Giraffes and things

Seats are for sitting on...

2009-05-12T17:25:00.005+02:00

It has come to that time in baby Giraffe's life where he needs to learn how to use the toilet.

I bought a potty for him quite a long time ago, and we put him on it every time he baths, but I think he will do better with a trainer toilet seat, because he sees me using the toilet all the time. (No more privacy in my life!)

So, today I went to Reggies to buy a seat and at the same time i got a little bathroom step for him, which he absolutely loves.

Anyway, I have baby G in the trolley and I'm scrutinising the 3 different seats that i can find. I hand one of them over to him to keep him occupied and turn to pack one back on the shelf.

When I turn back, to my horror and absolute embarrassment, he has managed to get the seat stuck on his head!!!

OH-MY-WORD! I start panicking, obviously, and start pulling, but he's already got his ear through to the other side. I am now red in the face from embarrassment and panic, and he is red in the face from pain! he starts crying a bit, but I must say, he was actually quite good through the whole thing and thankfully didn't cause a scene.

It wasn't on his head for long. I was about to call a shop assistant to help me, when i managed to yank it off. But my mind went to emergency room status, picturing us rushing off to hospital and having the seat cut off his head!!!

After the whole ordeal, I couldn't stop smiling and giggling about it. We went out to the car and baby G kept touching his head and smiling! so he thought it was quite funny too!

I just hope this doesn't give him ideas now with the one that I actually bought for him!

When we got home, he went running around the house with his new step, to every different room, trying to find new things to reach and climb onto! He is super-chuffed with his little blue step. He climbed on and off my bed about 20 times over and over! I think he is happy to have his boundaries stretched that little bit extra.

Your Cat Ate My Pet Fish!!!!

2009-04-09T10:27:00.004+02:00

Oh my word, the horror!

I am extremely embarassed.
My neighbour knocked on my door this morning. An acquaintance, rather than a friend. I mean, our kids have played together once or twice, but that's about it.

She seemed hesitant and asked, pointing to Merlot, if that's our only cat. I said "No, we have another one." and tried to explain what she looks like.
She wasn't sure if it was the cat she was talking about, so I showed her some photos on my computer.
YES, it was definitely Misha.
Apparently this Forward little feline has been jumping through the neighbours window in the evenings and helping herself to some attention.

My neighbour said that she has started closing the windows after one night finding water all over her floor from the fish tank.

Last night she forgot to close the window.

Misha ate her 4-year-old daughter's pet fish!
I wanted to die of embarassment. What on earth do you do in a situation like that?

Do I need to feed my cat a more fish-rich diet?
or is it because it's Easter?
Maybe she's Cat-tholic...

A couple of things that made me smile today...

2009-03-03T20:12:00.002+02:00

'Baby Giraffe' said a word very soon after the first time he heard it. Usually it takes a very long time to drum it into him, and even then, he only says the first syllable! Like Baa is meant to be 'Barney' and it's 'bath' too!

We went for an afternoon walk. 'Baby Giraffe' was in the pram, because I had planned to take him to the far away park, but when Merly started following us, I thought I'd cut the walk short. Merly went around the whole block with us, following like a dog! I was smiling all the way, and 'Baby Giraffe' was fascinated!

I think that's about all. The rest of the day was a bit of an irritation, because 'Baby G' is really pushing his luck with everything. He is throwing tantrums left right and centre.
I do feel that I've gotten a lot better with staying patient with him now, although he seems to push even further, like he wants me to lose it.
Anyway, I'm really hoping that this is a phase; a very short one!

Coffee...

2009-03-01T12:10:00.001+02:00

Doesn't that picture just make you imagine the delicious smell of coffee?

A Visit to The Vampires

2009-02-20T16:02:00.004+02:00

If you know me well enough, you'll know that I'm petrified of needles and injections.
It all started in standard 8 Biology class. I thought I would be the brave one and volunteer for the finger prick. You know, the one where you get to look at your blood under a microscope.

