The wonder of normality

We had no power at the office for Monday and Tuesday. Hell was it frustrating. I was in a meeting for a big chunk of Monday morning and we also intermittently had power just to have it off again. By Monday late afternoon we knew we were in it for the day and went home and hour early. Tuesday saw us going home at 10 am, with the promise of normality today. It turns out a lightening strike close to the building damaged some main cables.  I have to say that I enjoyed my day "off" yesterday playing SAHM- I did some winter clothes shopping for the boys mainly, took the Princess to buy netball gear and de cluttered most of a cupboard. threw out a huge black bag of stuff. But today, it's good to be back to the normal, the usual. I am mostly handling emails like a mad automated person, but things are getting sorted.

In the same breath our weekends are also slowly returning to some sense of normality - by that I mean weekends that does not feature a very out of sync Mr L. It really does put a strain on all. He is now excited to go to school in the mornings. His teacher this morning showed me a lovely bit of construction work he did that totally impressed her.His social skills seem to improve all the time. I am sure he adapted, but I am also totally sure that the horse riding has to be a factor to this happier note. I have also at last found and Omega supplement he actually eats (for the last 2 weeks) - he refused any of the others A and C eats - even those cute Brain food fishes. Creche Guard has one that is like a chewy sweet and so far so good.

The past weekend had the photography muse smiling upon me - we attended a birthday party on Saturday and honestly I have so many great photos of each of my kids that I simply can not choose. It was a bat themed party with a sweetie buffet ( I saw adults crawling to the buffet when white eater eggs were spotted in the kid's plates......).  So I am leaving you with some party happiness. And a Project life post on my other blog.

 

Back to work 2013

So today the usual run of the mill starts for me. Back at work and back to the routine. It promises to be a busy year, but maybe not as stressful as last year. I am ready to take it on!

I will never catch up with all the blog post I missed, but so be it. I of course have much much to post about and share but for now, my favorite photo of our time at Mtunzini on the Natal North coast.

There are two types of people...

Those who like cats and those who like dogs, those who love rain and those who don't, those who adore chocolate and those who prefer jelly sweets, those who love coffee and those who love tea....
And those who have to doodle and those who don't.

When you are next stuck in a meeting on conference, have a look around you. Some people make the odd note (while some make tons of notes), but some people draw in between the odd note. I am one of those. I find it virtually impossible not to doodle in a meeting (unless I chair it - in which case I do not have time to write, less doodle). I doodle while talking on the phone, I doodle while I take notes and am busy working. I doodle as a necessity. It helps me think, it helps me concentrate. And then as you know, I have the love of any pen that is not black It also provides a simple day to day outlet for my creative urge that I know I have to feed daily in some way. I get lots and lots of comments on my doodles, and whilst the ones in the side lines of meeting minutes are certainly not worth a space in the blogsphere, my more elaborate ones that I build up over months in the back of my note book could possibly be. And so for the ones made during long boring courses and speeches  filling a page on their own.

Typical page in my note book where you will find notes on the one side and a doodle in progress on the other.

In my current note book - a city scape

And a tree - it was meant to get birds but I decided against it. Maybe in Monday's meeting?

Another sheet of random doodles build up over a day in a course (on the course note pad)

 With my birthday two years ago I got a Doodle book as a present - I love this too as it takes a bit less concentration and I keep it next to the phone in my office.

one in process

I am well aware that there are doodles on the web which are awesome works of art - that is not the object of mine, nor the level on which they are done. Mine are more just and outlet, a way to keep the hands occupied while the brain works.

So of course this morning my question to you is -" Do you doodle?" and if you do, is it just on sidelines of notes or is there someone somewhere that crazily build up doodles over time? And is there anyone out there who has a doodle "colouring book:" or any of those "colouring books for adults". And do you colour with your kids? I love to - I find it hugely therapeutic.

BTW - I like both cats and dogs but am more of a dog person, I adore rain, I like some types of chocolate but in general I prefer jelly sweets, I am a total coffee- holic if it is good coffee, but if not I like tea and I love my late evening tea with the hubby. And you?

This and that

So how is your Thursday going?

