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Sunday, November 11, 2007

and now for something completely different ....

So this blog is mostly about how we as a family are all doing and what we're up to. Considering my darling husband who was meant to be involved with authoring it has left it completely up to me, I'm gonna take this opportunity to spring a few of my thoughts on the world.

Tomorrow marks nine whole years since my father was shot outside a post office in Westmead. Now this post could go in to a whole guilt issue I have but I guess thats for another post. Today I am plagued with thoughts of how reliant I am on male opinion. Not the place most women would like to believe they stand, but what can you do !?
You see the 31st of October this year, marked a year since getting the news that Bruce, my principal at that stage had died the night before. Until that stage I hadn't really realized just how lucky I was. Unlike my siblings, who I am sure felt the untimely loss of our father just as much as did, I seemed to gain Bruce. A good friend said to me last week when talking about a lost loved one "they (meaning the loved one) sent xxxxx to her, they knew what she needed and they found the perfect person to take their place". Strangely this was the day after Bruce's anniversary and so it started me thinking. My father had sent me Bruce. Here I was in a very strange country, no extended family around, about to start a new and at that stage very scary job, and I needed him. He couldn't be with me in person so he found me someone just like him. Now I could also believe it was my Heavenly Father but well that just perpetuates the male opinion issue doesn't it hehehe.
You see as I sit here tonight dreaming back to where I was nine years ago and all that has happened since then, just the same as I sat almost two weeks ago, it is bittersweet. I have both heart-wrenchingly sad memories of both men but more than anything I have those skip-a-heartbeat happy memories.
Both men were my go-to when I needed confirmation or opinion on plans, I could vent and moan - although not too much because I knew they'd put me back in my place lickety-split :) I was pushed by both, they had confidence in me and all that I could be and made me realize I was the only one holding myself back.
As I sit here singing their praises and feeling just a little angry at both of them for skipping out on me, I am ok with the idea that as a woman I felt the need, sheesh still do need a man to tell me I can do it - whatever the "it" might be.

Maybe its because I can also say thanks to my amazing mom and sisters and wonderful friends for their examples of how a woman can standup for anything in this world, who knows hehehehe.
And lest my fabulous brother and darling husband feel left out, I couldn't continue without you either !

But seriously, thankyou to all the wonderful people past, present and future who have and will play a part in my existence, I could only wish my daughters have similar.

Daddy, it doesn't feel like a day has passed, I miss you just as much as ever.

saudi internet connection arrrgggghhh!

Well I have three postings sitting in drafts because they contain photos and my connection is being more than a little uncooperative at present. As soon as I find the time and patience to wage the war, those posts will appear. These include, Halloween parade at school, Rugby in Doha and the girls first experience on a jetski - visiting Larry and Nikki.
Til then.....you'll have to just be content with my moaning and groaning heheheh
Have a wonderful week - we have parent conferences on Tuesday & Wednesday - wish us luck :)

Friday, November 09, 2007

November...

...brings cooler weather, bonfires and.....bubbles !
Well November arrived and the weather has definitely turned, the girls are wearing long pants to school some days, making sure they have a jacket/sweater with them and sore throats and stuffy noses are the order of the day.
Wednesday night saw our compound celebrating Guy Fawkes with a bonfire. It was a very pleasant evening to be outside, weather was perfect and the kids had a ball running around.

Thursday morning we just relaxed at home before joining Ashton and Gary in town late afternoon/evening. Gary arrived in kingdom on Saturday and so had to get out to get some stuff for home.
Friday was the time for bubbles, car washing and updating the blog :)


Needless to say we are more than happy with the change in weather as we enjoy the just warm, just cool time outside !

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Halloween at school

Wednesday October 31 was a sugar-high day at school. After lunch all the elementary students changed into their costumes and headed to the theater for a short musical performance. After that is was a parade and then to the classrooms for their Halloween parties. Aimee and Lucy headed out to Sayako's house for a party after school too.




Friday, October 26, 2007

Bangkok & Halloween

As many of you may know I headed off to Bangkok for a NVS conference on Sunday night. Well first up aren't they so nice to arrange a conference in such a wonderful spot hehehe. We arrived at about lunchtime (Bangkok time) after a very noisy and uncomfortable flight only to find our rooms were not ready. They offered to give us upgraded rooms - but at our cost :( naturally we declined. We were told we'd have to wait at least 90minutes....mmmm now isn't that convenient, meant we could nip down the street to a fabulous little massage place I frequented the last time I was here. Ahhhh just what the doctor ordered, a 60 minute foot massage - includes about 10minutes of back and shoulder for only 250Baht. Of course we had time for a little shopping before heading back to get settled into our rooms. By this stage we're more than a little peckish (4:30 Bangkok) so we meet at the restaurant for late lunch early dinner and surprise surprise, I have pork chops :) a little more of heaven. Then its perfect timing for us to walk about a bit more shop shop shop, pick up some cokes, beers and snacks from the 7-11 and well on our way back to the hotel, who wouldn't stop for a massage before heading up to bed ?! The next two days spent conferencing, very long but enriching days. Wednesday night, drinks with friends - all the administrators had arrived for their section of the conference and .........another foot massage :) Thursday morning its up early, last breakfast to include pork products for a while, and out shopping. And then its off to the airport and home to family.
mmmmmm I love Bangkok, hopefully the family will join me in April for the Spring conference and we can enjoy some of the sight seeing touristy things together then. And of course I shall introduce them to the magic of massage !

And now today, we have spent preparing for Halloween. The compound was holding the children's party along with trick-or-treating today so we had all the decorating to do. The girls were involved in the design of their pumpkins but mom and dad had the joy of carving and cleaning. As much as I tried to get them to stick their hands in and scoop out the inards.....no way josé hehehe I took the girls to the party while André got sorted at home and while I type this up, he has taken them out in the neighbourhood with the warning that "when the buckets are full, we come home !" hehehe

So we're home with our stash of candy now, sadly not too many visitors to our house. Mom and dad say sadly although its a given Aimee and Lucy our eyeing the cauldron still full of all the goodies to give out to continue topping up their own hehehe.
School is celebrating Halloween on Wednesday so there will surely be more photos then but for now ......Happy Halloween !

Sunday, October 21, 2007

2007 Rugby World Champs

15 - 6

Well done, John, Jake and all the boys,
you brought it home for every single one of us !

Thank-you.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Who needs pillows....

Who needs pillows when you have a well padded mommy to lie against hehehe.


The Bokke

As many of you might know, André and I to a lesser degree are involved in a rugby blog called RuggaWorld. These two articles really sent chills up my spine
http://www.ruggaworld.com/2007/10/18/praising-our-great-warriors/
http://www.ruggaworld.com/2007/10/18/live-the-dream/
I credit the authors for their awesome emotive writing.
These both explain all we feel as our boys face the 2007 World Cup final tomorrow night.
Here's to you doing it Bokke, for yourselves, for your country, and for every South African with a dream of greatness !

A Real Bok Supporter ...is this you ??
Thanks for the video Brenda, good laugh !

Bahrain 10"s

André is once again at the Bahrain 10's this weekend. The girls and I joined him there yesterday for a bit of swimming before the tournament kicked off.

But ....after getting home close to midnight last night we decided to send him on his merry way today. He left earlyish and will be back early evening.
We're just relaxing at home, mom trying to catch up with news on the blog and then of course it'll be getting ready for school tomorrow.
And here we have the Khobar Quins, winners of the plate final in The 2007 Bahrain Duty Free 10's Tournament.

Sadly no photos of my darling reffing as well last night was too dark and I wasn't there today, next time.