Bridging the Gap: December 2014 to June 2015

This will be my first post of 2015 and the first week of June has almost passed.

This is not the blog pace originally hoped for, but to say I hit the ground running this year is an understatement. 

Here are some of the highlights:

1. Changed jobs

January was the worst month for me work wise. Realising how unhappy I was at my workplace, and worse yet taking the bad vibes home with me, I decided a change needed to be made. My mom and William lived with a miserable individual that took no joy in anything. Evidently the 'I'm OK, everything is OK' facade I was fronting was ineffective. One weekend in February, I made the decision to resign. No, I did not have another job lined up. All I wanted was to get out of there. As I had not been employed at the company for a year or more, my notice period was only two weeks (which felt longer than the entire 11 months I had actually worked there). I had given it my best shot. I was unhappy from about three months into the job but thought maybe I was slow to adjust and needed to give it more time. It was tough leaving my work family, although most of them left around the same time as I did or shortly thereafter. We had bonded under difficult circumstances, brought closer together by the unhappiness most of us were experiencing. We were each other's coping mechanism. 

I'm now in the Insurance industry and absolutely loving it. The culture of the company is so much better than the previous company, and staff actually feel valued. I look forward to going to work each day, as opposed to dreading the inevitable drama.

2. Studies

I registered for my Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences through UNISA. This qualification is level one of the Honours degree and if I am successful, level two will take place next year and thereafter Board exams. All in a prospective Chartered Accountant's journey. Initially there was a fair amount of hesitation as to whether or not I would register. It had been a tough (and long) journey so far and I doubted my staying power to see through yet another difficult academic year. In the end my curiosity as to whether or not I could do it git the better of me and I registered. Two semester tests have been written so far, and two more are around the corner. Exams take place in October, and although I feel ore confident now than at the beginning of the year there is still much work to be done.

3. There have been so many happy occasions!

• Mellisa and Kriben got married in an intimate and stunning ceremony at the Oyster Box Hotel in Durban on 1 May 2015. Congratulations friends - wishing you many happy years together.

• Janine (my sister) and Craig got engaged in February and are planning their Spring 2015 wedding. I'm one of the bridesmaids and look forward to sharing in the special day later this year.

• Angie & Roger welcomed their son, Diego, into the world on 2 June 2015. Happy and healthy, Diego arrived on Ange's expected due date. Congratulations to the new parents - sure your little one is going to bring so much joy to your lives.

I definitely aim to post most regularly from now on, but until then have a fantastic weekend further.

How I Spent my Birthday

I took a day's leave from work and...

Went for an early morning walk.

Hint of sunrise

Got spoiled (flowers from Angie and the camera from mom & William).

Enjoyed some pampering at Pumula Beauty Salon.

Donated a pint of blood at the South African National Blood Service. There was also good news at the blood bank in that my health has improved quite a bit since the last time I donated in 2010. From nearly failing the iron test, and taking close on 45 minutes to fill the bag I was in and out in 30 minutes.

Then mom and I bought some blankets, bowls, collars, leads, food and harnesses and toys and donated them to the Kempton Park SPCA. We then volunteered for a few hours at the sanctuary, mainly walking the dogs, feeding them dog biscuits and giving all the dogs and cats some love. It really is sad to see that so many pets are without homes but they are in good hands at the various rescue centres around the country.

Thereafter we had some tea and cake at the Mugg & Bean.

Then ended the day off with dinner at Fahrenheit.

I had such an awesome birthday, and loved giving back to those in need. I challenge everyone to support a worthy cause on their own birthday. It does not matter how small the gesture, it will make the world of difference to those affected and effected.

There was also good news at the blood bank in that my health has improved quite a bit since the last time I donated in 2010. From nearly failing the iron test, and taking close on 45 minutes to fill the bag I was in and out in 30 minutes.

Thank you to everybody that wished me, I loved reading each and every message and chatting to the callers.

Here's to the start of a fantastic year!

