27th December 2011

After much begging Linnie and I were able to convince Cayne to go home to Weston-Super-Mare from London via Burgess Hill and it was with much excitement that the Robertson family quickly did a team clean this morning while waiting for them to arrive.

As I think I always say, time with the Andrew's is time spent with family and it wasn't long before the kiddies where all curled up on various chairs playing on laptops and Ds's, Cayne and Si were in deep discussion and Linnie and I were drinking mulled wine and soaking up the loveliness of being in each other's company.

Time spend doing absolutely nothing is never as much fun as when we do it with the Andrew family and apart from a quick trip to Tescos to forage for food and a walk to our nearby park for a game of basketball and a little bit of fresh air, we simply spent all our time just being, and it was absolutely PERFECT!

Wonderful time with wonderful friends....what a lovely way to bring a close to what has been a wondeful year for the Robertson family.

Christmas Day 2011

Incredibly the children only stirred at about 07.45 this morning so at least it wasn't with heavy eyes that we contacted my parents on skype for the much anticipated present opening. It has been wonderful to be able to have this new tradition of my parents watching our living room for an hour or so, seeing the children opening their gifts and all the general chaos and mayhem that it entails...almost like having them with us for a little bit of the day.

All the children seemed generally happy with "Santa's" deliveries and where quickly ensconced in various parts of the house, playing or reading depending on the nature of the gift. Beth and I took ourselves off to Church at about 10ish (no one else had managed to migrate into clothes at this point and I don't believe that Church is about shouting and screaming so was happy to leave them too their slow morning) and after that it was off to the Viljoen's for the most scrumptious lunch ever.

Kerry and Rob have been so so good to us during our time here and Rob had made such and effort to decorate the table beautifully. We feasted on Lamb and Gammon, roast potatoes, green beans, Brussel sprouts, carrots and broccoli followed by a yummy cheese board (complete with biltong) and tiny mouth size cheesecakes. Fat and happy we all crashed on couches for the afternoon watching movies just as we would with family and it was a very happy Robertson family that finally made our way home on Christmas night.

This is the first year England has felt even marginally like home at Christmas and although family's absence was as keenly felt as ever, 4 years of sharing this sacred day with the Viljoen's has allowed us to create a kind of history with them and we are starting to develop new traditions which leave me feeling, once again, so so blessed to have these incredible people in our lives.

Earth, Sun, Moon and Stars

My EARTH

Meggie is the one who grounds me, she is the person who I can always trust to tell me the truth and she is not afraid to stand up and be counted for her beliefs. Megan is solid and stable, she is a strong, powerful young woman who nurtures without smothering and has a courage which inspires me daily. She is the center around which her siblings revolve, and they all rely on her to understand them when everyone else had given up. As she matures I believe Megs will do great things with her life, not necessarily in a big global sense but she will make a positive difference in all the lives she touches just as she has in mine.


My SUN

Phillip is all that is warm and generous, he has a compassion for people which is sometimes beyond comprehension to me and his ability to understand what people are feeling is incredible. Phill is the one to often remind me that I take life to seriously, quick witted and amazingly funny, my gorgeous boy brings the sunshine into my life daily. Friends with the world, Phill is a natural leader who encourages people to follow him just by his enthusiasm, he is the fun in our home and the sound of his laughter is often the best sound I hear in a day.


My MOON

There is something about Nicholas which defies explanation to me, this little person has entered our lives and changed them forever. Nick has a light which shines from his soul that lights the darkness and his quiet strength is already becoming evident. There is little drama in Nick Nick's life, he handles situations with a quiet grace which is way above his years and is exceptionally tolerant of people's shortcomings, quickly forgiving transgressions in the way of a much much older child. I know that this little man is going to literally shine all the days of his precious life.



My STARS

Baby Beth is too little to have a real personality at this stage but this little girl simple twinkles with life and energy, she is bright as a button and friendly to all who encounter her. Quick to smile Beth can light up a room with her little face and the joy she brings to our lives is unquestionable.

