2015

It's early January, so slightly over-due for the annual newsletter blog post, but better late than never, I guess!

2015 was another rather full and busy year. At work, I began the year as Acting Dean of Science (see last year's newsletter for the background to that story), so it was a busy start to the year with various curriculum-approval and advice sessions for students (individually and in groups). A major highlight was being able to participate in the inauguration of the new Vice Chancellor at the end of February (actually on my birthday — it was very good of the VC to throw a huge dinner party to celebrate my birthday after his inauguration!). The new Dean of Science, Prof Tony Booth, took office on 1 April, so I was able to return to my normal roles in the Computer Science Department, as Head of Department and lecturer.

That situation didn't last too long, as I was asked at the beginning of August to step into the role of Acting Dean of Pharmacy! That's not as bizarre as it sounds, since, due to the fact that all Pharmacy students have to take a basic computer literacy course, I am a member of the Pharmacy Faculty. As the year ends I am still in that role, probably for several more months. It's been rather strenuous, as the Dean of Pharmacy is a part-time position (unlike the full-time Dean of Science), so I am still HoD in Computer Science as well, but it has been a good, stretching learning experience (I did shed some of my teaching duties for the last part of the year).

Other than work, it was a full year too. In early March I drove down to the Western Cape, spending a few wonderful days with my good friends, Theo, Brenda and Caleb, in Hermanus where they were enjoying an period of long leave. That was a lovely short break, enjoying the rugged scenery, and beautiful beaches. Theo and I also had a wonderful bike ride through to Gordon's Bay along the Eastern coastline of False Bay, with views across the bay to Simonstown, Fishhoek, etc. From Hermanus I headed into Cape Town where I picked up my sister, Liz, from the airport when she arrived from the Isle of Man for a holiday in South Africa. We spent that night (Saturday) in Cape Town itself with Rees, in his guest flat with wonderful views of Table Mountain.

Liz formed the "support team" and finish-line photographer for my ride in the annual Argus bike race (or the Cape Town Cycle Tour, as it is now officially called) the next day, Sunday. Due to extensive wild fires in the region during the week leading up to the race, the organisers had to severely curtail the race, so it was only 46km (27 miles), rather than the usual 110km (66 miles), but still a lovely ride through a beautiful part of the world.

After the Argus, Liz and I spent a few days in Simonstown, with Madeleine and Laurence, and used that as a base to explore the Western Cape (and finish off some of the sight-seeing that had been curtailed by my hernia the previous year). On the Monday we met up with Swantje, who was in Cape Town to apply for a Chinese visa, and went to Boulders Beach (a wonderful penguin sanctuary), and to Cape Point.

On the Tuesday we took a slow drive up from Simonstown via the Chapman's Peak road into Cape Town. The drive was a little sobering as we got to see the effects of the recent wildfires, but still enjoyed the views of the ocean, Hout Bay, etc. We had lunch at the V&A Waterfront and spent the rest of the day exploring there before heading out to dinner with Brad and Mary.

On the Wednesday, we spent the morning at the Groot Constantia wine estate, including a fascinating tour of the cellars and production/bottling lines. From there we headed to the Kirstenbosch botanical gardens for the afternoon, which are absolutely stunning. The day out ended with a quick visit to the Rhodes Memorial monument overlooking Cape Town.

On the Thursday, we had a quieter day enjoying Simonstown itself, including a visit to submarine that is now on display in the naval harbour. In the evening we took Madeleine and Laurence out for dinner in Simonstown.

The next day was the first stage of the return journey, with a stop-over in Hermanus for lunch with Theo and Brenda (and to allow Liz to enjoy the drive around False Bay). We spent the night in Knysna, and then headed back to Grahamstown the next day, with a brief stop in Port Elizabeth to enjoy a picnic lunch on a beach (in the car due to a howling wind!).

Liz spent the rest of March in Grahamstown, including a belated family Christmas celebration, the National Science Festival, and her birthday, which we celebrated with brunch at the Fish River Sun (which seems to be becoming a family tradition!).

The next big adventure was a trip to the UK, France and Germany in June/July. I left as soon as I had completed my June exam marking, and spent a few days in Pretoria before flying to London. The two weeks in the UK were spent catching up with various friends who I hadn't visited for several years, and it was very good to renew many old friendships. I managed to fit in visits to Kevin and Caryl (London), Mike (lunch in London), Jody and Gina (Woodcote, near Reading, and including trips to Marlow, Henley and Dorchester), Steve and Phil (Water Newton, near Peterborough), Warren and Gaynor (Woking), Nig and Ang (Guernsey), and Ant and Giskin (Kenley, just South of London).

At the end of that part of the visit, I met up with Liz in London and we headed across to Paris on the Eurostar train through the Channel tunnel. That was a trip I had made in 1995, so it was good to return 20 years later with Liz (on her first visit to France). We spent the next week or so in Paris, exploring one of the world's most beautiful cities, and enjoying some excellent food, amazing monuments and museums. That could all form a blog post all on its own, but some highlights were the Musee d'Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Seine boat cruise, Versailles, and Le Petit Canard (a small restaurant near our hotel, specialising in duck dishes).

It was rather sad a few months later to read the news of the terrorist attacks in Paris, including bombing of restaurants much like the ones we had eaten in. It made the tragedy hit home even more deeply for me.

After our week in Paris, I left Liz at the Gare du Nord to catch the Eurostar back to London, while I headed to the Gare de l'Est to take a train to Frankfurt for the conference that was the main purpose of my trip. The conference (International Supercomputing Conference 2015, or ISC 2015) was very good. On my last day I had a morning free to do some sight-seeing before my evening flight back to South Africa, and it was good to be able to explore some of Frankfurt, which has a beautiful old city centre and lovely riverbank walks.

The year had a busy end, so it was good to get away for Christmas and New Year to Pretoria, where I am writing this. We spent Christmas Eve with Theo's family and Christmas Day with Brenda's family in Jo'burg. On New Year's Eve we had a lovely evening with friends. Theo and I have managed to fit in some bike rides, and we all got to play squash a few days ago.

As 2015 ends and 2016 begins, I am very grateful for a wonderful year in 2015, much of it spent with wonderful friends and family, and enjoying some great adventures in beautiful parts of our world. My prayer for 2016 is that it would be another wonderful, happy, healthy and blessed year for us all.