TRUST !!!!!!!!

We went on an over night desert safari with the boys. NEVER EVER trust anyone whose jeans are too tight and wearing an orange shirt........................(Don't worry about eyes too close together or the other "trust" beleifs!!!!!)
Here our driver (pakistani kaniverstani)poses with Hannes and the boys before we left for this safari (note his jeans fit and colour of shirt !!!) We had about an hour to drive outside Dubai to hit the desert. I made the big mistake of telling him that we are from Africa and not scared and also we beat the pakistani at cricket!!!!My mouth is always open before my brain..................

What you see over the windscreen is SAND from dune bashing......Now I know why windscreen wipers are fitted to cars in Dubai...It is not used for rain but for sand. At times he could not see where he was going. We were all strapped in and did well with colourful vocab which he did not understand. At times he was driving one hand on the wheel and the other on the cell phone....(Supose he was having a lekker fat laugh with his friends about these "tourists" hanging on for dear life....) The boys loved it and thought it was "awesome" Dian was infront next to the driver so he saw all the action first and Rossow was in the back seat. He got all the exra action he says. Hannes and I took the middle seats...Real sissy's but still scary...........

Rossouw and Dian admiring the desert plants and flowers. Not much of them around. These we saw early on but when you go deeper into the desert they are not around.

We stopped for some dune boarding. Hannes and the boys attemted it and did very well. I rather held the camera at the bottom of the dune. Nobody warned me that going down to take he foto's would be easy BUT going back up was a hellava climb. You take one step up and two sliding down again. The sand is very fine and gives way all the time. Going down it took five teps to the bottom....going back up took about fifty...

Rossouw holding onto the sunset in the desert.

Dian doing much the same

This picture says it all. Both these boys were in serious overdrive at this time. We had had dune bashing and sand boardsing done at this tme. It is very quiet in the desert as well and you become aware of all senses. It has a strange beauty to it with this "barren" landscape. Makes me think of the west coast in the cape. It had started to cool down a lot at this time. We were warned to take something warm wit us.

This was not "Saartjie" but the boys had a camel ride as well. Here they we still composed. Near the end of the ride they were in fits of laughter.......Maybe a camel farted again !!!!!!!!!!!! They were laughing so much that we could not get them off the camel.

On arrival at the bedoiun camp there were 4 wheelers to ride as well. Both boys had now seen what a 4x4 could do so they were ready to do the same on the 4 wheelers. This was just at the start and when they ended they were standing and doing "wheelies" and doughnuts on the dunes.....

Shisha is a national past time in the middle east. We all did out thing with the sisha. (Exept Hannes) The pillows are on persian carpets on the sand. The "shisha man" light and starts all the shisha's for you. He handles the hot coals by hand....................

Belly dancing was also done after dinner. I think she is Russian. She involved all of us on the dance floor. Hannes , myself and the boys and lots of chineese tourist were all dancing at the end. Lots of laughter and fun.

As I said before this was an overnight safari. These were our tents for the night. It was freezing....The desert sand is like ice and the tents were welcome, as thet shield you from the wind. So I had my firts camping excercise...............and as they say LEARN from experiences!!!

The inside had a budget mattress on the floor and even sheets. Each was issued with a sleeping bag. The pillow however was very hard ....like a stone.......We were in fits of laughter by every ones comment in trying to accomodate this pillow.....

Good night was had but next time I take my own pillow. Also I think to do this over night action in summer is better.

We all came ome early the next morning and had a hot bath (half the desert was in our hair...... here is always a breeze/wind and the sand is so fine it creeps in every where.) A very good time was had by all.

On a good note, the new washing machine arrived at long last.............I did so much laundry for 3 solid days..........but all is now clean and packed away. A very good thing too is a brand new machine was delivered. This is fantasic as a manual on how to use the machine was in the box....and has english instructions. It is a washer and dryer in one machine and I take back my previous version of not good................NOW I can use it correctly and it is fantastic. Less space used as only one appliance to do 2 jobs........ I must admit I miss Rita from home. I respect house keepers much more.....................

Hannes came off duty this morning and it is so nice to go for an early walk in the marina and at the beach.....We stopped off for coffee and croissants at a side walk cafe....SOOOOOOOOOOOOO good to have the opporunity to spend quality time together. The boys normally sleep late as they go to the marina boardwalk at night to walk around and perve at the cars parked and driving in the marina. Dian has a collection going on facebook of what he has seen. A Lamborghini is now old hat as well as the Merc SLR, Corvette , Bentleys ect.

Technology is fantastic and vey fustrating..............Frustrating as I do not know enough to sort out problems and my iternet had some connection problems and took forever for me to sort out. Now all working............

On the fantastic side is Skype. I had a long chat with Marqaux (Pierre's daughter in the USA) tonight which was great.............We laughed and cried a little and exchangd what's happening in our respective lives..... So fantastic that we are so far from each other geogaphically BUT we can see each othe and chat..............

Tomorrow we are going to Abu Dhabi to a car show...........and on Sunday we have our first camping outing with our own tent and stuffs..........Hannes is going to do his last dive in Fujairah (about 2 hous from Dubai) and he has 2 days off after that. So we want to test drive our camping skills before our road trip of 4 days....

