COUNT DOWN CONTINUES....4..3...2...1

Sorry it has taken so long to blog, but here goes. Sorry no photo's as the "travelling Internet" no can do !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
COUNT DOWN ..4..........
I left PE from Dian to Aloma my dear friend living in Dana bay near to Mosselbay in the eastern cape. I rented a vhicle and did the 4 hour drive as it was quicker and cheaper and i got to see that area of South frica again. It is a very beautiful country. So much diversity in the country side. From beautiful forrest to the ocean in all it's wild glory.
On arrival at Aloma and Johnny it was as if we has seen each other only yesterday and not 4 years ago.
he two of them looked good and we had man laughs. One which was very funny was at a restaurant in Mosselbay. Aloma's daughter had her birthday celebration and we all were invited and arranged that each will pay their own account... I asked the waiter to "run a tab" for me and to get me a vodka and red bull (my faourite drink ) Well well to my amazement the waiter comes running to the table with his tray in hand, he delivers my vodka and rebull AND a tin of Tab and a glass of ice....................Get it ?????????????? he bough me a "run a Tab". To my international friends Tab is a ugar free soft drink...
We had a huge laugh when we had worked this number out.....
The rest of three days we were like chatter boxes 24/7. I shared a room with Aloma as she also had her kids there at the same time.
We would decide to go to bed at about 01hoo. As soon as the two of us were settled in bed and before good night was said we started chatting again and ended at turning out the light at 04hoo. We have always has this huge talking and sharing relationshp.It was marvelous and felt like my days studying as then the girls would get together after the evenigs and just talk and talk and talk. many laughs were had too. I think this female relationship of chatting up a storm recharges our batteries. We after all come from venus don't we........ so we talk the same language. I also think men find this so boring to talk for hours on "useless" information....................That is why we also go to the toilet in goups........It becomes a social event..........
The 3 days flew past and it was far to soon for me to leave to see Rossouw. I left from George airport for Johannesburg.
Here again I rented a car to go to.............

COUNT DOWN ... 3.........
POTCHEFSTROOM.
I have laugh at yself with rental vehicles..........I pick one that has a steering wheel and not red in colour. Each time I have to adjust to where the indicators are and how to drive these little loaves of bread......They also do not put off the lights when I get out.....So my learnng curves are still being tested.
My little car ( the names do not come easy either) and myself drove to Potchestroom, via Soweto,............. I took the wrong turn off from the highway...to see Rossouw. The trip should have been 1 hour and in the end took me nearly 3 hours. I did many turns in Johannesburg to get on the right road again. Soweto was not a place on my wish list at all. In the end all well and I arrived safely in Potchefstroom.
I stayed in a guest house which was very nice and comfortable.
I met some of Rossouw's varsity friends which is always good to know who they are. Rssuw had a busy time as he had 2 tests and rugby practise and a match in the time I was there. It was such a pleasure to see him on the rugby field again and he scored the first try of the game. That cost me money as i always pay for tries.....I was so proud that I paid up with a smile. His finases are terrrible so he was just as happy for the money. The evening after the rugby match was my last night with hm so he suggested we go for a cocktail at a bar n town. I was very tred and really did not feel up to it BUT I went as I thought this my last tme with him and he WANTS me to come. This is when I miss hannes the most in my life.............The micro chip which most people have which kicks in to say one is enough I never received.......... I have the worst judgement of what is good for me.......................and when to say enugh. We had one cocktail and I met more rugby friends when Rossouw suggeted we go to a different "joll". I went with and ended leaving at 05h20 the next morning.....We danced and jammed the whle night. I did not drink so I was not under the influence or any other excuse for my choice BUT it was so good to have had that time with him and his friends. When I said goodbye to him at 11hoo he was man down and I was a real duracell bunny hopping all over the place........Yeah I am the boss as he was hanging badly.....
Good to see him and to see that he is standing onhis feet and ready to fly...........That is what I worked for with my boys that they can stand on there own with lots of love and support from us only and not dependant kids who cannot function without Hannes and myself.
In potchefstroom I also contacted a friend who I nursed with 25 years ago. I met up with her and her daughters and had a "lekker kuier"
I also saw Murtle (JC's ex girlfriend) and had coffee and lunch with her. Luckily JC and herself are still good friends. So no pressure there as herself and me always had a very good friendship.

