I can't believe its the 24 !! I just reminded Olivia to put her slippers under the tree. Its a french thing. Christmas Eve the kids put their slippers under the tree and Santa fills them with goodies !! So off she went, when I returned to the lounge, the tree was surrounded by all of her shoes and 2 pairs of Mathildes. I told her that you're only supposed to put the slippers under and her reply was that she only has one pair of slippers!
She then said 'ah no, we must take some away because he won't be able to get all our presents under the tree.'
So she just moved them to the side of the tree so that Santa can still fill up the shoes and leave the gifts!!
So this is it, a final clean, don't know why I bother because 2 min later, house looks like 2 bombs have hit it!!
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas !
24 December 2010
4 December 2010
Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
I love christmas! There I said it. I'm sure if there was something like an AA for christmas freaks, my husband would send me. I love the smell of tinsel and the delicate decorated glass baubles.
Since we've been together we've lived in 6 different countries. Lesotho - our 1st christmas together so bought our first tree and all the decorations. Then China where we had to buy another tree because other one in storage in france. So another tree and all the decorations. Then back to france where we finally didn't have to buy a tree or decorations but who can resist buying decorations - not me!
Then Switzerland where we could still use our decorations but again had to buy more found some really beautiful pieces there.
Then it was back off to south Africa where once again had to buy another tree and decorations. Didn't take the tree from SA but packed up all my deco and was shipped off to france in our container.
So here we are again, another christmas and because we never travel will all of our belongings, guess what me need.....
So yes the house has been decorated since 2 weeks and it looks lovely. Even more excited now seeing our little girls eyes sparkle when they look at the tree with its twinkling lights. Our 1st tree was very colour coordinated and everything in its perfect little place. Since Olivia has been able to decorate it always seems to be more fun and this year is no exception.. They wanted colourful lights and most of the branches have more than one decoration on them but I love it like this and they do too so I guess thats what really matters.
So this week the count down officially started with the opening of the advent calenders. They open them as soon as they wake up. I know choco isn't good so early in the morning but hey, its only this one month and the look on their faces is priceless when they see their special little choco .
Today we had our companies annual christmas party. Olivia loves them, she gets to see her friends and gets pressies from Santa.
Mathilde wasn't keen at all on getting her gift from Santa , she found the buffet far more exciting and less scary than the giant man dressed in red.
All in all we had a good day and we're just getting started!!!
Since we've been together we've lived in 6 different countries. Lesotho - our 1st christmas together so bought our first tree and all the decorations. Then China where we had to buy another tree because other one in storage in france. So another tree and all the decorations. Then back to france where we finally didn't have to buy a tree or decorations but who can resist buying decorations - not me!
Then Switzerland where we could still use our decorations but again had to buy more found some really beautiful pieces there.
Then it was back off to south Africa where once again had to buy another tree and decorations. Didn't take the tree from SA but packed up all my deco and was shipped off to france in our container.
So here we are again, another christmas and because we never travel will all of our belongings, guess what me need.....
So yes the house has been decorated since 2 weeks and it looks lovely. Even more excited now seeing our little girls eyes sparkle when they look at the tree with its twinkling lights. Our 1st tree was very colour coordinated and everything in its perfect little place. Since Olivia has been able to decorate it always seems to be more fun and this year is no exception.. They wanted colourful lights and most of the branches have more than one decoration on them but I love it like this and they do too so I guess thats what really matters.
So this week the count down officially started with the opening of the advent calenders. They open them as soon as they wake up. I know choco isn't good so early in the morning but hey, its only this one month and the look on their faces is priceless when they see their special little choco .
Today we had our companies annual christmas party. Olivia loves them, she gets to see her friends and gets pressies from Santa.
Mathilde wasn't keen at all on getting her gift from Santa , she found the buffet far more exciting and less scary than the giant man dressed in red.
All in all we had a good day and we're just getting started!!!
3 December 2010
Happy Saint Barbara
Saint Barbaras is the patron saint of miners,artillerymen and a few others. She is invoked against thunder and lightning and all accidents arising from explosions of gunpowder.
So why am I telling you this and how do I even know about this Saint. Well because of my husband who works in underground civil engineering therefore blasting and causing explosions.
Every year on the 4 December they always have a ceremony where this saint is placed in the tunnel to protect all who work there. I find it funny but also respect that they still follow traditions like this.
In Switzerland they really made a big thing of the whole ceremony what with them being quite religious. Today in Hong Kong they'll be celebrating the Saint Barbara,which also means a few glasses of red too many.
