I'm off to Durban tomorrow for the weekend. I will visit my gran, who had a mastectomy on Monday. She only found out on Friday that she needed one, so it's been a shock.
The op went well and we're just waiting for the histology reports. My granddad has been beside himself - he lost his first wife (my biological gran) to cancer after a marriage of more than 40 years. I was still in primary school at the time. It was very sudden - she had a stroke, they found out she was riddled with cancer and days later she was gone.
Understandably, he's terrified that this could happen again. He's a little more relaxed now that the op is over, but he has bronchitis at the moment, which is no joke when you're 85. I need to see them to feel ok.
Of course, having booked flights, I've now come down with the head cold from hell and I'm worried about passing on my bugs to either of them. I have downed Med Lemon, Panado, Nurofen, Strepsils etc (not all at the same time!), but am just as miserably sick and battling to breathe. I am eating oranges (when what I really feel like is all the cheesy stuff that's especially bad and mucous-producing), rubbing on Vicks VapoRub and staying in bed. Hopefully I'll be ok by the time we fly tomorrow.
It's been an especially busy week, with assignments from old clients and an exciting new one (thank you, Jeanette - I owe you for this recommendation), which are all (of course) urgent. On top of that, there's other family stuff, friends going through really rough times and some other stuff that doesn't get discussed here.
On the bright side (and there is always one), I'm looking forward to spending my dad's birthday with him and my mom on Saturday, and TSC and I are busy planning a bathroom renovation (very exciting, but probably insane, seeing I work from home and will be witness to every bit of dust and noise). Our church small group is also partnering with an incredible adoption organisation to help them refurbish the homework rooms where the kids work. I love that sort of stuff.
Life is crazy. But I am still here. Until tomorrow. Then you won't hear from me till after Durban.
Have a good one.
Showing posts with label grandparents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grandparents. Show all posts
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Off to Mpumalanga
I'll have to wait to write about the things I wanted to and to post those pics, coz we're off this morning to Mpumalanga to help my gran move some furniture and will only be back on Friday afternoon.
I finally confirmed that we could go on Monday as I had a quiet week ahead with no hectic meetings and projects scheduled. Of course, no sooner had I made the decision, everything fell to pieces and I've spent the last two days frantically managing a client, fighting to get my internet working, rewriting projects that were meant to get signed off months ago and generally cursing Murphy and his law.
But, we're off shortly, so clients and cats will have to cope without me for two and a bit days, which I'm sure they'll manage just fine. Have a good hump day, y'all.
I finally confirmed that we could go on Monday as I had a quiet week ahead with no hectic meetings and projects scheduled. Of course, no sooner had I made the decision, everything fell to pieces and I've spent the last two days frantically managing a client, fighting to get my internet working, rewriting projects that were meant to get signed off months ago and generally cursing Murphy and his law.
But, we're off shortly, so clients and cats will have to cope without me for two and a bit days, which I'm sure they'll manage just fine. Have a good hump day, y'all.
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Yet another catch-up post
Where does time go? It whooshes past at great speed these days and leaves me a bit dizzy.
In the past while, here's what I've been up to:
What are all you fabulous people up to?
In the past while, here's what I've been up to:
- Celebrated my birthday with dinner at Hedwig's restaurant. The food was amazing and the view spectacular. The service was sadly not so great. And neither is the loooong dirt road you have to navigate to get there. But I had a great evening with the family.
- Got spoiled by the family. Money and garden vouchers have allowed me to dress my lawn and acquire some beautiful succulent plants to adorn the new braai area. My AWESOME new camera (Nikon D3000) from my folks has kept me busy in the few spare moments I have as I try to figure out how it works (very different to my old manual SLR and my little compact digital camera). I will start posting pics once I start taking decent ones ;-)
- Went to rugby for the whole bloody Saturday. Seriously, we got to the stadium just after 1pm and the game only started at 5pm. And the Boks lost! But it was awesome to be inside FNB Stadium (if that is what Soccer City is now called. I can't keep up with all the name changes) and I enjoyed the game for the most part. Ran into Jeanette on the bus, which was a cool surprise.
- Recorded my granddad's life story to write his memoirs. I still need more info, but I got a lot from him on Sun and Mon. Such a rich story!
