Weekend antics

It's been a great, busy weekend :

H&I went to the launch of a new hangar for the Red Cross Air Mercy service (AMS), at Durban International Airport, leaving the boys with the granmas for the night....

We caught a late movie (when last did we do THAT ?!) - X-men 3 : was very entertaining !!! While waiting for the movie, we shopped at the Pavillion, buying Arno Carstens' first album, and that holy grail of animated movies : Buzz Lightyear of Star Command !!!

On Saturday, after I took a short early drive with the RS2 (see below), we spent the morning at the Essenwood craft market...
After a bit of rest in the afternoon, we took a trip to Gateway, where the boys ran riot at the Science center. We saw a great PC setup for kids, and decided to try and do the same at home...

After putting the family to bed in the evening, I went out with some buds, to TACO ZULU, a new Afro-Mexican eatery in Florida Road.

Sunday saw the Quattro shootout, and a wedding - pictures on flickr....

Returning home by 3pm, we looked back at a most enjoyable weekend.

SNOW dot coza

A Holiday update ! Eurotrip 06 is off ! We are replacing this with a short ski-trip, at Tiffendell....

We have been there once before, but this time we're checking into the resort, and taking the boys along....promises to be loads of fun !

A Tale of 2 Quattros !

The highlight of my weekend was driving my buddy TC's two silver Quattros !

He is the proud owner of a 2005 Audi A3 Sportback 3.2 V6 DSG quattro and a 1995 Audi RS2 quattro !!!

The RS2 is an absolute beast - it's 260+ kw of power under the hood just wants to give more, in all gears !

The A3 3.2 V6 is a modern, sophisticated pocket rocket that delivers it's 180kw in the smoothest, slickest way possible...I'm convinced there's no quicker way to change gears than the DSG gearbox !

We'll be looking to take these two beauties to the race track soon, as well as on a few Audi club breakfast runs...I am SOOO keen to find one in SA...there were only 20 brought into the country, so I need all the luck I can get !

Shakaland

Two weekends ago, we visited Shakaland for a couple of nights, and had a GREAT time !!!

Will post some photos soon, but check out the link to have a preview....

Updates

Family went to Durban last weekend, and spent lots of money - got a replacement digital camera (happy now!) and other goodies...

Work has been stressful and exhausting, leaving little energy or time for family over the last few weeks - looking forward to a quiet Easter long weekend - possible that the Momz will be visiting.

Our patio renovation has been finished, and though it's a bit rough (untidy), it really is a big change - having the dogs away makes quite a difference ~ Adam uses the area as a play area during the days, and we have had a lovely Sunday lunch there already, without fear of being bothered by the mutts !!!

Dawn of War

It's official ! I am addicted to Dawn of War ! The campaign mode has got me staying up nights trying to defeat the Orks and Eldar, and patiently waiting to see what the Chaos guys have been up to...am up to mission 7 of 11 thus far, and am looking for the next expansion - hint hint (word to my travelling boet....look out for Winter Assault, the add-in pack)

As one of my multiplayer buddies puts it : the game is ...."immersive"!

Magic has died down a little, but it'll pick up again, just as my weight tends to do, when I get inactive as I have done over the past three weeks - work and home life and have not offered the opportunities to visit the local Virgin Active....must be sure not to default on my vitality membership for a THIRD time !

More later, with Zi back to school and Adam a little under the weather with his molars all cutting at the same time, and a bit of 'flu to boot....

Eurotrip 2006

Just a note to mention that we are plotting a Eurotrip in July, to celebrate our 10th anniversary !

Plan so far is to take 3 weeks, and spend it on Paris, including Eurodisney, and Italy, and maybe Scotland....

More as this develops

Dad, Interrupted

I had a brainwave today ! I want a bike !

First thought was a BMW F-series....

Second thought was : Have I reached my mid-life crisis point already ?



I've been enjoying loads of alone time with the boyz lately - H had a working weekend away in Durban, and I stayed in Kwambo, and had great fun ! It was a full-time job though, and not for the faint-hearted, at times...

