OCTOBER 2011

JOHN NELSON AND PETER GO CYCLING SUNDAY 30TH OCTOBER


MOTHER AND BABY



ALLY U15 WATER POLO TEAM




ALLY'S U15 COLLEGIATE WATER POLO TEAM WON THE TOURNAMENT AT PEARSON SCHOOL; PEARSON 15A WERE THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AND THEY ONLY JUST MANAGED TO BEAT THIS STRONG TEAM.


IT WAS A REAL PLEASURE TO HAVE THIS YOUNG WOMAN WITH US ON THE TRAIL THIS WEEKEND



BEN CARVER IS AS FIT AS EVER


ALEXANDRIA TO BOKNESS ON THE BUSHMANS MTB TRAIL RIDE. FARM SCENE


FATHER AND DAUGHTER CYCLING UPHILL


RON; JOHN AND I RIDE AROUND 40 KAYS MARINE DRIVE SUNDAY MORNING




BARBARA AND BRENDA AT RUGBY SOUTHERN KINGS WINNING STREAK.



CHARLES & INGRID NEW BUSHIES HOUSE IS STUNNING



BARBARA ENJOYS THIS EVENING AT BUSHMANS RIVER WITH CHARLES AND INGRID

OCTOBER 2011
ECO MILE 20KAY TRAIL RUN
FRED KOHLER WEDDING
SUMMERSTRAND NIPPERS GETS UNDERWAY
BUSHMANS SATURDAY EVENING
TRIP TO PLETT AND GEORGE
ALLY DOES WELL IN INDOOR HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
ALLY IN WATER POLO SQUAD TOURING
RON, JOHN AND PETER GO CYCLING
RUGBY AT NELSON MANDELA STADIUM
ALLY IS CHOSEN FOR EASTERN PROVINCE U14 HOCKEY TEAM TO TOUR TO CAPE TOWN
MOUTAIN BIKE RIDING AT BUSHMANS -- ALEXANDRIA TO BOKNESS
ROAD BIKE RIDING ON SUNDAY MORNINGS ON THE MARINE DRIVE
MTB RIDE OUT AT KINKLEBOS POLICE STATION
MEIRINGSPOORT HALF MARATHON AT DE RUST
WEEKEND AT KLEINPLAAS WITH NICKY'S FAMILY
ALLY WATER POLO TOURNAMENT AT PEARSON

This month starts off with a really busy weekend: Running the Eco Mile 20kay trail run near to lake farm with Andre, John, Andrew and others.
Fred's Wedding
Nippers Coaches training with Brian Saunders
Drive through to Bushmans River with Charles
Sunday morning starts with a beach walk and swim with Charles
Then we drive back home for the first morning of Nippers on an overcast cool morning. We have a good session with a small group of Nippers.
Later this afternoon I drive to Plett as I have work in George on Monday morning.

CHARLES IS IN THE PICTURE TAKING MOOD THIS MORNING. THIS IS ME TAKING A WALK AT BUSHMANS WITH CHARLES EARLY ON A SUNDAY MORNING.





WHILE WALKING ON THE BEACH AT BUSHMANS RIVER MOUTH WITH CHARLES, I TAKE AN EARLY MORNING DIP.




AT THE ECO MILE 20 KAY TRAIL RUN NEAR TO LAKE FARM; ANDRE, GARRETH (TOMMY'S FRIEND WHO I LAST SAW AT THE ADDO TRAIL RUN), TABBY, PETER AND JOHN.




Saturday 1.10.2011
Yesterday we were in East London to watch Ally play in a school water polo tournament. Her team (U15A) did well to come second overall.

This morning Andre, John and I drive out to Lake Farm where we take part in a 20kay trail run.

We arrive early and at this stage the 42kay marathon is underway. The front runners are moving at a fast pace. Brian Saunders is on his bike supporting Margie. We see some of the Achillean hard runners; Tommy. Sidzumo, Bradley M.


ANDRE, GARRETH, TABBY, PETER, JOHN STILL LOOKING FRESH BEFORE WE START RUNNING.


At the start we park on a field and walk to the registration. We see Alec Riddle who has just returned from a trip to USA where he won his age group in the Iron Man. Sjani and Ronel are there. Robyn and Michelle are there. Almarie is in Cape Town with Martin who completes a 3day MTB stage event. She has a bit of a bad back. Paul Johnson and Garreth are there. They will be doing the Oudtshoorn 4 day event as well.


