Sunny skies make a welcome change today. I’ve done all our washing today, so that’s nice. I hate dirty laundry hanging around all over the place, heaping up and acting all irritating. Lol.

It looks like my mom and I won’t be going to Jo’burg anymore on Sunday. Part of me is glad about this, as now I will be able to attend Zander’s baptism, and also Christopher’s 3-D scan, if my slot hasn’t been filled already by someone else. I’m also glad because I was worried that my mom might strain her shoulder by driving so far. Her shoulder isn’t 100% right yet, and though she drives short distances, I was worried about the effect a long trip might have on it. So it might be best if we don’t go. Looks like I’ll just have to go to England sometime to meet my cuz!
I have to go to Jo’burg on Tuesday anyway, to see my neurologist. Maybe we could stop by and see my grandparents then.

I was planning on not voting in the elections tomorrow. Didn’t really feel like standing in the queues. Don’t know if I’m able to stand in the queues for that matter. My SIL mentioned that disabled people and pregnant woman get to go to the front of the line. But I still didn’t feel like it.
My mom gave me a pep-talk about it this morning though. About how a lot of people aren’t bothering to vote, and how we need to give some opposition, as the government is only as strong as it’s opposition. I didn’t think of it that way. She also mentioned how some women had to fight really hard to get us the vote in the first place. By then I felt pretty ashamed. I’m not very politically-aware. And that’s not something to be proud of. So I’ll be going along to do my duty and vote in tomorrow’s elections, along with other patriotic citizens.

I’m not feeling that great from all the rubbish I’ve been eating. It’s starting to catch up with me. Not anything specific, mind, just a general feeling of malaise. I ate better yesterday, though, and today so far. Gotta draw the line somewhere, I guess.

Rainy days and Mondays. Check and check.

I am very slightly short-tempered today. Past few days actually. Don’t know what’s up. Could be the oldest reason in the book. Or it could be a detox thing. All that sugar and rubbish that I ate is busy off-loading, and that is what is making me a bit crabby and headachy. Still, it’s not too bad. Totally worth the dietary debauchery that was the weekend. Just hope that Michael agrees with me, lol.

It’s still raining. Softly and continuously. I’d be really happy about this if it wasn’t for the dirty laundry piling up at an alarming rate. Every silver lining has its cloud.
I love the smell of rain. That washed-earth smell that wafts in through the open window. Heavenly. If only it didn’t make me crave pancakes so much. Mmmm, I seem to have food on the brain way too much again. I’d better watch myself.

I’ve just constructed quite a fearsome to-do list for myself to complete before Michael gets home. Best that I get started on it…

Reflective Sunday.

Today was a really nice, restful Sunday. It rained on and off the whole day, and was quite chilly. Michael didn’t play golf, and we spent the day just hanging out and watching tv and eating junk-food. Positively idyllic!

My parents-in-law celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary today. Good for them, I say. They invited us over for pizza to celebrate (including the foccacia siciliana which I love). That was nice. We had a great visit. There was also some beer-tasting going on. My dad-in-law went to a special home-brew style beer-tasting event, and brought home some samples for the rest of us to taste. The others seemed to enjoy it. I simply cannot stomach beer, never could, so I didn’t have any. I used to love sipping the foam off my dad’s beer when I was a little girl, but I think I did it just because he let me. Can’t think that I liked the taste, even then.

My head-wound is lots better today.

Song playing: Twilight Time, by the Platters. Makes me think of when Mike and I were dating.

Funnily enough, I never call Michael ‘Mike’. And he never calls me ‘Maggs’ though all my friends do. Weird. But we do have a lot of pet names for each other, so I guess it’s all okay.

Update on my naughty iliac joint: it’s doing loads better. The improvement has been too slow to notice day to day, but when I took stock properly today, I realized I had much to be grateful for. I don’t have any pain anymore, and very little discomfort, even at night. I’m sleeping properly again. I’m just not quite as limber as I used to be yet. But I’ll sure that will come right, too. I’m very happy and grateful for this.

Also, I’m improving greatly in other areas of my health. My walking is going along fantastic. I never thought I’d ever be able to walk like this again. And it’s just improving every day. Still wobbly when I’m tired, though. The other day, I went into our fave Italian restaurant to collect our takeaway pizzas. The owner looked at me kinda askance, and spoke to me a bit weird, only perking up when Michael came in, too. I realized afterward that he probably thought I was drunk or something. I don’t actually care what he (or anybody else) thinks. But it did make me a little self-conscious. Still, I don’t have it in me to be offended, because I REALLY like their pizzas.

So we had the pizzas for lunch, followed by a slice of lemon-meringue pie. Followed by a slice (or three?) of banana-bread. Supper was ham and tomato toasts, with hash-browns and chips. And yoghurt and chocolate for dessert. Yip, we really went for it. And you know what? It was great, lol. What else are Sundays for, if not to totally annihilate your diet? Back on the wagon tomorrow, however.

