The end of 2007!!

Thank God this is the last few hrs of this crap year!

If i have to look at my life this past year I can say that it wasn't great but I do have high lights.

1)Gemma's first Birthday. Having so may ppl that love her here was great.

2) Changing my career. Photography has changed who i am and is busy helping me to be a happier person.

3) My 30th birthday. I cant even begin to tell you how much love i felt that week.

4) Doing my first big events for MFP.

5) Making new friends.

So I'm hoping that at the end of next year. Things will be different for the better and my list will be much longer!!

Love and well wishes for 2008!

Sticking to my guns

It always seems easier to tell someone else what to do. BUT wait till you sit with the shit and have to make those choices. Its hard. Really hard.
I'm tough but I'm not that tough
So I'm hoping that today is the beginning and not the end.
That today i become the woman I'm meant to be.
The one that is stronger than her situation.
The one that knows what it is to be loved and to love with out conditions and to have that on a daily basis not on a yearly one.
Here's hoping time doesn't run out for me.

Hope you all have a great day tomorrow.
I'm hoping for one.

Feeling the spirit??

Well I've been. The 'kak on me for shit' spirit has really come hard my way.

The beauty of most of the "kak" is that its totally ass about face!!!

But my new motto is "fuck off", well that's not really new is it!? hee hee

Really, I'm just going to ignore the things that don't impact me from now on.

Restrict the ppl that I allow into my space and heart and therefore I wont get shat on so often!

Or what do u think?

My Husband, who has been is kak on here a lot, took me away to a little b&b in Hermanus the weekend. We only stayed for 1 night but it was SSSSSOOOOOOOOO needed! He scored some really needed points here :) Things aren't right but that's ok, we're working on it!

Some great news is that we finally decided on Godparents for Gemma. Carol and Josh!

I asked them on Saturday before they left. It was a very emotional thing for me. I expected them to think about it, I know I would have. But neither of them thought and just said YES!

Insane I tell you. I had such a cry when i got into the car!!!

Cindy is also just pregnant! She told me today. I would love all of you that read this to please keep them in your prays. Its not the easiest thing for her body to do and every positive thought helps.

My photography course is also going well. We went to the noon gun and tried to get the gun firing!

Its not that easy!!!

That fucking thing is so loud i almost lost my nerve! I shouted and got such a shacky shoot it wasn't a joke!!! At least we all had a laugh!!

We just came back from an afternoon of fun for our girls at Bonnie's house. She asked a few of us around and we all had a jol! The girls got to open a pressie or two as well and the mom's a glass or 65676 of bubbles!!

I'm looking forward to the next week. I'm not letting anything take away the most important part of Christmas that many forget, the Birth of Jesus and that no amount of presents can top.

I would like you all to at least for 1min on that day, be thankful for Him and for those that He has allowed into your life! The GOOD, The BAD and the UGLY! :)

Warm heartfelt wishes go out to you all, even the UGLY!

Love

Delmaine

This morning

This morning i asked Leon to read last nights entry.
I thought i should remove it as not to make waves. As he was one of the people that i clearly directed my entry at, i wanted an honest answer. He said "leave it. If that's how u felt then that's how u felt!" He added, if that this is my diary and if u don't want to read it, DON'T.

Some days i love that man. Others.... well lets just say, NOT so much!

HOE HOE HOE! BITCH!

(if your extra touchy and think i write about u don't read this post OK!)

So people are complex creatures. This isn't something new to me. I just thought that I've mastered and balance most of my relationships. Seems for the most part i have but for a few select that can not accept me for who i am.
I'm i good friend 99% of the time. I'm human after all. Or AM I??!!

I've been accused of many things this last few weeks. Bad wife, bad family member bad friend.
So I've spoke about my wrong doings with a close friend or 2 and sorry for u lot but I'm far from that bad person you are trying to blame. I've got a good heart which you all take advantage off. YES you all do. But Friends and family do that to each other. And for love they over look things. Don't we all need our faults to be over looked??
Do u really think your that perfect that you can stand in you're glass house and throw stones?
My love its not stones your throwing. ITS BOULDERS!! If u attack me should i not attack back?
Well guess what? I'm not. I'm not going to sink to that. Not going to fall lower than i am. And I'm pretty low at the moment. I've gone back to a shrink there are lots u guys don't know. She's a nice woman who doesnt always agree with me. Which is great. I need to be guided. How much higher do i need to set my boundaries? Things like that. So I have a few better days lately. I'm grateful for that.

I did my first lesson with a photographer last week, He is a honey i tell u, has so much to offer and not scared to share his knowledge at all. Which is awesome. Don is 70. So u have to understand his been behind a camera for 40plus years!!! Going tomorrow again. Cant wait.

Did my first house photos on Monday. that wasn't easy hey. pretty difficult really. It wasn't finished at all. So had to try with angles and stuff. I can see I'll need to try better ones for them again.

Gemma is now building up to 12pc puzzles. She's so clever. Her speech is coming along nicely too. She's allot more vocal and when she does say a word its perfect not baby type thing. Which is awesome too. Going to have her home for a month. GOING to BE FUN! hee hee. I think I'll be grey by then!!

Leon's booked us in some stunning place on the weekend for a night. Gemma's going to my folks while we try and reconnect.
Looking forward to that.

