Auld Lang Syne

OLD PHOTOS, just to give you an idea of what I am looking for here is a peak preview of some old photos of Ria's Mom and Dad - Sannie en Koos Jonker, and others, plus a few of Leon when he was a baby or is it when LIAM was a bit older - now you see what I am getting at. Let the younger ones see what we used to look like and I bet a few comparisons will be made and a few of the tears of joy will also be shed - LETS GO SCANNING

lets get the new year of to a cracking start by looking back

It turns out that "Auld Lang Syne" is an extremely old Scottish song that was first written down in the 1700s. Robert Burns is the person whose transcription got the most attention, so the song is associated with him.

A good translation of the words "auld lang syne" is "times gone by." So (incorporating a couple of other translations) when we sing this song, we are saying,

"We'll drink a cup of kindness yet for TIMES GONE BY."

LOOKING BACK OVER MY LIFE

CHRISTMAS EVE AND THEN LUNCH & AN OUTING

Christmas Eve at Leon & Elizma's with us, Tania & Willie and LIAM, started of on a nice crisp and cold night with a glass of muscadel. Then the excitement of Liam opening his presents on his first , then we opened ours and ended the night with a smashing Cheese and wine with snacks and a white chocolate mousse pudding made by Tania - mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Christmas day was lunch at our house. Everybody chipped in with the preparations. Elizma made a succulent roast leg of lamb and roast potatoes, Tania the Hors d'ouvres, Ria the rice/veggies/yorkshire puddings and Willie made the sago/tapiaco pudding. Billy poured the wine and Leon ate the food. What a lovely and memorable day it was. Christmas in the UK is just like the movies. Freezing cold with scarfs and overcoats being the order of the day with family get-togethers.

The food had a strong "RETIEF" flavour, the veggies and roast patatoes from Elizma's mom and the sago pudding from Willie's mom. Cheers to them.

Then on Saturday night Tania, Ria & Billy got on a train, then the London tube and went to Shepperd's Bush - The Westfield Centre for a site-seeing trip and a bite to eat, lovely and cold but very enjoyable. The lights and the lighting effects are outstanding, well worth a visit if you are in the area.

WESTFIELD CENTER

Its me again - LIAM'S 1st Christmas 2008

The first of many more to come, now this was something to experience. To be blessed with someone like this is just beyond the wildest dream.

Merry Christmas - 2008
Mamma en Pappa, Ouma Zet en Oupa Danie, Tania and Ouma Ria en Oupa Billy
from Liam

its me again - my 1st Xmas
************************************************************************************
see you later on Christmas day video

XMAS '97 - SOETDORING TOWN HOUSE

T'was the year of '97, both kids spent Christmas with us from Varsity koshuis and friends.
Ria & Tania cooked up a lovely Roast Lamb dinner and then we opened our presents,
Billy gave his famous speech, Ria amazingly, did not fold up the present paper and
Tania got a PIZZA.
Well Leon, he just wanted to eat as he was hungry - AGAIN,
at least he admired the table decorations.

The build up to a cracker of a dinner

The opening of presents

2008 Will once again be a SPECIAL OCCASION, the 1st one with Liam

UP - UP and away, what goes up must come down

One Saturday morning, the 17th June 1995,

Leon came home for the week-end from varsity, he was abnormally home before 7am, he normally slept till 11am but was home already. He said he wanted to take us out for the day, that's why he is early. Well, into the car and off we go, 1hour later we arrive at Wonderboom Airport, Leon says- for something to eat and drink. Then he comes out with it. We are here to see him parachuting, he has completed the training course, done 3 jumps already and today he is jumping for the first time on his own, the previous jumps were assisted rip chord jumps. Wow we were totally flabbergasted and speechless, anyway, we are here now lets see what happens.

.

With all his adrenalin activities which include - this sky diving, riding the rapids of the Zambesi River at the Victoria Falls, deep sea diving with the sharks of the Natal coast, chasing girls, studying hard, and mowing the lawn, Sky diving is the only one I caught on video.

IT'S ME AGAIN

Hey this is great, visiting Ouma and Oupa, they came to visit me this morning but I was having my morning nap, so they turned around disgusted and went home. Never mind, when I woke up Mommy had everything ready, she gave me food ( yummy food), changed my nappy and got me all dressed up and of we went to Ouma & Oupa's house, WOW did we have fun, and Oupa had this funny black thing pointing at me the whole time, one day he will explain to me what it is, and maybe I can also play with it, anyway I enjoyed myself and by the looks of things
Ouma & Oupa aswell.