- Did Sunday lunch with the family. Will miss that so much when my folks move back to KZN next year.
- Wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote for this ghostwriting project.
- Had various client / prospective client meetings. Some were very interesting, some were less so.
- Started serious prep for our Casino Royale themed formal dress games night joint birthday celebration thingey this Sat (if you're in Jhb and want to come along, mail me at doodlesofajourno at gmail dot com. Would love to see some of you lot IRL).
- Got my bum into gear and finally started doing all the admin I've been avoiding (switching ADSL providers, getting our own PO Box (been using my folks' one for ages), letting all the relevant people know our postal address has changed, getting business cards set up etc. Not fun, but a great sense of accomplishment when it's all done.
- Started planning all of TSC's bday surprises (his bday is 7 Sept). Now that's good fun ;-)
What are all you fabulous people up to?
Monday, 2 August 2010
Spring is coming!
I can barely contain my excitement at this fact. The trees are pushing out green shoots, birds are nesting and the first blossoms have been spotted. This all means one thing: winter is on its way out. Hooray!
We were at church camp in the Magaliesburg this weekend past and it was flipping cold. Great fun, but too cold for my liking. I must admit though, that the food and rooms were better than I expected. Camp seems to have come a long way since my high school days.
I got to do an obstacle course, which I haven't done in years, so that way fun. I have new respect for the people on Ninja Warrior.
On Sunday we celebrated my gran's 80th birthday. Shame, it was actually on 20 June, but she was so sick and my folks were overseas, so we pretended it was yesterday. My uncle flew in from Kuwait to surprise her and my other uncle and his wife drove in from Middelburg and the usual fun and games ensued. I think poor TSC has finally learnt to cope with my family's below-the-belt sense of humour.
Other than that, life is crazy busy. I've had to turn down a few writing projects because ghostwriting this book seems to have eaten ALL my time. It's 10 chapters long and I've just completed the second chapter, but I feel like I have done nothing else since I started. In fact, I probably have done nothing else since I started. Must remember to do the work for my other clients!
I hate turning down work, because it means turning down good money and some interesting projects, but I am (slowly) learning to be realistic about what I can and can't do. I'm working late nights as is, so unless I want to kiss my marriage and social life goodbye, I have to learn to say 'no' sometimes.
I'm rambling, I know. But I have missed blogging so much. Almost as much as I've missed reading everyone else's blogs.
Anyway, back to the books for me. Chapter three beckons.
PS: I know I've been a bad blogger, but if you still love me and you feel like it, please consider nominating me for the SA blog awards by clicking on that widget in the sidebar. Thanks.
We were at church camp in the Magaliesburg this weekend past and it was flipping cold. Great fun, but too cold for my liking. I must admit though, that the food and rooms were better than I expected. Camp seems to have come a long way since my high school days.
I got to do an obstacle course, which I haven't done in years, so that way fun. I have new respect for the people on Ninja Warrior.
On Sunday we celebrated my gran's 80th birthday. Shame, it was actually on 20 June, but she was so sick and my folks were overseas, so we pretended it was yesterday. My uncle flew in from Kuwait to surprise her and my other uncle and his wife drove in from Middelburg and the usual fun and games ensued. I think poor TSC has finally learnt to cope with my family's below-the-belt sense of humour.
Other than that, life is crazy busy. I've had to turn down a few writing projects because ghostwriting this book seems to have eaten ALL my time. It's 10 chapters long and I've just completed the second chapter, but I feel like I have done nothing else since I started. In fact, I probably have done nothing else since I started. Must remember to do the work for my other clients!
I hate turning down work, because it means turning down good money and some interesting projects, but I am (slowly) learning to be realistic about what I can and can't do. I'm working late nights as is, so unless I want to kiss my marriage and social life goodbye, I have to learn to say 'no' sometimes.
I'm rambling, I know. But I have missed blogging so much. Almost as much as I've missed reading everyone else's blogs.
Anyway, back to the books for me. Chapter three beckons.
PS: I know I've been a bad blogger, but if you still love me and you feel like it, please consider nominating me for the SA blog awards by clicking on that widget in the sidebar. Thanks.
