Shopping with my j-bug

No swimming for us today as Jos is still sniffing, has a runny nose and is coughing. On our first attempt to get to the shop just before 10am, Jos fell asleep about 2 minutes in the car ride so I returned home. She slept a little while then woke. I picked her up and she fell back to sleep on my chest all snug and happy. She slept for about an hour and 15minutes - this was her only nap of the day so by this evening she was pretty exhausted.

Our shopping expedition was okay, although she did get a bit restless and wanted me to carry her but with a trolley, not really an option. She helped herself to a few items in the aisles and I forgot a few things but we had fun out and looked at everything in the shops and spoke about them. She gave a few people waves and smiles. Oh and her word of the week is 'boo'. She especially loves hiding behind a curtain, hand or just ducking and then says boo - well sounds more like bah but it is boo I know!

Power to the people

I am still very grateful to have power today, especially after fetching Jos from daycare today and they were still without power. The kiddies couldn't play outside due to all the rain flooding the play area which meant they were restricted to being indoors with no electricity. The staff could not warm up the little ones lunch or milk etc. And yet, they were still smiling! I take electricity for granted and just expect it to be on all the time, it is good to have a gentle reminder. Like when one is unhealthy, you so long for good health and so I look forward to be completely well again so that I can enjoy that too. We need these gentle reminders so that we remember to appreciate everything we have, those day to day luxuries we expect but that are 'luxurious' for those living a life of poverty. A steak, a hot bath, a chocolate - all things so easy to access for us, yet some people are starving, will never know electricity or enjoy a luxurious hot bath. They will not taste a choclate, sip a milkshake, lie on a soft bed, enjoy warmth in winter or a glorious blanket. Thank you Lord for all you have given me. I am so privileged and blessed. In saying that, help me to help others. Help me to see needs, to appreciate what I have but also to give up some of my 'luxuries' to help fellow man. This is how we make the world a better place, we do. We stop saying and thinking, we do. Please help me help the world - I need to wake up!!!

Soak in a hot bath

After a long day with a semi-cranky, semi sick baby, a sick mommy and no power, I took full opportunity of the time hubby and Josci went outside (yay, rain stopped) and had me a long hot soak. I have not indulged in a bath in so long, usually it is just a quick hop in the shower. The quiet was somewhat strange but I just lay there like a rhino in hot mud. Hmmm delicious.

It is quiet outside and I am hoping this is not the quiet before the storm. The rain has moved south but is apparently on it's way back and could develop into a cyclone. Please not! Only time will tell.

In the mean time, let me get my sick self into bed. Night night

Steak, egg and chips

We have not had steak in ages, especially a nice steak. While getting bread and milk today I spotted thick, delicious looking steak and could not resist. Hubby cooked the steak perfectly - medium - and popped out to buy us some chips.

IT is raining again. We woke up to an overcast, miserable morning which came as quite a surprise as we were expecting similar sunny weather to the last few days. Depsite being rainy, it was very muggy so I can't even say that the cool weather was pleasant. We were hoping to take Joscelyn out to the park today so she could ride her bike there, but the rain did not feel like cooperating. We went to church, although I sat in the 'nursery' room with Jos while she and Anna's little boy Levi rummaged through everything, banged, clanged and bashed all the toys in sight and left little opportunity for much listening. Jacques and I take turns, so at least he got to hear the sermon. I could catch it online...

Joscelyn is still coughing and sniffling today. She has moments of crankiness and neediness but is generally very busy so despite feeling unwell she is handling it pretty well unlike mummy who has caught her cold and feeling a little worse for wear. I don't know where she gets the energy from being sick, I mean I feel like a limp ragdoll. I am assuming the adventures of the house are far too exciting to miss out on.

Anyway I took my last (hooray) antibiotic tonight and some cold meds, I can feel them swaying me off into a mini hypnotic state so I had better get myself off to bed :) Good night all and have a happy week

Sunny day out

Today, after more than a year here, we finally visited Bundaberg. IT's about an hour and a half drive. I can't say I was terribly impressed. It wasn't bad, I thnk after a year of anticipation and everyone speaking about it we built it up a bit too much in our minds, but in saying that we had a wonderful family outing. We found a K-Mart and got the cutest red gumboots for Jos plus the shoes above for me for $5!!! They cant compare with my similar ones of $40 or so but hey, $5 for an extra pair is great :) I like the ones that are elasticated at the back and since we can't wear open toed shoes to school it is great to have these to just slip on. Now I just wish I could find some nice brown ones like this!