I will give a full report when we get back after this trial camp......

I miss all of you in SA. Family and friends. Just wish we could all do this together.

L

"INSHALLAH"

Patence is a virtue they say but to me it is venture to get used to...............The washing machine has been broken for 7 days.....Last week was "Eid al allah" which is when all moslems go to Makkah..It is a country wide 5 day public holiday so nobody to look at the machine toubles.... the washing is mounting by the minute. Miracle washing baskets I have as the clothes mutiple during the night as we sleep............OK good news I have not needed to do any ironing.......BUT we still need to have clothes to wear. Inshallah means God willing as I expland before but I still think it means tomorrow but not likely..........
Here I was today with a real Jumeira Jane tantrum AT THE APPARTMNT MANAGEMENT. I threatened to have my landry "done" and send them the bill.......It did not go down vey well with them BUT the technicians arrived at 18h30 to check the problem. It now seems I need a new washing machine. It will be 3 or 4 days at best before it is replaced. Lucily not at our cost but the paper work is endless and requests and answers and instuctions take days to do......
The manager of the apartmnts however is now very caring and phones all the time to tell me the progress on the machine problem....So I have to get with the program and lean to relax and realise tomorow is another day................

OK NEWS UPDATE
We went to dinner at this restaurant in Bur Dubai. It is the old original Dubai. We were amazed as the whole bill for 4 of us came to 44 Dirhams. We normally pay 100 dirhams per person. The food was original and very good. We had butter chicken and naan bread and lamb tika marsalla and more naan bread and sme other ndian bread. Something like roti. Very very nice. ere ae no frills at this restaurant and a box of tissues on the table is used as serviettes. We had been walking around the old souk for hours and very nice to be so safe and browse with all the locals in all the funny and interrestng shops. All the merchandise is cheaper thanin the malls. So I might just go and buythe normal daily toileties there...........

Rossouw bought a dish dash and regaling at the old souk and had to model it for us when we got home. He is not an arab by a long shot as his eyes are blue and hair is blonde............Lawrence of Arabia does come to mind.


Dian nearly had a heart attack when we got home as this " lambo" was parked in our garages...The both of them are amazed at the amunt of ferrari's ect in Dubai




This is at the Irish village where we will spend new years eve for a party. It is authentic as the pubs and food are true irish fare. They promise to have a huge party with lots of fireworks and stuff for new year.



Swarofski decorations on a christmas tree at Centry City mall. It is only the reflection of light that changes their colours. They are clear when looked at from upclose.

The size of the tree just covered n swarofski. Rossouw and Dian dwarf infront of the tree sitting on the ledge .

The tree is decorated with 40 ooo swarofki criatals. It shines in the sunlight and seems to glitter as the sun catches the cristals.

A shop entrance decorated for christmas as Emiates mall. Father christmas is having a bubble bath with his reindeer.!!!!!!!!!!!! Infront are advent calenders made of wood and each day opens with a little drawer to add your own choclates.

Another shop window with a polar bear and snow. A huge fairy godmother n the back ground. She is easily my size.

This shop wndow was only cristals for christmas.

We went buying "camping gear" yesterday......... Yes we are going on a roadtrip for 4 days at the end of December when Hannes has 4 days off. We pan to do he 7 emirates. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ashman, Umm Al Quiwain, Fujairah, Ras als Khaimah.

Now I am not a happy camper but will give it my best shot. We all have sleping bags and blow up matresses. We have a huge tent and torch lights, braai, fthrmos flasks ect.

Hannes has done this bfore with a friend and says all is very well equiped and clean in camping areas and he says we will all enjoy it...Will keep you posted. I insitd on camping eas with ablution facilities and NO desert driving by ourselves...............

We took the boys to "Fudruckers" This is authentic american burgrs which you order by size of beef patty. All home made on premises. You then when issued with your chunk of minced steak (bought by the pound or portion of) go and add all the trimings you can wish for onto yur burger.

Rossuw challenged the full pound. He finished it but was very very full.

The patty is made by hand by choping steak only...................Very nice burgers indeed.

We crossed the creek by abra last night in full moon. The creek is not big and the abra's were the only mode of transport back in the day......to cross the creek. You just hop on and pay 1 dirham to the driver and off you go. If anybody is likely to get sea sick this is not for you as the smell of diesel is very heavy. Great fun to sit amongst the workers going home and feeling the true Dubai of old. It is such a city of contrasts. The glaring luxury malls with all the trimngs and then the old city with a beat of its own.

The boys have ben introduced to taxi in Dubai too. It is a wow for them to stand on a corner, put ut your hand and taxi stops. They have gone shopping for me with a list of needs. They have done vey wel and come back with all needed BUT it takes some time. I am not sure if it is due to the size and layout of the stores or them seaching for products as most is is arabic..................

