The week in Toti

So far the week in Kwazulu-Natal has been uneventful. Been raining most of the time. Today is the first sunshine day since we've been here. I can imagine that the holiday-makers in Amanzimtoti are wanting to ask for their money back!! :)

Marisa and her mom had a fight earlier this morning about wedding admin. Thankfully we only have to be planning for another 2 months! YAY!! I only have the wedding night accomodation left. Got a lead from a woman in Stellenbosch about a place. I hope its as nice as the pictures suggest. Some of the places are horrendously expensive.

Marisa got herself a new phone 2 days ago. Its a long overdue replacement. Her previous phone (Samsung E600) was by far the crappiest phone that I have ever come across. Her new phone is really cool - 3G and all!! I present the New Sony Ericsson V630i. She is now happily surfing on the web!! A bit expensive without a data bundle, but anyhow.

There are a few gifts still outstanding - Marisa's mom, her brother and my sister. Thankfully we're buying gifts together. Better gifts at a lower cost! Everybody wins. :)

Lunchtime is looming and I'm starving...

Quarterly report!

I know I haven't been the most diligent blogger on the planet. Been busy with the other things in life that make me feel more important! :)

In the last few months we've had Marisa's mom come and go - she came to help out with the wedding planning. My mom has moved from the farm in the Eastern Cape (its about bloody time!!) to Ceres and is living with her parents...that's right!

We're spending the holidays in Amanzimtoti. That's where Marisa's folks come from. The humidity is killing me! We decided to make a road trip up to Toti (as it is affectionately referred to by the locals).

We stayed over in a place in Bloemfontein called the Bloemfontein Inn (or Bfn Inn). Very cheap! Can recommend it if you're strapped for cash and need a place to crash. I don't think they're the most popular place in the world, so you're safe in making a last minute booking when you arrive.

I've never seen so many trucks over turned on the national highways. We saw 2 beer trucks over turned with what looks to be their entire payload ruined - some nightclub was serving water for a few nights!! :) As I'm sure you've all experienced, the road between Laignsburg and Beaufort West is intensely boring. There are signs telling you to rest. Where??? I ask you. At times there's barely a shoulder on the side of the road.

Our wedding plans are almost complete. I'm still looking for a place to spend our wedding night. A lot of the places are asking ridiculous prices. I have a lead...she'll come back to me. And then there's the marriage contract and that's about all. Then its just enjoy the wedding and reception.

On Saturday (16 December) we attended the wedding of 2 of our friends. A really smart venue - Calderwood Hall. Its in the Natal Midlands. As typical summer weather in Natal, it started to shower soon after the newly weds emerged from the church. Nice! Its supposed to be lucky - although one can't help but feel offended when the weather is spitting on you! :) It was a lot of fun though. Only the dancing started very late in the evening. A word of advice...if you're not following the normal (traditional) format of a wedding reception (ie. starters...speeches...main course...opening of the dance floor...at some point the whole garter throughing thing...more dancing...etc) then inform your guests and have your MC keep the guests posted. We're not going to smell that you're doing a few different things!! Now that that's off my chest!! It was still a great evening, you just shouldn't have your guests wondering when the next thing is going to happen. They did have a program, but it just seemed as if too much time went between the items. And then there is the family friend who deems it fitting to make an inappropriately long speech (it was supposed to be him honouring the bride's parents). In the end he spoke for well over 10min. And he brought the bride's grandfather into the speech as well!?

Yesterday we went suit hunting for me. There are quite a number of factory shops in Durban. Some of them are the factory shops for Woolworths. However, after careful inspection, it was decided that none of the items we were looking for were of a high enough standard that I was willing to stand at the altar with a jacket that looked like I got it from the Salvation Army! We're going to Woolworths today to apply for a mortgage with which I might buy my suit! On the upside I will be able to wear this suit for quite a number of years to come.

Ladies and gents...I'm off to take my car in for a service. Will be back later to keep the masses posted. Ciao!