Hello from a newly registered childminder!!!

Well, this came out of the blue... as I thought I'd have to wait till the dates in September rolled up for me to register...

I got a call from the inspector from Ofsted a few days ago, saying that she had brought my case before the regional Ofsted head, and the head had decided they would make an exception in my case, and grant me an early registration!

I am amazed!!!

And what was popped through the post box today??? My registration certificate! Woohoooooooooooo

Red Bull Air Race - London

Red Bull Air Race - London, July 2007

(07/07/07)

~ It's a significant date
~ The Tour de France prologue is today in London
~ It's the woman's tennis finals at Wimbledon!

but most especially

~ It's the 2nd anniversary of the London bombings.

Thoughts and prayers go to all that were affected in some way.
So glad the other 2 bombs were found and Glasgow didnt have casualties.
I hope this menace on society (terrorism) is stopped!

Spontaneity in love

We often write little notes for eachother... hubby especially. I'll walk to the bathroom mirror, and there'll be one there... then I'll walk to the fridge - one there attached to a magnet... and then I'll (of course, and he KNOWS this!) have to check out VT, and there'll be one sitting on the keyboard. Little love notes :)

I love it.

He came home with a card a couple days ago - I'm having a bit of a rough time and he knows this, and the card (with his little love essay inside) just made me cry... and laugh.. and then cry again.

He gets me flowers, and not always on Fridays... can be any day. I love his spontaneity! He also came home with Hitchcock's DVD collection the other day.. big surprise for me :)

I just got him something too (hiding next to the bed at the mo), which I wont describe in case he reads this.

It's the back tickles, the cups of tea, washing one's back with those special rough bath washes etc. that make the difference. We do this for eachother all the time - not every day, but it doesnt have to be a special day like a birthday etc.

Every day I am so grateful to have him at my side. We chatted again re this this morning too. I honestly dont know what I'd do without him, but somehow, we all cope.

This evening, at the Flowers

I just have to laugh!!! I am so housewifey since I am at home more... and this is so typical...

So this is how it went.

~~

Lance phones earlier on... his tooth filling has fallen out... oooh aah..

So wifey the secretary phones around (never been to dentist sice we moved so dont know local ones), to find a doc that isnt NHS (had a horrific scare once at one) but isnt too expensive... finds one... books an appt. First thing tomorrow morning.

Good wife.

Hubby comes home.
Oh dear.

His tooth is sore and his whole mouth is actually enflamed. His eyes are downcast, his shoulders slumped (he's playing the patient well..)

He asks me whats for dinner, I get it ready. He needs fruit juice. I pour it... with much love.

He eats up (good appetite for one with such a sore mouth I note)... then collapses back into the sofa.

Are there any treats he asks? No, I reply.

Oh no, he now has a tenson headache. Can I rub it please?

I rub it... then his eyes are sore. Jen massages his eyeballs (sounds lovely huh) and strokes his hair.

Did you wash my clothes earlier? Yes dear.

He's afraid of the dentist he says. I know, I soothingly say. But it'll be okay. Would you like me to come with you?
No, it's okay he says.

How will I get to work after the dentist? (shame, in his pain and delirium he has forgotten his route to work too..)

He is so shattered he needs to get to bed early, but needs help walking to the bedroom... Jen leads him there and tucks him into bed. Gently of course. Wouldnt want to distress his tooth.

Oh, please dont go he says, his hamstrings are now sore... he throws back the covers so I can massage his hamstrings. Did you know hamstrings actually go into one's back??? I learn something new every day...

Then his back needs a tickle.

Then, with a furrowed brow and a delicate (but tortured) sigh... he closes his eyes.
What a day.

Wifey kisses him goodnight and tiptoes out. Not forgetting to set his alarm clock.

Bless, he can sleep in a bit tomorrow as he's going to the dentist first at 9:00, not leaving at 6:30 for work.

What shall I make him for breakfast? Hmm... it had better be a SOFT egg.

Moral: Man-toothache is always more than mere toothache.

Kruger National Park Video!

Have you ever seen a pride of lionesses and a crocodile fighting between themselves for a baby buffalo?

Have you ever seen a herd of angry buffalo attack hungry lionesses?
No?

The call of the wild in the Kruger Park

This world famous National Park in South Africa was founded in 1898 and is just under 2 million hectares in size in total. It is, to me, so much more than a piece of the planet where flora, fauna and animal are preserved and protected, it speaks of a childhood spent in avid attention of the detail and attention to life that this park offers. I have been here many a time and have never been disappointed.

