About a week ago Megs came home with her final report of year 7 and although it looked very good, not having been raised in this country I was unsure as to how the grading worked and where she was in relation to the national average for her age. The comments that she received across the board where filled with praise and words like hardworking, responsible and considerate were used by all her teachers and Si and I were both very pleased with her progress this year.
Tonight was the annual parent/teacher/pupil review where we, along with Megan, were able to meet with as many teachers as we liked and discuss her progress though this year and what they believe she is capable of for the remainder of Key stage 3 and then finally for her GCSE year.
Speaking to them really made us realise how far our beautiful little girl has come and just how much hard work she has done this year. Her teacher's are expecting her to sit in the upper streams in many of her subjects from next year and she is expected to achieve A's and B's in her GSCE year with A*'s (the highest grade available) in Science and Maths. They feel a university entrance is well within her grasp, and that she isn't allowing her dyslexia to be any hindrance to her at all.
Simon and I came away thrilled beyond description at what she has achieved and really believing that with the support that she has received since we arrived in England the sky truly is now the only limit for Megs.
WELL DONE BABY GIRL!!!!!
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Sunday, 13 June 2010
Sunday 13th June 2010
A catch up weekend involving absolutely nothing.....lots of dvd's and down time was the order of the day and we are all feeling so so much better for it.
This evening my precious daughter shaved her legs for the first time....a real right of passage for any young woman and now that summer is with us she wants to wear skirts to school and feels she will be more comfortable cleanly shaven. Shew, quite a moment for mom showing her what to do - we used Veet rather than razors and she is now walking around feeling very grown up, if only it didn't happen so fast.
This evening my precious daughter shaved her legs for the first time....a real right of passage for any young woman and now that summer is with us she wants to wear skirts to school and feels she will be more comfortable cleanly shaven. Shew, quite a moment for mom showing her what to do - we used Veet rather than razors and she is now walking around feeling very grown up, if only it didn't happen so fast.
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Playing with my Nikon D90
I can see my new camera is going to take lots and lots of practise, fortunately I have a very willing subject in the form of my little Nicholas...
For more photos taken at the same time visit Nick's Pics
For more photos taken at the same time visit Nick's Pics
So very proudly South African
I found the clip below on facebook and the minute I heard the beat tears started rolling down my cheeks. This song for me is about so much more than the Fifa World Cup which starts tomorrow in South Africa.
This song symbolizes hope, strength, passion, rhythm and so so many more things that are truly South African - I don't believe that there is a "Scatterling of Africa" anywhere in the world right now that is not 100% behind our Mother nation and so so proud of what it has achieved.....just because we no longer live on the rich soil under the searing sun does not mean we have forgotten the truly unique flavor of Africa.
This song symbolizes hope, strength, passion, rhythm and so so many more things that are truly South African - I don't believe that there is a "Scatterling of Africa" anywhere in the world right now that is not 100% behind our Mother nation and so so proud of what it has achieved.....just because we no longer live on the rich soil under the searing sun does not mean we have forgotten the truly unique flavor of Africa.
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Weekend 4th - 6th June 2010
After a very lazy day on Friday, I packed a picnic dinner ready for Si's arrival home from work and we set off for the park to enjoy a glass of chilled white wine and other treats whilst the children ran and played in the playground. The park was full of other families with the same idea and I was once again struck by the feeling of community fostered by the hot sunshine and long summer evenings.
Saturday morning I was up bright and early and off to a photography festival at our local photographic shop - what an AMAZING day, they had loads of specials on offer and I was able to attend three fabulous workshops with top working photographers......and best of all I came home with a new Nikon D90 complete with 18-105mm lens and 55-200mm lens.
As my regular readers will know my grandfather passed away late last year and I decided to use some of the money he generously left me to buy my dream camera - as those of you who also follow on facebook will know, I wasn't entirely sure what that dream camera was, but after lots of "touching and feeling" the Nikon was the hands down winner and as it is the case on paper as well after reading lots and lots of reviews I am very very happy with my purchase.
After the festival it was up to Justin and Amanda's home in Tonbridge (about an hours drive North East of us) for a good South African braai with Gary and Angela who we have met before and three other South African couples all now resident in the UK. A stunning stunning evening where new friendships were cemented and once again the children all got on and played till well after dark.
