Monday stories

My draft box is full but I am just not getting to posting anything...

So first the news:

We are still sorting out things with E. I seem to be spending my life in Doctor's waiting rooms. This is not a cheap experiment I promise you. Bills are heading towards the R20000 mark and we are not yet finished. Final appointment is on Monday with the Pediatrician. To be honest I am not even sure what we are looking for anymore. Nobody seems to be finding any issues and since the start of this term he has been getting full marks in all his tests and has stopped swapping his letters and numbers around. Yet they keep pushing that he needs OT. I really don't know anymore.
To top it all off his front teeth are not coming out and the adult teeth are out and being pushed sideways. So dentist on Wednesday. Poor little guy. He is only seven and the schools just seem to expect so much from them now. On the plus side he is really happy and loving every sport he is doing this term. The school has a brand new astro turf they are playing hockey on. He plays twice a week and looks forward to hockey days. The olympics has pushed the love further. Swimming is continuing to be a favourite and although he is not as obsessed with Phelps as I am, he loved watching all the races with me. So some good and some bad in the term so far.

Z just carries on with her happy little life. That kid is the happiest little soul I know and I hope she stays that way.She has an awesome little group of friends in and out of school. She runs to school in the morning to hug her friends and I love watching the super cute moments. The other day I told her to put her shoes on the right feet. She gave me a very cross look and said, " They are my shoes and my feet, so on the right feet." I can't argue with that. Toddler logic is awesome.

We just spent the weekend at Bonamanzi near Hluhluwe Game reserve. I have to highly recommend this spot. Huge campsites with individual bathrooms and kitchenette. We spent the weekend driving around the nearby game parks. A highlight for the kids was watching the huge bonfire that is lit next to the restaurant and pub every night. Be aware that its a popular wedding venue so the restaurant area is generally closed for a private function on Saturday nights. The braai area at each campsite is clean and well maintained but you will need to bring your own braai grid.

Mkhuze was very sad. The reserve is dry and they have massive construction going on. We saw a few giraffe, impala and a small pod of hippos. A warning about Mkhuze, just because the map says toilets and picnic site, doesn't mean there is anything there. Z wanted a pee so we drove a long way up a dirt road to find a rubbish bin and a small clearing. No tables or toilets in sight. I would avoid this reserve until the construction is finished and the rains have come.

Charter's creek is not worth the drive or the fee at the moment. The lake is dry and the buildings have been left to fall apart. We found broken glass in the bathrooms from smashed windows and the whole place had an abandoned feel. The jetty needs to be replaced, the reception area rebuilt and bathrooms fixed. The road was in decent condition but the drive to St.Lucia is short and there is very little to see.

Hluhluwe was fantastic as usual. I love the reserve and the chance that something exciting will be around the next corner. We spent two days exploring the park. Saw huge herds of elephant and about 40 rhino. The kids have each got a tablet and they had great fun taking photos of the wildlife. I had to park to get just the right angle. There is a playground at Hilltop and another at Mpila if the kids get tired of the car. The Centenary center offers great value meals (Burger R35) and a decent selection of beers and ciders if you want to eat out. Avoid Hilltop for food. the prices are high and the food is very average.

I am reviving www.katinafrica.co.za and it should be filled with articles of mine, travel ideas and awesome photos. I will let you know as soon as its ready. I already have a few giveaways and competitions lined up for the site to make your December holiday fun for kids and adults. Think date night for Mom and Dad:)

Where to live.....

Okay, so we have made the decision to build our own home. Great idea but now the question is where? I live on my own with the kids most of the time so it has to be in one of the secure estates. So which Estate?

This question combined with work(paying for the house) and house design is filling most of my time.

We have chosen an architect.. thanks Cat for the help with that.

Now we need to find a piece of grass to build the house on.

The choice is between Brettenwood, Simbithi and Zimbali.

