Honey Kids

Bust Geyser!

Luckily for us it just tripped the electricity when the leaking water touched the wires so it didn't quite burst at it's seams. Still we've been without hot water for 2 days. I'm so looking forward to a hot bath as soon as I've posted this! Luckily our building insurance covers the replacement - just the unplanned R1000.00 excess was hard to swallow. But I reckon the hot water is worth it! Spoilt that I am.

The funny part of this experience was calling the insurance guys who said they would send someone to take a look at it. Gave my details, province, street address etc and I left work a littler earlier to meet them. At the appointed time the plumber calls and asks "Mrs H, how far is Kenilworth from Rosettenville?"

"Huh?"

"I mean which side of Kenilworth are you?"

"Near the Spar"

His turn to say "Huh?"

"M'am I'm in Rosettenville. Which way is closer to you?"

"Ohhhh," (it dawns on me) "Umm about 1500 km's!"

"Where are you?"

"Cape Town!"

I could only laugh! Kudos to the insurance guys as they got a Cape Town based plumber out within the next 30 mins. And it turns out the solar panels on our roof are for the geyser! I thought they were connected to the underfloor heating that came with the house and we've never used.

The plumber estimated that they geyser was about 30 years old so I guess it was her time. So now we have a sparkling new one, connected to the solar panels. Think we must investigate a rebate from Eskom! (Anyone know how this works?)

And taking a feather out of Tania's hat here's my daily gratitude: I'm grateful for hot water and good service.

"Sometimes when i get to the end of my work day I wish I was the only person I had to think of."

I tweeted this on Twitter on Monday and it provoked a flurry of responses so I reckon this may be more universal than I thought.  I must admit that as I typed those words with my thumbs I felt pangs of guilt rising.  It's not something a mom is supposed to think, let alone say, right?  

On Monday I was dead dead dead tired.  So tired I felt nauseous.  When I experience this kind of tiredness it's usually my little white cell army doing their thing and since my cancer treatments I've gotten to know my body pretty well so I'm sure I'm just fighting bugs.

....But I still had to attend a school meeting, buy milk and bread, sort supper, school lunch, homework etc before I could think about sleeping.

Straight after the school meeting we went to Spur for their 2 for 1 burger special. At least that was supper sorted.

Tash said she did her homework at aftercare.  I didn't check and took her word for it.  After the shops, I made school lunch, brushed my teeth and got into bed.

A glorious 10.5 hours sleep later and I felt half human again.  I repeated this last night again.  Tash was pretty chuffed that I fell asleep before her.

Oh, and if you are wondering why S-man never helps... if I'm ever tired, he is more tired. If I'm sick, he is more sick. If I've had a tough day at the office, his was tougher.  You get the idea.... (cue My dad's stronger than your dad, my dad's stronger than yours.... " 

I'm sure I'm not the only Single *married* Mom out there, but Gosh it can be so frikking tiring sometimes!

Oh and superduper congrats to our Sprogbloggers that are on the shortlist for SA Blog awards!  Well done mom's!

Boys generally will build things that go. Cars, trucks, rockets etc and the smashing of these things seems to be more fun than the building itself.

The girl version... carefully preserved for hours of play.... The Lego kitchen with food, the dining table, beds and couch and TV unit.  The fire hydrant 'toilet' just out of shot.  Check out the dogs... Holly, Molly, Polly and Lolly

What are DUF's?  For the new Sprogbloggers (or new readers to our pages):  Each Friday we reflect on our week and look at our Downs, our Ups and our Forwards.  It's often so easy just to see the difficult things during the week but this allows us to acknowledge the downs, celebrate the up's and have something to look forward too.  

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Downs

Woke with a sore throat this morning (but it seems to have gone now thankfully)

The 10 kids that died in the taxi/train crash - such a tradgedy.

Ups

Payday today

Went for my favourite pizza with my BiL and SiL who are visiting from Pta

Good week of training

Tash has been in great spirits this week

One furry purry (Phoebe) is half on my keypad and purring merrily here.

Forwards

Meeting our friends new baby for the first time this weekend 

Busy Saturday - coffee with a friend, sushi with another friend, then some friends are coming for a braai

Sunday plan - chill and read my book

Hearing the outcome of the blog nominations

... I'm the best mom ever and feeling it.

I finished work a little earlier and so was able to fetch Tash an hour earlier.  She asked if her friend J could come for a play with us so I called her mum and set it up.  They play so well together and she's a pleasure to have.

Next thing, the two of them traipse downstairs with their sleepover plan.  They have it all sorted.  Tash will lend J some PJ's and her uniform was still clean so she could wear it again.  In their minds, everything was planned.  

At first I thought it not such a good idea but then I checked and they had both finished their homework so we called J's mom.

Great excitement followed - a sleepover on a school night!

Then they disappeared again only to reappear at dinner time.  They ate without a moan and returned to their fairy game.

When I called them to come help with the school lunches they did so without a moan too.  

Then teeth and bedtime. No moaning.

It was absolute bliss, I tell you!

I did have two Giggling Gertie's though so they only fell asleep just before 9.  Am sure the excitement of having a friend for breakfast on a school day will have them out of bed in time.  Well I hope.

I was grateful that our training finished early and I was really looking forward to fetching Tash early AND then I was stuck in the car park at work!  The car wash guy lost my keys.  And it's not a small bunch either with house and car keys, gate and alarm remotes.  While he frantically searched everywhere I tweeted what had happened and Tania (bless her) offered to pick me up and feed me wine.  

