Looking Back at 2019

I can't believe that it's been another year, that has gone past. So much has happened this year. So I guess it easier to share photos than write an essay. Starting off, Yvette bought be tickets to see Joe Bonamassa in Amsterdam for my birthday. What an amazing gift. We travelled Holland in May, and had a fantastic time. This was all in between my various treatments. I did have to go for radiation in February, as I had lesions on my hips and lower spine.

With ongoing treatments this year, my cancer levels increased to the highest they have ever been. This was at the time, when I was extremely busy at work. I finally made the call to stop working from July 2019, so that I could concentrate on getting better. After the fact, I realised how much stress I was under. Although I had stopped working in July, it seems that all health challenges started stacking-up....I ended up in hospital in August with pneumonia, and have had extensive problems with my back. I went for a second round of radiation for my hips of radiation in September, but have had continual problems with lower and upper back, to the extent that some days I cant walk properly. My latest x-rays show some more broken ribs, which is common with myeloma. I plan to see my spinal doctor in January to see what can be done.

Another highlight, is that my work threw a going away function for me, a black tie event, it was absolutely amazing! I'm so grateful for all the complementary words from my current and past colleagues. I also had a chance to jam with Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels, which was absolutely amazing!

Jamming with Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels

Other highlights was attending the Dire Straights Experience concert. I'm glad to be enjoying our end of the year holiday at Struisbaai, although I have had a lot of bed time, and also ongoing treatment.

Blessings for 2020!

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient

Travelling to Amsterdam

Dinner with my good budd, Tom ;-)

The Dire Straights Experience Concert

Beach Picnic

On our way to Amsterdam

Dire Straights Experience - The Guys

More Chemo Treatment

I've still got the Blues ..

Happy travelling to Holland

Amsterdam

Visit to Keukenhof

Streets of Amsterdam

Joe Bonamassa Concert in Amsterdam

Before the Joe Bonamassa Concert

Our Visit to Utrecht

Cousins

My Farewell Party, Jam with Dr Victor and Rasta Rebels

The Girls and I - Farewell Party

Struisbaai Vista

Struisbaai evening walk 

Enjoying the fire during the cold winter days - Struisbaai

Struisbaai Winter Walk to the Beach with Dominique

New member of the family - "Mila" ;-)

Cycling in Struisbaai

Beach Cycling - De Mond - Struisbaai

Agulhas view with Chloe

The Family

Looking Back over 2018

Well, its been some time since I have updated my Blog. I guess quite a lot of things have happened this year. Since my Stem Cell Transplant in February 2018, being off from work until May. I needed the time to recover and get over the effects of the treatment. Unfortunately the stem cell transplant proved to be unsuccessful, and so I have been back on treatment since June. It has been a hard six months as far that is concerned. I have also been back at work, so it has been particularly busy.

I have been contemplating many things over this period of time, my spiritual life, family life and work life. And will need to get to the stage where I will need to make some big decisions. One of the things that I did do in hospital, was to start a list of things that I would like to achieve and resolve. I'm blessed that some of these things have happened. So as part of my update, would rather share 'life' with you. Pictures also say a 1000 words. Blessings...

During my Stem Cell Transplant in Hospital

April 2018 - Gariep Dam 

2018 Birthday Weekend in the Cape, spending time on Chlo's Ukulele

August 2018 - Girls Birthday Month, Enjoying Lunch

August 2018 - Yvette and I - Birthday Month

Nix and I, Cycling at the Red Barn ;-)

Nix and I, Cycling on Langezandt Beach to the De Mond Reserve

September 2018 - Gentleman's Ride - Great Fun!!

Chloe and I, Lunch in Soweto, just before Guns and Roses Concert

Chloe and I - Guns and Rose Concert

Guitar and Music Show 2018 - Playing a Duisenberg Guitar - Amazing!

Another Duisenberg Axe - Great Tone!

Playing a Custom Shop Relic Tele - most probably one of the best sounding 

Playing a Mayer Relic Strat - Amazing - R150k (not cheap) ;-)

Spending time at Langezandt after SCT

Taking the Dogs for walkies on the Beach ;-)

Jamming at home on my self build Les Paul - Great Times!!

Support me for DGR 2018

This year I am taking part in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride to raise funds and awareness for mens health and prostate cancer on behalf of the Movember Foundation.

Prostate cancer affects more men than any other cancer, taking the lives of close to 307,000 men each year. A number surpassed by 500,000 men dying from suicide. That's 807,000 men every year. This is a number that must change.

Please reach out to give what you can and show your support.

Please go to https://www.gentlemansride.com/fundraiser/CharlMarais235733 to donate.

Revealed to Be Healed March 15, 2018

Read: Psalm 25:1–11 Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 26–27; Mark 14:27–53 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.—Psalm 25:4 As a boy, I watched my father plow fields that had never been cultivated. On the first pass the plowshare would turn up large rocks that he hauled away. Then, he would plow the field again, and then again, to further break up the soil. With each pass the plow turned up other, smaller rocks that he cast aside. The process continued, requiring many passes through the field. Growth in grace can look like a similar process. When we first become believers, some "big" sins may be exposed. We confess them to God and accept His forgiveness. But as the years pass by, and as God's Word passes through us and sinks into our innermost being, the Holy Spirit brings other sins to the surface. Sins of the spirit once thought to be mere peccadilloes—small, seemingly unimportant offenses—are revealed as ugly, ruinous attitudes and actions. Sins like pride, self-pity, complaining, pettiness, prejudice, spite, self-serving indulgence. God reveals each sin so He can cast it aside. He reveals to heal. When harmful hidden attitudes come to the surface, we can pray as the psalmist David did, "For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great" (Psalm 25:11). Humbling exposure, though painful, is good for the soul. It's one of the ways in which He "instructs sinners in his ways." He "guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way" (vv. 8-9). —David H. Roper Thank You, Lord, that You remember us according to Your love. Instruct us and guide us. Teach us to live as those who have been forgiven much. Jesus takes us as we are and makes us what we should be. INSIGHT: God's desire to cleanse us of our sins should be matched by our desire for that cleansing. In Psalm 139 David reflects, "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (vv. 23-24). His prayer expresses a longing for the cleansing and restoration that can only come from God. John echoes that invitation in 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." And Jesus Himself stands ready to help. John wrote, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One" (1 John 2:1). What a great promise! Is unconfessed sin hindering your relationship with the Father? He stands ready to forgive! Bill Crowder Share your thoughts on today's devotional on Facebook or odb.org.

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Our mission is to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all. Our vision is to see people of all nations experiencing a personal relationship with Christ, growing to be more like Him, and serving in a local body of His family. To read today's Our Daily Bread online visit www.odb.org. Copyright © 2018, Our Daily Bread Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI 49555 USA. Written permission must be obtained from Our Daily Bread Ministries for any further posting or distribution. Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved. Our Daily Bread Ministries | P. O. Box 2637 | Umhlanga Rocks | Durban 4320   Manage Your Subscription.