Indira Ghandi International Airport

I am on my way back to Cape Town after a short visit (for one meeting in Delhi). I have just booked in and passed through passport control. I am waiting to be boarded. It struck me how different we are as humans. Even though we all look (sort of) the same, we are so different in our behaviour, our customs and interactions. It is impossible to describe this, if it was not experienced first hand. As I looked at the different people, Muslims, migrant workers, nationalities that I cannot place, with dress codes so different to what I am used to, I just again realise how much I long to be home with my people.

The world's biggest Plasma

I saw this in one of the Dubai shopping centre's. Typical, Dubai style, this is supposedly the world's biggest plasma screen (103 cm). Like everything in Dubai it is a HUGE screen, but (like everything in Dubai), a little bit... strange?

Bahrain Lounge

After a productive meeting in Bahrain and waiting for my flight to Dubai, I booked into this American Express business lounge. It turned out to be one of the best that I ever visited. Beautifully laid out, with service to back it up, it had everything I needed to help me with a hectic travel schedule.

Des and the little lady

Des and Elsa had supper at de Wijnlanden with us tonight. They brought the little lady with that they are foster parents to. We had a great evening, filled with a lot of fun, but also touching on the serious elements of life.

Malvern's hairdo

Malvern's wore his hair in an "interesting" style this morning. I thought it deserved a picture. Malvern claims it is because of all the travel that we are doing at the offices lately.

Late dinner

We had a late dinner tonight at a local Italian place after a stunning wine tasting presented by Jeff Grier from Villiera. He recently bought a winefarm in the Roussillon region of France and he introduced us and a few others to what is happening in this area of France. It was a great experience. Afterwards, me and Annelie had a to find a place to eat.

Dinner with Ernst and Catherine

Ernst and Catherine visited for dinner tonight. Annelie made a fish dish and we enjoyed it with a bottle Tortoise Hill Rosé. We chatted and watch a DVD together. We are so blessed to have our children close by and for them to spend time with us.

Bordeaux wine tasting

We attended a great wine-tasting event organised by Doreen and Nico (picture) tonight. We had to identify five different red wine cultivars that we tasted blind. Afterwards we tasted a blend produced from the individual wines. I was proud of myself that I could identify all the wines successfully.

Breakfast in Bloemfontein

Annelie launched her poetry book in Bloemfontein this week. I arranged my travel in such a way to join her there. It was a big celebration and she is thankful that it is now done.

We also spent some time with her parents and met Izak (Annelie's brother and my brother-in-law) and his family for breakfast on Sunday. As is usual, I started the day off in a healthy way: Muesli, fruit and a muffin.

Wimbledon Centre Court

I arranged for Annelie to join me in London for the weekend. She always wanted to see Wimbledon live. I was not sure that we would be able to find tickets for the Ladies Final on Saterday, but I prayed a lot. Then on Friday night, I found two tickets on the web for Centre Court in the front row! We sat right next to the entry point for the players. We could touch the players and officials as they walked onto court. For me this was (once again) a sign of how powerful my God is. I was just amazed at how He listen to prayers.

A great wine in a great hotel

My German business partner booked us into this great old hotel in the middle of Wiesbaden, the Schwarzer Bock Hotel (supposedly the oldest hotel in Germany, having been founded in 1486. Read more here). I really enjoyed the style, coupled with excellent service. Because it was so hot, we had a simple meal in the courtyard. I selected the Josephshofer Kabinett Riesling 2006 to accompany the meal. Turned out to be one of the best Rieslings that I ever had.

London on a clear day

We met some of our business associates at this restaurant overlooking the Thames on a beautiful day. We spoke about all of the issues and developed a good plan going forward while sipping a beer. London can be stunning too.

Sunday Lunch at de Wijnlanden

Before I left for London, me and Annelie had an amazing lunch on the veranda at de Wijnlanden. We had steak and vegetables with a good Neetlingshof 1995 Pinotage. As I looked at the mountains and a perfect weather with Annelie next to me, I knew again how blessed I am.

Dirk's old wines

We helped Dirk test some of his older wines. He was not sure if some of the older wines in his cellar was still Okay, so we and a couple of friends spend the evening trying some of them out. Turns out that some have been left to age for too long, but others (like for instance the Laborie Estate 1986) were still in excellent condition.