Heat Wave

We are experiencing an extreme heat wave at the moment. Not complaining at all as the sun is amazing. There are no fancy clothes or jewelry. My friend Caroline in North Carolina always talked about been dripping wet. I look like I have come out the shower all the time.

We headed up north to a blueberry farm in Shelton. The views were amazing. The blueberries so sweet.

Everyday we have been at the outdoor pools for swimming lessons and then tennis in the afternoons. The outdoor life is amazing.

 View from the outdoor pools

The outdoor pools where the swimming lessons are held. In the afternoons it's play swim.

The kids saved up their pocket money for a feather to be put in their hair. Have not been in a fancy hair salon like this for a while.

Leon writes his last exam on Friday. I really cant wait to have him around on the weekends.

The lady next door is still on about the hedge. More notes passed and now the other neighbour has joined to add his two cents worth. Hopefully Ernesto will be around tomorrow to clean up the mess and bye bye neighbours.

Saturday afternoon I attached the other hedges but this time with more care. I was soaked as the heat and humidity is unbelievable. Connecticut is not shy with its summer weather. I am enjoying it. Thank goodness for the pools and the beach.

The famous hedge and pile of leaves needing to be removed.

Sunday we dusted the bikes off and cycled down to Top this which is a frozen yoghurt shop. Kara is a star on the road. She zips the mouth and tackles the roads with care and direction. Victoria does not shut up. The head moves, the bike follows so we did have a few hairy situations. Eventually my stress levels were quite high I had to tell her to shut it, zip it, no more words.

There was a huge art show on in town. Wow they had amazing photographs, paintings, statues. Very expensive but great to look at. Caroline you would have had a ball. Thought about you.

 A little rest by the river. we all miss England and its wonderful cycle paths.

 View of the river

 The well deserved frozen yoghurt

Took this picture of all the American flags. You have to cross this bridge to get into Westport.

After the bike ride it was a mad dash to meet a friend at the beach. Well the beach looked like Durban beach on Christmas day but a shade lighter.

 The packed beach.

 Kate this is the Sound. The sea with no waves.

Then a another quick dash to Debbie and Mark's place for a braai.

 All the kiddies having a water fight.

The view from Debbie's patio. You see swans swimming in the lake.


Kate this is for you. A few pictures of the garden and where we sit.

 This is the back patio. We braai here but can only sit here early morning or later afternoon. Very hot and open.

 The porch which is a life saver and we often have lunch here or read the newspapers GP>

 Front door. Yes I need to go to the dump and drop off the brown bags.

Front garden

Lots of love

Temper tantrum

The days have been so hectic and I feel like I am barely above water. House and all the stuff that goes with that. Working which is a love but can make you tired and then the beloved garden. The garden has been building up and all the comments from the neighbours have been building up. I need to cut the hedges, the hedge has lost its flowers you need to cut it. You should never prune your  hydrangeas. The story goes on.

Wednesday the toys fell out the cot. The heat has been unbearable but needed to get stuck in the garden and was feeling really positive. No need to complain, get cracking. The mood changed quickly, another moan about the hedge.

I pruned the hedge myself with lots of anger. What a stupid mistake because now its war with the neighbours. I apologised today and told them we have a guy coming on Monday to cut the rest of the hedge and tidy up what is left of the hedge. I said to Leon we not sure how long we going to be in this house so I just can't afford to have horrible interactions with the neighbours. We now have to fork out £320.00 to sort the mess out. What a waste of money.

You know when you so angry and you write an email and send it. I have done that and received angry emails. I should have gone out and then come back home with a clear head to sort out the mess.

Do we every learn?

So feeling like I am not liking America at the moment. I feel like running away but not sure to where.

Maybe a sleep and a clear head will ease the negative feelings.

Sleep well special people.

Womens World recod for Black Jack

I have an amazing friend, Penny who is South African but now lives in Harpenden. She is a lady on a mission as she is trying to break the Women's World Record to spearfish a black jack.

I feel so proud of her and am following all her stories. I really wanted to share her story. I so hope you enjoy reading her blog.

http://crystalvis.wordpress.com/

Hi, I’m BIRD…. Penny BIRD.

Problem?                   Women’s World Record for black jack (Caranx lugubris) also known as the black trevally, black kingfish, coal fish and black ulua is currently open, unclaimed, blank…

My mission?              To shoot, subdue and land a black jack weighing in at more than 10 lbs (4.5kg), in accordance with the International Underwater Spearfishing Association (IUSA) rules.

The objective?          To claim the Women’s World Spearfishing Record, of course! (Ahem.)

Location?                  Ascension Island.

Estimated date?       A nine-day window in August 2011.

Meet me:  I am a 44-year-old, stay-at-home-Mum with spaghetti arms.  My idea of fitness
training is having a smoothie for breakfast.  My arms are so puny, I devised a way of loading with my feet years ago.  (Don’t worry Colin – I could NEVER bend
your spears into right angles…)  I even need help getting my wetsuit over my hips.
Does this sound like a long shot?   Trust me, it is!

