Get on your bikes and ride...

Saturday morning was the Junior Argus Cycle Tour. It was a day that Jake has looking forward to for weeks. I should know - he's been waking up before the sun, jumping up and down and yelling about how many more sleeps he still has to go until the big day. So, after many early mornings (we've been getting up at 5:45 most mornings to train), the day's finally come and gone. And I can finally sleep in a little.

Saturday was tons of fun. It was a really nice outdoors, family day and quite an adventure for the kids. Jake asked his very fit Uncle Paul to do his 5km ride with him, which was really sweet and I'm so glad that he has such wonderful uncles who are prepared to do so much for him and who make him feel so special. Paul was supposed to do the main race on Sunday (it's 105km around the bumpy Cape Peninsula for those not familiar), but he chickened out (AGAIN - he had the same excuse last year!) because of the wind (personally, I think he was pooped after riding with Jake). Paul said that Jake rode very well and did no complaining along the way (little star). Jake was so proud of himself at the finish and is super chuffed with his medal and goodie bag. He hasn't take the medal off since he got it! Seriously, I had to fight with him to take it off when he got into the shower on Saturday and he's gone to sleep wearing it the whole weekend (I'm scared he'll strangle himself, so it does come off as soon as he's asleep). He's also gone off to school wearing it today - he looked so proud going off with it on.

Other then that, I realised that I'm really not a sports photographer, so don't have many great snaps of the event. In my defence though, there were a lot of people and the shoot past so quickly, it's really difficult to catch them properly. There were professional photographers taking snaps along the way, so fingers crossed they managed to get a few good ones too (I'll post them if I can when I can)...

Jake's number with his red wrist band and power food...

Uncle Paul bought Jake a proper riding top for the race - I love the lion print... Arriving at the venue (Youngsfield Military Base, which was quite nostalgic for us - my mom grew up around the corner and she could remember riding her bike there as a kid too). Please note the new bike and helmet. Jake wanted his birthday present early, so I bought him a bike and my folks bought him a new helmet. The bike's a little big, but at that price, he's got to ride it for a few years. Besides, he manages...

With Uncle Paul... Waiting their turn - I had butterflies already...

Dishing out some kind of come here order...

Ahhh - there's one of Jake and I...

Pep talk. Note Jake's hand on Paul's arm. So sweet...

More pep talks. Jake must have been so amped by the time Paul was finished with him...

Ready to go. On the way to the starting chutes...

The masses lining up at the chutes (that's where they queue up before they go to the start line). You can spot Jake and Paul somewhere in the middle there - Jake's top is hard to miss...

The start line - the kids in front are all sponsored kids. The masses are coming up to the starting line at the back. My boy's in there somewhere. Somewhere way, way near the back...

I had to find him, so made my way down the line and eventually found this in the sea of faces... Did I mention that it actually rained on Saturday? Yep, that's the joys of the Southern Suburbs - makes me glad I don't have lots of money and a fancier house closer to the mountain. Anyway, here Jake's giving me a dirty look because I wouldn't give him the warm, dry top I had in my bag. Somehow, I must have known the weather was going to be really crap 20 minutes away from home and packed a long sleeved top for just in case. That's Cape Town for you...

The track is cleared. The count-down begins and my stomach turns... And they're off. My stomach turns again... And there he goes!!! YAY - I saw him passing! I didn't miss it! See that little wave? Just for me (OK, my mom and dad too)! At this stage, Paul was walking next to Jake, steadying him... Around the corner they go and Paul hops on to ride with Jake... Lap 1 of 2 completed! I'd moved by then and we (mom, dad and I) obviously made enough noise as they came around the corner that they managed to spot us...

Check him giving it horns. Such a show-off...

Coming around the corner to finish his race! What a boy... He didn't even break out a sweat - I'm going to have to train him harder next year so that he can do the 10km ride. Hopefully by then he'll fit his bike better... A very proud moment... Through the finish gates (don't you like Paul's T-shirt? We got it for him for his birthday on Thursday - Happy birthday, Paul!)... Showing off his new bling... Glowing with excitement. My heart wants to burst when I look at this picture, I'm so proud that Jake managed to complete this ride - 5km doesn't sound that far (unless you're me), but it's far when you've only got little legs... Showing off to his loyal supporters! Jake's granny, cousins and Auntie managed to make it through to the grounds (they got lost) to see Jake come around the last corner. Between the two families, Jake's a very lucky boy to have such a wonderful support system... And last, but not least, me with the two winners...

