World Cup Fun...

The World Cup started this month in North America, cohosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Riaan and I watched the opening match with good friends, but even my South African patriotic spirit couldn't help Bafana Bafana avoid a 2-0 defeat to Mexico. 

Despite the result, it was lots of fun and a great excuse to don face paint and a soccer jersey! This wasn't my first time going all out for a sports event. 

Check out this link from when South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010, while I was serving with Mercy Ships in Togo, West Africa. :)

The girls with their South African flags...

And Riaan got into the spirit, too.

With a good friend from church. :)

Sparrow Nest...

A pair of intrepid house sparrows made a nest under the neighbour's a/c unit. Talk about cramped living quarters... It was amazing to see four baby birds sharing such a small space!

Squashed nest.

The four baby birds peer out at the world.

May and June Cycles...

I've managed to cycle about once a week over the past several weeks, just as time and schedules allow. I did have a crash in late May, when I touched the brakes on a wet wooden bridge and came to sliding halt on my side. Thankfully, no serious damage done to either my bike or myself. Here are a few more photos that I've taken while out on my bike.

A large pond in a suburban area.

Butterfly-shaped flower bed at Fair Lane Estate.

Fair Lane Estate on a quiet early morning.

The hazards of cycling shortly after sunrise.

My trusty steed.

Lufthansa Airbus A340-300...

I captured this beautiful Airbus A340-300, operated by Lufthansa, on its final approach into Detroit Metro Airport (DTW).  

A closer view as the aircraft roars overhead.

Southeast Michigan Mercy Ships Reunion...

My friend Dan and I organised a Mercy Ships reunion for former crewmembers living in the Southeast Michigan area. We held it at Maybury State Park in Northville at the end of May, and although we had a rather small turnout, it was lovely to reminisce and share memories from our service on various Mercy Ships. 

Despite the small turnout, we had people who had served at the head office in Texas as well as nearly all of the Mercy Ships - the Anastasis in the 1990s, the Anastasis and the Africa Mercy in the 2000s, the Africa Mercy in the 2010s, and the Global Mercy in the 2020s!

It was a great time to connect over a common bond. We hope to do it again next year!

Meeting new friends. :)

Mercy Ships flag flying proudly in the strong breeze.

We then went for a nice hike with one of the Mercy Shippers.

The lake's water was so clear!

There were lots of fish visible...

As well as this beautiful painted turtle. :)

Cape Town Puzzle Fun...

My sister sent us this fantastic Cape Town wooden puzzle, with lots of amazing pieces highlighting South Africa's unique cultural heritage. We had a lot of fun putting it together.

Thanks, Debbie, for the puzzle, and thanks Shirley and Montassir for sending it our way!

Working on the puzzle late one evening.

Pieces included a heart-shaped South African flag...

A leaping Springbok (symbol of South Africa's national rugby team)...

And lots of other fun shapes that celebrate SA's diversity and wildlife.

The puzzle shows Cape Town's Waterfront and famous Table Mountain.

Memorial Day Flyover...

On Monday, 25th May, we spotted these two old warbirds flying overhead. Since they were flying on Memorial Day, they must have been commemorating all the brave soldiers who have served in past conflicts. This is a Douglas DC-3 / C-47 Skytrain transport plane.

And here's the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber.

These old but beautiful planes make such a distinctive noise.