Busy times...

Well, I'm getting into trouble for not having updated my blog (Anonymous - you know who you are, why didn't you put your name with your comment??) this week. Sorry to everyone who's been checking in here regularly, I have just been so swamped down at work...

Anyway, enough complaining - who's listening anyway - and back to the boat show, which wasn't half as bad as bad as I had expected. I mean, yes, it was boring enough, but everyone there seemed bored, not just me. Jake had tons of fun though. He gets on really well with Simon, the youngish guy who works with me. He actually adores Simon. Anyway, Simon took Jake to see lots of different boats and I think Jake really enjoyed all the attention he was given. Oh and by the way, there were no sexy, young sailors at the boat show!! Disappointing. Only sales men (no offence to anyone in sales, but it's a personal motto - never trust a sales man and never trust a man that doesn't like animals & children - hope I'm not opening a can of worms with that statement, but it's just how I look at things) and really old, snotty rich guys. I'm not that keen on either, thanks! We managed to get out of there by 5:30 and were home in time to light the fire with my sister and her fiancé (thank goodness, or Jake would've had my head!). My cousin, Taryn, was down from Johannesburg last week and left on Saturday, so we spent a bit of time with her on Friday night.

I can't remember what I did on Saturday (bad, hey), but we did watch movies. Jake slept in my bed and about an hour after bedtime was still awake. When I went to check on him, this is what he'd been doing....

Little so and so!! I've sworn never to buy those cute Disney plasters again... Next time he can get the yucky, plain flesh coloured ones. Seriously, that's a whole box of plasters on his toes (and one on his finger). After all that, he lay his sweet head back down on my pillow and whispered "I'm a little devil, hey mom?" - I couldn't help but smile. Oh and the plasters only came off the next morning...

I just remembered!! On Friday night, my folks house sat for my sister, so Jake & I were home alone. When we woke up on Saturday morning, we went to Rosati's at Superplants for a serious breakfast. It was delicious. We came home and spent about 3 hours labouring away in the vegetable patch!! Then movies in the evening. For a change, we even got to water the garden! We've had so much rain in the last few weeks, that it just hasn't been necessary, the ground hasn't had a chance to dry out. I love watering the garden, but when I'm in the garden with Jake, I don't get to hold the hose, only the camera.

Here's my stylishly, self-dressed son, re-planting the radish he couldn't wait to uproot...

I think it was the socks that really did it. He might just have gotten away with the rest of the outfit, had he been bare footed...

And here he is enjoying watering the garden. Man, talk about a clash of colours. Actually, when he "dresses up" like this, he reminds me so much of Jacques and the "great" outfits he used to put together for working in the cellar. Everything used to get stained and ruined with the wine, so he just used to wear his worst clothes till they were totally destroyed. He always looked a mess, but somehow he also always looked delicious!! Will try find a photo to post sometime...

Some garden photos, for those that care. Fresh water in a 'bokbaai vygie'...

Part of Jake's veggie patch. Peas, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, radishes, potatoes, butternut, patty pans (what are those yellow UFO things really called?) and tons of other stuff to the left of this picture... A newly opened rose bud... A tiny bunch of grapes - something that would've made my heart drop if I still lived on a wine farm. A sign that "The Dreaded Harvest" looms. By the way, these aren't really grapes yet, they're buds that still need to open and then be pollinated before they turn into grapes... This is a paper flower. It feels and looks fake, but it's real. And very pretty...

After a week's holiday, Jake went back to school on Monday. He was desperate to get back to spend time with his friends and I'm starting to dread the 6 week Christmas holidays. Thank goodness I'm only working half days!! On Sunday he was allowed to chose something special to do as an end of holiday treat. He picked the World of Birds in Hout Bay (http://www.worldofbirds.org.za/) and then chose to go to the Blue Peter for a late afternoon drink. We met up with some old school friends, but it was just too hot and so crowded that we didn't stay very long. To be honest, it's one thing I really, really, really hate about being single - I can't stand going into a bar to get myself a drink. It feels skanky. Besides that, the weather was fantastic the entire weekend and, along with the relaxing time we had, it was just what I needed.

Some pictures from The World of Birds...Jake & a statue. Not sure which is the ape... I totally love owls - maybe its the witch in me...

