Wednesday 3 November 2010

Long catch-up post

Sorry I haven't blogged. Here's an update (more because I haven't had much conversation over the last few days and need an outlet, rather than because I think you'll find this interesting)...

I had a great weekend, although it was a bit mental. Friday night TSC and I had a date night and headed to our favourite sushi spot, Best of Asia. We normally only eat there on Tuesdays, because it's their awesome buy-two-plates-get-one-free special. Their sushi was divine, as always, and we came home fairly early and parked on the couch while I made jewellery for my craft sale day on 13 Nov (mail me if you want more info).

On Saturday, we did a whole bunch of errands (picked up the post, paid bills and hit Waltons for some office and varsity stationery) and cleaned house. I sorted out my foodie magazines and organised a neat way of storing them in the kitchen for easy access. Then I headed to Fruit & Veg City to get their amazing special deal (7kg potatoes, box of tomatoes, 3kg baby beetroot, 3kg onions, 5kg carrots and a bag of butternut for R100). Unfortunately half of Johannesburg seemed to have the same idea and there was barely room to move my shopping trolley. It took me forever to get out and I was not in a wonderful mood when I got home. Still wondering what to with all the carrots and beetroot!

Anyway, after doing laundry and pricing jewellery, it was nearly time for the big rugby game between the Sharks and Western Province. Our friends Brett and Kim joined us and we watched the game and had supper (I made a roast leg of lamb with roast veg and quinoa, with decadent chocolate mousse for dessert). Lots of wine later, the boys decided we should play board games, so we hauled out Monopoly and then 30 Seconds. Such fun! They eventually headed home at about 1.30am.

TSC and I did a quick clean-up (basically putting away all the food so the flies wouldn't get to it) and got to bed at 2am. I had to be up at 4.30am to be at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens on time for my photography outing. Despite being absolutely shattered, I had a great time and was happy with my shots. Seeing I'd brought muffins for the whole class, I also made lots of new friends ;-) Who says you can't buy them?

The rest of Sunday was spent cleaning, sleeping, watching a How Do I Look? marathon on The Style Network (my guilty pleasure) and then eventually heading out for a late supper to The Throbbing Strawberry, where we had the most divine food (Bacon and Brie Salad, Campagnola Pizza and Chicken Pesto Pasta) and really crap service.

Monday was fairly productive, but I could feel the start of a bladder infection. I've had cystitis before, so I know the symptoms. I took some Citrus Soda (hurl!), drank lots of water and hoped I'd flush it from my system. Not a chance!

Frik.

It has not been my year for good health. I woke up at 2.30am on Tuesday feeling feverish, nauseous and desperate to pee. I didn't get back to bed after that... I sat at the PC and got some work done between peeing 13 times, throwing up once and feeling that constant uncomfortable pressure on my lower abdomen that bladder infections tend to bring. So, at 7am, I woke TSC up, phoned our local Intercare clinic (LOVE that they open at 7am!) and made an appointment for a GP at 8.15.

I hadn't met this doctor before. She is totally loopy. Kept hugging me, calling me nicknames and babbling about "f***ing patients" driving her mad. But, despite not being able to give her a pee sample (I can never pee on command), she gave me a prescription for antibiotics and some other stuff and off I went.

I tell you, yesterday felt like it took three days to happen. By 9am I'd already been up for nearly seven hours, but I had to make a couple of business calls and do some work. Tuesday is also the day that our once-a-week cleaner comes, so I was trying to keep out of her way. I managed to get some sleep in on the couch, and then once she'd finished upstairs, I went to bed. But I was woken up by two calls from clients and had to sort out work stuff. By the time it was 5pm, I felt like it was 9pm. Thankfully, we had so many leftovers in the fridge that we didn't have to cook.

