Sep 16, 2008 | Out and About
Hehe … yip, for the SECOND time in my life, I am taking my shy self out the house tonight, to go and meet up with and spend the evening with a bunch of people I have never laid eyes on before!
I have VERY kindly been invited out by one of my Twitter friends 🙂
This time it’s a real girly night, which I’m so looking forward to. I was *never* allowed to EVER go out and hook up with a bunch of ladies while I was married. I shit you not. In fact, I was strongly “discouraged” from actually having any of my own friends. (Hence the current pathetic lack of social connections). So this is my first Ladies Night!
Not that we’re going out clubbing or anything. No, it’ll just be a bunch of girls, a bit of alcohol, a few balls, a selection of long, hard objects and some explicit instructions that I will probably need help with interpreting ….
Get your mind out the gutter yo!
I’m talking about knitting man 😀 Waha!!!
So there’s it – my second social outing in 2 months. Jeez, I’m turning into a regular Tara Reid!
[Now I just have to hope my fricken headache takes a hike and my energy stays with me!]
Sep 8, 2008 | Life at Home, Out and About
I spent some time at Stillness Manor and Spa this weekend.
Sir G decided that I needed a break from the house and very kindly organised a time-out in the beautiful Constantia Winelands. So, on Saturday afternoon we packed up some stuff and headed off to Stillness Manor for an overnight stay.
He also decided to treat me to a deep tissue massage at the Spa that I was so looking forward to because my neck and shoulders were totally locked up and I was in some serious pain.
Anyway, we got there, checked in and offloaded our stuff.
Then it was time for my treatment so I trotted up the path to the Spa and met my therapist, Nadia, who made me feel very welcome and comfortable. I’m not used to this kind of thing, so I didn’t really know what to expect! Anyway, she worked on me for an hour and WOW … it was deeeevine!! Hells, I enjoyed that 🙂 Yes, it was very painful, but she managed to get rid of some of the spasms that have been giving me so much grief lately. Painful pleasure …
And I was so ridiculously relaxed after that I could hardly move! All I could do after that was sit outside on our balcony and take in the magnificent view while Sir G went off for his treatment.
I did NOTHING for the rest of the day. I totally chilled, listened to the sounds of the country side and just r-e-l-a-x-e-d.
About the most strenuous thing I did the whole day was read a few pages of my book … I was seriously ended!
I crashed early (what a pleasure!) and woke up on Sunday morning with just enough time to shower before we headed off for breakfast. I felt completely battered and bruised from the previous day’s massage though and walking to the breakfast room was not easy hehe 🙂
We tucked into a HUGE English Breakfast … wow, so much food! I hadn’t eaten a slap up brekkie like that for years and it was delish, but boy was I stuffed afterwards. And then it was time to check out *sigh* … that really all seemed way too short.
I got back home at about 12 yesterday and decided that I was not going to do much for the rest of the afternoon. I had a few hours to kill before the kids got home from their dad and I just wanted to carry on with the novel experience of RELAXING. So, I did. I left my computer alone and I didn’t do any chores. I just ready my book and had an afternoon nap. Lovely 🙂
I was seriously rested by the time the kids got home for once … I *nearly* went to my computer to check email and stuff, but I managed to stop myself hehe. To be honest, I was starting to feel a bit itchy and a bit guilty about *not working on the weekend* – how mad is that? Sheesh …
Anyhoo, I then did something I haven’t done for months – I fired up my newly swapped-out Xbox and got busy with Burnout. Hells, it was nice to play again!! And yeah, I’m still the Crash Queen WAHA!
So that’s it – that’s what I did with weekend. Virtually nothing. And it was great. I really needed that – I really needed to switch off from everything for a few hours. When you turn off the noisy tap of busy-ness, you completely de-stress.
I seriously need to do that more often and get used to taking time out without feeling guilty. It’s amazing how easily we can get so wrapped up in the rapid business of life that we forget how important it is just to be still for a while and appreciate the value of doing nothing.
Sep 5, 2008 | Friends and Family, Life at Home, Out and About, Personal, Work
Mmk, so it’s Friday.
TGIF?
Yes, for a change 🙂
It’s actually been a pretty good week on the whole and I feel like things are coming together a bit for me. I can look back on the last 7 days and see progress – both personal and business progress – I feel like I’m getting somewhere!!
Nothing too earth-shattering, but the wheels, they are a-turning …
Firstly, I just have to tell you how enormously proud of Son#1 I am. Oh wow, my boytjie is handling so well. His attitude and behaviour is inspiring!! He’s taking responsibility for his life, for his own growth and for his own safety. He’s 100% committed to being clean and stable and he is acknowledging where his danger zones are and what he needs to do to avoid them. That’s huge! It means a complete turn around from his old habits and lifestyle and he’s making it happen. I’m looking at what he’s doing to make the required changes in his life and I am immersed in love, admiration and respect for him. He’s SO getting his shit together!
