EMBRACE YOUR INNER CHILD

Trust you all had a fab weekend.  The weekend was a busy one on this side.  I attended a great ladies morning listening to a 3-hour talk by Gretha Wiid (a motivational speaker) in Krugersdorp, with my dear friend Belinda.  Belinda's SIL shared complementary tickets with us (thanks Ronel - the best gift ever).  This was the most inspirational talk I have ever attended or listened to, in my four decades+ lifetime and can really recommend that, if you reside in South Africa, to make the time and effort to go and listen to Gretha.

On Sunday, me and hubby (my personal coach) ran the Benoni Slowmag half marathon (21.1km) and I am still in recovery mode, but really enjoyed doing the distance for the first time in two years again.  It was a lovely cool autumn morning and perfect conditions for running.  In the afternoon I had some clients popping in to do some retail scrapping therapy with {Doing Life} - so there was no rest for the wicked.

So onto my creation for this week.  Recently I made the Top 3 at Poodles Parlour Challenge blog for one of my card creations (see sidebar) and won seven lovely digi images from Digi Garden.  Gorgeous little Ella & Clover was one of them and I tried to bring her to life with this.  She was coloured with H2O's.  The trees and fence was created with wood mounted rubber stamps from my stash.

The sentiment was a freebie from TLC and here it is.

Once again I would love to try my hand at the following challenges:

• Basic Grey # 66: Spring Colours (Design papers from Basic Grey)
• Card Makin Mamas: Getting Girly
• Crafty Sentiments Design: Use a Digi
• Crafty Creations #165: Flower Power
• Craft Your Days Away #43: Metal (the three photo turns/anchors are metal)
• Craft Your Passion #106: Die Cuts and/or Punches (Used a rectangle scalloped punch for the sentiment and a circle punch for the centre of the flowers)
• Crazy 4 Challenges #C4C132: Buttons
• Cute Card Thursday #212: Spring Flowers
• Delicious Doodles #17: Loads of Layers
• Digital Tuesday #156: Distressed (Used inking)
• Dream Valley #30: Earth Tones
• Great Impressions #2: Flowers
• Just Keep on Creating #1: Anything goes
• Karens Doodles #102: Something Spring
• Make It Monday #85: Anything Goes
• One Stop Craft Challenge #178: Three Circles (circle punch-outs on three flowers)
• Southern Girls #42: Fancy Folds (Step card)
• Sweet Stampin: Girly: But No Pink
• The Pink Elephant #44: Colour Inspiration
• Unique Crafters #2: Paper Flowers
• All That Scraps: Anything Goes
• Craft Us Crazy #25: Mothers Day & Flowers
• Inspire Me Fridays #54: Anything Goes
• Paper Sundaes #116: Anything Goes
• Whoopsi Daisy Challenge: Free & Easy
• Robyns Fetish Digital #103: Spring Image Cards
• The Stamping Boutique #34: Anything Goes
• Aud Sentiments Challenge #52: Spring or Summer Colours
• Allsorts #150: Buttons & Thread
• 2 Sisters #87: Flowers
• Creative Mondays #6: Yellow & Sunshine

Thank you once again for all your wonderful inspiring comments - each and everyone are treasured.

THE 'FLIP PIN' MINESHAFT - Sunday, 29 October 2006 Don't know what's wrong with us. What happened to DOING LIFE instead of DREADING LIFE, when the alarm clock goes of with a deafening noise, officially announcing 'here's reality', and that at 4:00am on the rest day, Sunday! Dreading life happens when you had a serious bad night with hardly any sound sleep, having to wake up at this rude early hour of a Sunday morning, your body, feeling like a TUSH (trapped under something heavy) not wanting to co-operate and lagging behind the brains activity. The body's unwillingness to co-operate is understandable, when it is being brainwashed with '21.1km coming up - not on four wheels but on your own two legs!' A half-marathon run/walk devilish known as the MINESHAFT is reason enough for one's body to go on strike. After a slice of white toast with honey and peanut butter accompanied by tea and lethargically getting geared up - that is inclusive of large slaps of Vaseline on all those tender spots of the body and finishing it off with sunscreen lotion, we were off to attempt this dreadful race called the MINESHAFT.

We have done this race in 2002. I did the 10km and Conroy did the 21.1km. The race was held during a cooler time of the year and even then the traffic was a nuisance. This year it was held during a much hotter time of the year and zillions of cars shaving past one was quite unsettling, not to mention the heat. It was a two-lapper and the heat and traffic quadrupled during the second lap.

