Merry Christmas all, AGAIN! It is almost the night before Christmas, all is most definitely NOT quiet in the house, the house is a rustle and bustle of activity as we sell off our assets, by the 1st of January 2012 we might own a bed and some wine glasses, still, new beginnings and all. I am also happy to report that my rock solid husband is human after all, he struck a bit of a wobbly too recently, nothing quite as spectacular as my emotional breakdown, but still, he had some doubt in his mind and contemplated staying in SA. I am to say the least relieved, thank heavens he is human, he has emotions, he is contemplating thinking about thinking... I wrapped the Christmas pressies yesterday and finally started feeling Christmas, we even listened to some Christmas carols last night as we sipped our single malt whiskey (yes, we are still on a mission to finish all the alcoholic beverages in the house before 8 February 2012). We are in the mood for Christmas, and I am loo...

Weekends without kids. . . In a bold move, Gerhard and I went away without kids for the first time ever and all I can say is that we should have done this a very long time ago! We went to the absolutely and utterly amazing Nkomasi Lodge where your every whim is catered for, the small things matter and you are treated like royalty.  We had an absolutely amazing time and I really hope that we will one day be fortunate enough to go back. It starts on arrival; you park your car at the entrance and then go to the welcome lounge where a cooler box full of cold drinks, beers, ciders etc. awaits.  When all guests are there, you depart in the game viewers, luggage already en route.  Upon arrival, the friendly staff is on hand, singing a welcome song and an ice cold face cloth and home brewed ginger beer is served.  You then proceed to the Magilis (the living room tent) where a check in is done and the programme and events for the weekend are described....

Anyone that has ever decided to move to another country will probably tell you that it is an emotional roller coaster ride of note.  The one minute you are all happy and thinking of new things and the adventure, the next you think of something sad, someone that you will miss dearly or a place where you spent some good times, so yes, I am up and down.  It is Christmas time again, Boney M is playing in the stores, the stockings are up, yet I have not managed to buy a single thing!  I am just not feeling Christmas at all this year.  It might be the totally crappy weather that we are experiencing at the moment, not sure. Reality is that this has been a long and hard year, so much happened, I was pregnant this year, Luka is 8 months old, we decided to move to Sydney, we have been working really hard, we gave away our cat, sold our furniture through it all, we did not manage a vacation at all!  So I think exhaustion (mental and physical) is at pla...

The Christmas tree is up (has been for about two weeks, yes yes I know it is only supposed to go up 12 days before Christmas).  It is that time of the year when people are generally happy, there is a merry feeling in the air, Boney M is playing on the radio and the African sun is (generally) shining. Somehow I just wonder where time went, I can still recall what I was wearing last Christmas as I was sticking the leg of lamb into the oven!  We had some woollies kiddies champers, Liam loved it.  We put out carrots for the reindeer and milk and cookies for Santa. We are just so busy and with the move to Australia we have so many people to see, so we now accept invitations two at a time, breakfasts, lunches, dinners.  I can see my poor husband tries to cram in golf as much as he can.  I do lunch and breakfast with the girls all the time.  Play dates, birthday parties, family get-togethers, farewells.  Life is generally good, and hey, there is nothing...

I sort of stuck to the rules on this one, and in 10 weeks, I managed to lose 11 kilograms and quite a number of centimetres.  I have cheated, mostly with wine and some single malt whiskey. I fit into a size 28 levi...I never thought I would actually see the day.  I feel good, I am rather toned and I am in the best shape of my life.  So this works, it is hard work and dedication, but it is also a lifestyle change! In an ironic twist of fate I went JOGGING on Saturday, me, jogging...yes, I have a funny heavy way of hitting the road, but still!  I am not a runner, yet I did not drop down dead... And best of all, when I get to Sydney in 2012 I will be wearing my tiny black bikini with pride!  Sisters of Mzanzi unite!

I am back, well sort of.  The emotional stuff is slowly passing and I am scared to admit that I am actually looking forward to the move to Sydney, now how ever did that happen...Probably because I am actually sleeping again and not turning in my sleep tossing and turning thinking about all the things I will miss about SA.  You see, I think as with everything, you just need some time, time to deal with all the emotional stuff, the what if this is just a giant mistake?  What if we hate it, what if we don't find jobs, what if blah blah blah... So in a weird way I have come full circle.  I realised that I am only an employee and that life will go on regardless.  My kids will be fine, home is where the heart is and Gerhard and I can and will conquer whatever comes our way. So, we might hate it, then we come back, no domestic worker, we will live with dust and send our ironing to the laundromat.  No babysitter, we will go on family dates and eat pizza on th...