I am really being tested in my old age with my cooking skills. A few challenges exist here. Fistly it is the space of the kitchen. You need to be super organised to cook in that space. The kitchen on the blue train better be aware. I can cook in a smaller space than them... Then the biggest of all is the stove...................It is gas.................and it has attitude. NEVER a good attitude mind you. The oven is either super slow or so very fast.........................The only fast setting is the grill. The oven is super slow......I will however muster on and conquer the bleddie thing. I try my best to make really good meals but somehow it does not always work.....

Hannes has so much time off it feels very change to see him so often. He also has to adjust to a life not very busy.....As I said before this is a paradigm shift is all directions.

I miss my family and friends. Clydene's daughter Gia was married yesterday and I missed that...NOT NICE.

Today was a litlle emotional as it was Pierre's birthay. I really miss him so much......but that is for me to carry...........................I had a good coffee and krispy kreme doughnut for him by myself.

I feel a little lonely and tearful and do not seem to know why. Is all this happening too fast?????????Is one really made to change so drastictly??????????????? I need something but cannot find it tonight...............................Had a very nice call from Jinny today. We had a lekker chat about all nice things.

I want to plan what to more to do with the boys in Dubai as the tine is running out. Rossouw leaves on he 7th of January and there is so much more to do and see.

Ok all for now.

L

ARRIVE DUBAI .....GREETED BY RAIN

OUR BACK YARD..............THE DUBAI MARINA............

TOGETHER AT LAST

Hannes looks so good. He has lost weight and is so relaxed an happy with his life . I am so glad for him as he has worked so hard all his life with no regard to his own quality of life. He goes to gym very day and eats healthy and well. To gym here is so easy as every apartment building has it's own gym, steam room and pool onsite. He only goes to gym to feel good and not only to loose weight. For him it is a stress releiver. Me on the other hand will not easily go to gym (even in this easy access) as I do not really like excercise very much. I would rather sit and have coffee and a chat with someone............................even in he gym....... We plan to go for walks every day in the marina after Hannes returns form work. It is so safe here that yo can do that even in the evening.......

This was the sunrise that greeted us as we arrived home in Dubai. This foto was taken from our balcony. The day was rather overcast and the rain soon geeted us. it is said that it nly ains for 2 days per year in Dubai......Well we have had 2 days of rain. It is not the ame as rain as we know it. It is much less but all the taffic gos ballistic nd over the radio report of water n the road are all he time. Seems as if the water alosdoes not drain away and n areas it looks like a dam in the road althoug the "downpour" was very little.

The sky is clear and I can see stars tonight . All the buildings sems clean and the "dust" cload is nowhere to be seen. It is cool and very different than the hot Dubai I left in October. Most visitors like Dubai In December due to the climate. I find it too cold for Dubai. I love the heat...

We went to Dubai mall for the day. It is a brand new mall which opened a few weeks ago and is said to be the biggest mall in the world.....................No shit sherlock.............This baby is huge..... I think we did about a tenth of the mall. The boys were so confused in the food hall as to what to choose from..... The boys and I made our choices and were seated and eating when Hannes arrives with his lunch selection..................We had to laugh....

(picture this in your imagination) The 3 of us were in trays and paper (like at Mc Donalds) and here his lordship arrives with a designer paperbag number (Looks like a Gucci or Chanel shopping bag) Inside is his take away from the Thai outlet in the fast food hall.................His cutlery is silver plastic..............We eat with our hands and plenty of seviette's (We chose burger king you see..............) Any way we had ou laugh and teased hannes about his designer lunch bag............................. Was a moment thing

These 2 boys are blown away with Dubai.....They have been around town in the red bus. It gives an overall look of Dubai and what it offers. Here the 2 are at "WAFI" This is one of the lani malls in Dubai. We are like country bumpkins let loose on the big world. I feel like "Hessie vanaf die plaas" here. Every thing is at your fingertipe and in such great volume. It is mind boggling at times.

The red bus is a fantastic thing to do in Dubai on your first day. It is a "hop on hop off" bus. You can stay on the bus all day too and just look, listen and learn about Dubai. We took the boys to get the overall idea of Dubai. It has 26 stops all over town, but you can sit on top an have a birds eye veiuw. We got off at the creek for a cruise down the creek.

Some impressive buildings on he creek and actually to let you see the cloud formation in Dubai. It rained on and off the whle day. You do not need a rain coat as it is sporadic showers.

The creek still trades in goods and it has this fantastic mix of old and new. In this foto is the new buildings and yachts. Go back a few blogs and you will see the old. The boats that till trade in this "port". It is actually he whole creek edge that is one big dock.

Today has been a slow day. I am so tired and struggle to keep my eyes open. The boys met up with school friends that also live in dubai and Hannes is on duty tonight. I did my household chores tonight when all as quiet and I as alone. So tomorrow we can go go go again.

It is so easy to clean this tiny flat............ I could not do all the washing as the washing machine died on me today............Luckily it is the landlords problem to fix or replace. Until then it will either be hand washing or laundry service....Which one do you all vote for.

I did skype with Laurika tonight and this technology is fantasic..... Ermanno and Clydene tried to skype but we had a gremlin in the works..............Don't knw why but thy could only see and hear me,I could not hear or see them at all.......

