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Little things …
As usual it’s the little things that are the most fun – this time the wrapping from Lilly’s new shelves.
When I showed Erik how he can pop the bubbles with his feet he exclaimed (his favorite phrase): “Oh, I didn’t realise! Mama, I didn’t REALISE!” followed by lots of walking up and down the kitchen accompanied by his little shadow.
As I mentioned before …
… Stodels is a pretty cool place to go when you’ve got small kids.
Normally I enjoy the luxury of having the place mostly to ourselves and a few other lucky ones who have the choice to go there during regular working hours.
Last week I experienced though that it can also be fun during its very busiest days – the school holidays.
We went there to meet Erik’s sibling kindergarten friends Karla and Paul to find the place packed with pool, water slide and – of course – masses of families frolicking all over eating ice creams, hopping on trampolines, splashing in the water or even cuddling huge snakes and iguanas. (lizard tongue sticking out over delighted little boys’ shoulders, claws hanging on to their arms, both looking very happy … In such situations my kids prefer a safe distance while I wish I was small enough to also get a turn).
Karla and Paul’s Mom had me green with envy as the two year age advance of her children allowed her to peacefully indulge in coffee drinking and scones eating while I was constantly helping Lilly up and down the irresistible slide. And still SHE is the one finishing the Two Oceans marathon last weekend!! Not fair.
Erik, the observer, was easy. first he watched the kiddie train, then the kids on the trampoline, then the kids on the waterslide until finally sitting down next to and striking up a conversation with an elderly lady on a bench.
All in all it was lots of fun, almost overwhelming, and the best part was feeding the animals (my personal favourite the tortoises of course).
How to renew your vehicle license in South Africa
Guide for foreigners: How to apply for renewal of your vehicle license in South Africa
Step 1: The City of Cape Town now offers a stunningly easy and innovative way of renewing your vehicle license. You can do it online! Just go to http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Vehiclelicensing/Pages/Licencepayments.aspx and follow instructions.
Step 2: Complete the form and send it off
Step 3: Wait for email confirming that your application has been received including bank details
Step 4: Pay via EFT
Step 5: Wait for your license
Step 6 – 10: repeat Step 5
Step 11: receive fine for expired license
Step 12: call service centre to find out that your license has been sent to your old address
Step 13: call new tenant of your old home
Step 14: SMS new tenant of your old home
Step 15: repeat Steps 13 and 14
Step 16: get hold of tenant who doesn’t know where key to post box is which she never checks.
Step 17: wait a few days and then repeat steps 13 and 14
Step 18: learn that license never arrived at old address either
Step 19: repeat Step 12 to find out that you must fax proof of new address, copy of ID and request letter in order to have license resent to your new address
Step 20: follow instructions and fax everything through (engage several other people to help you by providing printers and fax machines. Thanks again!)
Step 21: wait
Step 22: go to Municipal Court to explain circumstances and get rid of fine. (bring lots of forms. Once again thanks to all involved)
Step 23: Wait for 1 hour
Step 24: be told that you must wait until you receive the SUMMONS to do anything about it (mind – the traffic officer who GAVE you the fine said you must take the fine to the court asap. “They will throw it away – no problem!”)
Step 25: get a second fine for your expired license in front of the municipal court. The friendly traffic officer tells you to take both summons to the Court once you have them. “They will throw them away – no problem!”
Step 26: call service centre (2 weeks after fax) to inquire why licence still hasn’t arrived. Friendly lady tells you that your details still haven’t been changed and that you better go to the traffic office in person. Bring proof of address and ID. They will give you your license. No problem.
Step 27: cancel appointments in town because you can’t risk getting a third fine
Step 28: Go to traffic office to be told that your passport doesn’t count here. You must come back with your Traffic Register Number.
Step 29: Frantically search your house for your traffic register number.
Step 30: Go back to traffic office. ALMOST be sent away again because now you must of course pay extra for the TWO extra months that your license is newer than when you first applied and SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICES ONLY ACCEPT CASH WHICH YOU NORMALLY DON’T HAVE WITH YOU. Find out that your details have meanwhile been changed. Lady behind counter is confused. What must she change?
Step 31: HAAAALLELUJAH HAAALLELUJAH HALLELUJAH HALLELUJAH HALLE-E-LUJAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!
Step 32: (a few days from now): find another new license in post box
Like this:
Flashback
Remember our visit to Germany when Erik was Lilly’s age?
http://kohlrabie.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/eriks-adventures-in-germany/
Where else, but Rooiels?
We had to go get some raw meat for the beast (no, Anja!) and so we decided to make a bit of a trip of it.
Glenn: “Let’s go and get the food and then take a little drive to get ice-cream”
Well, Gordon’s Bay was packed! (Pic to follow….when Meli does the uploads) so we drove on further to Rooiels.
We had a snack and then a little walk round the town before heading home with the holiday traffic.
Exhausted kids dreaming away and I think Mom and Dad are going to turn in too!
