Charlie's Bird
living the dream with Charlie and Thandi and chirping all the way back to the nest.Archive for August, 2022
Tax
…having just paid a small fortune to SARS (more than what my first house cost me!) I can only feel aggrieved when I hear about sneaky people who launder money and actually owe SARS billions of rands. Yes, BILLIONS! FFS, It just makes me, the honest Joe, completely irritated. I get virtually no breaks, there is very little I can ever claim in my personal capacity, and these idiots find ways to filch billions. Ugh. They must wear orange overalls.
Investigations
…and bone photographs. So yesterday, after a couple of sessions with my physio, I took myself off for an ultrasound of my shoulder. I ended up with ultrasounds of my shoulder and ankle, X-rays of my ankle and shoulder and an MRI of my ankle. Looking back, it has been a while… 8 weeks since I hurt my shoulder and 6 weeks since I fell and hurt my ankle. The shoulder feels worse and the ankle feels like its healing has stalled.
So the results have shown that there is a tendonitis in the shoulder – that I will see a local orthopaedic doctor to look at. I’m told a steroid injection into the join should sort it all out, let’s hope! The ankle…well, that’s a bit of a disaster. One of the ligaments seems to be totally destroyed; and another has a grade 3 tear, which is pretty damn awful. So, I will need to see a foot guy, and we do not have one in this city. At least there is an excuse to travel down to Cape Town sometime soon! I am prepared for what may come. While I really do not want surgery, if it is what happens next, so be it.
Bloody hell – ageing is not for sissies; and potholes are from the devil.
Of kilts and sporans
…on Saturday evening we celebrated Charlie’s birthday with a Scottish themed party! The weather was atrocious! High winds, freezing squalls of rain and icy temperatures – so fairly Scottish too! We did think we were clever to organise that! But the lifesaving club was cosy and we were able to celebrate well!
Charlie’s kilt arrived and he look ever so handsome in it, I wore some leggings in his family tartan; and Thandi wore a kilt she were given when we were on holiday in Scotland. I was stunned at how many people put in some effort and wore kilts and tartan in various shades. We had 2 lads who even came with their faces painted a la Braveheart Scottish warriors. Great fun!
Foodwise – a friend did some snack platters for us; I did a cheese board and the sweets table. We also had a whisky table and everyone really seemed to enjoy it all. There were plenty of leftovers, so I trust no-one went home hungry.
Thandi and I made a speech, shame, she did so well, even though she was a little nervous. She started her speech with a Dad joke, which at least got everyone laughing and broke the ice – My friend asked me to stop singing Wonderwall, so I said “Maybe…” she then had a short and sweet speech. I then said mine, and Charlie replied. Unbeknownst to us, his brother had prepared something, but he decided not to say it, and rather sent it to the family later there next day – I wish he had spoken, because it was a lovely speech; and family relationships, when they are good, should indeed be celebrated!
It really was wonderful to have so many friends and family come and join us, celebrate, and just be together. We felt truly blessed!
Of old men
..so yesterday was such a mixed day. Lets start with the good stuff.
Charlie turned 50! And we had a wonderful day together – he and I just sharing some time together – we took a walk on the boardwalk and watched the wind whip the seas up; we did some groceries – pedestrian, I know, but it felt good to have company. While I did work in the afternoon, we had a friends and family dinner last night, which was lovely! It felt as though it was a very busy and full day, and while I could have sworn it was midnight when we got home, it was only 8:30! I do believe that the lad felt spoilt and appreciated!
The sad news was that we lost a cousin yesterday. Yes, an elderly man with lots of health issues; he was my father’s first cousin (I’m never sure what that makes him to me, but nonetheless) and after a long hard struggle towards the end, a body that has smoked too much for too long, with all it’s associated issues just couldn’t anymore. Of course all of this got me thinking about my dad, and all the other old men who have gone before – Oupa Tom, Doug (my father-in-law), other uncles and friends. That circle of life comes around… And somewhere, in a different realm yesterday, a reunion of souls was celebrated. Go well CB, we will watch your family and be there when they need us. I have no doubt that your boy will take on your role as the glue of the family. And we will stick together.
