12 December 2007

Well I see I missed another month and now it’s just over 2 weeks to go until my favourite day of the year. I have started buying presents but know that I will forget what I have bought and will end up buying until the last moment. The tree is up and gifts are wrapped thanks to Tarryn and her organized, efficient character. The kids have put their wish lists up on the notice board in the kitchen and I see the list growing every day. Kiara is especially good at adding to her list and I now see a whole lot of skateboarding items that appear on both her and Devin’s lists.

Devin has started to teach her some tricks and she just loves the attention and praise he gives her when she achieves. I love seeing them together and not bickering.

I know we don’t do Thanksgiving in South Africa but I really think it is something special. I do it on a small scale and love to start out writing 3 things a day in my journal that I am grateful for and then finding that I have written 20 things before I even realize it.

I love December and the build up to Christmas. It is really my favourite time of the year. This year I am making decorations using photos of my friends. I have the family photos on my Christmas tree and there is a fight on with some people to “get on the tree”. I have run out of frames for the tree so I figured making a “friends” chain would be a good alternative.

I still need photos from a few of you
Cathy, Jon, Hazel, Liz, Chris, Brian, Carin, Carol, Elsabe, Erica, Jeanette, Judy, Kathy, Liezel, Mark, Peter R, Peter P, Richard, Sav, Sherie, Terry, and Viresh so hurry up and send them please ...

Tarryn
Matric is now over, it’s so weird to think that my little girl is driving around and finished with school!
She loves having the independence of having a car and is a great help when I need something done. She has not quite decided what she is doing next year and although she applied to do a BCOM, I think she will be doing flight school (air hostessing) training and then maybe flying for a year before she decides.

She was so excited to be going to Cape Town with Trevor. He has never been before. Even though he is an Arsenal supporter, he has also been included in all our Christmas activities at our home and got his own advent calendar when my bunch got theirs. He was so pleased with it and allowed me to take photos of him opening his very first advent chocolate ever. I think he is getting used to the photo thing now and does not seem fazed when I whip out the camera to record some event that seems significant to me.

Kiara
She went away to Grade 7 (Standard 5) farewell camp for a week and seemed to enjoy every minute of it. Although she complained about school every day for the past year, tears flowed when she said goodbye and realized that it was the end of primary school forever.

Prize giving was very fruitful this year for her again. She got an external ATKV certificate for Afrikaans. A certificate for distinctions in 4 subjects and the computer trophy for the best student. I got a photo of her with her Grade 1 teacher so we can have a first and last day comparison.

She has been pestering me to get her new school uniform and everything she needs for next year, I hope Santa brings me a credit card that never needs repaying!

Devin
I took him on a date on Monday after work and we went to see Balls of Fury and then to Spur for a meal and to the games arcade for some games. We had a great time together and he must have thanked me 10 times for taking him. Makes it so worthwhile!

He is still having fun and doing well at skate boarding and we will see if he gets involved in BMX next year. Since Trevor has been around, he has developed a passion for soccer so we will see what develops there.

Devin also did really well at prize giving and got distinctions for Maths as well as Economic Management sciences and an external Math certificate.



Natasha

My friend Claire is leaving for Wales this week and I don’t even want to think about that. It will be terrible to drive past her house every day and know that I can’t just pop in for coffee.

Our Christmas Supper club event was our annual breakfast at Aurelia’s at Emperor’s palace. A perfect day with friends, gifts and lots of smoked salmon with breakfast. What more can a girl ask for?

Our Christmas Book Club event was a day at Mangwanani day spa and it was so enjoyable that we decided to make this an annual event too. The day was filled with laughter and stories about sweetie pies, long toes, a herd of wildebeest doing the strangest things to Louise.

The Pantomime this year was Peter Pan and thanks to my friend Ruth, we could take Trevor, Dylan and my mom with us to this annual event. We all loved it.

I have made some lovely new friends this year that have just added to my wonderful life. I have also started dating someone and went out with the folks, Darrel, Scott and his girlfriend Sue the other night. I told them about my new relationship and it was one of the scariest things I have done in ages. Darrel still teases me about it! They were all very happy for me as is everyone else in my life.