To stay alive, one had to use pavements which were very uncomfortable under foot. With no shade to speak of en route and the temperature soaring to the 30's, not to mention km's and km's of 'mineshaft' hills, the race took its toll. With mild heatstroke and endless hills the last 4km's of each lap, I probably was a sight for soar eyes entering the last stretch to the finish. Being way too 'gatvol', I did not hear the commentator airing very rude remarks on the PA system. Conroy filled me in later on our way home. The commentator announced that: 'here's another Run & Walk for Life lady finishing. Her time is 3h14min and she definitely does not look very happy'. Well, it was just as well that I did not hear this at the time, otherwise this poor uninformed commentator's life was at serious risk. 'How dare he make such comments sitting in the lovely cool shade of a gazebo with an ice cold bear in his hand?'

The cherry on the top is that we endeared this awful experience (self-inflicted) and paid for it in cash for a meagre coffee mug!

- Heatstroke signing off

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

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

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!

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

PDAC 25km ROAD RACE - Sunday, 29 January 2006

(Pinetown Districts Athletic Club)

It was an early rise at 3:00am on this wet and misty Sunday morning to get ourselves ready for the race. We had to sort out car logistics due to the race being a one-way route. We had to take both our cars down to the finish at Lahee Park in Pinetown and leave one car there and then drive to the start at Waterfall Shopping Centre, where we left the other car. We were very appreciable of the cool and misty weather - especially at this time of year when the mercury often hits 40 degrees. The starting gun went off 5:04am and a few thousand chirpy (usual at the start of a race - until the first hill surfaces) athletes were on their way.

We made our way along Inanda Road, which was built up with new security complexes on the left and serene country side still surviving on the right. The first 8 to 9km had a gradual incline and the still cold and stiff limbs took strain warming up. The route linked up with Old Main Road going through Hillcrest, Gillits and Kloof after which it went parallel with the M13 until the 19km mark where it started winding through Pinetown suburbs towards the end at Lahee Park in Pinetown.

The race was well organised except for a 'very dry' waterpoint at the 9km mark which had no water or Coke and worries started setting in on what the water situation will be at the rest of the waterpoints. Fortunately all the waterpoints were well stocked further on. (There are waterpoints at 3km intervals.)

We both finished the race well within the cut-off time of 4h15min, with very sore/stiff/aching bodies to show for it. Conroy's running time was 2h23min and my walking time was 3h18min.

A huge thank you to Shelley and Nicky (my scrapping students/friends) who was the greatest support team I have ever had on a race. They drove along the route and stopped every 3/4km cheering and motivating their friends along - even stood ready with a 'Bar-one' choccie at the 20km mark - Thanks I needed it!!!

We got a T-shirt and a Huletts Sugar carry-bag with a 1kg packet of sugar in it for our efforts.

Needless to say the rest of the Sunday was spent in a horizontal state of vegetation!!!

STELLA 15KM ROAD RACE

Sunday, 22 January 2006 We rose early (4:30am) on this hot, humid, summer Sunday morning to get ready for this race held by the Stella Athletic Club in Durban (about 30km from our home in Kloof). The starting gun went off as scheduled at 6:00am. I am race walking at the moment (no technique - just my own plodding), which I found more enjoyable than running which is more jarring on the body. The race was very well organised with water and Coke at every 2km mark. The road marshalls were also great controlling the early morning traffic (not too serious) , seeing to it that we had no sudden stops waiting for traffic and we could keep our pace. I did a PB today for a 15km Walk i.e. 1h59min. I was very pleased being able to break the 2 hour mark, although this meant a tired and aching body. Hubby, Conroy ran the race in 1h23min. We went for our usual post race breakfast at the Bizzy Lizzy tea garden situated within the Dunrobin Nursery in Bothas Hill. We are still contemplating doing the PDAC 25km race on Sunday, 29 January 2006. This will be the furthest that I have ever walked a race - my furthest walking race being 21.1km. I have also joined Run & Walk 4 Life yesterday doing a 7.6km with them. The plan is to train with them on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at 5:30pm and on Saturday mornings at 6:00am. At the moment I will only be doing Saturdays and Mondays and from March I will be doing Wednesday afternoons as well, when I will be ceasing teaching Scrapbooking on Wednesday evenings. Signing off from a very hot, humid and stuffy Kloof!