I really respect the work that my husband, my dad and all the other men and a few women do. Its far from easy. Its far from the 9-5 job. But to tell you the truth, my husband would become seriously depressed if he had a job like that. And I'd become seriously depressed having to live with him being seriously depressed.The work conditions are far from ideal infact they can be quite harsh. Hot, wet, sometimes humid, dark, noisy.
The projects that they work on are always one of a kind , never been done before so new techniques and new ideas have to implemented. And ofcourse everything has to be finished by... yesterday.
So here's to all the so called 'miners' out there Happy Saint Barbaras Day!
So why am I telling you this and how do I even know about this Saint. Well because of my husband who works in underground civil engineering therefore blasting and causing explosions.
Every year on the 4 December they always have a ceremony where this saint is placed in the tunnel to protect all who work there. I find it funny but also respect that they still follow traditions like this.
In Switzerland they really made a big thing of the whole ceremony what with them being quite religious. Today in Hong Kong they'll be celebrating the Saint Barbara,which also means a few glasses of red too many.
I really respect the work that my husband, my dad and all the other men and a few women do. Its far from easy. Its far from the 9-5 job. But to tell you the truth, my husband would become seriously depressed if he had a job like that. And I'd become seriously depressed having to live with him being seriously depressed.The work conditions are far from ideal infact they can be quite harsh. Hot, wet, sometimes humid, dark, noisy.
The projects that they work on are always one of a kind , never been done before so new techniques and new ideas have to implemented. And ofcourse everything has to be finished by... yesterday.
So here's to all the so called 'miners' out there Happy Saint Barbaras Day!
9 November 2010
Flower Market Kwoloon
Today decided to take my mom - who arrived one week ago - to the famous flower market. We took the MTR from central to prince edward station and took exit B1 and walked down Prince Edward Rd West.
The weather is ideal now to get out and about.
We then reached a 4 story shop filled with christmas decorations where we stopped in our tracks. So we done some decoration shopping, running after Mathilde inbetween who fell in love with every snow man she saw!!
After that bit of retail theraphy, we headed down Yuen Po st for a more aromatic and visual encounter. This place is small but each little shop is packed with brightly coloured flowers. You can find whatever you're looking for from flowers, to seeds to vases and stones for decoration and the prices are very good. A little further down is the bird market where I must go with my hubby as I want to buy one of the beautiful lacquered bird cages- for decoration only- so his hands will come in handy!!
Next we headed towards Tung Choi Street which is known as the Goldfish market and I bet you can guess why?? Yes, full of fish and anything fish related. They also sell puppies and kittens - little M was in heaven!!
The fish are all placed in their bags and hung up. When you see them all together its like a beautiful coloured canvas. I must admit, I did feel sorry for the poor little things!!
All I can say is that we will be back.
The weather is ideal now to get out and about.
We then reached a 4 story shop filled with christmas decorations where we stopped in our tracks. So we done some decoration shopping, running after Mathilde inbetween who fell in love with every snow man she saw!!
After that bit of retail theraphy, we headed down Yuen Po st for a more aromatic and visual encounter. This place is small but each little shop is packed with brightly coloured flowers. You can find whatever you're looking for from flowers, to seeds to vases and stones for decoration and the prices are very good. A little further down is the bird market where I must go with my hubby as I want to buy one of the beautiful lacquered bird cages- for decoration only- so his hands will come in handy!!
Next we headed towards Tung Choi Street which is known as the Goldfish market and I bet you can guess why?? Yes, full of fish and anything fish related. They also sell puppies and kittens - little M was in heaven!!
The fish are all placed in their bags and hung up. When you see them all together its like a beautiful coloured canvas. I must admit, I did feel sorry for the poor little things!!
25 October 2010
GASTRO !!!
Yes, the title says it all!! Our little M started with a fever last week. So off to Dr Monday. Here in Hong Kong , unlike the drs I've been to in France, everything is so kiddie friendly. There's a friendly , brightly coloured waiting room full of toys to keep your sick little ones entertained and mabe also pick up something they don't already have.
So 1 nasal swab later, its not the influenza A - which is apparently going around - phew!! So now proberly just a viral infection .
Day 2 no fever but day 3 fever whole day. Suppos every 4 and 8 hours, my tired and sore bummed little girl is a real grump!! Phoned dr to make another appointment for thursday because Typhoon Megi was fast approaching and predicted to hit Hong Kong Friday. Wednesday night she starts vomiting and you who have kids, know the rest.....
