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November 05 Hands to the groundI just did a weird thing last night that inspired me to blog. I am in the middle of exams, and obviously exam brain-drain is getting to me. I went to put the kettle on for some tea and when I got back to my I had this abnormal urge to do a hand stand. I looked around my room, found a suitable wall, kicked off my slippers and proceeded to three quick hand stands. I haven’t done a handstand for ages, and I could that feel it in my wrists. I always do a handstand in the pool in summer, but that is different with the whole gravity-water thing.
After the handstand, I though about when the last time I did a cartwheel…and I honestly can’t remember.
I suppose this all sounds quite weird, but these are the things that we did a lot when young, and maybe they seem childish now, but they are brilliant things to do, not only for exercise but for pure fun. The kind of fun that is golden like honey and shines with warm sunshine that penetrates your skin and warms your heart.
Cast your mind back to those memories of the school playground – catches, skipping, handstands of course! And just running around for the fun of it…
I dare anyone who reads this to get up from your computer right now (or maybe later if you are at work) and to do a handstand, or a cartwheel. Let me know how it felt to youJ
I wonder if I can do a cartwheel in my room……….yes I canJ
October 15 Need some sleepI am sitting in the computer centre at school. My class is busy designing calendars and I am bored. The girls seem to be enjoying the project, but since it is there own design to do, I relaly don't have much to do right now.
I thought about bringing some studying to do today, but I changed my mind for some reason...must bring it in tomorrow.
So I've been having acupuncture...second session was yesterday. It seems to be helping the arm situation, but for about 24 hours after the session, I am sore.
Not sore as in dying of pain...more sore in the way that it is an uncomfortable ache. It sometimes feels like a slight cramp, but mainly my arm just feels week.
I don't know if its the stress on my body from the acupuncture...cos those jump like shock waves that I get are quite something, but I am totally exhausted. I just want to put my head down and sleep.
No rest for the wicked though...as they say. Maybe a power nap is in order when I get home after fitness coaching and before coming back to school for a function....I would try study but I think that would put me to sleep even faster. I got some energy things in my gift bag from The Spar Ladies Race on Sunday...I think its time to try them October 04 It's been a whileLife has gotten in the way of my usual blogging. The past month flew past with far too much happening.
I completed my teaching prac which added a lot more work to my plate, and a lot less time was available.
So now it is my last day of school holidays and Term 4 starts tomorrow with exams starting in 20 days time...eeek.
At the moment I have piled my study material and thats as far as its gotten.
I'm trying to get my shoulder back in working order. My scalene muscles are in a mess from my op two years ago and the stress of drumming through the SA Tattoo.
I've been going to the Chiropractor who has been working on my back and shoulder, and these neck muscles...I'm quite sore, but I think its working, the muscles don't seem as tight. They are sore now, but I think the knot in them is weakening...I hope anyway
 See the problem, if you look at the picture, the scalene muscle goes to the first rib, which is where they operated in the first place, so two years ago they aggravated it and my drum from the band has continued to put pressure on it...and the Tattoo which was a week long experience with th drum on my shoulder for at least an hour constantly...its made it worse... but hopefully it gets sorted now
  August 21 The woes of WinterThis morning as I, against my will, slipped out of bed, I had a blog inspiring thought. As the Johannesburg winter days are edging into Spring I am inspired to share what I will and won't miss about Winter.
Firstly what I won't miss:
The cold mornings. When I'm in my car and can still see the air I breathe out...its enough to make you give up for the day.
The dark mornings. Waking up in the dull, dawn light - not very inspiring to wake up.
The cold toilet seat. Guys be greatful you don't sit down all the time.
The pile of jerseys I go through. I layer up - and then I have a pile of jerseys.
Cold corridors. Old school buildings in South Africa are not made for Winter. The coolness is great in Summer though.
Getting out of the shower. I just want to stay under the warm water.
My hand getting cold while using my mouse. I've been wearing one glove more than than other this whole winter.
Drinking lots of warm drinks. I love hot chocolate and tea etc, but sometimes a cooldrink is all you need, but its just too cold.
Dry skin.
Constantly cold feet.
Now, things I will miss:
Wearing my boots! I love my boots...but Summer is a bit warm, but I have a few weeks of srping to still enjoy.
Snuggling close to David, so I can absorb his body heat to keep warm.
The Jo'burg Winter sky - the blue-ist sky ever.
Staying in bed on cold weekends (when we got the opportunity)
So not much I'm going to miss - Bring on Spring!
