A month of Birthdays

May is one of those months where I just have so many birthdays, starting with our friend Ross who turned 40 on the 17th, followed by the following weekend my darling husband turned 41 on the 23rd. We had our friends round for an "American Hotdog Party", I researched different kinds of toppings for hotdogs that are served on hotdogs around America, typed the recipe's on to American flags and had a buffet of all these toppings along with dogs and rolls for people to make there own. Something different and was enjoyed by all that was there (if the very small amount of left overs is anything to go by). This last weekend my sister turned 32 and we celebrated it at the Brightwater Commons, who were fortuitously having an oyster fest. With live music, wine flowing and oysters served in many ways we had a great albeit cold time. This only leaves this weekend where Jordy turns 16. I ask you with tears in my eyes, how can so many people that I love so dearly choose to have their birthdays so close to each other, it just isn't fair on my poor wee bank account.
Till next time
xoxoo

Happy Birthday Darling Hubby

Grant's birthday rolled around again and what was originally intended as a small intimate affair became yet another Fouche party. I always feel sorry for people who's birthdays fall in winter as it is too cold to be outside so we all huddled inside the bar with the fire going, keeping us all toasty. So to my wonderful, amazing, superdeeduper hubby, hope you have a marvelous birthday babes. You deserve it.
Till next time
xoxo

a weekend of walking down memory lane

The weekend kicked off on Friday, at the Barnyard Theatre in Cresta, we met up with the Bateman's and Friends of theirs to watch Absolute 80's. It was a really great show, and such a lovely trip down memory lane. Jordy enjoyed it so much she was telling me that she "hearts the 80's"

Saturday was our Friend Ross's 40th birthday and they had arranged a "Grown up, kiddies Star Wars party" with a blow up boxing ring, shoot the storm trouper, death star pinata, party bags and pass the parcel. What fun, we ended up acting like kids again, even cheating at pass the parcel. Who says you can't go back, even if it is just for a little while.

Till next time

xoxo

Mothers Day

Mothers day this year started off with lovely heartfelt cards from both Grant & Jordy as well as a spa voucher for my favourite spa (so spoilt). Jordy then made me a egg white omelette for breakfast (stipulated by said current diet, bad timing on my part) albeit her first attempt it really was outstandingly good, she is becoming quite proficient in the kitchen. We then went off, trying to get the data on my external hard drive recovered (someone who will remain nameless, accidentally dropped it) anywho, a long story short, we were told by the techies that it was truly dead and there was nothing they could do. We got a really good deal on a new one, then went out for lunch to Spur (due to the fact that all I could have according to said current diet was 150g steak and half a baked potato, so that is what I had), we then popped in to my in-laws when we got home to say hello as they had invited my sister and brother in-law round. Was a lovely day.
I however didn't get to see my Mum on Mothers Day, but I want to mention how very special she is to me and how I couldn't have wished for a better Mum and friend in the world. Love you Mum !!!
Till next time
xoxo

Jordy at a couple of weeks old

Jordy @ 18 months

Jordy @ 3

My diet Mother's day breakfast in bed (Thank you Jordy)

The Royal Wedding

Don't judge me, but I still want to believe in that all time fairytale when a girl finds her prince, and get to live happily ever after. I had only been in South Africa for 5 months when Dianna & Charles got married, however I remember sitting and watching the entire ceremony absolutely enthralled. So 30 years later, along comes William and Catherine's wedding. I took a days leave and settled in to watch. She looked so beautiful, I really do believe this woman is in a class of her own. Every choice she made, makes her beauty shine, she doesn't need huge ostentatious tiaras or bouquets that spill to the floor, this was evident in her very simple hair do, her self done make up, petite tiara, small bouquet and very tasteful, classic dress. The dress was beautifully made and that lace work was amazing. Her sisters dress was equally amazing, how they got the fabric to drape like that is anybodies guess. Catherine looked completely in control (a vast difference from Dianna who looked like she was a rabbit caught in the headlights) and I loved how she didn't change into a going away dress when she left for Clarence House after the Queen's reception, but chose to remain in her wedding dress (so not a royal thing to do). Her evening reception dress was also simply beautiful and classic. So the commoner got to marry her prince and she did it in style. Now here's to the happy ever after.
Till next time
xoxo