I’m going to stay in bed sinfully late tomorrow morning and read book. I must say, we may not be absolutely rolling in the dough, but I have a pretty decadent lifestyle. I truly have everything I want, and more. One thing I’m looking forward to, and which should be in my reach soon, at this rate of recovery is riding my bicycle. I’ve missed being able to exercise. Plus it will be fun for M and I to ride together again. We used to love it.

And finally, the whole baby-issue: I did some self-analysis and realized that my life would not be incomplete without a child. I would love one, but I don’t need one to fill a void in my life. Definitely not. Fortunately, Michael feels the same way. We’re enjoying our lifestyle, and each other. Personally, I do see children in the future. If I were a betting woman, I would say that we’ll probably end up having one or two. Which will be great. But not necessary for our total and complete happiness. I guess time will tell, but we are deliriously happy, and that’s not about to change over a hypothetical issue. To reproduce, or not to reproduce, that is the question, as it were.Well, maybe we will and maybe we won’t. Que sera, whatever will be, etc.

Pain!

Eeeeuw! The grasshopper is still there. I must remember to ask Michael to take it away before I step on it.

I had such a lovely morning with Taryn, my niece. We watched The Parent Trap, did some beading, made a banana-bread and read a story. She’s such a sparky little thing. Then, when her parents came to fetch her, I gave Aiden (Ta’s baby sister) her birthday present, a little Winnie-the-pooh hand puppet. Aiden gave me the most beautiful smile. It totally melted my heart. I have to learn how to change a nappy so that she can visit here too. Can you believe I’ve gotten to the ripe old age of 26 without ever changing a nappy? Shameful, shocking, I know. Best I learn soon, so that I can have Aiden, and her sister Reilly (due in July) over. And Sonja’s Christopher, when he comes. And Zander.

I had a premonition that I was going to get hurt today. Thought I might fall down the stairs, so I was really careful. Then, when I was lifting something out of my bottom kitchen, I stood up and gashed my head open on the upper cupboard door, which was standing open. I fell down, and saw stars for a moment. It was seriously painful, worse than when I had my dental surgery. Can’t really see it, due to my hair, and the thick blood clot it’s formed, but it’s rather alarmingly painful. Can’t go near it. I think it’s quite deep. I’m worried about it going bad, so I’ll have to brave it, and jab some antiseptic on. Ouch!

Update. (for want of a better title).

Just found a grasshoppery/ mantis thingy lying on the carpet, dead, surrounded by ants. Yuck. I nearly stood on it with my bare feet. I’m not squeamish, but I really hate grasshoppers. They freak me out a bit. Now I’ll have to clean it up, before I do step on it.

Thinking of my sister, Karina, who has to fly to Australia tomorrow at 5am. She hates flying.

I had a lovely day yesterday. I visited with a very special friend. We had tea, and were chatting so non-stop that we barely had time to eat our cake. We’ll have to visit again soon, as we didn’t even get close to sharing all our news.

I’m attempting a 24 hour fast today. It’s not as bad as it sounds, a lot of the fast is taking up by the night. Basically, you eat breakfast, and then skip two meals, only eating again at breakfast the following day. It is supposed to be a time of cleansing and revitalization for the body. I hope I can hold out. I tried on Wednesday, and stupidly went shopping with Michael. So I ended up eating some toast with tomato on, and then I completely lost it, and ate a whole, big Easter egg mostly by myself. I felt quite grossed out afterwards. Anyway, hope it goes better today.

We went looking at cars now, as M had an early lunch. The model we fancy wasn’t there, but they did have the sedan version in. It’s a pretty nice car! M is quite keen on the more sporty, two-door version. I really don’t want a two-door, though. I have a two-door car, and I don’t think it’s suited as a family car, even if it’s only a two-person family like ours. We’re already compromising on boot-space with the hatch-back, we can’t still sacrifice two of the doors. To me, it’s the type of car a single person drives. Michael said I can choose the colour when we do buy it. So far, I’m rather liking the Sunset Red option. But we’ll see.

I’m going to Jo’ies with my mom for a bit of a family reunion. I’m finally going to get to meet my cousin, Timothy. We’ve been corresponding for the last couple of years via e-mail, but I have no recollection of having actually met him, ever.

But now I’m going to miss Mel’s Zander being baptized, and I’m going to miss Sonja’s 3-D scan of Christopher. I hardly ever go anywhere, and when I do, it clashes with everything else! It never rains, but it pours!

But I really want to go, because I haven’t seen my grandparents in ages, have never met my cousin, and haven’t seen Annie’s new place yet, where we will be staying. Can’t miss that.

Had a chat with my dad over the weekend, and it turns out that four out of his five kids have family names. I never even realized that. My brother Hein was named after our grandfather. That I knew. Annie and I were named after the two grandmothers, although Annie did get an anglicized version our Afrikaans granny’s name. What I didn’t realize was that Karina was also named after that granny. Her name is a contraction of grandmother’s second name, Katerina. Only Sonja got her name just because they thought it was a nice name, and for no other reason. I thought that was quite fascinating.

