Somebody that I used to know

http://www.mrtzcmp3.net/Gotye_Somebody_That_I_Used_to_Know__feat._Kimbra__1s.html

Once you're on the website, click on the 'play' icon button for the 1st song.  Wait for the chorus.

Goodbye Sea

It's tough work being 3. Got to get all the salt and pepper grinders within clutching distance all in a row

Our last breakfast this morning at Beach Bobbies and what a beautiful morning! They serve magnificent breakfasts. I had stuffed myself and it looked like I had barely begun they are so generous with their portions.

These guys sounded like a low flying plane coming in down the hill. I have often fantasized about owning a bike and doing just this- it must be awesome. I remember feeling so alive and so happy on the back of a moped type bike riding around the coastal roads of Corfu.

Christopher's first beach art. I thought we were in for some intense negotiating when he insisted that he wanted to bring this huge beach weathered piece of foliage with us. Luckily, he eventually threw it down, after some persuasion that we could not take it back with us.

I don't know why- but the sight of fishermen on the rocks- reminds me of my Dad. He likes to fish but I don't recall ever watching him casting off into the ocean. Shit- is that a knitting term or a fishing term? Casting off. Well either way- I neither remember my father knitting at the seaside nor fishing...

So, there are no pictures of the flight back (that almost did not happen). We missed our flight. Luckily we managed to catch another one within the hour- but by that stage our collective patience was somewhat diminished and our last nerve was frayed.

Therefore- although I had thought that I would not opt for the canned wine this time around (what happened to the cute little wine bottles you used to get?)- I had to restrain myself from asking the air hostess to bring me one immediately upon entering the plane.

The door to the pilot's cabin was open as we boarded and I eagerly shoved Christopher toward it so that he could take a peak. He protested so violently you would have sworn the poor thing thought that I expected him to fly the plane himself.

So ends our little adventure and starts another week 1753m above the lapping waves and the sand between our toes.

Happy Birthday Christopher! 3 on 9 June 2011

Happy Birthday to our beautiful boy. Your mommy and daddy are so proud of you. We lay in bed the night before your birthday and blew up around 50 balloons. Debated whether or not to put them in your room- but decided against it in case you woke up in the night and tripped over them.

You were out for the count because a few of them popped and you slept right through it. You woke up and grinned at us as you walked through to the lounge and saw them all. You knew something was up. Had a present hunt for all your pressies which Mommy had hidden all over the lounge.

We had driven in in the dark from the airport so did not see the sea until the next morning. Daddy took you out to see the view after you had unwrapped your presents.

Thank you so much to Warwick and Lizelle for letting us stay in your beautiful beach cottage.

I am in love with the butler's sink that you can just see in the picture. There is no tilting of pots and pans that don't fit in an ordinary sized sink. Daddy thinks my infatuation with the sink is amusing and has offered to get me one for my birthday. Such a romantic.

Had your birthday breakfast at this place- which was to become our regular spot while we were here. Great vibe and great food- looking out over the beach.

The ladies even came out to sing happy birthday to you and brought you a piping hot Malva pudding cup-cake with ice-cream and chocolate sauce with a candle in it. You of course would have none of it and daddy ate it so as not to offend the ladies.

As we sat eating breakfast you had spied the ladies selling their wares on the pavement across the parking lot and insisted that you wanted a pink bucket.

Went to buy a pink bucket and came away with a pink bucket, shoes for you, 2 pairs of sandals for Mommy and necklaces and bracelets for Momma. The neighbour next door at Wagick's (as you refer to him) place had commented already on how eye-catching Mommy's new bracelets are. And I only paid R10,00 for them- bargain!

Mommy's camera card was full and I couldn't take all the pictures of you and daddy on the beach. The joy on your face was priceless.

You were absolutely dripping wet when you and daddy came back and insisted that you were not cold despite the fact that your teeth were chattering. We stripped you off and put daddy's jumper on you. And what is the beach without an ice-cream?

Happy birthday Sweetheart. We Love you so much and hope that you enjoyed this day as much as we enjoyed spending it with you.

xxxxxxxxx

8 June 2011

We decided to give Christopher the gift of flight for his 3rd birthday rather than a party as he has always loved aeroplanes. He could easily be a poster boy for the Kulula slogan - no fear- he loved it!