And my baby, Son#2 is cooking with gas dude! Yeowza but that child is blossoming 😀 I’m thrilled to see him coming out of his shell at last. Skate boarding has been his ticket to a new life. Seriously, he’s so passionate about it and he’s made so many new friends because of it that his confidence levels are *soaring*. I’m so happy for him.
JOC, my new PA, is ROCKING!! Sheesh … this young lady is taking SUCH a load off my shoulders. Honestly, if you are even toying with the idea of getting a PA then take it from me – the investment is sooooo worth it. She is totally taking care of all the shit that I seriously don’t have time for. It’s freed up so much of my time and energy and I now feel that I can focus on the things that REALLY need my attention, and the stuff I WANT to do.
One of the things she did for me this last week was sort out my fuxored Xbox!! And not only did she organize a console swap, *somehow* she managed to get them to give me an ENTIRE new system that came bundled with 2 wireless controllers and 4 games! Yussee … I’m such a lucky brat hehe. I have 2 of the games already, but I can just trade those. My 2 new games are Gears of War and Mass Effect … pretty cool hey? And yes, I kept my old drive so I haven’t lost anything 🙂
Now that I have more free time, I’m getting my teeth into the business again, sorting out strategies to take us forward and it’s all VERY exciting! And I’m planning to renovate the office too. Long overdue – the place looks like a shit hole. I have a vision for it, I just need to document it, sketch it out and see what the builder has to say. He’s coming on Tuesday to have a look and quote on the job. Logistically, it’s going to be a nightmare – we’ll have to all move inside the house while it happens which is not going to be fun. Physically moving everything, finding space and sorting out all the phone and network cabling is going to be a huge challenge … BUT, it *must* be done – that’s one very sick office out there and I want my people to work in an inspiring environment. JOC and my mom (who works for me too) are going to climb in and help out on that one.
Then there’s my training and diet. I finally took the plunge and dived into Operation Yellow Bikini! It’s not going too badly, although I must confess to not training as much or as hard as I would like to do. I think I’m going to have to get in touch with my Personal Torturer at the gym next week and setup some appointments. Then I’m *forced* to go and train my butt off (no pun intended). The good news though is that my eating has improved drastically! Yes, I still snack at night, but I’ve stocked up on biltong, nuts and carrots instead of raiding the “cookie jar”. I’ve not drunk any coke since Sunday either, which is brilliant! I’m sticking to my water, tea and the occasional glass of fruit juice. And in just 5 days I’ve managed to shed a centimeter or two. YAYNESS!
And this weekend is my weekend “off” – it’s the X’s turn to look after the boys. I didn’t have any plans and I wasn’t really looking forward to wasting my weekend. I could have just worked or studied I suppose, but that’s not really my idea of maximizing my free time. I want to get a life remember? So yeah, my bad, I didn’t arrange any social activities. But then, just as I thought it was all going to be terribly dull, Sir G suggested that we go out for some drinks tonight. A friend of his has recently opened a place in Rondebosch so we’re going to make a turn there 🙂 And THEN, he surprised the hell out of me … he has organized a trip to … wait for it … a SPA …
Oh my hat, he’s booked me in for a deep tissue massage tomorrow!!!! How ridiculously sweet is that? He says I can just sleep, or read or do *whatever* for one whole day – no worries, no stress, no distractions, nothing. I’m looking forward to that so much *sigh* … again, I am SUCH a lucky brat!
Sheesh … TGIF 😀
xxx
Aug 26, 2008 | Out and About
For my scrapbook 😀
Brandon Golding’s Facebook Album
Christopher Mills’ photos on Imod
Matt Mullenweg’s Travels to South Africa Gallery
and this is meeee 🙂
(You can catch up on my Big Night Out here)
Aug 25, 2008 | Out and About
Yip, I did it my friends … I ventured out into the big wide world on my own for the first time EVER in my life!!
YAAAY me 😀
Thanks so much to all of you for just about shoving me out my front door – I had seriously cold feet and I *may* have chickened out if it wasn’t for you guys – Friday night at Asoka was absolutely everything I hoped it would be.
First of all, I totally tarted up – yes, I had make up on and everything waha! It was great fun to get all zooted up like that but I completely underestimated how long it would take, so I left a little later than I had planned.
