A cupboard full of shoes...

It’s getting worse

admin — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:49:48 +0000

.. my time lapses between blog posts that is… 3 months!! Shame on me! Will try to be more regular from now on. Just tried out www.iwl.me/ which is a website that analyses your written work and identifies which author you write like. It was developed by a Russian guy and he only has 50 authors loaded thus far but apparently he plans to add more. Turns out I write like Ian Fleming (of James Bond fame for those of you not married to a Bond fan). I thought that was quite cool. The article I read about the site said that Lady Gaga’s lyrics were written like Shakespeare LOL I bet he is turning in his grave. The analysis takes grammar, word count and word choice into account. You just paste a few paragraphs into the block and click analyse.. easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.

My last blog post was about my husband’s car.. *sigh* R26 000 later the car is fixed. I am still no major fan of parking and if you spot a Honda Civic parked miles from anyone in the the middle of nowhere that’s me! Otherwise the driving is fine.. must just get my head around leaving in the mornings while it’s dark and hitting traffic on the hill to school. Another thing I am not a fan of.

Most recent bump in the road involves our house. We currently rent and our owners mentioned a willingness to sell. Not wanting to be in the house while it was on the market we gave our notice and commenced new house hunting. Not a lot out there I’m afraid! Having no real viable options we decided to tell our owners we would be interested in renewing the lease. We knew however that they had had some interested parties. We said we didn’t want to put them in a difficult position but we just wanted them to know how we felt… In the meantime an estate agent got back to us regarding the most promising house we had seen – the owners who had initially refused to install security had said they now would. Ooooh rock and a hard place. We obviously don’t want to mess the owners around more then we already have (which is quite a bit…) so we will wait for their decision on Monday. I actually don’t know what I want the outcome to be. I suppose this is a good thing because staying and leaving each have their own set of pro’s. I leave it up to fate…

:(

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:03:41 +0000

Feeling crappy… bumped my loves’ car into a wall.. twice. At first I thought it was just scrapes and scratches to the paint work but that minor relief was short-lived. Upon closer inspection further damage was revealed. The whole nose has been pushed back… even the badge on the front is scraped. My heart sank. Its been like that the whole weekend. You know when somewhere in the back of your mind there’s a feeling of distress, and every now and then you catch yourself wondering why you feel that way and then you remember and it starts all over again? We still have to get the quote on the damage. Expect more sinking feelings… watch this space PS Joy related to driving now tainted somewhat…

Sunday bloody Sunday

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:46:07 +0000

Ugh, hate Sundays… by the time the clock’s hands tick round to about 5 o’clock in the evening, Sunday blues set in. Sunday blues should be a recognised condition. It is characterised by a nagging feeling of impending doom, general sluggishness and a paranoia about running out of time. These feelings persist for a good few hours before bed time and may even keep you from sleep. This may trigger the secondary condition.. Sunday night sleeplessness. As you lie there thinking of (a) things you need to do tomorrow and (b) things you SHOULD have done on Sunday in preparation, sleep eludes you. The longer you lie there the more you worry about the fact that you can’t sleep. It’s a vicious cycle made all the worse by the fact that it is Monday in the morning. Tossing and turning exacerbates the situation and should not be entered into lightly. Consider yourself warned.

Friiiidddaaay…

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:49:01 +0000

Yay! Who doesn’t love Fridays? Okay, okay… I’m sure there are some people out there who don’t but I am part of the percentage who LOVE Fridays Had a Grandparents picnic at school today. Generally you spend an hour or so wondering around smiling and nodding your head but today I got chatting to a Grandmother and I must just say, I haven’t laughed that much in a while. Thank you for making the picnic so much fun Granny Angela!
On another note, the driving is improving. Getting a better feel for the car. Still a bit jerky changing in the lower gears but I can still count on my fingers the number of times I have driven the car so there is room (and time) for improvement. Got a taste of the enjoyment of driving (some abstract thing everyone kept telling me about when I ranted about hating driving lessons)… I was driving on the highway (at 100 – keeping to the speed limit..) and had the music up (Scissor Sisters – I don’t feel like dancing and Celine Dion – Changes, if you were wondering) and life just felt good. Had to then take the off ramp and concentrate some more so the moment ended but it was good while it lasted.
It’s at times like this when I get slightly philosophical and think about life and how, at this very moment, all over the world someone is dying, someone is giving birth, someone is breaking up, someone is getting engaged, someone is saying good-bye, someone is hugging hello, someone is sick, someone is recovering… There I was feeling life was good but family members of a well-loved colleague were mourning. Life is a juxtaposition of moments.
On that note let me cheer up and lock up and climb back in the car and face the traffic to fetch my love xxx

Rainbows

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:00:46 +0000

I dedicate this post to a very dear friend of mine. We used to brighten eachothers’ days with ‘rainbows’ and she will always be my rainbow friend…

