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OK, SO I HAVEN'T BLOGGED FOR A YEAR ... 27 December 2009 Another year has gone by again .... and yes, I haven't done anything to the website ... blame it on FACEBOOK is what I say! No, I am the only one to blame really as for the past year I have been caught up in day to day life. No excuses is what some may say but it is the honest truth. Once again another year is drawing to an end and as always, endings call for new beginnings. So as the end of the year moves ever closer by the minute I thought it was time again to reflect a little. Once again I turn to my photographs as those who know me well, will know that my camera is always close by my side. January passed with the Harris family completely in hibernation it seems as no photos were taken. I put it down to the fact that after a sunny holiday in South Africa with family I had taken enough photos to last a lifetime and was a little depressed that I had to leave them all. February arrived and along with it, the first snow of the year which brought chaos to the UK but for us it meant a day in the park sledding - something we hadn't done before. I took the day off work and the boys stayed home from school and we had fun... I know, not good to bunk but sometimes you have to do what you want to do and not what you feel you have to do! March was filled with football and an early arrivel of the daffodils. Liam shot a pellet gun for the first time (at the Montys of course). With Liam going from strength to strength at the Wycombe Centre of Excellence most of our weekends were spent cheering his team on all over the UK and Dylan needs to be commended for always being there to support his brother too - even if we had the odd moan. May had a somewhat summery feel to it and we were at Adams Park when Wycombe Wanderers 1st team were promoted to division one but unfortunately the game we watched at the Madjeski saw Reading not being so lucky. The following weekend we helped some amazing people (Ian and Kerry) to raise money for Naomi House. They hold a football tournament for the boys once a year to raise funds for the hospice that helped their son. It was a hot balmy day and we were all hoping that this was a sign of the summer to come. The mighty Trents (Liams team) won the tournament. May certainly was a month we will remember for a long time to come as it was when Lance met up with his cousin Leigh who, much to our disbelief, after 30 odd years was living in Southampton. I will never forget seeing Lance pacing up and down like a caged lion waiting for her arrival but when they were re-united it was like they had never been apart. For this we have facebook to thank and the fact that Leigh looks very much like Lance's mom. For me May will also be remembered for my mom and kevins visit when we had a picnic next to the river in Stratford on Avon, visited Shakespears birthplace, Warwick Castle and Cambridge where Leigh met her great uncle for the first time. We took the boys to the museum, had a pub lunch at the Hog in the Pound, met Madeline Hallem, lunched at the Cunning Man and cruised up the River Thames on the Caversham Lady. We celebrated Girly's 60th birthday with her, met a new little boy called Owen and cheered as Dylan won the Clubman of the Year award for the 2nd year running at Westwood Wanderers FC. In June we had two good weekends away when we entered our 'Meadway' boys in two football tournaments and walked off with the trophies. In the Barton Rovers tournament, Liam was the hero when he made a great save in the penalty shoot out and scored as well to win the tournament for his team. Dylan went away from home for the first time for a week when he went on his Year 6 camp to Osmington Bay. We walked amongst the poppies in the woods, the boys had a water fight in the back garden. July was filled with a christening, more football, celebrating Dylans 12th birthday at TGI Fridays and a sad day when Dylan had to say goodbye to all his friends at Westwood Farm as his Junior school years came to and end. The highlight of the year for me was when we spent a week in France in Rochecolombe. 30 Deg plus, red wine, canoeing down the ardeche river, jumping off cliffs into the river, swimming in the pool, boulles, reading, feeding french loaf to the grey mare, bicycle rides, walks, waterslides and relaxation. Dad visited as well and we visited Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Longleat, played tennis (Dad still beat me)and sat on a park bench watching the life on the Thames go by at Bisham Abbey. Dylan started his secondary school career in September at Mary Hare and as autumn arrived slowly, Liam got to ride on a motorbike for the 1st time (... Yes you guessed it, the Montys again). I will remember the outing to the Carters steam fair for all the wrong reasons - lets just say that I am too old to go on the octopus and it was the 1st and last ride I went on - I did not feel very well after that and Prospect Park will never be seen in the same light again. Halloween was spent in Colchester with the band of merry Wycombe U10 parents (what would our weekends be without you all!) and then my little boy turned double figures! And, just like it started off in February, the year's memories end with another flurry of snow - this time a little thicker than the the Feb falls. The boys and I had caught the bus into Reading and when we came out of the movies, the predicted 'light sleet' had turned into a blizzard. When the bus came to a halt, we decided to walk home which was a delightful experience in itself. It made me think that there is always an alternative or another road to take when things seem like they are going pear shaped. So in closing what seems to now be a yearly blog, I just want to say thank you to all of you who helped to make our memories of 2009. And in ending I would just like to quote from a VERY special book I got for Christmas .... till we meet again!

