Nerny nerny ner ner we‘ve got sunshine! Yes, after nearly 2 weeks of solid rain summer seems to have arrived. The temperature jumped nearly 10 degrees over night (over 30ºC today), unfortunately the humidity has also soared. However, we are not going to complain that much since we have a pool and the ocean on our doorstep!
Owing to the under-attendance at the party last week and my baking blitz our pre-Christmas diet now consists mainly of healthy dinners surrounded by a large intake of birthday cakes, oat bakes and cup cakes – although we did offload some of the oat bakes and remaining Rocky Road on Guy’s work colleagues last Thursday.
Also last Thursday Rhiannon had another busy day. Early in the afternoon was the ballet group show (annoyingly her new school does not have a ballet class so we are looking around for a new one) and in the evening was the “Bring and Braai” (braai being the South African term for a barbecue) Grade R Christmas / Leaving Concert. It was a traditional English barbecue event, since the rain decided to start just as the coals got to the right temperature for cooking over!
The concert was one of those where you have to go “Aaaaah” several times – it consisted of a variety of shepherds, angels, kings (only 2 for some reason, the one on the scooter didn’t make it), a Mary, Joseph and the obligatory baby doll Jesus singing a range of carols and Christmas songs with what sounded like a 70s “Carols go Pop” backing track. There were no speaking parts per se but Rhiannon did get a starring role as the Angel Gabriel, opening her arms wide next to Mary and almost concussing one of the 2 Kings.
The rainbow of angels was quite entertaining, consisting as they did of red, yellow, pink, green, purple, orange and blue angels – proper education rightfully took second place to a rainbow song that allows for better rhyming! Yes Danielle that silly rainbow song I think I sang in virtually every pantomime with Mrs B.
The Grade R all got gifts at the end, consisting of pencil cases with the usual stationery range (Rhiannon seems to have collected enough in recent weeks to open up a branch of WHSmith) and T-Shirts with the names of everyone in the class printed on them – the names were written on the template by the children, Rhiannon’s name taking up quite a small space compared to others on the basis that she felt she had a long name so didn’t want to take up too much room. The sentiment is fine but based on some of the other efforts she could have been a bit more expansive.
Phoebe made the most of the “jungle gym” equipment before and after the concert. We warned the headmistress how much of a handful Phoebe would be and she told us that most parents made the same observation to her about their second children! We are hopeful that we can channel Boo’s energy into gymnastics and “play ball” in the new year. One of the other mums has promised me a number for Durban North Gymnastics Club – Nana Bow can vet it next time she is over!
Guy has somehow managed to injure himself without trying. Sometime during Thursday (definitely the most eventful day out of the last 4 or 5) he developed a pain in his hip and since that evening is now having muscle spasms and almost continuous pain from his right knee up round his thigh. After x-rays today it looks like it is not sciatica as the doctor thought on Saturday, but whilst good news it does mean the doctor isn’t sure what is causing it but has prescribed some one a day anti-inflammatories that would probably work on an elephant!
Over the weekend we finally started on the Christmas cards we were going to send last weekend! A shortage of decent printer paper has halted proceedings temporarily but we aim to get them posted Wednesday so they should just get to the UK ahead of the Scudder females who arrive back in 10 days on Thursday 17th December…not that we are counting down or anything!
The most excitement we had today was the air conditioning being serviced at long last (was due in August). Still, only just getting the hot weather for real so not too much of a problem…Did we mention it was hot and sunny here?!
December 7, 2009 at 5:32 pm |
What is the weather like out there, did you say?
Glad to hear you are finding a gym for Phoebe.
Will just be ready in time for you visit, it seems to be getting busy now.
Can’t find Barbie outfits even tried on line.
Have purchased booster seat for Rhiannon.
Great that you are communicating agian.