I nearly killed Quinn this morning... Bad Mom Award needed.

It's been a looong time since I was in such a rage with him. He has been all over the place in the past week or so. He got demerits in his dairy, the PE teacher phoned me because he didn't have his PE clothes (and used Gran's funeral as an excuse) and then a teacher wrote a note in his dairy about him being a handful last week too... so it's not just me noticing it... anyway he had an oral to do. He did mention it last week and sort of started on it, and did about half of it - in English even though it's an Afrikaans oral.

So yesterday morning I ask him when it is for and he says ' oh only the 29th...' I was like; 'Dude that's TOMORROW!'. GAH. 

So I spent the whole morning working with him, writing it, translating it, finding photos, etc etc etc and then practicing it with him.

We went to a movie yesterday afternoon and before we left I asked him to practise his oral for me. Which he did quite well. Yay. I then said, 'Now make sure you don't leave it behind' and got a firm 'Yes mom' in response.

I have now decided 'Yes mom' means 'Fluck you bitch' or 'Whatever, I am totally ignoring you' or something to that effect. Because when I asked him to practise on the way to school this morning, he told me it was at home!!!


I have not spazzed out that much in ages and ages. My throat is actually sore from screaming now. I made him RUN the last 2 blocks home to go fetch it, and while I was stewing I actually threw his school bag out my window and drove around the corner - VERY mature I know. When he came back I told him he could walk to school, but he was just about crying and begged me to let him get in the car. I yelled at him some more and then dropped him off and didn't even say goodbye.

I think I totally over reacted. What a bitch and horrible mom I was. But I get SO FRUSTRATED with stuff like this.

I hope he is going to be ok today. I wish I could give him a hug and say sorry now.

What an awesome cycle!

I woke up feeling pretty bleh and unenthusiastic to be alive this morning. After wallowing in bed for about 2 hours doing not much of anything besides helping Quinn with his Afrikaans oral, I decided to drag myself out and to actually go DO something.

So I got on my bike and set off, with no real plan or direction in mind... just following my nose as I felt like it. The more I went the better I felt though, until I was smiling and enjoying myself so much! I was even singing along to my music.

In the end I went from Rondebosch, down Liesbeek Road past the Riverclub to Lower Main Road and all the way to Town via the Castle. Then up Strand Street and up to High Level Road, right along through Seapoint, Bantry Bay, Clifton & Campsbay, on to Llandudno, down Suikerbossie (new top speed of 65.5km/h down there!) to Houtbay and up to Constantia Neck (OMG I nearly died going up there!) and then down to Constantia and then Wynberg and then bak to Rondebosch. 53kms in all. Av speed of 20km/h.


It was awesome and such a beautiful day out there, albeit a bit windy in some places!

So glad I went out.

Granny Betty's Memorial

I am just back from memorial and family and dinner etc etc. It has been a long but good day. The memorial was wonderful and true testament to the amazing woman granny Betty was. A lot of people came and everyone loved and was moved by her. It was a little more emotional than I expected and my dad did a really lovely talk about her and then got very teary by the end, so Griff and I sat and held him afterwards.

The ice was a little broken at the very end when the minister was 'committing the casket' or whatever it is called and she said 'and you are now but dust' which the boys and I heard as 'and you are now butt-dust' which had us sniggering and giggling quietly between our tears. It was kind of funny. Who knew that's what you become when you die..?? :)

The boys were absolute STARS so well behaved and real little gentlemen in their smart school uniforms (I had collected them straight from school, early, on the way to the service). They handed out hymn sheets and also offered all the old ladies tea and sandwiches and cleared up the cups and plates etc etc afterwards all on their own steam. I was very proud. They also spoke beautifully to all the old people who asked them questions. Think I'll give them a small reward for being so conscientious and well mannered and considerate.

Granny Betty truly lived a wonderful life and no one can remember her ever saying a bad word about anyone, ever. What a remarkable and inspirational way to be. Something to strive towards indeed.

I've just been out with my Uncle & Aunt (who are out from England and the reason the funeral was delayed to give them time to get here) and my dad. We had a good time chatting about all and everything. I had no idea that my dad met Michael Jackson! And Nelson Mandela etc etc. He is full of funny and fascinating stories. Oh and my uncle designed the bridge on the M3 that goes nowhere, the one after Ladies Mile and before Tokai... lol.

Women's Day Challenge Results

So the Women's Day Challenge Results and photos are out. The previous time I did it was in 2008, when it was at Bellville stadium, so this was at a new venue, but this is how I did last time and this time...

