Tuesday 9 February 2010

Just gathering my thoughts...






Well that's what I'm trying to do now...so much to say...don't know where to start!

On the home front I have been playing mum AND dad for a week now & I'm definitely over it...DH is busy doing business in Zimbabwe {yup, you read right, the economy is definitely heading back to some semblance of normality there at long last} & I am having to wake up at ridiculous hours of the night {in my opinion!} to ferry children to Grade 12 early morning duty, road-running club & pre-season hockey training. Often this requires waking up at 5a.m, which is socially unacceptable if you ask me! However, such is the way here in Durban & I have to say that, now that I have witnessed it, it certainly is a lovely time of day to be out & about, WITH sunglasses! Boy there is nothing brighter than driving down the highway with the ocean beside it shining like a giant mirror...quite spectacular!
If only I could live without an evening I could attempt to carry on rising so early once DH is home, but the days are just SO hot that I really savour the summer evenings. The result? I can't wait for my early-morning duties to be over so I can get a lie-in!

Let's talk about the weather...this, you must realise is pretty much EVERY conversation starter here in February. Why? Well, because it is THE hottest month of the year, here & everywhere else too I reckon! We are experiencing temperatures in the high 30's. It really is most debilitating & how the kids bear it at school without air-conditioning is beyond me. Sitting down is definitely best, but most of them move from class to class every hour or so, & they do so with GIANT rucksacks on their backs. Why they need to carry SO many books in ONE day is still a mystery to me. Lockers are a rarity here & they could really do with them. All the weather warnings about Durban didn't phase me when we were relocating here from Zimbabwe several years ago - I knew ALL about hot weather, or so I thought. In Zimbabwe October was known as "Suicide month" {now that goes for EVERY month lol...} because the temperatures would reach 30degrees! Add a few extra degrees to that AND 100% humidity & you're starting to get a picture of what life's like here in Durban at present. I know it will all be a distant memory come April but right now we are suffering!

What else am I up to at the moment? I've had to shift my focus from scrapbooking to home decor at the moment, as I am having to pre-plan 4 bedrooms for our new home, as we are all getting makeovers at last! Yes, it really IS the year of the makeover this year. It is all very exciting as we finally say goodbye to drab & hello to fab! Of course my limited budget means I'm having to come up with all sorts of weird & wonderful ways to cut costs. While this is somewhat frustrating, of course I'm rising to the challenge. Furniture shopping here is totally new to me. I haven't walked into a furniture or home decor shop since we arrived 4 years ago. Why? Well because there didn't seem any point & the thought of it was too depressing {as we have only just bought our own home so there hasn't been any point in revamping until now, now that we know what will fit in with the dimensions & feel of our new space}. Oh how I could do with an IKEA!!! The selection of furniture here is really limited & there is nothing REAL. Everything is made out of Supawood {compressed wood chips/ chipboard}, yes, even the posh stuff...

I have had to settle for the humble Pine, soft & knotty, a terrible wood, but the pieces I have ordered are compressor sprayed matt white so look kinda "beachy". Just perfect for our fresh new home complete with sea view {I'm reminding myself of Mrs. Bucket(Bouquet}but I don't think I'll ever stop bragging about our sea view!}
I am liaising with builders, carpenters & the like on a daily basis & the quotes are rolling in, I wish I could say thick & fast, but the heat must be affecting everyone, as no-one is in a hurry to get back to me, in fact, one company I followed up on today had forgotten all about my order! Another one last week didn't remember coming to quote...Needless to say they have been struck off the list! I mean really...is this normal elsewhere?? Aren't we in a recession? Okay, apparently we are on the way out but with attitudes like this how are we going to stay out?!? Luckily I have started preparations early because I KNOW from past experience how delays are inevitable, but this couldn't care less attitude seems to be pretty regional!

Let's end off with some inspiration from a hot new site.

As I was deciding on where & how I would dump the totally awful bedside pedestals hubs & I have had to endure for as many years as I can remember {all we could get in the fair land of Mugabe} I came upon this before & after! Talk about totally ingenious... So now you know what I am REALLY up to, in my sarong, out the back in the yard, in the 40degree heat...



*** These are NOT my photographs! I have downloaded them from the awesome site I've just linked you to & am enjoying dolling up our drawers with white gloss paint, scrapbooking paper & clear varnish...cool man, cool...





