Amazon Prime Video

I know that it has been done by many, but I experienced the magic of watching a blockbuster movie being streamed to my Apple MacBook the first time. I watched A Good Lie via my Apple TV hooked onto the Samsung Flatscreen with Annelie. The video was streamed from Amazon Prime service via my (slow) ADSL connection. Nevertheless, it was a great experience. Welcome to watching movies at my own time in my own house from now on.

Goodbye bag

My trustworthy Samsonite bag has now done its last trip with me. A critical zip has broken and it is not functional anymore. This bag has been the one item that has gone with me everywhere: from the best hotels to glamorous conferences, important meetings and distinguished social events. It has traveled with me on planes, trains, taxis and ferries on all continents of the world. It was an amazing journey. Goodbye bag.

Simple Food

I enjoyed the simple food made with love and fresh ingredients so much. I helped myself to several servings and enjoyed eating it in the company of special, dear friends.

A different Christmas

I experienced plentiful blessings by celebrating Christmas in a different country amongst other believers as we inaugurated a new church building. Sometimes it is important to transcend traditional boundaries to reevaluate your own beliefs and to experience the universal love, compassion and peace which is what Jesus promised us.

Delayed in Dubai

I can think of many places worse than being stuck in Dubai waiting for the weather to clear in your destination city. Our flight has now been delayed for six hours and I have now had multiple cups of tea and a great breakfast. If I suffer any further delay, I might just start on the excellent whiskeys in the lounge.

Hermanus Red route

I dusted the old mountain bike off and took it with to MeerenBosch. This morning I did most of the red MTB route through Hemel-en-Aarde. What a spectacular route, well-maintained and a real test for my rusted single-track skills.

Life's turns

At the turn of the century, we looked after new-born babies before they got placed with their adopting parents. Today we were blessed to be able to visit one such a family. It was a special occasion for us to see how the baby that we had in our house for ten days developed into a confident, talented young lady. As we talked about the past thirteen years and the dreams of what will come, we realized that life is beautiful and complex and awesome, yet incomprehensible.

Stream

Stream is a new breed of conference, called an un-conference the whole idea is that there should be little structure and groups should form around interesting topics spontaneously. I enjoyed the good contributions from many bright minds and the thoughts that it stimulated. It was a privilege to have been invited. 

Early at the airport

As I look outside the airport, I can see the green Kulula 737 looking back at me. We both got up an hour ago. It is early in the morning and I am on my way back home.

Tintswalo

Tintswalo Lodge is such a special hotel, with a perfect setting on the water's edge below Chapman's Peak. We celebrated our thirty-fourth wedding anniversary there. We watched the sun set over the ocean and then sat down to a four-course dinner served on the deck outside as we watched the moon's reflection on the bay. So privileged to be with my best friend, Annelie, for so long and still able to experience special moments together.

Duck and cherries

Annelie and me created a masterpiece for dinner tonight: breast of duck with cherry and port reduction, supported by a Lammershoek Roulette Blanc 2010. We had a lot of fun creating this dish, but a lot more fun consuming it.

Carols picnic

We joined the kids and grandchildren for an impromptu picnic at Arden's school for Carols by Candlelight. I enjoyed watching the small ones eating their slice if pizza and sharing in the fun.

The Burger

I originally thought that I would teach myself a lesson: it is not a good idea to do a 100km cycle race without some time in the saddle. Unfortunately, my participation in this year's Burger cycling race went better than expected; so no lesson learned.

Sunrise over the Helderberg

The mountain to the east of de Wijnlanden is called the Helderberg - the "Shining Mountain". This morning as the sun rose over this mountain it looked like its name.

U-Start

U-start is a company that provides investment opportunities for wealthy families into early stage start-ups. I attended a dinner hosted by Whitey Basson at Mount Marie for VIP's attended the U-start conference in Cape Town. I cannot recall (maybe with the exception of Davos) that I was at one event with so many dollar billionaires present... and then in such beautiful settings.

Opstal

We were hosted by Attie Louw at Opstal winery in the Slanghoek valley. Currently the winemaker, Attie is a fifth generation Louw farming on this farm. We enjoyed his knowledge and passion for the unique wines that he exposed us to.

First nativity play

After I accepted the reality of being a grandfather, I knew the time will come when I attend a nativity play with one of my grandchildren in it. This happened today with Arden in the important role of the only cow in the manger. I experienced strange emotions of gratitude and compassion to see these young children sing and act without any restraint or fear. All of them were like little canvasses not yet spoiled by the tribulations of life.

