Drivers on the M3 highway into Cape Town were delighted, surprised and touched by a marriage proposal on Valentines day, Sunday 14th February hanging overhead.

4 consecutive bridges over the highway had huge banners hanging from each of them with the words; 1." Tanaelle", 2. "I love you", 3." Marry me" and 4. "Yes? Turn left, No? straight"

Tanaelle Heldsinger, an aupair from Cape Town, was already sobbing when she took the off-ramp left just after 9am. Waiting for was her boyfriend, Nick Botton with flowers. At the sight of Tanaelle his lip started trembling. The couple are planning to wed next April.

South African surfer wins Mavericks surf contest in Half Moon bay, California

13 February 2010

Chris Bertish of Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa had all the odds against him; He had to borrow money for the 2 return airfares and the 2 month stay in the States, he was jet-lagged after a 36 hour flight, his boards and wetsuit were lost by the airline and he had to paddle into waves of 40 – 50 feet enduring brutal wipe-outs and a 3 wave hold-under.  Chris, 35 years old, described it as the “worst beating of my life” and spectators could also say the same as unexpected waves washed them off their seats injuring at least 13 people.

Judges say waves were the biggest in the world ever for a paddle in (with waves this big surfers are usually towed in by jet ski). The San Francisco Chronicle  describe the event as “...history was made” and Santa Cruz Sentinel quote Chris “It was scary, very scary. By the time I got picked up I was like a lifeless corpse. I thought I was done for the whole day. But in life, sometimes you only get one chance to live your dream. So I just put it in my head that I had to get back up”

Raising money through his website: pleasesponsorchrisbertish.co.za and borrowing more from family and then a board and wetsuit from Jeff Clarke (founder of Mavericks, 1975), who also gave him a place to sleep, Chris Bertish  walked away with $50 000 (R384 000) prize money.

www.zafaritravel.co.za