OK the huge and most fantastic news is that we got the car today - YIPEE!!! Adeeb (the clearing agent is a magician). We weren't really expecting to be able to do anything until next week, but he phoned us this morning and said 'you better get down here to the customs house'.

We jumped in a taxi and were there in 10 minutes. Adeeb was just walking out and he said we had to go with him, but that he had actually managed to get it all cleared. We had to act like we didn't know though until we were told officially.

When we got to the container terminal our container looked so little amongst all of the huge ones! They pulled it forward and chopped off the lock and our car was set free! I had to crawl in the back over all of the luggage to put the car in neutral and steer it while they pulled it out.

Big problem though totally flat battery!!! We thought the battries had been disconnected, but they hadn't!! So one of the staff jumped in a bakkie and got two battries as it is 24 volt and a normal car couldn't jump start it.

He came back and they replaced our battries with his and then started up our little beauty - hurrah she goes like a dream. Then we had to swap our battries back in one at a time - very hot about 27 degrees and I have got the very red shoulders to prove it.

Anyway after giving the little man some money for being our hero we set off to the Waterfront. Adeeb met us and we paid him and had a drink before he headed away. If ever anyone needs anything clearing in Cape Town he is the man to see - he has been doing it for 15 years and is very professional and knows exactly how to get on with things.

So we then drove our beast out to Worcester to Bushwakka (where they made our most wonderful trailer) so that the two can be married up properly. We are now back with the beast safe and secure in Worcester.

Okay well I have just tried to upload pictures of our tent, but it just doesn't want to play the game today. I will get back on tomorrow morning and put on photos for you all to see.

Well we are off to celebrate getting out the car - love and hugs to all xx

Well hi to you all, sorry I didn't manage to get a new posting out yesterday, but it is a struggle to get access in the evening here!

Well we went and met the new clearing guy yesterday and he seems very professional and knows what he is doing - so all good so far. In fact we have to be ready to move this morning in case the customs would like to get it all cleared up today before the weekend. Maybe - maybe not me thinks!

We then went to Worcester to see our trailer and it is fantastic - my God what a fabulous job they have made of it. Everything as we wanted it.

I will have to put the photos on later as I am struggling to get them on at the moment.

Love to all from us xxx

Photo for yesterdays post. xx

Well another lovely day in Cape Town!! Oh God we could get very used to this!! Well our shipping agent does not want to deal with us now - they can't as they only deal with vehicles and no personal effects! So we have been passed over to another clearing agent now. Tomnorrow we are hoping to find out where they are and what they can do for us! Fingers crossed and toes I think.

We are hiring a car tomorrow for the next 4 days as we don't think we will be seeing anything of the vehicle until next week so time to visit all the friends. We will also maybe go on a helicopter flight in the area which should be lovely.

You will never guess who we bumped into today........ Oh god I am having real trouble putting a photo on today. But it is Nelson Mandela, de Clerk, Desmond Tutu and Luthli.... yeah! Oh well I will try and put the photo on tomorrow.

Love and hugs to all
Dee & Martin xx

Well hi to everyone! Yes we are finally here after a bit of a hellish flight! Martin managed to get an exit seat which meant loads more leg room for him, but I was at the back of the plane - so even if I yelled he wouldn't hear me!

The poor lovely old man who was sitting next to me must have wondered what he had struck as I sat there blubbing when we took off from Heathrow!

Anyway we are here in Cape Town - hurrah and went straight to the hotel which is lovely and a fraction of the price for the Cape Grace. We are right in the centre of the V&A Waterfront which is great. Got straight into the room which was fantastic and had a shower and shave (me the shower and not the shave by the way)and then went for lunch. Mine was quite frankly yukky (fortunately I wasn't that hungry and Martin had a lovely lunch.

We then had ice creams as it is about 22 degres on arrival which were fab!!!!! Choc Choc Chip - yummmmmmy!

Then it was off to see the people about getting the car out. Ship only docked this morning which is good. Our Taxi Driver was almost 100 (just kidding only 69) and getting lost all over the place. Finally made it to Hannibal and saw Jaques who hasn't actually been involved in any vehicles being shipped before. Lovely fellow and he told us to go direct to the shipping agent.

We managed to get there eventually, after reversing up the on ramp onto a motorway as we didn't really want to take it!!! Martin was duly told to step out of the taxi and stop the traffic while we reversed - taxi driver said no one would argue with someone so big!

Finally arrived at shipping agent office and meet our fellow who is awesome. A bit of a hiccup though as it seems that you must record all items that you put in the vehicle when you ship it - God I hope they don't take the Champagne and sloe gin off us!!!!

Tomorrow will reveal more as to how difficult or easy it will be to get this vehicle out - fingers crossed for us as we would dearly love an easier run!

Hope all of you are well and we are thinking of you all - Wizzy make sure that you take Tris for a walk at least three times a day!!

Love to you all
Dee & Martin xxx

Well yes it is still winter over here!! This is what we woke up to this morning and has definitely given us something to smile about as we leave the UK in under a week now! Wizzy loved it!

Thanks to Mum, Colin, The Coopers & Kerri & Ken for their messages. Also hi to the Frusher Family, Richard & Pamela and also Chris Allen and family for becoming followers. I only hope that I will be able to get onto this blog most days in Africa so that you can all see where we are and what we are up to. I will also make sure that I post a few photos now and then for you all to see (would hate for you all to forget what we look like)!!

Well I'm off to the Doc again today for another rabies jab (Martin says I will probably come out foaming at the mouth)!!

Speak to you all soon love Martin & Dee xx

Well I hope that everyone had a fabulous Christmas and even better New Years with a bit of bubbly involved! Thanks to the Frushers and Hoburns for their messages.

We got some photos of our completed trailer for Christmas from the Bushwakka boys in South Africa so here it is!

It is a fully self contained unit including microwave, two hob gas rings, fridge, freezer, generator, roof top tent and all the mod cons (well as far as camping is concerned) that's for sure.

Not long now and we have finally sorted the flights out, well all the long haul ones anyway. I still have to book flights from Sydney to Brisbane, then Brisbane to Auckland and then Auckland to Sydney, I'm sure that I will have it sorted before we leave!

I had a shooting lesson yesterday, Tristram bought me a lesson with his friend John who happens to be an English International. What a lovely guy and made it all seem really easy - I even managed 4 or 5 pairs at the end of the session (50 cartridges shot) and loved every minute of it!

Well I had better get on and change the dates on the itinerary so that it will be as up to date as I can possibly make it at this stage.

Love to all Dee & Martin xx