My first 10km event here in Dubai done and dusted!!!!

More details to follow.....

Happy birthday to master Xavier Berrisford

This morning I am thinking of my nephew Xavier who is celebrating his 6th birthday with new class mates at school today. I'm sure he is going to be a hit with the biscuits he is taking to school baked by him and his sister Zara- of course with mamas help however I wouldn't be surprised if Xavier and Zara baked them without any assistance!!!!

Now that Xavier is living in Cape Town what an added bonus of having more of his family around to celebrate his birthday with him.

Birthday hugs and kisses from Aunty Sue....

I am "Elizabeth Bennet"

At the end of the most enjoyable and entertaining "Jane Austen's Guide to Dating" there was a fun quiz to assess "Which Jane Austen character are you?"

Turns out I am the "Elizabeth Bennet"....witty,clear-sighted,charming and attractive.Of all Jane Austen's heroines,she is the one we would most like to resemble."

Apparently my best matches are:

Pride and Prejudice's MR.DARCY: "A quiet,reserved man. Has strong principles and is essentially thoughtful despite a snobbish exterior and someone who exudes boorish behavior."

Northanger Abbey's HENRY TILNEY:"Intuitive,clever,a decent backbone and fancy-free."

Persuasion's CAPTAIN WENTWORTH:" Straightforward,full of life & ardor,well mannered,considerate and sensitive."

Only time will tell who will be first in line....

My heart is with my friend today

This morning my heart is with a very special friend...Tatum. It is her
hens party today and I long to be there. Words cannot describe how I
feel about missing today and her wedding next week.( Sacha I hate to
imagine how you felt missing out on my boets stag weekend.)

May you ladies have loads of fun...

I am there in spirit.

Getting my run on!

Reminder

Came across this on the net...love the fact that 'someone' took it upon his or her self to type this up and pin it up.

Spreading the "AWESOMENESS" of this journey called "LIFE"

New beginnings-thinking of the Berrisfords

Today I am thinking of my sister who is going to be moulding their new home as she starts unpacking their belongings for her and her family in Cape Town. After many years of living in Johannesburg the Berrisford family have moved to the Cape.

You can't imagine the warmth I feel inside at the thought of having them in my hood when I do return back home.

New beginnings and more exciting times ahead for our family.

Whirlwind of a trip-part 2

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Apologies I can't get the pics in sequence and my text between the pics didn't come out on the initial post. Take 2 and have to do it differently. 

Picture 1:The above picture was me listening to the priest carefully while trying desperately to stop myself from the mini trembles I was experiencing in my knees. I was overwhelmed by the beauty and every aspect of this gorgeous wedding and my heart was at the same time connecting with my mum. One of the many things I recall thinking at this point was "Wow the weather is absolutely perfect,our loved ones are sitting before us,my boeta is getting married...wow...wow...wow."

Picture 2:The above picture is a true reflection of the joy radiating from my heart over the time I was there for the wedding. 

Picture 3:I had no idea that my dear Aunty Maryanne would be doing a reading. My heart rate started racing from being so overwhelmed with emotions of joy. A beautiful lady...I need not say anymore. 

Picture 4:This picture speaks to my heart. I am a romantic at heart as you might know and I love the way Adhil and Bridget are looking at each other here. LOVE,LOVE,LOVE...

Picture 5:Look at the smiles and joy radiating here. The entire wedding period held this feeling of deep love and joy. May it continue to flow through Adhil and Bridget's journey....

Welcome to my new chapter "Welcome 2012"

This week my room has had magazine cut outs all over the place and
finally here is the end product!!!

"Welcome 2012".....

I also welcome YOU the reader into my new chapter. I welcome you to
add beautiful memories to my new chapter and to walk it with me when
you can.

Thank you once again to each one of you who walked alongside me in
2011. Many beautiful memories,some bitter sweet moments,heart
wrenchingly sad moments and then just moments....

2012 has rolled on...we one week in and it's looking bright!

Writing hat on

Today I have put on my "writing hat" and am putting fingers to keyboard and pen to paper!

Watch this space.

A whirlwind of a trip worth every millisecond

At last on this beaming beautiful first morning of 2012 I get to sit on my couch in my hello kitty pjs,hello kitty coffee mug already on my left and my pink covered iPad on my lap.Yes I am in my element. I get to write this overdue post on my trip to the mother city.

