FRESH AIR WANTED *cough*

The constant smoke and soot last week pretty much made us all ill. The kids and I were coughing badly. Since DS and I hardly leave the house we were affected the worse.... feeling ill didn't help, DH offered to fetch DD at school, but then we realised we missed out on our 30min of "fresh" air! So when the insurance sent an ozone team to clean up our house and requested we leave for 48hours, we made a booking at Kagga Kamma. I've always wanted to go there .....

Our accommodation was a hut - which on the outside looks very small - kinda hobbit-like, but was surprisingly spacious! With a king-sized bed and a sleeper couch. It came with all the fancies - the white towels, the toiletries, the towelling gowns, chocolates on our pillows etc. Such luxury for regular campers !

Having not camped in 10 months I was eager to get into the fresh air, to enjoy the crisp morning air with a warm cup of tea. And I was not disappointed! After a really good nights' sleep Algamdulillah, I awoke and had a cappuccino (thanks ZS!)

About Kagga Kamma - I love the cederberg area - the rich red coloured rocks and sand, the bushman artifacts : rock paintings, the shades of green in the dry arid vegetation, the sharp blue sky- it's like a painting ! If you clicked on the link you may have seen the caves which you can sleep in - I didn't get a chance to check them out, but they look interesting. Activities are based on meals and drives. So there is a morning drive returns for breakfast. Then a rock painting drive after breakfast. Lunch then videos/sport in the pub. A sun downer drive then supper. And they have a mini observatory after supper. It can fill your day!

We skipped the morning drive and opted to sleep in - the fresh air made the kids very tired and they slept like logs! The rock painting trip was .... a trip! The guide was a joke ! He decided that since most of the information are theories anyway - he'd share HIS view rather! The joke was that the German tourists looked very serious as they listened to his nonsense! Along the way we saw a few animals in the distance and there was even a rock that looked like a klipspringer !

The afternoon we needed DS to fall asleep so did our own drive through the park - but saw all of 3 animals ! So the evening we decided to join the sun downer trip and it was AMAZING! No, not for seeing game - I've seen plenty more at Addo so had low expectations - but just the amazing view from the spot the guide took us. (A different guide not he idiot from the morning !) DD was thrilled cos she saw and fed an elephant shrew. For those who don't know it's a mouse like rodent with a trunk nose - and personally only seen on tv or in magazines so it was one of that YAW! moments for us. Plus we had a professional photographer with us who offered to take a family pic (hope he emails it!)

Now on to the other activity : eating ! Meals were included in the package and since many Muslims had told me they went there, I felt comfortable requesting halaal food. The food WAS very tasty, the portions were HUGE though and though I am not one to waste I couldn't finish a meal ! Then there was an incident .... DH decided he wanted eggs .... and they included bacon - when he corrected them you could tell they just took the bacon off!! EEEEEEWWWWWWWW !!

Algamdulillah he took it as a dawah opportunity and went to the kitchen to explain - they had NO idea !!! And THAT shocked me ! And THAT turned me off the food. Though I had little choice as I wasn't able to provided my own - however, I did opt to leave early so as to skip lunch!

Another plus was eating outdoors for supper - it was lovely cool evening and the stars were our decor !

I didn't think it was a great place for kids though .... at least not my aged kids! There wasn't MUCH to do - game drives and eating are not really fun for them. There was a pool, but being ill I didn't bring bathers with and there was a little patch of lawn for them to play on. High grasses and reeds surrounded the hut and I wasn't comfortable with them playing in it.

Algamdulillah, my cough has subsided, I am relaxed, I am refreshed, I am ready for my loads of laundry that await me ....... or I might start tomorrow !

The silence which hurts

Do you know what one of the most precious moments are for a SAHM ?

Peaceful toilet time! I'm not talking about sit with a book for an hour time, just time to do what you need to without anyone in the bathroom with you, or at the door while you are there, or calling out for you from somewhere and you have to figure out what kinda call it is and where it is from ! (Toilets get mentioned a lot in my blogs ne ? ) So they are best enjoyed when there is the presence of a responsible adult whom the kids can nag. Today DH was late from work and my timed-toilet-visit was due......