 August 20 Flying without a broomNetball was entertaining on tuesday night. I was wearing a new Harry Potter T-shirt that I bought and I actually had the thought that I was getting hit by Bludgers. Ok, so its not exactly Quidditch, but I did a fair bit of flying through the air, but I was getting bashed around by the other team from all angles.
I spent a lot of time getting up off the floor, getting bashed into the net and ducking. I felt like I had a sign saying “Knock me down” on my forehead. The team we played were all at least 10cm taller than me, and I realised in this case when they are going to knock me over anyway, I might as well use it. Tall people are not that good at keeping track of shorter people. So using this I got around the tall people, waited for the ball – got knocked over and then got the ball for a free shot :). At least we won bruises and all. So I have a bruised knee, tender bum and I’m sure I’ll be finding more bruises. I think Quidditch might have been safer than last night’s matches.  August 06 Kick the vending machineA few years ago in varsity, we had to do a speech. I choose the slogan "Change is inevitable...except from a vending machine" which inspired to write me speech.
Basically no matter what as life goes things will change. Everything from season, to day to love and life will change no matter what. It is physically impossible to resist change in some form.
Today, however, as much as change has become inevitable to me, it has also become particularly annoying.
I'm sure there are the smooth changes that just slide on through, barely causing a ripple and the change is only noticed by a few, days later.
My change is bumpy because I am, slightly resisitent...always have and always will be to change.
If I could, the change wouldn't happen. I'm perfectly happy as is, but certain factors are now pushing for the change to happen now.
Change is also about choice right?... Whatever ends up changing should involve some part of choice...not guilt, not pressure.
Its going to happen, and I'm fine with that. Unfortunatley it involves me shelling out about R2000 a month, which depresses me.
However, it is time, it must be done but really all this just to buy a car....  July 24 Good timing for a Cold FrontThis weekend is the South African Championship Pipe Band gathering. The pipe band season is always in winter, but the timing for this cold front to hit us is brilliant!
 Spot the sarcasm!
Tomorrow I will be spending about 7, maybe 8 hours outside on grass...but let me explain our weather to those not in Johannesburg.
Our winters don't include snow or rain. We have beautiful blue skies most days which is great with sunshine, however the icy wind that comes from the Drakensburg mountain range, carries a memory of the snow on the mountains, and that wind gets right to your bones!
The problem we have in South Africa is that the older buildings, our houses and more specifically the school I work in, are all built for the warm weather that South Africa has for about 8 months of the year. The other 4 months give us trouble.
So anyway, back to tomorrow...I will be layering my clothing. This is kind of difficult when you are wearing a kilt, but I will have a couple tops under my shirt, stockings on my legs and as many jerseys as I can, not to mention gloves, scarf, probably a beanie too.
I just got told that at least I'm skinny so when I layer up I don't look like the Michelin Man :)
Tomorrow, I'm hoping the cold doesn't get to us as we have a chance to win the South African Championship. We could be the top Pipe Band in the country....its exciting
 Keep Warm everyone, and GO SKYE!
July 17 Book versus MovieI have now seen Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It was very good, but the movie leaves out some of my favourite parts of the book, and one 6 things I can think of that they will have to work around for the last book.
Firstly, hiding the Potions textbook. Harry hides it in the Room of Requirment in a cupboard and marks the cupboard by putting a bust and a wig with a Tiara on it. The Tiara is NB for the next instalment.
Secondly, Dumbledore's funeral...I suppose its an easy one to just assume, but Dumbledore's wand is supposed to be with Dumbledore where he is buried.
Thirdly, Ginny and Harry are not dating at the beginning of the seventh book. It is implied that they are at the end of the movie.
And last, there are NB details about Tom Riddle and his choice of Horcruxes that Dumbledore was supposed to show Harry in Memories.
There was also the missing relationshop story lines of Bill and Fleur, and Tonks and Lupin, not to mention the whole werewolf incident with Bill....
As for my favourite parts....
How Dumbledore actually fetches Harry involves Dumbledore arriving on Privet Drive and entering the Dursley's house. As usual the Dursley's are less than hospitable but Dumbledore is his usual pleasant self :) He conjures 5 glasses of mead which float over to the Dursleys who try and ignore it, but the glasses are persistent and keep bashing against their fore-heads. I love that part:) And I can't believe they left out the winning of the Quidditch Cup!!! Gryffindor winning the Cup and Harry arriving in the Common Room is my favourite part, and in my opinion, the way Ginny and Harry's kiss should have been!