Interesting bark on a tree...Close up... This tiny monkey (can't remember what kind it was either) had twin babies on her back. You can see both their tiny heads beind hers...

Clivias in bloom...Who couldn't love Cape Town? This was one of the views on our journey home. It's looking across over Llundudo, a prime residential area, with an amazing beach...

This week's been quite quiet socially - thank goodness, I need one of them every now and then!! And I'm making up for it this weekend. The only thing I've really had on was a school outing to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (http://www.sanbi.org/frames/kirstfram.htm) with Jake on Tuesday morning. I managed to swap my shift with the Penny, lady who normally takes over from me in the afternoons, so was able to go with. It was my first outing with Jake ever, so I'm not sure who was more excited about it. So, while everyone was busy working, Jake I and I packed a picnic and headed off to Kirstenbosch. The weather was perfect and we lazed in the sun on the beautifully manicured lawns. Jake had a fabulous time and it was really nice to see him interacting with his friends. He's a bit of a bulldozer at the moment and it's quite funny to see that side of him. He's really quite a strong character. One woman, who's son is about a month older then Jake, commented on it too. She said when she looks at her son with his blanket and dummy he still seems like such a baby, but that Jake's just so big and strong and loud and outgoing... It's all in his genes, I guess. Anyway, it was just good for me to see how he's growing and developing amongst his peers and to see how he fits in. After our picnic, the teachers took the kids to hunt for tadpoles in a nearby stream. Jake had a fabulous time. He was in charge of the bucket and was prime frog catcher (much to my disgust, my lip still curls at the thought!). Needless to say, by the time we left his shoes, socks and jeans were soaked through right up to his knees. He was on such a high though, it was so worth it.

Jake riding a life-size lioness...

Checking out the taddies...

Trying to catch a frog...

A proud little man showing off his tadpole/frog things in the bucket he wouldn't share. They've been learning all about metamorphasis at school...

This is Jake's friend, Dano... And some scenic shots...

Somewhere this week, Tuesday I think, Jake ended up helping my dad to mow the lawn. Again, he dressed himself and looks quite ridiculous. Especially since he's dressed in his winter woolies and wellies, while my dad's wearing shorts and a T-shirt. He had to put sunglasses on as well, in order to protect his eyes from the dust. I love that he's got such a strong "male nature"; he just loves doing these men-type jobs that I'd never do if we lived in a house of our own. I'm all for garden service. And, as with braai'ing, I don't think it's going to be too much longer (sadly 'cos he's getting way too big, far too fast!) before Jake'll be taking over the mowing, while my dad gets to sit back...

Oh, before I forget, as I tend to do: Happy birthday to my other mother!! I hope that you have a wonderful day and that everyone spoils you. Thinking of you so much today and looking forward to our braai tonight! xxx

Also, to my gorgeous little niece, Abigail, happy 8th birthday for tomorrow. It's been such a wonderful journey watching you grow from a newborn baby into the beautiful little lady you are today. I just can't believe it's been 8 years already. Or that you're nearly as tall as me and wearing the same size shoe... I hope that you have a fabulous day tomorrow! xxx

As for the weekend ahead, we have SO much on. Today, we're going out to lunch at the Spur for Abi's birthday. She's having a girls only party this weekend, but is taking her boy friends, including Jake, out for lunch today. I'm going with for coffee. Tonight, we're braai'ing at the outlaws - a yummy fish braai, apparently. Tomorrow morning, we're having breakfast at Josette & Justin's for Abi's birthday, then we're out to Suzaan's house for a ladies/kids lunch. I've got a 30th on in the evening. It's a dress-up party and the theme is 1978. I'm thinking of wearing retro tights (either bright pink or purple, cos that's what i've got), knee high boots, an obscenely short dress (it's actually a shirt) and having my hair done up, maybe in a French roll. Thank goodness my mother's a hairdresser. Oh and I've bought false eyelashes, which I'll wear with heavy eye make up. Think it'll be OK?? Too bad if it's not, I'm not spending money on hiring an outfit. The main thing is just to make yourself look like a twit. I'll definitely have jeans in the car for later...

Hope every one's well, haven't had much of a chance to read any blogs this week. Will try find a gap sometime today. Sending lots of love and see some of you over the weekend!!

