Beautiful Guildford

Sometimes I am less than enthusiastic about England, but that has 90% to do with the weather. Things are looking up (meaning the weather) so I thought I would write something positive about the town we are living in - Guildford.

Friday was Werner's birthday so I organised a babysitter and we went to the Thai Terrace - a Thai (obviously) restaurant at the top of Castle Car Park in Guildford. Wow. I've never been to such a stunning place - why we've never been before I don't know. The most stunning view - even at night, beautiful gardens and interior and all the staff bow to you as you walk past them. Great service and not too expensive either for what you get. So we were pleasantly surprised and I started thinking about how interesting little town Guildford is.

As I walk along the cobbled High Street, I wonder how many thousands of other mothers have walked there since forever, rushing their children along, watching the street musicians and doing their shopping. The High Street is really the most beautiful I've seen in England, with the gold gilded clock as a centerpiece and the Surrey Hills in the distance - I can understand why it has been painted many times. On a summers day nothing beats walking down the street and listening to the street musicians and just taking your time. The Chinese violin player especially who astounds us and Mieke loves watching him as she is also now playing violin. And because he plays stuff from Mamma Mia and we all love Mamma Mia. Except Werner...

Then there are the odd people of Guildford. The bearded lady who always sits at the same chair in MacDonalds and if someone sits in her chair she will wait for them to leave so that she can have her seat. Mieke is sure that she follows us because she always seems to be there when we are there. Either that or we both spend too much time at MacDonalds. But she is really freaky with her long white beard and painted lips and beady eyes which follow your every move. But she is an institution and we might even miss her if we don't see her any more!!

There are quite a few other weird people, like the man in the white suit who shouts in the High Street every weekend, the lady who keeps invading schools and getting arrested and a few others which I will probably get to know better the longer I live here.

But the best thing about Guildford is the variety of things one can do. You can eat food from all over the world - french, thai, chinese, italian and the best thing is when you visit a french restaurant you will be served by a french waitress - who doesn't understand English that well and definitely not Afrikaans South African English!! So our Thai Restaurant had only Thai staff and it just makes the experience more authentic.

You can feed the ducks and swans at the river and watch the people on their boats struggling to get through the locks. You can go to the 'cinema' as its called here or to one of the two theatres. You can visit the remains of the thousand year old Guildford Castle with its beautiful gardens and look for the statue of Alice in Wonderland. You can visit the library or spendtime browsing in Waterstones bookshop while your kids watch the fish and enjoy their book section. You can take your little one to a toddler group at one of the churches close to town and have a coffee and a chat with other mums while the little ones play. And then you can shop, if you want.

So I've learnt to walk. Far and uphill and over cobbles and pavements while pushing a 'buggy' and carrying shopping. I've learnt to get out there if the sun shines cause tomorrow it might not. I've learnt to take the bus to town and to have the correct change ready so as not to P$£* off the bus driver.

And now I walk up the High Street with my children and say hello to familiar faces and give directions to people that ask and I remember something I thought right in the beginning when we first moved here. I said that what I missed most is seeing people I know in the mall or in a shop. I kept on expecting to see someone I knew but of course I didn't. But now I do. Nearly every day I see someone I know and we say hello.

Now isn't that just wonderful!!

Spring is in the Air - Smiles all around

Today it was 16 degrees celsius outside. Mieke insisted on wearing her summer school dress and felt a lot more comfortable than in her scratchy stockings!! Even I walked outside without my coat for the first time in months - Jay.

Last week Mieke had a friend over to play. This was part of their conversation in the car:

Mieke: 'What does your dad look like?'

Friend: 'well he has short hair. He never wears a suit to work. He always wears either his blue jumper or his green jumper. And he picks food up from the floor and eats it.'

Mieke: 'What types of food, like pizza?'

Friend: 'Yes'

Mieke: 'And like biscuits'

Friend: 'Yes'

And this went on for quite a while - hilarious, want to tell friend's mum but dare not! Still figuring out the English sense of humour - no sure if it will go down well.

