Home...

OK. So. I've been a bad blogger, haven't I? I'm sorry!! You wouldn't believe me, though, if I told you how busy work's been lately. It makes the morning go by really quickly, but I just haven't had a free moment to do much else. And I don't have Internet at home yet, so I've just had to neglect my blog.

This child still pulls stupid faces for the camera - when will it end?

Even the dog's started sticking her tongue out at me...

Besides being busy at work, I'm hoping that Jake & I are over all our winter illnesses. Seriously, our house has been like a hospital. First Amber had a revolting vomit bug, which resulted in me cleaning up puke all night from 10:30 one evening after book club (just what I felt like, especially when I ran out of newspaper!). I eventually managed to get some sleep at about 3:30 that morning; I was exhausted. After another trip to the vet for anti-nausea (I couldn't go through all that again), I've now been told that she also has an enlarged heart, so I need to take her in this week (yet again!) for an ECG - it never ends! Jake was man down for about a week, also with the vomits. I had a mild dose (thank goodness, I was all puked out by then!) last week too, just felt terrible and was exhausted. So, it's all been fun and games at number 6. Visitors welcome :)

Other than that, things at the house are going well. We're all unpacked (bar one or two bags) and we're really enjoying the extra space. I have no idea where everything fitted in at my folks and I'm sure that they're also enjoying the luxury of more room. Plus, they can actually get their car into the garage now!! Now we really just need to start personalizing the place, making it home. I need to hang some pictures (I have so many to choose from) and we need to get working in the garden. I guess the main thing now is to properly prepare the soil for spring when it eventually arrives (dreading winter) and start planning what we'd like to plant and where. Most important is our veggie patch, but I do also want to have a beautiful garden and I'm sure that once it's all settled we'll feel very proud of our home (for now the garden is embarrassing - our house is the one with the ugliest garden on the block).

So, I don't really have any news. Life's had to slow down because of all this sick business and I've enjoyed taking it a bit easy. I finally got my camera out again yesterday, so I'm just going to end off with some pictures. I've got a few blog posts drifting around on my laptop unfinished that I need to remember to bring into work to upload sometime...

Princess Amber. Look how grey she's gotten... I love these ears - she's always lifted them like that and it reminds me of when she was a puppy...

I bought two Impala lilies at our local nursery. There are hundreds of these in the Kruger, so both Jake and I jumped at the chance of having some of that in our garden. Unfortunately, the climate here is vastly different from Kruger's, so we'll just have to wait and see how well they do. This one is the same colour as those in Kruger, but they do come in different shades of pink, red and white and we couldn't agree on which to choose for the second. We ended up picking one without flowers and are waiting for it to blossom to see what colour it is. I'm still looking for pots to put them into on my stoep...

Added to that, I've also been planting buffalo grass plugs. I did 400 plugs in 2 days and had the blisters to prove it! I realise that it's not really the right time of year for grass planting, but I've been watering lots and it seems to be taking. Buffalo grows slowly, but it's so much nicer than the rubbish grass that's 'growing' at the moment...

We've bought hanging baskets to hang in the tree. We've filled them with flowers, so at least we have some colour in the yard. We've also put in a bird feeder and sat on the bed watching the weavers play in our tree yesterday. When we first moved in, we never had birds in our garden, but since Jake loves birds so much, so it's been very important to find ways to attract them to our garden. Seems to be working...

Ronnie asked for some snaps of the furnished house. I must be honest, at the moment (mainly for financial reasons), its very minimalistic. I do like the lack of clutter too though. So, this is one of my new, incredibly comfortable couches. That slopey arm rest is the perfect pillow...

This is probably the most cluttered area in my house. For now...

It's the first place to look when you lose something. Like sunglasses. I lost these for 3 days and found them on a shelf next to the sugar and hundreds-and-thousands while I was taking these photos...

I can't remember if I told you, but I bought this book online. It's Ree from Pioneer Woman's cook book! It's quite fun owning a book written by someone you "know". The recipes are delicious and the in-betweens bits and photos are great too. I made her cinnamon buns last week and they are delicious...