Wow...wow...wow where do I start?! Well Adhil did say that he will be sure to make it worth every minute of my 9h40 min flight to Cape town,2 nights at the wedding and my flight back then straight to work!! Well boy did Adhil and Bridget pull off an absolutely special wedding that made every millisecond of my trip worth it. (I had no doubt)

It was a hell of an overwhelming trip for me.Let's rewind to a week and a bit prior to the wedding. It ate me inside to not be there for the wedding pre-prep and gatherings. I wanted to be there for my "Doons" in every way I possibly could. Thanks to my siblings and friends(my
extended family) I was kept updated with beautiful photos of the happenings and blurbs were shared on what they were up to. During this week I couldn't stop thinking of how my mum would be smiling and proud of how us siblings were there for each other to support one another and be with each other. On more than one occasion in my mum's last year on this earth she mentioned having a fear of us siblings drifting apart! Not a chance Mardia even though we might have our differences our loving bond and all aspects that make up that bond has a padlock on it!!! I have no doubt that each of us kids were going through our own silent emotional turmoil of sorts missing mum and dad. For that entire run upto the wedding I kept having flashbacks of mum at the engagement party of Adhil and Bridget as well as all the conversations had about the wedding.

On the day of departure to Cape town my heart was glowing like you won't believe. Everything had come together including what I can only imagine was the cherry on the top for Adhil,Sacha's visa and approval to travel(let's not even go into what approval he needed) had come through at the 11th hour! I kept positive that the universe was going to continue dishing me a winning hand with my flight being on time and all going smoothly for me and the universe delivered!!

On arrival I was shattered from no sleep and a tiring week at work however seeing that mountain on decent in Cape town as well as flying over Table bay just energized me. When I stepped out at the arrivals terminal I was eager to see who was going to be the smiling face waiting to meet me. I felt like a little kid with a lucky packet. I knew that there were so many of my loved ones in the mother city for my boets wedding and I had no idea as to who would make it to fetch me. Whoever it was was was going to be special. I had requested a vida coffee on arrival so once through the doors and not seeing a familiar face I unexpectedly found a vida cart in the terminal. I made my way there and was happy to wait on my friendly face. Next thing you know the Christophers (Sacha and Sashe)who landed that very morning from London were making their way towards me through the crowd and with a fun welcome sign with wording that played on from our gathering in NY in 2010. Wow wee what a super surprise. I think from that moment my heart opened that much more to allow all this joy and beauty in. Next thing you know the groom-to-be arrived with a vida coffee in hand!!!He had dashed to the domestic arrivals to get me a vida coffee. I cannot explain to you how I felt to see him approaching me coffee in hand. (I'm tearing up as I write this) To have the groom-to-be be able able to meet me on arrival despite his hectic schedule and tiring week. IT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME!!!!!!

Once we left the airport my trip became more and more deeply special and beautiful. I cannot tell you how special each interaction with my siblings,family and friends was. I was so moved and overwhelmed by everything and everyone. What a trip!!!

To see my brother Adhil getting married and to be surrounded by such special people who have added to the chapters of my life story was just UNREAL!

Ok I need to pen off now as I am going through waves of joyful emotional tears and I am still pretty tired so please stay tuned for more shares on this awesome trip. So so much to tell.

2012 ADVENTURE,ADVENTURE AND MORE ADVENTURE

Well time waits for no man nor woman and the calendar has ticker over into 2012!

I sit here amazed as I reflect on the truly unique experience I had last night as I carried out my role at work. Why amazed? Never had I envisioned myself operating a troubleshooting desk in a huge gala event that seated 1800 guests!!!! There were so many aspects to the night that now just seem a haze. I am sure they will all start coming back to me once I have had some decent sleep.

Close to midnight I realized I had no tissues to wipe away the tears that I thought were going to roll uncontrollably however at midnight alongside my assistant manager Anitha I managed to hold back the tears in the tear bank,take in the magnificent beauty of the fireworks,thought of my loved ones one by one,had a condensed flashback of 2011,envisioned 2012,played photographer for a few guests, got kisses on the cheek from a complete stranger and all in all it kind of felt a wee bit surreal to be standing in Dubai on that platform in that moment.

Well here's to 2012 where I am sure up for adventure,adventure and more adventure.