Finally Thursday came after a long sleepless nights and numerous sheet changing episodes. Gave her the anti vomiting medicine but it doesn't work. Arrive at Dr, conclusion gastro collect different anti vomiting meds and I think I need to have shares in this practice!! I thought south africa was expensive when it came to medical care but Hong Kong is the cherry on the top and a bitter one at that!!
All of us moms know the drill for fever ,vomiting , coughing but when it happens you still always have a doubt, well i do anyway!!
So we try the new meds work a little but she still vomits, so that night at 11 off to hospital I go because I don't see her getting any better.
Saw the dr that was on duty said 'ah she's not seriously dehydrated, you can take her home and carry on with meds ' hello, did you not listen to anything i just told you!! I told him that i don't want to take her home, just to bring her back tomorrow am in an even worse state. So OK, admitted to hospital. No private rooms available in paediatric ward, only double room. So I ask if possible to have a private room in another ward? When M was hospitalised in May, they had no rooms available in paeds so put us in post op ward - which was great, no screaming kids, no thoughts of catching whatever the other kids have. So we got the exact same room as last time, even the nurses remebered her, but please lets not make this a habit!!
They put numbing cream on her hands and we wait 1 hr. Afterwards go to paed ward where they'll set up the drip and i think to myself, boy am i glad we're not here after seeing and hearing all those poor little kids. So my poor little girl is layed down, then all of a sudden out of nowhere all these nurses come in and each one has there place - makes me think of tiny little ants!! They ask me to wait outside but I tell them no I'm staying. M who's been sleepy the whole day uses her last bit of energy to cry and show that she's not happy! I calm her best i can and everything goes into place no problems at all and yes, I'm relieved !! I was expecting screams of terror because when olivia was almost 2 she was admitted to olivedale in joburg for a gastro and put on the drip and i can still hear her screams and see her little face with a look of 'what are you doing, mama do something!!!'
So off to our room where we sleep until 6 o'clock.
So Alex takes off work to see to Olivia then when he picks her up from school they come to visit.Mathilde isn't vomiting but is still very weak and not eating or drinking but was happy to see her papa and sister!! We finally left the hospital Saturday night and were both so happy to get home. Today is Tuesday and she's eating and drinking but still tired. Have a Halloween party on Friday for olivia and her friends so trying to persuade hubby to take afternoon off work to help out!! So happy all this is behind us, until next time that is!!
So 1 nasal swab later, its not the influenza A - which is apparently going around - phew!! So now proberly just a viral infection .
Day 2 no fever but day 3 fever whole day. Suppos every 4 and 8 hours, my tired and sore bummed little girl is a real grump!! Phoned dr to make another appointment for thursday because Typhoon Megi was fast approaching and predicted to hit Hong Kong Friday. Wednesday night she starts vomiting and you who have kids, know the rest.....
Finally Thursday came after a long sleepless nights and numerous sheet changing episodes. Gave her the anti vomiting medicine but it doesn't work. Arrive at Dr, conclusion gastro collect different anti vomiting meds and I think I need to have shares in this practice!! I thought south africa was expensive when it came to medical care but Hong Kong is the cherry on the top and a bitter one at that!!
All of us moms know the drill for fever ,vomiting , coughing but when it happens you still always have a doubt, well i do anyway!!
So we try the new meds work a little but she still vomits, so that night at 11 off to hospital I go because I don't see her getting any better.
Saw the dr that was on duty said 'ah she's not seriously dehydrated, you can take her home and carry on with meds ' hello, did you not listen to anything i just told you!! I told him that i don't want to take her home, just to bring her back tomorrow am in an even worse state. So OK, admitted to hospital. No private rooms available in paediatric ward, only double room. So I ask if possible to have a private room in another ward? When M was hospitalised in May, they had no rooms available in paeds so put us in post op ward - which was great, no screaming kids, no thoughts of catching whatever the other kids have. So we got the exact same room as last time, even the nurses remebered her, but please lets not make this a habit!!
They put numbing cream on her hands and we wait 1 hr. Afterwards go to paed ward where they'll set up the drip and i think to myself, boy am i glad we're not here after seeing and hearing all those poor little kids. So my poor little girl is layed down, then all of a sudden out of nowhere all these nurses come in and each one has there place - makes me think of tiny little ants!! They ask me to wait outside but I tell them no I'm staying. M who's been sleepy the whole day uses her last bit of energy to cry and show that she's not happy! I calm her best i can and everything goes into place no problems at all and yes, I'm relieved !! I was expecting screams of terror because when olivia was almost 2 she was admitted to olivedale in joburg for a gastro and put on the drip and i can still hear her screams and see her little face with a look of 'what are you doing, mama do something!!!'
