Going into hiding...

So, Monday brings with it D-day for my little procedure.  I'm not looking forward to it, but it's really so minor and I am looking forward to having a few days off work with this little punk!

We took Jake down to Buitenverwachting to ride his remote boat in the dam. I love that we can still do that.  It's just a pity that we're not allowed to fish in the dams too - that would make it the perfect  outing!  This little boat is super fast, too fast for Jake, but he loves it...

 Once Danie had had a turn to "make sure every thing's OK", it was Jake's turn.  I don't get a go, but that's OK.  I honestly can't control that thing, which way to steer when it's coming towards me is way too confusing.  Somehow though, Jake gets it right... 

 The weather in Cape Town can be beautiful during winter time, if you're lucky.  That said, Buitenverwachting is gorgeous even when it's freezing cold, howling a gale and pouring with rain  We were lucky last Saturday...

 You see that little white speck just off centre, on the far side of the dam?  Oh, that's where Jake's boat broke down...

 Jake managed attract a small group of farm kids to watch him riding his boat.  That's Danie in the foreground, trying to convince one of them to get in to go and fetch the boat for him... 

 When none of the kids agreed to help out, Danie and Jake set about waiting for the boat to drift to the shore.  Unfortunately, it got stuck in the reeds, which grow about 5m into the water...

While the boys waited, I took photos.  I know it's a view you've all seen many times here, but I will never tire of how gorgeous the cellar looks with the vineyards in the foreground...

 

 This was the dirt track that took us home, when this was home.  So many memories and yet so good to be able to share it with Jake and to be able to create some happy memories here with him too... 

 Pretty grass in the late afternoon sunshine...

 Another angle of the dam that's full of bass, but that we're not allowed to fish in (in fairness, the owner has stocked it with special imported fish that he had to have sterilized, so he doesn't want us messing around with them, even on a catch and release basis.  Fair enough)... 

 OK, enough panoramas, what else.  This toadstool was sprouting up through the grass next to a huge pine tree...

Until Jake kicked it over.  I like it upside down better though (perhaps because it's better focused)...

Pine cones!  Jake loves using these as torpedoes when he sees how far he can throw them into the dam...

 They did eventually manage to rescue the boat which half sank in the process of it's rescue; much like it's rescuer.  Man!  I am so sorry that I left my camera in the car when Danie stripped down and mounted a water filled barrel to attempt to paddle over to fetch the sinking boat.  I couldn't even ask him if he was OK, I was laughing so much when the barrel tipped him into the icy water as soon as he'd climbed onto it.  My stomach still hurts.  I'm even more sorry that, iPhone in hand, I didn't think to record the whole thing.

Back down from the dam, we popped past our friends and Jake found this Spotted Eagle Owl hiding in the trees right where we'd parked... 

 He wasn't too happy to hear us below him and kept giving dirty looks every time we crunched the leaves on the ground, hopping between branches in the hope of frightening us off... 

 Until he realised that none of us were going to climb his tree and he went back to his napping...

 Other great news is that our garden's started to bloom.  Seems like a crazy time of year for flowers to be blossoming, but our first wild iris has opened...

 Jake's hanging baskets are growing beautifully too.  The herb one (not pictured) is doing really well and I'll be using his rocket and chives soon in a salad.  The marigolds are especially pretty at this time of the year (although a bit over-exposed here)...

And that's about it.  It's been a bit of a hectic time at work and I've had a ton to get done before with month end coming up and my leave starting in 22 minutes time.  Jake finishes school today until the 16th of July, so he will be really excited when I pick him up just now.  He has a pancake evening at cubs tonight, so looking forward to seeing all his friends later too.  I'll try catch up next week, otherwise might be a little break from me until things settle down a bit on my side.

Sending lots of love,

Sue XXX



It's a dog's life...

As most of you know, it's been pretty cool in Cape Town just lately - winter has arrived most suddenly.  My lovely south-facing little home, obviously built to be cool in summer, is like a fridge and our gas heater is working over time.  So much for global-freaking-warming! 

