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Finally after years of frustration, the financial picture is beginning to look healthier!
Much as the time away from the family is difficult, returning on the week-end and seeing that the income is greater than the outgo, enables us to be able to have the odd weekend trip away without feeling guilty, which goes a long way toward making the heavy travel price justifiable.
In addition to which, I have been promoted - again!!! I am now on the EDP - Executive Development Program, which is a step in the direction that we wish to go - sunny California! It will mean a spell in Chicago - which we are not excited about HOWEVER, whenever we mention it to people in the know, they are delighted, and cannot say enough positive things about Chicago. Dee did some research and culturally it ranks one of the highest in the country. yes, they do admit the weather is in the lower 20% ...
This remains one of the most stimulating jobs that I have ever had - but I have found a side effect... If you thought I set a high standard before, I must be close to unbearable now. I have been exposed to so many different businesses and situations and had to think my way out of so many holes in order to stay successful, that I am even more critical of inefficiency than I was before. Perhaps this is just my perception, as the feedback that I get from the consultants that I manage is positive, some that have met Dee have also remarked as much.

Finally got to North Carolina recently, and it is real pretty - a lot like Sabie in many ways. The access to the sea a few hours away and the Smokey Mountains a few hours away makes it alluring ... Tired of living in limbo, but at least there is very definite progress!!!
Ah, yes, almost forgot to mention, this is written from 35,000 feet again, en route to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the snow still lies on the ground ... Just after I bought a new summer suit, too. Not sure if I like it yet, one of those floppy baggy pants new styles where your pants gather around your ankles! I still cling to that conservative military experience...
It is garage sale fever again, so Dee is starting to lighten the load - we have been in the house over 2 years so the junk has accumulated ...

News Update!
Just spent the weekend - again - in Chicago, ostensibly to meet the Managing Director - who did not show up! Actually, it was to begin the training and review the new contract of the program that I am on. I was also involved in the training of new project directors, which although necessary and something that I enjoy, means that I do not get the overtime pay that I normally would if I worked on a Saturday - Ah, well, all part of growing up and being British!!! Of course, when I say that here I get a few amused reactions!
This weekend was the first in all the visits to Chicago where I had a bit of time to get the lay of the land. There are some nice houses in and around the head office, which would work well for schools if they are close by. No-one is able to put a time frame on when the move to San Jose would happen, other than to assure me that it will happen, as they need someone of my calibre out there. Our friends Ashley and Lynn Proctor are expected in Chicago in June, so if we move up there will have some company. My impression of Chicago: Big, pretty (it is spring!), the lakeside is like Durban and PE beachfront, the people are friendly, the shopping malls are an education, probably better than Dallas! We will have to make a decision soon, as it is uncomfortable living in limbo, but at the same time we can’t afford to risk going backwards after the strides we have made forwards.

One of the staff in the office told me that if I had to spend any significant amount of time in Chicago, they would fly me home at least every second weekend or they would fly Dee, and on occasion the boys, up to spend some time with me. Once I get called up to go through the three day orientation phase, I hope to have a better idea.
Sunday May 12, 1996 - greetings from DFW airport - after and enjoyable day at church followed by fun at Six Flags (roller coasters etc.) with another family from the church, I am on my way to Austin, and as the plane is delayed, you are stuck with me again!!! That is the one confusing fact of our possible move from Dallas, we have found a great church and have thoroughly enjoyed our time with them. We were very settled at Rhema in Johannesburg and it took 18 months to find Eagle Mountain International Church. It is worth the 40 miles that we have to travel to get there once or twice a week. We have bought season passes to Six Flags, and as today was Mother’s Day we were allowed to take another family in for free - which we did, the couple that we had spent New Year with, who have three daughters - quite a change from two robust boys. On Saturday William had a baseball game - it is quite amazing how seriously the parents took it, after all, they are only six years old!!! In the evening Greg and Jaimie Bonomi came over, hard to believe that they have been married for a year now. He as a pilot can identify with my travel schedule!

