Hi all. I have to apologise for not writing anything in a while. My life has been a bit crazy lately. Lots has happened since I wrote last. For starters, I’ve sold my car. It the old story, you don’t know what you had until it is gone. My little Daihatsu has given my GREAT service over the last 4 years and I am missing it. Interesting what a comfort it is to go outside and to walk up to a car without wondering if it is stolen, broken into, will it start today and will it get me where I’m going. I’ve had to revert to driving my 1st car, “Tikkie” (named after the smallest coin in the currency my father grew up with). 
Tikkie is a 1966, Fiat 850 which I rebuild after school. Unfortunately she is in dire need of TLC, which I can’t provide right now. So the other day the brakes failed :) Fortunately while driving slowly in a parking lot. While I’m seeing to the problem, my father had lent me his “loaner” called “Ou Poot” (yes all our 2nd hand cars have names, only fitting since they all have a personality of their own). So travel arrangements are going to be interesting until I leave. Which brings me to my latest travel plans…
I have been going through to Royal Cape Yacht Club for the past couple of Wednesday evenings after work. This to get some time on yachts and hopefully secure a crewing position on a boat taking part in the Cape to Rio Yacht Race. I’m not sure if this is going to fly, since I’ve left it a bit late. I’ve sent my sailing CV out, I can only hope. The other option that I’m exploring is doing a yacht delivery. Sarel, a friend from Vogelvlei YC, works for a yacht building company and most of the yachts they build get delivered to the Caribbean (I think). So I spoken to him about doing a delivery and it sounds like it could pan out.
In the mean time I’ve been offered a position on a private yacht (sorry, but I’m not divulging details yet), which sounds MOERSE LEKKER! I will get to see places I probably won’t be able to see normally, spend some time exploring new cultures (even if only for a short while) and I will get paid! This will allow me to do my tour properly…Oh yes, I’ll have to work quite hard too since these boats typically get washed once week. A small draw back I recon. But before I can commit, I have to sort out my sailing plans (Rio or Delivery) and I need to get hold of Amy Smith. I can’t remember if I mentioned this, but I emailed her a while back to offer my services and got a quick (and positive) reply. Unfortunately she was in the field so couldn’t give me particulars on when or where they would be going in 2011. So, with all the options unfolding I need to get hold of her to arrange my plans. I’m REALLY keen to go help her with field trials so I’m hoping it won’t clash with the private yacht offer.
In between all of this, I still need to organise inoculations, travel insurance, sort out my medical aid and other insurance at home. I’m thinking of sorting it all out once I finish work (beginning of January). On top of all that, I need to be out of my flat at the end of this month :( So this week I’m packing every day after work. Fortunately I’m loaning most of my furniture to family so I don’t need to sell it all. I’ve got to have most of my stuff packed by Saturday, since Saturday is moving day.
