HAPPY NEW YEAR......

MERRY CHRISTMAS......

ITS NOVEMBER.........

So can you believe that today is the 01 November 2011?  This year has really whizzed past.

November is not a bad month:

MOvember – that time of the year when the guys grow their moustaches in aid of cancer………..remnant of Magnum PI. 

Check out that hairy lip!!!!

I am not a moustache kinda girl they are scratchy and itchy and I always wonder what the guy is trying to hid but in light of the fact that it is for a good cause I guess I be  a Mo Sista  for MOvember.

Twlight – for all the Twiheads out there this is the month that we will get to see the first installment of Breaking Dawn.  I love a good vampire story and although I prefer my vampires to be bloodthirsty filled with lust and rage (I so don’t want them to sparkle) I am in love with Bella and Edward’s love story and therefore I am a Twihead.   

This past week saw the release of Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” which is from the Breaking Dawn soundtrack.  The music video is stunning………all hazy and romantic with candlelight and then there are the scenes from the movie which raises our expectations and gives us a small taste to what’s in store on 18 November 2011 when the movie is premiered worldwide. Oh by the way I LOVE Christina’s black dress in the video……now if I was marrying a vampire (preferably Eric from True Blood) 

Hubba hubba........no sparkle here!!!!

I would wear a dress like this!!!

Downhill to summer holidays – for South Africans December is like a dead month.  Most of us take our long annual vacations and head either overseas to the cold (seriously!!!!) or down to the coast.  Cape Town turns into a tourist filled city except the tourists are all locals.  But it is the time of year when most things slow down to a mild roar, when you have an opportunity to sort out the filing (or in my case piling), clean out draws, sort through paperwork and just take it one day at a time.  This year (so far) it seems like we will not be taking on a new business but will instead be changing systems for one of our biggest business units.  There goes the summer holiday………no beach for this girl which considering the fact that I would have to wear a swimming costume and that would involve shopping for one it’s for the best!!!!

Bye bye holiday bye bye!!!

Enjoy your CHOOSE day everyone!!!

MY SUMMER HOLIDAY........PART TWO

So here is a little more about my recent trip to Cape Town.  I already shared my friend Lande’s surprise birthday party with you and here is what I got up to the rest of the weekend.

On Saturday I was up early (way too early for a Saturday and way way to early for a holiday Saturday) but I was meeting my cousin Sohett whom I have not seen in 14 years. We went out to Melkbos strand for breakfast and some time on the beach.  I have never been to Melkbos strand so it was such a surprise to find this beautiful little piece of paradise. It was great to reconnect and just have some quality time together.  Sohett is 8 months younger than me and after living overseas (teaching English in both London and China) she has gone back to university.  I take my hat off to her because it really is difficult especially since at 37 the memory is not what it used to be. And on top of that she is studying fine art.  She is very creative and has an amazing talent.  And here I sit………can’t draw a straight line with a ruler!!!!  Since both of us are single and childless we had an opportunity to discuss the big stuff like “where do you go to meet people?” and is there really something wrong with us because we are still single?   It was really nice to discover that our experiences were the same….I admit to breathing a sigh of relief because I was really starting to think there is something ummmmmmmm shall we say not quite right with me!

Sohett and I

Melkbos Strand

Pebbles on the beach!!

Sohett in front of the ice cream store

After ice cream on the beach (Sohett not me……… she has loooooong legs which need filling) I caught the new “My Citi” bus service to the Waterfront.  The bus service is really cool and operates just like the underground in London……..it’s just a bus and not a train.  The best part is the cost.  I was kinda nervous about this part of my trip because I was about to see my friend Hazels kids.  Now that in itself is not stressful but the fact that I last saw them three years ago at their mother's funeral makes it stressful. Hazel and I had been friends for about 11 years when she passed away on 20 February 2008.  Hazie was a wonderful loving caring friend whom I miss every  day. She was the most amazing mother which is her legacy when you look at the remarkable children she raised. Ryan and Nicole are such incredible people and they truly leave me breathless.

