Five for Friday edition 23

1. We are two prizegivings down and one to go. Both the boys have made us so very proud. I am proud to know that they have worked hard and did their best - not that they received some or other particular mention.

2. A is writing her last exam today - we are all relieved that the weekends of study is coming to an end! Roll on relaxing .... We have two extra mural items that are wrapping up tomorrow and then really - R&R!

3. I have re discovered my love of photography. I always take pictures at school events - I like to treat "my village" of parents with pictures of their kids. It is always so much appreciated. But recently I was asked to do some family pictures for neighbours and yesterday I took some photos for students on the way to their end of studies function. I totally love this - although I am not asking a cent for it there is huge joy in the appreciation I get and the joy it brings to others. I guess I may have missed my calling in some way.

4. Simba sent us their new kettle fried popcorn to taste and try out. The verdict - amazing stuff - try it!

5.Wondering what to do with the kids that will not break the bank?

 

With the festive season around the corner, the FREE fun at The Fun Zone, brought to you by Hasbro, is back and giving kids the chance to play with some of the latest and greatest My Little Pony , Nerf , Play-Doh and Transformers toys this holiday period.

The fun will take place from:

  29 November - 2nd December at the Main Mall Court next to Edgars, Eastgate Shopping Centre from 10:00 am
 9 December - 15 December at the Mall of Africa from 10:00 am

 With that - I hope you have a great weekend! Any 5 for Fridays that you wish to share?

It' THAT time of the year.....

Aren't these simply gorgeous? The colour variations in one bush from my mom's garden.

The hydrangeas bloom. The shopping centers are adorned in Christmas lights and decorations. The awards functions are following each other in close succession. There's the end of this and the function of that. And work is hectic! Somehow every single year people leave everything to the last 3 weeks until we close for business.

You somehow feel you near the end and the end is just that few millimeters too far. Just out of reach - just.  Or a few glasses of wine too far....

But I guess you all know by now that I am tired. Finish en klaar. Kaput!

As I looked around me this morning at the grade 3 prize giving it struck me that without a doubt I was not the only parent that is exhausted to the bone. All around me they sat - eyes glistening to witness their child's achievements but their bodies tired, their souls exhausted.

Today is Thanksgiving elsewhere in the world. Although not a holiday we celebrate I love the spirit behind it. So let's turn our thoughts to being thankful. Thankful for children that give us reasons to attend prize givings. Thankful that they achieved and excelled each in their own way. Thankful for a work - because times are tough.  Thankful for time with friends and family and celebrations. And yes, for that glass of wine too.

Wishing you strength for the next few weeks ahead - the end is in sight! #2016mustfall

Please share just one thing you are thankful for today.

Dinsdag - tyd vir boeke!

Ek is steeds aangenaam verstom oor die wonderlike hoeveelheid goeie Afrikaanse spanningsverhale wat deesdae verskyn. Dit 'n fees van lekkerte vir aanghangers van die genre. Dit was dus vir my 'n ware fonds toe die boeke van Isa Konrad my pad gekruis het. Ek kan nie dink dat ek tot nou toe nog nie haar werk onder oë gehad het nie. Die twee boeke wat ek gelees het is egter elkeen 'n perd van 'n ander kleur en wys hoe 'n veelsydige skrywer sy is.

Moord op Karibib - Isa Konrad

Alet se lewe is op 'n totale laagtepunt toe sy stukkend en verneder op Karibib beland - net om haar vas te loop in 'n moord en die gepaardgande intriges wat op alle klein dorpies voorkom. Die sterwende man uiter sy laaste woorde aan haar en voor sy asem skep is sy betrokke in die moordondersoek.


Die boek het 'n opwindende storielyn wat vinnig beweeg en baie lekker lees. Die karakters is heerlik - kleurvol en volrond in meeste gevalle. Konrad skryf baie beskrywend sonder om langdradig te wees en ek kon baie maklik n prentjie van elke karakter in my kop in detail vorm - soveel so dat ek sommige amper kon ruik. Haar atmosferiese beskrywings van die omgewing is net so raak en mens beweeg met gemak in jou kop na Karibib en die plase daar rondom.