11/12/2008 visiting Ouma en Oupa

WOW but its great to be a OUMA & OUPA

You raise me up- to walk on stormy seas

I just loved this when I saw it, while busy this afternoon transferring video's to my PC, I could not resist the temptation to put it on the blog with the back ground music - it came to me in a flash while watching and so I must share it NOW, opportunities come ago and this flash of genius had to be taken and preserved.

Leon-Tania and Billy @ Die OOG - HOLIDAY RESORT- Nylstroom SA

Please note: Billy did it in one go but Leon had to have two goes,,,,, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

1983 and it was Xmas with Ria's Mom and Dad

Yip, just as it is on the 8cowles blog, that Christmas of 1983 was the first time I used a video camera, a hired one. I filmed both our parents that Xmas and we can not say how treasured that special video tape on betamax is. Now transfered onto digital format on DVD and here on both blogs to share with you all.

My Mom and Ria's Dad both passed away during 1984 and this was an event captured on tape that could never be repeated.

Dedicated to both our parents, especially with Christmas coming up and when all the family gets together.

We will be making some time this winter to huddle up in front of the TV and watch some
"DAYS GONE BY"
video tapes.

OUPA KOOS EN OUMA SANNIE JONKER
with Leon 10 and Tania 4 years old

Ria and Billy were...... lets just say "YOUNGER"

For the movie of My Mom ( the only time I caught her on tape) just "CLICK HERE" to jump over to the 8COWLES BLOG

As time allows, I will be adding numerous video clips of the our family with the Jonkers, Pretorius and our two kids Leon and Tania, growing up - and of course Ria and I.
Any movies of the 8cowles and their respective families will be on the 8cowles blog

So, just sit back and enjoy
A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
with us

plus any present day adventures we have

Babysitting 30th November & Wisley Gardens

Just a peak into the "DAY IN THE LIFE" of Ouma & Oupa baby sitting while Mom & Dad go to the movies and sadly say a bite to eat at NANDO's, why would someone do that for pleasure. It was a great afternoon and we spent hours playing "Housie Housie"
and can't wait for the next time

YOU'VE GOT THE CUTEST LITTLE BABY FACE


Liam with his play station 3.1

He went to sleep 5 minutes after we got there and we had a boring 1 hour wait, flipping through TV channels trying to pass the time, waiting for the inevitable cry/moan of
HEY I AM AWAKE, COME AND GET ME
then it happened and we started baby-sitting


Ouma en Oupa with LIAM part 1 of 2


Ouma en Oupa with LIAM part 2 of 2

Having a couple of days of from work, we will be doing a couple of outings, one was going out to Wisley Gardens today, about 20minutes from home. We all braved the cold weather and downed our wollies. This being one of Elizma's favourite places to visit in the area, to which she takes all her Friends and Family, she has some beautiful pictures on their blog of the gardens in the Summer & Autumn.
Liam was so wrapped up - warm and cuddly that you can hardly see him. We went into the heated Glass-House as it was bitter cold outside. Such a beautiful site with all the tropical plants and amazing colours.
We can't wait for the summer when the gardens come to life again for our next visit.

come on Summer, come on

until the next time - for sure

a new item to the menu on the right

I have added a link on the menu to the right.............. just type your email address in this block and you will automatically receive an email when the blog is updated. this will save you looking and there is no update, when you receive an email, then you know there is an update. 8cowles has the same so put your email address in both. You only have to do this once.

And just below it I have added a followers block, so dont forget to click on that aswell on both blogs. again you only have to doo that once.

cheers

Billy

My first Email with Liam

Allow me to put this on record...... LIAM'S FIRST EMAIL, via his moms email address because he does not qualify yet, for his own personal email address, but, be sure it's comming soon.

The two emails went as follows - a direct copy from billsparky@gmail.com in-box and out-box

Friday 28th November 2008 ( 3 days before his 6month-old birthday)

To Liam (VIA- leoncowle@gmail.com)

Hello big fella, Last night when I got home, well actually when Ouma picked me up at the station, she was overjoyed and couldn't wait to tell me about her day out with you and your mom. She didn't know where to begin or in what order to talk, she was so excited. So I heard a very long and detailed story of the outing to Long Acres. This is just to say thanks for the invitation and taking Ouma along, she really enjoyed that. Now, I have got some catching up to do, and just to let you know, I am on leave Monday and Tuesday and then the whole of the next week 8 - 12 Dec, and also the week 22-26 Dec, so we can spend time together, Ouma did mention that Mom said, subject to the weather we all might go out on a little trip to Weasley gardens or something like that, so great you had better make sure we have some good weather, then the outing is on, Ok then, I don't think I am working this week end, maybe we could squeeze in something over the week-end as well.