 My poor little Duracell, without his Princess Amber to keep him warm is really feeling the cold these days.  He's getting older now (will be 11 next month!) and I feel so sorry for him when I leave him in the mornings.

Because it's been so cold, I've been leaving him inside the house during the day while I'm at work. Most days warm up OK, but it's still dark and cold when we leave the house at 7am.  By then Duracell is usually snuggled up on the couch with 2 blankets to keep him warm.  He's a funny little dog and loves to bark at whatever he can see outside the windows, which means that his blankets are off him the minute we walk out the door.  I'm sure he regrets this as he sits shivering on his own until I get home and can wrap him up again.  So, yesterday, Jake and I went out and bought him a little jumper and now he's snug as a bug in a rug.  Obviously Jake had a fair amount of thrust in deciding which style jersey to buy Duracell... 

 He's pretty lazy a lot of the time these days, mostly because of the cold.  I think he's starting to feel it in his joints.  He's quite happy to lie on his pillow in front of the heater until bed time.  Unless you ask him if he wants to go for a run or for a drive in the car to visit Nini and Pa.  Then he's awake... 

To celebrate his new jersey, he rolled in some other dogs unmentionables on my fenced in lawn, not 5 minutes after we'd put his new top on him.  Needless to say, everything, including the dog has been washed.  He's now a happy, clean, warm pooch!

Sue X

34 years ago...

...I became a big sister for the first time!  I was just a teeny tiny tot, not quite 13 months old, when my precious little sister arrived.  It's quite funny to look at little Bi now, she's exactly the same age (to the day) that I was when Jo was born.  I was really still such a baby myself.  How did my poor mother cope?

Through the years of growing up, it was so much fun having a live-in friend to play with.  And  sometimes annoy.  We were so close in age, many people thought we were twins.  We've shared so many things over the years; from combined birthday parties in my parents garage, to clothes (mostly hers), to friends, jobs and a baby sister.  We've got drunk together, celebrated, laughed, cried, mourned and loved together.  We've stood beside each other as we took wedding vows; we've been together to celebrate the birth of each other's children; we've agonised over illnesses together and held each other when life hurt too much for one person.  Yes, sometimes life has been tough on us, but somehow we always come through smiling.

Having a sister is a very special thing.  They're like best friends that never leave you, no matter what life throws at you.  I am blessed with two amazing women (three including my mom) who stand by my side through thick and thin.  We're family and family stick together!

So to Jo, especially today, I wish you the happiest birthday ever.  You are the friend I've known the longest - I can't remember a time without you and I hope that we have many, many, many happy years ahead together.  I know that you will always be there for us, no matter what curve balls life throws at us and I hope that I can offer you the same.  You are an incredible woman and beautiful mother and I am so proud to call you my sister.  Happy, happy birthday!!  I love you so much!

Sue XXX

PS.  Writing this made my eyes leak a little, sorry if I made yours do the same...
PPS.  Rosie - you are also amazing, but it's not your birthday today.  Now go blow your nose... xxx

This boy...

Is just about as naughty as they come right now.  But these eyes, these beautiful eyes.  Well, they just melt his mommy's heart...

Enjoy your weekend!

Sue X

Welcome home...

 Jo and Paul arrived back from what seems to have been the most wonderful holiday ever.  They are relaxed, tanned (Jo anyway) and were so, so happy to be reunited with their precious children.

We were, of course, at the airport to welcome them with Connor and Bianca.  Connor was beside himself and was super excited when he was able to wave at his mommy & daddy as they moved through the glass walk way above where we were standing.  They just couldn't get through fast enough from there.  Bi was cute as ever, happily running around and entertaining the crowds.  At one point, Corky grabbed her hands and started singing "clap handies, clap handies till daddy comes home, he'll bring lots of sweeties for Bianca and Connor alone".  Totally stole the crowds hearts and everyone was waiting for their parents to walk through the door...

When Jo and Paul came through, the kids just ran.  Bianca actually had a head start on her brother, but he overtook her and got to his mommy first...

