Kinley's Death

I was faced with death on 23rd April 2011. Kinley, Estelle's son passed away virtually in front of me. We have just been getting together and living in harmony with each other whilst his mother was in hospital for the two weeks prior to his death. I am really sad and miss him very much. It is so strange that I did not want him around because of his past and the problems his mother and I had with him, but yet I miss him. His mom always told me he was a good boy and I saw that in him the last few weeks we were together. All I could do now was to give him a good send off and now look after his mother whilst she is going through her grieving process. It is really hard to see her suffering so much. It is probably the hardest thing for a parent to bury his or her child. We always think that our children will bury us but sometimes it turns out the other way around. This time had me thinking hard about my children and how I would feel if they were to pass before me. We take each other so much for granted when we have them around us but when they are gone we miss them. It is a sad time for me and his mom. I have to post another note when I feel ab it better. chow

The last 4 months Building and more building

I started with my big project this year which was to move the office out of the house. I have spent the last 4 months in the construction business hiring and firing. The building had to be raised off the ground in order to allow vehicular access to the north side of the house. I have learnt that with building the easy way is not always the best in the long run. I should have built a large shell over the existing house together with the construction in front to allow for future expansion. as it is I would have to tackle that when the need arises. I woud probably have to construct the extension then in wood. The project turned out very well indeed and I am proud of it. I am still sorting out some of the finishing touches. As it is the builders are off to the next job and would probably not be back ever. Fortunately for me my hands are still active so I will still be crawling around for a long time doing this and that. Kalima my Malawian friend has been a great help and continues to do so. Anyway that is enough of the building, I shall post a picture of the new wing. I have been keeping up with my running and gyming and feel good and happy. Estelle is coming back from her controversial Greece trip next week 22nd September after being away for 2 and a half weeks. How the year has flown by It seems like yesterday when I was preparing furiously for the Africa trip and here we are in October already. Since the building is done I will now be setting up the business for extension and selling/passing on to younger people with more energy for all the new challenges faced by an independant broker. If there is somebody responsible to handle the business for 2 or 3 months of my absence I can comfortably go and do the rest of the africa trip. So I will be planning to go off again in two or three years time maybe celebrate it with my 60th birthday God willing. that would be in four years time. So back to the present. I have just returned from my friend Claude's 70th birtday, yes I have friends who are that age and that somehow makes me old as well. I was very honoured to be invited to his do he had about 20 people in just 30sq metres and we all had a good rubbing time godd food and good fellowship. I have to take his present to him tomorrow I forgot it on my desk in the hurry to get there before the start. The office looks just great and I have to pinch myself from time to time to really realise that what was in my head I am now sitting in. I dare add that it had cost a pretty penny and I am still spending. The office is also functioning better having all the staff in one room and it being big enough allows us to have comfortable telephone conversations. Allan Cavernelis was in today to add to some of the electrics and has done a great job.
My coucin Basil has been diagnosed with cancer and has gone up to his son in JHB but has been readmitted to hospital there when he started suffering new severe pain. Hope he gets on. I buried my friend Vince Kolbe last week Friday also cancer and he was 78yrs old so many tributes to his long life filtered in. I have just returned from a guitar show at the Joseph Stone greta stuff and very proffessionally done Greg Davids was the MC and we saw performers usch as Sidique Khan , flamenco guitarist with the Newman and Cox trio and some new cCape Town talent. We are really blest to have such amazing talent right on our doorstep. at R80 per ticket value for money. I have a busy week coming up and hope to make a posting once a week now, I have to make short notes of my thoughts and happenings during the week on my dictaphone and then post the info because when I sit down to write I tend to forget the important things that happened in the previous month or two. To keep the blogg open I have to make a posting every 3 months at least else I lose the space. This may be a good way to recall my memoirs when I sit down to write one day. For now it is almost twelve and I am getting tired Ishall endeavour to make a weekly posting in the future. Bye for now.

Home

It is July the world cup is finished and so I can go on with my life as if nothing has happened except that I have spent less time working and this is bound to have an effect on my life for the next few months.
I am about 60% with the building project at my home which will house the offices. This has also been a tremendous experience for me. I have never developed a building which stands in the air and this has been learning curve for me. I have bought a book featuring the 4x4 trails in SA, I am going to do the first one in the Citrusdal area which should coincide with the arrival of the spring flowers in Namaqualand and should be a good trip to do at that time. I was'nt ready for a blogg update so let me sign off and get back later in the month. See ya

Hey, ek is by die pozzie

I have shown my travel pics to a party of friends at my home in Athlone a few weeks ago and the response was good, an un informed person present showed some racist leanings but he was quickly put in his place, shame, he wants to go and settle in London and is just practicing his prejudice in order to fit in when/if he ever gets there. I hope to spend some time with this boy to help him get closer to black people for his own good. I am tackling a huge project in the new year I am moving the office out of the house and constructing office space away from the residence. Joined a music class at the Athlone Academy of music, learning to play the guitar. Will keep the blog open with a post at least once a month. Let me go and accumalate some more material
See ya

Township Tour

Hey, I am having a presentation of my trip at Manenberg High School on Wed 18th February @ 11.30am therafter I shal be arranging a session at Bonteheuwel High school during March. Bonteheuwel celebrates 50yrs of existance and it is quiet ironic that I was only 6yrs old when they started forcefully moving people from areas like District Six, Goodwood, Vasco, Newlands, Harfield Village, Lansdowne, Claremont, Mowbray, Kirstenbosch, etc. I hope that Bonteheuwel residents will have some commemeration activity in lieu of this anniversary. I will be talking about it at my session there. I have not set a date yet but hope to finalize same soon, will keep you posted.
Regards
Dougie