This past week was a bit transformative for me. I mentioned in my last post that I was going for derma blading, but after chatting to my skin therapist, we opted for a light peel and a session with the dermapen instead. A dermapen is specific brand of an automated micro-needling device that uses an electric motor to create rapid, vertical punctures with a pen-like tool. It does not cause any trauma to the skin and it was not painful. My skin felt fabulous afterwards.

My friend who gave me the guidance on which treatment to choose also recommended a new brand of tinted face cream from Colorescience®. I usually have a bare face most days, but when I do go out I like to wear a bit of light coverage. This also contains an SPF of 50 which is important in South Africa.

I ordered it online and on Sunday I decided to give it a try. You rub it until the colour develops, then apply it sparingly. It is expensive but a little goes a long way. My later applications I have added a second layer to my under eye area. These were taken in the same lighting – left pic is completely bare faced and the right is after waiting for the colour to ‘settle’. I am so impressed with the coverage with no heavy feeling on your skin. It is also ‘sweat proof’.

On Monday I went to have a haircut at Pause salon which has a branch inside of a shop called ‘Together’ that is located in the Oakhurst Lifestyle Centre. I have not cut my hair since last Christmas when my Mom’s neighbour cut it so it was in need of freshening up. The ends were a mess.

I used to go to Leandra every 5 weeks to colour my hair and give it a trim. As much as I love the head massages from Thembi, I am so thankful I do not have the upkeep of colouring my hair. I love the grey. I get so many compliments on it. Leandra cut a few whisps to frame my face. I love it!!

I am so thankful that I am able to treat myself to these things which make me feel good.

I mentioned last week about Norm attempting to grow some grass in the shade areas and his efforts to deter the birds from eating the grass seed. When just the strips of foil and fabric did not work he added some plastic windmills in the hopes that would scare them away.

It did not.

Now he has added CDs to the mix. I think they like them. Maybe they can hear music from the wind blowing on them?

The guinea fowl and the squirrels are still getting in but the grass is growing!

I was watching my lizards in the garden last Sunday. Can you hear the commotion in the background?

On Saturday evening there was a commotion at our gate. Finn and Poppy were going insane. Norm went out to see what was going on and found the neighbour’s little dog in the street. Norm tried to get someone to come to the gate but no one did. He saw that the front door was wide open so he assumed someone must be there. He rang the owner of the house but she did not answer the phone either. He eventually rang her security company to come and have a look. The scaled the fence and went in but there was no one home. The front door, the back door and the windows were wide open and there were empty bottles of booze all over the house.

Norm ended up walking up our vertical hill to enter the house from the back so he could put their dog safely into the house. He rang the owner again and left a voicemail asking her to ring him ASAP. That was at 10pm on Saturday and she did not return our calls until late on Sunday morning. She was away for the weekend and did not have her phone on, despite the kids being there on their own. Norm told her what he had found in the house but she did not seem particularly bothered, but she was apologetic.

Later when I was filming content for my TikTok in my back garden, the noise was so loud in the street that I captured it on my video above. I went out to see what was going on and discovered about 8 or so young lads carrying bottles and running up and down the street screaming at the top of their lungs. I lost my cool and shouted at them to get a grip and stop behaving like thugs. I sent a voice note to the neighbour and told her what was going on and that it was not acceptable for a Sunday. This time she replied.

When Norm got home the boys were again making a racket out on the street. Norm went over to speak to the kids who lived there. They told him they were 16 which is not of an age to drink legally and certainly not acceptable to have other kids in the house drinking. He told them that South Africa is not a country where you can just wander off drunkenly and leave your doors and windows open. The girl is British and the boy is a French exchange student. Apparently Norm speaking to them gave them the fright of their lives.

On Monday the mother brought a bottle of wine and chocolates to apologise.

Then all week I have had to listen to the noise from the neighbours on the other side. The building noises are bad enough but the yelling of the workers to each other at top volume was almost worse.

Of course we have had building renovations going on intermittently for a few years so I know I am a hypocrite. I am so thankful that the electrician came this week and finished off the last of the last bits!

This week I was asked to produce some marketing information and one of the topics I chose was “How Neurodiversity can be utilised to enhance your Analysis Skills.” I focused purely on the assets that a Neurodivergent team member can bring to a project if they have the support they require. In my research I was so happy to see that the corporate world is starting to actively recruit people who are neurodivergent, particularly in IT focused careers.

Norm cooked for us on Wednesday night. I prepared a salad and he cooked fillet steak and fried halloumi. It is our favourite summer meal. We change up the salad contents to keep it from getting boring.

Then on Thursday he asked me on a date night to Japanese restaurant Izakaya Kukai for dinner. It is owned and ran by the renowned sushi master Arata Koga who was recognized as 7th Sushi Master in the world. Norm knows I am a home bird and would have probably not agreed to go out unless he made the booking for somewhere he knew I loved. He booked ahead as we never want that little table behind me that is under the bookshelves.

Shortly after we arrived at 6 the place was rammed! There are only 14 seats available at the tables inside as well as about 8 or so small stools at the bar. Now they have added some tables outside and it doubles their capacity.

We are the type who like to order the same things once we find something we love. Or rather I am, and since Norm and I share a lot of them, he is also by default.

We ordered the Gyoza pan fried dumplings: pork and prawn filled little balls of heaven.

Then we shared the bang bang prawns, filled with prawn, avocado and jalapenos.

We also had the eggplant tempura with sweet miso sauce.

Norm had a bowl of teriyaki beef ramen and I had an order of tempura prawns.

It was all delicious as always. I had a service glitch as my tempura prawns did not arrive for ages. I asked the server about them and still they did not arrive. I had to ask a second time and they only arrived after Norm had eaten an entire portion of ramen. If you have ever watched someone eat an entire serving of ramen, it takes a long time. Never mind, it was a lovely evening and I had enough tidbits to stop me getting hangry.

It was insanely hot all week and on Tuesday Norm had opened the pool cover to see what condition the pool was in. It was a swamp. He put in loads of chemicals and left it overnight.

The next day it looked pretty good. Finn decided it was good enough for him and had a swim.

It was perfect for swimming on Friday and our 30℃ weather had dropped to 17℃. Our pool is icy cold so the only time it is pleasant to swim is a very hot day. Maybe later on I can have a dip if it warms up but it is not looking likely.

One good thing about hot weather is we have beautiful evenings.

This week I organised my life for the last few months of the year. I have a trip down to George for Lily’s baby shower & I booked into the Protea again. They have promised me a better stay and gave me 2 complimentary nights with breakfast included. Then we have our trip to the USA to spend 3 weeks with my Mom. Then we have a posh birthday party to attend back in SA. Then I have booked my flight down to stay with Lily when our little man is born. There were not many seats left so I am glad I got that flight booked even though it is months away.

Next week I have an Animal Communicator coming to coffee. I want her to try and connect with Finn to ask him what is causing his health issues and how he is feeling emotionally. She has had great results with my other friend’s animal.

Tomorrow I am off for lunch at Ember & Oak with a friend. I am looking forward to it as last time was amazing.

I hope you all have a great weekend and week ahead. Until next time, Kisses from the Kitten xoxoxxo