Rent, exams, and the bottom of my laundry basket

We went and had a chat with our landlord – and thank goodness he reduced the rent. Increasing the rent at 10% a year for the last 5 years can get a bit costly. And when I move I want to move into a house that we will buy. He is a good landlord, we are good tenants, and we are a match made in heaven LOL.

I have been studying for the exam tomorrow. Yes I am worried but worrying is good, right? It is better than not to care at all. I am currently revising the last 5 chapters.

I have been e-mailing my study-buddy but she is off for the whole week on study leave. I know I felt bad taking study leave because I have already given notice. My morals and values kicking in I guess. There would be a million other things to do at home anyway. When you are at home you are 100% a mom dreaming about seeing the bottom of your laundry basket.

The notice letter..

Oh my, oh my, oh my. Did I knock them over with my presentation! I am so proud of myself. Then again, I had 2 hours in the traffic every morning to practice! Yes I was nervous, but the words came out and it was almost like I was a natural.(Almost)

I went for the 2nd interview on Friday and they offered me the job on the spot. This morning the new Company e-mailed the letter to confirm everything in black and white that we have discussed. I typed a notice letter and went to my boss’ office.

We both sat there and sobbed for a good 5 minutes.

The contents red:

24 May 2010


Dear Mady,

Well the time has come for me to move on, I knew this day was coming but I did not expect for it to be so soon. I want you to know this is an exciting time for me as well as a sad time.

I would also like to thank (Company) for all the opportunities in the last 9 years. I have grown so much within myself. It is indeed sad to leave such a wonderful company where you feel like part of the family. I will always look up to you as my mentor and will have the greatest respect for you and (Company) as a Company.

I have had wonderful times and have met wonderful people while working here. It has been a great honour working for (Company).

So today I would like to give notice for the period of one month from 24/05/2010 to 21/06/2010.

Once again thank you for everything.

Rentia Kruger

What a joy to leave a company in such a good spirit.

That is how it supposed to be.

The long awaited 2nd interview

After 8 months of job hunting – finally a 2nd interview. There are no guarantees, I know, but I need the boost for my ego. I made an impression on someone. With this I can go forward, even if I do not get the job and have to go on like this for another year.

I have walked in to companies where I did not want to work. At one place the MD had 2 Romany Creams stuffed in his mouth. I tried to make out what he was saying, but to no avail. Well you just sit there and are nice while you would rather be sitting in traffic on your way to work.

This week I have practiced my presentation that I have to give to a class full of people tomorrow. I created a PowerPoint presentation to put on my memory stick because there will be a projector and a big screen ready waiting. I hope I make a good impression. All I could do to make things ok was to practice. The worst thing is to be unprepared. When you loose your chain of thought you have to know where to take off again.

I am looking forward to the 30th of June. I am going out with the girls to watch Eclipse, the third movie in the Twilight Saga. Tickets go on sale on the 29th of May so for those of you who are Twilight fans, get those tickets early. It is a midnight show. Hubby has promised to do Pajama drill for that one night.

This is it from me, Supermom on this Friday of 21 May, 2010.

Dear Dad...

Dear Dad,

I’m not mad at you. At the time when all the following things happened in my life, I was furious.

I played hockey every Saturday in the winter months from Std 6 to Std 10.
I would have loved for you to be at one game.

I was in the girls shooting squad and we traveled all over.
I thought you could at least watch me shoot target once.

I was part of the Vaal Reefs Netball team.
All I wanted you to do was to attend one practice or game.-

I sang in the School Choir.
Maybe my voice would have made you clap if you came and watched.

I married the man of my dreams.
You were there Dad, but your refused to speech about your own daughter.
At least someone saved the day for me Dad. Someone who felt my pain. Someone who wanted me to have good memories when I think back on my Wedding day. He stood up and showed you how it is supposed to be done. He did not have to do it, Dad. I wasn’t his daughter for 26 years.

I got my Diploma in HR in 2004.
I stood alone on the stage, with my Husband clapping and smiling from below.
Yu were supposed to be proud of me that day, Dad.

My 1st Child was born in 2004.
Again you were absent. It was the first grand child. Where is the pride in that,Dad?