I am not that keen on Zimbali.... I have never really liked the feel of the estate but its still a contender if someone can sell me on it. I do like the direct beach access but the security issues they have had recently are a worry. I suspect the problem comes from having a hotel and restaurant with easy access by foot to the whole estate.

Simbithi is my happy place. I have always loved this estate. The security is awesome. I love the bush and wildlife. I love the wide variety of styles when it comes to the homes. I am very comfortable here. HOWEVER... Simbithi is almost sold and the land available is the dregs and its very expensive. The build process is really difficult for some of the sites, with sloping land and narrow entrances.

Brettenwood. On the security side, they don't allow short term lets which makes the place much safer. They use the same security company as Simbithi so I would feel safe. The plots are cheaper and it is very kids friendly. BUT it doesn't feel like home. There is far less bush in the estate and very few animals.

I hate having to decide... I want Simbithi but Brettenwood is the better buy financially. Yuck!!

So where would you choose to live out of the three? Or where in the world would you live if you had a choice:)

This is before we even get to the crazy parts of cost, design, builders and planning permission. Oh and hubby has decided I should project manage the build. Suddenly it seems a lifetime ago that I worked in construction..... I might just go crazy.

I am sure that it will be worth it in the end. Please someone remind me of this when I am stuck in the world of planning permission.

Dying young

The great story of an early death that is romanticized by poets and songwriters. Think for a minute about all the songs about dying young. Well the reality is far more tragic.

I had planned to write a funny post about school reunions but then I a got a letter from the kid's school.

The College section is currently writing exams. After they had finished writing yesterday, two boys got a lift home with a matric friend who attends a different school. They where involved in a massive accident on the Berea turn off from the M4. One Grade 10 boy died on the scene and the Grade 11 boy is in a critical condition in hospital.

The school has cancelled all exams for today and they are bringing in counselors to talk to the kids. My children are far too young to have known this Grade 10 boy BUT E is asking questions.

I told him that school may be a bit different today. When we arrived they had wreaths on the flag poll at the Prep and the flags are flying at half -mast. He understands that people die when they get very old like his great-grandmother did last year. Dying young is not something that he had thought possible till now.

I bet there will be more questions after school.

I kept thinking about that boys family last night and this morning on the trip to school. They won't be driving that route with their son again. As a parent, I keep thinking about my own children and hoping that nothing like this ever happens to them.

Give your kids an extra hug today for the parents that can never hug their son again. Spare a thought for a school and the children that are now facing a reality that they hadn't even considered before.

What am I doing wrong? Oh right, I hate mornings.

So this morning husband was home as he had a meeting in Pinetown. So today I made school lunches and kid breakfast but ignored the getting kids ready part of the day. Okay I got eldest in the bath but I figured hubby could do the rest. I was waiting for the meltdown as the kids performed their morning terrorist routine.

Guess what?!!

E actually washed himself in the bath and got out after 15 min without a fuss. He ate his breakfast quickly and drank all his milk. He brushed his teeth, washed his face and got dressed in the fastest time in history. He was ready for school at 6:55.

Z got into the bath without screaming, got out out of the bath laughing and happily accepted the clothes I had laid out for her. She let hubby brush her hair without screaming or tears. In fact she bounced and laughed the whole time.

Both kids got play time and they left for school at 7:15.

How the hell did he do it and what am I doing wrong? If I get the kids in the car by 7:20 its a miracle.

Husband dearest suggested that it may be because I am not a morning person and any smiles I try in the morning are fake. True his chirpy personality this morning did cause me to ask what the hell was wrong with him?

Let's hope that he moves down here soon so I can become the evening parent and he can deal with morning chores.

Peak stress

So right now I feel like I am balancing a million things. I am working extra hours to save towards a house, trying to find the right piece of land on which to build said house, stressing about choosing the right piece of land and the right architect before we even start with the stress of the actual build, I am still single parenting during the week and I chose to dismiss my maid so I am doing all the housework as well. So that is the end of my pity party.

