Its been 17 days since my last confession...

I am in a really good mood today. If I look to my left, I see the treetops outlined by the brilliant blue, cloudless sky. I can see a green field with a few brown cows crowded in the shade of its many trees. There is a slight breeze blowing over my hands as I type, from the open window. I can hear the faint sounds of lawnmowers, as the eager people take full advantage of the weather and I can hear birds chirping as they go about their merry day. From downstairs, I can hear the beginnings of lunch and smell the end of breakfast.

I have had a very eventful few weeks since my last post, marked by a lot of FIRSTS.

I have managed to have not one, but TWO fall-outs with Hilary as our personalities started to clash and her egotistical side further emerged (but I shan't dwell on the details, as that would ruin my good mood!)

I have been on my very FIRST Easter egg hunt (well, that I can remember anyway!) There was a large group of us (Debbie, Tom and Ben, Marie and Nigel and their two kids, Hannah and Jon and Hilary’s sister and husband, Heather and Jon).  The even occurred at a Tudor house called Coughton Court, where they are celebrating 600 years of the Throckmorton family’s residence. The event began outside the house:

where each child received a booklet with clues in it. The idea was to walk through the bluebell forest collecting letters that the clues led to (granted, they were not too difficult to spot, with clues such as: ‘watch as a monkey swings through the trees, look up, up, up and there i’ll be’ and ‘hop like a grasshopper up the steps, look around the bluebells and stop by the rock'). By the end of the walk, you would end up with several letters, which had to be rearranged to spell a word (if the child was lucky, their parents will have found all the letters and given them enough clues to figure out the word). If the child guessed the word correctly, they would receive an Easter egg (you know, the traditional big chocolate Easter egg wrapped in green or gold foil).

           

Once the hunt was over, we all went and bought a ticket for the duck race.  At 15h00, over 500 yellow rubber ducks would be thrown into the river and the winning three ducks would be awarded some prize.  Whilst we waited for this exciting even to occur, we had a picnic. I always find it rather amazing how the English can pack so much in the back of their cars (copious amounts of food, hot tea, cold drinks, umbrella’s, coats, picnic blankets – they seem to be able to cater for any kind of weather… I on the other hand, arrive with what I have on my back, in true South African form).

 

After the picnic, Heather, Jon and I went into the Tudor house.  I did the grand tour of the place (as Heather is in a wheelchair and cannot navigate upstairs – duh).  The house itself is surrounded by two churches, award-winning gardens (both walled and not), lakes and riverside walks.  Inside are a multitude of catholic treasures, family portraits, and tapestries.  By the time we were done looking at the inside and navigating the rose gardens, the duck race was over.  We met up with the rest of the family and headed back to Debbies house.  Everyone arrived in drips and drabs, but once everyone was there, we sang happy birthday to Tom and ate cake, chocolates, crisps and drank tea.  It was a fantastic day out.  One-by-one everyone left.  The boys had asked me to stay so that we could play games together and then watch Tom’s new movie (James Bond: Quantum of Solace).  We had such fun.  Then Hilary arrived.

 

I got my FIRST Easter egg and Easter bunny:

(Please note: the Easter egg says ‘Princess’ on it…)

 

I have, however, saved the best FIRST for last!

 

On 9 April, I bought, and now OWN my very FIRST car.  Naturally, she is RED!  Please welcome Ruby to the family!

I am so chuffed with her.  I have driven a massive 300 miles (483km) since Wednesday (as I had update training in Sevenoaks, Kent on Thursday and decided against taking the train!) I am so PROUD! 

 

On that note, I think I’m going to end this blog…  Perhaps now you can see why I’m in such a good mood?

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…

Red Lights, Green Leaves and a little caffiene

 

“…the doors glide open as she looks up and around her.  Her fawn-like eyes flicker and squint as a blast of hot air brushes over her forehead and into her eyes.  She puts her head down as she quickly tucks back the strand of hair that has fallen from behind her ear.  She knows she should not have hurried tying her hair back.  As she looks up over the rim of her glasses, her friend, Korneel, looks down at her.  Their eyes meet.  She smiles and looks away.  I can hear her excitement build as she begins to chatter.  Words roll out of her mouth, flowing as a river does in full flood.  Korneel smiles as she tells him that she could quite easily live here, as IKEA really does provide everything you need. 

