Back on form

I suppose I'm getting back to my usual form, if that is what I can call my state of being AMPED and IMPATIENT AND AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!

Yesterday was pretty darn busy, and today has been busy too.  Yesterday was a KILLER with my stuffy head and seriously blocked, sore nose.  Today is much better.

It's only Thursday.  Thankfully payday too.  End of April too.  3 months til our trip I CANNOT WAIT!!

Long weekend, and what do I get? A COLD!!

It's a long weekend now... back to work on Wednesday, Tuesday is a holiday and I took Monday (today) off.

Last night, while having a relaxing evening with T + R and G, watching Star Trek (the prequel) and having pizza, I began to feel the onset of a cold. WHY, in GAWD'S NAME, does this happen on a long weekend? So, 2.5 days out of my 4 day weekend are doomed to be spent with a cold. Lovely.

I'm rather miffed right now, as there are a million and one things I'd rather be doing than wandering around like a listless zombie all day. So many yummy things that are waiting to be eaten, and I have NO appetite at all. And what's most dumb is that I'll get to work on Wednesday, still feeling crap, and mention it to colleagues, but it'll be like 'yeah sure, whatever... slacker'. I've been so bored at work lately, and all of a sudden on Friday I was given a KAK task to do (creating 52 reports... in LOTUS 95 WTF) but at least it was something... which I'm now going to have to do with a cruddy grotty head (because I won't be able to just call in sick cos this work needs to be done by end of day Thursday)... I can't wait.

I'm rambling. I have a cold, I have no appetite but I'm hungry, I have no desire to sleep but I'm tired...

I will have to blog again when my head has cleared.

Hospital-style wait

I realised yesterday that this boredom at work is like waiting in hospital.  Sitting in a waiting room, where there are no magazines to read, and I've forgotten to bring my own stuff.  I brought a book yesterday, but finished it before lunch.  The rest of the afternoon I whiled excrutiatingly lethargically away, reading old Noseweeks and Financial Mails (the office has a kinda 'library', most of the magazines being ENTHRALLING publications such as "Plumbing Africa" and "Plant and Equipment Monthly").

Today I want to get out during lunch and buy myself a junkycheap glossy gossipy women's magazine.  Or two.  And some snacks/eats... so that at least I can feel that I've prepared myself for an endless wait, much like the out-patient wait in an Xray dept.

I stitched a bit last night.  I've finished the first colour, I'm looking forward to the next colour because it basically frames everything.  It's going to look very cool.  I wish, as always, that I could stay home and stitch and take it easy.  Winter's in the process of arriving and it's getting chilly again.  Even more reason to want to stay home!

69 working days til the holiday!

SABC

BHAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH the most pathetic of companies ever:  SABC.

Why do I give them that title?  Because we sent through instruction to cancel our TV license in January.  It is now (look at date of blogpost) APRIL and they haven't done it yet.  They are sending SMSes and emails threatening G with legal action and being handed over to credit bureaux, despite the fact that every time I phone to follow up they say there's a note on the account saying that it's 'handed to cancellation department' and we won't be handed over.  Somehow, that note doesn't instruct them to STFU!!

THANKS GUYS, YOU ARE THE EPITOME OF EFFICIENCY!!

Anyway, apart from that:  THERE ARE 70 WORKING DAYS LEFT TIL OUR HOLIDAY!!  Woopwoopwooooooooooooooooop!!!!!!

Other than that, there's not much news... I've been stitching, slowly.  The threads included in this kit are cut very long, so it takes quite a while to finish a particular strand.  And they knot a lot.  Unfortunately the needle included in the kit (a 26) is about 2 sizes too big, and I don't have any apart from 24s, so every stitch has to be poked through.  But it's still enjoyable.  I've been working with just 1 colour for now, the next colour I'm going to do basically frames the whole thing, so I'll have a far better idea of just how little there is to stitch :D  Can't wait! 

Dunno if I mentioned in any previous posts but I got Golden Ice back.  Had to return him to the shop cos of specks under the glass and a skew frame... but he's back and BEAUTIFUL!  So inspiring, up on the wall above me as I work on the next one.

G's Gran is coming down for a month.  Hopefully we'll catch some of the visits on video :-D  I've also made quite a list of things to-do/see for my video-chronicle... hopefully we can do some this weekend (Tuesday's a holiday and G and I both put in for leave on Monday!), we just will have to wait and see what the weather does.

Work is so deathly boring now... still... even the typist is quiet and bored.  70 working days left.  I'm still not sure about when I can resign, it depends on the meaning of 'one calendar month'.  Problem is, I can't very well ask about it now because suspicions will be raised.  So if anyone has a definite answer as to what exactly 'one calendar month' means, please leave me a comment!

Anyway, that's all for now - I've been reading an interesting book and I believe it is now time for me to pick it up and read some more.