My other brother, on my mom's side, also got his name purely becasue it is a nice name, as far as I know.

I hate being uncharitable about the rain, but I really hope it doesn't. The thunder is threatening, and I've just hung out my washing!

Today was a pretty productive day, so far. The lady who cleans for me came today (she comes every Tuesday now) and I did so many things that I’ve been meaning to do for ages. Washed the curtains and bedding in the spare-room, so it’s looking all spruce.
I also had the maintenance crew of the flats we live in over, and they fixed a leak in our toilet and one in the geyser. I’ve procrastinated for ages about this, so it feels good.

I watched bits and pieces of a lovely little 60’s movie this morning. It was one of my very favourite films as a girl: The Parent Trap, starring Hayley Mills in a double role. It’s absolutely charming. I’ve been looking for it for years, and now it was kind enough to show on TV.

I have a new favourite pizza. Damn! Lol It’s actually more a pizza bread, a Foccacia Siciliana, it’s called. Pizza base, with thinly sliced potato on and herbs. Quite garlicky, too, but not overkill. Wouldn’t mind one right now, but I guess I better ration myself to one a week. Seeing as I’m trying to stick to the straight and narrow again, diet-wise.

Great Weekend

What a truly ‘kick-ass’ weekend!

Annie was here, and her and my mom and I had a fab time. Annie was very taken with my deluxe Gary Larson set. We spent hours reading them and giggling and having a good old time.

Had a great visit with Karina and Sonja too in the week. Aren’t sisters just great. I’m so glad I have three. I genuinely wouldn’t have minded more, in fact. Sonja is looking gloriously pregnant and beautiful as always, and Karina looks petite and gorgeous and so happy. She and her family may be emigrating to Australia. Great for them, as they would get citizenship after two years, but we would only see them every two years. Not nice.

Michael did very well in his cycle-race on Sunday. He maintained an average speed of 31.1 km/ph and anyone who knows anything about cycling will know that is pretty good. Him and I are in negotiations over our new car that we want to buy in August. He has his heart set on the top of the range Polo, 2l diesel injection. I have my heart set on the lower premium of the Kia Serato. Still, it’s fun looking around and talking it over, and August is still plenty far away.

I finally got shot (pardon the pun) of my pistol. Handed it in at my parents local police station, and got such good service there. No problems whatsoever. Unlike some other stations I could mention! Anyway, I’m glad it’s out of my life.

I’ve been playing the piano all weekend, and having such a fantastic time. I feel like a genie has granted me three wishes in my life, and that is one of them. I can play again. I forgot what a wonderful, calming effect playing the piano has on me. Puts in another world. A very happy place.
My sister surprised us by playing a it of Beethoven’s The Tempest, which is one of our (my mom, sis and I) all time favourites. I was longing with all my heart that it could be me playing, but I thought I still lack the sensitivity in my fingers. But I gave it a try, and it didn’t go bad at all. In fact, it went quite amazingly well. Only prob is that she took the sheet-music back to Jo’burg with her. She’s bringing me my own copy when she comes down again, though.
I’m so looking forward to working on my repertoire a bit. I want to have at least 20 songs that I can play well

I have a special project that I’m working on. I guess you could call it financial at its root, but it’s also for my own personal satisfaction. I won’t say anything more about it though until it’s successful, as I don’t want to jinx it. I’m enjoying it quite a lot.

Stunning week, isn’t it?

I'm back.

Hi y'all

It's so good to be back on the blog-circuit! I was only gone for a week, but it felt like several light-years. It's good to be back in civilisation, lol.

Our modem got zapped! See, there was a good reason for my absence. I wasn't just skiving off!

Thankfully, Melany was kind enough to give us her old pre-adsl modem to use. Thanks Mel. (BTW the connection is brilliant now. M reloaded the software, and it's going like a boeing.)
Speaking of which, we had such a nice visit at their house tonight. Only left at 10pm. Time sure flies when you're having fun.

Much as I am loathe to, I'll have to go to bed now. I'm going to visit my parents for the weekend, and M is dropping me off tomorrow morning before work. Which means I'll have to get up at 6:30 if I want to wash my hair and pack some stuff. Apart from the getting up early part, I can't wait. My baba sister will be arriving there tomorrow, too. It's gonna be a kick-ass weekend.

I've had a really nice week. Joint pain is as good as gone, and I've spent the whole week laughing my ass off at Gary Larson. That guy just cracks me up every time.

Nightiw-night then.

I'll do a proper update on Sunday/Monday night, depending on when I get back.

Toodles,

The Bunny

Lazing on a Sunday afternoon

I just realised this past week that I am happier than I have ever been before in my life. I don’t know if it’s because I’m focusing more on the positive, or what, but something is really working for me.

