A New Name and a New Title

This is my first post in almost 3 years. The blog has had a bit of a makeover complete with new name and image. The Running Golfer has officially been retired. A New Title has come my way.

You see, I'm going to be a Dad. A Dad... I have to repeat it cos I still struggle to believe it. I never thought I would ever be able to call myself a Dad. God however decided to grant me that title after all these years. I am beyond happy and thankful.

We are 13 weeks pregnant today. 13 Gloriously amazing weeks. Oh and did I mention we are expecting twins? I get choked up just typing it. At this stage we THINK we know the sex of one of our little ones. The other one was very "uncooperative", to quote our doctor, during our 12 week scan. Probably takes after his / her Mom... :)

So the blog is going to have a bit of a change in direction. I hope to post a bit more and take you through my journey as a Dad to be. A journey I am so happy to be able to take.

So it's a New Year, a New Blog, a New Title. Here is what I wrote on Facebook and Instagram yesterday:

There will be no Resolutions this year, although if I'm honest I never really do those. This New Years Eve I am thankful. Thankful for Henry and Charlie who filled such a massive void after the loss of Elvis. I am thankful for a job that I love. I am thankful for wonderful friends and an amazing family, both near and far. But most of all I am thankful for the blessing God gave us in falling pregnant and for blessing us so abundantly and making it twins. Words cannot describe what I am feeling just thinking about it. Lastly, I am thankful for my amazing wife, who has been the one constant for me over the last 14 years. I am not making any resolutions for next year because what I have now is just perfect.

Till next time.

Francois

Like yesterday - 20 April 1992

Today marked the 20th anniversary of my Dad's passing. In some ways it feels like another lifetime but in others it feels like it happened this morning. 09:10 this morning marked exactly 20 years.

I remember the most arb things. I remember staying up that Sunday night to watch South Africa play their 1st test since readmission against the West Indies. I remember checking up on my Mom and Dad during the night. I remember sitting next to my Dad's bed, holding his hand. I remember the smells. I remember going to bed at 07:00 that morning. I remember the sudden call to get to the bedroom at 09:05. I remember my Mom, my Sister, Barbara the Hospice nurse, My Granddad and me in the bedroom. I remember my Dad opening his eyes and staring at the ceiling above us. I remember him stopping breathing and then suddenly taking another deep breath. I remember that being the last sound he ever made. I remember having Eric Clapton's "tears in heaven" in my head that whole morning. I remember going to Markhams to buy a nice jacket and pants to wear to the funeral. I remember my Mom climbing into the car after going to see my Dad at the funeral home and bawling her eyes out. I remember my friends around the grave. I remember...

I have had so many emotions about my Dad over the last 20 years. I never had the best relationship with him but I did cherish the last 3 months we had together. I concentrated on the bad times a lot and I feel really guilty about it. I wish we had the normal father son relationship but that was never meant to be. I never watched a rugby match with my Dad. My Mom did that with me. I never watched cricket with my Dad. My Mom did that with me. I never spoke about girls to my Dad. My Mom did that with me. It was never a normal Father Son relationship. My Mom did that with me.

I played many rugby and cricket matches at school. Do you know which one I remember? The ONE rugby match my Dad came to watch. An under 11 match, on a cold Saturday morning. Must have been in 1981. I remember seeing my Dad next to the field and playing terribly. Freezing literally and figuratively. I remember how I punted a certain golfer to win the Million Dollar back in the day and him winning. But I remember even more how my Dad came home from work that Sunday night and telling my Mom how I picked the winner on the Thursday already. I was in bed, not supposed to be awake. I'm glad I was. I remember becoming Headboy of my school but I remember even more clearly how my Dad told everybody who wanted to, or didn't want to listen, about it.

I'm slowly coming to terms with my Dad and me. I know he loved me. He was hard on me but he loved me. He fought his own demons every day of his life but he loved me. We never had money but we never lacked food, or a warm bed. He made sure we were looked after. He loved me.

Dad, after 20 years, I think I'm finally grown up enough to see how much you really loved me. I'm also grown up enough to see how much I've loved you all along.

Rest in peace Dad. I love you and I miss you... 

Your son
Francois

Testing testing

Testing the new Blogger for Iphone. Don't let me down now. Yours sincerely, Apple Fanboy.

The Tri-Annual Check In

I'm not gonna promise to blog more. It won't happen. I have been really busy the last few months and it doesn't look like changing, so no empty promises.

I'm home alone at the moment. Hayley is away with Dale and Kerri. We bought an awesome weekend away through Wicount at Bushmans Hide, unfortunately I have been so busy at work that I had to cancel. So I'm the Macauley Culkin of Farrarmere until Tuesday.

I joked earlier that it's gonna be Summer Camp for the dogs and me for the next 2 days. It's not Summer Camp. I'm just sitting here sulking. This house is Hayley. With her not here, it just isn't the same.



I said on Twitter earlier that I'm the worst bachelor in the world and I am. I always have these big ideas about how much I'm gonna do and how much fun it's gonna be. It never works out like that. Never. I just sit and pine for my wife as soon as she's gone. Pathetic, I know.

