Eish as we would say in South Africa, what a weekend!!!!! Now that it is all over and I can sit back and reflect, I have to be totally honest and say that although the events of the day itself were simply horrible, I may just have been given the best birthday present ever as a result......quite simply the gift of love and friendship.
I am simply awed by the kindness we were shown and I am overwhelmed by the concern from friends here.......considering that we have known these people such a short time it is wonderful to know how strong our bonds have grown.
The love and support that I received from my parents goes without saying and although I know it must have been so hard for them to hear me crying down the phone they gave me advice which helped tremendously and the encouragement I needed to just hang in there.
Once again Kerry and Rob were our hero's and I literally dreamt about Rob on his white charger on Saturday night (lol). These two people live their Christianity every single day of their lives and nothing is ever too much trouble, I only pray that one day I will be able to do for them even half of what they have done for us over the last 9 months.
As for Cayne and Linda, well words can't express how they have become family to us and are the people we ultimately turn to in a crisis. Even now, as I type, Si is on the train to Weston-Super-Mare to collect one of their cars to use for at least the next couple of weeks while we get on our feet and decide whether we want another people carrier or a smaller more fuel efficient car.....we may even buy the Vauxhall off them as Cayne is wanting to sell it on anyway, which would definitely kill two birds with one stone.
At this point I also have to mention the kindness of two wonderful people I haven't even met yet......John and Becky in Weston-Super-Mare who have lent Cayne one of their cars so that we can borrow his, I mean the selflessness of this action is incredible and I will forever be grateful to them.
So as I say, the cloud had a silver lining and the bonds of friendship I have received will make this birthday one I will NEVER forget.
I am off to a lovely lunch at a surprise location with Catherine today to celebrate the midpoint between our birthdays and Rob & Kerry have promised me a belated birthday celebration sometime next weekend so I have decided to delete the events of Saturday from my birthday database and make some new memories over the next 7 days.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Saturday, 7 March 2009
Saturday 7th March 2009
The day of my 36th birthday, and what a day it has been, but more about that later. For now I want to write about the time leading up to my birthday and get down for the record some of the feelings and emotions that have been running through my life and colouring my days for last week.
It has been a week of more stones then diamonds for me and I have found myself feeling flat and frustrated, snapping at the children and muttering under my breath at Simon's actions. Realising that this behaviour and indeed the emotions that accompanied it were new and not necessarily something that I wanted to continue, I tried some of Bee's soul searching and that together with looooooong telephone conversations to Linnie finally brought me to the conclusion that it was the eminent arrival of my birthday that had me is such a bad state.
It is funny how I expected the destabilising effect of a big event like Christmas and as it was something that the whole family was going through together I felt I needed to be "strong" in order to help them through it. I was therefore totally unprepared for the effect my birthday would have, and in fact for the most part I didn't even realise it was having an effect, I just knew I felt horrid. I guess the break from routine and the customary dinner with my parents, the roast with bacon cabbage and Afrikaans beans and some delish pud to follow had me reeling, and it was only after I recognised this fact and made the conscious decision to pull myself together did my week start to improve.
Times like this just reemphasise for me the impact immigration truly has on ones life and you can be happy for months and months and months on end when suddenly something takes the wind from your sails and leaves you feeling totally deflated........I do believe however that each and every one of us has it within to stop, take a breath and move forward and that successful immigration is a decision, it is not something that just happens.
I have also learned a tremendous amount about myself through this process and have grown to like and respect the woman that I am. This comment is in no way meant to sound conceited, but this peace with myself has been a hard won prize and I thank God every single day of my life that we started on this journey for no matter where it ends, here or back in South Africa, we have all learned so much about ourselves and that is why I believe our immigration has been a success....it is because we have grown as people and has nothing to do with the amount of time that we have been away from home.
So it was with a happy and replenished heart that I awoke this morning to the sounds of my children and dh singing happy birthday and the smell of freshly cooked bacon and brewing coffee.....breakfast in bed was the order of the morning and then after a call from my parents we were off to Thorpe Park to recapture my youth and find the inner child again.
