It is April and I am thinking of Christmas- Am I mad? Yes and no.
The reason for me thinking about Christmas is because last week I purchased my ticket to the UK for my December holidays. I am actually getting time off in December.
This holiday is going to be good. It is the first time in 14 years of work that I will be off before Christmas eve and the week between Christmas and New Year I am off the whole week. Normally I work till at least 2pm on Christmas eve and then the week between Christmas and New Year I work most days. Mt leave starts on the 23rd December and I only return to work on the 5th January 2010. WOW!
I am excited,so all I need now is snow on Christmas morning- I know that anyone living in the UK would like to kill me for talking about there winter season already. I went to the bank yesterday to start a notice account to save my spending money, so I can enjoy my time away and with family.
So I have a nice short term goal to look forward to!
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
I was tagged
Well the other day I was tagged and the process is to look at where you keep your photo's and choose the 6th file and then the 6th photo. I unfortunately do not have my photo's well grouped so I double clicked on my pictures and choose the 6th file which contained 1 photo and that is a scanned photo of my brother (Allan) and his wife (Ros) on there wedding day, 15th January 2000. 
This was a special day for them and everyone that was there. It was also the last time we spent together as a family before my dad died and for me, it was the day I injured my back.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
My Dad
I have introduced my brother to you, but the 2 people I have not really mentioned are my late parents. My mom- Merryl Comins and my dad Henry Comins
My dad was born in 1944 and died tragically in 2000. What I always found amazing was that although he had limited movement, he always tried to be involved in our lives. My dad had major back problems and hence could not do to much. Although he was not wheel chair bound, he battled.
He had such an amazing nature and would always surprise us with gifts and do things when we least expected them. I remember been at college and was battling with economics. Although we did not need a text book, my dad went out one day and got me one. This did in fact help me pass.
An amazing fact about my dad was that he was the first South African to fly solo at the exact age of 17 years old. He managed to do his solo on his 17th Birthday- a full year before he could get his drivers licence.
My dad was also a person who gave back to the community, he qualified as a paramedic part time and often spent weekends at sports events and provided first aid. He also got involved in scouts and this help us achieve many happy hours together.
Dad unfortunately committed suicide on the 28th February 2000. A day that I will always remember, but wish that it never happened. We do not know why he did it, but he must have had a reason. It took me a long time to forgive him for what he did to me and my mom and my brother, but over the last few years, I have learnt to forgive. He must have had his reasons, but those reasons went with him.
I would not be the person I am today if it was not for him. He was a great dad and a good friend.
My dad was born in 1944 and died tragically in 2000. What I always found amazing was that although he had limited movement, he always tried to be involved in our lives. My dad had major back problems and hence could not do to much. Although he was not wheel chair bound, he battled.
He had such an amazing nature and would always surprise us with gifts and do things when we least expected them. I remember been at college and was battling with economics. Although we did not need a text book, my dad went out one day and got me one. This did in fact help me pass.
An amazing fact about my dad was that he was the first South African to fly solo at the exact age of 17 years old. He managed to do his solo on his 17th Birthday- a full year before he could get his drivers licence.
My dad was also a person who gave back to the community, he qualified as a paramedic part time and often spent weekends at sports events and provided first aid. He also got involved in scouts and this help us achieve many happy hours together.
Dad unfortunately committed suicide on the 28th February 2000. A day that I will always remember, but wish that it never happened. We do not know why he did it, but he must have had a reason. It took me a long time to forgive him for what he did to me and my mom and my brother, but over the last few years, I have learnt to forgive. He must have had his reasons, but those reasons went with him.
I would not be the person I am today if it was not for him. He was a great dad and a good friend.
Monday, November 17, 2008
My Big Brother
As you may have gathered in my previous posts, I have an older brother living in the UK. Allan is 4 and a half years older than me and lives in a lovely town called Hungerford. He is married to a special lady by the name of Rosalind, better known as Ros.
He has always been a big brother and has always been caring and supportive toward me. During our teenage years we were typical brothers, we had fun fun together, we also had our differences and often our opinions caused conflict. Anyway there was always brotherly love. However in recent years, we have become so close- Allan is one person I can call day and night and ask for a chat, advice or support.
I respect him tremendously and take his advice seriously- not because he is an accountant, just because is head is screwed in the right direction. The nice thing about Allan is he has never been bossy and respects my feelings and opinions.
I cannot wait for the 14th of December, when he arrives from the UK for a 3 week holiday. I have actually seen him 3 times already this year, but yet it feels like an eternity since we saw each other. The first 2 times were short and not under great circumstances- but we spent quality time together. The last was my holiday to the UK where I was spoilt from head to toe. Anyway I will be the first at the airport to welcome Allan and Ros home.
We have have 2 trips planned while he is here, the first is a day trip to Durban to say our finally farewells to our mom when we scatter her ashes on the 16th December. We want to do this before Christmas. The second is a weekend in Cape Town, this is just to do something different and spend time with friends. I am honoured to be invited on that trip as in fact his friends organised it, but never once forgot to invite me. A funny part about that trip is that I got a e-mail saying a ticket had been purchased for me to get to Cape Town, but they forgot to book my return flight. I go down a day after they do as I have Jody to sort out. Now to show how close we are, all Allan said is that they are flying back to JHB on the 29th, he mentioned no times and no airlines. I gathered they were flying 1 Time, because that's how we are getting to Cape Town.
I then booked my return flight and e-mailed Allan the times, it turns out that we are ALL flying back on the same flight. As I always maintain- great minds think a like.
There is no Christmas present in the world that I can give Allan as he means so much to me. Respect and love are one way I can say thank you. I am so looking forward to spending some more quality time with my BIG brother- he is the best.