11 comments:

Andrea said...

such a lovely post and you seem happy which is so so good (except for the early mornings of course). Loved the drawer idea and can't wait to see what you do with yours.
Stay just as you are, it seems a good place to be :0)
xxx
A

Cindy said...

Hi Helen. Sorry its been soooo long since last blogging. Those draws look great and I am sure yours will be absolutely gorgeous. Good luck with your new home, how exciting. Take care. xxoo

Jacqui Bourne said...

I can totally understand what you're going through with this heat!! It has been terrible here in PMB too! Yesterday it was 44 plus the discomforture when I went to fetch the girls from school. Bring on the cooler weather!! I can't wait to see what you do with your revamping! Sounds exciting!!!! Definitely helps been the heat!

I think everyone is laid back here in KZN - service isn't wonderful. I often complain to my hubby about the laid back attitude! It makes me feel like they don't want my money!!

Have a super day!

Stefanie said...

I am so loving that we haven't hit the high 30's yet. Yesterday was 31 - hot but livable with aircon in the car and my studio. Today it is raining so that will also help to cool everything down. I know that there are fires down the garden route too so hope the flames will also get rain. With DH being in forestry any fire can be costly.
Service even in CT is shocking, don't actually know how companies keep going in recession times without becoming more service orientated but there you have it.
Hope you have a great day.

Desire Fourie said...

Great to have caught up with your doings. Enjoy the home decor ... Wishing you a lovable Valentines.
Hugs
Desire

Lynette Jacobs said...

It is fun to plan for the new house:)

I love what you did with the old drawers...you would never imagine what they were before.

tania said...

great post helen. you will do a great job with the revamping,i am sure. those drawers looks spectacular, cant wait to see yours. you are so lucky to live by the sea.
the heat on this end of the earth is also HOT HOT HOT!!!i am with you on the bookcases of the kids, their backs are taking too much strain,shame.

Carol B said...

hope my comment goes through this time...try E&J Projects, they've always been very reliable builder/contractors, but I think only the south coast.
love that idea with the drawers.
Wetherly's not bad for furniture.
PS I heard some decor show on TV rename pine "ForestWood, Dahling"...so "green" you know..hehe I think, everything in my home is pine (either that or chipboard and melamine).....nothing wrong with it, just not a very hard wood.
enjoy

Bernadine said...

I can so identify with the lack of service..... I was closing to sending a email to the MD of the company that does our domain and email addresses but I found the admin manager who actually cared and it looks like the problem is going to be resolved.

I actually told her straight that I was very close to taking my business else where as the worst insult was I had a phone call threatening to cut our account off but they were at fault and had not carried my instructions through properly.

It is like my brother says, everyone complains business is bad but when you ask for a quote they either take forever to get to you or don't come at all yet business is so bad.....

topkatnz said...

That is a great way to use up your drawers - can't wait to see you result! The heat does sound rather unworkable - yep, February is usually our hottest month too - ooooh, this year we are lucky to get into the 20s(and the drizzle to stop!!). You can rave on about your beach veiw aplenty - WHEN do I get those photos??heehee! I hear totally what you are saying about slack and unreliable tradesmen - recession or no, having built four times now, it is ALWAYS like that - does your head in!

Ella Swan said...

Thanks everyone! I couldn't have chosen a worse time of year to ve outside repurposing the furniture & painting the pots! Goodness Jacqui I didn't realise PMB was even HOTTER - poor you! Oh the service - isn't it abysmal?! Seems like it is the whole of SA not just KZN - strange!! Maybe it's worldwide...Stef I've lived in Cape Town for 4 years {as a student} & never felt any humidity - even though you are by the sea - just a different climate, but great that you are getting some decent weather. My folks live there & they complain about the weather constantly...Thanks Carole! Wetherlys has nice styling but not even Forest Wood Dahling...supawood! Would rather buy from Mistry's for half the price...have discovered Coricraft though & def. my fave so far...Here here Bernie...I cut my nose off to spite my face 'cos I won't deal with people who miss appointments, are late or take longer than 3 days to get back to me - as I reckon then they won't stick to their deadlines if given the job! Heidi you've built FOUR times...now that's something I DIDN'T know about you?!? And as for the house photos - check the blog dahling...!!!