Today...

I'm smiling X

A new link...

Also, just to let you know that I've added another Blog to my list of links on the right. It belongs to a fairly new friend, Amber Druian, who belongs to my book club. Amber suffers from the debilitating illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and her blog is a diary of her progress as she deals with life as a CFS sufferer.

Sue X

Fuss Pot...

I am SO not used to being fussed over any more. I'm used to doing the mothering and fussing...

Jacques used to run in circles around me and I loved it. There was nothing to big for me to ask of him and he was forever buying flowers and chocolates just because. We went on regular dates (Jake wasn't really in the picture for long, so I guess pre-kids) and spent a lot of quiet time just enjoying each other's company. None of the men I've "dated" since Jacques have treated me in this way.

But then arrived the "boere seuntjie" and I have to say, he's pulling out all the stops, which has caught me totally offside. And I'm not left guessing about what's going on, or about how he feels. He enjoys spending time with me. He thinks I'm beautiful and lets me know it. He thinks Jake's great and knows how to get onto his level. It's really, really nice (and a lot flattering) to know where I stand.

Yesterday, we decided to take Jake through to Hout Bay for a walk on the beach and out for lunch. I offered to meet him there, but he wouldn't hear of it and insisted on coming through to pick us up. For those of you who know Cape Town, he lives in Marina da Gama, which is basically Muizenberg and a good 45 minutes drive away. Hout Bay is half way back the way he'd come from and he still had to bring us home again afterwards! On our way home, we stopped at the wheel in the Waterfront, which was AWESOME! It's expensive, but the view is gorgeous and we really enjoyed it. I had my camera with me, so I can indulge you with a few unedited pictures...

These were funny photos. He doesn't like having his picture taken so managed to get Jake to pull funny faces with him for me...

I do still have concerns about getting Jake involved in my relationships - I just think it's dangerous. At the same time though, I come as a package and if a man can't deal with my child, I need to know. I need to stop analyzing so much, don't I?

Anyway, I'll love and leave you here. Hope every one's doing well! Catch up soon XXX

So much attention...

So, I had another date with the new guy last night. That's twice in 3 days - fairly impressive by my terms!

We went to a nearby restaurant, called Zorba's for dinner - he had fillet steak (well done) with beer and I had grilled calamari (with wine of course), which was delicious. I have to say, I had a lovely time.

What else can I tell you about him? He has a house that he designed himself on thewater's edge of a marina. He said he designed it with the idea of having a family to share it with one day - it's way too big for one. He'd love to have kids. He's got a dog, a boxer called Laila, who's his baby for now. His brother's wife was at school with me and I met his brother briefly at the Junior Argus earlier this year. He's Afrikaans, which is a little weird for me. His parents are happily married and live in Monte Vista, which is the suburb next to ours and the one I work in. He's the middle child, has an older sister and younger brother. He's birthday's 9 September. He runs, surfs and cycles. He loves motorbikes, but doesn't own one at the moment after a serious racing accident that nearly cost him his life in 2008.

Anynoodle. There are other things I'd love to write about on the subject, but I think that'll be all for now. I'll probably be seeing him over the weekend again. I think one of the most frustrating things about this is that nobody I know has met him properly. Besides the friends who're trying to set us up, who undoubtedly will only tell me good things, I have no one to bounce things off. I wish you could meet him and give me your opinions...

Sue X

Hiya...

I did something unusual, more than a little out of character, yesterday and ended up having a ton of fun and made a new friend

So... some really good friends have been trying to set me up with a friend of theirs for a while and I keep resisting. Anyway, I stopped resisting under the duress of receiving a case of free red wine hand delivered to my door yesterday by the said friend of a friend.

The stranger dropped my delicious (I know because I've had a bottle already) wine off, had some coffee, took Jake & I for a walk on the beach (wasn't the weather just about perfect this weekend & today - I love winter days like these!) and then took us (Jake) for ice-creams, followed by drinks at the Blue Peter. We had a fabulous time, visiting the little island, exploring tidal pools and digging for muscles in the sand. Jake thinks he's the bomb, totally cool, and has already made plans for stranger-guy to take him fishing in the not-too-distant future (he actually said next Saturday, but I already have plans).

He's 36, was fun to be with, is good looking (tall and dark like I like them), he's never been married, has no kids, loves animals and children (though perhaps he was trying to impress?) and we had a really lovely time together yesterday. Jake was on his worst behaviour possible, but it did make me realise how much I long to have a "family" again...

Sue X

I'm here...

I'm alive, I'm here and I haven't forgotten about my blog. I was off work yesterday with some kind of a bug. I spent most of the day in bed, recovering from a night spent hanging over the toilet bowl. I'm feeling better today, but have a heck of a head ache. I'm really glad it's the weekend and so, so grateful that I have a big, warm bed to snuggle up into later. Sending lots of love to all my friends whom I haven't seen in too long and a special greeting to Lee over at Pink Granite. Hang in there and keep getting stronger! Sue XXX

5c...

I guess it could've happened to anyone. Kinda. I guess it could be called an accident. Sorta. I guess there are many people in grief after the explosion on 20 April in the Gulf of Mexico on board the oil rigger 'DEEPWATER HORIZON' killed 11 crew members. But... I DON'T CARE!! I can't believe it, but I don't.

What I do care about is the irreversible damage that has been done. That's still happening. As per National Geographic, there are approximately 210,000 gallons (that's nearly 800,000 liters) of oil pouring out into the ocean on a daily basis. Each and every day since 20 April. Can you even begin to imagine? One website has a running calculator, showing that over 81.8 million gallons (nearly 310 million liters!) of oil has spewed into the sea to date. The spill covers more than 4,000 miles (approx 6,500km) and threatens to ruin many fragile ecosystems - it's nothing short of disgusting.

I realise it's expensive and that there's a lot to sort out, but something drastic has to be done. And fast. I know that President Obama is fully behind clean up operations, as too is David Cameron, the British president. We all know that BP has a responsibility to cap the leak, at their own expense, I just don't believe that this is being done quickly enough.

While the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico doesn't directly affect us in South Africa, we have previously been affected by spills of our own and are fully aware of the devastation that can be caused to the coast and marine life. Since I am far away and there is little I can do to help, I have decided to avoid the convenient BP station in our road, until this mess has been sorted out.

What will you do??

Sue X