The brilliant weather continues and according to Sky news we are in the middle of a heat wave with temperatures expecting to reach 32 degrees on Thursday - they are recommending we stay in doors and consume large volumes of water - bah humbug to that, the South African in me is still too strong and I am LOVING the heat and Nick is really enjoying crawling around in just a nappy eating icey fruit and drinking lots of water.
Mom and I are having a lovely relaxed time together catching up and have been doing some walking and enjoying the village....when mom is with me she simply cannot resist the little greengrocer in town and the house is once again full of fresh flowers and cherries the size of gobstoppers (delish).
Phillip is jumping in the district meet tomorrow and Si has taken the day off work to go and support him....looking forward to watching my boy and am hoping that the day goes well.
Monday, 29 June 2009
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Saturday 27th June 2009
Definitely a diamond of a day.....Megan's best friend in South Africa (Meggie Houghton) and her family are visiting England on a 3.5 week holiday and joined us for a ploughman's lunch in our garden. The weather was absolutely perfect and the Pimms flowed along with the laughter and friendship, a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon and one the whole family enjoyed immensely.
Thanks to my mom, Si and I were able to join Kerry, Rob, Liesel and AJ in Brighton for an evening clubbing....and what a blast we had. Brighton is a vibrant city which really comes alive at night and was totally filled with people celebrating their hen and stag nights. We ended up in a club reminiscent of ones I have seen on telly complete with different floors, chill rooms and over 200 mirror balls hanging from the roof. Fortunately the Brighton crowd is a bit older then that you would see in South Africa (probably due to the £10 per head entry and exhorbitant alchol prices)which added to a brilliant evening and something I can now tick off my bucket list.
Thanks to my mom, Si and I were able to join Kerry, Rob, Liesel and AJ in Brighton for an evening clubbing....and what a blast we had. Brighton is a vibrant city which really comes alive at night and was totally filled with people celebrating their hen and stag nights. We ended up in a club reminiscent of ones I have seen on telly complete with different floors, chill rooms and over 200 mirror balls hanging from the roof. Fortunately the Brighton crowd is a bit older then that you would see in South Africa (probably due to the £10 per head entry and exhorbitant alchol prices)which added to a brilliant evening and something I can now tick off my bucket list.
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Wednesday 24th June 2009
The weather is absolutely MAGNIFICENT at the moment and summer's like this make that long hard winter just a distant memory.....today I actually burnt sitting at Phillip's sports day and am now sporting a better tan then I did my last summer in South Africa, so who ever says the weather in England is shocking hasn't lived in my part of it.
Phil thoroughly enjoyed his sports day today and it reminded me so much of Waldorf in South Africa.....now for some that would be a negative, but I chose that system of education for my daughter and I believe in it whole heartedly so to now have both children in schools which are so similar is for me a total joy.
The spirit of the day was fantastic and the children where all having an absolute blast....yes there was an absence of strict uniform (they just had to wear any shirt in the colour of their house) and all the staff were relaxed and laughing, but there was no shortage of sportsmanship and team spirit and to watch all the houses supporting the children coming last and hugging the little girl with Down Syndrome who crossed the line a full minute after the rest of the children in her race brought tears to my eyes.
Mary leaves tomorrow so a final day of exploring the area before taking her up to the airport at 4pm for her long flight home.
Phil thoroughly enjoyed his sports day today and it reminded me so much of Waldorf in South Africa.....now for some that would be a negative, but I chose that system of education for my daughter and I believe in it whole heartedly so to now have both children in schools which are so similar is for me a total joy.
The spirit of the day was fantastic and the children where all having an absolute blast....yes there was an absence of strict uniform (they just had to wear any shirt in the colour of their house) and all the staff were relaxed and laughing, but there was no shortage of sportsmanship and team spirit and to watch all the houses supporting the children coming last and hugging the little girl with Down Syndrome who crossed the line a full minute after the rest of the children in her race brought tears to my eyes.