“I have 5 and a half freckles on my nose” – Freddie 5yrs
“There’s wet coming from the sky!” – Sophia 4 1/2yrs
“Can I drain your bin?” – Muhluri 6yrs
“It’s a momo-meter” (thermometer) – Damian 4 1/2yrs

We made woofles (waffles) – Sophia 5 1/2 yrs

I take me shoes off when they get hurtyish – Damian (of the momometer fame) 4 1/2 years

This Valentines Day

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:30:00 +0000

To my love,
Sometimes we read words that express what we are feeling so succinctly that it is as if we had spoken them ourself. What follows is that…

An excerpt from a letter from Juliette Drouet to Victor Hugo
“I recognise you in all the beauty that surrounds me in form, in colour, in perfume, in harmonious sound: all of these mean you to me. You are superior to all. I see and admire – you are all!

You are not only the solar spectrum with the seven luminous colours, but the sun himself, that illumines, warms, and revivifies! This is what you are, and I am the lowly woman that adores you.”

A letter from Duff Cooper, an English politician, to his future wife
“Darling, my darling. One line in haste to tell you that I love you more today than ever in my life before, that I never see beauty without thinking of you or scent happiness without thinking of you. You have fulfilled all my ambition, realized all my hopes, made all my dreams come true.

You have set a crown of roses on my youth and fortified me against the disaster of our days. Your courageous gaiety has inspired me with joy. Your tender faithfulness has been a rock of security and comfort. I have felt for you all kinds of love at once.

I have asked much of you and you have never failed me. You have intensified all colours, heightened all beauty, deepened all delight. I love you more than life, my beauty, my wonder.”

And lastly, words that resounded with me this morning, “mine eyes desire you above all things”

xxx Happy Valentines day xxx

I need more shoes…

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:52:59 +0000

Just thought I’d start out that way… I probably don’t NEED more shoes but I would certainly LIKE new shoes. My trusty black little heels that I wear to school are close to giving out. I will be very good and only buy shoes when they give out.. well, maybe if I see a stunning pair that I couldn’t possibly resist then I may change my mind. That is, after all, a girls’ job isn’t it?

Valentines day coming up on Sunday. I agree with my husband that it is a commercially hyped day but let’s be honest, if you aren’t being spoilt and you do have a significant other you feel a bit left out. Everyone else is getting cheesy stuffed dogs or plastic roses.. not to say that I want cheesy toys or plastic roses.. something yummy is ALWAYS a good bet (read: Lindor balls) as is anything you would not normally spoil yourself with (read: spa treatments/ flowers/ jewellery/ pretty undies/ hand-written poems) Yes guys, the last one is a winner! Most girls (admittedly not all) would swoon at the mere thought of a poem written by you. Hey, it doesn’t even have to be a poem (rhyming is skill and if you don’t get it right it sounds dorky) make it a genuine love letter and you will score MAJOR brownie points. Even more so if your girl is the type to keep the letter and haul it out to re-read every now and again. Just a tip… use it, don’t use it… PS This works equally well for anniversaries/ birthdays/ Christmas/ making-up after a big fight. Let it be known however that for the birthday and Christmas ocassions it should be paired with a gift for EXTRA points

About time for an update

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:13:34 +0000

It must be a month or so since my last blog… shocking I know but teaching little people will do that to you! You tend to forget how little they know and take for granted small things like all of them walking in a line and not wandering off. I’ve lost a soul or two at times because they have taken a wrong turn… if you have ever seen our school you will realise it is a miniature version of Hogwarts… lots of staircases and twists and turns! I must admit that I saw the light towards the end of last week and that gives me hope. Sometimes I wonder why I do this… and then try to imagine myself doing something else and that doesn’t work either! It’s a calling.. cliche yes but it HAS to be.. how else would you explain it?! Certainly not in for the money.. or cool perks like holidays for winning sales teams.. or massive bonuses… I guess what warms my heart is when it all falls into place and a tiny-tot who has been struggling suddenly ‘gets it’. Thank-you’s from parents don’t hurt either…

On a positive note I am finally, legally, allowed to drive on the roads! After many, many years of sweat and (many, many) tears I got my drivers licence. It stands out as one of the most awful things I have ever had to endure! Not helped in the least by the bitch of an examiner I had! Sorry, no other word for her.. she was just plain horrible! The fact that I passed is nothing short of miraculous because with the way she went on at me I thought I had failed 10 minutes into the test! All I can say is thank god I never have to do that again! Now the hunt for a car commences… yay….

