'Waldie' receiving retirement card signed by all his colleagues' "Hi Desire Our MD showing everyone at the dinner his lovely card (which they had seen and signed).... he became very tearful. Had to show you your excellent job! Bye for now Sue"

END FEB PRODUCTIVITY BUZZZ -Sunday, 26 February 2006

Retirement card for managing director of Buckman Laboratories

Apart from not doing a race today, I haven't been totally idle. I was commissioned by Sue of Buckman Laboraties to do this card for their retiring managing director 'Waldie' who has been with the company for 31 years. It was helpful to have a variety of black and white photos to brainstorm from. Black and white photos also makes colour choices of cardstock easier - any colour actually goes with black and white photos. Waldie's favourite saying is 'what a boy'tjie' and this naturally had to be the title for the card! A pull out tag behind the wording (various quotes on success) on the inside of the card made ideal space for handwritten greetings from colleagues without their handwritings sprawling all over the inside of the card.

-Signing off creatively yours

NIMAS HALF MARATHON -Sunday, 19 February 2006 - Hillcrest, Durban, SA It was the first road race ever, I had to commute to all on my lonesome. Conroy was man down with flu. With the race being held close by, I decided to brave it solo. A 21.1km (half marathon) and 42.2km (full marathon) was hosted by Nimas. The 42.2km was also a Comrades qualifying race. The race started at 5:00am in Hospital Road, Hillcrest and made its way through Winston Park and back. The course was relatively flat with long gradual inclines - not too harsh on the body - definitely a PB (personal best) route for those daring and energetic souls! It was a very hot and humid day (normal for February in KZN). Water/Coke stations were well stocked, manned and organized and were little isolated areas of soul and thirst replenishing stations that popped-up every 3km along the route. The last 4km of the race had me all hot and bothered, as we made our way back Old Main Road to the Hillcrest Sports club field. My walking time was 2h47 (not a PB), but not too slow for my current fitness level.

I was back at home at 08:20 where Conroy (the signs of flu only a distant memory) stood ready cracking the whip to get me ready for some retail therapy at the Pavilion. Needless to say, my aching body actually needed 'sleep therapy' which it only got on our return from the Pavilion at 2:30pm.

- Therapy deprived signing off!

21st Wedding Anniversary - 30 November 2005

We spent a long weekend (Friday, 2 December to Monday, 5 December 2005) at Cathedral Peak in the Drakensberg celebrating. Of course nothing else but the Honeymoon suite would do. We booked in around lunch time and as usual Conroy had to see whether there were guided hikes the Saturday. Our luck was in as a guided hike was scheduled to climb Cathedral Peak itself at 7:00am the next morning. I reluctantly had my rubber arm twisted to do the climb.

It was a murdurous climb just to get to the bottom of the peak itself from where the last 400m is climbed with the aid of ropes (yours truly used her head and waited at the bottom of the peak). Below my scrapbooking page shows the peak from a distance. It took us 11 hours in total to do the hike and the sore bodies were worth it. We were very fortunate weather wise. It was a clear day affording us beautiful views all the way as we climbed.

Our guide Moses was the best - he always waited for the slowest person of the group (us and a father withhis two sons) to catch up and was always enquiring whether we are feeling okay. (Yes, was always the answer -disguising the real suffering!) - especially for Brian who was suffering from a groin hernia. He and Conroy were the only two of the group who braved it, guided by Moses and his ropes, to the top of Cathedral Peak. After we have done a third of the hike going back, Brian was in agonising pain after he realised that his hernia has popped at the summit of Cathedral Peak. The pain was just too excruciating and we decided to ask Moses to radio for help. Within half an hour the rescue helicopter arrived and fortunately our location was perfect for landing. The whole evacuation of Brian and his two sons took about 45min after which me and Conroy completed the rest of the descent with our guide, Moses to base camp i.e. our honeymoon suite (scrapbooking layout coming soon).

The rest of the weekend was spent lazing around and wining and dining in the evenings. I even got to do some scrapping, while looking out on Cathedral Peak from our honeymoon suite.

