Char's Chit-Chat

Out with the old, in with the new

2012-01-04T10:01:00.000+02:00

I started a new job yesterday. I am SO excited about it, I can barely stand it. I am assisting the director for Ministerial and Training at the TC Conference of our church. Woooot! Which means a lot of doing this-and-that... but also LOTS of planning, training, writing (yay!) and designing (HUGE YAY!!!) all the posters, newsletters et cetera that go into planning the training sessions.

I still haven't quite figured out how I landed with my butt squarely in the butter, but I am certainly not complaining. ~~I never was one who minded a greasy butt.~~ Ahem. Did I really say that?

I was SO excited about my new job that I barely slept the night before. I was awake at quarter to two in the morning and never succeeded at falling asleep again until last night, when I crumpled into bed before the crickets started chirping.

Such bliss.

Where I sit:

View from my spot (to my right side):

And some welcome flowers from my new boss:

Now, let the games begin!

...the post about our holiday and burgeoning bulges

2011-12-28T10:40:00.000+02:00

Damn. Back at work today. The Hubsband and The Girlchild are at home, enjoying another two weeks of holidays while I have become a member of The Sucker Club, working during the festive season.

We had a SPLENDID holiday with my hubby’s folks in Durban. Durbs never disappoints. We acted like real Vaalies – spent most days battling the wind on the beach, splish-splashing in the waves and rolling in the sand in a determined effort to get as much sand in as many places as possible. Ahem. Exhibit A below:

We arrived in Durban on the night of the 15th with my trousers hanging loosely from my hips and departed last night with plump muffin tops over the same trousers. Which just goes to show that CLEARLY such delicious indulgence cannot go unpunished. I will regain my moderately heffalump appearance in the course of time. Which is, of course, what New Years Resolutions are for.

What did you do this Festive Season?

Testing...

2011-12-26T19:37:00.000+02:00

It has been more than a year since I poked my nose in on my own blog... only to discover with shock! horror! that my blog doesn't exist anymore. Why this should surprise me, is anyone's guess.

So, this is a test "hello" from me, to see if this old thing still works.

Who knows, this might well be the kick in my rear end to get my blogging overalls back on.

Watch this space.

Safe in Perth. With a few extra grey hairs, but nothing that a bottle of Wella can't fix.

2010-09-01T08:55:00.000+02:00

We are in Ozzieland, Hillbillylovers! The flight went remarkably well from Johannesburg to Perth, with the Jellybean sleeping the entire way. Allergan Forte, you're my new best friend!

I wish the same could be said for the trip from Durban to Johannesburg. Jesse screamed at the top of her lungs for the first 40 minutes of the flight. My shattered nerves! What's that I was saying about a crocodile??? Ja. No look!

Next, onto Auckland. Aurette, here we come!

Woooot wooooot!

The Travelling Wilburies Hillbillies

2010-08-31T10:23:00.000+02:00

Yoohoo! Thought I'd rise from the ashes to saw howdy.

Today the three of us travel to New Zealand to go and visit my sister. So excited I can barely contain myself. Also a bit nervous about Jesse travelling so far. She's been "terrible two"ing us quite a lot lately and if she hits one of her little stints on the plane... Well, let's just say that thumping me on the head with a live crocodile would be more fun.

Lord have mercy!

I will be chronicling our travels on the Kiwi side of the planet. If I can stop my booty from shaking long enough.

See you on the other side.

This is the face that makes my heart pump thick lumpy custard!

2010-05-27T09:18:00.000+02:00

Beware! I've got my eyes on you. And I'm not afraid to flutter them!

2010-05-14T07:24:00.000+02:00

Cinderell... Uh, Jesse!

2010-05-10T16:52:00.000+02:00

Robin taught Jesse and her friends how to draw with charcoal, on the weekend. Apparently Jesse has a great memory AND thinks she's Cleopatra cos she's using it for makeup now too!
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It's jersey wearing time again!

2010-05-04T08:43:00.000+02:00

Sleeping Beauty

2010-05-01T12:30:00.000+02:00

Pipi Langkous

2010-04-29T08:01:00.000+02:00

Beware! Cuzzins behind the wheel!

2010-04-26T10:52:00.000+02:00

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Farmer Jesse, the tomato picker

2010-04-24T12:34:00.000+02:00

Riding with Lezaan

2010-04-18T13:51:00.000+02:00

It's our church's family fun day today. Jesse went for her very first horse ride with our tjomi, Lezaan and loved every second of it! (Much to my dismay - horses and I don't really see eye to eye!)
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Finally, Pigtails!

2010-04-16T09:02:00.000+02:00

See this finger? It's pointing at you because you're naughty!

2010-04-12T13:29:00.000+02:00

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Church time

2010-04-10T10:47:00.000+02:00

Today, instead of a lesson study, we took the kids for a walk outside. They always enjoy it so much outside!

Hello again!

2010-04-03T19:21:00.000+02:00

I haven't dropped off the face of the planet... there is just SO MUCH going on right now, and I really can't talk about any of it, because I might just go and blab more than I should and screw things up majorly for our future, so I can't even tell you what the BIG news is... except to say that, NO, I'm not pregant; NO, we aren't adopting again; (although if the opportunity presented itself for either of those, we'd jump skyhigh and say YES!)... it's just a major LIFE CHANGE for us which I would really tell you all about if I wasn't afraid that some official might somehow find my blog and kick me out on my arlie for premeditative action... And that's about all I'm going to say about that.
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Which is why I haven't been blogging. Because you all know my propensity for blabbing my mouth off and saying things that I shouldn't. I don't trust myself.
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Just please all pray for us the next few months! There is LOADS underfoot and as soon as I can, I will share with you what's going on. Those of you who know us in real life, already know what's going on and that we need your prayers.
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Anyhoo... Just wanted to check in and say hello.
Chat soon.
Toodles.

Oumie and the two grand-girlies

2010-03-30T10:48:00.000+02:00

Jesse and I are in Durban this week, visiting Oumie and Oupie. Today cousin Jorja also popped by for a visit and of course, then the fun and games begin! Haha! Jesse doesn't like having to share her Oumie with her cousin. So every time Oumie picks up Jorja, Jesse insists on being picked up too. Poor Oumie!

