Mister Wim

Wim stayed the night at our place in Kaapse Draai. Turns out that he packed his Lankawi T-shirt and so I donned mine too. We had a lamb roast with some good wine (including a Buitenverwachting Christine 2000) and finished the night with a few glasses of Glenmorangie(the Glen of Tranquillity). But what was most important was the talk (about flying, religion, the meaning of life, poetry, the previous political dispensation and how we will conquer the world etc. etc.).

Dentist Appointment

I was at the dentist this morning for almost two hours. It was the firs time that I had an implant made with the new scanning technology. As a technologist this was an amazing experience for me - to see how technology is applied in everyday life and the immense benefits that it brings. The tooth-implant was manufactured on site in fifteen minutes and was an absolute perfect fit, it was less expensive than if the tooth was to have been made in a laboratory and had less impact in my schedule. So on all counts it won outright on the manual product.

The thing that interested me most, was the impact that this kind of technology would have on the "tooth-manufacturing" industry. My dentist told me that he cut his business with tooth-technicians with 85%. In total this must have a massive disruptive effect on the industry. Just another example of technology having a major impact on the world as we know it.

Devon Valley

We had lunch today at the Devon Valley Hotel near Stellenbosch with Izak and Mariet. This is quite a special place for me and Annelie as it was the first place that we stayed over more than fifteen years ago when we came to the Cape. The views are magnificent and today we could see all the way to Hangklip. We had a wonderful buffet and one of the local Cabernet Rose's (the 2004) for which the Hotel is famous for.

Verbier

Early morning after my meeting in the Alps. Today is a beautiful day.

My friend Falk

I met with Falk in Barcelona during the 3GSM congress. We had a coffee at one of the hotels across from the convention center. This was the last meeting at the end of a very busy four days.

Len in Barcelona

Len is one of the keenest minds in mobile banking globally. I met with him at the congress and as always had a good chat about the future of mobile banking. His insights into the impact of mobile banking on business and the appropriate business models is always refreshing.

At the new house

Annelie picked me up at the airport when I returned from Sao Paulo and we had a look at the progress with our new house before returning home. Great to be home, great to see how the house-building is progressing, great to spend time with my love.

First meeting on Wednesday

First meeting on Wednesday with local attorneys to assess the implications of launching banking solutions in Brazil. This is a picture from their meeting room of the city skyline. Skyscrapers for as far as the eye can see. This is a massive city - bigger than anything that I have seen...

Leaving for Sao Paulo

Flight SA 304 early on tuesday on my way from Cape Town to Johannesburg to catch a direct flight to Sao Paulo in Brazil. How many hours do I spend in the confines of SAA Airbusses?

Izak's Res

After lunch we dropped Izak off at his Residence. He is a senior in one of the older ones on the campus, called Dagbreek. This is a picture of him standing at the front door.

Oom Salie's Rooster

We had lunch with Izak in Stellenbosch. Because the weather was so great we sat down in the garden of Oom Salie's (one of the oldest shops in Stellenbosch). We had simple food and a bottle of wine. We really enjoyed it soo much, as did a Rooster that walked between the tables.

Annelie and Christelle

Christelle is a little baby that has recently been adopted by loving, caring parents. She is one of the little babies directed and managed by Magdalena Huis. She will be staying with us tonight to give her "new" parents a little break.

Our friends the Kotze's

Annelie have known Hendrik as long as she can remember and we have been friends with them for a very long time - since before we were married. Now our kid's generation is getting married. Through the years, our priorities have changed and we have helped each other through difficult times and rejoiced when we could celebrate. Tonight we had dinner at a Thai restaurant with the most beautiful setting in Cape Town. We spoke about our lifes, about how much time we spent working and what we wish for our kids. We left the restuarant at about midnight, grateful to be alive and to have friends like them.