Snowy Africa

I have just got these pictures from Saskia.

Grannies

Friday Afternoon

As it's now Friday Afternoon and sunny outside, Mike has escaped to go to a meeting so I am going to take my book and coffee on to the balcony.
(although as I sit and read, Mike has a listed a long list of jobs that he wants doing - these will have to wait until the weekend).

Lots of love

Nicola

Congratulations Kim & Rob

June 19th (USA time) Aunty Rose's Daughter Kim gave birth to her twins.
Lauren 6lbs & Zachary 6lbs 7oz (very healthy, especially as roughly 1 month prem).
Here are some pics (still awaiting pics of Grandma!!):

Lauren

Zachary

Shearing

As the shearing was canceled last weekend Mike & I were able to go the farm to help this Sunday.
Mike helped to round up the sheep into the pens, and I helped Angela roll the fleeces.

Flower Show

After a long week of non stop work Mike took the weekend off.
We went for a great Mexican dinner with Dad & Simone in Faversham on Friday night.
Saturday we went with Mum & Pete to Greenwich to see the Ark Royal navy ship that Pete served on. Then after a quick bite to eat back to Faversham to visit the Flower and Vegetable show, that my nan & grandad had entries in (lots of prizes won). I have put some photos of a couple of their entries below.










These were the selection of Grandad's fruit and veg that he grows at the farm.










This was a winning entry under the category "Gemini"


















I do not remember the category, but very pretty.

Dad's 60th

Mike and I were luckily in the UK for Dad's 60th Birthday Party, and able to see our new niece.
We arrived on Friday, and were able to catch up with all the family & friends at the BBQ on Saturday afternoon.
The rest of the week was for Mike spent in meetings, and I went and visited my family.
Here are a couple of photos from the party.

I Forgot

Following on my yesterday's "post" just a note to say that Marleen gave me a present for Nya last week when I was in Holland. It is in my car boot and will be with Les and Ed coming sunday.

Sorry
Hans.

Update from Hans

At last, thanks to Nicola, I finally got into this blog.Previous attempts only took me to the Park, not Perk, blog. Nice to see Mike and Nicola after all those months.
News from here: Rene's wife has finally signed the divorce papers and therefore Sian's wedding may be on for this year. The idea is that they may get married in Bali, followed by a big party in Holland for friends and family. They want me to accompany them to Bali. I said NO, who wants to accompany his daughter on her honeymoon. So I am going. I had a nice week in Holland with Marleen and family of which we spent 3 days just together touring through the Ardennes. The grottos of Han are incredible. 110 m below ground. a 2 mile walk, 400 steps, slippery, bloody exhausted but triumphant. To entice you they said there was a tour in a boat too on an underground river.That was true except that only lasted 30 seconds. to take you to the exit.There are halls down there the size of a cathedral filled with meters high stalagtites and stalagmites. (Tites come from up to down, mites from down to up). I cannot for the life of me think that babies are beautiful but Nya is an exception! Thank you again Les for a very good meal last night, a work of art that filo pastry with salmon and asparagus. Hope this works this time. Hans 18/7/07

5 days old

If the foods not coming, might as well suck my thumb!

2 More Sleeps

We are coming home soon, and I can't wait. So much to do and so many people to see.
We are coming armed with our shopping list, for all the things that we miss.
Hopefully having this blog post will also remind me when home what I need to buy.
I always thought it was a little strange when people did this, why don't they just adapt and buy the foreign alternative. But I now have reasons:
1. There is a reason why all south africans have sugar in their instant coffee!!
2. Decaf Earl Grey - not available & Mike is fussy.
3. Stock cubes here are extremely salty, I could buy OXO cubes but cost £2 a box.
4. Gravy granules - I can't find any, only can see powder in the shop, would make my own gravy, but sometimes not possible - How do you get gravy from sausages?
5. Marmite - I did try but it tastes too different (has a hard texture - it's supposed to drip off the knife).

For all of you that still think the way I used to, just remember my bags will be filled with biltong, Pecks paste & Grandpa Tablets.

lovely weather

We've had a great sunny day today. But now its bedtime the cape weather has kicked in. We're just sat here watching it at the moment.



Unfortunately the forks within it didn't show up on the video:-(

- Mike

Our Granddaughter

Our darling Nya Cavell was born this morning at 7.40

weighing a healthy 8 lbs 10 oz.
Mother and daughter are doing well - as is the proud daddy.


Chuck saying hullo to his granddaughter

Ouma having a cuddle

2 Days Old

Mike & I visited baby Helena today for our first cuddle.
Hospital was very nice - alot nicer than our NHS ones.



Only had 20mins as had to rush back for a "heavy chef session" where Mike gives a free lesson in web marketing. Today was using Google analytics to help make your site proftable.

Helena Marie Pia Roed

7:50am this morning little baby Helena was born, 3kg and very grumpy and hungry.
Sorry no pictures as yet, but when I get some I will post. Hopefully we can see her soon, have only seen Fred's pics.
Mike & I took Mikael & Chrissy to the toy shop this afternoon, only to find the toy shop had closed - not what you want to find out when you have already told a 4 year old and 2 year old where we were going. Uncle Shane to the rescue with directions to a different store.
All was ok, we left with marbles and a helicopter, and Mikael & Chrissy chose a teddy for Helena.

