You made me laugh Maria

A real South African Braai in the Snow and all ...

On Thursday Guy had been down in Bournemouth and had gone to a South African shop and got all kinds of SA goodies for the braai, then on Friday after he dropped us off he went to pick up a whole lot of Boerewors from somewhere else.

From the time we woke up it had started sleeting on and off, so instead of walking up the co-op, I got a ride in Wendy's new sports car, her Opel Tigra or as they say in the UK vauxhall.

Paula and Kathleen were the first to arrive at 2:00pm and Em again was so pleased to have a play mate, they had not seen each other for 2 years but it was like they were only apart a day.

The whole evening was absolutely brilliant, Guy made the best braai ever (besides my husband), Lynn and her brother came round and it was so great to see Lynn, we saw her last in July last year when she popped over to Ireland for Em's 4th birthday party. It was great catching up. We ate and drank far too much especially as we had to be up early to leave for Holyhead to get our ferry back to Dublin.

Meeting up with Ken in London

We woke up early on Easter Friday as we had planned to go into London and meet up with Jean & Ken and the girls. Guy dropped us off at the train station in Luton and we caught the train up to London, we planned to go to St. Paul's as Em had seen it in "Mary Poppins" and wanted to feed the birds, however she enjoys chasing them more than feeding them.

We got off somewhere close to St. Paul's and then took the tube to St. Paul's, by this time D and I were dying for a coffee so we went off to Nero's and while we were sitting there Ken phoned to say they were standing outside of St. Paul's. Off we went to meet them, it was so strange that although we had not seen them in 2 years it did not feel that long and they all still looked the same as we remembered them 2 years ago.

Em was in her element as she had some friends for a change. We went into St. Paul's not realising that they were having Easter service and prayers and of course there was no sight seeing, Em can not read so ignored the huge sign saying "SILENCE" until about 10 people in unison said ssshhh....

So from there we left and went to the Pizza place across the road for lunch, it was so great catching up with all the news and it was great just seeing them on their own for a change. After a really nice lunch, Jean had planned to go to the Museum of Natural History and of course Em would want to go with, so we all trekked off there.

I am so glad we went because it was really interesting, bar the fact that there must have been about 10,000 other people there, I will have to go over and meet Jean and go on a quiet day. I would love to see Tutankhamen's treasures and all the other exhibitions they have it was really really worthwhile.

We left at about 4:00 and headed back to the station to get the train back to Luton, we managed to get the express train so got back really quickly, Guy picked us up from the station and we all went home.

Em was in her element as Guy had made the most delicious Spaghetti Bolognaise this side of Italy. We drank and chatted and eventually went to bed round midnight.

Lynn flies the Premier flag once again

CONGRATULATIONS LYNN!

Hi Rose,

Well, the deed is done and I have resigned from De La Rue and will be joining Premier Foods as a Senior Project Manager from May. I am really pleased as they are in the process of rolling out SAP to all the business.

Looking forward to seeing you soon
Love
Lynn

Some news from Karen

Hi Rose
Hi Derek

Firstly a HUGE THANK YOU for all the effort and work on the blog.
Suppose some of us enjoy catching up on the past - and other wish to leave the pst behind.
I really apprecite all the effort you do .


On the home front......
been extra hot here last couple days - coming home in the car at 17:00 and the thermomenter says 30degrees!!!!
Not much exciting happening... just seem to be extra hectic.
Gert has been to Nambia border, Lesotho, Zambia, Malawi, Cape Town Swaziland, Mozambique all since mid jan to now. This was his 1st whole week = "at home" since jan - and this weekend he leaves for lesotho for a couple days. He has had so much to achieve - that has been rather busy - and I know that he has in march a zambia and CT trip to get done. I will be off to Malawi and Zambia - but waiting for his dates to be finalised(he needs to coordinate with others - whereas mine is our own office bookeeping) - so it could be march or april that I go for 2 weeks.
Kids also seem to have busy schedules. - Chris is in Matric - and I said at the beginning of year that he must make the most of the year - and enjoy everythinng as it is his last year at school. this wasnt the most wisest to have said........ he got himself involved in drama( not that we need anymore drama at home!!!) and they putting on a house play at the end of this month.... so has been lots of taxiing for practise. including weekends and nights etc etc. He made it to the 1st team hockey - so is chuffed with himself - they off on a tour to ct in april - so has also been extra hockey training,,,, and then he does cricket - which when is a game can go onto 19:00 (as it gets dark!!!) - now you wonder why I said it wasnt the most wisest to say "go for it this year"....... I have no idea when school work gets done.... he is average - but does needto put in work to pass - so occassionally i tentavively ask - how are the school marks/progress. Then he does most fri night scouts - and they wanting to do camps/hikes etc - which is good for the 16-18 to be on ther own and do hiking/camps for the weekend, without adult/parents - but i try and keep my heart hopeful that school marks will also be positive. and then there is the socialising!!!! so in a nutshell his schedule has been fulltime coordination of taxiing around - but as he optimisticlly sys after plays (end this month) he will have more time for studing.

Markus in Std 7 - and taller than me now. Its great news as no one can "borrow' my takkies anymore. this was often a borrowed item - as there were wet etc etc . He is tall for his age and there are about 5 in his grde that are this height. Many boys come up to his shoulder. Downside is that often he stoops as he "sticks out" and with the red hair is like a warning light!!! He has started the very stroppy stage... oh boy can be very frustrating sometimes with all the testosterone around!!!! We didnt time it exactly well in their ages - the older one is mostly out of this grumpiness and the younger one starts.... so we will have about 10 years of teenager battlezones in the house!!!! Markus in the 1st cricket team. He just loves cricket - and again its 2 days training and then matches on wed and sat. Wed games usually go until dark - and sat are from 8 - 15:30 - (orthey won/lost earlier) I am a "awful mom; as when get to watch game - wish that the 1 or other team is strong that they get it over quickly!!! He also does chess which he seems to love and do well in. NOt sure where he gets this from!!!
He enjoys the scouts as well - is quite a nice group of kids - about 30 in all - but what is great is that they have a bunch from each sort of age group - so that Markus's age group are about 6-9 kids - and they starting to enjoy being independant together.

We have had super hot days - but the garden really looking great. We have borehole water - so are able to water (when I remember) most evenings - so is lush and green... ok not like overseas green - but for africa stds is lush. When was out in magliesberg 3weeks ago - was amazed at how nice the bush looked. Really looks thick and lush. So nice to see it like it is. Gert went by car to Lesotho and Mozambique and swaziland - he also commented how wondeful it is in the veldt.
I remember that Feb and Nov were my worst months living in Munich - always grey and overcast = no snow etc etc. Somehow they seemed to me to be the worst months of winter. I loved your fog pictures. It must have been really eerie. That is something that we miss in africa is the defined seasons/weather.

Have a great weekend
and again - thanks for all the effort and time that you do invest in the blogs.

Cheers
Karen