A poem by Megan

On reading Megan's latest topic book on the Amazon I came across this poem she had written earlier in the term and to say I was amazed was putting it mildly.

The time has come,
The time of destruction,
The time of danger has reached us.

The time I thought I was safe has ended,
The time to find a new home is here.

The time of trust has been stolen,
The time of happiness is gone forever,
The time of sadness has taken over,
The time of hope has died.

The time of the Amazon is disappearing,
The time of creatures and trees are done,
The time of beauty has been destroyed.

The time has come to
Run
Run
Run.

Certainly made me think.

Monday 20th July 2009

After a morning spent doing my ironing (wonderful mother that she is) Mom and I went off to Ditchling Garden Centre to enjoy some "nature" time and give Mom a chance to recharge her batteries.

This is the same centre that I went crazy about at Christmas and oh my word, today was just as breathtaking. The difference this time was that instead of Cristmas decorations there were hanging baskets everywhere like Mom and I have never seen before.

We spent a very happy 2 hours wondering around and came home laden with 3 varieties of Lavender and lots of herbs to add to my ever growing terrace garden.

Such a wonderful day and another lovely memory.

Well done my boy!

Phillip brought his school report home today and it would seem that we have two children who have taken this move as an opportunity to spread their wings and fly. Phillip's report was outstanding and filled with references to his enquiring mind, excellent attitude to his work and kind sensitive nature.

Academics have never been a problem for Phill but I am so thrilled to see that he has now begun to understand the meaning of a winning attitude and is applying the wonderful brain that God has given him. He is even beginning to talk about the possibility of writing for a scholarship to one of our local private schools and it is just such an inspiration to see the light that has now turned on in his eyes when he speaks of his education.

Well done my boy you have made us very proud and I know that this is only just the beginning!

Sunday 19 July 2009

A stunning stunning weekend filled with lots of family and friend time.

Mom and I went out shopping on Saturday morning for a few more little treats for the house, it has been so stunning to have someone to shop with and I have definitely had plenty of retail therapy over the last month. Megan has even commented on how lovely the house is looking and I am so glad I waited for mom's arrival before finishing off the decor, now at least our home with have a little bit of her in it once she goes home.

Today was boerewors rolls for lunch with Kerry, Rob and their children and as usual it was a good laugh and a relaxed afternoon spent with friends literally as close as family. Mom and I are planning a cream tea at Eve's tomorrow before the children break up for the long summer holiday and then hopefully if the weather improves we have a couple of day trips planned.

So proud of our daughter

As many of you who have followed my blog this past year know, my eldest child and only daughter Megan was finally diagnosed as having moderate dyslexia earlier this year, after years and years of battling through the South African education system....well today the same little girl who has always found reading immeasurably difficult and struggled on in spite of it came home with her SATS results and what results they were.

Maths - upper 4
English - 4 (and that was the real shocker)
Science - 5

Considering her disadvantage and the fact that she effectively missed 18 months of education when we moved here, no one expected these kinds of results....Megan has pulled out all the stops since our arrival in England and has shown courage and determination in equal measures - her reading has improved amazingly as has her confidence in her ability and she now talks of becoming an Air Hostess with such excitement and passion I can't help but get caught up in her enthusiasm.

Well done my Megs you have made us very proud and more by the fact that your report was filled with praise for your attitude to your work and wonderful gentle and caring nature then by the results themselves...You are a total treasure in our lives and continue to be a reminder that with hard work we can all climb the highest mountains.

Wednesday 15th July 2009

Yuk yuk yuk....I have bronchitis and am a very miserable little bunny - have seen the doctor and am on antibiotics, but my word I don't EVER remember coughing like this....definitely have a new empathy with those suffering from Asthma.

Finding myself sick with a chest infection amidst all the hype surrounding Swine flu has been a slightly alarming feeling, especially as one of the spouses of a teacher at Megan's school has a confirmed case of the flu and we have all received a letter detailing what we need to do if any of the family start exhibiting symptoms.

In the face of this letter (and another one from Phillip's school reminding us of how to deal with spreading the infection as the season prepares to change) I find myself very encouraged by the information provided by the government on the pandemic and heartened to know that there are sufficient antiviral drugs available to treat 1/2 the population should it be necessary, not to mention the fact that the UK is one of the first in line to obtain the vaccine which will be available in September.

Some may feel that all this attention and information adds to wide scale hype and drama over the flu, which at the end of the day is just flu, but I enjoy knowing that the structures are in place to deal with the estimated 10 000 new cases which will be confirmed daily come winter.

