Fall and Rise

The weather was pretty nice today, and I was able to open the windows to get all the nice sunlight in, instead of having to watch the clouds and switch the lights on. I played a few games online, and watched some episodes of one of my favorite TV series with my boyfriend. Against my better judgment, I also ate a few cherries dipped in milk chocolate, and drank a lot of soda. I also took pictures from my cellphone to put them on my computer so that I could send them to my friends.

I think teenagers are overrated. It may sound harsh but that really is my feeling about that species. My daughter is 14 years old and an absolute nightmare. Everything must go her way or else there is a huge temper tantrum including some really nasty verbal abuse. In these modern times, kids somehow feel that they are entitled to everything and then some. It is Children’s Right left, right and center. And if you are not quite as rich as her friends’ parents, it is your fault that she can not fit into her peer group. I feel like the worst parent ever. There is light at the end of the tunnel though. I have attended a seminar about teenagers recently and statistics prove that at the age of 16 they transform from monsters into human beings with a conscience. I can not wait! Only two years to go!

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I live in South Africa in a place called Centurion. It is a nice suburb of the political capital, Pretoria. I love my neighborhood. It’s safe, the people are friendly, it’s close to my work and it has all the amenities you could want in a modern settlement. My house is quite large. It has four rooms, two bathrooms, a study and a music studio. I have a huge garden and a stunning swimming pool.  I know I’ve said that I am not rich, but you have to understand that property here are not as expensive as those in the United States.

I wore a very stylish mini-skirt suit to work today. It is gray in color and I combined it with a light pink blouse underneath. I love my stiletto pumps, so a black pair rounded off the outfit quite nicely. I love my Ally McBeal type of work attire. I wonder whether that may be yet another reason why that red-haired secretary does not like me all that much. My outfit changed as soon as I stepped into my waterlogged kitchen. I have changed into a pair of jeans, a sweater and sneakers in order to try and dry the floor.

I would love to have a superpower. Just imagine the possibilities if you could become invisible. I would not do what Kevin Bacon did with his power in Hollow Man. I would use it to be the proverbial fly on the wall in certain places. Finally I would be able to find out why the red-haired secretary calls me a tart behind my back and whether my recent salary increase has anything to do with it. I would also like to be present when a pretty girl hits on my fiancé. I would love to see whether he really shows no interest…as he insists he always do.

I simply adore my cat, Cleo. Her full name is Cleopatra. Yes, named after the famous Egyptian princess. Don’t laugh, but Cleo’s brother was called Caesar. As in Julius Caesar. Corny? Maybe, I can not even remember why I decided to name them that. Caesar disappeared about a year ago and it broke my heart but I still have my Cleo. She follows me everywhere, sleeps on my bed at night and has a very keen interest to see what is in my shopping bags when I return home from the shops. It may seem crazy and it probably is, but I talk to her a lot. I know she can not understand me and even if she did, I don’t think she really cares about whether I’ve had a bad day at work or not. As long as she gets her food and love from me, she‘s happy.

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My favorite childhood memories involves Christmas. Not very original, I know. It is not just Christmas itself that I used to treasure but the festive season that preceded it. Walking in the shops with my mom, hearing Christmas carols wherever you go and being awed by the magical decorations warmed my heart year after year. And then of course, Christmas eve. It is a tradition in my family to hand out presents on the evening before Christmas day. The entire household would gather around the tree, someone would recite the nativity story and then we children would take turns every year handing out the gifts. I will never forget my childhood Christmases!

I love going out to experience places I have never been to before. I especially like going anywhere that involves animals. Living in South Africa, I am lucky enough to have plenty of game parks and lodges close to home. I have recently been to the Lion Park where you drive amongst the lions and are actually allowed to play with the lion cubs. Game drives takes up an entire day and I like to end the experience with a cool sundowner on the terrace of some or other game lodge. Few things take my mind off the stresses of the working week than to be in nature and its fun too!

I’ve had one of my favorite meals last night. Good old macaroni and cheese with a twist. I got the recipe from a book by Jamie Oliver or as he’s better known, The Naked Chef. Instead of just boiling the macaroni, you actually fry it in lots of cheese. Oregano gives it a special taste and you mix a lot of this stuff in there with the macaroni and cheese. Add a generous helping of diced bacon and sliced tomatoes and you have a wonderfully quick, interesting meal. Grill the extra thick layer of cheese on top of the dish to a crisp and you are ready to enjoy a heavenly dinner.