Season's Greetings

Wishing everyone out there a very Merry Christmas! Hope you have a wonderful day.

Changes

I've often heard: life's about changes. Well, I'm definitely Living!

This year has been hectic. First the move back home from abroad - a huge change! Then our Europe tour (ok, not a change, but huge adventure). We arrive back home (our old townhouse from before we left) - the kids have grown quite a bit over the years that we've been away, and the house is too small. Start house hunting. The kids go back to school - quite an adjustment, especially since they've been in an English school for so long, and we put them back in an Afrikaans school (since that is our home language). Hubby gets a bunch of job offers, and then one comes from right across country. He flies there and decides he wants the job. Few weeks later, I find myself in Cape Town.....househunting!! We're moving January!! Its all quite overwhelming....

Oh, but the house hunting trip wasn't very successful. A little snag. So now we'll have to choose house using only pictures! Its a little scary in a way... It could turn out to be a disaster! And we have to move before schools start for the new year...which is around middle January. That doesn't give us much time, does it?

*sigh* I need to refill my wineglass.....

Adorable

When we went abroad, we sold one of our cars, but we kept mine (the smaller one) so that we would at least have wheels when we visited, or returned. Yes I know that seems stupid now, but we were never sure how long we'd be away....and I just couldn't let my cute little purple car go.

Anyhow, now that we're back (and of course the family has grown quite a bit over the years that we were away) we need to buy another. So this morning my 6 year old son (who's favourite colour is green btw) has this conversation with me:

Him: When you buy a new car, can it be a green one that sometimes has a roof and sometimes doesn't have a roof?

Me: Hmm, that's a cool idea. But those are sooo expensive.

Him: Oh. Ok then, can you buy a green one that doesn't have a roof??

Wacky sleep patterns

OK, so the same thing happened. Worse actually.... :-/

I just lay down for a second, while everyone was watching a movie on my bed....and I was gone! This time with my clothes on... The kids hadn't even bathed yet either. I guessed dad got them to bed later (though he didn't bother with the bathing, and I doubt he checked that their teeth were brushed). Oh well, at least this time my own teeth did not bother me like the previous night *giggle*. I was really just so exhausted (it really was a busy busy week). And after a good sleep I felt much better this morning :)

Then this morning I walked into the girls' room....and the eldest one (which is kinda odd at times) was humming!! And yes, as far as I could tell she was still asleep!!

Two nights ago my son was in the bath, and when I got back to check on him and get him out, this is what I found:

It was kinda funny. He was snoring too!! When I tried to wake him, he turned on his side and muttered something like: 'Is it time for school?'

Molarmares!

Not quite a nightmare, but close!

Its been a really crazy busy week, and last night I was so so tired - I lay down on the bed before I was ready for bed, and not long and I was out.....before I had brushed my teeth. And it kept me from proper sleep all damn night!! There was a constant nagging at me that I hadn't brushed my teeth yet (ugh, my subconscious at work), but I never woke far enough to actually get up and do something about it. And I can actually remember the nagging.. So stupid. *rolls eyes* I stayed just under the surface of slumber all night...

And today I can't keep my eyes open.

*yawn*

I can't win

I forgot a little detail when I posted yesterday. I said that the hubby started work recently, but I forgot to mention that he's actually working from home.....that makes a little difference, doesn't it. At first I thought cool!...and it is cool, but its not an easy adjustment either.

I don't wanna bother him, but its natural to chat when he's around. Sometimes I'll notice that he's only hearing half of what I'm saying, and I hate that. Or he'll talk and talk about work or whatever when I'm busy, and I hardly take in what he's saying. When I have to go out for groceries, or whatever, he'll come along. Then later that night he'll complain about how little work he'd done that day. When I stay completely out of his way during the day so he can work undisturbed, he'll still complain about not getting stuff done. And when I comment that its not my fault cos I stayed out of the way, he'll say: that's exactly the problem....... *sigh*. What the hell am I supposed to do? I just can't win...