Overgaauw restaurant

It is a new concept in eating. No menu, just the freshest ingredients, and food prepared for friends in a farm-style setting. Brother and sister: Jason and Camilla Comins supported by Camilla’s husband, Russel Wasserfal, offer such s treat at the new Overgaauw restaurant. Annelie and me enjoyed the terrine starter and the chicken mains with a great Chardonnay on Sunday, and made a note to be back.

Amazon fulfillment center

I was so fortunate to be shown around the Amazon fulfillment center where Izak work. The brand new building stretches for 100's of meters and is multiple stories high. Inside is some of the coolest technology that you could think of helping hundreds of people to ship thousands of Amazon parcels. As I walked on the floor, seeing the amazing tech and watching my son totally in control of his environment, my heart swelled with thankfulness.

Yardley caching

Izak stays in a quaint little town in Pennsylvania. One afternoon I took some time out to do geocaching: a great way for me to get to know the environment. The town, Yardley, feels like a little peaceful enclave in a busy world.

Izak at breakfast

I am spending special times with my youngest son in Yardley, Pennsylvania. He is working long days as they ramp up for the festive season rush. But just having breakfast with him in the mornings and de-briefings at night when he gets back from work are special memory times for me.

Kettle USA

I cannot understand why one cannot pay with a VISA card for tolls in the US. In the country that gave us the credit card, one must still pay with cash at manually operated tolls. The US is an amazing country in my eyes, but some things remain a mystery to me. Like why is it so difficult to buy a kettle. It took me two hours, walking from one retailer to another until I found the last kettle in Philadelphia. How do you make tea without a kettle?

New York

Getting ready to board EK771 via Dubai to New York. No business planned - just traveling to be with family. Strange feeling compared to my previous life, but extremely satisfying and blessed to be able to do so.

Koos van der Merwe

Attended a Koos van der Merwe show at die ou Meul theatre in Paarl with Quintes and Rielle. It was special to just spend time with old friends. The rendition of Leonard Cohen songs by the artist was good, especially the last song: "Halleluja"

Blending

What fun we had with JP, Maritha, Johan and Christine at Spier. The evening was about a challenge to all the teams present: "using the basic building blocks of Shiraz, Mouvedre and Voignier, re-create the prize-winning Spier SMV blend". Our team did not win (or even got close, but we knew that our blend was even better than the original. It was an evening full of talk and laughter.

Tame Kwikkie

I love it when humans allow wild animals into their space. That is why I enjoyed it so much to see Jakes and Lorraine allowing a "Kwikkie" (Cape Wagtail; Motacilla capensis) to fly right into their house, strutting around on the counter until he got his crumbs.

Visit from New Zealand

It was such a blessing to see my cousin, Elda, all the way from New Zealand when she visited family in Cape Town. An added advantage was that we could also see her mom, tannie Suzie and sister, Lolita too. We talked about so many things as we enjoyed a South African braai.

Nina is three

Nina had her third birthday party today. The theme was princesses and all the little girls came in special dresses. As a father that never had daughters, it was a stunning experience to see a different kind of birthday party as a grandfather: make-up, decorating cupcakes and kissing a frog.

Old Alto

Sunday lunch was just me and Annelie at home. We cooked a shoulder of lamb in the Weber. I decided that the occasion was special enough for an old cab - so we opened a 1982 Alto Cabernet Sauvignon. Who said the South African wines can't age?

Robbery at Waterstone

One realizes how frail we are when you stumble on a crime scene where someone died. There was a robbery at our local Waterstone shopping center and it seems that a security guard was killed in the process. Heartbreaking for the family, but also generates strange feelings of fear and anger in oneself.

Slow market

The Slow Market happens every Saturday at Oude Libertas in Stellenbosch. It is a public marketplace where many vendors sell food and a few other things. We celebrated the wonderful weather by having lunch there. The fact that there were many of the local craft beer brewers present added to the pleasure.

Veritas

The Veritas wine awards are sought after accolades for South African wines. The Double Gold and Gold winners for 2014 were show-cased to the public at the CTICC. I first tasted the Chardonnays with Annelie and then sampled some of the Rhone-type blends and rare cultivars. There were some impressive wines, but the evening was made special because we could share it with the Hofmeyrs and also for bumping into other friends, like Trompie.

Swallow migration

A pair of swallows have built a nest under the porch at our front door. The couple left on their migration during February, probably flying all the way to Spain for the summer on the Mediterranean. Today I noticed that they were back, perching on the wooden veranda over the front stoep. Such a jet-setting life-style. 

Ebola overhead

It is not Ebola, but the fear of it that is placing a lot of pressure on the infrastructure in Lagos's Murtala Muhammed (and at OR Tambo). With five flights leaving on Friday night, additional queues were created for Ebola screening. Another form to fill in, more questions asked and my temperature measured, before I was officially passed.

