I couldn’t be more proud of my litle girl! Only 9 years old and she is able to produce such beautiful music!
Tamara came 3rd in a local talent show last month and the prize was a session in a studio. Here is the result:
MP3 version (recommended) Colours of the Wind – Titanic
M4A version (iTunes) Colours of the Wind Titanic
Please have a listen and post your comments!
I spent an amazing 5 years in the formative time of my life at one of the most enlightened schools in South Africa, if not the world. I refer of course to Kings School in Nottingham Road – Natal.
Kings was a school with a liberal attitude in a country that at that time was anything but liberal. We learnt that “Apartheid” didnt make sense, but perhaps tolerance from all sides was a good idea. We learnt that all people are created equal, and have a place in society. One has to remember that in South Africa in this era (I was at Kings from 1972 to 1976) equality had little place in “official” politics. It was many years later that the government changed and at least the constitution became fairer.
Kings taught values and an attitude to life that have been a part of my life ever since. Much of the credit for establishing this foundation must go to the ex-Headmaster and founder/owner – John Carlisle-Mitchell. Not only the head, John also taught me English and Maths. John unfortunately passed away last year, but I recently came across this video of him reciting The Jabberwocky and had to share it.
The Jabberwocky would have to be my favourite poem, and John lends it an additional flair in this recording. Over to you John…
Kids at an event at Marbella Golf and Country Club.
Daniel Surfs the machine
Oliver - cool as can be
OK – I admit – I am simply a proud father. But what’s not to be proud of when your 8 year old daughter takes first place in the school talent show? Here is Tamara with her rendition of the theme to Titanic for her fellow scholars and the parents at the Swans end of term show a few days ago. Apologies for the quality of the acoustics – one has to work with what one has at these school things!
And if that’s not enough we also have Anton strutting his stuff with the school band here – he is the one in the back bashing away at the drums.
What a place! Never having been to Israel in the past I didnt think too much about it when opportunity came to visit on business. No time set aside for tourist antics – just work. Until I got there and realised how much history and relevance there is in that little country.
So with some deft re-scheduling I managed to taka a one day break from the crazy party scene in Tel Aviv and venture inland to the Dead Sea and Jerusalem.
I can float!
All my life I had been fascinated by stories of floating on top of the water in the Dead Sea, and at last I had the opportunity to prove this to be true. Its an amazingly strange place! If I float vertically (in itself not that easy) the water is at breast level. Try doing that in your swimming pool!
Yeah - a floater
Also strange is to see all the salt – encrusted on items in the water and forming coarse balls underfoot. Just dont have any scratches on your body, or get it in your eyes (it hurts like hell!!!).
Did you know that the dead sea is below sea level? More than 400m below sea level in fact! It bills itself as the lowest land on earth although a scan of the internet reveals the Bentley Subglacial Trench as being lower (I’m not going there!).
Lowest place on Earth
From the Dead Sea we drove back past Massada and along the west bank to Jerusalem. I never realised how close the West Bank (with the barbed wire entanglements and walls erected by the Israelis) is to Jerusalem.
Aha – the Holy City. A city not just of importance to Jews, also Arabs/Muslims and Christians! All sharing the same religious beliefs about the area and dividing the city between all parties. A truly fascinating place.
We start with Arab markets – extensive markets much like those found in Morroco except that the floors and walls are all Jerusalem stone which gives it a slightly cleaner appearance.
Hilly and the Sweet Store
Despite all the Israeli Palestinian issues, people of all backgrounds seem to mix with amicability in this city.
It was fascinating to see a pilgrimage – people from eastern Europe (I think) tracing their religious origins through the old markets. Note the bare feet, and the cross being carried by some of the men.
Pilgrims going through the city
Last stop was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The site is venerated by most Christians as Golgotha, (the Hill of Calvary), where the New Testament says that Jesus was crucified, and is said to also contain the place where Jesus was buried (the sepulchre). The church has been an important pilgrimage destination since at
Christians kissing the stone of annointing where Jesus was prepared for burial
least the 4th century, as the purported site of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Today it also serves as the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, while control of the building is shared between several Christian churches and secular entities in complicated arrangements essentially unchanged for centuries.
Within the Rotunda on the west is the Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre. The Edicule has two rooms. The first one holds The Angel’s Stone, a fragment of the stone believed to have sealed the tomb after Jesus’ burial. The second one is the tomb itself. Under the status quo the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Armenian Apostolic Churches all have rights to the interior of the tomb, and all three communities celebrate the Divine Liturgy or Holy Mass there daily. It is also used for other ceremonies on special occasions, such as the Holy Saturday ceremony of the Holy Fire celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre
To its rear, within a chapel constructed of iron latticework upon a stone base semicircular in plan, lies the altar used by the Coptic Orthodox.
