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Started the year in a pub in London with Stuart and Helen Robinson, Helen is an old friend from Johannesburg where I can claim to be her first horse-riding instructor, and she holds the dubious distinction of being the only person I know who can do a horse jump without the horse - and land on her feet! Also saw Penny Ward while over there and finally met Dominique Gerard, who I spoke to several times on the phone as a stockbroker.

At that point the job seemed OK, I had just had a huge increase, but already the writing was on the wall, as the culture was just not one I could fit in, very restrictive and hierarchical, which does not fit my entrepreneurial style. I spoke out against a superior and it all went downhill from there - until it got too uncomfortable and I made the decision to move on. Fortunately for me, I was in contact with an old friend and ex-client from the auto recycling days, Ron Sturgeon, who had just bought back his old companies from Ford and put me in touch with his new co-owners and I as offered the Training Manager position - which I felt a perfect fit for my expertise.

As I am writing this, I have a few vacation days coming, the year comprising only a few weekend trips - where we enjoyed visiting Jill Vaughn (my big buddy, favored counselor, cancer survivor in Houston) and continue to admire her Prowler and newest edition Mercedes 500SL (my dream car) and the boys loved fishing of the end of her dock (jetty). While mom was here we had a weekend trip to the mountains where the boys took the challenge to climb to the top of a 100 foot lookout tower. Even my heart was in my mouth! There was a weekend trip to my time-share houseboat that I let Dee and her boyfriend Dave use this year, as we had never used it, so I was curious as to what it was about. Quite fun, but I will probably trade in to an exchange program this year.

Mom came out for May / June to help with the boys over the summer, had a good time with her, always enjoy when she can spend time with the boys, she is a gracious lady and a fine example for them. She found the trip over very tiring, or I would try to have her do it every year! She continues to love it in Port Alfred and has excelled at bowls to the extent that dad would be amazed. We both miss him dearly, and are constantly reminded of the days we would be trying to get him to stop smoking or something and he would look at us and say “You'll miss me when I am gone” - and, obviously, he is right!

Linda continues to enjoy her studies and with the divorce finalized is living at one of the residence on campus as a residence mom, Paul is in 3rd year, Vicki is in 1st year and Linda is finishing her doctorate in neuro-pharmacology or something (brothers are typically vague on these kinds of issues). Academically, she is blessed with her children, as I am blessed with mine. Nanna suggested putting them on an allowance, which is an item they have enjoyed, and Jason has pulled hi marks up nicely (bribery we have found works well) and William continues to excel. He was chosen as the top 8th grade student one six-week period, while Jason is enjoying 6th grade, back in the same school with his big brother (for this year, anyway!)

Saw quite a lot of Basil Bernstein, (South African doctor friend) who is hugely entertaining and good company. His counsel I have told him is too direct, an allegation he refutes… Tom Bath, Derek Parsons, Martin Lucas, Sharron Wagner, Larry + Vicki Hardy, Chris and Cathy Korinek, Paul Parker, Kirtley Ammerman are the other good friends that have seen me through this year. Ashley and Lynn proctor are back in town as well, so it is great to have them back after their 2-year fling around Singapore, Scotland, California and a few trips to Germany thrown in. Managed to see the Davey's in Florida as well, kids doing exceptionally well, Collin still with Proudfoot Consulting, Viv her usual rambunctious self keeping them all in line. As Kevin is old enough to drive, they have persuaded dad to get his mid life crisis, a Mazda Miata and they will race it at SCCA (time trial around cones).

The soccer team ended up splitting in to two, so a few of us went over to Nissi, where the boys have been exposed to a coach that pushes them really hard. They pushed the team up an age group to get enough boys, and so Jason is playing 3 age groups up, poor fellow - and doing very well. The new job meant I did not need to soccer income, so it worked out rather well. Kirtley ended up building the girls team, and they are a great bunch, I still coach them the odd time. In fact, as I put their plaque up on my coaching wall, they are the first girls team up there!

A young man who was an assistant coach for me and then went on to have an international career, Philip Salyer, moved back in to town as he is now playing for the Dallas Burn professional soccer team, and is continuing the Lions Club by coaching a few indoor teams that Kirtley has built.

Other than that, the year is having a much better ending than starting; the only other news is that I have started a doctorate in Management through the University of Phoenix. This is a neat program on leadership, which is a favorite subject of mine. The training manager position has as a primary emphasis the development of the 26 site managers, which has been thoroughly enjoyable. The CEO Dixon Thayer and VP Greg Winfield have a similar passion for the industry and leadership, so it has been a great experience working and learning from them.

One last point, of interest to some, is that I bought some season tickets to the theater for the time mom was here, with the intent of “forcing me back in to the dating scene” with the tickets left after she was gone - and it worked. I spend so much time focused on the boys that I seldom think of me, and the occasional date did prove that I am finally ready to go back into having a relationship, so who knows what the New Year will bring!