Flying Goshawk

Another watercolour painting. Found the photograph in a copy of the Wild magazine from the South African National Parks Board. Decided to paint it. Not to happy with the background but happy with the Goshawk.

Hope you enjoy it.




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Watercolour Pale Chanting Goshawk

My pale chanting goshawks....at least it won't be called a duck!!




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Cheetah II

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Cheetah

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My first attempt at an eagle

Well Kite rather.




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Laird, my Dad and I

Painted from a photo taken of us a year ago on the beach on PE.




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Monochrome landscape

Following the instructions in my Watercolours for beginners book. Here is my attempt at a landscape in one colour. Burnt sienna.




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Dissaster

Last nights attempt to paint a silouette was a dissaster.

My elephants drinking at a waterholes look more like moles

Tonight a second attempt in one tone maybe!




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Lighthouses

Last night I painted a lighthouse that I think I will give my father for Christmas.

Unless that's too vain?




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Boys and Braais

Had a braai today with my two sons and I. Our first all boy braai. In true braai style it was a meat and potatoes affair. Lotsa meat !!!

Proud of my kids today!








And as with alot of boy braais. Was not long till one of them was partially naked




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My clivias

My clivias







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Mexican Pelicans

In March we took a trip to Mexico with my sister and our families.

On a boat trip to The mangroves near Mazatlan we had a pelican join us on the boat.

Here is my impression.

Hyena Pan

Our company has secured the rights to a private camp in Botswana on the border of Moremi Game Reserve.

Our first permanent camp.

Yeehaa!




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Painting

I've been painting recently, after about 10 years and it was not exactly like I was any good 10 years ago either.

It is however relaxing and stimulating and in this stressful period of our lives it helps me to cope.

Hope you enjoy them.




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World Cup 2010

I had the privileged to be able to go and watch the Ghana vs Australia World Cup Football game in Rustenberg at the Royal Bafekeng Staduim last night.

The drive to the game was superb. Some brilliant new roads and infrastructure have been built for this world cup event. Many people saying that the money would have been better spent on hospitals and schools. They may have a point, in a country like South Africa where access to clean water and certain other basic ammenities are limited, however I seriously doubt that there would ever be the same funding available if this world class event had not visited our shores.

Living in Johannesburg the so called " worlds most dangerous city" we have seen a new freeway upgrade. A new train system the Gautrain. A new bus transport system. Two fantastci new football stadiums. Many other facilities have been upgraded by the government. This does not count the staduim upgrades or roads built in other cities around our country.

We have also seen many private individuals getting involved in making our country "sparkle" painting walls with support banners for Bafana Bafana, flags flying from fences, cars with mirror socks indicating which country you are supporting and a general spirit of welcome for the foreign fans that have flocked to our shores.

We visited the FIFA fan park in Johannesburg with an estimated 50,000 other fans to watch the opening ceremony and first match between Mexico and South Africa. Fans painted in team colours, flags waving about and the vuvuzela's blasting away. I was so proud to be a South African and to see our opening ceremony which was truely African performed to the biggest TV audience ever!

The other heart warming memory was seeing groups of supporters from Argentina and the Netherlands being welcomed with open arms. Hugs from passes by, people flocking to get photos with these fans, everyone joining together to celebrate and for once forget the differences. All in the name of Football.

When South Africa scored the first goal the crowed celebrated like there was no tomorrow and when Mexico equalized the same crowed clapped and cheered the boys on even more. A truely wonderful time!

Ke nako .... It is time!






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My new bicycle

On my recent trip to Canada I was lucky enough to be able to purchase a new bicycle. A Specialized Tarmac Elite. Last years stock so got it at a great price.

The helpful blokes at Gears Bike Shop in Toronto fitted the bike and then Boxed it for me to fly home. Thank you www.gearsbikeshop.com

It was a nerve wracking flight worrying about my little carbon beauty on a box in the hold.

But it all arrived just fine.

Assembled it and had a short ride on Sunday.




What a bike!

Canada continued...

After we returned from Mexico. We spent the next three weeks with my sister and family. They live in Oakille just outside Toronto, close to the lake, so alot of time was spent waking near the lake andin the parks surrounding their suburb.

I was amazed at how our boys coped with the changes to their schedules and food. We had a few problems with Laird at bedtimes but nothing drastic.

I am really thankfull for my family.

On one of the mornings we took a walk around Rattlesnake Point. A forrested area on the escarpment that lies behind oakville.





Here we hunted for snakes, explored the paths that criss cross the park.

Jordie brought his model aircraft to fly. the little craft has tiny engines that work on compressed air. Once pumped up with air it flew beautifully (apart from the wings coming off)





A day well spent.


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Family holidays in Canada.

We left Johannesburg a day late due to engine failure and arrived on Canada a day later. Early to rise the next day to get our flight to Mazatlan, Mexico. We have joined up with my Sister and her family in Toronto and are heading to the beaches of Mexico for some sun, fun and hopefully a little tequila.

On the flight over Cameron tried to teach Laird some Spanish so there are lots of Moochas Grasiaas's going on.




The resort in Mexico..... Yes resort! Is beautiful. It is one of those all inclusive packages that I gave only laughed at before but with a two year old and another that is not yet four I find it amazingly relaxing heading to a monster buffet breakfast with at least 100 different thongs to eat, them heading out to the kidded pool or the beach to dig in the sand or play in the surf.

I haw never been a package person always believing that we could do it better or cheaper ourselves but this has its perks.

We are at the Emerald Bay RIU hotel in Mazatlan.





The view from our room us magnificent.

We walked down the beach to a small local restaurant last night for dinner. Quiet an adventure for Laird and Fynn in the dark on the beach.

I was so proud of Laird when he got his juice to drink saying "Muchas Gracias"!!

I had Tequila Camarones (shrimp). Beautiful. Meg and Cher had Lobster Thermidor, as well as rest of our clan had mostly Langousine (lobster / crayfish) for about Mexican peso 1450. About $145. Great value for eight people.

The boys had a better nights sleep last night as they are getting over jet lag.

Well better recover from my own jetlag. More to follow later.

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Visas......

We are about to embark on a family holiday to Canada and Mexico for a few weeks to visit my Sister in Toronto an spend a week in Mazatlan Mexico on the beach.

Can't wait. Laird is almost 4 and having to count the days till he can visit his older cousins in Canada.

This weekend is Fynn's second birthday. We are having a party at a local park so that will be fun

Great times ahead.




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