Man down

So, for the better part of this week, I have been ill. I managed to catch the cold that Bean had and must say, did not feel very well at all.

Which was not the best time for being ill as I had many muffins to bake (I'm selling at a market tonight and tomorrow), I have an exam to study for (Pilate's exam on the 8Th December) and Bean to look after amidst all of that. Cant say it was a very fun time.

But, all is looking up, I am feeling tons better, I no longer have the feeling of an expanding and heavy head, and bar for a leaky nose and a little bit of deafness, I do believe I am on the mend.

Just wanted to let you all know that I may be a little silent for a while, the need to get some information into my head for this exam takes precedence on arbitrary ramblings!

I hope you all have a brilliant Friday and a fantastic weekend!

Together

There's something about Christmas, which makes me feel all tingly inside.

The joyful songs (yes, I love Christmas carols) and Boney M reminds me of many Christmases past.
The gathering of family (we all live scattered and this is one time that most of us get together, or at least try to!) This year though, my sister isn't coming to Cape Town which feels a bit odd. We are hoping to go up to the farm instead
The giving of gifts ( I am a huge fan of giving gifts, I love trying to find the perfect present, and of course, I do love receiving gifts too)
The sitting down and eating together (This is something which I really love, when we all sit down at a table and eat together, talk and love and share and enjoy each other)
Decorating of the tree (The angel must go on top!)

I know that this time can be extremely stressful, especially for most of us, as we have extended families or families we don't get on with or don't have families to celebrate with. But I think even if that is the case, it is a time to be thankful for the year gone by, for the moments of joy and sadness, for being blessed in whatever small or large way, because we are all blessed. Incredibly blessed and its the realising and giving thanks for that we need to remember at this time. Amongst the shopping and the Christmas parties and and and.

This photo was taken while I was on holiday, our final day there and I think it captures what I am trying to say perfectly:-)

Chocolate discovery

This morning I trundled off to Pick n Pay to purchase milk for Bean.

Milk in hand, I decided to peruse the chocolate shelf, after having a rather restless and semi sleepless night with very bizarre dreams, I was in need of a sugary pick me up. At 8.30 in the morning no less...

So, I was debating buying a slab of Lindt (they have the most awesome flavours at the moment) but was put off by the price bracket and considering I had limited funds on me (I was only supposed to be buying milk) it wasn't the most logical choice.

Then out of the corner of my eye, I spied Beacon slabs winking at me (normally I am a chocolate snob and only 'do' the real stuff) but the wrappers looked so sparkly I had to investigate further.
There were a couple of new flavours, and one of them was a cappuccino flavour with biscuit but I couldn't quite bring myself to buy the Beacon (that is one brand of chocolate I'm not a complete fan of). Instead I carried on the perusal of the shelf.

Hidden behind some random display on the under eye level shelf I noticed a new Cadbury Slab - coconut and cashew, which sounded interesting and tasty, but wasn't quite what I was in the mood for, I needed sugary sugar chocolate! On the next shelf up, there it was, hidden behind the same random display. Cadbury caramelised pecan and fudge. Mmm hmm, that was it, I was smitten by the name. The thought of the pecans and fudge had me in a small state of chocolate bliss and I rapidly took one from its hiding place.

I payed for my purchases and before I was even out of the door, I had opened the shiny wrapper, with its crinkly noises as I broke off a square. Popped it into my by now salivating taste buds and revelled in the flavour that was fudge and chocolate. Truly decadent (especially at 8.30am) and enjoyed another 5 more squares before putting it away.

I then had a look on the Internet to see if I could find a picture of the wrapper for all other chocolate lovers out there and instead I found this article written all about the Cadbury flavours with a competition thrown in.

I thought it was quite interesting that South Africans are considered adventurous regarding trying new flavours!

So, if youre looking for a new chocolate to try out, this one is pretty damn tasty!

This ones for Simply-Mel!

I asked this question: Have you ever experienced a fleeting moment of pure unadulterated bliss?
and Simply-Mel replied with this: I am thinking most of us have but maybe not ready to *share*. ;-)

Wanna share yours?

so, like the title says, this ones for Simply-Mel...


I think you're right that most aren't ready to share but I will share mine. But, I do warn you that it may be rather cryptic.

I will attempt to share my blissful moment, but once you have read this, you may wonder what on earth I was on about...

