In and out of Africa

I arrived back on Sunday evening from the quickest whirlwind of a trip! it is not that I haven't been home for that short a period of time, but this trip was so busy - with all the running around and a minimal amount of sleep - it flew by in a blur!

I also didn't have time to take any pictures - so I recorded videos - while eating, walking and driving - so that I didnt have to stop - but still able to capture my trip and relive it to see what I missed!

Day one:

Arrival in South Africa:

I arrive at OR Tambo International airport - tired, stinky, neck all bent out of shape... waited an hour for my luggage. The first thing I decided to do was get a MTN simcard to make calls and announce my arrival - MTN: "Eish, we are out of seemcards"... ok - lets try Vodacom.. "Yes medem, it weel cost you R150 rends for the seemcard and R80 rends for the airtime" - I was like WHAT!!!! - I KNOW that I can get a simcard for R10 from CNA and then just load the airtime. The response: "Yes medem, then go get it from there!"

Welcome to Africa - the accent - for dramatic effect!

I walk out of the majorly confusng, contruction infested airport - to another beautiful, majestic South African sunset... air clean and crisp, familiar energy surrounding me - I am home...

I look across the road from the new "amazing' airport and there are 3 mobile zink home type things - Steers and Nandos kiosks - music blaring - live-live - china!!! gees

Ok - So Willie picks me up in the Audi and we catch up - I feel like I am in a time warp!

I arrived home at around 10pm - walked into my townhouse and everything was so familiar - everything looked exactly the same! After a much needed bath - I realized that I am too wired to go to bed - unpack and call Marlene - shoot over for some rooibos tea and chat.

Day 2:

Sunday morning after not sleeping very much - I woke up early - got ready and went to visit my parents. Spent the morning eating koeksisters (ahhhhh) and chatting to the 'rents, catching up - giving them their gifts from the USofA... It was also my boets birthday, so we went to the new casino out in Krugersdorp- wow - what a nice place. Had a nice buffet lunch - we sat there from 1pm till almost 5pm - chatting and laughing - and taking videos!! LOLOLOL

After the great day with the family, I went to visit Shantal and her new oh-so-cute baby. Had more food! Delicious Indian curry - ahhhh the food from home rocks man!

Day 3:

Monday morning came around and I knew that the busyness was about to begin. I got out of the house early - organized the gardener to do something about the highly neglected garden, ran over to Sandton City - I almost didn't find my way - since everything looks so different - gees they are building a hotel right opposite the Village Walk!! Did my banking and met my friend at Baglios for breakfast - some things have NOT changed - Baglios - still sucks - service-wise! David raced over from his busy work day as well and we had a cup of Cinammon Milo - ahem... Chai Tea? whatever - it was nice - until I saw the price!!! Ok - I had 2 slices of brown toast with scrambled eggs. He had a fruit bowl - wait for it.... R300!!! WTF!

Moving RIGHT along! I then got a call from Ingrid to discuss wedding things, I did a bit of shopping for her and made some appointments as well. The afternoon flew by me! I was in the process of making some gifts for Ingrid for her "pre wedding" day sleep over at my house and for her wedding morning breakfast surprise - so with my limited amount of time I raced through Sandton City trying to find what I needed - Appalled at the prices of things - even in dollar conversion things were outrageous!

Petrol time.. sigh - how nice to have someone do it for you - but then really - if I could save the R750 it cost me to fill my small golf tank - I would do it myself - give the poor oke a break! but they wouldnt have it! Argh! Raced through insane traffic to get to Cresta where I met Ingry - ah the reunion of old mates - and the 2 Antonies - We had the nicest Steaks - agh lekker man! After that we went to Melville for coffee at their house and had a gas till early hours.

Day 4:

Tuesday, I was already feeling very tired, after my late dinner and drive home at ungodly hours... I tried to get more sleep! Alas! the gardener was there at the crack of dawn making all sorts of noise. I went over to InnStaff and met Troy for breakfast - chatted with old colleagues and ex-boss - it was great to see everyone again.

