National pride

South Africa is on a total high today after winning our third gold medal at the Olympics last night. It might not seem much for my overseas readers, but taking into account we won one silver in Beijing this is just fantastic. Add to that that only one of the wins (Cameron van den Burgh) was predicted and it makes it so much sweeter.

I just love the video of Chad le Clos' dad Bert - pure parenting proudness. But it is the commentators that really have me fascinated with all the mistakes they make in their excitement. Here in SA we generally hear the British commentators but I has a chance to hear the American commentary on the Le Clos race yesterday morning. Gosh, it was funny- as Chad won she said, "Oh and Michale Phelps makes a huge mistake"  And that's it - not someone else won very deservingly because he was the best on the day. To Phelps' credit after his very visible disappointment just after the race in the pool, he snapped back to be the perfect gentleman and looser (well, in my books a silver at the Olympics is anything but a looser). In an interview on the radio yesterday morning Bert le Clos told South Africa that Michael Phelps is the best mannered lad he has ever met and that his mom has raised him so well. Now that is the Olympic spirit.

Even more of a surprise was our coxless 4 rowers - somewhere along the line the commentator gets confused between South Africa (an outright surprise) and Australia (a possible winner) and commentates most of the way in the race accordingly .To his own surprise he realizes as the race completes that it is in fact South Africa that won and not Australia and you can hear the shock in his voice..

Steering on with the national pride idea, I think we have produced a building that deservedly needs it's place in the international Architectural scene.

On Tuesday morning I was privileged to be able to go on an architects only pre view of the new //HAPO exhibition space/museum being completed at Freedom park. It is a building that has sparked a lot of talk in South Africa and will only open to the public later this year. So I will share just a few pictures with you.

A very photogenic building and I would suggest a visit once it opens. From what we could see of some of the exhibits they were busy with it will be exciting and interactive with a children's garden and story tellers to lead you through. If you are in any way a photographer, do go - it is extremely photogenic.

I rubbed shoulders with some celebs last night

I attended the opening of Pretoria's GAP store last night in Brooklyn Mall- only the 3rd in the country. Fashionistas were already asking to be let in the morning, but at 4:30 last night the doors opened to feature Christina Storm, Loui Fish and several others, being filmed by Fashion TV no less. The store is absolutely beautiful and the clothes, well, just stunning. I love that the girl range goes from 4 to 15 in the same beautiful florals etc. The GAP baby stuff is just breathtaking and I am incredibly happy that I have no babies to buy for because it will be so hard to resist.

Photo supplied by GAP

Photo supplied by GAP

As we left the store we were met by waiters with wonderful trays of awesome sweetness - macaroons, baby red velvet cupcakes, mini brownies and fruit.

Ah, and then there was the goody bag and my very own GAP T shirt, fragrance samples and a 20% off voucher until end August so I guess I will have to go shopping some time.

A day at the Pretoria zoo

I have promised a picture post from mid July of our day at the zoo. It was truly a great way to spend the last day of the school holidays. It was a nice and warm (not hot) day and was just perfect. As we had the grandparents with us we opted to rent golf carts and my, was that fun for the kids. We also took the Princess' friend K along - a great decision as everyone had a friend for company. But without further ado, as always , better told in pictures:

We all loved the Kodiak bears and the boys both declared them their favorites.

One of the zoo's top attractions - the Koala bears and my personal favorite.

Checking out the Hippos

And just because you all loved the leopard in my original post, another one of him. Miss K's favorite of the day.

The flamingos are just fascinating and beautiful

The Princess' favorite - the Komodo dragons - one of only a few zoos in the world to host them.

It was just the perfect end to the holidays and to our time with Ouma and Oupa. So have you been to your local zoo lately? Did you know that the Pretoria zoo is one of the top 10 zoos in the world taking into account not only the environment etc but also research and breeding programs?

  and Parenting by Dummies for Wordful Wednesday

It's the weekend!

And really, it could not have come any sooner. Olympics weekend! The second Olympics during the life of my blog, coming to think of it. So I am planning to attempt to stay awake for the opening - take note, attempt.

