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!