I thought I was away for a while - I didn't realise it was so long! Wow, where do I
begin? I have finished all of my Unisa papers and have got to redo the
accounting one (which is no big surprise to me). The others are all ok but due
to my travelling over the time one of my exams was to be written, I am writing
it with the next semester's papers.
begin? I have finished all of my Unisa papers and have got to redo the
accounting one (which is no big surprise to me). The others are all ok but due
to my travelling over the time one of my exams was to be written, I am writing
it with the next semester's papers.
Christmas has come and gone and a new year is already waiting in the wings - I really do
not remember time ever having passed by this fast ever before. Maybe the
earthquakes etc over the last while really have sped up the days....
not remember time ever having passed by this fast ever before. Maybe the
earthquakes etc over the last while really have sped up the days....
Well it is the 29th of December 2010 and I am sitting in the office at work busy
updating my blog as well as listening to the radio commentary of the cricket
match between South Africa and India in Durban. As I type these words, Jacques
Kallis has just gone out and S.A. are seemingly in trouble, needing
another 170 odd runs to beat India which at this stage is looking like an
uphill task.
updating my blog as well as listening to the radio commentary of the cricket
match between South Africa and India in Durban. As I type these words, Jacques
Kallis has just gone out and S.A. are seemingly in trouble, needing
another 170 odd runs to beat India which at this stage is looking like an
uphill task.
Christmas this year was a very "quiet" time and the gifts were all (mostly)
smaller and or homemade. Ruby made the children some really cool gifts and so
we got to spend some (limited) funds on the stockings etc. once we had a look
at all of the gifts, we realised that the children were not getting a bad
Christmas at all which was our fear this year. The worst off among our children
were the little ones (who don't really notice being "short changed" -
as long as they get something they are only too happy. Christmas eve was a
nice, quiet evening together at the Stolp's house. The pool was around 30
degrees Celsius and was perfect for an extended swim. I spent a while in the
pool with the boys and we had a lot of fun.
smaller and or homemade. Ruby made the children some really cool gifts and so
we got to spend some (limited) funds on the stockings etc. once we had a look
at all of the gifts, we realised that the children were not getting a bad
Christmas at all which was our fear this year. The worst off among our children
were the little ones (who don't really notice being "short changed" -
as long as they get something they are only too happy. Christmas eve was a
nice, quiet evening together at the Stolp's house. The pool was around 30
degrees Celsius and was perfect for an extended swim. I spent a while in the
pool with the boys and we had a lot of fun.
Just before dinner was going to be eaten, I left to buy some more goodies for Ruby's
stocking and by the time I arrived back everyone was eating and Ruby
had dished up for me. This turned out being perfect as I didn't over eat and
actually enjoyed myself the rest of the evening. After our meal, Wayne Doller
did a reading and we sang some carols while trying to keep the children under
control. After the carol singing was done we had pudding which was homemade ice
cream and meringues.
stocking and by the time I arrived back everyone was eating and Ruby
had dished up for me. This turned out being perfect as I didn't over eat and
actually enjoyed myself the rest of the evening. After our meal, Wayne Doller
did a reading and we sang some carols while trying to keep the children under
control. After the carol singing was done we had pudding which was homemade ice
cream and meringues.
When we got home the children all went to sleep quickly (except for Kyle) and we were
able to get to sleep at a better hour than usual for a Christmas
eve. Around 2:30 in the morning I heard some movement in the lounge and
some talking among the boys and was thinking they were checking out their
stocking goodies. Ruby eventually got up to check on them and discovered that
Kyle had instigated the opening of the "real" gifts under the tree.
able to get to sleep at a better hour than usual for a Christmas
eve. Around 2:30 in the morning I heard some movement in the lounge and
some talking among the boys and was thinking they were checking out their
stocking goodies. Ruby eventually got up to check on them and discovered that
Kyle had instigated the opening of the "real" gifts under the tree.
This is DEFINITELY not allowed in our house as the children have to wait until the
whole family is together before we open gifts. This is the reason we have the
stockings for them and they get to open those while waiting until everyone
is up. Needless to say we were not very impressed with our boys but then, what
can you do? Ruby and myself got out of bed at 6am and went into the lounge with
the boys so they could (continue to) open the gifts under the tree).
whole family is together before we open gifts. This is the reason we have the
stockings for them and they get to open those while waiting until everyone
is up. Needless to say we were not very impressed with our boys but then, what
can you do? Ruby and myself got out of bed at 6am and went into the lounge with
the boys so they could (continue to) open the gifts under the tree).
At 8am we packed and went to the senior Hugo's where all of the cousins get together and
open gifts from each other and the adults get to open our gifts to each other
also. We had a budget of R50.00 to work within this year and we had to do
something homemade which was extremely difficult to do. After the distribution
of gifts everyone started going off to visit family etc for the day and we
ended up going home for a while where the boys played with their gifts and we
passed time to around 1:30 when we packed and headed back to the Stolps for a swim.
We ended up being there for the rest of the day and had a borewors braai and
salad for supper. The temperature of the water on Christmas day was 32 degrees
Celsius - the boys didn't want to get out at all!
open gifts from each other and the adults get to open our gifts to each other
also. We had a budget of R50.00 to work within this year and we had to do
something homemade which was extremely difficult to do. After the distribution
of gifts everyone started going off to visit family etc for the day and we
ended up going home for a while where the boys played with their gifts and we
passed time to around 1:30 when we packed and headed back to the Stolps for a swim.
We ended up being there for the rest of the day and had a borewors braai and
salad for supper. The temperature of the water on Christmas day was 32 degrees
Celsius - the boys didn't want to get out at all!
Monday we went to the Dickeys and spent the day next to the pool chatting while the
children swam and ran around. The only negative was trying to keep an eye on
Jesse because he has decided that he likes the pool and just runs right up
to it then steps into it. I felt concerned about that as well as the one dog
who for some reason did not like Jesse and would growl and look aggressive if
he cornered it anywhere. All in all we have had a very quiet Christmas and it
has been quite rest full for me (maybe not Ruby).
children swam and ran around. The only negative was trying to keep an eye on
Jesse because he has decided that he likes the pool and just runs right up
to it then steps into it. I felt concerned about that as well as the one dog
who for some reason did not like Jesse and would growl and look aggressive if
he cornered it anywhere. All in all we have had a very quiet Christmas and it
has been quite rest full for me (maybe not Ruby).
Yesterday (28th December) I got to go to the temple and stood in for Willem and Martie
Jacobs' son at their sealing. This was a really nice experience and it was also
nice to be able to sit in the sealing room alone while waiting for everyone.
There really is no place as peaceful as sitting alone in the temple...
Jacobs' son at their sealing. This was a really nice experience and it was also
nice to be able to sit in the sealing room alone while waiting for everyone.
There really is no place as peaceful as sitting alone in the temple...
A nice
finish to the year and I am waiting to see what will be happening in the new
year.
finish to the year and I am waiting to see what will be happening in the new
year.
