30 October 2024 - a sad, sad day as we say goodbye to Bella

Bella. 

Not just any old Rottie. Such a loving, beautiful soul who happened to be a Rottweiler. Almost by accident - she may as well have been an angel. 

Shiny coat, smiling face, so strong and big. Chest like the side of a building. Eyes forever searching for her new favourite toy. She destroyed them in no time, those powerful jaws could overpower anything. But give Bella a ball and her dog heart was happy. 

As it goes with pets in the Marais family, pets are not just pets. They are family members. All Bella ever knew was an abundance of love and care. Her humans never skimping on giving attention, throwing her ball, regular baths from Dad, taking her for walkies. Together with her brother Angus they ensured many a full poop bag for whoever was treating her to a walk. 

Bella was a fine, fit, healthy 7 year old Rottie in the prime of her life. She carried a dark secret in her body though, one that nobody ever had any reason to suspect. 

Suddenly, completely out of the blue, Bella started convulsing on Saturday 26 October. Nobody saw it coming. She spent the rest of the week at the vet where they carefully monitored her and ran a bunch of tests to figure out the cause.

On Wednesday the 30th the results came back. And it was the most devastating news possible. Bella's whole body was riddled with a very aggressive stage 4 cancer. Worse, it had reached her brain, causing the epileptic fits. 

To say everybody was shattered by this news is an understatement. 

In the early evening the family said their final goodbyes to their wonderful Bella as she slid softly and painlessly over the great divide. Her tireless, happy soul resting easy in death. Her massive body still and silent as she departed this mortal coil, knowing that she was surrounded by her family, enveloped by the warmth of their immense love for her. As they knew and felt her love for them. 

Full circle. 

If you look up at the night sky, low on the Western horizon, you will see a star brighter than any other. Mercury. That is the spirit of our Bella, tirelessly chasing her new toy in the spiritual realm. 

Even as our hearts break into a million pieces as we try to grasp that we will never hear your happy bark again, nor your warm dog breath in our faces, we find solace and peace in knowing this was the best we could possibly do for you. As your human family we take the responsibility of the health and quality of life of our pets extremely serious. And as much as this hurt, it is at the same time the greatest gift we could ever give you. The release from your pain, from the horror of suffering through yet more seizures that your bewildered brain could never understand. 

We release you of your duties beloved one. 

You may rest easy now.

Forever our sweet Bella. 

Our happy memories of you will never fade, our love for you forever cherished just as you cherished and protected us. We were blessed that you chose us as your family. 

Be free now, be free!

27 October 2024 - 16th birthday

Eventful weekend indeed. Just the other day he was a little boy. And shorter than everybody, including Spikey! Now he towers above us all, and if he positions himself just right he blocks out the sun. 

Saturday 26 October the Tuks Youth Rugby had their year end function at the tennis club on the Tuks sports grounds. He played for Harlequins Youth Rugby as well but Tuks is his home base. What a lovely venue with amazing green lawns, lots of shade trees and braais all over the place. A couple hundred parents descended on the place and made themselves at home. Picnic style. In between the youngsters received trophy's and medals and certificates and got all hyped up for next season with their new age group teams. That was a good day.

Sadly Liam's Rottweiler Bella developed severe health problems on Saturday evening when they got home and was struck with epileptic seizures. Completely out of the blue. This continued on Sunday. In a family where pets are considered as 4 legged family members such things tend to be highly emotional. As such what was meant to be a joyous, happy birthday had some of it's shine faded away. 

Still, despite vet visits, the tears and anguish about a beloved pet and what happens next, everybody put on a brave face and made the best of it. Life decided to gift Master Liam with a life lesson as a birthday present. It may not always feel like it in the moment, as often life lessons are hard, but it inevitably proves valuable in the long run. If you are willing to learn from it. 

The main present was that he needed to know how much we all love him. Love is the greatest present of all. 

Happy birthday much loved young man. May your future be as bright as the rocket exhausts on Musk's Starship, and may the lessons that Life inevitably shares with you along the way make you stronger, better, more compassionate and enhance your beautiful soul.