Cheers

Oupa Billy.

ps, when do you get you own email address

Then, his reply a few hours later went like this.............................
****************************************************************
Hallo Oupa!

Ja, dit was lekker om Ouma saam met ons te he. Dit was vreeslik lekker om met haar in die coffee shop te speel en sy het my al die liggies gewys. Sjoe! So baie liggies!

In elk geval, Mamma het voorgestel dat ons 4 Wisley Gardens toe gaan so kom ons hou duimvas vir die weer. Anders doen ons net iets anders! Sal 'n bietjie moet dink, maar ek is seker ons sal met iets opkom.

Ek het more-oggend weer 'n swemles en dan gaan ons Reading toe om vir my doeke by Costco te koop en ook saam met Tannas te gaan middagete eet. So dalk maak ons Sondag 'n plan? Anders is daar darem nog Maandag en Dinsdag ook ;-)

Hoop Oupa voel nie te sleg nie en dat Oupa 'n lekker Vrydag het.

Liam

*************************************************************

So now that this has been recorded and made public, who can beat that one with one of your grand or should may I say GRAND KID, isn't he just great, a typical and proud bearer of the "Cowle" name, into the future generations.

"STILL BEAUTIFUL" - THE LEGEND LIVES ON

"THANKS MOM" - Elizma, for helping him with the typing - Oupa Billy-Peanut

Another day in the life of Billy at work

Once again I just want to share some interesting items of ............ The day in the life of ................

Turn the dial and the fan runs faster - if it works -that is

We have some 1958 variable speed starters/controllers for the air extract fans of our building and they work just like a food mixer or drilling machine - controlling the speed of the motor. Well one of them packed up, no drawings available and the tendency is to scrap this old age technology and replace it with some nice new plastic expensive rubbish. These old 1958 models are built solid with cast iron boxes and are as heavy as hell. Me and myself strip it down-out with the old multi-meter and test, draw a diagram and sort the problem out.

now- do some fault finding and head scratching - mmmm, what was I taught in 1966

Done and dusted and repaired for about £ 15-00, this comes from my very young days as a appy, having served my time and a journeyman/artisan who taught me the finer things of the job. it is just like the top of an old ladies kitchen cupboard - full homemade canned fruit and jam in glass twist top bottles - a sadly dying trade. In my line of business fixing is also on its way out - condemn and replace is the order of the day, today.

The skills have gone and so have the teachers.
never mind it is up and running again - for the next fifty years

then its someone else's problem

and some pics of some of the modern plant and machines / boilers


OK that's me - now back to work...................................

LIAM COMES TO VISIT 23/11/2008

ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN.

The 3Cowle's came to visit Ouma & Oupa today and Liam was up to all kinds of tricks so out popped the video camera for you all to share in our very blessed grandson and need I mention the proud Mom & Dad.

If anybody reading this blog could please send out invitations to Leon and Elizma to come across to your place for Supper or Sunday Afternoon tea, We will gladly baby-sit,
SO get those invitations out fast and furious..........................

3 cooked meals a day, plenty of rest, sleeps through the night since birth and in a weeks time he will be 6months old - something to celebrate I would say. So Leon and Elizma can go out and have the celebration, we will painfully sit back, babysit and miss out on all the fun - ANYTIME

Any day now he will be running down the road to visit all on his own.

LIAM IS BACK - me again

HI ONE AND ALL, Well back in circulation and best of all LIAM is back from his holiday visiting Ouma & OUPA Retief in South Africa, so we will be posting a few photo's or videos of him soon. Or if you want to beat the system and Billy then go to Leon & Elizma's blog - click here- there you will see plenty

watch this space

Snowing 28th Oct @ 22h30

Yip, just had an Eskimo Pie ice cream and went outside at 22H30 - its snowing, I skype Leon and tell him, suspiciously he replies REALLY!, he looks outside and skypes me back "WOW" he says, its all white outside. Well the last time it snowed here was 6th April 2008, at the end of last winter, now it snows at the beginning of winter, brrrrrrrrrrrrrr its going to be a cold one.

who knows - A WHITE CHRISTMAS ??????????

When we woke up this morning everything was " as white as snow" but freezing cold, then at around 11am after the clear skies and sun shinning, i wondered outside to video the wonderful Autumn garden with the left-over snow on the plants, was a beautiful site to see in the bright sunshine.

The BBC has a website where you can send in a news item, they check it out and if ok and good they use it. Well my video above was on the 8 O'clock BBC World news, so that makes me a famous celebrity and YOU KNOW ME, isn't that great.

