Leaving for London this afternoon ...can't wait for the snow, rain, dark days and the cold! Is there an up side to this? Will let you know when I get there.
Hopefully we will get some rest ...but I don't think so with all the family...nothing like family politics to keep you on a high! I am to find enough drama to write a book. My family don't do things by half! Everyone tells me to go with the flow and to leave the stress in Florida!
Our son is flying out with us this afternoon......this should keep homelands happy ...one less to keep an on! The next project is to find him a job and a wife....not necessarally in that order!
We managed to finish a project in 24 hrs that would normally take 5 days ! The FHF team worked wonders and all thanks to them! I only get credit for planning and keeping cool under fire! Clients were very happy but insisted that we perform the impossible right to the end...we stopped this side of a miracle....must have something to look forward to in the New Year!
It has been a so -so year but in the end we are grateful for all Gods mercies no matter how small. Ever the optimist ...it can only get better from here!
It's cold today in Florida....but the sun is still shining...!!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
the sun does shine in Africa as ....skill driving foils hijackers...
With medical insurance going through the roof to a point where we can't afford it, with diabetes , stents and a never ending batch of daily meds I am now on another diet. It's back to cycling and walking ...losing a good few pounds may help. It's got to be done ...Obama has no plans of including me in his health reforms. Don't knock the National Health ...it's bailed me out a few times!
My good friend Big Laarnie narrowly escaped a hijack in SA.....not the first time . Expert driving skills and quick thinking got him out of a potentially dangerous situation. The Almighty is watching over him ...and so he should. The Big Laarnie 'our man in Durbs and now Sydney!
was on his way to pick up his daughter from a hospital where she is a doctor! This was at 3a.m. in the morning...I thought hijackers were just lazy crooks who didn't do unsocial hours. The economic down turn seems to effect crooks also . Sadly the Dr will join the list of professionals who have left for safer shores. Times have changed in SA for all ...plenty of good and plenty of bad. For all those that have left ...for their own personal reasons ...SA is still home.
We are looking forward to seeing my son on US soil on Tuesday...none more so than the grandson who believes he has a playmate for the whole day...or is it the other way round. Uncle A is scheduled to coach 'soccer' to a potential future Man U star .You have to guess who is the Manager! On the flip side my diet is going out of the window as the wife has plans to cook up a storm for the boy!
My good friend Big Laarnie narrowly escaped a hijack in SA.....not the first time . Expert driving skills and quick thinking got him out of a potentially dangerous situation. The Almighty is watching over him ...and so he should. The Big Laarnie 'our man in Durbs and now Sydney!
was on his way to pick up his daughter from a hospital where she is a doctor! This was at 3a.m. in the morning...I thought hijackers were just lazy crooks who didn't do unsocial hours. The economic down turn seems to effect crooks also . Sadly the Dr will join the list of professionals who have left for safer shores. Times have changed in SA for all ...plenty of good and plenty of bad. For all those that have left ...for their own personal reasons ...SA is still home.
We are looking forward to seeing my son on US soil on Tuesday...none more so than the grandson who believes he has a playmate for the whole day...or is it the other way round. Uncle A is scheduled to coach 'soccer' to a potential future Man U star .You have to guess who is the Manager! On the flip side my diet is going out of the window as the wife has plans to cook up a storm for the boy!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
sibling sweep awards in London while the sun continues to shine out of my big florida blog...
Counting down the days when our son arrives in Orlando ....it's only when he walks through the arrivals doors will I believe that he has made it into the USA. Just to make sure that he DOES NOT over stay his welcome in the States we are travelling back with him to London!!! We plan to spend Xmas with the children and family...there are 24 + . We are looking forward to it so much that I am back on a diet .. On my last posting I think I mentioned that Teacher was nominated for Champion...well she did win Teacher of the year. This achievement has been overshadowed a little by a new man in her life....and she is now worried that Daddy is coming to London to give 'approval or not!
Not to be out done by the Teacher ..newly married daughter ...who has settled down to her new life remarkably well and is back to being the joy she was ...even better... has kept it very quiet but has been nominated by the Police for an award ...for saving a young girl from committing suicide! Again not to be out done by his sisters .... my son will end the year by gaining his F.L.B (London ) degree. We have very competitive children.... So all in all as the year comes to a close ....the sun as always does shine on us all in more ways then we could ever imagine.