DS figured out how to open the "child-proof" latch on the cupboards. More specifically the one to the detergents. Without DH there, I was on medium-alert. It's has been a long house-full-of-soot day, so I closed the door for some much needed "alone-time". I could hear cupboard doors opening, but figured it was just the plastics ...... then there was the deafening silence ! HIGH ALERT! I listened, I couldn't hear anything. I was too far away...... should I proceed with what I started or get up ? I listened again.... still I heard nothing .... I got up ......

As I walked to the kitchen , I saw the detergents door open - no sign of DS !! I panicked and called him, Mr Stealth kept quiet ! I found him around the corner with a bottle of Windowlene (the spray bottle). His mouth was wet .... I smelt it, yup it's on his mouth ! Grabbed the bottle "Keep away from children" , yes ok .... why ? What's in this ? No ingredients listed. "In case of ingestion contact doctor" .. ok, why ?

I rinsed his mouth and made him spit - I wanted him to throw up ......

I made a few calls and then got in touch with a Poison Center - he should be ok, Algamdulillah, he might just have an irritation on his mouth.

So what did I do with that poison list that was emailed a while ago ..... anyone have it ? If so, please forward to me.

I have since cleared said cupboard and will store rags and brooms in it .......

Where there's smoke there is ... FIRE !!!

Growing up on the slopes of a mountain, we were always aware of fires. The neighbourhood (well at least our road) would all come out and watch the smoke, the fire, the wind and be prepared if it comes too close. I've been through 2 evacuations .. one when I was young, and barely remember the details, and again when I was at high school. We'd always move our car a few blocks down the road, so that we could leave. Daddy always insisted the only things we take with are our school books !! Each and EVERY one ! (Isn't that what you would want must burn at that age ? )

This summer we've had many fires in the province and even though they are far away we could smell it so strongly. So last night when we smelled it, we weren't concerned, we didn't even check it out. Around 11pm my dad called. He could see smoke in the air. He is ALWAYS concerned and needs to know all the info before he can rest. At first DH didn't take it seriously, saw some smoke, but figured it was on the other side. Then daddy called again ..... and when he does that, there is major concern! I felt choked, so insisted DH at least locate the source. The fire was about 10 min away from us and the strong winds made it move ... erm ... like wild fire ;-p .... it seemed out of control. There wasn't much choice - we had to get the kids away. We packed up : school things first of course - thank goodness she's in Grade R - there's only one book!, uniform, clothing and hard-to-replace-documents like IDs, passports, bank details... ooh and whatever cash we had. It's a difficult thing to decide what goes .... or what stays .... but it makes you realise that pretty much everything can be replaced and of the things that cannot, the most important is your family!

Daddy had his own adventure: after moving he car to his spot down the road, the fire had jumped and was burning across the road from his house -so they had to leave immediately.

Neighbours who stayed a bit longer, found themselves evacuated an hour later due to the thick smoke. A palm tree in the road caught fire (good thing we cut ours down), and the sparks caused bounced to the next house!

When we returned home, thick smoke still filled the air, and the house. Soot came though every door crack and vent .... and we had left the bathroom window open, so everything was covered in BLACK!

To this, there is only one thing that anyone can say : Algamdulillah !

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Birthdays

It's been just over a year since we stopped celebrating birthdays.

Now, to put you in the picture - I was raised with birthdays - big family parties with all the cousins etc. Parties with school friends, uni friends etc. They were great! That's how I met DH !

When DD was 1 I was thrilled at having a party and each year I went all out for her : the big family butterfly party, the intimate strawberry shortcake party, the messy party (my favourite), the heart princess party with jumping castle! I loved the theme and going with it from invitation to decor, to eats to party packs.

Since my mum died, I stopped celebrating my birthday. Family supper was the main thing - but mainly my family coming for supper and me being exhausted ! I don't get it ! So I tried to plan weekends away close to that time so that I didn't have to work on my "special day". At job #3, we'd get our bday off - now THAT's cool ! Other bdays also felt very .... obligatory - you are obliged to go cos it's family and obliged to give a gift. So my mindset was already leaning in a certain direction.

I know a few people (virtually) who don't celebrate and it seems mostly because it wasn't a sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) and it had it's roots in pagan understanding. Those of us who still celebrated would argue that we don't do the candle blowing or wishing, and it was just a celebration/appreciation of life.

