Message from Rob in India [Calcutta]

I am looking forward to going to Dubai tomorrow as it is quite a bit more civilized than this place, but it has been interesting here, and I think we have got some good possibilities. It is just such a big market that we almost don't know where to start.

It is really backward as well and we should send some of our 'folkes' here to see what real poverty is. The amount of people living on the streets is shocking. You also just do not see fat people here apart from int he high end business areas, which are very much like what we are used to, but the rest is just one big slum.

I have also never seen so many taxis in my life. They are everywhere - in Calcutta, they use a car called a Hindustani ambassador, which is basically an Austin from the late 1950's, that when it went out of production in the UK, the plant was s hipped here and it is apparently still being made 60 years later. They must have been really good cars, because I think some of the ones that we have ridden in are 30 or 40 years old and although they are completely battered and *(^&(&(&*, they still go without puffing out loads of smoke.

In Mumbai they also use such an old car, but it is a Fiat from the same era- imagine being subjected to being transported in this when the temperature is 40C and there is no aircon, and the average speed of the traffic is about 12km/h wherever you go.

The hotel that I am staying in is only about a year old and although basic clean and suits my requirements and has 24hr room service, so we were able to get supper at 00h30 this am when we got back from Mumbai.

I have taken some pictures with my cellphone, so you can get an idea. [to follow]

The cricket at Eden Gardens was fantastic on Tuesday Evening.

Drinking our daily dose of Fruit and Veg

Cannot believe I did not know about this before, but you can drink your fruit and veggies . . .

Brent and Eloise are staying with us from England and have very kindly bought us our very own juicer. Our first jungle juice had spinach, beetroot, lemon, oranges, apples and cucumbers and tasted wonderful. Both boys drank it as well, just think of all that goodness!!!

Then last night I am driving home from fetching Chris and James phones to ask if he can make some apple juice for himself - WHAT A PLEASURE!!! Finally my child that doesn't often eat fruit is wanting to make it for himself.

THANK YOU BRENT AND ELOISE!!!

ADOPTION ANYONE?

We have the most beautiful little puppy Scamp, that if anyone is keen, she is looking for a home [just kidding].


When we got her (rescued from a farmer who wanted to drown her), we were told she was a border collie, well she has a border collie face, but the hind quarters . . . hmmmm I don't know.


So far she has managed to destroy my flat iron, 2 cell phone chargers, 2 pairs of shoes, a belt, numerous pens and pencils and a couple of my swimming toys.


That on top of the craters she is excavating in our garden . . . [ view the evidence below]




Our biggest problem with her is she still fits through the damn cat flap, which means when I feed her at night with the other dogs OUTSIDE, she runs around playing with them for about half an hour and then barrels herself through the catflap and sleeps in James's room.


Although saying that, there are not many days left as she is getting too big to fit through anymore. As for her breed, who knows, she has ears that are too big for her head and her back legs look like a township dog (or KD as we call them here). Generally however her nature is pretty sweet though - and she is a fast learner, I mean its only taken about 10 swipes from all the cats for her to realise that she is better off harassing the other dogs than the cats.

New School = happy child

[ Chris, Hylton and Sean]

Chris has settled in so extremely well to his new school, its almost too good to be true.

The other day he came home and told me he went to the library before waterpolo. That was the point where I nearly feinted, I didn't think Chris even knew what the library was, let alone set foot in one.

His life is extremely hectic most days getting home from school after 6pm, bearing in mind we leave for school at 07h10 every morning. But he is loving it and asks to wait at school, even though he could come home earlier, he chooses to stay.

He has jumped into the sport and school work boots and all, he has made the B team for waterpolo and was elected as the captain. He also plays as a reserve for the A Team.

They have also started rugby fitness so twice a week its waterpolo practice, twice a week rugby fitness and every Tuesday morning at 06h30 swimming training - all this leaves no time for TV, so that is really great.

On top of all that its matches on a Friday / Saturday.

The school itself is really great, they send out a weekly newsletter which outlines the entire program for the upcoming week, including the test dates and EXACTLY what the test is about. They also provide the boys with diaries at the beginning of the year which also has all these items outlined in it, along with the test dates and subjects.

Chris has also made the most amazing friends at school and they also have the most amazing set of moms that network so well with each other and a lot of them are single moms as well. It is so nice to have a support system at the school, within the first week of being there.

I really hope this is a sign of things to come for the rest of his high school career, as he seem so happy.

HECTIC HECTIC HECTIC

This year has started with bang and we have all the hit the ground sprinting. Rob is back to his travels around the world and we are back to school and work.

The puppy is keeping us busy, but she has settled in so beautifully with all the animals.

Chris has started at his new school and is loving it. On the first day he came home and told me he was amazed because everyone in the classroom is so quiet and they don't back chat the teacher DUHHHH!!!! The way it should be.