Enough of me today......

L

PS. Spell check not woring a all..........................SORRY

LET THE GOOD BYE'S BEGIN

CLYDENE,MYSELF,GESIE AND MARIETJIE
We are the Bali Btches........................... Always were and always will be. ( SORRY i PUBLISHED THIS FOTO TWICE IN THIS BLOG ...... Do not know how to edit or delete the extra one so you will have to wait for the story on us later in this blog entry......... give me a break it is 02h52 in the morning......)

GOOD BYE LAURIKA
She has been my rock and roommate for the the last months since Hannes left. As I explained before she worked for us in the surgery and was my right and left hand "wing man". I adore this girl and am going to miss her so much. She is a very good friend and always so extremely loyal.
I have to start saying goodbye to her slowly as early next year we will only have contact via face book or e-mail. Strange how life brings people into your life who leave a huge crater when they have to move on. She had such a tough time early on in our relationship. She was shit scared of me and used to go into nervous fits just thinking of having contact with me. I must say I am a very difficult task master to work for. I strive for perfection and expect nothing less in return.
Laurika however has come to learn to even think like me so we are like little BIG ME and MINNIE ME. You can decide who is who..................................... I always used to say that I am wife NR 1 and she is wife NR 2 to Hannes. . . . Today however all her fear has gone and we are just such good friends and colleagues.
Laurika I have so much respect for you in how far you have come and still strive to go..... YOU GO GIRL .....................I love you very much and am always on your shoulder............


AHH......My "Pastrami friends".....
ERMANNO AND CLYDENE ON UMDLOTI BEACH
CLydene goes all the way and a little more. Just look carefully into this foto and you will see to what extend she goes for casual "sun downers on the beach" I mean check our dress code and her table setting. She did a full silver service for this bun fight..... Clydene is ALWAYS just there. She is not intrusive and very quiet (except in Bali with a cork screw in her pajama's !!!!!) I can drink coffee with her all night , literally have done so on a few occasions... She makes a killer "cuppa chino"..... I will easily swap a Starbucks "cuppa chino" for one of hers............... Now these two (Eramnno and Clydene) are like bread and butter, scones and cream, cheese and crackers,....they fit together. Ermanno is always there in the back ground too (normally with a cold one in a green bottle in his hand...) but always there. I have had some very bad situations and they just come to your rescue in what ever way they can.
What a "lekker" travel mate she is too. She scares the living daylights out of me on her spending abilities.... She loves to shop and saves me a lot of money in return as just looking at her satisfies my buying urges.....She is not good at bargaining for an item........That is where I fit in. You know good cop bad cop scenario....................But hey does she travel light. We went to Bangkok for a week once and she only had a little travel bag as hand luggage going to Bangkok. I mean did not even hand in her luggage........ But boy oh boy when she came home Ermanno had to nearly fetch her from the airport with a flat bed truck............................
Clydene I will soooooo miss you. I have to start with the goodbye action tomorrow when I see you..............Not looking forward to that as I am now so "over it" as the kids will say. Too many goodbyes in my life these last 4 months.
Look after Umdloti for me while I am away................. Remember we have not finished with Dubai shopping yet......

THE BALI BTCHES.........................
CLYDENE, MYSELF, GESI AND MARIETJIE

How do I begin to explain this friendship....It is so special to have such tight friends for so many years and we share just about everything with each other......WE travel together in such a fantastic manner although we are so different

GOOD BYE GESI

This is such a special woman.....She has so much compassion and love to hand out and does exactly that. I have said in previous blog entries of how beautiful she is. (She is a race horse!!!!!!!!!) and loves PRADA.................

"Rerig", my friend how will I survive without all your love and talks............ We have also done a few all nighters...........

Now she can "really" cook. Understand nicely, we all are good in the kitchen department BUT Gesi is of another class. Every thing she touches in life turns to "best" be that friendships or food.
Gesi you have taught me so much of "letting things slide" in the reaction department. Thanks so much for that. You taught me to take a breath first and then react.... You know Steve Covey (author) writes about the 7 habits....Well my 2nd habit (reactive and pro active) was so out of sync..........I just go for reactive instinctively......never a good outcome hey, just ask my kids for affirmation...... Her husband Bob will also be sadly missed as he is also such a good friend. All out men also get on very well together and this helps this friendship to blossom. Thanks guys....

How does one say goodbye to friends like this...........My tears are so boring lately as the last few weeks that seems to be all I have been doing. Sometimes out of pure anger and frustration and sometimes out of anguish..........

Gesi I will always have you very close to my hart....I am planning on sitting with you at all our kids weddings with my "dusty pink" outfit........(Heaven forbid may it take a few years.......)
You have lifted my spirits in so many ways over the years. You are an easy shoulder to cry on and just as easy to have a great laugh with. YOu still have to come and do the Dubai number.

MARIETJIE (OUSUS)
Marietjie is the sober thinker amongst us all. A quote that she uses has crept into my daily speech as she says it so perfectly the quote is "you know what" and then she gives this absolutely "commonsense" advice................ Her sense of humor is to die for.....Sarcastic, clever, sharp and to the point. She is a big "live and let live" personality. How she became "ousus" is a long story and has nothing to do with age. Let's just say it was due to my "reactive" personality which came to bite me later.........................

