Charlie's Bird
living the dream with Charlie and Thandi and chirping all the way back to the nest.middle brother
…so yesterday my middle brother turned 60. So I now have 2 brothers over 60! Yoh! It certainly makes me aware of the passage of time. And, yes, I really was the baby of the family.
So, shame, while we were in Durban in the break between swimming and nippers I got a message from my sister-in-law to say that CAS (middle brother) was seriously ill. They were not entirely sure what was wrong, but he had been admitted to hospital in Hermanus the previous evening. At this stage the presumptive diagnosis they were working on was a pulmonary embolus. Now, at this point, after a quick panic, I started to scratch my head, the diagnosis did not make complete sense, I felt completely helpless being so many miles away without being able to jump in, get answers, expedite investigations, and just ensure he got the best possible care. In a little while I got another message to say that he was being transferred to the Worcester Provincial Hospital for further investigation and management.
Shortly after arrival there, it was established that the original diagnosis was not correct, and he had in fact developed gallstone pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a serious inflammation of the pancreas, in this case, caused by a gallstone causing an obstruction to the pancreatic duct. He was admitted into ICU and had renal failure, liver impairment and ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome). He was on high flow oxygen, invasive monitoring, and was seriously ill.
Once the Nippers competition got cancelled, I made the call to head down to the Western Cape, I had the time off work anyway, and there was no guarantee I would get that way anytime soon again. I really got quite the fright when I did see him, he was in respiratory distress, and really wasn’t able to engage in any meaningful way. He was working very hard at breathing and staying alive. The doctors were very kind, and offered lots of reassurance. He was responding well to their treatment, and they were confident of a good recovery. After 4 and a half days in ICU he was sent to the ward, which was an infinitely more challenging environment. His room/ward mate was a young gangster who had been stabbed who was giving the medical team grief! Anyway, I was really pleased with how he was starting to improve, and when I had to head home before the Easter weekend, I left with a fairly light heart, knowing he was on the way to recovery. He was sent home on Easter Sunday, and will be having his gallbladder out later this year. Here’s hoping he stays well and stable until then.
week 14.4
..time for the Nippers update.
So following on after SAJN, it was time for Nippers Nationals. We had a 2 day break, and then it was time to hit the pool again for the Stillwater part of the competition.
- Day 1, Thandi competed in the 100m Obstacle race, where she placed 3rd.
- Day 2, she did the 100m rescue medley where she was pipped by split seconds into 4th, and the 100m mannikin carry which she won! (it was an incredible race to watch, and she led from beginning to end! Sometimes a little bit of a disappointment can be a real motivator!)
- Day 3 she ended up being scratched for the day as she came down with flu, poor kid was really bleak.
The little EL team did not have enough competitors for a relay team, and neither did the neighbouring Summerstrand team, so they allowed them to compete as an invitational team in some of the relays – in one they would have placed 2nd and the other 4th. An excellent effort.
Sadly, a front of bad weather moved through KZN and after a massive rain storm, the Umgeni river washed out, depositing so much rubbish (even snakes!) on the beach where the kids were to have competed. This coupled with high winds which meant that the swell was huge, the juniors and seniors were struggling. Then, some muppet at eThwekweni municipality decided it would be a good time to open the sewerage line, and pollute the sea. So, the surf part of the competition was called off. Flip, it must have been a tough call to make – knowing people had travelled from all over the country, all their vendors who were invested, all the infrastructure that had been put into place, but, safety first, such is life. In a way I was relieved that we did not have to make a call over whether T could compete or not, because she was still sick, and wouldn’t have had the best time.
And we rounded off the nippers experience with news that Thandi has been selected for the Eastern Cape Nippers team to compete in the IPT in early May! Super proud of this kid!
Week 13+4
Phew, 4 weeks since I last blogged, so much news to share, I think I will have to break it down…
SA Junior national champs in Durban 2024, 15-19 March
My girl did so so well! 1 gold medal, 3 silver medals, the highest point scorer for her club! And a PB in every single race she swam. She really has learnt that hard work pays off! so, lets go through those races.