Needless to say, I never got to see my own blood, because I fainted straight away and woke up in the corridor. This was the first time I had ever fainted and it was such a terrible feeling that I think my fear of needles actually started with a fear of fainting. Later that year, I had to go for my German Measles injection. I worked myself up loads for this, went for the injection, went back to maths class and about 10 minutes later had a complete panic attack. I had to go back to where they were giving the injections, and they gave me this weird bitter stuff to calm me down.

So that just set in stone this blooming new fear of mine.

Since then I've never actually fainted, and I've actually gotten a lot better. But the not-so-fond memory is still there. When I was in labour giving birth to my first baby, I'm not sure if I was screaming more for the pain of the labour, or for the thought of the huge epidural needle.

Today I had to go for my 16 week blood tests. These vampires love a pregnant woman's blood. It must taste sweeter or something!
Anyway, so I'm sitting in the little room at the Pathcare, resting my arm on the elbow pedestal and I'm trying my utmost to concentrate on something other than the obvious.
The nurse ties the tourniquet and I feel the needle prick.
"It's OK, " I tell myself, "the worst is over."
She sticks the plaster tape over the hole and tells me to press.
She turns to her paperwork and immediately says, "Oh! There are tests on the other side too!"

I look at her in disbelief. Is she joking?

I swallow hard and ask bravely, "so we use the other arm this time, I suppose?"

She says, "Are you sure you don't want me to just use the same spot? I had such a good vein in that arm, I could have taken it all!"

OH MY WORD!Is she crazy?
So I left there a bit hot and sweaty, looking like a patched up pin cushion with both arms plastered. But I didn't faint!

I'm very proud of myself!

Throwing tiredness to the wind

2009-01-29T11:38:00.004+02:00

I am pregnant, yes, but I can't keep letting life pass me by like this.
I need to pick myself up and stop living in this cloud that I've been living in for the last 3 months.

Maybe I feel like this because I actually am starting to feel better, although it felt like the morning sickness would never end and my life would be over because I am so damn tired all the time.

I've also come to the realisation that I need to spend more QUALITY time with 'Baby Giraffe'.

The way I've been spending the days lately is with the attitude of : "Just ... more hours until I can go to sleep again." And although I am pregnant and I know I need to listen to my body, etc; I also know that it is not helping 'Baby Giraffe' much by spending time with him on a superficial level.

So, I have decided that I need to force myself to be more patient, and I need to get 'Baby Giraffe's' sleeping patterns sorted, once and for all. Seriously.

A better sleep for him means a better sleep for me. And ultimately a better day time for both of us.
This leads me to express, OH MY WORD, parenting is H-A-R-D!!!!

And something that I've been meaning to say for a long time:

"WELL DONE to all those hard-working stay-at-home moms out there!"

A few thoughts that I had today...

2009-01-23T18:29:00.005+02:00

Why was that farm labourer carrying a dead animal over his shoulders on the side of the road today? Was it to take home to eat or to bury? Was it a dog, or a goat?
Do I help my mom enough with general things?
When I was younger, I was a real horder. I'm so glad I've grown up and that today I could let go of: my candle making junk, my old school books and old letters from friends that say things like: best friends forever..., really old toys that have bug colonies growing in their hair and bad water damage.
What on earth am I going to wear to the J&B met on Saturday next week? I haven't shopped for fancy clothes in so long, and plus I'm at that stage in the pregnancy where I feel like I'm showing, but not quite enough to look like I'm showing. I JUST LOOK FAT!
Cup cakes make a cool birthday gift.
Can't wait for the Ollivello cooking demo tomorrow morning.
It feels good to have shaven legs. I think I really need to do it more often. 2 months of growth is not fun. It tickles like there are ants walking on my ankles.
Arnica gel stinks.
New hose pipes suck. how do you get rid of the kinks that stop the water?
Looking forward to tonight, for a good meal and a good sleep. 'Baby Giraffe' is sleeping at his granny and 'The One' and I are going out for dinner.
Why WAS that farm labourer carrying that dead animal???

