Memorial Day weekend

The summer is truly here now. Westport is alive and it feels like we are on holiday. So do the rest of the people.  Well almost, just waiting for Leon to finish writing his exam which is on Thursday. I have missed him. The fans are on, windows are open and the front porch with rocking chairs are a cool welcome at night.

Friday night we took the roof off the jeep and loaded up the bucket and spades, webber and cooler box for a braai on the beach. It was meant to be a surprise for Leon after work but he came home early to study. Did not matter its was still fun. Friday was a celebration for me as I have now my American license. All done and dusted and a huge relief. It does not matter what age you are 18 or 38 doing the driving road test is still nerve wrecking. The great thing is we don't have to hand in our English drivers. Second celebration was Michael and Carol passed their knowledge driving test.

After my driving test on Thursday I went to Walmart to get some odds and ends. The roads are very busy in this area and most are double lanes. Well the traffic came a to complete stop because a mommy and daddy with 4 baby geese were crossing the road. Everyone was very patient.



Victoria, Alex, Daniella and Kara on Compo Beach





Michael, Leon, Carol

 I have a lady which I have been teaching for the last few weeks and she is amazing. A very clever, very kind lady. So when Rana feels she is ready to finish she wants to take me out to lunch and then become my friend. I thought that was such a wonderful thing to say. Most things are a two way streak and I have obviously given her confidence in the water but she has given me confidence in my teaching and a sense of achievement. When we hit the friend part I will let her know how important it was to me to be teaching and making a difference.

Saturday we were invited to Carolina and Pauls house for a braai. Carolina is Canadian and Paul from New Zealand. The kids played so well and we had a great time. Another two Irish couples were there too. It always seems to be the expats which mix. Everyone has a story. Carolina told me how her sister was murdered four years ago. So sad.




Kara, Victoria, Kieva, Olivia and Luke





Carolina and Paul's beautiful home


The memorial  day parade was cancelled.



Fantastic times



Walk a thon at the school. The parents join the kids and we walk around the field. More time for the mommy's to chat.



I am attempting to make Boerewors. Now its not as easy as it seems. I am battling to get the texture right. I gring the meat myself on a course setting. This batch was sirloin steak and pork tender loin. The most expensive boerewors I have ever eaten. I never used enough fat so very dry. Will try again.



Looks good



Leon and the kids drive around with the roof down. They all think they are the top banana's. Nice car to drive, fun and makes you smile.



What a beauty little lady. Victoria watching kara play softball.



Kara's team were short a player so victoria been a good sport jumped in.

My wonderful American friend Tracy lives on the river. She invited us over for supper, fishing and a canoe ride. We had the most fantastic time. All the kids caught a fish. It really was amazing.

Views along the river

Ladies attempting to row. I was stronger than Tracy so we went a bit off course.



Kara's fish



The days seem to run into each other and the next thing I learn its weekend. I deal with things on a daily basis and cant seem to focus on the weeks ahead. I suppose that is how things should be, live to the fullest in the now.

The owner of the house asked if he could come and see how things are. Well I got my knickers in a bit of a knot. Firstly I wanted to show respect to the landlord that we were looking after the house. So it was a mad dash to clean and weed the garden.  Hopefully we will get the same from our tenants in the UK. Secondly  the thought of moving and the unsettling feeling again was just a bit too much to bear. It still amazes me that after living a year in the UK we bought a house. I have not even attempted the newspapers or Internet on the process of buying a house in the US. We have been in the US for 9 months already. This time six years ago I had Melissa coming with me to look at houses. Lisa and I were comparing what was on the market. WOW and WOW again. We were so driven and so intent on getting a home in the UK.  How things work out. I think of our tiny little home in the UK and it's filled with love and our wonderful family.

The good news is we don't have to move and can renew the lease for another year. Weight lifted off the shoulders. My friend Mandy has built a beautiful home and has finally found that settled feeling. I long for the feeling of home and where I want to lay my roots and settle. Maybe then Leon will be able to get his chest of draws for all his socks and undies. He still can't believe he is 43 years old and living out of Ikea boxes for his stuff. I have told him to wait he will get his draws but for now he must wait.

