Saturday 25 February 2012

Dinner in The Sky

Hubby and I saw a crane in the sky above our local Mall on the way home this evening and as we got closer I asked him "is that people sitting up there?".

He nodded, he'd been handed a flyer earlier and was fully up to speed with the latest dining experience to hit the streets of Joburg.

"Yup, it's people having dinner. There's a chef up there cooking for them."
"WTF? Dinner?? On a crane?!"
"Yeah, or breakfast or lunch depending on the time of day. I think dinner's more expensive though".

I pointed it out to my four year old, hoping to get a more excited reaction.

"See the people having dinner in the sky?" says I. But it was too high, I don't think he could really comprehend it and I was alone in my awe.

Thursday 23 February 2012

Thank You, Gruffalo

I remember the time my eldest son first got into a movie, he was about two, it was the deliciously fabulous My Neighbour Totoro.

Despite the fact that the movie's entirely in Japanese, he would sit in front of it totally entranced from start to finish, without so much as a peep. Now four, it's still one of his favourites.

Prior to that movie capturing him, only a 7 minute episode of Pocoyo could hold his attention to keep him still and quiet for any length of time.

Sunday 19 February 2012

Well I Never ... No. 3

Three Cool, Useful or Otherwise Interesting Things I Didn't Know a Month Ago.


1. Smartphone Barcodes
Get me, being all Techy on my blog. And I’m nothing but a user really. I love Technology, but I don’t get passed the user stage. Shiny, blinky lights and “it can do WHAT??!! Show me how, show me how!” is where I’m at.
My dear friend Clare however, is a true Techy. She doesn’t just use and drool over blinky lighted gadgets and technology, she understands the workings. She can even make Techy. Oh yeah. She told me recently that often when she chats to folk, their eyes glaze over and she realises she’s lost them with her Techy talk. It’s happened to me often. I bow to her superior Techyness.


Imagine then, my possibly over enthused excitement when she showed me this;

It’s a QR (Quick Response) Barcode. Have we all seen these yet? Am I, in fact, over here in Africa, the last to know? They make getting URLs, location coordinates, any text or contact information onto a phone as easy as you like. With a barcode scanner app installed you can scan them with your Smartphone and it’ll wop the info straight into your phone. Go on, try it! (To find a scanner application, Google "QR Reader" and the model of your phone). This barcode leads to mine and Hubbys business site. How. Cool. Is. That. If not already, you’ll see them soon printed on advertising and business cards, on TV ads. Everywhere I’m sure. And just think – you may have seen it here first. Well, if you live in South Africa. Or the Outer Hebrides. Love you Clare. And all your Techyness.

Monday 13 February 2012

UK Couple Visiting South Africa Eaten by Bug Loving Lions!

We have visitors. Again. Anyone who read my recent post will know that we are currently enjoying a fair plethora of visitors from Europe and we’re loving every minute of it.

Our current visitors are a couple we knew from the UK (Hubby and I moved out to South Africa from there four years ago). I worked with her in an office in Taunton, South West of the UK, and we’ve been firm friends ever since.

Still amazed, half way through their two week stay, that they’re here at all. The effort, not to mention the expense, of coming out here to see us is immense. I told my friend, “it’s a hell of a lot more effort than just meeting up in the local pub once a week” and she replied “you’ve been out here four years, once a week to the pub – once every four years out here, I think it equates to the same thing”. Love her.

I worry though, are they having a good time? What does the average UK dweller (not that I like to think of my friends as ‘average’ in any way) think or expect when travelling to South Africa for the first time?

Sunday 12 February 2012

The Time Has Come ...

... for our first born son, my little soldier, my baby boy ..... to fly the nest.

Well, okay. He's actually four and he's just finished his first week of Pre School, but it feels like he's leaving home or something.


Nah, I'm okay really. I surprised myself actually. I thought I'd be the one in tears as I waved him off that first day, but I managed to swallow the small lump in my throat and I've been fine since. Missing him, but wanting him to be there.

How's he?? Oh yeah, he's fine.

Friday 3 February 2012

What Happened to My Sleep??

In my twenties, I was a good sleeper. A really good sleeper.

And in my thirties too. I remember Hubby and I enjoying many a lazy weekend lie in, relishing the lack of the weekday alarm clock which was the only thing capable of rousing me from my slumber in those happy, carefree, sleepeasy days.

*sigh*

Then I had children. And as we all know, that will seriously f*@k with your sleep patterns.

However ..... my two boys now sleep very well most of the time. And being little, they have this amazing ability of sleeping for eleven or twelve hours at night. Giving me plenty of time for a good nights kip most nights. Or so you'd think.

Valentine Lovelies

I should Pinterest, I really should. But then I barely find the time to Facebook and blog, don't find the time to tweet as anyone who's ever looked me up on Twitter will know - when would I Pinterest? Too many options, too many options ....

Anyhoo, here's some lovely Valentine decs, as masterfully made by my dear friend at the Happy Fat Penguin Shop. Go see, go see!


They come with ribbon attached,
so you can put them on a pressie or a bottle.

HUBBY COME SEE THIS ...!!

I want one ...


Wednesday 1 February 2012

Perfect Parent ... Real Parent

Perfect Parent ...
Practises the Positive Parenting / Super Nanny approach to discipline. No shouting or smacking, down to child eye level to discuss things calmly.

This Real Parent Right Here ...
Reprimands her eldest for hitting his little brother and wonders if it’s because she lost her temper with him yesterday and smacked his bum.

Perfect Parent ...
Looks hot. She must have got up early to get ready before the kids woke up.

This Real Parent Right Here ...
Yeah right. I’m so tired there’s no chance in hell I’m getting up before the kids rouse me. On a good day I’ll have a quick shower before Hubby leaves the house and I rarely wear make up. I’ve got a make up bag with make up in so old, it would probably bring out an ugly skin condition if I used it.