We had our first Highveld thunderstorm for the Summer last night. It was spectacular  - true to tradition. Lots of lightening and thunder that woke up little 4 year old boys. But today everything feels fresh, but rather cool. We always get a cold spell for the first Friday in September - traditionally our office's Spring day celebration. We have promptly postponed it to next week.

I was up early this morning, on site before 8 to inspect for possible leaks in new area in my current project. Taking into account that for all practical purposes a rather big portion of a section of a functioning mall has only a bit of canvass over a future rooflight, the damage was minimal. I am much relieved.

I am also much relieved when I took the boys to visit the school this morning and L greeted friendly and both stayed with the teacher.  He confidently played with the bigger boys with Lego and C was shy and hiding behind the teacher. Sometimes you never know. I went to visit A's teacher from last year. Who told me that they think evaluating L is an overkill.

All in all I feel much better today - as if a big load of stress has slightly lifted (am I being too optimistic?) and as if on this rather cool day Spring is really in my heart.

I have had huge issues with my IBS lately but do believe that it is possibly the stress that has triggered it after a rather good run the last few months. I have started with my trusted pro biotics again and am going to buy another product recommended to me later today. Let's hope things look better soon.

Work is still hectic - there is no other word but in the interest of sanity, I am going to take lunch today and have a coffee quietly somewhere and read some Spud. Or on second thoughts, get those invites done

I have not done anything for the Boys' party yet - invites are getting rather urgent - the rest is fine at the moment.Venue sorted, the rest are easy.

So how is your day panning out?

A weird out of sorts day

Cuppies supplied by our local Spar

 Yesterday was a golden day - just beautiful. On Tuesday night the hubby and I saw SafeHouse (granny babysat for us) and although very violent it was great seeing South Africa through CIA eyes - one staggers at the beauty of our country. After the hectic weekend of ballet followed by a Sunday lunch with family at our home, I really relished and needed the day of repose (we had a public holiday yesterday). It was also my dear hubby's birthday and we tried to spoil him as best we can with lots of little presents, including a new Stormers jersey. We had a great breakfast at our local Spur (who knew they have a great breakfast at a great price) after which there was some napping (while the birthday boy and our neighbour sorted out some trees that are seriously blocking our sun in the garden) and a visit to Hunters' aunt and uncle and a lovely swim and light dinner. It was a good day.

Today I am totally out of sorts - gee, technology is letting me down left, right and centre. My memory is letting me down, I forget to call people back. I can not find emails - can not remember what to do next. I feel totally lost. I have so much work there is no way that I should be blogging but I feel like my mind is in a total muddle and that maybe by blogging a bit I can clear it.BTW I am 248 items behind in my reader. I paid for stuff at Spar today and walked out without my shopping - only to discover it when I got to the car. And I did it twice in two days! I have also forgotten to pick up the gradener at home so best I run now and do it. Gosh, I hope I can get my mind together by tomorrow.

So what did you do wiht your bonus day yesterday?

Halooo! yes, it's been a while....

Almost a week but believe me my friends in the computer/tablet/phone, I am very very busy. But, a quick catch up:

• Work is hectic. I some days do not even realize that the morning is gone by the time it's 12! A big demanding but hugely intricate and satisfying project. There is really very little in our field that meets the adrenaline rush of retail architecture.
• My iPad is amazing - I think it buys me about an hour to hour and a half's time every day. And you are just so much faster in referring on site and getting back on mails.
• I had a tummy bug on Sunday night/ Monday. Lost time at work and left me still exhausted and I think dehydrated although I am taking more than my fill of re hydration products.
• The Princess is finding her feet with grade 1 and so am I. The earlier to school times, the afternoon activities, tying her shoes for netball, the whole story.
• She is fast learning about economics, both in terms of real money for tuck shop and in terms of trade via the sticker trading that takes place every day at after care.
• On Friday it's grade 1 swimming gala and she is very excited about all that.
• The boys are enjoying school and have started with Letterland. Harry Hatman and Annie Apple all over again. This week C took honey and L took a Mega blocks hen to school.
• We are flying my MIL in to attend the Princess' ballet concert. They are both beyond excited. And you know I love having her around.
• I am not getting to much blog reading or real book reading but am currently busy with "The hare with the amber eyes" in paper and "The Help" on kindle for iPad.
• I have a real craving to create - but am too tired in the evenings. Maybe if this tummy thing is sorted I will get there?