Myself at a trout dam about 1.5km from the hotel - posing for Conroy who was testing out my new Canon 20D digital camera he bought me for our wedding anniversary.

LEGENDARY THRILL SEEKERS ANONYMOUS Saturday, 3 December 2005 Cathedral Peak, Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa I just had to do this scrapbooking layout of Conroy (who was one of a very few) that makes it to the top of Cathedral Peak - even got the certificate of achievement to prove it!!

CLIMBING BOTHAS HILL Sunday, 12 February 2006 : Kloof, Durban Once again it was an early rise on Sunday (4:30am) to do the Kearsney College road race. I did the 16km Walk and Conroy the 21.1km Run. It was the fourth year that I endured self inflicted pain on this route. The creator/founder of this route really went out of his/her way to find all the hills in the Botha's Hill area. We started the race from within the Kearsney College grounds in cool misty conditions (a blessing in disguise) at 6:00am. The sun made its appearance after about 90 minutes into the race. Cows, donkeys, chicken holdings (the smell !!!) and excited dogs are amongst the sites and sounds along the very scenic route which runs through various small holdings and farms. At the finish the athletes were treated to free T-shirts, a beer, a packet of chips, a sun cap, a cup of coffee/tea and a hot-cross bun (yes, Easter is on our doorstep). My time was 2h12min for the 16km Walk and Conroy's time was 2h12min for the 21.1km Run. Afterwards breakfast was at the Emberton Coffee Shop where you can fill your 'tank' and have your car washed at the same time. Signing off: Bothas Hill Conquerors

GOING PATIENTLY (GP) IN GAUTENG Friday, 3 February 2006 to Monday, 6 February 2006

We eloped to Gauteng to visit family and friends - in the end only visiting friends. It was really good to be in home territory again having lived in Pretoria for a decade (1991-2001).

Mobile sign language The rate of housing development since 2001 is astonishing. Security complexes and shopping centres have sprung up on nearly every piece of vacant land. Road networks have not been upgraded to deal with the increased volume in traffic, resulting in bumper-to-bumper traffic almost all hours of the day. Agro GP drivers are the norm rather than the exception and ironically the GP on the number plates have been duped as "GOING PATIENTLY". We also observed a new network of "mobile sign language" being utilised by GP drivers to vent their frustrations. Our first port of call driving into Pretoria was our favourite - Menlyn Shopping Centre where we had a quick thirst quencher; frequented our favourite shops and watched the 'Grand Canyon' at the Imax theatre.

Disastrous Accommodation

We arrived at Irene Country Lodge at 7pm where a disastrous 45 minute check-in awaited us. The receptionist (only person on duty) was torn between us, a switchboard that rang non-stop and guests waiting for assistance. With half an hour elapsed we were handed our room key, but requested to wait even some more while it was checked whether our room was ready (which should have been ready by 2pm , 5 hours earlier) . The room was not ready and we were requested to wait some more until the room was ready. The first thing we noticed on entering our room was a 'WE CARE' card. Wasting no time Conroy contacted the General Manager, Mr Ian Armstrong to vent his complaint. Mr Armstrong assured us that our experience was unacceptable and there was no excuse for the manner in which we were treated.

An Early Morning Rush - Ndaba Road Race

We rose at 4am on Saturday, kitting ourselves out in our new Run&Walk4Life athletic gear. Left the Lodge at 4:45am and arrived at the Swartkops Lapa at 5:05am. I entered for the 10km Walk (finishing in 75min) and Conroy for the 21.1km Run (finishing in 2h04min). The number of athletes entering races in Gauteng was huge in comparison to KZN's races. It was good to see familiar faces still doing the same race for the last decade. Vitathion was the sponsor for the race and there were lots of freebies. The medals (see picture) depicted the Swartkops lapa.

