Do blogs ever die?

I suppose this one has come close a few times, yet again I am resurrecting posting after a delay. Apologies to all thos awaiting South Africa pictures, it's been 8 weeks since our return and I haven't even printed any yet, it will happen although I cannot guarantee when.

Since the last post

1) the behemoth that was blocking our hallway has gone, ebayed, although despite 6 people watching the anticipated last 10 minute bidding war never materialised and the runner was bought by a seasoned ebay trader for the princely bargain of just £350, considering it retails at £850 I was a little disappointed, still we now have our hallway back.

2) Chris completed the London Marathon in just over 4 1/2 hours- congratulations

3) I walked on hot coals for charity, whilst it may sound a great event, the torture of 26 miles plus would be far greater

4) My Dad got married on Saturday 12 May some pics above

Alas, we are the pox household too

Poor Jemima and Elspeth are spotty muldoons, waking this morning with the pox.. still better to get it out of the way now before they both start school and bring home some really nasty germs...

Poetry

Thanks to James and Michelle, Josie and Sophie for a fantastic poetry book for my birthday. Poetry at school was always formulaic and frankly boring, whilst the unflappable Mr Wex tried to enthuse us, it just wasn't going to happen... Anyway the book, if you can get your hands on a copy, is Selected Poems of Don Maclennan.

The imagery is fantastic, it's amazing how so few words can say so much. I hadn't before truly appreciated the catharsis of [or in?] poetry, this is a great new experience, re-awakening, reinvigorating an eye opener.

Get it and read it...

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thought provoking...

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Letter in a bottle

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When death takes me

I'll be in no mood to recount

the way I saw things

or work out my account

All I've ever wanted to make -

a few clean statements

on love and death,

things you cannot fake

From here to there and back again

Well here is where I'll [eventually] blog and upload our South African photos and experiences... some notes for me to go on with... pics above, just to prove we were there... penguin at Boulders Beach and Table Mountain

We were welcomed akin to returning family members by our Southern Hemisphere returnees James and Michelle Adlard and their daughters Josie [nearly 4] and Sophie [almost 2]. Their new house is L shaped and boasts large family rooms and a pool. James has designs on some revamping and renovation which will make the home even more comfortable.

Driving and speed cameras...
South African speed cameras are cunningly placed in shade, underneath motorway bridges or behind bushes, and they're painted green, so best to keep to the speed limits [or follow the locals speed as a guide]. Lane discipline, speed restrictions and the majority of drivers in South Africa appear to be strangers... All those hours spent on the x-box or playstation on driving games may come in handy for longer term trips to SA.

Food
M&S exists in South Africa as Woolworths, at least the food is packaged and presented identically save for the name change on all of the packs. In restuarants the food is very reasonable and generally very good [if not the service]. The portions are American-esque and delicious, recommendations - for sea food and sushi "Ocean Basket" for wine [see separate entry] and steak nothing has bettered the delicious steaks that James and I enjoyed at Fairview Estates [www.fairview.co.za].

Wine
Well there is wine aplenty, for those not overseas as a comparison Arniston Bay, which retails at around £4.59 in your local supermarket costs around £1.70 in the local spa. One of the most enjoyable days was spent at Fairview Estates, their wine and cheese were excellent, I was all for driving back for another taster of the wine and food [especially aforementioned steak] but somehow it didn't fit the schedule... still this'll be a place we most definitely head for the next time we visit these shores.

Holiday

South Africa, frankly I cannot ever recall being so excited about a holiday ever!! It's a mad rush to cram the work in and get the files off my desk before 5 pm on Wednesday!! I rarely take 2 weeks, in fact the last time was between jobs so there was not a thought of my desk collapsing due to the work piled on it.... still I guess that thought'll be expelled until about 17th March....

Hot foot

Well I have finally tipped the scale between insanity and sanity [I think]... maybe it was the impending thought of turning 34... Last week I volunteered for a "hazardous" challenge... a fire walk. All in a good cause.... Sheffield Burns Unit... no the charity is a worthwhile one http://www.neurocare.org.uk/ . Who have an objective of raising funds for three 3D brain scanners for Sheffield Hospitals.

Before the present fundraising co-ordinator took over the charity raised about £25,000 per year, these scanners cost £150,000 each!! You can see the mountain ahead...

The firewalk is being organised by http://www.blazefirewalking.com/ who only do this kind of thing, looking at the website I see a glass walk and other things.

The only worrying element is that I MUST attend the seminar beforehand... oh, yes the seminar title... "Learn or Burn"....

sponsor me please..... contact me to pledge

When I grow up

The other day Elspeth restated her desire to be an astronaut, she wants to go to space and do experiments [?] We have emailed NASA to see what they require of their astronauts [without response as yet]. On her way back to earth from space, Elspeth wants to go diving and climbing and parachute jumping... perhaps another adrenaline junkie... Space flight must be the ultimate adrenaline kick.... Elspeth can tell me when she's older and driving me around in her red sports car.

Testing times

Jemima and Elspeth are testing their parents as only infants and babies can. Elspeth's new word appears to be "No" and it appears that she is attempting to break the world record for the most recitations in a small time span... annoying - I should say so!

Jemima is a crawling scaling machine, anything and everything within 15 inches of ground level is fair game, we never needed cupboard guards or stair gates with Elspeth, although I'm sure that she thought she could scale stairs, root around in cupboards and base jump of beds and tables she never tried once she was told once in a stern but friendly tone "No". Elspeth was content to sit or shuffle around on her bottom chatting to herself or playing with her toys.... ummm maybe "No" is coming back to haunt me.

Jemima, seeming to have not a care for her own personal safety, keeps trying - personally I thing she's an adrenaline junkie. When told by either myself or Sarah "No", she simply turns and smiles at us and then shakes her head... occasionally supplementing the head shake blowing a raspberry.