So how are you?

Gosh I haven't been here in such a long time - neither have I read blogs. It's been hectic and busy and crazy in our lives. I have very seldom been so happy to see Friday - and it's a wonderful long weekend to boot.

We have just survived enjoyed 9 performances of our big  4yearly school concert. It was tiring but a huge amount of fun and the children really enjoyed it. It is such a spectacular show - we sat there in total amazement as every child in the school played their part and had a bit of stage light on them. C jived on "Hard knocked life" from the musical Annie , L sang and danced to "Hooray its a Holiday" and A and "Everybody was Kong Fu fighting". It was a great feast of music, lights, dancing, bright costumes and enthusiasm. But we are extremely relieved that it is all now done and dusted and that we can have a good rest over the weekend.

Work is still crazy - actually the crazy is increasing as year end approach. This too shall pass.

L played his last cricket game of the season and did so well. He is truly a cricketer by heart. C still has a game this afternoon. A's hockey season is done and dusted and she already had two galas. I was very proud of C who also participated in the school house sport gala. The first dance competition of the season rewarded A with a high silver and a good start.

I feel that I am at the moment just working and working and managing kids - and maybe reading a bit. After so many months of great reading I have slowed down a bit . I am simply so tired that I fall asleep before reading more that a few paragraphs.

My wonderful MIL has been visiting us for the concert period and I honestly am so grateful. It help so so much to have her with us. To help keep all on track while H and I fetch and deliver kids in the evenings and cooking a wonderful meal every evening. Our freezer is also already well stocked with frozen meals lovingly made by her.

I hope you have a wonderful heritage day weekend and rest up, like we fully intend on doing.

I don't quite know where to start

I know it has been such a long time since my last post. The honest truth is that it is honestly one of the toughest times in my life and that I purely and simply have not found the time or energy to post. It was already tough going at work since my business partner passed away but I was left with two critical staff members with either family or health issues and days off - the one now close to two weeks (with one here in between). He honestly was sick and I feel so sorry for him but the load has been insane. I have au pair issues to add to all this - which was truly the straw to break the camel's back. I have cried and laughed and purely just disconnected in frustration. Also when I realized that my BIL and SIL will be visiting in a critical week - and was then left without the person that could help me in the office for the week.

The family visited Freedom Park amongst other places this week

They however has been the most amazing blessing to us this week. I now know that God has provided it this way as they have honestly been life savers to us. Making sure there are meals and entertaining our kids with theirs to the T. They have honestly played at being tourists in their own city. I am so hugely grateful for this. But I think it is the small things that the kids may remember most of all. Playing Lego for hours. Sharing a bed early mornings and the girls painting nails.

In other news the kids all brought home wonderful report cards - I could not be more proud of any of them.The boys spent 4 days playing cricket to start out their Winter holiday and both took more wickets than their mom could dream of. A had Lyrical dance practice and two swimming practices - so no rest for the weary. Although of course this is rest. Every single morning when I do not hear the alarm at 5:30 I crawl in deeper and close my eyes. Every evening when chores end with cleaning after dinner and not with packing school lunches is a joy. Yeah to school holidays although I am working!

So how are your school holidays going?

No five for Firday

Because today South Africa is protesting our president and what he has done. It seems that the protests are peaceful and structured and we all hope, maybe in vain , that something will come from this.

In my personal life I am moving through a storm of my own - my business partner passed away on Saturday. He taught me almost everything I know about the it. It is a huge loss and it is hard to deal with the sadness of a whole office and the insecurities and uncertainties we are facing. We are also trying to fill a gap in terms of work and the load of what needs to be done is huge.

The combined anxiety is driving me nuts and making me so very tired - of course struggling to sleep does not help one bit. Your thoughts and prayers will be appreciated.

Is this the start of the teenage thing?

