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.

New Pictures of me " BABY COWLE"

Hello Family, I am waving to you from my nest, I am growing by the day, My mommy is feeding me well and now I am well past half way, all going well I should arrive round about the 26th MAY 2008. Hey did you check out my NOSE, now is that not proof that I am a COWLE then nothing else will. Ok I think I am going to catch some sleep now, there is no TV or play-stations in this place.

ONE FROSTY MORNIING

YIP, OLD JACK FROST COMES EVERY MORNING NOW TO VISIT. THE WEATHER IS ACTUALLY VERY NICE DURING THE DAY BUT WHEN ITS TIME TO GO TO WORK, YOU MUST FIRST SCRAP OFF THE FROST FROM THE CAR WINDOWS. THE SURREY/WOKING COUNCIL SPRINKLE COARSE SALT ON ALLTHE MAIN ROADS AND OFF YOU GO TO WORK. 2 MORE PHOTOS

Cowles of to an Italian Hoilday

Yes we are off on a holiday - Billy-Ria and Tania in May 2008 .... where to........

On an Island of Italy, to the east of the main land in the Mediterranean Sea

Set in an elevated position with spectacular views of the bay, this modern villa is well furnished throughout. Steps lead up to the villa where a covered terrace overlooks the pool. The accommodation is on the lower level and enjoys private use of the pool. Resort & Location Below will give you an idea of the resorts character, which facilities are located in the immediate vicinity of our accommodation, as well as those located a little further away within the resort and surrounding area.
Short drive to Amenities Village
Short drive to Beach Local amenities
Distance to Torre delle Stelle 2.0km
Nearest Restaurant / Cafe 2.5km
Nearest Bar 2.0km
Nearest Beach 2.0km
Nearest Mini/Supermarket 2.0km
Resort: Torre delle Stelle in SardiniaTorre delle Stelle, known as the ‘Tower of the Stars’, is a popular resort surrounded by two glorious, white sandy beaches, a few local restaurants and a mini market. Leisure facilities in Torre delle Stelle include a diving centre, while windsurfing, cycling and horse riding tours can be found a short drive away at the nearby resorts of Villasimius and Costa Rei. Many of the villas here enjoy wonderful sea views across the Gulf of Cagliari. We fly from Luton Airport in London to Cagliari, then in a hired car drive through to the Villa. Apparently this is a major sheep farming Island so there is very cheap "LAMB" so guess who will be having a lamb Braai with some good Italian red wine........ to see the island if you want you can click here link to GOOGLE EARTH only if you have a good fast connection

UK COWLE's CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was spent at Leon and Elizma's house. A Typical British winter Christmas,especially with their lovely little fireplace roaring.... On Christmas Eve we overdid ourselves on a finger buffet, followed by opening our presents. We were all there, for the first time together in 7 years - Ria & Billy, Leon, Elizma & 0.5 (the little one that is almost here), Tania & her little dog Murphy plus Johan and Celia, good friends of Leon, joined us on Christmas day and we all enjoyed the following Chrismas lunch:

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Goat's Cheese and Caramelised Onion Filo Tartlets with Rocket and Balsamic Vinegar
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Beef Wellington
Leg of Lamb (with Mint Sauce)
Rice
Goose Fat Roast Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Creamed Spinach
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Apple Strudel with Butterscotch Sauce and Creme Fraiche

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To all our Family & friends out there, all over the world! Hope you all experienced a peaceful festive season, and that your biggest gift for the next year will be peace and good health!!
"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your inspiration with others."
--Robert Louis Stevenson

Click HEREto see our Family Christmas Photos

Greetings to Sarah

Hullou my sus,
Hier is 'n klompie fotos van ons hier in Eng, nou en sommige van ons vorige besoeke asook 'n paar in sonnige S.A. met die troue. Geniet dit.

Click "HERE" for more photo's.

On top right you can see links to click on, Leon & Elizma and Tania's blogs, see what they are doing with and without us........ click here for our family Christmas lunch.

Cambridge

This is when we went to Cambridge with Tania for the week end, we stayed at the Holiday Inn, It was pretty cold, the whole week-end, stopped for a roadside breakfast, walked the town and even visited the American war museum, even with the cold, we still had a good time, we went out to eat the Saturday night at a sea food resturaunt. Then drove back through the country side. for more pics click HERE

rugby

this was me at Twickenham. For other photo's click here

Me and my Blue Bulls - Currie Cup 2006

This is what you would call a "BLUE BULLS BAKKIE", fun was had, team spirit was high and now we sit and wait for another year. Although the Freestate Cheatha's and the Blue Bulls palyed to a draw. The Cheatha's decided to keep the cup for the first 6months, so guess what, come 2007 Currie Cup season, the CUP is in Blue Bull Country,,,,,,,,,,, COME AND GET IT