So what's happening around your corner of the world?

Oh my gosh, I am stressed.

I have heaps of work stress at the moment and I am not doing so well with handling it. I think I am ok temper wise, but it tires me out continuously. I am exhausted all the time.The point is, I am handling it.

For background:  I am working on a rather sizable redevelopment on one of the shopping centers in Pretoria. It is stressful working in amongst complaining tenants, irritated shoppers and demanding contractors.  Last week one of the other woman in the project team had a little break down. She is directly in the line of fire from the tenants and shoppers and things got rough . She was handling it, and well too.Then her little 6 year old grade 1 boy started crying when she took him to school in the morning and was clearly hugely upset about something at school. She went to sort it out with the principal and on returning to the office broke down. 

On Friday the two of us had a little chat about it, and it transpires that we both feel the same about work stress. We can handle it, but the moment that something goes wrong with our families we tend to break down, and then that gets fed back to our work. The next 18 months is going to be hectic for me. Please oh please keep my family safe and happy. Because if that breaks down, I might just need more than bloggers support.

So I am wondering how do you do on the stress scale? And in terms of what type of stress?

Gee, its been a week and a half!

Busy, busy, busy. At work things are positively crazy with my big project for the next 18 months in full swing this week. I discovered exactly why the iPad is such a total hit this week - well in terms of entertainment I could always see the appeal, in terms of work it has astounded me. If I did not have my iPad with me yesterday I would have had so much more to do today at the office. A huge time saver! And in my fast paced very visual industry it is fast becomming a must have item. And iCloud - I just love it.

On the school front I feel comfortable with what the Boys will be doing this year. Apart from the activities they were doing last year we are delighted with the new ones added. Obviously the most important of all is to continue with Mr L's OT this year. They will be continuing with their Junisport - a general sport ans gymnastics program. We have added Mikimaths and swimming to their program. We believe that swimming is a life skill so this is essential to us. In addition, yes folks, my boys are starting with rugby! They had their first training session yesterday and had so much fun. So we thought that was it. Then on Tuesday their teacher approached me when I picked them up - it seems that Mr C is incredibly interested in the pottery classes, so much so that he can not rip himself away from it. And we know that for a SID kid pottery can only be beneficial, so we enrolled them both. Busy programmes, but every activity is at school apart from the swimming where they get collected from school and delivered back.

Coping with extra mural activities for the Princess proved to be more of a challenge. Being a Primary school and offering.a huge amount of activities means you have to phone or find out from the coaches etc when the activities are and try to co ordinate the lot yourself. Her request was simple - continue with her ballet and the netball which she enjoyed so much last year. The ballet is was already sorted last year, but getting the times for netball proofed a challenge but at the end her teacher pointed me to the grade 1 coach who gave me times and days. So then we proceed to book swimming ( which to us as parents are a given) - then the glitch. She had to pass an evaluation to qualify to swim with the school coaches and to be allocated a group. Yesterday she passed it! I was so proud at how hard she tried and with how much determination she did it. She would love to do hockey but the season has not started yet and the times and days have not been set. So when she was not chosen for the choir we decided to offer her speach and drama. I think she would enjoy it but I also believe it is a confidence booster. She is forever acting out roles at home so it could be just what she would love. And being a great speaker is certainly a plus in today's business world.

The weekend is a busy one for our Princess - they have ballet practice as they prepare for their big yearly production, every Saturday until mid March, to be followed by a witch themed party. On Sunday we have. A family birthday celebration around lunch time.

So how was your week and what does the weekend hold for you?Oh yes, and this was my first ipad post!

Back to work

So today is my first day at work for 2012 - seems not to be too hectic as some people are only opening a week from now. But yes, this year is going to be hectic work wise - I just know it. A big project and hopefully some others to follow.