The last few mornings has been a bit, well, how will I put it? Trying? Difficult? Maybe not more than the usual, it's just that the tone has gone up that one, two notches. The same girl that now prepares their lunchboxes every evening, helps out so much and in general is the sweetest child will explode into a raging animal for a few minutes, to switch back to the sweet cuddly girl we know within another 5 minutes.

It has only been a few times now - I can count them on my one hand - but the frequency is picking up. I know it's probably hormones that are at work in full force. It is also the end of a very long first term with some late nights for the ballet concert. She has been busy. But dressing takes soooo much longer these days - even for school.

I would love to have a great loving open relationship with her but I struggle with the animal that takes over once in a while. I want to shout and scream at that animal - the only problem being that while the animal is in place she hears nothing. And then the sweet girl returns and who wants to shout at her? But geez guys - I need some advice here from those who have the been there done that teen T shirt. Help!!!!

I had many plans for the next few week

I had a wonderful canine nurse at home - Ocean took such great care of me.

I was really excited to take photos for A's dance teachers of their concert. I was really excited to walk my first Parkrun and do so many things. There were two book launches I had my eyes on - and so much more. But one never knows what will happen the next moment - and an accident is the last thing on your mind.

On Friday the 24th of February I had a half written Five for Friday post open on my laptop as I rushed to take something for the performance arts teacher at school and then pick up A to take her to a camp a bit later the afternoon. Her classroom is behind the stage in the hall - with a small passage leading to the stage. She and the kids were not in her classroom and I heard A's voice on the stage - I peaked in and saw them busy with a drama performance. I turned around to wait in her class and as I put down my left foot I stepped on a round orange pencil - I can still see it in my mind - neatly marked and round. It caught in the groove of my tekkies and I slipped - hitting a wet spot on the floor. My foot just went and went - I could not control it for one minute. In slow motion I realized that I am falling- and falling hard.

To make a long story short it was off to hospital, extreme pain and xrays, MRI scans and sonars. The end result being operated on on the 6th of March to repair my hamstring - partially torn off at the origin and with about 5 tears in itself - one rather big one. The last two week was spent lying mostly (as due to the laparoscopy I have 3 holes right under my sitting bone) and a very sore leg, There has been physio and frustration. Work had to be taken care of by my wonderful peeps at the office who have been simply amazing and at home Hunter had to fill in - a lot! He was simply amazing - I can not even start to tell you how he seamlessly took over everything I do and I kept doing all his tastks You can do very little for yourself flat on your back and on two crutches. Luckily our wonderful au pair was there for afternoons and to get me to physio. Our Lucy took care of me during the day - making sure I had ice on my leg and something in my tummy.

One wonders why this had to happen - I was a tad  quite angry about this! Why do things ike this even happen? ( just goes to show to how very important a good medical aid is too). Myabe it was God's way to slow me down a bit. I was running life fast and furious - maybe I had to slow down for a few weeks. Who knows? I though I would blog a lot, I thought I would draw an bit but it transpires you can not work well lying down with a computer or draw for that matter. I did colour one picture and read quite a bit. But that is about it. There was however a bit of quality time with each kid as all of them at some stage cam to sit with me on the bed and play a game, or simply chat.

I have learned a lot these past few weeks - and will share some thoughts later Mostly we spoil out kids and they can do so much more than we think they can. And none of us is as irreplaceable as we think we are. 

There will still be  a road of rehab to follow and lots of hard work - I guess some pain too. But I am feeling a lot better today and stronger. Onwards - but maybe a bit slower than before.

Lets talk teen/tween skins - well all skins actually

So A have been struggling since last year with the typical skin outbursts the tweens get. We tried face wash and creams - it helped a bit. And then I mentioned it one day at our local pharmacy. They have a nursing sister that works for them and the doctor connected to the pharmacy and she was standing next to the pharmacist that helped me. She quietly hands me two little pill bottles (no brands) and assures me that it will at least help. The total cost was less than R50.

