Ubuntu is Soup-er

Not to be outdone after the declaration of the 'cake war' on Ubuntu Planet, and having being challenged to make Ubuntu Soup today by jdub on the Fridge, and not being one to back down from a challenge, I present to you...

UBUNTU SOUP

p.s. Richard nearly died after eating all that chilli sauce (and the dark one is habanero!)

Rustic living and broken nails...

We have returned from our camping trip and I have the sunburn and broken nails to show for it.

Richard says my sun-kissed face makes me look like a 'farmer's daughter'. I am going to assume that's a compliment..

After enduring our January camping trip with no table at all, we decided that it really is a requirement back-to-nature or not. So we set off on Saturday morning with our plastic garden table wrapped in a blanket and tied to the back of the car. To my sceptical surprise we arrived there with both the car and table intact.

On the way we played 20-Questions, although in our case we carry on until we get the answer, so 100-Questions may be a more apt name. Both boys understand how to play this game, but playing against Griffin is tricky because his objects are often pretty fantastical. Case-in-point we gave up trying to think of something he would know that was 'smaller than an ant'. The answer was .... 'a very small teddy bear... giggle giggle'. I mean really!

We got the camp set up and set about the important task of lying around reading, relaxing and snacking. Something we ended up doing a lot of (of course today I am wishing I hadn't done quite so much snacking, as I try to convince myself to go for a run... argh!).
The kids had a fantastic time again, evidenced by the fact that we hardly saw them at all. They met up with the same boy who was there in January, who was also back for the long week-end. They had a nack of popping by for a snack or drink or to tell us something exciting every few hours, at just about the time I would start to get slightly concerned about their whereabouts and wellbeing. Convenient.

We took a Richard Scarry book 'On the Farm' along for Quinn which he read very well, so we got a bit of homework in too. The book was very apt as the camp site is pretty much a farm, with the owner even calling himself Farmer Chris. There are chickens, FAR too many roosters, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowls and peacocks wondering the grounds. Then there are tortoises, pigs, horses, cows and an ostrich in enclosures.

We also practised syllables - I say a word (stressing the syllables slightly) and he tells me how many syllables there are, and some recall of sentences - where I have to say a 7-10 word sentence and he needs to repeat it. He did well in all exercises. Aside: Quinn's teacher has made an appointment to see us tomorrow. Apparently she is concerned about him not always finishing is work. I hope the news is not too bad. I am trying not too think about it too much until we are there. More on that tomorrow....

There were 2 young couples camping across the field from us, and they had some cricket gear with them, as did we. Richard nudged me on saying it was my chance to finally live out my cricket playing fantasy. *hehehe*

It turned out that they live in Obs (quite close to where we live) so we are not the only people who go camping 30 mins away from home ;)

We did all start playing cricket soon after that and it was great fun. Who knew playing cricket could be so enjoyable? While the guys we were playing against were clearly more practised than us, I think we did a good job of playing along and didn't embarass ourselves at all. The other 2 girls joined in after a while, so I wasn't the only girl playing either - I was the only one to carry on for the full 3-day game though - and broke 3 finger nails in the process. Whatever!

It turns out all that lunging, running and stooping is quite the bum work-out too, because I have had a pair of stiff gluteus maximuses ever since Saturday evening! Hopefully it has done something about firming that area up!

We ended up playing for a good chunk of every day for the full 3 days. In between Richard and I made up a game. Volley-tenni-cricket. Which is soon to be an Olympic sport I am sure.

It involves one person using the tennis racquet, and the other a cricket bat and then attempting to play volleyball with a tennis ball using the bat/racquet to hit the ball. It sounds ridiculous, but we actually got quite good at it, and managed to get some good ralleys going. Additionally, we provided amusement for anyone passing by.

On Saturday night it rained, so we huddled in the tent and I taught the boys to play snap (the card game). This went on for a while until I got tired and decided it was bed time, so I got mean and evil and played on full alert so I could beat them quickly (what a cruel parent). *efg*
On Sunday night we made a fire and toasted marshmallows - a yummy new flavour I found 'Coconut Cream and Banana', and then made fireworks fairies with burning sticks. Dangerous and fun!

The air matress which is getting close to being more patch than matress gave us (well Richard) lots of fun again. Luckilly he has a scary lung capacity and blows them up in minutes. How the hell he does it, I don't know. I tried in January and nearly had seizure. Still the trusty matress managed to stay mostly inflated for the greater part of the night and would only deflate significantly by morning, signalling that it was time to get up, I guess.

Camping is fun, we'll do more of it.

Camping it up.

We are going camping this week-end. I am really looking forward to it. :)

I have always enjoyed camping - I am not one of those girls that needs hair-dryers and mirrors and luxury (not that I don't gladly accept pampering and luxury when it does come along! But I don't NEED it), I am quite happy to rough it up and sleep on the floor. I do prefer flush toilets and hot water when possible, but I have succesfully camped without both before and that was fun too.

Luckilly Richard is a bit more fussy about his sleeping conditions (ala the princess and the pea) so we normally end up with nice firm air mattress, fluffy pillows and duvet etc. I am not complaining, and I do admit it does make it much more comfortable than rolling around on sticks and stones all night with a rolled up t-shirt for a pillow! :)

We went camping early in January, and are going to the same place again (Chapman's Peak Caravan Park) this week-end, because we had such a lovely time last time. With the Argus Cycle Tour crowds gone, and the Easter crowds not yet arrived, it should be nice and quiet there too. Perfect.

We camp very simply, partly by choice, and partly bacuse we have very little camping gear so don't have much option anyway. I like that we don't have much and therefore just relax and *be*. It means we are not worrying about anything and can just leave the kids to get on with it. There's no moaning about messing food or spilling juice, or toys being left scattered around and broken or untidy, or laundry or wet towels on the floor (you get the idea) and everyone just does what they want to.