We had a really great holiday - I think it is the first time since we got married that Hunter and I had such a long holiday together- 3 whole weeks. I of course, had another week before that. But it was good. But we have realized what we actually need is a week off together with the kids at school - in order to get things DONE. But nevertheless - a quick re-cap:

Week 1 I still had Lucy at home to look after the kids while I ran around doing various errands - it really was a bit hectic. I did make time to meet up with my dear old primary school friend Janine - it was great spending time with her. I also got to meet the fabulous Marieks - was great to meet at last. In amongst this all my car got serviced and I bought two big shelve units for the kids' rooms and moved most of their toys to their rooms - a great great move and so much easier to keep tidy. But it was busy - I realized later that I should have made a bit more time for myself.

Week 2 was spent in Mtunizini in North KZN = camping at the same ground we did last year, and it was fantastic. It is truly amazing to see what a difference a year makes with the kids. It was way way easier than last year. Way easier. We swam a lot, we ate a lot and we slept really well with great naps included. See here for some  pictures

Week 3 was Christmas and following on to New Years and my in-laws spent it with us. It was a week filled with time with the grandparents, afternoon naps, swimming and eating. Spending time with the extended family. More about Christmas later this week, but New Years hubby and I went to a propert party at friends. It was great fun.

Week 4 was just us 5 (+2 dogs) at home - which was a great move. Well, with Lucy there would have been better, but alas. It was filled once again with swimming, some afternoon naps, Hunter doing a mammoth job in the garage and us getting rid of a pile of baby stuff - selling some and donating the rest. I mostly minded the brood and did laundry etc. It was good to do this - just us all at home. We have not done this before.

So onto 2012 - may it be a great work year for all. This week it's Lucy and the kids at home until school starts on the 18th and yes, we have a birthday on Wednesday to celebrate when the Princess turns 7 - so lots to do there.

So what was your holiday like and are you back into the "normal" wing of things - whatever that might be?

Much crazyness

Tomorrow this time, we will be having our annual office lunch, and in all honesty, it can not come soon enough. I am totally exhausted. On all levels, this year has taken it's toll. I have a few admin things to do and the odd request, for the rest I am doing a big tidy out in my office.

I have made a DVD for each child that was in class with the Princess for this year - a bit of (not so random) act of kindness spirit by me for the children and their parents who have contributed to make this year a very special one for our grade R's. I delivered those today. I also gave out teachers gifts to which I added some note books made by me and the Princess using a cupcake punch I took over from Marcia. Boy did we have fun ! I am so going to use this punch and make more of these notebooks (Thanks Marcia for the inspiration). Although the bigger "real" presents hit the spot with all of them, they all loved the handmade notebooks.

I am looking forward to doing some de-cluttering in the house next week, finally getting Christmas cards out (yes, they will be late) and seeing some friends I never get the chance to see during the year.Lucy is still working so she will mainly look after the kiddos. My dear Huberta car will also go in for her service. There wil also be plenty of prep work for the holiday and Christmas.

And the big thing! I still have to complete the photobook for my inlaws' Christmas present and totally make the one for my  mom!

I have also received the most stunning present from  my Secret Santa - thanks and how did you know that my mascara was close on empty? And for sure this is not under a R100! But I feel thoroughly spoiled and although I did not want more note books - that one I do want! It is beautiful!She has stuck plenty of Hello Kitty stickers on the parcel and it is  Joburg post so I do suspect two lovely bloggers in particular that took part in the project. In return, I have posted my gift - it was incredibly difficult for me as I could get no feel of what she will like - so I hope she at least likes what I got. I so do not want to be the one to disappoint.

And now I have 446 items in my Reader - eish, sorry guys - next week.

Making me happy today....

(a bullet post in photos)

Party preparations 90% done - only cakes to be decorated tonight. And making me extremely happy - a wonderful parcel from Shayne - thanks my friend (contents party related and to be shown later).

New laptop skin and coffee mug (courtesy of the Shopping centre Congress) - the laptop skins were our congress bags.

Still being inspired by Shaun Tompson's (ex world champion surfer) wonderful presentation at the above Congress. He is truly the best inspirational speaker I have ever listened to.

Our garden's yearly birthday gift to the boys (and me) - our Irisses in full bloom.

Not to forget the Clivias - now on their way down, that were stunning this year.