A Visit to the Farm for a Celebration (or Two)

On the 15th of June, my grandparents celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary (massive applause and congratulations to them). A union spanning fifty five years is no small feat in today's world, and wanting to share in this special occasion with them, my mom, William and myself traveled to their farm on the outskirts of Nelspruit to spend a few days with them. Not only was it their wedding anniversary, but also Father's Day.

The farm is situated in the Schoemanskloof valley, which is approximately forty five minutes drive to Nelspruit, and two and a half hours from Benoni. My grandparents spend about two weeks out of every month on the sprawling expanse of land, and have become good friends with those that reside in the valley permanently.

Grandpa showed us his well tended gardens, and took us onto their neighbor's property to view some of the game they keep. Unfortunately we went at the hottest time of day so the animals kept low profiles, although we were able to see Tsongi, the neighbor's tame female kudu. Hand raised from a baby, Tsongi has become used to people and we fed her apples.We had a lovely roast lunch on Sunday to celebrate the two special occasions, prepared by my mom.

It was a beautiful weekend of good weather (the temperatures are much warmer than those of Johannesburg), delicious food and excellent company. Better yet was the fact that the cell phone reception was almost non existent, and we were able to fully enjoy our time together. 

The farm has been an institution in our lives for many years, and I know some friends can share a memory or two from the good old days. Swimming in the Crocodile River, picnicking in the Sappi forests, visiting one of the many stunning waterfalls in the area, the kids collecting firewood each evening, and roughly twenty adults and children sharing ONE bathroom. Somehow we managed, and we had tons of fun in the process. In 2000, the grandparents knocked down the original farmhouse and rebuilt a more modern structure. It now sports DSTV too! Things may have changed, but the essence of the farm hasn't and it was wonderful to escape for a few days.

Thank you to my mom and William for a lovely weekend, and congratulations once again to Mr & Mrs Littleton, circa 1959. We are so proud of you, and lucky to have you as our family matriarchs. We love you beyond measure.

Together for 55 years.

The old water wheel.

The new farmhouse (left) built in 2000 and the original Rondavel, built 1973.

The green lands

Braai area

Old tractor

My mom and grandparents

Three generations

William and his future family

Watching the France vs Hondouras soccer game

Tsongi, the tame kudu

Gratitude, Manners & Compliments

Just when I thought 'thank you' had gone out of fashion, I was pleasantly surprised by a letter of gratitude.

William and I donated some of our older clothing to a family (a mom and three children aged 10-18) in need. The mom of the family works for my grandparents on the farm in Mpumalanga, and after being widowed last year, was struggling to make ends meet.

Such a small gesture on our part invoked such gracefulness from the family, and their letter of thanks brought tears to our eyes. Things we take for granted every day can make a big difference in someone else's life. Give a little.

Manners

Please.

Thank you.

May I?

Do you need some help?

These words should form a large part of our vocabulary today, but sadly they are in the minority. Worse yet is that it is the adults that need reminding, not even the smallest younger children. What has happened in this new age? Being polite seems to be taboo. We have become rude and treat service people (such as waitrons) with less respect than they deserve. This will be the fall of society. The animal kingdom are far more civilized than the human race.

Thank a friend for doing you a favor. These two small words have a great effect and will ensure that friend's commitment to helping you out again in future. A verbal good faith payment, if you will.

Compliments

We do not give compliments often enough. Think about how good you feel when someone says they like your shoes, or how that new hairstyle shaves 10 years off their age. Weigh lost - tell that person that the loss of 5kgs has done wonders for their appearance.

The positive feedback encourages the recipient to continue the struggle until reaching goal weight. Times when they are so desperately craving a chocolate they will remember your compliment, and that may just be the moral support they need to stay on the right track. Everybody needs compliments to boost their self confidence.

So why don't we compliment more? 

Are we jealous of that person and their success? With adulthood, we should be able to put such emotions aside and see the bigger picture.

Someone once told me that she notices good things about people in her life, and mentally acknowledges the nice handbag or changed hair colour, but doesn't verbalize the compliment. In my opinion that is the same as not complimenting someone at all. What good is thinking it but not saying it?  This is not the same as the phrase 'If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all.' Exactly the opposite.