The view from our stoep blows me away some days! Sooo pretty!

2010-03-27T18:03:00.000+02:00

Crafty!

2010-03-18T09:04:00.001+02:00

When Jesse and I were in Durban for a few days last week, I bought scraps of fabric to make bunting for Jesse's birthday party. (I've started preparations early this year.) When I arrived home and lay out the fabric to start cutting the little flags out, I noticed how pretty all the rows of fabric looked side by side and I got thinking...

Which, of course, is never a good thing... Haha!

Because then suddenly your plans change.

As it happened, I had bought just enough of the scraps to make one single bed quilt with two matching pillow cases.

It was fate, I tell you.

So last night when Jesse went to bed I fiddled-de-diddled and this is the product of my fiddlings. (Sorry, my BlackBerry's camera really sux lately so the picture quality rivals that of Jan van Riebeek's camera.)

Me thinks Jesse likes it!

(She doesn't have a bed yet, but she has some bedding now!)

Outdoors again!

2010-03-16T16:49:00.001+02:00

OB-one-kanoby-wannabe

2010-03-08T07:04:00.001+02:00

A novice jedi knight I am.

Daily Dose: so happy about my first lace-ups!

2010-03-03T07:38:00.000+02:00

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Almost Pippi Longstocking!

2010-03-02T11:07:00.000+02:00

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Covered in crumbs, but faaaaassst asleep

2010-02-28T17:23:00.000+02:00

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Ok. I die. Seriously!

2010-02-25T11:24:00.001+02:00

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Hello Horsie

2010-02-24T14:10:00.000+02:00

There are a few wildish horses on the farm. Occasionally they wander right up to the edge of our garden and greet us while we're playing outside. They have a little filly who seemed to be so curious about Jesse - and of course the feelings were mutual!

I just LOVE this!

2010-02-17T21:01:00.000+02:00

On the 23rd of March 2009 at precisely 08h00 a.m., travellers at the Antwerp Train Station in Belgium got more than they bargained for when 200 fellow passengers broke out in song and dance right there beside them! The surprise spectacle created by this group of people brought smiles to even the most hardened people and some even joined in and danced a littlel jig. I just LOVE this clip from Youtube. Hope you enjoy it too!

Sandy is Jesse's favourite person... Er, playmate

2010-02-16T09:04:00.000+02:00

Whenever Jesse and I play outside (which is pretty much all day, every day), Jesse hangs out with our labby. They are best buddies! Where the one goes, the other follows. It's so cute.

While I find it adorable that these two are such good pals, it leads me to wonder if Jesse might need some playmates. Of a more homo sapien variety. You know, before Jesse starts barking.

*sigh* Where are some good, fertile eggs when you need them?

Cancer Schmancer and the Travelling Hillbillies

2010-02-15T15:02:00.000+02:00

We were in Durban this past weekend, visiting Robin's folks. We were fortunate, in that Robin was invited to preach down in Margate (Uvongo) on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast, about five hours drive from Dunhillbillydee and the church paid our fuel to get there and back home... so we made a weekend of it and visited Robin's family in Durban.

As always, the trip was ~~sheer torture~~ challenging for Jesse, who finds the longs rides sooooo very boring that she becomes ~~a monster~~ slightly annoying about an hour into the trip. Think scratching fingernails on a chalkboard. Or digging on concrete. Now multiply irritation-factor by roughly fifty two, and you might be somewhere in the region of understanding how easy it is travelling with this particular sugar booger.

Not that I'm complaining or anything. No sirree.

I'd rather travel around the world with her screeching into my ear the entire way AND STILL HAVE HER, than be a regular globe-trotter WITHOUT HER. (Good enough disclaimer?)
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Okie dokie then.

Needless to say, we think long and hard before accepting any invitation that might involve an extended sit in her car chair. But when it comes to time with my inlaws, we don't miss a beat in accepting invitations. LOVE LOVE LOVE visiting my inlaws. They are so cool! We love doing all the same things. And Jesse just adores them.

Speaking of which - my mom-in-law is battling cancer at the moment. The last time I mentioned it, she hadn't yet shared the information with anyone beyond her nearest and dearest, so I couldn't tell you WHO it was... Now, it's no longer a "secret" I can share with you that she has had her first round of chemo and is a total champion! She is one of the bravest people I know. She faced the chemo with her usual gutsy gumption and though we felt nauseous for a few days afterwards, she still went ahead and unpacked the numerous boxes from their move (YES - in the middle of it all, they moved houses, after being in their previous home for 35 plus years!!! - how brave is that? answer: VERY FRIGGIN brave!) AND kept the smile on her face and the skip in her step. I am so proud of her. On Friday she drove herself to the hairdresser and had her head shaved, preceding that awful time when her hair would fall out. She now sports an oh-so-hello sexy wig and she looks GORGEOUS! We are all twisting her arm to keep the style when her hair grows back. She looks HOT! (I will only share pics if she gives permission. I haven't asked, but everything is still very new and though I don't mind sharing absolutely EVERYTHING about my life with y'all, I know others are slightly more private than I am.)

When we arrived at their home on Friday Jesse went running up to her. My mom-in-law picked her up and Jesse gave her a puzzled look as if to say - you look different, Oumie! And then she pointed at my mom-in-law's snazzy new metallic pink spectacles and smiled! Haha! She didn't even notice the new hairdo, just the new specs.

Today we're back home on the farm, and enjoying the awesome February weather. It's warm with a slight breeze. Gorgeous! Jesse's napping right now, but when she awakes we'll be running around in the garden together again. Such a tough life. Haha! Have a great week, lurkers. I'm sure we will also.

All this travelling makes me so tired!

2010-02-14T16:27:00.000+02:00

Loves gadgets

2010-02-13T15:11:00.001+02:00

She gets that from me. Poor girl.

Gimme a kiss!

2010-02-08T17:32:00.000+02:00

I love waking up to this everyday!

2010-02-06T07:43:00.000+02:00

A fresh new look for February

2010-02-05T10:15:00.000+02:00

I've really been ~~jealous of my friend Marie-Jeanne who is currently galavanting around my favourite city on the planet, New York City~~ wanting to go on holiday lately. But being the broke Hillbillies that we are, a change will have to do. They tell me a change is as good as a holiday. So, here's to fabulous changes and a fresh new look in February.