Thanks for listening, hope you enjoyed the ride with us...

Sue XXX

Choices...

I'm not going to write a sad post today, mainly because I don't feel sad...

Today, a whopping 9 years ago, Jacques and I said our I do's. I can't believe that it was so long ago and I certainly can't believe that my fairytale (number 1) has come and gone. I am getting OLD! Life has such funny twists and turns and while I doubt that any day will ever pass without my thinking about and missing Jacques, I feel so ready to face new challenges. For the first time in a very, very long time, I am excited at the prospect of moving forward. I am excited at the thought of starting over. Perhaps it's our big move that's helped shove me into a new phase of life, but I'm really, really excited and there's not much that can burst that little bubble for me right now!

I strongly believe that life's about making choices, that we (to a certain extent) control our own happiness. Some choices aren't easy and some days it's more than difficult taking my own advice, but I do believe in it and it does work when I apply it to my life. So, I'm choosing not to be sad today. Sure, I'm might be nostalgic, but I'm choosing to be happy for what I've had and for what I still have, especially in my precious Jake. My marriage might have been short-lived, but it was wonderful and very happy and that's a good enough reason to celebrate what we had. And it's a great reason to hope that I might be able to share that same kind of happiness with someone else one day. And if not, well, that's also OK, I have a great life and wonderful friends...

Sue X

My shattered nerves...

Well, the news is good. Actually, it's great! Turns out that what the vet had told me was cancerous, in actual fact isn't!! Whoo-hooo!!!! Well, on one hand at least. While I am relieved that this isn't cancer, I'm a bit surprised that our family vet led me to believe things were far worse then need be. I have been so stressed and worried, completely unnecessarily. Anyway, Amber does have an unusual cell formation (it's just really an overproduction of her black pigmentation cells), her lumps are all practically harmless (besides having the ability to pop). I am so relieved that we will be able to love her a little bit longer.

Thanks again to everyone for your kind comments and thoughts. It's so good to have a place to turn to when life hurls lemons at one.

I have so much more to write about, but we are busy with our financial year end at the moment and work is just soooo busy. I'm like a walking zombi at the moment.

Hope everyone's well. Promise to catch up on all my blogging as soon as I get a few free moments!

Love Sue X

I'm not ready...

I have been feeling sick (and teary) all morning, over having to take my beautiful princess in to the vet. She went in to get her teeth cleaned, but I requested that they also check a few lumps that have formed. There are quite a few. I've just spoken to the vet and she's got 3 different types of lumps. The first two types are cysts and fatty deposits, the third she said are angry pigment changing cells. She's taken a biopsy that she's sending off to the pathologists today to see whether these growths are cancerous or not. From there I have to decide what to do. If they're isolated, they can operate to remove the growths, but if it's terminal, I guess I'll have to keep her comfortable until we can't any more.

I know she's just a dog, but she's my special girl, please keep Amber in your thoughts (and me cos now I'm crying at work again...)

XXX

Our history is our future...

Today is a day to remember, it's the day our country changed. On 11 February 1990, Nelson Mandela was finally released from prison, marking the end to apartheid in South Africa. Today is the 20th anniversary of that day. I was just 12 at the time, but I can still remember watching him walking through the gates of Victor Verster prison in Paarl. Victor Verster was where Madiba had spent the last couple years of his prison term, after 27 years in a tiny cage (I've been to see it) on Robben Island. 27 years? That's a lifetime (here's a timeline of his life to date)!

I'm not proud of the way white South Africans behaved during the apartheid era and I'm glad that it's over. I'm glad that I can be friends with who I want, that they can come over to my house without the risk of being arrested and beaten for being in a "whites only" community. Apartheid was terrible and I'm embarrassed for how "we" treated our fellow man. Mandela went through what he did for our country, for each and every one of us. He was arrested as a political terrorist for going against the government, when all he was fighting for was equality. And he would've given his life for what he believed in.