Seeing more and more of this - the two of them also playing together. It feels like forever it was a 2 on 1 in our house with the Princess and C.

The Princess competing in and enjoying her first athletics meet.

And the thought that it is weekend in less than an hour. (Little man L relaxing last Sunday afternoon)
Happy weekend! What makes you happy today?

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Eish, it's been a busy few days

Yes, it's a bullet post!

• You know, I love going to conferences and the such - it acts a 3 way plus - you network, you get inspired (hopefully) and you get a break from the usual routine. For me, this one was good - in all ways but for missing my kids and getting home later than usual and having to rely on  Hunter, Lucy and my mom to fill the gaps. But now I have a bit of work to catch up on, and much more. I will blog a bit about some of the great speakers etc
• I am totally in love with the Gautrain and the whole idea of it. It runs like clockwork and so clean and effective. 
• We had a busy but fun weekend - on Saturday we attended the big fundraiser of the Princess school the morning, followed by an unplanned and much extended visit with friends and late afternoon - originally just to drop off the Princess for a sleepover. Tamiya  and company dropped by to collect some of our millions of silk worms. The 4 boys played so well together - and it was super great to see L right in at the action. It was great meeting her and little A1.
• On Sunday I went to Pilates class at 9 - I am just a wee bit stiff, but the rest went well. I then finalized the boys' party at the venue and bought the sweets etc and after picking up the Princess we had a quiet afternoon at home followed by an extended drive to my mom's (to let the kidlets sleep) and a short visit. We ended off the evening with a braai.
• I am slowly hammering away at my list for September, but sadly, I already know some targets will not be made.
• One big one however has been achieved - the Boys are back in their own room and apart from last night, which was a "Total sleep failure" night with Little man L it has gone really well. I know he will have these from time to time but we are getting less and less of them. The main thing is, they are loving their room and sleeping in it. The magic? New duvet covers with cars etc on - will post a photo.
• Last night, we put our feet down and let them tidy the downstairs play are before bed time. There was much complaining, but it did get done - and well done to boot! I am seriously considering moving this all (or most) upstairs.
• I have a lot to do this week in preparation for the boys' birthday - only the cakes are essential, but the rest will be fun and pretty -so I am planning to do it in the spirit of "The Happiness project" I am making the most of it. 
• I am going to enroll the Princess to help with some of it - I am sure that involving her as much as possible might keep the jealousy away. 
• And joy of joys - I am on the Living and Loving blogroll. Great honour to be associated with the brilliant mag.

Some days....

just rolls you and spits you out at the other end and that's it! I feel like the combined forces of maladministration teamed up yesterday against me, and me only! Not only did I get to deal with a person that can not read internet payment receipts and tells me that a transfer made out of our business account went into it, but also that she has ignored 3 previous mails and have taken action against me for the company not paying an account due at en July and paid in March! While the 4 other accounts paid into the same account on the same date for others in the office there are no issue with. Flippin incompetent person that has illegally tried to scrap me from the roll! There will be action about this and formal apologies insisted upon.

I was also threatened by a very angry person trying to make a totally unfounded fraud case against me because I forwarded and email as requested by a party from another party - totally normal run of the mill business request we deal with daily. Apparently her signature on the document was fraudulent. Now how on earth could that be me that is the guilty party? Let's just say our lawyers are  dealing with her and will by taking action against her if required. Trying to solve this amicably and to forgive her that she acted in frustration and anger and leashed out at the first name she saw, which happened to be me!

And to top it all my dear mobile phone provider has not only failed transferring my account to the business for 5 months, but after rectifying it, continues to deduct from my account and not the business one. And at amounts that do not correlate with anything billed!

Gosh, it sounds like an extract from a soap opera! I just totally had to cut out from all this! It is crazy - and to think of it that the first issue was dealt with by our accountant initially, the second issue was dealt with by a totally 3rd party that I tried to help and the third issue was dealt with by our secretary. And now I sit slap bang in the middle of the lot! Frustration!

