pregnancy week by week

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Feeling better

Well I finally seem to be getting over that cold that was plaguing me last week. Thank fork! It was really getting me down and I pray I don't get ill AGAIN this winter. Only problem is I seem to have passed my germs on to Rudi. He is *not* impressed. I said to him 'What did you expect me to do? Move out while I'm sick?' I mean really. It's inevitable that we're going to pass germs on to each other!

The weekend was uneventful. I spent most of it in bed nursing my cold with rest. I was also on leave yesterday which I spent doing as little as possible. I watched quite a few episodes of NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigation Services). Very cool programme. I've watched almost 3 seasons.

I did receive my Body Thrills products in the mail on Friday (finally). Stupid post office had delayed it as they were unsure of the contents (apparently they wondered whether they were flammable). I received what I had ordered, but apparently I had forgotten about a lot of what I had ordered and was pleasantly surprised at my loot. Rudi even dipped into my Chocolate Pudding lip balm - so unlike him!

I wish I could change my blog theme to purple, but there doesn't seem to be anything that I like in the template section. I don't think I should fiddle with the HTML! There are a few small changes coming up on my blog VERY soon...so do come back and check. You won't be sorry :)

Friday, 26 June 2009

Lent For Liam - Reminder

It's the end of the month and pay day for most...so don't forget about Lent for Liam!

R100 is all it takes!

Bank details:

LJ Cadger
Standard Bank
Branch: Norwood
Account Number: 006867480

Reference: Your Name / E-mail

Paypal Reference: ljcadger@gmail.com

I've contributed this month, will you?

Other than that I'm really frustrated with the cold I have right now. Thank goodness it's not like it was last month, but not being able to breathe through my nose is KILLING ME. It's the MOST irritating thing. Breathing through my mouth just makes my throat sore and my mouth dry. I would really appreciate a break from being sick. Just as my cough started going away *this* happens. Lovely sneezes and a PILE of tissues in the bin speak volumes about how I am feeling. I stayed off work yesterday, but I came in today. I wasn't going to pay a doctor R300.00 to book me off for one day. If I'm not better by Monday I'll go.

After two days the skin below my nose was raw, sore, flaky, red and SORE (I know I said that twice). A colleague at work let me use some of her Zam-Buk (not sure if you get this outside of South Africa). The stuff is awesome. I've never bought it before, but went to get a pot the same day. It relieves the pain and keeps the skin hydrated and healthy. It can also be used as lip balm (although it's very minty and I don't think I want to find out how it tastes), for insect bites, mild burns and Angel even told me she uses it for her heels! Magic stuff!

While I'm pimping products, ExMi is having a special for TODAY ONLY. Order now! I'm going to check if my last order arrived after work. Can't wait!

I've got the all time worst customer waiting to be called back in my name (his query was assigned to me). I decided to leave him till after lunch. He is infamous in our portfolio and all the way to our billing department. He tries to find flaws in our system where there are none. Last time he called he spoke to Leebeesa and threatened to sue us. I wish he would. I wish he would piss out his money on legal fees when he doesn't have a leg to stand on. I HATE dealing with irates. Yes. I'm a wuss. I just know he is going to shout at me/ask me questions I can't argue/be a prick. It's what we all prepare ourselves for when he complains.

I'm off this weekend, thankfully, but I'll be working next weekend :(

Hope everyone has a good one!

Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Kak day

Ugh. Working in that crappy portfolio again today. When I am I just feel like saying FML. I positively hate it and have had more than one person shout at me today already. SO frustrating. I would much rather just work in my own portfolio, but we take turns serving our time in this one. It's my turn.

To top it off I'm sick. For the past few days I've had a cold and I feel yucky. The worst part for me is the blocked nose. It KILLS me. I can't stand not being able to breathe properly. I'm coping quite well without medication. Last month when I was sick I spent R2000.00 on doctor's appointments and medication. I can't afford to deplete my medical aid anymore, especially if I get pregnant this year I will need what I have left. Poor Rudi hasn't even been considered into the equation.

He said the sweetest thing yesterday. They were talking about 'The Golden Ratio' on Oprah last night and how they measured the proportions of celebrities faces to calculate their ratio. The highest scoring celebrity was Brad Pitt, he scored over 9. Angelina Jolie scored between 7 and 8. I thought aloud and said 'I wonder what mine would be' and he turned around without missing a beat and said '9.9'. LOL. Sweet of him. Obviously not true, but sweet. Nobody has ever scored a perfect 10. I suppose he took that into consideration when he bestowed his compliment.

