Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Hi fellow BMW riders

As some might know, Lisa and I recently got married.  We were honored to have our wedding officiated by our dear friend, Wouter de Vos (our current club chair).

We'd like to thank Wouter again for our own personal pre-ride briefing (and all the friendship)!  The creativity, thought and relevance to our lives just added another level of value to a very special day.  

With his blessing, we would like to share the special message that he delivered as our wedding officiant. 

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WELCOME

On behalf of Theo and Lisa it is my privilege to welcome everyone present here today, and to thank you for attending and sharing this very special moment in their lives with them.  Friends, we are privileged today to be witnesses of the union between our dear friends Theo
and Lisa. Today can in a certain sense be seen as a departure point. This is the place from which Theo and Lisa will leave, united as one, to embark on the journey of their lives together.

OPENING REMARKS & INTRODUCTION

Ek het vir Theo en Lisa enkele jare gelede ontmoet deur die BMW Motorfietsklub, wetensakplike naam BMW Motorrad Club Cape. Hulle het my dadelik opgeval as twee bitter vriendellike mense, en dit was natuurlik nie moeilik om dadelik te hou van Theo met sy rustige en egalige temperament, en Lisa met haar borrelende spontaniteit en kreatiwiteit nie. Ons was al op heelwat ritte saam. Met die verloop van tyd het hulle kosbare vriende geword, en is dit altyd vir my lekker as ons erens heen gaan, en ek sien Theo en Lisa is deel van die groep.

It was an exciting and joyful moment for us as their circle of friends, when they shared the good news of their engagement just over a year ago. It is always great if something joyous and positive happens to people that you enjoy and care about, and this was most certainly
such an occasion. I remember so well how we celebrated this joyous tiding during a year end dinner of the BMW club. 

Vir my, net soos vir almal wat hier teenwoordig is, was dit ‘n groot voorreg om die uitnodiging na Theo en Lisa se troue te ontvang. Theo het my so paar weke gelede eendag gekontak en gesê dat hy en Lisa my graag iets sal wil vra, en ek het ‘n vae vermoede gehad dat hulle my dalk sou vra om seremoniemeester te wees op hierdie spesiale dag.
Ek bel toe vir Theo, en se vir hom hy kan maar enige iets vra. Hulle is kosbare vriende en ek help graag waar ek kan. Theo het so bietjie verbaal rondgestruikel en gesê: “Nee, hulle sal my eerder van aangesig tot aangesig wil sien en persoonlik vra”.  Groot was my verbasing toe hullle my vra of ek hierdie seremonie vir hullle sal waarneem.

My dear friends, words cannot describe what a great privilege and honour it is for me to share your wedding day with you in this capacity. Thank you, Theo and Lisa, for allowing me this opportunity. I trust that today would be a beautiful, memorable and joyous day for you as you celebrate your love for and commitment towards each other.

READINGS:

Ecclesiastes 4 verse 9-12
“It’s better to have a partner than go it alone.
Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps,
But if there’s no one to help, tough!
Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night.
By yourself you’re unprotected.
In a team you can face the worst.”

Vandag is ons almal hier saam, bevoorreg om getuies te wees van die oomblik wanneer Theo en Lisa wegtrek op hulle gesamentlike lewensreis.  Wanneer ‘n mens saam op reis gaan, is daar ‘n paar belangrike beginsels waarop daar vooraf ooreengekom moet word.

In the BMW motorcycle club we have a, in my opinion very healthy protocol, of a few sound and tried and tested principles that we explain to everyone that will be forming a part of the journey, however long or short, easy or difficult it may be. These principles are communicated before departure, and this ensures that everybody feels safe and comfortable about the journey ahead.  I thought it appropriate, especially considering how I got to know Lisa and Theo, to share a
few thoughts with them, as a “preride briefing” before they set off on their joint journey from here onwards.  Those of us who enjoy our motorcycles with Lisa and Theo, will understand what is being
said. Those who don’t will hopefully be tempted to visit any of the Donford BMW branches or GS Traders to get yourselves on a bike as a matter of great urgency.  Now considering that no-one ever pays attention to what is said during their wedding ceremony, simply because your mind is occupied with a million and three other things, I have e-mailed what I am about to say to the both of you, so that you can read through it at your leisure.  Lisa, I am sure between Theo’s loving assistance and Google Translate you’ll be fine with the Afrikaans sections. And if you think Theo is pulling a fast one on you with his interpretation, you are welcome to Whatsapp me to check….
So guys before you set off, here a few things that you may want to consider:

1. Ons bly by die spoedgrens:
Net soos wat daar ‘n spoedgrens en ander reëls op die pad is, wat ons reise reguleer, so sal dit vir julle goed wees om ooreen te kom op die reëls wat julle lewensreis saam sal reguleer. Gesels oor wat die “do’s and don’t’s” vir julle twee is. Onsekerheid veroorsaak spanning, en as julle dinge lekker rustig vooraf deurgesels, vermy dit die risiko van onsekerhede en die spanning wat daarmee kan saamgaan.  Bepaal die reëls vir julle reis, respekteer mekaar hierin, en bly daarby.