WHERE DID LAST YEAR GO? ... 6 January 2009 A new year already and I have no idea where the time went. With a new year, one usually reflects on the past and makes plans for the future. But for once I am not going to make any promises and my first post for this year will be a reflection of last .... I know a little bit upside down but hey - does it really matter? So here goes: Date: 31/12/2009 Time: Early Title: Reflections through my lens The sun is not yet up and neither are my family so I decided to use the time to reflect on the year gone by after some much needed inspiration from my very special cousin – Inx you are a legend! The birds are awake and even though the temperature outside is sub zero, they really sound happy to be alive and I can’t help wondering if they are even aware that another year is drawing to an end. Maybe tomorrow is a good time to start being just like them and just live and not worry, procrastinate, or think too much and just let it be. So reflecting back on 2008 I have showered outside, ridden in a go cart, welcomed 2 special family members to the mud island, been to greyhound racing for the first time, watched anxiously from the side line as my boys (all three of them) play football, marvelled at Lance for completing the Reading Half Marathon vowing that I would do it next year (watch this space), celebrated with Dylan and a very special bunch of boys and parents when the Hoops won the U10 league, seen snow fall when the daffodils were still out – and all this in only the first quarter. April brought some sadness when I returned to Cape Town to visit my dad who had been diagnosed with cancer to show my support and to give him a much needed hug – something we don’t do enough of don’t you think? Although the circumstances of my visit were not the best, I had the best time with family, ‘doing’ lunch, posing for a photo with Table Mountain as a back drop, playing golf (Dad once again showing us how it was done) and celebrating my birthday with family and friends in glorious sunshine at a Durbanville wine farm. The flip side of this being though, that I missed out on the heaviest snow fall of the year in April and the first time the boys went ‘sledding’ at Prospect Park. May brought a flurry of sunshine, putt putt, cricket on a stony beach in Devon, a ride on a steam train to Dartmouth, fish and chips, dandelions and the start of the cricket season. I fed a grey mare some sweet grass that she couldn’t get to over the fence, enjoyed a braaied (barbequed) lamb chop - our first braai in our new home, clicked away at anything and everything with my new camera, and the highlight of the summer was a camping trip to the New Forest. I went ‘crabbing’, burst with pride when Dylan received the ‘Clubman of the year’ award for his football team and Liam was signed for Wycombe Wanderers Centre of Excellence in November. I met Christie, a friends ‘English Rose’, watched through my lens as bumble bees danced on the lavender and enjoyed the beauty and tranquillity of Humbley Grove with two very special sets of South African friends. I have fed the swans on the Thames, been to Lego Land, watched Liam represent his school at an athletics meet, ran the 10km Race for Life for cancer research, been bowling, bought a new car, stood in wheat fields and crossed Hammersmith bridge on foot. I have captured rainbows, spider webs, flowers, frost, sunrise over the Thames and even a Viking or two (AKA Liam and Dylan dressed up for school). And to end the year off on a high, I was privileged to be able to celebrate a 1st birthday, play bat and ball, laugh, pose with someone else behind the lens for a change, watch a talented boy play football with only one borrowed boot on as he was too poor to afford a pair of his own, see Liam catch a ‘whopper’ from a rock pool, see an African sun set. I captured a budding surfer, carefree spirit on the beach, the Twelve Apostles, Camps Bay, the boys frolicking in the waves, fisherman hoping to catch the one that got away, seagulls in flight, the delicious taste of watermelon even on a rainy day and the freedom of a swim in salt water. A lonesome seal, lots of nemos, starfish and even a springbok. I jumped on a trampoline, listened as a very excited girl retold her mom’s engagement proposal and saw the excitement on faces when opening presents. And all this while spending time with my family – who could ask for a better end to the year. The realisation that my boys were tall enough to go on the Cobra at Ratanga Junction (a theme park in South Africa) made me so grateful that my photographs have stopped these moments from running away. Here’s to many more memories and photographs to help us remember in years to come. And to all of you who have made my memories - May 2009 be all you hope it to be! For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. ~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

