Before 2009

Taken in May 2006

We returned from our stint in Chad in 2002 after a somewhat acrimonious split from Celtel (as it was then!) and after pulling ourselves together bought a house in Whittlers Way, Hout Bay (right next to the Imizmu Yethu Township).  The house was great - large garden, swimming pool, Boma and even a granny flat.

Fiona quickly set herself up with a job at the University  and has been working there ever since.  A couple of ups and downs but after 8 years, she is now one of the longest serving in the dietetics dept based a Groote Schuur. 

Paul was not so lucky and after a long time applying for almost every job that came along, it was clear that either he had lost his touch or being white and almost 50 no longer made the perfect applicant.  Paul tried various things from starting a Jumping Castle business, an import export consultancy (just before the rand strengthened), financial services (making applications on behalf of people looking for government money), a year of herbalife, and finally an IT business selling and installing hardware and yes, converting the house into a B&B.  Of these, the IT Business, the Jumping Castle business and the B&B survive to this day.

Lauren and Guy both joined a Kindergarten called Friends First and thrived.  Lauren was allowed into the International School at 5 and is now in her first year of GCSE and will go on to do the IB (International Bacceulaureate) the year after next.  She is a natural artist and works hard to achive well at school.

Guy is two grades below Lauren and while he also excels at school, his passion is Soccer - specifically playing goalee - and Cricket where he is the wicket keeper.

We have since moved from our first house - mainly because Fiona hates the concept of having guests in ther room next door but also because we had a rather nasty experience with some unwelcome visitors climbing though the window and holding us up at gun point.

You can see where we live now at http://www.marlinspike.co.za.