Sue xxx

Screwing up my plans...

Well, this weekend I have no plans. It doesn't happen often and when it does, I'm normally pretty excited at the prospect. Plus, my folks are looking after my sister's house tonight, so Jake & I have the house to ourselves. Rosanne will be around and my cousin's here from Jhb so she'll be around too, but they'll probably go out and leave us to our own devices anyway. It's an ideal excuse to slob on the couch with pizza (or burger) and kids DVDs. Jake will need to get to bed early, so it's also a good excuse for me to catch an early night with him. Anyway, the no plans plans have changed. You see, there's a boat show on at the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) over the weekend and our company has a stand. Everyone else in the company is working there for pretty much the whole weekend, except me. And, while I'd really "like" to see how the guys managed to get everything set up without my input (just so I can tell them how, as a woman, I'd have done a better job), but I'd have preferred to have seen the photos. Instead, my boss gave me 2 VIP tickets this morning and told me that I should bring Jake down. In other words - I'd better show my face. Yay. I can't wait. Really. I could go tomorrow or Sunday, but I'm guessing it'll be quieter today and I'd rather get it out the way. And it is open till 8 tonight, so I think I'm just going to take the bull by the horns and get it over with. Although, there is apparently a lot for Jake to see, so he'll probably have a ball and won't want to come home. For me, I guess it'll be nice to catch up with the clients that I generally only speak to over the phone. Still - what is a girl supposed to do at a boat show?? I mean, how BORING!! Anyway, I'll do what I have to do, I'll put on my high heels and make up and I'll go stand with the boys from work and smile for a while, before I dash out the door and head home to the couch...

Enjoy the weekend, I can't wait!!

XXX

Tripod...

YES, it's a boy!!! Jo & Paul went for a detailed scan yesterday at the fetal assessment clinic. The baby checked out healthy and they waited right until the end of the scan to check the sex. Turns out my gut feeling of a girl was wrong and Jake's getting his first boy cousin. I'm SO excited!! Joanne's always wanted to have a little girl. She was the one out of us 3 girls who loved her dollies and dressing up pretty. While she is extremely excited and relieved to know that her baby's healthy, the news of a son have come as quite a shock to her. She actually said that she nearly burst into tears when they told her it was a boy. Paul is over the moon, as are the rest of the family.

Jo - boys are wonderful!! Yes, they're hard work and challenging at the best of times and sure, you'll have to get used to snails and snot and dog (or cat) poo, but they're cuddly, affectionate and they're just so sweet and full of life you can't help but adore them. Once you hold that little man in your arms and you look into his eyes, you'll love him more then you've ever thought you could possibly love anyone else. It'll be unconditional and it will last forever. Plus, it means that you'll just have to try again for that little girl (YAY! More babies for me to love!). Congratulations to both you and Paul, this is going to be such an exciting journey for you.

And now the photos...

At just 13 weeks, the nurse said my nephew is exceptionally well endowed! The little guy is only 7.8cm long from head to rump, so I think the fact that they could see anything at all was quite amazing. In true male form, he seemed quite happy to flash his goods for the camera. For those of you not familiar with scan pictures - where it's written "boy" is his rear end. Further down there's a little line drawn through his boy bits. His legs go down towards the bottom right side of the picture...

And then I couldn't chose which pictures to post, so I'm putting most of them up. Side profile - look at that cute nose!! From behind... A bit closer, you can even see his little heart in his chest...

And that's it. Exciting news, hey??? Whoooooo-hoooooo!!!

XXX

A ton of photos...

OK, I have an unnatural obsession with my camera. I'm in love with it. I take far too many photos and I don't really get time to even look at them properly. Work was really busy last week and, while I started uploading these pictures early in the week, we had a holiday on Wednesday and I just didn't get around to finishing this post off. Turns out, I'm about to share something like 150 photos from last week with you now. If you don't want to see them, feel free to leave...

Getting ready to hit the road with his Grandpa Hubie...

I love how tiny his body looks underneath the huge helmet...