My lovely man ran a bubble bath for me and I finally managed to get a good night's sleep, so today I'm feeling much better. The meds are working, I got a great workout in my aqua class this morning and TSC decided to spoil me for lunch at Cafe Blu, which I swear is one of the best-kept secrets in Johannesburg. They do a week-day lunch buffet for R35 per person! Today's buffet included greek salad, potato salad, chicken and rice salad, spaghetti with meatballs, hubbard squash, cottage pie and potato croquettes, with ice-cream, jelly, carrot cake or panna cotta for dessert. Yum!

The service is always good, the food is fresh and tastes like a home-cooked meal and they serve Coke in those dinky 300ml bottles (I think that's the only way it tastes like proper Coke). They also have a jungle gym and a staff member who spends time playing with kids, so it's a great place for parents with youngsters. On weekends they have a breakfast buffet and a Sunday lunch carvery. They also have a lovely a la carte menu. The fact that it's literally about 1km from our house means it's become a favourite hangout for us.

Sheesh... I sound like I'm being paid to write about the place!

Anyway, off to take my afternoon dose now and prepare for tonight's church small group.

15 comments:

po said...

Hellooo, good grief you poor things you have spent so much time being sick recently!

I suggest beetroot brownies, they are surprisingly delicious!

Tamara said...

I'm willing to give those a try. Do you have a recipe?

Anonymous said...

Beetroot crisps? I've seen them in shops, apparently they're quite yummy. Or you could make a proper beetroot salad. The kind that always has too much juice and dyes everything on your plate pink. You could bottle and sell it :)

Tamara said...

arkwife: That's a fab idea! I love those and I've actually got a recip somewhere. As for the beetroot salad, I can't think of anyone who'd buy it. Maybe I should foist it on relatives for Christmas. Mwahahahaha...

Wenchy said...

You sound busy, but happy. :)

Shayne said...

Wow, super long post!

Dischem sells cranberry tablets - i have them on hand 24/7 and they work very well at getting rid of cystitis. Also drink lots of cranberry juice. Beats antibio's any day.

Please mail me the price of the pendant (the first one you showed)? I really do love it.

Cool, busy weekend - sounded like fun.

Nothing better than good food out - but crap service kinda kills the outing huh?

Damaria Senne said...

sorry you've been sick on and off. I hope you get better. But it sounds like you had a lovely weekend. A busy one too:-)

Dbawiw said...

Cold beetroot soup with boiled potatoes and a dash of cream. Not much beats that!
Sorry about ye olde bladder.

Anonymous said...

You poor thing! Cranberry juice normally does the trick when I'm feeling like that. With some soluble vitamin C tablets. Much better than antibiotics and a lot safer.

Do you have the chocolate mousse recipe? I'll swap you for a Brandy Ice-cream :)

Anonymous said...

Hey Tammy I was gonna say the exact same thing as Shayne, I buy Cranberry capsules from Dischem, they work!

phillygirl said...

Aside from being sick, sounds like you've been having a fabulous time :) And I've never tried Best of Asia or Cafe Blu ... so thanks for the tips!

If you are looking for a beetroot recipe, I saw this Beetroot & Blue Cheese Pizza recipe on The Creative Pot's site a while back that I thought sounded fab!

Shrinky said...

Glad to hear you are on the mend. It sucks having a sleepless night, the next day feels like you are swimming through treacle, doesn't it?

Mind, I can't feel TOO sorry for you, since I'm jealous of all these fab eating establishments you appear to get taken to..!

Helen said...

Throbbing Strawberry has had lousy service lately... not that it seems to matter as getting a table on a weekend feels almost impossible sometimes!

And you can't g wrong with Beetroot soup!

Ruby said...

Good gracious my friend...NOT cool. *big hugs* glad you're starting to feel better!

Tara said...

Sorry you felt so crap. Bladder infections are no fun. I find sipping cranberry juice helps. Maybe it's just a placebo but it certainly takes away the taste of CitraSoda!

Carrots...Well you can always make carrot soup... http://cestlavietlb.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/moroccan-spiced-carrot-soup/

SO GOOD!