So the movie was good but I missed parts of the book that should have been in the movie. I'm impressed that they kept in Dumbledore's Knitting pattern comment :)
Its difficult to compare when there is awesome writing and humour in the book, and then some very entertaining parts in the movie. July 08 The day I barely rememberTwo years ago, was a day that will go down in my family history as my near death experience. Obviously it all turned out ok, since I'm here typing :)
I think my body remembers the day, because this week my arm has been twinging.
So what happened, for anyone who didn't know, I was in hospital for an op to remove part of my 1st rib, becuase my collarbone and rib were squashing a vein. This squash caused a blood clot in my arm.
Because of this clot, which ahd been removed already, I was on blood thinners, just in case. I had the op, and was in ICU. I don't know whose fault it was but post operation a nurse continued to give me blood thinners. This caused a problem, because during my op a surgeon had nicked an artery. I would have been fine, but the thinners caused me to start bleeding internally.
At 7am, I think...I just remember about 10 people around my bed trying to stabalise me. They tried to find a vein but my veins had collapsed. They had to go into my jugular. That kinda hurt, but since I was lacking blood I couldn't even react.
I remember about 5 things from that day. The doctors and nurses trying to find a vein, sticking a line into my neck, someone calling saying "keep the crash cart nearby", Mandy coming to visit and my mom squeezing my foot as the wheeled me to surgery for an emergency op.
I'm glad I'll remember more about today :) July 02 Missing linkHave you ever felt like you have lost something, but its not that its lost but its missing? Even though I know its there, there is a feeling that its actually not. Its changed, or just different, and it's no one's fault but I don't know what to do about it. It's like an estrangement. How do you come back from that...
Weird feeling to get, but its there, and I don't know how to find it again. June 23 Gimme hopeIt sucks when you can’t find words to explain your feelings. Then again, maybe the words to explain are too scared to make themselves apparent, to save yourself from realisation of feelings.
At the moment, the best way I can explain myself is that I feel stuck in a rut. I feel like I’m going nowhere and how to get through this patch is eluding me. I can even feel it in my muscles when I think about it. The feeling of heaviness runs through my blood and weighs me down, causing lack of energy, lack of enthusiasm and just plain tiredness.
I have found one cause, which is my stupidity of studying…still…The curse of due assignments lurks like a storm cloud over my head. I’m not giving it up now, but the fact that I am still doing this, and trying to fit studying in is basically just a pain in the neck…literally!
Maybe its just because it has been a long and difficult term of school; maybe it’s the feeling in me that I don’t know how to change things I’d like to at work; maybe it’s the busy life I seem to have; maybe it’s the feeling that I am going nowhere slowly…its like I am sitting 5 metres from the top of a hill. I just need to get to the top to get going again, but I’m stuck. I don’t know what’s going to get me unstuck, maybe the upcoming holiday…maybe a change…but change more stress.
I could just do with some enthusiasm…anyone have a spare bottle stored somewhere? June 11 Past LifeOn the weekend, Dave and I joined some of his friends at Greensleeves, which is a medievil themed venue where you dress up and attend a banquet. You drink mead, bang on the table instead of clapping, eat with your hands and are entertained by a minstrel
 I enjoyed the evening so much that it made me think ... The whole idea of past lives, I honestly don't know much about it, but I think I would have liked to experience that time. I know women had no rights at all, and they were very happy to tell us that during the dinner
 but I think it would have been interesting. I'm a sucker for sword fights...although I can imagine myself being the girl who had to learn to sword fight and then fight with all the boys Oddly enough I did a search for a past life quiz and found one that tells you which historical figure you are most like...my top percentatge 100% actually was Joan of Arc.
June 05 lost inspirationYes, I know...no blog update for ages.
I have just been very uninspired with subject matter to blog about. Normally I think of something, but by the time I get on to my computer again, the thought is long gone.
I must say, that my short term memory is shocking! I could do with a little bit more retention there. Like last night, there was a meeting. I wasn't planning to go, but for 4 days I had been meaning to get around to sending my apologies. At 23:30 last night, my eyes shot open and I swore as I remembered that I had not sent my apologies!
And then today, only at 12:30 did I remember to contact the guy in charge and apologies profusely for my lack of attendence and no apology.
I think I need a pensieve. Seriously it would help so much to take thoughts out my head and store them somewhere. That way I could make room for more thought storage!
