Bits 'n Bobs...

Life has been hectic lately and I'm feeling so exhausted at the moment that I can't wait to flop into bed at night.  Somehow when life is busy and you have things planned for you months in advance, you (well me at least) just look forward to a break.  To time out to relax and enjoy together.  It just isn't happening for us at the moment.

Enough complaining!  Who's listening anyway?  The top photo was taken about 10 days ago, on the morning of Jake's swimming gala at school.  We were at my parent's house before school and Jake was loving taking Bi for a ride on the bike.  Bianca was tickled by it too.  Besides how big my kid is and more about that in a minute, that little girl is growing way, way too fast.  She's standing beautifully on her own now and has even taken a few wobbly steps between things.  She'll be 1 on 17 May.  In some ways, it feels like yesterday that we were celebrating her arrival and yet in other ways, it feels like she's just always been a part of our family.  She's so much gentler and quieter than the boys are and it's just so lovely to be able to see her (and Connor) nearly every day.  Speaking of the big brother, he's about to turn 3!!  We'll be celebrating his birthday on Saturday, photos to follow.

Back to my boy now.  Jake took part in the fun race in his school gala earlier this month.  While he does go for swimming lessons and can swim well for a little guy, he opted out of swimming in the competitive races and just did the fun one.  Obviously, I was there; after the Argus debacle, I wouldn't have missed this for the world (I'll never not be there for him again!).  The did a little fun relay with umbrellas, which ended up in them walking across the pool, so wasn't too much to write home about, but I was there.  And just look at this boy's body!!  OK, I know he's my son and in my eyes, he's the most gorgeous boy on the planet anyway, but seriously!  Where the heck did those shoulders come from??  Hang on, I think I know.  I must fish out an old photo of his dad swimming sometime...

He was super excited about the gala, I think more because it gave him a reason to get out of the classroom than anything else.  Last year's gala was rained out, so this was his first.  His little friend's coming over as fast as he can.  His little friend is the class exhibitionist and Jake thinks it's hilarious.  The girls think it's gross...

The pool is not heated and the water at 8:45 in the morning is freezing.  Jake is never impressed when he has to do swimming at school, I think that's part of the reason why he opted not to race this year.  See how he keeps as much of his body out of the water as possible...

I had to get to work so stayed just long enough to watch Jake "swim and then had to go.  He told me later that when I came to take this photo and say goodbye, he felt like he was going to cry.  Next year I'll take a day's leave...

This was the morning of the Junior Argus - I still feel terrible for missing his ride when I look at these photos.  He had fun though, that's all that matters...

I don't know how I'm getting the shadowy photos in there, but they're kinda funky.  Truthfully, I don't know how to get them out there...

We have spent as much time fishing as possible, taking advantage of the last few days of summer.  The marina is pretty when the wind doesn't blow you away... 

Something happened to the little fish in the marina over the last weekend.  There were lots of dead little fishes floating when we went down early on Saturday morning.  I don't know whether it was the rain that had fallen and added fresh water to the marina, or whether it's the red tide I've heard them speaking about on the radio and at work, but it's sad.  We want these guys to get big...

Jake and I had our morning coffee/hot chocolate on the jetty on Saturday morning, while the old man slept...

On Friday afternoon, I took Jake through to Buitenverwachting to go and help with their harvest, but it rained, so the cellar was virtually closed.  We went again yesterday and they were processing a few grapes that had been harvested on one of the nearby farms.  Jake was in his element and it was a good thing that the cellar wasn't running full steam, because it gave him time to chat and ask questions.  And he got to press a few buttons too...

This is Hermann, showing Jake the latest Sauvignon Blanc harvest.  Hermann's been the farm winemaker for years, Jacques worked under him and he's a brilliant teacher and winemaker.  He is super passionate about his job and only too happy to share that passion with anyone who's willing to listen.  Jake was his guy...

Freshly picked grapes...

When the grapes arrive at the cellar, they're tipped into a big scale and notes are made about the weight, quality and location from which the grapes come.  Enzymes are added, to prevent the juice browning...

The next lot of grapes waiting to be processed...

From the weigh scale, the grapes move down to the de-stalker and crusher...

Yep, that's wine in the making.  Almost enough to put me off the stuff, but not quite... 

Jake made himself quite at home ('scuse the quality, blaming my lack of PhotoShop), climbed the railing to check that the grapes were moving properly.  My nerves were shattered and it took all my self control not to go hold onto him...

He helped Hermann print the tickets for the batches of grapes...

Still checking out the grapes...

Bonding.  I think Hermann was as nervous of Jake's position as I was.  There's a serious drop down from where Jake's standing...

Of course, part of being a winemaker is having to sample your wares.  Here's Jake tasting some wine that's about a week old.  It's still pretty sweet, just starting to ferment, a bit like murky, sparkling grape juice.  Hermann was cracking jokes about how bad this fermenting juice makes farts smell and Jake could barely swallow he was giggling so much.  Boys...

Part of the barrel cellar - I'd like to have one of these on tap in my lounge...

We didn't spend too much time in the cellar yesterday, it wasn't too busy and Hermann had a visitor to see.  We're going back tomorrow, hopefully to go and work in the vineyards a bit.  Jake is so excited about his day on the farm.  It makes me feel so sad to think of what our lives should have been.  Especially for Jake.  He'd be in the cellar every day of his life, riding quad bikes and tractors, no doubt.  It's so funny, how much I still feel Jacques on the farm, especially here in the cellar.  It still feels like home.  So much has changed and so much more has stayed the same.  I still expect to see him coming around every corner, he is so much a part of the walls and I can only imagine how Jake must feel being able to go there and take part.  It's his history.

After our time at the farm, we popped in for a quick bite to eat at Danie's house and to fish of course.  Jake is fishing mad at the moment.  Since Danie's put his jetty up, we spend a bit more time down at the water's edge.  There are millions of tiny fish about at the moment (the ones that made it through the weekend)...

Jake wasn't feeling great over the weekend.  He had a temperature on Sunday and was very washed out and he still isn't 100%, but mention fishing and he's ready.  Last night he decided to find out what is pecking at the reeds from below...

He grabbed the leftovers from Saturday night's dinner (tenderised steak) and broke it up into chunks for bait...

And look!  He caught his first fish in Marina with his rod!!

He ended up catching 3 (they were in water, I just couldn't take a photo of them in the water, so pulled them out for a sec) and was super chuffed with himself.  The guys at work tell me that these are little "streepies", who knows what they are.  They were fish on the hook of  a little boy and that's all that matters...

Part of loving fishing, means learning the 'catch and release' practise.  It's not easy when you're a little guy and so excited and Jake was less than impressed at not being able to keep these guys, but he did the right thing...

And, as they do on monster fish, he gently held his fish in the water and made sure that they were breathing well and ready to go on their own...

So, in between all the busy-ness of life, Jake and I still manage to find plenty of time to have fun and to make happy memories together.  Life is always so rushed and stressful and it's great to have Jake around to remind me to smell the daises sometimes.  It won't be long before he doesn't want to spend time with me, so I'm going to cherish every second of this time in his life while I can.  Danie's got so much on over the next 2 or 3 weeks - 2 weekends full of golf, plus golf tomorrow (it's a public holiday here!) and a trip to China for a week somewhere in between.  Thank goodness I have Jake for company!!  Jake and I have lots planned too and I always look forward to having some quality time with my little guy, he's so special.  School closes this Friday until 10 April, so I'm hoping that I can get a day off work somewhere in between to try get away with Jake for a night or two.  I need time out.

Hope you're all doing OK, remember to stop and smell the roses along the way!
Sue X