TOUR DE FRANCE - OCTOBER 2008

A Holiday in the Countryside of Northern France, near a small village called Willencourt.

Up at 4am 11th October 2008 and travelled from Woking to Dover, just under 2 hours to catch the ferry over to Calais in France. Tania was joining us just for the week-end and Leon-Elizma & Liam joined us from Saturday -Tuesday. We all met at Dover in the car park, Tania parked her car and went on the ferry by foot, Leon & I drove our cars on. Wow, what a size of a ferry, then the amazing view of the White cliffs as we pulled out of the docks into the English Channel, ( a better view of the cliffs is on our way back).

Bonjour - Bonsoir - Merci (beaucoup)

Ferry from Dover to Calais - France

Then arriving at Calais, the fun/holiday gets off to a big bang, Driving on the wrong side of the road. I must say, this time I was in our own car and the only thing to adapt to was the wrong side of the road, last time we were in Italy and we hired a car. Everything is on the wrong side, the steering wheel, the rear view mirror, the gear lever, the hand break, the indicator switch and even the wife was on the wrong side. This time I was much more comfortable and relaxed and adapted very quickly. Off we went, first stop a Supermarket to get some supplies and then onto the motorway and small country roads to the cottage - about an hour and a half away. Arriving there we were greeted by this quaint little wooden cottage. A nice bowl of fresh flowers on the table and a cold bottle of French wine in the fridge (yummy).

ARRIVE AT COTTAGE

We arrive at the cottage in the French Countryside, pack out the baggage and get off to a cracking start with a Braai .( barbeque) . We sit around with a good bottle of wine, a wide variety of cheese & biscuits and talk the evening away. The next day (Sunday 12th Oct) we are off to ARRAS a town about an hour away, Mr White ( the village caretaker, what a nice guy) told us about an Annual market that takes place and it is worth a visit, they close the town square down for this. We arrive but NO MARKET - wrong date, we walk around and then find a smashing sea-food restaurant for lunch - MUSSELS and SNAILS a speciality. We all tuck in and enjoy it immensely, then sadly Tania must bid her farewells and I take her back to Calais to catch the ferry as she must work on Monday morning. "Au revoir" Tania and Bon Voyage.

SUNDAY LUNCH in "ARRAS"

Then Monday off we went to a sea-side holiday resort " Le Touquet" a very picturesque town with plenty of pretty boutiques, not to mention the 1000's of restaurants and cafe's. the most important being " CREPES " yip Ria had a field day with this. Although the weather was not on our side we all enjoyed the outing. A high-lite of the trip was OUPA playing with Liam on the back seat, for the one hour trip. While Mom and Dad upfront were moaning and groaning the he must go to sleep. Oupa & Liam won that round SIX-LOVE.

Walk around Le Touquet and of course eat "Crepes"

in the video there is a picture I got from Carol of a "Rainbow on fire" - amazing

Leon & Elizma left on Tuesday lunchtime and sadly taking Liam with them. Now we were on our own and Billy got down to some serious cooking, the video says it all.

YUMMY YUMMY - ESCARGOT _ SNAILS

to come

at the cottage

travelling around the French countryside

eating French "Crepes" , "Mussels" and "Escargot snails" mmmmmmmm ,with some more wine

back to Dover on the ferry

Baby sitting the BIG FELLA

On Wednesday 1/10/2008 it was Elizma's Birthday so to enable Leon to spoil her and eat-out, so we did some baby sitting, Now I have always wanted to to this for a very-very long time and the expectations were overwhelming and exciting to say the least.

WHAT A LET DOWN - WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT

Elizma and Leon are to organised to be "a new Mom & Dad", the little bugger was all bathed, wrapped up and fast asleep when we got there, one last check by Elizma in his room where he lay fast asleep in his cot, and off they went for a night out.

The little bugger did not make a sound NOT A PEEP, we just sat and watched TV, with ears pierced- we listened for that inevitable expected cry - or even a whimper - but NOTHING, when they got back at about 11h30, he did not even move then.

Off we went home, miserable OUMA & OUPA, tails between our legs and disappointed that baby-sitting this guy is a waste of time, could have stayed home and watched TV for what it was worth.

WOW - WHAT A PRIVILEGE THIS IS -

TO BABYSIT YOUR GRANDCHILD - WOW

Below is a collage of photo's, "LIAM @ 4 Months old", to view them in all their glory just

click here to jump over to Leon & Elizma's Blog - amazing and beautiful.