I am especially full of gratitude today because the pain is my SI joint is so greatly improved. I’m not about to do a somersault, it still has a way to go before that, lol, but last night for the first time I could really sleep comfortably again. There’s a lot to be said for that.

Michael and I are having the epitome of a lazy Sunday. We’re going to go to town now to look for some coffee tables, and some Lindt Lindor chocolates that they keep advertising on tv. They look highly decadent. Much too decadent for an ordinary weekday, only suitable for a Sunday!

Just got back from town. No Lindors available in the supermarket. Plenty of Lindt, but no Lindor specifically. Guess we’ll have to wait. Actually it’s a good thing. I’m always on the look-out for an excuse to eat rubbish. It has to stop sometime, lol.
I’m very impressed with my own self. M and I went to a clothing shop, where I walked all around it (and it’s a big shop) on my own. Then we went to the hypermarket where I navigated the trolley (for support, of course) I feel a bit wobble and tired now, but I surpassed my own expectations by lightyears! I’m already feeling recovered as I sit here and type. I was feeling a bit like Lurch, from The Addams Family, but fortunately it has passed.

Who would’ve thought pumpkin-seed bread could taste good. I bought some at the supermarket and it was quite delish. It’s made of rye flour, so less gluten, and it’s also low-fat and high in fibre. Can’t be bad. I had some of it, toasted, with marmite, tomato slices and freshly-ground black-pepper on.
Speaking of Freshly-Ground, am I ever crazy about the new SA group by the same name. Their chart-topping song’s chorus goes, Doo-bie, Doo-bie, Doo-bie, Doo – ye-ah. No idea what it’s actually called though. Local is indeed lekker, as the saying goes. Sometimes, I just feel very glad that I was born in Africa. Nobody can call us boring, that’s for sure.
My littlest niece, Aiden, turns one year old this coming week. She is so sweet. I want to take her some chocolate cake that she can rub all over her face, like one year-olds do best! And I’ll definitely invest more money in the wrapping of the gift than the gift itself, because duh! That’s the best part when you’re that age.

Revenge plot

The little sh*ts next door left the fire to smoulder for half the night. They didn't even have the decency to put it out when they went to bed, given that it was right under our window. I think they are blissfully oblivious to the bad vibes that are floating over to them from No. 7 (us). They just haven't thought that far ahead, that we might not be altogether happy about plumes of smoke swirling around our heads while we try to sleep. I mean, who's that petty, anyway.

I know this may be a tad unreasonable of me, but I just think there are certain concessions that have to be made when people are living in such close proximity to each other. Is it too much to want fresh, untainted air at night? Or any other time, for that matter. Fresh air is on its way to becoming a commodity.

I unearthed my harmonica from where it was languishing in a drawer, and gave it a good workout. I'm busy learning to play Nat King Cole's When I fall in Love, which I have been singing all week anyhow.
So next time our neighbours think they're going to talk all sorts of crap outside our window at midnight while we're trying sleep, I'll whip out my harmonica and give them a tune or two. That should dampen their enthusiam somewhat. And if we get evicted because of that, it'll just be an added bonus. I'm tired of hearing their whiny little voices swearing and blaspheming away at the dead of night!

Of course, I'll never actually do that. I don't want open war declared, after all, and there are the other poor neighbours to consider. I think a carefully worded letter will have to suffice. Nothing threatening, just asking politely that they remember they are, in fact, living in a flat, and not a ranch or farm where the nearest neighbours are a half a day's ride away. So please!

Oh, and as if all this wasn't enough, this morning they obviously didn't like their own flat smelling like a tar-pit either, so they emptied what smelt like 5 cans of toilet spray out in it. It wasn't long before it came wafting into our window with a vengeance. The pair of them were hacking and coughing away, pretty much like us last night. But now that is what I call self-inflicted.

Where there's smoke...

Michael and I are very reluctant to move out of our home, but the new neighbours are really very trying. There are extremely young, and extremely social. They like entertaining over weekends. Right outside our bedroom window.
Tonight, they lit a fire, for the purpose of cooking their meat, I presume, but it's been burning for over three hours, and they've only now put the meat on. Our whole house is filled with smoke, even though we have the windows closed. Our clothes smell of smoke, our curtains, our sheets, pillow-cases, everything. My nostrils are burning, my throat is burning, it's just plain awful. And what can I do? Sweet bugger-all. Except move, that is. I'm tired of this obsession with braai-ing. Doesn't anyone know how to cook anymore? Or order a bloody pizza. Anything. Just stop this incessant and endless braai-ing. I feel like a wild animal that is being smoked out of its lair. Is it just me? Or do other people actually like having everything they own smell of smoke? No man, this can't be right.