Carol is down in ct, and we've been lucky to catch up a few times. but this week i haven't been able to see her once!! I hope i get to say good bye!! SHIT chick I'm going to miss u again!
I wish there was a way u could take a pill and wake up in another country!!

Have so much work to do still. Hope that the next few days fly by and i get to relax with my family and friends.

Being Judgemental??

So I've been quiet again. TRUE.
But sometimes in life you cant always put the truth out there. If u do, it has a terrible way of biting you in the bum. So things have been kak in general, to the point that I'm back at a shrink.
I needed it for me. So that's hard. Putting yourself under a microscope isn't easy. Often u don't like what you find. Things that are easy to hide under false smiles, need to be faced.
OH JOY!!
My photography is a major thing that keeps me above depression. Really.
When I'm behind the camera I'm me. The real me. Its so freeing!!

Now my title is 2 fold. My life is constantly being judged.
And i agreed to one ALMIGHTY to judge me. But where do the other little 'mighties' think they get off?
Who the fuck do u think you are? I refrain from judging you. Its not easy. NOT BUT A LONG SHOT!
Parenting doesn't come with a hand book you know. Each child has its own "handbook" and I'm so over ppl giving their CRAP two cents with out knowing the full story. REFRAIN REFRAIN!!!
I have in the last few weeks, seen parents who put their kids, WHO THEY LOVE, in danger.
I had a client on Monday, so I had to watch my words, who had her little boy on her lap in the front seat of their car!!!!!
I FELT LIKE DRIVING OFF!! How dare u as a parent. DO THAT! Are u insane?
In the traffic to a wedding I saw a woman with her kid on her lap behind the wheel!!
ARE U MENTAL? (I HAD TO REFRAIN!!)

So u can see I'm angry. There is so much i cant tell you. so don't take any of this personally.

I'm going to see a man about a camera this morning :)
Well its more of how to use my camera really. Just hope its not a waste of time!!

Thanks to all my girlfriends, who have had to put up with me the last few weeks. YOU KNOW THE KAK has just started hey!!!
love u guys though!!

Have a wedding this weekend again. I'm so over these freebies really. I have to start making money at some stage :)

Pain and gain?

I'm running out of titles!!

Well i have booked my first male shoot next week if the weather is good that is.

I'm looking forward to trying this. Men don't have the same style as woman so not sure even how to start to tackle this.

On the weekend we went to support my loving cousin, Belinda who has MS for a fundraiser.

Eventfully to say the lest.

The calendars are mostly sold. So we doing a reprint!!

My body is very sore, not from the pole dancing but its more stress related. So I've been for physio.

I cant wait for Carol to come home. I cant believe she'll be here in less than 2 weeks!!

I miss you my friend!

There is so much i want to write but will have to think carefully before i put that down. You might get the wrong idea :)

Pole dancing

Friday night, Bonnie and I take a 'mathematical' and go on a ladies night.
We went to this dance studio, and were entertained! They showed us how to pole dance! IT was lank funny but really fun.
Then WE HAD to do a lap dance on each other. I haven't laughed that much in a while.
We went to a pub afterwards. Was nice.
BUT I'm sore, my arms ache, my tummy my legs. That pole is evil!
I spent half the day in bed on Saturday getting over my hand over and then most of Sunday in the bed with the FLU. AND i had clients! JOY.

I'm happy to say that the below post is now sorted, well sort of! So I'm thankful for that.

One of my friends had her baby this week. 9weeks early. I was so worried but thankfully the little man is a fighter!! Cant wait to meet him.

Our Calendar project has really taken off.
I didn't think that it would be such a big thing. But it seems that ppl are willing to support something worth while. SO PROUD!!!!

And to my man, who now knows what its like to be me. I"M SORRY!!!
LOVE YOU,BABES.

Loss

So many years ago, before Leon, I had a boyfriend, seemingly nice young man, whom my family and I invested a lot of time and money, sparing to many details. After many moons and sunrises, he decides that he no longer thinks I'm good enough. Shattered as I was, I refrained from talking badly about him to anyone. He was mentally abusive towards in during the relationship and i thought, the less i need to think or talk about him the better.
The only down side was that i have made good friends with his sister. I'd been at her first baby shower, taken her to hospital when she was in labour and tried after the break up not to come between her and her brother. So for the last 7yrs I've had a good friend.
This last year he gets married. I'm happy for him and for his new bride. Devastated when i hear that after only a few months things had gone wrong and they parted.
The now ex-wife contacts me. We start chatting. She opens up and he had done the same things to her that he'd done to me. The only difference was that she still loved him. So i encouraged her to talk to him. To tell him. To go back.
Failing that i just listened. After a few weeks. their divorce final. I'm chatting to him and his found out that the 2 of us are friendly. Goes mental at me on the phone. Calling me names and I think to myself, WHO THE HELL DOES HE THINK HE IS!
He doesn't listen to my side and only hears what he wants to. So i removed his details and told him so. That didn't help either. SO after a few mean sms's its all over.
NOW that's not the end of the story. The story ends where my friend no longer talks to me.
THAT hurts. I'm not going to explain myself. There isn't much to explain. I didn't cause the faults in the relationship, they did that on their own. Why should I be punished for making a new friend?
Thankfully my photography is going like a Boeing (oops, not the best line, seems that the planes are a bit mental at CT airport at the moment!)
Gemma's speech is also flying at a mental rate now! VERY cute.
Leon's being a very supportive husband lately. THANKS BABES ( ja Jaco and Otto, you can rip him off)

