Miekie's ninth birthday

Miekie starts planning her birthday parties months in advance, so yesterday, when the day finally arrived, it was the culmination of a huge amount of thinking, planning and effort.

Starting off the day in bed...

Pieter made a card for her from him and Neil

They gave her a backpack for school

One present was too big for traditional wrapping; curtains had to do that job

She's never had a bike with gears before

Gearing up for the first ride...

Approval

After school a load of friends came over for Miekie's spa party. Marisa did a lot of research on what one can do for such a party...

Poring over presents

Chocolate faces

Marisa only realised last night that she'd omitted something... our next few salads will no doubt contain a disproportionately large number of cucumbers

Petronel also enjoyed some pampering (not in the nappy sense for a change)

Cleansed and ready to shift some ice-cream and waffles!

Neil's actual birthday and Miekie's gala

Yesterday was Neil's actual birthday, which was a more subdued affair than his party last Saturday. We woke up slightly earlier than usual so that we could give him his presents. He likes getting presents!

Neil enjoyed Miekie and Pieter reading their cards to him

Nice toys!

Having fun on his new wheels

Later in the afternoon he got some more presents from Oupa and Ouma

Neil has a penchant for sneaking away to eat some soil

Later yesterday Miekie had her first swimming gala at Midstream College (the previous one was at Orca). She took part in the 25 metre freestyle and 25 metre butterfly events. I managed to attend the freestyle event. She did well in both (Marisa attended the butterfly event too) but her energy fizzled out a little towards the end each time, due to being a little unfit. She's very keen that she and I embark on a fitness program together so that she'll be in good shape next time there's a gala (or any other sporting activity, particularly where she's competing as an individual I think). We're planning on starting on Saturday morning with a light jog (I'm in Botswana at the moment).

A nervous Miekie, second from the left

A merged panoramic showing various stages of the freestyle race; Miekie is in the second-closest lane (click the photo to enlarge it)

No, not soil again... this time it was a cookie

Pieter the grade one!

Yesterday we were at school briefly to meet his teacher and get books and stationery. Miekie also could see where her new class is.

With the old man

In the classroom yesterday

Walking back home yesterday morning

Today was Pieter's first day at Midstream College Primary. He was very excited and enthusiastic this morning when we dropped him off.

Already hard at work

Neil inspecting Miekie's desk in her grade three class

I'm off to Botswana until Friday but am very glad to have been able to be with the family this morning.

Galas

Miekie and Pieter had their galas on Friday and Saturday respectively. Miekie, who was terrified before the time, ended up winning her freestyle and butterfly events! Unfortunately I had meetings so I missed it. Marisa was there and took photos and videos:

I made it to Pieter's gala:

(Pieter only started using his arms over halfway through the length, thus giving his competitors a fair chance.)

This weekend is a multiple-birthday weekend. I'll have a post on that later today.

A planetary conjunction

Last night Venus and Mars were the closest to each other (visually only, not physically) that they'll be for quite a number of years. I got up early this morning to have a look.

Top left: the moon; bottom right: Venus; to the left of Venus and slightly higher: Jupiter; very very close to Venus (down and to its left) (and too dim to see unless you enlarge the image by clicking on it): Mars

Miekie has been preparing a speech for her class about a foreign country. Fittingly she chose Austria. Here are some of here initial thoughts that she scribbled down a few days ago:

Flight 60 of 2015 done

According to TripIt, where I log all my flights for easy reference, Friday's flight back to South Africa was my 60th flight this year!

Miekie is impressed with the queen-sized bed that she now has in her room. Marisa bought some new cushions and a new duvet cover for her.

The other side of her room

I got up at 4:30 on Saturday morning to have a look at Venus, Jupiter and Mars, who are all with 5 degrees of each other. I'd hope to spot some meteors from the Orionids meteor shower, but the peak time has passed and the air was a little hazy. So after waiting around for 15 minutes I crept back into bed. I'll try again on Monday morning!

You can see Venus and Jupiter on this photo; Mars is there too but a little too faint for a cellphone camera, it seems

On Saturday morning Alexander and I went to have blood samples taken at the Centurion SANBS. We're having tests done to see if we're a match for Andrew Melck who is in need of bone marrow. He's currently undergoing chemotherapy for leukaemia.

Alexander managing to smile while being punctured

Feeling a tiny bit drained afterwards

Off to Botswana

While waiting at O. R. Tambo I thought I'll put up these few photos.

At our swim on Monday afternoon

Miekie's artwork, which was placed first in her grade I believe:

Pieter's concert

Last night was Pieter's concert at Teddiebere. This was his last concert of the sort because next year he'll be in grade 1. Unfortunately I was not there because I had to be in Botswana. Luckily though, I was able to attend the dress rehearsal on Wednesday morning, which was very nice. Here are some of the photos I took then:

Before the concert

(Slightly reluctantly) gelled-up

Meanwhile a cake was awaiting me in Botswana (for my birthday).

Pity I'm not a cake-person

These photos are from Marisa, which she took before the actual concert yesterday:

Afterwards

Hair still a little gelled this morning

Miekie had to dress as a Springbok supporter for school this morning. Later she had to switch to Spanish dress for a cultural day they had. These are the photos Marisa sent to me: