Well can you believe that Christmas is around the corner? This month has been very exciting for the Proctors.


I started my new job on the 1st. I am still feeling my way around, but the guys that I work with are great and the office environment really relaxed. Most of them have gone on leave, so I've been pretty much by myself here, but I have my radio!!! My afternoon business has also picked up! My great friend, Deb in Pmb, has been keeping me very busy sorting out their work as well as my other clients!!! I also have some new possibilities on the horizon - so watch this space!!!



Sean has been incredibly busy this month. He leaves early in the morning and trudges in at about 9pm!! They are delivering so much stock right now, and apparently breaking all expectations and records in their business. So we're hoping that this is an excellent month for Classic Foods and it sets the future tone for their business!!!



The girls have been having a wonderful holiday so far. Granny took them for 3 nights to Pmb and they joined up with Liam - their Botswana cousin and had a ball. They went to movies, animal farms and pantomimes!! We then had Pat, Beth and Liam for the weekend and took the inlanders to the beach - which they thoroughly enjoyed.

After that, they headed off down the coast and Kerry kindly looked after them for 3 days at Kelso. They have a fabulous beach cottage right on the beach. The girls found eels, crabs, fish etc. on the beach each day and have come back tanned and healthy looking. They also spent a day on Kerry's folks sugar cane farm and came home telling me how sweet sugar cane is!!!

They have had friends to play every day, so have been really spoilt. Sarah is very excited about going to "Build-a-Bear" which we have promised them for their Xmas pressie from Uncle and Lesleigh!! She has already chosen the Bunny and can't wait to create it!!! Will post pics next time!!

Other than that - we've been shopping up a storm for Xmas and we are looking forward to having the "gang" arond next week for Fran's "Turdunken"!! This is a turkey, stuffed with a chicken, stuffed with a duck!!! Sounds delicious. Sean is in charge of weber braai-ing it on Christmas Day!! (I hope he's not delivering ice-cream on that day!!)

Well to all of you reading this - Have a fabulous Chrsitmas and New Year and I wish you all of the best for 2009!!

A special mention to my brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Les, we are all missing you very much here in sunny SA and Christmas won't be quite the same without you!! Enjoy your 1st white Christmas, whilst we bake in the sun!!!

Until 2009..............

Sarah turns 5!!

What an exciting week we've had. Sarah turned 5 and she had a lovely party at home. We played lots of "old fashioned" games and the kids had a ball. We were very lucky with the weather which managed to hold out for her party and let the kids swim!!

She was very spoilt and has played with her gifts non-stop!!


The favourite being the microphone. We have mini-divas here now.



I flew up to Jhb last week to hand over some of the my work to the Pretoria guys. whilst I was there I stayed with Rob and Ta and we had a Nintendo Wii challenge. It really was good fun, even though I'm sure the neighbours must've wondered what we were up to!!! The skiing and tennis were my favourite and I discovered that my balance is terrible!!!

This week I was supposed to go to Cape Town to hand over the balance of my work, but my trip was put on hold, as our company is in the process of retrenching!!! I guess I got out of there just in the nick of time.

We decided to cut the girls hair and give them a summer look the other day. They look gorgeous! Whilst they were having their hair cuts, we had a very unusual hail storm which caught our attention. It was all over in the matter of half an hour!!

We have had another busy weekend, with parties, rugby and dinners, so today is relax day!!! Sean has found his couch and I indulged in a little retail theraphy this morning. So many clothes, so little money!!!

Well all - until next week......

Nottingham Road and Changes in the Air

Well hello again. It's been awhile, and lots has been going on!! To start we went up to our good friends, the Butcher's, last weekend in Nottingham Road and had a stunning day on the farm. The kids got covered in good old fashioned mud in the dam - I had to toss their brookies away as they were so brown!!! We saw Paula and Andrew (Balmer) for a quick brunch as they were in the area, and saw Paula's swelling tummy!! They are all well and looking forward to their new bundle of joy - their due date for baby is on Rob's birthday - 19th Jan!!!

I have resigned from my job at i to i, and have been offered a fantastic half day accounting job in Westville. I start on the 1 December, so just in time for summer! I will be doing books in the afternoon from home, so have lots of new things on the cards!!

Sean has been really busy of late, they've picked up a few more principles, and soon I hope to do my grocery shopping at his office. He is now selling salmon, muffins, ostrich, cheese, ice-cream, spices, lamb and caviar!!!!

I have really been enjoying my gym of late, and although the scale is not going down drastically, I have been feeling much healthier and fitter!! Squash leauge is now finished - we had our end of year dinner this week.

We tried out the pool this weekend, and although slightly chilly, the girls are ready for summer! Sarah started swimming lessons this week, and tells me she is a fantastic dolphin. She is also convinced right now, that in the next week or 2, she is going to turn into a "Mer-Fairy". She is rubbing magic potion onto her cheeks, and soon she will grow a mermaid tail and fairy wings, and I must please be prepared and fill up the back of my car with water, so she won't dry out!!! I have also been told to stock up on seaweed, as that is what mer-fairy's apparently eat!!!

Anyway - have a good weekend, and I'll chat to you all soon.

Snow in EG

The Fishing Dam

Sean and I off to the Spring Ball

Sarah's shiner.

Well hello again. I have had a bit of a break from posting news on the blog, and yes Chris, it is looking like wallpaper again!!! I lost my picture button, but thanks to the IT and blog guru Chris, I see that it's back - Tks. So this week you'll get the pics meant for the last blog as well as the new ones.

Just when we thought Spring had Sprung, winter gave us one last show. Last weekend we got 60cm of snow falling in KZN. Hardest hit was the EG region - Kokstad and Swartberg. The snow fell all around Nottingham Road area as well. We were very silly not to rush the girls up and play in the snow, but we were recovering from Fran's 70th party and didn't have the energy!!!

Sean was invited to a fishing weekend in Kokstad, but had declined luckily as the guys were stuck in their cottage with no electricity for the whole weekend. All they had was a fire and alcohol!! Luckily they weren't camping!

As mentioned, we had Fran's 70th party at home. We all put in a lot of effort to make our lounge area look beautiful for Fran. Mom brought up the crystal glasses and silverware, and we decorated everything in Fran's favourite colours - green and pink. The menu had mom's salmon mousse for starters, followed by Sean's lamb shanks and we finished with meringue and malva, coffee and chocs. Everyone had a lovely time and Fran got spoilt with some lovely pressies. Fran has gone off to friends in Cape Town to carry on the party!!!

We had "Heritage Day" yesterday. Sean worked, whilst the girls and I went up to Pmb to visit with mates. It was so nice to have a break in the middle of the week. Also yesterday was Chris and Lesleigh's wedding anniversary - Happy Anniversary you two. 2 years young!!!

Well the girls break up for the school holidays on Friday. They get 1 week of holidays, then it's back for the final term. We're off to Kerry's beach cottage this weekend. Unfortunately the weather is not looking very good, but I'm sure we'll still have a good time.

Cheerio - until next week

Spring has Sprung!!

Can you believe that we are already in September!!! This year is flying by. Well Sean and I started September off with a blast!! We had a Spring Ball last Friday night, we dolled up and danced the night away!!! There was a good crowd and although Saturday was a bit of a write-off, it was definitely worth it!!

Sunday I decided to take Ganga (our little Jack Russell) for her first run in months. She was so excited that she dragged me for the first km, after that I had to drag her for the next 2! We joined the girls and Sean at the local field and had a little hockey game and then the girls practised their riding. Sarah managed to avoid the poles and soccer balls this week!! But she didn't quite get away scott free this weekend. She and Lolly collided on the trampoline and Sarah is now sporting a shiner!!

Sean has had a good week, picking up 2 new principles. One is a new cheese principle and the other makes cold meats. His company looks like they're going to have to look for new premises soon, as they are outgrowing their space now. Let's hope that this makes us rich!!!

Visits and Dissapointing Rugby!!!

"Favourite Toy"

Well this past weekend just flew!!! We started off the weekend with a few mates at "Twisted Lemon" (the local pub) on Friday night. The kids had a ball running around whilst we enjoyed a few toots - much needed after a long week!!

Saturday saw Sean off at "sparrows" for his very much anticipated golf day at Mt Edgecombe. He played like an absolute star and shot an 83!!! Not bad for a "part-time" golfer!!! I started the day with gym and hauled Rob out of bed to babysit the girls. We had a lovely morning catching up with Bob and Ta and then raced off to friends to watch the rugby. I have definitely watched more stimulating and exciting games and went well prepared for victory in my Bokke Bokke shirt and bottle of champagne, only to be completely dissapointed. Oh well we can't harp on things like this, I just hope this weekend brings better results!!!