Anyways, I have only touched on last weekend and before this one start, let me give  ashort run down:

Friday night saw me and the DH at a wonderful food and wine evening at Blu Saffron restaurant. The wines were stunning - Hermanuspietersfontein (with the most wonderful Afrikaans names). Hunter loved the Swartskaap (a Cabernet Franc) and I , unusual for me because I usually love red wines, adored the Bloos, a Bordeaux style blush wine. The company was great (work related for me) and the food was super. I had a tomato and basil soup for a starter while Hunter loved the Canadian Salmon. We both had their divine duck in mandarin sauce for main course and I had old fashioned bread and butter poeding while Hunter enjoyed berry cheese cake for dessert. It was a great adult night out and a real treat. I would really recommend both  the restaurant and the wines.

Saturday was party day for the boys and I took the two Spidermen for a Spiderman party. The Princess went with Oumie to a Swiss puppet show at the Brooklyn Theatre, our local little theatre.

My mom's orchid is in full bloom again and looks stunning. I have a string in the house.

They had such a  great party with a very clever party mom. On the tables were all sorts of salty snacks - nuts, chips, pretzels, biltong etc and no sweet in sight. Not a single kid asked for a sweet! Then the kids got Boerierolls (sausages in bread rolls) and the adults braaivleis and salads. Then they had a clown show.

I have to share a proud mommy, but very funny moment here. The clown asked the kids "What are the magic words?" (meaning abracadabra). L, my quiet kid piped up immediately and very loudly: "Please and Thank You!". Everybody had a great laugh and he was so proud while one of the moms asked me what our secret was to raise well mannered kids. Gosh, I was so proud too. The clown was not taken a back one minute, she explained that those are certainly the most magic of words to use in every day life, but when we want to create magic, it's abracadabra - Pepsi! And you need to jump on the Pepsi. (the clown's name is Pepsi)

The birthday boy and the clown

The very spectacular (and tasty) birthday cake was brought out and we all had a piece of cake. After that the jumping castle was the main feature and only when we left, the mom apologized for giving our kids sugar and handed a party pack - filled with - popcorn, cheese naks, a juice , a lollipop and 2 chew sweets. Jip, a low sugar mom - loved that. The kids had so much fun without all that sweet stuff. I am not sure however that I will manage that with my kids at their ownb partes because they are so used to sweets at parties.

Love this shot of C in full Spiderman mode on the jumping castle.

Saturday night was an early and relaxed one at home. Sunday was the usual church and palying after in the garden. We had a light lunch of hot dogs and had the most wodnerful of Sunday afternoon naps - we all slept, over 2 hours! After we woke up we decided to reward great afternoon naps with an early dinner at the Spur.

It was a great weekend - what are you plannig for this one?

Hey kitty kitty

Very very busy with work around here, but for your viewing pleasure my best image from our visit to the Pretoria Zoo on Friday.

As always, well worth the visit. Full post to follow.

  and Parenting by Dummies for Wordful Wednesday

A great day out

On Friday we spent the day with good friends at Rietvlei dam reserve - it is really just a bit of nature just around the corner. And although we did not see anything very exciting (but the rhinos far in the distance) we had a lovely day, braaing a bit of boerewors and chatting to friends. I just love how all our kids can entertain themselves with absolutely nothing - we took no toys with us (intentionally - there was a little Ferari in the car by chance) and they had a great time just playing around.The very best kind of play if you ask me - the creativity ran high making up games etc.

The city right there behind the dam.

Lovely picnic area - lots of peace and quiet.

A great day to climb a tree - the two big girls spent a lot of time in it and the other 4 also had to try and climb it.

Such a refreshing day - food for the soul.


What I would like to know is how well your kids do with a "no toy" situation?

11 years ago yesterday...

had exactly the same weather. Cloudy but not cold, with intermittent bits of rain, and intermittent bits of sunshine. I remember the weather 11 years ago so well because it was our wedding day. Such a hugely happy day and the day that started this family. If you have never read about our wedding day or want to see some pictures- have a look here.

We spent the day quietly yesterday, me keeping the kids busy and Hunter doing errands, but on Friday night, when Lucy could babysit, he took me out to dinner. More romantic is hardly possible. He took met to the little restaurant where we ate most of our date night dinners before we got married - Piero's Tutti Pasta. Where we spent the evening before the day we got engaged and where we spent the Friday night before we got married. Piero and Moira sat down with us the Friday night after our engagement, when things were quiet and just a few of the late tables were left. They told us their story and I will never forget how Piero told Hunter to tell me that he loves me, every single day. Something he has clearly remembered because no day goes by without those words in some form - my voice, by text , by email....

