RACING CASUALTY - TP GANG CLUELESS? - Wednesday, 27 September 2006

I am just doing a quick blog entry to thank my scrapbooking students of last night - Kerry, Ann, Tarryn and Tracey - for being so accommodating. Conroy was very sick in bed since Monday night with the current tummy bug doing its rounds. When I got home last night his condition has seriously deteriorated and he left me very concerned having to witness him shivering despite a multitude of blankets over him as well as being ghostly white in his face and burning up.

The students decided that they will cut the lesson short so that I can rush Conroy to the Hillcrest Medical Centre. We got there at 8:30pm. Dr Breedt, after one look at Conroy, immediately put him on a drip to get him rehydrated. It was amazing that just after one litre of fluid, he already was sporting some colour in his face. My compliments to the very efficient and friendly medical staff at the Hillcrest Medical Centre.

Conroy was much better this morning and had a somewhat better night rest than the previous night.

On a different subject - Please can the clueless TP-Gang members investigate the DOING LIFE's archives and refer to the entry '04/06/2006' to shed a light on their dark moods!

- Conroy's nurse signing off

LATEST BEADING CREATIONS

I am still beading every free moment that comes my way and have created these items the last few weeks. Love doing my new watch designs with crystals and spacers.

Crystal Watch for Sale: R235

Neclace for Sale: R200

Crystal Watch for Sale: R235

Crystal Watch Sold: R235

Necklace & Bracelet Set : R300

Necklace & Bracelet Set Sold: R325

Bracelet Sold: R170

Thanks for looking.

- Off to create something new

ETHEKWINI MARATHON & HALF MARATHON

- Sunday, 24 September 2006

I had a rude awakening this morning with tea and Marmite & Peanut Butter/Syrup toast vagely taking shape while I was trying to pry my eyes open. This was at 4:30am and that on a Sunday morning. Conroy was making sure that our tummies are properly lined for the 21.1km (half-marathon) we were about to tackle at 6:15am at the Kings Park Stadium.

The weather was absolutely perfect, overcast, cool and a few teasing rain drops.

I would like to thank my friend (TP Gang intruder) for making the km's go by a little faster than usual. Michelle you are an excellent walk pace setter. Without you next to me ensuring a positive/sharp mindset, I would have never completed the race in 2h53. I was very excited about my time, although it did not look like it at the finish, especially being somewhat unfit at the moment.

Michelle also kept us light hearted, especially when she spotted some lost 'hair extensions' on the ground just before the 19km mark. This made me visualise one of the super athletes at the front of the field sprinting at top speed with hair extensions coming undone and flying in all directions. Fortunately this will never be my fate, whether I am a front runner or a back plodder!

Conroy ran the race in 1h54.

- Off to power napping for tomorrow's 10km race!

PINE CREST's LITTLE (BIG) TOUGH ONE (10km)

- Monday, 25 September 2006 (Heritage Day)

Once again the alarm went off at a seriously uncomfortable 5am. This time to foolishly inflict some more damage to our muscles (and that willingly). The little tough one started in the parking lot of the old Sanlam Centre, now known as the Pine Crest Centre, in Pinetown at 7:10am.

Unbeknown to us, the LITTLE Tough One actually meant the HUGE Tough One. There were countless hills that felt like mountains after our 21.1km of yesterday which left our muscles very uncooperative. The hills were crept over whilst negotiating serious hot gale force winds from the front and side.

Michelle (TP Gang intruder and a walker referee), you should not have bothered refereeing me, for in case I have both feet off the ground - I could not even lift them, not to mention having them both off the ground at once?

The race was very well organised. The athletes felt unusually safe with police officers manning every street corner and crossing. Thank you 'Big' Dave for a very well organised and enjoyable race. Just a thought as far as future marketing of the race is concerned - perhaps you should hand out more pamphlets at all the big official races. Most people did not even know about the race.

My walking time was 78 minutes (5 woman walker overall) and Conroy's running time was 53 minutes.

PS: We got a T-shirt for both the races we have done this long weekend. So now we can also say 'been there, done that, got the T-shirt'.

