Spring Bazaar

Saturday is our annual Spring Bazaar taking place in our church grounds, with the main attraction being the beer tent, showing live rugby. Yes, in our church grounds. I cannot wait. Lots to celebrate! Hope to see you all there!

Entrance is R2 and there are raffles with great prizes to be won!

Chaotic Times

After receiving a notice in my inbox earlier today that Tink commented on my last blog I looked back in horror and realised that I hadnt written a think since the 8th of August! 8th of August!! WTF? What does it say on the calendar today? Hmmmm 29th of August, that is more than 20 days after my last post. So what happened? Its been really crazy, let me tell you, in that a huge series of events have led me to shy away from the e-world, only to return fully this very morning, precisely at 10am.

A few days after my somewhat drunken convo with my boss at the Sun City Conference, where I told him how bored I was etc, I found myself bombarded with work, mostly from him and his two-I.C., plus my 10 other team-mates. My office looked like a tornado hit it once, twice and then one more time, for good measure, as I tried to make sense of what was plotting, and what needed to be done urgently. Dont get me wrong, I wasnt really complaining. I like to be kept busy, especially if its interesting work, like one of the projects I was busy with for my boss where I had to investigate the construction industry. But there were times that I wanted to pull my hair out when I couldnt seem to find the light at the end of the tunnel.

With perfect timing, my youngest brother, Ferdi, finally got a job at a small law firm, and began about 3 weeks ago, round about the same time that my workload increased. This meant that our working hours would now change as he only had to be in the office at 8, but would work till later. So instead of coming into the office early and leaving early like I have been used to, I now get here just before 8, and leave well after 5. This suited me, since I could work late, alone most of the time, and in peace. I only fell off the wagon once, when after all the frustrations, I decided to put the work aside for one afternoon and joined a few other late owls at the News Cafe across the road for a few drinks. It was what the doctor ordered.

So in addition to all that, I had to get my ducks in a row as our church's annual Spring Festival draws near (keep an eye out for details tomorrow, or search for "Spring Bazaar" on facebook). As I am the chairperson of the organising committee, I had to make sure that everything is going ahead smoothly. Again, I felt like I was having a nervous breakdown, but thanks to a few helping hands, especially Inki's very capable ones, I was assisted tremendously and it looks like this Saturday is going to be a roaring success.

Last but not least, I had to study for my learner's licence. Not wanting to repeat last year's tragic mistake of studying the day before after jolling too much, this time I hit the books seriously, in advance, and learnt everything as best I could. I wrote it early this morning in Sandton, and only did I pass, I PASSED WITH FULL MARKS! I was so chuffed. So now that leaves me to phone the call centre again and be put on the waiting list for my drivers. In fact, I am phoning them as soon as Im done typing this.

So all this didnt leave me much time for anything else really. I havent been jolling too much and even started a detox diet last week in efforts to get healthy before summer. And I joined the gym again! All this has really worn me out but I manage to keep my chin up nonetheless. In fact, I have an awesome holiday to look forward to in a few weeks time! Not to mention some celebrating this weekend!

So I am back! Lets hope I stick around longer this time!

Cold turkey anyone?

My hands are literally shaking right now. I can barely type. The reason is simple, I have done the unthinkable. The unspeakable. The impossible. This morning, all of a sudden I got this inspiration to clean out my purse, and cut out several of my credit and store cards! For years, some of my self-appointed financial advisors have told me, in no uncertain terms, that the only way to get me out of this debt-rut, was to cut all those cards and throw them away! As if! How dare they!!???

But enough is enough. Im not exactly bankrupt or in any danger whatsoever (yet) but Im tired of having to say goodbye to 75% of my salary during payday and then struggling to make the last few extra bucks stretch until the next payday. Its just not on anymore. I have devised a step-by-step plan on slowly getting rid of most of my short-term debt and then moving on from there. So Im not exactly going cold turkey just yet, that would be suicide. Like Tink said to me earlier today, that might just lead to a huge rebound shopping spree. No kidding! Im terrible at impulse shopping! Thats one thing I really hate about being female. Ugh.

My worst temptation right now are CDs, DVDs, and books. I spend thousands each year on them. At least I read the books and listen to the CDs until I completely kill the songs. But the DVDs? Im lucky if I get to see even one of them! There is a huge box sitting in my lounge full of DVDs that are gathering dust and laughing at themselves because I havent even bothered to open the boxes. Just yesterday I received a new shipment from Kalahari, with 5 new DVDs including the yummy, delectable, 300 Spartan men clad in almost nothing. Hmmmm, now that is one DVD I have to watch again and again...

