Raven's Diary

week was the most amazing week of this entire year! Yip a whole of total and absolute pampering indulgence and spoils oh and adventure!

The week started off with a day at a spa with a little bit of everything. Back massage and facial. Lunch by the pool. Then a mani and pedi in a stunning colour that just made my day…week actually.

Next day I had to think of what on earth I would give hubby to show my gratitude and love. No material gift would convey what I felt at that moment and so I wrote, and rewrote thrice, a love letter spelling out my heartfelt feelings. I also made a dragon charm bookmark, as dragons are his thing. The letter and gift was well received and so our anniversary day started. I made an awesome breakfast and head off to the hairdresser for another pampering experience. It was a larny place and I was met at the entrance by a doorman no less and I felt like royalty. The entire experience was amazing and I went through about 6 different ‘handler’s in the 3 hours. It was a WOW experience. Then off to makeup to put my face on. LOL!

A quick lunch stop at home and then we got ready for another adventure, together. I had on a pretty mini dress and flower wellies, I loved the way I looked, especially with my new hairdo of a head full of curls. Hubby looked so smashing in a buttoned dress shirt in crisp white and lime green and sexy new jeans. Off to a large grass field, some of which was still marshy from all the recent rains. But I was fine in my pretty wellies! The photographer let us be silly and we had so much fun dancing in the middle of a large field. Wonder what the neighbours thought, hehehe. Then she took us to a private farm with old stables and gorgeous horses. This was the best treat ever, she will never know how wonderful that was, being born in the year of the horse, I’ve always had a connection with horses. What was more surprising is how the horse was mesmerized by us and vice versa. At one point the horse rested his nose on my cheek and we enjoyed a lengthy cuddle and my heart was so touched by the experience. How incredible.

We got back home in time to feed the doggies and got dressed yet again for our evening out. Hubby just had to organise dinner and boy did he do that plus much more. We went to our favourite chinese restuarant and on the reserved table was a silver box with a beautiful single rose. I was so surprised I took a second to register. Upon opening the pretty box it revealed the most stunning gold heart pendant with a silver heart inside it. Perfection. The dinner was amazing and hubby asked whether we could do dessert somewhere else and I said of course. I thought we were just going to Mcdonalds for a cone, which I love, and it really looked like we were but he drove right by to a hotel parking lot. So I thought ok maybe they are having a buffet special and walked in none the wiser, only to be met by reception with our booking and a bag packed. I stood there totally silent in shock. The room was stunningly refurbished in modern finishes and touches and we snuggled up immediately. Hubby had booked us into the same hotel as where we had spent our first night as man and wife four years ago. What a totally special surprise.

Back home we packed for our next adventure and off to my old home town we went. I surprised another friend and met two other lovely girls for the first time. We stayed in the most amazing boutique hotel I’ve ever had the priviledge to stay in, it was such an amazing treat. We watched my friends husband at the formula vee races including some other very fast cars and bikes. It was an awesome day. Seeing my grandmothers grave was also bittersweet, I loved visiting her but the cemetary is in terrible shape. Also seeing the run down house I grew up in was quite sad.

And so the end of this incredibly exciting week became a total anti climax, I was quite depressed returning to the mundane normality of daily chores and business. But I am still revelling in the glow of such a special week I will never forget. My husband surprised me beyond my wildest dreams and I’m so happy I feel giddy just thinking about the life I had dreamt about I am now enjoying and ever grateful and not taking for granted. It feels so good!

Back home I’m reflecting on an extra-ordinary weekend. An idea came to mind one chilly morning just last week. I was paging through our holiday club booklet once more, struggling to choose where we were going next. As we had a deadline to use certain number of points by end of year it weighed quite heavily on my mind as our time lately is very limited, what with all that’s happening lately.

I thought about inviting a dear friend and her family to join us. We hadn’t done this before and the last time we went away we said it would be so much nicer to share our next experience with a lovely couple. Luckily the timing could not be perfect as it was my friends birthday as well and so my idea came to plan a surprise for her birthday. I did not have her husbands number and had to make contact with two people before getting it. Then it took more than a day to get hold of him, so my anxiousness was building as I was so excited. I love planning surprises. Once I finally got to talking to her husband he was shocked, I think, and did not want to plan something behind her back. I thought it was rather funny as I know she loves surprises. So I had to call her and tell her what I had planned. She was super excited and surprised nonetheless and the planning began a week ahead.

The weekend came and we were both out of our skins with excitement. Hubby and I booked in early and put our feet up to take in some relaxation. Then our friends arrived with their little 1 year old son and the fun began. We had an amazing braai dinner of tbone steak and salad courtesy of my dear friend.

Saturday started off with awesome breakfast of croissants – mmmm yummy my favourite. Then we asked “told” the boys they were gonna babysit while we take on some shopping. Midway I had to organise a trolley as our hands were full of shopping. Getting back with loads of shopping made the boys faces look quite concerned. {teehee} Afternoon found us frolicking on the beach, camera in hand and had loads of fun. Dinner again was super scrumptious.

Bittersweet Sunday goodbyes. I was sad to see them go. It was an amazing experience being so close to a new mommy daddy real live reality show. Little boy was so incredibly sweet and such a charmer. I seem to have gained a fan with the sweetest smile. But I saw up close and personal the challenge of being a mother, it’s flipping tough work. There’s no sitting down and enjoying a magazine, a cup of coffee or even your favourite tv show. It’s non stop on the go-ness from morning til night. Even during the night can be a challenge as we heard my poor friend trudge in darkness trying to hastily but quietly make a bottle which the little guy could not understand why it would possibly take so long.

Unfortunately, our units electricity decided to bomb Saturday evening 11pm and not return, so our idea of a leisurely lie around til home time was sadly missed and we packed up early. But what a different experience for us but we are glad to be home with our own babies, who were incredibly happy to have us home, early. Now I can’t wait to edit all the photo’s….