Or so I thought..........God and Aunty Madge (aka the bus) clearly had different ideas and about 10 minutes from our destination (75kms from home) Aunty Madge started to splutter and we only just managed to steer her off the M25 before she stalled completely which is never a good sign, but particularly in a fully automatic car.
As luck would have it I had received so many text messages from friends for my birthday that my mobile phone battery had gone flat and the dead screen meant we had absolutely no access to the contact details of the people who would be most likely to help......the Viljoens!
However, God was on our side and for some bazaar reason my Megan had included my friend Catherine's phone number in her mobile and it was with great relief that I reached Catherine and started the ball rolling as far as getting Kerry and Rob's number was concerned. I have to also put in at this stage that Catherine is fast becoming one of my friends I call in a crisis and I count myself very lucky the day she stopped me to tell me my brake lights weren't working.
It goes without saying that before long Rob was on his way to rescue us (again), but he was a full 90mins away so my little family set up camp on the side of the road (you aren't allowed to stay in your stationary car on the motorways here) and prepared to sit it out. The wind was blowing quite heavily and it was cold (fortunately I had taken advice from Lin ages ago to always keep two blanket in our car in the winter so at least we had those), but apart from that discomfort I must say we felt very safe and it didn't cross our minds for even a minute that we were in any kind of danger.
Before long we received a call from the Road Agency responsible for that section of road to find out where exactly we were and to our surprise they turned up not long after to check that we had a safe position to wait and gave us a space blanket to keep the children warm and offered to return with food and water for the children in two hours if Rob hadn't arrived. To say we were totally amazed is an understatement....def a first world experience.
Finally Rob arrived and we hooked the cars together to begin the long tow home, unfortunately about 15 mins in the weight ratio between the cars proved too much and the tow ring pulled out of the back of Rob's car leaving my dh without breaks on a hill....fortunately he didn't panic and just used the handbrake, but it gave me such a fright I think I turned 86 in that instant.
To cut a very very long, sad and exhausting story short we finally made it home and organised a tow company to fetch the car, when Si returned to meet them the police were there with a fine as our MOT had expired, unbeknown to us and without MOT the towers won't tow so as I type my poor husband is on the side of the road waiting for a flat bed to come and fetch the car and God alone knows what that is going to cost......so all in all my birthday has been shocking and I will gladly close my eyes on it tonight - maybe there was a reason I had such a bad feeling about it all week.
It has been a week of more stones then diamonds for me and I have found myself feeling flat and frustrated, snapping at the children and muttering under my breath at Simon's actions. Realising that this behaviour and indeed the emotions that accompanied it were new and not necessarily something that I wanted to continue, I tried some of Bee's soul searching and that together with looooooong telephone conversations to Linnie finally brought me to the conclusion that it was the eminent arrival of my birthday that had me is such a bad state.
It is funny how I expected the destabilising effect of a big event like Christmas and as it was something that the whole family was going through together I felt I needed to be "strong" in order to help them through it. I was therefore totally unprepared for the effect my birthday would have, and in fact for the most part I didn't even realise it was having an effect, I just knew I felt horrid. I guess the break from routine and the customary dinner with my parents, the roast with bacon cabbage and Afrikaans beans and some delish pud to follow had me reeling, and it was only after I recognised this fact and made the conscious decision to pull myself together did my week start to improve.
Times like this just reemphasise for me the impact immigration truly has on ones life and you can be happy for months and months and months on end when suddenly something takes the wind from your sails and leaves you feeling totally deflated........I do believe however that each and every one of us has it within to stop, take a breath and move forward and that successful immigration is a decision, it is not something that just happens.
I have also learned a tremendous amount about myself through this process and have grown to like and respect the woman that I am. This comment is in no way meant to sound conceited, but this peace with myself has been a hard won prize and I thank God every single day of my life that we started on this journey for no matter where it ends, here or back in South Africa, we have all learned so much about ourselves and that is why I believe our immigration has been a success....it is because we have grown as people and has nothing to do with the amount of time that we have been away from home.
So it was with a happy and replenished heart that I awoke this morning to the sounds of my children and dh singing happy birthday and the smell of freshly cooked bacon and brewing coffee.....breakfast in bed was the order of the morning and then after a call from my parents we were off to Thorpe Park to recapture my youth and find the inner child again.