- Off to attack the Repragel Tube

THE REAL TP (Teacher's Pet) - The saga continues! “I do not want to get involved in this war that you guys have going on but I thought that it was time that the truth revealed itself. Despite your weird and wonderful illusions of who the real TP might be, the honest truth is that I am. There can be no question about that cos like they say “the proof is in the pudding”. My name…that would explain it all… TP. So ladies…give it up…the battle is lost and yes Libby, that would include you.” Well Libby, this is very unfortunate - with you just being declared is 'The Real Teacher's Pet - The One and Only!?? Libby, please will you investigate who this intruder on your turf is! - On an urgent basis

PRODUCTION LINE FOR 50th - 16 September 2006 I blogged about one of my loyal students Beverley Dow (now known as the 'Leprechaun') a while ago. At the time we have just designed a card for her parents', Bob and Jennie's 50th Wedding Anniversary invitation.

Thursday-night 'TP-Gang' students decided to help Beverley complete 29 of these invitations. We set aside the blue room for Saturday, 16 September 2006 to do this. It was most generous of the girls to unselfishly offer Beverley their assistance - yes there are still some 'good' people out there.

We thought that by completing these invitations as soon as possible so that they could be sent out to the various invitees, would uplift Jennie's spirits, who is undergoing chemo at the moment. She did not know as yet that her daughter has lovingly spent many hours to make her parents' 50th wedding anniversary a special day to be remembered.

Even Nicola's two bambinos lent a hand - without whom we probably would have extended our working time by another two hours. Thank you so much Eleni and Alexia - you are definite serious future scrappers to be (Tha Teacha speaks from experience).

We all had a wonderful time completing this project, apart from Nicola who was worried that Tha Teacha would not allow all and sundry to have some fun? Now, Tha Teacha is really not such a bad witch. The broom stick is not out yet.

Beverley, one of the most generous people I know, went a step further (actually zillions of steps) and came armed with a loaded goodie bag for each of her helpers. Each got a new ruler and scissors colour co-ordinating with their new AMM Tote-Ally Cool Bag, a huge PS Choccie with a saying applicable to each person, a Carol Boyes Sugar Spoon (Graham her husband's idea) and a tray filled with yummy messy's (miniature custard pastries) to take home to their loved ones as a thank you to them for letting their loved ones help her. Now if this not incredible, I don't know what is.

Beverley, it was a GREAT pleasure to be able to help you with these invitations and we are all thinking of you and your family going through this difficult time of chemo therapy! Our thoughts are with you.

The Team from left to right: Desire (Tha Teacha), Libby (Teacher's Pet), Eleni Jennings, Beverley Dow, Stella Fischer, Alexia Jennings and Nicola Jennings

- Your friends in need

STERI-MILK NOSTALGIA - Friday, 15 September 2006 Thanusha, a recently qualified attorney and colleague of mine had me reliving the past. Upon walking into my office this Friday morning she handed me a plastic bag with two bottles of Steri-Milk.

I saw a bottle of Steri-Milk for the first time when I was about three years old. At this time I was in an Orphanage in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. My mum (passed away in 1999) who adopted me when I was three-and-a-half years old was a remedial teacher at the Orphanage. I remember clearly how I use to stand on the tip of my little toes to be able to peep through her classroom window to see whether the tea tray has arrived. If it was there I couldn't wait for her to pour me half a cup of Steri-Milk. This was nearly a daily occurrence. Six months later she adopted me. So, there you see, Steri-Milk could make miracles happen.

Me and Thanusha were chatting about milk one day. We perhaps got onto this subject because we are always the ones to keep the office fridge stocked with milk. I mentioned to her that whilst growing up on the farm 'Skuilhoek' I was often afforded the opportunity of milking a cow. I loved doing this, but only if the cow's hindlegs were tied up as I have seen many a milker being kicked whilst milking. I remember dipping my fingers into a huge tub of Vaseline - this made your fingers slide smoothly over the cow's tits. It was hard work to milk a cow. The cow could sense whether it was an experienced or inexperienced milker handling her tits. So me, obviously being inexperienced, always got the cow all up tight resulting in a serious battle to get just a cup of milk out of her tits.

