Our New House

Helgard and I moved into our new house in Constantia Park on the 1st of October 2008. Hopefully we will never forget the feeling of happiness when we moved in.

In September Helgard seriously started “shopping” for a house. As we all know with the high interest rates it is a buyers market. Everyone says in a buyers market one can choose, but our specifications were very clear. We wanted something that is not a fix-upper in an older neighborhood. The unwritten rule when buying a house is that one has to look at least at 20 houses, before one can make a decision. The third house that we saw was the house that talked to Helgard and me immediately. I can still remember as we got into the car Helgard said to me, “where can I sign”. A week and a half later an offer was made and the Pilchards family accepted it. Everything happened were fast, the offer was made and accepted the beginning of September and the 1st of October we moved in.

Moving, is only six letters, but this six-letter word includes a lot of work and arguments between Helgard and myself (my point of view, moving is the real test for marriage)

Helgard and I aren’t really “movers”, I think this was the first time that I moved. The weekend before moving friends and family asked if we have finished packing my answer was “we are living organized lives, most of our good are already in boxes, because that is how we keep our place tidy.

Between making curtains, moving plants and packing I didn’t know what hit me. People say mark your boxes when moving, I thought to myself, how difficult is it to remember your boxes, after the 5th box I started marking my boxes. Because we are not educated movers everything in the kitchen that includes cleaning stuff, food, cutlery, pots vases were mark kitchen. When the movers carried the boxes into the house, the kitchen was so full, I couldn’t move.

The moving company was also early on the 31st of September; they rang the bell before 12 instead of after 2 o’clock. They were only 2hours early - that meant that the garage, fridge and my bedroom weren’t packed. I still don’t know how we could pack the garage, fridge and…… in 2 hours, just nice to blame other people for my unorganized moving skills. Helgard really worked hard when we moved, because I was still busy with clients VAT payments.

At the new house it was a mess. I can still remember that I was very tired but so excited. When the moving company left and Helgard and I had a beer at the swimming pool, at that stage I could close my eyes and fall sleep.

Marquete the estate agent brought us sandwiches and a bottle of wine, a lovely gesture. Our friends Therese and Jacques brought dinner; was the best lasagna and salad that I ever had. Therese’s mum even bake us a cake, thanks again! Gert and Deléne also shared our happiness by visiting and eating with us.

I’m still making curtains and the 2 new bedrooms still don’t have any furniture. The washing machine broke during the move but I’m happy and all smiling because I’m privileged to live in a lovely house.

I told Helgard that he can pack his Freelander if he wants to move, but I’m staying.

No photos of the house you have to come visit and see for yourselves.

Funny Hat

For Machtild birthday we had to pitch with a interesting of rather a Funny Hat on the head. Ursula had a witches hat and I had my straw hat with a flower arrangement on top. One thing to keep in mind for such a party is to ware a comfortable hat that you can keep on your head the whole night. Mine hat was not so comfortable and it ended up on a chair which defeats the whole idea really. The more memorable hats were a schoolboy, viking, joker, Basotho, pirate, devil and a robin hood hat.

Charmaine and Machtild looked very good as usual but for he life of me I'm not able to explain what type of hats they wore.

At one stage the men some of the men entertained with a bit of belly dancing and Marius realy impressed with is skills as a break dancer.

We ended up playing pool and as usual I did not want to go home.

Thanks for a lovely evening.

More photos here.

Zebra Kick!

Living in Africa has some advantages that one does not always take for granted. My Uncle and Aunt Hennie and Louise stay on a plot that is not fenced. The plot is part of a bigger farm that is stocked with game and is fenced with a game fencing.
While walking on the farm a Zebra came running toward Ursula and me. This is a bit unnatural since game is usually scared of humans and would rather move away.

The Zebra is tame and like to be stroked and fed. It also also does not like it if two people walk next to each other in the road, the Zebra wants to walk with one person in the road, bit of a problem if you are two people.

I saw she readies herself to kick and warned Ursula to stay away from her back. We took photos of the mare with my cell phone. While putting the cell phone in my pocket, with by back to her she kicked me. The hove caught me on me sideways on my chest and grazed my jaw. It hurt like hell but I was fine.
Well at least I had a funny story to tell is this gloomy week we had last week. Decided not to post photos of my chest....the busing look bad, the man boobs worse.