So I started giving A two Brewers yeast tablets in the morning and one Zinc tablet as indicated. My, did it make a difference - in less than a week. Do not get me wrong - the problem is not totally gone, but it is certainly a whole lot better. Our Au Pair at the time also struggled with her skin and promptly went to buy some. She had almost instant results and is still using it. We saw her a few weeks ago and her skin has totally changed. Our student in the office is a beautiful girl but I soon saw that she had a tendency to isolated huge pimples - so I gave her the advice and two weeks on she has absolutely none.

So our secretary started to read up on the benefits of Brewers yeast and it turns out to be a great help for IBS. So from today I am on it too. It of course also contains heaps of Vitamin B too so maybe will help with my tiredness. And the odd pimple - I mean honestly how is it ever possible to have pimples and wrinkles at the same time?

So here's my ten cents of advice for your skin - and your teen or tweens' skin - Brewers yeast and Zinc every day. Any brand - the latest we have is Dischem's house brand and it still works.  Let me know if it helps! Any other teen/tween skin advice to share? What is the best face wash product for them?

Disclaimer - I have no medical or beauty background. This is purely our experience. If you are unsure in any way please discuss with your doctor or pharmacist

Family gifts for the win!

Let's talk a bit more about gifts. As the kids get older the obvious need for toys get less (I mean they all have so many) and clothes get more difficult (I can not imagine someone knowing what my 12 year old would like - even I sometimes have no idea). Books are always an option. But let's talk Christmas in particular.

We have scaled down a lot for Christmas - maybe I took it too far when they were younger. But we started a new trend two years ago with the in laws - we would agree to buy a family girt for the kids for Christmas and not a gift for each on their own. This means you can buy something more expensive and it is often something that in general can be enjoyed by them all. In 2015 we decided on boardgames and we got Cluedo as a gift. There has been many many games of Cluedo since. (For now we will not discuss the matter or fights around board games....)

In any event in 2016 we agreed on books with the in laws and my children were all 3 delighted to received the Percy Jackson box set. Mr C is almost done with the 3rd book, The Princess has read the first 2 and is waiting to get no 3 fro C and Mr L is patiently waiting until we think his reading level is on par to tackle them. This gift has provided hours of reading fun and will still do so in future.

My mom also gave the kids one gift - Rummikub - which is a fantastic game that I really enjoy playing with them. It has become a somewhat staple Friday night activity for us. It has been apart from the Percy Jackson books the most used Christmas gift of the year. The kids also got a tub of giant marshmallows from a family friend - they have been greatly enjoyed at braais and we still have a few left that I am sure will get demolished soon.

I remember as a child (when we gave way more Christmas presents) there was a general thing with friends, neighbours and family to give say a tin of toffees or Woollies cookies (or homemade ones) to families.I love this idea - as I in general love the idea of boardgames.

I would love to know if you have done or received something similar and what are your thoughts.

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.

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.

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?

I am angry today

I am angry because a bunch of thugs paralyzed a big part of our city yesterday. I am angry that politics are used as a motivation for burning, looting and destruction. I am angry that Lucy slept in a car with her neighbours last night at a filling station because she was scared to go back home and that she may not be able to come to work once again today. I am angry that one of our office workers can not write his last exam of the semester today because the university he is attending is close to the affected areas and is closed for the day.That another one is not able to get to work for the second day running as the buses are being burned and the taxis avoiding the area. We are the lucky ones - our part of the city is calm and safe.

I am angry that so many lives are disrupted - apparently because of the tribal origin of the ruling party's mayoral candidate. Or as Lucy so rightly explains - just an excuse to steal and be a horrible person for the day. To sow destruction and feel you have the right to.

Gosh people!

At 4:33 yesterday morning I wake up with "bing bong" - Whatsapp notification. Followed within seconds by another one. Guess who it was? A mom on the under 9 rugby group (and a wonderful great mom - one of our "village")- adding to a conversation on something that takes place this coming Saturday. The worst is that another mom answered. By 5:10 am there were 6 messages from 6 parents! Needless to say - my phone will be on silent in the future because sleep escaped both Hunter and I for the rest of the morning.

