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