Easter 2011

Easter Sunday Lunch

Lunch @ the Organic Market

I would love a Lindt Easter bunny this size from the Easter Bunny

Easter Egg basket, full of yummy Easter treats

Mum & Dad arrived with Jordy in tow on Thursday, so lovely to have them and to have my daughter back from her trip to Gaberone. On Good Friday, we had a very laid back morning. Donna & Jason arrived for Good Friday evening meal, I made Prawn tempura for snacks, Muscles for a starter & Monk fish wrapped in bacon for our main meal. It was really yummy. On Saturday we took Mum & Dad to the Organic Market, then we did some grocery shopping for Easter Sunday lunch and made our way to John Dorys @ Monte Casino for dinner.

Easter Sunday, Donna, Jason & my in-laws joined us for an Easter egg hunt around the garden (that pesky bunny can really make it difficult to find those eggs) followed by a lovely roast meal. It is always so divine to have the family together.

Till next time

xoxo

My last two weekends in pictures

On Saturday we made our way to the Bryanston Organic Market, what a wonderful experience, we bought organic cheese, pate's and bread to have for dinner that night. Grant picked a really neat looking espresso maker and I managed to get the most divine Soy Candles, they burn at a much lower temperature than normal wax and are rich with vitamin e and essential oils, so when you burn the candles you use the melted wax to massage into your body. I also snapped up a lovely wheat coloured cardi/hoodie. We stopped there for lunch and I ordered a Masala Dosa, I have never had one before but it was really delicious, kind of crisp pancake with curried potatoes rolled up inside with two dips to go along with it. Would definitely recommend. We then popped into hospital to visit my little sister who was having her appendix out. Shame she is having a torrid time, this being her third operation in a year. She seemed absolutely fine but that turned out to be the pethidine speaking as she was really under the weather the following day. When we got home, we tried out the espresso maker, it works really well (if you like espresso, I think it is just vile). I then made a pumpkin pie for the first time, lo and behold it actually worked out and looked and tasted great. On Sunday the weather was grim but we had my in-laws over for dinner, I however was feeling grim and ended up having to go to the doctor on Monday. Feeling ill is just for the birds

Jordy left for Gabarone on Thursday, leaving Grant and I to our own devices. This Friday's weather was grim, I mean, worst of Scottish weather grim, so for dinner I made chicken noodle soup with chicken meatballs. It appears Jewish people are on to something special as it really did warm the soul. Definitely a keeper. Saturday weather was just as grim, so Grant didn't go riding, I took the opportunity to take him out for brunch. We stopped off at a fish shop recommended to me by my friend Inez and picked up prawns, muscles and monk fish for Good Friday. Then went out for brunch where we bumped into friends we hadn't seen in a while, so they joined us.

On the Sunday Grant and I went to John Dory at Monte Casino for lunch, when we were done there we went and got ice creams then went to Scoobs, a divine book store very reminiscent of the books stores in New York, it is three stories high, has a live pianist playing background music, has a coffee lounge on the ground floor and a champagne bar on the top floor, what more could a girl ask for. I actually became quite melancholy thinking that there is a strong possibility that my grandchildren may very well not ever get to experience a bookstore, what with ebook readers. I read an article recently that stated that for the first time e book sales out sold paper books in March, although I adore my kindle and love the ease of obtaining and reading books. The thought of books going the same way as LP Records just makes me feel sad. Anywho, we then passed a place called Yume that Cally had told us about so we popped in there and had some sushi, even though we had already had lunch. Their sushi is delicious and so are their dim sum, We felt like huge piggies by the time we finished and rolled our way to the car. Was a lovely day and overall a really stunning weekend. (I must add as a disclaimer that we didn't have any dinner that night, so were slightly exonerated from the piggie title) Till next time

xoxo

Home made chicken noodle soup, yum

Scoobs

This was a sign in the car park of Galagher Estates at a seminar I was going to, still trying to fathem why ?