If you have something nice to say, don't not say it at all. Double negative = a positive (remember your high school Maths teacher reiterating this principle).

This picture sums it all up for me.

P.S Not expecting any compliments on the aesthetics of this blog as it is under construction, and I hope to present you with a finished product in the not too distant future.

Grief and Maintaining Equilibrium

As readers of my previous post know, our fur child Salem passed onto the next realm last week. At risk of sounding like a crazy cat lady (and people are welcome to think this), William and I are still mourning her.

The initial shock of her premature passing has made way for heart wrenching sorrow, and the thought of life without her becomes too much to bear at times. What some don't understand is that our cats are our children. They have personalities and we consider them our family members. Other people talk about their children and show photographs at social gatherings.We do the same - with our cats.

Colleen sent me this message on Monday night, and at the time it brought on a fresh round of tears at the realization yet again of her absence, today I read it again and it brought some comfort.

I stood at your bedside last night, I came to have a peep.

I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear.

"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea.

You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today, your arms were getting sore.

I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care.

I want to reassure you that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house as you fumbled for your key.

I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said "It's me".

You looked so very tired and sank into a chair.

I tried so hard to let you know that I was standing there.

It's possible for me to be so near you everyday.

To say to you with certainty "I never went away".

You sat there very quietly, then smiled. 

I think you knew in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over, I smile and watch you yawning.

I say "Good night, I'll see you in the morning"

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,

I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.

Be patient, live your journey out, then come home to be with me.

Courtney shared this picture with us, and like the passage above, it reminded us that our loved ones are only gone from sight. Their spirits remain with us.

Thank you to everyone that has sent us messages of support over the past few days - we are so grateful to you all.

The universe needs equilibrium. What goes up must come down. Yin and yang. 2014 had been going so well for us, we were thrilled. I'd managed to tick off two of my goals for the year in less than six months, and the prospects for the remainder of the year were bright. There was/is so much to look forward to. However, with every action is an equal and opposite reaction.

This had occurred to me recently, but I'd brushed the thought aside. Something wasn't right but I didn't entertain the notion. It never crossed our minds that such an event would happen, throwing the world as we knew it, into total disarray.

Good with the bad. It wouldn't be life if things ran smoothly.

If things aren't going well, don't give up hope. Something good is on the horizon. Hang in there.

On the other side of the coin, nothing can go well all of the time. I realize this may sound pessimistic, but we do need to be realists.

Salem's untimely passing has taught me a valuable lesson. Don't take anything for granted. Tell your family member/friend/cousin/colleague and fur child that you love them. One never knows when that person/pet will no longer be with us.

I regret not taking more photographs, and have made this me mission in life. If you thought I was annoying with my camera before - just wait! At the end of the day, that is all we have left of our loved ones.

So adjust your hair and neaten your outfit, then SMILE for the camera. These are the memories we'll keep forever.

Why I Love Birthdays

Birthday. That day of the year when the pendulum swings into the next year of our lives.

Some people don't like birthdays and will go to extreme measures to downplay the occasion. Whether this is due to not wanting to accept the fact that they are getting older, or don't like being in the spotlight, the reason varies from person to person.

Personally I LOVE birthdays. Obviously the age bit is less than ideal, but the huge plus factor, in my opinion, is the celebration. Birthdays (and unfortunately funerals) are the two occasions that bring people together, and that quality time (birthdays only) is what I treasure. Having a casual braai at home (having a house full of people is one of my all time favorite things in life), or going out to a venue -  the 'what' isn't the operative word. Rather the 'who'. The pleasure of your friends and family's company.

We don't celebrate enough. We get wrapped up - or tunnel visioned - in our lives and stress over many facets of our existence (finances and work to name but a few), that we actually forget that life is passing us by. We'll never get those days back, and one day when we're watching the replay of our time on Earth, what will we regret? I'll regret the days spent worrying over matters I have no control over, instead of the time that I said yes to a friend's invitation. There's nothing more expensive than regrets, and that I truly believe.