I know you are all muttering that some things have not improved with our new government. There are a lot of unfulfilled promises (especially within the underprivileged communities). Crime is a huge problem, it's worse now then it's ever been before, but still, when I think about South Africa and about being a South African, I feel a bubble of pride rising within my chest. I am proud of what has been achieved and of how far we have come.

He's met with presidents, kings, queens, princes and paupers and I doubt there are many people worldwide, who have not heard his story. He treats everyone with the equal respect and he truly is an icon of our times. His name will be in the history books that our kids have to study one day - how lucky are we to have been witness to his story?

Today, thousands will descend on Cape Town (I'm not going, the traffic is going to be chronic in the city) to celebrate Madiba's 20 years of freedom, to remember all that he has done for our country. Tonight is the opening of parliament, also in Cape Town, and Madiba's struggle will again be honoured.

And that's all I have to say. Here are some pics I found on the net:

The prison on Robben Island, with Table Mountain covered in cloud in the background...

This was Madiba's home for 27 years on Robben Island. Arms outstretched, you can nearly touch the window and cell door at the same time...

This picture wasn't taken on the day of his release (he was wearing a suit that day), but this is Mandela behind the gates of Victor Verster...

A free man! Mandela punches the air as he leaves Victor Verster prison... Meeting the masses of people there to show their support. Mandela's address to the nation (and the rest of the world) on the day of his release can be read here... FW de Klerk with Madiba. FW was the president at the time who made the decision to have Madiba released from prison...The statue of Madiba outside Victor Verster prison (now the Drakenstein Correctional Centre), which was declared a memorial site yesterday. The statue is of Madiba with his fist raised, as it was when he walked through the gates as a free man (see picture at top of page)... Madiba as he is, at the age of 91, today. The moral and political icon of our generation... Thank you! Sue X

An updated...

It's been a VERY busy weekend; actually I don't really feel like I've had one. I'm completely buggered, to say the least!

So, as some of you already know, Jake & I have officially moved into our new home!! You're all invited to visit us as often as you like, as soon as you like and if you give me till tomorrow after I've found out how to install the new seal for my oven, I might even bake some scones!

While we (my folks & I) have been moving little things across, getting things washed and packed away for almost 2 weeks, I managed to round up some strong helpers to lift the heavy things for me on Saturday morning. I must say that I felt quite useless; I'm such a girl. Anyway, it's so good to finally have everything in and put together; you have no idea how much I've missed my bed!

Jake & I moved on Saturday and the dogs moved in yesterday. They're very unsettled, but I'm sure that they'll calm down in a day or two. At the moment, I don't have my new TV linked up yet, so the house is pretty quiet in the evenings. Last night I had a long, lazy bath and shaved my legs, then moved to the couch to read my book. Tonight I'll probably do the same thing, but might add in a glass of wine. Hey, I think I could get used to a TV-less house quite easily...

Promise to try take & post some snaps soon. And come visit me. Please...

Sue X

So, life has been busy. Again. I don't know where this week has gone, let alone this month. Can you believe that it's nearly February? It's more then a month since we celebrated Christmas. Boy, it's been a busy month!!

So, as usual, just a rushed post full of pictures...

Jake has totally loved the swimming pool this year. He's always been a bit apprehensive around water, so it's great to see him swimming freely and having fun. Being an only child, he loves any and all company in the water and manages to coax us all in from time to time. Thank goodness our water is heated, or I wouldn't get past my knees. Connor thoroughly loves the water. Here the boys are cooling off with my dad, Pa...

Connor's had a haircut since this. He's too cute for words at the moment; crawling all over the show and full of smiles...

Our house is coming along well and I'm very proud of how I've managed to co-ordinate contractors around one another. The big move has officially started and we're hoping to be completely in by next weekend. It's all VERY exciting. So, this is our lounge. These pictures were taken last week sometime after they'd finished sanding, but not yet varnished our floors. I wish I could have kept the floors this way forever...

This is Jake's new bedroom. It's a lot smaller then what he's got at my parent's house and I'm really worried about getting a bed + toys in. Fortunately, I ordered him a new bed, which comes with a desk & bookshelf below the actual bed. He's as excited about his new bed as he is about the move at the moment...

Next up is my bedroom, which is quite a bit bigger then Jake's room and I'd be more then happy for him to have the extra space, but my queen size bed with extra length and side cupboards that's been in storage for 5 1/2 years won't fit in his room...

