Hallo Gang

It’s been a long time since my last update. Aplogies for that. Will be more freqeunt now. Its off to the RT Mauritius AGM in a little while. Can’t wait for it.

See you soon.
Cheers

Ben

It seems like ages ago when we were in Berlin, Germany, but it was only three months ago when we visited the German capital as an extension of our trip to Germany for the Round Table 25 Euro Numbers Meeting in Freiburg, Germany.

Berlin exceeded all our expectations and is a wonderful city. A city with a heart and soul of its own. A city that grows ons you and flows though your veins. There is much to do and see and you can keep yourself occupied for weeks on end.

There are however a few negatives. We were at a Brauhaus that had no beer and one that did not want to serve us beer as they were closed at 21:00. Many of the U-bahn stations are also very dirty and do not feel very safe.

Apart from this, we found Berlin to be a lovely holiday destination and we enjoyed it very much.

Here are a few pictures from Berlin

Es war Prima.

Vielen Dank

HI again everyone

Sorry for the late update. Its about 14 days to Artsa 2008 in PE and then another 10 days to the Euromeeting in freiburg, Germany. Really looking forward to that.

That’s me for now.

Cheers

HI Guys

Apologies for not updating the site for a long time.

Its only for days to a big New Year’s bash and then 2008 starts with a bang.

Are you having a party? Let me know what you are doing.

Cheers

Ben

Hi Guys

Yes, we are back from Artca 2007 in Malawi. What a trip. Malawi is not the country of milk and honey. No, it’s the country of Greens and G&T’s and lost of it.

What an absolute brilliant country with the best winter weather ever. And the people are even better. What a bunch of friendly people. Truly old friends that you have not yet met. Thanks a million to Sander and his team for a lovely vacation!

Below is a few pictures. Enjoy.

Cheers

Ben

HI Guys

Well its off to Malawi today for ARTCA 2007. Long days of lying in the sun at Lake Malawi and drinking cocktails.

Enjoy a cold Bloemfontein and keep it real.

Thanks to Daveonater for looking after the kids.

Cheers

Ben

Hallo Boys

Nog net meer as week dan is ons by ARTSA. Dit gaan heel lekker wees. Ons kan weer ou pelle sien en nuwes maak.

Die dae raak min, so kry julle dinge agtermekaar sodat ons kan party.

Cheers

Ben

En daar doen Bloemfontein 25 dit toe weer.

Die afgelope naweek ( 9 - 11 Maart) was Bloemfontein 25 die gasheer vir die Vrystaat Area se jaarvegadering.

Dankie aan almal wat bygedra het daartoe dat dit baie suksesvol en baie lekker was. Ek waardeer dit.
Weereens kon ons wys dat Bloemfontein 25 weet hoe om die voortou te neem.

Baie dankie ook aan al die gaste wat dit bygewoon het. Sonder julle sou dit nie suksesvol gewees het nie. Die dames het weer gewys dat hulle die heel mooiste in die land is.

Thank you also to everyone who attended the induction dinner. The women showed again that they are the most beautiful in the country. Thank you also to every Tabler that behaved like a true Tabler (in other words: a gentleman who has respect for a lady, knows how to behave in public and can handle his drink). Unfortunately every village has to have an idiot and there was no exception on Saturday at the induction dinner. It is good to know that some Tablers always give 140%, but sometimes they must know when to pull the brake and not drink 140%. Our geusts from Holland and many a lady found the behaviour of this Tabler unacceptable.

Maar dit daar gelaat. Dit was heerlik om die jaarvergadering te kon aanbied en ons sien uit na die volgende vergadering in Virginia.

Hierdie is ‘n kort opsomming van my toespraak wat ek gelewer het as ondervoorsitterskandidaat by Tafelronde 25 se besigheidsvergadering op 7 Desember 2006.

Dankie Mnr die Voorsitter

Dankie Steph vir die nominasie en dankie Cilve vir die sekondant.

Ek staan vanaand hier omdat ek graag ondervoorsitter en uiteindelik voorsitter van Tafelronde 25 wil word.

Hoekom dink ek kan ek reg aan die portefeulje laat geskied.

1. Ek het die PASSIE daarvoor

2. Ek het die ONDERVINDING wat nodig is

3. Ek kan hiermee nog meer aan Tafel terug gee

Passie

Ek het beslis die passie vir Tafel. Niemand kan dit betwyfel nie. Tafelronde is vir my baie belangrik en ek is baie lief vir die organisasie.

Ondervinding

In vyf jaar sedert my inhuldiging het ek baie ondervinding opgedoen:

Drie verskillende portefeuljes op Tafel beklee: sekretaris, tesourier, PRO

Twee portefeuljes op Area-vlak: Sekretaris (twee keer), grondwetlike adviseur

Was lid van ARTSA 2003-komitee

Melodrama regiseur en sameroeper

Sameroeper van verskeie projekte

Ek het 16 Vrystaat areakonferensies, plus verskeie ander areas se konferensies bygewoon.

Ek het 2 Artsa AJVs (Bloemfontein, Kimberley) bygewoon.

Ek het 2 Artca AJVs (Kasane en Orapa) bygewoon.

Ek het ook drie oorsese toere, waarvan twee Euro meetings, was bygewoon. Dit was telkens Tafelbesoeke en hierdeur het ek waardevolle internasionale ondervinding opgedoen.

Ek het verskeie strooptogte (raids) meegemaak

Gee iets terug

Dis vir baie van ons die rede hoekom ons aan Tafelronde behoort: om iets terug te kan gee aan die gemeenskap. Deur ondervoorsitter te word kan ek eerstens my mede-Tafelaars van diens wees, maar ek ka nook nog meer aan die gemeenskap terug gee.

Ten slotte

Ek wil hê elkeen van julle moet vir stem omdat ek op die gegewe tyd die beste man vir die pos is, en nie omdat ek dalk gewild is of omdat julle my dalk jammer kry nie. Maar omdat dit in die beste belang van Tafelronde 25 is en omdat ek die ondervinding en passie daarvoor het.

Ek sluit af met twee aanhalings:

I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
~ Bill Cosby

We may affirm absolutely that nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.
~ Hegel

Baie dankie, thank you very much