Ok...got distracted there. So, anyway, debt, yes, right, debt. Im getting rid of it. Next year I will be conducting major expenses like buying a new car, possibly move out of the house for once and for all, and maybe take those photography lessons I crave. So now is a good time as any to get rid of that horrible plastic in my purse. Whether I will stick to it and not reapply for new cards, remains to be seen!

Party Weekend

This weekend I promised myself I would take it easy, but who can really do that when you are out having fun with crazy people? At least, I can assure myself that I had no blackouts or embarrasing cringe moments, phew! Friday night we got together with several of our UJfm chat room buddies, like Shadley and Shaylin. Even Michelle, the coolest DJ, joined us for a while. And what a good laugh it turned out to be.

After almost hitting a concrete wall due to Shadley (my son, the devil)'s beautiful directions, we got to Pantelis (spelling?) in Fourways in one piece. I gave a boy a piece of my mind for forgetting to mention an extra robot, but all was soon forgotten and the partying began. Berny, Cailin and Martin arrived just a few minutes after us, with concrete wall stories of their own (they followed the same directions).

I insisted I did not want to have any Jagerbombs that evening, that tequila would sufficem, but in the end my boy had the final ruling and orderered a round. I tried to do the Jager poem and got as far as "Das ist des Jagers Ehrenschild" then whatever whatever whatever, Prost! Wackhead Simpson was sitting a few tables behind us, and was having what looked to be a first date, hehehh. We should have given a taste of his own prank medicine, but we are not that cruel. Most of the time...

When it was time for us to leave, the bill was already astronomical. Shadley and co stayed until 5am, at which time he had to be carried home. Thats my boy!

Before I knew it, it was time to get up and get ready for the next big party. I was still in the shower, cursing, when Berny was dropped off at my place, just after 9am. After much rushing about, I was ready at 11 and off we went with Ferdi and the folks to Pretoria. No, my mommy and daddy did not party with us (though who says they cant, for their age, they can still have a good time). We dropped them off at a residence where they were catering that day and then we went to the Arcadia Church for their annual bazaar.

Inki and Rudi were late, in search of a damn ATM that worked, so in the meantime we got ourselves some beer, settled down and enjoyed the warm sun, which soon started to burn. Eventually they arrived and we took part in some of the games, like the fishing for the bottle, darts, shooting (wish Ferdi could have been the target, heheheh), golf etc. I must admit that the day dragged and I was starting to get bored. I chatted to some old friends, sat, and basically did nothing most of the time. Till we started to negotiate for the leftover booze....

After a few Jacks and cokes (and a few Jagers), the conversation got louder, Inki got rowdier and well, we wanted the leftover Brutal fruits to take to Hatfield for the after party. Inki's maths wasnt so good (the barman was none the wiser, haha) but luckily I managed to do some shrewd calcualtions that allowed us to get 18 bottles at cost price. So while the final auctions and cleaning up were taking place, we sat by the Jack Daniels tent, with our complimentary Jack Daniels bags and coasters and giggled like teenagers. Thats when things started to get fun and well, crazy! I have never seen Inki this drunk before, she was such a laugh.

As is tradition, the more we drink the more hungry we get. So where do you go when hunger kicks in? McDonalds, of course! Since we were going to Hatfield anyway, we went to the McDs across the road and I got the girls each a Happy Meal with the cutest little beach ball! I would like to apologise now to all the random people that got hit with those balls. Hehehheh.

We devoured our meal like wolves then got a table at Herr Gunthers. I had more Brutal Fruits than I cared for. Suddenly the tables seemed like a good spot to dance. Most of us took their turn, even Ferdi (shudder) who gave us a little striptease that none of us wanted or paid to see.

After so much dancing, twirling and singing, it was time to go. :( Time really flew, but it was so much fun!

Hold thumbs

I FINALLY GOT A BOOKING FOR MY LEARNERS' LICENCE! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I better not cock this up now. I have to have to have to have to pass this! Its now or never. I just dont think I will have the patience to do this one more time. After much agonising with the Call Centre and that damn enatis, I was put on the Sandton waiting list. On Monday night, I got an sms from them saying that a booking was available for me and must phone the call centre within 48 hours. And so I did, and stood in the queues for 2 hours this morning to pay for the booking. I write the test on the 29th of August. Any help with my studying will be greatly appreciated!!!

In other news...Im going to London in September for 2 weeks! WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!