Shattered dream

For years hubby and I have been dreaming about working together (be it normal employment, an entrepreneurial venture, whatever). So after deciding to move back to our home country, we thought: this is it! We had decided that we would take some months off, renovate the house together (paint etc.), and work on our future plans. We're both quite introverted people, and don't need a highly social life, so this is fine. We love being together, and have never had issues spending all our time together. But it hasn't worked out this way.

This move has really been quite stressful. Everything that could go wrong, did. And being back here isn't moonshine and roses (more on that another time). Though we can afford to take a little time off before starting work again (and planned it that way), the hubby couldn't quite stick to that plan. From day 1 he was paranoid about that, and have now started work. So....no house renovations....no special time together. In fact, in the 3 months since we've been back home, we've done nothing but bite at each other. This is really sad for me, and I hate not liking my husband at the moment. But I don't.

I've spilled so many tears lately...don't know what the hell is wrong with me. And then I came to a conclusion: I have to go to work again... I wanted to stay home for the kids' sake (the whole adjustment thing, etc), but I think they'll survive. I have to start thinking about Me for a change...

Its time to get out of my little box.

I'm freaked out!

Of all the people I've met on the internet, I've never met any of them in person. I've always wondered how that would be...if they'd be close to what I'd imagined. Its almost like when you read a book, and then see the movie....its never really the same - you use way more imagination when reading the book than when watching the movie, so things are just different.

Well I think its the same with people. Of course the anonymity of the internet allow people to be different than their true selves, but I think we also perceive people to be as we'd like...especially when you become friends.

One of the friends I've made on the net quite a few years ago happens to be in the country at the moment. We've become quite close and of course decided that we'd meet while she's here. Today she unexpectedly called to let me know she was in the area, and we could meet on the weekend. When I answered the phone and she said it was her, I was completely flustered! She sounded totally, totally different than what I expected.....not that I really had an expectation, but this didn't fit the profile at all! Not sure its the kind of person I'd get along with in real life....and yet we got along so well online all these years...

I'm a bit freaked out about our meeting. I'm probably just being silly, but what if this ruins the 'online' friendship that's become really special to me...?

(oh, don't get me wrong: I like most people, and get along fine with anyone...but I'm a very private person, and don't allow people into my private life very easily. and she was one of the very few that I shared with.)

Go with the flow...

In SA our schoolyear starts in January, until beginning December. So its almost time for final exams, etc. Our youngest is in 'kindergarten' (as most of the world calls it - not here though). Last night he had concert, and 'graduation'. It was soooo sweet! Half the time I was laughing so much, tears were flowing *blush*. I'm not comfortable yet with posting pictures of my family, but I'd have loved to :)

Its a little sad though - my baby is growing up! Five years ago I was at this same point with my oldest, and although it was sad that they were all growing up so fast then, it wasn't quite the same. This is my last one!

Oh well, life goes on...right?

Hmm..right now I have a puppy and a crazy kitten fighting over who gets to lie on my lap. I feel so wanted....

No Halloween this year...

Here in South Africa we don't celebrate Halloween at all... Nothing...no pumpkins, no costumes, no candy. It is not even mentioned. I guess mostly because its believed to be pagan. Never bothered me, but after living abroad for years (where they do celebrate) we got used to the idea, and enjoyed it (especially the kids). So this year it feels kinda odd, I am tempted to put out pumpkins! Problem is: people will think I've gone crazy.....well, crazier than normal :/

Anyhow, did a little test to see what I should have been this year:

Your Halloween Costume Should Be

Candy Corn

What Should You Be For Halloween?

Hmmm.......

The circus is in town

Its really a struggle to settle down and adjust. We're trying to create a 'normal' life for the kids once again. In the effort to accomplish that, we decided (by accident really) to get pets again. While living abroad it was difficult to do that, since it was always a temporary thing.

So last week we got 2 little kittens. They're not from the same batch, and its amazing just how different they are! The one is quite shy, but the other one is stark raving mad! I suspect the mother is a monkey...