Remember the story of the "Penis Fly Trap" that Jake wanted for Christmas 2 years back (can you believe it was so long ago?)? Well, it died. Mainly because we watered it from above, but secondly because the stupid woman in the nursery removed the plastic housing from over the top. The plastic creates a hot house effect and the plant sucks water up from below, so hopefully second time around we'll be more successful. Jake's just bummed because he hasn't seen it catch a fly yet...

Ever the clown...

So, there's me in the dining room (I have a plastic table in there for now) - yes, it's small, but sometimes smaller is better. Less mess to clean up and believe me with 2 dogs and a child, it gets VERY messy in there. I seem to spend my life sweeping up dog hair and sand. Seriously, Jake even asked me the other day how come I love sweeping so much. Jacques' grandfather was a carpenter and he made both this mirror frame and my bed...

My room - pink (did you know that I don't even like pink? It's like my tattoo - just a rebellious moment. Except that I would LOVE another tattoo and I doubt I'll ever do my room in pink again!). Like I said, I love my bed. It's got two huge drawers in the base, that are great for storing any and everything. Oh and please excuse the skew lamps and messy wiring. I'm looking for a man to sort out these issues for me. At least the tissue box matches the bedspread...

Pink orchids to match my room...

I love my orchids. They're gorgeous, don't you think? I have always been nervous about growing orchids for some reason, but have thoroughly enjoyed this plant. The flowers are starting to drop off and I am already excited for next season. I definitely need to get another one. Maybe a different variety...

This mirror is also very special. Jacques helped his grandfather make if for me for my 20th birthday. Finger prints compliments of Connor...

It's extra special because they broke the glass when they put it in and covered the crack up with this...

When I moved out, my mom gave me this old kist, which she got given for her 21st by my gran. I've used it to store away all of my little memories of Jacques'. This is a new chapter, a new beginning... It's in some serious need of a good sanding (winter project) and re-varnish, but I like it...

This is our spare bedroom, which is in some serious need of decorating. It just hasn't been top of the list and I'm guessing it'll be a while before it's taken care of... This old chest is in the bathroom. It's super convenient having some storage space in the bathroom. Again, the chest is old and used to be in our bedroom when Joanne and I were kids. It's been painted every colour under the sun and Jacques and I cleaned it up a few years ago. Turned out to be Teak... I keep these little elephants on top of it. A friend brought them for me in Thailand and they're supposed to bring you good luck - worth a try... In addition to all the chaos that is becoming home, Jake has finally convinced me that we really need a hamster. For those of you who know me well, I don't do rodents of any kind. I don't even like cute fluffy bunnies and rats and mice are just totally disgusting. Any how, on Sunday we were at Cape Garden Center looking at the shedding python in the pet shop, when we came across these baby hamsters. Jake's cousins each have one and he's got quite a few friends who have, so I convinced myself that I was mean and unkind and ended up buying a baby hamster, which, I might add, came free with a cage full of hamster goodies. So, without further ado, meet Bullet...

Jake named him, I liked Buddy, Guy and Grey Matter (one of the Ben 10 characters). Anyway, Bullet it is. And let me tell you, he's cute. And his cage doesn't stink (yet)! Jake's filled it with sawdust and shredded newspaper and he's promised me that he'll clean it out once a week to keep it from smelling yuck (I think that's the part that has put me off most - the stink of them!). Jake also knows that if he doesn't take good care of his pet, it's going back to the store. I don't mind helping (to ensure the beastie doesn't get loose in my house), but I am NOT doing it for him, this is his responsibility... Oh, I never told you, despite all his cute, twitching fluffiness, he does bite from time to time, especially when we take him out his cage. Once he's out, he's fine. Needless to say, taking him out his cage has become my job. It's not really sore and he's only drawn blood once, but you get a bloody big fright when it happens. He's still a baby though, just 3 months old, so hopefully as he gets used to us, he'll grow out of it (or again, he's going back to the shop). By the way, Bullet is a Dwarf Russian hamster and probably won't get too much bigger than he already is (thank goodness)...

Needless to say, he is probably also going to be the most man-handled hamster on the continent of Africa, so I can't really blame him for defending himself by biting Jake. Biting me is just not on! Here he's trying to run away, so Jake's holding him tighter...

Was it worth it? To see this precious (spoiled brat) face looking at me through the window? You betcha...

Sending love, Sue X

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