All set! I actually got on behind Jake to help keep him on tight and we really did just go around the block. Jake loved it and kept shouting "faster Grandpa, faster!".Next, Jake hit the road on his own bike... He's getting better at his riding, but still needs help getting going and he does tend to topple over quite often. He's getting quite frustrated that he hasn't mastered pushing off on his own yet. And, although I've taught him to put out his leg when he needs to stop and to lean to one side, his main way of stopping is by crashing up a pavement. Anyway, here he's whining for some help... Then getting cross with me for taking photos of him doing the whining. Note that he is not actually allowed to stick his tongue out, but he knows he's pretty safe when I'm holding my camera... See? So, then he ignores me for a while (I love this photo)... And sticks his tongue out again. Little monster, I tell you!! And that's him heading across the road, to crash up the neighbour's pavement. Note: We were checking for cars all the time and he is not allowed to play outside unsupervised in any event... This was last Saturday afternoon. Jake & I had one of the best days ever. Once I'd collected him from his grandparents house, we went to watch a movie (Space Chimps) and then went down to play at the beach. This is the plot I want. It only costs R8.8M. Anyone want to go in with me?

This is the view from the above plot... I could SO live with that view. Stunning, hey??

This is taken a little further on... Despite the sunshine, Jake would not take off his coat. He had a ball digging around in the rock pools... Jake splashing around in front of my favourite watering hole, the Blue Peter. It's the best spot in the world (well, to me anyway) for a lazy, sunny Sunday afternoon drink. Jake loves going there too. There are always dozens of kids running around wild. Actually, he'd have a tough time chosing between the B.P. and Super Plants at the moment... The view of Robben Island from The Blue Peter... Getting rid of some energy (or running away from the camera)... Finally, a smile! The sticker on his head was from his Aunty Tam for some kind of good behaviour... Jake's grandpa took him to watch Western Province (our local team) play rugby on Friday night. Jake got a gorgeous flag, which he's very proud of and pulled it out on Saturday evening as he was going to bed to show us how to use it. It's bigger then him... Jake also gave us a practical demonstration of how one supporter donned his undies on his head. By the way, these are Jake's favourites - a Batman pair of boxers, which he tells me are more comfortable then conventional jox. I didn't ask him to explain why... He thinks he looks fabulous and I wouldn't be surprised if he actually tries to go out in public like that. Would give him a good excuse to show off the boxers. And note: he's still wearing the sticker... OK, he's also a practical joker... Sunday was the airshow. Jake had a ball and the weather was perfect. A bit bright since I'd left my sunnies at home, but it was better then freezing cold wind or rain. Like I said, Jake had a ball and in addition to the 2 Ferrari's he's going to own one day (a convertible for me to use on sunny days and a conventional closed top for him to use to take me shopping on rainy days. Told him he's going to have to work hard and save up every penny because his wife won't be happy with him buying one for me me and not for her!!) he's also going to own a jet and a helicopter. Wonder what he'll have to do to be that wealthy.

This is a Gripen...

Jake & my dad with a tank. Can't remember what it's called and I don't think it'd matter to any of my blog readers either...

A Harvard preparing to leave. These were great!

The Harvards doing their thing...