MICHELLE AND ROBYN LOOKING SO HAPPY BEFORE THE EVENT STARTS. DONT YOU JUST LOVE THEIR ATTITUDE?


At the start there are a number of people still lining up to register and I am getting agitated as I must be back at 10am to leave for Fred's wedding. It is past the official time (07.30am) to start the race. Finally after some explanations of the route, Benny starts us off. We run along a field and shortly there after we see a herd of Wildebees on the right of us on a ridge above us. Then we see a second herd racing to the left of us down a valley with another herd of big buck just above them. This is an awesome way to start the morning.



JOHN ANDRE AND ZELWYN EARLY ON IN THE EVENT JUST AFTER WE HAVE PASSED THE TWO HERDS OF WILDEBEES.


Benny explained that there were 6 brothers ( big hills) and many small brothers and sisters. We immediately encounter one of what we think is a big brother but turns out to be a baby. Wow. Do I battle this morning. I have no strength and my lungs are burning. I am not sure what causes this. Maybe it is the terrain, the uneven footing, the hills, my own unfitness or the soft sand. But I really cannot get going. Poor Andre waits for me.



ANDREW WITH THE OCEAN BACKGROUND


We run along a fence with the ocean vista to the right. We meet Zelwyn who is a friend of Malcolm Figg. He is a doctor of education at NMMU and training for Comrades amoung other events. Rochelle is a friend of Chris Gedye who used to work with John. She did the Baviaanskloof a few weeks ago. I have also seen Andy Bolton who was also in the Baviaans for this event.



ROCHELLE (CHRIS GEDYE;S FRIEND) AND ANDREW. JUST AFTER I TOOK THIS PIC, TWO HUGE WILDEBEES RAN PAST US ON THIS PATH.


As we run along the fence line in this soft sand we pass a dead Kudu. We cannot see any injury so there is a lot of speculation as to how he died. We are running uphill when we hear some shouts ahead of us. Two huge Wildebees are running towards us. The track is only around three meters wide with electric fence to the right and thick thorn bush to the left. The Wildebees are not going to give way so we all quickly move into the bush to give them all the space they need. They hurtle past us. 400kg of hooves, horns and muscle. That was interesting!

One massive hill after another. Even the flats seem tough this morning. John and Andrew go off ahead. Andre and I press on together. I am sure that he is becoming frustrated as I am just so slow. I continually have to walk. The uphills are long and tough. We meet up with Les and Margie Brightman. They are seconding. Both Les and Debbie (Garreth's wife) mention how Andre and I look like brothers.

As we are a few kays from the finish we come across a group of people who are doing volunteer bush clearing. There are big sections of Port Jackson Willow. They have a huge shredder parked behind a big truck. People are cutting and dragging branches to the shredder which spits out the bits into the back of the covered truck. Umesh Jeena who I knew when we were studying for an MBA together. Malcolm was also part of that little group.


MICHAEL (MOF) BOTHA ON THE LAST HILL BEFORE THE FINISH


Finally we catch up to Michael Botha. He had a nasty injury and is battling to get back into running. Michael like myself feels that he wants to be running for years to come. We trudge up the last hill together and then can hear the announcer on the microphone. We round the final bend and make our way up to the finish tent where Robyn and John cheer us in.


Almost immediately after we finish, Ronel and Sjani finish. I had thought that they were ahead of us. Or I am sure that we would have waited for them. That would not have been difficult at all the way I was feeling today.


We receive our T shirt and medal and then have to rush off as I must be back home in time for the wedding. Barbara decides to not go to the wedding as I am going to be late. The run started late. It was supposed to start at 7.30am but started around 10 minutes late. Then the event was tougher than I had thought and it took me around 20 minutes longer than I had planned. So now instead of finishing at 10am it was past 10.30. And the traffic leaving the event, passing the marathon runners (including Tommy Satchwell) made slow going. Kragga Kamma road traffic was exceptionally slow with trucks. So eventually I arrive home at just before 11am.

I shower and make it to Fred and Penny's Wedding while the singing is still on. Fred is playing Drums. And I learn later that he had done his 72kay cycle this morning as well. It is a lovely ceremony. Geoff Evans is on Guitar. We miss him at the church. Ingrid Du Toit is singing.



FRED SMILES AFTER HAVING SEALED THE TIES WITH PENNY. HE HAS A HUGE SUPPORT GROUP FROM BOTH HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.


