A New Classroom

After having lived for nearly a year and a half in our new home and village, I realise that it has not been quite as easy as we thought. When we left Jo'burg Tony said that he was now ready for the next class as he had passed the last exam (metaphorically). Well, we both feel that we have a lot to learn in this new class and we are right at the beginning, and as Tony says, probably right at the bottom, (older students are slower and as there are more fun things to do, we play more and tend to put our studies aside!)
Although the school is definitely in a nicer spot with better views and more extra curricular activities the subjects are much more difficult. Could we drop out? It's possible...we are allowed! But we won't, as although hard, it's still interesting, and although scary sometimes, definitely exhilarating and challenging.
If you are relocating, don't let anyone tell you that it's a breeze because it's not...it's a bloody gale-force wind most of the time! Really!

And Time Goes By

A year has passed since we sold our flat in Jo'burg, two years have passed since Cathy moved to Cape Town, Tony and I have been here for ten months and Jack is nearly five months old. Wow, where does the time go? It all feels like yesterday. So important to be aware and appreciate the magic of each moment as in a flash it's tomorrow and in another flash it's 2 years ago. So, with my eyes wide open, I look, I see, I enjoy, I thank.

A bit of tomato sauce on the top and he's completely edible! Actually, I'll skip the tomato sauce and have him 'au naturel'!

And the sideways glance! He has to see everything. Now, there's a little being who lives completely in the 'now'. No dwelling on the past for him and no worries about the future.  What a wonderful lesson for us to learn this from watching his every move as he fully  absorbs each moment and each sensation right now, in the present. What a clever boy!

Gorrila in the mist? Not likely! A beautiful baby boy in the bath! And after that a glorious massage from Mum with sweet-smelling oil, clean clothes, a warm bottle and a soft, small bed waiting to receive this adored child.

Not looking quite as tired, but still a bit, and Jack as he discovers the sky and the clouds, feels the wind on his face and listens to the ocean.

A Grey Day

While walking to my special spot which is slightly hidden by a tree, I hear someone saying: "Anything is possible!" A German accent, a woman, a voice, a message. Yes it's true, anything is possible. 

Today is a grey day, rain is predicted, I sit with the ocean as my companion, salt up my nose, a gentle wind on my face and every now and then a teasing raindrop on my head saying: "Should I, shouldn't I?"

The tide is coming in and the noise of the waves splish-splashing against the rocks is getting louder, seemingly begging me to notice them.

The occasional walker passes by and I know that if I look up from my writing I will get a 'hi' or 'good morning' but being the unsociable being that I am I rather let them pass but take a quick look when they have. People here are very friendly, simple and lovely. I love that they don't dress up, I love that they greet me, I love their child-like naivete, I love that they bring their sammies in an ice cream tub to enjoy on the beach, or in their car or on a bench, watching the sea. There is no worry here about what others will think. They are wholly who they are and are not ashamed or shy to be just that and nothing else.

I feel I belong.

I feel accepted.

I am happy here.

A Hard Decision

 Jack looks at us so trustingly and smiles at us so innocently.

What a hard decision it is for an entity, to choose a life, knowing that for a while he will be totally helpless, relying completely on others for his life and survival. Maybe choosing a life is the bravest thing we do...and maybe having a baby is the bravest thing we do, knowing that we are solely responsible for it's survival.  

The sweetest smile.

The sweetest Granddad.

Jager's Walk

Tony and I are usually out and about together but yesterday while he was at gym, I took myself to Jager's Walk, otherwise known as the Cat Walk, and as it was a beautiful day, lingered lazily on one of the many benches scattered all over the walk.

I watched the ocean, and listened to its hypnotizing voice, feeling the wind, breathing, being, and the sea became familiar, like an old friend that has always been a part of me and I it.

 I sat there a long time, quietly, peacefully, and absorbed it all while sinking into the mystery.

I silently celebrated the luxury of having time and being able to be part of this truly inspiring scene. 

I walked to the end of Jager's and up the steps which cross the road, to see the views from there. The area is called Sunny Cove and it is built up with all types of houses on the mountainside. It's a very pretty, quaint sight and at night when the lights go on, it has a particular magic.

