Devin's 18th

I have to reflect on Devins 18th birthday that just passed. It really feels like just a while ago that Richard, Peter Richmond and I were sitting on the same patio I still have, chatting about life and the plans for Devin's delivery the next day. We didn't know he was a boy at that stage. His birth was delayed from early morning to late afternoon because of an emergency and so I had the epidural and Richard was with me for his birth. He was so excited and kept saying Tasha "you won't  believe what it is" and then eventually said "it's a boy" he was absolutely delighted. The girls at home cried when they heard the news, they wanted a girl!

I spent that Christmas in the Sandton clinic with Devin and we had a full Christmas lunch together. All the rest of the family came to visit and they spent Christmas in Randburg with Darrel and Marina

So many things have happened since then, good and bad but our family unit has survived. I think the best and most recent example of the resilience that my kids have, is for Devin's birthday he wanted to go to the strip club Teasers with some friends, and I managed to arrange a driving service to take them to Rivonia and to fetch them. He called me later and said that Teasers was unexpectedly closed but he was negotiating with the driver and would make alternate arrangements. I think that has been the best quality that we all share. Things happen and life doesn't go as planned but we are able to make a plan and keep smiling.

A lot of people would have felt hard done by and moaned about their misfortune, not Devin.

Bedtime stories

I was tidying my study today and saw these Enid Blyton books. I collected most of a series of 100 Enid Blyton books and began reading them to Tarryn when she was little. My family grew to 3 so I got lots of opportunities to read the stories to my kids. We never got through all the books, mostly because I had to re-read the favourites. The Faraway Tree was the all time winner, followed by Mr Pink Whistle and Amelia Jane. Such amazing memories of special times with my kids. I wrote the dates in pencil in a lot of the books and who I read the stories to. Thinking about them always took me back to my childhood, reminiscing about reading the yellow, black and blue Enid Blyton books that belonged to my aunt Dolores. I found one at a bookshop once and bought it just for the memories. Kiara made me read Naughty Amelia Jane to her the other night and she's 20 years old. I hope that's one thing they treasure with their own kids one day, there is nothing as nice and all cuddling up on the bed with a great book.

I ♥️ Cape Town

This past weekend, Scott and I flew down to Cape Town to see grandad and the rest of the family. We managed to pack such a lot into our 3 days, I got fantastic photos, loved seeing the family and swam in 2 oceans again. The sea just does something to me, I fall in love with it every time.

Clifton was perfect but the water was freezing

Army wives (and girlfriends) revisited

So I've been watching Army Wives and seeing a mom saying goodbye to her son going off to Iraq and it brought memories flooding back of saying goodbye to paratrooper Richard Dean Dawson each time he was called up to the border war in Angola. Seeing him in his browns with his balsak over his shoulder, his heavy boots and his name on a tape sewn to his chest, his purple beret at a jaunty angle covering half his forehead, wondering if it was going to be the last time I ever held him in my arms. He would whisper assurances to me promising that he would be back soon and that his first letter would be in the post as soon as he could. He never worried what the other guys would say and always made me feel like we were alone in the middle of all the tangled goodbyes. We were the lucky ones, he came back every time.

The time I remember clearest was one where the guys flew in to the then Jan Smuts airport and we had to collect them at one of the quiet hangars, I had just been doing modeling for a photo shoot at the Germiston camera club and I was wearing high heels and a leopard print dress. All the guys were hanging around chatting on the far side of a 100m concrete quad, I walked across the concrete,  feeling all the eyes on me until I got to Richard and we ran the last steps and he swung me around just like in the movies. He had the proudest smile on his face and told me later the guys were saying who is that hot chick and he said "she's mine!" I loved that story and that day.

The loves of my life

Each in their own unique way these 3 children of mine have made me so proud to be their mom.

It was not the greatest reason that we were all together this year but I am so grateful that we got to have this photo. Love you more 8x

Back on blog

This resurgence of my blog posting is made possible by those whose steadfastly refuse to join the Facebook crew, not that I am without empathy for your plight, I agree on most of your points excepting that you don't get to find out what the heck is happening around you!!

