Things Are Looking up

I just reread my last post and noted a couple of typos that have now been put right. Normally I pride myself on my proofreading skills, so I really hope that's just a blip that doesn't carry over to my professional work, I've finished my article drafts and the first one has been proofed and delivered. Two more go tomorrow and I'll take extra care with the proofing. The last batch goes later in the week.

Healthwise, the week has been just as bad, if not worse than the last one, at least until Friday. Following a night of pain, diarrhoea and sickness, that morning I called the Macmillan nurse and was given a reprieve from the meds for three days. Later I was persuaded to go out, take Rafi for grooming, walk Jade on the beach at Branksome and find a dog friendly pub where I could watch my daughter eat her lunch and even share a bit of it.

We found an excellent inn for that. Called The Plantation, it was decked out in old colonial style with a lovely conservatory restaurant and bar areas where we could take our dog while we ate and drank. They even brought her out her own drink of water in a special dog bowl. The service was superb, making us feel really special. I'd never noticed the place before, but someone said it used to be a residential home so I guess it's new. Sitting in the car on the way home I realised I felt better than I had for weeks.

It has been good ever since, with nights for just sleeping. I went out twice yesterday, dog walking in the morning and to my granddaughter's football presentation in the afternoon. That was in a sports club we'd never been to before, very civilised with a bar and a covered area we could sit. Outside was a children's play area plus various pitches and sports grounds. It is obviously popular with families in the local area as there were plenty of people there who were not associated with Poole youth football teams.

The girls had a great time and all received their awards for playing for a whole season, with one or two singled out for special praise.

The Footie Final

On Saturday we all trooped to Blandford School to watch Eryn and her team play in the Dorset County Cup final of the under 13 girls' football (for my American friends that is soccer). Our team is new this season, but the other team were seasoned champions. The two teams seemed to be evenly matched and it was a hair raising game in which our girls aquitted themselves really well. All of us spectators shouted ourselves hoarse, but sadly for us, they couldn't quite knock the champions off their pedestal, and ended as the runners up with a score of two goals to four.

But we are so proud of our Eryn and her team mates who have come so far in such a short time. In the photo of all the girls with their trophies, Eryn is third from the left in the back row.

The World Cup in South Africa

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of WorldCupCompanions. All opinions are 100% mine.

World Cup 2010

On June 12th, The USA meet England in the first round of the FIFA (The International Federation of World Football) World Cup in Rustenburg, South Africa. The odds of the USA soccer team winning this game or getting through the first round are pretty slim. As I write, the odds of them winning the cup are 75/1, while England is third favourite with odds of 11/2. You can see up to date World Cup odds by clicking the link.

Fans have needed some grit and determination to get tickets for the games. Less than 10% of available tickets are reported to have been allocated to fans of the individual teams, although Americans might find it easier than the English because of the latter’s fans having a bad reputation overseas.

Wherever you need to come from, it’s an expensive business, so it makes sense to spend some more time in South Africa, if you can. Rustenburg, in the North West Province, is located in the beautiful veld below the Magaliesburg Mountains. The town was named Rustenburg by Dutch farmers who settled in the area – it means a place of rest. It is close to the Sun City holiday resort, on the edge of the Pilanesburg National Park, which is one of Africa’s top destinations for fun lovers.

While staying there, you could take a ride in a hot air balloon, try out the Gary Player Golf Course, and experience the Valley of the Waves – a water park with five flume rides, one with an exciting 17 metre drop. The more serious minded might like to check out the local history at the Paul Kruger Museum in Rustenburg or visit the Platinum Mines.

The other two games for the USA in the World Cup group round are at the famous South African towns of Johannesburg and Pretoria. For the England team, they are at beautiful Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. If you are lucky enough to be following your team, there are many more wonderful sights and experiences awaiting you in these areas.

In the meantime, or if you are stuck at home watching on the small screen, use the sponsor link below to keep up with all the World Cup information and gossip.