Done and Dusted

So Friday's golf day is behind me. I learnt stacks for it. I was terrified I would run out of memory so what happens? I don't take enough photos!
TYPICAL!
My main task was to get pic's of the 4 balls together. Which was a bigger task than i thought.
There were 16 groups. And they mostly wore the same clothes!!!
AND the flipping printers didn't deliver my labels! Lucky I don't wait for anyone. I made back ups! I wore my "I'm bossy" tshirt and it did its job. Good ice breaker.

Leon and I had out 7yrs anniversary on Friday too. So after the golf day I pick up some Thai to celebrate.
The weekend was so nice. NOT a sole besides us the whole of Saturday! Sunday after church, we went to pop in at friends, and when we got home, i had such a lovely sleep, i felt like a train road over me!
Went to visit my mother in law, then to Maggie and Nev. Gemma hardly slept the whole day.
By the time we got home she had fallen asleep in the car!
This week its going to be GREAT one! I can feel it in my bones :)

Headings are over rated!

So last weekend landed up being 3 clients on Saturday not 1, so I was pretty tired.
We joined Leon H for his birthday at Primi and then went to Tiger Tiger. JOY! Besides that I was recked from working, I felt like I was 12354687yrs old! 90% of the club were under 25!

Sunday, can't remember what we did Sunday, besides the fact that caught up on some sleep.

I went to hand over the wedding album and DVD, shame she was SO happy, made me feel really good.

The Red Cross golf day is tomorrow.I'm feeling a bit nervous as there will be some celeb's there, I ordered stationery for the event and do you think the flipping printers are able to deliver!! HELL NO! So I don't know what I'm going to do!
F@CK!.

ITS over!!

My first wedding that is :)
This last weekend while you all were getting ready for the rugby, i took a drive to Tulbagh, to do the photos for my first wedding. Leigh-Ann and Wayne had a beautiful day and a stunning venue. I don't know what i expected but it wasn't as hard as i thought it would be.

I got home after 7pm, we had a few friends over and the vibe was already good. We braaied like a good South African should and watched the boys do their thing. (between springbokkies!)

SO my nerves are now rested and as i start to relax i realised that Bonnie's golf day is next Friday!!!! Its too close!! I"M NOT READY!!!
Thankfully this weekend i only have 1 client and that shouldn't be TO hard.

Change of heart.

I know that sometimes we don't all understand the WHOLE story, then some one's decision to do something massive doesn't make sense to us.
The other day I felt like I wanted to shout from the roof tops "DUDE, what the hell??"
then I realised, IT'S not my life. IT'S not my problem.
LET go.
I don't always need to fix very thing. That's not my job as a mother, wife, sister, cousin or friend.
My roll can only be one of support.
DOESN'T matter how wrong I feel it to be.

EVEN HARDER!!!!

Early Morning cuddles

This morning after such a kak night, madam lies between us and puts one arm around my neck and then the other around her dad's and she held us, it was so cute!!!!
She pulled us on to her little chest!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH.
Still feel like a train reversed over me from the lack of sleep. BUT kind of happy too :)

mmm, Ja, i've been quite!

SO, its been nearly a month since I've sat down and written anything.

Feels like there is just no time anymore for me to breath. When i do breath, its not long before i have to take off again.

Thankfully my photography is taking off, not with out its hiccups. Leon has no idea how to be supportive. This has cause endless fights.

Thankfully when either of us talk we listen. And mostly react to change well.

Gemma is growing so nicely. Talking more and more. I think she's up to 21words, including a few swear words. Thanks to her mommy :)

She's beaning doing 4-6 piece puzzles, which is a massive thing for a child her age.

She keeps us both entertained.

My boundaries are well in place and almost all of the relationships are working well.

Now i sit with a massive problem, how do u tell someone they making a mistake when your life isn't perfect?

Its not a judgement passing by no means, but do u offer your opinion and know that that offering will be met with the attitude that I'm passing judgement?

HARD i know.

Well, I'm doing my first wedding this weekend. Looking forward to it in a way and shitting myself in another. Cant replace someones memories!!

Wish me luck :)

Fairies

I invited my girlfriends with their little girls to play in Kirstenbosch Gardens yesterday and took some awsome photos! love it! thanks girls!

check out the gallery for more

Bonnies party!

OK, hectic!

Shame, Bonnies wheel's fell off before 12!

My heads not all that good either! SHOOTERS were flowing far to freely!

Lots of fun!

Learning and listening :)

Not much happening at the moment. Getting ready for my first wedding in October and doing a little fairy shoot next week. going to be fun.
I made 4 of the girls outfits so i hope they look ok.
Mika is my fav music at the moment, really bubble gum stuff but fun.
Gemma's starting to speak more and more now. She even said Tanya yesterday.
Started with the garden, i really mean started! planted about 18 little plants in the front bed, need to plant about another 50!!! hee hee

The latest!

So what can i say?