Z is now 3 and wow 3 is way more fun then 2. By fun I mean, constantly saying "I won't like it" and "No thank you" to everything. Try dress her in the morning and you get one of those two responses to everything. At least she is polite but it does take for ever to get ready.

E is 7 and we are facing the hill of therapy. He went for a full assessment last week to try and find the issue. He is reversing his numbers but not letters. He fades out often and you can't get a response and the final issue is that he doesn't follow instructions. We will see what the results are and take it from there. On a positive note he is starting to really find his place at school. He plays with a number of kids in different classes and grades. I don't know how they manage it but as a large school with about 350 students, they all seem to know each other.

On the housework issue, I was getting tired of having to re-iron clothes, clean the bathrooms(they got pretty gross) and clean the kitchen all while paying somebody else to clean the house. Last week I moved my recipe book holder and found grime underneath it. I don't think she had ever bothered to lift anything and clean. I looked around the house and found tons of issues with the cleaning and I had a large amount of family coming for the weekend. So I had to spend the whole of Friday cleaning and doing the ironing that she hadn't bothered to do. So I decided to start following a few Youtube channels that show cleaning and organizing tips. If women there can work full-time and clean then so can I. So far it's going pretty well. I hate moping the floors but otherwise I really don't mind the work. I have split it over different days and it takes me about 10 min in the morning and 30 min at night to keep the house looking good and the laundry done. I will take about an hour every weekend to deep clean but I am happy to do it. Everything is where it's meant to be now and I don't spend ages looking for items.

On a final note... any tips for choosing an architect? I have a list of approved ones on the estate but there are 25. I don't know where to start and I need to chose one so that I can get them to look at the sites we have chosen and give their opinions. My favourite site is a pan-handle with a very narrow entrance to a steep slope. The land the house will be built on is flat but getting there is going to be an issue. Any tips or suggestions?????

Have an awesome week.

Five for Friday

A blogger that I have followed for years, Cat@juggling act of life recently started doing Five for Friday posts and I love the idea. If you have never read her blog, please go and check it out. She is awesome. So here is the first of my Five for Friday posts.

1. We have just finished the first week back at school for Term 2. Both kids are loving being back at school with all their friends. Seeing the joy on their faces at drop-off reinforces the fact that we made the right choice moving here. They are both so happy. I can't believe that E is in the second term of Grade 1. He will be 7 in a few weeks and I can't stand how fast my baby is growing up. The school year is flying by.

2. Today I feel really lucky to live in Ballito. As the rest of the country heads into winter, we can look forward to a continuation of balmy evenings and lovely days. I live for the warmth and I love Durban winters. A recent trip up North reminded me of how cold it already is in parts of the country. NO THANK YOU:)

3. E had his first chess club meeting at school on Tuesday. I have tried to teach him to play for years with no luck. Apparently one session with a teacher has him setting up the board correctly and starting to learn how the pieces move. I know she is a great coach but really, sometimes as a parent you just want to throw your hands in the air. Why can't they ever listen to us?!!! He is really loving it and can't wait for next week's meeting.

4. My Dad bought a Tangle Teaser brush for Z yesterday on Takealot. It will arrive on Monday and I will let you know next week if it works. Currently every morning involves tears as her hair knots really badly at night. I have tried tying her hair up to sleep but she wiggles so much that it comes loose and we have a fizzy and knot filled mess in the morning. The Organics Detangler spray is a life-saver but hopefully this brush will help get the knots out gently.

5. I know it may not seem a lot to you but today I managed an 8min/km. I actually ran the whole km at pace. In my world running constantly for 15 min before I slowed to a walk was a huge achievment. I have always hated running and swimming was my happy place but I have finally caught the running bug. I trail run/jog/walk twice a week on a 4km trail and hit the treadmill twice a week for a 20min session. Baby steps and all that.

Kruger Trip

This Easter break we had a fantastic stroke of luck... all the government schools went back on the 5th April but our school only started on the 11th April. We had to take advantage of the chance to go on holiday out of the normal school break. We used to spend weeks in Kruger every year but our last trip was almost two years ago. It was time to go back.

