Achieved!

Well, we are pleased to announce that Daniel no longer wets his pants. He has sustained the habit through the week. As a result, we hired a jumping castle on Sunday morning which they seemed to really enjoy - especially when their friend Andrew arrived in the afternoon to join them. We all had a lot of fun throwing the balls from the jumping castle pool at each other (they were those soft plastic balls so they did not hurt). Emma certainly laughed a great deal. interesting to see how quickly they moved through the castle - keeping their balance and not falling out. Really enjoyable to watch.

Otherwise Emma's tummy is just not sorting itself out- it is not hassling her at all. Just the smell is industrial strength! anyhow, we handed a sample of her poo to the lab which will now culture it and then give the results to our doctor. We think it may be an allergy or maybe something like white bread for lunch at school.
The flu is also going around - Fiona was pretty sick last week, and today Daniel had a temperature. I'm also getting a sore throat.

Talking of school, they both are reacting really nicely to the teacher. Emma produced some nice art in which she showed perspective - something that children of her age obviously don't do. She now has a great love for colouring in which made our visit to Spur on Friday night very easy as she spent her time colouring in every inch of the children's activity sheet they give you.
Daniel is, according to their teacher, above average in his mathematical ability and his attention to detail. She also says they are both very creative and their fine motor skills are well developed.

Now that the weeing in their pants issue is behind us (touch wood), we are focussing on getting them not to attack each other so readily. So it is a lot of encouragement to ask nicely for desirable items instead of grabbing them or having a tantrum. Still a work in progress although it is interesting how reasonable they both are when the other asks for access to the new most popular toy in the house (changes hourly).

Good news on the neighbours front - the house is beginning to resemble a house again as the front porch has been unblocked (there was someone living there) and there seem fewer people around. The owner is now going to have to evict the laggards who ignored his legal notice to move out by the 1st.

Today is an interesting day as 20 years ago today, the political situation changed when the ANC was unbanned. This led to the release of Nelson Mandela a few days later. Quite a momentous day - interesting to hear many politicians stories about where they were and how things were received. One of those days that you can remember what you were doing when the news came through. I remember looking up at the Giants Castle in the Drakensberg Mountains knowing that things were going to change but not comprehending what it actually meant. What was so amazing how people seemed to take everything so positively and in their stride. Maybe that is why it ended up so well instead of in civil war. I think civil war was not far off at times. Quite a priviledge to be part of really amazing history - not many get to experience such momentous times.
Interesting to contrast those times now with the news that our president has fathered his 20th child - and in a extra-marital affair with a women almost 30 years younger than him! The media and opposition parties are having a field day.

Otherwise, it rained very heavily last week - probably the heaviest rains in 12 years which is a relief as it means that ever present spectre of drought is put off for a bit. On Friday night, on our way back from Cresta Shopping Centre, we were genuinely worried about our safety as there were floods of water coming down the roads. anyhow, we got home safely and the rain started easing up on Saturday - just in time for us to enjoy the jumping castle on Sunday.