14 February 2011

I think I am my own worst enemy. Now those of you who have told me that stop smiling as you read this and be kind!

I have taken on another set of books from a restaurant at the old Cape Quarter, I have been so busy the last two weeks that it has been insane. I was so exhausted at the weekend that I spent most of the time sleeping when we were not out partying! Ash had her birthday at La Med, we sat at a seperate table with our best buds Avril & Nix and enjouyed the beautiful view and great food and great service. We reminised with Avs and Nix about how fast the kids are growing up and how difficult it is to let go. Despite what Andre says I have let go of Ash, is it difficult hell yes! I still worry that she is eating right and sleeping enough and I wish she would let me know whats going on...but I know that she is in a good place and discovering new things I guess I just pray that all I have taught her will stick and that she will make intelligent choices.

Its quite nice to see the change in the boys at home as well it is rather interesting that since Ash has left jason has really come alive at home. He now engages at the dinner table and comes out of his room and the relationship between him and Jesse seems to be better. Its a new season and I think I like it.

midst all the business I did manage to squeeze in some time to finish my dining room table and I think it turned out pretty well. I forgot to take a before pic but it was a pine table varnished with a teak look. This Indonian Teak look is much cooler. And it was fun doing it, although my arm did take a bit of strain when sanding it down. Speaking of which I am so sick of this left arm I wish I could just cut it off and buy a new one. I am doing these exercises that the physio gave me religiously everyday and seeing the physio but honestly I feel like I take one step forward and 20 steps back somedays. Today it aches....I mean really aches and not even an anti inflammatory helps. I am open to any suggestions...anyone had problems with a sore aching shoulder before?

Moving on oh my word I still have not yet secured tickets to U2 yet...last resort camping on beach road with some sushi and a picnic blanket...I am listening to the radio entering every competition. If I dont get tickets I think I will be baby sitting for friends who have tickets.... come on that will be a sad day.

As I write this I am watching Dirty Dancing on SABC 2 ~ my word but the late Mr Swayzie was a hottie! It reminds me that Andy and I wanna take salsa lessons anyone know of someone good who does fun lessons?

Yesterday Rigs was amazing and so funny as he preached but waht a powerful message. i am looking forward to our Corporate fast tomorrow and Wednesday and leave you with these thoughts to ponder

I am LOVED to LOVE
I am FOUND to FIND
I am SAVED to SERVE

11 February 2011

Today my sweet and sarcastic Ashleigh is 18! I remember every detail of her birth likeit was yesterday. She was my first so I was determined to have a natural birth ~ I was so naive if only I had known I would have sought out the anaethetist when I walked through those doors at the Park Lane. She was born at 5h27 weighing 3.24kg and was 51cm. Today she is 18 slightly taller than me and definitely all grown up. She is loving Varsity life and has become a social being overnight. It is wonderful to see your child blossom but also slightly nerve wracking.

We are fetching her at 7 from res and having breakfast at Commonground Cafe, later we are having drinks at Alba Lounge somewhere at the Waterfront
We are just the Taxi drivers to get her and her friends there ~ we are not aallowed to stay.

I am proud of her and glad to see all my hard work finally bearing some fruit. Its cool to see your children get wings and begin to fly but not so cool to realise that actually you are middle aged. Was browsing through some old pictures last night....watch this space I will try to scan in and upload some pics of days gone by.

J & B Met 29 January 2010

What a fantastic day. First we went off to UCT parent orientation. Well organised and a pretty fantastic University. Feel so priviledged and so proud that my daughter is going there. Thank you God for the miracle of her bursary!

Then after tht we charged home and changed for the J & B Met. Here are some pics. It was a wonderful date with my Prince charming

27 January 2011

Yesterday was awesome. Ashleigh and I went to have breakfast at Voila! Then we went to Canal Walk. It was very successful and we managed to get everything, well almost to get her ready for varsity. Still need to get a duvet inner and then we are all set.

She wil be 18 in just a 14 days, I cannot believe how quickly the years have gone. Suddenly I am seeing a beautiful butterfly starting to emerge. It is so tough too know I have to let her fly when she is delicate and soft ~ she feels like any almost 18 year old, she cannot wait to get wheels to have the freedom to come and go as she pleases. We asked her what she would like to do for her 18th and she told her dad "Drinks at La Med but no adults please you must have a table on the other side" Gasp splatter!!!! I think Andre almost fell off his chair. And then the following day we can have lunch just the family at Wakame please dad!

I am up early as Andre and I are one of 35 couples going to the Espesso studio in Seapoint dressed "Larger than life" to try and win VIP experience at the J & B Met. So if you are awake watch SABC 3 5.30 - 7.30 and hold thumbs. Must dash got to get ready!

26 January 2011

Today has been one crazy day, am so looking forward to tomorrow - taking the day off with Ashleigh. We are going to exercise together then enjoy breakfast at Voila! and then shop till we drop at Canal Walk.

Joined the Beth Moore biblestudy at Commonground. Its going to be awesome, we are doing The Patriachs so lots of Jewish history. Am so looking forward to this.