Tonight I was at Mieke's school's art exhibition until nearly 9:00pm. I blame myself as I organised it for some reason. I don't really know how I get myself into these things. I used to be the class rep, now I am the class rep and PTA secretary and the organiser of the school art exhibition - luckily the last one is now over.


So when I got home both girls were still awake (obviously) and Silke crying because Daddy 'skrikked her' because apparently, as Mieke informed she pooed in the bath. And apparently she pooed a million little poo pieces in the bath. Daddy was not impressed and I was VERY HAPPY that I was not home. But unfortunately I was left to search for Silke's bottle before I could make myself some supper so we looked under the couches, under the table, behind the tv, in the dishwasher, in the kitchen cupboard, in the toy box, in the bathroom, under the bed, in the recycling bin and then eventually in the dustbin. Where it was. Of course, why did I not look there before.

Tomorrow its to school with Mieke, to pre-school with Silke, home for 3 hours where I will try to clean all the things gathered under the couch as Werner pointed them out to me today, then fetch Silke, beg her to eat her scrambled eggs and toast, off to Gymnastics Factory with Silke, hanging around until 4:00pm for Mieke to finish chior then back to Gymnastics Factory for Mieke at five pm while Silke harrasses her guys (other kids waiting for their siblings - includes girls and boys), home at 6:30pm by which time I feel like I've been to Gymnastics Factory.

On Thursday Mieke needs to be dressed up as an evacuee from the World War complete with old suitcase and gas mask box?! around her neck, and on Friday its coffee morning at the school and Blue Class's cake sale which involves me standing behind a table with seven cakes (my dear Blue Class's contribution) trying to divide it between 180 kids each clutching 20p who are demanding cakes while I am trying to keep an eye on Silke who is probably trying to climb a tree but I don't know cause I can't see her.

At least I'm not bored....

Ditjies en Datjies

We went to Bruges in Belgium a few weeks ago. Just decided to go somewhere before our visa expired. What a wonderful weekend - just too short. Lovely chocolate and waffles and beer (the beer taste very fresh) - even though it was freezing it was delightful!!

Mieke loved the hotel the most (she is a real spoiled brat just like her mom). But it was great - lovely comfy beds, delicious breakfast and a warm indoor swimming pool - what more could you want.

We also went on a horse carriage ride (our horse was called Lulu) and the kids loved it. Clippity clop through the streets, stopping every now and then to look at a 900 year old church, or the oldest chocolate shop or the Lake of Love. We really had a great time and made me think I could actually live here.

But I can't. I still feel like my real life is going on somewhere else while I'm wasting my time here. I sometimes look around and just hate what I see. The brown houses, the grey skies, the grottiness of it all. What is wrong with me, why can't I just get on with it and enjoy my life. Why can't I make this my home?

I feel ungrateful but at the same time angry that I am here. Frustrated, sad, irritated. What can I say - I disappoint myself.

So now we are applying for Oz, the big brown country, hot as hell with huge scary spiders and Mieke who has suddenly developed a terrifying fear of them, jellyfish that can kill you, snakes and sharks and fires. Flies and more flies ("aussie salute" the constant swiping away of flies), attacker magpies and racing hoons.

So that's my choice: either stay in this damp, grey, brown, crowded place with their warm beer, dirty pubs and oily fish and chips, freezing my butt off for half the year and when the sun comes out having to look at ugly pale blue male chests parading everywhere. Or Oz...

Please can't I come back to South Africa - please someone help me!!!! Can't we all live in peace together, why so much hate and intolerance. Please just do it - just sort it out so we can come home.

Let it snow let it snow let it STOP!!!!

Last Monday we woke up to a real winter wonderland. Snow so deep that Silke was walking knee deep in the snow.

No school, no work, but also no trains, no driving anywhere, stuff cancelled....

It was nice for one day but at around day 3 I've had enough. To take Mieke to school I had to drive to the Spectrum, take the bus to town, walk to Sainsbury's, leave the buggy in Sainsbury's and then walk up the hill in snow and ice with Mieke and Silke sliding along!!

This was really exhausting, dangerous and time consuming.

But it was fun on Monday....

Hoe lyk baie baie baie baie koud??