We went to Sun City for our team building event this year and I loved every minute of it. We went by bus and I was served different flavoured Brutal Fruit drinks all the way there! We swam in The Valley of the Waves, I went down the dark tunnel water slide with Alan and Herman (first time I have ever done that and yes I was sober!), ate lunch there and lazed about at the pool at the Observatory deck. Al must have had far too much to drink because he asked Herman and I “Why don’t they fix this stuff up, it looks so shabby!”

The supperclub girls are going to Phuket in August and I am really looking forward to that. I was not going to be joining them, but I got an award at the Year end function this year and decided to spoil myself.

Nanna & Colin
Colin was hospitalized for a few days with pneumonia but is recovering well. Nanna is doing well and enjoying the summer garden. We are going to be having Christmas at our place this year so she will be very busy arranging all the food. Keep her out of mischief!

Lawrence
My brother and I have fallen into a lovely Sunday routine where he comes around for a cup of coffee or 2 and we play backgammon outside on the patio. It is usually early and quiet before the mad rush of the day begins.

Will update again before the end of the year!
Love
Tasha

September 2007

What a crazy month, my calendar looks like a pre school kids got hold of it and scribbled everywhere!
It’s been lots of fun though a bit stressful at times.

Tarryn
She survived prelims and passed all her subjects, not much studying went on I can assure you. The highlight of her month was the matric farewell that was held on the 20th of September. Her friend Garth did all the crystals on her dress and I think she looked perfect! Trevor had his hair dyed to match her outfit and he looked stunning. Trevor’s dad Gary arranged an old Jag to take them to the farewell at the Birchwood Hotel. From there they went to Roxy’s in Mellville in the Party Bus which I think was a brilliantly sensible idea. I got an sms from her at 6-15am the next morning, to say they were back at Gary’s place and he was making breakfast for them. Gary sent me a message shortly thereafter saying they had eaten and passed out for the rest of the day! Oh the joys of youth! Gary and kids joined us for Sunday lunch and the topic of Ballito came up. I said that the kids were wasting an opportunity not being at the coast this week. They could not quite believe it when we agreed to let them drive down for a week on their own!

Kiara
Her highlight is the Cape Town trip that the school arranged. She is coming home tomorrow morning and has had a great time so far. They had a jam packed schedule and she was lucky enough to get to see her cousins from Cape Town while she was there. She is still doing ice skating but deserves her colours for shopping. Took her to Greenstone shopping centre to get a few things for the Cape trip and wow she shopped. Her report was perfect as usual and she goes into the last term at primary school next week. Hard to believe.

Devin
His moon boot is finally off, although he won’t be riding in the Grand National champs for BMX. Next year maybe? He has joined “skate skool” and is learning a whole lot of skateboarding tricks that have names that are beyond me like NOLLIE, OLLIE, NOSEGRIND, POPSHOVEIT and SPINE TRANSFER. I have a whole new language to learn. He was feeling very left out when Tarryn went to Ballito and Kiara was in the Cape, so we arranged for him to fly to Darrel and Marina’s for 4 days. He is coming back tomorrow and when I asked him if he was looking forward to coming home, he said, in typical diplomatic Devin style, “Sorry to say this mom, but NO I am not, I wish I could stay longer”. Another perfect report too.

Natasha
My month has been made up of friends, fun, alcohol, laughter, smiles, book club, supper club, meeting Darrel for breakfast, dinner and strawberry daiquiris with Megan after the matric farewell cocktail party, Facebook,
MSN Messenger, TV (yes I did watch 3 program this month!!!!!!!), music (and I still love my ipod), going on
a personal effectiveness workshop that reminded me of my Lifeline training, hooking up with old friends, ten pin bowling, taking lots of photos, not much scrapping and some new goals. Will share with you soon.

Nanna and Colin are well and so is my brother.

Work is great too and so we plunge into the next month …
Lotsa luv
Tasha

Scrapping girls

Randy....................................................................John...................................................................Cody

Such sad news this weekend about Angi’s mom that passed away. She was such a beautiful person and will always be missed. Her photo is in my older posts on the blog.

Went to scrapping university and it was a great weekend. Spent my time with Dee and Derryn and what a perfect choice that was, we had great fun, lots of laughing and great memories were created.
Got to meet my blogging friend, Canadian scrapping teacher and Making Memories Idols winner Wilna Furstenburg. She got her husband to take a photo of us together so she could remember me! What a stunning person.