More photos here

Kloets aka Henk Louis

On Sunday 15 June my cousin Henk Louis was tragedy killed in a motor car accident. One hear this type of headline frequently in the news or on a newspaper or a blog. What makes this different is that it is My cousin. What made it a tragedy was that it was on Father's day, it was a week from his 25th birthday, he was killed! and it looked like he was not at fault.

I was quit a bit older than him 15 years to be exact. When you are a schoolboy it is a lifetime, there are no way to associate with a small baby when you have more important things to care about like homework and puberty and, and. Later in life our paths converged a bit and he with his brothers and sister turned out to be very pleasant and interesting people.... If only I knew him better...If only.

During the memorial service, which was the saddest event I have attended in a while, we learned a bit about his character and personality. My uncle and aunt brought up a young man that was going to go places. He lived a full life and will be missed by all.

Henk Louis 20June 1983 to 15 June 2008

Although a sad event the service was also inspirational. The minister was blind and presented a service without notes. The cry of small babies could be heard in he chapel, giving sound to life.

One of the things that one tend to forget during our busy lives is the power of family and friends. I saw the support that was given to the family at a moments notice as a beautiful gesture, from all corners of Southern Africa the family converged together to be at the memorial service. Hendricus had a long list of people to thank in the chapel, people expressing love toward the family by giving the from the smallest to be biggest. I'm glad to be part of such a family.

Our deepest condolences goes to Hennie, Louise, Henricus, Maree, Louise and Natanya.

Helgard's 40th Birthday

Yes it was my 40th birthday! We had a small function at Ursula's mums house in the garden in the middle of winter again. Like last year our dinner was a sheep on the spit that Wilhelm looked after for us. Ursula baked bread and prepared a lot of warm food and I'm sure nobody could complain about not having enough to eat.

This year we had 2 extra outdoor gas heaters that helped to make it a bit more tolerable outside. I also organized some real bushveld fire wood that was burned in 2 containers.

Adriaan had a huge job getting everything in the garden finalized for the party, thanks Adriaan!

I will not forget little Rolan with his inflatable wings and windbreaker and beanie on the head....when he grows up he will realize that his mother dressed him funny.

This year, the party was thankfully fairly civilized except for the hooligan spinning his cars wheels. Looks like the older one gets the earlier your friends want to go to bed. One of these days we will have to get permission from the matron to leave our rooms after 17h00.....ok, ok only joking.

I really appreciate the effort that went into all of the organization as well as the effort that was made by those who attend the function. Thanks for the gifts, I'm sure the wine and beer will last till next year.

More photos here.

Orienteering

OK! This is something I will do again. We gathered at the fountains nature reserve and enrolled for the medium race. There were a 21km race also but I decided it must still be fun don't want to work so hard so the 12km race sounded perfect.
It works as follows: You get a map marked with 16 points that must be reached in sequence as fast as possible on your MTB. Everyone compete on his own against time. Contestants are set off in 2 minute intervals.

What we did: Ursula started 2 minutes before me and waited for me. I navigated and she followed, quit the opposite to how we normally cycle. We cycled quite strong but I made a mistake at the 4 th point. I was still so exited that did not realize you have to follow the sequence of points. It would eventually cost us a lot of time.

Gert, Francois and Daléne cycled in a group and did a lot better. They even gave Daléne all the tags to punch at the checkpoints so that they have longer time to study the map. Francois have Springbok colors in aeronautical navigation, and Gert was in the army and went back as a mercenary where you have to read maps to survive, which must have given them an advantage. Ursula and I are faster on the mountain bikes, for sure!

At the end of the race it stared to rain, so I'm glad we did not opt for the longer 21km one. We had a braai after the race.

According to the official results Deléne was the third woman home. Congrats! During the prize giving function everyone except me got a lucky draw price, looks like today was not my lucky day.

Photography Lesson

A while back I met Ronel, a professional photographer and she invited me to come and play with the lighting equipment in her studio.
I invited friends to join me for a a Saturday morning Photography Lesson. Ronel tough us a couple of things that we would normally not be able to do with our own equipment.
My dad, Therese, Henriette and I all have Canon cameras. Unfortunately Gert were not able to make it, but between all of us we have quite a collection of equipment. Ronel spoiled us with cookies and drinks during the day, and patiently answered all our questions.
We had a very beautiful and friendly model posing for us. My favorite photo is one with a single light box from the side. Must be honest I was not even talking to the model we were concentrating on the light an camera settings and laptop, so much was going on.

