I have completed the accountancy exam today - the first of four subjects registered for this semester. It is a relief to eventually have this exam done but I feel like it was a total flop! Right now I feel fine about the others but his one was always going to give me a hard time.
It just does not make any sense, the whole accounting thing. Everything is backwards! Anyway, it is now over (for a couple of months...) and hopefully I have scraped enough to get by when the year mark is included. I threw enough of the figurative poop at the wall and hopefully some of it will stick, enough at least to allow a pass...
I have written a letter to the powers that be asking for a deferment on the one exam I am due to write as I will be travelling over that day and will be unable to participate. Hopefully I will hear from them soon so I can concentrate my efforts on the remaining two subjects and ensure I get some decent results.
We are going to splurge this evening and get pizza for supper and have a Family Home Evening with meringues and yoghurt for pudding (Ruby spent some time this evening making the meringues which always go down well in this home) to keep the boys happy. Speaking of the boys, Orin went in for a speech assessment this week and the result is that he has to go in again to have some things checked with his hearing at the audiologist as this may have been having an impact on his speech. He could have some reoccurring middle ear infections which affect his hearing and thus his speech. It was interesting to note that the therapist commented that he is a very smart little guy and has a large vocabulary and it seems that he made it through some test which not many children she has through her doors actually do. Go my Boy!
What can I say - my boys are just the best...
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Battle of the bands
Friday evening we had a youth activity at the Bishops house. A braai was going in the back and the PS2 "world tour" was going on in the lounge, they all had fun. Some of the young women got the make up out and "decorated" the young men (rocker style eye makeup and hairdos) so everyone could look official.
By 11pm I was home, having had enough for one night but they carried on until 2am Saturday morning - Makes me feel old all over again.
This weekend was also time for us to have the Zafira repaired (eventually) and get rid of the oil leak. The poor car was literally spraying the oil out and would leave a trail in every driveway we entered, terminating in a big pool where we stopped. It got to where my poor wife was scared to visit anyone because she would make a mess in their yard / driveway and get embarrassed. My parents particularly intimidate her and we have seen sand poured on the oil spill in their driveway which really kills Ruby anytime we stop there. Anyway, we got the offending leak plugged on Saturday and after all of the stress of thinking what it would cost, only set us back R200. A huge thanks to Thinus from Nigel Delta who does all of our repairs and servicing! When I had a look (I am the first to admit my motor mac skills are lacking) I couldn't tell where the leak was coming from (a quick excuse here - the whole bottom part of the engine was covered in oil and nothing was really visible...) but it seemed that it may be the sump gasket. I was thinking of the expense involved in removing the sump and protector plate etc but was happily proved wrong when Thinus lifted the car and got in underneath it to check on things.
It turns out that the oil pressure sensor was at fault and the oil was literally spraying out(see, my description before was accurate) through this sensor. It was kind of like a big water pistol but was spraying oil instead of water....
So I got to study the whole day Saturday (doing accounting exam soon and do not have a clue) and only got home at around four thirty in the afternoon. We all went to the Stolps afterwards for a swim and ended up staying for a braai which was very nice. The evening was perfect - warm with a slight breeze and some rumbling of thunder in the distance. It was nice to sit and chat with no rushing from one thing to the next. As we were leaving, Lara was saying we do not visit often enough. My reply was that the reason was we are not the kind to invite ourselves and are usually very happy just pend time at home. Something we can change I suppose...
Off we go to visit my parents (in an oil squirt free car) and drop off Aidan's cousin Ashley who came to our place for lunch today.
By 11pm I was home, having had enough for one night but they carried on until 2am Saturday morning - Makes me feel old all over again.
This weekend was also time for us to have the Zafira repaired (eventually) and get rid of the oil leak. The poor car was literally spraying the oil out and would leave a trail in every driveway we entered, terminating in a big pool where we stopped. It got to where my poor wife was scared to visit anyone because she would make a mess in their yard / driveway and get embarrassed. My parents particularly intimidate her and we have seen sand poured on the oil spill in their driveway which really kills Ruby anytime we stop there. Anyway, we got the offending leak plugged on Saturday and after all of the stress of thinking what it would cost, only set us back R200. A huge thanks to Thinus from Nigel Delta who does all of our repairs and servicing! When I had a look (I am the first to admit my motor mac skills are lacking) I couldn't tell where the leak was coming from (a quick excuse here - the whole bottom part of the engine was covered in oil and nothing was really visible...) but it seemed that it may be the sump gasket. I was thinking of the expense involved in removing the sump and protector plate etc but was happily proved wrong when Thinus lifted the car and got in underneath it to check on things.
It turns out that the oil pressure sensor was at fault and the oil was literally spraying out(see, my description before was accurate) through this sensor. It was kind of like a big water pistol but was spraying oil instead of water....
So I got to study the whole day Saturday (doing accounting exam soon and do not have a clue) and only got home at around four thirty in the afternoon. We all went to the Stolps afterwards for a swim and ended up staying for a braai which was very nice. The evening was perfect - warm with a slight breeze and some rumbling of thunder in the distance. It was nice to sit and chat with no rushing from one thing to the next. As we were leaving, Lara was saying we do not visit often enough. My reply was that the reason was we are not the kind to invite ourselves and are usually very happy just pend time at home. Something we can change I suppose...
