Gifts from home

I just want to send a special "derricashon" out to the most wonderful friends in the world. Robyn, Wendy and Melissa, thank you so much for the gifts you sent with my mother. Your thoughtfulness and kindness is greatly appreciated and I LOVE YOU GUYS!! 

Karl's favourite chocolate

my favourite madeira IN THE WORLD

rooibos lip balm

circular knitting needles to make a snood

the ONLY brush in the world that gives my hair the right flick

Mine and hubbys FAV vice

and even a prezzie for Cassie.

 Dublin is about a  2.5 hour drive from where we live and after I dropped Karl off at work, I set off to the airport to fetch my mom. I was quite emotional, even on the drive to Dublin I teared up just knowing that I would see my mom soon! Doesn't matter how old you are, your mom is still and will always be your mom. I haven't seen her in 8 months, and needless to say I sobbed, unashamedly might I add, at the airport when she FINALLY appeared. Mom fell asleep at 9pm last night, and its noon and she's still in bed. Might go wake her up soon and see if she's ok. We have lots planned. Today is a gorgeous day, the sun is shining and its relatively warm. Think we'll take Cassie and go for a drive along the shore and maybe even an ice-cream :) 


Cassie update: She's doing well, and growing quickly. After a week, she only cries for the first 10 minutes after we put her to bed, and then sleeps all night long, so we have made lots of progress.

not a happy pup after her shot and being microchipped - she travels well though, always falls asleep in the car

she seems to like to sleep under things...

fast asleep on her back

playing with her daddy before he went to work this morning

Thank you for my new toy Auntie Robs, Uncle Andel and Zac

the collie coming out in her - this is her favourite spot to 'sheep-watch'

Birthday weekend part 1

Wow, what a weekend! I’m exhausted and at work and wish I was in bed. Friday night turned into Saturday morning. We went to pick up Sinead and Hugh, and then went over to the boy’s boss’s boss’s house for a pizza before our night out. After pizza we headed out to Belfast, to The Duke of York. Its a really big pub, and is very unusual.

The party was called a 70^th, because Hugh turned 30 and his colleague turned 40, so they just decided to have one big party.

After meeting everyone, Sinead and I headed up stairs for a bit of dancing and then joined the rest of them a bit late. We even had springboks .

 So anyway, after an awesome night out, we finally arrived home at 4am! Yes, 4am. I slept for 4 hours and got up at 8am to start a crazy day of baking. By Saturday evening, I was fed up! Harpinder was a great help and tidied up behind me and just generally kept me sane. The cake did turn out really good, despite some technical difficulties and the fact that the top 2 layers were too heavy for the light chocolate sponge at the bottom, did my best to cover it up with decor though!

Had to make a small cake for Christina, who is gluten-intolerant.

We had quite a spread: scones, quiche, cake, cupcakes, cheese and crackers etc.

I thought I had made too much food, but after the 20 or so people spend yesterday afternoon grazing, there really wasn’t much left. I invited everyone over fo tea and cake at about 3pm yesterday, an the last of them left at around 8pm.

opening gifts

 Got some really cool gifts, including these beautiful tulips!

I had a quick bath and got things ready for today, and then we headed down the road with Harps and Barry to have dinner and watch our Sunday night South African show, Wild at Heart. Been awake since 4am, probably a sugar high!

Really had a good weekend!

xx

Too cute not to share...

I went for a stroll during my lunch break and HAD to buy this fridge magnet.

I have been looking for a vintage cameo chain for AGES! But the real ones are SO expensive. Some of you may recall your grandmother or someone else from the older generation wearing these. I think they are absolutely stunning. We were at a shop in town not too long ago, and I saw a few in the store window. Told my mom-in-law that I had been looking for one for a long time. She must have kept it in mind, because she disappeared up the stairs last week and produced one! She gave it to me. Karl's father gave it to her during their first year of their marriage, so it has a lot of history and a lot of sentimental value, and we were both in tears when she handed it over to me. I am definately starting a family tradition with it. Handing it down to the first daughter who gets married, and if we only have boys, then to the first daughter-in-law to get married.