Social Butterfly

It has been extremely busy in the office (don’t get me wrong this is a good thing), I love my writing and staying in touch with my loved ones, but this has started to become less and less as my time is stolen from me. Please do not be alarmed…this does not mean that I will be discontinuing the Ghana Times. It just means that you may have to be kept waiting a little longer between newsletters. This does not in any way reflect my love for you or the amount I miss you all…it goes without saying that this is more than all the stars in the sky…. or as Morgie would say, “Lots and lots like jelly tots!”

With Victer having left for South Africa last night to do some business and see to some missing links at home, my work load has doubled as I have been left to hold the torch - so to speak. Should you pick up an element of sadness in my tone of writing, you would be very perceptive, the fact that he gets to go home and see Nick and all that we have left behind, really makes my belly ache somewhere deep down inside. Last night felt really lonely, and I still have seven nights to go.

The kids are doing famously. Morgan literally has a play date every day now. She continues to be Miss Popular, and never lets anyone forget it! Chris remains precious and grows smarter by the day. He is his mother’s pillar of strength and the hug I receive from him in those huge strong arms when I return from work everyday, gets me through the tough times. He often gives me an enormous grin (big front tooth still missing), his face lighting up with those dimples and says, “I am so proud of you my beautiful Mom!” It’s at about this time that I could literally eat him with a spoon!

I vaguely remember reporting to you last time that our days had become cooler, must have been a dream……still so hot I take cold showers when I get home at night. However, with the news I have heard from home, I should not be complaining as you seem to be freezing your butts off. I will try and capture some sun in this e-mail and send to you pronto.

“The currents that shape our lives, flow from the attitudes we nurture every day.”

Daddy has returned. Thank goodness. Just in the nick of time. Together with the children I painfully counted away the sleeps, retiring to bed at an hour only babies recognize as bedtime, just to sleep the nights away and get through the waiting quicker. Besides the fact that the kids missed him like crazy (believe me dealing with nagging whiny kids who want their Dad is enough to make a monkey bite its mother), I had no one to whine to. The children were not interested in my problems, they had problems of their own (much bigger than my own of course), being stuck in a country that is not home, and on your own almost drove me insane.

Since my last newsletter, I have been throwing myself into endless tasks in the office to keep my mind busy. The results have been rather productive, and the business seems to be proving itself worthy at last. Doing two people’s jobs can be taxing, but someone had to do it and I was up for the challenge. I must add though, that it is a relief to have Victer back in the office, doing what he does so well, leading us all. He seems to have returned with a new energy which is engulfing us and driving us on to higher levels.

The children have been continuing to do the best they can at school, and besides their yearning for Daddy, have been doing well. Morgan continues to be Ghana’s smaller version of Victoria Beckham, keeping herself busy with her social calendar. She is gorgeous, bubbly, and bossy! Of course, her Daddy is the love of her life and she battled without him, but the numerous birthday party invites and deciding which dress to wear with which shoes, kept her pain at bay. Christopher has had a slightly tougher week. He will come to realize how lucky he is to be such a big, tall and strong boy when he is older, and the girls are bashing down the door and the rugby coaches are begging for his attention, but for now his size is causing him huge concern. The children his own age are smaller and tend to be afraid and run from him. Being the gentle giant that he is, he cannot come to terms with their fear and has needed some extra love and hugs to deal with his school day. He is such a humorous chap and I have no doubt he will soon be back on top of things. He is growing like a weed and is already a whole head taller than when we first arrived here. Although he would rather be smaller, he is so funny and has us in stitches with his endless joking.

The days seem to be getting hotter and hotter. Even with the rain, (more like a hot shower), the temperatures refuse to let up. Every time I ask one of the locals when is their cooler season, they keep reassuring me, “Soon”. They have been telling me that for months now, and I am beginning to believe that their understanding of the word “cooler” may be quite different to mine. At least my suntan is coming along nicely.

It has been so wonderful, and yet very emotional, to hear all your news Victer has brought back with him from home. We have both become even more determined to focus our minds on getting through what must be done here, so that we can hurry up and join you all once again. I think Victer’s return has been a combination of emotions, of course he wanted to return to Mrs. Misery and the kids but had a heavy heart with the renewed memory of what was being left behind. My little nephew, Sebastian (not so little anymore I am told) was on top form for his uncle and gurgled and chatted happily as he found a very definite place in Victer’s heart. My darling Nicholas has apparently done his fair share of growing, and continues to make his good old mom proud, as he handles his tasks expected of him with finesse. Victer managed to spend some time with family and friends, Matt, Sach and my Dad (it was lucky that he had traveled up from Cape Town on business at the same time) and hearing how well you are all doing has been a relief. Thanks to you all for your kind words and thoughts you sent back with him, your continued interest and love and support of our time here gets me through the down times.