Am still missing my digital camera, and am almost at the point of buying another one, but it doesn't feel right ! I've gotto try and get it fixed ~ maybe next time we're in Durban; prolly not anytime soon !

Further update

Heidi took a new job, with the KZN Dept of Health's Emergency Medical Services, which started very excitedly last week...and, even though it has meant time away from her boyz, it has already seen her fly in a helicopter and a small fixed-wing plane, and prospects are good that she gets her own Advanced Life Support (ALS) vehicle sometime.

This week is orientation week for her out in PMB, so I borrowed the complete Macross saga series of Robotech to keep myself company at nights...but first, I must take a shower !
Our Xmas present to ourselves this holiday was to build an outdoor shower near our pool - it's wonderful to have ! Another terrific addition to the garden was a nicely-sized trampoline that keeps all of us bouncing around all day long...some photos to follow as soon as I fix my camera or get another one !

More later, must go watch some Robotech - it's got to be returned by next week...

2006 Resolutions

Resolutions :
read more
spend more time keeping in contact with family
excercise more - compete in the open water swim season next summer
focus more on making a success in my job
go out alone with Heidi more
blog more

Last year I did manage to read more, but not much else on my resolutions list got done...even though I did try to take kite-surfing lessons before the year was up....

Update (partial)

Well the Xmas break was quiet, spent mostly at home with visiting family and friends - more about what we got up to, later.

The big news is that H got the job she applied for, and has started last Monday ! She is quite excited, even though it's going to keep her busy, and away from the boys in her life for longer than she had anticipated - we'll have to make the weekends count....

I hadn't gotten around to penning my resolutions, but will do so during the week - one of them is to blog more ;)

Am going to help plan my high school reunion this year, which should be a highlight - more to come on that as well....

Bad news is that my digital camera is on the blink, and is causing me depression !

is that an iBook i see before me ?

We are keen to buy an iBook - hope to do it this weekend in Durban...it's gonna be big fun, I predict !

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it

from the Edward Fitzgerald translation

I've picked up this book lately, and am again marvelling at the mastery of the man.....

This passage is the one Mom used to associate with the Rubaiyat, and it's the one that sticks out for me too....

Friends down under

Bram, Jacob and Hannah Renk-Kotzee, in Perth, with unnamed pet labrador...unfortunately, due to Dad's health, we won't be travelling there this xmas as planned. Another time, we hope.

Boys will be boys

TC is now the proud owner of a silver version of this machine, the 2005 A3 3.2 sportback quattro - a terrific vehicle to be sure....since he had not yet reached the 1000kay run in threshold, we were not yet able to test out it's true range, but this weekend should be another story ! Watch this space....

Enter the Python !

This past weekend, the era of The Python was born....when Adhil competed in the SA Open Grappling championships. For the record, he made it to the 4th round before being eliminated, beaten by the guys who finished 2nd and 3rd in his category.

Katrina makes waves

It's so hard to imagine that these pictures of nature's beauty could cause so much devastation....see here for some comparisons between the last major hurricanes in North America.

Must be tough times in New Orleans right now, and having Bush in the job can't be making things any easier.

Lil Berrisford-Patel @ 17 weeks !

I've been meaning to upload this scan for a while now, but haven't had the after hours energy...

It's SOOO exciting having Zsa & Stephen's lil un on the way - I hope to post some pix of Zsa soon; left my camera at Kumarin's place last month....maybe I can get him to download and mail me some of the photos !

We spent the weekend just chilling at home, including converting the pool from yukkie green to crystal sky blue, and closed the weekend with The Last Samurai.

Denzil & Nathi

Denzil & Nathi, also at Bulldogs, Rosebank (The Zone), just after I had gotten myself a wee haircut at around 7pm on a Sunday ! Jozi is cool !

Rieyaardt & Nicole

At Bulldogs, The Zone, Rosebank - It was great to finally meet Nicole, the flame of Rieyaardt's life for all these years. She is bubbly, and warm and very friendly - I hope they decide to make that eternal committment, and that we keep in touch...