Relax, take it eeeeeeeeeeeeeasy!

At the end of April we finished off a very succesful second season. It was extended by one week due to the Vulcano eruption in Iceland. At least some good things came out of that: Camille and Mickey learned from Denise how to knit. After the skies had cleared and everyone (included the moms who were here for the whole month to meet their first grandson) returned back home, we enjoyed some piece for the first time in months. But most of all, we took some time off to enjoy parenthood.

We made use of the calm month of May to do some patch-up works. A few new windows, a new showerdoor in the honeymoon room, a bit of paint here and there....

Julian kreeg ondertussen zijn eerste feestje waarbij hij werd voorgesteld aan onze zuid afrikaanse vrienden.

The Worldcup Football started on the 11th of June. The South African national team scored the opening goal and finished their first game with a 1-1 draw against Mexico. The whole nation is caught up in the Soccer frenzy. Everywhere in the streets one can see national flags, hear the vuvuzela's, people cheering on their Bafana Bafanas (translated into Our Boys) and most cars drive around decorated in the national colours. A very special feeling to see a nation once so divided, now so united because of this little game named soccer..

Julian

On the 8th of April 2010 we became the proud parents of a baby boy we named Julian: 54 cms tall and 3.3. kg!!!

2010

The New Year couldn't have started worse than it did. On Monday the 25th of January our beloved grandfather, better know as Bompa, passed away suddenly of a heart attack. Being the glew that holds our family together, we will be greatly missed by all. We try to find comfort in all the good memories we have and the fact that at 82 years old he still got to travel to Cape Town where he had "the best holiday of his life".




Better news followed in February. On a stunning summers day Serge and Missy, our friends from Noordhoek, married in the presence of all their friends and family who came down from all corners. The celebration was a perfect mix between Missy's South African roots and Serge's French/Belgian.


Also in February there were a lot of familiar visitors: Stefaan and Bene, Christophe - Greet and their oldest daughter Feliz, Julie - Vincent and their son Julien, Mieke and Elke, Margaux's parents and Soetkin - Kris. They all had a wonderful time and it was heartwarming to see how they all reluctantly left Cape Town. Finally Anke and Phillippe also returned for the first time on holiday to their beloved South Africa.



More good news followed when we found out our permanent residency had been granted. It's a nice feeling to know we can stay as long as we like in this magnificient country.
Meanwhile Bram and I are preparing everything for the arrival of our first child in April. As our private section only has one bedroom, a thorough reorganisation is necessary. A few weeks to go and it will be the three of us, very exciting!!!

Xmas 2009 with families Steevens and Van Oost

Woodstock market Cape Town!

Life is good in Africa!

We started building extra accommodation last September. A garden cottage with kitchen, living room and private terrace. Almost 1,5 month later, it's almost finished. Who says people don't work hard in Africa? Still some decorating to be done and then the first guests can sleep there in November.

As every year, the Southern Right Whales are visiting the Cape for the moment, still breathtaking every time!

Newest addition to our "little farm": six chickens. There will be daily fresh eggs served at breakfast time.
During spring cleaning Oscar was transformed from an almost black to a white donkey again. He's not a huge fan of water but seemed to feel better afterwards.
And so we are ready to start of our second season!

Oscar the donkey!

On a drizzly day in September 2009 we visited the SPCA in Grassy Park. We were looking for ‘something’ for in our garden and had some chickens or maybe a small goat in mind. But when we saw this white Donkey, we immediately fell in love.

They had picked him up by the side of the road a few days earlier after he got hit by a car, leaving a gap wound in his side so big you could stick a melon in there. Also his head was full of scars, sad remains of his previous life as a cart animal no doubt with lots of beatings and abuse.

They couldn’t give us any guarantee at the SPCA that he was going to recover, but we decided then and there that we would provide a loving home in case he did. Two weeks later we received a phone call that he was feeling much better and his wound was nicely healing. Bram started right away building a stable and some fencing.
Since Monday, Oscar stands happily grazing in the garden. Welcome to the family!