24th December 2011

The eve of our 4th Christmas in England and even though we miss time with family as much tonight as we did on our first Christmas Eve here, we at least have the comforting familiarity of knowing that tonight is carols, mulled wine and munchies at the Viljoen house and then tomorrow we will join them again for a lovely hot sit down lunch.

Robert, Kerry and their children are undoubtedly our English family, we have laughed together, cried together, bickered together and 3.5 years after meeting this wonderful family we are probably as close to them as we have ever been to anyone.

I know that these are the people we can turn to in a crisis but we can also sit and watch movies together on a Sunday afternoon curled under blankets, Kerry and I can spend hours talking and she has become the person I often turn to when I need to unpick something in my head.

When we first met and Kerry and I discovered that our life paths had already crossed twice before, Kerry told me that she felt God had a purpose for each of us in the other's life and whatever that purpose turns out to be I am just so grateful that she is one of my "people" and that her precious family are as close to me as my own.

A love story

We first brought Lunar and Titch home in February, when I was around 5 months pregnant and, if possible, it would almost seem that that may have been when the love affair between Lunar and the then unborn Beth started.

During my pregnancy Lunar would spend hours curled up on my belly, she would watch it move as Beth kicked, and lick my stretched skin whenever she got the chance. Since the day we brought Beth home Lunar has been very vigilant whenever they are together and it has been a source of great joy for me to watch Beth smile with recognition every time Lunar enters the room.

Obviously we don't take any chances and never allow Lunar in a room alone with Beth while she is asleep, but during Beth's awake hours (and of those there are many) it is never a surprise to find her either lying with her cat or chewing an ear or paw. Lunar is incredibly tolerant of being pulled around and amazes me in that she seems to actually enjoy the attention.

Love the fact that Beth is going to grow up knowing the special love of an animal and I hope that she will continue to be as sweet with the cats as she grows up as she is now.

Thursday 8th December 2011

Tonight is the last night of Alpha and I am feeling really sad about it. I initially began the course because my Phillip had started asking some difficult questions about religion and Christianity and I quite frankly felt out of my depth trying to answer them, knowing that what I was telling him could impact his future belief patterns.

That was why I started but over the last 12 weeks I have really rediscovered my own faith and have had many of my own spiritual questions answered (some that I didn't even know I had). I have met people who inspire me in every way and have heard stories that have literally blown my mind, through some pretty intense conversation I have deepened my understanding of the true meaning of Christianity and what it means in my every day life.

I am looking forward to continuing this journey, living my life with a purpose greater than my own and maybe, just maybe paying forward some of the incredible certainty that I am coming to understand.

Wednesday 7th December 2011

Last weekend our church held an "Out There" Sunday where various teams went out into the community on outreach projects or to pray in the surrounding villages. Having chatted with the family, we decided to join the team working in a very poor community in one of our neighbouring villages and it was one of the most amazing mornings I have had in a long long time.

The aim of our morning was three fold, a small sub-team got on helping an elderly lady paint her newly acquired (but severely neglected) council flat, Megan and my group manned the free furniture give away and Phillip's group wondered around offering help and assistance where ever it was needed.

One of the most touching moments of the morning for me was watching a tiny boy (not very much older than Nick Nick) put his hand lovingly on a small bicycle that someone had donate and being able to tell him that he could take it home with him....the expression on that child's face defies words but the impression it had on my heart will be there a very very long time.

As a result of the impact that that little man had on me, Phillip and I have decided to try and organise a "Bicycle Recycle" over the coming weeks where we will collect bikes that kids have grown out of or no longer use and then in the days before Christmas we will go into another nearby impoverished area and offer them to the local children.

Christmas is about sharing love and kindness, not about expensive gifts, indulgent food and credit card debt and last weekend really put that into stark reality for me, so maybe this year the Robertson family can give a little more than we receive and really change someones holiday season.

Sunday 27th November 2011

We have been having the most incredible Autumn this year (the driest since 1976 apparently) and have only had one morning of frost so far. Nick, Elizabeth and I have been able to carry on enjoying our days out at Wakehurst with friends and have been making a habit of walking too and from Church on a Sunday morning. Temps have been averaging a very balmy 12 - 14 degrees during the day and considering we have less than a month to the longest night it is incredible that we have only needed our heating on a few occasions.