OH she does NOT cook...............She has other fantastic talents.............Mario her husband is the chef in the house. Good to see and good to eat his food too. he like other interesting foods and we are always just to happy to comply with finishing our plates............

Ousus gaan jou baie mis..........

LETS GET ONTO A LIGHTER SIDE.................

This is JC as a clown. His work year end function was a day at the circus.......They did clown training and had to dress and do the part. He loved it very much. So refreshing to see a year end function which does not only consist of mega booze consumption. I also think it was a great way to "team build" Hr is not joining us in Dubai this holiday as he does not have leave due to him from work. I will miss him at Christmas and new year BUT he will come and see us in the new year..............

Just a foto to show how they did the opening of Atlantis in Dubai. 15 million pounds were spent on the fire works display. Only 3 more sleeps for me to be there.

Another foto of the Atlantis opening....................

AS you have gathered I am going to Umdloti tomorrow to say my good bye's to very very dear friends. I also have to say good bye to my little piece of heaven, OUR UMDLOTI FLAT. It is not the bricks and mortar I will miss but the whole looking at the ocean. I always felt so safe and secure at the flat. That was where I recharged my batteries.....Had time to just look at the ocean and get inner calm after stormy times... Lived with open doors and windows with no burglar bars. The smell of the sea........ I might not have the privilege to stay there soon again as the flat has been given to an agent to manage the rental while we are away....

I went to my dad's funeral last week and it was exactly what he would have wanted. No frills no fuss. The church was full. he would have been pleased to see that. I had said my goodbye to him on the weekend we visited him about 6 weeks ago. It was so good to have had that time to say all that was needed. he believed in "giving flowers when some one is alive and not after death."

HE kept himself to that goal. So I have no regrets with our relationship while he was alive. I just feels the death of 2 very special people to me is asking a little much.

Maybe that is why tomorrow is very hard for me to do. I have to say good bye once more. OK it is not permanently but the feeling of loss and longing for that person will be very similar..................... I just know the tears will be genuinely felt and deserved.................

I AM SO USELESS AT GOOD BYE............................

Dian is on "matric week" in Balito and having a ball. Rossouw has finished his maths "subs" and he seem to think all went well..... I will see him in Johannesburg at the airport on Thursday when we leave.

The last 2 weeks have been hectic with arrangement before I leave for Dubai and now I have decided that I have done my utmost and all the rest must just sort themselves out .......... The only things I still have to do is goodbye's, finalise the rental agent in Umdloti, get the house in Richards bay in order for the tenants for December, collect Dian, pack and leave for the airport.

I cannot wait to see Hannes again and to live some form of "normal" life. At least my sleeping pattern will return to normal............ I am sure he feels the same. He must be very lonely.

This time I am in Dubai for 6 weeks..................JIppeee.....

OK all I am bushed.

L

LEKKER TAAI TOFFIE

I SAID GOODBYE
I said goodbye to my special car this week. I have been fortunate to get a buyer for both vehicles. In our economic climate that was a real difficult thing to do. I am not emotionally attached to this car BUT it always made me feel so special and to drive it was only a pleasure. I had so many happy kilo's with this black number. I remember the day I got it. We were at Umdloti and it was perfect summer weather. It was wrapped by the dealer with a huge red bow. had a big card on it with my name on it.
I took the top down and did a scenic drive down the coast. It was superb. But it has come to an end and i enjoyed it very much

This was Hannes's baby. Also a pleasure to drive. I hope the new owner will have many happy hours driving it. Whoever gets these two power houses is getting very good cars in absolute perfect condition.


The last entry told you about my revisit to my Phinda "timeshare"...This time I went to Phinda mountain lodge with Rossouw and his girlfriend Marlette. Phinda was Divine as always although I do still prefer Phinda vlei lodge. This foto is taken from my private veranda with it's own splash pool and open air shower (yes I did shower there every morning looking out into the beautiful countryside with Impala and "pumba's" strolling by.) Now for me to shower is one thing but to shower at 05h00 is totally unheard of. But the game drive is at 06h00 and I really needed to be wide awake for that. (And also not stink on the vehicle) This shower however is in a different league. You get body scrub and shower gel and "lekker" soap and fluffy towels, so roughing it does not even come into the picture. You can see the shower surround in the left of the foto. I did not even attempt the pool as it is freezing cold water.

One afternoon on the game drive we came across these lions. Sorry the light is not good as I only have my "mik en druk" camera in SA. (For my international friends that means Point and shoot camera) It had rained very much in Phinda the previous week and this pride was having a sun downer in the road puddle. The game was very difficult to find with all the rain as the veld was green and thick and they need not come to water holes.

This is the entrance to Phinda mountain lodge. All open and inviting. I love safari in this style. I am not made to camp and rough it up............ I am a real Jumeira Jane. believe me I am not ashamed of it either. Just sometimes have to wonder about God's sense of humour. he give me this absolute love of luxury, but does not fit my budget accordingly.............

