A family blog, to showcase the FAMILY and all its extensions around the world - Zambia, South Africa, Australia, America, The Emmirates and England. Wadey, Whitaker, Cowle, Bechard, Cooper, The Cowle's, Baart, Burnett, Ritchie, Stapelberg, Conlon and Mitchell - with all the off-spring, Grand kids and Great Grand kids.
We can't believe how much you have enriched our lives with your
loveliness the past 3 years. Your smile lights up every situation. Your
cheekiness melts our hearts. Every night, when we go into your room
again to have one more look at you long after you've fallen asleep, we
can't believe how lucky we are.
Go down to the flag counter below and click on the flag counter to see lots of different details and stats.
Down under is still kicking butt big time................ where the other countries come from is mind boggling, but it is quite amazing how many idiotic and rubbish comments the editor has to reject that are attempted and published on the blog. I can not stop the flag counter though. Maybe before I cancell some of the idiotic comments I should copy/paste into a email for you all to see, makes for some over 21 reading though, thats if you want parts of your anatomy to be bigger. ( if you need the web sites I can forward them on)
1969 - MITCH and TESSY
Comment by Mitch:-: Sorry Teresa another 60 years to go. The bull and the Scorpio. "
Until death do us part".
Thank you Bill.
Regards to William and Kate.
lets get ready to
"YUM CHA"
this is "A TESSY REQUEST" Mom sang this at their Wedding
TESSY - below is THE ORIGNAL SONG FROM 1969 by Dave Mills on Springbok Radio
this is JUST FOR YOU from ME - BB
Just as a note: some video's are blocked in some countries - like Dubai and others - on Youtube because of the back ground music, so i have loaded another version of each video at the bottom which is not via Youtube - so all can see - note - they are duplicates buy now all can see them. ENJOY TESSY's BIRTHDAY - with us all.
Molly sat back and looked into this day - 60 days on and put her thoughts to paper as she gazed into the crystal ball and thought about her SISTER TESSY - and this it what she has to share with her..........
.
THERESA'S "Baidy Boom" Bernadette says it all - 60 REASONS WHY I LOVE MY
MUM
60 reasons
A message for DUBAI........................................... The COOPERS
Side by side
Or miles apart,
A sister like you Tessy,
Is always close to the heart. Wishing you all the great things in life, hope this day will bring you an extra share of all that makes you happiest. May your days be filled with sunshine and beautiful colors. And may your nights be filled with comforting dreams and wishes to come.
A sister is a little piece of childhood that can't ever be lost. Today is your day to shine as every day should be.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TESSY
1st May 2011 - 60 YEARS **************************** A message from DEBBIE in South Africa on behave of the Whitaker Family
Aunty Tessy is an inspiration to me/us.
She is amazing, she never gives up no matter the odds.
Happy 60th birthday to a truly remarkable Aunty… with love, Deb’s
YUM CHA - 1st may 2011 ***************** ******************** Then the message with another 60 reasons from the Baart's - Monica
Tessy You have...
an astonishing capacity for hard and painstaking effort, and it is probably this characteristic, allied with a stubbornness, that refuses to admit defeat.
Inherited a deep intuition - tremendous common sense,
a powerful will.
Courage to handle the difficulties of life with a solid attitude - a nobility of purpose.
A belief that love must last forever, determination.
You get to where you are going, not because you are exceptionally fast or clever, but because you will not be distracted from your goals.
A knowledge that life is based on what is real, not what is imagined.
A very calm nature and can put up with lot of provocation, with very strong will power . You have more moral and emotional courage than the average women.
The ability to not see social status while making friends. You want to be friends with people who do not hide their true nature and come across as they really are,
a mind of your own - good taste
the ability to bear endless pain and stress, without complaining - enormous emotional strength.
Expectations that people you love will stand by you when you need them.
A dislike for anything artificial, be the flowers in your vase or the people in your life. You have to feel the fragrance of real roses and the presence of real people. The beauty of Mother Nature pleases you.
a dislike for ugliness of any kind. You, like Carol, love to be amidst colourful surroundings, like gardens blooming with flowers.
You are...
a valued possession
patient and reliable
warm-hearted and loving
persistent and determined
placid and security loving
faithful and generous
a friend with a great capacity for affection
someone who likes comfort and pleasure
never deceived into doing anything that you do not want to.