I was completely blown away by a great group of friends!

The weekends celebration of my 30th birthday was mainly for me to show my thanks to my closes friends.

I kind of turned on me. The group, with a clown for a ring leader ( Cezanne) went out of their way and got me such a great birthday gift i almost fainted!!

They bought me a new flash and a lens for my camera!!

I really couldn't breath! I don't think I was this shocked ever!!

I took them to Molka, an Indian restaurant, that is now closed for business, I rented the place out and 27 of us ripped it up!! hee hee

The party followed us home, thanks to the juke box that Lisa and Gary kindly lent us!!

There was shooters and PLONK that just didn't stop!!

the last lot ( BARRY, who was dragged out by a tired Chantelle) left at 3 30!!

It was the best party I'd been to in years!!!

David and Claudia, come down from JHB for the party and that made it even more special!!

Thanks to everyone for starting this year of with a mental BANG!!!

The day after the party

AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH

30 and 3days!

So on Tuesday around 4pm, i started feeling so bad, Leon still had an evening out planned and i felt like a cow wanting to cancel, he took me 5 Flies in town, my favorite over priced restaurant.
I managed to get 2 course in before really feeling ill.
Leon got his pudding though. ( at the restaurant)
So i was in bed most of Wednesday, Leon recons i expired on my 30th. Nice of him hey!
Feeling a bit better now. Doctor gave me lots of drugs.
Gemma's teething, so we're having fun fun fun! The poor little girl doesn't sleep much with her sore mouth.
I'm looking forward to see my close buddies tomorrow night.
Haven't had them all in one place since my wedding!
Will post photos soon!!

I'm over THAT hill called 30!

What a day so far!
I woke up to a few kisses and loves, followed by my daughter being helped to bring me a gift in bed. Her dad even helped her write in her own card! Was so cute.
My loving husband also gave me a card with 30 yellow roses! My fav!
We went decided that we would go up table mountain this morning for breakfast. When we got there my husband gave me a second surprise! THE LONGER LENS I've been wanting!!! Was a doll!
The trip up the mountains and breakfast was just so special.
I've got call's, sms's, emails and other msg's from so many people its just not a joke!
I feel so blessed to have u all in my life!!!
I don't think that the day could get any better!

Bring in the 30's

So much going on!!!
Yesterday being Spring day, we had a play date at Bonnies house, Cezanne, Bridgette, Vanessa and their families also joined us.
We put wing's on the girls, Kiara and Abi reckoned that we were all silly and just wouldn't do it.
Bon's garden is stunning with a little pond. So i took a few photos of the girls, they were all very cute. Even the wingless ones :)
To day started off really well. I was busy cooking, and my mother in law was cleaning the kitchen, sparing you the details, i went mental. Not my finest moment but ja, what was a girl supposed to do?
I went to the Chief Apostle service this morning. Was an uplifting service! Thank GOD. After this morning i thought my day was stuffed!
After the service i came home and finished off the food, the family came round for lunch and surprisingly there weren't many fights!
I look forward to this week!

Counting down

I cant believe a birthday can get to you like this!
What a joke. I'm OK on the surface but having such anxiety that I laugh at myself!
Oh joy!
So in my mental state, I'm having my family, well some of them, over for lunch on Sunday, some of the other family over for tea the afternoon too.
I have no idea why i would put myself through all of this but hey, your only 30 once!

As I said in the entry before this one, i got a few preggy models. Was lots of fun. I even got a third one on Tuesday evening with her little boy. So all 3 were very different.
I have booked my second wedding, which I'm totally over the moon about. So it will be 3 weddings this year that i will be doing, (1 as a gift) and then I'll have a nice portfolio!
Its kind of weird, I didn't think that I would have the balls at 30 to make a move in my life like this, although I'm not stopping my other work, it still is a bit thing.
Thankfully Leon is now understanding that I can do this and I NEED to do this.

This week, oh well, not as fun as most! Just a bit TOO personal on a lot of levels to put on here.
I was lucky enough to be able to book my first wedding! It is on the 24th November! I'm looking forward to that. Convinced 2 girlfriends to pose for me, they are both about 36weeks pregnant. So ja, did the first couple today and the second tomorrow.
Leon and I, I thought were in a good space, it seems that we have been misunderstanding each other. Not fun.
Gemma has been sleeping just a little better thankfully. She was very helpful and was my test model for this afternoon.
Need to start working on a logo for Maine Frame. Going to get some business cards and stuff printed. GOING LARGE! hee hee
Enjoyed a bottle of wine last night, but not enjoying the hangover. When will i learn?
Going to be 30 in a few days. It hasn't started to freak me out YET. BUT watch this space :)
Had my hair done a real bright red. Looks kind of funky.
I woke up yesterday with such a sore shoulder that i couldn't go to work.
I went to physio yesterday, between that and the wine its feeling a hundred times better!!!

Dancing babies!

This past week has been a good one. The reason i say this is if you read my blog a while ago I spoke about boundaries and that I had to set new ones in my life with a few different people.

I'm happy to say that it has been hard work to maintain those boundaries but they have all achieved what I'd hope. Even more than I expected.

I look forward to enjoying these new relations!!