When Nic sent me a BBM to say that they were looking for parking I became so emotional.  I am not sure what my thoughts were because I was trying too hard to suppress them but I know that I felt so completely devastated as if Hazel had just passed. I called my mom and as mothers do she told me to pull up my panties, straighten my clothes, build a bridge and get over it!!!!!  And I did.  When they walked in the first thought that went through my mind was how grown up they are and then how incredibly proud their mom would be of them.  We had a lovely visit and there was a moment when I swear I could hear Hazel’s laughter mingle with ours.  It was a true blessing. I am so grateful for the person God made me to be because it is because of who I am that I was not only friends with their mom but friends with them to.  That because of who I am I have maintained our relationship even after their mom passed.  And as I said good bye to them a line from Hazels favourite book Tuesdays with Morrie came to mind “ Death ends a life but it does not end a relationship”. 

Ryan (20) and Nicole (18) all grown up!

Nicole and I share a moment!!!

And Ry and I have a moment

Then it was time for a mad dash back the guesthouse to get ready for a night on the town with Rod and Lande.  I was taking them to a the very chic Table Bay Hotel’s Atlantic restaurant.  It was very fancy so fancy the menu is on an ipad. It was very funny because I liked the big old fashioned menu’s but it was so cool to see photos of the food on the Ipad. I was feeling very chic myself when, of course Lande cut me down to size by hauling out the loo paper to use for her runny nose!!!  It was a wonderful dinner and I am sure it was a blessing without all the kids and of course the fancy food and stuff.  I loved it and as Lande said we can handle being rich Rod replied and said that he thinks it could get old quickly we replied well we would like give it a go and see if it does get old!!!

The beautiful Table Bay Hotel at the V & A Waterfront Cape Town

Roddy checks out the menu on the IPad

That's why I love you my friend!!!!!!

The bread guy was the best!!!

Roddy's muscle cowder starter

A strawberry sorbet to cleanse the pallet.....told you it was fancy!

Lande and I did not order a starter but received a hot corn soup
starter on the house!

I built my own meal........the mushrooms.

The rack of lamb with a mash and basil pesto.... divine!!!

Rod's sea bass

Lande's stuffed chicken

My rocket salad

DESSERT!!!!!!

I know what to do with a plate of food....no messing around!!

Happy 40th my dear friend in the faith

The hotel did a little something special

 On Sunday I took the entire Cullingworth clan (Rod, Lande, Megan, Ethan, Aidan, Nathan, Dustin and Katelin) out to a local restaurant before I caught my flight. Megan (their oldest who will be 15 in December) and I started planning our trip to Egypt.  Rod and Lande agreed that she could travel with me when she is 15 and like me she has always wanted to go to Egypt.  15 snuck up on us fairly quickly and I am going to try and push to 16.  It is a huge responsibility to take some ones child on a trip like that especially to a country where they don’t speak English and anything can happen.  We are looking forward to seeing all the sights and diving in the red sea…….her more than me as with my asthma it is not recommend.

Rod and Lande at Spur

The boys and Katie...YUMM-O

Katie and I share a snuggle and a cuddle 

Isn't she cute!!!

And so ended my time in Cape Town.  It was a whirlwind trip and jam packed to say the least but what an amazing time spent with those I love sharing wonderful moments and just being open to the awesome blessings God bestows in BIG and small ways!

GUESS WHO IS BACK......MY SUMMER HOLIDAY PART ONE

Hello, Hello....


I am back!!!


The break was filled with so many precious moments and so many life experiences that I am not quite sure where to start. I don't want to cram it all into one blog so......


I guess the beginning would be the best starting point. I took like a million photo's (I kid you not) but I will only share some of the highlights with you.


So I went down to Cape Town to celebrate my friend Lande's 40th birthday.  Now since I arranged her 21st you can imagine the long road we have traveled together.  In fact we have known each other for 24 years!!!  Now that is a lifetime.  


It was all a big surprise and the theme of the party was masks.  It was such fun knowing that Lande did not know that I was in Cape Town although talking to her on her special day was a little hectic as there was a very distinct announcement made in the mall where I was shopping for her gift.  Fortunately,  she was distracted (read distraught) by the fact that her really sweet husband had bought her the same gift as he had 3 years ago (NO RODDY NO)!!!!  Bless his heart but the man was in the dog box in a big way.  This resulted in Lande being the lady of the hour not wanting to go out to "dinner".  In the end it took some persuading but they got her there and the surprise was huge. We were both overwhelmed when she saw me (hiding behind my mask) and it did result in some tears!!!