Speaking of which, we decided that the travel must come to an end soon, it has been 8 months now, and so if the promotion does not happen soon enough, we will have to explore other options. Which might mean something in Dallas, not my favorite city, but it has been three long and difficult years to settle in - ah, well, leave it in the Lord’s hands ... It was interesting spending the day with the couple who we had spent New Years eve with as we had spent the time uncharacteristically planning our goals for the year. We are actually well on track - speaking for myself, that is!

June 3rd, 1996. Finally found time to write again, after the most extensive travel period in my history with the company. Serves me right for complaining about the travel! managed to get Memorial Day long weekend and had a good time with the family, went around and looked at some properties should we be able to find a position in ... yes, ‘ol Dallas after all - better the D.. you know! Sat next to the client on a flight who has proven to be the most difficult that I have worked for, and he all but offered me a job. Said that he knew I was caught by the “system” and that it was nothing personal, he in fact liked the way that I handled myself under the pressure that he put me under.

Anyway, to get back to the travel ... I left Dallas Tuesday night, flew to Wichita Kansas, drove 3 hours north. Got in 2 am, worked the usual 10 hour day. Wednesday Drove 3 hours back to Wichita, flew to Atlanta, Georgia, drove 4 hours south. Got in 4 am, worked 10 hours, drove the four hours back to Atlanta, got in 3 am, up at 5 am to catch a flight to Chicago. Got in at Chicago 7 am, drove 1 hour north to Milwaukee. Worked the usual 10 hour day. Was informed that there was a job opening on Saturday that they needed someone good for (there is a compliment in there somewhere), so drove back to Chicago 1 hour, flew to Lexington Kentucky, drove 2 hours south, got in 2 am, worked an 11 hour day. No, I did not even try to get home for one day... I slept... The two consultants and I (after I woke from 12 hours sleep) the went to visit the Kentucky Horse Museum, which has a museum showing the development of the horse, and also shows with horses, a breeds barn where all the different horses are shown off, a riding trail - and a few statues of famous horses, Man O’ War being the most famous. Methinks its time to settle down and have a horse or two again... Was a nice feeling to rub my hands on a few manes and get that smell on my hands ... a truly noble beast! (Ode to a horse - by Brent Stephens).

So, where does that leave me? the usual 30,000 feet above the earth on my way back to the Kansas job that started all this travel. Yes, I drove 2 hours to the airport, flew to Cincinnati, now on to Wichita, then the 3 hour drive to the north, bed by 1 am ... fortunately only an 8 hour day as the client has run out of money!!! And you thought that you worked hard!!! Meanwhile, back at the ranch - hard to believe that Jason is about to turn 4 years old on the 24th, William is finished kindergarten, starts big school in a few month - long day for him, something like 8 to 3 I recall. Doing very well, teacher had only nice things to say about him - Dee promptly hauled out her kindergarten report and it was as glowing, if not more. Has equipped the back yard with some water games as the 100 degree weather that Dallas is famous for has started.

Dee has finally reached the point that living in “limbo” has to come to an end, and as the house is rented, we have kinda left things be - she has now bought paint for the bathroom and intends stripping the wallpaper, so watch out bathroom, your summer has only just started. William has been playing baseball for a few months now and is beginning to shape up nicely, Dee helps him practice, and when I am home I do as well. He takes it so seriously it is almost comical. Jason of course has to have a hand in it, and his swings are wild and hopeful (playing off a “T” which is a base that the ball balances on. When the practice throwing they are both quite cute, looking behind their shoulder before throwing as they have seen the pro’s do, before lifting the little leg to throw with all their might! There is another member of the family who I am yet to meet - a gerbil. He apparently sits next to Henry (the cockatiel) and keeps him company. Has some kind of a fancy cage, Jason told me all about him over the phone first, followed by William, followed by Dee, whose description I can at least follow (to some degree, that is!!!) Has a ball that you put him in to roll around in when you take him out to clean his cage. I whistled the tunes that Henry has been learning on a tape to be played for him, as with my travel schedule he tends to mix all his songs up. He is quite a character, we never clipped his wings so he now is quite full of himself, flying around, lands on your shoulder, has a bit to say and then flies off again.

Guess that’s enough for now, will leave some space for any personal notes for those of you who earned this update (in order to qualify, you have to write back!!!) Love to all, enjoy the winter, summer is well on it’s way here - not so comfortable running to catch planes now - perspire too much!!!