If I could save time in a bottle
It’s not often that I long to be with my South African family as I have the last day or two. I do think of them daily and hope they think of me. I’m so glad that I have the added advantage of technology because I’m not sure I could handle watching the post box for news from ‘home’.
Time is one of the biggest mysteries for me. When you’re in pain or waiting for a grand occasion the time seems to move at a snail’s pace. A year ago we were blessed to have all the family visit and I swear those two weeks felt like two days. I look forward to being reunited with them and I’ve promised myself that I’ll sleep if it’s absolutely necessary because every minute counts when you’re with the ones you love.
If you’re fortunate enough to live close to family why don’t you pop in and enjoy each others company. I know that’s what I’d be doing if I was close enough. Everything happens for a reason and right now I’m just trying to see the bigger picture!
You’re making me high
I’ve been fascinated for as long as I can remember by stories of drug traffickers and mules. Being as obsessed as I am with border security and all the drama it sometimes entails. I’ve come to the conclusion that it is usually the ignorant or the brave who attempt to smuggle drugs internationally. Of course people have many different reasons for what they do and it is no excuse for participating in illegal activities but I can’t help but feel sorry for people who seem to have been groomed to take these life changing chances. My heart aches at the moment where an ill advised person takes the fall. I have no idea if it really is the first time they attempt to smuggle narcotics (the officials who seize drugs make it sound really serious when they say narcotics!) or if it’s just part of their game plan to perhaps get a lenient sentence.
I watched a movie recently which was based on a true story about a young girl from a poor family who was targeted to do a drug run. That story did not end well. Now I realise that drug lords are rather conniving and choose their targets carefully. However on the other hand surely a person should posses some kind of law abiding awareness because some things no matter how rewarding they seem are just wrong. Desperation is no excuse for breaking the law!
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Anything to declare?
If you’ve heard that question before you’ve been through customs and immigration.
When presenting my passport and visa to an immigration officer for some strange reason I get really nervous and though I know for a fact that I have nothing to hide I feel genuinely afraid.
I enjoy watching border control programmes and I guess this adds to my chronic fear. Having passed through the united kingdom border agency too many times stepping up to the desk to make your intentions known can quickly have you tongue-tied after a barrage of questions by a highly efficient official. I sometimes think the staff are trained by the CIA to spot liars, cheats and all manners of deception. My worst fear is always being sent back to my country of origin because I just failed to make any sense. Fortunately this has never been the case.
Just thinking back to the many times I’ve been “interrogated” and the questions you face although they seem simple after being repeated in different ways can leave you flustered. Travelling with three minors adds further complications. So being good to your kids on the flight is very important because the last thing you need is a brat saying “I hate you, you’re not my mother” when questioned by the officials.
So passport stamped and bags picked up from the carousel at this point you’d think you’re home free. Oh no, now comes the ultimate choice. Nothing to declare or quite simply something to declare. Every traveller knows at this point there is no room for error.
Fortunately I have nothing to declare every time. With a spring in my step I float out of the airport!
Breaking into Britain
Wow what a sad documentary, people risking limb and life to get into Europe. It’s really a shame that people who want to improve their lives and the lives of their children get exploited and mistreated by people who pretend they can offer help.
As a mother of a very young family it was really heartbreaking to see families sleeping on the streets in Greece. Those are lengths that parents will go to just to give their kids a better life.
I do think that authorities should protect their borders but the way that people are dehumanized is quite depressing. Of course there is the issue of people abusing the system and fibbing their way into an asylum or refugee status.
So tonight as I lay my head on my pillow I will definitely spare a thought for people desperate for a chance at freedom and peace!
These boots were made for walking
Now I like pretty shoes just as much as the next lady. My feet unfortunately prefer practical shoes and sadly these always seem to border on looking quite industrial. Every now and again I try to bend the rules but my husband always seems to remind me of the sad state my nursing feet were in when he met me. He promptly bought me the most expensive shoes I’d ever owned(for work!) I so love him for that:)
Since arriving in England I’ve become curiously aware of designer shoes. So when I saw a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes recently I thought they would be well suited to my needy feet. Honestly though at that price I could not justify it.
I have this love hate relationship with shoes. For every two pairs I buy I take one back. This is a great source of frustration for my husband who reckons they either fit or not and apparently you should know right away. I don’t!
So today I bought a pair of shoes which are out of my usual league and I desperately want things to work out between us. I’ve never been one for heels but I guess it’s never too late to start.
Aah I just remembered I need to return a pair of practical shoes under my bed before the twenty-eight day return policy expires!
A whole new world
It’s amazing how moving to another country takes you from complete familiarity to a world that is quite unknown. People always ask me what I love about England and my answers hardly ever change.I love the coffee shops,fresh sandwiches,cheap DVDs and books, Gap,the transport system and the parks! However that doesn’t fill the void of longing for the comforts of home and you soon realise that you have to adapt or die. Having young kids sure does force you to get in the swing of things because for the most part they have no expectations of the lifestyle they are now required to lead.
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