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.