The train runs next to the ocean while it winds its way to Simons Town and when it goes past, it rattles one's heart as it is so close. Sometimes people hang out the windows and wave at all the walkers on Jagers. It always feels friendly, fun and warm.  

Fish Hoek is surrounded by mountains and these are the ones on the North West side of the village, incorporating Chapman's Peak. Lovely to live in a valley where the mountains feel like great protectors all around you.

I had tea at the little bistro on the beach and had fun watching people, and then it was time to meet Tony.
Feeling light-hearted and happy I toddled off to walk to the gym.

A Champagne Celebration for Jack

On Friday evening (April's Fool Day) Joel and Cathy decided to have a little celebratory get-together for Jack. As Caroline was visiting them at that time, they thought it would be a good time to have it then. Their Aussie friends, Kate and Crusty, were there with their two little children and we were able to meet them after having heard so much about them. Jack was dressed in his new 'suit' and looked, as Joel says, ruggedly handsome! Cathy says 'sweet', I say 'cute', Tony says 'magnificent young male'.

Tony held him (like he was holding a platter of some kind) and the smiles kept coming (from both of them) as Tony told Jack about how he would take him to a pub as soon as he could walk and how they would do the Two Oceans Cycle Race together when he turned five and how he would show him all the 'beach babes' when he got to twelve. No wonder he was smiling!

Yeah...I'd love to do that! 

What Tony's telling him now I couldn't hear, but from Jack's face, probably more promises of great things to come.

Cathy was happy to have her friends around and have a bit of her 'old self' time, with laughter, champagne, snacks, music and general 'chilling' together. It was lovely and the snacks, prepared by Joel, were just heavenly.

No champagne for Jack yet, it's bottles and breasts for him.

While Jack's celebration was under way he slept peacefully amid the noise, unperturbed and undisturbed.

Mama Cat.

As I said before, the snacks were really, really delicious!

And Tony had lots of beer!

And the Moms did what Moms do!

And three generations.

A Sweet Sweet Boy

 Well, here he is, a baby boy called Jack. A sweet little boy with big eyes and a comical little face.

After a traumatic and very difficult birth and a 2-week stint in ICU, Cath and Jack finally came home. The home birth didn't go as they had planned and plan B didn't quite work out, plan C was an option but not what they wanted and plan D hadn't even been thought of...but plan D it was ! ! !

We are thankful that Jack decided to stay with all of us and thankful that Cath recovered quickly. Well done Cath and Jack...you can be proud of yourselves. Cath says that Joel was amazing during her labour and not one contraction went without his hand being in hers for support. Well done Joel!

Jack is nine weeks old today and putting on lots of weight every week, sleeping better and better and Cath is getting used to him more and more. It's not easy...this baby thing! Sleepless nights, constant attention, putting yourself aside for the baby, sore body from labour, sore breasts from feeding, being robotized into a feeding machine and forgetting that you were once a person, missing your old life, your independence, trying to process all this and still be awake to feed.

I am very pleased that I don't have to do this again but really happy that I can be present for Cathy to help her and share it all with her.



 It looks like his hair will have a reddish tinge and a curl, but a bit too soon to tell, I think. He gets fooled by a finger in the mouth when he is crying for food, but soon realizes that there is nothing coming out of it and the crying resumes...doubly loud and frantic.

 No, she is not strangling him, this is the way they 'burp' babies now!

In my days (never thought I'd get to the stage when those words actually come out of my mouth) babies were 'burped' over the shoulder, but now the Moms hold the babies' heads and rub their backs.

 I like the sideways glance! "You look a bit tired, Mom, why don't you get some rest?" "Your hair's a bit of a mess, did you comb it today?" "Cover up, you're showing your bra!" "Hi, Mom, you're cute!"

 Proud Mom holding her new little 'package'.

 Feeding, cleaning, changing, burping, feeding, cleaning, changing, burping, feeding, cleaning, changing, burping, feeding, cleaning, changing, burping, feeding, feeding, feeding, feeding, feeding, feeding, feeding.............

"Don't laugh, Mom, I'm really, really hungry!"

