Loving the Beach!

The last of 2009

I've been trying to think of something profound to blog about for my very last post for 2009. And I just can't seem to think of anything worth being profound about... Which just goes to show that I am indeed shallow on holiday. So I'll just say "Thank Heavens that 2009 is almost over!"
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Most everyone has been saying the same thing all day today, funny enough. Everyone has had a rough year, apparently. So, the general consensus, locally, is that Twenty Ten is going to be totally-otally phenomenally waaaaaayyyy better than two thou and nine. Has to be for South Africans. What with the Fifa World Cup and all.
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I, for one, am not a big fan of soccer, but I'm all for a good party. And lots of happy vibey people sing-songing in the streets, et cetera.
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Which is funny, considering that we are usually the only people we know that don't actually go anywhere or do anything for New Years Eve.
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(Insert sound of crickets chirping.)
(Do crickets chirp?)
(Mmm... suddenly not too certain about that...)
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Anyhoo. I digress.
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In true Hillbilly Form, we have spent the day partying in anticipation of a grand night. At home. Doing nothing.
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And that's exactly the way I like it. I might be a night owl, but I like to spend my night perched at the computer lurking around my fave people's blogs, and facebooking until the cows come home. In peace and quiet. While Jesse sleeps. And then, as the grando finalé-o to my night at home, I watch either Dinner For One or a repeat of The Royal Variety Show. So that I can ogle the Queen and her gorgeous grandson.
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But, I always, always, stay up until 12:00. Otherwise it just wouldn't be New Years.
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And that, my dear bloggity friends, is my oh-so-not profound conclusion to an oh-so-exciting year. May Twenty Ten be an awesome one for you and yours. And me and mine.

See you in the New Year!

You're gonna love her too!

I just made a new BFF and I just know you're so going to love her also. I met her through shabby blogs, my other new fave place on the net. Meet Jessica. I won't be jealous if you like her too. Promise.

Too much cancer!

A few members of my family have had cancer. Aunts, uncles, and other. Some have won their ongoing battle against it, others didn't. And then, there is someone very dear to us who just recently found out that she has cancer. And the type of cancer that you really don't want to have to get, ever. The kind that grows very fast and is just looking for trouble.
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I would tell you who it is, except, she hasn't really told people in general about it, and I don't want to be the one blabbing. For a change. So, until she makes it common knowledge, I won't be.
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The doctors have told her (after she just had surgery last week to remove the malignant tumor) that she will need to have chemo as well as radium threatments. And this particular chemo coctail will definitely cause her to lose all her hair. She will need treatment for a few months. But, what's really really bothering me, is that we can't find a decent wig for her, in anticipation of the hair loss. Right now she has lots of full, grey curls and soon they will be gone. I hate to think that she will be shy to walk around balding! I'm certain it will bother her, even though she's not talking about it. As if fighting cancer isn't enough - you still have to go and lose all of your hair!
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But surely, with all of the people battling cancer out there, there must be some good wigs to be had? There is a shop somewhere here in Durban that apparently makes good wigs - it's our last stop locally, before we start looking overseas for a good hairdo. Sometimes, living in Africa can be rather challenging.
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What do the "Locks for Love" Foundation do with all of the hair that gets donated annually? Does anyone know where I can find out? I tried the Cansa Foundation, but apparently their wigs are a bit worse for wear...
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*Sigh* This search for some good hair is becoming a really big challenge!

Cape Town, oh, Cape Town, how I love thee!

One of my best friends, Joey, has treated me to the gift of a lifetime! She has bought me a flight to Cape Town for a few days. Alone! Just meeeeee! And her, waiting for me that side.
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It's difficult to tell you just how excited I am to be going back to my favourite city on the continent, for a few days. Just thinking about the trip conjures up wonderful thoughts of sleeping right through the night, eating a whole entire meal without interruption, reading lazily on the patio overlooking the Atlantic, leisurely strolls through malls without apologizing to shop owners... quiet time with my friend, long chats and short naps...
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And four whole days of missing my baby!!! I am absolutely DREADING the missing her. It will be my first trip somewhere without her. I wonder if I will actually be able to enjoy my time there?... I can go, knowing she'll be in the care of the best man on the planet.  What did I do to deserve being married to Robin?
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I fly out early next week, and return Friday. And you'll be the first to know how it went, when I get back.

Sometimes, I forget just how lucky I am!

I heard the extraordinary story of a man named Matt, the other day. (It may or may not have been on Oprah.) He and his wife were expecting their first little baby. Liz (his wife) gave birth to a gorgeous little girl, whom they named Madeline. Within hours of their little girl being born, Liz experienced complications and died. Matt has undertaken the enormous task of raising their little girl, Madi, on his own and is blogging to keep sane. I am fascinated by his story! What an extraordinary man! Here is his blog. (The occasional swearword does sneak into his blogs. Wear blinkers or don't bother going there to follow his story.)

Want a prettier blog?

