Going Crabby Over Tiles

This week we have been traumatised by the tilers. First of all it took 2 days for them to chip off the crappy tiling in the downstairs bathroom. The phrase 'Chip Off' does not do justice to the amount of DUST and NOISE which we have had to endure. The poor Froonchen spent most of Friday looking like she was having an epileptic fit whilst sleeping because she jumped everytime there was a loud bang. Obviously the in-utero building site experience had held her in good stead, as she didn't actually wake up that often.

Now that the old tiles are off, it means more tile shopping is required. Unfortunately both Hermann and I like the really expensive tiles - perhaps a bit unnecessary in the downstairs loo as this is where Hermann stores his mountain bike and tools. There is usually a machete and an axe kicking around there too (burglars beware). Much debate later - OK, I had a strop because I wasn't allowed the really really really expensive trendy black and grey mosaic tiles - Hermann is going back to Tile Africa to buy the same (boring) tiles as we have upstairs.

The kitchen is also getting tiled which means that it is now a no-go zone. Any excuse to go out for lunch. We decided to go Portugese and as you can see, there is finally a restaurant that recognises Hermann's need for a bib

Flower Power

Now that the house is nearly finished, focus has been shifting onto the garden. We've been visiting nurseries and garden centres to buy the plants needed to fill in the gaps between Hermann's cycads. Can you guess which flower I chose!

Drive On!

Drivers in Kwa-Zulu-Natal appear to be getting younger!

Free Range Rabbit

This morning resembled the Great Escape when Bongile went 'over the top' of the veranda defences and spent the best part of two hours running riot around the garden. I can now confirm that bunnies WILL EAT cycads.

Unfortnately for us, there is still no cover on the ventilation hole for under the house - it made a perfect bunny bolt hole. We're hoping that she hasn't eaten any of the alarm cabling which is down there....

It took ages to coax her out from under the house with an apple. She finally bopped back onto the newly barricaded side veranda and with some strategic backfilling of the big hole, it was possible to corner her and then pop her back into her hutch, where she was happily reunited with Phumu.

We're pooped - is it too early for a gin & tonic? (8.33am)

Beautiful Bunnies

We also have the most beautiful bunnies!

Beautiful Baby

Obviously we're biased, but our baby is the most beautiful baby on the planet.

Thank You

Froonchen has received loads of pressies - she is already the Imelda Marcos of Morningside (those baby shoes just keep on coming) - so she'd like to say a big thank you to everyone for their generosity.

Bag Lady

Kath & Jonny got home safely, and true to their word, have sent over a photo of me on safari in my nightie. Not my finest hour!

Are we sleeping comfortably?

At least someone is getting some sleep around here!!

More Lala

Kath, Jonny and Hannah had a fantastic week in Durban. We went on holiday for the week too - although it was knackering. Highlights included hanging out at the beach; the aquarium and water park; the Shark's Board boat trip (Hermann & Jonny only); shark dissection (we had pre-autopsy drinks to get in the mood) and then a weekend up at Hluhluwe.

Hannah's vocabulary is very advanced for a 'not quite 2' year old, so we were subjected to a never ending stream of "more giraffe, more zebra, more rhino, more goat (buffalo), more impala and more lala (nyala)". When not on game drives Hannah was mostly obsessed with the baby (more baby toes), smoothie juice, ice cream and jelly.

She was very cute and very well behaved but even Kath had problems keeping her entertained for the duration of our leopard sighting. Hannah must have been wondering why we were looking at a bush for 30 minutes. But the safari trip was excellant fun. We braai-ed in style every night and even made it for the early morning game drives although I pretty much disengaged the baby from the milk ducts, rolled out of bed and went on safari in my nightie. I may have looked like a bag lady, but it didn't scare the animals away - we even had a fleeting glimpse of a cheetah!

Does my bum look big in this?

The Froonchen has officially been declared an environmental hazard!

I'm afraid the experiment with reusable nappies was a bit of a disaster. Not only did they give her the physique of a sumo wrestler, but they were so hot that there was more sweat than pee - and that was on a relatively cool day!

Viva la Pampers!

Hermansburg School Reunion

The last weekend in August saw us all traipse up to HMB for Hermann's 20 year school reunion at HMB. We were staying in the Kindergarten Hostel which was very cute - pint sized sinks and toilets - you could just about see your belly button in the bathroom mirrors. The days of travelling light are obviously long gone - we had duvets, pillows and microwave squeezed into the back of the car. There was just about enough room for the baby!.

On the Friday night we went to 'Happy Hour' at the church - yes, German churches do all have bars attached. The boys got right royally pissed (Hermann says it was inevitable) Holger passed out in the car park whereas Hermann fell into bed at some time past midnight, attempted to romance me (or should that be molest me) by pinging my nursing bra and then asking in disgust what type of underwear I had on (cannonball holders) before snoring himself into oblivion. Luckily he has few recollections of that evening so cannot remember all the names I was calling him.

Saturday was a lazy day - a morning stroll, chilling out in the sun, followed by a braai and slideshow of dodgy school photos. The class of 87 did themselves proud and we had a fantastic weekend. Breastfeeding is much more fun with a beer in your hand!