Norfolk Photo Update

Train trip to Norwich


At the quaint shopping village of Holt


Uncle Ed at the market in Sheringham


The Spenceley Clan (Chris, my brother from another mother, is in blue)


Tim, Tim, he's our man - if he can't do it, no one can


Exercise for the day: a cycle in the countryside - bliss!

The (second) Last Supper

It's come to that time of the holiday: the inevitable countdown to the end; when knowing that there is nothing you can do to stop time doesn't deter you from your desperate quest to do just that.

Actually, we are just short of a week from the end. Still, we are in our last weekend in the UK, and we are in Norfolk with the Webers to say "tot siens", so the end really has started.

Yesterday we took the scenic route to Norwich. We decided to take the train, and found the 2 hour trip from London rather enjoyable. The English countryside really is very beautiful. If it weren't for the fact that I was doing my UNISA assignments during the journey, I couldn't have enjoyed it more!

Aunty Lynne came home from the hospital yesterday. We are happy to say that she's doing well, and moving around, and trying to follow the doctor's order to rest! :)Of course though, this does mean that we have had to get a new tour-guide: uncle Eddie.
(we are very grateful that he's taken time out of everything to host us this weekend)

Today uncle Ed took us to Holt (an award-winning little village, well known for its many shop spots), Sheringham (a coastal village where the Webers used to camp) and Wroxham (on the Broads, where Roy - whomever he is - owns all the shops!). In addition this, we got to see Tim play in the Norfolk Cup (which they won), and visited the local cricket club (where we got to meet the entire Spenceley clan). So after a long day, we are preparing for our last braai (SA style) in the country.

Being here feels so much like home. Andel and I have wondered about how and why we feel so comfortable and welcome here, and have come to this conclusion: home is where your family is!


ps. The camera battery died this afternoon while we were at the rugby so once I've collated the camera and phone pics, I'll do a photo update.

Down Time (well, sort of)

Following yesterday's walk through London that took us all the way to Greenwich and back, Andel and I decided to take it easy today.

Actually, I had to work. Due to the fact that I have pretty much neglected my studies up until now, I had to complete two assignments that are due on Friday.

We did manage to get in a training session at our local Virgin Active though. And as a reward: a good plate of home made food, and ice-cream!

Here's the photo update:


We used every mode of transport yesterday: car, train, bus, tube and tram!


Buckingham Palace


The view of London from the Greenwich Observatory


Aunty Michelle's home-made chicken pie with mash and veg... mmm


Especially for PJ and Ash (and Jorja, of course)

Some Things I'd Like To Bring Home From Here

I'm a realist. I know, first-hand, that the grass is not always greener on the other side. Every place I have visited, both on this trip and before, has its good, bad and ugly. I even know how not to multiply everything by the exchange rate! :)
Still, if there were just some things I could bring to SA from this trip, it would include these:

1. IKEA
This place is home-makers' heaven! We wandered through real-life kitchens, bathrooms and living areas, beauti(and)fully fitted, from closet to spacious size, and we had to physically restrain ourselves from purchasing anything: not because it would be too big (because everything is sold flat for you to assemble at home), but because it would be too heavy to fit into our already bulging suitcases. Cape Town could do with one of these stores. I alone would keep them in business!


Doesn't that just look inviting?

2. POUNDLAND
Don't be mistaken. This is not the equivalent of the Crazy R5/R10 store. I'm sad to say that South Africa's concept of this is simply, crazy. Poundland actually has useful, every day, for every thing, products that people actually need and buy! We got batteries, toiletries, kitchenware, camera accessories and luxuries - you guessed it, for 1 POUND each!

3. PRIMARK
This is a budget store. My days of chasing labels and looking like a walking advert for the latest fashion trend ended around the turn of the century. I now shop for comfortable, (hopefully) stylish clothes that I can actually sit down in. And I was not disappointed by what I found at this store. Can you imagine buying 10 really decent items of clothing for less than R200? Been there, done that! :)


Some retail therapy

4. BURGER KING
While this has been added at Andel's insistence, I have to admit that I have been well impressed with their vegetarian options, and I have frequented their establishment more than once since being here! :)

5. KIRSTY
Kirsty is (was) my cousin. She is now Andel's cousin. They are inseparable, and I fear they will both be suffering from withdrawal symptoms when we leave. They are currently in a bid to break the World Record for the longest continuous gaming challenge on their PlayStation/Wii/Nintendo (whichever they are playing at any given moment).

But that's not all Kirsty has been good for: she has been a very gracious hostess (giving up a lot of her room space), tour-guide (walking many miles), shopping companion (waiting outside many a fitting room), and yet another example of the fantastic family we have here!