It's not about being the center of attention either. Yes, you'll receive more calls and messages than any other day, but why not think of it as a compliment that so many people treasure you and want to wish you a happy birthday? Honestly, I think a lot of birthdays would go unacknowledged if it weren't for Facebook and it's daily reminders, however, the wisher still took the time to send the wishee (is that even a word?) a message.

What makes a good birthday? In addition to the advantages I've mentioned above, CAKE! If there's one day of the year (OK, Christmas makes two)  where it is absolutely imperative to stray from the diet it's a birthday. Eat, drink and be merry! Have your cake and eat it too. Life is too short not to.

Gifting. This is where the waters get murky. The average person cannot afford to buy every single friend a present. Sadly, in today's world, a 'decent' present (if buying a voucher or contributing cash) is considered approximately R300. Multiply that by the number of friends you would normally buy gifts for and it's rather expensive over a year. If there's one thing I hate it's being invited somewhere just to give a present. The host (possibly a friend of a friend of a friend) doesn't care for your presence, and you may only be acquaintances -  but you've been invited to their birthday party. Why? 

William and I have decided to only buy gifts for friends on landmark birthdays and special occasions (weddings, baby showers, etc)  as it is simply too expensive. By the same token, we do not want or expect gifts from friends on our birthdays. So friends -  if you're reading this, please don't be offended that we haven't bought you gifts, this is why. Age brings with it life lessons, and what was important 5 years ago is not up there on the list of priorities now. As a child I was always excited to open my birthday presents, the higher the number the better. As an adult my values have changed, and now gifts are the least important.

I make big deals out of birthdays. Celebrations would last a week if I had it my way. There's nothing better than showering your loved ones with love and attention, for no other reason to show them how much you mean to them. And yes, we should show this appreciation every day, it's that much more special on a birthday. I plan William's and my birthday parties a month in advance, and countdowns start at more or less the same time.

You're the oldest you've ever been, and youngest than you'll ever be again.

Powerful statement. Make the most out of life.

William is the most recent person in our family to celebrate a birthday. Here are some photographs taken today.

5 Things Thursday

A fellow blogger created this series called '7 Things' and I found the idea extremely appealing as it would bring variety to each post. Instead of rambling on about one subject for 12 000 characters which could possibly result in a reader (or even myself) losing interest, I am able to include multiple topics without making them seem inane or irrelevant of one another.

So here goes, a wrap up of the week that was:

1) The Oscar Pistorius Trial. No matter where one goes in South Africa, we are bombarded with up to the minute coverage of the trial. We have a dedicated radio and television channel broadcasting the proceedings live (a world first - fist pump for SA), newspaper headlines lead with the latest developments - it's even all over social media. Now in its' third week, and with no prospect of the end in sight, some members of the public are getting frustrated. What started off as interest has been replaced with boredom. The fact of the matter is he shot dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. No question about it. Now, the issue at hand is whether it was premeditated or self defence, and the sentence he receives will be based on this outcome. Witnesses of all calibers have been called from neighbours of the paralympian athlete to experts from the USA. Everyone has an opinion on what happened that fateful night, but only the court's verdict counts. 

2) The disappearance of flight MH370. The aircraft, carrying 239 people, disappeared on 8 March. No distress signals were transmitted, and according to engineers all modes of communication were severed  a mere hour into the flight, setting off theories of a hijacking. If it was a hijacking, wouldn't the captors have made contact and given their demands? I find the "Lost" theory very hard to believe. Basically the aircraft has landed on some remote island (possibly as part of the hijacking). Seriously, it's a Boeing. It requires a certain distance of runway on which to land, and wouldn't someone have spotted the plane? The chances of these people being found alive are virtually zero. They would not have had enough supplies on which to survive, and if the aircraft landed/crashed into the sea, they would have required immediate rescue. Another interesting theory (and one I'm tending to agree with) was compiled by Chris Goodfellow, a pilot. Read it here.