Off we go to visit my parents (in an oil squirt free car) and drop off Aidan's cousin Ashley who came to our place for lunch today.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Popcorn Part 2
An overwhelming success! Everybody enjoyed the popcorn (especially Ruby) and Aidan wants a bag to take to school "to keep for second break daddy" even though they are having a bake sale tomorrow. Ruby went back for seconds and after eating that bowl, we were just talking about what Kyle will be taking to school for the bake sale and discovered we had not added the sugar to the caramel mixture. Both Ruby and I were involved in the making of the caramel mixture because things this afternoon were really busy with my sister's children being here also. Anyway, between the two of us we neglected to add the brown sugar and went merrily on our way.
Despite this oversight, we (I use this term to describe my family - I exclude myself for modesty's sake...) enjoyed the stuff very much. Definitely one to make again! Possibly some edible Christmas tree decorations.
Thanks Debbie for a recipe that works even when I leave out a major ingredient!
Time to head for bed so I can be up early to get in a visit at the Temple.
Just as an aside before I go, today we had our first real rainfall since winter ended - it was great! Dark clouds rolling in accompanied by thunder and lightning and then nice fat drops of rain. I think, if it were possible to measure, we would have some of the "heaviest" rain around with some of our summer storms. It really seems like it hits the ground hard.
Despite this oversight, we (I use this term to describe my family - I exclude myself for modesty's sake...) enjoyed the stuff very much. Definitely one to make again! Possibly some edible Christmas tree decorations.
Thanks Debbie for a recipe that works even when I leave out a major ingredient!
Time to head for bed so I can be up early to get in a visit at the Temple.
Just as an aside before I go, today we had our first real rainfall since winter ended - it was great! Dark clouds rolling in accompanied by thunder and lightning and then nice fat drops of rain. I think, if it were possible to measure, we would have some of the "heaviest" rain around with some of our summer storms. It really seems like it hits the ground hard.
Caramel Popcorn
I got a recipe for caramelised popcorn the other day and got to try it out tonight. It is in the oven for its final drying / cooking session and everybody is asking "is it ready yet?" every two minutes, even Ruby who is against popcorn as a matter of principle.
I guess I will have to go and check it and at least two of the trays will be ready but no need to advertise that yet!
As the famous composer said,
"I'll be Bach"
(ok - really cheesy)
I guess I will have to go and check it and at least two of the trays will be ready but no need to advertise that yet!
As the famous composer said,
"I'll be Bach"
(ok - really cheesy)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Dance classes at mutual tonight
I am sitting here looking at the youth attempting some dancing - the young women are running the activity tonight and organised dance instruction. All I can say is I hope I was never like this when I was in their shoes! These guys are absolutely pathetic.
I am being mean. They are not all that bad but the few who are make up for those that aren't (does that even make sense?). They all seem to be enjoying themselves in spite of the earlier attitudes and we probably could do this again in the future to give them a refresher.
The youth from Selcourt Ward are all lining up outside the hall and enjoying the show now also - it seems we have a good activity going here!
I am being mean. They are not all that bad but the few who are make up for those that aren't (does that even make sense?). They all seem to be enjoying themselves in spite of the earlier attitudes and we probably could do this again in the future to give them a refresher.
The youth from Selcourt Ward are all lining up outside the hall and enjoying the show now also - it seems we have a good activity going here!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Sunday morning session done - off to bed
This session of conference was very nice and even if we were not paying as much attention as we should have, there were still lessons learned. I particularly have had confirmation to follow through with an idea I have been half heartedly playing with for the last few months. We will see how it goes.
Ruby is sitting at her computer playing online - as I say this she has gone onto my blog and is reading the earlier post. She reckons I make us look bad and am too honest... what can I say?
I am off to bed soon (I am getting up early so Wayne van As and myself can go play squash in JHB before work - game starting at 05:45) so I can make an attempt at normal functioning tomorrow but before I can do that I have to remove our little "heaters" from the bed because both Aidan and Orin wanted to sleep in our bed when we sent them off after watching conference. I read Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to them and by the end they were both "pulling amps", within two minutes of tucking them in and giving them a goodnight kiss they were fast asleep. This still (as I said earlier) leaves us parents with two very hot little bodies in our bed on a night that is very warm and sticky. I may end up moving them to bed and leaving ours open for thirty minutes or so just to cool down a little. How is it possible that a little body like that can generate so much heat?
Time to encourage my wife to pack up her computer and head off!
Ruby is sitting at her computer playing online - as I say this she has gone onto my blog and is reading the earlier post. She reckons I make us look bad and am too honest... what can I say?
I am off to bed soon (I am getting up early so Wayne van As and myself can go play squash in JHB before work - game starting at 05:45) so I can make an attempt at normal functioning tomorrow but before I can do that I have to remove our little "heaters" from the bed because both Aidan and Orin wanted to sleep in our bed when we sent them off after watching conference. I read Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to them and by the end they were both "pulling amps", within two minutes of tucking them in and giving them a goodnight kiss they were fast asleep. This still (as I said earlier) leaves us parents with two very hot little bodies in our bed on a night that is very warm and sticky. I may end up moving them to bed and leaving ours open for thirty minutes or so just to cool down a little. How is it possible that a little body like that can generate so much heat?
Time to encourage my wife to pack up her computer and head off!
General Conference Sunday
Here we sit on the couch watching the general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints live - what a blessing we enjoy now and take for granted so quickly. All of the children have sat through a session already and are being difficult now (I can't really blame them I suppose) just wanting to play and talk etc. Ruby and I are not being the most reverent either I suppose...
Part of the problem is that the Area Presidency have decided that we should watch conference delayed as a whole area at the end of the month so we are not really too strict about things now.
Conference continues and so will I
later...
Part of the problem is that the Area Presidency have decided that we should watch conference delayed as a whole area at the end of the month so we are not really too strict about things now.
Conference continues and so will I
later...
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