"Our Rose" - Our Beautiful Boat

We flew Auckland, Melbourne to Perth.  We had a night and a full day in Perth - the lovely "spring flowers" in the botanical gardens, Freemantle and a great catch-up with Chris (our friend from skiing in Furano - Japan).

We arrived in Cape Town (via Johannesburg) Tuesday afternoon.  Wednesday we organised our car, sim for the phone, groceries and wine (of course) and then we were in action to get to Rudi and Deslynn to see "Our Rose"

... she is soooooo beautiful and so "big"

The "green" (though you might like it?????) is not the final color... though Rudi with his great sense of humor suggested we may like it!

The "transom" is yet to be added, which will then see "Our Rose" just on 44 feet long.

Au Revoir...

It is now 6 days since we left New Zealand and I am still unable to find the words to say what the last two weeks were for us...  the final packing, giving away and selling AND giving the final loving attention to our beautiful property at the Bay, was nothing compared to the emotions we had for and from our darling friends and family that we have said "see you" to - I could not bear the thought of saying "Good-Bye".  I did not think that I could produce so many tears!  I know we are moving to a wonderful and exciting journey, however at the moment there is a very heart-wrenching part to this...

To our wonderful friends and family we send you lots of love...

Good Bye...

On Thursday we said the first of our Good Byes.

Mum had passed away 2 years ago, so yesterday my brother Terry and his wife Doreen came and the four of us took Mum out on our little boat and scattered her in the Ocean - we all spoke, we read Psalm 121, we recited The Lords Prayer, we played Howard Morrison singing "How Great Thou Art" and we let Mum drift away with stems of Orchids and Freesias

We then came home and I said goodbye to my Brother and Doreen until.....

Spring Dinner...

Chris and Michael invited 10 of our dear friends from the Bay for a sit down dinner with us at their beautiful home (www.thehomestead.co.nz).  What a wonderful evening we all had.  Our friends had all pitched in and gave us a beautiful brass plaque that will have pride and place on "Our Rose".  It reads:

Twenty years from now

you will be more disappointed

by the things that you didn't do

than by the ones you did do.

So, throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbour.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.  Dream.  Discover

Mark Twain