Friday, 12 February 2010
Would you read my book?
Here's my first draft of the synopsis...
Born in Southern Rhodesia as the youngest of seven children, Harry learns early on to make his own way in life. When his mother dies and his stern Afrikaner father remarries, he finds himself with another seven siblings and his fight for independence intensifies.
Hardworking and intensely stubborn, he finds a job on the mines before meeting his match in the fiery red-headed Nell Carol. Although they can barely understand each other and belong to different social classes, Harry pursues her against both families’ wishes.
They marry and, despite facing financial ruin, political instability and eventually guerrilla violence as Britain loses its colonial hold on the country, they stand firm together, raising two children and sending them to school in South Africa to acquire the education Harry always dreamed of having.
When they are forced to flee the country to avoid political violence, Harry and Nell start over in the small Freestate town of Deneysville. Closer to their children and involved in the community, they are happy again until Nell suffers a massive and unexpected stroke. Within weeks she dies.
Distraught, Harry does everything possible to keep busy. After more than 40 years with Nell, he is unable to function alone. Months pass before he meets Lilly. Divorced and destitute, she is living alone on a plot outside of the town. As their relationship deepens, she brings him back to the roots of his Afrikaans culture. But not everyone approves of their love. Townsfolk and even family members make hurtful comments and shut the couple out.
To escape rumours and judgment, they relocate to KwaZulu-Natal where they once again start over, learning to put past relationships to rest and to embark on new adventures together in their old age.
Thoughts? Comments? Be nice... but honest ;-)
Born in Southern Rhodesia as the youngest of seven children, Harry learns early on to make his own way in life. When his mother dies and his stern Afrikaner father remarries, he finds himself with another seven siblings and his fight for independence intensifies.
Hardworking and intensely stubborn, he finds a job on the mines before meeting his match in the fiery red-headed Nell Carol. Although they can barely understand each other and belong to different social classes, Harry pursues her against both families’ wishes.
They marry and, despite facing financial ruin, political instability and eventually guerrilla violence as Britain loses its colonial hold on the country, they stand firm together, raising two children and sending them to school in South Africa to acquire the education Harry always dreamed of having.
When they are forced to flee the country to avoid political violence, Harry and Nell start over in the small Freestate town of Deneysville. Closer to their children and involved in the community, they are happy again until Nell suffers a massive and unexpected stroke. Within weeks she dies.
Distraught, Harry does everything possible to keep busy. After more than 40 years with Nell, he is unable to function alone. Months pass before he meets Lilly. Divorced and destitute, she is living alone on a plot outside of the town. As their relationship deepens, she brings him back to the roots of his Afrikaans culture. But not everyone approves of their love. Townsfolk and even family members make hurtful comments and shut the couple out.
To escape rumours and judgment, they relocate to KwaZulu-Natal where they once again start over, learning to put past relationships to rest and to embark on new adventures together in their old age.
Thoughts? Comments? Be nice... but honest ;-)
Friday, 14 August 2009
Catch-up time
Technical issues drive me mental. On Tues, we had no power at the office. That screwed up our internet (always does), so we had no email or web access for most of Wed. Thankfully, we seem to be up and running today. Yesterday I had to have my car windscreen replaced, so it's been an annoying week.
Luckily the long weekend turned out to be a good break, although sleeping on new beds and lots of driving meant we were both tired at the end of it and felt like we needed a day just to recover.
Contrary to what everyone seemed to think when I mentioned KZN, we were not in Durban or on the coast. My grandparents live in the sleepy town of Howick, which is about an hour and a half's drive away from the sea, in the Natal Midlands.
Luckily the long weekend turned out to be a good break, although sleeping on new beds and lots of driving meant we were both tired at the end of it and felt like we needed a day just to recover.
Contrary to what everyone seemed to think when I mentioned KZN, we were not in Durban or on the coast. My grandparents live in the sleepy town of Howick, which is about an hour and a half's drive away from the sea, in the Natal Midlands.
We spent a lovely day having a braai and picnic with the grandparents on Saturday at Midmar Dam. On Sunday we headed through to The Pavilion for me to make my annual stop at Oh La La and then went down to the beachfront for a bit of a walk.