My 2nd Child is 8 months old.
Maybe if you put in a little effort, you can see his face for the first time.

The day you invited me to your 2nd Wedding after Mom died I declined. You resent me for that. Maybe it works both ways Dad.

Can you now understand why I miss my Mother so much? She was the only one who was interested in my Life, Dad.

My question is why do we always remember the absent times, and fail to hang on to the good times?

Because those were the times that mattered to me.

The Cross on Jim Fouche rd

Who was Mark Lewis? Where was he on his way to when the accident happened? How old was he when he died? I tried to read the dates and all I couldmake out is that he was born in the seventies. Was he drunk? Did other people die too? He must have a family that still misses him. Or was he an innocent pedestrian on his way somewhere?

His name is engraved on a white cross that I pass on my way to work on Jim Fouche’ road every morning.

I guess there are better things to do than to sit in traffic and acknowledge dead people.

May his soul rest in peace.

The Presentation

How do I get up and present in front of a class of 20 students? How do I get the butterflies in my stomach to fly in formation? It’s kinda like Motherhood. You don’t know what you are getting yourself into, and in the end you just do it because the rest of your life depends on it.

I have my notes ready. Practice makes perfect, and there is a little less nerves if you are prepared. (I think). This will be my third presentation while I am studying. I have all these creative ideas that will kind of brake the ice when I start. I can’t do a presentation on my own company because we sell an industrial product and that leaves little to the imagination as far as marketing go.

I decided to do a presentation on Pentel, my husband is in stationary and got me ne necessary samples and accessories to present. At the end of the presentation I will be giving away the samples. I did this with my last presentation and it was a hit. People like getting things for free. And hopefully the lecturer will see some creativity in that.

If I get nervous I babble and talk too fast. Last time I had to stop, apologise and take a deep breath. No use thinking too much about last time. This is different. A new start.

That brings me back to the first two questions in this blog.

I pray. I do my part. I succeed.

Another interview

Turn left, right, left, left, right – and Bob’s your uncle. Easy peasy. At least I had a building name and I could go on that. It is a family business and I find those kinds of interviews always a little bit more personal, but I enjoy it. People make you feel at home. As if you are part of the family. Then again you have your pros and cons of working at a family business environment.

I am feeling a little bit more pressure at work, my boss’ daughter is back from London and she will start in my place when I leave. She has always helped out when she was in school and did a fine job, so at least I am leaving my job in good hands.

Everyday I am getting a bit closer, I can feel it. Yes I am sad to leave here too.

Life goes on I suppose.

Rosebank..Roseblank

Yet another morning where I couldn’t find a place where I was supposed to go for an interview. The woman at the agency was arrogant when I phoned her; she just assumed I did not take a map book. I had the damn thing on my lap. Trying to drive in Rosebank with all its one ways and a map book on your lap plus your husband on the other end of the line on your cell – now that is a challenge.

Eventually I was in tears. It’s like I was from Mars asking for some place out of this world. Now I’m on my own I suppose. The woman at the agency tried her best at getting me this interview and I couldn’t find the damn place. And I am a woman - I do stop and ask for directions.

I wish these job seeking days were over. I have learnt so much on the other hand.

I am so down, ag but I will recover later.

The next interview is tomorrow at 8:00. Hopefully I will find the place.

The month of May

It’s the month of May, and although it is always cold this time of year it is also a little bit sad. My mother’s birthday is on the 15th. Yes, I am a little bit mad because she wasn’t here to meet my children. But I’m only human. Sometimes you just need your Mom, whether you are 3 or 33. How do you fill an empty space? Time has never been my friend.

It has been 7 years and I can still hear her voice clearly in my head. Like when I was a child and she used to call me from the fence when I was next door playing. Part of my fear when she died is that I will forget her, that her voice and image will fade away with time. I am glad to say that it hasn’t. She’s still fresh in my mind.

Does life really go on after someone close to you die? Or does it stand still for some people. My whole world collapsed the day my Mother died. Will I understand one day? Not while I am part of this world.

Oh month of May, you bring good memories every year.

I cherish my time with my Children, because I don’t know how much precious time I have left. It’s not that I live in fear. I just make the most of every moment.

Life is precious. You’re the one that taught me that.