Thanks goodness it was bookclub last night with one of our members in her 50's announcing she is getting married - they are so totally in love it is adorable, and lots of laughs from the girls about my day, another girls' stories about a concert she has to perform in and someone else telling us about her crazy extended family. Good times, good wine, great girls. And I returned to my hubby that listened to me once more! Now if we actually slept well last night it would have had a good ending, but alas we did not - amongst L that had a headache and woke up his brother, I tossed and turned about the day.. Here's hoping that tonight we return to the better sleep we are getting used to.

Yes, I am actually going to post about the weather.

But it was just way off the normal yesterday - blog worthy I would say.

Yesterday morning was a nice and wram, although overcast morning. I dressed in a 3/4 sleeve shortish dress with ordinary stockings( -not tights) and shoes and a T-shirt cardi and as an after thought took my warm purple jacket. Good thing I did.I had a meeting in Eastgate with one of the major clothing retailers - halfway to the other side of Gauteng for me. But I love the R21 freeway so I took that way around to the meeting. As I progressed towards the South the clouds became thicker and thicker and when I parked at Eastgate the temperature read 7 degrees Celsius.

During our meeting I saw that it has indeed started to pour outside - heavy heavy rain and as I left just after 1pm it was raining so hard that you could hardly see in front of you. Stressful driving conditions to say the least. Just to be trumped by hail just after the airport, followed by what I assume to be either sleet or snow. The temperature in the car read 3 degrees outside! It looked like a white wonderland to the sides of the road, but driving conditions was so bad that I did not take any photos. I got to the Lynnwood offramp at about 2:40! Crazy for our part of the world.

And this is what I found in the garden on Sunday - Spring too soon perhaps?

Back to work 2011

Today is back to work day - and yes, I would rather post pretty holiday pictures, but the truth is that being here weighs heavily on me. Only last year I wrote about my need to work and that I love it. Well, I still like my work, but today I really do not want to be here. I want to be home with my kids - suck up that last bit of holiday spirit before the year starts in full force. Although maybe fearing the stress that I know will be part of this work year is a factor, having enjoyed my kids more this holiday certainly is a bigger one. There has just been less whining, crying and crap, and more love, hugs, laughter and joy. Be under no illusion - our holiday was not a blissful event, but it was great, good quality family time.

I know that this year will be tough as we will be dealing with 3 kids at two schools, two jobs and many other demands, I can not help looking forward to it. Looking forward to positive new things will be my motivation. Hunter and I had a nice chat on our way back about our goals for the year. One item stands out for me - we have got to rush less. Have quieter lives. A part of that will be to get more organized. But we need to breathe.

In our sermon on Christmas morning our pastor quoted Hildegard von Bingen as saying "I am as light as a feather on the breath of God". I took that as my motto for Christmas and the family holiday there after. And it worked for me. Maybe this year, it can work as a motto for the year. Live light and live in dependence of God. Do not sweat the small stuff. LIVE!

Ps - I am doing a project 365 again this year at: http://capturedbycat.blogspot.com/ 

Did I loose my groove?

I have been wondering about this for a very very long time. Today, it was just driven to the point where I thought that speaking about it might make all the difference.

I feel that I have lost my work groove. I love my job, or should this be loved? I love the energy, the drama, the mad rush to the end and the creativity. In fact, the only thing I despise is the admin issues about running a business, not my particular type of business. The day to day site admin I can handle.

Of all the types of projects that we do, I have always found none more rewarding than retail. I mean, for a woman, what is there to like more than being there at the first thoughts of a shopping centre right up to shopping there some day and then revamping it 8 years later (the average time span to revamp). Those last few weeks of rushing to finish, getting tenants in, working like mad to make the opening date - simply extreme adrenaline rewarding stuff.

Somehow I have lost the joy in all that. I am just finding it a total madhouse of rushing, everybody buggering up and the stress is just getting to me. I would just love to jump off the bandwagon and do some quiet industrial or residential development down the road. I hat that I can not pick up the Princess at school tomorrow because my meetings in Joburg will only end at 4 (I hope). I hate that I am working evenings where Hunter has just finished his studies for the year and we should be spending time together.

I have just lost the passion for what I used to love. Do you think it will come back? I am wondering if it is the time of the year (nope - can not be - we have been in this process many times before), a particularly stressful and tiring year or just being a mom of 3?

