Uk tour update...

Yip, it is in my possession! My passport arrived. I picked it up this morning. The one in the picture is however not mine - that one looks as if it has been around the world in 80 days. Mine is brand spanking new!

This now starts to make my UK holiday just that little more real. I'm all ready to go now! Bring on April!!!!!!

Update and more!

A hang of a lot has happened since the last time I got behind the PC and did any blogging. We have moved into a new year - Happy New Year everyone, I hope it is a good one for you all. I have travelled over 14 hours in one trip to get back home after a wonderful holiday and Christmas with the family! Thanks everyone for making it so memorable and enjoyable. The Proteas have taken a 2-0 lead in the Cricket being played against the aussies!

My wife has turned another year older - Happy Birthday my love. I know that your birthday didn't start off too great but I hope it got better and more enjoyable as the day progressed.

I have managed to get a stiff upper arm playing wii tennis - what a lot of fun and laughter!!!

My Passport has arrived, I am going to collect it tomorrow morning!!!!!

Spurs have bought Defoe back to White Heart Lane!

Spring cleaning has been the order of the last two days. Why is it that every new year people have the urge to spring clean? It was a rather useful exercise though. It is rather tiring though.

I have run a 10km and a 15km race since the last post. No training mind you, just put on the shoes and head for the start line- not a good idea if the course is rather hilly and your brother in-law is in a mood to dash full steam ahead for the finish line to finish some unfinished business.

Cape Town Holiday update 2!

The weather has been really great the last couple of days. Hot and sunny, beach kind of stuff!
Today has however turned in true Cape style and is overcast and a bit of rain. As this is the case it's off to Canal Walk to do that last minute shopping before Christmas.

Yesterday we took a drive to a small town on the west coast, Paternoster, and then down for lunch at Langebaan. Both towns are very holidayish, if that makes any sense with not much else to do but eat, drink and sleep or visit the beach. No swimming here though as the water is around minus three inches (freezing!!!).

Unfortunately I can't post any pics as I left my card reader at home. So when I get home I will post some holiday pics.

I also got to see four of the wind turbines that are used to generate electricity. They are massive and I'm glad I got to see them. Maybe that's odd, but you don't see them everyday, everywhere.

My Cape Holiday update 1

Here at last, 14 hours later!

The first day in Cape Town was rather hot! The sun came out and the wind died down. This meant going to the beach and the inevitable, getting burnt to a sinder. Okay maybe not so bad.

A visit to the Royale Eatery for a burger and a walk down the street to see Cape Town's city Christmas lights was fun and a special occassion for the kids.

The weather is great again today and so I'm off to the beach again.....

Between Holidays

So I have been rather busy over the past few days. I enjoyed returning to the family in Umhlanga and took some time out to relax looking over the ocean and just enjoying and having time to breathe.

We returned from the coast on Saturday, to rush straight out to a friends Christmas Party. Then it was time to catch up on the washing and ironing as we are headed to Cape Town for two weeks to further our holiday and spend time with family. It's packing and washing and sorting out at the moment ahead of a long 15hour drive tomorrow.

British Holiday Update.

If you have been following my bdlog you will know that I am going on my first overseas holiday in April '09. Well I thought I would give a little update! No, I have not packed yet and No, my passport hasn't arrived yet. However, today I received some foreign currency as a gift. This will certainly go down well as the exchange rate is rediculous at the moment.

I'm off to check, I think it's about 130 days till we go!

Dad's 60th Birthday

As part of my father's 60th Birthday celebrations, as mentioned before, we (the family) travelled to Umhlanga Rocks on Kwazulu-Natals North coast to be together for the celebration .

We woke up this morning with the sun shining brightly and an awesome day planned ahead. We had a photo shoot booked for 8am, breakfast to follow and later on, lunch. After lunch we (Hayley, Francois and myself) had to head off to the airport to catch flights home for work tomorrow. (The last two days of my current job).