COUNTDOWN ...2......
JOHANNESBURG
I stayed with Mike and Estelle ( my brother and his wife) in Johannesburg and spent the evenings with JC. On the monday I stayed home with Estelle and did my nails and relax. Mike made a special dinner that evening and we had curry tripe. DEVINE..............Brings back many child hood memories......It was one of my dad's favourite foods.....
JC joined us for dinner and I had such a large meal that all I could do was sit and chat to him. Again so nice to spend time with him and just talk about where he is in his life and what his dreams and aspirations are for himself. I am very proud of him as he has climbed many big obstacles (all caused by him with bad life choices) BUT he is now ready to fly as well and is in a very good place inhis life now. Makes me feel more at ease to leave to Dubai and now he is on his way. He is so talented in many ways and seems to be finding himself again.
The words that parents spend many nights just praying is so true...............
My eldest brother, Gerald, also came to see me and say goodbye. Was very good to see him too.
The next evenig we went to my favourite chineese restaurant in Johannesburg. The last meal I had there Pierre was also there. I feel I had my dad and Pierre there those few days as well. Even if it was just with food types and last place I had a social evening with Pierre. Hell I miss him so much and it does not seem to get better......
I also went to JC's work place and met his boss (the owner of the company). What a special man and JC is very lucky to have him in his working life.
I went to where Jc stays and saw Rambo again. It was so good to see him and he only had eyes for me. He wanted nothing to do with JC. It was so strange to think that that bird brain remebers me so well. He was positively over the moon to see me and would not leave me alone for a minute. Jc is looking after him so well. He has a huge live and play area in JC's room. So he has total human contact which is so important for him.
JC had tears i his eyes when he had to say godbye and says it is only because he will miss me....Ah a mother heart goes to jelly at the thought.............

NOW FOR COUNT DOWN .....1........
I booked my flight to Dubai via MAURITIUS.
Yes yes I know I am a tart but I just wanted a few days all to myself to adjust to all that has hapened and to get to hannes well rested and relaxed......
At Mauritius airport the reality of carryng a south african passport hit home. Thanks to SAA and their drug smuggling crew all south african passport holders were take to a seperate passport control counter. It took for ages to go through the process and we were all checked from top to bottom. Apparently just last week a SAA plane that had landed in Mauritius carried a huge amount of drugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our passports are also not trusted as we have so many "bought" documents in SA..................................
The first day in Mauritus it rained all day and I spent it in bed sleeping . It was so good to have so much sleep.
The next day my mood was on the floor as it was again a very rainy and gloomy day. I then went to Port Louis to check out the shopping markets.
I went by local bus to Port Louis and it was great fun sitting with all the locals and seing all the small roads on the island where the people get on and off. It gives a totally different picure of mauritius than what you get as a tourist in the lani hotels. Why did I get on the bus?? The taxi charges 750 rupee to port louis. The bus was 26 rupee. That was a "no brainer".
The market was busy and bustling and I strolled through the fresh market as well. I always love to see what is on offer as the fruit and veg and foodstuffs go. Most are familiar but some are very foreign to me. The people are very very very friendly and will explain all and even let you try it as well even if they know you are not going to buy.
Mauritus market has become a baby Bangkok. All on offer can just as well be in the markets of Bangkok. Just on a very smaller scale and rather expenive.. You also barter for a better price.
Right up my alley.
The next day was beautiful and sunny and I have worked hard at cathing a tan. It has been very good for me to do this alone number as my emotional filling has been done and I am rearing to go again for the next interesting chapter of Hannes and myself together again after 7 months of living in different counties.
One very nice thing now is I do not have to wonder where I live any more as now I can say I live in Dubai............... I just have to get to know my Dubai contact numbers as it looks so strange when I have to consult my wallet for the print out I made of all Dubai contact numbers.
Relocaion is not for sissies but it is a wonderful mind awakenig experience...
I am so lucky to hve this experience and am planning o grab it with positive gusto. I also am so lucky that Hannes gives me so much freedom t be my own person .......
I love him very much and am looking forard to our next chapter......
I leave Mauritus in 2 days for Dubai.
OK AL FOR NOW. NEXT CHAT WILL BE FROM THE UAE.....