LIFE'S LITTLE REMINDERS ... 19 August 2008 Two years ago today we arrived in the UK and were welcomed by two very good friends and an old lady who's family allowed us to stay in her home... Sadly, today I attended this lady's funeral ... Marie Fulford passed away and today I was priviledged enough to be part of celebrating her life. I only saw her on a few occasions but she touched a special place in my heart with her amazing aura. Listening to her son's eulogy, it made me think about the hardships that the older generation went through and that if we think we have it tough, we are somewhat mistaken. We are constantly judged on how we overcome our adversitys as well as how we handle our joys as this is what makes us who we are and that without these we can not grow. The generations that have come before us can only teach us so take the time to listen to them .... they are older and wiser as with age, comes experience (although try telling that to your 8 year old son ...) Yes, the weather here is not too good and yes, I miss my family terribly (especially on a day like today) but hopefully one day at my funeral when I have to leave, my boys will too reflect on the sacrifices I have made as I do believe that being away from South Africa is the hardest and biggest sacrifice I am having to make and I only hope and pray that it all works out in the end ... I just have to have faith! Tonight I say a prayer for my dad who goes for a scan to make sure the cancer has been beaten for now .... again faith comes to mind. Dad I know it has gone! So if anyone else out there is reading this, when life sends you one of it's little reminders, or someone stops to chat, no matter how busy you are, take the time to listen as you never know what it might lead to.

THE LONGEST DAY HAS COME AND GONE ... 22 June 2008 A depressing thought to say the least especially since what happened in may was summer ... I am now convinced that the UK only has three seasons, Autumn, Winter and Spring! But I am not going to harp on about the weather as it is all we ever talk about here these days. Dad finished his radiation on Friday and he got through it although it was tough. Dad, I am so proud of you and miss you terribly - Now for your full recovery so you can come and visit us. Today is again one of those days when I wish that circumstances were a different and that the world was the place it used to be - not such a small place. I am wishing that I was like the 1000's that can't leave as yes, I am missing Africa. A little worried about the 'last outpost' on the beautiful continent but secretly hoping that all will pan out in the end and I can still spend some time there one day. Sacrifices have to be made although I feel like I am always making them. I now have a full time (part time) job at the Royal Berkshire Hospital as a departmental secretary and am enjoying it but with it comes guilt too. I just wish my life was simple but it is not. I am worrying constantly about Dylan and wish again for that writing in the sky but it has still not come and probably never will but I will keep on hoping in amongst the silent praying. If anyone out there can shed some light I'd appreciate it!

THE SUN IS SHINING, THE WEATHER IS SWEET ... 06 May 2008 Wow how time flies when you get older! May already and hopefully (but we don't want to talk too soon) summer has now officially arrived. Today was a whopping 23 deg C and the forecast for the rest of the week is much the same. It is amazing how when the sun shines, your spirits are lifted. Even the birds seem to be chirping louder and as I sit here at 20:51 in the evening it is still light .... We have just returned from a weekend away in Paignton which is in Devon. We spent 3 nights there taking in the sights of the 'English Riviera' having banned the football and all talk of football for 3 days. Dylan was itching all the time to know what the scores were but we managed to divert his attention by playing cricket on the beach, riding on a train with an old steam engine, eating fish and chips, blowing dandelions and swimming in the indoor pool. I was armed with a new camera which is amazing so have a look at the photos in the holiday photos gallery. I have also started working (temping) half day and am really enjoying it - haven't received my first pay cheque yet but I look forward to the extra pocket money. Other than that, the harrises are continuing on their merry ways, the cricket season is upon us and both Lance and Liam play their first league matches of the season next week ... it took much persuasion from us to get Liam interested again after his football coach informed him that playing cricket is like watching paint dry ... but now that the bug has bit again, he is right back in it although still walks around everywhere practising his Ronaldo skills ... give me strength. I am SO looking forward to after Saturday as it is finally the last of the premiership matches and maybe then we can talk about something else in our house. To all my friends, family and who ever else might read this, PLEASE say a little prayer for my dad who starts his radiation tomorrow. Dad, be strong and focus on the end result - we know you can pull through this and WILL!

