Starting off

Not sure where to start off with a blog. I guess this is really just my ramblings of my little life in the big wide world.

I will begin with how I came to the name LASJACAJO. I have taken the first 2 letters of each of our names and then put it together. I used to use LAST (made of my first and maiden names) before I got married and I then needed to include Jason into it. So it became LASTJACA. When Stefanie was born her name fitted perfectly in the ST, but the problem arose once Joshua was born and so the addition of the JO on the end. Thankfully it still sounds good, I better not have anymore children as I will then have to discard the name altogether and think of something new.

So then for those who dont know me. I am 32 years old, married to Jason and I have 2 kids Stefanie (3 yrs) and Joshua (10½ months old) This kids were both born in Dublin, Ireland where we have just recently moved from to Cape Town, South Africa at the end of 2007. We were living in Dublin for 3½ years but after being very homesick we decided to return to SA.

Some days I am not sure if it was a good move back or not. But this week it feels like a good move as the weather is 31 degrees today and Jason started his new job this week.

I returned to Cape Town on my own with the 2 kids. I started by staying with my brother Chris and his wife and 4 daughters. I had already secured work prior to leaving Dublin with my previous employer in SA. They heard I was returning and offered me my old job back. Timing was simply amazing. I arrived and I needed to find a school/creche for the kids as well as start searching for a rental house.

In the meantime Jay stayed behind in Dublin to work for a few months in order to save some money to set up life in Cape Town again. He planned to stay for 3 months. This was the hardest part of the whole move and the separation certainly took its toll on our relationship but we have come through it all despite many obstructions along the way.

I began with the search for childcare and during this time I had a fallout with my sister-in-law and found myself and the kids virtually homeless. Jay's aunt Jenny then helped us out and made space in her home for the 3 of us. It was not easy as Hayley was in the process of writing her final Matric exams and here I was with 2 noisey kids in tow. My boss/friend came up with a solution for all - she opened her home to us as well. So we stayed during the week at 'work' and then weekend with Jenny & family.

I searched many childcare creches/play schools and many left me feeling depressed and desparate. Finally I walked into a school and got a good feel about the place and the staff. It is located very close to my work. On my first visit I notice a sign on the gate of the school whichsaid that the gate was sponsered by the company that I am working for. So I took this as a good sign and I have not looked back yet.

So I started working and the same day the kids started at school/creche. It was a big step for me as I had not worked since the birth of Stefanie. It took a good few weeks for Stefanie to settle into life at school and life without Mom. Joshua was fine as he was only 5 months old when he started there. Stefanie still loves going to school but she still takes strain some days and wants to stay home with me. But this is normal and I know that once I leave she is happy and loving it.

So for the next couple of months this is how ife was. Monday to Friday we lived in Kenilworth and then Friday afternoon I would pack our bags and we would go to Kommetjie for the weekend. Sunday afternoon was once again the big move back to Kenilworth. I have lost count of how many move I did with the kids in those few short months. Stefi got so used to sleeping in a different bed each week/weekend. I got used to sharing a bed with Stefanie - something I could never do before as she is a restless sleeper. I became an expert at packing bags and getting a huge amount of stuff like toys, food, nappies, travel cot, pram etc plus kids into our Nissan Sentra. Once I was in the swing of this routine I began to look forward to my 'weekend away' at the end of a week.

The next big thing which I had to do was to find a house for us to stay. Jay was adamant that he wanted to arrive in Cape Town and move into a house as he did not want to stay with anyone. At time I began to feel that this was a huge unobtainable task but I carried on looking. I saw many grotty unsuitable places as well as a few places I fell in love with only to be dissappointed when my application fell through. I am amazed at how the price of rental properties have soared since leaving SA 4 years ago but salaries have remained the same. Eventually when I was just about to admit defeit, I visited a property and was accepted as a prospective tenant. I did not even get excited and signed the lease without one excited heart pulpitation. I only believed the place was ours once the agent handed me the keys and left me alone in the house. We are living in a 2 bedroomed townhouse in a security complex in Tokai. Out of all the places seen and that I had 'fallen for', this place is definately the best by far. Even though it is small the setting makes up for it. We look over onto the Contantiaberg mountain range and the kids have a large communal garden in which to play as well as access to the complex swimming pool. When finances allow it would be great to move to a 3 bedroomed house in the same complex.

Jason stepped off the plane on the 24th November 2007 and the same day we all moved into the house in Tokai. Jay decided that he wanted a holiday (much to my quietly endured frustration as I had not enjoyed a holiday since arriving in Cape Town). December brought Christmas and then the News Year and the worst time of the year to be looking for work and to be unemployed as most companies close for the holidays. So Jason's job hunting only really took off in January once firms opened their doors for 2008.

And so began yet another frustrating and dissappointing journey. After numerous interviews with recruitment agents and no follow ups with jobs Jason was starting to get dispondant and very bored with being at home all day. He met with an agent who once again promised him the world and a job but this time he was given the name of the place and a little of what was required in the job specs. One very long week past of waiting to be called for an interview. Finally the following week the agent told him that a mix up had happened and somehow he almost lost the job but that they had now seen his CV and wanted to see him. First interview went very well followed by a second interview the following day. Then a few days wait before they offered him the job. I can't describe the absolute relief that this little accpetance will make to our lives. Jay starting work this Monday and he seems to be enjoying it so far. The setting is brilliant as it is on a wine farm and 10-15 mins away from where we are living.

Jay had been considering going to the UK to look for work if he did not find work here. It would mean another separation and perhaps a move back to the Northern Hemisphere again. So at present we are happy to remain in South Africa but what may happen in the future only remains to be seen. I will try to keep it all posted here.

Better go as starting this off went on longer than I anticipated!!!!