Alet self was die een karakter wat my effe geiriteer het - soms wou ek haar net aanpor om haarself reg te ruk en aan te beweeg. Sy is net te mooi, te ryk en te slim om op te tree soos sy soms doen. Miskien laat sy mens effe jaloers en dan wonder jy hoe sy van alle mense beland waar sy het? Nietemin spreek dit van hoe goed Konrad haar karakters aan mens voorstel dat jy so betrokke word by een van hulle. Wat my ook opgeval het is die omslag - as ontwerper stel ek altyd belang in die omslae en die effek daarvan op die leser. Ek dink werklik hierdie een dra vir my bitter min by tot die boek se atmosfeer en mag dalk 'n invloed gehad het in my siening van Alet.

Ek het redelik vroeg in die boek een stukkie van die ontknopings legkaart geraai maar selfs dit het nie die finale einde totaal uitgespel nie en die laast paar bladsye was van die "kan nie neersit nie" gehalte.

Moord op Karibib is 'n heerlike spanningsverhaal en 'n uitstekende vakansie lees. Ek gee die boek 'n 8/10 vir suiwer lees genot . As jy van Chanette Paul se spanningsverhale hou of 'n Lee Child aanhanger is, is ek seker hierdie boek sal so reg in jou kraal val.

Die Soenoffer - Isa Konrad
 Wessel Janke word gestuur na Pretoria om daar 'n onderhoud te voer met een van Suid Afrika se skokkendste moordenaars ooit - 'n vrou wat as kind 'n reeks moorde gepleeg het. Haar agtergrond is seker van die haglikste wat mens kan indink en stadig leer Wessel haar ken as veel meer as net 'n reeksmoordenaar.

Die atmosfeer deur die hele boek is donker en ongemaklik wat bydra om die hele toon van die boek te stel. Konrad beskryf dit so goed dat jy self ongemaklik en angstig voel net soos Wessel. Ek sal nooit weer dieselfde voel oor die Jakaranda bome in my stad nie. Die minder mooi ontbindende blomme in die strate vervang die mooi wat ek so geniet elke jaar.

Die storielyn beweeg in tyd en gee die agtergond wat nodig is om insig in die reeksmoordenaar se lewe te kry. Die poisie verslae verskaf die feitlike inligting en afwisseling waar die emosionele amper oordonderend word. Ek wil nie veel oor die karakters sê nie omdat dit so reuse deel van die storie vorm maar hulle is almal goed ontwikkel en volrond. Daar word ook heel tyd alle kante van die karakters aan jou uitgewys en jy raak self betrokke in jou evaluasie van nie net die moordenaar se motiewe en karakter nie maar van elke ander van die hoofkarakters.

Die omslagontwerp van hierdie boek is vir my uitstekend gedoen en gee die donker atmosfeer en amper ongemaklike gevoel alreeds deur.

Hierdie boek is meesterlik geskryf en die ontknoping skokkend - selfs al raai jy 'n deel daarvan is dit seker een van die moeilikste laaste twee bladsye wat ek ooit gelees het.

Die Soenoffer is 'n sielkundige riller uit die boonste rakke. As jy van Mo Hader, Gillian Flynn of Lauren Beukes se boeke hou gaan hierdie een jou voete onder jou uitlsaan. Baie sensitiewe lesers moet dalk oorweeg of hulle kans sien vir hierdie skokkende verhaal. Ek gee Die Soenoffer 10/10.

LAPA het die boeke aan my verskaf vir resensie doeleinde - die opinies hier uitgespreek is egter 100% my eie

Five for Friday edition 22

So yes, I missed my usual Friday wrap up because my heart was filled with Leonard Cohen - but in short - this is what's happening in our world:

1. A has her first week of exams behind her - she has prepared well but woke up with a cold on Saturday morning and Monday for her first exam she was all but a happy camper with that blocked nose. In conjunction with the big Maths paper I sincerely hope she felt ok and did her thing.

2. The schools' internal cricket league began on Monday for the boys. It's based on the IPL and features teams like Thunders and Legends with bright colours and lots of fun. I do hope the boys enjoy it to the full. Mr L literally struggled to fall asleep Sunday night - huge excitement. It did mean a full week of cricket and a double session today but the finals are Monday if the weather plays along.

