Happy Birthday to Me:)

It is official, I have crossed over - no longer can I gaily mention that I am in my "early 20s" when quizzed about my age, for today is the day that the sun rises on the other side of the fence......I have turned 26. But contrary to my earlier belief that the day I hit this dreaded age I would steadily start sliding towards geriatric-dom, I'm absolutely loving it.

It may have something to do with the gifts, the calls and the general attention I'm getting, but honestly, I'm not really feeling too phased about being a year older. So what better time to sit and take stock of my 26 years on planet earth.....it's been a roller-coaster ride thus far, and as far as I am concerned, the end is nowhere in sight!

Age 4

• I enter pre-school filled with ridiculous fear of all the strange people around me. By day 2 I loathe one of my teachers. Who raps a 4 year old over the knuckles for dipping her paintbrush in the blue paint "before" washing out the red!


• Details of pre-school year all a big blurr of nap-time, art time and general raucous time. Spend most of my days dreaming of "big-kids" school.

Age 5

• GRADE ONE HERE I COME! Can hardly contain the excitement of it all - who is this gorgeous lady called Mrs Yin?? Far cry from pre-school abusive devil!


• A STAR is born - Mrs Yin, bless her soul - saw my potential from an early age. As you can see, the name has stuck!

Age 6

• I'm forced to leave Mrs Yin and move clear across the country - I shall never know happiness again.

Age 8

• Yet another new school - for someone still 2 years shy of a decade, I have an impressive arsenal of friends across the entire country. I learn to adapt to the instability and ever changing environment. I can teach any chameleon a few tricks.

Age 10

• New school - I do believe this is number 4......maybe 5, not too sure. Don't know if I really fit in here - lots of farmer's kids.........I hear something about horse riding lessons - YAY. Oh...apparently you need your own horse, BOO!

Age 12

• This has to be the most traumatic year of my life. I've gotten into my dream high-school. I'm all set to go. All my friends are going there - life is gonna be sweeeeeeeeet. But alas, Mother and Father sit me down and tell me about finances that won't allow. I cry - okay, understatement of the year, I WAIL. I think I know what disappointment is all about.

Age 13

• High School - co-ed nogal! I rekindle with old friends (all that crossing the country earlier helped) I mourn what my life "should-have" been though. But alas, life must go on....who is that lovely boy with the mop of hair........

Age 13 and 1/2

• I officially become "a woman" - what junk!

Age 14

• Oh HAPPY DAYS, I get to move to my dream school after all.....oh my gosh who are all these mean b*tches???? I want my lovely boys back:(

Age 16

• O Levels - the beginning of a loooooong exam writing phase. I discover that I am queen crammer and learner of absolutely NOTHING! Well, seems to work anywho.

Age 18

• All in a whirlwind, exams are over and I'm hearing stuff about "your best days are over" etc etc. SCREW THAT - bring on Cape Town!!

Age 18

• Oh my gosh, varsity, oh my gosh......

Age 19

• I HOWL and WAIL and declare that I shall never be happy again- my broken heart feels like it will never heal. What the h*ll is this????? I can't believe how much it hurts.


• I lose a ridiculous amount of weight due my inability to eat or sleep (and the fact that I can hardly stop sobbing long enough to chew anything)

Age 20

• Heart is still in tiny pieces but I choose to pack it away and dedicate my life to Buddhism instead - lasts a couple of months at least.

Age 21

• Wow - graduation already?? What the f*ck???

Age22

• Back at varsity for honours - damn!

Age 22

• Okay....remember all that stuff I said about wanting to become financially dependant and what not??? Well, I take it back - I am gripped with mortal fear at the thought of moving tot a strange new town with a strange new language:(

Age 23

• I somehow manage to slide into a dangerous depression courtesy of the foreign language, new job and foreign people. I feel really alone and my melodrama lands me in hospital with stress induced migraines.


• Realise that I am now an adult and need to start being a self-sufficient human being. Make a conscious decision to stop the self-pitying and negativity - it's unproductive.

Age 24

• What is this???? I do believe Durban is growing on me!! I'm even eating hot curries and all and all and all.

Age 25

• HELLO EGOLI!! City of Gold I have arrived!


• What the h*ll - when does the madness stop???? Ever heard of "quiet weekend at home, ALONE!!!"


• Live in mortal fear of being hi-jacked or robbed.......ummm....not too sure how healthy all of this is..........ummmmm, Durban wasn't so bad was it?????

Age 26

• And here we are today! Older, wiser and generally all round more fabulous! haha, here's to 26 more.