- 400m free – the first race of the gala for her, on day 1. Ranked 5th in the starting line up, she was in lane 3, she had a great start and a good dive and a great underwater (this is the bit when they dolphin kick before they emerge from the water) She was matching the #1 ranked girl the whole way, and I was getting worried that she may have started too fast, but, as I saw her start to accelerate in lap 7, I realised I had nothing to worry about, the girl knew what she was doing. She accelerated past her main rival, who could not respond to the challenge and my girl swam herself into first position with a 19 second PB. This really was just the most incredible race to watch. I was sobbing, she was bursting out of her skin with pride, her coach was ecstatic!
- 200m free – much the same as above, except she left her attack about 5 seconds too late, and narrowly missed beating the same girl. A silver with an 11 second PB. Again, I was beyond proud of her.
- 100m free – was a repeat of the above, left her challenge a teeny bit late, but ended so strongly with an 4 second PB and the silver medal.
- 200m IM – the IM is such a tactical race and you have to know how to pace yourself, but also to capitalise on your stroke strengths. Thandi , once again, swam an incredible 9 second PB, narrowly missing the gold medal, ending with the silver.
- The other races she made the finals were 50m breast, 50m free, 100m fly and 200m breast, she swam well, shaving seconds off her times, but missing the podium.
- She also swam the 50m fly and 100m breast, but very narrowly missed the finals in those.
- She was also part of 2 relays – the 4 x 100m free relay, where she swam the second leg, and the 4 x 50m free where she swam the 3rd leg. if she had swum the time she swam in the second relay in the 50m free race, it would have given her the gold medal! Kids! They get so excited in relays and the adrenalin pumps! Anyway, they did not place, finishing 6th in the 4×100, and 4th in the 4×50, but it was a gutsy performance from these youngsters!
All in all, an absolutely amazing experience. One of the quickest 12 year old swimmers in the country. She has matured so quickly as a swimmer, managing her diet well, resting when she should and is learning to deal with her slight disappointments. She still needs to learn that some of her fellow swimmers are not good for her psyche and tend to have a very negative influence on her, but that will come with time. She is only 12 after all.
week 9+4
…flip, where does the time race to? I am in that frantic place as we prepare to head to Durban for SA junior nationals (swimming) flooded by Nippers nationals. We are away for 2 weeks in total, so it is really crazy trying to get everything set and ready. I am tired and find I am waking up with a sore jaw and clenched shoulders and a headache. I really hope that once we get there things improve.
The last week had some good moments. One of the nicest is the training Thandi has been doing in preparation for Nippers on the Mali board. She has been getting some one on one training with a previous gold medalist at worlds, and he has been amazing with her. Watching her get out the water with huge smiles, and improving confidence has been awesome. He is sure that she will do really well, and we are hoping that this technique tutorials will assist. And the weather has been amazing for the beach lately. It is brutally hot here, and honestly water is the only answer.
Charlie went off to do a 3 trail event called the Wild Coast Challenge. We have previously done it together, and I am afraid that this time he was hopelessly under prepared, but had made a commitment to a friend that he would be there, so he showed up and did it. He’s home now with sore legs and back and blisters on his toes, but a happy heart from just being out in nature. While he was away, I spent some time in nature too – in my garden. I am really loving it as a haven away from the world.
Thandi went to a boy’s 13 birthday disco this weekend, it was cowboy themed, so we spent some time perfecting the outfit.
My beautiful, beautiful girl!
Week 8.3
…Friday was such a busy day, I intended to blog, but it was one of those crazy ones, where I needed to get through work, so I could get to school, to the interhouse gala. It was hot and clear, and the spirit was amazing! Thandi swam so well, and won the 200IM, 50 breast, 50 fly, 2nd in 50 back and 50 free, all the relays in her age group, her house won! then , the most exciting race – the Grit race – they chose the top 10 50m free times that were swum across the boards, and those 10 girls lined up, they swam a 50m free and the slowest 2 were eliminated, and so it went, until there were just 2 left. A showdown between T and friend, and Thandi came out on top! The winner of the Grit race. Her house team exploded and mobbed her, it was amazing to witness! So, all in all, a great day, Gittins won the gala, the spirit trophy, and Thandi won senior victix ludorum!
