June 2009

Claire bought me a pink tin of mints in Wales that has the words “Spoilt Rotten” on it and I deserve that title :)

Tarryn
The last time I updated, I said “She is having a tough time at the moment as she is still very confused and undecided about what to do with her life”. Nothing has changed. This has spilled over into her relationship and she and Trevor have spilt up.

She completed her bookkeeping to trial balance course and passed with distinction. She is now doing the computer bookkeeping course. The company that she was studying through, offered her a job and they agreed to a half day position so that she could continue with the water job. She starts at the beginning of the month.

Kiara
The new love of her life is Kyle that she met in Sun City when we were there last. He goes to KES and is a weekly boarder there so it is quite difficult for them to get to see each other. She managed to get Costa to take her to Pretoria the other day to see a rugby match between KES and Pretoria Boys where she met up with Kyle.
I got her a Man U shirt, soccer boots and a Man U birthday cake from my trip. The cake survived in my hand luggage. She also asked me to buy her blue contacts overseas and she wears them at every opportunity. She sang a solo in the school soiree and really did very well, she wants to go for singing lessons now and after seeing her perform, I can’t say no.

Devin
Is doing well, busy with exams and still loving BMX. He has SA champs in Natal at the end of the month. He is playing soccer at school and then when he gets home, he plays FIFA 09 (his only request from my overseas trip) on the Sony.

Mom
Has been battling with her health this year and has been quite depressed, but she is talking about helping out at a local old age home and I think that will be a great thing for her. She needs to be busy and with people. Unlike me, she hates being alone and has a great love for people.

Patsy and Roger (other mom and dad)
We are hoping to see the folks at the end of the month when we go to Durban for BMX, dad has organised a flat in the same building that they are in, so we will spend a long weekend with them.

Costa
He is doing fine and we have been dating for over a year and a half already.
He is working hard and I get to see him mostly on weekends.

Sport
Wow, we have been so spoilt for choice at the moment, rugby, cricket and soccer. Costa and I went to an IPL cricket game and I loved that, also, to the opening ceremony and game of the Confederation Cup soccer. What fun, we caught a traditional taxi to Ellis park and then sat in a stadium full of South African soccer fans, I must say the vibe was amazing and I never felt intimidated for one second. I was very proud of the opening ceremony and the crowd’s behaviour and am really looking forward to going to the World Cup games next year.



Wales
was amazing, I had fun from the time I landed until I got to the airport for my flight home. Hated the flights, but you know I am such a wuss about flying, (you wouldn’t believe I have been overseas 6 times already, besides all the local flying I have done), and then there was the Air France disaster just before I left. BUT I survived again.

It was such fun to see how different life is in a village environment. Lance and Claire live in a tiny village where the kids walk to school, you have a postman (who is scared of the dog) delivering post through the flap in the door “a la Harry Potter” and you can walk everywhere, even to the local beach.

Claire and I spent one day in London and did the whole touristy thing again on the open top bus, to the London Eye, which neither of us had done before and then to Madame Tussauds. I remembered it as being more realistic but I was much younger then, still fun though. Never got to Old Trafford because it involved a 3 hour train and bus trip and then a walk and I had limited time.

I saw lots of Wales and fell in love with the place. There must be 23456 different shades of green that I saw there. Friendly people too.
I came home with 15 mg worth of photos. I posted a selection from each day onto my Facebook site and will think about sorting through the rest at some stage.

Various suggestions were made about ways to detain me in Wales so it sounded as if the people there enjoyed having me there too. I loved it and miss them all lots.

Holidays
We went to Sun City again at the beginning of May and to the Vaal for a weekend too. Upcoming trips to the Natal coast at the end of the month, Zebula game lodge for a scrapping weekend in July, Sun City in August, Sondela in October. My next dream is a Mediterranean cruise next year.

Work
We moved floors at work and that involved getting rid of stuff, it is such a good feeling. I was allocated to a window seat and have the sunshine all day long, so lucky, again. Still enjoying what I do, the people and the place. Our Friday lunch tradition with the boys and my glass of red wine as a reward for surviving the week continues.

Other
Monthly bookclub, supperclub, and chick flicks still going well. Jenny and I still manage a dinner about once a month. Bobbi found me again and it is so good to be in contact.

My photos from the trip are on Facebook, if you want to see them and are not a friend of mine on Facebook, let me know and I will send you the link to my albums.

Keep well and keep in touch.
Regards
Natasha