Dis hoe... Ek het die foto Saterdagoggend uit ons slaapkamervenster geneem. Die minimum temperatuur was Vrydagaand -9 Celsius en dit het Saterdag darem opgewarm na so -1 Celsius toe deur die dag.

Die wit is 'frost' en alles is wit geys - waterdruppels op die kar is gevries en orals waar mens loop of ry is die pad spierwit en glad.

Maandag toe is dit weer terug na ons lekker Engelse weer, bewolk en reen heeldag maar warmer - ek was baie bly vir die reen want die koue van die afgelope twee weke is een te veel vir my.

Ek besef anderdag ek kan nie meer Engels praat nie. Toe ek my mond oopmaak om met een van die ma's by die skool te praat toe wil daar niks uitkom nie. Kan jy glo ek bly in Engeland en ek praat minder Engels as in Suid Afrika toe ek gewerk het. Want ek praat heeltyd Afrikaans by die huis en praat net Engels wanneer iemand met my praat by die skool. Vanaand is FOPS meeting en ek reel die 'Art Exhibition' vir die skool so ek sal vinnig moet oefen met die Engels!

Mieke het vandag met haar vioollesse begin en raai wat - haar vioolonderwyser Mr Norkie (dis hoe hulle dit spel maar ek is seker dis Nortje) is van Suid Afrika. Sy was egter baie teleurgesteld want hulle het nie eens 'plucking' gedoen nie, hulle het net die name van die dele van die viool geleer. Hoe 'stupid' soos sy se. Maar sy is baie impressed want Mr Norkie speel al 29 jaar die viool - hy het begin toe hy 4 of 5 was.

Ek tob op die oomblik gedurig oor ons situasie. Wat is beter - om veilig maar koud en effe ontevrede hier te bly, of om terug te gaan Suid Afrika toe en bederf en onveilig te wees... Of Australie toe te gaan en daar veilig en warm en ontevrede te wees. Wie ken die antwoord - my kinders se bleek gesiggies met donker kolle onder hulle oe maak my nie beter voel nie. Die is kinders van die lig en son, hulle moet kaalvoet loop en buite speel!!

Ek kyk na Mieke se skoolfoto van haar Montessori kleuterskool - alle kleure maatjies saam maar tog so gelukkig en bruin en blink - was dit tog so sleg? Hier is die kinders almal so bleek en ernstig en my kind raak al hoe ernstiger (en bleker).

My ingilse vriendin vra wat is dit wat ek mis, wat skort, wat is fout met hierdie plek. Wat kan ek se - ja dis honderde klein dingetjies wat eintlik belaglik klink in hulle onbelangrikheid. 'Its just not what I'm used to' Maar hoe lank vat dit om gewoond te raak - defnitief langer as twee jaar, miskien 10? Ek weet nie... Dit voel steeds of ek iewers anders is as waar ek hoort, of daar 'n ander lewe is wat ek besig is om mis te loop.

Home is where the heart is but my heart is where my home was...

Things I like and things I don't about the UK

On the 1st January it was our two year anniversary here in England and its time to reflect. Its dark, cold and misrable and I need to vent - so sorry about this!!

Things I don't like (i.e. hate) about the UK:

1. DIY. Everything here is do it yourself. You clean your own house, pack your own groceries, clean your car, put petrol in your car by yourself, you have to pay to fill your tyres with air -yourself.

This is all good and fine if you can then treat yourself with a nice cuppachino. But alas - here even the coffee shops are DIY. First you choose from a mediocre range of sandwiches on a shelf, then you stand in a queue to pay for the mediocre sandwich and order your coffee, once this is done, you take your coffee and mediocre sandwich on a tray and get a stick to stir your coffee with (which normally comes in a paper cup). You then glare at people already sitting down until they've had enough and they get up and leave. You then race for their table and hope you are there first. But alas this is not where the diy ends. You then have to pile the previous diners dirty cups and sticks and packets onto a tray and get rid of it somewhere, and wipe the table with a serviette before you can sit down and have your cuppachino but you can't even friggen eat the foam off because you don't have a spoon. So you just sit there and drink your cuppachino and eat your sandwich with your hands and try and keep your kids from going under the filthy table. Until someone else starts eyeing you and you get up and leave. This privilege could cost you around £20 if your kids also each have a muffin and an apple juice. Fun isn't it.