Or so I thought..........God and Aunty Madge (aka the bus) clearly had different ideas and about 10 minutes from our destination (75kms from home) Aunty Madge started to splutter and we only just managed to steer her off the M25 before she stalled completely which is never a good sign, but particularly in a fully automatic car.
As luck would have it I had received so many text messages from friends for my birthday that my mobile phone battery had gone flat and the dead screen meant we had absolutely no access to the contact details of the people who would be most likely to help......the Viljoens!
However, God was on our side and for some bazaar reason my Megan had included my friend Catherine's phone number in her mobile and it was with great relief that I reached Catherine and started the ball rolling as far as getting Kerry and Rob's number was concerned. I have to also put in at this stage that Catherine is fast becoming one of my friends I call in a crisis and I count myself very lucky the day she stopped me to tell me my brake lights weren't working.
It goes without saying that before long Rob was on his way to rescue us (again), but he was a full 90mins away so my little family set up camp on the side of the road (you aren't allowed to stay in your stationary car on the motorways here) and prepared to sit it out. The wind was blowing quite heavily and it was cold (fortunately I had taken advice from Lin ages ago to always keep two blanket in our car in the winter so at least we had those), but apart from that discomfort I must say we felt very safe and it didn't cross our minds for even a minute that we were in any kind of danger.
Before long we received a call from the Road Agency responsible for that section of road to find out where exactly we were and to our surprise they turned up not long after to check that we had a safe position to wait and gave us a space blanket to keep the children warm and offered to return with food and water for the children in two hours if Rob hadn't arrived. To say we were totally amazed is an understatement....def a first world experience.
Finally Rob arrived and we hooked the cars together to begin the long tow home, unfortunately about 15 mins in the weight ratio between the cars proved too much and the tow ring pulled out of the back of Rob's car leaving my dh without breaks on a hill....fortunately he didn't panic and just used the handbrake, but it gave me such a fright I think I turned 86 in that instant.To cut a very very long, sad and exhausting story short we finally made it home and organised a tow company to fetch the car, when Si returned to meet them the police were there with a fine as our MOT had expired, unbeknown to us and without MOT the towers won't tow so as I type my poor husband is on the side of the road waiting for a flat bed to come and fetch the car and God alone knows what that is going to cost......so all in all my birthday has been shocking and I will gladly close my eyes on it tonight - maybe there was a reason I had such a bad feeling about it all week.
Monday, 2 March 2009
Wonderful News
On collecting Megan and Shannon from school today Megan's head teacher asked me if she could have a quick word......of course my heart started pounding (I really gotta start trusting my kids).......well there was no need for adrenalin, it was simply to let me know that Megan has had her reading retested and has improved so dramatically that she will no longer need extra time in her exams. She is still entitled to a reader if she wants one but at least all her time and hard work is paying off.
Monday 2nd March 2009
Such a stunning weekend! Tanya had a hell of a trip getting too us, there was a "jumper" on her line and the driver was unable to continue due to shock.....while I am thinking about that and at the risk of sounding completely insensitive, why if you decide you can no longer live with life do you need to throw yourself in front of a train? Not only do you end your life but you effect literally 100's of passengers in the process and forever change the life of the poor driver that hits you....surely it just optimises the selfishness of it all......sorry, did say I may sound insensitive, but I find it very thoughtless.
Moving on, after about 7 hours of travel Tanya finally arrived on my doorstep and as Si was out at poker for the evening, we were able to sit and chat and enjoy dinner, wine and a wonderful box of quality street all the while talking and talking and talking. Saturday morning was a nice lazy start with a wander into the village to show Tanya the sights and pick up some lovely lunch from the bakery. Tanya and Nick also got the chance to start getting to know each other properly......he is totally entranced with her and loved all the new songs she sang to him.
