Latest from a Far from Well Family

The weather after the snowfall was really miserable for the rest of the week. Conditions were icy and very windy making it extremely unpleasant to be outside with all the dust and pollen. By the following Monday conditions were slightly improved with the temperature getting up to 23. When Diane and I fetched the boys from school Travis was not well and had a temperature. Tuesday was really miserable and overcast again and we kept the boys at home as they both had upset stomachs and Travis was also coughing badly. We took them to the Dr. who gave medicine for the stomachs and for Travis whose asthma was bad again. The rest of the day was spent keeping them amused and dosing them up. Wednesday they were home again and Diane and I were kept very busy looking after them – dirty nappy after dirty nappy is not a pleasant task at all. Diane spent ages cutting out and sticking pictures with Travis while I was busy with Josh. Wednesday night Ali was very ill and Hubby took her to the hospital where she was admitted. Medication she had been given shouldn’t have been given and had destroyed her appetite. When admitted she was anorexic and her liver and kidneys were on the point of packing up. Thursday the boys were well enough to go back to school and Diane and I tried to clear all that had been left since Monday. By now Ali couldn’t keep any food down and had been put on a drip. After collecting the boys I fed them and bathed them ready for bed. Josh went down and Travis stayed with Hubby while Diane and I went through to visit Ali who was very ill still. When we got back we were exhausted and were soon in bed. Friday Ali was still not able to keep food down and she was given a sonar scan. The results they gave on Saturday were that she had a bowel infection which they were now treating. The Dr had seen something he was not happy with though and said she would have a scope on the Sunday. After Hubby got back from the hospital we all went to a Fun Day at Malonjeni - a guest farm not too far from us. There was a display by the fire department which Travis thoroughly enjoyed. After having some lunch Josh was not feeling too well with a runny nose so we left for home.

Hubby went back to the hospital while we stayed with the boys. Sunday Josh had a temperature and was very miserable. Hubby went through to be with Ali for her scope. She was kept waiting until early afternoon before being told it would only happen on Monday. Hubby came home and went back later with Travis as Ali was missing the boys. Josh was too sick to go. We had another early night after exhausting ourselves with sick boys. Luckily by Monday Josh was a lot better though he still had a runny nose and both their stomachs were finally back to normal. Thank goodness Travis is past the nappy stage. Monday Hubby went in early to be with Ali before she had her scope. Eventually at three in the afternoon - after no food or drink for the entire time – she was taken through. When she came out Hubby was informed that her appendix had been removed as they had been on the point of bursting and they had taken a sample for a biopsy. Poor Ali! The first thing that happened when she came round was she started vomiting again and she had been so looking forward to having a cheddermelt steak. Diane and I went through to see her that night after putting Josh to bed and leaving Travis with Hubby. The poor girl was still vomiting and unable to eat. She really looked terrible. Diane and I spent time with her before leaving and stopping at Spur for a snack and coffee. We were home just before nine where I was horrified to find Travis still awake. After bathing I took him to bed where he soon fell asleep. On Tuesday Alison was finally diagnosed with Crohns Disease and given a special diet to follow. Diane and I finished statements on Tuesday and Wednesday went in to Alberton where we visited Ali again. She was still on a drip but looking a lot better now that she was eating again. The weather luckily was warming up again. The winter bedding was off and the summer back on. Thursday was Spring Day at the nursery school and we were able to dress the boys up in bright shirts and shorts. Ali came home lunch time and insisted on going shopping to get a present ready for Travis’s birthday. She overdid things and fell quite ill by the time we got home after collecting the boys who were absolutely thrilled to see her. By now I was starting to feel clogged up – little ones don’t know not to cough in your face when you are dealing with them. Ali was not able to pick the boys up so I was still doing most things for them though she did feed Josh. Friday Travis was up very early in anticipation of his birthday and thrilled with his presents. We went through to the school with cake and sweets for his class about nine. Saturday I woke up with my face swollen and a tight chest and spent most of the day coughing. Luckily friends of Ali came to visit and helped her with the boys as I didn’t want to infect them. Saturday night was terrible as every time I moved in bed I had a coughing fit. Sunday I woke up with my face very swollen right down into my neck. I stayed in bed trying to feel better and dosed myself up. Diane was also feeling quite ill with sinus. Hubby helped look after the boys for the day. Sunday night was another night spent trying not to move and bring on a coughing fit. Monday Diane and I took Ali to Alberton with Josh who was having an impression of his feet done to bronze. We stayed with Josh while Hubby took Ali to get her staples out. Once we were finished we stopped at the chemist to get medicine for Diane and I before returning home. The rest of the week was spent dosing up – which didn’t help – and helping Ali with the boys. Both of us were too sick to do anything. I have never had sinus this bad and never for so long. On Thursday Diane and I went to a Bodytalk Practitioner who gave us herbal medication after treating us. It is only today - Sunday - that I am finally starting to feel better. The sharp pain of infection in my head is finally gone and I have At Last stopped coughing so much. Diane is also felling a lot better.
Well that is all from the Poor Sick Family. Now that we are feeling more normal and the weather is so good we can get back to our usual daily lives.