A's sister has kids at a school that has its long holiday in April so they decided to join us on the trip. My in-laws recently purchased a new trailer/caravan from Bushwakka so they decided to join us and it became a camping holiday. This was new territory for me as we have always stayed in the standard bungalows in Kruger. I spent ages reading reviews of campsites on 4X4 forums and in the end I chose to spend the first two nights at Maroela and then three nights at Skukuza.

I drove up to Vryheid on the 1st April and had a relaxing weekend in Vryheid visiting old friends and celebrating kids birthdays. We packed the two vehicles and trailer on Sunday evening. Monday was a really long day. We left at 6am and drove up the through Nelspruit to Orpen gate. We did stop once to let the kids run around at Casterbridge in White River. A cute little spot with a jungle gym and some interesting shops. We had planned to eat there but father-in-law had made tons of sandwiches for the trip and everybody was fairly full. The restaurant there is called Gumtreez and it really looked very nice and had a play area. If I take that route again, I am sure we will stop there.

Orpen check-in was fairly easy but I don't think I would use the gate again. It lacks the sense of arrival in the park that you get from most of the gates. Maroela camp was fantastic. Really small with only 25 sites and at the time of our visit it was nearly empty. We camped alongside the dry Timbavati riverbed. The game viewing in camp was brilliant. At night we had hyena next to the fence and during the day we saw elephant, bushbuck and kudu. The camp has a really nice disabled bathroom which made camping far more comfortable for my mother-in-law. The ablutions were clean and modern. I was truly surprised by this little camp. The camp manager and his wife keep the place spotless and even help you to set up camp. I highly recommend this spot to everyone and I can't wait to go back there.

We did get started fairly late in the morning but that was due to the size of the group and everyone having different plans. We still had amazing sightings. The weather was fairly warm the first two days but then the temperature plummeted. It was rainy and chilly as we drove to Skukuza. The thought of putting up the tent in the rain was fairly miserable. Luckily the skies cleared as we arrived and we managed to get the tents up before the next drizzle started. The ground at Skukuza is rock hard and we had fairly rough time pegging the tent. This was not helped by our tents age and state of disrepair. We got the tent up using ropes and rocks. So be warned that camping here takes a large amount of muscle or a handy tree to tie the tent to. After we had exchanged some "affectionate" words while putting up the tent and trying to string together poles with snapped elastic, we have decided to buy a roof top tent. Let me know if you have any advice in this regard.

Camping at Skukuza was not great. The camp is noisy at night. Trucks driving at all hours, people drinking and talking through the night and people starting to pack camp at 4am. It was a very different world to the bush sounds of Maroela. At Maroela I heard lion and hyena, now it was the sound of civilization. The camping is fairly crowded and as mentioned before the ground is very solid, so putting up your tent is not easy. Sadly the biggest camp in the park did not have disabled ablutions which made life fairly difficult for my mom-in-law. The only disabled toilet is near the shop, on the other side of the camp from the camping area and there are no showers or baths that cater to the physically disabled. Hopefully this is changed soon.

We did have incredible sightings around Skukuza including a sighting of 8 female lions and we were the only car there. By the time the lion had finished playing on the road and vanished into the bush another four cars had arrived. It was still the most incredible sighting and it was pure luck to arrive at that moment.

The five days of the trip went by so quickly but we really did have a great time. The cousins played constantly in the camp and Skukuza now has a jungle gym next to the main restaurant that the kids loved. Food has improved greatly in Kruger since our last trip. We only ate out on the Friday night to celebrate A and his sister's birthday but the food at the Cattle Baron was lovely and the decor fitted the setting. We had an ice-cream at the Wimpy at Pretoriuskop and amazingly they have even toned down their image to suit the bush setting.

A and I are going back at the end of September for our wedding anniversary and I really can't wait.

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