about me

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Married to Nick for 13 years, with 2 children; Sabrina - 12 and Dominic - 11. I am a girlfriend through and through in that I love girly things and anything that celebrates the essence of being a woman. I love vintage, shabby chic, the country and try my best to do my bit for the environment. SO yes...we have 3 bins in our house and try our best to recycle! I believe that with everything in life, the closer we stick to nature, the better off we'll be. I would love to have a balance in life, but have learnt that balance is not always possible, so strive for significance instead, in the hopes that that will be just as meaningful, and the rest will hopefully follow.

Friday, September 12, 2008

AFFAIRS here at HOME.

OK, it's SO not what you're thinking...and no..not that either!

My topic today is about home affairs right here in SA. I would like to state for the record, that I was really pleasantly surprised by my experience recently with renewing my id book, so much so that I thought, considering we always hear the negative, (which was partly why it took me 11 years to renew my ID book, thank you very much!)...I would actually publish my experience so that in future, others need not be afraid! LOL!

Now i think we all remember the "vintage" enamel bowl that made my aquaintance a few weeks ago. Well the follow on from that episode, is that JUST 3 and a half weeks later, after being advised that my id application would take 6 - 12 weeks to which I never batted an eyelid (i was secretly more worried about the fact that in the process I may be married off to an emigrant Zimbabwean more than anything else!!! - GULP).... I get an sms on my cellphone to advise that ...wait for it....my ID is ready and waiting. Oh wow - shock horror! My entire experience going through this process has been painless, and has reminded me of how sorry i am to say this, but as South African's (generally) we ALWAYS complain and harp on the negative (ok my disclaimer, is that there may only be one exception...TELKOM!!! ughhhhh..EEK ...sorry) but seldom think to praise and TALK ABOUT THE POSITIVE!!

I feel that we as South African's often jump at opportunities to berate this country and it's people ....just as, much to my horror a few weeks ago, Springbok rugby players (that would be our own team ne!) were boo'ed at Kings Park Stadium! I mean how embarrassing! Needless to say I said at the top of my voice (couldn't stop myself - sorry!), that "one can often tell a persons "class" from they way they behave at events like this", ..... I know I'm having a whinge here, but at that very moment I wanted to challenge anyone in the stands to try and do better, because chances are, they're not good at their own jobs either, which is always the gripe about the players ....it being their job and they get paid a lot of money...well we can all have a bad day at the office can't we! I was just as annoyed by what seemed like a lack of commitment on the field by our team, but boo'ing them is kind of like self destructive to the nation isn't it????

OK..but back to happy thoughts...think happy thoughts...I am impressed!! I was impressed with the friendly and helpful service we received at home affairs, the speed with which it all happened, and the feedback and updates received on my cellphone. Thanks to Home Affairs Pinetown, for a job well done! I'll keep you posted as to how the reapplication of my drivers license goes! LOL!...but seriously, we are so often put off by the DRAMA stories we hear about these experiences, when half can be put down to poetic license of the people who share them. So next time you have to deal with a government department, please remember it's not all bad!
A photo totally unrelated to the post, but very much in my heart at the moment, on the eve of Trace leaving for China, is this one.... whilst we are all now genuinely scattered across the globe, it's comforting to know that the 4 legs of a table are always bound together now matter how far apart they are.

CHARMED PRINCIPLE no 12 - Enjoy your eccentricities: It takes a lot of energy keeping parts of yourself under wraps. Stifle too many of them, and you risk losing a bit of your soul. In suggesting you enjoy your eccentricities, I am not implying that being different is somehow valuable in it's own right. It isn't. Each of us, however, has interests and attributes that may not match those of the people around us or fit with the other parts of our own personality. These often include some of our brightest traits. They make us gifted. They make us unique. They make us women to be reckoned with!

3 comments:

  1. I must say I also had a good experience renewing my driver's license a while ago!

    What a stunning photo and so true about being together no matter how far apart your friends are - they are really special.

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  2. gf, I love this post, you truly are one of South Africa's ambassadors!!!! xxx from one of the legs on that table

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  3. I also love SA - ain't going nowhere unless I absolutely have to - being dragged kicking and screaming of course ...

    I loved your last few entries - it is so important to take stock, everyday, of how we are blessed and I love reading about other people's "charmed" lives - thanks for sharing yours with us ... in fact, I think those who appreciate their blessings do indeed recognise their "charmed" lives ...

    Love, Tracy

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