Sunday, March 29, 2015

Sunday adventures

It was a beautiful Sunday for some air time in our Sling aircraft.. more pics and story on my aviation blog here..

We were also contemplating the time when we turn out to sea and head for the horizon when we undertake our 4 1/2 hour flight over the sea to Madagascar in July this year.
Setting off from Virginia Airport for a navigation exercise to the north

We'll be in Cape Town this Easter and meeting up with my son Mark and Lisa, so hopefully we'll get to do the Lion's Head walk they did this morning, snapping this glorious shot of Table Mountain from Lion's Head.

The view of Table Mountain from Lion's Head

The monsters in the cave - the Lion's nostril!! with the cable car station on Table Mountain in the background

Cherry blossom time

The one thing I really wanted to see in South Korea were the cherry blossoms and my daughter Kate is there for the second season with Spring in the air.



Watching a baseball game with the mates this weekend, Kate got clobbered by the ball, shedding a few tears and creating a huge bruise.

I haven't really had this game explained to me, but it's flip or something and involves flipping the cup upside down and downing the contents. Kate and her mates seem to be maters at this picking up an award.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Kitesurfing today

Kitesurfing is a lot like flying aeroplanes.. the kite is similar to an aircraft wing with a pumped leading edge to direct the flow of air and generate lift, which, if positioned correctly in the sky, translates into pulling you through the surf on the kiteboard.

I haven't taken my kite out for about 5 years now, mainly because I get hectic backache after a day on the beach after my back injury 20 years ago, not to mention getting roasted by the sun, particularly as you generally have your face to the sky/sun watching the kite.

However I have mates keen on kitesurfing so we took it out of the mothballs and fumbled our way to getting it back together and up in the sky at kitesurfing beach in Durban today. It was a load of fun and my back did get quite roasted.

My gym buddy and I were discussing which muscles would do the work pumping up the kite... I thought his muscles would be better ha ha.

Dylan gets the kite up for the first time

Dain getting in some practice getting dragged and leaping over the beach

Selfie time

Dain giving Dylan some guidance as they take to the surf getting a hang of flying the kite into and out of the wind

Dain and Kirsty

After action drinks time in our guesthouse pub

Meawhile in South Korea..

Kate-Lynn and Chris also enjoyed some beach time today, at Gwangali Beach, Busan, South Korea, where the winter is coming to an end and the temperatures are heating up for spring.

Chris and Kate on Gwangali beach with the  famous bridge in the background
Looks like they had after-action pub grub at Sharky's too while our own Sharkys were playing the Chiefs at Kings Park Stadium in Durban.


Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Kate postpones return

Kate has reached the end of her year in Korea and has postponed her return with a new contract, new job and new apartment. That means we don't see her for more months :-(


The view from Kate's new apartment near Gwangali Beach, Busan, South Korea


Kate moved into her new apartment last weekend

Kate's new home for the next number of months

And she arrived there with one suitcase!!!

Kate unpacks in her new apartment



 

Madame Zingara

What a show. Incredible performers and great evening and meal. Superb.

Llew's Dad Owen and his wife Karin joined us for Madame Zingara

Llew and his daughter Lauren

Dave and Llew before the show

This talented performer did the most amazing body balancing moves and the girls and boys couldn't get enough of his powerful toned body.

Mom joling too

My mom has arrived in Auckland, New Zealand to visit my brother for 6 weeks, after long flights to Auckland via Sydney. She enjoyed a night at Madame Zingara in Durban with us just before leaving for her trip. 


At the airport getting assistance to the plane

Kids galavanting

My kids are all over the show, Kate in Busan, South Korea and taking time out to ski in the central Korean mountains, while Mark is in Haifa presenting an academic paper at an international engineering conference, and visiting Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.. wow!!

Kate at the High 1 Ski Resort, Jijang Mountain Peak, South Korea

Chris, an expert skier from his USA hometown experience teaches Kate on the slopes

Snow bears

Chris and Kate on the chair lift

Mark visits St Marks Church, Jerusalem this week

On the streets of Jerusalem

Mark lights a candle

Temperatures were warm enough for swimming

The rocky view to the Dead Sea from the Israeli side

Mark afloat on the Dead Sea.. your body just wont go down!

You haven't completed the Dead Sea experience without being covered in mud, said to be good for your skin