Lunch at Uitsig

I had a great lunch with colleagues and business partners from the US at one of my favourite restaurants: Constantia Uitsig. The weather was perfect, the food was brilliant and the wine complimented the fare well. It was a proud moment to see foreigners enjoying what South Africa had to offer.

Cousins visit

Theuns and Martin visited us at de Wijnlanden while waiting to attend to their mom who is in the Paarl hospital. I enjoyed it so much to get to know them anew and talk about our shared family and what each person is doing. Why do we have to wait for family crisis to find time to get together?

Heathrow in the late afternoon sun

I am strolling to the gate to board for Johannesburg and I notice the last rays of the sun on the opposite terminal building and the parked jets. It is starkly beautiful - a mix of nature with a celebration of technological design. And I know it is the same sun that is now also setting on Africa.

Meeting Clinton at the CGI

I had the opportunity to meet President Clinton at a cocktail reception in New York. This was part of a program where I met with representatives of partners, the media and NGO's. It was humbling to meet famous and special people.

Special time with Izak in Boston

It was a special day for me to be blessed to see my son in Boston. Izak is enrolled for a post-grad program at MIT, and I spent the afternoon tracing a route through campus with him. We walked past the Sloan business school, sat down in one of the lecture halls and looked at all the famous landmarks. We watched a replay of the Boks game in his Res and had a good dinner at a local fishery. But what I enjoyed most was to listen to my son's opinions, his views on life and his dreams for the future.

Oriental London

I am walking to a meeting in a hotel on the Thames and I cannot help to notice all the Oriental restaurants. At this specific spot, there is no English fare for sale, but a lot of sushi, chinese food and other oriental menus. Interesting.

Annelie next to hospital bed

Me and Annelie visited tannie Dot, who is recovering from an operation at Paarl hospital. I sat on the other side of the bed and could see how much Annelie care. I am so fortunate to share my life with such a compassionate person.

Early mist

Got up early this morning to go to gym. The mist was thick and visibility limited when I pulled out of the driveway. The silhouette of the trees against the mist and lights glowing in the distance was very beautiful.

The geriatrics invasion

As I am booking out of the Crown Plaza to go home, I looked around me and the whole place was filled with senior citizens. It must be some convention that booked the hotel for the labour day weekend. Small groups were gathered talking to each other, while others shuffled behind walking aids. It felt like a giant old age home so I rushed to call a cab to take me to the airport.