After lunch we jumped on the train to Brighton and spent the entire afternoon shopping and eating and talking and talking and talking........it was so lovely to be together again and the years literally fell away, we were back to laughing in the change rooms and telling each other which clothes suited and which didn't, just like we used to at school and I came home with a stunning new pair of jeans and lovely top and Tanya's suitcase was also a little bit fuller on the way home I think. After 5 hours and many miles walked we arrived home triumphant having finally found Phillip a much longed for Diabolo, and settled down for more wine and a lovely roast chicken for dinner. Early night as we were both exhausted from all our exercise.
Sunday we enjoyed a sleep in as Si looked after all my kids for us and we both surfaced around 9am for pancakes and then yet another walk, first into the village and then into the woods behind our home. Again we simply talked and talked and talked and all too soon our time was up and I was driving home from dropping her at the station with a big lump in my throat. I can't describe how I loved having her with me, she has always know me and as I said on Friday, probably knows more about me then anyone in the world.......we are going up to spend a weekend with her family in May and I just know the weeks won't be able to go by quickly enough.
Moving on, after about 7 hours of travel Tanya finally arrived on my doorstep and as Si was out at poker for the evening, we were able to sit and chat and enjoy dinner, wine and a wonderful box of quality street all the while talking and talking and talking. Saturday morning was a nice lazy start with a wander into the village to show Tanya the sights and pick up some lovely lunch from the bakery. Tanya and Nick also got the chance to start getting to know each other properly......he is totally entranced with her and loved all the new songs she sang to him.
After lunch we jumped on the train to Brighton and spent the entire afternoon shopping and eating and talking and talking and talking........it was so lovely to be together again and the years literally fell away, we were back to laughing in the change rooms and telling each other which clothes suited and which didn't, just like we used to at school and I came home with a stunning new pair of jeans and lovely top and Tanya's suitcase was also a little bit fuller on the way home I think. After 5 hours and many miles walked we arrived home triumphant having finally found Phillip a much longed for Diabolo, and settled down for more wine and a lovely roast chicken for dinner. Early night as we were both exhausted from all our exercise.
Sunday we enjoyed a sleep in as Si looked after all my kids for us and we both surfaced around 9am for pancakes and then yet another walk, first into the village and then into the woods behind our home. Again we simply talked and talked and talked and all too soon our time was up and I was driving home from dropping her at the station with a big lump in my throat. I can't describe how I loved having her with me, she has always know me and as I said on Friday, probably knows more about me then anyone in the world.......we are going up to spend a weekend with her family in May and I just know the weeks won't be able to go by quickly enough.
Friday, 27 February 2009
Friday 27th February 2009
It is only since living in England that I have really come to appreciate the amazing miracle of the change of seasons.......and it is better then any drug out there, the feeling of euphoria when the weather warms and the flowers bloom is unbelievable and each new sighting fills me with total joy and wonder. I know I know, I have said it all before, but I never want to forget this awe and in 10 years time when I look back on this journal in possibly a more jaded state I hope to remember the emotions that these first blossoms have evoked in me.
This morning the sky was once again electric blue and Phil, Nick and I took a quick walk into the village to drop Phil at school - I happened to grab my camera as we walked out the door and I am glad I did, I thought the flowers were wonderful a couple of weeks ago, well that was nothing, the ground is now literally blanketed in yellow, lilac, purple and white crocus and the first daffodil are sprouting everywhere, for now it is predominantly stems, but in a couple more weeks when they all bloom it will be spectacular.
This morning the sky was once again electric blue and Phil, Nick and I took a quick walk into the village to drop Phil at school - I happened to grab my camera as we walked out the door and I am glad I did, I thought the flowers were wonderful a couple of weeks ago, well that was nothing, the ground is now literally blanketed in yellow, lilac, purple and white crocus and the first daffodil are sprouting everywhere, for now it is predominantly stems, but in a couple more weeks when they all bloom it will be spectacular.
One of my oldest and dearest friends arrives for a weekend with me tonight and I am alot like a child on Christmas Eve, I simply cannot wait for her to get here. Tanya and I have been friends for over 20 years and she is the one person in the world who probably knows EVERYTHING there is to know about me.....and I haven't had to kill her. She has been living in the UK for around 9 years and it is so wonderful that through our moving here we have been able to get back into each others everyday lives and I feel so blessed when I think about it, and now this weekend I have her with me......def another diamond of a day!