It is a person related blissful moment and the person in question would most likely not have any idea that they were responsible for said moment (nor should they be).

I was driving home one day in the not to distant past, alone in the car as I was baby free that day and I was coming back from seeing someone who I rate quite highly on my 'people that I know' list. And for the entire drive home, I felt light and happy and free and full of bliss. It wasn't a sex related bliss, nor a spiritual related bliss, but more of an emotionally free related bliss. Mind you, I guess one could say that is a spiritual related bliss, or at least transcending the everyday and feeling within that moment, one with everything that was in that moment.(If that makes any sort of sense??)

Let me try to tell you more:
I had spent a short period of time with this person who managed to make me feel heard.
Who managed to make me feel as though the odd thoughts inside my head were completely normal as they had similar views.
Who managed to make me feel lighter and worthwhile.
Who brought a smile to my face just reliving those precious minutes.
I don't know how else to explain it but it was a fleeting moment of unadulterated bliss.

I don't see this person particularly regularly and I cant say that they know me on a very personal level, but yet, in some way, I feel as though they do. It is definitely a one sided affair (my side of course) as I am too afraid to tell said person how I feel, but subconsciously believe that they know. (Typical woman way of thinking is it not?!)

So, there you have it, my moment was a feeling brought on by someone else, fleeting and only mine.

Going AWOL

Bean and I are leaving in the morning to visit my sister. We will be away for a week, so you wont be hearing from me until I return.

Bean is very excited to be seeing Sayne(she doesn't say the sh) and cows! I have packed a little suitcase for the flight, full of things to do, stickers and crayons and food. I hope it keeps her entertained for the duration. The last time we were on an aeroplane was when we returned from the UK, which was in Feb this year. That was a long and exhausting flight, at least this one is a short trip in the day time. So, I am feeling fairly confident that all will go well.

The Man will be staying home alone, I'm sure that he will enjoy his quiet time and be quite refreshed on our return.

Me, well I am looking forward to seeing family, I haven't seen my brother in over a year (and in that space of time, hes gone and got a full time job, a girlfriend, a puppy and a flat!) I am so looking forward to spending some time with him and for Bean to 're meet' her uncle.(The last time she saw him was when she was 6 months). It will be good to speak to my sister in person as opposed to internetting and phoning. It will be good, to reconnect with family.

( I am also quite pleased to be giving my hands a break, they have been massaging at full speed these last few weeks and it will be good to rest them).

So, on that note, I bid you all a wonderful week, if you are interested in pledging a book for the Bookraiser, head on over to The Book Club Blog and leave a comment.

Until next week!

Grow a bookworm!

Good morning, oh fellow blogger's in blog land!

And what a glorious morning it is. Monday has dawned, the rain is still here, but I see a little brightness coming through the grey clouds. There is something about Mondays, the weekend is over, the week has begun again, taking us closer to some unknown destination and further away from yesterday. Isn't it lucky then, that we have the present always.

And talking about presents...

Over at The Book Club Blog, we are having a bookraiser. Please head on over there so see all about it, make a pledge and grow a bookworm. Your help would be so incredible.

As for other news, I have been up for hours already this morning, or so it feels, and I have just tried out one of my recipes from 'Deceptively Delicious' - choc chip cookies with chickpeas , and I have to say, they would make any 'Monday morning hater' get out of bed. They are yum
(Which reminds me I still have one batch in the oven...) and child friendly.

I am working today and then slowly getting ready for our little holiday, Bean and I are going up to visit my sister. Yippee, so we will be AWOL for a week from Thursday.

So, on this Monday morning, whether you have rain or shine, I hope you all have a most fabulous day.

Another Bean Post

We went to Kirstenbosh Gardens one day and on our way out, Bean befriended a granny (no body's granny that we knew..)

As you can see, her hands are clasped behind her back, and off she trots.

I love this photo of Bean, she seems to adopt this pose quite regularly!

Teddy bear cupcakes for Bean's friends birthday party this morning. (there are chocolate bears on some and tumbles on others, and the children loved the chocolate bears!)

Before heading out to said party, I love this photo. Bean kept kissing my necklace, and trying to get her to look at the camera was proving pretty much impossible and as you can see, much laughter was had by all.

The end of the party, balloon and party pack and tired child (from clinging limpet like to me for pretty much the entire time...)