Rossouw and Mella were in awe at Phinda and really enjoyed it. They were up every morning for the game drives (slept on the vehicle to my absolute disgust..................got a lecture not to do so.........................and then all was fine.)

We loved the meals and the spoils and for me to have the days at total leisure as you have no cell phone coverage or TV is so relaxing.

Coming home after Phinda was with a huge "fall off a wall" type of stuff. It felt like every thing that could irritate and test me happened. My dad passing away, Rossouw having to go and write a sub at university, toilets at home packing up, cell phone ringing off the hook with relocation business, struggling to get visas for Rossouw and Dian to go to Dubai in a week ect ect ect.

The visa story was very testing. You have to have a book and paid for airline ticket to apply for a visa. Ok here goes trustably trudie (me) books and pays the tickets after weeks of juggling the boys dates and needs, and I cannot get a visa for longer that 30 days..........I am told to change the itinerary and then re apply...........Too many phone calls and stories to tell later I have to surrender, not and easy one for me to do, and hannes has to do the visas from Dubai. So sclepp all the paperwork to him (you have to have foto's too) and off he goes on a few days up and down to get the visas. Anyway the visas were issued today for 90 days for each child.....SO I CAN FLY TO DUBAI ON 04 DECEMBER.................... I cannot wait. I miss Hannes and am really not made to be single at all.

I also think Hannes is really looking forward to seeing us all again.

Tomorrow I am going to PE to be in time for my dad's funeral on Friday morning. I did not plan in going BUT I am. What a mission to arrange that. I have a few choices of flight but anyway option takes me 3 days to execute . I could go connecting flights between Richards bay and PE via Johannes burg or Durban Johannesburg direct. I just have one small problem PE is 2 hours drive from the airport to Port Alfred where the service is, and 10h00 is the time of the service. SO I leave on Thursday to sleep in PE to leave early by car to be in time in Port Alfred.

Coming back same story. I just took a deep breath and said to myself "don't sweat the small stuff" I think it is less time to fly to the "bleddie" moon than me getting to Port Alfred.

Rossouw and Mella also leave tomorrow. I will meet Rossouw at the airport in Johannesburg when we leave for Dubai.

Dian is writing an entrance exam on Friday for his university course and then he goes to "matric week" in balito. His week has been cut short by 3 days for him to do the exam. he was not a happy chappy when I told him this.

I have also let the house to holiday tenants for 3 weeks while I am in Dubai.......... We will just have see how that pans out.

Ok all it is now 3.30 in the morning and brain is slowing down. Just enough time to bath and do the hair pack quickly and leave for the airport in Durban.

Chat again over the weekend.

Georgie , all the way form the USA, nice to see your comments on the blog. Think of a Dubai for a visit. WD40 not needed...............................................

l

GOOD BYE DAD

My dad, Gerald Louis Rossouw, passed away this morning after a short sick bed but with great suffering to him. GOOD BYE DADDIO.
I will miss him a lot as he always had good chats and very sharp sense of humour.
My sister Jinny was with him for the last week and helped to keep him very comfortable and to die with the utmost dignity. THANK YOU JINNY.


How lucky was I to have had the last weekend about a month ago with him. I had the time and privilege to say all I wanted to say to him and to hear his "version" of his life and trials and tribulations. We had a few tears that weekend but mostly lots of jokes and laughs. He beleived to give all the "flowers" in life and not after death. I could do that.
I do think I had it good with him as my father as he was a lot older when I was born than with my other siblings. (he then had brains to raise a child!!!) don't get me wrong he would have loved that chirp.... anyway I was rather spoiled by him all my life. So I have only very good memories.
My tears today are for myself in a ver selfish way.

Dad I hope you and Pierre and now having a ball together and I am sure the two of you will sort that "place" out in no time, so that when we join you all is done and dusted.
Have fun .
Loved you lots Dad and will miss you.
Licki

WEDDING WEEK END

Hannes sent me this foto today of the opening of the hospital. Does he not look so spiffy in his white coat and tie. It is very formal dress in Dubai for all doctors. The hospital was opened by the Sheik's son. All was done so smart. At last the doors are open and hannes is able to work with patients again.

Hannes has also done a diving course in the days off between shift and he has enjoyed it very much. I believe he got very high marks for his theoretical exams. he has done the pool diving and open ocean diving to 8 meters. So glad he is getting to do some fun stuff for himself as well.
I will never be able to join the diving as my ears cannot equalise so I am a snorkel and tanning baby........ I must say I cannot wait to go to the Maldives to test drive all Hannes's new skills and to see those magical islands. No NO No No (as Amy "Whynehouse" will sing) we do not have immediate plans to go to the Maldives but a girl can dream hey......
At this stage I just want the boys to get their Visa's for Dubai visit in December. More about that later in the blog. I am typing around the story now...

This is the entrance at the hospital. It is really much more impressive than the foto shows. It is total opulence and luxury. The wards are all single and no patient shares a room with anybody. The bathrooms in the wards look like a five star hotel. I just might want to get sick there. O dear wonder if we have a Dubai medical aid......