440NG

I attended the mentor launch of 440ng in Ikoyi. 440ng is a start-up accelerator run by the capable Kersten Buch and his team. I listened to the pitches of the nine little companies that made the grade and was impressed with the quality of the products and the conviction of the founders.

Economy is good enough

The wine was not poured from specially selected vintages, the food was not dished up on porcelain and the entertainment system ran on a tiny screen. But economy class service on SA060 to Lagos was quite acceptable. Sure, the seat was much more narrow and could hardly recline, but it was more than good enough. I don't miss flying business class that much.

I love Africa

Here I am again at OR Tambo, boarding a flight to one of Africa's vibrant cities; Lagos to be specific. I hear the many different languages being spoken, some discussing the shopping excursion to Sandton, one calming a small boy, but many on their mobile phones in heated arguments. I can see the big, white South Africans turned into glorified migrant laborers, the foreigners getting ready for a venture very different to what they are used to, the family returning home... I love Africa.

Forty year re-union

I attended my forty-year matric re-union in Bethlehem with Annelie. It was both special and humbling to meet old school-friends again, to see how each person developed into what God intended for them. Many of my old school-mates attended, one even coming from Hong Kong. The fact that I have learned more about their families, their careers and their dreams, mean that I now can carry them in my heart and my prayers much better.

Karoo wolke

Why is it that clouds over the Karoo always look clearer and crisper - defined? Like a collection of massive, fluffy animals, stretching from one horizon to another. In some mysterious way the day remains sunlight bright covered in cotton-wool.

SARS queue

It is this time again. Standing in the blazing Paarl sun on the pavement in front of the SARS offices from early. Hopefully I can get the tax sorted this time. On a positive note: I am learning a lot about the workings of the Revenue Services in South Africa, my fellow human beings and myself.

Penguins with the grandchildren

During the birth of Xavier, we volunteered to look after Arden and Nina for a few days. We were privileged that Ernst and Catherine agreed and we created a lot of special memories with the two grandchildren. Amongst others we went penguin-viewing at Boulders where Arden had the unique experience to get bitten on his toe by one of the birds. Warning: don't stand too close to the enclosures.

Xavier Jean

The birth of every child is a miracle. But to see a new grandson, only a few hours old, experience life, is indescribable. We were so blessed to be allowed into the maternity ward at Vincent Pallotti to see Xavier Jean and the proud parents this morning. As I looked at the frail new arrival, I experienced deep emotions of thankfulness, enthrallment and anticipation.

A plan comes together

It is nice to see a plan coming together. Mukhtar introduced me to an almost completed Mathilda and I can see the possibilities. So much fun with creating new possibilities and living on the edge again.

Impromptu visit

If not for social media, we would not have known that Jaco was in the Cape for a few days. And Annelie would not have been able to entice them to join us for lunch at Meerenbosch. And we would not have had the fun that we did have. Thumbs up to social media!

Look ma no side-wheels

He specifically asked that they packed his bicycle in the boot so that he can show ouma and oupa. Yesterday he found the right spanner and removed the side-wheels himself. Now he is cycling on two wheels like an adult.

Mother and child

Southern Right Whales migrate to the shores of the Cape during spring to calf. On my morning cycle ride, I saw a whale and a calf in the distance. Just the two of them, rolling in the waves. It was so special to see these two huge mammals bonding - spending time with each other: mother and child.

Vision to reality

The Vision to Reality awards programme for entrepreneurs was held at the Cape Town stadium. Over three-hundred key people in the technology industry from government to VC's attended a gala event sponsored by PWC. It was great to see old friends and experience the vibrant start-up scene. I was privileged to give a key note speech.

Nathia Gali

With a large back-log after the bad weather, we could not get seats on the flight to Skardu. Instead we drove up to the hill-station of Nathia Gali and stayed for two nights at a guest-house. Nathia Gali is in the foothills of the Himalayas. At only 2800m above sea-level these mountains are mere hills compared to the real ones, but compared to pretty much any other mountain-range, these hills are absolutely impressive. Covered in lush green trees with winding roads up steep inclines, the views stretch for hundreds of miles. After glorious sunny days, the mist unfolded us and the trees in the evenings before we went to bed.

Easypaisa

It is so gratifying to travel through a foreign land and to see a brand that I have helped to create everywhere. I saw easypaisa displayed everywhere from the smallest villages to the capital of Pakistan.

Serena Hotel

During my many visits to Islamabad, I just have the fondest memories about the Serena Hotel. It is one of the finest hotels in the world. Therefore, it was such a pleasure for me to share the enjoyment of the Serena with Annelie when we stayed there for two nights.