Carmen's farewell...

My best friend since I moved to Durban, Carmen, is moving to Johannesburg. Or, she has already. It was a sudden thing, literally all happened in a month and I am devastated still. Her family was/is my second family and I still can't believe they are not just down the road from me anymore. We had a farewell for her, and it was a great send off! Here's to many road trips to Jo'burg!

Mkhuze - (mmm-koo-zee)

One of my very good friends from school, Megan, finished her degree in Dietetics last year, and as per law she is required to do one year of community service at a rural hospital somewhere. She was appointed to Bathesda in Mkhuze, which is somwhere up the North Coast but far more inland. She's been asking us (my best friend Carmen and I) to come and visit for ages, so we found a weekend that worked for all of us and made the 3 hour trip up. I was expecting a one-horse town with, well, nothing really. And on first impression it was exactly that! Meg had told us she had made friends and went to the local country club often for lots of socialising, I figured she was lying. But I could not have been more wrong - turns out Mkhuze is so popular, it has lots of Game Reserves and we met so many of the locals who are mainly game rangers and farmers. They were lots of fun and so hospitable, they took us on game drives and treated us to lunch. Meg also took us up to a new hotel called Tiger Lodge which is situated on the Jozini Dam (very popular Tiger fishing dam and breath-takingly beautiful) for sundowners. It was stunning! That night we did head to the local country club, and it was buzzing! Where all the people came from I could not tell you!

The hospital she works at is so clean and well kept, for some place in the middle of no where I was so impressed! She comes home at the end of the year and I think she'll actually be sad to leave! I even was... here are just a few pics.

My best friend, Carmen and I...
Rhino on on of the game drives.

Our "social" in the middle of no where.

Carmen and Megan at Tiger Lodge.

Jozini Dam, view form Tiger Lodge. So beautiful!

I'm feeling the Christmas spirit, can you tell?

Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year, without a doubt! It helps that my birthday is right before, but watching the decorations go up in all the malls and shops brings uncontained joy to my heart and a puts a new spring into my step! I am a sucker for carols, cinnamon, baubals, glitter and all things Christmas!

I am especially excited for the festive season of 2010 as the Frays, (my Aunt, Uncle and cousins) are coming to South Africa for the first time in too long... I am ecstatic, I am counting down the days, and though we may not be spending Christmas together, this might just be the best start to the New Year, ever. I am all about family, this is such a treat! I'll be sure to blog...

Next month, right before Christmas, marks the 3rd year since my trip to the States, and it hits me so hard every year, what a special Christmas that was - not white, but very cold - with family I hardly knew but have always missed. What I wouldn't give to have you all here with us...

I have yet to finish finals, still a week to go, it's been a tough, difficult year university-wise, but what an exciting Holiday Season to look forward to! I think I may be looking a bit too "forward" though... Lets finish exams first, before we start reflecting back on 2010...

All my love and promises to blog more...

Stace.
xx

a night at the Royal Ascot

Seems I blog a whole lot about 21st's we go to! This post is no different! The theme was "the Royal Ascot" - horse races... it was a super fun night - Kuen hogged my camera, you may notice!

Kelsey, the birthday girl! I love this chick!

top of the world

Dev and I took some friends of ours from the UK up the arch of the Moses Mabhida stadium. Neither of us had been before and it was amazing. You travel up in a "sky-car" to the very top of the arch you can see in the picture below, where there is a viewing platform... we went on a very pretty day, so you could see for miles. Here are a few pics.... You can bungy jump from one of the levels in the split of the arch you can see above, as well - we weren't that brave this time!

Tim, Tally, yours truly and Dev....

Dirty Mexicans

Ku, Dev and I went to a 21st with the theme "dirty mexicans" - it was brilliant, Ku looked amazing - Dev and I - I think we missed it a bit! You'll enjoy the pics though!

Spring has Sprung

I'm writing in my bikini this morning - it is the most gorgeous day outside, just got back from a run with my lovely friend, Gemma, hopped into the pool and lay out in the sun for a little. It's only September and we've reached max's of about 39'C - I have been in my element, I was born in December for a reason, such a Summer baby!

It is a bit early, however, to have already kicked into holiday mode, I start finals in less than a month and still have so far to go! Time is slipping away so fast, far too much time spent outside apparently!

Apologies for the lack of blogging, will post some stuff that we've been up to!

Happy Spring if you're in South Africa!

Bryan Adams

My best friend, Carmen, and I and her boyfriend, brother and sister all went to watch Bryan Adams last month! Its the second concert of his I've been to and I will go every time he comes here, he is INCREDIBLE! I am such a fan! Here are a few pics, as I uploaded them i realised how terrible they are and that you actually can't see anything, I am so sorry! We were too far back for good pictures - see Krystals blog rather! :)

This is Bryan Adams - believe it or not!

Cara and Bevin (Carmens sister and brother)

Carmen and I.

The Lion Park

Toby (the Swiss guy I met and made friends with during the World Cup) and I decided to take a trip up to the Lion Park, thats about an hours drive from my house. We'd spent all our time on the beach at the fan parks, so decided to do something different. I had never been before, I don't particularly like seeing wild animals kept in captivity, but it was interesting none-the-less. Toby loved it, he'd never seen wild animals so close up before!

They had elephants as well, we could get out the car and play with them a little bit, that was my favourite, they were so cute, and so gentle! Could have stayed and played all day long! Here are just a few snaps - once you've seen one, you've seen them all!

Black Like Me

These are just some pics from a 21st Ku and I went to, theme was "black like me" - maybe you need to be South African to appreciate it! Some of the outfits were hilarious... These are just a few of us...
Jared Temlett, Alistair Wallis (birthday boy) and Ku.

Here's to 21 years of unforgettable memories...

Ku turned 21 on the 26th of July this year, we had a 21st party for him the week before at our place, with a lamb on the spit and a whole crowd of friends. Each of us did a speech and then some of his mates and they were BRILLIANT, exposing some serious dirt on him! Was an absolute ball! Here are some pics from the afternoon!

His FAVOURITE sisters! :)

Ku and his friend, Nick.

Happy 21st Birthday, Ku! What fun these last 21 years have been, I am so proud of you, of everything you've achieved and the places you are going! You are such a legend, and I have so much to learn from you! Love you, so much!