2008 (when I had a different name)
#151 WEIDEMAN JANE 0:54:35

2011
#106 FRASER JANE 0:52:14

Also this year:
I came 106th out of 1489 finishers = top 7.5%
I came 75th out of 1279 female finishers = top 6%

I came out 98th of 1408 seniors = top 7%
I came out 68th of 1213 female seniors = top 5.5%

I came 4th out of 54 in 35-40 age category = top 7.5%
I came 3rd out of 47 Females in 35-40 age category = top 6.5%

These are the photos:

It has to be said that I am NOT loving my new larger thighs which I have acquired this winter. I need to work at getting rid of them soon. Blech!

We heart Brussels Sprouts!

I microwave Broccoli and/or Brussels Sprouts until just cooked and then add balsamic vinegar/lemon juice/soya sauce salt and pepper.

I sometimes add avo, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, linseeds etc. Maybe a dash of sweet chilli sauce mixed in.

Yesterday I sautéed mushrooms and some salmon to go with it too.

Anyway, both boys really loved it! Including the Brussels Sprouts, which neither had wanted to even try - after the bad wrap they get in books and movies and jokes etc.

They are so yummy when done right! Give them a chance!

Griffin wrote a poem!

Aw my boy has been so amazing. He is doing a project on animals. He chose Dolphins, so I found and printed a whole bunch of info off the web including pictures, poems and everything he needed. Then 2 days later (thanks to bloody Quinn meddling ) he changed to Spider Monkeys. I didn't have much time so only got a few bits and pieces and then forgot about it.

I asked him about it today because I had totally forgotten about the project and he has gone to the school library himself to get more info, drew his own pictures and then wrote his OWN poem - because he couldn't find one, and he says he'll get more marks for effort and creativity.

This child is melting my heart right now. My precious boy.

Here is his poem, I think it is pretty good.

Spider Monkeys
Furry
Long limbs
Swinging around all day
Carrying their young
Having some fun
Always like to play!

CHESS

The boys have been doing chess as one of their after school activities for a while now. I haven't had much visibility as to how they have been doing, although I do know that Quinn in particular has an aptitude for it. Griff has also seemed to enjoy it, but up to now hasn't seemed that taken with it, so I thought he was just kind of going along for the ride (literally - as in waiting for his lift home with Quinn and his friend after chess practice) :)

Anyway, last month they came home telling me about a chess tournament, and they asked me to enter them. So I duly registered them and paid up, and woke up bright and early on a Saturday to make the great trek to Bellville to get them there by 8am.

I was not able to stay there with them so left them there for the day. I lifted 5 kids there and another mom brought them all home. It was an ENTIRE day from 8am to 7pm. Honestly I was a bit dubious as to how it was going to go. Would they sustain focus enough to play chess for that long, and would they actually enjoy it!??

Well as it turns out they  LOVED it and were so amped when they came home.

Quinn won 2, lost 2 and drew 3 of his games. He came 29/61 entered in the C division (noting that a few entered and didn't actually play)

Griffin won 2 and lost the rest (I think). Still the fact that he won the first 2 was amazing as he hasn't played much at all, and wasn't expecting to win at all. He came 48/61 entered in the C division (noting that a few entered and didn't actually play)

I was really impressed cos it's a heck of a long day for them, but it seems like they really enjoyed it a lot. I MUST get them a proper chess set. We only have a tiny magnetic board with 2-3 pieces missing...

There is another tournament (at the same place) this Saturday and they have again asked me to enter them, so I have.

This is a photo of Quinn playing at the Paarl Gym exchange last week.

Their school team has 10 players and he is on the team on the 7th board. Griff may get a spot on the team soon too. :)

Reynaud's Syndrome is a-numbing!

I finally actually know what is 'wrong' with me now. It is called Reynaud's Syndrome or Reynaud's Phenomenon. Since I was about 18 years old my fingers and toes go white/yellow and have NO circulation if I get very cold - always starting with the middle one. I used to think it was just a normal random winter thing to do with circulation and or a pinched nerve from all the clothing layers in winter. But this year I have been really plagued by it. I have researched it now and hey presto it is exacerbated by stress and emotional issues, cold and tension (physical pressure) and I have had a lot of all 4 recently.

Mine gets so bad I lose the strength and grip in my hands and when I cycle it can get so bad that I can not brake or change gears! Then when I get home I can't turn the key in my door! It is rather annoying and sometimes even alarming. I have to immerse my hands and feet in hot water to get the blood flowing again and then the parts that were white go dark purple...

This is not my photo but this is EXACTLY what my hands look like:

Mine is usually the middle 3 fingers and it starts at the tips of the fingers and moves downwards. Shaking my hands around and flicking my fingers doesn't really help at all.

This winter I have been wearing gloves a lot and drive around with my heater on full blast and my fingers IN the air-vents!

As I type now my fingers are pale and numb. GAH!, and it is not even that cold right now.

Anyone else have this?