Other news....
My sister in London has started her Xmas day lunch project ....thank God I kept the hotline active and for Skype. The menu for everyday of our stay has been planned !!!!! She has learnt to email and my hotmail account is flooded with junk !!
Cheryl continue to Rock Uganda .....God please use her talents to the max....and when she is done in Uganda please send her to South Africa.
My old mate Jim is back in the UK ...he so does not want to be there.....but business is business!
I am getting quite use to driving around Disney as I deliver mobility scooters. I get to see all the Hotels !!!....please visit www. sunmobilityrentals.com if you want to hire a mobility scooter and visit the parks in comfort and of course if you have a disability you know who to call.
Not to be out done by the Teacher ..newly married daughter ...who has settled down to her new life remarkably well and is back to being the joy she was ...even better... has kept it very quiet but has been nominated by the Police for an award ...for saving a young girl from committing suicide! Again not to be out done by his sisters .... my son will end the year by gaining his F.L.B (London ) degree. We have very competitive children.... So all in all as the year comes to a close ....the sun as always does shine on us all in more ways then we could ever imagine.
Other news....
My sister in London has started her Xmas day lunch project ....thank God I kept the hotline active and for Skype. The menu for everyday of our stay has been planned !!!!! She has learnt to email and my hotmail account is flooded with junk !!
Cheryl continue to Rock Uganda .....God please use her talents to the max....and when she is done in Uganda please send her to South Africa.
My old mate Jim is back in the UK ...he so does not want to be there.....but business is business!
I am getting quite use to driving around Disney as I deliver mobility scooters. I get to see all the Hotels !!!....please visit www. sunmobilityrentals.com if you want to hire a mobility scooter and visit the parks in comfort and of course if you have a disability you know who to call.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Grand mama is a Love Machine and Cheryl has B*lls ..so the sun does shine in Florida and Uganda
Some good news to go with the sunshine.......I won't be writing to Mr Obama ...for the moment at least as the US Embassy in London have decided that my son is not a threat to national security and have given him a ONE only entry visit to the USA.
If they were frightened that he would disappear once he got here why place a restriction on his visa? If he was 'that ' way inclined I think he would know that his opportunities were narrow and that he should make strategic plans on the one and only visit!
The good news is that he can re apply in six months to visit again. To ensure that he does not overstay his welcome we plan on returning to the UK on the same day, same flight! He still has to get through border control when he travels out at the end on November...so watch this space!
The other good news is that Google have finally emailed me and told me that we are not banned from advertising on AdWords and that it was an error on their part!!! Again watch this space ....I will only believe it when the most powerful organization in the world debits my credit card...will it make them any richer...nah!
In the last few days I have had some good news from two of the most powerful giants in the world...The US Government and Google.... so the sun still shines in my big florida blog....just about.
Other good news...Daughter Teacher was head hunted for a new teaching post and got it! The siblings, spouses and parents seem to be getting on very well at the moment so everyone is happy.
The grand son is still a shining star ....that is until the little sister arrives in February...again watch this space. The shining star told his Grand mama (with some egging on ..) that she was a Love Machine!
Our good friend Cheryl .... is off to Uganda to do God's work. Now that's a lady with B*lls! Good Luck and come back safe. Despite the hardship they go through the sun does shine in Uganda too because of people like Cheryl!
If they were frightened that he would disappear once he got here why place a restriction on his visa? If he was 'that ' way inclined I think he would know that his opportunities were narrow and that he should make strategic plans on the one and only visit!
The good news is that he can re apply in six months to visit again. To ensure that he does not overstay his welcome we plan on returning to the UK on the same day, same flight! He still has to get through border control when he travels out at the end on November...so watch this space!
The other good news is that Google have finally emailed me and told me that we are not banned from advertising on AdWords and that it was an error on their part!!! Again watch this space ....I will only believe it when the most powerful organization in the world debits my credit card...will it make them any richer...nah!
