And so the year is done, bar the few final gasps, and as it is confined to the annals of history, I reflect on the hugely emotional year it has been.

It started with the culmination of a long time dream of ours, to build our house. Unlike all of our friends and family we decided to go the conservative route and buy a small cheap house with lots of ground and rebuild at some stage. The one proviso was we would do it without debt. Well, it took us 20 years to work ouselves into that position and at the end of Jan 2009, we moved into our new dream house.

Sadly though, we have had to say goodbye to four very special people this year, and whilst their loss was painful, what was harder to deal with was the pain my children indured. We entered the year with them not really experiencing death at close quarters, but we leave 2009 with them knowing the emptiness of that final goodbye, and even as I write this the tears are close at the memory of my 17 year old's reaction when she, her monther and I were sitting in paradise on the side of a mountain when the news was broken to us that her Nana was gone, without warning. The raw primal emotion was difficult for me, as a father, to bear.

However, we look ahead to 2010, for us as a country it is a momentous year. it is the Fifa World Cup, and we will be on display to the world. We are up to the challenge, but even as a proud South African, I have some concerns about our infrastructure being up to hosting such a huge event. I think one of the biggest challenges will be public transport, but we are assured all is on track. So we will see.

J and I are off to the mountains shortly, where we will sit quietly amonsgt our favourite peaks and reflect on the year that was and usher in the year that is to be.

Where ever you are, what ever you are doing, we wish you good cheer, good times, but most of all we wish you to be safe so that we may continue to be amoungst you, and grow with you in ways many fear to, or wouldn't even think to.

Till we chat again in 2010, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! (Yip, even to you Walter, bloody Aussie bugger!) *man hug to you* )

Yip it's that time, so wanted to take the time out to wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy holidays!

Thank you one and all for making this the fun site it is, looking forward to 2010 and much more fun.

Be safe, one and all.

D & J

I just love my friends list! The first thing I do when I log in is to call it up, go to friends activity. Waiting as the page loads, wondering who has been active is like opening a present everyday!

Just wanted to say thank you guys, it always is such a great way to start my day.

For the third time this year we had to say our goodbyes to a family member, it's just been one of those years.

My daughter who's birthday party it is on Saturday was hoping that Gran would be about for the party, but after today it looks like this is not the to be, and as we stood around her, for what is possibly the last time, I came to realise that it is the natural order of things, sure the timing sucks, but when is it a good time to say the final goodbye?

Oh Creator, she is on her way, and you had better have your house in order, otherwise she will do it for you!

Go well "Old Duck" we live, not without you, but because of you.

And so on Saturday it is my eldest daughter's 21st birthday party and I find myself wondering where the hell the years have gone, and who is this grown woman that calls me Dad?

I am way to young and irresponsible to have a child this age, and I am often challenged by what sort of role model I am to her. I have tried to enchourage her to be open minded, inquisitive, self sufficent and respectful. I have taught her to speak her mind, but be mindful of who she is speaking to, but also made her aware of the fact she has two ears and one mouth for a reason, and that is to listen twice as much as she talks.

She is a good kid, has the usual issues that young adults her age have, and I hope we have done a good job with her, and suspect we have.

Those of you on Facebook, look out for the pics, it's going to be one hell of an evening, and as for Dad's speach, well the less said about that, the better!!

Be safe all.

Yay!!!! It's nearly beer o clock!!! )

Of late there has been talk of a "clique" in the forums, driving people away. Whilst we know this is not the case, and is an accusation from some troll, or nameless person with a hidden agenda, it got me thinking about how easily good people can be thwarted.

By it's very open nature the forum is an easy outlet for negativity, and because we all respect the right to have our say, it is difficult to fight against. Having said that, I believe, we are duty bound to keep the forums lively and a place where all can speak freely, but that does not give anyone the right to attack someone's person, as happened recently in a hotly debated topic. Negative trolls should not attract the attention the crave and there posts are best left unchallenged.

I implore all those who use the forums contsructively to continue doing so, if this attracts the label of a clique then so be it.

So, I finally got the green shield up... will work on the yellow one, but to be honest, waiting to do that because I'm kinda hoping my SO will join me here, and if she does, it's kinda important to me that she is verified too.

I just can't help but wonder how many wives have their pictures posted here without their consent, thats just not right, so if you get to see her, you know it with her blessing!

How ironic, my blog of yesterday was lamenting the fact that even out in the back of beyond, I was contactable on my cell phone, when not 2 hours after writing that I received a call to say the matriach of our family had passed away suddenly.

With the weather closed in and a 7 hour drive ahead, I had no choice but to gather the two loved ones I had with me and sit the night out, waiting till first light so we could try and get home....

After 8 hours of travelling, muddy and wet, we are safe, and the mourning begins.

I shudder to think about us sitting blissfully unaware of the happenings in civilisation, and only finding out about this in two weeks time when we were due to return.

Thankfully I was contactable, this time....

I'm sitting, holed up in a cabin on the side of a mountain, the weather has closed in and venturing outdoors is not only undesirable, but not advisable

I am amazed at how technology can reach so far and I am able to update a blog on the internet with my mobile phone in the middle of nowhere. I am not sure if it is a good or bad thing that even here I am contactable. Sure I have the choice to take the call or not, but the fact that my cell phone is in range when I am trying to hide away is disconcerting.

Anyway, the fire needs to be stoked, a more basic need, so I leave you all with best wishes.