The worst is that she's in an area with NO cellphone reception. Nothing, nada. So I can't even chat to her. It sucks.

So thank you for hearing me out. I know it's not fun listening to an emotional man on a Sunday night, just before Carte Blacnhe nogal. I apologise.

Please listen to My favourite song at the moment.. It is amazeballs.

It's me.

It has been way too long, I know. I have been busy with a lot of things, just not blogging.

I have spent a lot of this time on my favourite pastime, namely Instagram. Now Instagram is an Iphone app (also available on Ipad). You take photos, play around with different filters, styles etc and post it. You have friends and followers who can then like or comment on the photos. You do likewise. It is the most addictive app I have found since Twitter.

So I thought I'd post a few of my Instagram pics over the last few weeks. Hope you like "em... :)












I promise to visit more regularly...

My blessed life

It`s 21:25 on a Sunday night. I`m sitting in the study, listening to Pink`s "F***ng Perfect" on repeat and reading my wife`s blog.

I haven`t blogged in yonks. I just haven`t had much to say if I`m 100% honest. Life has been leading it`s inevitable course for the last 2 years. It`s been a pretty tough slog, with more downs than ups but we`ve been surviving and having a pretty good time doing just that.

We`ve rediscovered our friends. Since we came back to Joburg, just on 2 years ago, it`s been amazing spending time with our best friends. No matter how awesome Cape Town was, nothing could replace true friendship and I`m so blessed being back with my true friends. Friends and Family, nothing matters more. Nothing.

Hayley and I have also been on a big journey. Coming from a place where we could afford and do anything to not being able to do those same things, it`s been a hard road. A road I wouldn`t have been able to walk with anybody else. A road I`m thankful to have walked with my soulmate. We are and will always be best friends. I`m the luckiest guy in the world.

That brings me to the last 58 days. The last 58 days have been some of the most encouraging, reaffirming ones of my whole life. You see it happened on 7 January 2011. I was in Middelburg for business and I got a call from Hayley. She had told me about a house she had seen. It was for sale and she was totally in love with the place. I was on my way home and agreed to meet her to see the house. It meant nothing to me. I was still in the space where life was completely against me and nothing good was gonna happen. I met Hayley at the house and went through the motions. Even though I loved it, I was never gonna get excited. It was just too long a shot. The downside was just too big. I wasn`t gonna set myself up for that big a fall. AND there was an offer on it already.

Hayley was adamant that she loved the place. She called her folks and they agreed to come have a look with us on the Sunday. Hayley`s Dad also loved the place, much to my chagrin. I was counting on him having something negative to say! I was trying to convince myself that the house wasn`t for us, that the last 2 years had left it`s mark on everything.

Hayley however, refused to budge.

She convinced me to fill in the application form for the bond. She phoned my Private Banker in Somerset West and arranged EVERYTHING. I was a reluctant passenger. I did what she wanted but made in difficult.

On the Thursday we heard that the offer on the house had fallen through and I almost got excited. Almost.

So on that same Thursday our application was submitted. A long shot. On the Friday, I just got home and got a call from Hayley. She said the status on the internet read "application approved". I didn`t believe her and went to check for myself. It did say that. I was in tears. I never thought it would happen. Especially not in 2 days. I phoned my personal banker and she phoned the call centre. Both said the same thing.

"Congratulations".

We could not believe it. We were beyond excited. That little statement meant that our lives were ours again. A house of our own after 2 years of renting. Things we lived for were going to be ours again.

We signed for it the next week. We got the keys on the 25th of January 2011. Started painting and laying wooden floors the very same week. We have done so much during the last few weeks, it`s been amazing.

It is bound to be registered tomorrow, 59 days after that 1st viewing. We have had the keys for 41 days. We have transformed it into OUR home. Elvis and Phoebe love it here. We spend time next to the pool, playing ball in the garden, braaing, laughing and joking. It`s ours. It`s not just a house, it`s confirmation that we have our lives back. A life we lost and have craved for almost 3 years.

I owe it all to my wonderful wife. She is the most amazing person I have ever met. I owe her so much, I`ll never be able to repay her love and kindness. Thank you my Sweetie for making another shot at complete happiness possible. I love you more than life itself.....



The most amazing post script to our journey happened on the weekend. We got copies of the original plans for our house and they are dated 25 January 1961. 50 Years to the day when Hayley and I got the keys to our new home.

Meant to be?

I think so....

Christmas, the way it should be...

Firstly, hello, my name is Francois and I have been neglecting my blog. I know it`s been a while but life seems to have gotten in the way of blogging.

I have made a decision though to give a bit more attention to my blog. It used to be such a big part of my life, a part I really loved and enjoyed. So I promise to make more of an effort from now on.

The reason for this post is to send you to my gorgeous wife`s blog. It is looking amazing at the moment and this post should make you fall in love too.

So, until the next time (which will be in soon, promise).

Man Cold

For all you ladies who doubt the seriousness of this affliction, watch this video, then go apologize to your husband / boyfriend / brother / son... And then make him soup.

Mouse Trap