Sean was in full form on Saturday, so after much commentary (you all know our quiet Sean), and a dart game I managed to convinced my husband to go home!!!


Sunday was running around again. I started with a morning squash game and then took Lauren to a gymnastics party at lunch time. I went shopping at the Pav for a new squash racquet, as I managed to break my last "trusty" one!! I eventually settled on a Dunlop Black Max and am dying to try it out. I was supposed to have a league game tonight, but apparently the team has just pulled out, so I'm going to have to wait a bit longer.


We took the kids to ride their bikes on the local field and they are doing so well now. Both have lost their training / fairy wheels and go screaming around the field. Sarah did manage to head butt some boys' soccer ball whilst riding, so we had tears, but she didn't fall off her bike!!!!!


Big week ahead for Lauren - she has been chosen as the "special person" of the class. This means that she is basically the class leader for the week and all focus shifts to her!!! She is very excited and we were grilled on Q and A's this weekend, so that she is prepared for all questions!!!! (Sound a bit like her father!!) She is a bit nervous to take in her "special toy" as the kids got out of hand awhile back and broke somebody's toy, so we had to take a photo so they can "see and not touch"!!

Our Beautiful Dalmation

Twinkle Star

Our Teddy Bear

THE SHOW MUST GO ON!!!

What a busy week we've just had!!! Lauren and Sarah were absolute stars in their ballet concert. Sarah debuted as a luminous pink teddy bear, while Lauren started off as a "Twinkle Star" and after a lightning change backstage, turned into a "Dalmation" Thank goodness all went smoothly, coz in the rehearsal, Sarah tripped over her basket and went flying as only my very graceful child can do!!!

The children caught all the bugs going around this week - both were "man down" with gastro and the flu is also going around here right now, so we all laid low this week.

We have been enjoying watching the Olympics on TV this week, pity the South Africans are not really featuring though.

I have started gym - Chris you'll be excited!!! My first week, I was very enthusiastic, went about 4 times, then got the flu, so haven't done too much this week!!! I am rearing to go back - so watch this space for a lean mean machine!!!

Right now we have got the folks around for a braai, and the girls are giving us a hair dressing session. Dad and Sean are looking smashing!!!

Mom's news!!!

Once again we've had a lovely afternoon with the family at home - Sean as usual has done a superb job of cooking the meat, and Cathy always makes a smashing salad. We're in the throes of getting quotes at the moment because the one concrete fence on the side of the house is collapsing so we're going to have to replace it shortly. Might as well get everything done at once and then the saving really gets into gear to come to Denver!!!

Played my usual game of golf again this morning but this time at Country Club. First 9 was not very good but definitely improved on the back 9 so there's some hope for me. A cold front is moving in this weekend so we're hoping for some rain - everything is so dry.

And next weekend Dad and I are off to Southbroom with the bridge crowd.

Fairs, Mozambique and Grandparents

Hi All

Well this is my first blog entry - welcome to the world of technology Cath'!!!!

The Proctor's had quite a busy weekend this past weekend. Sean went on a rekkie up to Mozambique with 3 other guys to look at the possibility of developing land along the coast close to Ponto D'Oro. They decided against the development, but had a good weekend up there, although the fish didn't seem to be on the bite. Sean tells me it is not a good time for fishing and there was a slight wind!!!!

Mozambique

The girls stayed at home and had a busy Saturday with friends and family around for the day. On Sunday we headed off to the Westville Fair, where the girls had a ball. Both were unanimous in the decision that the bungee trampoline is the best activity around, followed closely by the climbing wall. I think I have monkeys or spiders, as they flew up the climbing wall and manged to get right to the top with no problems!!!


Lauren had "Grandparents Day" at school this morning. She was tasked with presenting a poem to the Grandparents, and according to mom and dad (no bias attached), she and her little friend Ashlee did very well!! She then hauled mom and dad off to her classroom and made them look through every single work book and they had to meet the teacher!!!

Sean is moving his office into the "Granny flat" at the end of this week as they are running out of office space at work. We are having ADSL lines connected etc. I hope that he manages to get work done there!!!

My fisherman with their gilly @ Southbroom