Someone who likes the outdoors – I remember our camping trips.
Very dependable.
A good cook and you will always treat others to excellent homemade food - a very good homemaker,
giving and care a lot about your family and friends
never whiny about you responsibilities.
An excellent mother and have great kids.
A teacher to us all –
you have taught me how to be strong and persistent
and to never give up.
MONICA - you ever loving little SISTER. *****************************************
**************Garry and Sabine*************
Well what to say, Lets see? Teresa what can I say, except that you
are an inspiration.
With all that you have gone through, and with what may still come you have
fought on, and never have given up as so many would have.
We admire your never say never attitude, integraty, dedication, true gritt,
and your love for family friends and life.
Have a wonderful 60th.
we add this photo of you
must be some YUM-CHA cooking we think...........
************************************************
Now for a collage of photos from the YUM-CHA BIRTHDAY PARTY and a small message of appreciation from
TESSY herself
Hi all,
Thanks to one and all who made my day the most memorable
60th birthday.
Thank you all for the gifts I received.
Thanks Bb for the blog.
Thanks for joining me in a Yum Cha lunch
A big thanks goes to Monique for organising the lunch
There are more photos to come I am just waiting for everyone
to send them in.
I had a wonderful day.
All my love
Tessy (Cowle) / Teresa Bechard
****************************************************************************
****************************************************************************
Now for the duplicate vidoes - same 3 as above but not via YOUTUBE. above- I use Youtube because then new technology like Ipads and Iphones and other smart phones can view the blog. But here they are the old fashioned way for all to see.
Yip Andy's first Birthday on the blog, he really has not yet realised what he has let himself in for.
On Friday 22nd, TANDY, Andy's folks, his Brother and Sister, Leon & Elizma, Ria & Billy are all going out for dinner to a Thai food restaurant. So then we will have a real blog birthday item with some lovely photo's , so watch this space.
Have a laugh with all of us just to kick off Andy and Tania's celebration of Today
Some times we look back and wonder and then again we look forward - there is a Legacy and the Memories, and today the editor gets an email from Monica, who has just got off the phone with Angela........so she sends...........A POEM..for all of us ...................................
Herewith photo of Kay for the blog. She turns a whopping 18 on Sunday, 3 April 2011. Mom would of loved this photo – she bragged to all her friends on Kay’s riding accomplishments.
We are sure going to miss that first phone call – Mom always beat the rest of the family when it came to wishing us all happy, happy. Miss her so much.
Kay got a first place for her first Dressage Competition last year October. The attached photo was taken on the day. Mom always spoke about her Grandies, hence Grand-jockie
Please put the following caption with the photo “Nana’s special Grand-jockie”
If there is space please add the following:
“Happy 18th Birthday precious Kay – from Pa, Mom, Dad, Tami, Allan, Johan, the Ritchies, Stapelbergs, Uncle Paul, Kaitlyne and the many, many Great Uncles & Aunts, cousins, and, and…..
“Special message from Nana – you made me swell with pride!” (I found this message – it was just after Mom’s birthday – Kay had sent her a special birthday message and this was mom’s response “Tell Kay her sms on my birthday made me cry and swell with pride! Happy tears she sent such a special message”
Wow still having bad hair days after 40 years !
Happy 40th Birthday Monique 21st March 2011
Tons of love
Mum, Dad, Bernadette, Daryll, Jessica & Jean-Pierre
Carol - has shaped everyone of our lives in one way or another and this little video signifies the pieces of her life and one of those pieces is yours - a unique shape How you touched her life and how she touched your life.
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather 12th January 1947 - 10th March 2011
64years 1month and 26days.
RIP in Eternity Carol
our
Wife, Mom, Nanna, Sister, Sister in law and Friend.
One must look at something very special. Carol was 1 of eight kids, the second born and the
8
signifies a circle of life. It is never ending and interlinked with us all,
from birth and till death do us part.
WE ARE NOW SEVEN
7
This signifies a walking stick, a crutch we will need to take us down the path, walking a road without our dear and beloved sister.