Our Royal Vacation

What a great time we are having! Britain is celebrating a weekend of festivities, and Andel and I are being treated like, well, royals.

Speaking of which: the wedding was quite an occasion in the Wilcox house yesterday (as I'm sure it was in many homes all across the world). Uncle Neil was up at 06h00 when the television build up to the wedding coverage started. By the time we were up he was dressed in an SA FIFA World Cup tee, festive tie, and draped in the England flag.

Having not been entirely interested in the wedding preparations prior to landing here, I must confess that there is something rather patriotic about all the pomp and grandeur, and it feels rather special to have been here to experience this memorable event.

After that balcony kiss most of Britain attended one of the some-thousand street parties that were held throughout the country. Right next door, practically in our back yard, there was a party in the park.


Just in case we weren't sure!

Today we (bravely) went into Central London, and walked the route of the Royal Wedding (Westminster Abbey has been left exactly as it was yesterday for the wedding, so naturally there were queues of people waiting to get inside). We passed through the Horse Guards Parade, and got to witness an inspection of the guards. We also visited just about every store on Regent and Oxford Streets, including Hamleys - which Andel found very impressive!


Nothing like some caffeine to kick start the day!


Andel, phone home :)


Checking out London's (next) biggest attractions (after the wedding, of course)

We are truly feeling very blessed to be able to enjoy this time with family who are spoiling us rotten!

The Amazing Race

Andel and I are ready to enter the Amazing Race. We have proven that we can travel together, and fast too!

Our second day in Ireland was sunny and warm, mostly. We lazed around in the hotel until check out time, and then spent the best part of the afternoon picnicking in St. Stephens Green. Despite having a later flight, we decided to make our way back to the airport early in the evening to ensure that we were well prepared for our trip back to London.

Our picnic spot

As it turns out, there was little preparation for what was to come:
At 22h00 were notified that our 21h55 flight was delayed, and would be leaving at 22h30. We only left at 23h00. This meant we would only be arriving at Stansted at midnight, and would have to really move it to make the last train at 00h30.

So we raced to the front of the check-in point at Dublin. We queued for over an hour! We ran to the plane, and took seats in the very first row (no jokes). As soon as we arrived at Stansted we jumped on the tube that would take us from the terminal to the main arrivals section, before sprinting to UK Border Control. Ordinarily, the exchange at Border Control can be a stressful encounter. There are a million questions regarding your “business” in the UK. This time, although the wait was long, when we got there, we were let right through. We head straight for the train station only to find that we had missed the last train.

At this point we had to call on our resources for some assistance. Together we worked out a new plan to get us home. We managed to get tickets for the last coach back into Central London. Again, we had to run (and jump over fences) to get to the bus just as it was leaving. As soon as we stopped at the coach station, we jogged to London Victoria train station. There we got tickets for the 03h00 train to Croydon.
(Have I mentioned that through all of this Andel is carrying a 8kg backpack, and I a 3.5kg handbag?)

Thank God for aunties! In the space of 48 hours we were blessed by sacrifices from both of ours here. This time it was aunty Michelle’s turn to collect us at the station at 03h30 – and on a work day!

This kind of mayhem seems to be following us around on this trip. Having had a good 8-hour sleep though, we are now well rested, and ready for some more adventure!

Everything is better together

Driving to Dublin

On Tuesday morning, after a wonderful weekend in Norfolk, we left for Ireland. Being the unseasoned travelers that we are (were?) we didn’t plan our journey well. We were booked on the 06h00 (the cheapest) flight, out of Stansted which is 90 minutes from London and Norwich. So dear aunty Lynne, bless her, drove us to the airport at 03h30!

The flight to Dublin is not long. It’s approximately one hour, of which about 20 minutes is spent in taxi at either airport. The runway at Stansted is so big and long that Andel actually asked, “Are we driving to Dublin?”

We were greeted by typical Irish weather: icy wind and rain. True to form (for those of you who are aware of the ‘no rain’ blessing that I have) the rain stopped as we reached the City Centre. Thank you Lord! We literally spent the next 9 hours walking across what felt like every square-metre of Dubln - what an experience! (There are literally too many pics to load here, so you’ll have to visit to see them)


Our first view from the bus


Yes, it was THAT cold!


The home of Guinness


Much better weather!


Andel at the local Spar! :)

We were delighted to meet up with Karl and Tarrin later that evening. We checked into our hotel, and had dinner together. Unfortunately their flight from Italy had been delayed, and their flight back to SA was really early Wednesday morning, so we didn’t get to spend too much time together. Still, I have learnt that the best times are not necessary made up of long times. Even a few minutes with the best friends can feel like forever!

