It snows in Spring in Colorado.

Last weekend, I went up to the mountains in Estes Park. I visited the old Stanley hotel and after some convincing, the receptionist gave us the key to go see the Presidential suite on the property. It wasn't really "all that" - It's a beautiful classic Hotel where the movie: "The Shining" was filmed.

The weather was warm.. but the snow thick and fluffy - It was an absolute pleasure to walk around with no coat and no gloves and inhale the crips fresh air. See the trees with all their tiny buds announcing to the world that spring is upon us. We saw about 12 Elk with their furry white butts shedding their winter coats, gliding over the semi-iced rivers and streams, into someone's back yard. We saw tourists on horses trailing through the snow covered hills.

Went to a winery and spa and tasted the many wonderful wines they make on the property. It was a wonderful day. Natural beauty has such an effect on me....

Through the eyes, into my heart creating a desire for more.

So- I haven't really WRITTEN in a while. lack of inspiration and also just busy!

I have started writing again and my next post will be a little more interesting. A little more soul-ful.

My plans for trip to Spain....

So, why would I write up a potential trip to Valencia - that may or may not happen? It's all about believing... putting it out there so I hold my dreams accountable.. hostage - so that I can stay focussed.. This one is going to take $$ and planning - sacrifice..

Anyone wanna join me???? This picture is the Formula One race track... (did you THINK there'd be no F1 where I endeavour to go? LOL)

Trip to Sunny South Africa

I returned from my trip more than a week ago already - I have just been so busy catching up at work and being miserable for no apparent reason, that I couldn't bring myself to updating my blog. And the fact that I am waiting for my South African peeps to email me the photos they took, because I didn't take any!)

So, I decided to get over the pity party and write!

Ok.. South Africa... After 30 hours of travel and a very interesting and nerve wracking experience of entering London without a visa.... I met up with my brother... ahhhh.. We had a great day in London.

I then had to hop aboard another germ infested flight can and be crunched up by fat, sweaty people and harrassed by drunk teenagers wanting me to "join them for a drink".. (Yes ON THE PLANE! argh!)

I finally arrived home...

"Home.. the only place I know.. where the heart.. the heart finds healing..."

Ok, healing wasn't what immediately greeted me - it was mega contruction going on, caos, people everywhere.. but then,.. the familiar roar of the VR6 pulls up with Willie smiling and happy to hand over my baby to me.. oooh - can I still drive on the left hand side of the road? Affirmitive! Joy, elation! Vroom.

I knew the week was going to be hectic. The minute I walked into my house.. saw my employee, faithful to the end - Patience.. such a great joy - greeted with smiles and hugs - home..

I didn't bother to unpack - except to hang up my Saks Fifth Avenue bag - containing "the dress"..... I went to meet Marlene at Cresta for coffee. Tired, exhausted and beyond mental capacity - but who cares?

I chatted with Shantal and went home to shower and take a nap. The rest of the weekend was such a blur - I met with David and Ingrid, Sam and the 2 Antonies - that was all I really had time for - Ingrid slept over that was so nice, we stayed up till 3am talking girl talk as if we only had that one night to catch up (we did!).

Saturday was just back to back eating and visits, racng through the stores and then the 'rents came over and we had dinner and talked about the excitement of the wedding.

Wedding day - my poor baby brother was stressed beyond capacity - after the hair drama, the nail drama (for me and my mum) and fetching the groom later than he would have liked - in the end we got him "to the church on time"... and he looked handsome and his bride - wow what a beauty.. after the beautiful, picturesque wedding (at the same venue where I got married 14 years ago!) - we had a fun FUN time dancing. I made my little speech (nope, I didnt cry!) and everything went off really well!!! Congrats Alton - what a wonderful wedding.

Monday after breakfast and a few errands It was time to head home again.. more flights... argh.

All in all - I had a fantastic time with my family - and to be immersed once again in the fulfilment of being united with the people with whom I am of one blood. Nothing like it - family.. and great friends :-)

(More pics to follow...)

Another journey home....

After 3 years away from home.. the homesickness has subsided and I have found my peace here. I have been home more times than I can count in the past 3 years! LOL. I do miss many things and going to visit always restores that extra layer of wholeness..

I love it so much.. going back to the African plains.. my birth place and my family. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a desire to live there at this point in time- because my life longs to take me on a journey excluded from Africa right now.. A wonderer... But, it's still nice to go home.

"Home the only place I know..

where the heart, the heart finds healing..

When the night is cold and dark.. come just as you are...home -

your memory calls me home.

Where I'm resting in your arms...it humbles me to know.. no matter where I go..

there will always a place for me back home.

And somewhere in the night I call your name.

And somewhere in the night love answers me..

and I will never let you go -

you will never know a night alone...

