One major weekend down, two to go...

...the countdown to the wedding continues!!

This weekend was put aside for a large push to get some doors painted and various wedding shopping tasks completed. They say pride comes before a fall and Cath and I were certainly feeling smug on Saturday lunchtime when we had ticked off the new door handles from our to-do list...that's when things went a little strange.

What was supposed to happen was that I was to go and watch our plucky little rugby team galantly lose to those fearful Southern Hemisphere bullies from Australia, pop along to some pleasant work drinks and then home to bed nice and early ready for our raid on Selfridges.

I am not actually sure what happened past the end of the rugby but Cath assures me that I was a paragon of decorum and moral fortitude. Needless-to-say Sunday morning came around a little quicker than expected and not even a steaming cup of tea and a fried egg sandwich could improve my outlook.

Despite a slightly shorter than expected tube journey we had great success with our shopping culminating in some natty new ties and shoes for yours truly and even some new togs for Cath.

The weekend was rounded off with a great big Canadian Thanksgiving meal cooked by CanaDan...happy days!!!

So that is one major weekend rescued from the jaws of defeat...let's hope for more of the same next week for the semi-final rugby stag and potentially an England vs South Africa hen party!!!

There

We found the College, found the porters lodge, signed out the keys and found our apartment. It is great. One big bedroom with built in cupboards, a lounge / spare room, a nice, clean kitchen with all the basics and a little bathroom with everything we need. We got our stuff in and headed off to Tescos for an essential shop. We got food etc and Cath also went ‘shopping’ at the same time for things like flowers, little creature comforts, etc. We got back just before dark and unpacked everything. Cath then handed over all of ‘her shopping’ item by item – helping us make our apartment a home. What a super sister / sister in-law. After more unpacking and cleaning we headed out for a nice dinner to say thanks for everything her and Simon had done for us – really making the arrival easy. Place after place was full with all the students clubbing, bar hopping and having a last dinner with mother and father. We finally found a little spot called Rainbow Café opposite Kings College and had a great, friendly meal. We then said our goodbyes and headed back home to collapse in a heap.

The next day we went shopping for more essentials, like bikes and boots, and got to know the place and pace around town. We met the MCR locals (middle common room) at Peter House and got a list of the welcome activities, like quiz and cocktails, pizza and a movie and the punt / cycle to … somewhere (hopefully close), that were coming up.

So far I have been to one recruitment agency interview and I have another on Monday. I know I’ll be fine but I am trying everything I know how – a little nervous but I’m sure, with time, I’ll find something great to be a part of for the next 4 years – heard today that I might have an opportunity to work as internal marketer for a software company that develops programs and software for dyslexic individuals. They like the fact that I have technical and marketing aspects to my CV – say it’s very hard to find.

Here are some pics – they do not do it justice – to really see Cambridge – come visit, stay on our sleeper couch (TBC) as long as you want and experience it with us – you are welcome.

Going

After the cappuccino had turned Caryn back into Bug we headed off to Putney. It took about an hour in morning traffic. We checked-in, had a cup of tea and prepped to hit the high street. I say checked-in cus it really was 5 start service and hospitality from Cath from beginning to end. Simon and Cath make a great team and are so welcoming. So – we hit the high street – picked up a cake for Simon, got a SIM card for my phone, checked on Bugs old bank account (still had the same £ 4.96 as when she left) and got to see the area Cath calls home. That afternoon we napped and then we napped again and then slept a little – we were out for about 3 hours and it was a real lifesaver. We then showered and got all partied up for the night ahead.

We then headed on to Rocket Bar on the Themes for a great dinner where I finally got to meet all the friends I had heard so much about – all so different but every one friendly, chatty and welcoming. Si TJ managed to pop by and join us for a meal and a drink – it was good to catch up with him. Nice to get some marketing market related advice about working in the UK too. After the meal Simon was presented with the cake which he cut up and shared with everyone – he cunningly divided so that there would be enough for a nice breakfast snack the next day too (good job). We then moved into the bar area. More of Cath and Simons friends arrived and I finally got to meet Kitty – such a crazy cool friendly cat. Later two of Bugs friends managed to make it down – Dietmar and Judy – and we had a great time catching up. It was really funny when Dietmar turned up with all of his bags fresh off a flight back from the USA. His plans for accommodation had fallen through and Cath and Simon kindly offered him the couch. Later Judy arrived and offered him a place for a few days at her place so he decided to stay there instead. Good thing too, cus later that night / earlier then next morning Kitty was in need of the couch more J.