Seriously, I might love making changes to my blog, but this simply doesn't come close to a holiday. Sigh.

What I wouldn't give for a bank account overflowing with dosh, and a private jet.

Anybody want to buy my kidney? (Very overworked, caffeine-laden kidney, but still in good working order. A little wear and tear, but still worth a couple bob.)

All offers welcome. Starting bid: 52 bucks.

Mmmm! Mealies! Nom nom!

2010-02-04T12:05:00.000+02:00

Summer girl

2010-02-02T13:48:00.000+02:00

I just LOVE the South African countryside!

2010-02-01T11:50:00.000+02:00

All this travelling is soooo booorrrring!

2010-02-01T07:15:00.000+02:00

Catastrophe!

2010-01-29T16:51:00.000+02:00

A few days ago our adopted cat, Angel, started doing her business indoors, on my bath mat. Much to the dismay of my nostrils. Since she’s a pretty proud feline, this was rather embarrassing for her. She slinked past me uttering a very sad meowwwwww and I knew something was up. When I inspected the spot of her indiscretion, I found blood in her puddle. We rushed her off to the vet immediately, who informed us that Angel either has kidney stones or a bladder infection.

Aw, poor kitty! Now, whether it’s kidney stones OR a bladder infection makes little difference to me – because I’ve seen grown men cry when passing stones, and grown women cry when passing urine during a bladder infection. Either way I am feeling very very sorry for little Angie-pangie right now. Poor girlie!

The vet informed us that the only way to be sure which of the two illnesses she’s suffering from, would be to acquire a urine sample.

HELLO? A urine sample??? From a cat???

And then the vet did a little sniggery snigger, as if to say “Haha! Glad it’s not me!”

She sent us home with a sterile jar that many of you infertiles might recognize as a swimmer catcher. If you know what I mean.

And then hubsband dearest proceeded to inform me that it would be MY job to catch said urine. Seeing as he did the whole Jesse-feeding-drama. The words “you owe me” might or might not have been uttered. Can’t be sure. What with the world swirling before my very eyes at the thought of my prancing around with my hand beneath the cat’s hoo-hah attempting to catch a drop or two of that stinky stuff.

Needless to say, I spent the next three days lurking around the cat with a bottle in my hand. And it rained. And my girl was teething at the time. So, at one point I had Jesse balanced on my one hip and a sterile jar in my other hand while I dexterously danced through big mud puddles chasing after the blinking cat who kept jumping up and running away as soon as I strategically placed my hand between her hind legs.

And I still haven’t procured a single drop of the friggin stuff for the sniggery vet. One might say that it posed a wee problem.

I crack myself up!

Anyhoo. It’s been a bit of a catastrophe, to say the very least. For now, Angel is semi-ok. Got new meds from the vet and hopefully she’ll be on the mend soon, because clearly it is more difficult to acquire a drop of the doodi from a cat than to teach a toddler to eat.

Ask me. I’m still recovering from that episode!

Smiles

2010-01-28T10:34:00.000+02:00

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Running all over!

2010-01-28T10:29:00.000+02:00

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Even Jesse's teddies get forced to read her books!

2010-01-27T07:14:00.000+02:00

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Stop smiling at me, Mom, I've still waking from my nap!

2010-01-23T13:38:00.000+02:00

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The little monster who could get away with murder because of those bladdy dimples!

2010-01-22T17:45:00.000+02:00

Our home on the hill

2010-01-19T11:26:00.000+02:00

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Kiff kuif!

2010-01-19T09:38:00.000+02:00

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Penpals Rock!

2010-01-19T09:26:00.000+02:00

I love love love getting things in the mail! And that doesn't happen all too often anymore, since email and the net and skype. So when hubsband dearest arrived home from the mailbox today with this nifty photo card from my friend Kelly (www.kellykleinman.blogspot.com) it totally made my day! Thanks Kelly! It's gorgeous!

And wooottt? Two posts in one day? Seriously, I might be setting a precedent.

Jesse has a new friend!

2010-01-19T08:17:00.000+02:00

Yay! Finally another little person almost the same age as Jesse, on the farm. This is Llwandile, the son of Robin's right hand man (Moena). He is 18 months old and sooo cute! I said to Jesse, "Jesse, where's your friend?" And she points at Llwandile and says "Thereyeees!"

Cool chick

2010-01-17T06:48:00.000+02:00

I'm so cool I wear my sunglasses while I'm still in my pyjamas!

It's so GREEEEN on our farm right now!

2010-01-16T07:11:00.000+02:00

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Bye, bye, Bottle Monster!

2010-01-15T10:39:00.000+02:00

A number of you have been asking how it's going with Jesse's eating. Or lack thereof. And whether or not we have managed to hang onto our sanity from the trauma of it all! What with my propensity for ~~sticking my head in the sand and pretending that everything's ok and all~~ finding alternate amusement while the food is hitting the wall. Or escaping to Cape Town for a galavant with my friend while Robin attempts to food-train our kid.

My timing's always been great that way.

I was SO happy to escape! My child has been known to throw a hissy fit or two that would take a few years off of your life. And I seriously wasn't looking forward to the pillava when we would need to get Jesse to sleep without her beloved bottle!

Anyhoo, what I didn't tell you the day we took Jesse to the doc, was that when we climbed into the car outside the doctor's rooms, Robin sat Jesse down for a heart-to-heart and said something like this: "Jesse-Lolli, you are a big girl now, see. No more bottles. Only babies drink bottles. Jesse's a big girl now, so Jesse's going to eat lots and lots of yummy food, ok? Bottles are for babies and Jesse isn't a baby anymore. OK?" All the while, Jesse listented intently, nodded here and there, then proceeded to wail heart-wrenchingly for a good few minutes after the speech. As if she actually understood!

And she hasn't ONCE asked for her bottle since then! Seriously. Who is this little girl, and what has she done with the real Jesse-Lee?

She now eats as if there's an impending famine (She gets that from me!), and sleeps. RIGHT THROUGH the night! Without waking up three or eight times asking for a new bottle! No more wake-ups all night for me! Woot!

Needless to say, there's a whole lot more happiness in the Hillbilly Household. Less bananas. Less pasta. But who's counting?