10 Feb. Great date, isn't it?

What a gorgeous, gorgeous day! We wanted to do something special. Michael's suggestion, of course, was that we go to the golf course. I actually went along with this because, a) I'd be riding on a golf-cart, and I find it quite tranquil on the golf-course, and b) I couldn't come up with a better suggestion myself. What I wanted to do was sit and read Gary Larson all day long, but that would have been a bit anti-social on our anniversary, ha ha.
The golf was quite nice, I like sharing Michael's passion for it, and it was interesting to see the river that runs alongside the course as it is full almost to overflowing.
After the golf, we went and ate out at a very elegant restaurant which we haven't patronised before. The food was pretty good. I had a Crêpe Marnara (seafood pancake) which I thought was quite adventurous of me.
We spent the whole day eating rich food, but what else is an anniversary for.
We told each other loads of times what a good 5 years it's been, and what a good wife/husband we are.

The afternoon was spent with family. We took our godson to the park to practise his golf-swing, and then had ice-creams with my parents-in-law and nephews.
We also visited for a while at Mel & Tommie. Shame, my wish for Melany is that she gets some sleep tonight. Poor little Zander is feeling ill, so not much sleep is going on. He is looking so cute, he's gained quite a bit of weight, and doesn't looks so incredibly tiny anymore.

All in all, a very good day.

Surprise!

Today was a special day. I received probably one of the best surprises of my life. It was almost as good (and definitely as unexpected) as a surprise party!
My (lovely!) parents-in-law bought me…wait for it…The Complete Works of Gary Larson, which I have been coveting since I learnt of its existence.
I was completely bowled over by this. And almost shy at a gift of such grandeur. But not quite, lol.
I can’t believe Michael kept this secret, as he knew about it.
We went to visit, on the pretext of viewing my MIL’s new bicycle. So Michael went ahead of me, and told his mom, “The book’s a bicycle, the book’s a bicycle!”
So when I asked, “So where’s the new bike?’ she said, “Right this way.”
I had no idea whatsoever what the gift was. It looked intriguing enough, but I couldn’t figure it out. Eventually, Michael lifted it out for me, and I can’t describe the emotions that went through me when I realized what it was.
It’s a two-book box-set, and collector’s edition. Leather-bound, with glossy, illustrated pages. No doubt as to what I’m going to be doing for the next couple of weeks.
I didn’t have a clue something was up. We even went into the office earlier in the day, where the parcel was lying on the table, and I absently ran my hand over it. Little did I know.
Sometimes life is just so worth living, and it is the people in it that make it so.
I’m acting a bit hyper now, from all the excitement, I guess, lol.
Thank you so much, Mom & Dad. What is even more special than the gift itself, is the thought behind it.

It’s just gone midnight and it is now myself and Michael’s 5th wedding anniversary. We’re going to bed now (to sleep!) but have a fun day planned for tomorrow, which may or may not include a round of golf, weather permitting. These have been the best 5 years of my life, and I say so even though I was ill for a large part of them. They’ve just been a great experience.
Looking back, I knew pretty much jack-sh*t when I was 20, but there was one thing that I really got right. And that was saying ‘yes’ when Michael asked me to marry him. It was by far the smartest couple of seconds of my life. I love Michael for his intelligence, his sense of humour and wit, his strength of character, compassion, and even for occasionally being a dumb-ass. His blue-eyes and sexy butt, don’t hurt, either.
After meeting Michael, my sister said to me, “I can’t believe you found someone just like you!”.
And it’s true, we’re really on the same wave-length. We share a (warped) sense of humour, and ‘get’ each other’s jokes. I never thought it could get this good.
I love you, Michael. Don’t ever change.

Sweets for my sweet

My mom sent a box of marshmallow Easter Eggs back home with Annie, and told her that every time she eats one, she must remember that it is a little kiss from her mother. I thought that was so sweet.
So I spoke to Annie on the phone yesterday, and it turns out that one of the eggs was a lucky golden egg. She is now entered into the draw for R25 000. I do so hope that she wins it.
Interestingly enough, the government is trying to eradicate the word ‘Easter’ from all these products, as it is specific to one religion. So how the chocolate companies etc. get around this, is by calling the eggs “Feaster Time’, instead of Easter Time. I thought that was quite clever, if a bit scaly, lol.

I got a phone call from Taryn yesterday, much to me delight. She called to tell me that she got 25 out of 25 in her first ever mathematics test. That is one clever little girl. She was one of only a couple of kids that scored 100%. I’m so proud of her.

My dad will be swimming the Midmar Mile this weekend, which is the largest timed, open-water swimming-event in the world. I hope he enjoys it. My sister and family will be coming to visit from Mali, as her girls are also participating in the race. Can’t wait to see them.
M and I are finally going to hand in my firearm. Yay! As in now. I’m just waiting for him to come home for lunch and then we’re going. That’ll be one less thing to worry about.

Issues are such a waste of time, lol.

