Sunday, June 17, 2012

Fathers' Day

I know that many fathers were revelling in the Top Gear Durban Festival on Fathers' Day today, but I was happy chilling with the kids, enjoying the incredible weather in Durban this weekend, braaing and being thankful to have such awesome kids. Llewellyn's kids and my mom joined us and we got some beautiful photos of the kids in the sunshine...

Stunning photo of Llewellyn's and my kids



Enjoying some pudding after a yummy meal



Fathers' Day lunch with the family




Friday, June 15, 2012

Couchsurfing again


Alton from North Carolina was in Durban during his summer/our winter vacation and met up with my kids for a night on the town. Most of our Couchsurfers take their lives in their hands using the mini-bus (cheaper) transport around South Africa.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Couchurfers visit

Always interesting to host travellers from around the world and last night Jedd from New Mexico arrived with his buddy Daniele from San Francisco intending to ride motorbikes from Durban to Tanzania. Quite a project but something Jedd has done before in South America.

My son Mark is back in Durban and we all met up at the guesthouse for a welcome braai.


Couchsurfers Jedd (left) and Daniele (back) join mad Dain, Llewellyn and I at the guesthouse for a traditional braai

My son Mark (left) and his mate Dain

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Mark back for holiday

Mark returns from Stellenbosch for a few days during his winter vac, then jets off to Seattle and Vancouver for his winter/their summer vacation where he will meet up with a friend from South Africa now living in Canada.

Durban beachfront best!

Kate-Lynn welcomes Mark home at King Shaka Airport

Princess of the Peg-board

Billy's burgers are best!

I can get this thing moving

The Indian Ocean.. warm and inviting

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee



Congratulations to the Queen of England on her Diamond Jubilee. As Deputy Mayor of Durban in 1994, I had the rare privilege of hosting Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip to the Mayor's Tea Party in the Durban City Hall to mark her first official visit to Durban after our change of National Government earlier that year. Prince Phillip was particularly chatty and friendly and it was great to be able to meet and chat to both the Queen and the Prince. The Royal Yacht Brittania in Durban Harbour was home to the Royal family for the few days they were here.

Later we fetched the kids and they also got to meet the Queen on one of her walk-abouts around the City Hall on this historic visit. Awesome experience and an incredible lady, an honour to have been able to meet!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Comrades Marathon Finish 2012

Calvin and Late-Lynn at the Finish



Matt comes in under 7 1/2 hours

I've watched the Comrades Marathon (89km) almost all my life as I've lived in three houses along the route from Pietermaritzburg to Durban... so it's been champagne and orange and egg rolls alongside the road for many years, cheering on the runners. Today was the first time I have been to the Finish and watched the first runner home as well as Llewellyn's brother-in-law Matt make it home for his second Comrades, doing both an uprun and today a downrun. Well done Matt! It's an incredible achievement... something I could never contemplate doing myself. What amazed me also is the fast pace that runners were keeping up right to the end of the race. Truly amazing.
Dave and Kate-Lynn in the Chep box at the Finish