And lastly… is it just me or do babies seem to be EVERYWHERE right now?? In the last week 2 friends gave birth with ountless more due in the coming months. Guess I am just at that age… first you attend 21st’s every weekend… then it’s engagement parties… weddings and well now we are in the baby stage. I wonder what percentage of my friends are (a) single (b) in a relationship (c) married and not trying for kids (d) married and trying/ pregnant/ have kids… might make for some interesting math LOL!

Sigh 20:00 already… gym bag time… yes we are doing the gym in the morning stint – week 4 now. Still going thanks to Jonathan getting out of bed in the morning. When the alarm goes off I am very happy to just turn over and shut my eyes even though I know I enjoy gym when I am there… the lure of more sleep is just too great! Apparently getting into your gym clothes is half the battle because it then feels inevitable, in fact I read that (I think it was) Kim Kardashian sleeps in her gym clothes! I wouldn’t go that far but I understand the reasoning behind it…

Okay, as I said, gym bag time… TTFN!

Exercise is good for you… or so I’ve heard..

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:48:48 +0000

The new year is off to a good start – health-wise that is. Have started going to gym in the wee hours of the morning up at 5 am and in the gym by 5:30 am! It’s only been 2 days now but long may it continue! Don’t know if I will be able to hack it once term has really got underway or come winter time for that matter when it is still dark that early… but ever the optimist (or try to be) I will endeavour to drag my bum out of bed each morning! In light of this recent exercise-related development I post this picture, sent to me by a friend who shares my sentiments:

Shoes glorious shoes!

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:08:49 +0000

Went shopping today with Shirls… wasn’t intending on spending (much) money LOL but you know what they say about best intentions of mice and (wo)men! Ended up at a factory shop for shoes my idea of a slice of heaven.. especially this store, they had a great selection! It’s called Shoe HQ and it’s in Woodstock, so if you are ever in the vicinity….

Usually when I look for shoes it’s for pure enjoyment, but this time I actually did have a reason (I hear you gasp in shock..) Every girl has a trusty pair of going out shoes and I was no exception. Strappy black heels (bought from Edgars jonks ago) that went with every outfit and were super comfortable! When I wore them last I noticed that they needed to be re-heeled. Alas and alack, when I picked them up to take them to the shoe oke I examined the heels a little closer and noticed that they had indeed seen better days. All the painted on leathery stuff was coming off in chunks. Not pretty. After a moments hesitation I binned them… can’t, in good faith, wear them out like that and let’s be honest, they had served me well! Okay, back to why I started this: I had a reason to shop… to replace my trusty going out shoes!

After much debating, trying on, parading in front of the mirror, comparing of prices and considering of wardrobe suitability we had a winner! Pretty black heels (duh) with little bow and ankle strap… AND they were half price! This however is not the end of my story folks…. after some more browsing I came upon my dream shoes Now you must understand, I have always, ALWAYS wanted a pair of shoes with a zip up the back. I realise that sounds slightly porno, and hell, maybe it is, but I’ve always, ALWAYS wanted them. I can hear you pre-empting the story… there they were, right at the back of the store. Needless to say I made a bee-line for them. Scan scan scan sizzzze 6 scan scan scan aha! Tried them on, right foot great but oh dear, the left… my left ankle is kinda squidgey and sticky-out from torn ligaments etc a few years back and thus presents a problem. See these to-die-for shoes have an ankle strap and it kinda, sorta cut off some blood flow to my foot. At first I was not swayed! What’s a little blood? Most of it’s getting through, it’s not as if gangrene will set in immediately! Quick walk over to the mirror. Quick walk back. I realised that after 2 minutes they were beginning to dig in…nevermind a whole evening!

Common sense prevailed and I put them back in their box. Scan scan scan sizzzze 7 scan scan scan… nope no 7. At this point I reasoned that if there WERE a 7 it would be a sign from the universe that I should indeed own them and since there was not that was a sign too. Somewhat dejectedly (and not without a backward glance) I walked away. Waltzed on over to the sandal section and what should I spy but a woman carrying a box of size 7’s along with a few other pairs! She was making her way over to the couch to try them on. This was my chance! If she left them behind I could try them on! It would be a sign!

I entered stealthy stalker mode and pretended to be very interested in Pochahontas sandles and green paisley pumps (not a good cover I know… who would wear those.. but desperate time…) Sure enough she couldn’t get her feet into them and left them on the couch. I felt like Cinderella… as soon as she was far enough away and examining other shoes I plonked my bum down and held the shoes aloft (bugger the prince.. I wanted to see if the shoe fitted!)

I am pleased to report that they did no cutting off of semi-important outer blood supply either. With my 2 boxes in hand (have you forgotten about the trusty going out shoes replacement?) I evaded the gaze of the other lady (I can’t call her an ugly sister.. she was quite beautiful) in case she came to reclaim her shoes and made it to the tills. One swipe of the plastic later and they were mine… all mine!

PS there were also pink zip shoes but I decided that would be overkill