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Hello there! Yes, it’s true, I’m still alive! Slowly crawling out from under my MBA rock and trying to get back to work and real life. My brain is still a little disjointed so I’m not even going to try make a nice flowing post. Here’s a recap of things that have been happening to me in the last 2 weeks…

MBA exams were fine-a little disappointing actually. A lot more theory than practical example in the Financial Management module. 4 straight hours of scribbling for Strategic Management. The pad on my right index finger was triangular after gripping my pen so hard! And I had hand cramp. But I got through it. Results should be out mid-April.

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Lectures went fine. The usual two weeks spent trying to absorb (let alone understand) huge amounts of brand new information. The bunch of friend’s I’ve made are still around. We spent most evening having at least one drink at The Rat. Laughing and commiserating. Damn they are good people.

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John’s birthday was last week. I made roast chicken and we lazed around. I haven’t got him a present yet-we’re not fussy like that. I am taking out to a  fancy pants dinner next week though…and when he works out what he wants for his birthday, I’ll get him that.

He was also off playing cricket last week, Pineapple Tournament. The traditional end to the cricket season (can I get a sigh of relief?). He’s sad it’s all over for another year; but I’ll be glad to go back to 2-day weekends!

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We went camping on Saturday night. De-compression from lectures and crazy few weeks. We went to our favourite spot with out new tent (yeah, I didn’t tell you about that either-I LOVE it. Like you have NO idea how wonderful it is to have a tent with a ‘porch’ AND be able to stand up in it!) and just chilled. Lazed around. Reading. Drinking good whiskey out of giant plastic tumblers. Lots of ice. Boerewors and chicken wings on the fire. Listening to the soft scritches of things falling onto the tent. Jackals mewling a long way off. And all the while the river rushes by, roiling and bubbling. Forming little whirlpools and wave-front in a deep creamy brown. Bliss.  We sat so quietly in the morning, two female kudu got within 25m of us before they realised we were there. It was just what I needed.

And then the car broke on the way home. A both that holds the near side rear wheel onto the chassis decided it had had enough of the corrugations and sheared completely off, which meant that out back wheel was no longer centred in the wheel arch but back against the rear mudguard. Not good. Fortunately it was something that we could fix with a visit to the workshop of the nature reserve. We drove cautiously back to town. I took it to my mechanic this morning (who is fabulous) and he was pretty amazed. He said it was a 1 in 1000 fluke. A factory default in the bolt. The temporary fix we’ve got in place will be fine for now-or at least until the new part arrives from PE. It was an interesting Sunday afternoon!

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We head off for my sister’s wedding on April 9th. We’re taking 3 days to get to Paarl before the wedding madness starts; staying near Barrydale in the Western Cape and near Ceres. The week before the wedding is shaping up to be total chaos. Dad needs a suits still, Mom needs shoes (so do I). Two final dress fittings. Bachelor and Bachelorettes parties. Rehearsal dinner. Good friends I haven’t seen for 3.5 years (Hi Rach!) and her new man. Family. I think we’ll all be comatose by the Sunday after! Good thing we’re taking 2 days to drive back camping at Storm’s River Mouth!

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The upshot of leaving so soon is that I have 3 assignments to finish in 3 and a bit weeks. Eep! I’m back to my 5am wake-ups. Except now it’s dark. And there is a distinct autumnal chill in the air. I do like the changing seasons; but I am sad as always to see summer heading north for the winter. I’m looking for winter flowers to plant in the garden so that we don’t spend the next few months drab and dull.

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Oh and I almost forgot! My friends Carol & Nick welcomed their beautiful son Jared on 03/03/11. He is the most precious bundle and they are such relaxed, confident parents. They are going to have such an amazing adventure the three of them! Of Jared, I am a fan (how could I not be?) but he sealed the deal by not screaming his head off the moment I got to hold him!

 

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