And then I think of the excitement of redeveloping my favorite mall next year and I feel a tiny sting of excitement. Or not? Would I rather just sleep?

Oh please, can I just get my groove back and enjoy this again? Please!

Childhood cancer

This morning I attended our local Institute for Architecture's (the PIA) annual ladies breakfast. This is a much anticipated event by all the ladies involved in architecture - not just female architects, but also wives of architects, secretaries and other support staff in architectural practices and reps in the industry. It is the one event of the year that is about anything but architecture and is always well sponsored. We also support a charity with this event. This morning it was all about childhood cancer.

The function was held at the Royal Elephant Hotel & Conference centre - a stylish venue with great food. We were each asked to bring a teddy bear along with some sweets tied around it's neck - these were donated to Duncan's trust who distributes them to hospitals with Pediatric oncology units. After coffee and a welcome, we were asked to open our one goody bag, to find a mosaic kit for a cupcake potholder. We then did the glue part of the mosaics with an explanation as to how to complete the grouting at home. I know that most of the girls loved this as the venue was filled with giggles and laughs.I loved this - I am so going to do more mosaics.

My cupcake pot stand

After this we had a brief address by Veronica de Jager of CHOC - the Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa. This was followed by an hour long talk about childhood cancer by Derick Stedall, an architect and founder of the Duncan's Trust. Dercik lost his son Duncan at age 15 to cancer. Duncan's trust support and care for children and their families who are diagnosed with cancer. They also form part of the Just Footprints Foundation which takes kids with cancer and AIDS on camps, sisters, nurses, prosthesis, wheelchairs and all provided. Derick told their story as a family and the proceeded to show us some pictures of the kids they support and their stories.There are some amazing and touching stories of survival, hope and love. There are also stories of abandonment of sick children, brave battles lost and last moment joys. There was not a dry eye in the room. I sobbed like a baby only a mother with small children can by the mere thought that something like this can happen to one of my children. He also provided us with some shocking statistics: In the developed world your child has a 1 in 9 000 chance to get cancer before the age of 14. In South Africa it is 1 in 18 000, not because children are less likely to get cancer, but because it is often not detected in rural areas at all. If you are in the private health care system, the 1 in 9 000 is more realistic. In the developed world the survival rate is 70%, here it is 50% because it is often detected too late, once again in rural areas.  We were given a bookmark with theSaint Siluan warning signs to look out for, as set out below. And as we were warned, if fever persist and your doctor keeps prescribing anti-biotics, ask for the basic cancer screening - it is a simple test.

SAINT SILUAN* WARNING SIGNS FOR CANCER IN CHILDREN

S: Seek: Medical help early for persistent symptoms
I: Eye: White spot in the eye, new squint, blindness, bulging eyeball
L: Lump: Abdomen and pelvis, head and neck, limbs, testes, glands
U: Unexplained: Fever, loss of weight and appetite, pallor, fatigue, easy bruising or bleeding
A: Aching: Bones, joints, back and easy fractures
N: Neurological signs: Change in behaviour, balance, gait and milestones, headache, enlarging head

*Saint Siluan was a Russian monk who died on Mount Athos in 1938. He prayed ceaselessly for all humanity.

The most common childhood cancers are Leukemia and brain tumors and it is suspected that some genetic link is possible in most cancers.

Just as important, what can we do to help in the fight against childhood cancer:

1. Volunteer at CHOC or Footprints
2. Donate platelets - this can be done at the SA blood transfusion service.
3. Register as a stem cell (bone marrow) donor - it is a simple blood test. More tests are only done if you are a potential match. Currently a child has a 1:100 000 chance to get a match in SA - the more of us on the register, the better the chances are of a match if your own child might need it some day.
4. Be aware of the signs of cancer, as above, and be on the lookout for it in your own children and those around you. Early detection is critical for survival.
5. Donate money to CHOC or Duncan's trust - all the proceeds this morning went to Duncan's trust.

Thanks to all involved for a great morning and to REVLON who donated a hamper for the raffle and a mascara and make-up bag in the goody bags, to the Clay Club for two raffle hampers and our cupcake mosaic we made and to Belmay for the perfume. I am not sure who sponsored the bath goodies (might be the PIA themselves), but ut was a great spoil. More importantly, this morning made me so aware of how vulnerable our children are and mine each got a huge extra hug and a spoil this afternoon.