I got home and was feeling really tired. Kiara met me in the passage and said ”Mom, come you have to help me with a homework project”. I moaned and groaned all the way down the passage into my bedroom, my room was spotless, lights low, music playing and a bubble bath ready for me to climb into! What more could you ask for?

I have become reunited with my beloved old music and in typical Tasha style have gone totally overboard. From no music in years to listening to everything I can get my hands on.

I am just loving the sunshine and the friendliness of people in general. Don’t know if it’s my attitude that has changed but I am finding myself so abundantly blessed in all areas of my life.

Devin went to see the WWE wrestling twice this weekend at the Dome and also went to Greenstone shopping centre to see his hero John Cena. He got about 2 meters away from him and apparently John looked at him and gave him the thumbs up!

I am would have been happy to see Randy Orton up close and personal.

How awesome is the gold price today? I have been waiting for $700 for quite a while now.

Well, I have some interviews to do for the rest of the morning so better get to work.

August 2007 Update
Home
This month saw a whole lot of changes in our world. Our beloved pet Shadow was put down and the whole household was affected. Shadow was also the last of our pets that was around with Richard.
My Moms entire pension money was drawn out of her account while she was at another ATM trying to draw some cash. She was devastated. The response she got from the bank amounted to ‘shame, don’t you watch TV and see that criminals target old people?’
Tarryn
She is having a ball and you would not think that she is writing prelims. I hardly ever see her these days and she is just loving her freedom. She has a car, a petrol card and a credit card. Hello world! Her main concern at the moment is sorting out her matric farewell dress.
Kiara
She has had a busy month with ice skating, school activities and her latest brainwave, volunteering at the SPCA. She spent Saturday morning at the Benoni SPCA with a friend Kyle and they had to clean out cages etc. Kiara ended up with the donkeys and ostriches, didn’t even know they had things like that there! She spent the whole day sulking and glaring at me, because I would not let her bring a Husky puppy home! Now if she nagged about this cutest pot-bellied pig they had there, it might have been a different story!
She can’t wait to see her beloved cousin’s in Cape Town in September.
Devin
He is still in moonboot (he thinks it should be spelt moanboot), and is getting as frustrated as anything. He has missed so many BMX races. He still has about a week to go. He and Trevor have been at the driving range as often as they can persuade Tarryn to take them. They go and hit a bucket of balls and she shops.
He is counting down the days to the WWE experience and is going both nights!.
Work
We had the horrible news that Lorraine’s son passed away. Lorraine works in my team. I decided that I could not face the funeral and went to see her at home the day before. Went with my boss and another colleague, in my boss’s fancy BMW. We got a bit lost in Kwa Thema and I wondered what people thought seeing these two black dudes driving around with white women in the backseat. I started to get very anxious when his fuel light came on and we were still hopelessly lost. Anyway we found her and I was glad we could visit and pray with her at her home.
I am busy on 2 new projects at work and as always having fun there.
Natasha
I eventually conceded and booked for scrapping university after declaring that I would not be doing it this year. I can’t believe that the time is here already. Can’t wait to see Wilna from Canada who will be teaching this year.

I have become hooked on Facebook and all the fun that goes with that. Collected some friends that I have not seen in ages and am loving it. Reading is definitely taking a back seat and I only redeemed myself this weekend by reading James Patterson’s The Quickie in just over a day.
Went to breakfast with a friend that lasted over 5 hours. We kept getting phone calls to say ‘are you STILL at breakfast’. Had a great time and bought my first cd in 8 years Nickelback’s All the right reasons.

I have a “decisions list” that is growing day by day, not sure what this shift in my world is all about but I am being enticed into new adventures and experiences on a daily basis.
I bought 2 new blankets that have the most amazing texture. Don’t know when I turned into Linus? Got some new curtains and luckily had a whole entourage of friends to help me put them up that day. I am so spoilt hey! Hanging curtains is the pits.

Claire and I are almost done with our twin albums. The idea and the actual album was my idea, but she did most of the work. They are looking stunning and the journaling is very draining but so worth it. She bought us twin teddies to hold the albums.