 

They head straight for the food station, as Korneel has not yet eaten. She grabs herself another cup of coffee, her seventh of the day.  As he devours his plate of food, she casually sips at her drink, thinking.  As her cup is lowered, she peers over it at the various items on display, commenting occasionally.  She smiles as her glasses begin to mist up and is forced to place it back into its saucer until she can clearly see again.  As her apprehension builds, Korneel finishes his food.  They get up and walk side-by-side to the furniture section.  She is not sure if she is giddy with excitement or with caffiene.  They begin to walk around the shop discussing every element of it, from the layout down to the colour schemes.  She finds herself being very critical of the shop as she delves more and more into her own thoughts.

 

By the time they reach the end, she is relieved to see the car.”

 

I had to put the book down as the sun shone on to the paper.  I decided it was time to go out and get some exercise and take full advantage of the first day of full sun.    I grabbed Korneel’s camera on my way out and headed down towards the harbour.  I walked and walked, stopping to take a few photos.  It was fabulous.  By the time I got home the sun was setting and the coffee was on.  I remember wanting Shaun to be there to experience this with me.  I was sad having to experience this on my own. 

 

Luckily, Thursday arrived.  Korneel and I went into Amsterdam central to see if we could find me some more clothes.  By the time it was midday, we were both fed up of shopping and so went to the movies.  We watched a rather poor/arty movie entitled ‘Two Lovers’.  I was rather relieved when it finally ended.  That evening Korneel and i went for drinks at a little crowded pub and discussed the movie ad nauseum.  On the way home we stopped at a cafe and got take out.

 

Friday arrived, good weather and all.  We went on a walking guided tour of Amsterdam.  Three and a bit hours later we had finished the tour and were in desperate need of a drink.  We went to the pub near the Anne Frank house, along with the tour guide and an American couple.  Having spent the hour with them, I was glad to finally leave their company.  We pub-hopped a bit and then went to the Red Light District.  I am always fascinated by this industry and by the people gawping at the young ladies in the windows.  On the tour we were told how the district was being shut down bit-by-bit.  I had not really believed her, but having come back to this area a second time, I found a noticeable difference.  It was rather sad.  To drown our sorrows, we stopped at a pancake restaurant.  I had a magnificent ginger pancake and Korneel a bacon pancake.  It was really yummy.  On the way home, we stopped in another pub and discussed the day and life in general until the early hours.  I really enjoyed it.

 

Saturday arrived and the weather was grey and rainy.  I got dressed and we headed out for Artis (Amsterdam Zoo).  I found myself thinking why we were even bothering going, as it was raining.  We got to the zoo and I was stunned at just how convenient everything was.  The zoo was both indoor and outdoor.  Indoor for the rainy days (where you can see the same animals) and Outdoor for the sunny days.  It was a really neat concept.  That afternoon, we headed to one of Korneel’s friends for dinner.  Her and her father made a really yummy meal for us.  After dinner, we decided to go down the road to the local pub to watch a live singer, Bob Color.  We had to laugh as we realised that he was doing karaoke.  The more we drank, the better he became.  By the time we got back to Korneel’s friends place it was late and we had had too much to drink to be able to drive home safely, so we spent the night.

 

The next morning, we had breakfast, helped move a pole for a boat and then headed back home.  We bought food and ate it in time to head back out.  We attended an improv comedy show at the Comedy Cafe by a two-man-band entitled ‘Hole in the Boat’.  The show was really small, but really good.

 

Naturally, before going home, we had a drink… or two.

 

Monday was spent indoors on the computer, and well, Tuesday led me back to England.

 

“..she looks up from the computer screen, out of the window.  I cannot tell if she is watching the sunset, or if she is reflecting on something.  The wind is calm, the sky is a hazy shade of blue and pink.  I can hear the faint sounds of Daughtry as she hunches her shoulders, tilts her head and brings her hands to her face, as though praying, interlocking her fingers. 

 

I can’t help but feel that there is more to this image, but precisely what, I shall never know...”