppy (again!!!) so much for my peaceful night!!!

Today I dragged Paul to school with me cos we had to pack 167 'parcels' for the Outreach Program that the kids are involved with ... they are going to Hillcrest Hospital on Thursday to give out pressies, sing Carols & play Bingo with the old dears !!! mmm Paul really enjoys coming back to SA while school is still on !!!

Tomorrow I will need a BIG box of tissues !!! Grade 6&7 prize giving !!! and Kelsey is receiving an award ... don't know what for yet !!! But I know tomorrow will just be the start of the tears for the farewells !!! Better taking me some lotsa pills !!!

Gotta mention .... sitting here in the winter woolies again ... cold, wet, damp & misty !!! Someone told me lately that they got the idea of Brigadoon from this area !!! That does not surprise me at all ....

Oooops ...

Part 3

His son Tim was crippled and walked with a stick,
The way Bob was treated made everyone sick.
It was Christmas Eve and snowing like mad,
Poor Tim was really missing his dad.

Bob was working hard and feeling the cold
Slaving for his master as he'd been told
You can have Christmas Day off, Scrooge said with a frown
But that will bring your wages down.

Part 4

On Boxing Day you must be back here by four,
Or never again set foot in my door.
Bob scurried off to his loving home,
Leaving Scrooge to shut up all on his own.

They'll eat stale mince pies and drink warm sherry
And try to pretend they are all really merry.
We'll imagine our present are piled up high,
We'll sing carols to Jesus up in the sky.

Part 5

Back in the office Scrooge scribbled with his pen,
The clock on the wall said half past ten.
I'll go to the shop at the end of the street,
And buy bread and marge, wow, what a treat!

Scrooge heard a knock and turned about,
Get out of here, he began to shout.
Said Jim his nephew with a smile on his face
We want you to spend Christmas at our place.

Part 6

I'll do no such thing leave me alone,
I want to spend Christmas all on my own.
We're having a party we'll all dance and dance.
Not me no never, go away no chance.

Suit yourself he said sadly and slowly closed the door
The poor old man was such a bore.
Two gents come collecting for charity,
Get out of here you'll get nothing from me.

Part 2...

Jacob Marley, Scrooges Partner had dies long ago,

He died all alone in the cold and the snow.

Scrooge alone thought that this was sad,

He'd known Jacob Marley since he was a lad.

Scrooge had an office and made lots of cash,

He treated his staff as if they were trash.

His clerk poor Bob Cratchet worked hard all his life,

To support his family and look after his wife.

A Christmas Carol ...

by Charles Dickens.

Part 1 ...

Some tales at Christmas can be really sad

But the one you'll hear now, makes the coldest heart glad.

It's the story of Bob Cratchet and Scrooge his boss,

As a human being he's a real dead loss.

We're going back to Queen Victoria times,

When women and children worked down the mines.

In the main peoples lives were hard and rough,

The bosses were cruel and really tough.