2. There is a specific formation that we ride in:
Just as we ride in staggered formation on rides, it would probably make good sense for you to determine the formation for your ride of life together.  This is all about finding out what structure you guys are most comfortable to journey in. Structure your lives in a manner that works for you – it is after all your journey and not that of anyone else.
Establish an order in which you are most comfortable to operate and co-operate with each other. And live your life together accordingly.

3. Dan kom ons by draaie en afdraaipaaie:
Soos wat mens die pad saam stap is daar besluite wat geneem moet word.  Dit kan alledaagse klein dingetjies wees, soos waar gaan ons vanaand eet, of dit kan groot en ingrypende besluite wees soos die aankoop van ‘n eiendom of ingrypende loopbaanbesluite.  Moet mekaar nie om die draaie of by kruispaaie verloor nie. Dit is iets wat so bitter
maklik en vining kan gebeur.  Hou ‘n oog op mekaar, en maak seker dat die een die draai saam met die ander neem. Moenie so vinnig om ‘n draai gaan dat jou maat jou uit sig uit verloor nie. As jou maat nie kan sien waar jy afdraai of van koers verander nie, kan hy of sy jou nie
volg en by jou bly nie.  Stop. Wag liewer, en maak seker dat jou lewensmaat weet waar jy is, waarheen jy gaan draai, en dan saam met jou daar draai.

4. Fellow Road Users:
As bikers we share the road with people in these strange 4 wheeled devices that we refer to as “cages”. Similarly, as we share the tar and gravel roads that we ride, on the road of life no person, or couple, is an island.  We are bound to have interaction with others, and how we deal with this is something that we must pay careful attention to on this journey. Careful consideration should be given to who the people are that we allow close to us.  Establish who the other people will be that plays a role in your life together, and make sure that they are people who add value, that will make a positive contribution to your lives, and who will build you up and strengthen you.

5. Sweeper:
The sweeper is the person that rides at the back of the formation and is ultimately the one who ensures that everyone arrives safely at the destination. But the sweeper also takes care of any incidents that may arise.  Consider getting yourself a “sweeper”. When I lead a ride, and I know Marius Mouton is at the back of the pack as sweeper, I am relaxed and I have have total peace of mind.  Because I know that he will take care of me, as well as of my fellow riders.  Consider getting yourself a personal sweeper. Someone who is always there, in the background, always ready to take care of you when the going gets tough and things
happen.  This is unfortunately one of the harsh realities of life – tough times will come, and when they do you will do well if you have someone who will take care of you and help you through those more challenging seasons.

6. Enige dinge waarvan daar kennis geneem moet word, praat:
Voor ons vertrek nooi ons as ride leaders die mense op die rit uit om enige mooontlike probleme of bekommernisse wat hulle mag hê met ons te kom bespreek.  As ons weet wat aangaan, kan ons daarvoor voorsiening maak en dit in ag neem, en so seker maak dat almal gelukkig en veilig is.  Daar is bitter min probleme wat nie deur goeie en effektiewe kommunikasie opgelos kan word nie. Ons het miskien nie water in die damme nie, maar ons het wyn in die kelders, so skink vir julle elkeen ‘n glasie wyn, en gesels oor dinge. Praat met mekaar, altyd, oor enige iets. Julle kan dit dalk selfs oorweeg om spesifieke tye opsy te sit vir mekaar. Glo my, ons het almal vol lewens en druk skedules. Julle weet diit goed. Ek glimlag as ek dink aan hoe Lisa sê dat haar Outlook kalender bepaal het wanneer julle mekaar kon sien aan die begin van julle pad saam.  Dit gebeur so vining en maklik dat ons bymekaar verby kan begin leef.  Moet dus nie dink dit is snaaks om toegewyde tyd vir mekaar te “Outlook” in julle kalenders en getrou daarby te bly nie.

7. You are responsible for the Rider behind you
You will find yourselves, as a couple, in a variety of situations.  Sometimes the situation may require that Theo takes the lead, and at other times it might be Lisa that will lead.  Regardless of who is in the lead at any given time, that person is responsible for the person behind.
Keep an eye open for your partner, be mindful of where he or she may be on the journey, and make sure that you do not lose each other.
You are on this journey of life together, as a team, from here onwards.  Do not lose sight of each other.

EXCHANGE VOWS
I now ask that the rings be made available
Theo and Lisa, neem asseblief mekaar se hande
Lisa, will you take Theo to be your husband,
to live together, creating a loving union?
Will you love and honor,
Comfort, encourage and cherish him,
in sickness and in health,
in sorrow and in joy,
from this day forward to the end of time?
Lisa, what is your anwer?
Theo, is dit jou hartsbegeerte om
vir Lisa te neem as jou vrou
Sal jy haar liefhê en eer,
koester en bemin,
onder alle omstandighede,
van hierdie dag af tot aan die einde van tyd?
Theo, wat is jou antwoord?
The perfect circle of a ring symbolises your eternal and endless commitment towards each other.  You may now exchange rings and seal your union as husband and wife with a kiss.

It is now my privilege to pray a parting blessing upon Theo and Lisa, as husband and wife, from this day onwards:

FINAL BLESSINGS:
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay
Forever in love

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