After they are married and the ceremony is over we drive across to the cricket ground where the reception is being held at the Presidents room. Barbie Perks rides with me as Mike is in the Wedding party. We sit with Vinance, Charles and Ingrid, Barbie, Mike and Gail Burmeister. I find out that Ingrid is off to Bushies and Charles is staying home. So invite myself to join them at Bushies for the evening.

I have to attend a pre-Nippers coaches traning session with Brian Saunders and the coaches. Brian gives us some tips of what we should be doing and how to control the kids.

I leave Summies and we pack us to drive through to Bushmans River. Charles joins us and we arrive in Bushmans to be greeted by Ingrid who had left a little earlier. This is the house that they bought around a year ago. They had previously had a little caravan house in the caravan park near to the beach. They bought this house from the Collins family and have completely redone the house.



They have opened it up. Changed the layout. Fitted a deck and made the fittings very user friendly.



CHARLES HAS FITTED THIS SNAZZY BRAAI ON THE DECK. INGRID HAS STARTED THE FIRE BY THE TIME WE ARRIVE. THE BRAAI WORKS LIKE A BOMB AND HE USES IT THIS EVENING TO MAKE SOME SOSATIES.




We have a really chilled evening chatting in the lounge and enjoying their company. Charles braai's some sosaties and plays music which I love. I am still not eating meat nor drinking alcohol so am a little boring.

We are in bed early and have a really good sleep. I wake up at around 5am and am joined by Charles for coffee. He decides that we should go for a walk and takes his camera. Charles shows me the way to the river just below the bridge that both Vinance (Donald McGillivray) and Stuart Brown had a hand in restoring. We walk down river to the beach. Charles is snapping away at the birds and the river.

BUSHMANS RIVER SCENE

STUART BROWN AND VINANCE'S REFURBISHED BRIDGE. TOOK STUART AROUND A YEAR TO REBUILD THIS BRIDGE

BARBARA RELAXING AT BUSHMANS RIVER

PETER AND CHARLES AT THE NEW HOUSE IN BUSHMANS RIVER

CHARLES' FANCY NEW BRAAI WORKS LIKE A CHARM





I lament the fact that I did not bring a cossie. Charles says: "So What?". So after a short consideration, check up and down the beach, I drop my rods and dive in for a quick dip. What I do not know is that Charles is recording the evidence.

SKINNY DIPPING AT BUSHMANS EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING BEFORE THERE ARE ANY OTHER PEOPLE AROUND.

Back on the beach we walk up the dunes and onto the road back to the house. After a coffee we have to leave as I must be at Nippers Training at 11am. An easy drive to PE and time to get changed and down to Nippers at Summies. Michael drops me. Only a few Nippers turn up as the weather is not that great. We have fun. After a run we all go for a swim and do some body surfing. Thomas collects the body boards and the Nippers have a great time in the water.

We do a bit of theory in the club house. Ally has decided to stay with Summies for her Juniors training. For a while she considered moving to Kings Beach but after looking over KB last week has now made up her mind to stay at Summies. Varrin Karp spends three hours today giving them instruction on the Junior Lifesaving award.

Barbara collects me and I have to do some chores at home. Barbara has picked up some kind of rash. Her hands are swolen and itchy and she does not feel well. I take the bakkie load of rubbish to the tip. Then sort out my trip to George where I am going to be assisting with some training. This afternoon I drive through to Plett where I stay over at Ena and then on Monday morning leave for George to work there for the day.
The drive from Plett to George is tiresome. Speedlimits vary between 60 / 80 / and 100, You have to be so careful. I have had two speeding fines this year and both have been near to George while I drive all over the place during the weeks and only occasionally to George. On my way back I really hope that I did not get caught speeding but there were two traps that I saw; One near to Knysna and one in Sedgefield.



ALLY IS IN THE FINALS AT INDOOR HOCKEY AGAINST PEARSON


Tuesday 4th back home. Ally is in an Indoor Hockey Tournament with a group of her hockey playing friends from Collegiate. There is only one indoor Hockey arena and that is at the sports complex in Uitenhage. I leave Humansdorp and meet up with Barbara there.


INDOOR HOCKEY IN UITENHAGE


INDOOR HOCKEY ACTION



We watch as the various teams compete in this 6 person a side game. They use the sides as you would in a snooker table to bounce the ball. Ally has won the first three games. Her team makes the finals and they lose 5-3 against a senior Pearson team. The second Collegiate team plays very well and receives the most promising team award. After this Ally is part of the group that is chosen to play against out of town teams (Cape Town).