The Last Noel (for now anyway)

2009-01-19T20:26:00.005+02:00

So, Christmas is finally over in our little home. The tree finally came down last night!

I know, I know, it's supposed to be all 'bad luck' and everything, and it's not because I was hanging on to Christmas. (Although I do LOVE it!) I've just been so tired lately, and also round about the time that 'Baby Giraffe' goes to sleep is round about the time that my 'morning sickness' kicks into action.

Lovely!

So anyway, I have been slowly taking a few baubles off every night for quite a few nights now, but I left the really high ones, because I'm pregnant and I'm not supposed to stretch. ( Excuses, excuses!)

One of the afternoons that I decided to try do a bit of de-decorating of the tree with 'Baby Giraffe' still awake, he managed to get hold of a couple of handfuls of tinsel. I took a lot away from him, but to stop him from a large tantrum, I left him with a couple of strands. Which he proceeded to eat.

The following day, he had a very Christmassy poo! it was all shiny!

I think that definitely marks the end of Christmas 2008! I think its a good sign! of things being flushed through, and it shows that even though there may be rough times, there is still a shiny end result!!!! (Hee hee!)

So, thanks to 'The One' for taking the remains of the tree down last night, because it was really starting to bother me.

And here's one last "Goodbye, Christmas"...

xxxxxx

Just a bit of news

2009-01-06T08:48:00.003+02:00

Yes, I know, it's been a while - sorry!

I took a bit of a break over the festive season.
Anyway, the news is...

Had a really good Christmas, New Year and 'Husband's birthday braai'.
Also, most of you will already know that I am 10 weeks pregnant.
I have been very sick with morning sickness, except, allday sickness is more like it.
IT SUX!

I find it really hard to get on with every day life when I feel like this.
It is really debilitating. I feel like I need to just lie down and not be disturbed until this part of the pregnancy is over.
What were they thinking ('The Gods') when they designed this crap? I mean really now! As if carrying this ever growing being inside your belly for 9 months isn't enough to get your head around, they have to go and throw that in the mix too.

Anyway, enough complaining.

I am very happy to be having another little one. This one is due 5 days before 'Baby Giraffe's' 2nd birthday. Hectic!

Well, I cant say that I will be writing more often, but I will try to write a longer post next time!

An unfinished story

2008-12-10T22:35:00.006+02:00

I once started writing a book, or short story if you want to call it that.

I never finished it, and it was written in the present tense, and too difficult to change.

This was about 5 years ago, so a lot has changed since then, but I thought I would post it, cos I suppose it's good for a laugh. (Not sure if non-cat lovers will enjoy...) So here goes...

Okay, so I’m a cat person…
Technically, I only own one cat. His name is Merlot (aka: Merly, or Merlycat). He is one year old, and honestly, the most adorable cat I have ever owned! (And I’ve owned plenty!)

A cute Merlycat

Now, when I say “technically”, there are a few others that, due to Merly’s friendly nature, have taken it upon themselves to make my home their second home. (I don’t think their owners ever see them, apart from at dinner time!)

Misha with Merly

Bubba

I’ve actually given up on chasing them out, because it really doesn’t work, especially now that winter is almost upon us. 'The One' and I usually wake up in the morning and find Misha cuddled up on Merly’s woolly blanket, sucking the corner of a throw pillow. I think Merly has been spreading the word that he gets fed with special ‘Whiskas wet food pouches’.
In keeping with Merlot’s upbringing, I feed him the ‘Country menus in gravy’ variety.
You see, Merlot is no ordinary housecat. He was born on a wine farm, to a feral father and a not so feral mother. As this was my place of work at the time, I naturally took it upon myself to tame him and his two sisters, in order to ready them for home life. My plan was to try to give them away through a rescue organisation. As this organisation could not house the kittens, I had to drop them off in the morning, and in the event of them not being homed, I would have to pick them up in the afternoon again.
This went on for three Saturdays. I was getting emotionally exhausted every weekend with the thought of having to give up this adorable trio. After one kitten was homed through the rescue organisation, I convinced one of my colleagues to take Merlot’s other sister, Babyface.
She was the tamest of the bunch.

