A mini miracle!

Phew, what a week! After looking at 16 properties in all we got word
that the 1st property we had seen... was ours! The offer was accepted!

What a relief. A miraculous relief.

Thankyou to all who have been there for us this past week, for the
fervent prayer, encouragement and care. It means the world to us.

We learnt a hard lesson... and hopefully we won't have to go through
this property system again in the UK... where it is frowned upon, but
NOT illegal, to gazump. There is NO thought to the emotional,
financial and logistical ramifications of the selfishness of
gazumping. It is disgusting to do this to someone and yet it happens
all the time... simply amazing. What a sad and ugly society we live
in...

Having said that.. I retract that. There are far too many decent and
moral people out there to all be labelled so. It's the bad apple that
always ruins the rest.

So the great news is, we moved in two nights ago and our new home is
gorgeous... We are so blessed to have the opportunity of living in
such a lovely area of Greater London.

The kids love the garden and we have visited the local village
already, celebrating our first day in the new home with a picnic party!

So over the next couple of days I need to continue packing, and
cleaning clothes for our holiday next week... Yes, California here we
come! We are off to Hollywood Beach, San Fransisco and Yosemite
National Park. A much needed holiday after this house palava!

So, bye for now, will write here if possible whilst away but doubt Ill
get the chance to.

Hambagahle! x

Sent from my iPhone

The search is on!

The last 2 days have been a crazy blur. We've looked at 13 properties, put an offer (to rent) on one really nice one yesterday and will hear today if we get it - our problem is time, we are out of our current property next Tuesday so have 6 days to get into a new one!

We had put monies down on the house that fell through, so once we have moved into somewhere new we will then persevere to get that back.

USA holiday is definitely not a priority right now (even though 90% paid for eek!), home and business is.

My clients have been very understanding, they know this can (and does) happen. They are quite concerned though naturally. The kids are keeping me grounded... am so busy with them and cannot let them see my upset/worry. They can sense things are out of kilter though and I told them 'Jen Jen is feeling a little funny today, and needs lots of extra hugs and kisses'. they have been very obliging bless them.

We have a possible backup if this current one falls through... not nearly as nice (needs interior painted, bathroom redone etc..... which could feasibly be done whilst we are in the States for those 2 weeks, then be ready for when we return - not ideal, but doable). 3 more to look at tonight. Our problem is the urgency of it all.

Hard lesson learnt this week...

My family are praying, we haven't told many friends yet... Please continue to cross everything crossable and pray that we get this one today and that we can move in asap!

Gazumped!

We had a funny feeling it might happen and it did. We were moving into our new house on Saturday and now have no-where to go. Might have to cancel our US trip too in 2 weeks time as finding a home and moving is a priority.

In overdrive. Viewing 5 places tonight, got 8 lined up for tomorrow.

There are some really awful cr@ppy people in this world!!!

* 'Gazumping' means they take on another buyer/renter... they've done this to us to avoid agents fees.

UK property law needs changing!!!!!

Amazing Grace in Jerusalem

My sister's trip to Israel :)

And today....?

The mum brought the sibling of the child on tami flu in today, I explained all that I had had to do yesterday due to her daughter being dropped off at my place, even with suspected swine flu.

She was a bit defensive, saying they had not been told the severity of it all and that they didn't know the child should be isolated at home whilst on the course of tami flu.

Hmmm.

They spoke to a doctor and then picked up the tami flu from a chemist, am I meant to believe BOTH healthcare professionals failed to mention this crucial element regarding the medication?

I somehow doubt it. Plus the fact it was the dad who picked up the medication from the chemist, and he is notoriously absent minded and puts work before childcare often... and seems to make light of serious situations.

So their child is not here today, but will be tomorrow. They had better be honest with me re whether she has any more symptoms too.

Another little girl I care for, who was exposed to this child on tami flu yesterday, is off today, with a roaring temperature of 40 deg celcius and a hacking cough... sure signs of swine flu... oh my goodness! This mum is very responsible though and will keep her off if sick for sure.

A swine of a flu!

One child is on tami flu with suspected swine flu - she's on day 3 of a 5 day course... but as she seems fine... THEY BROUGHT HER TO ME TODAY, EXPOSING ME WITH MY DODGY LUNGS AND 3 OTHER UNDER 5S - ALL HIGH RISK PEOPLE - TO SWINE FLU!!!!!!

