Birthday beach bod

It's another birthday for me and at 57 I'm probably in the best shape I have been in my life. Llew and I are going to have extended celebrations with a month in Europe next week, cruising the islands of Croatia and on the beaches of Mykonos. Thanks to Thomie who will be looking after our guests in our absence.

Dave getting ready for the beaches of Europe

A recent pic from Madagascar on our expedition there over the Mozambique Channel in our plane

A pic on the apron of Pietermaritzburg Airport

On the beach n Madagascar.. Dave and Llewellyn

Birthday cake

First birthday cake baked for me by my husband - not the first cake he ever baked, but the first as my husband.. thank you my man, was very special and so yummy!!

Reunion Dinner

Llewellyn and Dave at Dave's Kloof High School 1975 Matrics' 40th Reunion Dinner last night.

Birthday fun

Dave enjoying a drink with mate Marc on his birthday. Marc and Lee joined us on our recent trip to Madagascar and we will be joining them in September for a yacht cruise of the Croatian islands.

Dave with minion Kevin and Marc 

We flew to Madagascar over the Mozambique Channel

Llewellyn and I had an incredible adventure to Madagascar earlier this month, crossing the Mozambique Channel, the Bay of Maputo and the crossing to the offshore island of Ile Sainte Marie in our single engine 2-seater aircraft named ZDL (Zulu Dave Llewellyn). We joined together a tour group of 6 Sling aircraft and plotted our way through Madagascar, land of lemurs, baobabs and chameleons, all of which we saw, whilst also taking the time to chug local rum and coconut cocktails (once we had landed). See my aviation blog linked here, for the full story and the adventures each day.

Crossing the sea with life jackets and life raft and other marine safety equipment in our airplane

Clouds, sky and sea over the Mozambique Channel

The Durban pilots Dave, Lee, Marc, Llewellyn and Louis

Llew feeds a friendly lemur

Sean shows some rainbow colours 

Heading out for the Bay of Maputo crossing 220 kms and the furthest was 75 kms out to sea

Arriving in Vilankulos, Mozambique the first leg of our journey

We have arrived at our beach destination on the east coast of Madagascar, day 3 of the trip

The Durban crew line up for a selfie at the Avenue of Baobabs, near Morondava, Madagascar

We're in tiny planes, crossing the Mozambique Channel with sea and sky all around - 875 kms and 5 1/2 hour crossing

Goodbye Charl

So sad to hear of the passing of our hero and Mr Gay World 2010, Charl vd Berg. You were a really beautiful person and an inspiration to many. The excitement as you captured the Mr Gay South Africa 2009 title then went on to dazzle the world in 2010 was amazing. Rest in peace dear soul, you will be missed. Llew and I pass our condolances to his partner and family.

Charl van den Berg who passed away this week

Charl meets Dave at Durban View Guesthouse