Today I am back at work! Will take it easy with the kids as am not 100% yet, but am feeling so much better! Delighted. I also got another lovely surprise.... my blog is 'blog of the day' on Fuelmyblog.com! It's exciting (albeit a tad unnerving) knowing other people are reading about my life.. my thoughts, my photos etc. But I do love writing and sharing, and am grateful for this award today.
As a well rounded, curvaceous woman, I used to always try and hide myself in *too big* clothes, shapeless tops etc. and I now buy from Simply Be and Evans... pay a bit (okay, a lot in some cases!) more but the cuts are more flattering and I actually feel quite fashionable again! (check out the ethnic style top in the photo). The only downside is that most of the shopping is done online, so you cannot try anything on... but it's worth it.
I hate shopping for clothes as most shops just wouldn't have my size, so it isn't much fun. Why even bother? When my sister would say 'let's go shopping'.. I was just not interested - still aren't to be honest - as she would be able to browse AND try on... me, I would just browse. It is disheartening... plus, even when I was much slimmer, I wasn't into shopping anyhow, so that hasn't changed.
It doesn't help that my hubby - bless him, loves me how I am no matter what - would think me sexy in a sack even... but I now try harder with clothes for ME. And I feel sexier and more confident.
Having said that, it is a breath of fresh air to know there are some blokes out there who love you for who you are, and aren't after 'the perfect model' for partners. Shows an inner depth and character, whether male or female I believe. God has truly blessed me with my man.
Many overweight people are a lot healthier (exercise more and eat more healthily) than people who weigh less. Not always the case though, of course not... but in my experience, it has been so. It's a great shame (and a fallacy) that all large people are thought to be unhealthy!
'A German doctor claims to have "cured" HIV in a patient by giving him a bone marrow transplant.'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/3448558/Doctor-cures-HIV-with-bone-marrow-transplant.html
Well if this is so, I hope they get to it and quick!!! 50% of all babies born in Kwazulu Natal in South Africa (and higher rates elsewhere in Africa!) are born HIV positive... basic education like not giving birth naturally etc. is not given to these women and would help so much in preventing the didease spreading. There is MUCH work being done in South Africa for HIV AIDS but it just never seems enough... Unfortunately they say that if this is a 'cure', it'll take decades to be made use of... as the disease does lie dormant for years in some patients.
We may have British ancestry, but we have been born and bred in Africa, and are Africans in mind, soul and spirit. Yes, you do get 'white' Africans ;) When Africa is in your blood it's tough not to yearn for her soil (especially as there are so many people in need)... and, whilst we are living on this little island of Britain, we will continue to be vocal advocates of the majesty that is South Africa, Africa's southern-most tip.
We are wanting to work with AIDS orphans when we return home to South Africa. So many children are orphaned not once, but twice. Two generations of people are being wiped out. They need our help. NOW. Just wish we could leave sooner. All in God's time.
It's early morning here in London... Wimbledon Common across the road is in thick mist and complete blackness, there is the odd car going past with late-night partiers... we are off the street though, so hardly hear anything which is good. I have been reading other people's blogs and am delighted to have found some really interesting and thoughtful ones.
I will write about my rather interesting 5 day hospital stay (7th-11th Nov 08) in the next day or two, when I feel a tad stronger. Being in the first ward was like being on a Fawlty Towers set half the time... with a certain cantancerous patient not wanting to wear her gown (not a pretty sight when the subject - bless her - is 79 in the shade...), a bulemic refusing to eat anything but chocolates and junk food and then only to 'rid' herself of it ugh, an old dear looking for her 'lost earring' in the middle of the night (whilst she is asleep...), a 101 year old (celebrated whilst I was there!) having hallucinations of missing children and shouting out all through the night... and this was just an ordinary medical ward... !!!
So it's off to bed for me now... my pillow calls. Chat soon x
We had just been for an enjoyable 2 hour sail
(Cape peninsula), and spotted this sleeping seal in the
harbour.. not at all concerned with all the flurry and noise
around him...
Making a birthing nest... along Boulders beach in Cape Town (South Africa) there are hundreds of these 'nests'... many under shrub and vegetation, these in the open. Yes... some penguins enjoy the heat too!!!
Here are some of our wildlife shots - I cannot wait for our holiday to sunny South Africa in January - taking in the sun, the air, the smiles. More photos are found at this flickr link!
Wildlife in South Africa photos
This gorgeous hornbill was in the tree right next to our bungalow, in Pilansberg Game Reserve.
A lone elephant bull... not too phased by us. We are always wary around lone bulls, they might be in musk! This one was... and we kept a safe distance away...
Pilansberg Game Reserve is a neighbour of Sun City
and the Lost City. A good idea is to live in one, and visit
the other. Two vastly different experiences! The park has
over 200km of good dirt roads, so one feels confident as
a driver to self-drive. They have guided day and night
tours too.
The park is actually in the setting of an extinct volcano...
with many rare types of plant life and rocks structures, with
some minerals found too, it is studied by scientists and
geologists from all over the world.
In the park you will find a number of Iron and Stone Age sites...
very exciting! The whole park is bordered by 3 ridges/rings
of hills. This structure of the park is named the 'Pilanesberg
National Park Alkaline Ring Complex'. Its vegetation is
'bushveld', settled inbetween the dry Kalahari desert and the
more lush 'lowveld'.