Week 8.3
…how is this year already 8 weeks old? Time waits for no man. so, the week round up…
- Work – is ticking along. Nothing exciting to report.
- Home – next round of minor improvements should start shortly. The steel guy has quoted on the staircase construction for Thandi’s new room’s mezzanine floor, and I have paid the deposit. Wall paper has been chosen, flooring up next.
- Thandi – Man, my child is amazing! I sound like a stuck record, she actually needs her own set of bullet points. At school, she is shining and her test marks are very good. She has been voted in as swimming captain, and has swum herself to #1 in her age group in our city. Nippers was this weekend…
- Nippers – Phew! EC Champs were held in an extremely windy Jeffrey’s bay. My word! Anyway, our little team of 17 Nippers were trojans, played out of their socks! My Thandi had a great competition, missed out on a medal she really wanted, earned a whole pile of others, and ended up third overall in her age group. (she missed second by 1 point!) I managed to get out of my moon boo0t this weekend, and into a shoe, on the beach, and I am so glad to see the back of that thing. The foot is tender, but completely manageable.
Valentining
…apologies for the delay, but here goes my Valentine’s dinner report.
- THEME – So, I decided to do one of those murder mystery dinners, while in Chicago, I bought a kit, but when I opened it to have a look at it, its for 6-8 people. Now there are 6 of us in Bookclub, so I need at least 12, so this wasn’t going to work. In addition I invite a few other couples to join us, so I needed a game to accommodate 16! Thankfully the internet saved the day, and I found a fun game, based in trailer park, so it became a super classy trailer park murder mystery!
- DECOR – fortunately I didn’t have to do too much, or have the house looking particularly glam. I used some cans as vases, borrowed some small metal flamingoes from a friend, made some redneck wind chimes, and printed some posters that the game provided.
- FOOD – Cocktail – Frozen Peach Aperol Margarita (not a crowd pleaser – a bit strong); Amuse bouche – Gorgonzola guacamole stuffed mushrooms with buffalo sauce (yum, but should have used bigger mushrooms, they shrunk dramatically during roasting) ; Starter – BBQ grilled chicken on a bed of cheesy polenta (so good! the polenta was a winner!); Mains – Smoked Brisket (thanks Charlie for 10 hours of smoking), macaroni cheese, smoky baked beans (so flipping good!), salted honey butter rolls(OMG, get into my mouth!) and cucumber salad (a good foil for all the rich food); Dessert – hot fudge chocolate brownie ice cream sundaes (these were the second attempt at a dessert – I initially made these in cones, but there was a disaster when the freezer door was left ajar and the ic cream on top of the brownie melted and fell off the cone, so a plan had to be made, and there was no time to recreate the cones, but still tasted delicious, I think my best brownie ever).
So, the game worked like this – with their invitations, the guests had received their character’s name, a description and some background on their character, and a copy of the trailer park’s newsletter. Once everyone had arrived, they received their name tag and an envelope giving them personalised instructions. Included in the envelope was ‘$500’, which was used to buy silence, bribe people, etc. Once the evening was under way, and everyone was getting very merry, it was time for the victim to die… now she did not know she was the victim until the night, so, when we killed the lights, she collapsed on the floor… It was then time for second envelope, the victim became the detective and the investigation was underway. by the end of the evening, everyone made an accusation, in addition to voting for best dressed, best actor and counting their money. And at the end of the evening we tallied the votes, only 1 person (in addition to the murderer themselves) guessed the murderer, and we ended with a ‘prize giving’.
We all laughed, acted, played along and generally had heap of fun! I (and my broken foot) were exhausted afterwards! Definitely recommended!
week 7
…apologies for skipping last week… It’s been rough.
- Work – has been quite busy. The hospital is planning a pilot project, rolling out in the latter part of the year, which I am involved with; it’s going to be interesting, and I’ll share more as the plan becomes more concrete. I have been nominated for SASOG council, which is quite a prestigious thing in our gynae world. So an election will be held and we will see what comes of that. I’m not 100% sure when the election is, but I expect it in the next 2-3 weeks.