Mary leaves tomorrow so a final day of exploring the area before taking her up to the airport at 4pm for her long flight home.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Tuesday 23rd June 2009
Can't believe my mom has already been here a week, in some respects it has gone so quickly (tooooo quickly) already and in other respects if feels as if she has been with us forever and we have all just fallen back into our old routines from her visit last year. Nicholas has loved getting to know his granny and now puts his arms out to her even when I am holding him and crawls over like a rocket to climb up on her lap whenever she gives the other two a hug....such a little character and bringing his gran so much joy.
Mary's trip is almost at an end now and we have kept very very busy (hence the lack of blog entries), she has had a lovely time and I think will go back with many special memories of England. We spent an awesome day in Brighton yesterday and Mary was as enchanted with the lanes as I am.....she will definitely be returning with lots of goodies in her bag to remind her of her trip and should spend some happy hours next week reminiscing.
Wonderful to be surrounded by family and friends and even better to know that I still have another 6 weeks to spend with my precious mom.
Mary's trip is almost at an end now and we have kept very very busy (hence the lack of blog entries), she has had a lovely time and I think will go back with many special memories of England. We spent an awesome day in Brighton yesterday and Mary was as enchanted with the lanes as I am.....she will definitely be returning with lots of goodies in her bag to remind her of her trip and should spend some happy hours next week reminiscing.
Wonderful to be surrounded by family and friends and even better to know that I still have another 6 weeks to spend with my precious mom.
Saturday, 20 June 2009
Saturday 20th June 2009
Mary has now been with us a week and is still loving England....we have been shopping in Burgess Hill, to pick strawberries from Tulley's farm, walking at Wakehurst Place and finally up to London on the train today before going into Lindfield to watch a fireworks display this evening. All in all a good trip and as little Nick has really taken to Mary I think he is going to miss her when she goes home on Thursday.
A wonderful surprise
As I mentioned briefly on Tuesday my mom's arrival in England on Wednesday for Megan's birthday was a total surprise for both children and the looks on their faces as they saw Granny for the first time was worth all the planning we have been doing since February.
My children are the happiest little people alive at the moment and are literally floating around the house in a happy daze.
To my daughter
Wednesday the 17th June was Meg's 11th birthday, and what an eventful day it was, but that is for another post.....this post is for you Megs, my beautiful daughter.
Megan, your dad and I are so proud of you, you have overcome so much to get where you are today, standing on the cusp of teenagehood and you have overcome it with such grace and determination - if I had half your courage my child I would be twice the woman I am today.
My wish for you Megs going forward is that you achieve all that you wish for and that you find a way to work through problems and face adversity head on. You have it all within you my love and you can do ANYTHING you set your mind too....never forget that every journey starts with one tiny step, so if you can find the courage to take that step the rest is easy.
Always remember how much your dad and I love you and I hope this next year is as awesome for you as the past one has been. Happy Birthday darling!
Megan, your dad and I are so proud of you, you have overcome so much to get where you are today, standing on the cusp of teenagehood and you have overcome it with such grace and determination - if I had half your courage my child I would be twice the woman I am today.
My wish for you Megs going forward is that you achieve all that you wish for and that you find a way to work through problems and face adversity head on. You have it all within you my love and you can do ANYTHING you set your mind too....never forget that every journey starts with one tiny step, so if you can find the courage to take that step the rest is easy.
Always remember how much your dad and I love you and I hope this next year is as awesome for you as the past one has been. Happy Birthday darling!
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Tuesday 16th June 2009
Mary has decided it may be worth running the risk of being an illegal immigrant lol - she has fallen in love with England hook line and sinker and today even took a shower upstairs while I was out with all the doors open downstairs and said she didn't feel in the least bit nervous.....she is adapting to our lifestyle very quickly and I think she wishes she was here for many more weeks as opposed to another 10 days.
As it is Megs birthday tomorrow, we shot down to Burgess Hill and Argos to buy her an Ipod Shuffel and Mary enjoyed experiencing a totally catalogue driven shop....definitely something she will never experience in SA and something I have to say I have only just started to get used to. Spent a lovely evening in the park enjoying a fish and chip picnic dinner treated by Mary and now it is early to bed as my mom arrives in England tomorrow morning to surprise Megs for her birthday....don't know if I will be able to sleep I am so excited and now that I know she is actually in the air I can hardly wait.