I started spearfishing in my 20’s with my buddy Charl Blignaut (South African spearfishing champion 1993 – Stilbaai) aboard Cuda Cat and I have some amazing memories from those crazy days.  Based near Cape Town, we hit the road nearly every
weekend in search of good water, towing the boat up the east coast as far as we needed to go.  We were founder members of the Bonito Spearfishing Club and Charl represented Boland at Nationals regularly (I even made an appearance in the D-team one year).  In 1998 I left South Africa and hung up my kit.  I swore I wouldn’t dive in the UK
because nothing could be as great as the South African coastline, besides which
my buddy was very far away… So, for a decade, nada…  Not even underwater hockey (can you believe they called me a “whale” when I tried it out?)  Then, along came my bro to “rescue” me and remind me what I was missing.

Over the past four years, Cameron has tempted me, step by step, out of retirement.  First, he bought me a wetsuit for my 40^th birthday (that was a big hint!) and then he
sponsored my 1* AIDA freediving training with David Morgan in the Gosport SETT
tank, followed by my 2* in Malta with Emma Farrell a couple of years ago.  He is also responsible for getting me to go to Ascension in August (I am so excited bro!).

Meet the support team:  The intrepid Parker Brothers, Cameron and Rory are assigned to look after their big Sis.  They are responsible for making sure my artillery is in good nick and suitably modified for loading with my fin-clad feet.  They also have to carry
my weight belt, provide moral support, advice and lots of compliments to keep my pecker up.  They are also in charge of making sure I get home in one piece!

Titus Bradley, from Crystal Vis, has been amazing.  He’s the one who came up with the idea originally – nothing could have been further from my mind – and he has also offered to sponsor me with a Rob Allen rig for the attempt.  I think he’s throwing in a few t-shirts too, so we’re all set for the big photo opportunity…

Do you think we can bag the record? Got any questions?  For example, how on earth do I load a gun with my feet? How am I going to deal with the public humiliation if this all goes
wrong?  Ask away…   Next step is to find out what I am letting myself in for…

Fun Fun

Life has come to Westport in full swing. We are all having so much fun. I so wish Leon was on leave so we could all party togther.

I am working quite a lot which is fantastic. I have 4 kids I teach at the ladies house, great teaching in the sunshine. I have to wear a long sleeve shirt because been in the water for 2 hours and the baking sun can make you very brown. No way I am trying so hard to keep covered up. I bought a hat to keep the face covered.

Where to start???? Beach in the morning and the kids catch crabs while the tide is low. Then home for lunch and a bit of quite time. Then we head off to the outdoor pool for a swim and a cool off.

Every Wednesday evening at the outdoor theatre they hold a kids theatre production. Last week it was a magic show. Really fantastic. We pack a picnic and a bottle of wine and have fun. Thursday nights we head over to the high school for athletes. The kids love it. They do ball throwing, long jump, high jump and spints. All the races get timed and the kids win rosettes. That only finishes at 8.30pm but Kara and Victoria want to go and are so excited to beat their times and win another rosette. Who am I to argue if they want to play sports.

I got invited to Bonnie's moms house for a go on the kayak and some open water swimming. Granny Ruth was fantastic. She made us feel so at home. She had juice for the kids, ice lollies and looked after the kids while Bonnie and I had a little swim in the sound. It was so great. I felt so special been spoilt and made to feel at home. I have met the most amazing people since living in Westport. Bonnie and i train at the Y together.

 Granny Ruth swim in the sound every day. Both Kara and Victoria had an opportunity to kayak on their own. Victoria is not short of any arm muscles. Boy is she strong and of course determined. Kara more like a lady but still good. I feel so proud that they are experiencing so many new things. Good sports too that they give it a try.

 Check out the legs. I almost had to to wrap the legs around my shoulders to get Victoria in.

 A lady on a mission.

 Open water swimmer in the making. Too much seaweed I was told.

 Bonnie and Molly having fun.

 Granny Ruth, Bonnie and Molly

 Just finished our little swim. We told Kara on photo's from the waiste up.

 Remember to always stop and smell the flowers.

 This house has won lots of fancy awards. All the walls are glass.

Saturday we headed over to Roywaton for a festival. The kids got their hair dyed.

Stop growing Kara. You are becoming such a young lady. Mommy and daddy love you too much.

 Sunday morning I went to the beach to cheer all the swimmers I swim with for the point to point swim. 1 mile. Felt quite lazy for not swimming. perfect conditions. Next year I will get my act together

All the swimmers I train with. The first guy who came in did 1 mile in 15 minutes. Speed machine.

Great weekend.

Thank you GP

Four weeks have passed and the house is quite and no GP sitting on the porch reading the newspapers or playing pick up sticks with the kids. We had a great time and created some really special memories.

The kids each had a one to one cooking lesson with GP and my favorite was they were taught to clean up afterwards. Victoria had my impatience and was not interested in the clearing away. She did well.

Pick up sticks was the winning game. we had a few afrikaans lessons as GP bought some Afrikaans books for the kids.

Gp bought me an ice-cream machine which is fantastic. It's something I would not buy myself but what a great gift. First batch was a huge success and its all gone.

Leon got to spend quality time with his dad, just plain old chatting and off course all the rubbish chat as well.

I got business advice on my swimming and how to market and how not to be afraid.

So all in all it was a successful visit. The suitcases were overflowing, so watch out Nelspruit family you are in for lots of new menu's.

It felt good to be surrounded by family again.

Thank you GP for making the huge big trip to come visit us, it was so appreciated.

All our love