Our daughter is talking allot more lately. She's got quite a few words now but the most impressive came out on Thursday evening while looking around in her room, she pointed to a photo of her and Cara-Claire in the bath and said CC's full name! Then asked me "where Cara-Claire" I almost died! hee hee.

Thankfully she repeated this for her father and Cezanne so they know I'm not crazy!

She hasn't been sleeping as well as we're used to so Leon and i have been a little cranky!

The weekend pulled in and Friday evening we had an unplanned gathering, Cezanne, Vince and CARA-CLAIRE came for supper. I love unplanned. They always are more relaxed! So the mom's finished a bottle of wine while the girls entertained us!

Saturday was heavy for me. Got up and went to have my eyebrows done, rushed home so Leon could shower then off to Cindy for Tatum's first birthday party. I don't know why but Tatum's birthday made me very emotional. I even cried when i called Cindy to wish her!

Well the party was great and very relaxed. I enjoyed taking the photos of all the kids.

I rushed to have some printed after the party for her gran and thankfully i just caught the guy before he left!

We went to a surprise birthday party for Sherene at Octopus in St James. Nice enough venue.

I got trashed again. YIPPEE. I must get it all in before the next baby. ha ha ha

Sunday rolled around and for a changed i didn't feel like going to church. So i let Leon sleep late and entertain the madam.

We just chilled! Kerstin and Ian came round, showed off their new car. Very smart.

I'm now watching Gemma play with keys. I just hope the don't unlock something i might need later! best i get them!

R & R

So we took most of this week off and spent time once again mostly on our own as a family.

I thought I might be bored by the 3rd day and I'm happy to say that i wasn't!

I left my camera mostly in its bag and just chilled!!

Even the dogs behaved!

My cousin Belinda come to visit yesterday with her family.

It was nice just to "be".

She has MS and we don't know how long she'll be able to live a normal functional life so its made all of us realize that not only is her time limited, our is too!

We also celebrated our aunts and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary today.

Most of the family cousins and all, went out for lunch. Kind of weird because half of them I just don't like! But nice enough lunch :)

The next week is going to be a shocker. I have to make up a few hours work and have left things i don't really want to deal with to the last minute and HAVE to sort that out for work too!

Hope those of you that had a holiday enjoyed it.

Beaches and Brandy

Well! Last night was the first time that i got a bit mothered in a LONG time!

Had such a jol! We went to a quiz evening with friends and i think we came in the top half of the table! Not that i was much help! ha ha

I did my first family on the beach. This was a birthday gift for Cezanne and i got some nice ones!

I'm just not putting them out there till she's seen them.

We also had a craft market table at Charmaine's church. Aunty Joan made stuff and some other family members too. We all made a bit of money.

Belinda's birthday today too. So we had supper there. Gemma was on fine form. Dance and laughing with everyone. Little clown.

Leon as a few days off so we're off to my folks till Tuesday. Hope the weathers good.

MIDNITE MASS

Well well.

Our daughter is just such a joy at the moment.

Waking up 3 or 4 times most nights and last night

was awake for more than an hour, from 11 30 till 1!

And don't give me tea mom! YOU're mental!

only juice will do! Flipping hell.

Feel like a train drove over me!

Thankfully the weather is good the last 2 days, can

get my washing dry!

Had to wear VERY old jeans yesterday, I'm just glad they

weren't RED!!!

Facebook is off line since last night. For the first time in a long

time i feel lost. Haven't felt like this since Leon and i stopped chatting

online!

The dogs are playing up more and more. Max weed on my washing that

was on the clothes horse yesterday. I nearly KILLED him!

Now i caught him eating off the kitchen table! little sh!t!!!!

Doing washing again this morning then off to work.

Just another week

This weekend was nice and quite once again!

Thankfully, I didn't have any shoots this weekend and we basically

just chilled. We did take a drive to visit Maggie & Neville, Gemma's

love of hats came out once again. We did a drive by Cezanne & CC, Gemma enjoyed CC's left overs. Had soup at wine at Ian & Kerstin's too.

On a lighter note :) hee hee

I weighed myself on Friday and have finally got passed a weight hurdle! Just another 2 kgs to my goal weight! LOVE IT!

The great out doors

Once again a nice quiet week! Emotionally that is.

My boundaries are firmly in place and its seems

very little is impacting on me and my family! WOW!

We spent Friday night on our own. Nice!

Saturday morning brought Harry Potter back into my life, so

that's kept me busy!

Gemma had a play date with Cara-Claire & Zoe at wiggle

waggle. The girls had a great time. Gemma hardly smiled due

to her mouth being sore but i know she has fun.

After that we went to spend some time in the forest with Lisa

& Gary with the gang. haha.

Sunday after church and lunch Bonnie, Paul & the girls came round,

I tried my best to get a few photos of the girls together but it just wasn't

going to happen! hee hee! Got a few nice photos though.

Of to court this morning, just going to support Andre,

they robbed our shop in march and someone has tried to cash cheques

out of the stolen cheque book. Lets hope the courts run

on time!

Friends & Family

So this past week was a good one. No drama! Gemma was at the doctor again and they have put her on a stronger pump for her chest. She coughs in the morning and at night. It already seems to be working as she's sleeping MUCH better.

I've had this idea for a photo and I've started playing with it. Tatum, Cindy's little angel was ready and willing to help out!