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Thursday 26th February 2009
Back up to London today to the Embassy and I must say today's experience was very very different from the first and I was pleasantly surprised.....let me tell you I was dreading the experience in the worst possible way.
After a couple of false starts, wrong turns, 4 train changes and one traumatic escalator trip balancing Nick on the step in front of me I finally arrived at the Embassy 30 mins before my appointment only to hear my name being called by a young Indian girl just as I lurched through the door. I rushed to the counter and literally thrust all my paperwork at her and stood waiting like a deer in headlights while she went through them, dreading the shake of the head that indicated there was a problem.
When it finally came I nearly burst into tears imagining that I was once again going have to attempt this trip, but she kindly told me the problem and said that as it was before my allotted appointment time I could go and correct the paperwork and give it back to her.....one frantic text message to SA and armed with the necessary info I completed the new form in record time. My second trip to the counter however also resulted in a problem as I hadn't produced the required registered self addressed envelope (how I was supposed to know to produce this envelope I am still trying to work out as there is no mention of it on the web).
After a quick discussion with security I was able to ascertain that the closest post office was approximately 750m up the road and I could get the envelope there.....wonderful.....except that the Embassy closes for lunch between 1.30 and 3pm (don't you wish you had that kind of job) and as it was already 1.10pm the chances of me getting back before they closed was slim to nothing, meaning I would have to wait until 3pm and then try and catch tubes and trains home right in rush hour and that is not something I was looking forward to with Nick.
My solution, much to the surprise of the security guards and vast numbers of tourist, was to take off at a run and I am sure there are still people out there talking about the mad woman running full tilt though Trafalgar square pushing a pram at lunchtime lol. Needless to say I arrived at the post office only to find the longest queue imaginable (of course) and just as I had decided that I was going to have to accept my fate I was called to the front of the queue and told that pregnant ladies and ladies with babies were always given priority......yippeeeeeeeee.....
By now it was 1.23pm so with envelope grasped tightly between teeth I hit the pavement again at breakneck speed and swung into the Embassy totally out of breath and sweating (Nick + Pram = 17kgs) at 1.29pm. The very kind security man didn't let me into the Embassy (seems the close at 1.29pm) but he did take the envelope from me and get it to the necessary person. So after everything I was triumphant and came home feeling very proud of myself.
Bit of a sad end to the day as the wonderful photoshoot which had me so excited last night has unfortunately been cancelled. We are going away that weekend and it would seem that the family that booked the shoot won't all be together on the Friday and can only make the Saturday......and for once I have put my family (and the Andrew family) ahead of a fledgling business and I am going with them instead of staying behind to do the shoot.....it breaks my heart and makes me nervous as the phone hasn't exactly been ringing off the hook, but I have put my faith in God and if it is meant to work it will, it is a numbers game after all and if nothing else I am used to those!
After a couple of false starts, wrong turns, 4 train changes and one traumatic escalator trip balancing Nick on the step in front of me I finally arrived at the Embassy 30 mins before my appointment only to hear my name being called by a young Indian girl just as I lurched through the door. I rushed to the counter and literally thrust all my paperwork at her and stood waiting like a deer in headlights while she went through them, dreading the shake of the head that indicated there was a problem.
When it finally came I nearly burst into tears imagining that I was once again going have to attempt this trip, but she kindly told me the problem and said that as it was before my allotted appointment time I could go and correct the paperwork and give it back to her.....one frantic text message to SA and armed with the necessary info I completed the new form in record time. My second trip to the counter however also resulted in a problem as I hadn't produced the required registered self addressed envelope (how I was supposed to know to produce this envelope I am still trying to work out as there is no mention of it on the web).
After a quick discussion with security I was able to ascertain that the closest post office was approximately 750m up the road and I could get the envelope there.....wonderful.....except that the Embassy closes for lunch between 1.30 and 3pm (don't you wish you had that kind of job) and as it was already 1.10pm the chances of me getting back before they closed was slim to nothing, meaning I would have to wait until 3pm and then try and catch tubes and trains home right in rush hour and that is not something I was looking forward to with Nick.