Ugh. I better get done with the work I have to do for today. FML.

Monday, 22 June 2009

Exhausted

I am exhausted, tired beyond belief. My last 12 consecutive days of work has completely messed me up. I could hardly lift myself out of bed this morning. I rested all weekend. We only went out on Friday night and we were in bed by 11. I feel like a zombie. I need some leave, but don’t want to waste leave.

Isn’t leave intended for those who need a break though? I’ve put in leave for next Monday. I’m working next weekend so with leave on Monday I’ll be working 11 consecutive days instead of 12. Not sure if that will help much.

I’ve pleaded with my team that we change our weekend roster so that we don’t work so many consecutive days, but changing this will mean working weekends more often so they kick against it. Also there are rumours of shifts coming back into our environment, so their latest argument was that we should continue to work this way to get as many weekends off as possible.

I see their point. I really do…but I don’t know if I can keep it up. Management has nothing to do with the way our weekends are scheduled and I suppose they shouldn’t turn a blind eye…but this is what my team has decided and I used to be able to do it. I must be getting OLD.

I’m going to bed at 7 tonight. Crap. I can’t. Survivor is on. Sherbet.

Sunday, 21 June 2009

The Spider

*shudder*

The weekend has been quite chilled out. On Friday we went to a colleague's birthday and I had quite a good time. Even dared the dance floor with no drinks in me! I could hardly believe it!

The entire Saturday was spent vegging. It was just what I needed. Today Rudi joined me for church (a rare treat) and we spent lunch at his parents house to celebrate Father's Day.

We were chilling on the couch this evening. I had just woken up from a nap, just in time to catch Friday's episode of 7de Laan which I had missed when Rudi asked me to leave the room with him. I resisted as I was trying to watch TV and enjoying some chocolate, but he persisted and he led me out of the room by my hand. Cool as a cucumber. Once out of the lounge he told me there was a huge spider against the wall. Not believing him I went to have a look and this is what I saw:




If you enlarge the first picture you will see the reflection of the flash in the spider's eye.

Rudi and I are both terrified of spiders. I was standing squealing and Rudi was trying to calm me, not knowing what to do. I called Bradley, thinking 'he's a manly man', but his advice was to spray it with bug spray and smack it with a shoe once it moved. I didn't want to do that. Then I remembered my grandfather often caught rain spiders where they live and they don't live too far away. I gave him a call and he said he'd be right over.

He caught it in a jar within seconds and has taken it home to release in their garden. My hero!

Here are some more pics I took, some with a tea light candle for perspective. My grandfather says it's still a baby. I don't want to know where daddy and mommy are.






To quote a funny and informative article about rain spiders from IOL:

"...plunge households into turmoil through arguments over who is going to remove them, reducing strapping alpha males into Tupperware-clutching wrecks."

I think I need a shower to wash the creep off me. *shudder*

Friday, 19 June 2009

My Evil Mother - Needs to go!

*deep breath* I could kill My Evil Mother, although, I shouldn't say that on my blog...just in case I do.

My uncle was put on short time a little while ago (due to the economy I guess) and very recently my aunt lost the little work from home job she had that gave her a little income each month. No doubt because My Evil Mother kept on phoning out all the airtime her boss put on her phone so she could do telemarketing and make appointments for him to see prospective clients.

My uncle was paid a very small amount this week and it doesn't look like they'll have enough money for petrol, food and the water account. My grandmother asked me to help, but I don't think that would be condusive to getting My Evil Mother out of there. I do not want to see them go hungry (which they very well might), but if you give them anything, she will get her grubby paws on it. She has said she doesn't mind not having food since she doesn't eat much. Selfish bitch. *ahem* Excuse me.

She is working at the moment, for minimum wage, but a job none the less. She hasn't given them any money for the past three weeks (and very little before that, she's been living there for over a year, her husband with her at a stage and they have given less than R1000 in all that time) and has said she was short paid. In the meantime she is making appointments to have her legs waxed.