The circle of life can take away the air that we breath and the rhythm of our hearts but one thing it can not take away is
THE MEMORIES
The memories of Carol have not gone to rest on
THURSDAY 10th March 2011
and will not go to rest, when we say our final farewell on
THURSDAY 17th March 2011
These memories we all have, each and everyone of us, will stay with us for ever, until the time comes for us to join her, in a place that she called
HEAVEN
From where she looks down and watches over us from now and into eternity............
We loved you Carol, we still love you Carol,
and this love, the same love you had for us, will guide us on in our lives,
Until we meet again.............
The last Email The Editor got from Carol, 8/3/2011, was one of many that she sent out, and it signifies what she stood for and the love she had for Family and Friends.
Here is just an extract of one page, that will be forever embedded right here on the blog.
The Old man once said many years ago, and today his words ring out to everybody
The winner takes it all, so much has happened this year, with all the hair do'es and make-up's - not to mention the big venture of business. We all wish you the best of success
Well, looking at the picture, there is a old saying - " The apple does not fall far the tree" lets hope the little white ball does not fall to far from the hole.
Mitch at least you have someone close by to give you a couple of good tips on that drive swing of yours.
A question I ask myself as a DAD is -- "What is a Daughter"???
the answer is actually pretty simple.............
A Daughter is ..... a little girl, that comes into her Dads life 32 years ago,
she grows up to become his
BEST FRIEND EVER
Yip - Tania is just that - nothing more and nothing less, and looking around her family and friends, this question or should I say the answer, can be verified by one & all.
Not only is it her Birthday celebration today 7th Feb 2011, but this year - in a few weeks time she will be walking down the Isle with me - for me to give her away to her
Newest and Dearest BEST FRIEND - ANDY
May 2011 bring you sooooooooooooo much Happiness and Love
Tania - my Madampie - from Ougroote
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
We got together saturday to wish Tania happy birthday at Leon-Elizma's house, Liam had to say HIP HIP HOORAY and help Tanas open her presents. With the singing and the toast with champagne all done,
we all went out for dinner.
Happy birthday from us all - LEON - ELIZMA - LIAM - RIA - BILLY - ANDY
In my work as a Maintenance Manager, my world of responsibility has just expanded - hopefully my pay package aswell. I have been allocated a new building to look after added to my present responsibilities.
So why post this on the blog
The new building hsa an address - 72 WELBECK St, now for those that don't remember or don't know Welbeck st is where Dad lived in his last happy days in Newcastle.
Now of the hundreds of buildings in London I get the one that is listed in this street, How amazing is that.
The very strange thing is, when I told Ria, her first words were - That's the street that DAD lived in. WOW, how amazing is that.
Just had to share this with you all.
Me in front of DADS house after he died, on a holiday trip to England in 2004
Here is an entry for the 8Cowles blog from us: Tania & Andy
Tania & Andy needed to replace the shower in their en-suite. It was leaking and causing water damage to the ceiling downstairs. Andy started the work between Xmas and New Year, ripping out the old shower and preparing for the installation of the new one. He did a really good job and made some excellent progress considering he was ill with flu and a chest infection.
Bill & Ria came over to stay on New Year’s day. The 2 guys worked hard for 2 days and Andy did some of the last things during the first week in January. First shower taken Friday 7 Jan – BLISS!!! Andy has a few more final things to do, and then it will be complete. Here are a few photos (don’t worry, there are no photos of the first shower taken.....)
From Tania: Thanks to the 2 wonderful men in my life for a job well done!!! Quoting Frank: “Team Work Makes the Dream Work!”
THE OLD LEAKING SHOWER, TILES, DOOR AND TAPS REMOVED BY ANDY
THEN THE TEAM BUILD THE NEW FALSE WALL - TO HIDE THE NEW PLUMBING
CLADDING OF THE WALLS IS ALMOST COMPLETE
AND FINALLY " ITS JOB DONE AND DUSTED "
COMMENT FROM THE EDITOR: TANIA REFUSED TO DO A REAL LIFE MODEL TEST OF THE SHOWER WITH CAMERAS IN VIEW.
A tradition started some while back while Mitch was in his early 60's, there came a time when someone said One day you will be 64, and when it happened - it happened. So now the legend of this day lives on and will always be known to all
Its Jessica to start the family birthday blog rolling and it all happens on the 6th January 2011 - 19years young, and what a way to spend it on the blog photo album - with her Boyfriend.