Some Good Times Again

After all the time Diane and I have spent working and seeing to the boys we decided that it was time for some ME TIME so last week Sunday we took ourselves off to Eastgate. After buying our tickets for ‘Jock of the Bushveld` we went to Cafelicious for a light lunch. As we were both still having sinus problems we decided to bombard ourselves with chillies and go for the Arabiatta Pasta starting with cappuccinos. The food was delicious and definitely had a kick with our mouths and sinuses on fire by the time we were finished. We also enjoyed our movie and were pleased we had decided to have our outing. The afternoon was rounded off with wandering around the shops before heading home with readymade Ciabatta rolls for supper.















Ali was off on the Monday so we had a relatively easy going day and Tuesday was Women’s Day which we spent chilling at home. The weather was really good and we spent a lot of time outside enjoying the sun. The rest of the week the weather stayed lovely and by lunchtime I was outside without a jersey sitting under the trees. Diane and I had our lunch outside and chilled with our glass of wine early enjoying the warmth for the remainder of the week. The trees were full of new growth and all was on track for spring.
Saturday Diane and I went into Alberton where we spent time wandering around the shops and doing a big shop. We stopped for a light lunch of baked potato – mine with bacon and Diane’s with mushroom - after which we returned home to spend the afternoon in the garden with the boys. Sunday Hubby’s friend came over for a visit and we sat chilling under the trees enjoying the good weather. After lunch the weather changed for the worse. Clouds blew over and the wind was really cold. Hubby’s friend left about three and we spent the rest of the afternoon reading and watching TV.
Monday it was still overcast but it wasn’t too bad temperature wise but all that changed mid-morning. The clouds got really dark and the wind was gusting through the trees. When thunder started rumbling and lightening flashed we switched the computer off. No sooner had we done that then it started raining and hailing. My bakkie was parked outside so I quickly grabbed an umbrella and ran out to move it under cover. By now the hail was really pelting down and I was worried the bakkie would get damaged. Luckily the hail didn’t last too long and even though the ground had a covering of ice it soon melted with the rain which didn’t stop for about half an hour. It was about an hour after that when we noticed it was snowing. The snow lasted about an hour and everywhere had a covering of snow. Diane and I had a great time running from window to window taking pics of the garden with it’s coat of snow. It really was a winter wonderland outside. Unfortunately it rained again and didn’t stop until all the snow was melted. By late afternoon the weather was freezing with a strong wind howling through the trees. The cold wet ground really brought the temperature down with the maximum for the day being only seven. We had an early supper and sat hugging heaters for the rest of the evening.

Latest Happenings

Well I was rather optimistic is saying at least we have passed the halfway mark for winter - 21st June – as we have had really cold and miserable weather for the last few weeks. Our temperature here on the plot only reached a maximum of seven at the worst of the last cold spell. Sooo Cold!! Not the weather for us sissies who don’t like the cold. The wind has also been howling around the house on most days which makes a lot of dust and pollen in the air as some of the trees are full of yellow blossoms. Bad sinus infections are the order of the day at the moment. We have also had a veld fire sweep through the area and across the top of the plot. The thick choking smoke started our sinus problems and the windy days have aggravated things. I REALLY mean it when I say ‘ Roll on Summer”.
Diane and I have still been keeping busy with her new venture but the bad situation with the strikes for the last few weeks have really affected the way things are going. The Steel and Engineering strike affected the workshop and Hubby and his workers had to be careful not to attract attention while still working. On the Friday of the first week of the strike I phoned Hubby and was horrified when he told me he couldn’t speak as the strikers were outside in the street and he needed to keep an eye on things. The stories from friends in the industry we had heard were shocking to hear as the violence and intimidation was out of hand in some areas. I spent the next hour absolutely terrified as I didn’t hear from Hubby and didn’t know what was happening there and of course imagined the worst as Hubby can be rather short-tempered sometimes. I was too scared to phone in case the strikers and Hubby were talking and a phone call caused tempers to flare. After imagining the worst case scenario I couldn’t wait any longer and phoned Hubby. Imagine my relief to hear that the strikers had moved on as the hammer had been switched off and the workers had hidden, in terror, at the bottom of the workshop so they had obviously thought the workers had joined the strike. The workers stayed hidden for the rest of the morning as the strikers patrolled the area to make sure no one was working. Hubby couldn’t even lock the gate as places that had locked the workers and office staff inside were targeted with violence and intimidation. It was a very scary time and we were all relieved when the strike was over – this was the first time ever that a strike in the industry has affected us. The petroleum industry strike was also a bad time as so many garages ran out of petrol – even the local one in our area had none for a couple of days – but luckily we had filled up before hand and kept topping up while petrol was available. The effect of all this on the economy remains to be seen!
All has not been doom and gloom though as we did have a sister’s get-together for Val’s birthday and had a great time relaxing and catching up over breakfast out at a local restaurant near where Val lives.
The boys are doing well and have settled well into their new school. Josh is now thirteen months old and running around everywhere getting into mischief and Travis is a real chatter-box who comments on everything. His favourite word at the moment is “WHY”. I love them to bits but must say I really do find them exhausting and am really pleased when Ali gets home to take over with them. At least even though it has been so cold they have not needed to go to the DR and are keeping fairly healthy with just runny noses – I cannot go without stocking up on tissues. Travis is forever telling me “
My nose is running”. Lovely time of the year this! As I said “Roll on Summer”.
Well that’s all for now. Hopefully with the onset of warmer weather Diane and I can start hiking again as I really miss walking especially after all the walking we did while on holiday.