Flingdingit!

2010-01-14T09:09:00.000+02:00

I have been trying to post a blog for the past three days and was just about to click "publish" when the entire post disappeared. Again. The fourth time tonight.

Which might just be the last of my I-will-get-my-blog-posted-tonight-if-it-kills-me-trying patience destroyed. So, while I go and salvage the remnants of my shattered nerves, enjoy some pics of my girlie bird. I simply cannot get enough of this little face peering up at me from between my bedenimed legs! How blessed am I???

The problem with pets...

2010-01-11T15:12:00.000+02:00

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Maestro Jess

2010-01-10T18:11:00.000+02:00

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And I thought a chatty fellow passenger would be bad...

2010-01-08T19:38:00.000+02:00

I landed up seated beside a very nice man. But he had arm hairs that would shame even the hairiest tarantula. And he hogged the armrests. And then proceded to fall asleep. And then his arms would sag slowly over the edges of the armrests and his godzilla hairs would rub against my arms. For two whole hours. And I couldn't escape because I was already pressed up against the side of the plane in an attempt to avoid said godzilla hairs.
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I am traumatised for life.

Dear kind sir who sat beside me hogging the armrests for two whole hours. Please ensure you do something about your wayward armhairs before boarding the plane next time. For the sanity of your fellow passengers. And for your own safety. Not that I'm threatening you or anything. No siree bob. But, let it be known that while the security might well confiscate a lovely razor or a pair of scissors, they most likely will not confiscate a nice jar of ready-to-use wax. I know, because I checked. And that's about all that I have to say about that.

What is it with chatty passengers???

2010-01-08T13:27:00.001+02:00

Please, oh please don't be sitting next to me on the plane! How do I always land up queueing with someone who wants to tell me all about their precious pet poodle who will be distraught until they arrive back home?
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I get the impression that ANY willing ear will do though, and that they don't deliberately target ME to tell alllll about their recent colonoscopy or allllll about their pet poodle or that the service is shocking or that there never used to be such delays "in the good old days".
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I ooh and ahh and mmmm in all the appropriate places because I don't want to be impolite.
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And then I think to myself "why am I so afraid of offending this person, because I'll never even see them again!!!"
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But it would just be MY bad luck that I probably WOULD see them again!
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Like the time I told someone off for smoking in a public "no smoking zone" with such bad attitude and I felt so clever and justified and right! And then hubsband dearest came and said to me, a few minutes later, "Char! I must introduce you to someone from my school days." Ja. And it wouldn't be some other random stranger, but the very person I just told off. And then I had to apologize for being a total oo-all.
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My luck is just like that.
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So I better smile and nod and ooh and ahh some more. *sigh*

One for the road... Or, um, clouds?

2010-01-08T12:13:00.000+02:00

I'm sitting at the airport now, waiting to board. I am SO sad my little holiday with my friend is over! This getaway was balm for my heart.
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I said goodbye to the sea as we drove past the beach one last time en route to the airport. I literally rolled down my window and let the air blast through my hair as I shouted my goodbyes to Hout Bay... Llandudno... Table Mountain... The V&A Waterfront... And now my fave store, Woolies.
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So sad I am to be leaving The Mother City of Africa.
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Joey and I have a plan. We're going to try to twist our hubsband's arms to allow us to make this an annual gig. Just the two gals galavanting around our fave place on the planet. Whether or not they go for it is another story entirely.
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I might need to whip out the ol' lingerie and ask him while he's distracted. If you know what I mean.
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Wink wink.
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On the other hand, just LOOK how naughty I get when I'm away from my man!!! Terrible! Joey, you're a bad influence, my friend! ;o) But I love you to bits and pieces and I simply can't wait for our next trip together!
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Home tomorrow...

2010-01-07T18:30:00.000+02:00

I have only one sleep left here in Hout Bay. How that happened I have no idea. One minute my plane was touching down on the Cape Town International tarmac, the next I am wondering if all the souvenirs I bought will fit into my suitcase for the trip home.
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Sigh.
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It has gone too fast. But weirdly enough I am also looking forward to being home. To hugging my schnoogi boogi and my hubsband.
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At the moment I'm sitting at the Hout Bay Wharf watching the seagulls swooping over all the fishing boats. The wind is whipping my hair into a tangled knot but I really can't be bothered. I've polished a punnet of sweet sultana grapes by myself and fully intend to polish a fish and chips here at the Mariner's Wharf for supper also.
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Its one of those things you simply HAVE to do when you're at the Cape.
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Who am I to scoff at local traditions?
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I'll worry about the fat, and the tons of it that I'm gaining, later. Why spoil the fun.
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That reminds me - I have a theory about the heffalumpiness of my stomach. Before I went and bought myself some perkiness, my stomach was getting ample sunshine. Due to there not being anything to create shade above it. Apart from my heavy chin, that is. And then, I went and had some panelbeating done and increased my cleaverage, and my stomach thought I'd moved to the UK, what with the lack of sunshine on it and all. So my stomach made a plan to increase it's surface area, so as to still get a bit of sun every day.
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Ok, so I might not be a nuclear physicist, but that's my theory and I'm sticking with it. Through thick or, um, very thick.
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V&A waterfront inside

2010-01-06T19:35:00.000+02:00

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The V&A Waterfront

2010-01-06T19:21:00.000+02:00

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Muizenberg Beach

2010-01-06T17:35:00.000+02:00

Oh, South Africa is sooooo pretty! I just LOVE the Cape! How lucky am I to be here right now?
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Awesome places

2010-01-06T15:38:00.000+02:00

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Cool kiddy shop in Immhoff (Kommetjie)

2010-01-06T15:37:00.000+02:00

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Lunch! Mmmm!

2010-01-06T14:33:00.000+02:00

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Farmy stalls

2010-01-06T14:11:00.000+02:00

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Somewhere along the coast

2010-01-06T13:24:00.000+02:00

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Scarbourgh Beach

2010-01-06T13:23:00.000+02:00

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Noordhoek Beach

2010-01-06T12:23:00.000+02:00

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The beautiful Cape

2010-01-06T12:19:00.000+02:00

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Chapmans Peak with view of Hout Bay behind us

2010-01-06T12:08:00.000+02:00

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What more could we ask for?