The last time we were there was when we were pregnant with the twins - more than 4 years ago. But boy, was it great - so nostalgic.We walked in after all this time with Piero rushing down the ramp and exclaiming -" Mr and Mrs G! It's been too long!" It definitely has been too long. I was rather stunned that he remembered us. Still the same arbitrary decor, still the same hand written wine list on the wall. Still the same Italian opera music with Piero filling in with his great tenor voice every now and again. Still the same seasonal fare on the menu. And still the same wonderful food - Italian with his own twist. Italian like you will find nowhere else but maybe in Italy. We shared fresh artichoke in a tomato and basil sauce and his signature snails with polenta in a napoleotana sauce for starters - with his fresh garlic on the side. I had my ever so favorite fillet in mustard sauce with pasta on the side and Hunter, initially sad not to see his favorite ravioli on the menu, indulging in it after all, as Piero made the "off-menu" item for him.  We ended with Piero's copyright registered Pepperato gelati (black pepper ice cream) with a dark chocolate sauce. My, it was so good. And the best thing is, you can still bring your own wine and not pay corkage! We are seriously debating getting a babysitter again and going this week before he closes for Christmas as I am craving his fish bobotie - his own twist on the South African tracitional dish and as we know (and Hunter keep saying) the artichoke season is almost done.

Happy happy Anniversary my love. With you, life is always one great adventure. Thanks for this trip back in memory lane - it might just become a more regular one.

BTW - what do you think of my new blog header? I just love it!

So when last did you go to the drive-in?

I have the memory of myself running around at the drive in in my jammies and gown as a little kid. Later as teenagers, it was always with someone else's parents - my mom never went. By the time I was dating, the golden days of the drive in was mostly over and Pretoria did not have many left.

Well, we did on Friday and my, was it great. Here in Pretoria we have a drive in theater on the top of the Men.lyn park shopping center - for the grand total of R63 per car. Our friends S and I regularly go with their kids and have taken the Princess along on occasion, but we last went before L walked. When they suggested we go on Friday afternoon, Hunter knew he had a not too late afternoon and we agreed.

We met in the food court for a quick dinner and parked next to each other for the viewing. The firts movie was "Hoodwinked 2" which the girls loved. Our two boys and their youngest all went to sleep in the back of the cars (we had the very back 3rd row down) about half way in. The other 3 girls watched it till it was over and after a visit to the ladies and a snack, went to sleep on the back seats.

Which was great - because we had quite a great movie for the adults to watch - "Anonymous" about the theory that Shakespeare did not actually exist. It is a great period drama and I loved it.

Will we go again? For sure  - if a kiddie adult combo shows again. What will we do differently? Pull the boot to the front for the kids and take our camping chairs and maybe take the bakkie (truck). And a flask of coffee - to help with staying awake through the second movie.

So when last were you at the drive -in? And would you consider it in a safe and clean environment?

The Princess goes to the ballet - again.

Last year we saw the South African Youth Ballet Theater's production of Sleeping Beauty. This year it was the turn of Cinderella and we once again joined the school and some friends for the special dress-up and party Saturday morning show. It is a wonderful way to introduce kids to the wonders of ballet and the theater with a more relaxed atmosphere, snacks served in interval and a chance to dress up like your favorite character. They also have the option to meet the main cast after the show and have their programs signed. The Princess went as the Fairy Godmother this year, after being Sleeping Beauty last year. Look out for The Nutcracker next year - always fun before Christmas.

City of Jacarandas

Last week a collegue and I did a little photo drive/walk up the one little hill to take in as much as we could of the Jacaranda filled city.

The University of Pretoria node

Panorama

Another Hatfield view

Herbert Baker street - the only one with white Jacarandas

The Brooklyn Node
Playing along today with Angie

Come join me for a trip on the Gautrain.

I thought that I would share one of my trips last week, for those that are far and can not do this themselves. The GAutrain is a new speed train between my city, Pretoria and the neighbouring Johannesburg and the International Airport.
We start at Sandton station .

To enter the train...

  Then we pass by the water tower in Midrand

 

And the Unisa campus

To slip past my Alma mater-  Univeristy of Pretoria

 To reach Hatfield station precisely 35 minutes later! A win!

Playing along today with Angie
and My Little Drummer boys for a Wordless Wednesday and