We went to Mini Town (sadly not as awesome as I remember it being as a kid), ate yummy Milky Lane ice-cream and admired the sand sculptures on the beach before heading back to Howick.
We left at 5.30am on Monday morning and were back in Gauteng before 11am, which gave us time to snooze, chill and then work a bit.
This weekend, our house is being invaded by students so TSC and his team can start their big project - building a concrete boat. Should be interesting!
I also need to get seriously stuck into the garden (am replanting at the front of the house and replacing bits of our watering system at the back) and find a good cake recipe. It's my birthday next week Thursday and I'll need to top last year's chocolate devil's food cake with marshmallow frosting ;-)
Right now, I'm off to catch up on some blog reading. Have a great Friday!
Thursday, 6 August 2009
I'm on my own in the office today
Boss and Roo are out at a meeting.
That means I have to answer phones. I have total phone phobia, so I am not enjoying it. But I can deal with it all - the cold, the phones, the fact that I spent all my free time yesterday helping TSC with varsity work and even the morons on the raod this morning - because tomorrow afternoon we leave for KwaZulu-Natal!
I want to see my grandparents, drink copious cups of tea in their cosy lounge, talk about plants with Lilly, visit a few favourite spots at the Pavilion shopping centre (it's tragic that I still know the shops better in Durban and Cape Town than in Joburg), not check my email, spend time with TSC not doing chores or varsity / work stuff and generally enjoy the fact that we have a bit of a break.
I. CANNOT. WAIT.
Which does unfortunately make the day seem slower. I'm sure it should be home time by now?
That means I have to answer phones. I have total phone phobia, so I am not enjoying it. But I can deal with it all - the cold, the phones, the fact that I spent all my free time yesterday helping TSC with varsity work and even the morons on the raod this morning - because tomorrow afternoon we leave for KwaZulu-Natal!
I want to see my grandparents, drink copious cups of tea in their cosy lounge, talk about plants with Lilly, visit a few favourite spots at the Pavilion shopping centre (it's tragic that I still know the shops better in Durban and Cape Town than in Joburg), not check my email, spend time with TSC not doing chores or varsity / work stuff and generally enjoy the fact that we have a bit of a break.
I. CANNOT. WAIT.
Which does unfortunately make the day seem slower. I'm sure it should be home time by now?
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
The Radio Randomness in my brain
Tune into the live broadcast from my brain for a few minutes... it's a mess up there...
- TSC has just found out that he has to wear glasses. The evil eye doctor *makes spitting sound* says the eye op to remove the pterygium was successful but too late - the eye won't get any better than its current blurriness. TSC is quitebummed. I can just picture how many pairs of glasses are going to be sat on, but I think he'll look hot with glasses. Hell, I think he looks hot in anything. Or nothing. Hehehe... Shame, poor man still thinks of all glasses as those worn by Steve Urkel. I'm thinking more Jude Law, actually. Mmmm... So going glasses shopping with him next week!
- Work is still weird. We had another resignation yesterday, only according to Boss it wasn't a resignation. Colleague has apparently taken a sabbatical and will return in a few months. I somehow don't think so (having spoken to her about it). We are down to three again - me, Roo and Boss. *sigh* It's hard to keep saying goodbye to people I really like.
- I am trying to cheer myself up by the thought of the approaching long weekend (it's a public / bank holiday this Mon). We are off to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to visit my grandparents and fetch the trailer they are giving us (so cool of them). I CANNOT wait to be off the Gauteng roads. Useless Joburg drivers are getting to me more than usual. I feel my bloof pressure rising when I get in the car. Also, a big part of my heart still lives in KZN and I love going back there, especially to spend time with my darling granddad and Lilly.
- I can tell when my life is feeling all over the show because I suddenly can't let my house that be that way. I get these sudden "must tidy; must organise" urges. Last night I turned my bedroom upside-down, moving furniture around and repacking thinsg to try to make "more space" (ridiculous, seeing our bedroom is huge) and "less clutter" (not so ridiculous - I tend to pile things without homes in random spots around the house. There's one in the corner of the kitchen counter, one on my bedside table, and one on top of the gas heater unit).
