Ice Skating

"I can do this. I did when I was young. Look up, look up! I AM looking up. Then why am I seeing my heels? Make a fist, make a fist! Remember the rule or lose your fingers!

People are friendly here - they all seem to be smiling at me. Except one. My child. She appears to not see me. I guess she's just focused. Wow! I had no idea my body could do a figure 8! Make that a Q. But I can't feel the surface. Which way is down? Ouch! Got it. This is fun!"

That was before my daughter had any friends at the Ice Arena. Now she has friends. Lots and lots of friends. COOL friends. She's very good at skating now. Well into her second set of skates, in fact. Now I'm allowed to watch from the window. Provided that I keep moving.

If you haven't been initiated yet, try it. You'll never look back. (Unless you're on the ice, of course, in which case "back" may prove to be relative.) Keeps the kids occupied for hours. There's an arena at Northgate Mall and another at Festival Mall in Kempton Park, if you're in the Jozi area. I'm sure there are others, but those are the ones I know. Times are 10:00 am to 5:00pm, then again from 7:30pm until 10:30 or 11:00 pm, seven days a week. Entrance is R30.00, but you can buy a book of ten "Cheapskate" cards for R230.00, which is a fair saving. If you need to hire skates, they're R15.00. (Pays to buy a pair if your kid gets to be a regular.)

I never had time to read before. Now I never have enough books. I get to see movies. I've even met some of the other parents (to commiserate with) and ALL the security guards. (I'll forget the one who wanted to take me in for loitering.) I know every CD and DVD in Musica; every Special in Game. Made buddies at Incredible Connections (and to be fair, I have actually bought from them on occassion too). I actually enjoy clothes shopping. Even groceries are a cause for excitement. Had my eyes tested and new specs made up when the specials were on.

And, of course, I LOVE watching people at the Mall. Especially when they're watching me and they think THAT'S amusing. (Don't they have anything to DO?)

Oh, and I still have all 10 fingers.

Try it. With your kids, if they're not teenagers yet. If they are, clear out of there and have some special alone time. Oh, and remember, as far as your kids are concerned, NEARLY teenager equals teenager. From about 11, they're practicing to be teenagers, so you're not "cool" and getting colder!

Have fun. And if you see an old man wandering around the Mall in a world of his own - say "Hi" to me.....