I think Imust still get a back drop but at least the idea is there.

We spent the weekend doing things just for us as a family. Was rather nice for a change. Gem's and I went out for tea on Saturday to play with a lot of girls.

Sunday we had our monthly lunch, this time at our house, with Cindy and Chantelle.

I like this tradition. ( we just started it) Its not always that we see eye to eye with our family and this is better than family. Family have to love you. Friends choose too.

Maine Frame Photography gets off the ground

Well well. What can i tell u! I'm FAMOUS! ha ha ha. The last couple of weeks have been getting busier for my on the photography side. I've been busy the last few weekends and the next few to come! Not complaining. I'm still having a ball.

The weekend was nice and relaxing. Tanya come over Friday night. Leon and i shopped Saturday morning. Saturday evening Tanya baby sat for us and we joined Ian and Kerstin at the Extreme Hotel in town. It was such fun! Its a themed hotel with fun little extras! Worth the visit.

Now as I'm typing this I've got the flu! Not my idea of a great end to the weekend! ha ha. Hope to have a productive week!!!!

Limits

Ok. So i got told yesterday that my boundaries need to be adjusted with curtain people in my life. But how? How do I put up boundaries? I was given something to read by a life coach, the reasoning make so much sense but the action!!!! oh hell that's not easy.This is what it says about boundaries : Our personal Boundaries set the limits for acceptable behaviour in people around us. The quality of all our relationships depends on the strength of our boundaries. Boundaries are a measure of self respect and its vital to set them at a level that feels comfortable to you. personal boundaries both protect and attract. Weak boundaries leave you vulnerable, taken for granted,abused or damaged by others. A healthy self-respect that says,'i deserve better than this" protects us from exploitative relationships, and from loving those who may not always have our best interests at heart.
So now my head understands what boundaries are, how do i make my heart understand?

Falling in love

For the guys that read this! Eat your heart out! Leon and i try and do something once a month for each other and this month on our 6years and 8 months of togetherness he bought me flowers. Now for allot of you ladies flowers isn't really a big deal. However for me, it really doesn't happen often! Let alone my fav's, Yellow roses! The last few weeks have been so much fun for us. It feels as if we're falling in love all over again. I wonder what the next next 6y8m's have in store! (hopefully a few more bunches of flowers! LEON!) ha ha

Girls nite and jealous men

So, it landed up just been a few married woman on a nite out! Bonnie and I danced our selves silly. We even out danced Tanya, a 21 year old! She claims it was her new shoes! We left at a respectable hour and not to wasted!! lots of fun!

Feeling like a million Rand

oh well. This week is really flying by. Bonnie and i have been wanting to go on a jol for so long and have finally decided that this week is the week, so friday its ladies night!!!
Cant wait to just dance and joke like only girls can!

Feeling abit better

Been relaxing the last few day. Just the 5 of us. (dogs include) Although little brat Bella really works us up. Not used to a puppy anymore. I started taking a stress cocktail (just vitamins) and just knowing i took something has really helped my outlook. Getting things off my chest with ppl that i needed to also help. And clearing up something that happen 7years ago helped too! Didn't expect it too. Off to wish Chantelle tomorrow for her birthday, which is Monday.

AAAAAAAAAHGGGGGGGGG!

I'm just not coping!!!!
My loving little family is trying to keep me in one piece! I need to change my attitude and my life!!!!
Where do i start?
Where is the beginning?

News Feed......

So my husband and I have been in a very good space the last few weeks. But my own mental state hasn't been all the focused. The last few months of being disappointed by family and friends took more out of me that I realised. Although most of the issues were resolved I still hesitant to be "normal" with those that hurt me by miss understanding me. So its been hard. We bought new stuff for the house. I used my profit out of my business to buy it but this has resulted in a very cranky me. I don't have "me" money and that pisses me off!

Friday evening Leon's "other wife", Foula and her family came to stay with us for the weekend. It was nice having them here. We just chilled most of the weekend :) felt like we were also on holiday. Had a braai with Leon's cousins and them on Saturday evening and took a drive to my folks for fathers day. My mom booked us in a lovely restaurant there called @365. So we enjoy seafood curry, lamb shanks and divine sweets! Had a sleep at their place after lunch and finally took Foula and Andrew and the boys to the airport. Felt sad saying good bye.

My silly husband got caught in a lie again. Although it was something I could forgive, the fact that he lied hurt. So as "punishment" his going to church with me for the next few months. Win win I think.

Here's to what could be a really exciting week!!

Playing in the park

Leon took the day off today for his birthday. We enjoy a breakfast with my folks and Chelsea. Dropped Gemma at the day mom and went shopping for kitchen cubboards and fitting. (Window shopping) Off to Canal walk to spend what my folks gave him on clothes and enjoy a sushi lunch and beer. Home for a bit of RNR and fetched Gemma for a short play in the park. Check out the gallery for a few more pic's

Changed my mind

So I was in a horrid mood for no reason. On my way home from work I decided that i was going to be in a good mood. And that was that! I had a lovely time playing with Gemma when I fetched her from school. Positive thinking sometimes does work! Surprise :)

What puts you in a mood??

