SFO

I am now ready to board and go back home. I am sitting at Gate A4 in Terminal A at San Francisco International. The Business Lounge where I could have gone is closed and now I am waiting for my flight to board. The rain is falling slowly outside and everything feels cold and depressing. Strangely, the airport is not very active and I must say not at all as good or beautiful as Cape Town International. This is suppose to be the center of technology, yet I cannot think that it is the case if I look at the terminal building.

Mobey Forum at Sybase

I spent the last two days attending a specialist mobile banking association meetings here in Dublin (a suburb or San Francisco.) I made a presentation and also was a member of a panel. It was great to see the old friends but also to meet new ones. Some of the practitioners of mobile banking have now been in the industry for almost ten years. We have learned such a lot and have also achieved a lot.

Wente winery

We had dinner at a local winery (Wente winery) sponsored by IBM. It provided an opportunity to network with many of the attendees of the Mobey Forum meeting. I looked forward to tasting some of the wines, but we were only exposed to the Chardonnay and Cab. I could see that the winery has a proud tradition and would have liked to learn more, but this was not the case.

Lunch at Dieu Donne

Me and Annelie had lunch today at Dieu Donne. The beautiful setting - the mountains and vineyars in the brilliant sun was just breathtaking - so was the food and wine too. Annelie had a T-bone with the local Merlot and I had the Oxtail stew with the Cross (local Bourdeux blend). On our way back from Franchhoek, we stopped at Allee Blue to buy some of their Starlight Rouge (A wine that we both like).

Bailey at the Big and Easy

After our strategy planning workshop today we had a wonderful dinner at the new Ernie Els restaurant in Stellenbosch - called the Big and Easy. Adriaan managed to get us our own room and we talked about Fundamo, what we have achieved and what we still dream about. We ordered some great wines (particularly the Saronsberg Shiraz) and talked till late. This is Richard who sat at the head of the table enjoying the ambiance.

Cape Town lights

I had dinner with some prospective clients in Campsbay tonight. It was quite and enjoyable time. The food was great, the company was great and of course the wine. As I returned and crossed over the neck at the cablecar, I saw an almost full moon shining on the Cape Town citybowl lights. I am truely blessed to live in such a beautiful place.

Back at Work

After a good rest, I have returned to my desk and a hectic year. I look at all the Xmas cards that I have displayed of friends and business associates and the foreign currency of places that I have been last year and I realise that it was an eventful year. I wonder what 2009 holds, but I know that I can put my trust in the Lord and then things will work out fine.

Meerenbosch Saturday

Me, Annelie, Charl and Ann drove down to Meerenbosch today for a "last-day-of-holiday". We had a great braai under the Milkwood trees and a walk to the sea and back. Afterwards we had a quick afternoon nap before we returned via the pictureque False Bay drive.

On the front page of the Burger

I could not believe my eyes. While we were having an early supper at Col'Cacchio (see previous post), one of the UK princesses were also at the restaurant. This was reported in the media with a photo on the front page of one of the local newspapers. I am the guy in the background with my back to the camera. What a co-incidence!

Col'Cacchio Stellenbosch

Me and Annelie spent a few days at Oupa Izak and Ouma Andre in Bloemfontein. Oupa is very ill and frail at the moment, but his mind is strong and it was gratifying to see the love between the two old people. When we returned to Cape Town, we decided to go to the movies and grabbed a quick bite at one of our favourite restaurants in Stellenbosch (Col'Cacchio). We shared a pizza with the Wolftrap (made by Marc Kent from Boekenhoutskloof).