We all got ready and headed down for the shoot. It turned out to be a whole lot of fun, and I cannot wait to these the photo's that were taken. they should be really cool. We then headed off to breakfast at the local lifesaving club and spent some time on the beach as the weather was playing along nicely.

I got burnt to the bone and then we all headed off to lunch. The food was exquisite! The day had all gone exactly to plan, infact I don't think we could of planned it better if we tried.

Then it was time to go to the airport. All in good time, probably with about 15 min to spare. Then all fell apart. Hayley locked the keys in the car that is supposed to take us to the airport. Their luggage inside. Spare keys I hear you asking.... it's a hired car that has to be handed back at the airport when we get there. Panic sets in as there are no spare keys.

The AA is called for help. We are rushed to the airport to check in, in the meantime . Hayley and Francois have to hope that there luggage arrives before they have to board. We can all laugh about it now, but at the time it was not so funny.

To shorten the story a bit, all turned out ok in the end. Luggage arrive on time, the car was handed back and we managed to catch our respective flights. Always an exciting moment in our households.

The down side is now I'm 600km away from my wife and kids for two days of work. At least when that is over It's holiday time for us all, and we'll be heading off to Cape Town again for more adventures and funny stories to share from those experiences.

P.S Happy Birthday again Dad! Thanks for an awesome day!

Not your average 60!

Saturday is just around the corner, which means we are off to the coast (Kwazulu-Natal North Coast) for a week. The main reason for this holiday is that my father-in law has a birthday on Sunday. The whole family is getting together for this occassion. He turns 60 on Sunday. When I get to 60 i want to be just as able and active as Dad is. Yes, that is him on the rides at Sun City a month ago when we went for my sons birthday. He runs daily and is always looking for a marathon to run. When the kids are around, he will be the first to take them for a walk or play with them or ride bikes or simply entertain them. He is ENERGY!

I'm sure there will be future posts about this 60th birthday on Hayley and Francois' sites once the birthday is over. So tune in for more on this remarkable man.

I know I'm getting in early, but Happy 60th Dad!

British Tour update...

Just to let you all know that I'm still so excited.......

I figured I needed a passport if I was to travel, so today I went and stood in ques at the Department of Home Affairs to apply for my passport. I'm sure glad that that process is over. Now it is just a case of hurry up and wait! They said anything from three weeks and it should be ready. Well hello, it is Christmas time which means going onto skeleton staff, and that means it should take longer than usual. So I am not counting my chickens. I guess it will not be ready so soon. I have time on my side - for now.

Still not time to pack yet.... I'll keep you updated!

A British Tour

So as you may know, if you are a rugby fan and follow the Springboks, the Springboks went on a year end tour of Britain, playing the Welsh, then the Scots and finally England. The Springboks came back home victorious, winning all three matches.

This post however is not about those rugby matches but it does have something that is co-incidental with my own life.

I have never had the opportunity to travel outside of South Africa, and being in education in South Africa would probably never get the opportunity either. However, I have been given an opportunity, a once in a lifetime opportunity thanks to my in-laws (THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU) of travelling abroad. I am so excited I can hardly contain myself....... I am going to England, Wales AND Scotland in April next year for two weeks!!!!!!!!! (Not to play rugby mind you)

This seems like so long away now, but I know that time will FLY by.

We are flying in to London, and will give me a chance to visit White Heart Lane, the home of Tottenham Hotspurs, My team!!!!! A dream come true!!!!

My Mom and Grandparents on my Mother's side are from Scotland, so visiting there will also be very special for me.

Have I said Thank you yet? THANK YOU!

So it means, leaving the kids at home for two weeks.... Okay I'm over it!I know they will be in the good and capable hands of Francois and Hayley. They don't have any kids yet, so from 0 to 3 is going to be a whole lot of fun for them! THANK YOU!

I can just imagine how spoilt the kids are going to be when we are away, just to keep them entertained and quiet!(It's ok!)

So I'm off to pack...... okay maybe a little early for that, but I will be before we know it.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!