3. I made old fashioned Mac and cheese on Sunday night - just added a bit of friend bacon and onion. It was a huge hit - I made a good almost 1 litres of cheese sauce and it was a cheesy and lovely. Am going to make this way more often. On that note - what are your family staples? I am trying to bring some variations in that will not break the bank.

4.The next two weekends are filled with lots of fun things to do. They will be busy but will be fun - of that I am sure. Just to get the last weekend of studying out of our way.

5. For those that remember my post about singing in The Capital Singers in August (here's the post) - we are busy practicing for our next performance - come and listen to me and 425 others sing the most festive of Christmas songs. Best of all - children under 12 are free - we are singing everything from "Santa Claus is coming to town" to "O Holy Night. It's a great way to start the festive season.

So - any 5 for Fridays?

Tuesday Booksday - featuring one of my best finds of the year.

Today I have two English books for your reading pleasure. While writing this post I thought a lot about reading habits and how this influence the joy of reading a particular book. I have half a post in drafts about this - so think about your reading habits - we will have a little chat about those soon.

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

Handful and Sarah grow up in the constricting ways of a southern household in Charleston. Handful is the slave given to Sarah on her 11th birthday as a handmaid. Both of them yearn to escape the constriction of their born to lives - Handful to escape the slavery she was born into and Sarah to escape the given road as a southern woman. From early in her life Sarah knew she was born to be so much more than just a wife and mother.Their stories run parallel until the climax is reached. The book is well written with extensive research into the time it portrays. Sarah Gimke is based on the historical figure that carries the same name.

This is a well written book with a good balanced story. I did however take months to read it as it just did not grab my attention and there were often other books that called me from my bedside table. However I am glad that I did read it and will certainly recommend the book to lovers of historical fiction. I also have to mention that I read it on Kindle and I still prefer real paper books most of the time. I find books that I may want to refer back to difficult to read on Kindle so this could well be why I did not enjoy the book as much as I think I should. Somehow I also never felt like a made a true connection to any one of the characters - they all remained rather distant in my opinion.

7/10 in my rating.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

If you are a regular reader you know that once in a while I get all excited about a book that I feel is a real find and a "have to read" for most people. This is one of my finds of the year.

Arthur Pepper leads a quiet life of routine and loneliness after the death of his dearly beloved wife Miriam. He is irritated by his overly kind neighbour and his relationship with his grown up children is worsening every day. On the one year anniversary of his wife's death he decides to at last clear out her belongings. In a pair of boots he makes a wonderful discovery  - a gold bracelet with beautiful charms that he does not remember at all. This discovery leads him on a fantastic journey to places he never would have visited. He discovers mysteries about his wife and her life before they met but in the course thereof he rediscovers himself and his family and finds joy in life again

A truly wonderful and uplifting read  - a 9/10 for pure joy.
If you enjoyed "A man called Ove" or "The Universe vs Alex Woods" you will love this book.

So now you know what I am going to ask - what are you reading right now? And have you read any of the two books above or do any of them grab your attention?

Dance me through the panic

I do not often blog about the news - not a word about the American election and the no confidence motion against Pres Zuma. But a musical legend died this morning at the age of 82. Leonard Cohen brought an amazing body of work to this world to enjoy - his last album was released this year. Everybody is busy posting their favorite Cohen songs on Facebook today - I am listening to the mix on You tube. A big part of especially my student and single days had some of his songs in my playlist. "Take this waltz", "First we take Manhattan", "Joan of Arc" and later "Closing time" are still favorites. "Hallelujah" is even sang in our church in a slightly altered form and possibly his best known song - even my kids know it by heart.

