NEW blog - Address Change

I have moved over to www.handwashonlycapetown.blogspot.com yeah yeah I know it is a total pain in the proverbial but I have for a long time wanted to get away from my talkscrap, for a few reasons. Firstly, I chose that name because I thought that I would have a 'scrapbooking' site which clearly didn't happen and secondly, I don't always talk crap! So please please change your reader, thanks.

Busy Week

The kids go back to school this week and I still have not covered a book. I did the shopping for all of this last week and in fact have still not recovered from the shock of it all. Last year I spent R 1500.00 on stationery for both kids and this year Scott's was R 1200.00 without his text books and Erin's was R 625.00 without her text books. Kinda ridiculous if you ask me. So now I have to cover them all, and no I am clearly not one of those moms that gets off on this kind of thing.

When my computer crashed on Friday and was only really working again on Saturday night. I mentioned to my family that I need to post about me not getting the job, my dearest darling daughter commented that maybe I should not mention that I am applying for jobs on my blog until I get one and then only tell everyone. What do you thing? I think she might be spot on here, but at the same time isn't that what blogging is about? the everyday, whats going on in my life? if I don't mention that I am applying for jobs,what do I mention? hell I don't do much else at the moment, this is a very pressing issue but at the same time I don't want to bore you all to "omg, Jo didn't get the job- again". Let me know soon, so I can let you know about the next job I have applied for LOL.

I DIDNT GET IT!

I sat with the phone next to me on Friday morning and tried to read. Eventually I got the call. The guys present P.A. called me and explained that he felt that I had too strong a personality and was too similar to his wife! WTF. Yep that's right and the wife has intentions of becoming more involved in his business. During the interview while he was looking through my C.V. he mentioned that his wife does Interior Design but does not have any qualifications, I have a Diploma in Interior Design, so herein lies the problem me thinks - she would be threatened. Oh well I am very positive about the whole thing, I had what it took, I blew him away, and i was just too good. Having a strong personality is something I am proud of, the day anyone describes me as having a weak or less than strong personality would be the time to slit my wrists. LOL. Okay, I was very disappointed for lots of reasons and shed a quick tear which I tend to do when I speak to my friend Tanya on the phone, she just has the ability to make me blub at the best of times. My darling son, Scott says to me "it was only a job mom, it is not serious, anyway it was not meant to be. I bet in 2 weeks time they will have a massive break-in in that house (they work from home) and you would have been in it" (the house). Gotta love kids/teens, not too sure if I love the South African mentality.

And my computer crashed. I had it looked at yesterday at great expense and I need a new hard drive. I dropped it at simply-mels house on Monday and it has been acting funny ever since and finally died on Friday morning just in time to coincide with my doom call. I am now off to take my very willing and able walking partners for a long walk and get some fresh air and perspective.

2nd Interview

I did the 2ND interview thing today! Talk about a little stressed around the edges. As I said I ticked all the boxes for what they are looking for it was down to the guys preference - myself or another girl/lady/woman whatever. I havent felt so stressed in a long time. It seemed to go well, but I am trying not to get my hopes up. I know a lot of people that he knows in the same industry - it can go either way, it could be a plus or a minus to him. Oh yes, and he was seriously easy on the eye so going to work everyday wont be a grind. I will know the outcome by tomorrow pm.

Job Interview

Went for a job interview today for a P.A. position, and for once in my life I ticked all the boxes for what they needed, they even wanted a 'mature' woman, and lets face it I am sooooo mature. So I wont bore you with the details just hold thumbs I get it. I should know by the end of the week. All terribly exciting.

On a completely different note my DH gave me a brochure from one of his customers (he does medical disposables) that does colonic hydrotherapy as I have always had a morbid fascination with this 'procedure'. Having read through the text, it seems to be the answer to everything, here's just a few:

Liver sluggishness - I have that! LOL
Fatigue
Headaches
My best one - Difficult weight loss (that's me)
No actually this is my best one - Psycho-emotional symptoms such as lethargy, poor memory, PMS etc.

Now be honest has anyone out there had this 'procedure' and lived to tell the tale?

Lazy Sunday

 

I am trying out Picasa for the first time not too sure if I got all this right. I took these pics of Erin and her friend yesterday on their normal Sunday ride. Erin is on bay not the grey. The two of them ride to the Alphen trail in Constantia and are normally on horseback for a couple of hours. I just love all the scenery around them, not many places like this in the world, where you are still welcome to ride your horse on the greenbelts.

Seriously Cute

My daughter that is! Occasionally she comes up with some crackers. She has gone away for the weekend with a friend and the friends Grandfather on a camping trip with the church they belong to. This is the funny part, we got into the car yesterday to drop her at said friend and I drove off slowly asking her whether she had packed this and that, you know how it goes, toiletries, sleeping bag, pillow, sun protection and I got to swimming costume and I said did you pack your full cozzie or your bikini and she said "the full costume obviously I cant take a bikini its a CHURCH camp". We have already had a couple of calls to say that she is not that happy so we are about to leave to collect her 150km away!