The kids tend to pretty much dissappear and have a ball being adventurous and making friends, leaving us to read and relax or take a stroll etc. Bliss!

We eat simply and snack rather than producing big extravagant meals too.

There's a lovely farm village (Noordhoek Farm Village) a short walk a way which is fab for Breakfast or Tea too, and it is close to some nice beaches if the weather is good and the fancy takes us.

We are only leaving on Saturday morning though, because tonight we are meeting up with a group of friends for Strawberry Daquiris, Chicken Wings and a few games of 30-seconds. It should be fun.

But please can I be in the men's team this time?! Because the women always dither too much and don't take it seriously enough, and my competitive nature get's irked!

Update: The Daquiris were sweet and strong and 30-Seconds was great. We did end up playing ladies v.s. Men and we beat them 2-games to 1 :) The ladies tried much harder than last time, and I managed to successfully describe all 5 words several times. Yay!

I'm sorry

Dear blog,

If I did something to break or upset you, I am sorry.

Please come back...

Update: My blog died on Friday , and it was not because of something I did. It seems my blog was one of the lucky ones to end up on a 'bad filer'. Luckilly the content was saved, and the problem fixed, allowing calm to again prevail and the earth can now continue on it's course.

and now for something completely different...

In completely unrelated news, it seems my left big toe nail is going to fall off!

I noticed it was a bit odd a while ago, and then noticed a ridge, and thought it was just a ding, or from an over zealous (infrequent) pedicure attempt by me. But now I see that it's not even attached to my toe along its entire RHS and about half-way across and half-way down. *Yikes*

I Googled it briefly last night, and found that toe nail trauma is a common side effect of running (I have just passed the 550km mark now, since mid-September 2005!). Some of the tales of woe I found are pretty gorey and revolting! I guess I should be glad that I have had no associated pain or bleeding - but still.

I am hoping it will grow out a lot more before it comes away completely. Allowing time for the new one to grow in better. I am avoiding fiddling with it, and have painted my toenails several times in an attempt to 'glue it down'.

I flinch whenever I imagine it catching on something and tearing off!

There is nothing more satisfying than being sexually fit.

Or so the description of the video says...

Our local South African version of Amazon.com (Kalahari.net: you know... click click - ding dong!) has been clearing out it's warehouses by marking down various items in turn.

I bought a stock of nicely priced kiddies books a week ago. These will serve as new reading books for Quinn, whose reading skills are developing daily, and some with good as gifts for various young friends and family etc. I like to keep a gift box filled with interesting bits and peices I find on good deals along the way, it makes those frequent day-before-the-party invitations less stressful.

This week I got an e-mail saying they are clearing out their video stocks. I went to take a look at lunch time. There were some nice kiddies titles (Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina, Kipper etc) and a few more adult centric ones. All for only R24.95 - that just over 2GBP and 4USD! Cheap in any currency.

So I decided to order a few to stock up that gift box, and then decided to throw in a few titles for myself.

I chose:
* Yogalates - Yoga and Pilates - yeah I get that, they are pretty similar, and my yoga teacher often incorporates pilates postures and movements into our yoga classes.

* Yogaboxing - WTF is that? I have NO IDEA what that is going to be, but I like yoga and I like kata box (aka Tae Bo) so what the hell let's give it a try!

* Better Sex Through Yoga 3 - *Snigger* Well, because as it says 'There is nothing more satisfying than being sexually fit.' Oh, ok then. Right, so why vol 3. Advanced? Not vol 1. Beginner, or Vol 2. Intermediate? Because I reckon with 8 years of yoga under my belt, and several more in the other department I could be considered to be advanced - and not just in age! This should be fun!

I'll let you know if they are any good ;)

We need a cow

We need a cow in this household! because I can't keep up with the demand for milk...

No, no it's not what you might be thinking - if you have a dirty mind! *My* supply was plenty, while it lasted. But I retired from that exercise several years ago thank-you.

Although we never really drink milk by the glass or really cook with it, we seem to consume and inordinate amount of milk in tea, coffee and cereal.

Case in point, I bought 10 liters of milk on Friday morning, by this morning (Tuesday) it was all but gone! Today I bought another 14 liters.

I am hoping it will last till the end of the week. Like I said we need our own cow here!

Robbie Williams

So it seems like we are going to see Robbie Williams in April! It will be a birthday treat for Richard and I.

We had decided not to go for a number of reasons but mostly because there was mayhem surrounding the purchase of the tickets, and they were sold out within hours of being released. I was not going to lower myself to sleeping on pavements for days on end to secure a crappy seat at a concert. I thought the whole thing was a bit over-hyped and over-rated. Also people have bought up tickets and are now selling them for up to R5000 each!

I do however really like Robbie Williams. He has grown on me as an entertainer over the past few years. His songs have become better and I can't deny that he is quite a showman. In fact he become a performing phenomenon and really commands his crowds at his shows.

Having watched one of his concerts on TV, it looks like it is absolutely amazing to be there, and he is totally and charasmatically in charge or everything, and makes it look effortless. So I had been feeling a little dissappointed that we wouldn't be going... when one of Richard's friends told him he had 2 extra tickets, and would sell them for R360 each, which is only a small mark-up on what he paid for them. Richard swiftly accepted them.
I used to find Robbie to be an arrogant spoiled brat, which I did not find appealing at all. I still find him to be a spoiled brat, but somehow he is very alluring too. I think something about the juxstapostion between his checky cock-suredness and slight child-like insecurity is very appealing. Wahtever it is, he knows what he is doing, and how to work his fans.

We will let him entertain us and will be tripping!