Amsterdam in a cold Spring

My accumulated Voyager airmiles meant we could take a break to Amsterdam, Berlin and Munich, staying with Couchsurfing friends for some of the nights away. Our truip had been postponed from September due to my mom's 80th Birthday bash, so we unfortunately had to do Europe in winter, the temperatures plumetting to a low of -13c. Amsterdam was incredible, but cold, although we managed to have a beer in most places and sometimes even outside catching a few rays of sunshine. It was supposed to be Spring, and the cold did not deter us from a jaunt around the city by bicycle, probably the best way to get around there. It was shortly before Easter and the store displays were amazing everywhere.

 

Friends re-connected

It is great to find an old number, give it a ring and reconnect with friends from the past. Rich and Rosanne were friends before I got married ie more than 25 years ago.. Richard I had met in the army on a border camp to the Angola border somewhere inbetween my years at Varsity.

 

He then went on to farm sugarcane down the south coast and once I had qualified I did a number of his farm title deed registrations. Their daughter Jenna is now married to the son of an airfield owner at Fredenheim near Margate. So we took a flight down to Fredenheim where Rich and Rosanne met us and we enjoyed a breakfast at the nearby Leopards Rock Cafe.

 

Wonderful re-connection!!

 

Berg weekend

Now is the time to visit our Drakensberg Mountains and we managed a breakaway this weekend past. The weather is stunning this time of the year... cooler in the evenings, warm by day and avoiding the freezing winter and roasting mid-summer.

 

Castleburn is nestled at the foothills of the southern Drakensberg Mountains about 25 kms from Underberg and not far from the Sani Pass border with Lesotho.

 

It was a time-share swop and a chance to get the kids out into the sunshine and play in the river. So nice to see crystal clean water streaming by and good to drink.

 

Cape Town with the kids

Who gets to have two 21st Birthday parties? Well Mark's home town in Durban had to be his big-bash "Summer Heat with a rooftop beat" official 21st while he was still with us before the big day and returning to Cape Town.

 

His birthday was 10 days later so Kate-Lynn, Jenn and I flew down to Stellenbosch to be with him and his Cape mates for the weekend and actual birthday. Jenn and I spent the 7th with him at Koel Bay, at "home" in Stellies and out for supper that night. Kate and Nicci joined us the next day for the rest of the weekend and we enjoyed wine-tasting, Saturday Market - wow, the best I have ever seen - and a good jol late into Sunday morning. That evening we were jetting our way back to Durban, leaving my boy to finish his 4th year Engineering in Stellies. What an event! My boy is 21!!

 

21 today

My boy, and youngest, turns 21 today. Wow, what an event and a lifetime for me with both kids in their 20s!!! Congratulations savage. Love you so much and will be seeing you during the day as I fly to Cape Town for the event.

 

First GoPro Movie

Getting ready for our flight in our plane to Mocambique, I have made my first GoPro movie.. this one of The Terrace where we live in Durban. Going to get some practice in so that I can take some awesome clips of the flight to Inhambane, as well as our March trip to Amsterdam, Berlin and Munich.

Mark of the Warrior

Further to mark my son's 21st, we designed a family emblem - the mark of the Warrior - which we each had tattooed on our ankles yesterday. Something Mark and I will carry forward together. Here are the pics..

Justin from Body Art on Florida Road did the inking

It was mate Dain's 21st present to MC

The finished job

Dad and son

MC's tattoo done