ALLY INDOOR HOCKEY WITH COLLEGIATE AND ANDREA THE COACH




Wednesday morning: I am glad to be able to run in the mornings again. After Saturday when I battled so much I was happy to feel some kind of ability again. Thurdsday Morning I am again able to run with the group. This afternoon I fly to JHB -- stay over at the Diaz hotel near to our Randburg offices.

Friday morning in our Randburg Head Office.
This evening I fly to PE and the plane is a little delayed in JHB so when Barbara and Brenda collect me at the airport we go straight to Rugby where we see the second half of an EP Southern Kings game which our team win with a good margin.


BARBARA AND BREBDA WATCHING RUGBY AT THE NELSON MANDELA STADIUM

The following morning I collect Sjani for a beach run. There is a good turnout for running this morning depite the fact that there is Rugby World Cup: Ireland vs Wales which I later hear that Ireland wins. It is a good run as we add a bit by going right to the valley where we meet up with Almarie and Robyn. These two had planned to run the Settlers Park but carry on up Upper Valley Road with us. We run Strandfontein to Admiralty and back along the Promenade. It is a stunning morning and we are able to have a swim thereafter.

Saturday morning after the run I buy the Licence for the Bakkie and the Nippers Trailer. After work I have a Nippers Meeting at Summerstrand where we plan the Open Day. The Fridge and Freezers have been left off over the Winter and they have rotten food in them. We wash them out and with a bit of disinfectant they are useable again.

Sunday morning I was supposed to Cycle the Addo Trail but due to Nippers and the SA Rugby against Australia which we lost in the last few minutes -- the cycle started late -- I decided to cycle with Ron and John. I was up early and cycled to Hobie beach where I met them. We then cycled around the Marine drive to Schoenies and up the Schoenies Hill. John was ahead and came back to "fetch" us. Back the same way. Always stopping at Willows for Jube Jubes. It was a good cycle but a little too far so I asked Ron to give me a lift home in the bakkie.


RON ENJOYS A FIRST CYCLE FOR THIS SEASON ALONG MARINE DRIVE TO SCHOENIES AND BACK.


After the Cycle I had Nippers Training -- Open Day. It was well supported and we had around 40 Nippers training there despite the fact that it is school holidays. Ally is in Juniors at Summerstrand and Varrin is working hard to have them qualified with Surf Proficiency Awards (SPE) as soon as possible.

This week I run on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday morning Barbara, Ally and I go to Gym where they do circuit and treadmill while I swim 50 lengths. It is my first real training swim in a long time.

On Monday this week I am able to introduce Steve Ellis to Michael. He has a number of business plans and hopes to include Michael's skills. I lend Steve the old Bakkie to enable him to be mobile.

I borrow Charles' Bike rack to take bikes to Oudtshoorn for the Meiringspoort event.

Friday 14th we drive through to De Rust and Oudtshoorn with Jessica, Joshua and Daniel to run the Meiringspoort halfmarathon.

It is a great weekend. Stefan and I manage to run under two hours again.
Sunday we return to PE where I go straight to Nippers training. There is a good turnout and we have fun in the sun with plenty of Nippers in the sea. Sunday afternoon I visit Gerald to arrange for his trailer for next weekend when we will be going to Bushies for a bike ride.

Monday
This morning I start off with a run but Gerald and I kind of walk run around the Golf Course until we meet up with Andy and Andrew. I am still stiff from the Saturday running. I have cell group in the evening but leave early when there is a repeat of last week.

Tuesday 18th I drive through to Aliwal North and Sterkspruit for business. I take the road past Cradock, Hofmeyer, Steynsburg and Burgersdorp. There are a number of road work stop and go but I make the 500kay drive to Aliwal in just 5 hours. I meet up with Alfred and we stay at the Mountain View in Lady Grey. Thursday afternoon I Drive home from Sterkspruit. It is a 6 hour drive including the stop and go interruptions. I drive fast at times but still cannot do this trip under 6 hours. The distance is around 680kays.

Friday morning; Almarie, Robyn and John do a long run of 20kays. I am supposed to cycle but wake up simply too exhausted to do any excersize. Michael has been to the Doctor and had a scan as a result of the pain he is experiencing in his side. The scan shows more growths (Nodules) and it seems that they may have to operate again although the doctors seem reluctant. Michael is in good spirits today and is doing some calling on Spar for the agency for the Spar stationery that he has obtained.