Couldn't resist this cheeky face sitting on the windowsill reading his book
Georgie, Megs and Nick Nick
Mila, Nick and Jenna
Nick's best friend on the day was a 12 week old Beagle called Roxy
Ever since I met these gorgeous girls I have been wanting to photograph them together
Who can resist this face :0)
This morning was a very very late start as we finally got home after 11pm last night but as the weather was once again lovely it was off to the Viljoen's for a last minute bbq this afternoon where Kerry, Shelly and I took all the kids down to the park for an hour while the men chilled and chatted in their hot tub.
Always a character, Nick has developed a sunglasses fetish and spends his life putting on any pair he can lay his hands on lol
Beautiful to walk behind all the children heading for the park and hearing them laugh and chat together
Very special friends....Nick worships Ben and follows him everywhere
One of those weekends where I find myself sitting contented and peaceful as the sun starts to set ......lovely memories with lovely people in a lovely country, what more could I ask for (well maybe my parents and loved ones back in SA, but hell, we can't have EVERYTHING)
Saturday morning I was up bright and early and off to a photography festival at our local photographic shop - what an AMAZING day, they had loads of specials on offer and I was able to attend three fabulous workshops with top working photographers......and best of all I came home with a new Nikon D90 complete with 18-105mm lens and 55-200mm lens.
As my regular readers will know my grandfather passed away late last year and I decided to use some of the money he generously left me to buy my dream camera - as those of you who also follow on facebook will know, I wasn't entirely sure what that dream camera was, but after lots of "touching and feeling" the Nikon was the hands down winner and as it is the case on paper as well after reading lots and lots of reviews I am very very happy with my purchase.
After the festival it was up to Justin and Amanda's home in Tonbridge (about an hours drive North East of us) for a good South African braai with Gary and Angela who we have met before and three other South African couples all now resident in the UK. A stunning stunning evening where new friendships were cemented and once again the children all got on and played till well after dark.
So relaxed in such a stunning setting
Justin turning his vuvusela into a yard lol
Couldn't resist this cheeky face sitting on the windowsill reading his book
Georgie, Megs and Nick Nick
Mila, Nick and Jenna
Nick's best friend on the day was a 12 week old Beagle called Roxy
Ever since I met these gorgeous girls I have been wanting to photograph them together
Who can resist this face :0)
This morning was a very very late start as we finally got home after 11pm last night but as the weather was once again lovely it was off to the Viljoen's for a last minute bbq this afternoon where Kerry, Shelly and I took all the kids down to the park for an hour while the men chilled and chatted in their hot tub.Best of mates
Always a character, Nick has developed a sunglasses fetish and spends his life putting on any pair he can lay his hands on lol
Beautiful to walk behind all the children heading for the park and hearing them laugh and chat together
Very special friends....Nick worships Ben and follows him everywhere
One of those weekends where I find myself sitting contented and peaceful as the sun starts to set ......lovely memories with lovely people in a lovely country, what more could I ask for (well maybe my parents and loved ones back in SA, but hell, we can't have EVERYTHING)
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Thursday 3rd June 2010
The children are on half term break this week and I had promised them that if the weather cleared we would hit either the beach or one of the local Lido's (outdoor swimming pools).
Westville pools was always a great favourite with our family and the children have many happy memories of long days spent there. We have been trying to find something similar for sometime now and as Lido's are quite difficult to find in England it has taken us a while. I suppose due to the weather and the cost of running them many of the Lido's have now closed and even the one we visited today in Brighton is in danger of being shut for good.
Sun worshippers
The water was a bit too cold for Nick to swim, but he loved messing around with the big children's goggles :0)
The big two both had friends with them and as the pool wasn't terribly busy they were able to run and jump and bomb, the management were even relaxed about photography and it was so nice to be able to sit in the sun and watch the children really playing. Unfortunately as it is so early in the season the water was still terriby cold but it didn't seem to put too much of a damper on the day and of course the obligatory ice-cream at the end of the day had a smile on all their faces.
Westville pools was always a great favourite with our family and the children have many happy memories of long days spent there. We have been trying to find something similar for sometime now and as Lido's are quite difficult to find in England it has taken us a while. I suppose due to the weather and the cost of running them many of the Lido's have now closed and even the one we visited today in Brighton is in danger of being shut for good.