Oh by the way HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIAM'S MOMMY-ELIZMA

click here to go to LeoLizma's Blog

LIAM COMES TO VISIT OUMA AND OUPA

WELL, THE VIDEO SAYS IT ALL

AND THEN OF COURSE - THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE

Billy in the garden after a long hard week-end

Now that was, as they say A Task & A Half, lifting all the 450 x 450 concrete slabs, lifting the base concrete, and wheel-barrowing it away. Then I cut the shape of the front path with an angle grinder with dust everywhere. Levelled off the ground and put in 30 x 25l bags of topsoil, planted the lawn seed and gave it water & fertilizer.

Tania arrived for a vist, she light the barbecue fire and cooked the meat. All washed up, we sat down to a good glass of wine, cracker of a braai with salads and finished of with home made waffles-syrup and cream. All in between watching the Monza F1 GP. Ria is glad the week-end has come and gone, as I was just full of mud and dust and kept on calling for coffee and coke to drink, she had no peace all day long.

It was an amazing week-end of fantastic weather-lots of sun shine and even caught a bit of a tan.

Just happened this way while I was in the garden, two planes flew bye in the sky ( now here else would they fly bye??). Here in the UK with the cold air at high altitude, all the planes leave a white tail trail and these two made a cross in the heavens and sentimental me had to take a photo and say

Now that cross is a symbol of the 8cowles family love for one another.

Ria takes a shower

England has a strange water supply system, but Leon spent some time with me to explain it. The street water mains do not have a lot of pressure in them, due to the fact that the infrastructure was installed hundreds of years ago, so each house has a water tank in the ceiling, and this fills up just like a cistern of your toilet, when you use water the ball valve opens and fills the tank again. So you have no real pressure only a gravity feed from your tank in the ceiling. There are modern ways of improving this system at a great cost, so we will leave this one to another date. But what I did was install an approved dual hot/cold water pressure pump after the tank. not allowed on the mains supply before the tank. The result is Fantastic pressure in the shower and water flows much better and faster at the taps aswell installation complete and the pump is in.
so now the pressure is 2 Bar throughout the house , up from a 1/2 bar.

.

Pity Ria had the curtains closed when she was showering or you could have seen the water flow pressure.

Ria goes to a French Market in Woking

Last Saturday and Sunday we had a continental market in our Village Mall, during the year there are different themes and cultures, this week-end was FRENCH, we ate a Crepe with sugar on while we browsed through the picturesque stalls, very colourful and Oh so appetising.

WOW, so many varieties of Olives to choose from
Not to mention the SWEETIES, Ria said she has never seen so many sweets in one place and al so tempting, she had to buy some



Armed with her bag of nummies of we go home - broke

Liam kom kuir by OUMA

I am just checking if Mom and dad are not to far away

Ria with her pride and joy in her arms

Pictures of Liam August 2008 summary

Well here are some outstanding pictures of Liam, not to duplicate I have put a link to Leon & Elizma's blog so just click here and let Google do the rest of the magic.

THE CLEAN UP BEGINS

The move has been completed and the interior with the furniture is now 80% in place and we can find our bed at night. So now starts the garden work.

Lifting the paving blocks and removing the weeds, as the place stood empty for almost a year without any TLC. Now it's going to get it in an overdose.

Cleaned up, weeds gone and ready for a long cold one and a braai

We have moved in

18 TRESTA WALK - HORSELL - WOKING
Yip we got the keys and moved in. Starting Saturday morning 9am, Leon and I picked up a hired van and the party started.
Ria and Tania were loading the little boxes in the cars, while Leon and I did the big stuff ( two young strong lads)
While we were all busy between the two houses, Elizma was cooking up the "PAD-KOS" someone had to do the dirty work, Liam was to occupied to help us as he was watching mom make the lunch.

So after a week of moving, re-arranging and re-arranging we are all settled, and today 1 week on I started on the garden. The previous owners were elderly and they had the whole place paved with concrete blocks 400 x 400 bedded in brick motar, so I have quite a task ahead of me.

Ria has gone about the decorating, picture hanging and getting the heart of the house organised and stocked - her kitchen.

One of our new neighbors knocked on the door Wednesday night and gave us a welcome card and a nice cold bottle of welcome wine.

What a nice surprise

The sellers Tom & Judy on behalf of their Mom ( who passed away 1 year ago) sent us this card in the post.......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RIA

RIA's Birthday 15/08/2008

It just so happened that the transfer of our new house and the hand-over of the keys happened on the same day, so what better birthday present could she get.