 May 04 Tribute to SkyeIn our 11th year of existence the African Skye Pipe Band has finally beaten the odds and won the Grade 2 category at the South Coast Gathering.
It was an awesome feeling to finally win
 We were all so happy with the first results that when they actually announced that we had won overall, we didn't hear it properly, but it was followed by many hugs, drinks and partying after the gathering. Its a great feeling to know that all our hard work, and effort has finally come together and been recognised.
YAY Skye!  April 24 skills shortageYesterday, I came to a third realisation why I did not stay in the creative/design industry.
The first realisation was in 2005, because my boss drove me nuts. The second was later in 2005 because the boss was an ass, and the third was last night, 2009. It was the confirmation realisation that I did the right thing.
I don't know what it is, but I think its the temperament of "creative, or arty" people. Since I have a bit of an artistic streak I did well in it, but my temperement leans more to organising I think. So when I get the disorganised arty-fartys pushin my buttons, it drives me insane.
I know I could maybe be earning more money if I'd gotten into an Ad agency or carried on with design...but no, I like my sanity. If I only have to deal with one arty-farty type person in my place of work, its fine.
I maybe stereotyping....and I apologise, but organisation hasn't been a strong point of any arty people I know.
I guess my organising skills dampen my art ones... April 23 Bring on the long johnsWinter has arrived, much to all Jo'burgers' dismay. It kind of snuck up on us and slapped us up-side the head.
It started slow with cooler evenings, chilli mornings, and earlier sunsets...but this week, with the first threats of snow on the Drakensberg, the winter tempretures arrived.
This morning, getting out of bed was hard. Its time to get out the winter PJs now so my legs keep warm when I climb out of bed...Hibernation is sounding really appealing right now!
So here are a few ideas for How to keep warm!
 The Dodgy Pyjamas!
 A big warm hug
  Snuggling up to anyone and everyone.
 The Dodgy Bearded beanie, balaclava
or, using the latest technology........wiring...
 March 25 Nearly ThereThis blog is going to do nothing more than to make people hate me...well those who aren't joining me and the family at The Cavern in the Drakensberg this weekend.
It is my dad, and his twin brother's 60th birthday today, and we are celebrating it at the place we went for many Easter Holidays when I was younger.
The best part is you are in the middle of the mountains, you have to relax. Just the view makes you feel relaxed at at home with nature :)
They have awesome food, and the best thing is with walks up the mountain everyday, you don't feel bad for eating. Add in some bowls (yes bowls - very entertaining when the whole family is trying this at the same time, with drinks) maybe some tennis, and a massage...plus family, friends, and the Cave Bar...its a recipe for a good weekend, and with the topping of Twins 60th, its going to be a weekend of note.
      March 23 Grow some....I don't know if it is because of the busy past weekend, the hectic term, or just because I'm nearing holiday time that I have no energy and no will to work. I started off ok this morning, but have become progressively more lethargic and less socialble through the day. Unfortunately for my netball girls they have an hour and a hlaf with me this afternoon...they best not piss me off.
On another netball note, this weekend included running a netball tournament...I am coaching a bunch of wooses. Is that spelt right?
Seriously, bunch of cry babies...k not all of them, but the number of girls who came off the court crying because of a small injury drove me nuts. One of my players got her finger bent back by the ball. Granted it hurts, but it does not hurt that much that you need to cry about it for half an hour! You don't need to cry at all!
How do you tell 13 year olds that they need to suck it up and take one for the team! I mean really...you can't play a sport wrapped in cotton wool. I need to toughen these kids up....any suggestions?  March 20 Hard day's nightSo finally, after 3 postponements, weather concerns, pool concerns and end of term exhaustion, the school Inter-house gala is finished and klaar! I had a hair-raising morning, starting at 5am when David and I woke up to a huge thunder storm. With an hour left to sleep, the conerns started running through my mind.
At 6:30 when I left Dave’s, the sun was rising through the storm clouds and the sky was a patchy blue…however at 8:30 the sky went dark and the thunder rolled in. After a heavy shower the rain cleared again and we hurried out to the pool, however, after having the march in, our opening ceremony and the first race, the rain started again.
We rushed everyone inside…I got drenched and was wearing white pants! Half an hour later we carried on in the sun and blue skies. SO it happened, finally, and just in time, because at 13;00 the rain came down again. What a day! And now a netball tournament tomorrow…..should be interesting….. |
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