Grey

the colour of everything at the moment - where did autumn go?

Alive

It is the smell of the rain on a dirt road after a tempestuous Natal thunder storm, it is the deep reds and violets of a bizarrely beautiful sunset over the veld, it is the smell of 'boerie on the braai' on a sunday, the salty, warm sea breeze of Kalk Bay and the warmest smile and greeting from a stranger working in a small street cafe. It is the unquestioned unity of the crowds at our sports matches regardless of races or faces or fears. It is about the pride in a South African flag making the window of a grey London council building look like hope. It is the vision and courage of the poorest people and the incredible endurance of the sick. It is the fear and excitement of not knowing what will happen, and the opportunities that are, therefore, endless. Opportunities to make a country without poverty or AIDS or crime. It is a place of togetherness with the 'Spirit of a Great Heart' (as Johnny Clegg writes/sings). But most of all, it is the only place on Earth where I feel truly passionate about life every single day. The only place I feel alive.

(reproduced from Homecoming Revolution)

Loss

My mother in law passed away on 23rd July. The disgusting and malignant cancer that had been taking hold of her for the past seven years finally won it's battle and her poor ravaged little body gave up it's fight. Mr H had managed to fly home to South Africa the night before and together with his father and his siblings, was at his mother's side when she passed. The knowledge that they were all there would have been a great comfort to her, and the love with which she left this world would have carried her through to wherever her spirit resides now.

Two results

I passed my Ofsted Grading Inspection with a Good. All those months of work on Risk Assessments, policies & procedures, observations all paid off. The inspector was lovely and the three boys (son no.2 and cmk nos. 1 & 2) behaved impeccably (although I didn't tell them too!). I was very pleased with the outcome.

Daughter no.2 took her Prepatory Ballet exam and passed - not only did she pass but she passed with Honours (she got 85 out of 85). Her teacher was beside herself with happiness when she rang me with the results. Daughter no.2 was very pleased and asked if she could have a chocolate hedgehog cake to celebrate. Of course mama obliged. The picture below was taken on my phone which the maniac jack russell had chewed, hence the fuzzy quality (she managed to chew the lens!). This was daughter no.2 just before she went into her exam. Oooh.......

Catching up

Life has been - unbearably - busy since my last entry so today I will endeavour to catch up as much as possible.

"You're still smiling"

So having finally got round to using this childminding qualification thingy, two little boys (brothers) aged 11 months and 3 years to add to the growing brood of children in his house, I have survived my first four days. Their lovely mum brought hot cross buns as an Easter gift this evening when picking them up, and enquired how - after a long day (9 hours) with either an extra one or two boys in the house (the youngest is full time, the elder part time) - I manage to still be smiling at the end of the day.

It's the same feeling I used to get when 4.50pm would approach when I was languishing behind my desk during my (incredibly boring) days at an insurance brokers - a quick aside, I worked with a younger man who had the knack of making me laugh every day, the pranks we got up to were legendary but I think our crowning moment was having him "ordained" as a minister over the internet and performing several "inter office" marriages one day when we were the only two people in our department - the feeling of "it's nearly home time".

That and copious amounts of caffeine.........

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit!

May the road rise beneath you
May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

and rains fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of His hand

(Traditional Irish Blessing)