- You'll probably think this is sad, but I can't wait to prune my roses today! This is my incentive to finish all my work early so I can have time to do my gardening. I have neglected my plants throughout winter because I've been so busy and it's just so flipping cold outside, but Lilly taught me how to prune while she was here and I can't wait to practice this new skill. Am also busy trying to figure out my plan for my veggie garden (I have decided my haphazard approach of planting things randomly wherever I feel like it at any given time unfortunately doesn't work as well as I'd hoped). I want to set out no-dig beds, which is a major mission, and make sure I follow good rotation rules so that I don't end up with unhealthy, bug-infested soil.
- My freelance work is still scaring me. I get a tight feeling in my chest when I think of it. I think it's mainly because I'm worried that I will forget about an assignment and just not turn in the work when it's due. This is unlikely, as I obsess about it well into the wee hours of the morning. Forgetting is not a problem. I guess I also worry that clients won't be impressed with the work I've done. *sigh* Enough of that, though... making myself nauseous!
- I am so loving the DairyBelle kids' range of smooth low-fat yoghurts! I just had the cherry lollipop flavour and it's really yummy, even in the cold (when I usually go off yoghurt. And most things healthy).
- It's already 11.25am and I am nowhere with my work for today, so if I want to prune, I must stop procrastinating and end this post. Adieu.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Catch-up
Last week was a horrible 'flu week. I felt weak and shaky and like I couldn't concentrate for long periods of time. I spent most of the week under the duvets as standing up seemed to make the nausea worse, nevermind the dizziness. I cancelled life group (which hardly ever happens) on Wed evening in case I made anyone else sick. By Thursday, I was thankfully feeling ok again and turned my PC on to blog and check mails for the first time in ages.
It was yet another realization of how much I love the online world. I missed reading everyone's posts and leaving comments. I missed posting on this blog and those little emails from friends throughout the day.
Despite being booked off by the doctor for the whole week, I decided I was definitely well enough to be back at work on Friday. It was good to have people to talk to again and things to keep me busy and I actually enjoyed writing my press releases, which I normally hate.
Then I got a phone call from my mom. They had made plans to go away to Hazyview from Saturday to Monday to see my gran for her birthday. My brother was supposed to go with them, along with his friend, but he couldn't make it anymore (I thought it was because he had a supplementary exam, but apparently it was because he had failed the supp and had just discovered he had to start winter school on Mon). My mom asked if there was any way I could get a day's leave for Monday so that TSC and I could go with in his place.
I said I felt uncomfortable asking my boss for the day off when I'd been off sick for most of the week and that we had planned to go to the Bloggirls event and watch the rugby with friends on Sat. She said that if we couldn't go they'd have still have to pay for the hotel room (dinner, bed and breakfast) and lose a fair amount of money, so would I swallow my embarrassment and talk to my boss.
I stopped to think for a moment. See, I made a decision three years ago (at my grandfather's 80th birthday lunch) that I will take each and every opportunity I get to spend time with my grandparents while they're still here. To be able to celebrate another birthday with my gran is a big deal - after 70, I think every birthday is a milestone to be celebrated. Aside from that, it would save my parents losing money and allow us to enjoy a weekend away with them in a beautiful lakeside location...
I chatted to my boss, who was in a great mood and kindly agreed to give me the day off. I spent the remainder of the day trying to be as productive as possible to convince her of my gratitude. Then I raced home to pack a bag and load our cats in the car to drop them off with my brother for the weekend.
I let the girls know that I wouldn't be able to make Bloggirls after all, which I was pretty bleak about - I so look forward to the monthly events - and told Peter, our "rugby" friend, that we wouldn't be there for his braai either. And off we drove to Pretoria in peak-hour traffic. Yuck.
The next morning we drove through to Hazyview, stopping for brunch along the way. It's about a four-hour drive to the place we stayed at, Hulala Lakeside Lodge. This is it...
It was a lovely weekend. We had a fireplace in our room, which kept the chilly nights at bay. The food was very good and we enjoyed a cocktail or two in the Rock Inn Bar (a clever pun, seeing the place is built around these giant boulders that are now indoors). TSC and I paddled around the Da Gama Dam and we took a walk through the bush with my folks.