Christopher's first aeroplane in his favourite colour too

James and I were really glad that Christopher got the experience of actually going up the stairs to get onto a plane rather than boarding through a tunnel

Shoes in the offright position

Don't drink and fly. Man down. The excitement was all a bit much for him and he fell asleep as we were descending into King Shaka Airport

The absolute misery of waking up to find that he is no longer on an aeroplane. There were tears and misery all the way out to the rental car. He spotted a Mango plane and was begging to board that one. When I reminded him that his favourite colour was green and that we would be flying back on a green plane- he immediately told me that I was mistaken and that quite suddenly, his favourite colour was now, ORANGE.

"I'll seek you out
Flay you alive
One more word and you won't survive
I'm not scared
Of your stolen power
I see right through you any hour

I won't soothe your pain
I won't ease your strain
You've been waiting in vain
I've got nothing for you to gain

I'm taking it slow
Feeding my flame
Shuffling the cards of your game
And just in time
In the right place
Suddenly I will play my ace..."

Eyes on Fire Blue Foundation

Listen

Little girls will be little girls

I took Christopher to a party today. There was howling upstairs. Found a little girl crying. Little girls being little girls- when we asked what was wrong- she sobbed that her friends did not want to play with her- they only wanted to play with her kitten.

I know this happens frequently- three is a crowd and she pretty much is always the one that is excluded. Her mommy- needed to look after the party- I know how it is- you don't have time for the drama- you just want your kid to get over it and play nicely.

And yet- who hasn't been there? Who hasn't been excluded and known the sting of rejection? I told mommy to leave me to it- and hugged the little girl to me- wondering what on earth to say. Wondering why I had no wisdom for her to try to ease her pain. Remembering my own mother trying to comfort me when I was younger.

In one particular incident- the 2 little girls next door would not play with me. My mother gave me an ice-cream and told me to go outside and eat it where they could see me. Brilliant if somewhat manipulative psychology- because then of course there was something in it for them and they did want to play with me.

I was so proud of Christopher- he gave the little girl a hug and sat playing with her. I did my ineloquent best to comfort her. What do you say? You feel for her and you want to say the perfect thing.

Funny thing is- it never stops. There will always be times where you are excluded or snubbed. But luckily, in my experience- there comes a time when you stop feeling inadequate or like there is something wrong with you and you can actually say- fuck them- their loss. Regrettably not words of wisdom I could share with this little girl.

Can you imagine...Don't worry sweetie- they are just two nasty little bitches. Fuck them- I mean really. But anyway- let's talk about something more important. I think your Barbie has had a boob-job. What do you think? And I am sure that she is on Prozac or something. I mean that smug look that is permanently plastered on her face. To be honest I think she is pretty plastic. And Ken. He's not much to look at. And his package..bwaahahahahahaa.

It is good- as you get older- you lose some things- but one of the things you gain- is the ability to not give much of a damn, to realise that some people are just down-right rude or socially inept. How do you convey 36 odd years' of the experience that got you here to a 5 year old?

The Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary

Have a look: The Monkey Sanctuary . I highly recommend this place. Beautiful! Very professionally done.

Sarah- the star of the show

 Sarah was somebody's pet and still seems to love human company- coming up to hold hands, climb visitors, pull on their hair and investigate babies.

It is quite sad- many of the monkeys in the Sanctuary are ex-pets that are brought there when they become too much for their owners to handle. Some are smuggled in suitcases from as far as S. America and some do not make the trip.

Many have been kept in small enclosures and have never seen a tree before they get to the sanctuary. There are raised rocks on steel rods- monkey seats- because apparently many of them throw tantrums as they don't want to sit on the wet cold ground- having gotten used to certain creature comforts like sofas.

I was surprised when the guide mentioned that there are no laws in SA preventing the keeping of foreign monkeys.

Hello Baby!

White Knuckle bridge. You cannot believe how this damn thing sways as you walk across it. Felt like I had been drinking for three days steady

Smile!

Um...Actually...Mebee not..As you were.

The light coming through this Naboom looked so beautiful.

Monkeying around

Stop(per) thief! This little guy stole this dummy off the baby in our party

 He was already doing time for bad behaviour. Apparently steals cellphones and lighters. Knows how to use lighters and recently set his own tail on fire...

Exhibit A. The habitual criminal strikes again. Bail denied.

Paradise lost? This little guy was desperately looking for a way in through the electric fence.

 This morning- James climbs out of the shower and is doing a Rhys Ifans/Notting Hill number where he is striking poses and muttering- "Looking good" and the like and asking me for my opinion. I reply, " I wish that you would sometimes act more the romantic hero than the idiot buffoon..." I leave the room to check on Christopher and when I return, he looks at me seriously and says, "Here's looking at you kid." I could not stop laughing and we kept setting each other off. I don't have a romantic hero- but I do have something wonderful- someone who makes me laugh.