So I'm starting with the latest info and I will slowly be adding willy-nilly in either direction on the timeline to news and updates in my world.

Here goes

Last night I had an absolutely fabulous evening with my two brothers in law. We have not all been together for about 3 years which is disgraceful and we have pledged to remedy that in the coming months, even though we live in different provinces. Scott arranged tickets to see Spamalot as he knows we are all Monty Python fans and we had a great catch-up, dinner and enjoyable show. I will keep you posted about our family pledge.

I don’t even know where to begin this episode, so many things have happened since I posted last.

August 2011 was my last update and I have been blogging for 6 years now!
Since then our lives were filled with getting paperwork for visas to Australia.
Dress shopping with Megan to find my “mother of the bride dress” and checking the countdown app on my iPad every day to see how long it is until we get to see Tarryn again.

Wedding
My brother Lawrence got married in October and I got to be the back-up photographer that was great fun.

Photography
I treated myself to a discounted photography course; it was 6 classroom lessons and a practical session. I also got an external flash and a brand new Canon 600D which I just love.

Sondela
Had a weekend breakaway to the bush, I got up close and personal with a giraffe when I went on a long bush walk by myself. It was a very special time. My mom and Costa joined us this time. I love the quiet time in what feels like the wild bush even though it is only an hour or two away from home. Kiara started her driving lessons there!

Layla
Costa’s grandchild was born and that brought much joy and excitement into the world I made a scrapbooking album for him to remember that special time

Grease
Kiara got a very good role in the school production of Grease and they performed in our local civic centre, it was a fantastic production, but took up her whole school holidays with rehearsals.

Gratitude page
I got back into scrapbooking slowly and made a gratitude page and booked at Spier Wine Estate for this year’s scrapbooking university in September.

Cansa relay
I was part of a Cansa relay with the people at work and it was a very special time spent reflecting on those that lost their battle and to see the brave warriors walking that are fighting and smiling through it all.

Training
I was lucky enough to attend Agile training as well as First Aid and a management course. We even had a proper graduation ceremony for the management course.

Turkish cooking class
I went to one or two cooking classes this year but loved the Turkish one the most. Kiara got to come with me and she enjoyed it too. Pity they are so expensive, I would love to do one every month.

Kiara
Kiara school had their honours evening but Kiara and I could not attend we were at the hospital. She was on another drip for her migraine headaches, so we found out on BBM chat that she was made head of choir, drama, soiree, music overall. I was very pleased for her.

Devin
Had a good year and finished his first year in high school. He turned 15 and as most years with a birthday on the 23rd December, never got an official party.
He is still a passionate Arsenal fan and enjoys playing soccer at school.

Nanna
She had a gallbladder removal op this year and sailed through it. She was only interested in how many days left until Australia.

Work
We had 3 fun work events, a day out of the office at Karee Kloof, a local pleasure resort, a movie trip with the management team and an overnight stay at a fantastic venue for a management strategy session.

IPad
I got my beloved iPad though FNB (obviously the best place to bank and to work for). Their special deal for the iPad 2 was just so incredible that some of my friends moved their banking accounts just to take up the offer! Love it!

Supperclub
We are all still going strong, meeting once a month. We are saving for another trip in 2013. Everyone is coming up with suggestions as to what the best option will be. I loved our Gautrain trip to Sandton and supperclub Christmas breakfast (does that make sense?) at the Radison Blu.

Bookclub
Is alive and well and still not much discussion takes place regarding books! Actually no discussions take place, come to think about it. Always a fun evening of food and drink and chocolate spiced with gossip and laughter. We went to a spa for our Christmas event and I think alcohol was the reason we didn’t get an in-focus photo!

Christmas Eve
I was lucky enough to have 3 of my best friends here to enjoy the evening with. We had snacks and drinks and took photos. I love the pouty photo from that night and when my printer eventually works, I will get it printed and framed.

Christmas day
Costa,the kids and I spent a quiet day getting ready to fly on Boxing day.

Australia
Coming up in the next post…

Cheers from me until next time xxx