On Sunday morning, my gran drove through from Graskop and we gave her the presents we'd brought along (of the pamper pack I had put together, she was oddly most enamoured with the gel pads for her shoes to stop them chafing her). We had lunch on the deck and then my parents organised a little cruise around the dam on the hotel's boat. We saw a fish eagle and a few kingfishers, and when we got back to shore there were four zebra grazing on the lawn. They're very tame and I took some pics (which I have yet to download).
My gran seemed to enjoy her birthday celebrations and I loved seeing her face when my mom told her that her birthday present is a trip with my mom to the Victoria Falls (she was born in Livingstone, Zambia, where the falls are, but hasn't been back in over 60 years). She's such a gentle soul and we share a love of cats and murder mysteries. She managed to depart without getting teary, which usually happens, and headed back to Graskop with her car filled with gifts.
On Monday we drove back to freezing Joburg, stopping at the quaint Casterbridge centre in White River for my mom and I to browse the craft stores.
It was such a lovely unexpected treat, and although I felt bad that my brother didn't get to go, he seemed to make the most of not having my folks around for the weekend and spent most of it partying up a storm.
It was yet another realization of how much I love the online world. I missed reading everyone's posts and leaving comments. I missed posting on this blog and those little emails from friends throughout the day.
Despite being booked off by the doctor for the whole week, I decided I was definitely well enough to be back at work on Friday. It was good to have people to talk to again and things to keep me busy and I actually enjoyed writing my press releases, which I normally hate.
Then I got a phone call from my mom. They had made plans to go away to Hazyview from Saturday to Monday to see my gran for her birthday. My brother was supposed to go with them, along with his friend, but he couldn't make it anymore (I thought it was because he had a supplementary exam, but apparently it was because he had failed the supp and had just discovered he had to start winter school on Mon). My mom asked if there was any way I could get a day's leave for Monday so that TSC and I could go with in his place.
I said I felt uncomfortable asking my boss for the day off when I'd been off sick for most of the week and that we had planned to go to the Bloggirls event and watch the rugby with friends on Sat. She said that if we couldn't go they'd have still have to pay for the hotel room (dinner, bed and breakfast) and lose a fair amount of money, so would I swallow my embarrassment and talk to my boss.
I stopped to think for a moment. See, I made a decision three years ago (at my grandfather's 80th birthday lunch) that I will take each and every opportunity I get to spend time with my grandparents while they're still here. To be able to celebrate another birthday with my gran is a big deal - after 70, I think every birthday is a milestone to be celebrated. Aside from that, it would save my parents losing money and allow us to enjoy a weekend away with them in a beautiful lakeside location...
I chatted to my boss, who was in a great mood and kindly agreed to give me the day off. I spent the remainder of the day trying to be as productive as possible to convince her of my gratitude. Then I raced home to pack a bag and load our cats in the car to drop them off with my brother for the weekend.
I let the girls know that I wouldn't be able to make Bloggirls after all, which I was pretty bleak about - I so look forward to the monthly events - and told Peter, our "rugby" friend, that we wouldn't be there for his braai either. And off we drove to Pretoria in peak-hour traffic. Yuck.
The next morning we drove through to Hazyview, stopping for brunch along the way. It's about a four-hour drive to the place we stayed at, Hulala Lakeside Lodge. This is it...
It was a lovely weekend. We had a fireplace in our room, which kept the chilly nights at bay. The food was very good and we enjoyed a cocktail or two in the Rock Inn Bar (a clever pun, seeing the place is built around these giant boulders that are now indoors). TSC and I paddled around the Da Gama Dam and we took a walk through the bush with my folks.
On Sunday morning, my gran drove through from Graskop and we gave her the presents we'd brought along (of the pamper pack I had put together, she was oddly most enamoured with the gel pads for her shoes to stop them chafing her). We had lunch on the deck and then my parents organised a little cruise around the dam on the hotel's boat. We saw a fish eagle and a few kingfishers, and when we got back to shore there were four zebra grazing on the lawn. They're very tame and I took some pics (which I have yet to download).