So off to our room where we sleep until 6 o'clock.
So Alex takes off work to see to Olivia then when he picks her up from school they come to visit.Mathilde isn't vomiting but is still very weak and not eating or drinking but was happy to see her papa and sister!! We finally left the hospital Saturday night and were both so happy to get home. Today is Tuesday and she's eating and drinking but still tired. Have a Halloween party on Friday for olivia and her friends so trying to persuade hubby to take afternoon off work to help out!! So happy all this is behind us, until next time that is!!
3 September 2010
Back to school
After 2 long months of summer holidays our little O started back at school today. And not just school, CP, cours préparatoire!!
Since one week she's been saying ' can you believe it mama, i'm going to be in CP'
No my little Olivia, i can't , sob! sob! She's been counting down the days and crossing them off her calender each morning and today was the day!! So up at 6:05, yes she's an early riser, just like her papa. One pancake with cinnamon and sugar and a glass of cold milk. M is still fast asleep so I can be with O , get her dressed and talk about this big day.
She's come a long way since she started school. I remeber going to get her after her first day and seeing her sobbing and eyes so red, and this was 4 housr later. For her fist year she cried almost every day and the drive to the french school was the longest ever - especially in joburg traffic. But luckily those days are long gone and i have a happy little girl who loves going to school and happy litlle girl = happy mama and papa!!
Since one week she's been saying ' can you believe it mama, i'm going to be in CP'
No my little Olivia, i can't , sob! sob! She's been counting down the days and crossing them off her calender each morning and today was the day!! So up at 6:05, yes she's an early riser, just like her papa. One pancake with cinnamon and sugar and a glass of cold milk. M is still fast asleep so I can be with O , get her dressed and talk about this big day.
She's come a long way since she started school. I remeber going to get her after her first day and seeing her sobbing and eyes so red, and this was 4 housr later. For her fist year she cried almost every day and the drive to the french school was the longest ever - especially in joburg traffic. But luckily those days are long gone and i have a happy little girl who loves going to school and happy litlle girl = happy mama and papa!!
25 August 2010
Its official...no more nappies in the day!!
I just want to say a BIG bravo to our little Mathilde who is now a potty happy little girl!! It all started getting serious when we got back from France at the end of July.
Already she would say 'mama pee pee or kaka ' when she felt the need and when she had a dirty nappy, she would start walking like a little cowgirl and pull at her nappy to take it off.
So I bought her some litttle panties - which by the way shelooks really cute in - and everyday she wears them. When she needs to go she shouts pee pee and runs to her pot.She sits and we all have to watch and wait.....ta dah, bravo and she's so happy. She even takes out the pot and pours it into the toilet - with a little guidance from mama ofcourse!! So here we are, well on the road to my little girl growing up and a lot more exciting times ahead!!!
Already she would say 'mama pee pee or kaka ' when she felt the need and when she had a dirty nappy, she would start walking like a little cowgirl and pull at her nappy to take it off.
So I bought her some litttle panties - which by the way shelooks really cute in - and everyday she wears them. When she needs to go she shouts pee pee and runs to her pot.She sits and we all have to watch and wait.....ta dah, bravo and she's so happy. She even takes out the pot and pours it into the toilet - with a little guidance from mama ofcourse!! So here we are, well on the road to my little girl growing up and a lot more exciting times ahead!!!
24 August 2010
Today I've finally done it!!
After years, 5 and 11 months to be exact, I've finally started a blog. I wanted to start when our eldest daughter Olivia was born, but anyone who has their first baby knows that time is not a thing you have on your hands when a baby comes along, let alone the first!!And come to think of it , I still have no time!!
So here we are, many countries and another little girl, Mathilde who is 20 months, later and yes...this blog.
Let me tell you a little bit about my family. We've been living here in Hong Kong for 1 year now, husband was transfered here for work from South Africa.
I stay at home and take care of our girls, olivia 5 who was born in Switzerland and mathilde who was born in South Africa.
So here we are, many countries and another little girl, Mathilde who is 20 months, later and yes...this blog.
Let me tell you a little bit about my family. We've been living here in Hong Kong for 1 year now, husband was transfered here for work from South Africa.
I stay at home and take care of our girls, olivia 5 who was born in Switzerland and mathilde who was born in South Africa.
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