Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Israel conference for Mark

One of my son's University research papers has been accepted for an international engineering conference in Israel next year. Pretty neat!! Well done savage!!


Sunday, December 14, 2014

Christmas on its way

For the first time in many years, both my kids will be out of the nest this Christmas. Kate is in Korea where the temperatures have plumeted below zero and it has been snowing. The Christmas spirit seems very much alive though and her bunch of mates have been looking after her with her birthday on the 8th and Christmas in a foreign country coming. 

And in East London for Christmas is my son Mark, with Lisa's family, having driven there along the Garden Route from Stellenbosch where Mark has just finished his first year Engineering Masters degree.


Christmas tree in Busan with Leoni, Chelsea, Kate, Erin, Chido

Eskimo Kate looking gorgeous

They even have Christmas giraffes

Street lights in Nampo, Busan

Birthday brunch for Kate's 26th birthday earlier this month in Busan, South Korea
Mark and Lisa with mates en route to East London
Mark and Lisa exploring the Mossel Bay Lighthouse


Lisa enjoying the view from the Lighthouse

Monday, December 1, 2014

Married 1 Dec Bay of Islands, New Zealand

1 December, 10 years anniversary, 100 years combined age, married today in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand to Llewellyn.

What an awesome day and special memories as we traveled so far to tie the knot in terms of the New Zealand legislation as well as a marriage in terms of our own South African Civil Union Act, 2006 in this beautiful spot at Paihia in the Bay of Islands, North island, New Zealand.

The seagulls are chasing the rose petals we threw into the water, them hoping they were something tasty to eat... Dave and Llewellyn


Michael, the New Zealand Marriage Celebrant officiated at the ceremony

The deed is done and we are married on the rocks as the tide came in - hopefully the marriage will not be "on the rocks". The colour of the jeans are "coral" for those inquisitive.

Llewellyn with the Marriage Celebrant Michael and our two witnesses Jess, one of the first same-sex couples to marry when New Zealand legislation allowed it two years ago and Steven.

Mr and Mr

Our kids and family were with us in spirit and remembered on the beach

Traditional Maori memorial at Paihia

We opened some local New Zealand bubbly to celebrate

After changing we took the ferry across to the other side of the mainland to the town of Russell for some time on the beach and lunch

On the Russell pier

The beach at Russell.. the sky was partly cloudy and the water was freezing, but we braved it on our wedding day

Catching bits of sunshine

This electric chair was outside someone's home


After catching the ferry back we took a drive to the nearby Haruru Falls

This was 8.30pm walking to the fabulous restaurant we found the day before and to have dinner on our wedding night

The beef steak was fantastic.. just the NZ prices had us reeling in anguish - 3 times the prices of home

Wedding night dinner at Alfresco's, Paihia, Bay of Islands.. the end to a perfect day!