THE WEDDING (What this entry is actually about)
The last weekend I went to cape Town for a family wedding. My sister's eldest son,Pieter, got married to Michelle. Well this was fabulous. It was on a wine estate called Meer en Dal. beautiful setting. The 3 days prior to the wedding the cape was rainy and windy to the max.... So strange for mid November. But the day if the wedding all was sunny and warm and beautiful.
This is the happy couple after the ceremony, signing the register. My sister worked her butt off. She made all the dresses of the bride and brides maids. She was the wedding planner and convener and "meid van die bruid" as she called herself. (All in good humor) I must say she did herself very proud.

This is Pieter the groom. he was very nervous at this stage as he had to still do the waiting game......
Pieter and I come a long way. he was a tiny tot when I stayed with them for a long time. It was such a strange feeling to see him now in a different role. The groom. he is all grown up and successful. he and Michelle make a lovely couple and I am sure they will have many many happy years together.

MY sister and her husband, the parents of the groom. This is the lady who did all the wedding arrangements and sowing and and and and and. She really did a superb job and that after having a hip replacement just a few weeks prior to the wedding..... can't keep a good thing down now can you!

I also stayed with my mom in cape Town for 2 nights to catch up. She is still very up and about and loves living in her "Estate" The weather was so gross that we did not venture out very much. I did some personal "beautifying" for the wedding. I called it "duco" You know when a car gets re sprayed they call it "duco" Well I wanted to be "tanned" for the wedding but alas absolutely no sunshine in my life for 14 days before the wedding. Now desperate times ask for desperate measure...... I wanted to be tanned, so off I went to a beauty spa where you get the "California tan" in a spray can. I nearly fainted when I saw the spray gun...It is "humongous" You get issued this teeny weeny paper pantie and that is all. You turn like a roast chicken for the therapist to get into all the nooks and crannies for the tan.

Must say it looked fabulously tanned for 48 hours. THEN you look a little dirty as the tan does not keep on all areas the same.......... I went for a huge soak in the bath this afternoon and look a lot better tonight. Luckily it only last for about 4 days then all traces of the tan are gone.

I do not think I will do that again.

Anyway moving on. I lost my "personality" a little at the reception. Luckily late at night. It must have been the German dish that affected me so badly....I think it was called "jagermeister"

The whole family still spoke to me the next day so maybe i did not behave too badly or they just love me enough to let it slide....................... All in all it was a great wedding and I really enjoyed the visit with the family for the 4 days. Strange how family can always pull the strings together although we do not see each other very often.

JC joined me in cape Town for the wedding and he also had a great time. he also spent 2 days with my mom (his gran) and the two of them did the whole waterfront and stelllenbosh item.

JC will not be joining us in Dubai in December so I thought a cape town weekend will be his consolation prize. he is still too new at his company to take leave in December.

I think my 2 cars have been sold. I will have finality on that on Friday. Must say our economic climate is terrible and i will have to pay in to get rid of them.............So are the breaks.

A very good friend put me in contact with a motor wholesaler. Even advertising them did not even give a phone call in the last 10 day. Hannes and I have decided to cut our losses and let go.

I will be relieved if this deal goes through so all of you blogger buddies keep your fingers crossed.

I might have a nibble at the house sale as well. Will that not be great. I do not want to get too excited but a girl can dream.

Rossouw and his girlfriend, Marlette, and myself are going to my time share (as Gesi refers to Phinda) tomorrow. We will be there for 3 nights and I am really looking forward to another 3 days in the bush.

Today was so very busy and stressful. I am having difficulty getting Rossouw and Dian's visas for the December visit. It can only be issued for 30 days. Both of them will be in Dubai for longer. hannes now has to do the visas from Dubai. It is 2 weeks before we fly so i just hope he gets the visas............

This whole expedition, relocation or what ever is really not for "sissies" So many little things jump out the woodwork that you never ever expected. I am learning to think into and around corners at this stage. Also trying not to stress the small stuff BUT that is really testing me big time. I like to control all situations and keep it in hand...This si like a runaway train driven by the headless horseman at times.

Very good friends of ours from Richards bay arrived in Australia 3 days ago. They are also doing the relocation/immigration.

My dad is also not doing well at all and I think he might be taken to hospice tomorrow.

Dian wrote his final maths paper today and all went well he says. So relieved.

A nefew and his wife lost their 18 year old daughter on Friday in an accident. They are so broken up that this that I have to handle is really not bad at all although at times it tends to overdrive on the emotional side. Dian can give credit to this statement today........................although I still think he was a little unconsiderate with his words..................I am so glad he is still here to give me lip.

I am now going to sleep to be bright eyed and bushy tailed for my bush experience tomorrow. Chat when I get back.

L

SILLY SEASON HAS STARTED.