As a farmgirl I could not stand the smell of fresh farm milk nor even drinking it. I use to get nauseous when my uptown girls came visiting and squeezed the milk straight from the cows' tits into their mouths. They could not get enough of the hot fresh farm milk. Once in a blue moon mum them would purchase a bottle of Steri-Milk, which was a huge treat for me as this was the only type of milk I loved drinking. Whilst reminiscing about the past with Thanusha I mentioned to her that I don't know when last I have seen a bottle of Steri-Milk in the local supermarket. I did not think that it existed anymore. So what a surprise when she gave me the packet with even 'two' bottles of Steri-Milk. The expiry date is December 2006. So I have got quite a bit of time during which I can savour the taste of Steri-Milk again!

Thanks my friend for making my past special again.

- Cowgirl signing off

THE GREEN MAMBALINA (OR IS IT A ….) HAS STRUCK!! (Here’s the unedited Scoop) After all the backbiting that has come to light on DOING LIFE, by you all know who, Tha Teacha felt that an end had to be put to all this to ensure that lives are not spent. Therefore, the following rules were enforced this Thursday evening. Please note these are ONLY applicable to the TP (Teacher’s Pet) GANG and those of you who are aspiring to be a TP:

TP GANG RULES Treat Tha Teacha With Respect! Treat Your Fella Gangsters As You Would Like To Be Treated? Ensure That The PS Choccie Saying ‘We Love You’ Is The Only Choccie Left In The Candy Jar Upon Leaving The Blue Room! Never Be Without Your PMS Bag! Be Armed With Your Eyelet Getter! The Head Of The Table (Not The Teacher’s Pet) Is Elected Every Three Months! No Back chatting Tha Teacha! Put Up Your Hand When You Want To Address The Teacha – No Shouting! Do Not Encroach Your Fellow TP-Gang Member’s Work Space. Always Be Colour Coded/Co-Ordinated i.e. Hair Colour, Dress And Accessories Matching Your PMS Bag’s Colours! At Least Get 5 Minutes Scrapping Done With A Shut Trap!!!! NEVER BE AFRAID!!!! PS: The Blue Room Patrol is watching!! So things put straight now. Here’s the horror story of the TP Gang’s latest onslaught. It has been established via serious investigation that an attack has been made on Unit 4, Sandlea, Kloof at 6pm on Thursday, 14 September 2006, by the TP Gang some of whom had an odd alcoholic air about them? It is suspected that Stokers could have been frequented beforehand to plot their attack. It has also been established via the Hunky PI of the Blue Room Patrol that there is a Greek Connection within this Gang and that a French Connection could also be lurking on its outskirts.

The TP Gang was armed with their PMS (Potent, Mysterious and Suggestive) Bags (AMM Tote-Ally Cool Bags). One of these bags were kitted out with the latest fashionable overnight tools (i.e. razor, toothpaste tube, shower cap, night dress, scrubber, cream - everything but the toilet brush). This bag was spotted on a Greek Connection’s arm just as the main gate of Sandlea was scaled. The PI (being of Irish descent) could have sworn that he had also seen a Lepracorn scaling Sandlea’s main gate with the Greek Connections. The Lepracorn’s identity was well disguised with a green baseball cap drawn low over its eyes. The PI could not believe his eyes when he saw, what seemed like the leader of the TP Gang, fiddling with the electronics of Sandlea’s main gate. The PI being warned to watch out for an attack by an Eyelet Getter, was very hesitant to approach the leader of the gang. Due to hesitation on his part the leader was one step ahead of the PI. In a blink of an eye, the main gate opened by itself and the gang leader drove into Sandlea with the gate closing behind him/her suddenly, leaving dust in the PI’s face, who just-just could make out the license plate of the stolen vehicle: ‘TEACHER’S PET - THE ONE AND ONLY’.

There was a hush when the TP-Gang entered the Blue Room, as shock struck them when they saw that there were suddenly Rules for them stuck on the wall (see above). This was way too much to comprehend.

The TEACHER’S PET was then hit by another shock when she turned around to see, there right in front of her very own eyes, one of her gangsters has evolved into a Lepracorn! – armed with her own KIWI-green PMS bag, and a funny looking green energy disc on a stick. “So much for evolution” she thought –

“is this also going to be my downfall as leader of the gang?” she pondered to herself. “No ways I have to strike back immediately, if I want to keep my leadership.” Without warning the gang leader drew out her last trump card (with the rest of the gang as her witnesses), her latest acquisition the All My Memories Pink Photo Box).

