A recap of 2012

So here we are again, at the end of another year. It’s been good and bad, but the more I think about it the more positives I can find.

Looking back at my first post of the year (5 January 2012), I can see how far I’ve come with most resolutions.

I decided I wouldn’t’ be such a control freak in my personal life. I think it worked… I’m more relaxed about things and try not to rely on people too much. If I want to do something, I do it, even if it’s by myself.

I wanted to have a ‘healthy, happy, real relationship’ with a decent man. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen. BUT, I did figure out a bad pattern and have been working on changing that. I actually didn’t really stick to anything I said… So I make an effort not to go for men who are unavailable in any form. I am also not here to fix people and deal with their issues for them.  

The standard ones I got right, I lost weight, went down 2 dress sizes, am much stronger now and I have blogged semi regularly.  

But recapping the year… on the positive side, this is what happened

I did a counselling course through FAMSA. It was awesome! I learnt so much and it also helped me figure that it’s something I want to do more of and that I may need to think about a new path. I haven’t formally used it yet, but I’d like to develop it. I have used the skills informally and seem quite good at it.

On the work front, I got to do some big and different events. The downside to that was burnout twice in a year (not fun!!). Luckily there some quiet months after that where I could regroup and get back to normal.

I had an amazing holiday with my parents in October. We went to the Kruger Park where we saw some amazing things! I haven’t been there since I was a kid, so it was great! It was nice to have some real quality time with them with no distractions. We also spent time in Doornkop, which is always relaxing.

In September, I went to Cape Town for my bestest friends younger brother’s wedding. It was the best one I’ve been to! We had so much fun, it was so relaxed and all in all a great weekend away. I got to know her daughters a bit more (and am now quite besotted J). I’m going back for more next week.

I have just been to Durban with my mom for my aunt’s 60^th birthday and the SA leg of my cousin’s wedding celebrations. I met his son and again am quite besotted. Everyone just seems to have the cutest, most amazing children! I got to catch up with family I hardly ever see, which is always fun. I also got to be a tourist for a while, something I also love doing!

I also did some really fun things this year. We went to Madame Zingara, saw Lady Gaga live (AWESOME!!!!), saw the Springboks play New Zealand (so much eye candy!), went horse riding at Doornkop (and was bruised in the wrong places for 2 weeks), went to a lot of food and wine festivals, discovered I can drink red wine again (WOOOHOOO!!), went to a couple H2O’s and danced my ass off, had fun times with friends and spent some good quality time with Caroline while I can. I also bought Red Hot Chili Pepper tickets!! I am so excited about that! I can die happy on the 4^th February (I’ll need a day to revel in the glow).

I really got into the gym and health thing. I eventually gave up my trainer at the end of September (not easy, but necessary). I think I now train harder than before and am stiff most days (I take that as a good sign!). I have tried to eat healthily but sometimes you just need a big glass of wine and a chocolate! I’ve also had a great year at dancing – great choreography, awesome friends and a guaranteed laugh at every class. I also started ‘cycling’ with my dad - nothing hectic, but I can still ride a bike and have done some nice rides with him. Hopefully we’ll do a couple in Knysna next week.

And I’ve met some amazing people! I don’t know when last I was able to connect with people on so many levels and in different ways. I have met some great guys who have helped me on my ‘journey’ towards becoming better and deserving better. (Not all of them have been great, but have still helped in some way anyway.) Besides the fact that they don’t live in the same province, it’s a start and a step in the right direction.

There were of course the not so great things. We had a tragedy at work where one of my favourite people was killed in a terrible accident. I did my spring clean and ‘lost’ some friends. I had glandular fever, with my first burnout. There was a scare with my dad and his heart, but it all turned out fine.

I learnt some very important things though. If something needs to be said so that I can move on and there’s a benefit, then I say it. It may hurt like hell, especially when deciding to cut someone out, but in the long run it’s a good thing. I’ve learnt not to expect too much from people. They have different priorities and that’s ok. Surround yourself with people who make you smile and laugh and who you know you can call on when you really need them. Family is the most important thing – they love you unconditionally and will always have your back.

So what does 2013 hold? I’m hoping for more fun and excitement. I’m looking at doing some different volunteer work, maybe counselling, community services, who knows? I also want to further my education in some way, I just need to decide how and where. I suppose I’m really looking for a new challenge overall. We’ll just have to see how that all works out…

I hope you all have a great festive season filled with family, friends and fun!

 

The fine art of (rain) spider 'removal'

I am terrified of rain spiders. Not so much any other spiders, but rain spiders scare me half to death. When I see one, first I scream, then I hyperventilate and then I find myself going backwards and forwards trying to figure out the best way to avoid the spider while running for the Doom. It also seems that there are a lot of rain spiders around these days… you’d think the word would’ve spread in the spider community?

I almost have it down to a fine art now and am very skilled at rain spider killing. I have had a number of different scenarios to test this on, though one or two of them I can’t take credit for the killing, just the screaming and running.

Scenario 1 – Christmas Day 2011 - Daddles to the rescue

We were in Knysna where they have rain spiders (I think they’re the females) with enormous abdomens (and I’m sure very scary big teeth!). So I’m about to get dressed for Christmas lunch, wearing only panties, when I open my cupboard door. Low and behold an enormous spider is staring at me! I let out a blood-curdling scream and run. Luckily for everyone in the house I grabbed a vest or something to cover my front. My mother shouts asking whether I’ve seen a snake (her biggest fear), which would’ve been much less terrifying to me! My dad runs into the room to find out who is murdering me only to be disappointed with a giant spider. He sprayed it then squished it (actually it was more like he beat it to death with a broom), leaving a big mark on the carpet. Needless to say, for the rest of the holiday, every time I opened the cupboard or picked anything up, it was with a flinging motion… just in case.

Scenario 2 – A spider about to enter the house

One night, I was about to hang up some washing and opened the front door. There on the wall about a metre from my open kitchen window was a rain spider. I knew he was thinking about coming into my house – I can tell these things. So I screamed, threw the washing inside, dropped a massive (what may be considered blasphemous) F-Bomb and slammed the door shut. Once I had stopped hyperventilating, I grabbed the Doom and slowly opened the door. He was still there. So I sprayed and he crawled towards the roof. I sprayed again. And sprayed a little more. He fell off the wall and then kept trying to climb back up. Eventually he crawled off into the dark where I couldn’t see him. It was then I realised a missing spider is far more scary that a visible one!! I threw a few buckets of water down the walkway, just in case. But that was the end of my hanging up the washing for the night.

Scenario 3 – Spider in the house

This has happened a few times because they have clearly snuck in while I’m at work. Or asleep (horrifying!!!).  Just the other day, I was walking around the house when I noticed something almost camouflaged on the carpet. Yip, a rain spider! He was next to a wall in the passage to the front door. I would have to pass him (by a metre) to get to the kitchen and the Doom and broom. I attempted to move, it didn’t happen. So I did what any sane person would do and climbed over the kitchen counter breakfast bar thing into the kitchen, got my weapons, opened the front door and climbed back out. I could swear my cat was shaking her head at me… so I sprayed him out the door and swept as well (left handed!!) just to make sure. And then sprayed him again outside for good measure. He eventually gave up.

 

These are just some of the scenarios in my current house. There have been many occasions in my last house and when I still lived with my parents. At least when I lived at home there was usually at least one other person there who was less afraid and more capable of removing them.

Should I get married, it will have to be to a man who is not scared of rain spiders. it will be one of my non-negotiables!