Raven's Diary

This is a movie title we watched this past weekend. Not something we would usually choose but being movie addicts we had already seen every single, well except thrillers, movie in the shop which actually has a large variety. Anyways, this movie also stars Uma Thurman, which is also not my favourite actress of all time. But granted this role was indeed brave of her to tackle as it is totally contrasting to her previous roles, namely Kill Bill comes to mind etched in blood and guts forever. I’m going off track again…

Motherhood! Simply put this just depicts the typical mother in a typical US apartment. She used to be a writer, a good one at that before motherhood became her full time job. The entire movie is based on one day in her life, the day before her daughter turns 6. It humourously depicts all that can go wrong in a mother’s usual day of taking care of kids, planning a birthday party, catching up with friends, looking after the car (long story) etc etc and then she still tries to keep her blog up to date which is her only outlet to creativity, her only time for herself where she can still feel like a writer. Then she spots a competition which could change her life, she has to write 500 words on motherhood. Her first draft is slated by her also writer husband and she gives up, but he was just telling the truth that she wasn’t being honest with herself (long story). It doesn’t say whether she actually won that competition is just makes you think of how writing what motherhood means to you, how it can change your life…

Very profound for such a weird little movie. It made me think however that even though I may not have gone through months of aches and pains of pregnancy or hours of hard labour, that I indeed still feel like a mother. I know in all honestly that it’s so totally different, but I still love, take care, nurse, educate, discipline, clean up after my four legged little furchildren. They also make me want to tear my hair out ever so often. They also leave their toys sprayed out all over the house. But when they sleep they are little angels. When they cuddle so deeply against you as if they want to crawl underneath your skin your heart melts. When they’ve done something naughty and they know it and you just can’t help but smile. I have a taste of motherhood and it feels good…but for the real deal I’m certainly not brave enough!

After reading Chris’ blog I realised I haven’t talked about our children in a long time too.

They’re growing up so fast it saddens me sometimes. Little Lola isn’t a baby anymore and I so wanted her to be baby for a little while longer. Kodi is a teenager already and acting every bit of it. Tux is heading towards naughty 40’s stage, too cute.

Although sometimes quite frustrating, especially after just cleaning, vacuuming and mopping the floors to sparkly status it takes one neighbourhood dog to bark and they’re all outside only to return with mudded paws and proceeding to inspect every window to see if they can see the other dog.

Little Lola just loves her brothers and has a distinct difference in relationship with each of them. With Kodi she is a little more submissive, although I think she’s tricking him, coz as soon as she’s done being submissive she attacks him from another angle. With Tux she plays, bites, tackles, plays catches, ag everything a little brother and sister will normally do. However when the old man speaks and says it’s enough, everyone goes to sleep. Ag moeder and sleeping time is too precious, she’s just realising how to ask to be let under the covers and then she curls in under an armpit. Tux has always been king at burrowing a lovely little blanket nest and usually sorts himself out. Kodi hates been covered but loves to cuddle tightly against thighs rendering us helpless at night and not being able to move.

Oh boy and you should see their faces when I whip out the camera, you can just see the expression of  “oh no mommy not again” but I just love capturing their little faces, it’s all we have left afterwards isn’t it. I don’t even want to think of that since going through way too much loss last year. We try make every day count and love them to bits.

Wow what an awesome incredible experience we had yesterday. I was fortunate to spot a really good deal last year and immediately bought a voucher for this experience. Almost heading towards its expiry I was forced to make a booking quick quick. We had travelled the road heading towards the lodge many many times but we had no accounted for road works along the entire stretch of tar road and huge pot holes all over the gravel road. One pot hole actually bounced the bakkie into the other lane as another bakkie was approaching, needless to say we were awake after that. Arriving at exactly the time we needed to be there we were welcomed by a very well spoken African man who told us what to expect for the day. He radioed the other guides to go “fetch” the elephants. Ja, can you believe it, they just go walk into the bush and go fetch the ellies as if they’re pets. A short while later the 3 elephants arrived with their handlers riding them. I was now beginning to get very nervous, as heights aren’t my thing since getting older or is that wiser. As I was about to have a panic attack I was instructed to get on, fortunately there was a nice platform built so that all you do is stretch over its back and sit. Oh when I say stretch it’s more like a split. The ride was nerve wrecking as all you have to hold onto is the handlers belt and he’s not holding onto anything. We ride bare back and I tell ya you feel every muscle move under you and the ellies spine kinda moves your butt bone from side to side, rather weird. We rode for a long time seeing into the distance. The other wild animals weren’t afraid as all they saw was the ellies so they weren’t afraid.