Everyone was holding their breath as one could cut through the atmosphere with a knife. At last the Lepracorn was defeated by this final blow of the gang’s leader and submitted to be a follower in the gang by also ordering her Green AMM (Leather Look) Photo Box. Everyone sighed in relief. The other half of the Greek Connection was then formally initiated into the gang by receiving her Blue PMS Bag. True to gangsters’ tradition she was colour co‑ordinated down to a T so that she could immediately 'become one' with her PMS bag.

Events took an unexpected turn when the gangsters’ meeting was rudely crashed by an outsider claiming to be the future Gang Leader in training. Shocked TP‑Gangsters had to look on as the new invader handed Tha Teacha a ginormous PS Choc with ‘You Are Great’ inscribed on it. “Fortunately things happens in threes” the Leader thought to herself, “I should be safe for the remainder of the evening”. Never could she have known that the worst was yet to come!

The Leader experienced her most dreadful teatime ever. Her followers first of all deprived her of her staple diet being Unit 4’s home executive’s Milk Tart, leaving her to drool as they were chomping away on their tart. After which her followers decided that their Leader needed a serious image spruce up seeing that their Leader did not live up to the following rule: “Always Be Colour Coded/Co-Ordinated i.e. Hair Colour, Dress And Accessories Matching Your PMS Bag’s Colours!”

She was kitted out with a pink nightie (attire donated by the Greek Connection), with the very apt “COW” design on the front. White and Pink Spotted headgear was also required.

Once the attire was sorted out she was stream lined by a thorough shaving and messaging. All done her followers stood back and all agreed that their handy work was most impressive.

May this blog entry be a fair warning to all and sundry who are aspiring to be a TP!! The characters were: The Greek Connection: (Stella Fischer and Nicola Jennings) Gang Leader (Libby Houareau) Lepracorn (Beverley Dow) Gang’s Councilor (Carol Liebrandt - proud future inhabitant of Shady Pines or is it Piny Shades)

The Outsider (Michelle Ramsay) Tha Teacha loves you all to bits! Thanks for being such great sports and always try to live by the following: Time is Like a River.... You can't touch the same water twice because the flow that has passed will never pass again. So live each moment as if it is your last!! - Back to normal again

THE GREEN MAMBALINA HAS STRUCK!!! - Thursday, 14 September 2006 Watch this space for the full unedited scoop coming up soon. - Off to nurse those face muscles

WARNING!!! TOTALLY COOL ENCHANTMENT - THE SAGA CONTINUES (Prelude to Thursday, 14 September 2006) Tha Teacha is fearing for her life! This is everything but an over statement. The Blue Room Patrol Unit is being alerted to be on standby with their best (hunkiest) PI's, and briefed on a new phenomena threatening Kloof's Neighbourhood Watch!

You guessed right - the TEACHER'S PET(S) GANG. This highly dangerous gang has been spotted intermittently (mostly Thursdays between 6 and 9pm) sneaking around the Kenilworth/Coghill intersection, heavily armed with what looked like funny PMS (Potent, Mysterious and Suggestive) shaped bags. These PMS shaped bags have been noted to be in a variety of colours i.e. green with black trimming, pink with black and brown trimming and blue with black trimming.

Tha Teacha is alerting residents of Kloof to please keep an eye out for members of this newly formed TP-GANG who is relatively easily spotted by the PMS (Potent, Mysterious and Suggestive) shaped bags they are carrying in one hand (usually brightly coloured in pink, green or blue) and a hammer and a sharp looking metal object, an 'Eyelet Getter' in the other.

Please do not approach any member of the TP-GANG personally, unless you can handle an eyelet in the 'eye'. Contact the Blue Room Patrol immediately!

Residents who have observed members of the TP-GANG describe them as being:

"dodgy, on top form, so nauseating!!, childish!!, self professed "TP's", undisclosed/undercover, 'dogs' of few words , a load of waffle and being in need of counselling "

- If anyone out there have seen this plea for help - do not hesitate to offer your protection to Tha Teacha!