I will make your love my home

Lost in a dream for something more - I found you were all I needed.

You are the strength and love without you I'd be lost...

there willl never be another place like home."

"Hello Africa.. tell me how you doing"... I am coming home mum! :-)

This past weekend was rather uneventful. On Saturday, I pretty much stayed in bed as I had a cold which was lingering for 2 days and just wiped me out. Sunday, I woke up early at 7am with a whack of energy and had nothing to do since in Denver nothing moves until 11am!



I got dressed, listened to some music and decided to drive and look for a breakfast place. After an unsuccessful search, I decided to check out a church called Jubilee Fellowship - I had such a great time! What a lovely church. I felt totally inspired.

I then went to grab lunch with a friend and just had a nice tame Sunday. This week, although as always work is busy, it's more sane than it has been in a while. The sun has been warm and it has been just lovely to be outside enjoying what feels like spring.

Some of the highlights from 2008.

No doubt 2008 was a great year for me. 2009 started off a little rocky and I know it's already almost March, but I decided to reflect back again and see what made 2008 so great for me.

1. I got hooked on Facebook! Yes, one may say this is such a time waster.. but it really isn't when you are living thousands of miles away from friends and family, it has been a joy to connect with everyone and reconnect with people with whom you went to school and college with. Now I am an addict and it's fun too!

2. I went snow mobiling for the first time. Up in the mountains where the air is so crisp and the elevation and the scenery literally takes your breath away - you lose yourself to mother nature's seduction. Now, I have been a stranger to snow until I moved to Colorado - the ankle and knee deep snow made me giggle and feel like a little kid (oh, how new things amaze us!).. but then I went to Vail in January of 08 and stepped into a snow pile up to my chest! That was wild. I wanted to live there forever in the white fluffy snow!! The snow mobile ride was awesome, riviting and exhilirating.

3. Went to see the Royal Gorge - went on the gorge train - that was such treat for the eyes once again. The joys of living in Colorado!

4. Visited LA and San Diego.. Need I say more - now if ONLY Colorado can move to the ocean by the rich and famous people with style and fashion sense.. that would be MY ultimate living space!! (loved the pandas too! teehee)

5. Dyed my hair black.. ok not BLACK - but dark gothic brown.. (is there such a thing as gothic brown?) that was kinda funky. Didn't last long though!

6. I got hooked on soy chai tea and just can't stop drinking them!

7. Went to watch WWE wrestling! oh my lord! that was intense. I was screaming like a banchee! (yeah whatever - not a word!)

8. Watched my little sister graduate in Wisconsin (saw NO cheese!)

9. Went to my best friend's wedding in South Africa - this was really one of the BEST highlights of 08.. it was a day her and I spoke had spoken about since we met and it was truly a dream come true for her!

10. Batman - the Movie. Oh my lolly! I stood in line for HOURS to get tickets at the Imax.. My heart was racing the entire time - then the projector conked in halfway through - bummer! Watched it 4 times after that. What an awesome performance.

11. Had a great vacation in Florida.

12. The DNC - what a wild week - all the political action. The celebrity action. The hype and excitement in town. Cherry on the cake.. meeting Charlize Theron - totally random, speaking in Afrikaans.. ahhhh

13. World Class driving experience.. 5 cars.. hot rides -mega speed, beauty, mountains, engines revving, million dollar wheels.. arhhhhh the life of the privileged :-) LOL

14. The return of an old friend into my life. Say no more. Who can't see the value in that?

15. The death of little turtle.. Wasn't a highlight - but just showed me how much love one can have for something so tiny :(

16. Vegas! Holy macaroni - I have been to Vegas so many times - always a fun place - this time.. sitting at the airport.. nothing better to do - borrow a $20 from my pal and bam!! win $700 whoo hoo that was like winning a million!

17. Houston.. Joel Osteen what an awesome magnificent church but he wasn't there the ONE week I decide to go argh buggers. Still a cool experience!

18. Phoenix Thanksgiving.. horse riding.. experiencing the desert sun and ruggedness and then the shopping and lifestyle of luxury..

19. Meeting and hanging out with my friend's NY family in Connecticut and eating in a roadside diner which I must say, I don't think would pass any kind of hygene test!

20 -This is a little backwards - but this is THE highlight.. drum roll please....

SINGAPORE - OH MY WORD!! Formula One - meeting the drivers. Seeing and experiencing the cars screeching, revving from 0-100 in seconds. The crowd, the people, the city.. ahhhhhhhhhhhh that was the best part of 08 - it infused me with excitement, inspiration. I felt as if my soul was lost and I found it there!

So, my aim is that at the end of 2009 I have even more amazing tales to tell.. and memories to box away!