My solution, much to the surprise of the security guards and vast numbers of tourist, was to take off at a run and I am sure there are still people out there talking about the mad woman running full tilt though Trafalgar square pushing a pram at lunchtime lol. Needless to say I arrived at the post office only to find the longest queue imaginable (of course) and just as I had decided that I was going to have to accept my fate I was called to the front of the queue and told that pregnant ladies and ladies with babies were always given priority......yippeeeeeeeee.....
By now it was 1.23pm so with envelope grasped tightly between teeth I hit the pavement again at breakneck speed and swung into the Embassy totally out of breath and sweating (Nick + Pram = 17kgs) at 1.29pm. The very kind security man didn't let me into the Embassy (seems the close at 1.29pm) but he did take the envelope from me and get it to the necessary person. So after everything I was triumphant and came home feeling very proud of myself.
Bit of a sad end to the day as the wonderful photoshoot which had me so excited last night has unfortunately been cancelled. We are going away that weekend and it would seem that the family that booked the shoot won't all be together on the Friday and can only make the Saturday......and for once I have put my family (and the Andrew family) ahead of a fledgling business and I am going with them instead of staying behind to do the shoot.....it breaks my heart and makes me nervous as the phone hasn't exactly been ringing off the hook, but I have put my faith in God and if it is meant to work it will, it is a numbers game after all and if nothing else I am used to those!
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Wednesday 25th February 2009
What an incredibly exciting day, I am literally dancing on top of the world. During the course of the day all my wonderful new photographic equipment has been arriving and you can imagine the excitement as I opened boxes and peered in at lighting equipment which until now has been the stuff of fantasies. To crown off the day I have my first booking, a private session to shoot a family to commemorate a wedding anniversary......such joy, I can't believe it is actually happening, it is like a dream come true!
My poor little Nick has been suffering with a nasty sore throat (and some mean temperatures), but even he has been caught up with my excitement and has remained cheerful throughout, well almost, a few crying spells through the day which for Nick is unheard of, but by and large he is coping like a little trooper.
My poor little Nick has been suffering with a nasty sore throat (and some mean temperatures), but even he has been caught up with my excitement and has remained cheerful throughout, well almost, a few crying spells through the day which for Nick is unheard of, but by and large he is coping like a little trooper.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Tuesday 24th February 2009
Seems like we made the right move with Phillip and he came home today deliriously happy and met me with a friend in tow ready to organise the first playdate, we also bumped into a mom on the road on the way home (yes we walked) and as she approached us she asked if this was the famous Phillip, so he has obviously making an impression, and both the girls she was with shyly said goodbye and see you tomorrow, so long may it last.
Other then that an uneventful day, rhyme time this morning at the library and the usual coffee at Cafe Rouge, then home to restock on Nicholas's home cooked meals as my oldest friend Tanya is down from Newcastle to visit me this weekend and I don't intend wasting time in the kitchen.
Other then that an uneventful day, rhyme time this morning at the library and the usual coffee at Cafe Rouge, then home to restock on Nicholas's home cooked meals as my oldest friend Tanya is down from Newcastle to visit me this weekend and I don't intend wasting time in the kitchen.
Monday, 23 February 2009
Monday 23rd February 2008
Spent a stunning afternoon with Lisel and AJ yesterday at their home in Plumpton Green. Lisel spoilt us with a wonderful roast lunch and the big two spent many happy hours playing on AJ's wii, in fact they really didn't want to leave to go home and I definitely don't think I will have any problems getting them to visit there again. Such a great way to spend an afternoon and something I hope we will be doing again soon!
Megs is back to school this morning while Phil still has one more day before his new school opens. His new school has a teacher training day today and I must say it has been a blessing as Philly has been a wonderful babysitter and has kept Nick occupied which has really given me a chance to get on top of all the admin for Tums 2 Tots and Pedal Studio (and to think a month ago I wasn't working at all and now I have two jobs lol).
I have now ordered all the lighting equipment and backdrops and am expecting my new lens tomorrow morning, so am really really starting to get excited, and lets face it terrified at the prospect. Spent the morning designing the marketing flier which has now gone to the printers and I will start marketing in earnest as soon as they arrive back.