The next morning we had a great breakfast (with the leftover cake) and headed out to Cambridge after trying to repack our bags – a lot came out but not all of it went back in. It took us about an hour and a half to get through west London and out onto the A1(M). We took one or two scenic routes but arrived in Cambridge on time – just after 3.

Going

We landed in Namibia early and waited for our driver to come pic us up – there was another lady with us who was on her way back to the UK, back to her boyfriend. She had been trying to get a visa for over 6 months and was finally allowed back in. The driver arrived – not so much English but the combi was comfortable and air-conditioned. We got to the lodge and headed straight outside. It was nice, the staff were friendly and helpful – we lay in the sun with the cool breeze blowing, drinking cooldrinks and reading on the edge between the pool and the waterhole. BAD IDEA. We went inside for our lunch, I had half a chicken and Bug had a game schnitzel, realising only then how much sun we had actually had. We turned from white to pink, pink to red and red to crimson as we eat. During the meal a crazy German tour guide introduced himself and said that he was taking us at about 3. After lunch we escaped to the shaded terrace and napped / read / relaxed the midday away. At 3 we went looking for zi crazy German and found him at the reception. He had a very interesting method or tracking game – instead of driving slowly when he spotted something to try and get close – he would try and catch up with it when it started running, so we spend about 2 hours bouncing along jeep-track in the Namibian semi-desert. He did miss one or two things at the start but it was great fun and I got some pics. Hard to believe that the dry landscape can support life, but sure enough – there was life and plenty of it. We did however see a Wilderbees calf that had died recently, either from lack of water or food or too much heat. He told us that they had to get rain in the next 4 – 8 weeks or there would be trouble. We then headed back to the airport and on to England. Very interesting terminal at Windhoek – there is no transit – you have to go out of arrivals, through customs and then back through customs and into departures. Relaxed and cat-napped in departures lounge. The flight on was comfortable and the service was nice but I couldn’t get a wink of sleep for some reason – so I was devastated when I got to Gatwick – in survival mode. After landing and getting our bags Bug picked up some cash from Forex – from one of her sponsors – and headed straight to the closest coffee shop and ordered a large (HUGE) cappuccino. While I watched our bags I felt warm hands grip my shoulders – Cath.

Retired day 1

Hi from Hermanus. Had wonderful few days with Mariette and Francois. Saw many whales in Walker Bay and relaxed and walked, read and slept. Now I am officially retired and feel very strange not to be at school. But I think I could get used to it!

Beautiful spring windy weather. Long cliff walks. Also saw paragliders (like Andrew) and kites galore. The wales are so peaceful and happy leaping out of the water and rolling over and splashing their tail fins over. Not swimming weather yet.

Home...

So I am here in Cambridge, my lekker bakkie has become a 6 speed city bike with a bag rack, a bell, a lock, lights and (soon) a basket. cold calling recruitment agencies today and getting my CV out there.

Caryn is at a matriculation and attending the induction ceremony at Peter House - such a nice place - all steeped in tradition and beautiful. Halls from the 1500s and pathways of solid stone worn down like bore-holes.

Will add some pics soon.


Must get to the CV update etc.

Will have a land line and Internet connection in flat soon. (and sofa couch for all you keen people).

Welcome one and all

Hello there family,

Simon came up with a wonderful idea about how to keep us all linked together - now that we are all over the world!!

So lets get blogging!

There is so much news from me I am not sure where to begin. Just coming to the end of a very exciting weekend of family and festivities. Lovely to have Mark and Caryn here for two days and I am sure they are settling into Cambridge very quickly.

Simon had his 33rd (wow he is old) birthday this week and we had a big party on Friday evening. He was rather hungover on Sat morning, but a fried breakfast and some leftover birthday cake made all the difference.

The picture above is from our adventure last weekend with Dad. Big Henry Moore construction art in Kew gardens and we spent 4 hours tracking each one down for Dad to tick off on the list (with a tea and banana muffin stop to help us along)


This one is of Captain Simon Pugwash navigating the River Avon in July. This was the weekend before all the floods in England, so our little trip to Jen and Vanessa was well timed. Sue & Ed (Simon's folks) and Simon & I spent a fun filled two days in Stratford-upon-Avon and a 'South Africa must do' list was devised for their trip in November (I am just not sure 3 weeks will be long enough to do it all)





This one is from our best holiday of the year! A great week snowboarding in Morzine with 16 of our friends and family. I know why we do these every year - they just rock!
Not sure how we will cope without a snow fix next season, but I am sure sufficient adventures await us to make up for it.

So enough from me - over to you guys.

C x