After Bundaberg we went in search of fish and chips at Bagara. A small coastal town. Again, a lovely lunch although I think by this time Jos, who still isnt well, was tired so after lunch we left. She had a small sleep in the car but was very unsettled and happy as anything when we got home. She practiced her walking skills a bit again today and is improving daily :) I see trouble LOL

Happy Saturday

Pinterest :)

Thank you to my friends, Sarah and Amanda, I have discovered Pinterest. It is pretty hard to explain, so the best thing I can say is a) google it b) it is like a huge pin board and it is categirised into sections of your choosing so as you find stuff you like on the net under certain topics and you want to keep them all in one place and easy to find, Pinterest is the place to do it. I did not get much time to play around on it today. Although my off day, Jos and I went to Rattle and Rhyme at the library, we then shared a cinnamon bun - I may have to buy her her own sonn - she ate two thirds of mine. Hubby forgot his sandwiches at home so we delivered them to school. On the way home Jos fell asleep. She slept for just over an hour before crying, I picked her up and held her and she fell asleep on my chest for another hour. She had a good rest. She needed a good sleep after having a very unsettled night last night. She is not well today poor chicken. Very runny nose, coughing and a little bit cranky and slight temperature. She needed lots of cuddles today so I just lay and enjoyed the moment of her just lying on me (although I did wish I had planned to have the earphones on and watch a girly show LOL) She hasnt had much of an appetite except for the cinnamon bun and milk, yoghurt and custard. Probably not the best things for a phlegmy chest but that is she wants to eat, so be it. She also enjoyed abit of watermelon tonight which was good.

I took her out in the road on her bike a bit, she was desperate to get out but once out there was not so pleased to be there. Perhaps the scorching heat had something to do with it. She did a little standing and walking but it seems to cause her more frustration, she falls and then she cries, not in pain but more as if she is not happy that she fell. She just wants to be able to walk I think.

We had plans for the beach tomorrow but not such a great idea with an unwell little person. Will see what happens.

I will see if I get time to do some pinning on Pinterest. Could be fun, I will give it a bash when I have a mo'. Happy Friday :)

Smell the coffee

I love opening a new tin of coffee. That smell of fresh coffee, that first whiff is like a little caffeine high for your nose. It kind of loses the smell after a while, like new shoes or a new car, they have that new smell only yot be lost.

Somehow this relates to my lesson for the day. I spoke of giving people a chance, not to judge and make an effort. Well 'said' person is trying to rule the roost and ruffling my feathers a little. You will be proud to know though that I restrained myself (since I can be a bit rash/outspoken) and have decided to think it through and have a clear head. The question now is though, what is the next move. How do you remain true to yourself, remain composed, voice your opinions and be a grown up about it when you just want to jump and stomp like a little kid. I must say though, I am not as bothered by it as I was a few weeks back when work had me a bit stressed. I have found my inner calm (mostly - this could be the antiobiotics talking) and hope to display it.

We had an interesting discussion at school today about South Africa and I may have gotten a bit worked up there. I loved my land but felt I would have a better life, a safer life here. I hated hiding my bag on the floor, knowing that I had to drive with my car windiw just a tad down as it is harder to break a window like that than if it is closed, I hated playing dodgems with the taxis, I hated the politics and maybe I was a coward for leaving and not staying to fight for my country. But living in fear was not pleasant. Living with burglar guards, assuming every noise was a robber, thinking every dog bark was to warn that a criminal was creeping around outside. I am probably more of a scaredy cat than many and just couldn't do it anymore. When Nelson Mandela was released there seemed to be a buzz in the air, a sense of hope and a future of promise. Instead it seems that the poor are getting poorer, jobs are less, the government departments are in disarray. Are the white people to blame for all this? Did Apartheid bring this upon us? Isn't it time to move on already? Sorry, we made a mistake. We are done saying sorry. Now get over it and move on already. It was meant to be the rainbow nation. The African drum still beats in my heart but the fear of Africa is even greater.

Who knows where that came from. I guess I am just astounded at people's behaviour - said person, the South African Government, and even people who just talk a whole lot of garbage and filth and seem to lack that little bit of class and respect for life...