2010-01-06T11:42:00.000+02:00

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Enchanted

2010-01-06T09:46:00.000+02:00

I am simply enchanted by the beauty of this place. How I wish every one of you could see what I am seeing too. Hout Bay is just exquisitely breathtaking!
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Right now I'm sitting on the stoep at our little cabin on the beach and this is exactly what I see from here. I'm sipping a cuppa coffee, breathing in salty, periwinkly air and listening to the waves slap against the rocks beneath me. It is<i> exactly</i> what I needed. My soul cries out to God in praise in this place.
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I can literally breathe here...
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Once Joey and I get our act in gear and decide to get out of our jarmies, we're taking a drive up the mountain, around Cape Point, going to Simonstown, Tokai, Llandudno, Table Mountain, Rhodes Memorial and stopping wherever we feel like it for bites to eat along the way. We might even put on some make-up and go into a mall if we're really energetic.
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Maybe even go and watch Avatar at the flieks.
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Sigh. Heaven.
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Heaven on Earth

2010-01-05T16:30:00.000+02:00

I flew into Cape Town this morning for a few days with one of my bestest buddies ever, Joey. From where I'm seated right now, this is my view... (See pics below... I'm publishing this post from my blackberry and I haven't figured out yet how to move the pics around in my blog post. Hehe!)

While I'm here I'll just be posting pics, not actual words. Seeing as I'm on holiday and all. Enjoy the pics and I'll chat to you again once I'm back home at the Hillbilly Dump on the weekend. Oh, and remind me to tell you how it's going with our Nocturnal Bottledrinking Monster ok?

Toodle dooo!
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Party. Two Weeks. My place...

2010-01-04T22:21:00.000+02:00

...if we survive until then, that is.
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Long story.
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Ah, what the hello. Might as well tell y'all about it. Pull up a chair. This could take a while. See, in addition to being an undisciplined parent, I've also been indulgent. My girlie is now 19 months and 9 days old. And still doesn't eat. As in, has never had a complete meal. Does not, WILL not eat. Refuses.
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She's nothing if not tenacious. Very stubborn this one. Gets that from me.
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So, we've been compensating for the lack of food by allowing her to drink of her bottle whenever she wants it. Because, you know, POOR CHILD! She must be STARVING! Only problem with that is, I've had to get out of bed to make bottles between three and six times per night, every night. For the past 19 months and 9 days.
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Not that I'm counting or anything.
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Needless to say, there's only SO long that you can go without sleep before you land up two or three sandwiches short of a picnic.
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And seriously - have you seen the state of my bags??? Under my eyes, I mean. Beauty Sleep? Ha! The only thing beautiful on me right now is my new pair of jeans. (Woot for holidays with malls nearby!!!)
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Anyhoo. One too many nights of six wake-ups meant I "woke up" (figure of speech, considering) with a serious bee in my bonnet to break the cycle. Sis-in-law recommended a great doc locally who says it like it is. Apparently he's a paediatric surgeon. I could be wrong. Things are a bit fuzzy. But he has a string of letters behind his name, so me thinks he's a big shot.
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A very nice big shot, it turns out. And boy, does he tell it like it is. My kind of doctor. We chatted for a while, he asked a bunch of questions, checked Sugar Booger out, then sat us down for a ~~tongue lashing~~ long chat.
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He says:-

Jesse has a drinking problem! She wakes up so often every night because she needs to have a drink. And she won't go back to sleep without it. Hence, the drinking problem.
Jesse should have been sleeping through the night by the age of six months. (Amen and amen!)
She should have been drinking no more than 400ml of formula daily by the age of one year.
She drinks such a lot because WE allow her to do so. (ouch!)
Therefore she isn't hungry because she's getting adequate nutrition from the formula.
She takes in most of her nutrition nocturnally because that's when we're most likely to put up the least fight. (Sneaky bugger!)
If we don't put a stop to it, she will have us wrapped around her little finger before long. (Hello. Did he read my blog post from the first of Jan?)
She will not learn to speak if she doesn't learn to eat.
She will not eat if we keep giving her a bottle.
She is strong-willed and will fight us for a few weeks.

He instructed us to throw away all of her bottles and formula immediately, so that when we're sleep-deprived and weak and want to give in to her ferocious demands, we won't be able to give in. Clever man.
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He instructed us to buy a bunch of sippy cups and to only give her water or rooibos tea. So we'll basically be starving her of her nutrition to FORCE her to start eating.
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My shattered nerves!
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Thankfully, he has given us a bottle of mooti to help her to sleep through for the next ten nights, just to break the waking habit, and to help us to catch up on some lost ZZZzzzzz's and hopefully be stronger in the daytime when it will require some willpower to say no.
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Tonight is the first night with no bottle.
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Lord have mercy!
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Thank Heavens tomorrow I am absconding to Cape Town for three nights, so it will be Robin's problem while I'm away.
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My hubby is going to deserve an industrial-sized smooch when I return from my galavanting around the Cape! And if we happen to survive the next few weeks without caving and buying copious amounts of formula and new bottles, there just might be a party at my place in two weeks. For the rest of us who might or might not have a drinking problem of our own by then...
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And that's about all that I have to say about that.

Where's the supernanny when you need her?

2010-01-01T18:42:00.000+02:00

I would put her poor behaviour down to staying up late for New Years last night, but we didn't go anywhere, so Jesse was in bed her usual seven pm. So, why, oh WHY she would be throwing hissy fits all day today is simply beyond me. What started out as a lovely outing to the sis-in-law up on the hill, quickly turned into a day of alternating between screaming fits of anger, heartsore sniffles, temper tantrums, throwing her toys accross the room or AT people, more tears and more tantrums.
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And not only from me. Jesse too!
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OK, I am kidding. But seriously, if something doesn't change, I'm going to join in on the madness soon.
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I honestly don't know WHAT to do about correcting Jesse's tantrums anymore. I am tired tired tired of it! Sick and tired of being sick and tired of trying to control the tantrums. I've read the books, implemented plans for dealing with misbehaviour, done my homework, thrown my hands in the air, pretended she was someone else's kid (I'm so bad!), spanked (please no judgement!) , distracted her from her behaviour, gone down to her eyelevel and used my "I'm serious now" voice, I've said no, followed through on "If you do that, then I will have to do this" threats, and am STILL completely out of my depth!
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Someone please tell me that The Terrible Two's sometimes come early! And then leaves early too!
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This little girlie might be pint-sized, but she is strong willed and very passionate about what she wants... And apparently she is WINNING this battle of wits against her exasperated parents.
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Lord have mercy!
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My sister-in-law kindly loaned me a book to read by Jo Frost of Supernanny fame. I have already read lots of it in the hopes of finding a solution to the ~~sullenness~~ silliness... Let's hope we make some progress this year. And before I am completely grey. My hair-dying budget cannot keep up with the number of new grey hairs that are appearing.