Back at reception we climbed off and got feeling back into our numb bums. We got to get up close and persoanl with the ellies, got to feed them and then said our goodbyes. These people do amazing work there, they are so knowledgable and so friendly, we felt like royalty. We were served ice cold bottled water, apple juice and a delishous curry. It was truly a beautiful experience and we felt so spoilt. I would totally recommend it to anyone and it’s worth every penny, even at full price as you get value for money. Addo Elephant Back Safaris

I’ve always been prone to complications and challenges and tried to console myself with the fact that it builds character. But can one just rest for a while without any drama….alas not.

Mind you things have been going great recently. We’ve been experiencing very strange out of this world things which has opened our eyes and enlightened our minds. We’ve consulted with an energy healer, animal communicator, body talk practisioner, animal chiropractor….ai I lose myself trying to think of what else. All been rather interesting and helpful. We did the animal communication course ourselves and experienced something amazing when doing a reading on someone else’s pet. Then the body talk session yielded amazing feedback that no one other than us would know about. The energy healer saw the negativity that our house held and did his thing to get rid of them. It was then a very long process to speak with me as I seemed to be the one who was targeted by the negatives. I’ve taken a break from this experience which is suppose to continue on for I don’t know how long, but it just got a bit too emotional and draining.

Last week proved very exciting and adventurous. It’s been our goal for a while now to get tattoo’s and I just never really thought I would be ready. But last week it just suddenly seemed possible and we did it. The experience was scary but not as awful as I had imagined. The most difficult part was to chose a design and then the wait for it to begin. Thankfully I survived and surprised not only myself but everyone else also. I now feel very sexy even though my tummy on which the beautiful design lays is a bit flabby. I ‘m hoping that the visual reminder will now force me to do some exercises.

Now also today a life changing decision faces us. We have to decide whether we are going to accept an offer on our house and move to the country like we dreamt about. But I am so scared as once decision is final there’s no turning back or safety net and I’m not a fan of leaping into faith.  So we shall see what happens….

….IRON!!! Yes, you heard right! This was such a significant occurance in my life that I am writing about it.

Now that I don’t have a housekeeper anymore, ALL her chores have become MINE! Yay…insert sarcasm here. So last year I bought ‘her’ a really nice iron, cordless and everything and it didn’t even cost a whole lot. But alas that poor appliance didn’t make it for too long and the minute I started ironing it said enough is enough and died. So my search began to find the ultimate iron that would make MY life easier.

First stop was an appliance store and the ‘male’ salesperson efficiently recommended a R400 iron. Eeeekkk! It was funnily enough not the cheapest or most expensive, so you can imagine the price range. Never thought irons fetched such a price. Anyway, so I kindly declined as I was in search of another cordless one but of better quality than previous one. Our search took us to a supermarket who’s range left alot to be desired and we walked out there with an ‘el cheapo’ corded iron. Upon opening said box it was immediately discovered that the cord was extremely short. Upon first item attempted iron it tripped the entire house. Thought it was plug so changed plugs and continued to attempt to iron. The poor little iron was so light, which I thought was a good thing, that I had to put quite some pressure on it to get creases out. Alas that was not fun so that bundle landed up less than perfectly uncreased.

Upon another session of ironing it tripped the entire house once again and it was noted that it happened when steam was selected; which happened to make ironing better but it meant the entire water tank contents would be drained into the body of the iron and all over ironing board which would short the electrics out. Thankfully the flimsy little thing was at least earthed.

So the search commenced again upon seeing the very same R400 iron on special at another store for R300 and I got all excited at this good deal. Arrival at said store iron display left my heart sinking to my shoes, but a friendly salesman did all he can to trace the desired item, although trying to flog me the ‘brand new’ demo model which was scratched from here to Italy. After receiving numerous calls while shopping at another store it was finally assessed that another branch had one. So after grocery shopping and car wash I rushed to another store during peak hour lunch time traffic only to be met with full parking lots and then once getting into store the display shelves once again didn’t hold the desired item. By now my tact and patience had just run out and I interrupted a management meeting to get help; which then suddenly a salesperson appeared out of nowhere; only for me to be told that the ‘good stuff’ is kept in the back. Ah, really, how weird is that. Then she followed to fill out a form and I was dreading having to drive somewhere for the collection, but no I had to then take that slip to a cashier, pay for the purchase and then she proceeded to take the receipt and go fetch the product. Thankfully the wait wasn’t too long and I was outta there; remembering that I now had to hurry as the groceries were starting to cook on their own in the canopy.

Today was ironing day, not planned so I might add just out of desperation as having no clothes left in cupboard. And wow I’ve gotta say that I am impressed with this iron. Let’s hope for smooth sailing over creases for many more sessions to come.