The Baby Shower

I was a bit nervous on that day thinking of preparing everything and making it all nice and having my mind full of things to do, but I needn't have been as Caroline was there to help me prepare all the snacks and lay all the things out. It was fun to do, easy, happy, chatty and laid-back.

Cath, Caroline and I opened a bottle of champagne before anything started, just to get us going and to get us 'in the mood'. (There was quite a bit left in the bottle when people arrived and I think...I don't quite remember...but I think I polished it off quietly. Hic.

My beautiful, radiant, happy, contented, loved child. Well deserved.

Candles were given to each person to light when Cathy goes into labour to wish her and Joel and the baby, a speedy and safe labour. I will 'phone everyone when the time comes.

Nice snacky food was laid out, dips and pates, cold meats and fruit kebabs, cheese and crackers, and of course a bit of booze in the form of a fruity punch.



Wow Cath, put your tummy in!

We all had a great time watching Cathy opening the prezzies for the baby and a few for her and listening to all the little blessings and messages on her cards. Everyone had some good advice for her and shared some of their own stories about children and birth and it was fun to hear.

Cathy came down the stairs doing a 'Marilyn Monroe when her dress blew up around her with the wind', but unfortunately (or fortunately) I missed it and just caught her when her dress had already floated back down. Oh well...next time!

Lucille is one of Cathy's oldest friends from Varsity and lives in the US but usually visits her parents in Cape Town at Christmas.  Lovely for Cathy to have two well-known, good friends with her, sharing her special moment, as many of her other friends are in Jo'burg and just did not manage to come for the event.

 Great consternation over the choice of cupcakes. Mmmmm, shall I have the chocolate one or the vanilla one? No problem...I'll have both!

And at the end of it all, Cathy sent Joel an SMS telling him that he can come home as all the ladies have left! It was a lovely end to the day as Joel arrived and it was just the four of us, Joel, Cath, Caroline and I left to chat about the day, to show him some of the baby prezzies and generally to chill while waiting for Wayne to pick up Caroline. I drove home just a tad tipsy but happy that all had gone really well.

Our First Christmas Living in Cape Town

 
It's not often that Tony and I get spruced up as we normally wear tracks or jeans and sandals, but it was nice to get a bit dolled up for a change and a Christmas lunch was exactly the occasion for it. I think we look rather nice!

Our first Christmas in Cape Town was really special as Philip and Ines were able to be with us as well as Caroline and Wayne which made it really lovely for all of us. The day of course would have been perfect had our best friends been able to be there with us as well as Joel's family, but nevertheless we had a wonderful time, with gorgeous food, and fabulous presents for all and from all.

Cathy was pleased to see her uncle as the picture tells and as the picture tells he seems just as happy to see her. 

Joel handled all the cooking and it was superb. The chickens were tender and juicy, the salads divine and roast vegetables just finished off the lunch beautifully. We sat in the garden under the pergola which protected us and our food from the wind which was blowing in gusts. But the weather held and besides having the pergola blow away at one stage, it was most pleasant sitting and eating outside.

Here we all are looking happy and contented.

Cathy is happy as well and glowing and beautiful, and her and Joel say they are excited and awaiting their new arrival with impatience, if not with slight apprehension at all this newness that is going to happen.

Cath does get very tired now and she says she is quite uncomfortable sometimes as the baby is weighing heavy on her tum. But she's still doing pretty well. She has handled her pregnancy like a star, never complaining, or getting irritable, a bit cranky when hungry maybe, but besides that, good humour always.

Joel loved his bonsai present and shows it off proudly for the camera (while Cathy packs up laughing in the background, at his pose).

Cath examines her new book and probably wishes she could start reading it straightaway.

Joel gave Tony a mountain bike and he is all smiles as he takes possession of his new toy, (he loves bikes). He was really chuffed with it.

Caroline, Cathy's best friend, and her husband stayed a while with Cath and Joel and it was nice for the two friends to be together at this special moment.

It was a really great Christmas day and Tony and I went home happy and full and loved and put our toys away (I got a gorgeous camera) to play with the next day.

I knew then that the move to Cape Town and all that went with it, was worth the effort.