In the last few days I have had some good news from two of the most powerful giants in the world...The US Government and Google.... so the sun still shines in my big florida blog....just about.
Other good news...Daughter Teacher was head hunted for a new teaching post and got it! The siblings, spouses and parents seem to be getting on very well at the moment so everyone is happy.
The grand son is still a shining star ....that is until the little sister arrives in February...again watch this space. The shining star told his Grand mama (with some egging on ..) that she was a Love Machine!
Our good friend Cheryl .... is off to Uganda to do God's work. Now that's a lady with B*lls! Good Luck and come back safe. Despite the hardship they go through the sun does shine in Uganda too because of people like Cheryl!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Apologies
I think I should take time out and ream my past blogs ....to avoid repetition and then having to apologise for it. !
catch up ...the sun still shining.
I know it has been a while since my last conf... oops blog but I have my excuses. Where were we...oh yes 2 weddings and a headache! The weddings went off better than we could have hoped for. All our fears were unfounded and without any base. There were some reservations but they were ...in reflections only excuses and worry. Again totally unnecessary because everyone is very happy and we are all proud of our children and their spouses. So this ...unfortunateley makes for a very boring blog.
Other news...my son is still in the UK looking to get settled after the US Embassy and Maimi debacle. Was it racial profiling ? After months of consideration I am sad to say that in my opinion it was. The treatment he/we received in Maimi was 3rd world to say the least. The Homeland officers were rude and arrogant and barely conmprehendable..which was most surprising. (My son speaks perfect 'queen' English.)
I felt that our lives were worth more under apartheid where we were officially classified second class citizens then in Maimi in 2009. We were surround by an army of officials wearing guns and one of them had the audacity to say that I was harassing him.... becauseI was trying to explain the circumstances why we were in Maimi! Confidence in the US immigration department ? ...None I know that they don't know their arses from their elbows ...and that is being polite. We are know waiting for them to approve my sons B visa so that he can come and visit over Christmas and at the same time close his US affairs. If he does not get his visa there will a letter winding its way to Barack !
Teacher daughter was nominated a 'Champion' of sorts by one of her pupils/parents! This was fantastic news..waiting on results. In meanwhile we hear that the the poor student has had to 'removed' from the school for bad behaviour! Teacher stressed, over worked ,under payed but still a 'champion'!
Grandson still bringing joy to Granmama and granddada . The latest is ...."Grandmama I love you but don't get your knickers in a twist".....two years old. He can't wait for his baby sister 'TAXI' to arrive in February. So its Thomas the tank engine and Jelly Babies if his good. Which if the truth be known is all the time. His vocabulary for a two year old is amazing. His Grandada has been assigned to teach him not a word a day but a phrase...a full sentence ! I am preparing !
She that has to be obeyed willingly and without complaint is feeling to great lately .....add sinues to the list! Just bought her a Net- Pot to inhale ...hoping for success!
Business continus to be dire so we are looking to diversify , add , change and adapt! watch this space!
Went on a mini cruise with Q's...... as always fun , interesting , differant and always DRAMA. The Q's like to dress up for the Captains banquet and it was Mr Q's birthday. Guess who was the only Penguin on board?
Will end for now and make a promise the be more regular...with the blogs! Its 92 F in October in Florida so as usual the sun still shines out of my big Florida blog......
Other news...my son is still in the UK looking to get settled after the US Embassy and Maimi debacle. Was it racial profiling ? After months of consideration I am sad to say that in my opinion it was. The treatment he/we received in Maimi was 3rd world to say the least. The Homeland officers were rude and arrogant and barely conmprehendable..which was most surprising. (My son speaks perfect 'queen' English.)
I felt that our lives were worth more under apartheid where we were officially classified second class citizens then in Maimi in 2009. We were surround by an army of officials wearing guns and one of them had the audacity to say that I was harassing him.... becauseI was trying to explain the circumstances why we were in Maimi! Confidence in the US immigration department ? ...None I know that they don't know their arses from their elbows ...and that is being polite. We are know waiting for them to approve my sons B visa so that he can come and visit over Christmas and at the same time close his US affairs. If he does not get his visa there will a letter winding its way to Barack !