FEEDBACK FROM TP-GANG SPOTTERS

"It could be the war of the "Totally Cool "Bags"! (TCB) viaing for space on the table - watch out everyone as you are scrapping and things take up space on the table, they might just get put into someone's TCB so that there is space to scrap!! Michelle"

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"This is so funny, I am in absolute hysterics this morning..........very clever! PS: I think that Stella and Bev are the most dangerous members of the gang??? " Libs

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"I really like the idea of Libby having a pink room for her to do scrapping in. Maybe we can organise it in the next door house. I am not being nasty - in case you dont know Libby would love to live in that house. This will solve a lot of problems : Libby can have her dream house and pink room AND The rest of us can have some peace and quiet." Bev

Tha Teacha's response: "Well the house next door has just been sold for the meagre amount of R2.7 million. Libby I am so sorry - your pink dream has taken a turn for the worst (unless there is a hidden sugar daddy somewhere? - you were just too late!."

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TOTE-ALLY COOL DELIGHTFUL ENCHANTMENT

- Thursday, 7 September 2006 As usual, the Thursday night Blue Room GANG was at their best again. All-My-Memories’ Tote-Ally Cool Tool Caddy was the guest of honour. I gave Teacher’s old pet (now Bev don’t get jealous) her pink and brown Tote-Ally-Cool bag that she ordered. Well I must say the response from her was probably the most ‘enthusiastic scrappers delight' I have ever witnessed. The plastic wrapping was off before it touched base on the table and Libby spent most of the evening packing, organising and personalizing her Tote-Ally-Cool bag. Her latest Scrapathon’s name tag and inspirational quotes were dug out from some where (don’t want to know from where) and attached lovingly and meticulously to the bag, just in case someone did not know a Libby who walks around with a tongue twister for a surname (HOUAREAU).

‘Colour Co-ordinating’ was the buzz phrase for the evening – if it was pink it was inside Libby’s new Tote-Ally-Cool bag. Us poor other soles me, Nicola, Stella, Carol and Robyn had to hold on tight to whatever had the merest tint of pink. Nicola, especially, had to do serious bargaining with Libby to keep her pink top on – now Nicola there wasn’t a man in the house and Libby’s Tote-Ally-Cool bag was drooling over your pink top – shame on you. Libby did however manage to finish her single page she started the previous week during the last hour of the class – and of course the colour scheme was pink. Libby seeing that your Tote-Ally-Cool bag received a lot of patting, stroking and petting I think we should christen it ‘JJ’ (for Julia Junior). Well then, JJ took up most of the table space leaving Stella, who sat opposite Libby, hunched up at the corner of the table feeling like she was chained to the table’s leg. The candy jar was viciously cleaned out and my darling Thursday night gang left me a lonesome PS choccie in the bottom of the candy jar with the very appropriate slogan ‘I(we) Love you’. Now if that is not sucking up to the teacher – I don’t know what is. Unfortunately there can only be one Teacher’s Pet, who still needs to be discovered. The AMM Tote-Ally-Cool bag lives up to its name and is really very cool. It has zillions of pockets for caddying all your scrapping/beading tools and embellishments. Everything is kept neat and compact for working at home or going for lessons/scrapping days. If any one of my students would like to order an AMM Tote-Ally-Cool bag the cost is R300/bag. Just email me on desiref@iafrica.com to place your order. Collections are done every Wednesday.

Thank you girls for all the fun we have in the classes. Love you all.

- Tha Teacha

PS: LIBBY'S COMMENTS (Beverley Beware!)

Aaahhhh, look at my cute little bag......isn't she lovely! I spent another two hours at least packing even more stuff into her when I got home, It's amazing how much you can actually fit?? Thanks teacher for always brightening up our Thursday's so much! I always leave your lessons feeling rejuvenated and happy! (Just one thing though.........what's that dodgy comment about the teachers pet still being discovered???? I'm right here??). If Bev's still gonna carry on about wanting to be the pet, we can maybe just pretend that she is every now and then? - I don't mind that..........Just don't let her find out that IT'S REALLY ME THAT'S THE TEACHERS PET!!