I'm hoping that she will leave as the grass is no longer green where she is, or that they will finally have the resolve to kick her out on her ass. They seem to think she's going to 'be out on the street'. Are they STUPID? This women is so very cunning and manipulative she'll show up at YOUR door and talk you into letting her stay.

*sigh*

Wednesday, 17 June 2009

How do I motivate my man?

Here's the thing, if I have nothing good to blog about, I'm not going to blog. That's not saying I think that I usually blog about interesting things, but I like to think I have something to say when I blog.

If you are bored, be assured I am working on a very long blog entry which I will post early next month. If saying that means you'll only come back early next month to check...then so be it!

Rudi is really frustrated at work. His boss isn't nice to work for. He gets shouted and sworn at nearly daily, gets asked to work late often and doesn't get paid overtime. He is at a disadvantage though. He works for a small company that doesn't necessarily play by the rules. He didn't finish high school (even though I tried to encourage him repeatedly) and he is an able bodied white male which puts him last on the list to be employed in South Africa (of course taking into account the fact that he doesn't have any qualifications). So he is really stuck. He has spoken of getting his code 14 drivers license so he could perhaps drive trucks, but he keeps putting off making the appointment. When I bring it up or try to encourage him he automatically switches to the defensive and inevitably we get into a fight. I just don't know how to approach it and seem like I am encouraging him rather than 'talking down' to him (which I honestly try not to do!) I understand it is a sensitive topic for a man, but it's difficult to be supportive when I don't see him making any effort to do something to get out of the situation he is in. I suppose I would have felt despondant and demotivated if I were him. Perhaps I wouldn't have had the courage to finish school either. I really wish his parents would have been more strict and forced him to finish school at the very least.

Anyway. Enough of that. Stay tuned for that post next month. I promise you're not going to want to miss it!

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

Lent For Liam - Paypal

The Paypal account for Lent for Liam has been set up. I've never used Paypal so I'm not sure how it works, but the e-mail address supplied was ljcadger@gmail.com and the site is of course https://www.paypal.com/za.

I've been a bad blogger. I know. I've just been SO busy working. They're now measuring our efficiency (read: productivity) per hour so trying to blog takes a chunk out of your hour and you're called in and questioned as to why you attended to less queries in that particular hour. I know. Ridiculous. It was so bad on Friday we had to tell Jubba when we were going to pee. It's worse than being in school!

Needless to say it has been frustrating! Yesterday I was supposed to be at work at 7AM. I only opened my eyes at 7AM. Working the entire weekend and again today (which is a public holiday in South Africa) has left me tired and grumpy! Also, every day I go in there is a chance I'll be sent over to that portfolio I hate as they constantly need bailing out and our team seems to be the ones constantly doing it. Every day they calculate how many people we need (based on how many queries we can handle per hour and how many queries there are ready to be dealt with) and then take the rest of the staff and move them over to that portfolio.

Perhaps I should explain why I don't like working in this portfolio. Basically the customers are different to the ones we deal with in our portfolio, often they spend large amounts of money with the company and thus have a sense of entitlement. More often than not the feedback we have to give these customers is not favourable and they end up crapping all over you. They also start asking really technical questions and since my colleagues and I don't work with these queries every day, sometimes we have to make things up, or ask the customer to hold while we ask someone else. Sounding incompetent much? I can't really explain the full extent of it without perhaps revealing more than I should about The Company, so I'll leave it at that.

I was dreading have to work alone in my portfolio today. I thought I would be stuck there all bloody day. Surprisingly it didn't take all day. I left just before 1PM. Awesome!

Right now I feel like I could really do with a nap, but I'll probably just lie under the covers and watch NCIS. The sun is out, but it's still chilly. I'm not fooled by the winter sun...Rudi has gone off to visit Lindor...so I think some NCIS will be a good way to pass the time.

Thursday, 11 June 2009

*YAWN*

In the past few days I have considered starting a separate blog, but have put the idea to bed. I can barely cope with regularly blogging here...I couldn't cope with two. I could perhaps write a guest entry on another blog, but not a daily blog as the second one would be. How on earth does Angel manage her 3 blogs?! So I've decided to keep it at just one blog.

My working weekend is this weekend, plus I'm working the public holiday (alone!) next week. So I'll probably be stuck at work all day on Tuesday :( SUCK. Rudi was rubbing his hands together at the prospect of the overtime I'll be earning...but I'm TIRED. Dammit!