We also did simple things that did not require any special equipment other than a flash.
Cheerry in glass, Transparent glass and Light painting

After the day in the studio I realized being a professional photographer is not just a matter of taking pictures, it is controlling every aspect of what is in the picture.

More photos here. Thanks for our time Ronel!

Camping with Mel & Ed on farm

This weekend the whole Reyneke family made the trip down to Bela Bela with the caravan. What a huge organization it turned out to be. The caravan had to be fixed and cleaned and everything had to be tested. It looked like Adriaan prepared to go away for ever. Ursula and I just grabbed one of the rooms in the house, no sweat.

The rest were accommodated as follows: Mel & Ed in the big Wilk caravan, Ann and Adriaan in the Caravette 5 caravan, Eddie and Lizelle in their chopper tent.
There was a lot of excitement because it would be the first chance Adriaan would get to try out his new quad bike. After servicing the bike and sorting out a couple of problems it behaved quite well and provided all of us with a lot of entertainment. Was also interesting to compare the Rustler against the King Quad, both the same physical size but completely different bikes and behavior.

Friends of Mel and Ed also showed up and decided to sleep over.....during the evening a snake skin was found in the house and suddenly they decided to rather spend the night in the car!
It was freezing cold outside but they resisted the comfort of the house....I'm glad neither me nor Ursula are afraid of snakes.

Sunday morning we packed up in the rain, quit unusual for this time of year. It was a mess to get the caravans packed but at the end of the day I think everyone enjoyed the weekend.

Monumentpark-Wes gemeente is 25jaar oud

Monumetparkpark-Wes gemeente en kerk was ‘n belangrike deel van my vorming as kind en vandag is die kerk deel van my menswees.

Omdat ek nie regtig ‘n skrywer is nie is dit moeilik om my emosies van Sondag oggend 18 Mei 2008 te beskryf. Die oggend diens was die hoogtepunt van ‘n naweek se feesvieringe aangesien die kerk 25 jaar oud is.

Sondag oggend in die kerk kon ek voel dat my hart met vreugde gevul is omdat ek deel is van ‘n gemeenskap wat die Here dien, ‘n gemeenskap met ‘n visie i.t.v. van God, medemense (mekaar) en die wêreld. Die leraars van die afgelope 25 jaar het elkeen die gemeente op sy manier gelei en my lewe beinvloed.

Tydens die diens was my oë ‘n paar keer gevul met trane omdat ek bietjie terug gedink het aan alles wat in die gemeente beleef het.

Daar was fotos geprojekteer van die terrein voor die kerk gebou is. Die terrein was bekend vir sy BMX-baan. Ek weet tot vandag nie wie die baan gebou het nie, maar dat ek lekker fiets gery nee gejaag het is verseker. Dit was ook die plek waar ek en my boetie ‘n paar keer geval en seer gekry het. En soos ‘n kind se wêreld mos maar is kon ek nie verstaan waarom daar ‘n kerk moes kom, want nou gaan die BMX-baan mos gesloop word.

Hierdie was ook die kerk waar my sussie gedoop is. Ek is amper 7 jaar ouer as my sussie en ek en my boetie moes haar indra. Ek het ‘n nuwe gehekelde rok aangetrek, die het amper soos my sussie se dooprokkie gelyk, my boetie het mooi langs my geloop en ons was trots om Andorette die kerk intedra. Ek kan nog onthou hoe ons gesing het “Jesus neem die kleine kinders aan….”

“Wakker-bly-aande” by die kerk was ook lekker tye. Ek sal nooit vir Matys en al sy biery vergeet nie. Matrys se pa was ‘n boer en Matys het geken van beeste. Wanneer almal begin moeg raak het Matrys die meisies opgeveil soos beeste en ‘n dominee moes altyd bietjie keer, want anderste het hy meisies begin beskryf soos beeste.

In die gemeente het ek ook die eerste keer regtig met die werklike en harde betekenis van die woord dood te doen gekry. Ek kan onthou hoe ons saam as SKJA by gebreekte ouers op ‘n Vrydagmiddag gesit en huil het oor ‘n naby vriend wat in ‘n motorongeluk dood in die buurt verongeluk het. Saam as groep het ons ‘n klip oor bloed gerol en het ons huilend gesing tydens ‘n roudiens.