 They cuddled together for a few moments alone, before coming over to say hi to the rest of us.  Seriously, I don't know how I managed to keep my eyes from leaking, I want to cry looking at these pictures today...

 A very happily reunited family...

 While they were away, we knew that Corky was missing his mom and dad a lot.  He was quite vocal about it some times, telling us "I want my mommy" when he was upset.  But we had no idea that little Bi was feeling it too.  Once she had her mommy in her arms, she would not come to anyone else for the rest of the day... 

 For Corky, once Jo and Paul were back and he'd had his cuddles, he wanted presents.  He wanted them to open bags in the airport and spoil him...

 After the excitement of seeing Jo and Paul again, Danie, Jake and I went out for a lazy lunch at Moyo at Eden on the Bay.  It was lovely, especially my glass of wine...

 Jake insisted on feeding the seagulls with Danie, while I sat at the table (heavenly views)...

 My "little" boy is growing up far too fast.  I have to beg to get him to smile for photos at the moment - check the attitude in this one...

 The gumboot dancers were out and Jake was fascinated by them...

 The entrance to the restaurant (and half of Jake watching gumboot dancers in the background)...

 Other than that, Jake's planted our hanging baskets.  We have three with bright flowers in and another one with herbs in it.  They are growing beautifully...

 Other than that, our weekend was pretty quiet.  We visited family and friends and Jake even got time to play with his birthday present...

 His favourite subject is Duracell.  He's learnt that if he holds a doggy treat in his hand while he's taking a photo, Duracell will stare at the camera...

Hope the weekend was good for you all and hope that the rest of this week is great too!

Sue X

Tons of fun...

 When I look at these photos, I get quite a fright that the big boy in the pictures is my child.  It feels like just moments ago, that he was little and look at him now.  While his looks have changed so much in the last little while (probably his desperation for a decent hair cut), he'll always be my baby.  We popped in to my folks for a quick bite to eat last night and a little play with Connor.  Bianca was exhausted and was sound asleep by 6pm.  We waited till she was down to enjoy some warming spaghetti Bolognaise (which Corky said he doesn't like without even tasting).  Once the boys had fought over who could eat the most paw-paw and avo, it was time for pudding.  Custard in cups.  They were both feeling silly and it was a lovely end to our evening.

Look Ma!  I'm all clean and ready for bed!

 Corky loved his custard 'stache...

 Look at my messy face Nini...

 Trying to lick his nose...

 It's funny stuff man...

 Corky was on top form, especially since I'd told him that the pictures were for his mommy... 

 Angelic.  Well, almost...

 Two clowns.  The get each other going and were shrieking with laughter...

 It was all fun and games, until Corky forgot what he was doing and sniffed his custard instead of drink it...

 He didn't like that so much...

 Of course Jake laughed (we all did) and Corky was not impressed...

 But he soon saw the funny side of it too...

 And couldn't help but have a laugh at his own expense...

 But he still didn't think it was funny when Jake teased him that it'd go up his nose again!  Pretend crying one second

 And laughing the next...

 As a tradition in our family, when it's your birthday, you get measured up on the back of the passage door.  My mom and dad have replaced the door we once stood against when we were kids, but our heights were transferred onto the new door...

 Not to miss out on any of the action, Corky came with to help measure Jake...

 It's quite fun to see how Jake's growing by comparison to me.  I was almost a complete midget.  Thank goodness I was a girl! Jake's is on the left and mine's on the right.  He's taller than I was when I was 10...

 I didn't get many new pics of Bi today, but here's two of her fresh out of bed & dressed already with her warm bottle.  She didn't want to be held this morning with her bottle... 

And that's it.  Jo and Paul leave Greece tomorrow and will be home on Sunday.  Connor is so excited.  He's got just one more present to open and knows that he only has to sleep tonight and tomorrow night before mommy and daddy get home.  When I did the count down with him this morning, he said "YAAAAAAY" very loudly.  To Jo & Paul - enjoy the last few moments of your wonderful holiday.  Travel safely home, we will be thinking about you all the time and can't wait to see you on Sunday morning.

Lots and lots of love,

Sue XXX