My question is - do you not even consider that some parents are still asleep? Yes I know there are "Do not disturb" functions but we have elderly parents - that is not an option. Have we become a generation where there is no consideration and privacy for sleep and we have to be available 24 hours of the day? A roster for duty at a food stal was posted at 5:05 and revised by 5:37 - when I would generally still be in dream land. And feedback was requested. Gosh people!

Of course I am wondering if I get up too late? What are you supposed to do at 4:30 that I am not doing? Exercising comes to mind...  I usually get up at 5:45 but we do live very close to school and work.

So honestly - at what time do you wake up? And would you randomly Whatsapp to a group at 4:33am? Am I old fashioned to think it is maybe a bit inconsiderate?

So what do you do with your evenings?

Odd question? I think not. Please do not tell me you are watching series and catching up on Game of Thrones. Why do I specifically single out Game of Thrones? Well it is just the current office obsession around here. Every now and again they come and go. It used to be Gosworth park, Grey's anatomy, CSI, the Mentalist, The Blacklist, Homeland, The Dome- you name it.

The point is not really that. The point is - where do you get the time? I am honestly asking myself at the moment what on earth is happening to my evenings. Admittedly I would personally rather read a book than watch TV but that's besides the point. For the last two weeks I did not read three pages before falling asleep. I am just tired. Ideally I want to be in bed by 10 but seldom achieve that. I am also not a Winter person so getting into bed earlier is a much better option than staying up. A bit like a mini hibernation.

There has been winter cupboard organization and decluttering - which did make me extremely happy. And looking through piles of old tests and notes and finding the best ones to copy for A's exams - starting on Monday. The usual washing up, lunch boxes and cooking for tomorrow night - but Hunter is a champion in helping with this - some nights totally taking it over.

Oh I complain about nothing really because Monday night I cuddled with A, sick and not going to school on Tuesday and watched Survivor. Alas - it's my own management that need to improve - my own priorities to set.

I do of course have a nice pile of books waiting on my bedside table, a half finished painting, many colouring in books calling my name and a very behind Project Life album. It's more a question I guess of wanting to do too much than having too little time. Of managing what needs to happen first or what I want to happen first.

But tonight I am going to get into bed early and watch "The Fault in our Stars " - a book I hugely enjoyed but never seen the movie. Call it girl time with myself. Tonight the rest can wait. Even the books. I have set my priority. Maybe that is the answer! Setting the evenings' priority ahead of the time - then knowing exactly what to expect of it.

So tell me - what are your evenings like? I know for some I have a huge luxury in having nay time at all to myself in the evenings . And is there anyone else that have so many nice things you want to do - and do tell me what they are.

We all fight our battles - every day.

I was reminded again this morning how we all face our battles, how we fight them, sometimes openly, sometimes quietly.

I drop off A's flute at the flute teacher's class on Wednesday mornings so I enter the school grounds and leave them later rather than just dropping the kids at the car like other mornings. So I bumped into a friend of C's mom dropping off her grade 1 - her grade 3 obviously absent. He has now been sick for two weeks with a cold type thing - which triggered his asthma. And I very vividly remember driving like mad to our closest hospital with a little man C - just just breathing through an asthma and croup attack. A battle almost forgotten. With a huge relief and gratitude.

As we go our separate ways and old friend walks out of the school gate - her child struggling in grade 1. I give what advice I possibly can and a hug and feel grateful once again that all 3 kids seem to be happy and content. That our last one is now happily reading English in grade 2.

I remember sleepless nights (after the odd night of bad sleep last night), and I am grateful that we have won that battle. I remember tantrums and tears and feel the relief.