Luckily he found them on the seat of a BMW that he had washed earlier in the day and returned to the car park of our other building four blocks away.  This was 30 minutes later!  I was so happy that BMW owner hadn't left the office yet.

Then on my way home I got two calls from telemarketers.  One for double deal something and one for Virgin Mobile.  Where do these people get our numbers?  Really peeves me off that our numbers are given out willy nilly to these companies.  

Oh and this evening I tried a new beading method with mixed agate and it came our really well.  My mom has been begging me to put together a collection for her to show her friends so we are going to have a jewellery party.  I'm going to have to build up some stock to make it worthwhile so will be keeping very busy in the evenings.

"I say to my child, I will explain to you as much of life as I can, but you must remember that there is a part of life for which you are the explanation."

-- Robert Brault

I just loved this quote.  Often when I look at Tash I get this overwhelming sense of love that envelops me and I think, 'how lucky am I?'  Even when days are tough, or tiring. Or when she is being difficult and moody and pushing every boundary I could not imagine my life without her.  There are far more wonderful and joyful moments and I cherish each one.  She completes me in so many ways.

Lost in translation.....

I got a "please call me" from my domestic fairy yesterday.  When I called her back she told me "I'm blind."  My heart stopped and I asked what happened?  Her English is not good at the best of times and we usually use a combination of signing and show 'n tell for understanding so the phone does present a further barrier.  After much questioning and clarification I realised that she had an eye infection.  Shoo! That's easy to fix at least.  So I popped off to the chemist after work and described her symptoms and got her some cream.  

It was also her birthday yesterday so I got her a little present and wrapped it with some money.  She was over the moon today.  She called me at work at was crying "I love you M'am, I love you. You are the best!"   Such simple things can bring such joy.  In fact, last year when I wrapped her present, a very pretty blouse she said it was the first time she had ever received a wrapped present and a birthday cake - EVER! Such things we take for granted growing up that I was totally taken by surprise.   It reminds me to be more appreciative of all that I have.

There are certain songs that just get my feet tapping or dancing but when I'm in the car, tapping on the steering wheel is not enough.  I do the 'funky chicken'.... you know, shoulder bopping, head bopping etc  Some songs just do that to me.

Like "Don't speak no Americano"  I can't help myself.  I can't not move.

On Friday eve it was playing on the radio and of course, as I do, I do my car funky chicken thing.

"Mom! Stop dancing."

"But I love this song."

"Mom! please."

"But you love it when I dance in the car?"

"Mom, just don't."

It was then that I noticed she had slid down in the seat!  I guess there will be many more embarrassments where I am concerned as she navigates her tweens and teens.

I had an awesome weekend with lots of yummy food:

Friday eve - work function with Sushi

Sat AM - breakfast with mom at Casa Labia - it is beautifully decorated and I felt like I was in Venice

Sat PM - Hollywood Stars party - was so cool to see everyone dressed in characters

Sun lunch - treated to lunch at Jonkershuis at Groote Constantia with friends

  My Helena Bonham-Carter impersonation

AND we missed the towers coming down due to the early push of the button.  I guess someone needs to get our Mayor a new watch!  But within 10 minutes I was back at home and watched it on eTV and then people started sharing their home video's they had shot via twitter so we got to see a few different versions.

A Tashism - When I told Tash I had uploaded her World Cup Song video onto You Tube she asked, "How many hits have I had?"

7 signs that the Hundred Acre Wood characters might be on drugs….

Eeyore The Donkey doesn't care about anything, has slow reactions and demonstrates a lack of motivation – Marijuana

Piglet is afraid of everything and is paranoid of constantly being chased - Mushrooms

Rabbit gets into everyone's business and constantly needs everything – Cocaine

Tigger can not calm down, bounces all the time and is never tired - Ecstasy

Christopher Robin can talk to animals – Halucinogenics

Pooh Bear loves sweets and has the wildest of imaginations – LSD

Owl is always there to help anyone who needs help – Dealer

DUF’s – Downs, Ups and Forwards

Wonderful! No downs this week.

Ups

• Found a book online that I wanted that cost $6 in an e-book format. That’s less than R45 and to buy it here would have been over R300. Such a bonus!
• Had my performance review this morning and my boss is greatly impressed with the standard of work I’ve been delivering. I got a really excellent score which translates into Exceeds Some so I’m super duper happy! I also have some new challenges and projects for the next 6 months. Will be fantastically busy!
• SA Blog Award nomination – makes me smile. Thanks for your support everyone.

Forwards

• After Tash’s surf lesson we are meeting my mom at Casa Labia for breakfast.
• To celebrate our director’s wedding we are being treated this evening to sushi at our colleague’s house.
• Tomorrow eve is the 40^th party with the Hollywood Stars theme. Was very swayed to go with Lize Minelli but Helena Bonham-Carter won. It gave me an excuse to buy a new skirt and some costume pearls.

Tashism compliment: ‘I’m so good at puzzles because mom is so clever at puzzles. I get my puzzle brain from her.” (too cute hey!)

I had an inkling for Chinese Take Out this eve.  Chicken Chop Suey, Sweet 'n Sour Pork and Egg Foo Yung.  The little Chinese man was so abrupt and yet I wasn't offended. "Cash. No card. No card. Cash only."  I wouldn't take being spoken to like that from other restaurant owners but somehow I accepted it from him.  Weird. 

Anyway, Tash was not so impressed with my meal choice this eve and wanted to have cereal instead.

That's a balanced meal right?  It has added vitamins and minerals.  The box says so!