HOME IS WHERE YOUR KIDS ARE ... 11 April 2008 Another month has gone by - a month where I got some bad news. My dad was diagnosed with throat cancer which meant only one thing ... I had to be with him. I returned to South Africa on my own so that I could give him a hug and tell him how much I cared. Seeing the surprise on his face when I walked in the door was something I will never forget and the time spent with him was wonderful. Yesterday he received some really good news - after a long operation to remove any additional nodes in his neck, the doctor confirmed that there was no other sign of the cancer having spread. I think the word elation comes to mind! I also got to see my nephews, brother and sisters and all my other family that mean so much to me. I reminisced with old work colleagues whom I hadn't seen for almost 2 years and realised that although you can't stop time, seeing old friends again ... well it's like you have never been apart. But then there were the things I missed ... SNOW on my birthday, Liam's team winning the Hicks Football Tournament, Dylan's smile and kiss in the morning, my amazing husband ... all these things which are home to me and which make me feel like I belong! Being in South Africa was a little surreal as for the first time since we have been away, I didn't feel like I belonged there. I guess it is because when you have a family of your own, HOME IS WHERE YOUR KIDS ARE.

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW ... 3 March 2008 Although only a few snowflakes fell today, it was still snowing when I walked with the boys and grandpa to school this morning. The boys were so excited as were all the kids around us. Not that it lasted ..... Once again, it's been a while since I "put pen to paper" or should I say, fingers to the keyboard, and life has been quite eventful since the start of the year. Kevin, Lance's Dad, arrived to stay with us at the end of January, Lance had an interview with a company in Australia, Lance completed his first ever official half marathon and we had the sunniest February for a while. Ok, so not life changing or anything but eventful none the least. The daffodils are out a little early this year and after today, must be wishing they could go back underground ... but I guess that's global warming for you - or should that read global cooling as where we are, so far there has not been much warmth. But we are, like all the millions living on this little island up north, looking forward to summer and there is hope as the sun is staying around for a little longer these days. At the end of the month the clocks go forward an hour and then we are well on our way to balmy sunny evenings ... don't laugh, remaining positive is a good thing! We have a weekend away planned at the beginning of May to Devon which should be good and the boys have a half term holiday in April. Their football season is nearly over and then it is time for cricket ... So that's what the Harris family have been up to lately and now that we can hopefully come out of hibernation in the coming months, there should be much more for me to write about - so until then from an icy cold England, chow for now!

A NEW YEAR ARRIVED ... A WHIILE AGO I KNOW 13 January 2008 Two weeks into the new year already and you are probably asking where I have been. After all the promises of making sure that I update the website etc etc. Well I do have an excuse in that we were enjoying a FABULOUS holiday in South Africa for 4 weeks and since arriving back, I have been up to my eyeballs in washing and housework. Oh it is so good to be back ... NOT Ok so there will be those of you shouting: "Get your priorities right girl!" and yes, I do agree to a certain degree but there is nothing worse than letting those things get on top of you because soon all and sundry in the house have to run around naked ... not a pretty sight after a holiday! Yes, we have picked up a bit of weight but hey, who cares, we had a great time and who can resist Braai vleis, a 2nd helping of Christmas dinner (x2), and of course good old South African wine. Aside from all the eating we met two new additions to the family (Ryan who was born in March and Adam who was born on the 12th of December), got up close and personal with a cheetah, went Shark Cage Diving (Well Lance did as the rest of us chickened out) and spent quality time with family and friends in Cape Town, Hermanus, PE and Plett. To all our family and friends we are missing you lots and thank you for a wonderful time! PS: Naturally I took loads of photos and they will be uploaded soon