Earlier today, assumed pieces of wreckage off the western coast of Perth were spotted via satellite. Ships from multiple nations converged on the area but the weather was poor and visibility limited. The search will resume tomorrow, and hopefully some closure will be brought to the matter. I can't imagine what the families of those on board may be experiencing, but to find out what happened may ease their sadness somewhat.

3) William celebrates his birthday this Sunday! My other half will be celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the day of his birth, and we are going to spend the day doing whatever he wants. It's only right seeing as though it is his birthday. Happy happy birthday my love, I wish you a year of health, wealth and happiness and a lifetime of joy in abundance.

4) Tomorrow is Human Rights Day in South Africa. Ramsey Clark said "A right is not what someone gives you; it's what no-one can take from you." Be kind to your fellow man, and accept them for who they are. Humanity has fought enough fights. Live and let live.

5) This week I received my first compliment from my boss! Happiness is. 

Wishing you all an awesome long weekend. 

Our Anniversary and a Must See Movie

Yesterday William and I celebrated our 6th anniversary of being a couple.

We were introduced by a mutual friend at the end of 2007, and officially started dating a few months later.
As with most normal couples, our road hasn't been an easy one. Rather like a race track with hurdles every couple of hundred meters. We have traveled somewhat, encountered some amazing people and shared in memorable experiences together. We have also spent more time at the home affairs offices than any couple should have to, but that chapter is now closed (and not a moment too soon). One thing I can say is that our journey has been anything but ordinary, and it has matured us in many ways. It has made us stronger, and we will continue to go from strength to strength. We have so much more we want to see and do, and I look forward to writing the next chapter of our book and seeing what the universe has in store for us.

To the upcoming years (cheers!)

Oh, and for those that were disappointed we haven't gotten engaged - go back and read my post 'So when are you getting married?" :)

On Wednesday night, a group of ladies and I went to watch Winter's Tale at the cinema. Wow, what a mixed bag of emotions this film is. Starring Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, Will Smith and others, the story-line revolves around Colin Farrell's character in New York in the icy winters of 1914 and 2014. Synopsis: a burglar falls in love with an heiress, who tragically dies of consumption at age 21. When he learns he has the gift of reincarnation he sets out to save her. I don't want to give too much away so that's all I'm going to say but this is definitely one for the ladies. With some romance, drama, action and even sci-fi it will not disappoint. Colleen and I particularly enjoyed it after recently reading Theresa Caputo's "There's More to Life Than This" - some of the connotations and references in the film were similar to content in Theresa's book. I can highly recommend it, so if you don't have plans this weekend, phone a friend and have a girls day/night out. Don't forget the tissues!

Have a fantastic weekend.

Until next time
x

The Problem With... Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day originates back to the 14^th century when it received its first connotations about love, and since then has become one of the most celebrated occasions on the calendar.

Call me a pessimist/killjoy but I’ve never been one to partake in the money making gimmick that is Valentine’s Day. Retailers promote the “day of love” in order to boost profits, and one can almost picture the MD of Cardies rubbing his hands together in delight. An example: 12 red roses normally sell for less than R200 but because it’s Valentine’s Day the price doubles to R400!

R400 for flowers (that although pretty) will wilt and die in a few days. Sure – prove your undying love for your partner with some botanicals that won’t make it past Sunday. Flowers aside, teddy bears; chocolates; and those cheesy “I heart you” mugs are all marked up 200%. Restaurants go the extra mile by offering a three course meal with the clichéd violinist, to serenade their patrons. Oh, and to justify the price they’ll even throw in some chocolates. How generous.

Then there are the couples that get engaged on Valentine’s Day. To each their own, but honestly how many other people (in the same restaurant) are going to be fishing rings out of their champagne glasses? Be original!

My fundamental issue with Valentine’s Day is why not show your love/appreciation for your partner every day of the year? Why are we limited to one day? The best gifts or dinners are the unexpected ones. Prices are cheaper and restaurants are emptier.

What am I doing for Valentines? William and I are going to watch a movie and we’ll probably have a home cooked dinner. There’s no one else I’d rather spend my evening with, partaking in one of our favorite things to do.

