A catchup and December news so far

Been some time since I posted some proper news . So thought I’d do a good catchup now that I have some time off, share news, some pics and the like. It’s a long one, be forewarned, but there some lovely pics and a lot going on so stick with it. Here a few sunrises from November to enjoy first up (click to enlarge the images).

December’s. Love them. It’s my birthday, holidays and summer. But goodness, I been so busy. It’s the morning of the 21st today already and this year…I don’t know. It’s been a crazy time the past few months. Good when you balance it all up, in that I’ve achieved so much in the last three months of the year, but I’m tired and it’s not all sunk in just yet I don’t think. Perhaps next week when I can take some time off work I can let it all sink in properly and think about next year and where to from there.

I guess the major goal for 2015 will be the planning for the two homes we need to build on the new plot Mum and I bought. It’s exciting, I’ve just not had the time to think much about as yet though! The rough plan is to build a nice two bed cottage for Mum first, then the main house after. But the details are pretty vague at this point and really I need to put some time into that in January. Nice goal and something that will help drive my work goals too, going to need that extra cash to keep rolling in 😉

Work, my web design business, has exploded. Right now, I’m still a bit shell shocked. It’s been absolutely flat out and pretty stressful. But worth it, all sorts of options are opening up now that the money is coming in steadily. I’ve started bringing in help with a couple of projects and will continue to outsource some of the development work next year. This allows me to grow and focus time on sales, marketing and growing the business even further which I need to keep doing to build my home. The sooner I hit my targets, the sooner the walls go up. So I’m happy, it’s been hard work and I’m a little frazzled but smiling.

Friday ended on such a high note actually and I’d like to share that. I been working on the new website for Berge Farrell (here is the old website one if you want to read more about them > http://bergefarrell.com). We’ll be launching the new website in January and we signed off a major milestone on Friday. It was a such a great call for me, a confirmation of the idea that I could deliver this level of work, from home in Kidds Beach in South Africa and make a good living out of it. BF is a major design and branding consultancy, the biggest exporter of design in South Africa and they work with some amazing, global and prominent brands that we all know. To have their Directors sign-off on the work and to be told the project is fantastic, it’s been pleasure working with you and it’s been a great process. Well that really made my year work wise. Thank you Sarah.

Even though time has been incredibly tight, I’ve tried my damnedest  to stick with my work day routine. I’ve had to trim things down over the past few weeks when the pressure has been really on and sometimes I don’t get to it all but where at all possible I been sticking to it. It’s what helps me be super productive during my work day and still finish with a smile at the end of the day. One of the joys of this is getting up early enough to see the sunrise most mornings. Such a blessing to be able to experience that and so often. The morning exercise has gone well too. We still try meet twice a week where we can. Sometimes all of us, sometimes just me or a few times I’ve had to bail out due to deadlines, but when we can it’s a great way to start the day.

It was after one of these sessions last week that Mal went for his first proper swim! Now Mal was born in the Drakensberg and had never seen the sea before. When he went on the beach for the first time he was not a happy camper. He wanted nothing to do with the sea. But this past week he has been making some advances, he started splashing about a little, found it was quite fun and seemed to get more comfortable with the moving water and sound. But I was still surprised when last Thursday morning he followed me into the sea. We swim after our workout generally and I did the same as most days, just ran into the ocean and dived into the waves. Great way to cool down. Well I looked up and there was Mal coming in after me! AWESOME! He loves water! So chuffed. Ran back and got my camera and snapped a few pics of him coming in again. So cute!

Mal, what an impact he is having in the short time he has been around. He has won me over time and and time again and I don’t think there is one of the kids in the village that he has met that does not want him to come home with them. He and Layla particular have bonded and they love each other to bits. It’s to cute.

So ya, then there was my birthday (I’m not big on these the past few years). I started it off with a walk with Mal. I had to go into town to do the shopping after and then it would be a little crazy setting up so just took some time to spend enjoying the morning and being grateful. Lots of amazing things have been happening and I truly am grateful.

For my birthday this year I wanted to share the day with the people in Kidd’s Beach that have made me feel so welcome and a part of the community. So I invited a few folks round for a fish braai and got catering… it’s been awhile since I’d entertained 14 people! I’d forgotten there is a bit to do! Needless to say I spent most of Saturday running around, shopping, organising stuff and cooking. I enjoy cooking for people so this was amazing. I got a fantastic fish for the evening, a beauty of a Scotsman. It really was a lovely evening and thank you so much to all who could come and celebrate the day with me. Meant a lot to me. And thanks again for the perfect pressie everyone!

(click to enlarge any image)

I did not get nearly enough pics and quite a few people I missed, not to mention the food…. but hey, it was my birthday and by the time I managed to sit down and enjoy a glass of wine I’d forgotten about taking snaps already. Anyway, we got a few thanks to Dru.

Then Monday the 15th was Gareth’s birthday! So we did it all again 🙂 Gareth and Michelle invited me over to joy in with them and a few others to celebrate Gareth’s birthday with good food, good company and perhaps some wine 😉 We had a really cracking evening and the chow was amazing. We played Cranium after dinner and had a really good laugh with that. I’ve added a few pictures below of some of the sketches… make of them what you will! Inside joke alert. All I’m saying is “Rivers of Babylon”. Great evening, thanks all.

Tuesday was a public holiday here in SA, but not the UK so I was working as I had a few deadlines that needed to be met last week. However I started the day really early and got loads done so that by 10.30 I could get down to the annual Kidds Beach market. It was great to get down there and see what felt like the whole village. Lots of chatting and catching up with folks. Lovely. Mal and I then hit the beach for a bit and I made my way home to do some more work. Good thing too, as later that afternoon Benji called to say lets dive! Now it’s been ages since I dived and June since I shot a fish. I said lets go! And glad I did. Gareth, Benji and myself went and we shot a nice fish each with Gareth picking up two.

At last, some fish to eat that I actually caught. So we got a few folks together and had an absolutely stunning evening and Benj and Est’s (thanks) chatting and enjoying great food and company. We took one Blue and made it into sashimi (raw fish, blues are one of the best eating fish we have and so fresh, well it’s got to be done) and the rest we braai’d.

This past Saturday I ran the park run with Kian. Best one yet! 30.18 for 5kms. (full results) Really enjoying it and thanks to Kian for the support and getting me going. Looking at sub-30 next time 🙂

Saturday evening we had a lovely chilled evening over at Kian and Catherine’s, enjoying a chicken on the weber and the stunning view. Thanks for the great food and company folks!

And finally we come to the end of the day today. It’s been a glorious day here in Kidds Beach, wonderful weather. I went to the market in the morning and met up with friends there. We hit the beach for a little bit then some lunch at the tea room. Really really good afternoon and a cracking day.

Next week I’m off work (be doing some bits and bobs but no deadlines till January now) and going to be enjoying catching up with friends, diving, eating good food and enjoying even better company.

Thanks for sticking with this post! I know it’s a long one with loads of news and pics but needed to get it all down so that I remember. It just would not have got it down if I’d left it any longer.

If you on holiday, enjoy! Take the time to relax, spend it with those you love and care about it and make it a special Christmas. If you have to work, hope it goes smoothly and that you still get to spend time with your family and loved ones.