Babyface

Merly and Babyface Play fighting

The kitten that went to the Rescue Organisation

Merly's Mother

Strange as it seems now, Merlot was the wildest of the bunch. 'The One' and I decided that we could not take Merlot home, as we were living with my mom at the time. Being hereditary, my mom is also a cat person, so of course she has two beautiful, but grumpy old cats of her own. They did not take it well when I brought Merlot home on a test run.
We ended up having to keep him locked in our room all night long. This was not good, as he developed an attraction to the movement of 'The One’s' feet. We tried this for a few nights, with no luck. He was not used to being indoors.
I could not bear to give him away, so we kept him at the restaurant on the farm, where I was the head chef.

Luckily he turned out to be quite a lazy kitten, sleeping next to the plate warmer on an old cardigan of mine, right at my feet everyday. Whenever the hygiene inspector came round, I would slowly drag him under the table with my foot.

Play fighting on a sack of potatoes

Well, I suppose you could say this is a real-life ‘Garfield’ story!
He stayed in the kitchen for most of his young life.
Unfortunately he had to be put outside at night as we had a very sensitive alarm system in place. Some mornings in winter, I would arrive at work and he would come running to me, drenched from the rain. I would dry him with paper towel and give him warm watered down milk, before he lay down to sleep next to his plate warmer.

He eventually started to venture out into the front section of the restaurant, searching for new warm spots to sleep. The winemaker was not too fond of him, as Merly seemed to think that the decorative stones under the wine barrels were his endless supply of kitty litter.

The guests at the restaurant generally enjoyed having Merlot around. The kids seemed delighted to run after him, although I don’t think he was delighted!
He started getting too adventurous for his own liking, one night, he ran out onto a floor full of dancing aunties at a wedding. After that, he pretty much calmed down, taking his early afternoon nap on the restaurant bench in the sun and to the front of house manager’s dismay, enjoying ripping up the expensive curtains every once in a while.

Right that's it! Sorry, I know it's cut short, I did say, "started to write..." Anyway, just thought I'd post it. I still enjoy reading it, cos it reminds me of how sweet Merly really is, and how much of a country bumkin he is!

What's been happening?

2008-12-05T09:02:00.003+02:00

Sorry for not writing in so long, there has been a lot going on, involving, my birthday, Christmas biscuits and a very hectic birthday cake for a friend's daughter's birthday.

So, I was really spoilt for my birthday on Wednesday.
We went for breakfast in the morning to this posh new cafe in Cobble Walk called Silverspoon.
The food was good.
We all came home and had a well deserved nap!

After that, we went to the Aquarium to check out the frogs.
Baby Giraffe enjoyed himself so much and I think 'The One' enjoyed it even more.

We dropped Baby Giraffe off at his grandparents and 'The One' took me out for dinner at a surprise location!

We went to Cassia Restaurant at Nitida Wine Farm. It was really good. and the setting was beautiful.
I enjoyed the food very much, and I find that they stick to the style of food that they've chosen for their restaurant. I find in so many restaurants these days, they chop and change through styles and cuisines so much that you can't decide if they're an Italian restaurant or an Asian restaurant; a Fine Dining or a Rustic restaurant.

Well, I really take my toque off to people who can get it right.

Another restaurant that I really like, it may even be my favourite at the moment, is Avocado in Oxford Street. Although they do use many different cuisines, they pull Fusion Cooking off quite well and they stick to it.

Anyway, I had a wonderful birthday, and got some very cool presents! Thanks to everyone who made my day so amazing!

Funny Chameleon...

2008-11-27T22:43:00.003+02:00

Please go and watch this! I actually snorted from laughing so hard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l94S1yDJEE&NR=1

How do you get rid of bitterness?