ENGELA, SONJA AND MYSELF.
I slept over at Engela in Durban last night and such a good visit. It was so good to see her again and catch up on all the times we have shared as friends and the laughs and tears we have shared.
I drank all her coffee (I do not think she has ever seen such a large volume of coffee being consumed) I also NEVER have been able to be a reserved person and do this in moderation....I have to absolutely "ruk die hol uit" .....Sorry Engela I think your budget has been dented badly.....but I will do it all over again as we had a super time. Engela uses to live in Richards bay and was one of our very good friends who was always there in our early days here in town. She did excellent PR for Hannes and sent all her friends to him as patients... She has such an acute sense of humor too....Slightly sarcastic but very sharp and never mean. She is a good person.

Sonja, thanks my dear friend for your comment on the last blog.....Good to know you read it and am in touch with all my goings on. You of all people understand this "relocation" You have been there and done the whole nine yards...... WHAT THE HELL IS RELOCATION......I have to find a better word as it puts you nowhere at all......
We were neighbours in Richards Bay and we are still very good friends. Even if we are so very far away from each other it is so good to know we still are in touch. I hope you still remember our Christmas shopping in Durban a few uears ago, as it is nearly that time of year again. We bought all these Christmas things that sing and dance and jump......All used batteries so they were very noisy. I also remember we went to Makro to buy batteries in bulk....... We even kept the neighbours in your flat entertained with our shopping expedition.... You had this huge 4x4 which the two of us very successfully in 1 day's shopping packed so full we hardly had space for our handbags when we came back.............. It took us 2 days to unpack all the shopping as well.. Good times...
Funny how the technology has crept into all our lives and is a good thing.... I remember I nearly shat myself the first time I had to "work" on the computer..... It was this alien thing who could "think" for itself...... Today however i will hit the roof if any one says "the computer" made the mistake.....Who the hell is the monkey handling it I always ask.... Any way still very lekker to have this contact. OK OK I accept all the spelling mistakes as my own ......
ON THE COMMENTS OF THE LAST BLOG:
Thanks to Jollie, Jinny, Rossi and especially to Laurika for the kind and encouraging words. Laurika was the "daughter" who wrote to "ma" on the last blog. It made my day .Although I at first thought it was one of my boys,( A mother can dream) she was the one who wrote those very special words to me.
Laurika was a staff member at the surgery but has become so much more. She is my house companion/daughter/friend/confidant/coffee maker/shoulder to cry one etc at the moment.
She has been so kind to come and house sit with me so that I am not totally alone in this house now.
These comment keep me blogging as I then know some one is out there reading all this gargle (spelling mistakes and all) that I dish out to you all.............



GERALD, PIERRE, JINNY, DOK AND MYSELF.
I had to add this foto in to remind me of how quickly things can change and I must never take one minute of any day for grated as it might change and never be available again. I tend to waste too much energy on what is wrong and how to fix it that I sometimes fall off the rails (NAFI)
The old saying use it or lose it is so true. Pierre passed away this year and has left a void in my emotional life. Pierre i still miss you very much and thank my lucky starts that I had you in my life very actively for so many years. No regrets. We now are only four left and I cherish every moment and contact I can have with them. We are such a lively and interesting bunch the four of us. All totally unique BUT superb people. We have strengths in very different areas but together we make a formidable team. I am the youngest (best position I tell you) and I still learn from all of the others every day. We are all super intelligent and so funny and sharp. I promise anybody never a dull moment in our company at all.



HANSIE BABES AND MYSELF
Ok you have heard it before but this is my blog so live with it I BLEDDIE MISS HIM TOO MUCH......
Look carefully we do not have any shoes on but am dressed to the nine's. We had a dinner party at home. I always have a dress up dinner party when all the boys are home in the holidays. This one however we had to honour Rossouw's short comings, who had had a knee operation and could not wear long pants and had to come in shorts to the table. The whole family (girlfriends and all) dressed up smartly but we chose not to wear shoes so that Rossi does not feel under dressed.
The boys and their girlfriend set the table and I cooked like a real Italian mamma. happy in the kitchen with her whole family by her side. Luckily we all went all out and have such great memories of that. Funny the boys used to ask before the holidays what the theme was going to be and always looked forward it.


TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY READING THE BLOG
These flowers I send to all of you who are out here with me in cyber space.....Thanks for love and support and me knowing you are all there.

THE SILLY SEASON IS HERE AGAIN.

I realised with a bang today that Christmas is upon us again. I hate buying frozen chicken or washing powder with "Rudolph the red nose reindeer" singing in Pick a Pay's stores. Just when I think this is bad "jingle bells" follows. Now I was in Pick a Pay today to buy totally un interesting stuff and I get this creepy irritating feeling creep all over me. As I am slightly confused at this stage in my life (give me a break please 48years old, menopausal, relocating, no deadlines, not sure of the days of the week...........get the picture) well this creepy feeling is there and I want to run but do not know why...............Then it hits me it's the bleddie music in the store........Christmas tunes already.... Maybe I should buy groceries in this time of year with an Ipod in my ears with music of my choice.............

Then the next thought or scenario hits me...The store is held up and I do not know it as I am now deaf...There I will be the only lunatic having a lekker time pushing my trolley in Pick a Pay with my own music and all the others are on the floor and under shelves listening to rudolph the red nose raineer...........................

Which one will you choose.................

With that thought I greet you tonight.

L