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

Ria and Billy in "Wonderland"

No it is not CHRISTMAS but Sunday - 6th April 2008, woke up this morning and thought it was . What a beautiful sight to wake up to, amazing and the whole place looks like a FAIRY TALE STORY. There's Billy building a snowman and Ria walking about in the fairy-land right outside our front door. We wish you were all here with us, can you imagine the snow-ball fight we could have had - an amazing thought and wishful thinking - BUT VERY SINCERE, lots of love - Ria & Billy.................. click on the little > to play the video

My poor Blue-Bulls Rugby team - BILLY

This is a tragic day for me to post something like this, I could have changed it to suit - the lions or WP and even the Sharks, the Cheetah's are not worth mentioning. Maybe it should have read "ALL BLACKS or WALLABIES, who knows, I wonder who holds the SUPER 14 CUP ?????????

Cheers - OP DIE BLOUBULLE, billy'S blood is blue.

IS IT Mayonnaise OR Yogurt for lunch

LUNCH TIME IN "NOTTING HILL", WITH FRIENDS.............. Tania was in London today at a Hotel conference/faire, so she phoned me to join her for lunch, hopped on the tube from Tottenham Court Road, 6 stops down the Central line and there I was - IN NOTTING HIIL ROAD. We sat in the middle of the road with a coke and sandwich, chatting away as if we owned the place. Then unfortunately all good things must come to an end and it was back to work for the both of us. What made the day was being in Notting Hill, one of my favourite movies. the picture above is a snap shot of the movie's web site, click here to check it out further, I just love it. http://www.notting-hill.com/

JUST LOVED IT,,, THAT MAYONNAISE

Billy at work - into 2010 with ENEL

ENEL, the Italian Energy company had a EU Conference in the building where I work. This is how they decorated the conference room.

They brought in an over-night crew and built new soft walls right around inside the existing conference room, put in a massive Video screen and installed lights and effects that left your mouth gaping open in AWE.

What an experience. The seating as you can see was awesome, the atmosphere that was created was something out of this world, when I walked in this morning. WOW, I thought -"wrong building"

Just another day, Well, we had to keep the place cool, which was a battle, as the heat-build-up was way past the capacity of the air-con system. But yes OBJECTIVE ACHIEVED..

And who said a Maintenance Electricians life is boring ?????????????????????????????

Ria doing her thing

A cold winters night in the UK, snowing outside,,,,..... well in Scotland anyhow, freezing cold, windy and rain here in Surrey - Woking. Ria prepares a good warm supper for Billy after a hard days work in London. This is Ria in her element, she just loves her little English house, nice and compact, with her little kitchen, everything at arms reach. Ok, supper time Cheers, but click here to see the chef at work

Knitted Present from SA

Sarah, Ria's sister in SA, did some knitting for the new addition to the family and posted them to the UK. Leon was keen to try them on but had some difficulty. Smiles all around and the excitement is mounting day by day. Elizma just loves hand knitted baby stuff. Roll on 26th May

Me Again 3/3/2008.

Hey - its me again, yip had another photo-shoot today, got real close upto the camera, and put my nose against the lens. Not long to go now and then its PARTY time, round-about the 26th May.
My Mommy is suffering so I will stop putting things on the menu that makes her crave, she is clever otherwise she would have been a Daddy, her craving for Champagne is not good for me, but she knows this. Dad, Oupa & Ouma can have some when I am born and if Mom feels like it she can join them. But I watching you lot............
PS..... Don't tell Mom, but just when she sits down or goes for a lie-down, I do my daily exercises and get some "kicks" out of life in my cosy little house, I just have a good laugh when she tells Dad-- then I do it again, just for him. Ok, all of you out there in that big crazy world, see you all soon............. ME

Mothers Day in the UK

Mothers day, or should we say Ouma and Mother to be DAY, but I think it is more appropriate to say FAMILY DAY and a good reason to celebrate this was Mothers day, What a fantastic day it was, Ria as the centre of attraction, with her whole family around her just made the day. It was enhanced with the special effort made by Tania, she organised the whole thing at her Hotel- CROWN PLAZA, READING. Food was delicious. Leon and Elizma tried to trick Mom, and did not go the normal way we travel to Tania's house ( not far from the hotel) but go a small detour, normal takes 40minutes but instead their plan back-fired and it took just over an Hour & a half, with a traffic jam,,,,, never mind the day was a massive success.

The "organiser"

02-03-2008

Billy @ work in London

This is an insight in what I do with myself while at work. Maintaining a 21 storey building in the West-End of London is no joke. With 20 floors of Top dollar paying clients who can brag with Offices in the West End, I can brag that I keep them happy and comfortable. The central heating is not like conventional Air-Cons, but done with boilers and hot air ducts and the cooling is done with Chillers and chilled water at 4deg pumped all over the building. I get off the tube at Oxford Circus, walk 1 block and am at work. In the morning I am the only person on the street, but at 4-15pm that has changed drastically and there is hardly space for me on the pavement and you almost have to fight your way through the crowds, literally millions of them. As for work it is great and going well, I move work places at the end of Feb down to Totenham Court Road to a Congress/convention Center which I take over and run, this in its self will be a new challenge, as the building has been badly negleted when it comes to maintenance, so I will be in my element getting it back into ship shape condition. Here are some pics to browse through

Application for Italy Visa's

Tania and Ria had to go to London, to the Italian Consulate to apply and get a Visa for our pending holiday in May. Me being British, I do not need any visa's for Europe travels, While they were in London, I took 3 hours off work, we met up and did some sight seeing, me always on the wrong side of the camera, never mind, we walked over Tower Bridge and paid a visit to the London Dungeons, Then I went back to work, Tania & Ria then went onto Camden Town, just to look around and do some shopping.

Ria enjoyed the day out, with catching busses, overland trains and of course the tube trains. I picked the Visa's up the next week, Now tania and Ria can go to Europe for 6 months with no hassels, they expire 2nd November 2008. Click here for more pics.