Some days everything just goes right. From the time you stand on the scale and you lost another kg to the fact that your business is making money, FINALLY. Then what puts you in a bad mood? Why do we always blame the hormones? What is it really? Are we just not programed to be happy? or grateful.

New Arrivals

The evil going's on at a baby show that should never be made public! Leon's cousin Natalie is having a boy in July and her cousins gave her a shower. One of the forfeits was to get a piece of chocolate out of this! Thank God Ava didn't try this with me!

Sick and tired of being SICK AND TIRED!!

Its Thursday already! feel's like the week and year is just flying pass.
Gemma's been pushing her boundaries with me this week. On Tuesday we went to friends in greenpoint and afterwards we went to wait for Leon at the spur in waterfront. She just wouldn't listen to me! drove me crazy. When Leon finished his supper they left me to enjoy my beer and shop on my own. Just what i needed. Now we're both sick. ( Gem and I) fun. So off to the doctor this afternoon. Leon's birthday coming up next week. His not keen on doing anything so we're just going to spend the day together and do supper just the 2 of us. Looking forward to that.

Weekend news

Friday?? what the... i cant even remember that far back! ha ha
Oh ja.Cezanne seen Gemma first in the YOU magazine! (7th june 07 edition) So i kind of sprinted done to the spar and bought a few copies! This is also when you all got smsed madly stating she was in the YOU! Very proud!
We've been checking our local paper for dinning room stuff and we found a imbuia set! So we gave the lady a call and checked it out. We both like furniture with character so it suited us just fine. We picked the set up on Sunday. The dining room table, 6 chairs and a Welsh dresser. Looks nice. Just need to fix it up a little and it will be great! On Saturday we ran around as usual. Leon did a bit of painting and I looked after Gemma. We went to Bonnie and Paul for a Rugby braai. Not that we even knew there was rugby on! Gemma warmed up quick enough and went off to mess up Bonnies place with the twins. Sunday morning she woke up with a bit of a temp. So i left her at home with Leon and went to church, Leon Hugo was there with his little boy and they joined us for coffee after wards at home. Neil and his wife and the model came round and we got a few really nice photos! Sorry cant attach any as yet have to wait to see how they do in the competition first! Louise and her new boyfriend came round for supper and have just left. He seems nice enough. Our first guest at our new table and they had hot dogs! ha ha. This week needs to be a bit more rested. I don't know if i can handle another hectic week! Oh well! here it goes!

Whats new

So there isn't much news on my side. But our daughter got her "big" break today and did a TV ad for PEP stores. She was so cute! i hope her take is on the big screen!
They are finishing our guest loo at the moment, doing the wall caps tomorrow. Might be finished with all the house things by the weekend!! Then we need to start thinking about the kitchen! Does it ever stop!!

Weekend news

Well it didn't start well. I ordered products from JHB on Monday, it should take 3 days so by Thursday i should have had them, Saturday morning still nothing! So I'm quick on the phone, giving Head Office a nice kaking out walking in N1 city, we thought we would do breakfast there, we walked pass Ackermans to see our little Gemma's first poster in the window!! I was still kaking head office out when i saw it so had to act piss off still while smiling like a fool!
Had 2 photo shoots this weekend, Saturday morning was of a friend and her family. The second was Sunday after church for a hair competition. The second wasn't easy. By the 3rd model i was so tired i just started taking random shots! Thankfully there was a second photographer that finished her! hectic after 2 and a half hours i was pooped!! But it was a great learning curve. Learnt a bit a bought lighting and that you cant work for 2hrs 30 and expect to be happy!
Friday evening we went jolling with Ava and her friends! had a smashing time.

OUR little madam

So Gemma as been selected as a stand by for her first TV ad on Tuesday.! which means that although she's not the first choice she has to be ready to fill in! which is a great start. So will let you know how it goes!
Doing my first photo shoot for professional models on Sunday. So that's going to take a lot. But I'm ready! going to play with me camera now a bit more!
Going on a Jol with Ava and her friends tonight. its her birthday so going to celebrate with her.

FINISHED

They are finally done with our master bathroom! YIPPEE

Still have to find a few things, wash basket, towel rails etc, but at least its a functional room now. And it looks stunning! have a look at the gallery to see the before and after pic's

Random Acts

On Saturday, my cousin Belinda, held a tea to raise funds for MS (Multiple Sclerosis). It was the first in the western cape and it was really well attended. Everyone bought and ate stacks of cake! What was nice there were ladies that didn't even know her who came to support! Thank Chicks your all stars!

Our bathroom is still not finished!!! By Friday i wanted to leave Leon and move to my mothers!! But the guys worked Saturday and we were able to bath this weekend! The guest loo was working so at least we could go there! Advise for anyone doing any type of building! LEAVE TOWN!! or buy another house! ha ha.

I love doing things for friends and strangers but I find it hard to accept. The photographer that took family shots isn't charging for some prints! So sweet. Oh well here's hoping you all have a great week a head!

Drama @ home

Our newest member of the Viret family, Isabella or Bella for short has been in the wars already.

