September 29th 2009 A time for reflection

On an upbeat note, I found this picture of water polo and have to admit that its more like my idea [and Little's] of playing water polo!

As we approach the end of September, I remember that this time last year we were in guest house accommodation, we were living out of suitcases, [our possessions would take another 6 weeks to arrive].

Our house was in a state of "mid renovation" and Little had not yet had his first experience of South African schooling.

A year on and we are settled into the farm house with our possessions around us. Little is mostly settled at school,we have another dog ..The very naughty Bongo..[who is now looking very different from the sorry little scrap who arrived on the 22nd December]

Bongo at 11 months old

Jessie,Tommy and Finn have more than survived the year, Bee has survived and so have Big Little and I. Plenty of reasons to feel grateful. However I am feeling somewhat reflective so please excuse the miserable last post.

For the past three weeks we have had an extra member in our household, a young man of 22 from Holland: Sebastian. He was sent to us by Edwin's father, for a period of three months. Ostensibly, to experience a different culture and being "handy", it was suggested that he would be happy to tile the two guest bathrooms on the new end of the farm, which have remained in "limbo" following the cessation of work. He had lost his job in Holland

A gentle young man,and a guy that I rather liked, but someone who felt he could not hack life here in the desert. So he left us yesterday, after only three weeks, hoping for better fortune and the more clement conditions of Cape Town.

The arrival of a pool table and Party time.

Yesterday, before we left the house for Kak on the weekly shop, I put my bread maker into action to prepare dough for rolls, as we had planned to braii with our neighbours Villam and Gerda [who live across the road] and their two sons.

When we returned a new toy had arrived and the braai room was being re designed by Bossy...A pool table. At precisely this moment, Gerda arrived to ask if I needed anything for the braai and that I did know that her sister brother in law and two boys would also be joining us..I said "of Course"...and then set the bread machine into action again for more dough to make more rolls!

Well in true SA style they arrived with a cool box full of booze and every intention of hitting the night in a big way.

Pool was the game of choice for the evening..what a surprise... and the various championships continued until late into the night and small wee hours! I had NEVER played pool until last night..and it showed!!

I am feeling slightly "overhung" this am, and woke to the sobering sight of the freezer having gone into melt down in the scullery. In order to understand the nature of the problem, it has meant turning out the entirety of my larder cupboards and taking bottom plinths out. Why oh why did I have one glass too many last night?

My poor little sister has done her back in again..and when I caught a fleeting glimpse of her on Skype last night..she looked in great pain and very worried. She has an MRI on Thursday...FINGERS CROSSED TAZZY!!!!!!!!