Well I never...

I should have known.

I should have known that a "quick" trip back to South Africa to see Allan's family would not be "quick".

I also should have known it was high season to travel there being the dead of winter  - but that is clearly the best time for viewing game in the game reserves - and Europe descends.

I should also have known our beloved children would think poorly of not being invited to join us. Me assuming they would be too consumed with working to pay for University...or something. 

And so this usually over-planned Mama finds her "quick" trip to see family has turned into a Byres4 odyssey to Cape Town, our home town, a game reserve/lodge, and.......the cherry on the top.... 5 days in Paris for just Allan and I on our way home.

Cape Town with Table Mountain in the background

I am actually speechless.  

It happened so quickly and the best travel agent in the world got us incredible deals.  The children fly home before us to get themselves ready for 2nd and 4th year studies and we follow a week or so later.  

An overseas family vacation - well.I.never.  

I really never thought that would happen again.

And I am more than delighted.  Not only to have them to travel with but so moved by their deep connections to their family there and the country itself.  Lindsay in particular left part of her heart there last time and has longed to return.  

Durban - 80kms from our home town

It will be a different experience being the opposite season to our last visit but our primary objective is our family and to have some time cozied up with them will be such a gift.  Not to be taken for granted given the time and expense of getting there and back but equally not to be missed for those reasons either.

All our flights are book

Fingers crossed

ed and now we start the fun planning of where to stay and what to do. Relatively short planning time for me given last time I had a whole year to prepare and now I only have 6 months..... I think I can do it though!

Life is sometimes so unexpectedly hard or challenging and then sometimes life is so unexpectedly joyful and exciting.  

I am learning to lean into ALL the moments with my whole heart. 

Tonight I'll go to bed dreaming of the sounds of the African bush, the crash of the Indian ocean, the chatter of cousins and the smell of Paris boulangeries.  

Lucky girl. 

I need help.....

I have learned a lot from my 41 weeks at the gym.  

And not necessarily the things you might think of:

• I learned one must carefully consider ones nutritional intake (aka lunch) and coffee when one is working out at 4pm or 5pm.  Too much intake is  a problem.  Too little -  also a problem.
• You don't have to stand in front of the mirror when lifting weights - just move over a little
• A bad pair of socks can ruin a workout.
• The length of your t-shirt is critical until your jelly belly turns into a washboard (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ..... I hear it's possible ha ha ha ha)
• I look like an idiot in a headband (as it slowly moves up my head as I do my lunges and squats until I have a hair mound of crazy proportions on the top of my head) so I let my sweaty locks fall in my face and use my towel liberally.
• Laces that don't stay done up - SO annoying

• Fingerless gloves are not sexy but they sure save your hands when you are lifting weights.

• My fear of being chased is activated when we have to run ladders to warm up - my heart is beating from fear rather than exertion.  I have to stop myself turning around and screaming "LEAVE ME ALONE" at the person "chasing" me.

• Workout clothes cannot be worn twice and so I need 4 sets a week. For a non-shopper this has been ..... problematic. 

• As inches depart ones bottom and (less so sadly ) ones waist the pants they be in constant need of pulling up. One can see this as additional arm exercise if one wants to but at a certain point it becomes tedious and shopping is again necessary. UGH.

But I have met my nemesis.  

I have come to a point on this fitness journey that has me foundationally flummoxed. 

I have finally decided that I need a sports bra. 

People...... I did not know such torture existed.  

While I fully (and I mean FULLY) understand the need to tame the bosom during burpees, how, in the actual heck, is one supposed to get into and out of a medium to firm strength sports bra without a) breaking into a sweat b) straining several muscles c) trying to use ones lungs d) swearing?

I am at a loss  - after far too long in a change room where other shoppers must have thought I was wrestling a gorilla. 


At one point I was so tangled I almost had a panic attack at the thought of having to summon help to free me from the blessed bra. 

I now stare at it as I am getting ready to workout and wonder just how much I actually need it. 

And tonight when I wrestled it off I stomped on it which was ungracious - it having prevented two black eyes and back strain and all.


The internet tells me I am not alone but I am not so sure - I see all those other ladies effortlessly wearing fancy sports bras and still breathing normally? 

The only silver lining is now that I am so focused on trying to keep air in my lungs  while working out that I hardly feel the burn in my abs and quads.

Help.....anyone?