My favorite however has always been "Dance me to the end of love" with it's beautiful melody and tango rhythm.  But did you know that this song although it has the feel (and meaning ) of a love song was actually inspired by the Holocaust. This is what he said in an interview about the song: "'Dance Me to the End Of Love' ... it's curious how songs begin because the origin of the song, every song, has a kind of grain or seed that somebody hands you or the world hands you and that's why the process is so mysterious about writing a song. But that came from just hearing or reading or knowing that in the death camps, beside the crematoria, in certain of the death camps, a string quartet was pressed into performance while this horror was going on, those were the people whose fate was this horror also. And they would be playing classical music while their fellow prisoners were being killed and burnt. So, that music, "Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin," meaning the beauty there of being the consummation of life, the end of this existence and of the passionate element in that consummation. But, it is the same language that we use for surrender to the beloved, so that the song — it's not important that anybody knows the genesis of it, because if the language comes from that passionate resource, it will be able to embrace all passionate activity."

What I will take as a lesson from Leonard Cohen , his life and this song is to live passionately. Have a look at the live performances of his songs even in his last years - he sings and performs with an elegant passion. I have been lacking the passion for living life to the full for such a long time - it just got lost in the jumble of living, raising kids, losing loved ones - and it been in my thoughts the last while. I am doing a bit better than a while ago but I am really not there yet. I keep wondering if we all loose our passion, our dreams, our connections in the grudge of life. I am so going to turn this around and live fully again.I have to - I need to dance through the panic.

Farewell Leonard Cohen - and thanks for the inspiration and the music.

Free time

Give my kids some free time and the huge differences between them will instantly show up. By this I mean electronic free free time - we limit screen time a lot because I guess today that is almost everyone's first choice. Or well, maybe.

You will find L playing anything involving a ball out in the garden. He has even devised a rugby game by himself and bats balls against the wall for cricket. I have to mention that they have mean home cricket games with one bowler, one batsman and one wicket keeper/field worker. But give L a few minutes on his own and he will be outside.

A will disappear quietly and you will find her on her bed in her room with her nose in a book. There is nothing more tempting to her than a good book. I truly understand this as it is quite possibly my natural first choice too. Both of us have fiction as our favorite poison.

In the corner of the living room is a little desk that is littered with paper and pencils. This is mainly C's kingdom where you will find him sketching away. I do think he has a wonderful talent - he turned that black out cardboard into this wonderful sketch the other day. Remember that all mistakes will show on this.

Although all 3 activities has huge benefits and we encourage them all I wish my boys would read a bit more just because it is so very crucial to fast and good learning. From grade 4 on good reading is absolutely essential. Both boys are good, but reluctant readers. C does not in general appreciate fiction where L is a bit easier to entice. I have no problem with them reading non fiction, but then it must be sensible non fiction. I honestly thought that we did all to grow natural readers but in all honesty I do not think everybody is lover of reading and we should appreciate the differences.

With exams around the corner A is spending a lot of time studying and she likes to work in a late afternoon session (about 17:00 - 18:00) and then one after dinner. So in order to get the reading habit growing I have now imposed a "study" time for the boys too - or more acceptable - a read together time. We have tarted with about half an hour and will try and grow it. It involves me sitting with them reading our own books. I do hope this has a positive impact. Our two sessions up to date went down well and I do love that we sit close together and read - a nice and warm feeling.

By the way - did you know that the Nordic Noir writer Jo Nesbo also wrote children's books? I have very seldom seen C so enjoying a book like this one (Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder) - holding thumbs it is the magic book that brings the reading love to him. The book I am reading is a real gem - expect a review soon

Any advice?

Being 11

How do we know what our children feel or think? Some of them talk more easily about it than others but I guess that we as parents have to keep our eyes and ears open for any bit of information.

A is in one of those very strong year groups - as often happens in schools. The girls in particular are very strong in academics (the whole top ten group last year were girls) but also in sports and culture. The under 11 girls swim squad is so strong that they often fill in for the under 12 girls and even help with the under 13 girls while still putting a strong under 11 team in the gala. The under 11 B hockey side was so strong that the won their league while not loosing a single match and with not a single goal scored against them while the A side also did well. So you can imagine that it has to be tough if you want to compete and that the girls have to develop a big dose of inner strength to cope with all this - or alternatively I guess just take the stance to stand back.  I would like to think that A is building on inner strength and confidence.