2008-11-24T23:00:00.004+02:00

I was just thinking about how much time in my life I've spent at the city council building. It's quite strange actually, that no matter how many new faces i see when I visit my mom at work, I feel at home, a kind of nostalgia. Even though my mom is working in a completely different building than when I was young, it still smells the same, with the same furniture and it has the same atmosphere.
Council folk; they all have the same sense of humour, the same jovial outlook on life. And there's always that guy who whistles all the time!

My mom and dad have both worked at the council for most of my life and I suppose most of theirs.

When I was about 10, I would travel in to town with my dad during the school holidays (when it was his turn) and spend the whole day at work with him. I would pop down to the 10th floor every now and then to visit my mom and on my way back, I would pick up a cup of vending-machine-coffee. I would sit at the desk of my dad's office computer and draw on Windows Paint Shop and play Solitaire and try to figure out Minesweeper.

My dad thought that I was so clever, because I knew more about computers than he did. I could even change the desktop colours!
When I think of those times I think of my dad quite fondly, and there are many times like those.
But I can't help but remember the bad parts. Not that he was an abuser in any way or anything drastic like that, I mean, I've had a generally good life. But I just can't seem to get the bitter taste out of my mouth.
I know it's good to forgive AND forget, but I struggle with the latter.

All the missed birthdays; the reluctant asking for money for school fees, clothes and books; the awkward phase of him searching for a new wife; the constant breaking down of my love for my mom; all-that-drinking.
- it all adds up to one big fat lump of confusion for a 10 year old girl.

I forgot to call him on his birthday the other day (the 8th of November). I remembered the next day, but still didn't call.
I still haven't called.

Am I subconsciously punishing him for all the things he's done?
Or am I just as bad as he is?

It can drive you crazy...

2008-11-16T07:40:00.005+02:00

Ok, so let's just get it out there, I got my first speeding fine.

I have been driving for 9 years now (minus the 2 and a half years spent in England).

I was quite excited when i heard that i had received my first fine, i was wondering when this day would come!

I'm not exactly happy that it happened, but somehow i feel like i belong now! to the group of people who get speeding fines!

I was doing 82 in a 60 zone. R300.00 later...

was it really worth it? :(

Anyway, it led me to think of the experience of getting my driver's licence.

I went all the way to the cosy little town of Picketberg to do my test. My driving instructor drove me there. I got into the car with the traffic cop, took my shoes off and got myself ready. I was extremely nervous.

The first thing the Afrikaans cop said to me was, "If you lift that skirt a little higher, you don't need to do the test." (READ in a hectic Afrikaans accent)

I didn't know what to say, I just smiled a nervous smile.

I did the test, and I think i cut the car out once, so I was absolutely sure that i had failed.

The thought of having come all this way and sitting next to a pervert for that wasted time devastated me.

I sat in the office while the cop marked my test.

I started to cry before he told me that I had passed.

I cried almost all the way home.

What a crappy experience. I mean, seriously I was wearing a 3 quarter skirt because i knew it would be hot. Does this guy really have such a sorry life that he has to ask for 'it' while doing driver's tests?

Scary!

2008-11-13T15:52:00.003+02:00

In this wet weather, my lovely cats find it necessary to bring in the creatures that come out in the rain - FROGS.

They tend to bring them in the dead of night when everyone is fast asleep, and even the clocks are silent.

I don't know if anyone has ever heard the sound of a distressed frog, but it will give you shivers down your spine, even in broad daylight.

Last night, the distressed frog entered my dreams and turned them into nightmares.

Its the kind of sound that the Ring Wraith make in Lord of the Rings. You know, the really high pitched shrill. Like a banshee!

I have yet to capture this sound on video, but when i do, i will post it on my blog.

It is just a little difficult to bring myself to whip out my camera in the middle of the night after being woken by a nightmare of the screeching spirit of a little girl, who clawed my hand.