This afternoon I leave the office early and pack a few things for our trip to Bushmans River. Ally and I visit Woolworths for grocery shopping. We then collect Gerald and his trailer. He has roof racks on the trailer. We collect my Bicyle and then fetch Charles. It is just about 5pm when we leave PE for Bushmans. We pass Mike Burmeister and Venance De Silva. Fred and Penny Kohler are ahead of us and will stay in the Caravan Cottage with Fred's Daughter Vanessa. As we arrive we cycle down to the Caravan to check up on Fred. All is well.

We have this stunning weekend with MTB riding from Alexandria to Bokness. See blog.



HEADWIG AND MIKE ON THE CYCLE TRAIL


AN EXHAUSTED GERALD AFTER THE LONG HILL CLIMB

As we drove home from the Bushmans River cycle I received an SMS from Ron: "Bike RIde?". We arranged to meet at Hobie Beach at 6am. I phoned John who agreed to meet us.

Sunday morning I decided to drive to the start as the wind was blowing and I did not feel like the cycle up against the wind after the ride. John introduced me to he B-i-Law; Kevin. Once Ron arrived we saddled up and rode the first few kays with the wind. But as soon as we turned at the University we were into the Westerly for the next 15kays. A stop at Willows and then on to Schoenies. John tends to go ahead and then the three of us shared the workload into the wind. As we got into the village I saw Therese Boulle running her dogs and Lynne Joliffe in her home. I stopped for a quick chat. We then had a "Free" ride all the way to the University.


RON, KEVIN AND JOHN CHECKING THEIR BIKES FOR THE LAST STRETCH HOME.


A BRIGHT SUNDAY MORNING RIDE FROM HOBIE TO SCHOENIES AND BACK.


We stopped for a breather at Willows and then were cycling hard (with the wind) and having fun. The last bit as we turned into the wind was a bit tough but we were nearly home. We took the inside promenade pathway finishing with all the Ocean Series Swimmers at Hobie beach. Adrienne and Pat were there to support Ronel who would be swimming. Shareen was there as Corrick may be swimming. Brian was there to support Margie. Colin was there.
From here we went to Nippers Training where we had a really good day with flat water and opportunity to practice the Malibu boards and do a bit of paddling. I am with the U12s this year; there were around 6 of them at practice.

This afternoon I collected the trailer from Gerald. John and I will be using the trailer to go to Oudtshoorn for the Dryland Traverse trail run.
Monday morning I left for Mthatha. I spent the week there and returned home on Thursday in time for a Nippers Meeting.

Friday afternoon Ally had a Water Polo Tournament at Pearson School. This afternoon Barbara and I sat in freezing cold conditions while the team played four matches ending at around 8pm. The Collegiate U15 team won all their games this evening.
satuday Morning; Andre collected me and we ran the beach front 15kay. I was not feeling my best -- not having run since Meirings Poort but once I had warmed up I started to feel part of the run again.

This morning Gerald had a sleep in; Andrew and Ronel did the 27kay Builders Warehouse race. Adrienne is suffering with a bit of an injury, Pat and Anne and Susan ran together while Andre, John and I did the Admiralty route.

We had a swim afterwards and I felt for the girls who would be in the cold pool for the rest of the day. The sea water was cold. Andre dropped me off at Pearson where I met up with Barbara and Ally.


ALLY RETAINS HER NUMBER 5 CAP


THE TEAM LINES UP TO TAKE THE PLUNGE


ALLY COLD WATER AT PEARSON


ALLY U15 WATER POLO TEAM



Ally had some really good games. Their coach -- Luke -- has them motivated and they play well as a team. There are a couple of stars in the team but overall the 12 girls are strong. They had a tough game against the Pearson U15A and then made it into the finals having not lost one game. The final was against Pearson U15A and it was a real humdinger of a game with Collegiate narrowly taking the lead 4/3 for a tournament win.



ALLY'S U15 COLLEGIATE WATER POLO TEAM WON THE TOURNAMENT AT PEARSON SCHOOL; PEARSON 15A WERE THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AND THEY ONLY JUST MANAGED TO BEAT THIS STRONG TEAM.

We stopped off for a Chinese take away and were in bed early.