Whether you celebrate the occasion or not, have a happy Friday and good weekend!

Keeping a Dream Diary

Dreams have always fascinated me, partly because they are our sub conscious' creations, and partly because so much research has been done on them.

Our brains are so amazing in that they can throw the weirdest dream at us, and true, it may contain a tiny portion of relevance to the day leading up to the dream but they can also bring suppressed thoughts forward. Things we'd prefer not to think about during our waking hours. And our conscience protects us by pushing those thoughts to the subconscious level. With nightfall comes sleep, and that is a no holds barred event. We are at the mercy of our sub consciences.

Many websites will encourage their visitors to analyse their dreams, and find some deeper meaning. It is not an exact science but I believe there is some truth to it. Firstly, here are some facts about dreams

• You can't read or tell the time while dreaming;
• You can have up to seven dreams per night (the average is three to five), depending on how many REM (rapid eye movement) cycles you have;
• Dreams can last anywhere from a few seconds to 45 minutes, and it has been suggested we dream two out of every eight hours worth of sleep;
• Blind people dream too. Their dreams are as interesting as ours, except their dreams involve senses other than sight;
• You always dream, but don't always remember it.Up yo 60% of people are unable to recall their dreams;
• Approximately 12% of people dream only in black and white.

So I decided to keep a dream diary for one week. I kept a notepad in my bedside drawer to record my dreams as soon as I woke up. This is what happened...

Friday, 3 January

The dream: I was at my longtime friend's wedding, in Australia. Stephanie (Angelo's bride) was wearing a beautiful deep purple wedding gown, and the ceremony was held in a jungle. You may think it odd but writing down what I experienced in my dream does it no justice. I guess you just had to have been there.

Background: Angelo and I have been friends since high school, and he got engaged to Stephanie in 2012. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the wedding due to financial constraints (it was actually held in Melbourne, Australia), so I followed the updates on Facebook from South Africa. 

What I think it means: My subconscious was obviously aware of how badly I wanted to attend the wedding, so I was treated to this glimpse of the big day. No, Stephanie did not wear a purple gown on her wedding day and no I'm almost positive the ceremony wasn't held in a forest/jungle setting. 

Here is a photograph of the newlyweds on their special day. Angelo and Stephanie - I wish you many mnay years of happiness together. Please don't forget my invite to your 50th wedding anniversary!

Saturday, 4 January

I could not remember my dream when I woke up that morning. I willed my brain to produce something, anything, but no. I fell into that 60% category that night. I do remember that it was a broken sleep though. I kept waking up at odd hours, and it didn't help that a fellow resident was letting off fireworks at midnight. The really loud crackers that sound like a bomb has detonated. If only those people understood what they were doing to the animals in the suburb, but that's a story for another day.

Sunday, 5 January

The dream: William and I were living in Durban, and we woke up one morning to find a little girl of about eight years (dressed in her finest frock and with a ribbon in her hair) standing at the foot of our bed. She told us that the house next door to us had set alight during the night, and a part of our roof had also burnt. No one had been injured in the blaze but the family had lost all their belongings. Afterwards, my mom and I went to Computicket to buy two tickets to the rugby game taking place later that day to raffle off for the benefit of the family that had lost everything.

What I think it means: I'll be honest, this one unnerved me a little and I have no idea why I would dream this. A house in Atlasville burnt down in November last year, and I was on scene so possibly the dream was related to that?

Monday, 6 January

The dream: Chantel and I had lunch (and cocktails) at this beautiful restaurant built on stilts in the middle of a crystal blue ocean. The restaurant was made of wood, and a thatch roof. It was enclosed in glass providing the most breathtaking views of our surroundings. I have no idea where we were, but picture a beautiful Maldives resort. That's what I experienced.