Loving the Beach!

2009-12-31T19:50:00.000+02:00

The last of 2009

2009-12-31T17:37:00.000+02:00

I've been trying to think of something profound to blog about for my very last post for 2009. And I just can't seem to think of anything worth being profound about... Which just goes to show that I am indeed ~~shallow~~ on holiday. So I'll just say "Thank Heavens that 2009 is almost over!"
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Most everyone has been saying the same thing all day today, funny enough. Everyone has had a rough year, apparently. So, the general consensus, locally, is that Twenty Ten is going to be totally-otally phenomenally waaaaaayyyy better than two thou and nine. Has to be for South Africans. What with the Fifa World Cup and all.
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I, for one, am not a big fan of soccer, but I'm all for a good party. And lots of happy vibey people sing-songing in the streets, et cetera.
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Which is funny, considering that we are usually the only people we know that don't actually go anywhere or do anything for New Years Eve.
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(Insert sound of crickets chirping.)
(Do crickets chirp?)
(Mmm... suddenly not too certain about that...)
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Anyhoo. I digress.
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In true Hillbilly Form, we have spent the day partying in anticipation of a grand night. At home. Doing nothing.
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And that's exactly the way I like it. I might be a night owl, but I like to spend my night perched at the computer lurking around my fave people's blogs, and facebooking until the cows come home. In peace and quiet. While Jesse sleeps. And then, as the grando finalé-o to my night at home, I watch either Dinner For One or a repeat of The Royal Variety Show. So that I can ogle the Queen ~~and her gorgeous grandson~~.
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But, I always, always, stay up until 12:00. Otherwise it just wouldn't be New Years.
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And that, my dear bloggity friends, is my oh-so-not profound conclusion to an oh-so-exciting year. May Twenty Ten be an awesome one for you and yours. And me and mine.

See you in the New Year!

You're gonna love her too!

2009-12-30T10:03:00.000+02:00

I just made a new BFF and I just know you're so going to love her also. I met her through shabby blogs, my other new fave place on the net. Meet Jessica. I won't be jealous if you like her too. Promise.

Too much cancer!

2009-12-29T21:42:00.000+02:00

A few members of my family have had cancer. Aunts, uncles, and other. Some have won their ongoing battle against it, others didn't. And then, there is someone very dear to us who just recently found out that she has cancer. And the type of cancer that you really don't want to have to get, ever. The kind that grows very fast and is just looking for trouble.
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I would tell you who it is, except, she hasn't really told people in general about it, and I don't want to be the one blabbing. For a change. So, until she makes it common knowledge, I won't be.
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The doctors have told her (after she just had surgery last week to remove the malignant tumor) that she will need to have chemo as well as radium threatments. And this particular chemo coctail will definitely cause her to lose all her hair. She will need treatment for a few months. But, what's really really bothering me, is that we can't find a decent wig for her, in anticipation of the hair loss. Right now she has lots of full, grey curls and soon they will be gone. I hate to think that she will be shy to walk around balding! I'm certain it will bother her, even though she's not talking about it. As if fighting cancer isn't enough - you still have to go and lose all of your hair!
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But surely, with all of the people battling cancer out there, there must be some good wigs to be had? There is a shop somewhere here in Durban that apparently makes good wigs - it's our last stop locally, before we start looking overseas for a good hairdo. Sometimes, living in Africa can be rather challenging.
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What do the "Locks for Love" Foundation do with all of the hair that gets donated annually? Does anyone know where I can find out? I tried the Cansa Foundation, but apparently their wigs are a bit worse for wear...
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*Sigh* This search for some good hair is becoming a really big challenge!

Cape Town, oh, Cape Town, how I love thee!

2009-12-29T10:23:00.000+02:00

One of my best friends, Joey, has treated me to the gift of a lifetime! She has bought me a flight to Cape Town for a few days. Alone! Just meeeeee! And her, waiting for me that side.
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It's difficult to tell you just how excited I am to be going back to my favourite city on the continent, for a few days. Just thinking about the trip conjures up wonderful thoughts of sleeping right through the night, eating a whole entire meal without interruption, reading lazily on the patio overlooking the Atlantic, leisurely strolls through malls ~~without apologizing to shop owners~~... quiet time with my friend, long chats and short naps...
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And four whole days of missing my baby!!! I am absolutely DREADING the missing her. It will be my first trip somewhere without her. I wonder if I will actually be able to enjoy my time there?
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Time will tell. I fly out early next week, and return Friday. And you'll be the first to know.

Sometimes, I forget just how lucky I am!

2009-12-27T22:15:00.001+02:00

I heard the extraordinary story of a man named Matt, the other day. (It may or may not have been on Oprah.) He and his wife were expecting their first little baby. Liz (his wife) gave birth to a gorgeous little girl, whom they named Madeline. Within hours of their little girl being born, Liz experienced complications and died. Matt has undertaken the enormous task of raising their little girl, Madi, on his own and is blogging to keep sane. I am fascinated by his story! What an extraordinary man! Here is his blog. (The occasional swearword does sneak into his blogs. Wear blinkers or don't bother going there to follow his story.)

Want a prettier blog?

2009-12-27T16:08:00.000+02:00

You might have noticed that I've changed the look of my blog a few times in the last couple'a days. Yay! I'm SO loving it. Before, I had to pay someone to do it for me, but ever since I discovered shabby blogs, you can expect a whole lot more changes in the future, because they've made it SO easy to do yourself, and get this, it's FREE!
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I was seriously considering taking all the credit for having a new PRETTY blog look, but then ~~their linky appeared at the top left hand side of my blog page~~ I thought better of it. Being the festive season and all. You know - generosity, sharing, caring, warra warra fish paste and all of that.
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So, if you're blogging and want a whole new look for your bloggyliciousness, hop on over and browse through their freebies. Hello! It's FREE! What are you still doing here?