I feel like I need a break...yes I know we were just away...but I dream of being a lady of leisure. Wouldn't that be nice?

By the way...I didn't gain any weight this week. Completely slipped my mind to mention it.

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

Lent for Liam (2)

I have made my first contribution for Lent for Liam this morning. A colleague of mine has pledged to contribute R200.00 per month.

I received the following e-mail from Liam's mom this morning:

Dear friends - Thank you for your comments and pledges of support on my blog... and Meriel's vision.

Banking details for Lent for Liam is now functional, adminstered by our resident accountant, Melany.

LJ Cadger
Standard Bank
Branch: Norwood
Account Number: 006867480

Reference: Your Name / E-mail

**NB* we are setting up a paypal account **NB***

Thank you.... millions.

Love
me


I will post the details of the Paypal account as soon as I have them. Please take the time to read the Lent For Liam post and open your heart to these wonderful people.

Tuesday, 09 June 2009

No Survivor?

[rant] I'm majorly peeved at SABC3 for not having any Survivor on last night! It's the highlight of my Monday evenings and they took it away from me! What for? Cricket! Look, I have no problem with cricket, but it wasn't even as if South Africa was playing! It was Sri Lanka against Australia if I'm not mistaken. Not interested. There should be no reason to take Survivor off TV. Ever. [/rant]

Anyway...I have lots of work to do, so I best not be farting around. I found my grandfather's birthday present, but had to make sure he could use it. He wanted a pair of headphones that he could use to watch TV while my grandmother sleeps (he sleeps very little usually), but he has an ancient TV which doesn't even have fittings for headphones!

I figured out though that he can play the TV through the auxillary and plug the headphones in there. I saw a really nice cordless pair at Game for R400.00. He's going to love it!

Monday, 08 June 2009

Lent for Liam

Hello,

On Saturday 55 whales beached in the small village of Kommetjie in Cape Town. Around 2 000 people came down to the beach in the cold winters day. Some people came in wetsuits to swim them out, some brought tea and sandwiches for the rescuers. Everyone who was there wanted to help. They wanted to play a part, to make a difference. It gave us hope in humanity to see that people can pull together.

We have an opportunity to pull together for Liam……… they are easy-peasy and there is something for everyone.

We all read Wenchy’s blog. We feel like we know her and we feel like we know her kids. They now need us to be the village that pulls together for them. They need us to come down with what we have and say “here I am use me”.

Liam needs to go to a specialised school next year. Aside from the waiting lists and the paperwork Wenchy is completely stressed out about the money. But we have figured out a plan for her.

1. Supermom, an accountant to manage the money.

2. They will then open up an account for Liam’s school fund.

3. The clever account person will sort out how to use Paypal to get foreign money transfers (or we will ask Tertia SO CLOSE)

4. We are using R100 notes to build Liam’s future.

a. Project Sushi

For me R100 is a plate of sushi. I am going to give up one plate of sushi a month and sign up a debit order of R100 into the fund. That’s R1 200 into the fund for the year.

I will find 5 friends to join me 5 x R1 200 = R6 000

Their R6 000 + my R1 200 = R7 200

We are looking for 5 of you brave souls who love sushi (but Liam more) to do this too – we will have R36 000 in one year.

b. Project Thanksgiving

We need 10 hostesses to do our traditional Thanksgiving parties.

You all know Wenchy has this tradition of Thanksgiving so use her past posts as inspiration.

You get to plan whatever party you like, invite your own friends and ask them each to bring R10 with their thanksgiving wish. 10 friends x R10 = R100

We are looking for 10 brave hostesses to take up this challenge – we will have another R1 000.

c. Project Mistletoe

When you get your Christmas bonus – please donate R100.

We are looking for 10 carol-singers to do this – we will have another R1 000 in the fund.

d. Plan Blog

If you have a blog – please tell your readers about this.

We are looking for 10 bloggers to do this. Hands up please.

Boom that’s R38 000 for Liam’s education fund – and that’s just the first year.

………..we are going to poke the recession in the eye. What better birthday gift could we give to Wenchy.

Thanks

Meriel

“Lent for Liam” can be found on FaceBook

—*—

I have no words to thank you…. You are an angel Meriel.