Saturday 11 July 2009

I sound a bit like a broken record at moment, but I simply cannot believe that another week has flown...time just seems to be speeding past and the more I do to try and slow it down the worse it gets. Nicholas will be a year old in just a few weeks and yet it seems like just the other day I had found out I was pregnant and Si and I were planning our big move.

These are a few things I have learned in the last 12 months

• love between siblings is something totally unique and should never be underestimated
• having a baby in a foreign country is terrifying and challenging but also incredibly rewarding
  
• Children help us to make friends
• The hardest part of marriage is getting the partnership right, but when it works it is the ultimate experience
• We can live without our parents, but having them with us is the first prize
• Good friendships can overcome great distances
• You can live in a house but only certain places will become home, and I have now found mine in England....well for the foreseeable future at least
• Earning income and contributing to the family is as important to me as it always was
• there will ALWAYS be more washing, ironing and dusting so it is not so much a chore to be achieved but rather an ongoing process

Mom is enjoying her time with us and says she is now so relaxed she is almost in reverse.....it never ceases to amaze me that here she is ironing and washing and vacuuming and babysitting (all the things I have to do every day) and yet to her it is still a holiday....I am of course not complaining as it means I am having a break as well and recharging my batteries at the same time. We have been incredibly spoilt while she has been here and our home is now full of the little touches that make a house a home and that will stay with us after she leaves acting as a constant reminder of her time with us.

Off to Cuckfield this morning for Tums 2 Tots, have 5 shoots booked and I am finally getting my family in to do a session so a lovely day ahead despite the cold dreary weather.

Sunday 5th July 2009

Mom has been dying to go to a traditional English car boot sale, so today that was the mission and we managed to find a lovely one consisting of about 250 cars in Sayers Common about 30kms from home.

Mom, Megs and I set off nice and early for a girly morning and had a lovely time scratching around the stalls and discovering all kinds of treasures at ridiculously low prices - Mom was beside herself with a discovery of two stunning collectors Wedgwood plates for only £2 each and a cute little glass bell for 50p which she simply couldn't resist.

Megs came home with all kinds of goodies and Phil and Nick both scored even though they didn't come with us - Phil with Juggling balls and Nick with an adorable rocking horse which he simply LOVES. All I came home with was a nasty dose of sunburn, but that will teach me to go out in the English sun without sunblock....I really never learn lol.

Just going outside (7.15pm) to enjoy the last couple of hours of the sunshine and a good old SA braai for dinner.

Saturday 4th July 2009

I simply don't know where this year is going to....it seems like just the other day Mom and I were planning her trip in secret for Megan's birthday (January) and now we are already 2 weeks into her visit and time is just flying by.

We have had a stunning time so far....not really DOING anything in the traditional touristy sort of way, but Mom has helped me catch up on washing and finished my ironing and kept me company while I clean toilets and showers and watched Nick so I can shoot to the shop for milk, we have shopped for household essentials and put up picture hooks and little things around the house....things that I usually do on my own, and it has been MAGICAL having her here, I think in fact I may even be having more of a holiday then she is.

Now that Mom is here , I can honestly say that the toughest part of immigration for me has to have been doing EVERYTHING on my own and for myself with very little support. On Mom's last visit I had only been here 8 weeks so it wasn't as noticeable as I was still in the "honeymoon" phase of the experience and hadn't had a tiny baby as part of the equation.

In fact it was not until I was able to jump in the car and take something to Phillip at school without having to first wake Nick and put him in the car that I really realised just how on our own we have been....we are not unique in this, there are millions of people all over the world doing it on their own, but that doesn't make the experience any easier and it is just so nice to be able to chill and not be quite so capable, even if it is just for a little while.

Tuesday 30th June 2009

Today was Phillip's much anticipated District Athletics Meeting and a very proud Simon took the day off in order to watch his son jump for the first time at this level.....the weather was magnificent and all the children from Phil's school looked very smart sitting under their gazebo surrounded by 7 other schools from West Sussex.

Phil was the only boy from his year representing the school in Long jump and I have to say he handled the pressure very well and the 3 older boys on the team were very good to him and encouraged him all the way. After 3 attempts he managed a very admirable 3rd overall, placing the school on the score board and although he didn't better his practice jumps he achieved well over 2 meters and made us very proud parents, especially considering that until he joined the school in March he had never seen a long jump pit let alone attempted a jump.

A very proud mommy moment and I am sure watching him today that there will be many more. Well done my boy!