After that my time belonged to Ingy - went over to her place in Mellville and did wedding things - she cooked us dinner and Cheryl came over - it was like a RBTC reunion - ofcourse - only the sane was were there! We then went for a wedding dress fitting, it was alot of fun - I was put in charge of making sure the bride eats nothing major until the wedding day - but when we got back to Mellvile we had chocolates and tea! just for THAT night!

Day 5:

Day before the big wedding day! Ingy and I met early and started our errands - so far - bride was calm, bridesmaid was tired - but all was well. Errands went smooth - met David for lunch while Ingy had her nails done - raced all the way back to Mellville - only to find a stressed bride! DRAMA! The nails were a disaster - good news though - the 2 Antonies and another friend were in the process of whipping up a lekker braai! And making me PAPTERT!! Whooo hoo - but ok - back to the nails... bubbles - OMG! Alteast we managed to get another appointment for new nails - but on the wedding morning.... So we prepared ourselves fo it to be a hectic day ahead.

Anyway, we forgot about that and ate our paptert and wors - oh happy day! had a great time! We stayed up late waiting for the music coordinator and chatting about last minute wedding stuff - finally we got to my place and bathed the bride (African tradition)- had our Amarula shots and that was when I gave her all her gifts - it was a lot of fun - even though we were all so exhausted - we got into bed at around 1am... (oh - if you are wondering why we had paptert when it was my job to make sure the bride doesnt eat alot so she fits into her dress.. erm I... ermm.. concentrated on my paptert and it got away from me LOL - BAD Maid of Honor!)

Day 6:

The Big day

Woke up at 5am - I prepared breakfast (which was really just a yoghurt and water! LOL) and prepared her wedding gift I made before I left the USA.... It was nice - gave it to her in bed and wished her Happy wedding day! She was calm but emotional. We got ready and were at the parents house at 7am - got the combi and the cars - bride and everyone in for our long hour drive to Avianto.

The wedding day went really well. It was wonderful to see so many people from RBTC who have influenced my life - Ingrid looked amazing and the wedding day was a wonderful celebration of a LOOOOOONG awaited day! :-)))))) wink wink

Got home at around 1am (again) - drove the VR6 in my dress and all- got stopped in a roadblock - only for the cops to oogle at my car! argh whatever.

Day 7:

Woke up at 6am (yes- dont ask). I met David and Steve for breakfast at this gorgeous nursery - agh it was nice! Chatted and caught up and said goodbye basically. I went home after that to sleep again - the car was annoying me and I didn't want to drive around - but I only had an hour anyway to recoup myself. Marlene took half a day off and we went walking through the stores - had Nandos (YUM) for lunch and said our goodbyes.

I then went to Sam's house and it was nice to spend time with her and Maddy - ofcourse in tru Sam style - she was not feeling well - but still dressed to the hills! fancy new hairstyle and red stilettos! go Sam!! Ha da great time and also got spoilt with Sam pancakes. Yum yum. Then i realized i had to get something from marlene - raced over to her house - and we decided while I am there, we may as well have pizza! So we did! and Rooibos. :-)

When I got home, I felt a sense of anti-climax.. my week was already over.. :-(

Day 8:

Packed all my things, did a walk through and list of everything that needed attending to in the house. Ingrid's mum came round to fetch some things that Ingy had left with me, we had a good chat and a good old laugh! And I could see a proud, happy mum - also relieved that she can relax as well now.

I took my bonny bags and drove all the way to my mum. We sat at home chatting - had lunch and went for a walk around Eldos! lekker - oh no - the best part - we went driving around Klipspruit - whose idea was THAT??? gees - then to Shoprite (NO COMMENT)

Then it was time for goodbyes...

Over to Willie -humg out with them for a short while and then headed for my loooooong journey home...

It was a really nice trip - it was such an honor to see my best friend's dream come true... now she is hitched - another one bits the dust! Toon - jy beter after my vriend mooi kyk hoor - en moenie ophou om haar to maak lag met jou lekker jokes!

"I luv you" (teehee)

Congrats Ingy! :-)