Grateful Newbie

[mdegale]

Hi All

I've been a grateful forum lurker for a few months, who now owns a Defender 110 (bought via the forum - thanks Albert!) and am therefore now prepared to stick my head above the parapet (also after discovering I work with qoda - hi Jonathan!).

Due to a couple of life-circumstances coalescing, my wife and I have finally got round to doing something we'd planned to for the last 15 years - take a year off and drive through Africa. The first attempt got called off 10 years for family reasons and would have involved a Lada Niva (so possibly the kindlier fates intervened ;-)

Any way this time round we're taking our 4 y/o, Leah and, spending at least 6 months driving up the East Coast to Ethiopia and possibly Sudan. I've been planning this trip in my head for ages, but can't believe how useful this forum has been in the actual getting stuff done. Thanks especially to Nicob for introducing me to the forum (and a catalysing trip to Botswana in September (http://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/...d.php?t=195221) but also to (obviously) Tony Weaver, Stan Weakley & MikeAG and others for sharing so much so generously. Also amazing to be live-following people like CarloG and his Malaria Decision tree; stuff I "thought" I'd thought about (but clearly not in enough detail- whoa! )http://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/...d.php?t=184600

Looking forward to reading much more and starting to contribute once we get going on January 19...


Matthew

[heikeedwin]

Welcome and congrats on the Defender

[Brian1]

Congrats and looking forward to loads of prep threads and trip reports.

[mdegale]

@heikeedwin: Thanks! Can't pretend I don't grin whenever I see it ;-)

@Brain1 thank you!: I've noted the significant reporting peer-pressure on the Forum ;-)

[NicoB]

Welcome Matthew! Looking forward to seeing the Landy.

[Expat]

Welcome to the best forum by far.
Congrats on your wheels.

[SolPlaatje]

Welcome Matthew. Let me know when you show off your Landy at Nico's

[kevjones]

Welcome Mdgale you are going to have lots more fun in the 110 traveling through Southern Africa. I strongly recommend you get a solar charger for your Ipad and load the 110 service manual, repair manual, owners manual, forum manual, the "how to remove a Landy motor via the exhaust for Dummy's manual", the Dale Carnegie short course and of course Ceasa Malan's guide to becoming one with your dog while waiting for a tow.

Only joking bud have a blast.