 

First love - Lienka

 

In August 2024 Master Liam and his buddy went to Waterkloof High School to watch rugby. His path crossed with that of a bubbly, smiling, energetic, cute as a button, gorgeous dark haired little beauty called Lienka Viljoen. A sprightly 14 year old with a voice like an angel and the personality to match. 

Their eyes met in a sea of exited youngsters determined to have a good time. For a moment time stood still. Two young souls reached out across the cosmic highway of love and connected. Two pairs of teenage knees involuntarily buckled and two young hearts started beating in frenzied unison. 

A new love was born in that moment. 

That first love. The magic of it all. So powerful. So unforgettable. May the two of you share many joyous moments as you create memories to last a lifetime. 

"I hear a lot of stories, I suppose they could be true

All about love and what it can do for you

High is the risk of striking out, the risk of getting hurt

And still I have so much to learn

Well I know 'cause I think about it all the time

I know that real love is hard to find

And a good heart these days is hard to find

True love, the lasting kind

A good heart these days is hard to find

So please be gentle with this heart of mine

My expectations may be high, I blame it on my youth

Soon enough I'll learn the painful truth

I'll face it like a fighter then boast how I've grown

Anything is better than being alone

Well I know 'cause I learn a little every day

I know 'cause I listen when the experts say that

That a good heart these days is hard to find

True love, the lasting kind

As I reflect on all my childhood dreams

My ideas of love weren't as foolish as they seemed

If I don't start looking now I'll be left behind

And a good heart these days, it's hard to find

I know, it's a dream I'm willing to defend

I know it will be worth it in the end

A good heart these days is hard to find

True love, the lasting kind

A good heart these days is hard to find

So please be gentle with this heart of mine

A good heart these days is hard to find

True love, the lasting kind

A good heart these days is hard to find

So please be gentle with this heart

With this heart of mine"

Feargal Sharky

1985

Flashback to 25 October 2015

Let it be known that on this day the (then) Little Dude departed with some wisdom about dinosaurs, as follows:

Spikey you know dinosaurs? Well they have teeth and some fly and they poop eggs and stuff! 

And that's how dinosaurs work. 

1st Rugby Tour (and first try) 3 to 6 October 2024

1st ever rugby tour - checked

1st ever try in a game - checked

2nd ever swim in the sea - checked

It was a great weekend. A weekend of firsts for Master Liam. 

He was included as a member of an under 18 team for Harlequins Youth Rugby Club. Three teams hopped on 2 tour busses at 10PM on Thursday night the 3rd of October - U13, U14 and the big boys, U18. Off they went through the night, arriving in Amanzimtoti bright and early the Friday morning. With one hour of sleep behind most of them. One can survive on adrenaline and breakfast at that age. 

It changes as you get older but let's not tell them!

Food, a couple of hours of practice, followed by a couple of hours of sun and fun on the beach as the weather was perfect. They stayed in the lovely ATKV Natalia resort, with amazing sea views from their rooms.

Saturday was match day. The under 18's played not one but TWO games. Tall order but they rose to the occasion like a Space X rocket. First game was against the local Rovers team and easily enough won 32 to 12 which gave them the boost needed to tackle the second game against a really tough opponent with everything they got. 

An ITP Sharks team no less!  

It worked! They managed to secure a 5 - 5 draw after the number 4 lock scored a try from a lineout close to the try line. 

The number 4 lock of course being the hero of this blog - Liam, Conqueror of KZN. 

Here is how it went down in his own words:

"Well 20 mins into the second half I was called up onto the field and I played the last 20 mins of the game. 5 mins after I was called up we had a line-out very close to their try line. We won the line-out, turning it into a maul. I had the ball in my hands. We collapsed the mall on their try line and I scored the try, and tied the game."

This was the first time in 16 years that a Harlequins touring team had not lost against them, and also the very first Harlequins try against them.

Sunday the 6th was breakfast, then the long road back to Pretoria. 

All in all a memorable, and successful experience!