Took the dogs for a magnificent walk up Boyes Drive this morning from the Lakeside side to Kalk Bay for all those Capies that know what I am talking about. It is such a beautiful walk, mountain one side and sea the other, it doesn't get much better than that. I passed my bil and sil 's house which brought back memories of the days when my sil and I walked regularly together, and if you are reading sil, nothing has changed, 2 cars had been broken into on Boyes drive whilst the owners were hiking up the mountain. Damn this crime situation, we walk past people that are clearly distressed out of their minds and it seems so normal, just walk on, police were not even there just the so called 'mountain security men' that watch the cars from the mountain side.

I am still on holiday

That's right, my DH said to me last night when I sat down with a glass of wine "I thought you were not drinking Monday to Thursday" to which I replied . ..... I am still on holiday. I even took myself off to see a movie yesterday, dropped Erin and a friend off to see Twilight, I couldn't muster up the interest to watch it myself so I went 'downstairs' to the serious Nouveau cinema and caught the only movie starting at the same time. The Christmas Cottage, not particular good, a sort of rip of As it is in Heaven, without the sub-titles and better known actors. You can give it a miss, I enjoyed the popcorn more. I was the only person in the cinema until 2 seconds before the movie started and then I was joined by 2 other women. Damn, I so wanted to sit there all by myself, so funny.

Having read the comments on my Meme post, I cant wait to read everyone elses, hopeful they are more positive than mine. On that note, I am flawed, seriously flawed, I call it like it is and in some instances, tone it down a little. I don't always see the glass half full. I do admire those of you that do continually see it half full, you are at least an inspiration to us all.

Today I am going to attempt to put the house straight after the carpet re-haul, I think my house smells a whole lot better, I have even told the dogs they can only sleep in their beds and not on the carpets, did they listen, we will have to see, it worked last night.

New Year Meme 2009

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Went to work in another country.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for this year?
No. Don't be stupid. I will try again though, promise.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No. But my God-child is due any day.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, but my dog Blue died in August very close to my birthday.
5. What countries did you visit?
England.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Patience, wisdom, financial security and a job.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Nothing springs to mind.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing 3 kilos.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting my children to achieve better marks at school.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Don't know if I could call it the best thing, but Erin's new riding hat had particular significance and her appreciation very rewarding.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I always feel incredible lucky to have such supportive and fabulous friends. I am often humbled by there tenacity.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My husbands.
14. Where did most of your money go?
I earn very little and when I do it just seems to get absorbed.
15. What did you get really, really excited about?
When I rented my house out .
A pair of pants that I bought that I feel makes me look a size smaller - yippee.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a happier or sadder? b thinner or fatter? c richer or poorer?
a. Sadder (unfortunately)
b. Thinner
c. Poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Listening, and studying.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Yelling, arguing, demanding, eating.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Quietly, with my Mum and partner and my nephew and his girlfriend.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
With every puppy I saw.
22. What was your favourite TV programme?
Wallander - BBC, So you think you can dance?
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
24. What was the best book you read?
Land of the splendid suns.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Probably old hat to everyone else - The Fallout Boys.
26. What did you want and get?
Sometime with a friend in Johannesburg.
27. What did you want and not get?
A job.
28. What was your favourite film of this year?
Bella, I thought the guy in it was serious eye candy.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
46 omg! I went to college, lunch on my own and then out to dinner at Tanyas house for my favourite food.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My kids/teens being happy to be photographed.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
The same as 2007 - if it covers up the sins its fine.
32. What kept you sane?
My friends.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I need my hormones checked, I dont fancy anyone and vice versa.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The American election.
35. Who did you miss?
My mum and my son Devin in Johannesburg, I dont get to spend nearly enough time with them.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Mary from Malawi - loved her and Julie a very close 2nd.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Money means very little when you cant be with the ones you love.

Reality Check

Having spent the last month in the UK and then 5 days in the SA countryside I am finding suburbia a little stifling. I was able to walk out of the door without concern and walk wherever I wanted. I just don't feel comfortable doing that here in Tokai. I took the dogs out this morning, albeit rather late - 9.30am and felt completely isolated, the only people I encountered were gardeners. The further I walked the more unsafe I felt. I ended up at the forest (my intended destination) and realised it was too deserted to stay in so left with 2 grumpy dogs. I then took a different route home and dodged cars and taxis home. Say what you like, SA is not the place for a walk. Like it or not, if I walked up to my local P & P with the dogs, past the prison entrance I would be seen as a nutter or maverick cos nobody else does it. I really hate putting the dogs in the car and driving them to a spot - for a walk.



My house has been turned upside down, we had new carpets fitted yesterday, the house looks way better but I have to get rid of stuff. Anyone need some scrapbooking paper? Its hard to believe that we have so much stuff lurking on the floor! I know, sounds bizarre but its true. Everything had to be moved obviously so my 'office/study/retreat' is now distributed all over the house. With the temperatue as it is I cant find the energy to put it all back. I could of course use the energy that I used on my walk this morning but the dogs are not very good at putting stuff away. Hope I get my mojo back soon.