Post Breakfast Surprise

On returning to our room 613 after a very disappointing breakfast (no attention to detail and cold food), a lodge staff member approached as with a newly purchased Woolworths cooler bag containing chocolates and cooldrink with a handwritten note from the General Manager, Mr Ian Armstrong: 'Dear Mr/s Fourie...Once again please accept my apologies. There is no excuse for what happened and I will be addressing this with my management. I do appreciate your feedback, as this is the only way I can take measures to ensure this does not happen again. May you enjoy the rest of your stay. ... Ian Armstrong' We tried to put our negative feelings aside and took a 2 hour siesta to recuperate from the race.

Baby Zander

Our planned and long awaited visit to Heidi, Bernardt, Alisha (2,5 years) and baby Zander (6 weeks), sadly had to be put off. Heidi and Bernardt, upon noticing the previous evening that baby Zander was not moving his left leg, made an emergency appointment with a specialist to examine Zander on Saturday morning. During the examination it was discovered that Zander's left hip was dislocated. He had already udergone two open heart operations (at Sunninghill Clinic), three weeks from each other and the dislocated hip was the result of infection from the last heart operation which settled in his hip. He was immediately rushed off to theatre (at Wilgeheuwel Private Hospital) where he underwent his third operation in six weeks. He has also been put in a body brace for two months to prevent any future dislocations. Fortunately he has no problem feeding.

Smuts Revisited

We had a very relaxed lunch under the treas at the Smuts House tea garden in Irene. A massive club sandwich and apple pie and ice cream was the order.

Best Friends

After driving by our old house in Garsfontein, and feeling relieved that the garden we lovingly created was well looked after, we visited the Naude's for supper. We couldn't believe how quickly the girls Candice and Kayleigh are becoming real ladies. They were both at Pretoria Girls High, Candice being in Grade 8 and Kayleigh in Matric. Terry and I caught up on each others lives and relived special moments we had endeared, amongst others, hours spent together running and training for road races during which we have shared a great deal of feelings. We paged through Terry's scrapbook album of their visit during December 2004 to New Zealand where Roy's sister them stays. We were amazed at what a beautiful country NZ is. We were sad to hear that they are planning to relocate to NZ at the end of 2006. Sasha has become a real house mut and old Thomas the feline is still watching over the family and watching his weight - Garfield be afraid, very afraid!

A Birdie on the 5th (Sunday)

Lunch was amongst the protected blue cranes, etc. at the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary in Brooklyn, Pretoria. Chicken and maple syrup & ice cream pancakes were 'off the menu'.

Going North-cliff X28

North we went to visit the Volschenks at their new home in Northcliff, Johannesburg. Their new house is stunning - feels like one needs an official appointment to visit. The house is five years old and they have been living in it for a year. Carel, the green fingered gardener he is, has already redesigned the garden. Unfortunately he has been forced to take a 3-month break due to a back-op he had. He can only stand or lie down for 2 months - no sitting! Their boys (our god children) are also growing up too quickly. Duane the eldest is in Matric this year and he is brilliant academically as well as sport wise. Unfortunately he has to undergo a knee operation during the upcoming Easter weekend and will not be able to partake in any sport for 3 months. Needless to say that this is a huge disappointment for him. Kyle the younger son is also brilliant at cricket and rugby and is following in his brother's footsteps. The love lights have started shining for Duane when Bianca made her appearance. This seems to be a serious case.

North Country

Sunday evening we were off to the Brooklyn Shopping Mall to see the newly acclaimed film by Charlize Theron, 'North Country' and were pleasantly surprised at how good a movie it is. Not often that two hours flies by so quickly. The end leaves one feeling real good!

Monday Blues

A cold Irene Country Lodge breakfast was definitely not on the cards for us on our last morning in Pretoria. We hurriedly checked out (this actually was snappy) and off we headed in the direction of our favourite coffee shop in SA namely 'Greenfields'

in Menlyn, Pretoria. We had a hearty WARM country breakfast with the b-e-s-t cuppocino's ever. With full tummies we set off on the 6-hour journey to Kloof, Durbun saying goodbye to our favourite SA city, Pretoria!!!

-Signing off Homesick