Gemeentekampe in die berge van Fiksburg. Soggens vroeg was dit gebed en kort daarna koffie en beskuit. Kleilat was daar altyd gespeel, en kampvuur stories was daar baie, ek het self eenkeer raas gekry by my ouers omdat my nuwe netball tekkies gesmelt a.g.v. die hitte van die kampvuur. Ek kan onthou hoe ‘n ouer groep ‘n kruis op die berg aan die brand gesteek het terwyl ons “jonges” onder by die berghuis vir die ouer groep gesing het “Praat ek mense engele tale…”

Voor die gemeente het ek ook my geloof bely en ‘n beleidende lidmaat geraak.

Dit was ook die gemeente wat betekenis vir my aan die woorde versorg mekaar gegee het. Die gemeente se liefde en ondersteuning na my pa se skiedelike dood was aangrypend. Ek kan onthou hoe gemeentelede vir ons kos gebring het en ons as huis omvou het in liefde. Op daardie stadium was ek emosioneel en het ek nie die waarde daarvan verstaan nie, maar vandag weet ek dat my gemeente omgee.

Ek is 32 jaar oud en 25 jaar van 32jaar was Monumentpark-Wes deel van my lewe. Die invloed wat die kerk op my gehad is sigbaar in die keuses wat ek in die lewe gemaak het en sal maak.

Ek is dankbaar en bly om deel te wees aan ‘n kerk soos Monumentpark-Wes. Dit was lekker om tydens ‘n feesdiens ou gesigte - ooms, tannies, dominees en ou vriende weer te sien.

Ek gaan die gemeente se verjaarsdag rustig verder indie sitkamersonntejie vier, want die feesuitgawe van die Posduif ons gemeente “koerant” gaan ek stadig sinnetjie vir sinnetjie lees, terwyl ek rustig my tee drink.

Night with Randall Wicomb

Randall Wicomb is ‘n ou bekende Afrikaanse sanger. Liedjie soos die Rooi Rok en die Wit broek ken elke Afrikaans sprekende Suid Afrikaner, want dit het hom bekend gemaak.

Vrydag het ons gemeente Monumentparkpark-Wes ‘n “Randall Wicomb aand” gehou. Ek en Helgard het by tafel nr3, links voor kaartjies vir ons bespreek. ‘n Piekniek mandjie en ‘n bottle wyn is ingepak vir die vertoning wat om 7uur begin.

Ek en Helgard was bietjie laat aangesien ons eers na Lyttleton-Oos kersksaal moes soek. Ek dink ons het by elke kerk in Lyttleton gestop voor ons by Lyttleton –Oos gestop het.

Dit is altyd lekker om ‘n bekende te “google”, so ‘n paar sinne oor Randal Wicomb.

Randal Charles Wicomb is amper 60, hy is gebore in die Kaapstad op 30/01/1949.

Hy is pa van 1 seun en 2 dogters. Hy het ‘n B.Sc (Hons) asook ‘n onderwys diploma. In sy vrye tyd is hy ‘n koppersmit en doen hy pottry, hy gym ook graag.

Buiten die Rooi Rok het hy bekend geraak vir die Griekwa Psalms. Ek wens ek kon die hele geskiedeniss weergee soos wat hy dit vertel het, eksentriek is hy verseker so ek gaan nie eers probeer nie.

Hans du Plessis het die tekste van die Griekwa Psalms geskryf en Randall het die verwerking op sy eie unkieke manier gedoen. Randall het ‘n baie sterk aanvoeling vir die Griekwa-kultuur en daarom is die uitbeeling tydens die vertoning iets unieks.

Helgard het die CD en VCD getiteld “Innie skylte vannie Jirre” gekoop. So saam met die kopery kan met ‘n foto neem.

(Randall Wicomb het my darem vertel hoe mooi ek is, was natuurlik daardie oommblik weer op ‘n “high”. OK-ok, ek weet dat alle kunstenaar dieselfde is, vertel jou altyd hoe mooi jou hare en oë net sodat jy nog ‘n CD kan koop, maar dis altyd lekker om te hoor)