Background: I met Chantel through Courtney way back in 2008. The pair had been friends since Courtney met Chantel at Dream Nails and the two have been inseparable ever since. At her brother's wedding in the UK last June, Chantel met the man of her dreams. They got engaged a few months later, and Chantel moved to the UK to live with her fiancee. The couple are to be married later this month, and Chantel recently announced she is pregnant. Congratulations Chantel and Andrew, we wish you all the best and may your little bundle of joy bring you much happiness and joy.

What I think it means: Gosh, aside from the dream being totally off in that Chantel couldn't have been drinking cocktails since she's pregnant, I have no idea. Ha ha! It was nice to "catch up" with you Chants.

Here is a photograph of the happy couple with Chantel's godson Dylan, taken at Sun City when Andrew holidayed in South Africa last year.

Tuesday, 7 January

Another night I was unable to recall my dream. No strange occurrences during the day, maybe I was just tired.

Wednesday, 8 January

The dream: We (my mom, William and I) were on holiday with my grandparents. We were on a cruise (not sure if it was the one we went on together last year or perhaps another one) but we soaked up the sun, swam in the pool and just relaxed. It was wonderful.

What I think it means: Need to go on another holiday/cruise! Below is a photograph of the five of us in Athens in June 2013.

Thursday, 9 January

The dream: I was in some warehouse, it was deserted and in a desolate area. Gregg & Courtney came in and told me they intended selling some storage space. They then took a cardboard box off a shelf and opened it, but it was empty. Gregg then said that that (the cardboard box) was what he intended selling.

What I think it means: Absolutely no clue. It was very random and it makes no sense at all. Courtney, Gregg and Dylan, below.

And that concludes my dream diary. Granted, a professional may delve a bit deeper into the meaning of the above dreams but the purpose of this post was merely to recall my dreams and let any of the people featured in my dreams that I do think of them, even if only subconsciously.

Have you ever kept a dream diary, or have any remarkable dreams that you'll never forget?

Happy Friday everybody, have a fantastic weekend.

Simone

Angie & Roger tie the Knot

On a happier note, my good friend, Angelique Jooste recently became a Mrs when she married Roger Dias.

Angie & Roger met three years ago at a work social, and got engaged last October. The wedding date was set as the one year anniversary of their engagement, being the 26th.

The venue, Soli Deo Gloria Boutique Hotel, is situated in Northriding, Johannesburg. 

The ceremony took place in the hotel's beautiful garden, and thankfully the weather held out. There were a few ominous clouds that threatened to move the vows indoors, but by the time the ceremony began the sun shone beautifully in the afternoon sky.

The maid of honour, Jackie and bridesmaid Fatima, wore beautiful plum sweetheart cocktail dresses and Angie wore a stunning mermaid style dress with beading on the bodice. I doubt there was a dry eye in the house when the father of the bride shook Roger's hand and presented his daughter to the groom.

The service was conducted by an Irish priest, and comprised a good deal of humour which the congregation enjoyed.

Instead of having a ring bearer, the rings were transported down the aisle in a different manner...

The reception followed in the evening, and what an amazing job Angie and the decor team did. The colour scheme was purple and red and whilst one may think these colours would normally clash, they actually complimented one another and produced a breathtaking sight.

The cake (and some of the decor) was centred around the couple's love of nature and the "guestbook" was wood from a tree trunk. The cake was a beautiful three tier (chocolate, vanilla and fruit cake) and the toppers were monkeys. Anyone that knows the couple is aware that they affectionately call each other macaco (monkey in Portuguese).

Later in the evening, the DJ announced that the cake toppers had been taken and kindly asked whoever had taken them to please return them. Roger's mom, Emilia, later explained that the stealing of the cake toppers is a Portuguese tradition, and whoever takes them must return them to the married couple on their first wedding anniversary and take the couple for lunch/dinner. Fascinating!

Once the speeches and formalities were finished, Roger & Angie opened the dance floor with more than the usual one-two-shuffle they told us to expect (nice one guys). Rather the newlyweds did twirls and dips and looked so happy and at ease. 

What a lovely wedding it was, one that the guests will remember for years to come.

Wishing the new Mr & Mrs Roger Dias a lifetime of happiness and love.