That has been going really well, but yesterday we happened to be close to the pet shop again, and my daughter (who is a real big dog person, and has been wishing for a dog for a long time) just popped in to see what they had.... And there they had the sweetest little Jack Russell X Daschund.....quite an interesting combination :)

She was in tears (the daughter, not the dog), said it would be her Christmas and next birthday gift!

You can guess what happened...

But now the shy little kitten has declared war! And the crazy kitten thinks its a plaything. The dog couldn't care less about the cats, but is ambushed wherever she goes... Poor thing. Its quite funny actually :)

I'm back!

Yes, its been quite a while... We've been travelling for months, and haven't had much access to the net until very recently, but we're finally settling down again.

We're back in South Africa now. Lots have changed in the years that we've been away. I'm having quite a hard time adjusting to the return. I've read about a thing they call 'reverse culture shock'...and it makes so much sense! When you move to another country you prepare yourself for the change, and you're aware of the culture shock that you'll experience. But, when you return you think you're going home, and don't prepare for the change.....and then Boom! Reverse culture shock.

Its sad, and a little ironic, that a place that should be 'home' is the place where I feel 'out of place'.....

A little background

We're starting a new chapter of our lives. Yeehah! Tomorrow we're packing up house, and venturing into another adventure.

Proudly South African, but we've been living in the Philippines for about 4 years now. A while back we woke up one day, and decided it was time to move on. Making the decision, and deciding that we were going to stick by it, was exciting. But none of the arrangements and preparations that followed that decicion have been fun At All (moving is never fun, I know...but this has been ridiculous). Some things are just sooo much hassle in this country, its unbelievable. Things are starting to come together though, even though we still have a number of loose ends. After tomorrow I'll hopefully be able to breath again....

Next week we're off on an amazing adventure: we're going to Europe for at least 3 months! Getting visas organized have been a major issue (don't forget: the universe is against me..). We were supposed to collect our passports (with granted visas inside) from the embassy today, and even though I doubted that anything further could go wrong, it did (I don't wanna go into it right now...its quite exhaustive). Today has been quite aweful. It looked as if the trip was off (actually still could be)...meaning thousands of dollars in the water... I got word though (a little while ago) that someone might be able to help...hold thumbs :)

In the meantime I really should try to get some sleep. Packing starts early, and I haven't been sleeping well through all this crazyness.

ZZzzzz...

ggrrrr

The one thing that I Totally don't understand....the thing that makes my head wanna explode....is how some companies/businesses have email addresses, but never use them!!! You know, the ones where you can email them over and over, and they just never reply. And when you inquire about it, then they're sorry, they haven't checked there...or haven't received it (like hell, haven't received my Numerous mails?). Sometimes they suddenly discover it: "oh, here it is, we didn't see it. sorry". What's the use of having an email address then??? What's the use of showing it in your contact info??? Just to 'look' as if you're staying with the times? ugh! I just don't get it.....

So, all you people out there that list an email address in your contact info but don't care to use it (yes yes, you know who you are)....Don't show it to me if you're not going to read my email!!!

Conspiracy Theory

The universe has turned against me. I'm sure of it. Everything that could possibly go wrong, has gone wrong lately. I'm at the point where I'm holding my breath just waiting for the next blow... (and I haven't gone blue in the face yet..).

Hmm...I wonder if it's a sign....

Life is chaotic at the moment. We're moving (across the water), and the day is approaching quite rapidly. When we leave here though, we're going on vacation abroad for a while (which means visas, etc etc). More about all the chaos later though.

Do you also see things that happen to you as 'signs'? Something trying to tell you to change action, or change plans? I often do. Do you listen though? Right now I'm starting to wonder if this vacation is a bad idea..... Its less than a week away - of course too late to change our minds, but still... Everything is going wrong!

*sigh*

Nah, I think the universe just dislikes me lately....must be it.

Yeeehaaaahhh!!

Phew!! I'll do advanced calculus any day above choosing a name for a blog.....its almost impossible! I've been trying for so long....and being really fussy about things like that doesn't help much... (yes, I'm my own worst enemy).

I've finally managed to take the leap.....

Whheeeeeeeeeeee!