Updating our lives

Life has been rather hectic and very cold for the last month. Ali and the boys have moved back to the cottage and clearing it out to move her things in has taken time. Also several times we have had them stay home for the day which makes for a very hectic day keeping them amused and fed. Meal times are also much earlier at night to fall in line with the boys. To start with Ali took the boys to their nursery school near where she works which meant leaving while it was still dark and cold and arriving home when it is already dark – not fair on them. Luckily they have now started at one ten minutes from home and I take them to arrive at eight and fetch them at half four. At that time of the morning it is already sunny and it is also still light when they come home which is much better for them and they won’t get so sick with coughs and runny noses. They can now eat and have time to play before Ali gets home to bath them and prepare them for bed. They have settled down now and sleep properly at night which at least gives Ali a good night of sleep.
In between Diane and I have been busy with office work as is the norm. Statements have gone out and my work is on track – Yippee!!! Diane and I have also been hectic getting organised for her new business venture and luckily for her all seems to be going well. We still have and NEED our daily glass of wine and have had the occasional outing in between. The big problem at the moment is this darn miserable cold weather which makes it SO HARD to get out of bed in the morning. At least we have passed the halfway mark for winter and can look forward to the days getting light earlier. At least the sun shines most days and we can sit under the trees midday to thaw out a bit. The garden is at the stage of dry grass after all the frosts and the dogs and boys traipse bits in all the time which makes for a very untidy looking house. Roll on summer. PLEASE!
All the best. Keep warm.

Back in a Chilly Joburg

As I said it was great to be back in Joburg. Hubby met us at the airport and was thrilled to have us back home. We stopped for a coffee at the airport before heading for home. The day was spent catching up with everything ready for statements and telling Hubby all about our holiday. He was so pleased we were back and just followed me around all day while we chatted – he even sat watching me work. I was most surprised and impressed to see how clean the house was as he loves cooking but is not one for cleaning up. The dogs looked well too and were also over-the-moon to see us back.
Saturday afternoon Ali and the boys came to visit and were here when our suitcase was delivered. Travis was so excited to help unpack and knew immediately which were his presents and hung on to them for the rest of the afternoon.
Sunday we went into Alberton as Hubby needed to get some jerseys and jackets as his current one’s have become rather shabby now. We had a great morning choosing things for him and then went across to Piatto for some lunch. As usual the food was excellent. Hubby and I had fish of the day with chips while Diane had a vegetarian lasagne. We finished off with coffee/tea and did some more shopping before returning home. The rest of the day was spent on the computer doing statements and by late evening all was finished.
The rest of the week was taken up with cleaning, office work and looking after Hubby who had hurt his knee and was unable to drive. Wednesday Diane and I quickly went into Alberton to do shopping and have a spot of lunch at Piatto before I took Hubby to the local Dr who wasn’t too sure what the problem was. He gave Hubby an injection into the knee as well as medication and Hubby has spent the rest of the week resting his knee.
Saturday Hubby and I went across to Roodepoort to look after Travis and Josh as Ali was busy. We spent the morning at Little Falls Nursery where they exhausted themselves playing and running around. It was almost twelve when we left to take them home and by the time we got to Ali they were both fast asleep. After stopping for coffee and to give Ali some knitwear we had bought her, Hubby and I went shopping in Alberton and picked up the holiday photos which had been developed. It was after three when we got home and Hubby and I had a nap as we were rather tired. The evening and Sunday was spent chilling, watching movies and doing computer work.
As I said it is great to be back in Joburg – there sure is “no place like home”- though the chilly weather is not very pleasant at the moment. It really is such an effort to get out of bed in the mornings and there is definitely no chilling under the trees. More a thing of being chilled inside! Even so we really did have a fabulous holiday and enjoyed seeing the different places and sampling the food as well as the history and amazing buildings. Our favourite place was Dresden – so clean and such friendly people. Prague is beautiful and clean but the locals can be rather rude. Paris was filthy and the people were rude but the history of the place was worth seeing. Scotland was great with really friendly people. It was also really great to spend time with Ros and family as well as Auntie Joan. Seeing relations not seen since I was a little one of six and catching up with each other was good too. Travel is Good for the Soul and mind.

Edinburgh Castle Pics

Scotland Pics