- Thandi – swam in a gala in GQ last weekend, she swam some good times, and we are optimistic about what she will do at SAJN with a month to go. So, nicest compliment ever, at the gala, the referee called our team manager aside and said that she has to please tell the parents and coach of Thandi that she is the most polite, courteous, humble swimmer he has seen on the pool deck. She thanks all the officials after every race, graciously, with a smile. #proudmom Sport has been very very busy! In other news she got glasses last week – flip, she has wanted them for years, and although she has had a minor issue with one eye, the optometrist said to rather leave alone and see how she goes. This year the board has become problematic, so retest, and the optometrist conceded that she could now have a pair… she looks so cute!
- She has also been elected as an ambassador at school. Our school did away with the apparently ‘old fashioned’ prefect system, so this is as close to a perfect as she can get. #Superproudmom
- Friends – while we were in GQ we caught up with 2 families that we had met during our new year break. It was good to laugh and catch up with them, but even better was watching T and their kids pick up where they left off last time. They squealed and smiled and talked and laughed. Made me so so glad!
- Valentine’s day – as is my custom in hosted my annual Valentine’s dinner – it was themed along a trailer Trash murder mystery dinner – it was a hoot. I don’t have photos yet, once I have them I will give you a blow by blow account, but it was fun with lots of laughter and hysteria!
- Family – yesterday was 7 years since my Dawny passed… I miss her every damn day.
week 5+3
…phew, a lot happened last week, and we were on the road on Friday morning, therefore, no blog.
- Thandi – had an up and down week. The highs included some great swims at pour provincial top 8 trials, where she swam mostly PB’s and thoroughly whipped her competition. She was so happy with her results. On Thursday morning she was due to leave with her waterpolo team for the Oakhill tournament which takes place in Knysna. It is a fantastic festival which takes place in the lagoon, the construct floating pools in the waterfront area at Knysna. Absolutely incredible experience for the kids. She was exhausted when she went to bed on Wednesday, and when I woke her up on Thursday morning, she was under extra blankets and she was on fire, with a massive fever. So, like any good doctor, I loaded her up with paracetamol, send lots of meds along and sent her on her way. To get a call to tell me she’s throwing up and is looking terrible. Anyway, the teachers managed the situation quite well, they kept her hydrated and managed to get her fever broken. Poor girl, she was finished! She didn’t play on Thursday afternoon, and was good to go on Friday, but the sparkle faded and by the last game of the day, that temp was up again and she was all teary and upset. Anyway, Saturday was better, by the final game of the festival the entire team was tired, but they managed a great result! They finished 3rd on the log, having only lost 1 game (no team was unbeaten by the end of the fest) and Thandi played some great polo, some okay polo, and spent some time on the sidelines. 
- Running – this was a tougher week, and I struggled with my energy again. It has been extremely hot and humid, and I have not enjoyed those conditions. On Saturday while in Knysna, I suggested to Charlie that we go for a run, all was going well until I tripped and fell off a pavement, in the process breaking one of the bones in my foot. So, there’s that. Thankfully no surgery required, but, not my best day out.
- Work – steadily ticking over.
week 4.3
…apologies. my Friday was insane! I got swept up at work, and never had a chance to0 sit down and blog. So, forthwith, my weekly round up of the week.
- Work – was steady and quite busy, which is a good thing. The hospital called a meeting with us OBGYNs, and there is an interesting pilot project coming later this year – call it a sign of the times, and I will share more, when I can.
- Running – 2 good runs, 1 not so good one. The heat and humidity is a real factor at the moment, but plodding along. There is a possibility I may do Wild Women hit Europe (Portugal) this year, busy looking at dates and finances.
- Thandi – is as usual, is a busy bee, but she is thriving! Swimming is going well, we seem to be managing her programme okay, Monday is her completely manic day! Today she has swimming trials, a ballet lesson and a polo match, she is missing polo training and a marimba lesson!
- Charlie – is starting to train for a multi day trail event he is doing with a mate. they intend to shuffle along, and we will see how that all goes.
- Meetings – are full steam ahead – Grade 7 meeting, lifesaving AGM, hospital meeting all last week, this week, SGB. Phew!
Charlie's Bird 