We have never met, yet you reached out to me and Liam to provide him with the best care going forward. The list feels overwhelmed at time… but your generosity of spirit alone has touched me incredibly deeply.

Liam has ADHD, suffers from extreme anxiety, panic attacks and is on medication for depression, concentration an anti-psychotic as he has bouts of hallucinations. A learning disability has also been diagnosed.

He is currently in a main stream environment where he is not coping and required remedial assistance on a weekly basis (as that is all I can provide at the moment), there is a professional who acts as Liam’s “scribe” since he cannot articulate the information he knows into writing, an education psychologist meets with Liam weekly and he attend a psychiatric hospital monthy to oversee his medication…. all which I struggle to provide with limited resources.

I’m petrified for Liam going to High School because there is no way he would remotely cope emotionally, academically or socially. Remedial care has been suggested by more than one professional caring for Liam.

I found a government school which will be able to help with Liam’s needs… I’m getting all the (many) forms filled in, doctors recommendations etc to make application to the school, although I’ve been told there is a long waiting list… and private education is just totally over anything I could ever manage on my own… so I am making application and hoping they will accept him.

I really have no words. Thank you isn’t enough.

Liam’s Mom.

Sunday, 07 June 2009

My Sucky Weekend

On Friday night we went to my grandparents to have some soup. Whenever they want us to visit my grandfather phones with promises of soup. He knows food lures Rudi...and well I don't really need luring. I'm blogging from home since I anticipate work is going to suck again tomorrow. Every day they take at least half our team to help out that portfolio I hate, saying we're 'overstaffed'. Meanwhile, this just puts more pressure on us to work harder and I feel like we're working at a pace we cannot maintain without burning out.

On Saturday we drove all the way to Somerset West to have a braai with Lindor. It was his 41st birthday. Of course I was bored out of my mind the ENTIRE time and more than annoyed. I didn't really want to go in the first place...but again didn't want to be the bad guy. Of course everyone else got shitfaced and I stayed sober since it was a very long drive home on a road riddled with roadworks.

The whole day Rudi was threatening to throw people in the pool. Predictably, he got shoved into the pool. With his phone in his pocket. I was SO freaking angry! Such an expensive childish prank! PLUS all his clothes were drenched and it's not like he brought extra clothes with him. He couldn't understand why I was mad at him. If he had kept his trap shut, nobody would have considered throwing anyone in the pool, it is winter after all! Needless to say his phone is completely screwed. It also turns out he sold the spare phone he had. So now he has NO phone. No way for me to contact him. No way for him to contact me and tell me whether he will be on time or late to pick me up at work. In my panic to get his battery out of his phone (the first thing you should do if your phone falls into water) I walked into a thatch lapa. The specific corner of the thatch has chicken wire over it and I now have a lovely gash in my forehead. It's not huge, but it's there and very obvious. I was asked a million times today what happened to my head. Rudi thinks I'm completely irrational...whereas I feel I have good reason to be completely annoyed! To crown it all we got lost on the way home. I HATE being lost. I never drive out that way so I had no idea where we were and Rudi was very much so 'under the weather' so he wasn't of much help. He directed us to Gordon's Bay...luckily I picked it up before we got all the way there. So my Saturday sucked crack.

Next weekend will also suck crack since I'm working the entire weekend. Then I'm working alone on the public holiday on the 16th of June. No chance of getting out of work early like in the good old days.

Today wasn't too bad. Rudi went with me to church (a miracle in itself) and we had lunch with his parents after. A relaxed day all in all. I can't believe I had to go to work again tomorrow...and the day after that and the next 10 days after that. Farg.

Wednesday, 03 June 2009

Body Thrills

Ok. So I'm going to pimp some product. Because I must!

Remember I referred to an order I was excited about? I ordered Body Thrills for myself, Rudi and Nellie. I had to keep it hush hush since I was only seeing Nellie last weekend and didn't want to ruin the surprise. Here is what I ordered:



See details of my order here.

I've just place another order and I'm SO excited to receive it. I also bought some gifts for my cousin who will be coming home from London at the end of July. Yay! These are AWESOME gifts. ExMi doesn't use any soap or any additives. Her products are all natural, not tested on animals and LOVELY! I had much trouble deciding what I wanted for my first order, but not so much with the second.