As it is Megs birthday tomorrow, we shot down to Burgess Hill and Argos to buy her an Ipod Shuffel and Mary enjoyed experiencing a totally catalogue driven shop....definitely something she will never experience in SA and something I have to say I have only just started to get used to. Spent a lovely evening in the park enjoying a fish and chip picnic dinner treated by Mary and now it is early to bed as my mom arrives in England tomorrow morning to surprise Megs for her birthday....don't know if I will be able to sleep I am so excited and now that I know she is actually in the air I can hardly wait.
Monday, 15 June 2009
Monday 15th June 2009
My friend Mary arrived yesterday morning from South Africa and boy were we spoilt....unpacking her bag was great fun and I am afraid weightwatchers went right out the window as she presented us with all kinds of lovely treats from home - beacon chocolate marshmallow Easter eggs have never tasted that good :-)
Spent today exploring Crawley....well the bead shops there at least.....and then did some shopping at Tesco's as we had received a £50 gift voucher when we signed up for Sky TV and Megs and Phil were in desperate need of some new pj's and summer clothes, such a pleasure to essentially be able to replenish all the summer have to haves basically for free (and yes £50 goes a looooooooooooooooong way). Realised for the first time, thanks to Mary recognising the Cherokee label that Tesco's must have some type of connection to Pick n Pay in South Africa and now that I look at it, the packets are even the same - scary I have lived here for 13 months and never made the association before lol.
Spent today exploring Crawley....well the bead shops there at least.....and then did some shopping at Tesco's as we had received a £50 gift voucher when we signed up for Sky TV and Megs and Phil were in desperate need of some new pj's and summer clothes, such a pleasure to essentially be able to replenish all the summer have to haves basically for free (and yes £50 goes a looooooooooooooooong way). Realised for the first time, thanks to Mary recognising the Cherokee label that Tesco's must have some type of connection to Pick n Pay in South Africa and now that I look at it, the packets are even the same - scary I have lived here for 13 months and never made the association before lol.
Sunday, 14 June 2009
13 June 2009
Megan, Shannon and I hit the streets of Brighton first thing this morning for a much anticipated and long awaited shopping trip. Megs was desperate to replenish her summer wardrobe and as she is getting older she decided she would rather shop for her own clothes for her birthday then have mom buy her a surprise.....I am so last year after all (her words lol). It was a lovely lovely morning and my daughter is growing into the kind of young woman I really enjoy spending time with. Her's and Shannon's behaviour was impecible and it gave me a tiny glimse into wonderful years still to come.
Spent a stunning summer afternoon with Liesl and AJ saying goodbye and then home to sort out the house for Mary's arrival first thing tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Wednesday 10th June 2009
WE SOLD OUR HOUSE - well subject to bond approval for the other party, but as they are lodging two thirds of the amount cash we are fairly confident that it will go through. It is a strangely bittersweet moment as once transfer has gone through our ties to South Africa, well physical at least, are officially cut and we really having nothing but family and friends to return for.
We also loved our house very much and although it was by no means the biggest or smartest it was our home and it seems strange to think that we will never live there again....that our children will never climb on the jungle gym or play in the mud bath they created out of one of the flower beds.....shew, another landmark moment and one that has brought tears to my eyes even though I would never want to live there again.
With the sale of this house for me our immigration is well and truly complete and we are officially "Scatterlings of Africa", time now to really throw ourselves into life here and commit either with the purchase of a home of our own or a business that will set us up to afford the home of our dreams. I am just grateful that we will be debt free and with savings in the bank as we move forward and I look forward to embracing this next chapter of our story.
We also loved our house very much and although it was by no means the biggest or smartest it was our home and it seems strange to think that we will never live there again....that our children will never climb on the jungle gym or play in the mud bath they created out of one of the flower beds.....shew, another landmark moment and one that has brought tears to my eyes even though I would never want to live there again.