And so we fight our fights - we battle the things bigger than us. I am thankful every day that I have my partner in life to fight them with me. Some of us fought infertility, some fought the big cancer in our own lives or with family. Some fight the daily battle of neuro atypical children - for whom every little thing is just that little bit harder than for the rest. Some just fight the sads - the big black wolf that breathes in our necks. There are physical challenges and mental ones - anxiety chewing on our hearts, physical pain taking over at times.

Be gentle folks - we all have our battles.

I am also reminded of how I write about them less and less. Maybe because I do not always feel they are just my story or just my battle. Not because I choose rainbows and unicorns but because I am aware that  my story is their story too. We choose what to share. We protect ourselves.

So one can admit now and again that the tiredness in us is not only physical. But that we are recovering from battles - growing towards better and sunny shores. That although the battles are and were so very real time heels a lot and love cements us together. We are growing all the time - with the scraped shins and lost contact lenses. With full mark test scores and sad faces about a team loss. With awards won and one mark short of a competition final.

This is life. But the silver linings get more and more. The clouds burn away in the bright sun. Because in the end, the battles are won. Again and again. If we choose that silver lining - if we choose the battle. Because no battle can be won without the fight.

Whatever your battle may be I wish you the silver lining - the award at the end. We have all come far but we have a way to go. The war is yet to be won.

Yesterday was one of those days

I have a situation at work. Well not at work - on a building site. It's one of those situations where it's not my fault but I need to make things work around the fault. You know, when the sh* hits the fan it spreads? When grown men shout and stomp their feet and walk off site like 3 year olds - you know? Those type of situations.

I spent 4 hours in the sun measuring out parking bays that a qualified person is supposed to be able to do by themselves - if they have only build the boundary wall on the actual boundary and not half a meter short - the crux of the issue. It's a domino effect of gigantic proportions.

Hence my planned books post never happened.  More books for next week I guess.
 
I came home exhausted and tired and just short of tears. To three pairs of embracing arms, homework all done and waiting to spend time with me. Offering to feed the dogs, asking me to listen to their flute practice and showing off full marks tests. Thank goodness to our au pair who helps so much.

Coming home was the best part of the day - and then when Hunter came home later even better. Good thing that when life is tough at the office it's great at home.

On lost property and responsibility

Let me tell you three stories this morning.

About 4 weeks ago Mr C undressed after Judo and when he wanted to pack his judogi pants they were nowhere to be found. The boys that were still in the dressing room checked their bags but whoever took it already left. The sensei asked in the next two classes that all the boys check their suits but no one came forward. I have this morning emailed all the moms I know of to have a look. My point is surely you would notice when you unpack a bag? I know I would notice and extra pair of white pants in my boys' cupboard. We have looked at the lost property box plenty of times. My question is, is there a mom that just does not care enough to even check?

We have a Whatsapp group for the 0/9 rugby - with the rules "only to be used for important information". Our school has a great arrangement where no one buys rugby jerseys - the school has a full stock for teams. So the boys go to a tournament with their ordinary sport shirts which gets swapped next to the field for the school jersey and swapped back after. On Tuesday after their first friendly match this season 3 boys could not find their shirts - 2 had unidentified shirts but not their own and one left totally without a shirt. So as good moms all 3 on the group asked if someone had their sons' shirt. There was about 6 messages with moms sorting out among each other when a dad messaged " Lets keep this group to the rules and only share important information". So I ask you - is it not important to have your clothes back? Are we so spoiled that we assume that one would just buy another one? Quickly a rugby moms group was formed where the admin said: " You can take yourself off if you do not think it is important but we will use this forum to retrieve lost shirts." I applaud her!