Megs is back to school this morning while Phil still has one more day before his new school opens. His new school has a teacher training day today and I must say it has been a blessing as Philly has been a wonderful babysitter and has kept Nick occupied which has really given me a chance to get on top of all the admin for Tums 2 Tots and Pedal Studio (and to think a month ago I wasn't working at all and now I have two jobs lol).
I have now ordered all the lighting equipment and backdrops and am expecting my new lens tomorrow morning, so am really really starting to get excited, and lets face it terrified at the prospect. Spent the morning designing the marketing flier which has now gone to the printers and I will start marketing in earnest as soon as they arrive back.
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Saturday 21st February 2009
Woke up this morning to lovely bright blue skies and temps promising to be above 10 degrees....deciding not to miss the best weather we have seen in weeks we quickly packed a picnic lunch and jumped into Aunty Madge (aka the bus) to head off for Devil's Dyke on the South Downs near Brighton and Hove.
Devil's Dyke is about 35 mins away by car and is a lovely national park area offering great expanses for walking and cycling. It is essentially a huge dry valley with rolling hills on either side and legend has it that the devil dug the valley to drown the parishioners of the Weald (Hence the name). Scientists, on the other hand, believe the largest "dry" valley in Britain was formed in the last ice age. Whichever is true it is certainly a very pretty place to spend an "almost Spring" morning.
On arrival we quickly realised that we were not alone in our decision and the whole valley was littered with people enjoying the outdoors....that is one thing Si finds difficult about being here, the lack of solitude, it literally doesn't matter where you go there will be someone else already there.....I on the other hand find it comforting, you never every feel totally alone, and I find it gives everything a very "holiday" feel as people are generally very friendly along the way.
We have acquired a backpack for Nicholas from Freecycle so we quickly had him out the car and we were off. I was impressed with how fit the entire family is becoming and we covered a 1.5km distance in no time at all and without breaking a sweat, the big two were even scampering up and down the hill side like little mountain goats.
I could have gone further as I was so enjoying the outdoors, but was outvoted as the lure of a picnic lunch still back in the car was too much for the other three. 1.5kms back and then a lovely picnic on the hillside watching the paragliders taking advantage of the perfect conditions. I have never seen so many in the air at once and we sat mesmerised watching there antics for at least half an hour.
Devil's Dyke is about 35 mins away by car and is a lovely national park area offering great expanses for walking and cycling. It is essentially a huge dry valley with rolling hills on either side and legend has it that the devil dug the valley to drown the parishioners of the Weald (Hence the name). Scientists, on the other hand, believe the largest "dry" valley in Britain was formed in the last ice age. Whichever is true it is certainly a very pretty place to spend an "almost Spring" morning.
On arrival we quickly realised that we were not alone in our decision and the whole valley was littered with people enjoying the outdoors....that is one thing Si finds difficult about being here, the lack of solitude, it literally doesn't matter where you go there will be someone else already there.....I on the other hand find it comforting, you never every feel totally alone, and I find it gives everything a very "holiday" feel as people are generally very friendly along the way.We have acquired a backpack for Nicholas from Freecycle so we quickly had him out the car and we were off. I was impressed with how fit the entire family is becoming and we covered a 1.5km distance in no time at all and without breaking a sweat, the big two were even scampering up and down the hill side like little mountain goats.
I could have gone further as I was so enjoying the outdoors, but was outvoted as the lure of a picnic lunch still back in the car was too much for the other three. 1.5kms back and then a lovely picnic on the hillside watching the paragliders taking advantage of the perfect conditions. I have never seen so many in the air at once and we sat mesmerised watching there antics for at least half an hour.
I have to say that the whole morning had a very "South African" feel to it, the weather was warm enough for the children to strip down to tshirts (in fact Phil had his shirt off at one stage) and the country side was looking quite brown, it reminded me so much of days spent with my dad at either Summerveld or Karkloof watching him fly his model aircraft and when a glider went over it was just like being at home.
After a fantastic morning, Si and I spent the remainder of the day working on our respective projects and I can now say that I am ready to unveil the new business......Tums 2 Tots Photography
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