With the sale of this house for me our immigration is well and truly complete and we are officially "Scatterlings of Africa", time now to really throw ourselves into life here and commit either with the purchase of a home of our own or a business that will set us up to afford the home of our dreams. I am just grateful that we will be debt free and with savings in the bank as we move forward and I look forward to embracing this next chapter of our story.
Monday, 8 June 2009
Congratulations Phillip
My darling Phillip has been chosen to represent his school in Long Jump in the District Sports meet later in the month and I am just so proud of him....WELL DONE my boy you are really starting to come into your own now - go out there and knock em dead, and remember to have FUN!
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
A very special friendship
Searching through some photos earlier today I came across these ones of Phillip and Dom and it reminded me of a story I have been wanting to scrap forever and as I still haven't had the chance so I have decided to blog it.
These two boys have been best friends for years now and the story I have in mind occurred about 2 years ago shortly after Phillip's 7th birthday.....we had sadly just had to have our beautiful cat Shadow put down after a series of diabetic lows that had resulted in him loosing his eyesight and experiencing severe epileptic seizures and Phil was very aware that it was possible to put an animal out of it misery as and when it becomes necessary.
Anyway one day as we were driving home after he had been to play with Dom he asked me very matter of factly if it was possible to put a human down......well to say I was a bit surprised at this question from a 7 year old is an understatement and I remember going down the whole road of living wills and assisted suicide, all the time being aware of how much information I should give him but at the same time trying to explain to him that it was not really something that could be done.
About 10 minutes into the conversation I stopped and looked at him, wondering why he had asked such a question apparently out of the blue.....so I asked him and his answer without any semblance of irony was "Mom I just love Dom so much that when he dies I just want to be put down".
This story is so indicative of the love between these two boys and their friendship is something I have never witnessed in such young children. Even 12 months apart doesn't seem to have lessened their fondness for each other and without hesitation Dominic is the first name Phil mentions whenever he speaks of South Africa.
These two boys have been best friends for years now and the story I have in mind occurred about 2 years ago shortly after Phillip's 7th birthday.....we had sadly just had to have our beautiful cat Shadow put down after a series of diabetic lows that had resulted in him loosing his eyesight and experiencing severe epileptic seizures and Phil was very aware that it was possible to put an animal out of it misery as and when it becomes necessary.
Anyway one day as we were driving home after he had been to play with Dom he asked me very matter of factly if it was possible to put a human down......well to say I was a bit surprised at this question from a 7 year old is an understatement and I remember going down the whole road of living wills and assisted suicide, all the time being aware of how much information I should give him but at the same time trying to explain to him that it was not really something that could be done.
About 10 minutes into the conversation I stopped and looked at him, wondering why he had asked such a question apparently out of the blue.....so I asked him and his answer without any semblance of irony was "Mom I just love Dom so much that when he dies I just want to be put down".
This story is so indicative of the love between these two boys and their friendship is something I have never witnessed in such young children. Even 12 months apart doesn't seem to have lessened their fondness for each other and without hesitation Dominic is the first name Phil mentions whenever he speaks of South Africa.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
The people who have contributed to our immigration
This morning as I was standing in the shower I found myself once again mulling over our immigration process (no I don't sing, the family would simply NEVER survive it lol) and although I do believe that 80% of our success so far has been down to attitude there are some VERY important people who have been a part of our journey and without whom I am not sure we would be where we are today.
My parents have to top this list and although I have said it before I simply cannot stress the importance of the fact that they have WILLINGLY let us go and ACTIVELY encourage us to remain on a regular basis......for those parents out there who are faced with their children's eminent departure, I beg you, LET THEM GO and let them go freely and willingly if you want their move to be a success. My parents have never once wished us home (well not verbally at least :-) ) and they have made a HUGE effort to continue to be involved in our lives through skype and over the telephone....my mom buys a world call card on a regular basis and stays in touch almost daily just as she would have if I was in SA. Without the pressure we have been able to settle and find happiness free of the guilt often associated with leaving parents behind.
