Renovations completed!

Finally our renovations are finished! Well as good as can be without me going completely insane. A few little things here and there, but we are able to move in, which we will do over the next few days. For now we are camping in our house, until our furniture arrives. Besides the internet not working and a few other things, it's not so bad. It always amazes me little one needs in order to be happy. I have never felt more content. To be in one's own space again is such a great feeling. Kai loves his new room and has been sleeping so well in his new bed! Pictures to follow shortly - when I locate the camera!

Beautiful...

I came across a beautiful quote a few days ago. It's from Audrey Hepburn. It's so girly. Makes me think of all my gorgeous friends all over the world. I miss you all...

"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing. Kissing a LOT. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles."

Invictus

This Sunday we managed to find some time to watch Invictus.
If you haven't yet seen it, and especially if you are South African and were around when we won the World Cup rugby, I recommend you watch it!
Morgan Freeman playing Nelson Mandela is awesome. At times, you actually forget that it isn't the man himself. Accent quite spot-on and brilliant hair and make-up. The fact that Morgan is a phenomenal actor, is accentuated by the character he plays.
Our beloved Madiba - what an icon! If you are not already a fan of Madiba's, you will be by the end of the movie. His huge heart, compassion, strong leadership, attention to detail, foresight and incredible charm are portrayed perfectly in the movie.
Matt Damon playing Francois Pienaar, is also not bad eye-candy and he got his South African accent pretty well taped, although at times a BIT too overdone with the Afrikaans twang. Apparently the South African accent is virtually impossible to master, as an actor.
Was surprised to see my friend Paddy Lyster, playing Francois' dad in the movie too. Well done Paddy - you were fantastic! Great to see that the Hollywood blockbusters use local talent too.
The movie brought back fond memories of that time, although I actually happened to be living in Dubai then, and watched the game at the South African club with my fellow Emirates friends. I remember feeling so proud once again to be a South African.
By the way, Invictus means: "God of Victory".

Gay Parade Amsterdam 2010!

Saturday was Gay Pride here in Amsterdam. As usual, whenever there is an event to attend, the enthusiastic Amsterdammers, along with thousands of visitors, were out and about in anticipation of the fabulous float boats to cruise down the canals.
And then RAIN... lots of it, but it didn't put a dampner on the body-painted boys on the boats. Nothing like a few raindrops to cool you off when you are so HOT, HOT, HOT!!

Here are the pictures I managed to take over the sea of umbrellas. Enjoy!

Who the hell is Jimmy Woo???

The most popular and trendiest nightclub in Amsterdam is Jimmy Woo's. After years of coming here in the Summer and going to every other club and party in town, and having lived here now for a year and a half, I finally managed to see the inside of Jimmy's on Friday night!
Well, to me it was not bad. Not the best club I have ever been to - and I have been to plenty, but it was nicely decorated, good music and an older, sophisticated crowd.
The question I wanted to know and no-one could answer was: " Who the hell is Jimmy Woo????" The cousin of Jimmy CHOO????

Well, according to Wikipedia, James "Jimmy" Woo is a fictional, Chinese-American secret agent in the Marvel Comics comic-book universe. Created by EC Comics great Al Feldstein and artist Joe Maneely, the character first appeared in Yellow Claw #1 (Oct. 1956) from Atlas Comics, the 1950s predecessor of Marvel.
James Woo is an Asian-American FBI agent assigned primarily to investigate and apprehend the Chinese-national mandarin known as the Yellow Claw, who attempts world domination. Complicating matters, the Claw's grandniece, Suwan, was in love with Woo in the 1950s series. As a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Woo went on to join its "Godzilla Squad" to hunt down the giant monster Godzilla.
Along with his fellow teammates he follows the Atlas Foundation all over the world, unlocking secrets about his teammates former lives, and eventually confronting Yellow Claw, who reveals that the whole ordeal was only a test. As Woo passed it flawlessly, he commits suicide, ending his long life and granting to Jimmy Woo his role as Head of the Atlas Foundation, and Suwan's hand. Woo later surfaces in New York, where he and Spider-Man shut down a rebellious cell of the Atlas Foundation.
and start a fabulous shoe emporium with Jimmy's other cousin Jimmy CHOO!!!
So there you have it! If you visit Amsterdam and you feel like partying, go to Jimmy's!

Wise words from Nelson Mandela

Some wise words from Madiba, our beloved ex-President of South Africa.


"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb."

I find that to be so true. Constant challenges, but, as they say: "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!"