Then one day I heard a talk on a podcast I downloaded and it hit me ! The talk was about birthdays and everything they spoke about made sense! Obviously the defiant side of me wasn't ready to give it up, but then soon after I heard another talk on tv !! Same topic, same argument ! DH and I chatted and felt we agreed, but didn't make any rules about it until I received an invitation to a party for DD ......

It was VERY difficult year for us. Our family didn't really understand and I, personally, felt that my reason, though based on Islamic principles, was not a fatwa for others and they needed to have their own idea about it, so didn't give much explanations. The year passed, some people ignored what we had said and still called or invited us, others didn't know what they had to do.

Like a friend said to me the other day - everything has to come with it's tests and this has taken a new dimension ! DD, being at school, now has new friends and has to understand that we do not celebrate and do not attend.

The attending of a party is a completely different argument :

Generally there is the obligation of attendance and gift. We've been to parties where we were asked where the gift was ! Gifts get opened publicly and judged - where are the positive values in THAT ?! Every one is competing for a better party pack ! At one party, DD received a party pack valued more than the gift we had brought !! And there is the expectancy of the guest to get a party pack! Not just a bag of the left over goodies - but a selection of luxuries that was not included at the party !!

So finally, for posterity, and hope that one day if I can't recall why - DD and DS can log on and find this, here is my reason:

Our ultimate goal in life is to attain Jannah. We know that everyday brings us closer to death and our gratitude for "Surviving" the day/week/month/year is not a celebration of cheating death, but rather a chance of working harder at getting more points to gain entry to Jannah.

Celebrating the number of years we have spent here, changes the focus of the goal, we try to aim for certain milestones : 16, 18, 21, 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, etc.

I wasted 25 of my years, having no focus of the goal - I don't get a do-over, all I can do it try to squeeze in extra in the days/weeks/months/years (Insha'Allah) I have left so that I have enough points to get at least to the first level........

School blues

I wasn't a fan of school .... I enjoyed the friends and assignments, but generally I'd rather be at home ..... mmmmm ..... kinda like I am now ;-) LOL (oops)

Last night DD wasn't well and DH suggested she stay home. DD looked very confused like "WHAT ? That is an option ?!" In all honesty between the 2 of us, I am not sure who was more excited to have DD stay at home. This first term of trekking to take her to school has been very tiring and we have many more trips to make in the future !

So this morning, DH wanted to lie in but I wanted to first see how DD was doing. She woke up tired and said she still felt ill (REJOICE !!!!) It didn't affect me much as I still had my morning chores, but at least it was a new pace, a slower pace, one that need not be done by 12pm! Just before 8am DD was running around playing - not looking ill at all. She claims the panado made her better (Grandpa's child !) and she was all ready to get dressed and go to school. You had to see the horror in our faces ! NO !!! School started already - you CANNOT go now ! She was very disappointed but learnt a valuable lesson : If you are tired, do not lie and say you are ill, cos then we'll keep you home. DD loves school you see, so we have leverage !

Competition

Is competing a good or bad thing ?
I suppose sometimes it could bring out the best in people - to attain more. But generally i have no reason to compete.
Growing up, my eldest sister was the brainy one, good for her. We felt it took the pressure off us as she satisfied the A grades in the family. I still worked and achieved good grades, but didn't feel I HAD to.
But since having kids, life is very competitive. People.. no sorry , other mums compare every thing! Sleep patterns, development, speech, schools, extra-murals etc. Does it matter ? Here I am 33 years old and none of those things affect who I am today ..... well maybe the extra-murals - which I NEVER did and showed when I played netball on the beach the weekend and nearly DIED !!

So it's 30-hot degrees and I can't sleep and thinking about this incident with this competitive mum - I think she is insecure and does it to feel better about herself. And mulling over a seed which has now rooted in my mind and I can't shake. I am almost too scared to share it openly as it is one of those topics which other mums take VERY seriously on the competition circuit.

Where was I going with this again ...... oh yes, so I am thinking about competition and realise the only real competition we should have with each other is competing to obtain jannah and the best apart of THAT competition is assisting/helping others gets you closer to the goal. And THAT is a lesson I want to teach my kids.