All the children have continued to thrive this term and Meg's has had the most amazing report with the equivalent to B's across the board. Phill has attended an able writers seminar and taken part in a Math's competition as part of the Able, Gifted and Talented Children's program at school. Nick is loving his school and talks the hind leg of a donkey and Baby Bee is growing like a little weed and has started saying "da da da da" to anyone who will look at her.

I have been busy busy with the Alpha course in the evenings for the last couple of months and we really feel like we have found a church and minister we can relate to and are enjoying becoming part of the community at The Point. I have also been working hard on launching a positive communication program for parents called "Tuned into Talk" and this Saturday was our debut workshop (thanks to the support of my wonderful friend Kerry).

Parenting is something I feel so so strongly about and I am so grateful for the hints and tips that I have picked up over the years. I feel like this is a real calling for me and with 4 kids I am trusting that I am as qualified as anyone to lead workshops. As many of you know I launched a photography business not long after moving to the UK and while it was great fun and I have had a brilliant learning curve through it I have decided to let it go and return to photography as my passion where there is no judgement and I can continue to take photos from my soul and record this incredible journey we are on as a family.

As we approach our 4th Christmas here, our tennis bracelet of life is filling up with some amazing diamond moments and I am grateful everyday for the people who share this adventure with us both in the UK and from afar.

Tuesday 8th November 2011

Our little time waster is now 5 months old and is the sweetest little girl imaginable...she is patient and cheerful and loves nothing more than watching her older siblings going about their business.


Some may remember a post I did about a year ago in which I described my children in colours, Megs was purple, Phill yellow and Nick Nick blue, well the more time I spend with our little treasure the more I see her in tones of pink.

I know pink seems a bit cliched for a girl, but it is because she is sweet and friendly, her eyes light up with excitement every time the people she knows and love come near her and she is as delicious as candy floss and strawberry ice cream :0). As tiny as she is she already has an ability to draw people to her, and like her older brother, Nick Nick she is a firm favourite with all who come into contact with her.

Catching Up

The last few weeks have been exceptionally busy and filled with lots of the stuff that make the days hectic but add very little value to the life experience....the end seems at hand now and I am hoping to be able to settle down to a more normal pace again, since living in England I have become positively "rush phobic" and am looking forward to a little peace in my life once more.

Some of the highlights however do include:

Phillip's 11th Birthday Party - Delta Force: Crawley (23rd October 2011)

Phill hasn't really had a party in the last couple of years and finally this year he felt in the right space to get out there with some special mates and celebrate. We booked 18 spaces at our local paintball centre and 12 boys and 6 Dads spent the day running around various themed arenas doing what boys like to do best....shoot the hell out of anything that moved lol.

It was lovely to watch Phill with his friends and see what a confident young man he has become, the party really rocked and seems to have set the tone for the remaining parties this year as we have already had an invite to another party at the same venue because "it was so so cool".

Tom's Naming Day Ceremony - Whitley Bay (30th October 20110
Now that we are living in the same country, Tanya and I are once again in each other's daily lives (even if we actually only see each other in person a few times a year) and I was thrilled when she asked me to be God Mother to her youngest Son Tom.

On Saturday 29th Beth and I jumped on the train to New Castle and once again I simply can't rate this method of transport highly enough. In hours it took me almost exactly the same time door to door as it would have to drive (6 hours) but instead of the stressed wreck I would have been had I driven, I was able to sleep, read and feed Beth during the trip and arrived relaxed and looking forward to a weekend of celebration and time spent with Tanya's boys.

The naming ceremony was lovely and filled with words of strength and affirmation that I know Tom will cherish when he is old enough to look back on them with understanding. It was stunning to spend time with Aunty Gail (Tanya's mom) and to finally put faces to the names of many of Tanya's closest friends. The remainder of the weekend was spent chatting and walking and playing and eating...some of my most favourite things....I so cherish time with my oldest and dearest friend.

Aside from the above two lovely distractions, school hunting for Nick has been the order of the day and I am really relieved that all the schools in our area have me feeling positive especially considering the council gets to decide which one he will attend.