FEELING A LITTLE OLDER ... AND MAYBE A LITTLE WISER 19 November 2007 Why am I feeling older you may ask ... Well today my youngest son turned 8 ...... fair enough .... And Wiser? I am almost finished the 'course' on Parenting Special Needs Children and have learnt some valuable things so that is why I am feeling wiser! Liam is 8 years young today and he thinks he is wise ... Oh if he only knew ... but try tell that to someone who is 8 going on 18! Yesterday we celebrated his birthday with 18 other football fanatical boys and 2 fanatical girls. It was a really good day all round and we were lucky enough to have special people in Heather and Graham (who are our surrogate parents/grandparents) to share the day with us and also lend a helping hand. The party went off without a hitch until we couldn't find the whistle ..... the story being that we leant a whistle from a friend and unbeknown to us at the time, it just happened to be his grandfathers whistle that he used to use back in the day on the Reading Station Platform .... At the end of the party when we were packing up, the whistle was AWOL. We turned the house upside down, inside out but no whistle. Needless to say, a very restless night followed and a very early morning for me. I was awake at 5am worrying about the whistle. Lance then rose at about 6 and went to the local school to be there when the caretaker opened and ... yes, you guessed it there was the whistle all alone under the bench in the hall. I am happy to report that the whistle is now back safe in the hands of it's rightful owner and so (NOTE TO SELF) let it be a lesson not to worry before you have to!

A NEW MONTH, A NEW SEASON ... 1 November 2007 Autumn seems to have come a little later this year. The gaggle of mums congregated in the school playground this morning, were all commenting on how mild it is today. Yes, I joined in the conversation but still feltl like an outsider. It is really difficult to feel like 'one of them' when you aren't. Every part of your being is just not the same and I am finding it difficult to break the ingrained pattern of who I am and where I come from... I have to try and think that it is not better or worse, just different. But on the up side, I was lucky enough to be able to walk my children to school this morning, chatting along the way about their lives and that is important to me. Now we are just on a quest to find the best of both worlds but are not sure that this is where it's at! Oh, to have some writing in the sky .....

WELL DONE BOKKE - YOU MADE US PROUD ... 22 October 2007 Being South African born amongst 10 other English while watching the Boks win the Rugby World Cup should have been an experience to remember .... I say should have because I have to be honest and say it wasn't! For me it just was not the same as when we won it in 1995 and the euphoria was just not there. I guess the win has been tarnished for us by the political rubbish that apparently is now to be inflicted on rugby in South Africa. I mean how would the English react if they were told that half their team had to be illegal immigrants from Poland because they are fast becoming a majority .... can you imagine the uproar! Yes, winning the rugby world cup will unite the country but for how long .... Was it not overshadowed by the murder of Lucky Dube or is that just a way of life? Yes, I am being negative but it is hard not to be. Maybe I am just looking for reasons to justify why we are here when I would probably have been happier watching the rugby with family and friends in South Africa. The skies are grey and the cold is arriving but there is a light at the end of the tunnel ... in 7 weeks we will be in sunshine. I just am praying that our holiday is not influenced by crime and that I get to enjoy being back where my roots are because I know they will always be there. But for now England is home and untill our paths take a different turn, I must make the best of it because the pros for doing it, far outweigh the cons!

