Easter Sunday and went to a nursery outside Brits called Simply Indigenous.
www.simplyindigenous.co.za/

Love it there and was most amused to see a new, large printed sign which greets one on arrival. Not a child-friendly nursery, it states, and please discipline your children. Asked owner Johann what had happened. Well, eight children had piled out of a car (he is not certain if they all belonged to one family) and went wild - running into the flower beds and breaking off bits of plants. Wish I had been there to see those hooligans!! Must have been chaos for him to have a special sign printed to prevent another such occurrence.

Health-wise, however, not a great idea. Decided not to drive to Brits (and the nursery) myself as was worried about my energy levels and sure enough, became tired shortly after leaving Joburg and dosed a bit in the car. Then spent most of the time at the nursery seated on a bench and felt too sleepy on the way back to pop into another nursery. Was not into popping in anywhere. And have decided to forego movies tonight to do something less demanding.

When lack energy feel a bit miserable but ok now. Got a braai tomorrow night and really want to go but not going to shop around for a present (not a birthday party but was the host's 50th recently so want to give a present) and going to resort to something easy and accessible instead. And no shopping for bags tomorrow (looking for a large everyday use handbag which is strong and so can handle all my stuff I love carting around). But who can talk for tomorrow? Will wait and see.

Then chemo on Tuesday.

Saturday shopping

Finally made it to the new melrose arch shopping centre....liked the new Woollies where I bought four soup bowls - with handles on either side - but fakked up by buying each in a different colour rather than just the brown and mustard ones (ie two of each colour or even four of one colour). But when looked at them was too lazy to contemplate returning them so am just keeping them. And do like the actual bowls.

Then ummed and aahed about buying a bag at Young Designers Emporium. Then decided against going to this shop at Hyde Park my sister told me has fab bags. Worried about my energy levels having had some bad experiences on Saturdays when I have over-shopped but my sister pooh-poohed the idea that my energy levels are bad, saying I am up and about and functioning, which is more than she can say for some of her friends who are also on chemo.

Just got invited to a braai on Monday late afternoon. Was about to turn it down cos have chemo early on Tuesday but then decided what the fak: so what if I don't have Chinese chicken and corn soup ready for when I do the chemo-recuperation. Sure I can manage without it. Else could buy it in advance I suppose. Ja, will do that (had planned to buy it late on Monday). Ja, I really am inflexible.

My sister is going to Cape Town next weekend to spend some time with my dad. Makes me tearful cos I would love to go. But not allowed to fly cos of the chemo. Must speak to The Tango Man about that. And about the wedding in Maseru.

Still eating too much but possibly less manically than before. Had leftover tsimmis (see below) at my sister today and once again, too much fruit, one of my big downfalls. Hope to go out for dinner again tonight.

TSIMMIS, A TRADITIONAL JEWISH FOOD EATEN AT PASSOVER - AND OTHER TIMES
: tzimmes (the word tzimmes - also spelled: tsimmes, tzimmis, or tsimmis - informally-speaking, means to make "a fuss about something", however in Jewish culinary terms it is a sweet mixture of specific foods and most often means a mixture of stewed carrots, prunes, raisons, and honey. It can also be a casserole of various fruits, vegetables and/or meats. The word "tzimmes" is from the Yiddish word "tsimes" which in turn is from the Old High German compound words "ze", "zuo", meaning "to", "for" + the Middle High German word "imbiz", meaning "light meal". In turn, the word "imbiz" is taken from the Old High German word "enbizzan", meaning "to eat", where "en" or "in" + "bīzan" or "bizzan" means "to bite"). The word "tzimmes" is also a Yiddishized play on the German words "zum" ("to", "to the", "to that", or "for") and "essen" ("eat") ("zum essen" as a phrase means "for dinner").

www.angelfire.com/pa2/passover/ashkenazicpassovercustoms.html

www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/TSIMMIS-1212366

ordinary yet extraordinary

Had a most revitalising evening. On the face of it, it was pretty mundane. Left the office and drove the short distance - it's essentially a brief walk - to the mall. Then went to Stuttafords to collect the dress I had bought weeks ago and had altered and threw a tantrum because they could not find it and insisted it be delivered to the office tomorrow. (The truth is I have two more days before I hit my immune-compromised time and with depleted energy levels, cannot wake up early on Saturday and buzz around town. I can do about two things and that's it. Either way though, their service is appalling and I told them so, explaining that I was not surprised to find it so chaotic as when I had phoned last week to explain I had unexpectedly found myself in Cape Town and so could not collect the dress as arranged, they had not known what I was talking about - and I had been speaking to the correct department nogal.)
Anyway, from Stutts went to Red Square where I was delighted to discover that I had vouchers worth R200 so my skin toner cost only R95, then dashed up the escalator to Tsunami to order copious amounts of sushi takeaway for supper - and where I was deligted to discover my favourite sushi maker welcomed me warmly despite my not having been there for months - walked across the pedestrian street to Woolworths where I returned the white beret which made me look like a ghost, chatted about the travails of cancer to a friend I bumped into, collected my sushi, paid for my parking - and then went to my flat to collect a few things, then to my sister when I had a mini supper and then to The Yoga Man who was awaiting the sushi.
And been exuberant ever since.
Normally, that is about two months ago, that would have been an insignificant series of events, except perhaps that I might have phoned Stuttafords manager the next day to apologise and collect the dress myself. But today it was revelationary. Because I walked around in a public place on my own, confident despite my no hair and a hat, and did loads of things. (Forgot I also re-eyed a bag I want at a luggage shop but that at R2600-something is a bit out of my reach.)
After a day of sitting still at the office and feeling nauseous, it was wonderful to walk around freely and exuberantly.
The truth is: if I think about it, I feel ill, as in nauseous. But if I don't think about it, I feel wonderful. So gonna drink my fennel tea, pop a sweet to take away the kak taste in my mouth, and continue to feel wonderful.