The mom doesn't tell me at the door as there was someone else there dropping their child off... she says (on the phone later) she didn't want to ''alarm him''...!!!???

She says a quick ''bye, I need to chat to you about something, will phone you later'', then drives to work - over an hour away... and then calls me to let me know re the tami flu AFTER a meeting... whilst the child is already here... exposing us all!!!

I am livid!!!!!

I now have to let other parents know their kids have been exposed to a child on treatment for possible swine flu, cancel other people coming here etc. I also have to isolate a two year old without alarming her and her 3 year old brother.... a nightmare!!!

'It's raining, it's pawning'

Oh we certainly do NOT do things in half measure, Lance and I.

We have wanted a private garden for some time, saw a house we liked and jumped on it - and got it! Took us by surprise too I tell ya. Spontaneous decision. Thing is... we - and my business - will be moving into this house mid August! Have to arrange new certificates and register new address so can trade asap. All happening really quickly.

This happens a couple of days before our States trip (we'll just take a moving box each as luggage haha).... and at the same time as tenants are moving out of our other home in Joburg - then it's being painted, electrics checked etc - then new tenants will move in. A time when we really need to be contactable to sign new leases, check refs etc... and all happening whilst we have NO INTERNET, as it won't happen that quickly at our new home, and then we'll be away.

Not sure we thought about it that clearly hmmm, but this house is really nice and we were surprised we can afford one this nice in our area tbh.

ps: The title comes from a little 1 yr old girl I look after, Sophie... who says 'It's raining, it's pawning' when the rain comes down :)

'What a match, they roared, then miaowed'

The title is the comment an English friend (Lions supporter) left me on my Facebook profile yesterday evening... and so true!

We were suitabley impressed by all the red supporters at Loftus Versveld (Pretoria stadium), the Safari/Rugby Tour packages are obviously doing very well at the moment!

I always chuckle at my husband - he gets so incredibly tense watching sport. He hurt his arm, wore out the carpet and nearly had a baby by the time this match was over!


Both sides played well, both side's had some thug players who didn't play fair - like Schalk sticking his fingers in the eyes of his opponent. He was given a yellow card and sent to the sin bin for ten minutes, and he was lucky to get only that! Very bad sportmanship!!!.

The SKY commentators got so cocky as the match went on, with good reason some of the time as they were playing hard, but twenty minutes before the game ended, with the Lions in the lead... they were going on (celebrating!) about the Lions victory!!??

A tad too soon methinks...

The springboks got a second wind from kicker Morne's appearance on the field. A crucial try was scored by the Boks, which gave them the lead! Followed by a penalty for the Lions which meant a draw.

Then, in the last minute, South Africa got that crucial kick that allowed them to be Match and Series Victors!

WORLD CHAMPIONS INDEED!


We then jumped into our car to go to a friend's home outside of London for a braai... which was now a celebratory braai of course, them being South African too.

On the way there we had a very sudden and short and hard thunderstorm... huge droplets of rain on the car... like a Joburg storm. We've never experienced this in England before.

The driver in the Jaguar cabriolet behind us quickly put his roof up, not before being drenched though!

As quickly as it came though, it went...

We then spent the rest of the evening in the company of friends and my sister, eating good food, watching some Michael Jackson videos (as the TV is plastered with it at the moment, understandably).

All in all, a lovely Saturday.

'One of the hardest email's I've ever had to write...'

'One of the hardest email's I've ever had to write...'

That's how the email started... a parent giving me notice this am... these children have been with me from the very start when I opened my childcare business 2 years ago. They are moving out of London, to the country, so a little bitty far to come to me. I love these kids dearly and get on so well with the folks, especially mum.

I have already filled their vacancies as I have been expecting this notice for a while now (they've been waiting to exchange and he needs to start school in September). But when you get the actual notice it still hits home in a big way.

Black and white.

This is the part of the job I hate the most. Saying goodbye.

Wimbledon Common

Wimbledon Common 31 May 2009, originally uploaded by Mrs Flower.

I live across the road from this glorious common... it's full of dogs, horses, squirrels, bunnies, birds etc. It has a few smaller ponds, and a couple large lakes, like this one.

It also has a big (original) wooden windmill, with a museum inside.. with loads of different windmills and the history of the common.

The wombles play their role here still of course, I am a huge fan of them!

We love to picnic, walk and cycle here, watch the people and the animals. Take in the rays.

We are most fortunate to have this on our doorstep.