My work has been wonderful and I feel bold over that I now have the opportunity to work. The thought of sitting at home doing nothing is a scary one. Too much time on my hands and too many insecure thoughts is not a good idea. I love the kids and adults I am teaching. I really want to do well and make a difference.

Leon has been studying so life is a bit upside down right now. We chat and eat together and that's it. The 3 June is the end. I have been studying for my driver test. I felt like I was 18 years old again. The clerk told me whats wrong with that.  He is right because yes its a good wake up call to feel young and vulnerable like a 18 year old again. Spice of life. OK only for a short while. I passed and have my  driver test in two weeks. Do I go short skirt and hope to win the officer over. Not a chance in hell.

We celebrated mothers day and met a few friends on the beach. When Leon and I first arrived in the US and sat on the beach we looked around at people all surrounded with friends. We had no one except each other. Never been a hassle for Leon and I but this Sunday we sat on the beach with friends. I kept on saying we have friends, we have a braai, we have happy kids. A good mothers day.

 On Mothers day weekend they hold a Dogwood festival, so we took a ride out there. The trees were just so beautiful. The colour amazes me so much.

I have longed for a big garden for quite a while. Its a joy but i am totally shattered after the lawn has been mowed.



On the beach with FRIENDS.




Happy kids and big kids, skipping shells

I got a Macy's gift voucher for Mothers Day and I spoilt myself with a new handbag.

Funny lady. I was chuffed.

My friend Jude in France takes the most amazing pictures. her blog really inspires me to get out and see my surrounds in a whole new light.

The azalea bush in our back garden. I have a special place in the house where I get thoughts, feelings. My view from my kitchen window overlooks a beautiful Dogwood tree where my thoughts always go to my Gran and the azalea bush just because its so pretty. RED is my colour.

EARTH PLACE

The kids needed to run and be outside. Just chill. I wanted to be in there company and have fun. These kind of places bring out the best in everyone.





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Castles in the sand, is a fund raiser. Good fun but a bit cold on the beach so did not stay too long.



Heaven, a Royal wedding and softball

The heading of my post is a full one.

 My grandfather pasted away on Wednesday and is now in Heaven. I am so glad he is with my gran and at peace and out of pain. I have not witnessed anything that has happened. All I have is the guilt of been far away and not helping. When I told Kara and Victoria that Poppa had died the first thing they said was he is in Heaven with King Kay. King Kay was my moms dachshund who had to be put done because he was so old. I will reallly miss chatting to my grandfather on the phone. He was always so extremely kind to me and loved chatting to Leon. He listened to what we had to say.

To a fantastic Grandfather and Great grandfather, I will miss you so much.



This is poppa holding Kara when she was a few days old/

ROYAL WEDDING

I was on a Royal high with the wedding on Friday. Still gutted that I was not in England. Never one to miss out on a party and celebrate a special occasion. Read some more royal books. I used to collect Princess Diana books and page for hours looking at all her dresses. Tracy my American friend arrived at 5.30am to watch the wedding with Stacey and myself. I was so excited I woke Leon up because I had to get the kettle on and settle into the comfy spot to watch the special occasion at 4.45am. The whole ceremony was wonderful.

Then it was a quick tidy up because at 9.30am 10 other friends arrived to have tea and scones with cream and strawberry jam. I made cucumber sandwiches, pimms and kosher sausage rolls. Sorry guys. It was bad enough trying to find Union Jack serviettes. Firstly they call them napkins and secondly they have no idea what a Union Jack is. They don't sell sausage rolls here, so we had kosher franks wrapped in pastry.

I was totally exhausted after all the celebration and in desperate need to watch the whole thing again with no small people. Too many questions. Kara and Victoria have both done a project for school on the wedding. Cuts the guilt of me taking them out of school.



Tracy lent me her hat for the special day




All the ladies



Stacey

SOFTBALL

Every Saturday the kids now play a softball game. I work on a Saturday morning but from the pictures we seem to have to very happy softball playing girls. The whole programme is run by the dads and Leon is a helper. Kara is in the razor team and Victoria is in the Tadpoles. Leon was in charge of setting up the kids in the catcher kit. He almost needed a degree to put it on the kids.

Leon spends a lot of time playing catch in the garden now.



Victoria never stops moving the whole game. A bundle of energy and enthusiasm.

 

In position to catch



Megan in her catcher outfit