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