Ho ho ho

I'm in a bit of a funk: restless and cranky.
No amount of good kid behaviour was sufficient,  and if it weren't for my mother's presence, there would have been casualties.
Sigh.
Sometimes I just suck and there is no PMS  to blame.

In South Africa, a childhood friend and her family were attacked and shot at during dinner by 5 (!!) armed men. 
Her husband's quick reaction saved them, having shot and killed the ringleader in front of their kids.
(In South Africa, most people carry a gun for protection).
Can you imagine their trauma??
This poor family has already dealt with enough awfulness - her father committed suicide, they lost a son and now this, amongst other things.
Some people just seem to draw the short straw.

And reading what I just wrote makes me quite ashamed.
Our straw is long.
Loooooooong.

Ladies who Lunch

I met up with 2 colleagues today for lunch in 's-Hertogenbosch.
One is now a pensioner and hates it, the other with marital problems, kid problems and a burnout.

The rain kept us wide awake during the night, with lightning blitzes all around.
It felt so good to see the husband and boys again after the weekend away.
I was kissed often.

Tomorrow, work and studying.
Next week Wednesday I can start slacking up a bit.
First though, necessary sleep.


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Ciao Italia

We're heading home again.

Bye-for-now Al Donizetti, Bergamo and gorgeous bodies of water.

Sayonara train travel and scorching sun, floral-infused air.

Sigh.

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Slow boat to Bellagio

Aaaaaaah, Como.

GO!

You won't regret it.

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Bergamo

Bergamo is divine.

We arrived at lunch, struggled to find our cheap hotel and then headed to the Alta Citta.
Goooorgeous.
My mother and I ate our fill with shublime wine (hic), then slowly threaded our way back down the hill again.
We ought to be proud: no cable car for us - hard, uphill marching got us there.
But downhill nearly killed me and my calves.
Oh if we lived here I would be ever so slim.
But, we stopped at a supermarket and picked up €50 and that feels fantastic.
Tomorrow, Como and the ferry across the lake.
Life is good.

Bruxelles here we come

Night of no sleep, but never mind.

One thing at a time.

 

 

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Huuummmmm...

I did it.

I was literally shaking - even my feet were found to be trembling, but I did it.

My exam went well.

 

 

Well chuffed I am.

 

Tomorrow an all-day-and-evening conference in Brussels, and then early on Friday morning, my mother and I are off to Bergamo, in Italy.

I cannot wait.

 

One more exam on the 17th and then we start all over again with a new set of subjects.

First the kids are being sent off to bed.

I'm having another glass of wine, contemplating whether I'll wash my hair or not.

And then I might start packing for Italy.

Postponing is my middle name.

 

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Oof!

Exam day.
Didn't sleep much with all that crime crap flitting through my dreams.

Oh sweet Lawdy Lawd!

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Vomit & Gratitude

My week is busy beyond belief.

Work today, exams tomorrow.

Brussels for work on Thursday, and then to Italy for the weekend on Friday.

In the spaces in between, I have to start studying for my second exam on the 17th.

Son#2 has a party which will need a gift.

The poor blighter has a blue, swollen face from Son#1 who pushed him into the table.

Sigh. 

Thank goodness the rugby season is finished, with only 1 barbecue still waiting.

We are winding down, albeit on a frenzied exam-ed crescendo.

But, and this brings me to the gratitude-part, 

Son#3 is just dandy.

I have never heard of, nor experienced such a sweet creature.

And I'm grateful.

 Bless.

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Loser

When you lose

don't lose the lesson

- The Dalai Lama

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