Busy days..

It's been a while since I've had time to even look at my blog, let alone anyone else's.  I'm sorry!!  It's been so hectic on my side and I know I'm way, waaaaaaay behind.  It's been a long time since I shared any pics of the kiddies, so here are a couple that I took at the beginning of the month, when Paul did the Puffer, an ultra-high endurance run from Cape Point to the waterfront.  It's usually a mostly trail run, but after the devastating fires, this year saw them doing about 60kms on the road and the rest over Table Mountain.  Not for the feint-hearted, as Paul will now admit.  It takes tons of training and lots of mind-over-matter stuff.  Marius ran the leg from Constantia to the Waterfront with Paul (just for fun) and we met up with Jo and the kids at Constantia Nek to wait for Paul.  It was hot.

Princess Bi AKA Stinky Binky after she moaned that I called Connor "Corky".  She LOVES her new name...

 After a long wait, Paul finally arrived at Constantia Nek (by the way, the restaurant in the background is where Rosie & Gareth had their wedding reception.  It's been sold, I think, and is going through some renovations).  Jo was very relieved to see Paul.  He'd been on the go since 2:30am...

 The kids were thrilled to see him too and I think he wished that was the finishing line...

 Very happy to see her daddy, Bi has started to really enjoy having her photo taken and loves to see the pictures of herself as I go...

 After a quick bite to eat, Paul was on his way again.  Marius calls him the Ghost of Constantia, he was that pale with exhaustion...

 Off they go...

 We went on to Signal Hill, where Marius' running club had a pit stop.  They had plenty of juice, water, pancakes, sweets, etc for the runners passing by.  We had quite a long wait in store for us...

 And the kids were super well behaved.  It gave me a chance to snap some updates...

 Corky and Jake doing what they do best together at the moment - gaming.  They are getting along so well these days, it's such a pity that we don't see more of them...

 Stinky Binky with the harbour behind her...

 And Corky getting cross with her for being in his way...

 He's not so obliging when it comes to photos...

 Neither is Jake, for that matter...

  OK, I take that back, he's always been a very good model for his mom...

 The shadows started to grow longer and still there was no sign of Paul...

 Jake took to watching out for him...

 OK, OK... I take it back, he'll let me take photos when he wants me to...

  Like this...

 And this... I love his little embarrassed grin...

 2 Boys happy to sit quietly and take in the view...

 They have a very special bond, these two...

 Jake being the "thinking man"...

 And trying to be serious about it...

 The last of the sun started to disappear behind the mountains and evening was almost upon us...

 And still Jake and Corky waited...

 I always wonder what kids talk about when their parents aren't listening...

 Bi was getting very excited to see her daddy...

 

 And finally he came around the corner... Phew... at long last!!

 He looked a lot happier (and more colourful) than he did when we saw him at Constantia Nek...

 

 Up the red carpet to the West Coast stand...

 And then they were off again, on the final leg of the run...

 Corky was very excited and very proud of his dad...

  Down at the finish, Jake was showing Stinky Binky the goslings.  This boy's really growing up so beautifully...

 And finally, just before dark, Paul finished his Puffer...

 Paul finished his run in just under 13 hours... I'm not sure what's next on his bucket list, but I do believe that whatever he sets his mind to, he can and will accomplish!

Well done Paul!!!

Lots of love,

Sue XXX