Hello There from Stella I rushed home in great anticipation after receiving a message : "Check my Blog" I was NOT DISAPPOINTED. Libby I see is still on top form with that darn PINK WONDER of hers, which doesn't really surprise me in the least the way she carried on.....so nauseating!!I I mean childish!! Libby I just hope that your passionate affection for your Pink Tote-Bag is somewhat at its ebb, so it won't be necessary for you to bring it to Thursday class this week, as there is certainly no space for me, you & that darn bag. UNLESS of course teacher gets a special little table for you and the bag, seeing as though you are the self professed "Teachers Pet". After close scrutiny of the message on the blog, I am beginning to wonder whether Libs & Bev are kidding themselves over this " Teachers Pet" issue. I am beginning to wonder if I am not the undisclosed/undercover real "Teachers Pet" or for that matter CAROL or NICOLA. What you think girls? LOVE YOU ALL

PS: Nicola also had her few 'cents' to add:

Wow! You definitely put a smile on our faces teacher. Can't wait for my BLUE bag, stand back Libby... I will be doing my BLUE layout in the BLUE room with my BLUE bag and my coordinated BLUE clothes. Watch out everyone for the next teachers pet in her BLUE!!!!! Love Nicola

You girls certainly add some sparkle to your evenings - I can just imagine the antics going on every Thursday! After seeing and reading your comments on the Totally Cool Bag, I have ordered one - thanks for your enthusiasm Libby! I wait the "Blue Bag" antics. Regards Michelle

PS: Michelle has ordered a Pink and Brown one!

As usual, while the other 'dogs' are fighting about a chicken bone (bag) - BEV runs off with an Ostrich bone (bag)!

"As I am a person of few words, I would just like to add a little something to the blog :- 1. Libby - is that bag big enough for your mouth. I used to think you were my friend but I have learnt a lot of late - but you know what " I STILL LOVE YOU - AND ALL THE THURSDAY LADIES. You are a very special group and are my Tonic to keep me going - not forgetting our amazing teacher ( To whom I am the PET ) 2. Now to Carol, Nicola and Stella ( Please note in alphabetical order so as not to offend anyone - these girls are sooooo devine but such admin. ) I think we must just put all this CHILDISH stuff behind us, because lets face it, there is no competition about teachers pet - it is a well known fact to all - even Scrappers Paradise staff that - wait for it .......... I AM THE TEACHERS PET AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. Thanks to Desire and Conroy for putting up with us and giving us something to look forward to - Thursday nights. See you all later - cant wait" Libby's retort:

Hello darling teacher.........what a load of waffle from those OTHER girls in the Thursday class?? But have to say - I quite like Stella's idea about a special table for my gorgeous new bag, perhaps the table could be pink???? And I was also thinking......perhaps we should think about a PINK room???? PS: BEV - I think you might need counselling about that obsession of yours with the teachers pet thing!! Admit defeat - I'll still love you even if you arent the teachers pet XXXX

Bracelet Order for Kerry Harper

Charmed Bracelet for Sale

Watch with Crystals for Sale

SPRING FEVER - 2 to 3 September 2006

Spring has literally sprung upon us this year. One awakes to jolly bird song and vocal monkey business in the mornings. The grass is greener and plants are showing off numerous flower buds. I must say that even the two legged creatures appear to have a spring in their step. Spring cleaning will soon commence in various households and cupboards sporting summer garments.

It was a very lazy weekend in general apart from:

- getting rid of those grey roots early Saturday morning at Ulrike my personal hairdresser and walking away with two packets of the most divine 'Koeksisters' - this must be unique for hairdressing?

- Saturday morning breakfast at 'Bizzy Lizzy' situated within Dunrobin's Garden Centre in Botha's Hill and discovering a new indigenous aloe, the cute hedgehog aloe being on sale - bought a pair and still need to find the right size clay pots for them

- beading (see evidence above) until my students arrived at 2pm for their Saturday afternoon scrapbooking lesson

- rising 5am on Sunday to do the 10km walk and 21.1km run (only hubby was brave enough for this distance) PDAC road race in Pinetown. The race started at Lahee Park. Thanks Rayna for getting the km's ticking by quickly

- Sunday breakfast at Rider's Rest situated within in Dieter's Nursery in Assegay. This was our first visit to Rider's Rest (on Rayna's recommendation) and we were pleasantly surprised with good food, service and tranquil surroundings. A definite from now on, on our favourite dining out venue list.

- Weekender signing out