He has always been a big brother and has always been caring and supportive toward me. During our teenage years we were typical brothers, we had fun fun together, we also had our differences and often our opinions caused conflict. Anyway there was always brotherly love. However in recent years, we have become so close- Allan is one person I can call day and night and ask for a chat, advice or support.
I respect him tremendously and take his advice seriously- not because he is an accountant, just because is head is screwed in the right direction. The nice thing about Allan is he has never been bossy and respects my feelings and opinions.
I cannot wait for the 14th of December, when he arrives from the UK for a 3 week holiday. I have actually seen him 3 times already this year, but yet it feels like an eternity since we saw each other. The first 2 times were short and not under great circumstances- but we spent quality time together. The last was my holiday to the UK where I was spoilt from head to toe. Anyway I will be the first at the airport to welcome Allan and Ros home.
We have have 2 trips planned while he is here, the first is a day trip to Durban to say our finally farewells to our mom when we scatter her ashes on the 16th December. We want to do this before Christmas. The second is a weekend in Cape Town, this is just to do something different and spend time with friends. I am honoured to be invited on that trip as in fact his friends organised it, but never once forgot to invite me. A funny part about that trip is that I got a e-mail saying a ticket had been purchased for me to get to Cape Town, but they forgot to book my return flight. I go down a day after they do as I have Jody to sort out. Now to show how close we are, all Allan said is that they are flying back to JHB on the 29th, he mentioned no times and no airlines. I gathered they were flying 1 Time, because that's how we are getting to Cape Town.
I then booked my return flight and e-mailed Allan the times, it turns out that we are ALL flying back on the same flight. As I always maintain- great minds think a like.
There is no Christmas present in the world that I can give Allan as he means so much to me. Respect and love are one way I can say thank you. I am so looking forward to spending some more quality time with my BIG brother- he is the best.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Christmas Decorations
I arrived home this evening and found our complex news letter stapled to my fence. Anyway it has the usual reminder about people obeying the complex rules and regulations and then it had what is been happening in and around the complex as well as the ever important security reminders.
However the last part was some positive news, they want all the units to put up Christmas lights outside there units. A few of us have done this for the past 2 years, but can you image if all 31 units participate, what our complex will look like- A Christmas wonderland- Yippee!!!!! The main gate will also be decorated.
There is planned switch on at 6pm on the 30th November, which will be followed by a Christmas Party in the pool area with snacks and drinks as well as Father Christmas will be doing a visit to give all the kids a small gift, I must send an e-mail to the the organisers to see if a 33 years old qualifies as a children's.
Now my unit is right by the gate, so I have decided that I am going BIG, my double garage has a nice piece of wall above it, so that will be decorated, I always have something around my front window so I plan to make the most of it. The only thing that will wait till the 16th December is my Christmas tree.
It has been a family tradition that the tree goes up on the 16th December and that's the way it will stay. Even though it is now my house I will not break the tradition. In saying that even with my Christmas lights, I will put them on for the big switch on, but then they will be turned off till the 16th December.
It is rather strange how certain family's have certain traditions, and how the latter generations often stick to those traditions going forward. I actually was not going to put my tree up this year as without my mom it did not seem needed, but when I was in the UK a few weeks back, my brother basically said that the tree has to go up. After thinking about it, I agreed- mom loved the tree every year and this year is going to be no different. The Christmas tree will go up and she can look down on it and be proud!
I have changed a few things around in the house, but the traditions and family values will remain forever and should I have children one day, those values and traditions will continue.
I will do a blog entry once the Christmas lights are completed with some pictures to show you the San Bernadino Christmas wonderland. I will also share with you in a future blog entry my feeling toward Christmas 2008.
Lasty, I see I have been tagged- Thanks Hayley! I will think about which 6 secrets I am going to make public and put them on my blog this weekend. That should be interesting.
However the last part was some positive news, they want all the units to put up Christmas lights outside there units. A few of us have done this for the past 2 years, but can you image if all 31 units participate, what our complex will look like- A Christmas wonderland- Yippee!!!!! The main gate will also be decorated.
There is planned switch on at 6pm on the 30th November, which will be followed by a Christmas Party in the pool area with snacks and drinks as well as Father Christmas will be doing a visit to give all the kids a small gift, I must send an e-mail to the the organisers to see if a 33 years old qualifies as a children's.
Now my unit is right by the gate, so I have decided that I am going BIG, my double garage has a nice piece of wall above it, so that will be decorated, I always have something around my front window so I plan to make the most of it. The only thing that will wait till the 16th December is my Christmas tree.
It has been a family tradition that the tree goes up on the 16th December and that's the way it will stay. Even though it is now my house I will not break the tradition. In saying that even with my Christmas lights, I will put them on for the big switch on, but then they will be turned off till the 16th December.
It is rather strange how certain family's have certain traditions, and how the latter generations often stick to those traditions going forward. I actually was not going to put my tree up this year as without my mom it did not seem needed, but when I was in the UK a few weeks back, my brother basically said that the tree has to go up. After thinking about it, I agreed- mom loved the tree every year and this year is going to be no different. The Christmas tree will go up and she can look down on it and be proud!
I have changed a few things around in the house, but the traditions and family values will remain forever and should I have children one day, those values and traditions will continue.
I will do a blog entry once the Christmas lights are completed with some pictures to show you the San Bernadino Christmas wonderland. I will also share with you in a future blog entry my feeling toward Christmas 2008.
Lasty, I see I have been tagged- Thanks Hayley! I will think about which 6 secrets I am going to make public and put them on my blog this weekend. That should be interesting.
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