I can highly recommend the Chocolate Pudding shower gel. It literally smells like you are covering your body in chocolate. What can be more decadent than that?! The Jasmine, Rose and Ylang Ylang bath tea that I bought for Nellie smelled DIVINE! We didn't have a bath while we were away, so I didn't get to try it and I prefer to shower at home.

I've ordered some more Chocolate Pudding shower gel for myself, plus some new products I'd like to try like Chocolate Pudding Body Polish (like an exfoliating body scrub). She also has Bedroom Thrills...

If you're interested, you can e-mail her at expensivemistakescheapthrills@gmail.com. She'll send you the latest product and price list.
You can view previously completed orders (including mine) at http://www.exmi.posterous.com.
International and local orders welcome!

My Evil Mother and Grandfather updates

So. Great news! My grandfather's colon is cancer free. He is so elated by this news that he is even considering another round of chemo instead of the operation on his liver. The chemo will make him very ill, but he feels he will still be able to work when he is having chemo whereas he will be off work for a full month if he has the operation to remove the cancer from his liver. He'll be seeing a specialist in about a week to discuss his options and take things from there.

I took them out to dinner last night to celebrate his health, their 47 year wedding anniversary, his birthday (which is on the 13th of June) and to thank him for looking after Amber while we were away. We had a nice quiet dinner. It was lovely.

My Evil Mother is up to her old tricks. Her husband let it slip that my aunt could afford to 'lose her pension' as she works from home. Just goes to show what they must have been scheming about. My aunt's pension, which she worked hard for. My Evil Mother is still living with my aunt and uncle, although her husband was kicked out after one too many drunken tantrums at all hours of the morning. She tried to get him back in with promises of money (seeing as how they don't pay rent or contribute in any way) and some luxury food items. Luckily, for once, my uncle stood firm and kept by his decision. My Evil Mother has been hell to live with ever since. Rudi could not believe the way My Evil Mother spoke to my uncle in his own house. If My Evil Mother is really that desperate to be with her husband, then she should go and stay with him and his mother. My Evil Mother has told us horror stories of how his mother is evil and how she is an alcoholic. I think the actual story is that she is much more demanding about incoming contributions and them pulling their weight than my aunt and uncle are.

My Evil Mother *loves* throwing our religion/beliefs in our faces. She'll often say things like 'God doesn't sleep' - she seems totally oblivious to the fact that the same applies to her. Sometimes it's funny, but for people like my grandfather and my uncle who both hold ministries within the church the guilt trip she takes them along for is often effective. Last Wednesday in church she went as far as to keep her communion wafer and to shove it in my uncle's hand after church saying 'You need it more than I do'. I cracked up when I heard this. I'm actually quite sure my uncle - who was giving her a lift home from church at the time, the selfish bastard - might have cracked up also. He has a good sense of humour. My grandparents on the other hand, didn't think it was funny.

It is beyond me that My Evil Mother is still a free woman. The amount of fraud she has committed...and I'm only aware of a portion of it...must be substantial. Her ethics have always come in to question where she was employed. Just recently she went to work for a company. She had been there for less than a week and was given the company credit card to buy coffee, tea and a few other office supplies. She ended up spending R2500.00 and buying clothes and shoes for her husband. WHO DOES THAT?!

Did I ever tell you that she faked her suicide once because I refused to draw R500.00 and 'lend' it to her? This was before my eyes opened to her ways and I was in a total panic. I even phoned the police. She came home with a total BS story that didn't even make sense about how she had parked her car on the side of one of the national roads and put a pipe from the exhaust into the window (nothing blocking the open gaps in the window to prevent ventilation - DUH), she also claimed the pipe and everything were already in the car. Some 'valiant' man pulled over, took her to hospital and paid the bill apparently. What a load of bull.

Anyway...

I'm working in another portfolio today. I hate this portfolio. More often than not the feedback I have to give customers is negative and they usually get angry. It's not a nice way to spend a day. I'm the only one in my team who hasn't had a turn yet, so by default I have to go over today. Suck!

Tuesday, 02 June 2009

+1kg

Eina. Gained one. I'm not surprised as we ate (and drank) well the weekend. Trying to face my water today, if nothing else!

