Luvly Jubbly in America: Friendships and our family bond

The winter is coming and the light is slowly fading away. It's dark at 4.30pm and its dark at 6.30am. Still the temperatures are reasonable. Karina was in Canada recently and said it was very very very cold there. Westport is good at the moment. The leaves are still falling. Now I am getting pissed off with raking. I am on about 40 bags and bought another 10 today. Lets move a long, the leaves were beautiful and I made cards with them and hey the arm muscles are looking pretty good recently. Move on to snow. Jude what do you recon is better snow or leaves?

The mind frame has not been good to write recently, the tears flowing. Poor Leon has been so kind and accommodating. Us woman and the hormones are weird. When we do see each other it's good. Leon is not the study type kind of guy. It took him bloody ages to get his degree but he did get it. There were too many parities on in those days. Anyway Leon is making up for all those years of meant to be studying now. Not long now, the exam is on the 2 December. I will have company again. Caroline I recon you and Marley need to come visit us. The beaches are open for the dogs.

I have been spending a lot of time at the school recently. Lots going on. The fund raising is strong and aggressive. Mr Buckle the head master recons I should join the pay roll i am there as much as he is. Not ready to join that pay roll just yet.

Kara and I are learning to knit, thank goodness for utude. We have a granny on line giving us instructions. The knitting shop wanted to charge us $15.00 for half hour to knit. Not in a million years. it's quite good fun. Victoria on the other hand also wants to join in. Our "gentle" has no idea of her strength on a string of wool or knitting needles. Very tight knots!

I was looking after my Irish friends kids because her mom and sister were up / down / across from Ireland. Clocking up some favours. The kids played so nicely. We have recently had a few not so good play dates. Three is never good and Kara was the odd one out. Victoria had a few punches in the back. I have tried to explain to Kara and Victoria when we leave friends we must always feel on top of the world. Friends make us shine not feel low. I think when you don't have friends the judgement is maybe clouded and you accept things more easily. God must have been looking out for us all because we were invited to Tracy's house who has one little girl called Grace. We felt so comfortable been there. Tracy gave the kids her clothes to dress up in. Kara and Victoria looked gorgeous in high heel boots and fancy dresses. I told them they had better get stuck in there because I don't have clothes or shoes like that. The wine was flowing, kids laughing from the bottom of their stomachs and great company for the mommy's. It felt so good to be around people who were interested from where you come from. They wanted to find out about you.

I look forward to having the gang around at our house. Not dressing up. No fancy shoes.

Yes we hit the beach again this weekend. The gas braai was fired up and the burgers we fantastic. Not bad or a November weekend.

Miss you madly. Tired now.

Lots of love