HER OWN HOUSE IN THE UK

It's a dogs life - MURPHY

This was a day out, for MURPHY, yip believe it or not. Tania's little sausage Dachshund dog took the three of us to a DOGGY SHOW. The WAG & BONE SHOW in the gardens of the WINDSOR GREAT PARK. It is an annual affair and attracts Dogs from all over that bring their owners out for the day. There was every conceivable dog there from a wet rat breed to massive great Danes. Stalls, exhibitors, sales, demo's, shows, dog tricks, races etc etc.

We had a great day out and MURPHY got his MICRO CHIP implant, now he cant get lost.

MURPHY'S DAY OUT

"WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE TANIA'S DOG OR BE IT RE-INCARNATION"

its me again @ 10 weeks old

Now apart from his Grandfather where would you find or see a more happier face than this. The little fella is growing by the minute. He swings in arms around in excitement & desperation as his little brain tries to get words out his mouth, if you don't watch out he will knock your head off.

NOW LET ME THINK ABOUT THAT, AND CHECK WITH MOM & DAD, BEFORE I COMMIT MYSELF TO AN ANSWER

LIVERPOOL - a walk down memory lane

MY FATHERS DAY GIFT FROM TANIA HAS ARRIVED.

We are off to Liverpool to go on the BEATLES TOUR on 27-28 JULY 2008

Now I have been and seen Liverpool - The Home of the BEATLES something I have wanted to do since I was 16 years old...........................................

We arrive around lunch time Saturday, after leaving home at 7am. The start of A MAGICAL TOUR. this video is the arrival and walk-about the new Waterfront at the docks- amazing CITY OF LIVERPOOL at 2:30 we get on the tour bus and the fun starts.

The tour on the BUS, and We walk down Penny lane, visit all the houses of the birth places of John, Paul, George & Ringo. We wander around Strawberry Fields, spend a Penny on the corner of Penny Lane. Back in The center of Liverpool, off we go to the original club and pub in Mathew Street. We walk around gasping at the 1960's, have a pint in the pub, and look at all the places where the Beatles have been, and seen it it all we have -Together, Now it goes back to where it belongs "Yesterday". Off we go to supper at the Docks Water Front and then get ready for the drive through to "ANFIELD" the football home of LIVERPOOL.

Yip this place just echoes out with YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE and then the sun sets on a wonderfull week-end, built of so many dreams and memories.

THANKS "MY MADAMPIE" - LUV JA LOTS

Cant buy me love, down penny lane, in strawberry fields forever. YEAH-YEAY-YEAH..... get back, get back, get back to where you belong and I send ALL MY LOVING - FROM ME TO YOU...... Dedicated to " MY MADAMPIE " you will never walk alone "

CREDITS -: background music to all my video's purchased on-line from ITUNES and from my own personal collection

Like Father - like Son

The APPLE does not fall far from the TREE, take a peak and see what I mean.

7 WEEKS OLD 20/7/2008 - Its ME AGAIN

Yip can you believe it, little Liam 7 weeks old already, I am sure and have told Leon & Elizma, where do they go - To trade him in for a bigger one every day. The answer I get is " Love and mothers milk" Here is a peak as to how he has grown from day 1 to day 49, special day because Oupa Billy was born in '49. so that makes us birthday pals. Sounds good to me anyway- Think what you like. Ouma Ria just can not stop looking at the Video on Leon & Elizma's Blog (click here) of him smiling from ear to ear.

LIAM - 7 weeks old TODAY- 20th JULY 2008

A CASE FOR "SHIRLOCK HOLMES"

Ria and I popped over to Tania's place in Reading about 40minutes away, she wanted Dad to build her some picture frames for the posters that she had just bought. On arrival, we did some measuring and went around to the local hard-ware shop " HOME BASE" an d bought the required Wood, glue screws and a mitre box. Back at her place it was cutting and fitting and then assembling. when all was "done and dusted" we then opened the beer and settled ourselves into a lovely summer afternoons braai. Tania made the most fabulous salad that Ihave ever had at a braai, this is a trade secret so don't even ask for the recipe.

A practice run - Have'nt lost my touch in 34 years

Well, the last time I did this was with Tania 29years ago and with Leon 34years ago, This was a dry run under the watchful eyes of Leon & Elizma. The big question is, Has the "OUTOPPIE" lost his touch???? The proof of the pudding is in the bottle and the look on his face,,,,,,,,,, If I must say so myself I passed the test "cum-laude"...... Now I have my licence to BABY SIT. Wow, can't wait for the night that MOM & DAD want to go out to paint the town red. Then its ME - RIA and the little fella. Maybe I should buy them tickets for GONE WITH THE WIND, that was a very long movie, then treat them to a supper somewhere.........................................