Past Week & Weekend

Potential new employee from PMB joined us on Thursday & Friday at the studio for an interview, we have offered him the job, although waiting on his reply as it's a big step to move to Cape Town. Luckily we found out this week our Indian employee is a female, so the ratio will be 4 males to 2.
Interview process was finished with a game of crazy golf, Sean won by quite a bit - so he passed the test, although Mike does not like to lose.
All went to Primi at the Waterfront for dinner (always amazed with the price, as so cheap - well in pound terms).

Saturday:
Looking forward to my coffee at Origins in the Waterkant, for some reason shut down, so went for a wander and found a lovely square within the Waterkant with restaurants and cafes. As it is now winter the shade is freezing, so selected a cafe for its sunny balcony rather than food selection & appearance - but was very nice.
On way home went to Alan Alborough's art exhibition in town (Ray's son). The art was very terryesque rather than paintings. Alan not there but left a message with the gallery owner.

Nearly forgot, we also went to watch the rugby at the Waterfront. I got a bit bored as don't really understand the rules, so went for a walk around the shops and found an amazing ring. Went back to show Mike, it was R39,000 so maybe not getting it for a while. (I might make him work an extra 100 hours a week - although only 168 hours in a week so may struggle).

Sunday:
Sunday's Sunday so did nothing.
(well actually I did cashflow then cleaned)
I have also started to put together all my stuff for our trip home i.e. racing books, racing magazines, racing dvd...


Babies:
Expecting quite a few babies in the next couple of weeks, which is exciting.
Terry & Traer very soon, although baby Perk is loving being on a constant feed drip I'm sure, just like it's daddy & uncle mookal.So may stay in for a couple more days
Fred & Yolande - Tuesday for baby Roed III
Kim & Rob - Twins (girl & boy) eager to come, but must hold on a bit longer.

Now it's sunday night and I must cook dinner, just going to have some left over ostrich bolognaise from the freezer.

Good Luck to dad who is racing at Brands Hatch tomorrow. We do not get a bank holiday here, but can't complain as we seem to get one every second week.

Trying not to forget

After playing with Youtube yesterday I thought I'd show you the lengths Nicola goes to to remember stuff.

Pizza

At 5:30pm tonight I felt like making pizzas for dinner, but I decided this was a silly idea because the dough takes 2 hours to rise. So I thought - that's ok I will just make them tomorrow, so I looked up the recipe anyway.
I was amazed to see that the base had no yeast in and therefore did not need raising time, so I gave it ago. (i found this in an old edition of Food & Home magazine that I am borrowing from the library).
Pizzas were made in 15mins plus cooking time, and the base was amazing, more american style than Italian. So I thought I would share the recipe with you. Also so I don't forget and I can always look it up on this blog.

Makes 4 (I just halved everything, but this is for 4):

350g self raising flour
5ml salt
50g butter
250ml milk

1. Sift flour and salt in a bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the milk and mix to form a soft dough. Turn out onto a floured working surface.
2. Roll dough into 25cm rounds on a lightly greased baking tray.
3. then throw on your toppings and cook.

Nice and quick and simple.

Racing in East London

Mike and I left home at 7 and arrived in East London at 11. We were met by uncle mike for the short drive to the race track, in the new racing/work/entertainment van.
Uncle Mike and Chad had driven from Durban on the Thursday.
On arriving at the track, I thought the scenery was that of a golf course rather than a race track, as the views were amazing with the sea in the background.
Chad had a few practices then qualifying in the afternoon, qualifying 4th.

Racing was followed by a few drinks, before heading back to the B&B. We all stayed at a lovely B&B - you can see the view from our balcony, this is over looking Nahoon Beach. Definitely recommend for everyone to stay at the Blue Bend, when in East London.
A short distance down the road was The Blue Lagoon Hotel, where we walked for dinner, lovely food -unfortunately I had a spot of food poisoning, but perfectly fine in the morning, which turned out to be a good thing as it meant Chad, Mike and I headed off early and didn't return home at 2:30am with everyone else.

Back to the race track on Saturday, where Chad was racing 2 races one at 12:30 and one at 3. Today we went to the shops to buy some rolls etc. for lunch, as the prospect of another track hotdog was not inviting.

It was great fun to watch the racing, and Chad came 4th overall, after a spin off, but he was able to recover and finish the second race. Watch the video below (made from Mikes cell phone - so not tv quality).



It turned out to be a day of sport, along with the racing was the Sharks/Bulls rugby match and the FA cup final - which were shown on a big screen in the clubhouse.(unfortunately not the results Uncle Mike wanted).

This evening we travelled to Goubie to a pub, where you can buy Braai packs and cook your own dinner on the BBQ.

Sunday: Uncle Mike and Chad left early for the long drive back, Mike & I caught a shuttle to the airport with a couple of the other racing people.
Experienced huge gusts of wind at the airport, at one point walking across the runway to our airplane I grabbed hold of Mike, because I thought the wind was going to pick me up and blow me into the airplanes engines.

Arrived home at 4ish to downpours of rain, and a nearly overflowing swimming pool.

God Save Our Queen

I forgot to write yesterday to say Mike may be in a ad.
Charl's company needed English singers to sing the national anthem in the style of rugby men. It's all exciting here.