Hi Arjan & Patricia

Thought you were already in NYC! Sent you an SMS wishing you a good trip and asking if the surprise was still a surprise.

No problems with car alarms since we last saw you, funny that!

We are heading for Tsauchab River Lodge for Xmas, no cell signal, no internet and not many people hopefully. Just very hot and dusty!

Behave yourselves in NYC and try not to get arrested for anything.

Ralph & Angela

Ralph, I was just thinking about something. Did you have problems with LARO car alarms after we left? I was reading my journal and came across 2 sleepless nights.... and it wasn't just car alarms .

How are you guys doing in Namibie. We love your stories, keep them coming... It is bussy over here, lot of concerts (Riverside, After Forever and Mostly Autumn), our extra room is almost ready, just the final details, X-mas is coming and so is our trip to NYC. We are looking forward to it..

Take care

Arjan & Patricia

Hi Heike

Promise it will be the last time we drop in!

Have a great Xmas & New Year in Bali

All the best

Ralph & Angela

Hi Marc

Bit bigger than those illegal Kob! Shame we couldn't catch a bronze whaler shark, apparently they fight for hours and jump out the water, they are the shark equivalent of marlin fishing.

Gareth's best spot for them is Long Beach, we shouldn't have bothered with the pier!

How's Dubai?

Ralph

Hi ! Good to know that you'll be in the vicinity again early next year. Looking forward to Bali. This is just a mad time of the year to be doing business !!! And - with the electricity being down every day for a few hours - well - let us just say - does not do well for my patience levels !!!

Thanks for the info on Rob - am certainly going to contact him in the New Year !

Have a wonderful Christmas - wherever and however you are intending to celebrate - and may it be a very special beginning to 2008 - another great travelling year !!

All the very best

Heike

nice fish mate

Hi Miles & Rob

Last of the Summer Wine? More like "One Foot in the Grave".

As you recall on your 40th birthday Rob you were "older than Angela ever wanted to be" ......and that was years ago!!!!

Thanks for the call the other night (we don't get many!!!)

Miles, maybe we could meet up March time in SA? Don't worry about using this messageboard, that's what it's here for.

If you do meet up with Rob in the UK next year, a Zulu walking stick would be a good present!

Take care

Ralph

Hi Heike

Thanks for message and apologies for belated reply. Thanks to thunderstorms in SA, Namibia had no power last Sunday, and Swakop had no power all Monday because of "local" problems. Internet was down yesterday and just come back up today.

Glad you enjoyed London. Re the comment from Rob below, he is a longtime friend (and ex boss) and runs various travel websites and is a travel editor, in case you are wondering.

We won't be in the Cape until last Jan, early Feb so should be able to meet up.

Have a great time in Bali

Take care

Ralph

Hi Ralph and Angela. Not sure whether to post a message, or send an email! Fortunately not the same thing. My itinerary is back to Bots on the 13th, then there for an unspecified length of time but definitely back here by beginning April. I usually only have jobs for a couple of years, and zi am well over that, so maybe won't have one by then - and be much freer. Ah. I'm beginning to see that this would be more appropriate as an email. - but yes, would be good to meet up maybe before April? in SA?

And Hi Rob. We could hijack this message board for ourselves couldn't we. Yes, be great to get over there - am planning a trip in 2008, but not exactly sure when. Will work on it.

Very Best to all

M

Hi Ralph & Angela - good to talk with you the other night although I have to stop calling mobile phones in Namibia. Being with Virgin, am expecting a personal "thank you" note from Richard Branson with my next phone bill.

Hi Miles - great to see you on R&A's message board. Richard was suggesting a meet up with Mark and Nick who I saw recently and seeing if there was any way we could get you over - any chance? We are starting to make those guys in Last of the Summer Wine seem positively spritely - so can't leave it too long!

Hi Heike - not sure who you were with at WTM but I also go to WTM and ITB in Berlin and (although I don't have a clue what you do) if there is any help I can give you in promoting SA or with websites - please let me know - [email protected]

Best wishes

Rob

Hi Both. I'm sure you know by now, but the Barbars rather pleasingly shoved it to the Jaapies big time! Looks like the latter didn't take it that seriously though - only 5 World Cup winners on the pitch. Also a rather worrying preponderance of Kiwis in the Barbars. Or should it be the Baabaas? I'm sure you will know this news. Analogous to me watching Romania v England in the 1998 World Cup - at a Romanian drilling camp in the Sahara. Oh dear.

Hi !

Good to hear from you so often these days !! Cape Town is proving to be hot and windy - after some serious winter weather last week. Ricki and Dylan are officially on holiday now - and Dylan has finished primary school ! We're off to Bali on the 14th - and back on 4 Jan. So - if you are planning to come to this side of the world in that time - Lauren is at the house - but there are more than enough beds and you are very welcome to come and stay. Hopefully you'll come down when we are here though - 'cos would love to see you ! My time in London was fantastic. The WTM expo was great and made some good contacts. The weather was super - cold but blue skies - and it was great seeing good friends again. Business is progressing a bit slower than anticipated - but that is due to our annual Shoebox Project exploding !! It is a charity project - to collect gifts for underpriviledged children - and we were hoping for 400 boxes - well - we received around 1600 !! Fantastic - but stretched us all to the limit. This meant that the business and the launch of the website needed to be put on hold for a few months - especially with me disappearing to Bali for a few weeks as well. Keep well - and tell those Germans to get a life !! Can't come travelling in Africa with that attitude !! All the very best - Heike