Sunday 30th Oct

JOHN NELSON ON THE MTB TRAIL RIDE


Early morning I was looking for my cycling stuff. Couldnot find it so wore normal pants and shirt. Loaded the bikes on Gerald's Trailer and got the stuff ready for our planned bike ride. John Arrived at around 05.30am and after a short breakfast we left for Kinklebos Stasie. This is around 40kays on the Grahamstown Road near to Nanaga. We parked the car and trailer at the police station there, off loaded the bikes and headed along the gravel road which we had used a month ago when we did the Springmount Trail Run.
For me this was an easy ride. We did not push the pace. The ride starts on a slight down hill and gives you time to warm up. The up's were not too heavy going and we really enjoyed the outing.


THE STEYNS FARM; ONLY TO THE GLORY OF GOD


DISUSED RAIL LINE THAT USED TO RUN FROM PORT ELIZABETH TO ALEXANDRIA

We crossed the disused rail line a couple of times before coming across a herd of Rooi Hartebees. We found the farm road up and onto the Steyns Farm. At this point we decided to turn up this farmers road to see if we could get closer to the buck. The track was a twin Jeep road mainly sand. After a short ride John tried to take a few pics but they were too far away to photo except with a more poweful lens.

We continued up this farm road to the highest point on our ride so far. Fortunately at no point had I had to walk this morning. It was a really stunning morning with little or no wind and a cool overcast morning. From this point we could see across to the dunes of Colchester on the Sundays River and back to the Police Station where the car was parked.



JOHN AND PETER ON MOUNTAIN BIKES NEAR TO KINKLEBOS POLICE STATION



WHEN WE REACHED THE HIGHEST POINT ON THIS MORNING'S CYCLE -- ON THE STEYNS FARM -- WE COULD SEE ACROSS BACK TO THE KINKLEBOS POLICE STATION.


We had been going an hour and it was our plan to ride for Two Hours. So we turned back the way we had come. We had not reached Springmount Farm which I thought we would. I estimated we had been riding at between 12 to 15kays an hour.


MOTHER AND BABY


FAMILY WALKING ON SUNDAY. THIS IS WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTRY SO BEAUTIFUL.


FAMILY BABY


We passed some of the local families as they walked to visit family in the district. This is a part of Africa that we do not know. The gentle rural people and their simple ways are truly a beautiful part of our country.

We saw the Prickly Pear Cactus in bloom as we rode back home. The ride back took us around an hour so we had ridden our planned two hours. The bikes were full of Cow Dung and dust from the road. It had rained a bit in the night so the road was fairly firm.


PRICKLY PEAR IN BLOOM



CACTUS FLOWER


We hitched the bikes back on the trailer and were home before 9.30am. I tried to phone Charles who was out at a mens retreat at Steytlerville -- he had also taken his MTB and Gerald who was doing the Mondi 35kay near to Addo village. Ronel answered and by the sounds of things they were having a good ride this morning.

We both are committed to Nippers. The West Wind had started it's normal Sunday thing. The beach was not nearly as crowded as the previous weekend and we had a good training session with around 12 U12's and U14's and around 20 U10's and Micro's.

The wind blew for a good few days after this Sunday. For John and myself we had the very best part of the weekend on this Sunday morning. We had a completely windless ride out at Kinklebos Stasie. Probably one of the best rides I have had in a long time. No pressure. No Cars, No Walking just an easy fun ride out in the farm roads.

Monday morning I felt the ride of Sunday. My knee often is sore after a ride. We did the town run (Use to be called Mount Road but we no longer run Mount, we now prefer to run either up towards Collegiate -- which we did this morning or we run up Langenhoven). And a very busy day at work. I ended the day with Fellowship at the van Zyls. I love this group.

I had to collect Ally and when dropping her off at home I find Daniel hard at work; weeding the driveway with Richard the gardener. Chatting away and having a great time while working. This young boy brings us so much pleasure with his simple ways. This has not been a good month for Michael. He had a scan and has found growths in his body again. He becomes extremely tired with the medication that he has to take. He is trying to work with agencies of Spar Stationery and Popcorn in supermarkets. But it is tough for him. He has also developed a small business relationship with Steve and they are trying to work on Salvage where they collect insurance claim goods, refurbish if required and sell on behalf of the insurer. It appears now that Michael will have to be back in Cape Town soon for more surgery to remove the tumors. The operations look tough with them having to remove a kidney, the spleen and part of his stomach.


DANIEL WORKING WITH RICHARD THE GARDENER AS THEY WEED THE DRIVE WAY.


October 2011 had been a busy month. Non stop activity both for ourselves and those around us.