My gran seemed to enjoy her birthday celebrations and I loved seeing her face when my mom told her that her birthday present is a trip with my mom to the Victoria Falls (she was born in Livingstone, Zambia, where the falls are, but hasn't been back in over 60 years). She's such a gentle soul and we share a love of cats and murder mysteries. She managed to depart without getting teary, which usually happens, and headed back to Graskop with her car filled with gifts.
On Monday we drove back to freezing Joburg, stopping at the quaint Casterbridge centre in White River for my mom and I to browse the craft stores.
It was such a lovely unexpected treat, and although I felt bad that my brother didn't get to go, he seemed to make the most of not having my folks around for the weekend and spent most of it partying up a storm.
Monday, 10 March 2008
It's been awhile
I wish I had a fascinating excuse for why I haven't posted in two weeks, but I'm afraid it's the same old stuff - no time. In between working on a not-so-nice-in-fact-it's-really-awful project at work, hubby and I have been scrutinising our budget with a microscope to try and find a way to afford a trip to KwaZulu-Natal to visit my grandparents (well, grandfather and step-grandmother) for Easter.
I have this idea that I will spend the days taking down my grandfather's memoirs. As somebody who can honestly tell those "I used to walk miles to school barefoot" stories without lying, who came from absolute poverty, lived through a war or two and came out fit and fighting, I think his life story is fascinating. Especially seeing his first wife's (English) family disowned her for marrying him (an Afrikaner boxing champ). She, my grandmother, that is, did what the English do best - she colonised him completely. Yet, after she died a few years back, he met an Afrikaans lady, Lilly, and has gone back to his roots in a big way.
If you're bored by the storyline so far, consider that the two eloped when he was around 72, and that she's only 6 or 8 years (I can never remember) older than my dad, making him nearly the same age as his stepmother.
Yes, my family is a little bizarre. But I love them that way. And Lilly and Oupie (our name for my granddad) make a cute couple. He's nearly 82 now, and she's about 58, but you'd swear they were both 65. So I want to write Oupie's memoirs before he starts to show his age and forget things (other than what I do, which he forgets now anyway).
But rather than taking down notes, we're more likely to spend our time being fed by Lilly, who is an accomplished cook, taking a tour of their new home (Oupie has finally decided to retire and sell off his nursery) and trying to explain what it is that I do, seeing the only journalists they understand are those that work for a newspaper. They seem more interested in Josias's line of work (construction) than mine anyway. Not that I'm jealous. Well, not very.
I'm looking forward to escaping Gauteng for a few days and being back in the wonderfully verdant Natal province, where I spent most of my school years.
In the meanwhile, I need to get a grip on this nasty project, so let me leave the talk of holidays for the moment and return to the less-interesting reality.
I have this idea that I will spend the days taking down my grandfather's memoirs. As somebody who can honestly tell those "I used to walk miles to school barefoot" stories without lying, who came from absolute poverty, lived through a war or two and came out fit and fighting, I think his life story is fascinating. Especially seeing his first wife's (English) family disowned her for marrying him (an Afrikaner boxing champ). She, my grandmother, that is, did what the English do best - she colonised him completely. Yet, after she died a few years back, he met an Afrikaans lady, Lilly, and has gone back to his roots in a big way.
If you're bored by the storyline so far, consider that the two eloped when he was around 72, and that she's only 6 or 8 years (I can never remember) older than my dad, making him nearly the same age as his stepmother.
Yes, my family is a little bizarre. But I love them that way. And Lilly and Oupie (our name for my granddad) make a cute couple. He's nearly 82 now, and she's about 58, but you'd swear they were both 65. So I want to write Oupie's memoirs before he starts to show his age and forget things (other than what I do, which he forgets now anyway).
But rather than taking down notes, we're more likely to spend our time being fed by Lilly, who is an accomplished cook, taking a tour of their new home (Oupie has finally decided to retire and sell off his nursery) and trying to explain what it is that I do, seeing the only journalists they understand are those that work for a newspaper. They seem more interested in Josias's line of work (construction) than mine anyway. Not that I'm jealous. Well, not very.
I'm looking forward to escaping Gauteng for a few days and being back in the wonderfully verdant Natal province, where I spent most of my school years.
In the meanwhile, I need to get a grip on this nasty project, so let me leave the talk of holidays for the moment and return to the less-interesting reality.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)