Always inspect the colour and texture of your stool

2009-12-25T19:26:00.000+02:00

It's all about the prezzies, isn't it?

2009-12-25T13:10:00.000+02:00

So much fun in Aunty Di's house!

Little Jorja Mae (Jesse's cousin) also loved her prezzie from Aunty Di!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T09:25:00.000+02:00

We would have been in Port Elizabeth this December holiday. Plans changed somewhat when my sister and her hubby decided to buy my parents tickets to spend Christmas with them down under. ~~And leave us behind.~~
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Not that I'm bitter or anthing.
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So, this year we're with Dear Hubsband's family again. And the funny thing is - I don't know where I prefer to be... with my family or with his! Let's face it. Very few people can say they LOVE their inlaws. I, on the other hand, LURVE mine.
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You might be tempted to think that I'm laying this on a bit thick, because yes, they read my blog. (Hello Mom! Hello Nonks!) And you might be ~~right~~ ~~wrong~~ ~~right~~...
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But even our friends LOVE my inlaws. And you can ask them if you don't believe me. Our friend Dewald (who absconded South Africa to go and live in North Carolina! Deserter!) even writes my mom-in-law letters. But not us.
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Not that I'm bitter or anything.
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Anyhoo.
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What I was supposed to be blogging about today was that I'm missing my Down Under'ers terribly today. They are eleven hours ahead of us, which makes it almost nine o' clock on Christmas Eve. My family don't do the open-prezzies-on-Christmas-Eve thing. They do the go-to-bed-early-so-that-the-night-passes-quickly-and-we-can-wake-up-to-christmas-morning-sooner thing. So at least I'm not ALREADY missing out on special family time... they're simply too far away for my liking.
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Merry trissmiss to my Down Under'ers. I miss you all terribly.
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And a WONDERFUL Christmas to all my blogging buddies out there!
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Thank you, Jesus, for laying aside Your divinity and coming to our little planet to be born as a little guy in a feeding trough in a stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem, to a little girl who was scoffed at for being knocked up when she wasn't even married and a faithful young man who was ridiculed for standing by her. You are so much more than we deserve and we are so indebted to You!

P.S. Ms J, I promise I'll post some pics soon ok?

My Christmases are so different now!

2009-12-23T18:17:00.000+02:00

We're in Durban again, holidaying with the ~~outlaws~~ inlaws. Which means that I have
(a) Internet access for the next three(ish) weeks! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
(b) Very willing ~~suckers for punishment~~ grandparents itching to look after Jesse so that I can have three minutes to myself! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
(c) Malls, malls and more malls nearby! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
(d) Hubsband on leave to help me watch Jesse! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
(e) Unlimited coffee on tap! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
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Hasn't this year just flown by sooooo fast? Remembering a year ago, my little girl's very first Christmas - she was still so tiny - not even crawling yet. And now, barely a year later, she is an inquisitive marauding monster! A lovable inquisitive marauding monster. But STILL an inquisitive marauding monster. Very little is beyond her reach now. Especially since she's figured out how to move the furniture and create steps to climb up to where she wants to be. Can somebody say "Lord have mercy"?
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Gone are my days of sitting quietly beside her while she plays.
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No siree.
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Now, I barely get to take a few deep unfit breaths before running to catch up with her before she plunders the next "untouchable". Leave alone inspect the state of my grey rooted hair!
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Fun fun fun.
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I cannot comprehend how vastly empty my life would be right now, if it weren't for this little girl. How I just totally adore her! (And yes, you can remind me of that when she's throwing a a very loud, very violent tantrum in the aisles of the Pavillion in the middle of a bunch of impatient last-minute-Christmas-shopping grinches. Please. Not for the feint-hearted, these tantrums!)
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Somebody told me a few years ago that my life would never be the same when Jesus would give me children. How right they were! I wouldn't trade my NOW for my THEN, for anything on this planet! Even when I take stock of my empty wallet, grey hairs and aching bones. It's worth every second.
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How blessed am I?

My beautiful babe

2009-11-29T12:17:00.000+02:00

The beauty of this daughter of mine just blows me away some days. Recently Robin and I spent the weekend

at a resort on the KwaZulu Natal coast, called Salt Rock. What a spectacularly beautiful place it is! I took a few pics of my two fabe people on the planet, and thought I'd share them with you. (I am still without internet at home... can you believe it????? Me neither!)

Some more artsy fartsy stuff in the absence of news...

2009-11-06T13:56:00.000+02:00

This is a portrait sketch that I did for my friends, Dewald and Chantell a few years ago. I've been updating my portfolio and thought I'd share this one with you!

Murals for Lindi's baby room

2009-10-22T15:44:00.001+02:00

My friend, Lindi, is having a baby girl sometime in the first week of November. She asked me to paint a few murals for her baby, Annebelle,'s room. Thought I'd brag a bit! hehe!

Too many goodbyes...

2009-10-22T15:44:00.000+02:00

We had a surprise visit from two of our best friends, Jair and Hanlie, and their gorgeous offspring, Isabella and Joshua, yesterday! They have just packed up their home in Maputo (Mozambique), and are in the process of moving to Bangkok (Thailand) where Jair will be working as a missionary for ADRA (Adventist Disaster Relief Agency).
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They slept the night and just left on their way to Durban a few minutes ago.
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What a bittersweet visit! SO lovely to spend time together again, to laugh and reminisce and wish we (our friendship circle) all lived nearer to each other, instead of scattered across the globe… Aurette and Andrew with their little Ethan now in New Zealand; Dewald and Chantell with little Eli and baby-to-be in North Carolina, Robin and I with Jesse stuck in Africa, here in the Hillbilly South African Bush… and now Jair and Hanlie moving to Bangkok. As if Maputo wasn’t far away enough.
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Baskets.
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This planet of ours is simply too big for my liking.
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Would that Jesus would come already, so that we could all go HOME to Heaven, where there will be no more separation…

Almost All grown up!