And besides, look at all my wardrobes!! I am going to have to go on a serious shopping spree to fill those. Excuse the dusty doors, they've been cleaned since these pictures...

From sanding the floors, the entire house has been under a thick layer of dust. It was pointless to start cleaning until my window frames had been knocked out and replaced...

This, obviously is looking down the passage towards the front door. Jake's room is on the right, mine's on the left, with another spare bedroom on the left ahead of mine. Bathroom and guest loo on the right...

The guest room to be...The bathroom & floor sander...The other half of the bathroom - it's tiny, but it'll do for the 2 of us...Entrance to guest loo, sure you don't actually want to see the toilet, unless of course you visit us and need to use it... Part of our kitchen. The long cupboard doors on the right open into my pantry...

We had our wall raised a little and closed up the doily-type holes that once decorated it. Didn't like the idea of anyone peeping through...

In between getting the house ready, we were invited to Rosanne & Gareth's for a braai. They made killer chicken's on the fire. FYI, yes, they are sitting on cans of lemon twist. Any sweet soda can be used; it keeps the chicken moist and it's just delish... The end result...They also did a braai bread, complete with onion and cheese. I didn't know you could put these things baking tray things on the fire, but turns out, they're pretty heat resistant. The picture speaks for itself... mmmm... Rose & Gareth are renting from me. Contrary to what their next-door-neighbour has to say about them, they are excellent tenants and I couldn't have asked for anyone to better care for my house. They're forever doing little things and turns out, they're quite house-proud. Here's the main bedroom...And the lounge looking across to their new bar, which Gareth built...Jake loves visiting them, they've got Wii games he doesn't have. Have you ever actually seen anyone playing Wii? It's hysterical and I promise to take some photos of Jake playing to post here soon... Connor was there too. He was sick and had a fever, poor little guy. Besides being a bit sick the last week, he's doing so well. He's got his first two teeth and is crawling and climbing everywhere. It's just a matter of time before he's walking all over the show, he can't wait to get going. I love this kid...Jake started golf lessons. He's been dying to give it a go and has been telling me for ages that he wants to learn, so when I got a note from school advertising playgolf (linked to playball, for those locals), I took him down. I was quite impressed and I can see how it's going to improve things like concentration and co-ordination. Plus, by the sounds of things, a lot of business happens on the golf course, so it's always good to know how, especially for guys. Perhaps I should take lessons too, I might meet a hottie on the course. Anyway, the lessons from a college just up the road from home...Jake's teacher, showing him how to stand and hold the club...Keep your arms straight and your legs slightly bent. Don't move your feet...Getting ready to go...Awww, how cute is this???At least he can hit the ball, we can work on direction... Seriously, too cute...A full swing...We've spent quite a bit of time cleaning up and getting the house ready for moving. The kitchen's been scrubbed out and the first boxes have been unpacked. Since everything has been in storage for 5 1/2 years, it's all got to be washed before it can be packed away. It's been quite a mission, but we're getting there. The kitchen's all packed now and my new washing machine went in yesterday. My fridge is in too. I can't wait for us to be settled in there now. Anyway, my folks helped us move a few boxes (OK, a lot) this week and we had our first meal in the garden afterwards...My new window frames... The burglar bars are in now too and the plastic's off, so they're looking great. I've had safety glass put in right around the house, which makes it so quiet inside when the windows are closed... My mom and Jake...Buitenverwachting wine and Butlers Pizza, it was divine...The floors have been varnished; this is the lounge. I love my floors...My clean kitchen...My pantry. I'm really looking forward to filling this. Grocery shopping here I come...The other view of my kitchen... And Jake's room once again. His new bed has been delivered, but is in the lounge at the moment. He can't wait to make it up. They're painting this week, so once his room is painted, we can get it set up... So, there you have it. That's what we've been up to. I'm off to the J & B Met today with a guy from work. I've never been to the races before, so I'm looking forward to seeing what it's all about. I have a pretty dress and bright red glitter shoes. I'm definitely packing my camera, so pics to follow. Got no clue how to bet, but I will be taking a gamble today and I'm looking forward to that. Hope you all have a stunning weekend, the weather here is breathless. Perfect!

XXX