Anyway, I parked my little black gangsta-mobile near trendy Kloof Street and made my way to the venue, hoping like HELL that I would recognize SOMEONE! And there, much to my relief, sitting outside and chatting to a bunch of folk, was Cluckhoff *whew* …
And so the evening started. I grabbed myself a drink and then got introduced to the most amazing bunch of people ever … So many of my tweeple were there, it was completely exhilarating to finally meet them all!! These are people I admire so much, who have so much to offer in the www, leaders in their field, and the driving force behind most of the fantastic multi-media and online initiatives taking place in this country (and all so frikkin YOUNG!!). It was truly an honour for me to meet them all face to face. Oh yes, and I have to just mention that being introduced to Matt Mullenweg was such a WOW moment – total surprise. This is the guy who *founded* WordPress people!! But what a cool guy 🙂 Seriously, so humble and down to earth, I loved him!
A bunch of brilliant minds inside wonderful people, so-called “geeks” all getting together to have a good time and even though I ain’t really a geek, I never once felt out of place or uncomfortable that night – they are all a really friendly bunch. I guess that surprised me a little bit … I wasn’t really sure what to expect you know?
So thanks to Mike Stopforth for organizing the meet-up, it really kicked and I loved every minute of it!!
There were only two teeny tiny little black spots on my night … Firstly, Mr Golding had his big-ass camera there – I tried to duck and dive that nasty lens but I think he got me! And secondly, I had one of my horrid panic attacks. It happened as I was squeezing my through the tight hoard of people on my way to the Little Girls’ Room. I think all the people (I get very claustrophobic) plus the small venue plus the heat inside set me off. Anyway, it didn’t last for too long thank gawd and I don’t think anyone noticed 🙂
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So who did I get to meet on Friday? Here’s the roll:
- Mike Stopforth – kept me in stitches the whole night … LOL!
- Stii Pretorius – kept me in drinks the whole night!! I definitely owe you a few brewskies Stii
- Dave Duarte – somewhat anxious for his Life Streaming presentation the next day 🙂
- Justin Hartman – very cool chat, thanks Justin. And fantastic to finally meet you!
- Tyler Reed – WOW!! Dude, I get tired just looking at you!
- Christopher Mills – at last … the much talked about man behind iMod
- Vincent Maher – what can I say, the man himself hey? Also had me giggling all night hehe …
- Mark Bloomfield – my early morning Twitter pal 🙂
- Jason Bagley – another awesome wwwtalent!
- Denham Coote – cool computer dude and a pretty good photographer too
- Catherine Luckhoff – my ice breaker … hehe, thanks for holding my hand
- Vanessa Clark – bubbly bubbly bubbly!! Shame, her cat’s on Prozac!
- Neil Garb – coder extraordinaire, very charming too
- Brandon Golding – the man with the big-ass camera!
- Rafiq Phillips – needs no introduction 🙂
- Allan Kent – aaah, too brief Allan. Catch you next time hey?
- Max Kaizen – also didn’t see much of Max, unfortunately
- Matt Mullenweg – stunning guy! I hope you found your luggage man
If I left anyone off, I’m sorry!!! (Blame the Jaggerbombs haha!)
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And here are the photos … CLICK
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And …
If you missed Matt’s presentation at WordCamp 2008, the videos are now up on Zoopy.com.
Aug 21, 2008 | Out and About
It’s WordCamp SA this weekend! Nah, I didn’t register – I wasn’t sure what was happening with Son#1 and all that. I’m still not 100% clear, but I do know that it’s their dad’s weekend this weekend, so I am officially off duty for 2 days =) Yeeehaaa!
So a couple of nights ago, I hear about a pre-WordCamp SA social meetup happening in Cape Town tomorrow night, involving drinks and a whole bunch of people I’ve “met” through this blog and through Twitter.
I’m thinking: “Hmmmmm … I’m free, I want to meet some new folk, why the hell not?”
I take the plunge and decide to let them all know I’m going too. I’m all: “YEAH BABY!!! I finally get to meet my Tweeple!!!”
And now?
Now I’m thinking: “Bloody hell woman, what are you DOING????!!!”
I mean, this is like nothing I’ve ever done before! Believe it or not, I have NEVER EVER been out on my own in my entire life!!
*minor freak out*
I’ve never met these people … mmk, apart from Cluckhoff and Max (very briefly!) … and I sooooo don’t do the mingling and small talk thang. YIKES! I’m getting some seriously cold feet here.
It’s going to take every last scrap of courage I can muster to get my ass to the meetup! But I REALLY want to do it, I really want to go along and meet all these amazing people who keep me company every day, all these brilliant minds that contribute to the success of the www in South Africa. I’m not kidding – these people are awesomely good at what they do!
Hoo boy … guys, if you’re going along tomorrow night, please keep an eye on the door for a chick looking around nervously and shaking in her stilettos!
*I can do this … I hope*
