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