I’ve just spent ages creating new blogs, some for family and some for me, some for inspiration, documentation, and just plain fun. So discovering widgets and blinkies has indeed been highlights on my journey to enlightenment, interspersed with trips into the garden to pretend to know what I’m doing.

Perhaps it’s just wisdom slowing down to meet me as I approach 40. What a brilliant age! Actually I like the age I am now. I’ve always liked the age I was…except maybe those awkward teens…I never quite fitted into my teens, and yet, those were some of the most defining and thought-provoking years of my life.

Well, enough mumbojumbo.

Last Saturday the Brownies held a sale at the village hall to raise funds for the local sea rescue service. We walked away with some great finds:one espresso maker, two Spidermen, a digger two planes five books and much, much more.

The weather is almost summery, and we’ve already been on two beach picnics, in wetsuits, and coats. Very odd, I know, but we get really cold! We’re planning a trip down to Macrahanish, but nothing is set in stone yet, so we might just end up at Barnacarry, Tralee or Ganavan Sands.

The guest houses have had occupants almost every week since the beginning of April, so we’ve already made some new friends. And we’ve met another South African who works and lives in Oban…but not for long. She’ll be making her way to Qatar soon to work as a flight attendant… she has a BCom.

Blame it on the global economy. We’re thinking of starting our own business…blame it on the global economy.

Back to more pressing issues: can’t wait for it to be warm enough to have dinner in the garden… (with midge-repellent, of course).

I’m convinced we’re just being teased. It seems warmer. it looks warmer, but what exactly are those clouds hanging about for? Ah …. Scottish weather. Just when you think it’s safe to hang out the laundry…

I guess “drizzle” must be a very common word in our family’s vocabulary, because not too long ago, in the midst of pretending to be Bob the Builder, our youngest chased his brother around the room, toy drill in hand. And his brother pipes up: “Stop him!He’s going to drizzle me!”.

But the days are getting brighter, and we’ve even been down to the beach! (Jackets required)

My only real Scottish friend arrives next week. Can’t wait to see her, and will be planning many picnic, even if it’s just in our garden. Actually their family holiday home has a brilliant garden with apple trees… so lots of pie for the picnic.

The past few months have been spent considering education issues. I was stunned to find out that my son was requested to register for school as early as 4!! Apparently, this is ‘normal’ in Scotland and England…? Well, it’s far from ‘normal’ for us. In South Africa children only start ’schooling’ at 6 or 7. What’s more, in South Africa playgroups  as you know them here are just not very common at all. Instead we have loads of family gatherings, and friends have playdates for our children, where we gather at a different friends house each time and just let the kids get on with playing, while we sip our Rooibos tea and eat koeksisters.

Here, children have an array of activities, even in the coldest months, that makes me feel frazzled just listening to mums rush about trying to get everybody to dance, soccer, gymnastics, swimming, beavers, scouts, brownies, guides, horse riding and everything in between.  What happened to childhood? Building teepees in my backyard? having a treasure hunt with favourite teddybears? Being a magician one day and a builder the next? Not worrying about schedules and competition…doing exactly what I wanted to and being led only by my imagination. Oh wait a minute…that was my childhood…a century ago!

What kind of society are we giving birth to when we decree that children need to become independent by the age of 3? The local health visitor thinks that my son and I have ’separation anxiety’, because he refuses to stay at nursery with out me. Well, of course he refuses to stay at nursery without me…I’m more fun! The head teacher also stipulated that when I take my child home, I should ensure that he does not have too much fun?!???? Go figure!

In our wee hoos FUN is the name of the game! That’s all we do all day!! We have fun!!! And that is what childhood SHOULD be about.

Spring has brought the bud of new thought to me: the fabric of our family, our very essence needs to be preserved and protected. Is this really a cultural clash? I hate to think so.

Over the past few months the babes and I have done this play-date group at the village hall. It would be nice if we took it a step further and actually offered an activity and storytelling as well. So, that is my new mission.

My plan to secure funding is simple: sell their paintings!!! Well, in the guise of gift wrap and greeting cards of course. I’m sure we’d manage enough to keep us going at least until summer?! Our village is very quiet and far from exciting and only ever ‘bustling’ when the scores of tourists descend upon us. And so, it calls for a little more noise and excitement. And how much noise can a bunch of wee ones make anyway?!?

Will keep you updated, and hopefully post new pics soon…

We didn’t get to go to all the Santa parties lined up for the wee ones in fear of spreading the dreaded Swine Flu: which was actually milder than expected, just awfully long. In fact, The Cough lasted for nearly six weeks. So no Santa….until a rather merry Santa came ringing his bell around the village on Christmas Eve. The boys were just out of the bath when Hubby called to us to come and see. I don’t know if Santa expected us to open the door and invite him in, but we just peeped through the window and waved until he was out of sight…he must have left the reindeer at the pub.

Then there was The Move. It was a wheelbarrow move that lasted days, and felt like we were preparing for an expedition. And in the throngs of Swine Flu Daze, I was far from on the ball. Moving house with two sick babies, when you’re just as ill and in the heart of winter….might be considered madness! But well worth it!! Our new hoos is more spacious: we can actually walk around our bed!!!! and the boys each have a bed in their own room!!!! Yay!

More later.

Leaving Cape Town meant saying goodbye to family and friends, and hardest of all for my husband was saying goodbye to our dogs, Castor and Pollux. Yesterday we found out that after suffering and fighting lymphoma for the past six months, Castor was delivered to the beyond. Our friends who adopted the boys when we left, did all they could, and are also feeling this terrible loss. Now as we remember Castor and all his quirckiness and lovable nature, we also fret about Pollux pining for him. So much change for all of us in just one year…

I’m beginning to miss ‘home’ all over again. Maybe it’s just winter. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it’s just about that time. Introspect and contemplation…the first gifts of Christmas.

I took so much for granted, and now I realise how important it is to be in the here and now. Too little too late? No, just enough and right on time. My new year has already started. Goodbye Cassie. Thanks for sharing some time with me, and teaching me that we don’t love for the future, we love for the now.

the way we were

My thoughts of you are alive and always make me smile…