It was a wonderful evening and it was such a blessing to reconnect and spend time together celebrating this milestone in her life.  Her six kids were so precious and even had masks on too!!! I was able to keep my emotions in check until I reached the end of my speech then well......I was overcome!!!


Here are some of the photos....enjoy!!!

The birthday girl and I.......check out our masks!!!

All six kids!!!!  Megan, Ethan, Aidan, Nathan, Dustin and baby Katelin.

Rod and Lande having a fabulous at 40 moment!!!

That's what 24 years of friendship looks like!!!

My outfit for the evening: Dress and Jacket: Donna Claire,
Shoes: too old to remember,
Handbag: Truworths,
Mask: a gift from a true life saver

Lande's special mask and the head table decor

The Cullingworth family....minus Miss Katie who was taking a nap!!

The birthday girl and her cake

At the end of my speech I read my favorite EE Cummings poem to Lande and now I share it with you....

I carry your heart with me; I carry it in my heart

I am never without it

Anywhere I go, you go my dear

And whatever is done by only me, is your doing, my darling

I fear no fate, for you are my fate, my sweet

I want no world, for; beautiful you are my world, my true

Here is the deepest secret no one knows

Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

And the sky of the sky of a tree called life

Which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide

It is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart I carry it in my heart…

E.E. Cummings

WE'RE ALL GOING ON A SUMMER HOLIDAY.....

Well I am anyway.......


Tomorrow I board a plane for Cape Town.  I am going down to surprise a friend for her 40th birthday and I am sure it is going to be a BIG surprise.  She is under the impression that her husband has forgotten.......meanwhile the poor man has been running himself ragged to arrange a massive masked ball to celebrate her entrance into the naughty forties.


I will be spending the weekend with some of my favorite people like my cousin Sohette and my friend Hazel's kids Ryan and Nicole.  I am especially looking forward to seeing Ry and Nic because I have not seen them since their mom's funeral and it would be really great to create a new memory with them.  I love those two and I am so blessed to have them in my life and call them friends.


I am also going to be taking the birthday girl and her hubby out to the Table Bay Hotel on Saturday night for a lardy da evening.  It is not often that the parents of 6 children get to go somewhere fancy.  On Sunday I am taking the family out so that I can spend some time with the kids too.


I fly back late on Sunday evening and then on Monday I am flying to Durban with a colleague (and friend).  We are going on a sun, sea, sand, surf and cocktail summer holiday for a week.  Here's hoping that the weather gets the SUMMER holiday message.


I am going to try and do a few blogs along the way but if I don't.......well the beach and the waves are a calling.....

TRAVELLING TO FAR OFF PLACES.....

After yesterdays intense blog I thought I need to lighten the mood for a Wednesday:

I love planning trips.  It does not have to be for me (although those are the best kind) but I enjoy dishing out advice on places to visit and helping friends and family plan their trips. Since in “Lisaville” God is in the details often times the planning is more fun than the actual trip.

My friend Kim and I try to meet up somewhere in the world every second year or so.  Kim lives in London and I of course in Pretoria so it is always interesting to see who has to fly the furthest .  Also Kim has travelled extensively so it is challenging to find a place which she has not visited or visited so briefly she wants to go back.  We have been to Las Vegas, Vietnam and last year we went to Ireland which probably has to be one of my favorites. I LOVED Ireland!!!  Even the odd shower of rain was a shower of blessings to me.

So we are starting to look ahead to next year and to another adventure.  Both of us wants an exotic island type holiday where we can sip cocktails, ogle cute cabana boys, sit with our butts on the beach, toes in the sand, under a hot sun and stare at the waves crashing on the shore.  I don’t want to think, I don’t want to answer a phone, I don’t want to hear the tic tic of computer keys or deal with a hundred questions and attend a million meetings. And to hell with what I look like in a costume!!!!

The three places that are currently on our radar are:

Greece more especially the islands such as Santorini:

Turkey:

Or Malta:

What do you think............