My niece, Clarize, looks like Liz Hurley must’ve looked when she was that age.
My nephew, Douglas, looks like Haley Joel Osment, as he looked in AI.
My SIL, Natalie, looks like a cross between Keri Russel (of Felicity fame) and Natalie Portman.
And my SIL, Melany has a look of Madeleine Stowe about her. She reminds me of another actress though, but I just can’t put my finger on who it might be.

When we visited at my in-laws during lunch, Michael and the little boys were fooling around on the wheel-chair. I felt just a little shocked at this cavalier treatment of something that was my only mode of transport not so long ago, and is a universal symbol of handicapped people. But then I told myself to lighten up, they were only having some fun, not desecrating a sacred artifact. I live in fear of taking myself too seriously. I mean really. It’s just that some uncomfortable memories arose for me, and I found it quite disturbing to see my Michael sitting in a wheel-chair.
But other than that, I have to admit that a wheel-chair can be enormous fun. When we were in Pretoria, I actually jay-walked in it. Michael pushes a wheel-chair the same way he drives a car. Let’s just say it was a wild-ride.
Now that I’ve dealt with the emotions, though, I know that it won’t bother me again. I actually find it quite cute now. The little ones call it their ‘taxi’. In a way, it’s good. People shouldn’t be afraid of wheel-chairs, or people in wheel-chairs, like it might be catching. In fact, people should be taught how to handle them at school.

There is a movie showing on M-Net tonight that really piqued my interest when I read about it in the guide. It stars Richard Gere, and goes about a manic depressive guy who falls in love with his therapist. It looks good. Can’t remember the name though. It’ll show at half past eleven, at which time I’ll probably be fired up on all cylinders because of how late I slept this morning.

Monday, monday.

I thought of some more for my celebrity-family game:

My cousin, Andréa, looks like a young Brooke Shields.
My SIL, Jannette, looks a bit like local soapie actress, Elma Postma (Dezi, in 7de Laan). She also has a look of Reese Witherspoon about her.
Her daughter, Taryn, is the spitting image of Dakota Fanning.
My BIL, Jannie, looks like John Travolta.

I am enjoying this. Give it a try, and see if you can match your nearest and dearest to cream of Hollywood.

My hip is quite sore again today. But quite bearable though.

In the process of having yet another fabulous day. I really do like my life.

Oh yes...

And what made the weekend even more special, was that I received a letter in the post from a long lost school-friend. I was so fond of her back then, and it was so lovely to hear from her again. We haven't been in contact for years. I have her e-mail address now, so can write her a long mail.

Then I also received a phone-call from a friend that I haven't heard from in ages. We used to work together, and got along really well. It was such a nice surprise when I answered my phone.

And then I'd like to apologise for the myriad spelling errors in my posts lately. It's just such a schlep to go back and correct then that I tend to let it slide if the meaning is still vaguely discernable.

Winner Weekend!

Wow, totally delightful weekend.

• Had a great visit with my sis. Really nice seeing her again. M is going to do a cycle race in Jo'ies soon, and we might be going to stay with them for the night. I haven't seen herplace yet, so that will be really nice.
• Had a great visit with my other sister too. She is looking (and acting) adorably pregnant I even felt her baby move. Little Christopher really seems part of the family already.
• We had such a lovely family lunch today. Afterwards my dad and I reminisced about the fun times we had when the old farm dam was still standing. We used to braai (BBQ) there almost every Sunday. It was great.
• I want to watch Out of Africa tonight. I've never seen it before, and I do enjoy Robert Redford in his heyday. Butch Cassidy et al.
• The clouds were so beautiful on our way home. After I went through a phase of not being able to see hardly oast my own nose, and then having my eye-sight recover, I just love looking at clouds. I never really noticed them before, and I now they have me transfixed. It reminds me of that Joni Mitchell song: Both Sides Now, except it's the other way round with her. She loved clouds as a child, and then became disillusioned with them.
• I'm so excited by a brand new week. So much to do.
• My Illiac joint is miles better. I was worried there for a while, but it looks like it will make a complete recover, slowly but suurely.

I'm playing a fun new game with myself, figuring out which of my family members look like which film-stars.

• So far, I've decided that my mom looks like a young Julie Andrews, or otherwise Kristin Scott-Thomas as she looked in the Horse Whisperer.
• My dad looks like Sean Connery, especially the eye-brows.
• Michael looks an awful lot like Ben Affleck sometimes.
• Sonja looks a lot like Penelope Cruz.
• Annie looks a bit like Jennifer Garner.
• My dad-in-law, looks like Richard Gere. Quite a lot, actually.
• My mom-in-law looked just like Rita Hayworth in photo's I've seen of her when she was younger. Or maybe Judy Garland.
• Karina looks just like a brunette version of Drew Barrymore.

That's all I've thought of so far. It'll be fun matching up the rest, including myself. I've always though I had a Meg Ryan-ey look to me, but that's just my opinion.