So if you are living in South Africa and on Saturday you go to your usual coffee shop and you and sit at a nice clean table and the waiter brings you a menu with a smile on his face and then you get your sandwich served to you on a plate with some chips and salad as well and a knife and fork (wow) - give him a big tip and think of me... And Brits - you deserve better - bugger Starbucks and Costa!! (I forgive Pret cause they make great sandwiches).

But this is unfortunately not where the diy ends. Because if you want to buy some furniture for your house and you pay around £40 just for the delivery, you would think that you would get an assembled piece of furniture and the delivery guy will maybe put in in the correct spot for you. But no. Since we've moved here we've had to assembled a huge bedroom cupboard, a smaller entrance hall cupboard, a scooter, our iron patio table (which I did myself), our lawnmower (which I did myself), Silke's huge outside play house and table set and a pink princess castle for Mieke which alone took me an hour!!

Ikea just takes the cake in this department and unfortunately was our first (and last) experience of this kind. Okay it is cheap but not worth the excruciating effort. First you visit the showroom section and choose what you like. This in itself is a mission with 2 small bored children tagging along. Then you take note of the parts you need to build your cupboard, then you go to this huge warehouse type place, get a huge trolley type thing and look for your numbered parts and load them on your trolley (yourself of course). Some of these parts are obviously quite heavy and needs two people to load. Then after you have (hopefully) everything you need, you stand in a looooong que to pay. Then after all that... you stand in an even looooooooonger queue to book a delivery at a whopping £60!! And the nightmare really only starts when they deliver your box of wooden panels and little screws and bad instructions. I don't really want to talk about it, its so bad.

Yes I was really spoilt in South Africa and I really miss it and so what....

2. The Weather

Its winter now so I find it particularly difficult to cope at the moment. Its just cold cold cold. I have not been outside by choice for quite a while. And because we don't really have shopping malls even going to town is a freezing event and not much pleasure - even with all the January sales. And by four o'clock its dark outside. Sometimes it snows but after the first excitement, I don't find my car sliding down the road very exciting. Terrifying more like it.

Summer is better, especially on the two really hot days we normally have. Then we just love going to the park and sitting outside until 9:00pm and eating ice cream and having a lovely braai. But most of summer, autumn and spring is cool and wet unfortunately. And it just gets to you. That's why its one of the most talked about thing here in the UK - everyone is always talking about the weather.

3. The size of my R4.9 million house This is not an issue for everybody as many of my classy here friends have perfectly nice houses. Which costs around R10 million. Our house is new and we have a garden which is nice. But that's where it ends, its small, no cupboard space and only has one bathroom. And we spend so much time here that being in each other's immediate company all the time just gets a bit too much. If I think of what I can afford in SA for less than half this price I just want to ... take deep breaths.

Okay well after the above 3 things I am tired of moaning so here are some good things about the UK:

1. The Service from Government Departments For instance today after I was skating my car down the hill in front of Mieke's school today, I phoned the Surrey County Council to inform them of the ice on the road. They answered very quickly and a friendly lady took my details and gave me a case number. She also said that they normally grit all roads in front of school. When I went to fetch Mieke at 3:00pm the road and pavement was gritted and fine for driving. In South Africa I would still be hanging on the phone at 3:00pm so its just as well it doesn't really snow in SA.

2. The people In the beginning this would have been on my negative list, as some of them can be quite grumpy especially in winter (but who can blame them?) but in the past two years I've met some very nice people (mostly foreigners like myself) but some Brits as well. Especially all my neighbours in our little complex are very kind and welcoming and we visit each other quite often.

Other nice things are the good schools (if you can get into one), the safety, its always green (how else with all that rain) and its close to Europe!!

Okay now I feel much better. Please see some cute photos of my two little angels - both of them were angels in their school plays. Also some photos of the fun the kids had at our New Year's eve party at our neighbour's house - things just aren't quite the same once you've had kids - especially now that the little monsters stay awake until twelve!!