Had Scott and Sue and the folks over for lunch the other day and it turned out to be a great day. We really need to do it more often. Celebrated ladies day at a function at Summer Place. Janine Starkey, the speaker, is an image consultant and I was expecting to be really bored. I was totally blown away by her. Book club is great and we have booked our Christmas outing at Mangwanani Day Spa. Can’t wait to do that again, it’s such a spoil.

I am so glad it’s Spring. Swam yesterday and today and lay in the sun reading and listening to Kiara’s ipod. The birds are singing, saw butterflies and everything is staring to look green. Love this time of year.

:) :) :)

Hey I have had such a fun weekend,
I left work early on Friday and had arranged for Tarryn’s new car to be ready for collection. She had ordered the car but had no idea that it was ready. I told her we needed to go to the dealer to choose a radio and sort out some paperwork. We all went to Heidelberg to collect the car and that brought back so many memories of the fun Dale and I had working in the branch there a zillion years ago when they first became computerized!

Tarryn saw her car at the dealer with a congratulations banner that had her name on it and was proudly showing us the car she would soon be getting. I got a photo of her face when I told her she could drive it home that day. She was stunned and then ecstatic.

Devin wanted to drive home with her and Trevor but I said no, she needed to get used to the car first. He said to me, Mom, it is against the law to disappoint a disabled person! I think he is enjoying having a broken foot!

I took my mom and aunt curtain shopping at a factory in Pretoria on Saturday after Kiara’s figure skating lesson and we had breakfast there. Devin bought a new cell phone (to replace the one that did not survive a washing machine cycle) Kiara got an ipod nano. Claire came over for the afternoon and my brother and mom were there too. Spent the afternoon on my bed, in the sun chatting, laughing and eating Mugg & Bean lemon meringue and chocolate mousse cake. We eventually got around to some scrapping and are busy with twin albums that we need to complete before she leaves the country.

I went out for a really enjoyable dinner with a friend in the evening and we ate prawns until we couldn’t any more. Lots of catching up and laughing and watched a dvd called “Because I said so”. I outdid myself by watching 2 movies in a weekend. I went to Claire’s place today and ate leftover prawns and watched a brilliant dvd called “Breach” about the FBI and based on a true story. We took a bunch of crazy photos of each other for our album too. She also updated my travel bible that we give to all our friends when the leave the country on holiday. Visited Megan and spent the rest of the night online getting Tarryn’s music sorted out for her car.

The wind is starting to blow the dust around and August is almost upon us. I really can’t wait for spring and my first swim in my pool. It has been spotless and sparkling all through winter, thanks to my pool service (not quite the pool guy from Desperate Housewives though!)

Got back to work and wasn’t there for 2 hours before it felt like I had never even been away, guess it’s like that for everyone. So now I am really thinking hard about the December holidays. Still undecided about London, Paris and Wales because I really don’t do winter very well.

Tarryn has done so well this term that she has shocked herself. She is still not sure what she wants to study next year and is really sticking to her New Years resolution to party more this year. She is now looking for a car and I am not madly excited about her being out there on the roads. No reflection on her driving!

Brilliant news, Kiara was awarded a cultural scholarship at the private school she applied to for high school, (next year already), she is so excited and can’t wait to get there. Went to see the school on Thursday and I was so impressed. The headmaster gave us a guided tour and it looks awesome. She has received her itinerary for the Cape Town school trip in September and it looks like a jam packed, amazing trip.

Devin can’t focus on anything other than the WWE wrestling bunch that are coming to SA in September. He is going with my cousin’s family and is counting the days. He is still doing cross country and BMX racing, and has wrestling matches against Kiara’s giant teddy bear whenever she is not looking!

I have eventually become an active member on Facebook.com and just love seeing how small the world is. I have seen so many connections on either side of the family that know each other through others that it is amazing. I can really believe that 9 degrees theory. Join up if you haven’t. It’s not only for kids contrary to their opinion.

Not too much scrapping has been happening. On Friday night Kiara and I visited Woolies and stocked up on goodies so that we could be undisturbed on Saturday for the Harry Potter book launch. My book got delivered at about 11am and I was riveted for 7 hours. Devin acted as our waiter and gopher and got paid R5 for each job that he did for us. He kept a note of it all and made a fortune! Now that I have finished, I wish that I was just discovering the series for the first time. Books are so bloody expensive now, I used to check to see that a new book was under R100 about a year ago and now I am relieved when it is under R150!