2009-10-22T15:42:00.000+02:00

I had to throw away my daughter’s very first toothbrush today. It was quite sad. Momentous, really. Her very first toothbrush. All worn out and very well used.
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But still good enough to keep using, if you asked me.
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Had she not decided that the toilet needed scrubbing, she’d still be using it.
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I had a horrible sentimental moment, hovering over the dirtbin where I actually seriously considered framing it and putting it up on my wall… (a little bit of left-over infertility insecurity, if you ask me!)
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*Sigh*
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Today it’s her first toothbrush in the trash. Tomorrow, who knows? Her first boyfriend?
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Perish the thought!
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If someone discovers a “pause” button on kids growing up, please let me know. Willing to pay lots of hard-earned cash for it.

Scarce!!!

2009-10-18T11:35:00.000+02:00

Oh boy, what can I say? I have missed you all SOOO much... My departure from blogging has been partly due to a sometimes on, sometimes off internet connection and our computer is back at the pc hospital today again being defragged, having viruses destroyed and being reformatted... And partly due to the fact that we've had renovations done at our home and they are still underway... and mostly due to the little monster who keeps climbing onto my lap when I'm seated at the laptop, and has most recently removed (permanently!) our "n" from the keyboard! Which makes for interesting typing, to say the least.

But my hubby keeps nagging me to get back to blogging.

I suspect this is because he is tired of listening me to ramble on and on about everyday things, that I would otherwise be sharing with you all...

So, WHEN I can, I'll be back. Otherwise, when I'm absent, you know it's because of

a) internet

b) computer broken

c) sugar booger distracting me

d) laziness

e) all of the above!

BUT, I just wanted to say - I am SO HAPPY for Jane, my blogging buddy who has just met her daughter, Gabriella, whom she and her hubby have adopted from China. Jane, not a day passes that I don't think of you and send prayers of praise and gratitude Heavenward, on your behalf.

And wishing my friend, Marie-Jeanne a very happy birthday for tomorrow, Monday. How I wish I could be there to dop a few cappuccino's with you at a cobblestoned street cafe somewhere in romantic Brussells.... I MISS YOU!

And, Hanlie, we SO WISH we could meet you in Durban this week to say goodbye before you move to Bangkok!!! We love you and will be praying for you in this ENORMOUS move to the other side of the planet!

Hobnobbing with the larnies

2009-09-15T10:13:00.000+02:00

We are in Johannesburg for two weeks. Robin is doing a painting contract for a good friend of ours. So, we decided to come and visit some good friends of ours who we very seldom see these days.

It is surreal being here. The last time we were here, things were very different for us. We still had more than enough money in our wallets, in those days. We also never had Jesse-Lee yet...

Which may or may not be related.

I'm just saying.

And, man - you never know just how un-baby-safe other people's homes are until you get to stay in their homes and your toddler thinks it's an adventure park. I am going to be EXHAUSTED after these two weeks!!! I am like her shadow, walking around behind her saying "No, Jesse, don't touch!" every three seconds. Poor child! She's going to think "Nojess" is her full name, after this!

But, wow, it is SO GOOD to spend time with one of my very best friends again, after all this time. I have missed her SO much. Tomorrow all our galpals are getting together and taking all our kids to Monte Casino's bird park. Should be fun!

We'll chat some more later. I think my girl is waking from her nap! Here we go again. I'm on duty to protect my friend's treasures from a little monster's fingers!

Some catchup pics from August

2009-09-09T11:14:00.000+02:00

just checking in

2009-09-08T11:00:00.000+02:00

I know you're all going to start calling me a stuck record, but we are still experiencing problems with our internet connection AND our pc... hence the lack of posts lately. I'm quickly saying hello from my friend's home right now. We are still fat and happy here in the Hillbilly Hideout. Jess is running the whole house full and is full of her usual antics! I wish you could all see how cute she is on her feet! Hope you're all still ok? I haven't been able to read ANYONE's blogs for a few weeks - months now. Very uncool Hillbilly-like behaviour, this internet misbehaving.

So wish we could win the lotto and just upgrade to adsl AND a mac.

*sigh*

Viruses of the cyber and poop sort

2009-08-20T14:19:00.000+02:00

Well! What a week we've had. Our computer caught a virus!!!!! *Sob!* I'm blogging from a friend's house quickly. Our computer is currently in quarantine and being detoxed. Very very sad. And as if that was not enough trauma, then there's the incessant banging and welding and scraping and drilling going on at home (what with half our house being roofless right now)... And then it's also been the screeching of our pudding booger who's been simultaneously teething (4 teeth at once!!!) and caught a crazy bug that turned anything that was put into her mouth into projectiles a short while later. No sooner had Jess stop vomiting (after one whole day of constant outfit changing and cleaning and wiping and soothing...) than she started with the "spuitpoep"... (That's jippo guts for those of you who don't understand South African). Needless to say we have a few extra loads of laundry to do this week. And a few photos that need loading for you all to see. And a few extra hours of sleep to catch up on as soon as possible. How you guys co-sleep with your children is BEYOND me!!! Seriously - we had Jess in our bed with us for 3 nights and it was 3 nights too many, if you ask me. Oh well. Thank Heavens, that's over now. Now it's just the runny tummy to get done with.

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Teething. It's not for sissies.

Walking Proper

2009-08-16T09:10:00.000+02:00

Jess is walking! Finally! She has actually been able to walk for a good couple of weeks already, but didn't trust herself to walk without holding onto us somehow. Now, she's getting up and walking a good couple of metres unassisted whenever she gets a bee in her bonnet to do so! I am SO proud of her! She took her first unassisted steps two weeks ago, on Sabbath. What a beautiful little dumpling! I just totally adore her. Even when she's a naughty little bugger.

Walky Talky

2009-07-06T13:30:00.000+02:00

I don't know what all the fuss is about - this walking thing's a breeze! I just PRETEND not to be able to walk properly by myself, so that I get to hold hands with daddy and mommy when I want to explore a bit. And also, my mommy and daddy squeak and squeal when I go walkabout! Very entertaining. If I keep it up, at this rate, they'll still be holding my hands when I walk at 47 years. :o) Hehe. Me thinks that's a plan!