Jake watching the helicopters preparing to take to the air... The Harvards again... Airwolf? Jake watching the helicopter display from on top of a dust bin. Again, in the 25 deg sunshine, he wouldn't take off his longsleeves. Might've been because he had 3 telephone numbers scribbled all the way up his left arm... Just before it was time to leave, Jake decided he wanted to have his picture taken with just about every plane on dispay. Again, I don't have a clue what any of these are called... The SAA A430 with the Harvards doing some kind of display. It's pretty big, but not as cool as the A380 as I'm told... Sunday afternoon/evening saw us lighting up the braai. We'd spent Sunday afternoon having tea with friends and Jake was given a Batman cape, which he adores... Jake & Amber sharing a joke... I think I've said it before, Jake is a braai master in the making. He absolutely loves the whole ritual. From the lighting of the fire, to preparation of the food. He loves cooking and turning the meat and is always very proud of himself when we're sitting around licking our fingers at the end of another delicious meal. Plus, it's really entertaining watching him. He pulls the funniest faces and concentrates so hard. He does darned well too - I mean, if you look at the size of him next to the size of the braai, he manages to lift the meat on and off the grid with only the tongs for assistance. So far, we've never had sandy meat!! I'm sure it's just a matter of time before my dad can laze on the stoep with his beer while Jake does the braai completely unassisted, but for now, Jake does still need some guidance, much to his disgust... Check... And note the face. Jacques used to stick his tongue out like that when he was concentrating... And one of the luxuries of being the braai master is getting to taste the meat (sorry to all my vegetarian friends, this may be disgusting you all!) straight off the fire... Of course, you have to wait for it to be cool enough... And then confirm with all your loyal spectators that everything tastes OK... So, Jake's assistant at this particular braai was Gareth. This is Jake putting out stray flames with water. It's one area of the braai'ing that he still needs to work on. He doesn't quite understand that you need the heat to keep going for a while and that when fat splatters on the coals it does light up for a few seconds. Jake just nukes them with water, which causes the fire to cool down quite a lot... Check the face... And again... A happy boy with a tummy full of deliciously cooked food... Joanne & Paul went away for a few nights with some friends. My parents house & cat sat for them. Jake & I went up on Tuesday evening, since Wednesday was a holiday, to join them. We went out for a delicious fish dinner and had plenty to drink. Jake had a ball playing with Jo & Paul's first born, Gemma. I think she was glad to see the back of us on Wednesday morning. Look at his eyes - I'd be scared too. (Jo - promise he didn't hurt her. He just loves her so much, he can't leave her alone!)... Isn't she gorgeous... As mentioned in a previous post, Wednesday was Heritage Day as well as National Braai Day. The weather wasn't great, sunny and cool, but we still managed to pull off a braai in honour of our heritage. My dad cut some branches off an old tree, so Jake had tons of fun breaking them up and tossing them into the fire.

Here's Amber chewing a branch. My dogs aren't allowed to eat bones. It's the one thing our vet told us that we should NEVER give them. Neither cooked nor raw. He said bones cause most of the blockages that he sees in animals. Still, I can't help but wonder if they'd be better for my dog's stomach then sticks. She loves them...

Jake getting into the branch breaking... Checking out his fire (note: yes, he is wearing the same tops that he wore in last Sunday's photos, but they've been washed and ironed in between. Just a coincidence!)... Getting the grid ready... Umm... this is what kids do when you aren't quick enough with the tissues. Gross... That's Jake putting the grid onto the braai. A spring bloom with the braai in the background... Pretty colours, hey? Unedited... Jake with his assistant, this time my dad... Check how my son is eyeing out that beer... The view from the other side of the garden. Note who's sitting closest to the fire. And Amber's just waiting for a tasty morsel... What we ate. Snoek with peppers, onions and herb butter... And I made toasties. You have to have toasties with a braai, it's tradition. These had cheest, tomato, onion, basil, garlic and chutney on - they were DIVINE... The cooking fish... A moment amongst the braai'ers... Um - did I say that this was delicous? Jake getting his portion... This is the last photo for today, I swear. Jake won the cake raffle at school on Thursday. They rotate it and two cakes are raffled off once a month. Whoever wins the cake, has to bake another for the next month and means that Jake & I need to send something in for the 30th of October. Every time they've had a raffel on at school before now, Jake's come home in a bad mood because someone else has won. It's been a good lesson for him to learn that there have to be losers in order for there to be winners. It's just been a long wait for his turn to come around. Anyway, on Thursday afternoon I got a phone call from a very excited little boy to tell me that he'd won the cake!! It was (yes, it's finished) a gorgeous carrot cake, decorated with bunnies, carrots and little bees. He was just so proud, it was so sweet. The moment I got home from work, he cut it up and we had cake and coffee...

Anyway, sure you're dead bored by now, so I won't bore you with any more news for now. Hope that everyone's well and looking forward to catching up on all your news soon too. For those of you whom we saw over the weekend - it was lovely to catch up again and we must do it again soon. Thanks for a stunning lunch on Friday, Ron. Sarah's doing great and you're a wonderful mommy. Your new home is beautiful too. When we doing it again, ladies? Nor, thanks for a lovely evening on Saturday. Sorry we had to run off a bit early, but Jake was getting out of control!! Caroline, thanks for having us around yesterday, it was really good to catch up. We must do it again sometime soon too. And hopefully we can get it right to actually go out somewhere!!

Lots of love,

Sue xxx