Bye bye RSA - stop Singapore - hallo Aussieland

What a great time we had in Cape Town with ouma Liefie and ouma Skapie, we enjoyed the time with you and it was sad to say goodbye.
Singapore was a long 15 hr stay... Thank you for playgrounds, the skytrain and the bus tour... not that Mommie or the kidz can remember anything of the your... they used the free Singapore Bustour as a powernap!

Thank you to Johan & Riza Fourie for welcoming us in Perth, Western Australia. We arrived in the early hours (02h00) of Friday 16th Jan 2009 and Johan still had to go to work just after 07h00. The Fourie's are also "old Richards Bay'ers" and friends that we made in our church and cellgroup. Thank you for making us feel welcome, for the use of the car, maps for feeding the Marais'clan and for a soft BED!

"the biker boys" are chuffed with their brand new wheels and daddy with us old second or thirdhand korea kia sportage 4x4 and his NEW garmin GPS... thank you to the guy who invented the GPS... love the little thing... The kidz call it the tv and just want to watch the little car on the screen

A big thank you to the Roth, Gerhard & Odene and the vd Merwe, Dirk & Louisa families (no pictures yet!). The Lord blessed us with you crossing our path, thank you for the "stuff you brought over", the barbie, all the help with finding a car, GPS etc etc etc!

Strand

Ons het baie lekker gekuier by al die nefies en niggies in die Strand. Dankie Lushenka / JP / Juandre vir al die lekker speel!!!
Baie liefde Ruben Simon Tobias!

Lekker verassing gewees om vir Andre (my boertjie-ingelse-aussie) ook in die Kaap te sien. Sien vir jou en Kate een van die dae in Melbourne met die troue!

Montaque Trekkerrit

Just past Montaque, you will find the "trekkerrit" and it is something you have to experience in the Western Cape! A fantastic scenic journey up the mountain. Fresh fruit on the way and some thrilling routes that the driver take you on. There is the "peeing tree", the overnight mountain hut, the view of the KOO Valley, something sweet, something wet... then downhill to a fantastic traditional "boerepotjie, pap&sous, fresh bread, boerekoffie, waterblommetjies" lunch next to a stream and under the cover of beautiful trees.
Ruben enjoyed the "foefieslide" (ek ook) and did not want to leave!!!

Jeremy & Helda

We made a quick stop at "old" Richards Bay'ers, Jeremy & Helda in Oudtshoorn. Wow it's been +- 5yrs since they left RBay, the "kuier" was as if it was just yesterday! Migael and Schalk are two beautiful boys and they cared for Ruben and the twins. Well done to J&H, you can feel proud of your sons. Our Lord Jesus have blessed you and we thank you for your friendship, kindness and making us feel right at home!

Camping

We took a slow and easy trip from RB to the STRAND. On the way we stopped and camped at, (1) T.O. Strand, Port Shepstone - were tobias followed ruben on his black motorbike down a 350 sloped and he stopped against a wall with his head first... that was the first, but not the last of the injuries... (2) Jeffries Bay for 2 days... and yes I went for a surf, nah just a paddle... again no waves in JBay during DEC!!!! (3) We stopped over in Victoria Bay (Carmel) and this time I had a real good surf session... it ended just as tobias, in / on the rocks and with my foot cut open and so the surfing... ended!

USHAKA

After the great farewell that was held at our "home"-"NG Meerensee", the Marais clan set of for the adventure of our lives.
Durban! Thanks to our good friends Deon & Annemarie vd Merwe (KLOOF) for having "our room" ready for the last time! ... at last?!
The kidz enjoyed uShaka and being driven around each in their own yellow car and only having (2) horses to pull-push the threesome... We had losts of fun, more than enough to eat and drink, watched the dolphin and seal shows! ... the "hasies / hamsters" played carguards!

cheers richardsbaai pelle

hallo al my maaitjies!

mis julle sommer baie

liefde van Ruben

marais en tolken "farewell" NG Meerensee, Richardsbaai, KZN, RSA

dankie vir elkeen wat daar was...


vertrou die kerkgronde word weer en meer gebruik vir veilige pieknieks!


mis elkeen van julle...


wow, dit was great ne!

bye-bye RSA

... a great view of Gordans Bay / Strand in the back ground
and of course the marais clan...

thank you to our families... we love and miss you

to our many friends & "other fams" ... thank you for your friendship, love & prayers


we all serve a GREAT & WONDERFULL GOD, to HIM ALL the GLORY !!!

dann helene ruben simon tobias
dhmrst
strand, Cape Town, RSA , december 2008

Austarlia Day Celebrations 26th Jan 2009

Ruben enjoying some free playground activities

+- 300 000 people attended

the 25th Anniversary of the fireworks

We took the TransPERTH train from Mandurah to Perth to celebrate Australia Day and FIREWORX 30min awesome fireworks display.

... twins just being themself again!

Meadow Springs (Mandurah) - Our new home

Welcome to Meadow Springs, Mandurah, WA

The view from our bedroom on the park

There is about 25 houses around the park

small yards...lucky me quick mowing!!! ... location!

brandspanking new, 3beds, 2bathrooms, o/plan

Walking distance to COLES (Pick-n-Pay), just 5 min, golfcourse and counrty club.

Foundation Christian College +- 10 min drive (Helene's work and Ruben's school)

$300 per week rent, can buy property in the area for +- $325 000, planning to do it in the near future, goverment gives First Time Home Buyers a $21 000 grant (+- R147 000)!!!

Ruben 1ste dag FCC Pre-Primary