About 3 weeks ago L's kicking board was not at the end of the pool where he left it after his lesson. We have 2 that we share as a family as we are never more than 2 at a time in the pool. The next group was already busy in the water with their boards. So the au pair asked the coaches to check and our board was clearly not in the water . The next lesson we all checked the store room where the lost property is and it was not there. For 3 weeks. In the end I bought another board as we could honestly not continue borrowing a board. Last Friday the pool was quiet and C was asked to join another group in an earlier lesson. Lo and behold - a girl in the group had our board. Very clearly in big black letters marked with our surname. So C immediately told her that it was our board. When they got our of the pool she handed him the board and he took it to my MIL who was at the pool with them. Next thing the mom stormed my MIL demanding why C took "her daughter's" kick board. My MIL showed her our surname and C said we have been looking for it for weeks. Do yo know what this mom did? No apology - threw her hand in the air! She turned around, marched to the lost property (after C asked if they have checked it for their board), retrieved another board (maybe it was theirs , who knows) and triumphantly lifted it in the air, making sure my family saw it.

I guess we can go on and on about this type of thing. I find it horrid that parents just assume stuff gets lost - the lost property box at school is overflowing with expensive school jackets during this rainy spell. That they do not check when asked to check and help someone else find things. That it is unimportant to take care of your property and even worse- that a parent would blatantly in front of their kids steal (because yes, that is exactly what it is) someone else's property and then have the guts to confront the person they stole from? Or even when a child loose say a school jacket tell the kids to come back with one - even if it is not yours. I am sure this is not isolated to our area or community.

The question really is - how are we raising our kids? Are we raising a generation that will just loose something and not care about it? Are we raising a generation so focused on disposable that clothes become disposable? Are teaching them that it is ok to take someone else's things if yours are gone? Are we being that irresponsible?

Yes, I know it takes time and effort you may not have. It's not pleasant to have another thing to reprimand the kids on. It's tedious to check jackets, lunch boxes and water bottles every day. But we will continue to do it because I fear their generation may be so spoiled that most are not raised to take responsibility.  To blatantly take what is not theirs.

Your thoughts my friends....

On growing old

My mom turned 80 yesterday - and started her day in hospital. It was unplanned - on Friday she was admitted for an emergency operation after her newly replaced hip dislocated. She has spent the weekend and the morning of her 80th birthday in hospital. All thumbs up for Life Little Company of Mary hospital that surprised her with a card, mini red velvet cake and 18 nurses singing "Happy Birthday" to her. Then we took her home where friends visited for a quick cup of tea the afternoon. I took the boys around after work (A is in that crazy week of ballet every evening before concert). She was exhausted by then.

Although my mom is very healthy in terms of heart, lungs etc and with a clear mind (although her hearing is getting a little problematic), her orthopedic issues are quite overwhelming. This has been her 4th time under anesthetic in 3 years for issues on the very same leg. Rheumatoid arthritis is no one's friend. All along she had hope to walk properly again and drive again. I am really honestly hoping we can get there.... really. As frustrating as her loss of independence it is for her, so the extra burden of another household's shopping and accounts is for us. We have made a lot of things easier for us all with electronic banking etc but it remains not ideal.

I am wishing her a wonderful year with some gaining of her independence. Living for 45 years with a horrid disease that see a lot of youngish people wheelchair bound is no mean feat. Really growing old is not easy.

I am wondering how many of you have the same type of age gap thing we have - children not yet grown and needing a lot of attention (where you could do with an extra set of helping grandparent hands - thank goodness my MIL is with us at the moment)  and and elderly parent needing help too?

What's comfortable dressing after all?

So this morning I am dressed in jeans and a fancy Tshirt - with pretty sandals. Purely because I am going to be on site for most of the day when I will switch the sandals for safety shoes and don a neon safety vest over my shirt. This morning a mom at school said "Look how comfortable you are dressed for work - and looking smart too. Wish I could dress that way for work". I guess it is a compliment but somehow it took me to those magazine articles with celebrity moms that are dressed in gorgeous evening dresses for the photos and always mention that they are most comfortable in their jeans and Tshirts taking the kids to school/relaxing at home/ walking the dog. And google it - the amount of images of celebrities relaxing in jeans with kids/dogs etc are endless - no really. I googled Angelina Jolie in jeans and a Tshirt with kids and a whole sea of images appeared.

Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News

I am certainly no Angelina Jolie but my point actually is just that jeans and a Tshirt is anything but comfortable - especially in this heat! Maybe in mid winter if the jean is nice and worn in and the Tshirt soft with age, yes. But I nearly died of heat on site today - the sun seems to be out to burn as all to death soon - even more in hot jeans and sleeves on a Tshirt.

No, what defines comfort for me at work in this heat is a nice pretty summer dress - I am way more comfortable in it and much much cooler. On weekends it's longer shorts or  three quarter pants and a sleeveless Tshirt - or a cool summer dress. If pants is a must for work I have smart styled three quarter pants or soft thin pants. But jeans .... no. Why is it so iconic for comfort if one has to admit that comfort in not no 1 - unless of course it's just because I am carrying a bit more weight than I should. Or I have not yet found the perfect jeans. All I know is that I am particularly less comfortable than usual.

But be honest girls - who does find jeans the no. 1 in comfort? And always if so? And if not so what is your idea of comfort? For the office too -not just yoga pants at home?

Happy new year! And then life happens!

So yes, this year has been a bit of a bummer up to now. The last week and a bit, since my last blog, has been particularly tough.

We lost a friend the week before last (after seeing him the Saturday - 4 days before he passed) and had his funeral last week Wednesday, my mom had a hip replacement on Tuesday (her third big orthopedic operation in so many years) and I battled a kidney infection through all this.

Through all this we had some great news - A did her best ever in the house sport swimming and made the swimming team as a full and proper member with 3 personal best places and times.

Today is the start of a wonderful brand new year for me! Yes, I know it's the first of February but I need a do over. It will be a great year! If this weekend is anything to go with - it will certainly be. We had a great one filled with good food, family time and lots of rest.

So, who is starting 2016 with me today or who had a great January?

On fun, events and more

This morning we had the yearly Ladies' breakfast event hosted by our Institute for Architects. It started out years ago as the Secretaries' breakfast but as it was always the most fun event with the best goodie bags, it was changed to include all ladies in architecture. After all why should us architects attend all the boring CPD events but not be able to attend the one fun day of the year. It's a lovely morning being spoiled a bit before the year ends.

We have had many wonderful presentations for this event. One year we made mosaics, another one taught us beautiful gift wrapping ideas and we also learnt how to make concrete art works the one year. This years' offering was simply fabulous!

The theme was "50 Shades of bra's and panties". It started out with a fabulous performance by Lillipip Performances . I laughed literally until I cried. Good clean fun - and a fabulous idea for a Kitchen or even Stork tea or any ladies type event. I can really recommend it. Then we all had our bra sizes checked by La Senzas' team of fabulous ladies. In the meantime breakfast was served and tea after.

Then we made our own room fragrance thingy - you know those bottles you buy with the bamboo sticks in? We were given a "recipe" and all the ingredients to mix our own. It was great fun and smells divine.

 We were once again spoilt - a Woolworths gift voucher of R150 (for new undies) from Floorworx (with Sally Williams nougat!), a beautiful vase with rose from Ceasarstone,  a R200 off voucher from La Senza (plus a lariat and measuring for bra size), cute undies cookies from The Yellow Hat chef and our room fragrance we made with bamboo sticks. There was also a lucky draw where two of the ladies won undies - one a set from La Senza and one from Victorias secret. It was fun and just what I needed after a long tiring week.

I myself am no lover of the traditional kitchen or stork teas and attend just for the sake of my friend that is being celebrated. I do however love these type of events when I do get the chance (usually this once a year one and maybe a blogger event now and again). It's good to be in the company of other women and it gives the girls in the office a chance to spend time together in a social setting. After all they are always extremely well organised.

So I would love to know what's your take on events like these?