No time to blog. Work is a load of crap. I'm hating it. They're implementing all sorts of new rules and stuff. Basically making us work harder and justifying it by saying we've been working at this pace for a while now. Out of desperation! Idiots.

Will have to start writing my blog from home it seems.

Monday, 01 June 2009

Trip to George

I know I have been really bad at blogging...my apologies!

Wednesday and Thursday were really busy and stressful at work. I barely get a moment to go to the loo, nevermind write a blog entry. I've considered writing my blog at home, saving my entry and just posting at work. It will save me on data bundles and ensure that I blog regularly. Pffft. I wonder when work is going to get better. They have extended the product from hell for yet another month. It's caused so many problems I don't know how they could even have considered it. I suppose the engineers and bookkeepers are not the ones constantly mopping up the mess and dealing with angry customers...so why should they worry?

Anyway...On Friday we left for our much anticipated trip to George. Initially we were planning to leave around 10am, but thought better of it and left around 9:15 following a breakfast at McDonalds. We arrived at about 2PM. Finally meeting Nellie and her family was emotional! It was amazing to finally be able to realize all those virtual hugs we'd shared.



We made a trip back into a place called Heather Park to do shopping for the weekend. After buying what looked like monthly groceries we headed back to our log cabin to get the evening started. We had decided long before the time that we were going to have a braai (BBQ) so at around 6PM the boys set about making a fire and we set about drinking.



Just as the (bon)fire was really on the go it started pouring down with rain! We started considering trying to cook our meat on the fireplace inside. After getting a fire going inside though, the rain stopped and the skies seemed to clear. Our men were not deterred and decided to salvage the fire outside. The ladies decided to continue drinking. Nellie and I managed to drain 3 bottles of red wine, a bottle of sherry, a bottle of Amarula and a couple of shots of Sambuca. We were on a station to say the least! We managed to eat at around 10PM and played a game of 30 seconds which was never meant to be completed...as Rudi and I were ahead we took the first title of the weekend and went to bed around 1AM.

Unfortunately Nellie had forgotten to take her sugar medication...that combined with the drinking we done made her very ill, so she didn't have a very good night. We all woke up feeling terribly hung over and had a chilled out Saturday. Baby Daniel is *such* a good baby. He sleeps so well and is generally just a happy child. Most of the weekend you couldn't even tell we had a six week old baby with us!



Goliath went about the surrounding area collecting bags full of pine cones to keep the fire going inside. It was FREEZING in George all weekend, but we noted that there was some snow on the mountains there already so it wasn't very surprising. I think the inside fireplace saved our asses!



We had bacon, eggs, fried mushrooms and onions for breakfast (courtesy of Rudi) every morning. On Saturday afteroon Nellie made us her famous alfredo. We all enjoyed it very much and decided to have a nap after.

When we woke up Rudi started the pot (potjiekos) and we were looking at photos from Nellie's wedding, honeymoon and the birth of baby Daniel. After eating we decided to play 30 seconds again. Nellie and I on a team were UNSTOPPABLE! The guys had barely moved from the start line and we had won! It's the fastest game I've ever played. Nellie and I are *so* on the same wavelength I would challenge anyone to try and beat us! So we switched teams again and I played with Goliath while Nellie and Rudi played together. It was a much closer game, but Goliath and I took the title. Before we knew it...it was 1AM again. As we had to get up early to pack and we didn't want to waste any time the next morning we decided to hit the sack.

We got up as early as possible the next morning and started packing and organizing everything. Rudi got to making breakfast, which we enjoyed with some champagne to celebrate the weekend and our friendship.

Parting is such sweet sorrow. I bawled my eyes out when we had to leave. It was horrible having to say goodbye, not knowing when we'll see them again. We cut the goodbye as short as possible to avoid getting even more emotional. So with wet cheeks and heavy hearts we departed...

It took us 5 and a half hours to get home. Getting home wasn't as nice as it usually is. We easily could have spent more time with Nellie, Goliath and Daniel. Poor Nellie still had family waiting for them back in Port Elizabeth who had decided to come from Cape Town to surprise them and come see baby Daniel. Needless to say they were the ones that were surprised! The extended their stay by a day so that they could get to see them after they came back.

We all arrived safely. Rudi and I are still on leave today and are going grocery shopping in a bit. What a schlep!

So there's our weekend! Can't wait to do it again!

Facebook album available here.