Were I to choose any one dream job in the world, it would be to live in this park, studying it's life - both bush and animal alike, photographing, documenting, drawing and illustrating it. If I never saw a human being it wouldnt phase me (okay, my hubby would be with me), but to spend unprecedented time in this world in the wild, would be an honour.

Keeping a watchful eye on us...

Natural and wild

The Park is massive and boasts large herds of animals in varying shape and form, an example being when a herd of over 500 buffalo were seen crossing in front of us when we were on our way out of the park at sunset in 2002! Click on the buffalo pic to see what I mean by 'being watched' :)

For the wild animals who live in the park, each and every day is a struggle to survive, so every sense must remain on high alert, throughout the day, and the night, when most predators actually do their hunting! As the numbers of wild animals dwindle though, due to man encroaching on their terrain, plus due to hunting, so too are the opportunities to see them in their natural state and context dwindling. Parks like this are godsends.



Come on in and experience it! Experience this vast park, choc-a-block with wildlife and outstanding scenery in the comfort of your car (self drive) or with a knowledgeable, registered and friendly guide. It's your choice.

Enjoy accommodation of all types (from basic to luxury), good food and the best wildlife experience ever - an all round must-see if you are travelling in South Africa, Madiba-land :)

My Kruger National Park Travel Page

One page wonders on VT

I have a few travel pages on VT that are on no/little radar as far as I am aware. They sit all by their solitary little self on VT. Sometimes these places are the ones that appeal the most, as they are not as 'discovered' as others.

The one page that makes me giggle is Wimbledon Common... no other page on it on VT.. and apparently (and please note it's a common, a PARK...) THREE VT members live in it!! So - as this common happens to be across the road from me - I am not only constantly on the lookout for little wombles, but also resident VTers :)

Wimbledon Common travel page

Dorset and bershire stuff

We had a lovely trip to Dorset over the long weekend, visiting Stonehenge, Cerne Abbas (where we stayed in a converted barn), Dorchester, Swanage, Weymouth, Poole, Corfe Castle, StudlandLulworth Castle. Some pics are attached. We had superb weather and then it just turned nasty! But it was good to get away! and

The second lot of pics are from Painshill Park, where Judy, Lance, the girls and I went on a picnic! We had a lovely day together :)

Lance is very well, still at the same job and content. All the change seems to be happening with me at the mo, except for Lance's locks... which continue to GROW! :)

It's been a while since we have emailed with news. Mostly due to my injury (Lance is not into emailing as you know!), but it is a lot better! I was on sick leave from when I got back from SA in Feb, till mid April. My redundancy was then made official.

The Childcare registration is going really well, I have had my first premises/equipment/me inspection, from the head of Childcare for our Borough. She seemed very happy and gave me a thumbs up! She had two brothers needing a place immediately (with special needs), and would have placed them with me had I been registered already. A pity. I hope they have found somewhere good in the meanwhile.

Within the next 2 weeks I'll have another inspection - more detailed, and an indepth interview, from Ofsted, the education body. Then there is a third inspection, where they grade me... in a few months time. Our second bedroom is a playroom, and we have a large communal garden outside, plus Wimbledon Common... so it's pretty ideal for childcare really :)

I am so happy to be out of the corporate rat race to be honest, dont know how I put up with being at that company for so long (nearly 4 yrs). For those of you who have asked, I will not be taking legal action against them, too much stress and £££!

Another BIG plus with me being more at home is I get to see my sister and the girls more (yay!), plus it has given me the opportunity to (with another mother) start a creche on Mondays, whilst a Christianity Explored Course is being held at church. We have 8 kids currently, ranging from 14 months to 4 years old.

I have been fortunate enough to be doing freelance design work with a lovely company just outside Windsor. I can wave to Lizzy in her castle from my desk! I am enjoying the work and the people very much (aside from the 4 hour daily commute)... plus the fact that it isnt full-time is good as my arm isnt fully recovered. I am getting there though! The second cortisone injection really helped. I have some physio in a couple weeks, and then hopefully that will be that.

We have just had the flood damage fixed in our living room, kitchen and hallway - yay! Looks a lot better.

Our little cousin Charlotte (8 yrs) is appearing in Evita, the West End production, this month, and we are going to see her.. very exciting! She is a talented young lass with an incredible personality. Perfect for the stage!

We had an awesome holiday and it was wonderful seeing much-loved friends and family! Our next big one will be end 2008/start 2009, when we will do a driving holiday for a month from Joburg to Drakensburg, Natal Coast, Swaziland, Mozambique, Kruger Park, Pilgrims Rest etc. back to Joburg. It's my mum's 60th in January and we all (God willing) will be in the country together to celebrate with her.

Painshill Park

Painshill Park, Cobham ~ Child paradise :)



Here are some photos of our time here.