(1) on the way through northern Europe 
with Frank Butler
I could rant on about the great weather the fantastic senery and the outstanding hospitality, but that would be just plan cruel as a lot of you are in the Northern Hemisphere and have not seen day light for months....so I wont mention the above mentioned things.
I have now been in Africa for nearly a year and it has been one of the most trying and rewarding experiences of my life, there were many times when I was far from certain that I would make my goal of getting to Cape Town and I supose that is why I feel the great sense of accomplishment...it was far from a foregone conclusion.
I like Africa so much that I have decided to stay on for another month or so and have a good look around, yesterday I was in Gans Bay very near the most southerly tip of Africa diving with Great White Sharks...Tomorrow I will be on my way to Lesotho to spend the New Year in that Mountainous country land locked by South Africa and then at the end of January back to Cape Town to ship Mr Beem and myself to the UK.
I hope that you all have had as good a year as I have and that the one comming up will be even better
Greetings and Love to all...Frank
written in Capetown, December 24th 2007