Anyways, he has settled in so nicely, he made the B team for waterpolo and at their first practice was elected team captain by the boys in the team. It is going to be really good for him, because now for once he will get to play most of the match, as apposed to spending most of the time on the bench as the reserve for the A.

James has also settled right into school, maybe a little too much though has in the first 2 weeks he managed to get 2 break DT's, he has now been warned one more and 3rd strike you are out - his pocket money will rapidly deplete at that rate.

He has also in the last 2 weeks managed to loose 2 teeth and can you believe it, has put them out for the tooth mouse - who was caught a bit off guard (thought he was past this) with insufficient money in his wallet.

Ingrid the good aunty took James off to the museum and a photography exhibition in Town the week before school started, which he absolutely loved. The photo's above are the ones that Lisa took of him. (thanks Lisa)

Christmas 2009

This year, Christmas eve was at our house. Ingrid was in charge of the tables and Rob the food. The theme was silver and 'Tiffany' Blue, with lots of fairy lights, it all looked beautiful.

Chris and James had to help decorate, putting up lights, putting out the favours and serviettes etc.

We had 20 people in all and had a great evening, the food was absolutely fantastic and poor Dawn roasted about 70 potatoes.

This year each person had to buy a gift to the value of R50 which was put under the tree and we then played a game where you drew a number and picked a present, the problem being that the next person to draw a present could, if they liked your present, simply take yours.

The only theiving that went on was between Chris and Gill and Grandpa, to see who could secure the biggest box of chocolates.

It was sad that this year my father didn't join us, but it would simply have been too much for him, so he came around with my Mom on Christmas Day, with Nicky as well.

James spent most of Christmas day building his lego that he received, he ABSOLUTELY loved the 3 in 1 lego set he received from John and Sandy.

Gill and Morten chuckling about something . . .

Chris and Rob removing all the paper from boards they got from Granny and Grandpa, that apparently give you the same sensation as surfing, snow boarding etc.

Gran and her daughter (Rob's mom) Dawn.

Sarah's First Holy Communion

James and I attended the Catholic Church for Sarah's First Holy Communion. It was my first time being inside a Catholic Church (that I can remember) and must say I felt a bit out of my depth when everyone around us started reciting things to the minister / father and we had no idea what was going on.

The incense that was burning was also very strong and caused a lot of coughing around the church, but aside from all that, Sarah looked lovely.

Scamp! Our latest addition

So there I am innocently minding my own business when a friend of our Tracy phones to tell us about a little border collie puppy that someone has rescued from a farmer who was going to drown it, but that they can't keep it as their Jack Russell dog is trying to kill it.

So off Rob and I go to have a look and 15 minutes later we are home with our new addition. Of course Splash just growls, Kelly is oblivious and most of the cats just run for the hills, all except of course Mickey, who now has a new playmate, check out the video below.

the first night, Rob's all, ' oh no, its got to sleep in the kitchen' so we barricade the kitchen closed, well that lasted about 5 minutes before she jumped over and charged down the passage to James who was in our bedroom on a mattress on the floor. (Reason for this is we had Granny and Grandpa staying with us for Christmas). Needless to say that was the end of that idea and now she sleeps wherever her fancy takes her.

Splash has also started warming up to the idea of her.

Weekend Away at Bettty's Bay

December 2009

Chris and a whole bunch of his friends went away with us to Betty's Bay on break-up day. It was quite an experience being away with 6 x 14 year olds for the weekend. But they were all very well behaved and polite and a pleasure to be with. Nana and I were pretty much barricaded into the bedroom as they took over the remainder of the house. James got a bit bored though. Nana then left on the Sunday morning to go back to town to see 'CATS' the show, whilst Rob drove down from Jhb and arrived the same Sunday afternoon.

We all had a great weekend, with swimming in the lagoon, braaing, walking, the beach, the botanical gardens and Chris driving Nana's car around. It was quite a freaky feeling driving behind him, thinking that's my baby driving that car.

The only place they didn't get to go were the penguins and the sand dunes, oh well, next time.

Chubby Bunny anyone?

This is where they spent a lot of their time, lazing around in the lounge, reading, playing poker and other games.

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A FAMILY FIRST - JAMES GETS A TROPHY

Last week I got a call from James's teacher to say that I must make sure to attend school prize giving as James is getting a prize. That was it, no indication as to what the prize was.



With Rob being away, I dragged Gran and Nana along with me. We sat through the prize giving, waiting to see what he would be getting.



Towards the end of the prize giving, they came out with a prize for the top femal swimming,

so I thought, OK, this is it, he is going to get the top boy swimming, but no, they then went on to the FINAL prize of the day.

For the most improved student in Grade 5 - JAMES MULLER.

Those of you that know me, will know that I was crying whilst he was going up to get it.

We are SOOOOOOOOOOO proud of him. Well done James!

Reports are due today, but Chris has also done so well this term having made dramatic improvements in his marks. Well Done Chris!