While we all sit around the table with our loved ones enjoying the festivities, family love and sharing
a message goes out to all from the BLOG - Merry Christmas.
The first family pictures are arriving - so get yours in - right here on the blog
so far - Franky, Tessy, Tricia, Billy ( a trail intro) - whos next (as of 21h49 on 29 Dec - GMT)
for all the photos from around the COWLE FAMILY world wide - click here
Tessy sent all her Brothers and Sisters a lovely Christmas Card - with LOVE as she is layed up in bed after her HIP operation.
Here is wishing her a speedy recovery from ALL on the BLOG
****************************************************************************
It is out of AFRICA and in DUBAI, the Sangomoe's have spoken and even the Mampoer was there.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE COOPERS IN DUBAI
***********************************************************************
Now, a new adventure for me in my video editing - ANIMATION.
To put my own production together in the form of a real movie I am trying new and unventured territory
mixing software of Pinacle, PowerPoint and 2D animation.
here is a taste of 3hours work - creation and editing.
LOOK OUT FOR THE FINAL PRODUCT
CHRISTMAS EVE - with the LIAM - Ouma Ria- OuBill, Tania & Andy
at Leon & Elizma's Home
47 emails, 29 text/sms, 18 phone calls and 32 miles travelled on iced roads- one hell of a family effort and we will have a lift off- hopefully before Christmas. One hell of a Christmas for 1 Grandma ( very grand) and one grand-daughter - Billy & Leon met TORI tonight for the first time - What a Lovely young lady - there is hope for the next generation, if we use this example of the YOUTH - with LOVE and Happiness for all - the EDITOR - Brother BILLY.
It was a CYBER adventure for us all and the editor got the only picture.
Billy and Tori
Just to add the caption that puts it all into prospective....
Dreaming of a White Christmas - let it snow - let it snow.
The last time I posted about the snow here in the UK, I made a statement that "Leon said, it does not snow in SURREY or LONDON", well first of all he statement has two parts........
1. It does snow in Surrey - its a flurry in Surrey - this video is proof.
2. It does not normally snow here, this is almost the worst or even repeated snow for 50years, and the prediction that we get a White Christmas looks very promising.
Now here is something else, with more and more friends and family acquiring Iphones, Smart Phones and Ipads, loading a video straight to the blog needs a Windows PC to watch it, so with technology and the help of YOUTUBE , we can now upload and play videos on our hi-tech gadgets, hence the fact that I now load videos via YOUTUBE,........... makes sense to me anyway.
So with a PC or a Gadget you can now all enjoy the blog anyway which you prefer.
HAPPY BLOGGING
Ria says "Hi" to everybody, if you can see her under the layers and layers of warm clothes.
The back garden table with 5inches of snow on the top - time for a braai Andy, are you coming over.
Molly & Lisa thought I might get to Heathrow to meet up with Tori, who landed in the snow this morning on route to Zambia for Christmas ..... don't think so. going nowhere fast.
The Editor wanted to send some sort of holiday greeting to all the family/friends & visitors to the blog, but it is so difficult in today's world to know exactly what to say without offending someone. So I met with my attorney yesterday, and on his advice I wish to say the following:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced with the most enjoyable traditions of religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted Gregorian calendar year 2011, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make all our countries in a global world a great place to live and prosper and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.
By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms:
This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.
Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the sending of this message; however, a significant number of electrons were slightly inconvenienced.
May you all have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends and may 2011 be more prosperous and less stressful than 2010.
note: original unabridged version sent in by Carol Whitaker
Something I just noticed tonight while updating the family b'day list the year starts with a Stapelberg (Whitaker) Jessica - 6th January and & ends with a Stapelberg (Whitaker) Sarah - 9th December - the First and the Last - Hows that for a family record - so the next baby- ????? must be between 9th Dec & 6th Jan for this awesome find to be broken.
Now Jessica and Sarah also happen to be from the same family. Mom and Dad being Sandra Stapelberg (Whitaker) and James Stapelberg.
Congratulations to the Grandies Carol and Paul
Luv
Tessy
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH - 9TH December 2010 - 10 YEARS OLD TODAY
