Drakensberg

 I had such a great anniversary. I'll tell you all about that tomorrow (hopefully), but in the meantime here are some shots from the Drakensberg. You can see the rest on my photography blog.

 

They look better big, so head on over!

Last year this time...

...I was freaking out. It was T minus 5 days, and I was completely overwhelmed and stressed and just generally being a weepy, snappish mess. I don't think I'd ever want to go back there, but I wouldn't trade the actual five days later for anything.

I'm so glad I have this blog, because I've forgotten so much of that time. This excerpt from this post on the 29th of October last year made me laugh:

I have Bride Brain (def: a sieve). I left today to go print the menus and table listings. Halfway there I realised I'd forgotten the cardboard I was to print on. I turned around, went home and got it. (Actually I went upstairs, patted my cat, Gollum, grabbed some water, went outside, locked the door, realised I still didn't have the cardboard, unlocked and went back inside). Got to the print shop and discovered I hadn't embedded the fonts in the documents, so they were all Arial. Yuck. Back I went home again. Returned finally, printed the stupid things, had the lady there slice them up so I wouldn't have to, got into my car, realised I had no food for supper, hurried back to the supermarket and then came home.

Attempted to breathe.

I can still feel my panic. But in the end, it was worth it, because I have this:

and this:

and this:

Mr Ruby Slippers and I are going on a mini anniversary holiday to the Drakensberg on Thursday. Our actual anniversary is on Saturday, and we'll return home on Sunday (in time for my rehearsal, boo). I can't believe it's been a year. They say the first year is the hardest, and we have had a few bumps along the way, but on the whole I'd say being engaged was a lot more stressful on our relationship. That was when we were snappy and short-tempered and weepy (me) and frustrated (him). Planning a wedding isn't easy on a relationship. If you can do that, the first year should be a breeze!

Happy almost one year, Mr Slippers! I love you.

Anniversary Help!

I need your help, readers. My first anniversary is coming up next month (can you believe it? Because I can't) and I should obviously get Mr Ruby Slippers something fab. My problem is I'm, well, somewhat strapped for cash, what with starting a new business this year. And we're not big gift givers in our little family - I mean, we always give gifts, but we don't spend big money on them. This is a very special occasion and I thought I had a great idea, but I didn't realise how much it would cost. No way can I afford it now! My second great idea was getting boudoir photos done, but I disregarded that as too expensive too, especially if you get them bound in a beautiful album. Plus...um...I'm a little pudgy round the middle. Yes, I know my husband knows that, but still. On the other hand, I'll probably never look this good again, so now might be the time! :P

Mr RS is a little hard to buy presents for (I'm already flipping out about Christmas and his birthday, because there are no more dvds or books he wants, and that's all I usually GET for him!), so I really need some help here! The first idea I had was these custom illustrations from etsy, done in an anime style. Well, anime-lite, I would say. Mr RS likes anime shows, along with sci-fi of the Buffy/Dollhouse type (he doesn't do things like Battlestar Galactica or Farscape or Star Trek), so I thought a picture of us would be perfect! But I underestimated the cost. Boo.

Any suggestions? I feel like I'm much easier to get gifts for, because I have things that I regularly gush and swoon over (you know, Judy Garland, Broadway, Wicked, heck, even chocolate). But Mr RS isn't given to passions about anything. He'll enjoy stuff, but he won't go crazy like I do. So...I'm totally screwed. HELP.

Happy Happy

I can hardly believe it. It just seems to have sneaked up on us, but somewhere between today and tomorrow is my and Mr Ruby Slippers' six month anniversary! (because there is no 31st of April :-)) It seems like just the other day that we were standing in the chapel, promising to love each other forever. It's been a fabulous, wonderful, beautiful experience. We tell each other all the time how happy we are to have found and married each other. Le sigh. It's great.

Lately Mr RS has taken to leaving me love notes as my screensaver, so I can walk into the computer room and see "I love you!" dancing around my screen. Yesterday the screensaver read: "Look under keyboard!" I did, and saw this:

Awwww.

Oh, and while I'm at it, I sort of forgot to mention it was my birthday this month. Mr Ruby Slippers took note of the pleas I didn't even know I was emitting (how good is he?), and got me THIS:

A brand-new widescreen LCD for my computer! So I can edit more easily. He's so delicious I could just eat him up. And I can. Cos he's my HUSBAND. For six months! Heee!