I still get shivers thinking about it...

The Giraffe Cake

2008-11-10T20:50:00.008+02:00

This is the cake that one of my best friends and I made for Baby Giraffe's first birthday.

Thanks Jessica!

Supermarket irritants

2008-11-10T19:14:00.008+02:00

People who find it necessary to pinch my baby's cheeks at the supermarket really need to get a clue.

And why do you want to pull his dummy out when clearly it is there to keep him calm and quiet while paying for my groceries.

The checkout ladies do it every time, without fail. and no matter how strongly his poor little lips are pursed around his sacred dummy, they still find it necessary to yank it out.

WHY????

And of course, I have to just stand by and smile sweetly, as I imagine all the leaking detergents and the poorly packaged fish that they have been handling for the entire day, all being smeared onto my baby's face.

I know that it can be washed off, but gross man!

So if you are reading this, and ever have the urge to touch a complete stranger's baby, please think again.

PS: This obviously doesn't apply to friends and family, so if you know me and my son, feel free to pinch away!

The Honeymoon Giraffe

2008-11-09T20:06:00.008+02:00

There is this situation that I was reminded of again today, and everytime I think of it, I cry a little bit inside my heart.

My husband (we will give him the Ominous name of ‘The One’) and I have been married for 2 years on Tuesday. We were together for 2 months short of 9 years before we got married. There has always been this long running ‘thing’ that we have, where he will always try to buy me something to do with a giraffe for my birthday. (I’ve always had a fascination for those beautiful creatures.)
One year he got me a glycerine soap bar with a small plastic giraffe inside it. Another year it was a giraffe card, a giraffe teddy bear, a pair of giraffe pyjamas – so the list goes on.
On my hen night, we played this game where my bride’s maids asked me questions about my relationship with my husband-to-be that they had previously asked him, to see how well i knew him. If I got a question wrong, they made me sing a karaoke song. (Since you’ve been gone!)
Anyway, the question came up of, “What has ‘The One’ bought you every year for your birthday?”
Naturally I knew the answer. And so it became well known throughout our group of friends.It was always a topic of conversation over the wedding festivities.
Needless to say, the theme of our honeymoon-baby’s room and clothes when he was born was wild animals, with Mr Giraffe taking the key role.

So the bad situation comes in where we went on honeymoon first to Kwa Madwala Game Reserve, where we met Mr Giraffe in person.

"Hellooo!"

And then to Sun City.On our way back from Sun city to the airport, we stopped at a huge African Curio market, where we bought our very own honeymoon large wooden giraffe.

It was beautiful.

Handpicked from many. We were satisfied.This was the best looking giraffe there.
He would stand in our lounge forever, proud and tall, reminding us of how wonderful and romantic our honeymoon was.

We got to the airport and were told that we were not allowed to take our giraffe on as hand luggage. (Just for the off chance that someone might suffer ‘death-by-giraffe’, and that was of course the reason why we bought it.)
I still asked the check in lady, “Are you sure this will be safe, it is very special and has a very high sentimental value?”
- Famous Last Words...
Arriving back in Cape Town, after a fun but tiring adventure, we went to the baggage claim belt and waited.

...and waited...
...and waited...
NO GIRAFFE!
I FELT SICK.

We went to speak to the B.A. helpdesk, “we will phone you within 36 hours if we find it.”

Home we went, minus one giraffe.They phoned later. They had found a giraffe, smaller than ours and in a black wrapping.

But ours was in a clear bubble wrapping, DAMN IT!

Aaaaah, I will never forget that.I run it through my head often.
“I wish we had taken it on as hand luggage.”
“I wish they had just found it.”

I know that it’s just a wooden giraffe, just an inanimate object, just material goods.When we leave this earth one day, we won’t need it, we won’t be able to take it with to the other side.
But it’s like the photo shop losing 2 whole spools of film from your Welsh horse riding trip, except worse...

IT WAS OUR HONEYMOON GIRAFFE!!!