To Keep or Not

This morning I tackled the bottom drawer of my bedside table.  Not bad, about 30 mins.  Tossed a whole lot of EMPTY jewellery pouches, sigh!  Stories for another day,  watches that stopped looooong ago and other worthless stuff.   But found the kids teeth, yes their rotting little baby teeth.  I tossed them.  I feel ruthless, bring on the boxes.

Progress

Things are progressing nicely except for the dogs.  Things with them seem to change daily due to conflicting information.  Bottom line, for the dogs to travel and live in France for 6 months they need to stay here for another 4 - 5 months!!!  We are planning to leave at the end of December so that would mean adding an additional 2 - 3 months to their incarceration.  The quarantine in the UK is apparently horrific so I really don't know what to do.  I know that for some people this would be the least of their problems.  Wish I could feel that way.  In a bizarre twist of fate the 'new' owner of my horse Mike Bolhuis an old friend of mine was on the front cover of the newspaper yesterday in connection with his dealings with Joost van der Westhuizen.  For me it was a reminder that I no longer speak to Mike because I am too scared to ask him how my horse is?  My DH spoke to him recently and he said that my horse was fine but living on another property of his???  I am not so sure.  I am need to avoid  this situation at all costs, it is very stressful for me.  My DH mentioned last night that Chess could die in quarantine due to pineing.  That was me, now my eyes are all puffy today.

We were also told that to find a home to rent in the UK thats landlord would allow pets would be near impossible.  Sorted, my Mums friend has already found us a place, and it looks ok if not better than what we live in here and it costs less than our rent here.  Bonus, the guy said my dogs - no problem!!  It even has a conservatory which I think I will need to thaw out in when the weather gets to me. 

Scotts ticket is booked and paid for and he leaves on the 1st of December via London to Torp Noway for the month of December.  He has already been told that Michele has to get a visit.  He said, strange I dont even know her.  I said dont worry Scott she knows you!!!  He doesnt always get this blogging thing.

Some Bullets

• Life has become a crazy whirl with all things to do with moving overseas.

• We have found an alternative to the 6 months quarantine that the dogs would have to endure - 6 months at a foster home in Brittany France, excuse me!  For the same price so no saving unfortunately.  The vet recommended this route and gave Chess the thumbs up for travel.  She was pretty confused when she monitored his heart because the boy carries a little 'weight' and she wanted to know how much exercise he did to be so fit!  Molly has her check up tomorrow.
• We are having a huge moving on sale on the 21st November, so I have to have my act together by then.  Nothing like a few deadlines.
• I parted with 90% of my kids teddies yesterday, it was easy they are all going to the children at the Red Cross Childrens Hospital, if you ever feel the need to hang on to things, think of those with very little and it becomes very easy.to part with 'stuff'.
• I am selling my favourite painting as it appears I have made a good investment and it is now worth some 'serious' money.  I will miss it though. 
• I reckon any house we live in in the UK is bound to be half the size of the one we live in now so the whole family has been instructed to cut down by half.
• I walked/ran 6km on friday afternoon at Run/Walk for Life.  I have not lost a gram!  Damn it!!
• The DH and I don't always agree on what to turf.  He thinks that if something hasn't been worn/used then we shouldn't be chucking it, we still need to use/wear it!!  Men!!

Not so funny!

I have been really busy at work, doing presentation after presentation.  I have had a couple of challenging ones just lately but yesterday was a cracker!

Have you ever been so uncomfortable that you squirm in your seat?

There were 5 people in the boardroom and one of the guys was/is black.  Not quite the boss but fairly high in designation.  During my presentation "the boss" asked if I would be prepared to train the guys/staff on the system should they purchase it.  I replied that it was normally not necessary as the system was childs play (I didn't use that phrase) to install and very simple to get up and running.   "The boss" then turned to the black guy and said to me "its fine for us but what about "these guys" you will have to train them!!!"   OMG I was totally thrown.  Very very funny apparently.   Later they spoke about this guy having a car accident recently and "the boss" asked him what colour the air bags were?  He funnily/sheepishly replied "white"  so the boss said "thank goodness, thats why they worked!  If they were black they would only work 2 weeks later!". 

I was floored.  Everyone was laughing, but I was crying inside. 

What do you think? 

Better get the bloody order, and if I do, it will be big.  Would I be compromising myself? 

For all the mommies!

BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your doctor confirms your pregnancy.


2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.


3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes. ___________________________________________________


Preparing for the Birth:
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.


2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time breathing didn't do a thing.


3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.
___________________________________________


The Layette:
1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, colour coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.


2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.


3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?
_____________________________________________________
Worries:
1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.


2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.


3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing. ___________________________________________________


Dummy:
1st baby: If the dummy falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.


2nd baby: When the dummy falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle..


3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.
____________________________________________________


Nappies:
1st baby: You change your baby's nappy every hour, whether they need it or not.


2nd baby: You change their nappy every two to three hours, if needed.


3rd baby: You try to change their nappy before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.
Activities:
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.


2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.


3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.
___________________________________________________


Going Out:
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.


2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached...


3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood
____________________________


At Home:
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.


2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.


3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.
__________________________________________________


Swallowing Coins:
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.


2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.


3rd child: When third child swallows a coin, you deduct it from his pocket money.




GRANDCHILDREN:


God's reward for allowing your children to live!

Happy Anniversary

We have been married for 18 years today! Pics in no particular order.

We met on a blind date 20 years ago last Friday.    We have hardly been apart since, and if we have it has been more recently when I have travelled to the UK.  Times are tough at the moment, but not between us, just in general and I have definetly had times during the last 20 years when I have HATED my DH, (normally lasting for a day or two) but I have very rarely thought of going anywhere.  I believe it could be true love, he is certainly my 'True North".

No Thanks!

I am sure I have mentioned that I have issues with saying NO!, I really struggle, and often find myself doing things that I really don't want to do.

  Yesterday I decided I need help! 

 I added that little dog with the waggy tail to my outlook (yes the one everyone had way back at the beginning of the century - that one!)  anyway,  he gave me an idea and I said No Thanks and I felt sooooo guilty.