Disneyland Paris - Hier kom ons!!!

We just returned from Christmas at Disneyland Paris and wow - amazing!!! We drove there which was very easy - 1.5 hours to the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone, to make it just in time at 5:30am for the 6:00am Eurotunnel crossing which took about half an hour. When you get to the other side you just ride off the train onto the highway which is a bit scary as it was still dark and you drive on the right and you don't really know where you are going and the Garmin takes you on a wild goose chase - but we got there safe and sound in around 3.5 hours. The rest of the afternoon we spent exploring the Val' de Europe shopping center which reminded me a lot of the ones we have in SA (why can't the UK get them right?) and then we checked into our hotel, went for a swim (jay indoor pool with slide) and then went for dinner at Val' de Europe.

On the 24th we dressed very warmly and got on the bus that goes to Disney and once you're inside its just like you imagined it, the way it seems on all those tv adverts - really magical. Well for me anyway, and hopefully for the girls, not sure about Werner. First there is this huge Christmas tree, and then once you past that you are walking on Main Street USA and then you see the beautiful pink and gold castle - wonderful. Disney music plays all the time, fake snow falls on Main Street USA, the shops look like something from a movie - everything is just perfect.

But back to business (and its serious business). First we headed to a ride called 'Its a small World' - we waited about 20 minutes in the queue (the only bad thing about Disney -queues everywhere even on the day before Christmas at 5 degrees celcius) but then someone in front of us went into another queue and we followed them and voila!! We were in front!! Feeling really sorry for the people we past (yea right), we got on the little boat and off we went. The ride features a multitude of audio-animatronic figures in the style of children of the world singing the ride's title track 'It's a small world, after all' , which has a theme of global peace. It is sooo cute and the girls loved it. Some of the dolls' mouths actually move like they are singing the song, and their costumes and sets are incredible. This is really a great ride as it is suitable for all ages, I just wish we could go again, but no time, no time - we had to rush to the next ride.

I can't really remember what we did next, but we did Peter Pan's Flight, Dumbo the Elephant (for Silke), Carousel with horses (for Silke), Pirates of the Caribbean (luckily Silke was sleeping with this one so Werner and I took turns and Mieke got to go twice which was great). We went on the Disney Railroad which is a train which takes you around the whole park which was great as it gave us time to relax a bit. Werner and Mieke also went on Big Thunder Mountain which is as scary as it sounds but Mieke loved it. We also saw a show on ice (Mickey's jolly holiday) and then that evening watched the parade which was beautiful and perfectly done. Characters from Lion King, Toy Story, all the princess stories as well as all the evil witches from the princess stories were there.

After an exciting day we went to Cafe Mickey for dinner. This is a very popular place but we weren't that impressed. We waited ages to get in (even with a reservation) and the food is very mediocre. What makes this place is the characters (Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Goofey, Eeh Ohre, Smee, Gepetto) that come to your table and sign your autograph book (which is quite absurd if you think about it). And now and then they will play loud music while the waiters dance on the tables. But I found it hilarious as the characters all came straight to our table because Silke is so cute, and then my kids especially Mieke would not give them any attention (Pa se kind) while jealous onlookers watch enviously with the specially bought autograph books clutched under their arms and their cameras within reach. Silke later on started to like them, and would sit at the table calling Mickey Mouse - "Mouse, come here!! Come here Mouse!" They also really like the dessert which was a small buffet with chocolate mousse and chocolate brownies and best of all - smarties!! Silke had none of her food and then a plate of smarties - happiness!!

On Christmas day we opened our presents (we kept it small) and then went for breakfast. Father Christmas was there handing out chocolate chip men (instead of gingerbread men) and naartjies. Silke took one of each, broke the man's leg off and gave the leftovers to Werner, and then ate two naartjies. After breakfast we filled our flask with mulled wine (which we heated in our room kettle - don't tell) and went to the park again.