• I was supposed to do my detoxifying fast today, but was defeated by Sunday lunch at my folks'. Bad idea to do it on a Sunday, in retrospect. I should do it mid-week when I've got nothing better to eat, lol.
• So I had some of a cheese-loaf, some Gino Ginelli ice-cream and a mini-Bar-one. But so what? I enjoyed it. Anyway, I had a lovely fruit salad for breakfast, and a glass of carrot juice for brunch, so they day wasn't a total dietary train-smash. And tomorrow is another day. At least I don't have to worry about losing weight at this rate.
• Want to go and buy me a mascara tomorrow. Haven't used mascara in months, but now I'm interested in looking half-way decent again. Can't use my old one though, because I have this recurring light eye-infection, and I keep re-infecting myself with the mascara.
• Also have to finally hand in my fire-arm. That'll be a load off my shoulders. I can't see myself using it. I'd rather keep a nice can of mace handy.
• Oh, and I saved the best for last. I can totally play the piano again. How fab is that? It's been years and years, and now I can again. I found my old sheet music. Can't wait to refresh my repertoire.
• I can't believe how blessed I am.

Progress

I realised today that I am much less paranoid than I used to be. Also the borderline compulsive obsessiveness is gone. I didn't notice it going, but it's gone all the same.
I'm not afraid of things that I used to be scared of anymore. I'm still careful, I mean this is South Africa, but I don't worry so much about things that could happen. I imagine myself and our home/ car etc. wrapped in a protective golden bubble through which no harm can come. I can't describe it, but it just makes me feel good.

I'm not young enough to know everything. Who said that?

I was up at 7:28 (gasp) courtesy of the deodrant-spraying, chain-smoking brats next door. My only question is this: If they hate the smell of the cigarettes so much that they have to empty out half a can of deodrant (or is it toilet-spray?) to disguise it, then why do it in the fist place??
And unfortunately, poor souls like me who happen to hate both smells, do not have any rights whatsoever where this is concerned. I can't march over there and demand that they stop polluting the air in their own yard. Especially as this seems to be one of the most popular and legal of human activities. I am getting tired of living on top of other people, where only the luck of the draw separates one from people who should rather be living in a student commune.

On a more cheerful note, I've been singing the following all morning. (Well, all of the half an hour of my enforced verticalness, that is).

I've got music. I've got rhythym. Who could ask for anything more? - Gershwin.

I wonder what're the chances that they've finished their little spree, and têtê-a-têtê outside my bedroom window, so I can venture into my bed and grab another hour's kip? I hear their little high-pitched voices in the vicinity of the garage. I hope this signals an imminent departure!

The door to the spare-room, which I am currently occupying, seems to have slipped on its hinges, thus barring my exit. Which is bad news, as the trusty bladder is fired up, and a visit to the loo becomes increasingly necessary.

Fortunately, I managed to open it a wee bit (nearly literally, lol) and managed to squeeze out. Out the door, that is :-) Relief!

I take it back...

The new neighbours are not an improvement after all. They are pretty young, and had a fairly rowdy party last night, well into the wee hours. There were a lot of school-kids present, congregated outside out bedroom at twelve am, swearing (loudly) like troupers. Not my ideal lullabye!

Friday

• What is the opposite of 'blues'? Like 'Monday blues'. How would you one describe Fridays? Friday Reds? Friday Pinks? Friday Purples? Food for thought indeed.
• I reflected on my shampoo this morning while washing my hair. I use a cheap brand, Colgate Apple, because the smell doesn't bother me. I remember reading years ago that Liz Hurley said she uses the cheapest shampoo she can find, because the cheaper it is, the less chemicals it's had crammed into it. And it's so true. Expensive brands like Finesse, Organics, etc. really bother me. I don't want to be in the same room as myself after using them.
• Annie come to visit for the weekend. It was so great seeing her. We're going to have one fabulous weekend.
• Found out that my beloved bath-crystal is possible made of aluminium. Bauxite, they call it, but that's a major source of Al. Maybe that explains the shocking levels of Aluminium found in my bloodtests. Anyway, I've stopped using it.
• New neighbours are a big improvement, except for the fact that they stand under our bedroom window in the early morning and smoke. I'm like a magnet for cigarette smoke; it just comes straight through the window looking for me. Not the way I like to wake up, thank you very much.
• Almost no pain in back/hips/knees today. I could get used to this, lol.
• Just listened to Nat King Cole's When I fall in Love. He just had the smoothest voice of all the crooners, I think. I also listened to Elvis' Can't help falling in love with you. I love that song.
• Had such a nice visit at my in-laws this avie. There was an idling truck gassing me out. They seem to be developing the property right next to us, but the level of oxygen versus carbon monoxide in our flat was getting dangerously low. So my darling mom-in-law came to fetch me, and I stayed there for the rest of the afternoon. I gave Quintus a music lesson. He is getting on very well. He sat with me and chatted for ages. We had such a good time. I should really make it a weekly thing.
• Tomorrow I'm going to visit my parents. Two of my sisters will be there. Yay!
• Roger Whittaker's Green, green grass of home is pretty stunning, too.