You might have noticed that I've changed the look of my blog a few times in the last couple'a days. Yay! I'm SO loving it. Before, I had to pay someone to do it for me, but ever since I discovered shabby blogs, you can expect a whole lot more changes in the future, because they've made it SO easy to do yourself, and get this, it's FREE!
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I was seriously considering taking all the credit for having a new PRETTY blog look, but then their linky appeared at the top left hand side of my blog page I thought better of it. Being the festive season and all. You know - generosity, sharing, caring, warra warra fish paste and all of that.
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So, if you're blogging and want a whole new look for your bloggyliciousness, hop on over and browse through their freebies. Hello! It's FREE! What are you still doing here?

Always inspect the colour and texture of your stool

It's all about the prezzies, isn't it?

So much fun in Aunty Di's house!
























Little Jorja Mae (Jesse's cousin) also loved her prezzie from Aunty Di!

Merry Christmas!

We would have been in Port Elizabeth this December holiday. Plans changed somewhat when my sister and her hubby decided to buy my parents tickets to spend Christmas with them down under. And leave us behind.
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Not that I'm bitter or anthing.
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So, this year we're with Dear Hubsband's family again. And the funny thing is - I don't know where I prefer to be... with my family or with his! Let's face it. Very few people can say they LOVE their inlaws. I, on the other hand, LURVE mine.
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You might be tempted to think that I'm laying this on a bit thick, because yes, they read my blog. (Hello Mom! Hello Nonks!) And you might be right wrong right...
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But even our friends LOVE my inlaws. And you can ask them if you don't believe me. Our friend Dewald (who absconded South Africa to go and live in North Carolina! Deserter!) even writes my mom-in-law letters. But not us.
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Not that I'm bitter or anything.
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Anyhoo.
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What I was supposed to be blogging about today was that I'm missing my Down Under'ers terribly today. They are eleven hours ahead of us, which makes it almost nine o' clock on Christmas Eve. My family don't do the open-prezzies-on-Christmas-Eve thing. They do the go-to-bed-early-so-that-the-night-passes-quickly-and-we-can-wake-up-to-christmas-morning-sooner thing. So at least I'm not ALREADY missing out on special family time... they're simply too far away for my liking.
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Merry trissmiss to my Down Under'ers. I miss you all terribly.
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And a WONDERFUL Christmas to all my blogging buddies out there!
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Thank you, Jesus, for laying aside Your divinity and coming to our little planet to be born as a little guy in a feeding trough in a stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem, to a little girl who was scoffed at for being knocked up when she wasn't even married and a faithful young man who was ridiculed for standing by her. You are so much more than we deserve and we are so indebted to You!

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P.S. Ms J, I promise I'll post some pics soon ok?

My Christmases are so different now!

We're in Durban again, holidaying with the outlaws inlaws. Which means that I have
(a) Internet access for the next three(ish) weeks! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
(b) Very willing suckers for punishment grandparents itching to look after Jesse so that I can have three minutes to myself! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
(c) Malls, malls and more malls nearby! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
(d) Unlimited coffee on tap! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
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Hasn't this year just flown by sooooo fast? Remembering a year ago, my little girl's very first Christmas - she was still so tiny - not even crawling yet. And now, barely a year later, she is an inquisitive marauding monster! A lovable inquisitive marauding monster. But STILL an inquisitive marauding monster. Very little is beyond her reach now. Especially since she's figured out how to move the furniture and create steps to climb up to where she wants to be. Can somebody say "Lord have mercy"?
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Gone are my days of sitting quietly beside her while she plays.
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No siree.
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Now, I barely get to take a few deep unfit breaths before running to catch up with her before she plunders the next "untouchable". Leave alone inspect the state of my grey rooted hair!
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Fun fun fun.
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I cannot comprehend how vastly empty my life would be right now, if it weren't for this little girl. How I just totally adore her! (And yes, you can remind me of that when she's throwing a a very loud, very violent tantrum in the aisles of the Pavillion in the middle of a bunch of impatient last-minute-Christmas-shopping grinches. Please. Not for the feint-hearted, these tantrums!)
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Somebody told me a few years ago that my life would never be the same when Jesus would give me children. How right they were! I wouldn't trade my NOW for my THEN, for anything on this planet! Even when I take stock of my empty wallet, grey hairs and aching bones. It's worth every second.
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How blessed am I?

My beautiful babe

The beauty of this daughter of mine just blows me away some days. Recently Robin and I spent the weekend

at a resort on the KwaZulu Natal coast, called Salt Rock. What a spectacularly beautiful place it is! I took a few pics of my two fabe people on the planet, and thought I'd share them with you. (I am still without internet at home... can you believe it????? Me neither!)

Some more artsy fartsy stuff in the absence of news...

This is a portrait sketch that I did for my friends, Dewald and Chantell a few years ago. I've been updating my portfolio and thought I'd share this one with you!

Murals for Lindi's baby room

My friend, Lindi, is having a baby girl sometime in the first week of November. She asked me to paint a few murals for her baby, Annebelle,'s room. Thought I'd brag a bit! hehe!