A while ago the grade 5's had to write a speech about "My life is like...". A came up with ..."a box of chocolates". I then told her that it has been done before - and showed her the extract from "Forest Gump". But she had he whole idea for the speech already written as a wire frame and as I read it I realized that it was important for her to give the speech as she was talking from her heart. So I helped her to incorporate the Forest Gump idea and thought that I should share the speech with you.  I love her conclusion - life is sometimes great and sometimes tough, but it's still sweet.

The film Forest Gump starts with the line “Mamma always said life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Some of us like the coconut ones or the chocolates with hazel nuts. The toffies are everyone’s favourites. But who ever eats those orange cream ones? Let me tell you why my life feels like a box of chocolates.

Sometimes you think you pick a chocolate whirl but when you bite it’s a cherry bomb! This happens to me often when I think I made the right choice but it turns out to be a less than perfect one. Sometimes the unexpected happens and your choice turns out to be the wrong one.

For instance, last Tuesday I had chosen to swim in the gala but it got rained out before I had a chance to compete. If I had chosen to go to extra ballet practice it would have been time better spent as my exams were on Friday. But if it didn’t rain it would have been a great chance to swim.

Some chocolates go together. A hazelnut and a toffee chocolate are just perfect combined in your mouth. But add a Turkish delight to a toffee and it tastes disgusting, while each on their own are really fantastic. I often feel this way about friends and friendship. Some girls are great to be friends with, but invite them over with another friend and it turns into a disaster. The same goes for sports teams, drama groups and dance troupes. Sometimes the combination of the personalities make a great team and season and sometimes it just simply doesn’t work that way.

But often I compare my life to that chocolate that just doesn’t make the cut – the last one left in the box. The one that just didn’t get the win they wanted or the place in the team they dreamed of. Then I guess it is up to eating that last one that may not be your favourite but is still a chocolate.

I guess my life is all about compromise – and eating that whole box of chocolates – even the orange cream

Tuesdag booksdag - of weereens vandag Dinsdag boekdag!

I will be back next week with an English book review but today it's two Afrikaans books. I am always astounded by the high reader numbers for my Afrikaans book reviews so I love doing them.

Vroeër die jaar het ek my eerste Irma Venter boek gelees - "Skarlaken" wat 'n heerlike lees lekkerte vir my was en die ontdekking van 'n nuwe (vir my) Afrikaanse skrywer om te lees. Ek was dus opgewonde om haar ander boeke te lees. Ongelukkig het ek nie kop gehou of besef dat die eerste drie boeke wel tot 'n mate 'n reeks vorm nie en het ek 'Skrapnel" voor "Skoenlapper" gelees. Dit het my leesgenot van "Skoenlapper" beinvloed omdat ek soveel van die verloop van die verhaal afgelei het van "Skrapnel". "Sondebok" is nou in my visier vir lees en ek is bly ek het hom wel nie voor die ander twee gelees nie. Ek kon nie aflei dat "Skarlaken" enigsens volg op die ander 3 nie maar karakters herhaal wel en ek glo mens kan hom onafhanklik lees.

Ek moet hier ook noem dat die omslag kunswerk werklik mooi is en ook visueel die idee van 'n reeks versterk.

Skoenlapper - Irma Venter
Alex ontmoet vir Ranna 'n bekroonde en baie aantreklike fotograaf by 'n troue buite Dar es Salaam. 'n Aantrekkingskrag en liefde volg vinnig vir Alex wat glo chaos volg hom altyd, en die swarthaar krulkop vrou met 'n geheimsinnige verlede. Dan word 'n Amerkiaans IT miljoener vermoedelik vermoor en skielik word die chaos om Alex meer en meer terwyl sy twyfel in Ranna groei.

Aanvanklik het die boek vir my effe stadig beweeg maar die karakters is werklik interessant en die sekondêre karakters vul goed aan.

Ek vermoed dat ek die boek baie meer sou geniet het as ek hom eerste gelees het - maar steeds 'n goeie stewige 7/10.

Skrapnel - Irma Venter
Sarah Fourie ontmoet ons vlugtig in "Skoenlapper" maar in Skrapnel word sy een van die hoof karakters. Alex word ontvoer terwyl hy besig is om 'n artikel te ondersoek oor onwettige myn bedrywinghede.  Sarah spoor Ranna in Indië op om haar te help om Alex te vind en so ontvou nie net die storie van die ontvoering nie maar ook van Ranna se verlede.