CATCH YOU LATER, HE HAS JUST WOKEN UP AND TIME FOR HIS NEXT BOTTLE
also to avoid duplication, for the latest updates on little LIAM you can click here to go to Leon & Elizma's blog, they have a whole lot more...................

DIT is 'n ROTS waar op ONS HUISIE STAAN

Many things happen along the way in our lives, and unfortunately a lot of them we take for granted, but when we look back and really think about these things we realize that they are meant to be and they are some form of DESTINY in one way or another. Just over a year ago we made that all important decision to move, and move we did. To the UK. Now many things have happen in our lives, as the old wedding vow goes " FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE" & " FOR RICHER OR FOR POORER" well what could be BETTER or what could be RICHER than what we have got now. It is almost impossible to put it into words. There is also the Worse and POORER, Your age counts against you and according to the powers that be in a new country this age is documented as just over 1 year old, with no history and no credit rating, no matter what you have done or achieved in your past life. Now comes the SECOND most wonderful thing that has happened since arriving in the UK is that we have bought a new house, I am not even going to mention what the FIRST most fantastic thing is, YOU GUESS. Now back to the richer/poorer/better/worse. There is a hidden factor in these wise words and that is our three wonderful children, the support and motivation - LOVE and dedication can not be described. Tania in her special ways has been an inspiration, Leon and Elizma have far exceeded expectations and the way they have helped with this major decision ..... now lost for words............. Never mind we have signed up for a mortgage, and that "WE" is a team of the kids and us. Now we set about on a new venture in our lives and if all goes well we move into our NEW HOUSE at the end of AUGUST. This is when the RICHER and the BETTER shine through when one looks back over your shoulder and you see your kids in the background....... WONDERFUL to be a Mom & Dad and then of course there is that FIRST MOST WONDERFUL THING and that's "LIAM". He is going to spend many a happy hour or two and of course that baby sitting over night and long week-ends for a LEOLIZMA getaway. Join us in the celebration of our NEW HOUSE. Listen to the words of the back round music and mentally change the words of Sea, wind, ocean & waves to Leon-Elizma & Tania, and the ROTS to LIAM.


music from "FORTUKSIMO- CD" 4 students from TUKKIES - Pretoria University SA

WHO SAID " YOU CAN'T WIN THEM ALL" I DID

To win them all is no secret, but just in-case any of you have forgotten how, here is a quick reminder. All you need to do, is to look at your kids and then you can say with PRIDE - "I HAVE WON THEM ALL" When we look and see what our kids have achieved and what joy they bring back to us, for all our moans and groans when they were growing up and the time we had to use TUV-LOVE.

Today I realized once again how proud it is to be a DAD. Not withstanding the fact that we now have little Liam in our midst but we also have a New FATHER who celebrated his first fathers day today with Elizma in the background for the day

Then there is Madampie - alias Tania, who helped me celebrate a fantastic Fathers day. This card had a wonderful message of devoted and endless love and to end it all, also had a written present that was in the inner side of the card.it states ------ Join me for an overnight road trip on Saturday 26th July 2008. Pack comfortable clothes. We leave your house at 7am sharp. Its a FATHER-DAUGHTER BONDING SESSION.

After I opened and read the card, she gave me a few guesses what its all about _ I was miles and miles away, down some LONG AND WINDING ROAD from the event, she then let the cat out the bag. We are driving upto to LIVERPOOL, staying in a hotel and going on the Life of THE BEATLES TOUR. well with all the songs that come to mind I must mention a few... Cant buy me love and Love me do, so please please me. YEAH YEAH YEAH -- GET BACK TO WHERE YOU BELONG and I wanna hold your HAND. etc etc etc.

Ria must stay behind at home and baby-sit Tania's doggy for the week-end, so she is making a major impact on the success of the TOUR and adding VALUE to the BONDING of "OU GROOTE & MADAMPIE"

Now if that wasn't enough, I got the card from Leon & Elizma with a loving memorable little message from both of them and a ...YES! A PACKET OF SMASHING BILTONG.

That made the OUTOPPIE'S DAY and once again made my shoulders that little much broader to be able to say, That's my 3 kids we are talking about + Liam + Ria.

THE WILLIAM DANIEL HALL OF FAME

WILLIAM JOHN COWLE, born in Gateshead-Newcastle Upon Tyne in the north east of England on the 26th July 1917.

Then along came junior, William John Cowle, born in Germiston -South Africa on the 23rd September 1949.