Chip crumbs

Ok, thanks HBBM, you are hysterically funny.  Wow, how could I eat chip crumbs and mess like that, you're right:  I need a bib.  Thanks.  Hilarious.

Excursions and adventures

I've been thinking a lot lately about things we see and do here that I need to catch on video.  I've made a whole list of the routes we drive and places we go, as well as things we have done and seen before that we will wish we had a made a record of once we've moved.  It's quite a list and, as always, now I'm superkeen to start!  It'll be quite fun, as there are some things we haven't done before (going to see the Noon Gun, going to Robben Island - G's never been), etc, as well as others we've already seen, such as Cape Point nature reserve, Table Mountain cable car, etc... I'm looking forward to it now, and of course I'm frustrated to be stuck at work on a perfectly good sunny day missing out on the opportunity.
THIS PLACE!!!  Guhhhh!!  It's so boring!!!!!  There really is NOTHING TO DO ANYMORE!!
74 more (eish) working days til we go on our Austrip.  I also considered resigning earlier (by 3 weeks) next year, but it hardly benefits me at all so I'd probably just stick it out til end of Feb so that I get that paycheque.  So, end of Feb 2011 is it, I guess.  So my workday countdown still stands.  Except, I'm not sure what the status is of our riverrafting trip.  K who has pretty much been the driving force/organiser of the whole thing has been retrenched, so it might not happen.  Dunno - no news as yet and October's still far off, so we'll wait and see.
Dunno whether there's something wrong with me physically, but I'm SO TIRED lately.  Maybe it's cos of work being so DEATHLY BORING that it's just making my entire being lethargic and tired.
Guhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and I want Golden Ice back now, plzkthx!

Pony party weekend

This weekend was rather fun, despite going on Saturday to the framing shop to drop off Golden Ice - upon closer inspection I saw there were some specks under the glass, and the frame wasn't perfect.  The lady at the shop agreed wholeheartedly, so I'm sans Golden Ice for now.  The rest of Saturday we spent chilling, I looked at the rest of the slides, and just enjoyed relaxing.
Sunday we went through to SARDA to visit Majoor.  I'm enjoying filming the drives and 'events' so much and filmed the drive there, as well as the scenery - it's so beautiful there and was the most perfect day too.  We got there before M+J and Sis so we just hung around by the car til they got there, and I must say: I LOVED the sunlight!!  After the others arrived, and G and I had tried on hats, we had a 'pony ride'!  Majoor's saddle is currently 'out of action', so we had to ride bareback - I had a mosey around the indoor-arena, then it was G's turn.  G'd never been on a horse before, so his first ever pony ride was caught on camera!  Majoor's so mellow and relaaaaaaaaaaxed, he was hardly lifting his feet very much and just plodded around the arena.  M rode after G, and although she made Majoor trot, he was hardly exerting himself in the slightest!  Afterwards we had a mini-picnic and chatted for a while.  It's so lovely and peaceful at SARDA, and the view of the mountains is stunning.
After SARDA, we headed on over to G's parents for tea at 3.  I got the drive on video as well as we went a slightly different route than usual.  Caught Pookie (Dude's 'uncle' - an Amazon parrot) on camera as well, he's such a funny thing when he babbles at G.
Yesterday evening I made sushi, and just had a mellow time too.  I was meaning to clean the fishtank this weekend but didn't (it's only due next week though), and we didn't do our usual chores but somehow it's nice to just take it easy and ENJOY the weekend instead of rushing around doing stuff like chores.
On a less peaceful and relaxing topic, I'm seriously worried about the future of this country.  Or rather, I'm worried about our parents'+sisters'  futures in this country.  It's going to take quite a while for us to be able to sponsor them across once we've settled in.  The whole 'current affairs' scenario is extremely scary, and that Malema clown is the scariest person out there right now.  I really cannot wait until we're safely out of here, but will worry so much for everyone here still.  It really doesn't make for a 'stress-free' emigration, worrying about this and despite wanting badly to go, not wanting to go because of leaving family+pets behind. 
I think, under the circumstances, I'll resign as soon as the office opens in Jan 2011, so that we can leave earlier.  So it seems like March is going to be it.  G's work will likely finish end Dec, if I end work near the beginning of Feb, we should be able to go by the end of March.  That gives us time to sort things out THIS year, but not a lot of time once we've resigned.  Hopefully we won't need much time then.  It makes my list of things to see/do/video before we go even more 'urgent'.
I don't want to dwell on that right now, so let me post this and 'sign off'.

Golden Ice - framed

I LOVE how the thin border goes so well! It smooths the colours and makes them blend better. The frame-example they used on the chart's packaging really doesn't do the cross-stitch design ANY justice!

I'm taking him back to the framing shop though, as there is a speck of cardboardfluff under the glass, as well as a white speck or two which are distracting... I know it sounds finicky but when you're paying almost R500 for the framing, it's not insignificant!