Yummy!

I feel so blessed. Still, that is.
My ‘traveling pain’ as I’ve called it, finally seems to be abating. It’s not totally gone, but it is so much better that it’s hardly comparable. Life is just extra good lately.

We had a stunning lunch, courtesy of Michael’s parents. Though I must say, I’m so fond of them that I hardly think of them as in-laws anymore. Just ‘our’ parents, like everything else that M and I share. Same with my parents. We’re pretty lucky to have four parents. Anyway, our favourite restaurant closed down, much to everyone’s disappointment. So we went to another one. Also outdoorsy, at the local nursery. I haven’t been there for ages, because it’s a real trek from the parking-lot, through the nursery, till you get to the actual restaurant. But I was able to walk in and out of there, no problem. Some small steps for everyone else, but a giant leap for Maggie, lol.
I had a delicious omelette, and shared a Fudge Picasso for dessert with M. Yum and yum! (And Michael’s pretty yum himself, too).

The letter that I wrote our local newspaper about the fantastic service at the hospital that I went to, was published in today’s copy. I’m glad. Good service should be acknowledged.

Finished the book. Lovely. Even shed a little tear. ;-)

I’m so fond of all the people in my life. They’re all so nice to me. If you have your health, your basic needs (and maybe an extravagance here and there) are catered for, and you’re surrounded by people you love, I don’t see how much better life can get. And if it took a four-year long bout of ms to teach me that, then it was worth it.

G'day!

I’m actually on rations with the phone again, lol. Went a bit overboard earlier in the month.

I’m nearly finished reading Cathy Kelly’s Always and Forever. For some reason, I battled to get into the book, but now I’m enjoying it so thoroughly that I don’t want it to end.

King Arthur is showing on tv this morning. I want to watch it, as I do love the Arthurian legends, but there are just so many other things I want to do this morning. I think I should tape it and watch it over the weekend, when there is always a crap selection of tv.

We went to visit Mel and family last night. I hardly ever take the walker with me when I go out anymore. Michael holds my hand to steady me, and I’m fine. But when we got there, Quintus took this in and immediately came to meet us at the door and took hold of my other hand. I gave his little hand a squeeze, I do love that boy a lot. He is so perceptive it amazes me.
Then I also got to hold Zander for the first time. I will never volunteer to hold a tiny baby, but if someone does put him in my arms, I am instantly smitten, and totally enchanted. I did enjoy that. Michael also got a chance, but handed him back pretty pronto when he looked like he wanted to cry.
It was a lovely visit.

My parents-in-law are giving us a lounge-suit that presently resides in their office. It is really pretty, exactly what we would have chosen ourselves. Michael has been complaining for ages that he wants a set with a higher back so that he can actually rest his neck on it while watching tv. Like he says, the world is not made for tall people.

I read the most amazing story in my favourite magazine (which M brought home to surprise me with) about a woman without any legs who is expecting her second child. Her eldest is now six, and twice as tall as his mom. But what struck me most, apart from her immense courage, was the beautiful love story between her and her husband. They initially got to know each other over the phone and when they met, he immediately went down on his knees so that they were eye-level with each other. He said that he didn’t see a woman without legs, but a beautiful brunette that he had already fallen in love with over the phone. It’s probably one of the most truly romantic stories that I’ve heard.

What's new pussycat?

I looked around our little house/ flat today, and at our little garden, and was struck by how pretty it is. Michael and I have been gearing up to move, because of the stairs, but I suddenly realized that I really don’t want to. It is just the right size for us, so cozy. We spoke today about what a disruption it is to move, and how it can take weeks to settle down again. So I think we’ll stay put for now.

Made a bit of a pig of myself over the banana-bread. Some things never change, lol.

I read an article today about a ‘new’ disorder called Orthorexia Nervosa (not to be confused with Anorexia). It happens when people become so obsessed with eating healthily that they actually do themselves damage. They eat exclusively from health-food shops, and become obsessed with eating, to the extent that they plan meals up to a week in advance (even I was never that bad). They eat so strictly that they don’t get all the nutrients they need, and lose way too much weight. But it is never about losing weight for them, only to eat healthily.
For a scary moment, I thought that I may have had this disorder, but as I read on, I realized that I definitely didn’t. One thing I made sure of, and that was that I was informed about what I needed to be eating. These girls that suffer from Orthorexia, tend to completely cut out fats and carbs, which I never did. I always kept up my ‘good’ fat intake, and fortunately I absolutely adore brown rice and potatoes, so carbs weren’t a problem.
Still, I was pretty obsessed by the whole thing. It’s amazing how sometimes you lose sight of the big picture.
Personally, I like old Hippocrates’ maxim: Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food. I really do believe in the power of putting decent food in your mouth.