I am busy doing alterations at home, mostly in my hideous lounge and my friend Megan is helping with the decorating, so if it turns out to be a crappy, blame her. I also eventually had my room repainted and the ceiling in there fixed. I miss my dark room but I suppose change is good.

Mail soon or send a message on Facebook. Don’t forget to leave your name if you comment on the blog and you are not a member.

Keep well and warm
Love
Natasha

Hey it's freezing in Johannesburg, I am so glad we got to have a 2 week break in Ballito. We had very nice weather and a great time. As usual we luckily chose to be away the 2 weeks that Joburg had awful weather so now I hope it warms up.

Well, Devin is back at BMX and took part in the SA’s in Natal. He went skate boarding at Gateway and someone’s broken board fell from about 4 meters high onto Devin’s shin. I got a message while I was in the movies to say that Devin had cut his leg and could not skate anymore. He had to have stitches in his leg!! He did very nicely but is not in the running for any points because of the races he missed, so now it’s just for the pleasure of racing. I discovered that he wanted a rest from going to races every weekend so he is going to decide on 2 race meetings a month.

I read quite a lot during our holiday and managed to get through 14 books. I took a photo of the pile that I had read. It is such a cool feeling to lie on the bed and watch the waves breaking just a couple of meters away from you. I LOVED seeing the dolphins come past and got to see whales too. Got a few nice photos.

We went to see the latest Harry Potter movie and I really enjoyed that. I can’t wait for Saturday morning for my copy of the last book to be delivered. I have told everyone not to disturb me on Saturday at all. I am finishing the book before I do anything else.

Tarryn and her boyfriend Trevor seemed to enjoy the Ballito holiday too, they spent most of their time at Gateway shopping centre buying clothes. Kiara had fun too excepting when she was dragged off to BMX, she does not include that on her “fun things to do” list. Tarryn is not looking forward to prelims and studying for finals and she has not decided what she is doing next year.

Kiara turned 13 on the 29th. She took 2 friends, Devin, Tarryn and Nicholas to Gold Reef City for the day. Kiara and Devin both did very well in their exams with A’s all round. Tarryn gets her report when she gets back next week!!

Well that’s all for now. Tired after the 6 hour drive back and it’s now 11-30 pm.

Cheers
Natasha

Some photos of the snow Angi. Hope you enjoy gloating about the heatwave in Florida that you are suffering through!! Luckily Caroline called and told us it was snowing. Tarryn and I went outside at 2am and took photos, that is not dandruff in my hair.
I loved the way the water froze in the birdbath.

Hi all,

It's been a cold and strange week. I worked from home on Wednesday and it was such a delight to be able to sit under the duvet and get work done. Wonder why I don't do it more often? Tarryn has hardly been at school because of the strikes.

Kiara and I went to a book signing in Bedfordview with Anthony Horowitz. I was not sure what to expect because the only other signing I had been to was Francois Pienaar and I definitely did not go to that one for the talk, that one was just for the viewing! I did get a book signed though.

Anthony was marvelous; he is an author of teen reads and is a superb speaker. He was so witty and looked good too. Kiara bought 2 of his books and we waited for him to sign them, he did so very graciously even though he had just hopped off a plane from the UK. We then got free tickets to see the premiere of his movie Storm Breaker. It was great, like a junior James Bond. She has put the rest of his books on her birthday list. Photo of him from his website.

Devin has decided to quit BMX for the moment. He said he will think about it again next year? He has not given any reasons, except to mention that he would like more free time on weekends. I thought I would be ecstatic to have my weekends free, but I did enjoy seeing my BMX friends and socializing with a different bunch of people. Oh well, we will see what transpires.

I completed 2 mini albums this weekend and it was so lovely to give them away and discover just how appreciative people are. The shops were a mad house today so I never got around to buying Father’s Day gifts. What now? Maybe I will dream up a very clever plan tonight.

My plans are starting to take shape for the December holidays. I think we will be going to London, Paris and Wales. I know it is not the best time of the year for Europe but we don’t really have a choice. Next year I have 3 kids that will all have different holidays!