Apache Wedding Blessing

Easter weekend 2010

The past (long) weekend has been nice and relaxed.  Managed to finish Golden Ice (see blogpost below), spent time with both sets of families (had a nice time both places), got lots of chocolate (no, we haven't even half-finished it - we're being good and not scoffing like mad)... and I borrowed the suitcase which contains all of Dad's slides.  He took thousands of slides, all dated +-60s/70s.  I'm not yet 1/3 of the way through, and there have been some incredible pictures. 
There are a whole lot of photos of his side of the family, including Grandpa and Grandma H, in COLOUR, no less, and loads from his travels through game farms as well as photos from plane windows while the plane was in the air.  He must have spent quite a good portion of his time taking photos, as the photos that have been turned into slides are (mostly) clear, steady, well-composed photos which must have taken time and effort and a tripod!!  I'm considering buying a scanner which can capture from slides (and negatives), because it'd be a damn pity to 'lose' these photos due to them being slides (and us not having a slide-projector), and I reckon it'd cost a small fortune to have them scanned by a photo-shop.  So... let's see.  Maybe a further project for me (but not sure yet).
I've been working on the Wedding Blessing - it's got such a different 'feel' to the other 3 cross-stitches I've done, as the fabric's holes are quite small and it's a light colour fabric.  The needle they included with the kit is too large so I'm using the only smaller one I have but even that one is 'pricking' its way through.  This morning I went to the framing shop (it's moved, now it's right near to where I work!), to get Golden Ice framed.  Took a while to decide, but eventually settled on a black frame with a thin strip of yellow backing/boarding... pics to follow!  I really can't wait, he's going to look STUNNING!!!!
I counted (yes, already), and there are 80 working days left til our holiday.  It's a HOLIDAY now, not merely a trip.  Hotel's booked, flights are booked, just gotta hire a car.  I'm thinking we should take it easy this trip, instead of rush around sightseeing.  We did a bit of sightseeing when we were on honeymoon, this time we've got a bank account to open and I want to get a simcard, other than that, we'll probably just drive around and see what the place is all about.  It'll be nice to go on drives, exploring further out.  Not FAR far... but still, not restricted to the CBD and immediate surrounds.
I CANNOT WAIT!  There isn't really much happening between now and then, apart from G's gran coming to visit for a month in May!  Looking forward to seeing her again!  Other things on our 'to do' list are:  G's license needs renewing, we have to get the washmachine serviced, got another dentist checkup and... oh and surviving SOCCER WORLD CUP woot.  That's going to be VERY interesting... not looking forward to the chaos and mayhem...
The weather's taken a definite turn... since 21st March (equinox), it's suddenly got a coolness in the air.  I've thrown another blanket on the bed... so winter's definitely on its way.
Man, now I (once again!) want to be at home stitching.  The winter morning/midday sunlight really streams in beautifully at home, and I wish I was there now lying on the couch lapping it up!  The place where G's aunt+uncle+cousin are staying currently gets a LOT of late afternoon sun, and when we were there on Sunday I was so envious of their dogs - lying stretched out absorbing all the warmth!  Hopefully one day when we have our own house, it'll get good sunlight.  Maybe Brisbane'd be too hot, and we'd be glad NOT to have any sunlight in the house... !
Nearly lunchtime, got a magazine to page through in the meantime - work is still so quiet.

Finished!!!

2 years in the making, and he's done! Jeepers, talk about shoulder ache (it's past midnight now).

Changes

G fetched our passports, and the visas are so pretty and snug in them.  Too cool for words.
Our $ was released yesterday, so yesterday evening we wanted to book flights.  Except, Singapore Airlines' site bombed out after we'd put in the billing details.  No seats on the itinerary.  So this morning I phoned the local office, only to be told by the lady that the online system and her system *are* different, but she can give us the tickets for R12 xxx, which was R1 000 more than the price we had been trying for.  She says the error happened because the flights back are full or something.  Our other option is to 'try and play around with dates til you find something suitable'.  Yes, lady, that's a GREAT IDEA, seeing how the thing only throws up the flipping error once you've clicked 'PAY'... think about that for a second:  the only way to know it HASN'T failed, is after you've already PAID for it.  Not a very smart idea.  So Singapore airlines can get stuffed, especially since their airfare is ALL now R13k+, regardless of what date you choose, when just yesterday, they were R10k etc.  Nice one.  We're thinking of flying on Qantas, with local domestic flights here just to get us to the departing airport.  It saves us R2k on the ORIGINAL Singapore airlines price (which is now not available).
It also allows us to choose different dates, which is better.  Our flights (for now) are closer than we'd originally planned, which is great.  Also, we miss out a public holiday lumped right in the middle of the holiday, which would waste a 'business' day there for us to sort things out.  The hotel rates are the same.
Today is BORING!!!!  Hbbm's not in today, it's a long weekend this weekend, so I'm ... waiting to go home.  Want to stitch stukkend this eve... and tomorrow... and and and...