There is a vast bird presence in the park. They have over 300
recorded species. There is a walk you can do where you learn
all about them and the environment you are in. There is also an
aviary you can visit where you can see about 8 different species
of birds. Whatever you do, do not forget your binoculars, and its
always a good idea to have a South African bird book on hand.
The hides are a wonderful way of viewing the birds. They are
hardly aware you are there as you are under cover, and it is
sheltered, with seating. The floors do creak alot though, so be
careful to walk as quietly as possible, so as not to frighten the
birds away.
Here are some of my worse triggers:
dust
cigarette smoke
perfume/aftershave smell
cleaning detergent smell
cold weather
physical exertion
head colds/flu
I have been feeling rundown for a while, and stressed... my dads death, ongoing infertility tests and treatments, hubby's lil op last month etc. then I got bad head cold 2 weeks ago and the weather is really cold... so a combination of all this I think ... head cold, weather and rundown.
I also should have gone to the doc/called an ambulance a lot quicker than I did - I tried to control it myself too long. The docs have given me a good talking to! I was coughing and wheezing so badly I wet myself.
Lance is back at work today, he took a few days off work to be with me, spent over 8 hours at hospital with me every day, he's so supportive, am so blessed to have a husband like him. Home is SPOTLESS, he bought new bed linen, did all the laundry etc.
Got to go, can't sit here for long, need to get back to bed.
I have just got back from hospital, having had a severe asthma attack, the worse in many years - 5 days in their nasty gowns and having a mask on your face, trying to breath, aint my idea of fun! Add to that 2 hallucinating women, one who enjoys taking her clothes off... and so NO sleep for the first 2 nights, only getting some sleep when they moved me to a quieter ward.
I am still not 100%, I had a severe attack on Friday which knocked me for six, a friend got me to the doc's, I then hitched a ride in an ambulance to A&E on Fri. I had a milder attack last week.. which should have sent off alarm bells!!!!
Am weak, achy, wheezy, but lungs are stronger. Had enough drugs to last me a bally lifetime! Arms are full of bruises.. I look like a junkie! My peak flows are still low, but hospital Doc let me come home on the provisio I continue with vigilant self care and REST. I will write about the ward antics in the next day or two, when stronger... it was like a Fawlty Towers ward!!!!
Debs, thanks for your neverending care girl, I love you loads. Hansi... thanks for not bringing your video camera into the ward... I didn't look very pretty with cannula, nebuliser, hospital gown et al ;)
It is amazing how texts and knowing people support you in trying times helps you get through them... thank you everyone xxx
Boy, after a great time with the Early Years Advisor, I had an AWFUL time from 5pm on!
One of my parents said they would pick up lo's (sibs) an hour earlier than usual, as they were going to see fireworks. So I got them ready 10 mins before allotted time. The one child had looked a little peaky earlier, white face and a little clingy, just unlike her usual self. I took her temp, all fine. Then 2 mins after they were coated up and ready, she brought up all her tea!!!
I thought, well mum will be here in 2 mins so let me concentrate on changing lil one and not necessary to phone. Lil one bathed and changed (extra clothes were SUMMER clothes so I was going to dress her in some of her brother's clothes if need be..). No sign of mum. I phone her to ask how close she is when she is 15 mins late.. stuck in traffic FAR AWAY!!!
I really wish she's phoned to let me know this, as, aside from the fact the lo was ill, they were expecting her!!! And they get grizzly when she's late, she knows this!
The next HOUR was a nightmare of me having to carry the sick lo around (she wanted 'cuddles from Guggy' continually), whilst she was crying her heart out... that hard continual cry, you know? Asking for mummy all the time. Big brother decides he needs attention too and suddenly he has a sore tummy... and he starts irritating the 1 yr old in my care. She starts crying too, clinging to me, wanting me to carry her too.
So I have a 1 and 2 yr old, both crying on my lap, and a 3rd child asking to go on my lap too (trying to push the 1 yr old off!)... I have not been 100% myself, as I have a cold and no voice at the mo. So having to repeatedly ask him to behave himself was doing me no favours. My squeeky voice is getting squeekier by the minute!
1 year old goes home at proper time. Phew, only two left now.. lap can cope better now! Wondering all the time where the parents are...
Tried to distract with all kinds of things, even to the point of playing the Night Garden game on the compy, as I know they enjoy this at home (I have never played this with them till now). Works for all of 3 mins???
Then... finally.. only over an HOUR late... dad arrives (with a coat as I had told mum I had no winter clothes for sick child), he had been working from home (under 10 mins drive away!!!!!). Why couldn't he come earlier???? He knew about the outing and that she had been sick!?
And of course, the kids wanted mummy... not him... so renewed tears from 2 yr old and a tantrum from the 3 yr old!!!
I love those two.. but had never been happier to see the back of them I have to say!!! I was pooped. I have them for 11 hours and the final couple of hours just took it outta me. Sorry if this makes me sound horrible and thanks for letting me moan.
Well, Halloween was a distaster in our area! We do not celebrate it ourselves, but usually have loads of lil kids banging on the door... of course we turn the lights out and pretend we aren't home hehe But this year there was only ONE group of kiddies... was it too cold I wonder??? Money too tight to make costumes??? Hmmm... I wonder...
free stock photo used