Of reunions and weather
…so, this weekend was my 30 year reunion. How did that happen guys? That I matriculated 30 years ago blows my mind. Anyway, we had a teeny tiny reunion group, but it was lovely to see the girls that did come down and wander the passages of our school. The festivities were spread out over 2 days. On Thursday evening we were honoured at a formal Old Girls Guild function (yes, I went to a girls only school), and then on Friday morning the school held it’s Founders Day assembly, and on Friday evening we had a very informal get together at one of the local sports clubs. And when I say small group; to contextualise, we had a class of about 110. There were 6 people at the formal function, 11 at the assembly and 13 at the sports club. There were some issues – like the school had an away derby day on the Saturday, and many of my classmates now have children at our school and our brother school, so they all had to travel; and that made a lot of out of towners who might have come along cancel, because their friends were not going to even be in town. What is always disappointing is how many girls who live in our city didn’t come. I guess they had their reasons; but most of the hang ups that people have about their school days, really don’t matter anymore. Honestly, it was all about our memories, and we laughed a lot, remembering the good times. It is also good to see how the school is managing this new era of diversity, challenging old stereotypes and managing social changes, while still honouring our founders. Because whatever we may think of the founders, they are still responsible for the establishment of the school that educated us, shaped and moulded us and (for many of us) our children.
The rest of the weekend was spent trying to hide from the weather. Wow, it was spectacular. High winds, driving rain and bitterly cold temperatures. Yesterday Thandi and Charlie headed a little way out of town to try to watch a surf competition, but it was so so foul, the beach was a sandstorm, and they pretty much turned around and headed home without seeing any of the action. I spent the time prepping for Charlie’s birthday party – I don’t think I mentioned that he turns 50 on Thursday! We are hosting Scottish themed party for about 50! Should be fun! So I have been making table clothes and working on the dessert table – shortbread and Scottish tablet (a type of whipped fudge – next level delicious!). I had an extremely productive day in the kitchen! This despite being on call and having 1 baby and a few other things to sort out.
(and no, I didn’t run – the weather was truly atrocious, and I could not bring myself to head out in rain and gale force winds)
I’m scared
…so scared to run again. I know my demons rising up, and the darkness is getting a bit scary again, but I am so scared that it will hurt and I won’t be able to run again. My last exercise when I tried before Wild Women was such a disaster it really has made me anxious. Although, I managed on that final WW day when I joined the girls; but isn’t it funny how the brain overwhelms you with doubt.
I am seeing the physio again today, so I hope that there will be some improvements that she will be able to see, and I hope that I will feel better about this damn ankle. I would like to get a test run in this weekend, and see how I go. Before I run with friends again. Because I hate failing in front of people. I just hope that things go smoothly. I am supposed to run a half marathon in October, and was really excited to run a good time, now, I’m just hoping that I get to run and get through it in one piece. Flip, I hate this.
Thunderbolt and lightening
…and gale force winds. Wow! The weather is insane here today. I was woken at around 5am to a howling gale starting – crashing leaves and trees, and a smashed glass jar unsettling the early morning. Wow! It feels like nature is angry with us! But, we will take it, and trust that our rain water tanks fill up! Stay safe out there!
A new Month
..august is here. In a bluster of wind and coldish weather. Ugh. But, It is Charlie’s 50th, so there are a few things to look forward to this month. A party is planned – themed Scottish – showcasing his heritage. I’ve ordered a kilt for him in his clan tartan – I can’t believe we didn’t do this when we were in Scotland!
I am still not running – Seeing the physio today, hoping that she will have some good news for me. I have reasonable days and not great days. on the whole it is much better. But I am nervous.
Work is quite busy, keeping me ticking over and out of mischief. Our renovation is basically complete. We are looking for a few decor items to finish things off, but all good for now.
I finished my crocheted blanket! I am super proud of it! Don’t you love the colours?
Schoolwise – there is a lot on the go. Our school (the primary school) and the high school are teaming up on a possible pool build – so that’s keeping us on out toes, sorting permissions, plans and financing. And actually agreeing on a design! Tricky when there are a lot of cooks in the kitchen. But, at the end of the day, if it all goes off as we are planning, it will be amazing! The old pool is something like 60 years old and is basically irreparable, so this has become an urgent priority for us.
Swimming season has kicked off, and so almost every second weekend we are at the pool. Thandi is swimming beautifully and I am impressed with how her times keep dropping – great to see! Her prized Mali board arrived a few weeks ago, unfortunately damaged by the courier, so we have had that one repaired while a new one is in production, she had a test paddle this weekend – she rocked it! She says it is light and fast, which is what we want! Go Nipper Thandi!
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