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.

Keep the 7th July Free

I think everyone should support Mom and the Scouts and go along to the scout concert, to celebrate 100 years of scouting and the 45th Birthday of Ruckinge & Hamstreet Scouts.
It should be a great evening, and you can all make a lovely picnic. It will be a fun family outing.
And if you were a scout, you can enter the free prize draw if you wear your neckerchief into the concert.
So book this date in your dairies (7th July 3pm) and let mom know that you are all going.

It seems to be getting cloudy

Whilst typing this I can see that this is the 100th post on the blog - that's a lot.
I was just standing on the balcony and within minutes it seemed to have got cloudy. So I took some photos.

Monday Blues

Feeling a little under the weather today, even though it is not Monday but Tuesday.
I needed to get out of the house, so have just been to Fegos across the road for a coffee and lunch, which has made me better. Mike and I save all our R5 coins that we get, and they go into a pot for our coffee spends - we now had R185 so had enough for a sandwich to share - very big portions so able to share.
Luckily we now have call forwarding on our office line, usually we get on average 1 call a day, but during lunch out we had 4 calls within half an hour.
On the way back we stopped at a childrens shop and bought something for baby Perk.
Back to the office now and Mike is going to teach me how to set up email and google accounts - there is more to my job than accounts. My banks are all reconciled so my jobs are all done (although I have not looked at the Paypal account for a year so have bit of a mammoth task ahead, I may do this in front of the tv, as tonight the Wedding Crashers is on and I have not seen this).

Sunday - Baby Shower

Today was Yolande's baby shower, which was a surprise for her.
Mike & I went to Fred & Yolandes for lunch which was lovely, before heading of to the baby shower.
They received lots of nappies and baby grows, we bought Yolande some nice fluffy slippers for the hospital, as we do not like to buy baby something, until baby is here.
Yolande has been told baby is now ready to come, but to try and hold on for 2 weeks as the lining on the lungs isn't quite ready. So hopefully when we get back from East London there should be a new little Roed.

Mike's Birthday

Had to wake up early today,as I had an opticians appointment (one eye has worsened a bit and the other improved a bit - which seems weird), but I have to wait until Thursday before I can pick up my new sunglasses.

I gave Mike a surfing magazine, so he was happy.

We stopped for coffee and a muffin at the waterfront.

Then back home for lunch, and to the laundrette to pick up our washing.

About 4 Fred came around to watch the Rugby with Mike, as you can see they are nice and comfy in the tv room. This is our sofa bed that is lot comfier when it is a bed rather than a sofa. (you can also see our pile of boxes that still have not gone to recylcing).

For the evening we went to the Codfather, where we had a feast of fish & champagne & wine (we got a taxi home).

From Bilsington in May

The planners don't seem too keen on our designs for Myrtle Cottage so we have decided that they can't object if we go back to the original look.

Spring has sprung here in Bilsington although today is cold due to the wind. Started off dull and grey but but the sun is shining this afternoon.

Well Done Thomas!!!

Just heard that our nephew Thomas has been selected to play for Australia Under 12 in football (goal keeper).
All the family are very proud, and grandparents can't stop crying.

Fun In Florida

It looks as if Mom & Rose had fun in Florida