We've spent a very frustrating day searching for hours on the internet for various flights and accommodation options for the next few months. To cut a long story short about why/what/blah blah blah, we've now got ourselves sorted (said in strong mockney accent).

Here are our updated plans:

Mid-Nov: Depart SA and fly to UK (with an overnighter in Dubai)
Mid-Nov to Mid-Dec: 2 weeks in the UK
Mid-Dec to Mid-Jan: Back in Dubai
Mid-Jan to sometime later in the year: Possibly Thailand, or it's looking more and more likely we'll shuttle around India, in particular Goa.

Very excited about Goa plans - been wanting to go there for ages. 2009 is the year!

--
CEO: www.kinetiva.com
Blogger: www.LeaWoodward.com
Author: www.LocationIndependent.com
--

Are they really accurate when, in many cases, over half the comments are made by the blog owner?

--
CEO: www.kinetiva.com
Blogger: www.LeaWoodward.com
Author: www.LocationIndependent.com
--

This is a hike we've been meaning to do for ages here in Cape Town but have obviously been saving it until Carole's last day. It was worth the wait. Stunning views of Table Mountain, the 12 Apostles and the Atlantic Seaboard. Awesome!

--
CEO: www.kinetiva.com
Blogger: www.LeaWoodward.com
Author: www.LocationIndependent.com
--

Highlight of our trip to the Cape of Good Hope yesterday was seeing a pod of whales offshore (between 20-50m from the shoreline) lolloping about in the calm sea.

We're planning a hike up Lion's Head today to get the stunning view of Table Mountain at sunset, washed down with a glass of chilled bubbly...

Not planned the route yet but better to...they've airlifted people off it before :-O

--
CEO: www.kinetiva.com
Blogger: www.LeaWoodward.com
Author: www.LocationIndependent.com
--

More pics from our outings this week...including:

• False Bay coastline
• Hout Bay coastline
• Vines at Tokara in the Winelands
  
• Cheetah cubs at the Spier Estate
• Bird nests at the Spier Estate
  

Just read the blurb from a fairly well-known blogger who claims they're an "expert in business processes and streamlining". I have never seen any evidence of this nor know of any of their real-world business credentials.

Having had 5 years down in the trenches of business processes, business streamlining and real world management consulting with one of the world's best consulting companies (and I don't say that lightly - lord knows I'm not a major fan of the firm!!), I still wouldn't call myself an "expert" although would say I'm highly skilled. These are my business process qualifications - where are yours, eh, "expert"-who-shall-remain-nameless?

Awe-inspiring flowers at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens - aka Carole's heaven.

Spent the day showing our visitor the sights of the city, including the colourful buildings on Long Street, a view of Table Mountain from the V&A Waterfront and kids having a ball :)

A trip to Long Street, Cape Town and a visit to the Emirates office to change our flights out of Jo'burg and onwards to Dubai. Will post some pics of Long Street later - it's Cape Town's answer to New Orleans (of old) and is a beautiful, bohemian street full of life and vibe.

--
CEO: www.kinetiva.com
Blogger: www.LeaWoodward.com
Author: www.LocationIndependent.com
--

Took our visitor, Carole, to Boulders Beach today to see the smelly penguins...

...thinking I'd got the arrival time of our friend's flight wrong and we'd missed her (she arrives in Cape Town from London today).

Fortunately we haven't missed her, but we did think she was arriving an hour later than she actually is. Oooops.

--
CEO: www.kinetiva.com
Blogger: www.LeaWoodward.com
Author: www.LocationIndependent.com
--

Watching SATC movie that J rented for tonight. That, combined with a glass of bubbly made it a fab evening in.

Both of which I had today and now I feel fabulous. Some long overdue pampering but have to say, I hated the bit where she squeezed the blackheads out of the side of my nose. Never had a facial before where that happened, is that normal?

Loved the hot steam contraption - almost sighed with delight and commented that it was the first time I'd felt warm in weeks but managed to contain myself (bloody cold weather here in Cape Town...never coming here in winter again, do people realise that World Cup 2010 here is in winter???).

Also hated the fact that I had a huge spot on my forehead (usually only ever get like 1 a month, typical timing).

--
CEO: www.kinetiva.com
Blogger: www.LeaWoodward.com
Author: www.LocationIndependent.com
--

First proper day back in the business today.

We finalised a marketing strategy for South African client (quite an exciting project), finished a blog design for UK client, finished a logo for Dubai client and started talking with an Australian client about doing some business consulting for them.

--
CEO: www.kinetiva.com
Blogger: www.LeaWoodward.com
Author: www.LocationIndependent.com
--

Yesterday was glorious sunshine, you can see the Braii (BBQ) from last night. Today it's dull, grey and cold again.

--
CEO: www.kinetiva.com
Blogger: www.LeaWoodward.com
Author: www.LocationIndependent.com
--

After 2 months of suffering in my temporary job, I am free at last. I will never again complain about running my own business, managing our own clients and being free to do just what I want each and every day. I promise.

--
CEO: www.kinetiva.com
Blogger: www.LeaWoodward.com
Author: www.LocationIndependent.com
--

See the full gallery on posterous