Tuesday 26 January 2016

Some day's a diamond some day's a stone

Interesting that some day's I feel I can conquer the world and then other day's. . . . . . well other days are just that. . . . .  other days.

Today I feel I can rock it . . . . . throw it at me and I will ROCK it!!!!!!

Okay so the words of this song has absolutely nothing to do with my mood today, but it's just one of those songs that you need to listen to with your earphones on and the volume turned up full blast. . . . . . . .JUST ROCK IT!

Thursday 21 January 2016

The Order Of The Red Blazer

Four years of perseverance, determination and hard work all culminated into a very emotional but proud evening for us as parents. Kaylin being presented with her Red Blazer, cum Laude Honours in Leadership.

Her journey started in 2012 with her very first day at Sutherland High School as a grade 8 learner. Over the past four years Kaylin has completed the following:

3 Desert Walks: Leadership and Character Development Camps
3 Leadership Hikes
Solitaire Weekend: 40 hours of solitary individual refinement, Just her, a tent, a sleeping bag and 5 litres of water. No food, no comforts, no company.
Finishing School for young ladies
MBA for Pupils Course
Speechmasters Youth Leadership Programme
Self Defense Course
Fist Aid Level 1 and Level 2 Qualification
12 months Mentorship of Junior Pupils
40 Hours Community Service

So proud of her!





THE ORDER OF THE RED BLAZER

I, hereby pledge before God and my friends that I will honour and uphold the Ethos and values of the Order of the Red Blazer.
I undertake to serve with commitment, passion and humility.
Whatsoever my hands find to do, I will do with all my might.
I will live a life of respect and respect as a value will be visible in my day to day conduct.
I will always be accountable for my actions.
Integrity will be my daily companion.
I will be honest and trustworthy.
I will serve others and will always put other people ahead of myself.
I undertake to perserve and live a life of honour and valour.
I will never quit.
So help me God.


Wednesday 20 January 2016

Riding on a rainbow

Chris de Burgh - Riding on a rainbow - Live in South Africa 1988

I wonder. . . . if Chris had to sing this song now, would he change the words? Sure as hell SA is not the rainbow nation we all dreamed of.

It was, for a couple of years with our dear Madiba at the helm, but since then our rainbow nation has started fading to black and white and eventually when only those two colours remain, we will lose everything we fought so hard for.



Sunday 17 January 2016

DIY - From almost throw-away to Shabby Chic

So I had a number of old frames lying around in storage and have been threatening to throw then out. However today I decided to give them a shabby chic look. . . . . . . Now just to fill and hang.
Actually quite easy using the candle wax method.



Saturday 9 January 2016

President's Hike - Kynsna (Part 4)

My chicken is home, sore feet and all. In fact her feet have taken quite a beating. The bridge of her left foot is badly burnt. The blisters have popped, but the skin is now coming off. The blisters between her toes are massive and the cut on her heel is deep.


None the less she completed 60km of the 80km with all these injuries. Starting off by walking in slops until the blisters formed between her toes, then resorting to walking the rest of the way barefoot.

Keep in mind she completed the entire hike with a heavy hiking bag on her back. That's beyond brave. So proud of her!

She's home now and receiving much warranted TLC. The wounds have been attended to and they are slowing starting to heal. Both her feet remain severely swollen, but we are treating that. She still cannot wear shoes and won't be able to do so for a couple of days. Slippers are the closest to shoes she is going to get for now.

When she arrived home last night all she wanted to do was take a long, hot, foamy bath and then a well deserved comfortable sleep in her own bed. All I wanted was to hear about the hike . . . . it was not going to happen.

This afternoon she started to unwind and slowly the stories started coming. She herself is still amazed at how she managed to complete the entire 80km hike and completing it well. She stayed among the front runners on the hike and she never asked or accepted assistance. Her fellow hikes encouraging her every step of the way. Even one of the teacher commented that not once did she moan or complain. What has become evident from her now verbal diarrhea, is that she has made memories that will stay with her for a lifetime.

My heart bursts with pride!

Thursday 7 January 2016

President's Hike - Knysna (Part 3)

So Kaylin has managed to complete each of the four 20km hikes, three of them with a burnt foot and alternating between slops and barefoot. So proud of her, showing true character.

Tomorrow (Friday 8th Jan) they head back home. Can't wait to see her and hear about her amazing adventure . . .  and of course to see the photos. 

Wednesday 6 January 2016

President's Hike - Knysna (Part 2)

So Kaylin's phone is flat and her charger no longer wants to charge her phone. Sadly she can no longer send me photos or updates.

I do however know that they arrived safely at their destination in Kaynsa and that she completed the first of four 20km hikes successfully.

However on Monday night I received a distress call from her (from her friend's phone). She had spilled a full pot of boiling water and 2min noodles over her bare foot......instant blisters....and she still has 3 x 20km hikes to complete with a full hiking bag on her back.

Maar Kaylin sal nie dat so iets in haar pad staan nie. Ons verneem sy het alreeds die volgende 20km suksesvol afgele......al was dit nou deels in plakkies en deels kaalvoet.

Jy toon deursettings vermoe, vasberandehied en karakter. Ons is super trots op jou my kaalvoet kind.

I'm hoping that she will arrange to get all the photos from her friends once she is back home. I will be sure to post them here and to share with you, what I'm sure is a very exciting adventure.

Sunday 3 January 2016

President's Hike - Knysna (Part 1)

Kaylin is yet again off with the her school on an amazing adventure . . . . .  a 7 day hike in the Knysna forest. The hike is one of the scheduled hikes required for the President's Award (leadership) program offered by her school. They are a group of about 30 scholars (boys and girls) together with a group of awesome teachers.

They are required to carry with them all their requirements, including food. It's not a holiday and it's not going to be easy. The first two days of the trip are basically spent just traveling to their destination, Knysna, so there is no hiking as such.

However once they reach Knysna, they will be doing a 20km hike each day for 4
consecutive days. A tough couple of days lie ahead but I know she is in her element.

First night stop over at Gariep Dam. Campsite set up. They have to pitch their own tents, cook their own food and be almost 100% self sufficient.



Hoping to receive some more photos as the adventure unfolds, so keep an eye on this space.