Sun worshippers
The water was a bit too cold for Nick to swim, but he loved messing around with the big children's goggles :0)
The big two both had friends with them and as the pool wasn't terribly busy they were able to run and jump and bomb, the management were even relaxed about photography and it was so nice to be able to sit in the sun and watch the children really playing. Unfortunately as it is so early in the season the water was still terriby cold but it didn't seem to put too much of a damper on the day and of course the obligatory ice-cream at the end of the day had a smile on all their faces.
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Wednesday 2nd June 2010
When Cayne and Linda were with us at the beginning of May we met some ex-South African friends of theirs who live nearby and today the girls and I got together at Wakehurst Place with our children for a picnic.
The children hit it off immediately and were quickly walking ahead talking over each other and making so much noise that I decided a nice far away meadow I knew about was good for our visit as they would then be able to really let their hair down and play "South African style" without running over any elderly garden visitors.
Lunch time....such a perfect picnic
Turned out to be the right decision and the kids had an absolute BALL - they literally played in the trees for 5 hours only appearing very occasionally for a drink or bite to eat. Angela, Amanda and I sat on our picnic blankets in the sun (yes it was actually shining lol) and chatted like we have known each other for years - really really glad we made the effort to get together and something we will definitely be doing again in the summer hols.
New best friends....such a lovely day together
Hot sweaty boy...but look at that smile, absolute bliss after 5 hours running around like a maniac
Nick and Phil playing together once we got home....couldn't resist filming them :0)
And after the games, just can't keep up with the big boys
The children hit it off immediately and were quickly walking ahead talking over each other and making so much noise that I decided a nice far away meadow I knew about was good for our visit as they would then be able to really let their hair down and play "South African style" without running over any elderly garden visitors.
Lunch time....such a perfect picnic
Turned out to be the right decision and the kids had an absolute BALL - they literally played in the trees for 5 hours only appearing very occasionally for a drink or bite to eat. Angela, Amanda and I sat on our picnic blankets in the sun (yes it was actually shining lol) and chatted like we have known each other for years - really really glad we made the effort to get together and something we will definitely be doing again in the summer hols.
New best friends....such a lovely day together
Hot sweaty boy...but look at that smile, absolute bliss after 5 hours running around like a maniac
Nick and Phil playing together once we got home....couldn't resist filming them :0)And after the games, just can't keep up with the big boys
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Tuesday 1st June 2010
We had a long weekend in England this weekend gone by and when a friend asked me what I had done my honest answer was, apart from a lovely bbq with great new friends on Monday afternoon, I read.....how lucky is that.....I spent literally hours on Saturday, Sunday and Monday reading, reading, reading.
I can almost hear you asking what book could possibly be that good and I am ashamed to answer "probably not this one", I am reading the new Penny Vincenzi which is real chick lit and extremely easy and non-taxing, but the point is not what I was reading but rather that I was able to totally, utterly and completely relax....Si and the children were happily pottering and we all lived most harmoniously, occasionally coming together for a cuddle but for the most part happily in our own worlds.
I did venture out briefly on Saturday morning to visit my local camera shop, am thinking of buying a new DSLR and wanted to do a bit of "touching and feeling", unfortunately I came back more confused than ever but intend returning next Saturday when the shop is hosting a HUGE festival and all the manufacturers will be represented. For all you photography buffs out there, you will know the angst I am feeling :0)
I can almost hear you asking what book could possibly be that good and I am ashamed to answer "probably not this one", I am reading the new Penny Vincenzi which is real chick lit and extremely easy and non-taxing, but the point is not what I was reading but rather that I was able to totally, utterly and completely relax....Si and the children were happily pottering and we all lived most harmoniously, occasionally coming together for a cuddle but for the most part happily in our own worlds.
I did venture out briefly on Saturday morning to visit my local camera shop, am thinking of buying a new DSLR and wanted to do a bit of "touching and feeling", unfortunately I came back more confused than ever but intend returning next Saturday when the shop is hosting a HUGE festival and all the manufacturers will be represented. For all you photography buffs out there, you will know the angst I am feeling :0)
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