Die boek se pas was vir my baie vinniger as Skoenlapper en ek was van die begin af vasgenael. Die storie ontwikkel vinnig en het 'n heerlike onverwagte ontknoping met nog ander verassings deur die boek. Ongetwyfeld is Sarah een van my gunsteling fiksie karakters en kan ek nie wag om haar weer in 'n boek raak te loop nie.

9/10 vir'n heelike lees - maar lees eers Skoenlapper!

Five for Friday edition 21

1. I have been cutting back on sugar - a lot! I used to eat a lot of sweet things - it is really my addiction - mostly jelly type sweets. I realized a while ago that sugar makes me super tired and that was the flag for me to start cutting. The result is a 4kg loss over about 4 months. I also feel a lot better most of the time.

2. Despite the above the end of the year fatigue is huge! Although I do think my fatigue is a few years old and not just this year. We have not had a good long rest in a while.

3. A danced her first SA Dance schools championship competition on Wednesday night. The girls could not compete in the novice division where they are supposed to because it clashed with the Kyknet show so they had to compete in the Lyrical advanced category. Despite that they did very well and managed a High Silver. We (and their teacher) are so very proud of how much these 4 girls have achieved this year. Personally it has been very rewarding seeing our ballerina branch into something more modern with such ease.

4. Work has been tiring - on a physical level too as I have been inspecting completed townhouses for the last few weeks. It is a workout on its own involving lost of walking, stair climbing and crunches.

5. I am so thankful for the huge big thunderstorm and rain we had this week. The water situation here is desperate and every drop is needed. Here's hoping and praying for more.

With that - best of luck for all who have kids studying or starting exams soon. What's your 5 for Friday?

They say life happens when you are having fun

I can not believe it's been 3 weeks since I have blogged. But life has been super busy - at the office and at home with the kids. Last week in particular has been challenging. But let me give you a run down of our first 3 weeks of this term - one that seems to speed to an end.

1. I went camping with the Voortrekkers for our yearly fun camp. The venue has many fantastic activities for the kids and they all had heaps of fun. The human foozeball and a huge gladiator course based on the old Gladiators TV show was the absolute hits of the weekend. I had a very busy weekend taking photographs and attending to lost of bruises.

2. C made us so proud! He managed to score a gold award at the English schools speech festival. For a second language speaker that is a great achievement.

3. The yearly RAD ballet exam is done and dusted. It is always an event that causes it's fair share of stress although our dancer seems to take it easier every year. She did grade 4 this year.

4. On Thursday afternoon A had the unprepared drama Eisteddfod and with her lovely partner managed two A+ and one A++. It was a busy afternoon and we only finished up at almost 19:00. The boys were troupers through all this.

5. The short 4th term swimming gala season ended on Friday. When I asked the Princess if she wanted to swim in the last gala (seeing that she had a hectic 3 days in stall), she answer "duh, of course" - I love that spirit and go get attitude. She swam well and was happy with her races.

6. From the gala we directly drove to compete in the new Kyknet series "Dans in jou taal" that is being recorded at the moment. A and 7 of her dance friends had the chance to be interviewed and dance on TV. They did not go through to the final but it was a great experience. They only performed just before 21:00 so it was a late night. They did not go through to the final but it was a great experience for all.

7. On Saturday morning she danced her parents exam showcase for the ballet. Every year this leaves me in awe of how far the girls' ballet have come in a year.

8. I drove an initiative at the Voortrekkers to collect Santa Shoeboxes. It was a bit hectic at times to get all the lists and ages etc sorted but Santa Shoebox helped me (as did a lot of moms and even my office staff)  and we handed in 62 pledged boxes on Saturday afternoon. I love that we grew our 3 little boxes into this! It was such a positive and fulfilling exercise and I love how parents told me and messaged me that their kids learned so much about how privileged they are through this initiative.

With that I think we have caught up with most of the news. 2 week until exams start and then the end of the year is almost there. What's happening in your world?