First we raced for the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and as it was early we were in luck. We did it twice in a row without really queing. Mieke and Silke both loved this ride. The description for this ride - "Spin your Star Cruisers 360 degrees while you fire moveable, hand-held laser cannons.
Blast enemy targets and amass points, then compare your high-score with other Space Rangers or go for a personal best." This was really cool and by the second time Silke got more than 2000 points shooting targets!! Don't ask me how she did this, I was too busy shooting myself.

After this we went on another space rocket ride and then we walked around a bit until it was time for our Christmas lunch - at Auberge de Cendrillion restaurant in Fantasyland. A wonderful experience from start to finish. When you arrive they first ask if your child would like a photo taken with Cinderella (I think - not so clued up on the who's who of princesses), but both my children were too shy and would not go near her. So they showed us to our table which was in a little alcove - just perfect. Its a french restaurant and really beautifully decorated, fireplaces, beautiful lights, wallpaper etc. They brough the adults coctails and the kids had their own classy little french menus which they could take home and also had a place for autographs - we are now the proud owner of Sleeping Beauty's Signature which says: Sleeping Beauty. And Suzy the mouse. What can I say...

Soon after we arrived Suzy the mouse from Cinderella, Ariel (Mermaid) and her prince came to visit our table. The really look quite unreal - especially the prince who looked like a Ken doll. Mieke was still quite shy but at least I got her to wear her princess dress. Silke loved the mouse and got a nice cuddle (Oooh I'm starting to talk like the English!). She also posed eagerly with everyone who visited us. Later Mieke also started enjoying this and we got a nice photo of her as well. We had the most delicious food (except for the foie gras which I ate for the first and the last time ever - it repeated for the next two days!!). But the smoked salmon, cheeses, veal, lamb cutlets and dessert (3 little desserts on a plate) was delicious. Mieke got a chocolate Cinderella's slipper as well as strawberrry ice cream, pink milk topped with candyfloss and a chocolate brownie for dessert. I wanted to take a photo of Cinderella's slipper but she ate it before I even had a good look at it!!

Afterwards they both received a beautiful pink wand as a gift, which was a nice touch. A really wonderful experience - Disney with a bit of class.

After lunch (when in real life I would have preferred to go for a nap) we first watched a christmas show with Minnie Mouse and Pinnocchio and dancers and then headed to the Disney Studios.

We watched a show called Stitch Live which was really amazing - especially for us as Lilo and Stitch is a favourite video in our house. Its difficult to explain but basically Stitch is on this big screen and they explain that he was very naughty as he stole a space ship and is flying around with it. Stitch then talks to the audience and then surprisingly really interacts with them. For instance he would get the 'presenter' to pick out a girl in the audience and then he would ask her questions. He asked this one lady to spell her name as he said she was his new girlfriend and he would like to name a new planet he found after her. He spelled the name incorrectly and then his ears droop and his eyes goes all wide and he will say: "Stitch made a mistake. Stitch so sorry" and then tell the computer to "Delete" and then the computer blows up the planet!!! Instead of deleting the incorrect letter. This was really amazingly done.

We went on another few rides and wanted to do Crush's Coaster but when we got there the queue was already 60 minutes long (at least they tell you before you start) so we left that. We then visited the Disney museum and took the girls shopping. They could each choose one thing of not more than 20 euros and Mieke chose a Limited Edition Minny Mouse in a gold dress and Silke chose a play set with rubbery plastic characters of Mickey, Minny, Donald Duck, Pluto and one other which I can't remember. Then it was time to have a last look around and say goodbye to Disney. I wanted to see the parade again, but we were so tired and suffering from stimulation overload, so we headed back.

Disneyland is really amazing, and we all enjoyed it a lot, even Werner who probably had to make an effort to get into the swing of things. Because as I write all this it seems so silly, but when you are there and you see 'Sully' from Monsters Incorporated sitting on this huge chair by Boo's Door and Minny Mouse dancing in her red Christmas outfit with snow falling down, and you get that first glimpse of Sleeping Beauty's castle - the magic seems quite real.

Would I recommend Disneyland Paris for Christmas? If I had a choice I would probably rather spend the day with our family in Betties Bay, eating and drinking too much and then going for a loooong nap in the afternoon with the sun baking down on me. But if I can't have that then Disneyland is definitely the next best but totally different thing.