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Sent via Karen Lawrence African Shark Eco-Charters. Blackberry.

Wine Coolers and Teddy Bears

About 8 years ago I bought a wine fridge. I wanted to as I thought they were so "cool". Face it, we all have these moments when we do inexplicable things and make purchases that we don't really need.  For about a year I actually had a very good collection going and it was always stocked to the brim and  very handy when hosting a dinner party, I could just whip out a nice chilled bottle of Merlot etc.

Then the children came, and having wine around became a hazard. You see,  I didn't want to get dirty looks and whispers that my one year old has swopped one bottle for a different kind! No, seriously, it became a hazard having bottles of wine in close range of little teeny tots that are super keen on exploring everything.
And so, one by one, the collection came to an end, and strangely enough was replaced by another kind. It has been used as a shop when playing "shop-shop". It has been used as an imaginary dungeon for naughty teddy bears and a storage house for the kids toy collection or sadly to just collect dust.

About two months ago I was given a list of some pretty decent wine that was being sold at prices less than half and I began to formulate images in my head of maybe, just maybe my little black storage bin could be used for its original purpose. Tentively I ordered a few cases, dusted off and moved the fridge, which was now living in the kids lounge, as the kids had become so fond of it, into the dining area. When my wine was delivered, I did a little clap of hands, a hop, bounce and a skip and bright eyed I lovingly stocked the fridge, and switched it on.


The funny thing is that some friends came over and marveled at my "new purchase", and raised their eyebrows when I said, as only woman can do..."this old thing..I have had it for years!". 

Sideline Mom

J chose netball for her winter terms school sport. She really loves it and her position is Goal Shooter. She has a good eye for the ball and is a pretty decent shot. We decided to get her, her own ball and a practice hoop and every day she and I have been having fun "shooting hoops".

I have seen her a few times at practice days at school and noted how she fools around quiet a bit, sits down, swings around the pole and I chalked this up to the fact that being a GS, you don't get to play the game that much, unless your team is giving you the ball and thus she was a bit bored.

Yesterday she has her second netball match against another local school in the valley. Her first match was quiet funny as both teams were pretty useless and I assumed  that is how 7 yr olds are. Happily she scored and her team one.
However, yesterday was different. Her opposing team, FH's coach had this no nonsense and very serious look about her. So the game starts. FH gets the ball straight away and starts dominating the game. My little J has been taken up with the fairies and is not only in another world, but another universe as well. She starts swinging around the pole, goofing around and almost about to do a hand stand. 

My eyes widen! Never in a million years did I think I would be one of those side line mom's who become unhappy campers. I call out, J , focus, focus focus. My emotions start to rise and  I actually move to the fence to try tell her to watch the game and concentrate. By now, FH has scored 3-0 against us, and our little team looks like they have been hit by a hurricane. These FH little girls are following a strict strategy and they are sticking to it very well.  One look from their coach puts them right back on track when their eye is off the ball. I call out again to J to focus but I am having no affect whats so ever. I am getting so frustrated that I need to return to my seat and need to sit on my hands and shut up. Our little team did not fare well at all and we get whitewashed 7-0. 
The second U7 game starts and SV is looking better, but by half time its 1-0. J is called  to the team and starts the "pole dancing" thing. I think to myself , my darling, what are you up too, as I watch the ball whizzing past her. Luckily she starts to focus, gets the ball and scores and after a few minutes the game ends. Yay, its 1-1.


Today J comes home with a "player of the team" award. Well done J.
I, on the other hand have gone to the library and taken out a book called " The Netball Handbook", and will be studying it from top to toe as well as watching Netball game rules on you tube.You never know, maybe her team needs an assistant coach!

Defcon 3 child meltdown

 Yes, we are going through one of those parenting times again, except that its so severe that I think we have now escalated into defcon 3.

Here is just a little glimpse into a good part of yesterday.  J decided that every item of her clothing needed to be removed from her cupboards onto her floor. Why, I do not know! I do know that she refused to pick up her clothes and pack them away. Instead of me losing my cool for the umpteenth time that day, I calmly took all her clothes and chucked them into the bath so I could at least walk into her room without falling over and breaking my ankle. She arrived home today to discover, lo and behold there were was something strange going on in her cupboards. In each draw there was a single item of clothes. 1 pair pants, 1 jersey, 1 top, 1 pair of shoes, you get the idea. And so, for the next week or so, that is how it is going to be. I packed all her clothes away into bags and she will not be seeing them until then. Each day the clothes used will be replaced with another single item. Sorry for you if you don't like what mamma has chosen. To bad, so sad!

And yes, the next time you slam the door, you will return to find that there is no bedroom door either!