I am redecorating my lounge. I realized that I have been avoiding this room and sort of sneak past it to the dining room at night. I don’t watch TV so it was quite easy to just ignore the lounge altogether. My friend Megan came to help me with the mission and told me in no uncertain terms that some of my stuff was just not going to survive the change, including my little TV! I have already had some handymen in to give me quotes to sort some of the problem areas out.

The folks have decided to call it quits here in the suburbs and move to the coast. They will probably do so by the beginning of the year. They have been in their house forever and that was the place that I met Richard. It must be quite difficult to pack up and move after spending a lifetime in a house.

I am missing my jet-setting friend like crazy. I don’t know what I am going to do when she leaves for good.

Nanna has just called to say dinner is ready, mash, vegetable cheese bake and fillet. She is cooking tonight, yum!
Keep well and warm
Mail soon
Love
Tasha

Posted some of the BMX photos here in a slide show. I will create a link to a blog that will just be for the BMX stuff. Let you know as soon as it is done. Kyle scroll down for your photo.

The one that we think should be voted the nicest, kindest and coolest guy at BMX. Kyle Whittle in action at Kempton Park BMX track. We love watching him in action and know that no matter where he is lying at the beginning of the race he fights and comes through at the end (when he's not wearing jeans!)

Well a quick update on the happenings over the past few weeks.

Tarryn passed her driver's license test. 1st time. She was so excited and sent me an sms that said yay, yay, yay. I figured that meant she passed. Now she is looking for a car and wants a Toyota Yaris. I am postponing for as long as possible.

Kiara got accepted at St Dunstan's college and she is counting the months until high school. Her Cape Town trip in the July holidays to visit the family has been cancelled because the school is taking the kids on a Cape Town trip in September and I can't afford to send her on both. Hopefully she will get to meet up with her beloved cousins then.

Devin is starting his first proper exams tomorrow and I haven't see much studying happening. We will see by his report card whether he needed to do some work or not.

We had a lovely weekend of BMX racing and Devin did so well he got 2 bronze’s and a silver medal. I got this amazing photo of him when we got home, he was wearing one of his medals and riding in the driveway. I had just changed the camera setting from sport to portrait when he came zooming past me. I love this shot!

We went to Sun City for the long weekend and I celebrated my birthday with my kids, mom and one of Tarryn’s friends. We had a fantastic weekend of laughter and photo’s.

It’s been a very busy time at work with a big project going in for the new National Credit Act. We also had the terrible news that one of our colleagues was killed in a car accident last week.

The weather has been awful. I don’t do winter very well and dream about Hawaii.

Keep warm those of you in SA
regards
Natasha

Look how brave I've been, you know I do not do the experiment thing but my hairdressers were keen to play. I am still getting used to the new shade.

How freezing is it? I am totally spoilt because I get from my house into my garage and then drive directly to an underground parking at work, but today I had to actually walk outside, exposed to the elements, to get into the hairdresser. Wow, if this is May I am not looking forward to June and July.

Well, this change to the slideshow has taken me forever. At least I think I have got it now. I intend to have one slideshow for friends, one for family and one for scrapping pages. Thats the goal. I was tagged by Karen about a zillion days ago and have not done anything about it. So here goes, 7 random facts about me:

1) I read Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach every morning.
2) I love Woolworths fudge with orange pieces and chocolate in it.
3) I always drive with my headlights on.
4) Tracey White is my all time favourite scrapping person.
5) I adore my job.
6) I follow the gold price every day.
7) I am a terrible hoarder.

Hope there are still some out there that have not been tagged, Candice, Mrs Nosa B, Allison.

Thanks so much ladies, it's such a great feeling to have the scrapping gurus' comments. The flower centres are Karen & Company metal brads from the K-Ology range.

Made this page inspired by Karen's Bundu weekend class, sorry that the scan is so awful!.

Cheers

Natasha

Here is a scrapping page I did on Kiara from a class that Claire designed.

Tarryn

Well , we are entering another phase. Tarryn is now 18. It seems impossible that our little 2kg baby has now blossomed into an 18 year old beautiful girl. She is going for her drivers license in May and I am not looking forward to that phase. I already sit up and wait for her to get to friends houses safely on weekends after their partying or else I have to fetch her in the middle of the night.