So The Closer series is interesting, What does it really mean to be graphted to the Vine, to not bear fruit? When a plant is dying the best way to save it is to cut off the branches near the root and with lots of water and nurturing it will grow and reproduce life again. Are we like that? What is the metaphor of John 15? What was Jesus really saying? If we are not bearing fruit does He cut us off and throw us away? How then do we stay graphted in attached to our life source?

This is not such an easy question to answer, I am still mulling through it in my head. There are so many times I dont bear fruit, does He throw me away like this passage suggests. I don't think so. How do I stay connected graphted in ~ well I know spending time with Him helps not just a daily devotion but time in deep communion and walking everyday aware that I am part of something greater than myself. Taking the metaphor further and making sure that the roots are going deep and are firmly planted going deeper and wider. A beautiful tree has a deep and strong root system. It needs watering, food love air.

'The Giddy Tree' by David Hart

Giddy tree, oh giddy tree
You tickle my funny bones
You see

Your branches swirl and twirl
And you look all gnarled and
Ready to unfurl

You creak and swing with
Ease
In a sweet swirling and
Affectionate breeze

Feisty tree, oh feisty tree
Butterflies dance
And fall in a frenzy
At your knees

Silly tree, oh silly tree
Ladybugs sunbath and linger
Giddy on your leaves

Limber tree, oh limber tree
You give and you live
A delight to the
Sight
and always you please

Dreamy tree, oh dreamy tree
Love birds surround you
and like adventurous ships sailing on
Sprite and dazzling seas

Charming tree, oh charming tree
Little children squeal and tickle
and swing on your arms in
the breeze oh so fickle

Mysterious tree, oh mysterious tree
The sparrows adore you
The squirrels they implore you
The owls ever asking you,
Who, who, who
The stars with certainty
Know you are no fool

You are a funny and twisty and
dreamy and mysterious and
wonderful and charming
tree, you.

David Hart

22 January 2011

Gosh where does the time go. Almost done with January. And oh on its almost month end again!!!

So this has been an exciting and interesting week. Ashleigh got confirmation of acceptance at residence at UCT. It is weird to think my daughter is off to university, how strange my house is going to feel with her away in the week. I love her company, even though we don't always agree on things, I am so going to miss having her gentle presence in my home. I get chest pains just thinking about it. I wander how her Dad must feel because she is the apple of his eye. I know her brothers are also feeling the pain of being ripped from there sister. Yesterday I swapped rooms around and when Jason came home and I showed him his new room he couldnt care less about how his room looked his first response was "Oh no Ashleigh has left for varsity already!" He was delighted when he

saw she had just moved rooms.They are very close and I think it is going to be difficult for Jason, thank goodness we trusted God and waited and didnt rush to send her to the Free State because they were begging us to send her!

So lots of emotional change next week in the Blignaut household.

So I finally printed my first set of business cards Robin Hood Legal is official. Watch this space!

Kuzina work continues with same challenges but I am enjoying the team we have become. Although I will say Greek people are a tribe of their own.

Weigh less is proving to be easier than I expected I have another weigh in this morning but last week I lost 1.6kgs, and this week I have been able to gym everyday well almost Wednesday I gave gym a skip as I have come down with an insane head cold~seriously in the middle of summer!

Worth checking this out on Utube

www.utube.com/user/OfficiallyTheArrows Please support them and subscribe to them. Buy Song and Album Here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-arrows/id341728824 Check Them out at their Website Here: http://thearrowsband.com/ When listening please pay attention to the lyrics and

10 January 2010

The nostalgia of Christmas still lingers and the idea of being permanently on holiday feels like a good idea, but it is the 10th of January and school goes back next week. So time to get organised.

My daughter starts university in a month. She was accepted with a full bursary at UFS but we are still holding out for the UCT bursary, She did so well and I just feel that she did Xhosa for a reason. 5 years of struggling with this difficult language and now sending her to the Free State would be linguistical suicide. So peeps please continue to have faith with me that UCT will find her a place in res and then she can complete her studies here. She got 91% for Maths how insane is that!!!Gosh I am so proud of her. I went to UCT Friday and tried to fight her case. Seriously does the commerce department really want to lose this brain to the University of the Free State? Lets hope and pray that my words did not fall on deaf ears. Truth is she is only 17 and I am not yet ready to lose my baby, I have come to terms with the fact that the burary requires her to stay in residence but having her in one up the road is far less painful to cope with.

Jason is off to Camp Rev today and I am sure it wil be fantastic. This is quite a significant week for me. On Wednesday I finally have my appointment with the rheumatologist. Watch this space for results.... if you rememeber when I was so ill last year one of the discoveries was an exceptoinally high rheumatoid count so I was supposed to see the rheumatologist but my savings ran out and I could not face another specialists bill so I delayed it by 3 months so my new year financial medical aid savings could kick in.

I have been continuing with physiotherapy for this freaky left side of my body and it is definitely paying off. Its very painful everytime I go but I am definitely feeling an improvement.

Anyhow its once again time to finish my month end so let me not procratinate anymore... have a fantastic day everyone and if you are in Cape Town take advantage of our long beautiful days and get out there and hike or climb a mountain. Or just enjoy our beautiful beaches!!!!!