Delights, dinners & deeds on the weekend......

Rain and overcast weather was expected this weekend, but we didn’t see any of it.
The weather was warm and sunny and on Sunday the temperature was about 25 degrees. As can be seen from the one photo album below, Dean owns a BMW motorbike (same model bike that Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman use to travel around the world). Lauren helps dad wash his bike and enjoys going for short trips around the yard on the back of the bike. She is waiting in anticipation for the day a helmet can fit her head and she can go for a spin around the block with dad….. still a long while to go though. Mom plays the law enforcement

officer – Mrs Plod. Every time we get the camera out to take a few photos, we have to let Lauren have a go at photographing too. Oh boy, do we get instructions, like you can’t believe! But it is kind of handy to have her around when we want pictures of the mom and dad. (no the bike’s tyre is not lifting in the front!)

Dean’s good friend and fellow earth walker, Ian, celebrated his birthday this weekend.
Also, Happy Birthday to Richard, his twin, who stays in Johannesburg. We went to the Blue Lagoon Highlander Restaurant for a buffet dinner. Lauren had a plate of chips and Dean and Ian did the buffet price justice with their helpings! Reg and I took the moderate route on the menu. There was much fun and laughter when the waiter was trying to take photos of us and eventually Lauren insisted on taking photos too. [reference to photo : Dean says….. Ian looks somewhat alarmed when he heard there was beetroot soup on the menu! Hey!?] ….Dean joking as usual and telling tall stories!

Sunday was time for me to take full advantage of my new deck chair that Dean and Lauren gave me for my birthday. It is so comfortable (compared to lying on a towel on tiles) and I am going to spend many hours tanning my legs, etc. and reading magazines in the summer on Sunday afternoons. Delightful!

The short l-o-n-g weekend......

On Thursday, 9 August, Lauren and I attended the Ballet at the Guild Theatre. Comment from the local newspaper: … The fairytale, Sleeping Beauty, presented by the Heather Cooper School of Ballet, features a cast of 125 dancers, some as young as four years old. The show runs at the Guild Theatre from tomorrow until Saturday.
We enjoyed the show. It was really beautiful. Lauren and plenty of other little ones danced on the stage in front of the closed curtain during interval. The photo above is of Kerri, who had a leading role and is the step-grand-child to my friend Dee. We accompanied Dee, her daughter-in-law, Vicky and daughter Madison to the performance.

We were up really early on Sunday and headed for the zoo. A friend from Lauren’s Playschool, Reece, was celebrating his birthday next to the giraffe enclosure.

All the party goers enjoyed a ride on the ‘old’ Smartie train and a leisurely ride in the boats. There was a jumping castle and lots of yummy goodies to eat for kids and parents.

(for all those that have watched Madagascar)… Melman, Melman, Melman licked all the kids hands & arms while searching for and munching peanuts. He stuck his tongue in his nose regularly and provided much entertainment, to the delight of all the children. I just thought of all the germs and who knows what, that comes with all that saliva! YUK! Lauren had a really fun morning.

I have been doing Power Plate since Monday at our work gym during my lunch times. I am feeling really good. I have probably lost a few millimetres and the work-out is invigorating. I am watching my food intake and avoiding chocolates… boo! hoo! hoo! cry! sob! Well, [sigh], I have been kind of bloated around the gills, as I am sure you have noticed in some of the photos, so I need to try and improve my condition.

Dean will be flying to Johannesburg this Friday. They are promoting a new or improved product for work there. We have to prepare Lauren quite a few days in advance, so she can get used to the idea. She is very possessive about her dad and likes to spend most of her time with him. Lauren and Dean visit the library about twice a week. Dean lets Lauren choose her own books, so there are days when she comes home with Afrikaans ones, because she likes the pictures. Dean has to do some translating during bedtime story time.
They have cultivated a garden for Lauren and she is responsible for watering it.
Every evening they play a game when Dean drives his car into the garage, Lauren says “Stop in the name of Plod” and gives Dean a ticket for some or other reason.
Dean has been taking Lauren to a few bazaars and he gives her money and she must choose which goodies she wants to buy. The person behind the table (at the White Elephant stall) will then help her with what money is required.
We all watched Shark Tale for the first time this weekend. It was quite amusing to say the least.

Till next time then.

3 August 1970........

Charlene Elaine - 2 years old.

Yes, Today is my birthday! ....and it is Friday!

I was born on a Monday night at 21h00 in 1970, during the floods in East London.
I have lived here all my life.

I won't get philosophical today, but just wanted to publish a post on this occasion.