More on Tel Aviuv and the most vibrant nightlife in the world another time – this must go to press and time marches on!
Been asked a few times where the old photo gallery is – please find it here.
I finally took the plunge and stopped hauling out notepad and ftp to update the website. I suspect these are partly why I have been so slow at providing updates.
If there are broken links or images please use the base url adriaanbrink.com – that is where the old site is in its entirety. I have, however, copied the content and will sort out the piccies as soon as possible.
Happy reading and welcome!!!
Arthur
I was fortunate on the weeked to find time to walk in the glorious moutains of Liechtenstein. Having taken the little video camera with I captured some shots so that you can share the experience.
 Larger picture My friend GJ who showed me the way GJ again |
The Furstensteig walk begins at Gaflei – a small village at about 1600m which has a dilapidated 60’s era hotel recently been taken over by a philosophy society. From there the path leads steeply upwards to the craggy cliffs. |
| The path winds around the face of the cliffs often only 1 foot wide with a cable to hang onto. Moutain goats and dogs seem to enjoy it – for humans it may seem a little scary! At places the original path has disappeared due to the erosion of the relatively soft rock. |  Larger picture Another view |
| The mountains are stunning from up here. The two views below show the front and back of the Furstensteig – quite different – its a bit like a wave – quite steep and rocky in front and more gentle and green over the back. | |
 Larger picture The pinnacle The view to the north |
 Larger picture The Steg valley |
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable day and well recommended if you are in this part of the world.
Cheers!
Arthur
I have heaps to tell you all about Lanzarote (in the Canary Islands) and skiing in France, but for now I will just pop up a few pictures taken at the draw today so they are at least a bit more recent than the last lot. Will purchase a capture card for our new video camera soon and then hopefully be able to digitise some more pictures for everyone.
Oliver is getting bigger daily. He has started walking around holding onto things, and, rumour has it, was recently seen standing without holding anything! He is now about 10 months old. Talking he is not, unless you consider a few “dada” sounding gurgles to be talking.
Anton did us all proud in Flaine – for a 4 year old he skis really well. Only real problem is when he gets tired and yours truly has to carry him down piggy back. We had a great week – end of March – spring skiing. Sunshine every day, good company, skis, skidoos, sleds and all the good things. Anton met his cousins (aged about 10 and 6) for the first time since he has been old enough to communicate and was dubbed “Number One Cool Dude” shortly after meeting. They had a great time together.
Short one for today. Will do better soon (honest!).
Cheers!
Arthur
Well … actually we were pretty certain it was going to be a boy for some time before the actual birth.
Anyway – it was fantastic to welcome to this harsh old world another work of baby-art from Jeanine – our 4th (and might I say final) child – Daniel Lachlan Brink.
He came into this world naturally and weighed a healthy 3.5Kg – 49cm short. I guess one gets better at it by the time of the 4th – Jeanine certainly seemed to have everything under control. 3 hours and a bit of labour and out he popped. Not even shrivelled up and purple like they so often are!
I have had a merry time for the past day or so looking after the other 3, but grandmother is here now and so I can share the piccies with the web. They all love the new arrival although Tamara seems to think we have given her a new doll to play with. She gets very possessive and also tends to be a little rough – in the interests of avoiding severe damage to little Daniel we will have to keep an eye on her.
The midwife was the same sister who delivered Oliver, so she remembered us from then. The adventure began at 05:00 (actually it began about 9 months ago but we will take them as read) when Jeanine woke me and said “We had better figure out who is going to look after the children – I need to go to the hospital”. Jeanine’s mom was due out for that task but only on the following day. Babs had offered to help but after 3 discussions with her answering machine I knew that avenue wasn’t going to work. Waking 3 children and taking them with us did not appeal so it was with great relief that we got hold of Imelda Sele who kindly came down the mountain and looked after the kids. Thanks Imi!!
Then off to the Hospital in Vaduz with contractions about 5 minutes apart. Sister Ignatius (I think thats her name) welcomed us and installed us in the latest birthing suite – as per normal Liechtenstein ways fitted out with nice new equipment including a birthing bath. I fitted the TENS mchine – I have to be useful – and Jeanine concentrated on having contractions. At about 09:20 the sister agreed that even though Jeanine was only 4cm dilated it might be a good idea to call Dr Flatz. Memories of Oliver already halfyway out before the good Doctor arrived contributed to our urgency. he arrived very quickly, took one look and said “Go on then – push it out”. So she did. Daniel was born at 09:48.
The last part is slightly abbreviated since I really cant presume to talk to the pain and effort of giving birth. Jeanine is wonderful at it – gets it over with with minimum fuss – what a pleasure (for me anyway!).
So he is born and healthy and now I have to go buy a turkey and fetch Daniel and mother from Hospital. Please have a look at all the photos here. Until later …
Cheers!
Arthur
Recent Comments