She now has a boyfriend called Trevor and he is a lovely guy. They spend all day together and then spend the whole night on Mxit. Young love is such fun and watching them brings back so many fond memories.

She was so excited to go to a club for the first time and very indignant that the bouncers didn’t even ask for her id!


Kiara
Is still mad about SIMS and has every one of the packages. She has got a fabulous set up at home with a super fast pc and a flat big screen. She also has her tv and dvd with surround sound in her room.

Her pet rat died and she was very upset. She went on the leadership camp (just 1 night) and loved every minute of it. I wish that their school still had fun camps for the kids. I think it is so good for them.

Her greatest wish is still that Michael and Samantha would move back to Gauteng as she misses her cousins intensely.

She did very well in the inter house gala and got a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

At the end of the term I went onto the school website and found out that she made top 10 in her grade!

Devin
He was also in top 10 this term and got a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the gala.

He is missing out trampoline that somehow got split right down the middle. They cost a fortune to replace and the tear can’t be repaired.

This past weekend was Devin’s first SA National champs at BMX. He was in the expert class and managed to qualify in the first leg for the finals where he got a 7th place. I was most proud of him when he didn’t qualify but wanted to stay to support the rest of the guys. I got lovely photos from this event.


Work
Aziz our current CEO is moving to another division and it was all very exciting waiting for the announcement of the new one. For those that worked here, Fernando Moreira got appointed so we can look forward to new and exciting times. I am working on a number of large projects and still love it although recently the opportunities have been quite tempting.

I passed my exams and got my ISEB software testing certificate!

Weekend at Bundu
We had a fantastic time in Nelspruit and did some lovely pages. My mom came with us and so did my kids and Tarryn’s friend Melissa. They had a great weekend too. Met some lovely ladies from Durban and a brilliant new teacher (to me) Karen from Tzaneen.

Digital scrapping
I have been buying digital kits like mad, not done too much with them. I took an online class with Sam Ellis and did the digital page on Devin. Will post later.

Blog
I have been re-inspired to update my blog. I need lots of help to get it the way I want it but as with everything, it takes time to learn all the tricks of the trade.

Granny
My mom in law has been in hospital with severe headaches this past week and so far they have not established exactly what the problem is. Probably vertebrae in her neck that are causing problems. The good thing that has come out of this is grandpa has been eating dinner with us at night and that is such a treat for us!

Ballito
The waves at the coast caused havoc recently and the Ballito beach was hardest hit. Scott, my brother in law sent me some photos of our beach. Luckily the flat is on the first floor, one unit had an armchair sized boulder that went through the trellidor.

Still doing the bookclub and supperclub thing as well as school Parents Association and BMX meetings.
The other day I had a lovely day reading old cards and letters from Richard, Dale, Jeffrey, Neil, Bobbi and Moira. Letters that are all over 20 years old and brought back so many memories. I have been inspired to do some pages about this time of my life.
Regards to all
Natasha

Hi there

I did the digital page of Tarryn and Trevor the other day to practise some technique or other. I used "A Tuscan Romance" digital kit that I bought from http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/.

hope you like it

Hey Ang, I was busy playing around with a digital kit that I bought called Funkalicios. Still in progress hope you like it.

Hey, I eventually got to link some sites thanks to Elly my work colleague! Hope you like it Claire. Had a great weekend at Bundu and got this photo taken.

Hi there

Going to start my first online class with Wilna in Canada. Can't wait, we are doing it on Saturday and I am changing mine a bit to be about my kids so that I can give it to one of the granny's as a gift.

Went to Claire place last night, we scrap or chat (mostly chat) on a Wednesday evening. We are planning the scrapping weekend away and I can't wait for that either.

Just had cousins Shawn and Claire for a morning (from New Zealand) and now we are considering doing a trip there in June.

Devin starts BMX this weekend and he is moving to expert category this year!

Kiara just had a haircut and she is off to a leadership camp soon. She is so chuffed about being chosen as a prefect.

Tarryn has decided that for her matiric year she is going to go out more and went to Mugg and Bean for coffee with Byron last night! We are sure to see excellent year end results from that!!

At work I am going on a 3 day course and then I have to write an examination that is marked in the UK.

Took some photos of Jonty a friend on his bike. He has to compile a cv to go to World BMX in Canada later this year.