Threatening Thunderstorms

OK. We are going camping today - on the foothills of the Cedarberg Mountains, on a lovely organic mango farm, right next to a river. Sounds idyllic huh? Only here's the thing:

1. The weather forecast for that area suggests that there is a 60% chance of thunderstorms occurring today. On one hand, it's been so long since I experienced a real thunderstorm (as opposed to Cape Town's insipid rainfall) I'm excited. Thunder. Lightning. Heavy rain. Might even get to smell the rain! On the other hand, can you imagine trying to put up a tent in the rain? Should make for some amusing pictures! Look at these...am filled with a tangible feeling of nervous dread!

Can you just imagine this - no dry ground/clothes/bedding....

Not quite the camping trip I had in mind

    2.   We had a shocking night's sleep - Belle was complaining of ear ache and a sore throat, so                  Braveheart and I were like yo-yo's all night.

    3.    In the wee hours of this morning (you know the ones where your slumber is at it's deepest ESPECIALLY after preceeding intermittent sleep) King Arthur woke with bad croup. It's been ages since he had his last attack. Now here's the thing. I am a 100% believer in Pre-flam for this condition, but I don't have any at the moment. This is going to require a very sweet phone call to my gp quite far from me (who only sees babies and children and whom I respect and love) to get a script faxed to a pharmacy near me. If I can't raise her on this South African public holiday, I shall have to resort to the medical practice nearest me who, last time I visited them, told me I was being a shocking mother (truly, I kid you not. Hence my vow that I shall never return - can anyone recommend an adult doctor to me?).

   4.    I haven't packed a thing!

Ho-hum. Best I go and make some tea and get cracking! Have a great long weekend!

Mooching, Mumps and Moving

Well this week has been a little different. Braveheart and I got bees in our bonnets and decided very swiftly to go on holiday. We needed some R&R, and we needed quality time with the kids too. We found a great mid week special at Montagu Springs, getting two nights for the price of three, and off we went!

We had a great time, as did the kids, and it gave me the head space we needed. The highlight was Aragorn realizing he could float with armbands, a huge breakthrough, and King Arthur spent 5 hours in the pool the one day. Swimming in heated pools makes all the difference in the world to my kids!

We got back ready to move...and Aragorn has mumps. This poor little fellow!
Check out these jowls!

He is being very brave and handling it all well. I had mumps as a kid, but none of the rest of my family has had it yet. Tis a waiting game to see if any of them succumb!

So we aim to move tomorrow, somewhat thwarted by helpers what with the mumps and the threat of sterility in adult help, so we'll see how far we get!