NICOLA, ARE DOING OKAY - Thursday, 22 February 2007 To all of you who have had Nicola in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you so much. Your prayers have been answered. Here is the latest update from Stella, Nicola's beloved sister! 'Dear All, Nicola had her appointment with the Neurosurgeon this morning, we are all elated with the news that the tumor is benign, initially Neurosurgeon still wanted to use radium & laser to shrink it, but together with the Neurologist they have decided to leave it be, but Nicola will need brain scans annually just to monitor it & to ensure it does not grow bigger. Should these scans show that it is growing they will only then decide to shrink by radium & laser. The other problem of the back of her eyes being inverted instead of round due to pressure build up is also going to be monitored every 3 to 6 months as the medication she is on for that does appear to be working, but it is still a bit early to see whether the medication is doing the job fully. I thank you all so very much for your thoughts & prayers during this very stressfull & emotional time from which the whole family has drawn tremendous strength. We are truelly blessed to be surrounded by such love.. Love Stella' ----------------------------- -Thursday, 8 February 2007 Thought I would just fill everyone in on Nicola Jennings. She is going through a tough time. Please pray for her. I am posting her sister Stella's updates on her. Nicola, we are all praying for you. Be strong. ------ Tuesday, 6 February 2007

Hi All, This is a very stressful time for all of us and especially for my special sister Nicola. You all know that she was going in for laser correction for her eyes this Thursday, but unfortunately the specialist found some abnormalities behind her eyes that he was not happy with and sent her for a MRI brain scan. The out come is not good as they found a tumor and some other condition which they are not sure of. Please have her in your prayers today as she is going to the neurologist and will most probably need to do a angiogram to investigate further as there also seems to be some sort of vein/nerve wrapped around which should not be there. The neurosurgeon has said that it could well be a benign tumor, so lets just all pray for her as you all know Nicola is not a very strong person, but I am very proud to say that she has been quite strong during all these horrendous tests. Love Stella

------ Wednesday, 7 February 2007

Hi to All, Just a short note of thanks for all your prayers and thoughts over the last couple of days, Nicola has been unbelievably strong and I believe that she has got this strength through everybody's thoughts and prayers. Nicole would normally crumble in this kind of situation, but she has shown great strength. We are yet to come any closer to understanding her condition, but will get a clearer picture after her angiogram on Friday morning were she will be admitted into St Augustines. The neurologist has said that it is a complicated scenario in that there are two problems, which is very difficult to explain, but the short of it is that the angiogram will determine whether they are able to laser this type of tumor and also sort out the two bulges behind her eyes which are causing much pressure. They are not sure if the two problems are related. I have conveyed all your messages to Nicola and she is truly touched and most grateful to you all for your concerns. Much Love Stella

WEEKEND BUZZ

- 2/3/4 February 2007

I still cannot believe that we are into the second month of 2007. Where was January? I am sure January comes before February - this was what I was taught in Grade 1. If someone out there has been so cruel as to keeping January for themselves, please come forward and rescue our deprived soles.

The weekend kicked off on Friday evening with chefs in training at GECKO Culinary Adventures. Melanie Townsend the owner and Chief Chef took the ex Pick-of-the Crop girls and their other halves on a hands-on training course preparing a four course meal. I must say, and I am sure the girls would agree, the men were tops when it came to the 'hands-on' moments. Bruce kneaded up a storm (focaccia) which had everyone drooling. Mannie proved to be outstanding when it came to rolling out Bruce's kneaded focaccia dough with a rolling pin. Fortunately, Gail was on her best behaviour and Mannie had no need to use the rolling pin for any other purpose. Conroy whipped up Gecko's Sublime Chocolate Mousse (under the watchful eye of all the girls) and made sure that enough brandy was added. Murray and Duncan on the other hand made sure that quality control measures were in place at all times. The girls however, were masters at the chopping, slicing and cutting game with Jenny and Sophia slicing up crispy potatoe wedges and Ellie, Gail and Charmain slicing up gigantic juicy mushrooms. Melanie demonstrated how to prepare and pan fry Haloumi Cheese which was served with a sweet berrie preserve sauce. Everyone found the squeakiness of the Haloumi cheese whilst chewing it, an odd culinary experience. For those of you who don't know Haloumi cheese, it is a much drier version of feta cheese, from where the squeakiness. It should always be pan fried first. It is quite salty, but a sweet sauce compliments it very well.

The main course was Fiery Fillet of Beef with onion, Parmesan and red wine sauce served with roasted potatoe wedges, roasted butternut, butter steamed broccoli and cabbage and mushrooms.

One of Melanie's tips was that we usually don't put our ovens higher than 180 degrees. This means that it takes much longer to cook our food. She recommends putting an oven as high as it can go and thus shorten the cooking time.

Melanie demonstrated how to serve the main course attractively by creating a stack in the middle of a plate with everything. Check out the pic of Bruce below dashing to the main table with his stacked pile of food, which was the stack created by Melanie in her demonstration. Needless to say that Bruce is an opportunist. Whilst he was tucking away at his mouth watering stack of goodness, the rest of us had to create our own stacks before we could tuck away!

All in all it was a dinner with a hands-on difference! Thanks to everyone for good company and good food!

Necklace & Bracelet Set: R400

Another jewellery set created over the weekend. Libby eat your heart out!

This is another layout based on one of the designs I presented at my scrapbook day at Makaranga on 27 Jan. This was of Augrabies Waterfall where we overnighted before the start of our orange river expedition.

- Off to brave another work week without my dear friend Thanusha (the real TP) who has left AlexanderCox to do her articles at Mooney Ford. Thanusha you are truly missed - please don't forget your ex colleagues at AlexanderCox