Little madam thought that it was ok to eat out of Max's bowl while he eats. Well, it wasn't. He gave her a nice warning bite that she was bringing up blood, luck i was home and the guys doing the bathroom, I never had to break the two up, but i needed a driver! So off to the vet. 8hrs and R500 later, Bella is home. Looking like a battered woman, swollen cheek and bruised eye. Max was worried about her. Kept crying till she came home. Gave her a "I'm sorry lick" and the two have been fine. I however feed them separate now :) The bathroom is taking forever! they are nearly finished the guest loo, and have started tiling the main bathroom, but we are still showering in the outside room! 4 more days!!! (lets hope)

Mothers day

Its always hard to please a woman and I'm sure mothers day isn't any exception.
Mine started with a lovely lone sleep by my stunning daughter, Gemma. When she woke up ( she spent the night in our bed) she put her little arms around me and gave me such nice hugs and lots of really wet kisses. That made my day. We went to church, all 3 of us to the same one. That was also something i appreciate from Leon, he realised that it was important to me that he went with us, be it at the last minute. We went to wish Sofie for her first birthday, she was really surrounded by lots and lots of friends! My loving husband asked my mother, Grandmother and mother in law for lunch. He helped with the cooking and cleaning up. It was the first time my G'mother was here so it was really nice. This year my earthy present was lacking but my Godly one was abundant! To have them here was just enough! ( although I'm still taking him shopping!) ha ha.

Check out the gallery for some more photos

STILL NO BATHROOM

STILL NO BATHROOM!!!
With any building there is ALWAYS a story. The job is taking longer than everyone thought. Lots of different reasons but i still don't have a bathroom!!
I had a "me" day yesterday, did my nails, went for my eyebrows and hair. Louise ( my cousin) joined me at the hairdressers and we had lunch there. While we were sitting there my other cousin Niel, who owns the salon started chatting about a competition he wants to enter and if i know of a photographer. I volunteered, now its a mad dash to find a light for my first trial shoot! IF i get the right shot and they use the photo, get to the finals. I'm famous! ha ha.
Its something i haven't done before so really looking forward to it.
Off to work i go..

Building sux's

Well its day 3 on the bathroom renovations, there is no way in hell that it will be done by saturday, we've been reduce to a shell and pipes. Lucky we have a spare loo in the laundry and an outside room with Loo and Shower, but its still outside!!
i've had to leave Gem's at the daymom the whole day and its sort of freeing as i dont have to watch her but i'm missing her too. So i'm treating myself to a "me" day and i'm having my eyebrows done in the morning, and going for my hair at 12. Looking forward to just being and doing "ME" things. I'm always someones wife and mother and hardly ever just me. I know they are all the same person but sometimes i feel like i'm being pulled in a thousand different directions.

Always monday!

Monday again. It seems its always Monday. My beautiful daughter had to stay at the day mom for the whole day, they started our bathroom today, its hectic, dust every where.
I even had to take Max out for the day with me, the noise was killing him. Shame. I know that its going to all be worth it at the end. We'll have a stunning bathroom and the house will look great! Check the photo gallery for the bathroom updates

Moving along

Leon & Uncle Neville started painting the wall yesterday.
Its starting to look nice. However we think that it might be too light.
I hosted a "product" party yesterday morning. I had about 20ppl in the house with 5 different product on "show" I didn't sell that much but it never costed me much to do the event so it was fun. Although i was let down by some ppl that i really didn't expect to be. Sometimes life happens but I know I try and be a good friend, always available to listen, try and help. But not everyone thinks its enough. When do you know to "cut your losses"and move on? As a really close friend told me, " marriages are hard enough, you shouldn't need to work on your friendships" She has a point. But how? How do you justify giving up on something let alone someone?

another one of those days :(

Today was one of those really irritating days. It starts off was a mess and just carries on and on.
It even makes you feel like the tension moves up your body till you feel like exploding.
Thank God its almost over :) My folk gave Gemma those big plastic shells and a slide as her birthday gift. I didnt know what i wanted for her so i took my time. I got it today so i filled the one shell with sand. Gemma was in heaven with it. loves being full of sand. More for mom to clean.

Back to work

The holiday is over and tomorrow its back to work. I'm thankful i only have to work half day.
Gemma is teething and is not happy. Strangely she is sleeping better. Very weird. We took her to the teddy bear picnic at a wine farm today. Bonnie and her family and Chantelle joined us there. The teddy fair was a bit boring but the weather was so good and just to sit and have a glass of wine under the trees was nice!
bring on the weekend :)

LOOONg weekend

Its long weekend here, we had yesterday off and tuesday is also a holiday. Pity it wasn't monday, who's going to work that day. Gemma's daymom is closed so i have her with me.
Vanessa, Damian and Gabby came to have photos taken, by me the budding photographer.
( take a look at the gallery) It was hard working with a 2 year old. They have a mind of their own. Thankfully I was quick enough and got a few nice pic's.

Midweek blues

Todays one of those days that you just wish you stayed in bed.
i woke up late , got to work late. My folks thought things are really funny but i was not amused.
Then some of the products I ordered aren't on the market! its not yet 1pm what else i ask you, can go wrong!!

Gemma

My Beautiful daughter Gemma.

She keeps my husband and I really busy!

She has her own website, have a look.

Gemma at her first Birthday Party on the 10th March. She turned 1 on the 12th of march 2007

Thanks for visiting my site.
I'll be showcasing my photo's as i take them! leave me your imput as I still need it!