Teacher daughter was nominated a 'Champion' of sorts by one of her pupils/parents! This was fantastic news..waiting on results. In meanwhile we hear that the the poor student has had to 'removed' from the school for bad behaviour! Teacher stressed, over worked ,under payed but still a 'champion'!
Grandson still bringing joy to Granmama and granddada . The latest is ...."Grandmama I love you but don't get your knickers in a twist".....two years old. He can't wait for his baby sister 'TAXI' to arrive in February. So its Thomas the tank engine and Jelly Babies if his good. Which if the truth be known is all the time. His vocabulary for a two year old is amazing. His Grandada has been assigned to teach him not a word a day but a phrase...a full sentence ! I am preparing !
She that has to be obeyed willingly and without complaint is feeling to great lately .....add sinues to the list! Just bought her a Net- Pot to inhale ...hoping for success!
Business continus to be dire so we are looking to diversify , add , change and adapt! watch this space!
Went on a mini cruise with Q's...... as always fun , interesting , differant and always DRAMA. The Q's like to dress up for the Captains banquet and it was Mr Q's birthday. Guess who was the only Penguin on board?
Will end for now and make a promise the be more regular...with the blogs! Its 92 F in October in Florida so as usual the sun still shines out of my big Florida blog......
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
London...the sun does shine
As I said earlier my son's visa application ( extension )to live and work in the US was refused . It was blow when he still had a year to go but life goes on . So we rallied and decided that every cloud has a silver lining and 'living' in London might just work out. The opportunities to progress was plentiful etc etc. So we bought him a return ticket back to the UK and decided that he would return to the US for 2 weeks to 'tie' up five years into a suitcase and return to the UK to start over. Cut a long story short we travelled together via Miami on the visa waiver which the Embassy advised him to do. At Miami he was refused entrey and was was sent back to the UK. Not pleasant and it leaves a bitter and ugly taste never mind the thought that there maybe a smell of racial profiling! My wife and I were angry but we have come to the conclusion that what has happen will be the best thing that can happen to our son. He misses thge creature comforts of home and it won't be long before he will be up and running. He has pleanty of fans. America has lost a young and smart guy while the girls in London are on a winner! So you see the sun does shine even in London!
May 12 was a miserable day in London ...the day we visited the Embassy in London. The rest of our stay was bathed in unusual sunshine. We enjoyed every bit of our stay. My sister, our host was in her element. The food just kept on coming and the pounds piled on. We will always be very grateful to her kindness.
Whatever negativie thoughts we may have had about our visit was almost immediately wiped out on our arrival. Sure we had moments but everyone was fantastic and family and friends made every part of our stay a memorable..... one except the US Embassy.
Wedding No.1 in Suffolk went of very well. The bride looked fabulous, the day was glorious and there was hilarious moments also. I have been censored from writing about this but I can assure you all I have the photographic evidence to prove it. ( please send in your requests). For the first ime in a long time all 5 'kid's were in one place - nice!. The evening ended in a double punture in the middle of nowwhere. We crawled back to London at sunrise with our two year old grandson and uncle of 95. Hats of to Arthur who made sure that my son in - law did not fall asleep at the wheel.
More to follow .....
May 12 was a miserable day in London ...the day we visited the Embassy in London. The rest of our stay was bathed in unusual sunshine. We enjoyed every bit of our stay. My sister, our host was in her element. The food just kept on coming and the pounds piled on. We will always be very grateful to her kindness.
Whatever negativie thoughts we may have had about our visit was almost immediately wiped out on our arrival. Sure we had moments but everyone was fantastic and family and friends made every part of our stay a memorable..... one except the US Embassy.
Wedding No.1 in Suffolk went of very well. The bride looked fabulous, the day was glorious and there was hilarious moments also. I have been censored from writing about this but I can assure you all I have the photographic evidence to prove it. ( please send in your requests). For the first ime in a long time all 5 'kid's were in one place - nice!. The evening ended in a double punture in the middle of nowwhere. We crawled back to London at sunrise with our two year old grandson and uncle of 95. Hats of to Arthur who made sure that my son in - law did not fall asleep at the wheel.
More to follow .....
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