A SPORTING WEEKEND 14 October 2007 What a weekend of sport .... Saturday started early leaving the house at 08h30 am, the first stop being Woodford Park for Liams football game. I am happy to report that they won 5-1 and Liam did really well in goals, making quite a few good saves. The next stop was Reading College for Dylans game and once again his team did everyone proud and won 3-1 but it was a tough game against a side who were also unbeaten But the football didn't end there - off we trekked to Wembley to watch England vs Estonia. The boys were SO excited and even being squashed in a tube full of hot sweaty people (and when I say squashed, I mean face to face) didn't dampen their spirits. The stadium did not fail to impress and it is ... well I have never seen anything like it in my lifetime. Put 80 odd thousand passionate England fans in a new stadium and anyone would be impressed by the spectacle. I was not impressed by the game at all but the day was for the boys and they are still talking about it. I quote Liam saying "That was the best day of my life!" Lance and I of course had our eyes on the time and left 10 minutes before the end (much to the boys disgust) so that we could be home in time for the rugby. Another train journey packed like sardines but we got home in good time. Mmmm and now that both games are over .... who do you think will win it? I know who I want to win in my heart and hope that on Saturday the bokke do us proud ... lets just hope that they don't choke like the SA cricket team did and that they don't think that because they beat the Poms 36-0 last time, it is going to be the same this Saturday. The score is 0-0 and the Web Ellis Trophy is at stake ... A spectacle we will not miss for anything!

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY, COME BACK ANOTHER DAY 2 October 2007 As the title suggests, autumn/winter on the mud island seems to be arriving early this year. As most of you are aware, we are now settled in our new house and loving every minute of it although not having internet for a month was terrible to say the least. But now we are up and running and I have started a new hobby in ernest. Well it is not new but rather me reviving or learning more about one I started.... Website Design! I am loving every minute of it although the housework seems to take a back seat but hey, you only live once and a bit of dust never hurt anyone. I have also started a parenting course for parents of special needs children and am looking forward to hopefully getting some tips and some re-assurance really that what we are doing is OK. The course is 7 weeks for 2 hours a week and today was the first. There are 6 of us in the group, all with kids with special needs but the degree just varies. Hopefully I will learn a lot as the challenges you face don't go away as the kids get older ... as someone once said, small children, small problems, BIG children, BIG problems. Well that's all for today but now that I have made the website a little better, I promise to be more timeous with my blog ... but I still have a few more pages to perfect - so till next time, bye for now.

A LITTLE NOSTALGIC AFTER ONE YEAR AWAY 19 August 2007 It's hard to believe that 1 year today, we left South Africa with heavy hearts as well as excitement in our bones. Today I sit here on the mud island reflecting and feeling rather nostalgic, not for what we had but for who we have left behind. Most importantly family are something you just can not replace and not being with my mom as she celebrated her 60th Birthday on the 15th was really sad for me. They say that honesty is the best policy and I will be honest in saying that I really miss them all! The past year has been very good to us though and although my heart is aching, I am also revelling in the fun of being able to be and do what I want, when I want. Being able to be at home, where so many other moms do not have the priviledge of the choice, has it's own challenges but it is where I belong for now! In order to grow in our lives we have to make sacrifices - give up something to get something better .... so yes, life for the harris family is better on the island but I for one will always be a South African - you just can't get it out of your blood .... I dont think I can speak for Dylan and Liam though as they are very fast becoming little poms but for the better .......... I hope and pray! Mom, Dad, Jules, Mich, Gav and all the rest of our crazy family - I MISS YOU MADLY!

AND NOW WE ARE HOME OWNERS... 2 August 2007 Today started with us all wishing my dad a very happy 66th birthday. Both he and Irma (my dad's sister) have been staying with us since last Friday. They are now on their way to France to spend some time with Gavin. We have been quite busy and spent the whole of Tuesday in London, seeing the sights and acting like real tourists. (Have a look at the photos in the photo gallery under days out). But the breaking news is that we exchanged contract yesterday on the house we are buying so now Lance and I have a mortgage - OUCH - but it is much better than paying off someone else's. We are due to get the keys to our new house on the 21st of this month and will then move in slowly as we have this house till the end of the month. Our furniture has apparently arrived in Southampton so soon we will be re-united with all that is home and I look forward to it! Summer seems to have finally decided to arrive here and we have had a few really nice days and the forecast for the next few is good too ... so I will have to don my bakini so I can try and get some kind of colour ... after a year, you tend to look a bit pasty. The boys are now on holiday until the 5th of September and are already driving me crazy but I guess it comes with the territory.