Monkeys of all sorts...

Yes, yes - I know, I know I've been scarce, I've just been busy. And since I only ever do my blogging at work, if I'm busy I just don't get a chance. Sorry. Hope you'll forgive me and still pop in from time to time.

So, Easter's over and Jake's back at school again. Started last Monday. After just one day of school, I had to keep him home for a day though - I thought he had German Measles. It was very stressful, 'cos we'd been with a newly pregnant lady 2 nights before and I had visions of my child being responsible for her child's healthy development and the implications that it could hold for them. I made a doctor's appointment and turns out that he had an allergic reaction to something. I can only imagine that it was to the antibiotics that he was on, although those finished on Sunday and the rash only appeared on the Monday evening. It was penicillin, so I'm going to have to monitor that and see if he has any further problems with it in the future. The doctor did say that the rash should've started earlier on during the course, if he was allergic, but that it is possible for the rash to only have developed later if he's mildly allergic. Time will tell and I guess, rather know these things then not.

Before the holidays were up, we went through to Tygerberg Zoo for the day with my folks. There really is so much to see and Jake had a ball. Although it was educational for Jake, I always find this kind of thing upsetting - I just want to break the locks and let the animals free. The zoo is incredibly dry and there are not a lot of trees to give shade for the animals. I felt especially sorry for the larger animals; lions, chimps, bears - they don't belong there. We ended off the holidays with pizzas at The Blue Peter, still Jake's favourite spot.

My baby sister, Rosanne, also graduated last week Thursday. She's a fully qualified Food Technologist now and is working hard at getting her practical experience. She's worked at various spots, but is currently doing quality control at a Halaal Butchery - Excelent Meats. She's not enjoying the job as much as she should be, but then again she is working on her feet for 10 hour days at 8 deg C. Still, she's got to start somewhere and this is good exposure. We went out to The Ocean Basket in Kloof Street and it was really enjoyable. Joanne & Paul joined us and Rosanne's other half, Gareth, was obviously there to enjoy his girl's special moment. Wonder how long it'll be till there's sparkles on Rosie's finger. My guess is, not too long...

Besides that, there's not a lot happening at the moment. Jake's been waiting very patiently for his watermelon to ripen and we finally decided to pick it last night. He was so excited and couldn't wait to cut it up. Thankfully, it was actually ripe when we opened it up and was perfectly juicy and crisp - delicious and SO worth the wait. Jake was very chuffed. This winter we're going to be preparing a large area in our back garden to convert into a veggie/herb patch. Jake's excited about it and I'm looking forward to getting it going. It'll be quite big, so hopefully we'll get a decent harvest! We still have a few bits and pieces were waiting to pick (green peppers, gooseberries, pepperdew - there's only 1, beetroots & carrots), but the season's definitely coming to an end now. It's been such a rewarding, educational lesson for Jake and we've had so much fun digging in the dirt together over the past few months.

Oh, I'm also busy planning Jake's birthday party. It's a bit of a nightmare really. There are about 30 kids that I basically have to invite. You have no idea how offended people get when they're not invited, it's very hard to cut back. I've hired a jumping castle and we'll be having it at home again this year. Sticking with our holiday theme, we've chosen to have a Mickey Mouse party (which reminds me, I must order the cake). I've also decided to have a lunch time party this year and will be making up little picnics for the kids - I just think it's healthier then stuffing them with sweets (although, what would a party be without sweets?). Jake's birthday falls on a Friday this year, so his party will be on my birthday, 17th May. Lots of shopping and planning to do this weekend and, hopefully, invites to get out.

What would my blog be without some photos? Although I haven't even been taking many photos lately...

Jake & a Giant tortoise... Golden Crane posing so beautifully... Vulture... Ostrich... Sad Eyes... So human... My Monkey. Sometimes, I think he's the one that belongs in a cage. Just joking... Rosanne & Gareth... Rosie & Gareth with Jake... Getting ready to tuck in... The watermelon's ready... The "harvesting" begins... Just enough for one... Happiness is... mmm...

Hope everyone's well, sorry again for my blog neglect. Promise to try get my "20 things" list done sometime soon.

XXX

Friday's Photo - Branches

Well, I've been disgusting at keeping up with the Friday Photo thing, but today I remembered. I actually remembered yesterday when I got home from work, but didn't know what the subject was. Anyway, posting up a picture of a branch that I took while fiddling with my camera a while ago. Nothing too spectacular, more of a trunk then a branch, but at least I'm partaking...

XXX

Changing Seasons...

The weather has been weird. Last week it went up to something crazy like 35 deg C and then we had rain over the weekend and this week is feeling very "autumny" and quite chilly indoors. The sky is blue though and for that I'm grateful. I hate waking up to overcast gloomy weather and knowing that I actually have to get up, get dressed and go to work. Here are a few photos of Jake enjoying the great weather last week...

Jake enjoying our pool at home last Tuesday... Jake & his friend, Courtney (the girl he was chatting to on the phone while braai'ing a few posts back) swimming on Thursday evening... Jake & his cousin Rebecca on Friday... Jake working in the garden on Saturday... Oops - he spotted me... Making a mud pit in the sand in our back garden. Between the moles from the field behind us, our dogs chasing the moles and this child - what chance does our lawn have of recovery?? Jake's watermelon - it's still growing, but is about 20cm in diameter... I like these what-cha-ma-call-its. Especially when they've got little pools of water in them... Rare moments of obliging... A pine cone on our very dead lawn - bring on the rain... The inside of a shell... Autumn... A protea...

OK, now I've taken all day getting these pictures uploaded, I don't have much time left to write anything. I hope these pictures make everyone who's scared of spiders happier. I must be honest, my pictures of it are starting to freak me out too...

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Incy Wincy Spider...

I know this post is going to give most of you the heebie-jeebies, but it was quite a thing...

We had a relaxing braai (BBQ) at home on Friday night, just my folks, Jake and I. The weather was great and mom and I sat on the patio in the dark and enjoyed a glass of wine, while the men managed the fire. Being nervous of spiders, I shook my chair off before sitting down, just to make sure that there was nothing hiding underneath me. So, we sat and chatted and I turned to pick up my glass of wine to have a sip and saw this:

I was drinking sweet wine with ice, which obviously appealed to the spider for some reason. Thank goodness the glass was wet from the cold wine within and he/she couldn't actually get into my wine. I did still change my glass before finishing my drink. It was quite something to see...

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So like his dad...

It's quite frightening, when I stop and look at my child. I mean, really look at him. He is SO like his dad, it's astounding! Besides having the same sense of humour and various mannerisms, his physical build - short legs, long body - is exactly the same as Jacques. And as for his hands and feet, they're identical. Especially when they're dirty as they are below. Actually, they're quite filthy! Jacques hands were always stained from the wine, so I'm guessing that's partly what makes Jake's look like his, but just the way he uses and moves them - scary! And don't get me started on the feet!! When Jake was born, Jacques and I laughed at his toes that look so like his dad's - I can just see exactly what they're going to turn out looking like and where he's going to get little hairs. It's quite funny and so interesting to see all these little traits...