Adding to this, Daddy Leon William Cowle was also born in Germiston - South Africa on the 22nd June 1974

and then to round the whole thing off, William Daniel Cowle "Liam" was born in Woking- Surrey, England on the 1st June 2008

from England to Africa and back again to England

it's ME AGAIN - here are my BIRTHDAY PICTURES

just click here and see me with my Mommy and Daddy

Oupa Billy will be putting a whole story together toninght if he does not have to much CHAMPAGNE

Cheers and talk to you later

LIAM COWLE

LIAM - William Daniel Cowle - its me again!

Let it be known to the world that the registration of the birth of the first born, a son, of Leon and Elizma will be taking place. The witnesses to this historic occasion will be the proud Grand-Parents - Billy & Ria. Now, if my calculations are correct and the XL spread sheet of the whole families birthdays are correct, with some minor mathematics and we add up all the living family members, from Molly through to Kevin with all their partners, kids and grand kids - LIAM is NUMBER 50.

LIAM made his appearance at around 02h10 on the 1st of June 2008

Leon-Elizma-and the bundle of joy-Liam

MaRia and PaBilly are so proud of you

WOW-WOW-WOW-WOW

It's "A DOGS LIFE"

I just had to share this with you all. Tania is away on work business and we had to DOG-SIT her little dog "MURPHY. it is 11pm and I want to goto sleep, BUT, the dog is in my bed. I call Ria who is still up to come and fetch him and put him in his bed - not mine............ the video says it all.

Cream Tea 25/05/2008

While Billy and Leon were watching the F1 Grand Prix @ Manaco on Tv, Elizma and Ria were discussing their body masses in kgs, the GP was more interesting, but the side line comments lead us to the decision that CREAM TEA of clotted cream, strawberry jam and freshly baked scones would make the day worth while. So off we went when the race finished to Saville Gardens about an 1/2hr away. As soon as we were settled in at the table, Ria was stupid enough to be the camera man and the three of us got stuck in.......................

if you snooze you loose...........................

and as a reminder......... the due date is 26th May 2008 ..... thats tomorrow

OFF TO ITALY - SARDINIA ISLAND

LEON picks us up at 4am Saturday morning and off we go to LUTON airport just outside London, book in and the flight takes off at 07h30 and we landed at 11h30 on the island city of CAGLIARI. Then we drive on the wrong side of the road for just over an hour to the resort town TORRE DELLE STELLE, where we stayed for the 8 days. 3-10 May 2008
We drove approx 1320miles around the island visiting the most beautiful villages and ports, along winding-hairpin bendy roads through the mountains and sea front cliffs. We crossed the sea on a ferry to two beautiful Islands. click here for more maps of our travels.
More pictures and video to be loaded later in the week.

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

You can click here to see some of our photos or click here to see Tania's blog and photos

SURPRISE - THANKS FROM ELIZMA

Surprise! As you may know, Tania and Mom Ria threw me a surprise baby shower last Sunday. It was a wonderful day - I felt utterly spoilt! I just wanted to thank everyone who sent us a beautiful message wishing us the best with our little one. We really appreciate it. Dad Bill went through a lot of trouble to create wonderful cards which we will share with him/her when they're old enough to understand what family is all about...
SEE POST BELOW FOR THE MESSAGES or click HERE

IT'S ME AGAIN - MY MOMMY HAS A STORK PARTY

Yippie party time, and guese who gets all the presents, hey this can only get better! Tania, that's my Aunt, hey one of many, but today she was special for me. She organised a few of my Mom's closest friends around for a Stork Party, just another excuse for the ladies to break-away on OFFICIAL BUSINESS, forget the DIET and without all the Dads around.
Wow, WE, that's Mom and Me got some lovely gifts and there were some very SPECIAL messages from Loved-ones, family and friends very close to MOM'S HEART and she missed them very much today,
I could tell deep down from within herself- Thanks for all those lovely thoughts and prayers from each one of you.
Here are just a few, if I publish every one then the blog would overflow or something like that, anyhow.

But I know Mom put them all away to show me them one day. Hey, just to remind you all, ETA for me is in 5 weeks, so get ready.

Braai time - its summer in The UK

Well, we are having the first signs of summer, so what better way to celebrate than with a BRAAI. Tania, Leon & Elizma came around, Leon was going back a few years and preparing himself for childhood the second time around with his YO-YO. Then we played some rugby with the expected LITTLE ONE courtesy of Elizma. Food was great, braai was great, but the family as a unit was the BEST. Check Leon out - "rocking the cradle" and have a peak at the Mother to be..................click on the > BELOW to play video