Le goody bag and contents.

Such a mixed bag of emotions day.

Yesterday.

I had to be at a meeting in Sandton at 9:30 - not my favorite thing to do, to attack the morning traffic head-on. But I did arrive after an hour and 20 minutes about 20 minutes early for my meeting. Where everybody else was late and we only started 15 minutes late. The meeting did run a full three quarters of an hour over the scheduled time. But it does promise to be a highly exciting project. So mixed feelings.

The I met Jenty for a quick lunch. It was so super great to see her and have a good chat. You see, it's the "new" me, the more attention to myself one that allowed me to stay and do this. The "old" me would have rushed to the office immediately. It then took almost a full 2 hours to drive back to Pretoria - kid you not. I was almost out of my mind with frustration. Mixed emotions.

Then we had the Boys' 3 year check-up scheduled for 4:30 and on our way there the Princess started puking. Uncontrollably. By the time we came to the doc, sweet Hunter(whom we were meeting there) had a new outfit bought for her but she looked terrible. The good news is that the boys are both doing really well now that they are off all chronic medicine, including the asthma meds for C. Milestones look fine but we will evaluate L at 4 for muscle tone etc.We will also keep track of his speech development. They are both still on their growth curves and we are not going to do hormone or growth tests for L - he is not dipping on his curve and is steadily growing. The not so great news is that she has warned us to keep a lookout for attention and disruption issues with L ( she did not say the dreaded ADD or ADHD words but...)and to ask the school to be on the lookout for it next year. So mixed emotions.

Then she took a look at a very pale and listless Princess, although not dehydrated, already depleted of all glucose and the levels dangerously low. So she gave her some anti-nausea meds, booked her bed in hospital and instructed us that if she vomits once more or does not start drinking energade or such in half an hour, to take her immediately. I was so worried. But, she pepped up about 20 minutes later and started drinking shortly after that. Gosh, I was relieved. Of course, I was exhausted after the day and just fell asleep next to her.

Indeed a day of turmoil.

Just breathe...

At present my desk looks like a hurricane hit it, and at home, I am battling through cupboards to be tidied and clothes to be sorted. I just can not find the time. It seems that my mind is just as untidy as the rest of my life - not for the first time I am seeing the reflection of the one on the other.

I seem to be in a bit of a flat spin. Things are at present just moving on a  way too fast pace - work is hectic and as the end of the year approach, the usual silly season is getting into swing.On Tuesday I forgot about a meeting - I have NEVER before done that. NEVER. I am lucky that I have befriended the second in command at the client who gave me a little call when I was not there on time, and I was also lucky that the meeting was just 5 minutes from my office. Yesterday I left my car door open at a shopping center where I am busy with work. With my handbag in the car. Just my luck that their diligent security guards noticed it and looked after my car. Not a single thing was missing. Not a single rand, not my sunglasses, not my ipod. Everything there and safe. Yesterday afternoon I pitched up at school to fetch the Princess - on Wednesdays my mom picks her up for ballet early and takes her home after that.

So, tomorrow I am giving myself some time of work. I mean, if you carry the stress and responsibilities, you should be able to get some reward for that. I am going in to work, and then at 11 I am going for a much needed hairdressing appointment. After that, I am going to relax somewhere for lunch with a book as company. I might after that do some shopping, or go home to tidy some of those cupboards.

I am hoping that this time of just give me a gap to just breathe.To orientate my mind a bit.

Sky high!

I really have a lot of posts milling in my head , but today, today is just a crappy day. One of those....

I lost my temper at 9 am (with very good reason) and the day is just sliding downhill as we go. We have a problem with a drawing that need to go out NOW! We have issues at a council, we have heaps on work to do, but the money will only come much later. My (actually ours - my staff as well) frustration levels are at present sky high.

At least, tonight is bookclub night - yeah! There will be a damper on the usual festivities though - one of the girls lost her baby two weeks ago at 30 and a half weeks and almost bled to death herself. I am so sorry for the family and have no words to express how I feel for them.