Asparagus and Pork

Some of you will know how, for weeks before we even left, Andel was paranoid about getting sick when we arrived here. He wanted to get Vitamin B injections, and pack in as much winter clothes (and preventative medication) as he owns. Well, I'm happy to report that he is germ-free! I, on the other hand, am voiceless, on a cocktail of tablets and syrups, and hopefully nearing the end of a chest/throat infection. Not that this is dampening our spirits in any way! :)

Yesterday we took a 3 hour trip with the Wilcox's in 5 hours. The traffic throughout England this weekend has been insane. It seems that even the most irreligious want to be around their family for Easter. The journey took us out of London and into the county of asparagus and pork farming (the number of farms of this kind in this area is mind-blowing!): Norfolk.

The countryside is beautiful. It's so tranquil, just being in the area makes everything seem more relaxed. It's even more wonderful to be able to visit the Webers again, and enjoy the easter weekend together with all our "British" family.

Today we visited Norwich, and spent a good afternoon in Cromer on the coast. Apparently the UK is experiencing a heat wave at the moment, if the number of people swimming in the (freezing, North) sea is anything to go by!

Our first purchases:


Genuine leather work shoes for Andel


True Religion shoes for Rob

As I write this, Chris, Tim, Dan, Andel, Kirsty and aunty Michelle are playing cricket in the back garden. The sun is still shining (and will be for 2 hours more), and soon we'll be preparing dinner for the masses.

I'm pretty sure: this is the life!

Around the world in 20 hours

We are officially in England: the home of fish and chips, mushy peas, and beans on toast. And the sun in shining!

Our travels started bright and early yesterday morning... 03h45 to be exact. That was when my body decided that, because it was Wednesday, I should be awake for my opening shift. Before check-in at 07h00, we had already woken the du Plessis to retrieve a document we'd given them, that we should've had with us, gone back home to fetch some money we'd forgotten, and visited Bonny Babies to catch our taxi to the airport.

And that was a sign of things to come. In SA time, our journey was something like this:

07h15: check in

WAIT...


Andel having breakfast with Pops to calm the nerves

10h10: depart Cape Town
12h00: arrive Joburg

WAIT...


Need I explain any further?

13h30: depart Joburg
21h30: arrive Abu Dhabi

WAIT...


Having a nap waiting for the plane


Keeping the mind occupied

00h35: depart Abu Dhabi
08h45: arrive London


So 4 movies, 7 episodes of Big Bang Theory, Lie to Me and Mentalist, and 6 meals later, we are here: healthy, happy and ready to holiday!

Bon Voyage

"We're leaving on a jet plane..."

My, how things have changed since I last blogged. Not only am I now allowing everyone else to read this, I'm also back in the position I left (only God could convince me to do that), and today is also the eve of my leave. Favour is: being allowed to go on 3 weeks leave when you only started working 8 weeks ago!

Tomorrow morning we set off to London for what has been a long-awaited honeymoon, actually! Finally we have mastered the art of getting leave together, for a decent amount of time, and to keep you all updated, I promise to blog faithfully (although perhaps not as faithfully - and wonderfully - as Ashleigh).

So here's to the next 3 weeks: officially NO MORE days to go! :)

An unexpected proposal...

Today is the second of three short work weeks, and officially my third last day in my current work place.

We have been very busy (as usually happens during short weeks), and I suspect this trend will continue as I have been given the most unexpected and exciting opportunity I've had in a long, long time.

I was fortunate to be called to meet with one of our big bosses who has since invited me to do a proposal for a new position. This is very exciting, as I have recently decided that I need a change. The implications of a successful proposal means that I will be able to work fairly regular (normal) hours, spend more time with my family, pick up part time studies, and be able to engage in extra curricular activities that since leaving uni in 2006 I have not had the time to do.

This whole proposal has really got me thinking too: To the naked eye it appears I will spend the next two weeks justifying my capabilities, and convincing the powers that be of the asset I am to their business. To the Divine eye, I have further opened my circumstance to the possibility of a miracle.

Regardless, I have a good measure of peace - something which has eluded me for a while - and it feels great!

Watch this space. Successful proposal or not, the next two weeks a story of note will unfold, and at the end, there will be (more) testimony to the work God is doing in our lives.

Welcome, at last!

Today, after much deliberation, and seeing firsthand the benefits and blessing of blogging, Andel and I start our own blog.

Built primarily for keeping in touch with our wonderful friends and family - who are so faithfully blogging for us - we hope that this will develop into something more than a good habit and outlet. We hope that we'll be able to look back at these posts, and have them bear testimony to our Father at work in our lives.

So welcome, at last. We hope you enjoy Keeping up with the Klaasens!