Winter sunset.........

Yesterday it was 29 degrees in EL with hot dry winds,

so we decided to head to the beach after we arrived

home from work and playschool.

Winter sunsets are often dramatic. There was no wind

when the sun was setting and the river looked like glass.

Lauren enjoyed the time running on the sand and

putting her feet in the shallow waves.

My Birthday.......

Today was my special day. Lauren was sick last night,

so we had a difficult time with her and a high temperature

all night. I was feeling a little old when I woke up this

morning. Dean and Lauren gave me Noa perfume with

a delicious nougat.

I had my parents, gran, brother and Allison around for

tea and cake this afternoon. I had planned a garden

tea party, but the weather was sunny with a sneaky

cool breeze. So we rather sat inside on this winters

day.

I received plenty of messages and phone calls & felt

really special.

In touch with nature.............

On Friday afternoon Dean and Lauren went to see the Ballet
- The Ugly Duckling at the Guild Theatre. It was a lovely
performance and L really enjoyed it.

Granny & Grandpa R were baby-sitting on Saturday night,
while Dean and I attended a games evening with some friends.

Sunday, Lauren and I joined my colleague and friend, Mindanao
to visit the EL zoo. Lauren always enjoys visiting the zoo. This
time we tried to see the Zoo’s Big 4…. Giraffe, Lions, Monkeys
and we skipped the Bears. It can take hours to see everything.
In the afternoon, Dean and Lauren went to the shopping centre’s
quiet parking-lot, so L could practice riding her bike. I tried to
complete the painting in Lauren’s room, where the new aluminum
window was installed.
Late afternoon, I took some photos of Lauren in the garden

and edited them to look Vintage style.

Wanderings on the weekend.....

I took leave on Friday and participated in Lauren's playschool
Big walk and Sports Day in the morning. The weather was cold
and the grass was slightly wet. The little ones were partly
competing and also learning how-to at the same time. I won
in the moms race. Cupcakes and juice were served at the end
of the the event.


I delivered L back to school and joined a long time friend, Dee,
at a new coffee shop in EL called Salad daze. It is decorated
all in pink and white with pink roses everywhere. Really
pretty and quaint with delightful, delicious lemon
meringue!


Saturday, L and I attended an enjoyable service at church
and Pathfinders in the afternoon. Dean's brother Bryan
was having plenty of folk around to his house for a sheep
spit braai. Brother Geoff & Nigel attended from PE & Jhb.
The children had a fun time playing games and running
around in the garden at night.


Sunday was another celebration get-together. My mom
& Lance had a birthday on 17 July and Allison on 7 July.
My mom made a mutton roast with roast potato and veg.
Allison made scrumptious strawberry cheesecake.
It was a warm winters day and rather pleasant to sit outside
in the sun. Lauren found a ladybird and inspected the
blossoms on the peach tree.

In the wild....

I attended a weekend get-away with MBSA Secretaries,

hosted by our in-house Travel Agents. We left EL and

stopped over for lunch at the Halyards Hotel in Port Alfred.

We travelled to Bushman Sands, booked into our rooms and
got back into the Vito vans and headed for Lalibela Game

Reserve, where we went on a 3 hour game drive until 19h00,

when supper was served in the main Lapa. They decorated

our faces with Xhosa markings and there was some
Xhosa cuisine and then the Xhosa traditional dances

entertained us. Everyone had the opportunity of drumming

along to the songs and performances.
The weather was freezing, so gloves, scarves and woollen

hats had to be worn.
The weekend was relaxing and enjoyable.

Winter warmers........

The weekend was really cold, but we had some quality time

with family and friends. We visited my parents, visited

my brother & sister-in-law, attended a birthday party,

cleaned house, made a fire in the lounge to keep warm.

Did loads of washing and put some clothes and toys together

to be donated.

I call this a snow tree... when i look out the bathroom window,

I see this tree that looks like snow has fallen and just remained

on its leaves.

Our little Ladybird........

After a few busy weeks & weekends, I was taking it really easy this weekend. I tried to relax and catch up on sleep. Lauren and I went shopping around midday. Dean went to chop down a tree at his brother's house. After returning from our outing, Lauren buzzed around the yard in her new ladybird outfit which was purchased for her to wear to an upcoming birthday party. Later L & I had a snooze late afternoon.

Love Cape Town!

I arrived in Cape Town on Tuesday afternoon. 3 other ladies from MBSA and myself attended a Secretaries & PAs conference at the Cape Sun Southern Sun Hotel. We stayed at the Rosedene Guest house - Upper Kloof. We had a taxi arranged for transport everyday. On Tuesday night we walked to Bacini's Italian Restaurant for supper. On Wednesday and Thursday nights we spent the evening at Canal Walk - Century City. On Friday, after the course ended, we ran around the CBD in the rain looking for a bank for one lady and then shopping for me. The people are so friendly(most) and I always have a great time in CT.

Wedding, friends & family..

This weekend we attended Moira & Andrew Cloete's wedding

in Maclear.

Today Lauren & her cousins went to feed ducks at the

Fig Tree golf course in Gonubie.

Life in (South) Africa....

This weekend Lauren attended a birthday party at the EL Zoo

on Sunday. It was cold, raining and miserable with glimpses of

a bit of sunshine every now and then. Everyone dressed in their

winter woollies and braved the cold to celebrate with the birthday

girl and boy. The old giraffe was his usual entertaining self, with

his slimy tongue and greedy appetite. The train ride was a hoot

for 2 speedy rounds and then the track got wet and the engine

driver had to push the train and coaches with passengers back

to the station in the rain near the end. (I was not on the train,

so it was not too difficult for him)
Although the weather was grim, the children still had fun with

games, jumping castle and all the rest.

Dean : M O Z A M B I Q U E......

Dean went on a short holiday with his dad and step-mom

and her two relatives. They travelled by car to Mozambique

to the Xai Xai Beach Resort.[Malaria area] On the way home

they went via the Kruger National Park.