There have been many friends new and old who have also contributed to our successful relocation, without these people our lives would have been lonely and isolated and although again I believe our attitude towards making friends has been a contributing factor, the new friends have opened their lives to us and the old ones have held us in their hearts and continued to "cheer" for us from the sidelines....and of course my blog buddies are a constant source of unexpected support :-).
Three people I truly believe I would NEVER have made it without are of course Linda, Tanya and Kerry...
LINDA is the person I phone for my much needed dose of home, having been here only 2 months longer then us she is on EXACTLY the same page and we prop each other up when the need arises, we laugh together, vent together and do housework together and she fills the huge gaping hole in my life where the Bratz used to be.
My friendship with TANYA has be revived through my move here and I cannot begin to describe the comfort of knowing that my oldest friend in the world is just a train trip away....Tanya knows EVERYTHING about me and being able to just pick up the phone and chat when I am feeling down, or have something special to share has made all the difficulties of the process seem more manageable.
As for KERRY (and of course Rob), I cannot believe that we have only been friends for a year, I said to Simon the other night I simply can't imagine our lives without them.....Kerry and Rob have embraced us as family and have been there for us through thick and thin, knowing that they are just up the road has made all the difference in our lives and they often bring the much needed laughter and joy into our home.
And so, this has to date been a successful journey, although not without its ups and downs, and it has been due in no small measure to the people in my life at present.....without them would I have been able to maintain the positive attitude and approach that I have or would I have been battling depression and desperate to go home - I don't really know, but I suspect the latter would have been true, and I THANK GOD every single day that he chose the wonderful souls that he did to be a part of my life during this, possibly the most difficult thing I have ever done.
My parents have to top this list and although I have said it before I simply cannot stress the importance of the fact that they have WILLINGLY let us go and ACTIVELY encourage us to remain on a regular basis......for those parents out there who are faced with their children's eminent departure, I beg you, LET THEM GO and let them go freely and willingly if you want their move to be a success. My parents have never once wished us home (well not verbally at least :-) ) and they have made a HUGE effort to continue to be involved in our lives through skype and over the telephone....my mom buys a world call card on a regular basis and stays in touch almost daily just as she would have if I was in SA. Without the pressure we have been able to settle and find happiness free of the guilt often associated with leaving parents behind.
There have been many friends new and old who have also contributed to our successful relocation, without these people our lives would have been lonely and isolated and although again I believe our attitude towards making friends has been a contributing factor, the new friends have opened their lives to us and the old ones have held us in their hearts and continued to "cheer" for us from the sidelines....and of course my blog buddies are a constant source of unexpected support :-).
Three people I truly believe I would NEVER have made it without are of course Linda, Tanya and Kerry...
LINDA is the person I phone for my much needed dose of home, having been here only 2 months longer then us she is on EXACTLY the same page and we prop each other up when the need arises, we laugh together, vent together and do housework together and she fills the huge gaping hole in my life where the Bratz used to be.
My friendship with TANYA has be revived through my move here and I cannot begin to describe the comfort of knowing that my oldest friend in the world is just a train trip away....Tanya knows EVERYTHING about me and being able to just pick up the phone and chat when I am feeling down, or have something special to share has made all the difficulties of the process seem more manageable.
As for KERRY (and of course Rob), I cannot believe that we have only been friends for a year, I said to Simon the other night I simply can't imagine our lives without them.....Kerry and Rob have embraced us as family and have been there for us through thick and thin, knowing that they are just up the road has made all the difference in our lives and they often bring the much needed laughter and joy into our home.
And so, this has to date been a successful journey, although not without its ups and downs, and it has been due in no small measure to the people in my life at present.....without them would I have been able to maintain the positive attitude and approach that I have or would I have been battling depression and desperate to go home - I don't really know, but I suspect the latter would have been true, and I THANK GOD every single day that he chose the wonderful souls that he did to be a part of my life during this, possibly the most difficult thing I have ever done.
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