2..3..1…Yippee its 2009!

Well its soon going to be 2009 guys and I want to wish you all well and safe home after all the revelry and fun.

Please don’t drink and drive and if you do make sure that you have someone you can call to take you home safely.

The South African Police, Traffic Services and other local Police have a zero tolerance policy. So beware your car will be impounded and you will end up in jail if you drink over the limit, so please make sure that if you do, you are not going to drive.

Derek and I are staying at home and are going to enjoy the moments of going into 2009 with friends. We have made sure that they can sleep over after the party of course and that they will arrive home alive and safe, that is what true friendship is all about…….and then the clean up..heh heh

 

So the next time I will be doing an update it will be after 12am.

Have a wonderful 2009

Love Mark Farrell and Derek Watling

New Year Message From Myself & Derek 2009

2008 has presented many challenges for myself and Derek in our relationship and every day living. We have overcome so many things this year and can only look forward to 2009.

Sadly, I lost both my step mom and then my dad a month apart from each other and Derek helped me cope with the loss.

Derek started ARV’S this year and is doing very very well. Then we moved into our new home and its made all the difference to us.

At last for the first time we have a home all to ourselves and of course my very first home in my life.

My health has just gone from strength to strength thanks to Derek.

My projects I have had to put aside as I still do not have a laptop to work on, but I am content and happy.

I am just happy that we both have work and we work very hard and will continue to do so in the coming year.

I have never forgotten my promises that I made earlier this year to continue writing my book and build new websites for those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. But due to all the constraints of time and financial up’s and down’s I have to put things on hold.

Next year on the 5th March 2009 2pm I will change my surname from Mark Farrell to Mark Farrell Watling after the wedding and this will be the day that I will proudly bare my partners surname with pride.

I would like to dedicate 2008 to my dad who was a generous person and a good father and husband and I will try and live up to his ethics and principles of integrity, unconditional love and acceptance.

If Derek and I can survive been HIV+ and live life to the fullest then so can you whether or not you are HIV+.

We live by the principles of integrity, honesty, unconditional love and acceptance of all peoples.

Let us hold hands and hope for a peaceful 2009 where all nations stand together for all humanity in all ways.

Look into the future with joy and count your blessings that are to come. No matter all the up’s and down’s that may come your way, take them as a challenge and accept the wisdom gained to overcome and pass on those coping mechanisms to others that may pass your way that they may empower themselves to be achievers and in return pass those skills and attributes on to others.

In closing, thank you to all my friends and associates that have supported me over the years and this year.

We appreciate all that you have done and only wish the very best for all of you and if I had to draw up a list it would be pages and pages.

As a couple we are here for all those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS and will continue to do. We will try to be an example of a married gay couple and set an example to all out there, that true love and commitment is more than just a blessing.

Love your partner with all your heart and soul no matter if your gay or not. It does not matter, as love has no colour or sexual preference.

You are most welcome to email or contact me if you are struggling with living or affected by HIV/AIDS. I will gladly share my coping mechanisms with you or even come and do a presentation.

I do this with love.

Please my friends, live life to the fullest, love and respect all around you.

May God bless you all in all that you do.

Best wishes,

Mark Farrell & Derek Watling

30/12/2008

“HIV is not a death sentence but a lifestyle, only through a positive attitude will you overcome”

XMAS 2008

Well its the first XMAS I have not celebrated with my family as both my dad and step mom died earlier this year.

Now, I have gained a new family and have been embraced into the fold which is great.

Next year as you know I will be getting married and a name change will take place from Mark Farrell to Mark Farrell Watling.

I will now be apart of a family again but will bare the name of my partner not forgetting my linage and roots of my father.

He would have been proud of me and would have said “Well done my son”

This year has been a difficult one for me as Derek and I have been through so many trials and tribulations but we have overcome all those things that could have hindered us.

We now have our new house and are blessed. We have opened up our hearts to others to reach out to them.

Although I have lost one part of my family, I have gained another and that is a true blessing in its own.

Living with HIV and integrating it into your lifestyle and making the very best of it is a blessing.

There is so much that I have wanted to do like finish my book that I have been writing for a few years now but have not been able to this year due to our financial constraints.

I have never given up my dream to complete my book and carry on with my vision to empower all those either affected or infected by HIV/AIDS.

To provide an open forum for discussion and sharing of themselves with each other in love. No matter if it was poetry, art or any other that may enhance the lives of themselves and all those around them.

I look forward to 2009 with hope and anticipation that all my aspirations will come to be.

Most of all we South Africans are approaching a new political era where change is about to take place.

All over the world there has been a financial crisis and companies have fallen by the way with the workers been the victims in the end, and my prayers are with them.

I assure you that in 2009 things will turn around and get better, so don't give up hope

I have survived over 18yrs of been HIV+ through many trials and tribulations amongst been very ill and against odds have survived.

Let us stand together and embrace each other in love and remember the true meaning of XMAS that a child was born and brought hope and peace to many.

May God bless you all

Mark Farrell

Official Announcement Of Our Marriage 5th Of March 2009

I would like to announce our wedding date and place, we are getting married on the 5th Of March in Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa

Derek and I would like to thank all of you who have been on this journey  with me over the last few years and wish to share this joy with you all!

The XMAS Spirit

MERRY XMAS ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL FESTIVE SEASON AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2009

FROM DEREK AND MYSELF

A pink sunset

Its been a very long month and now we are already in December and at this time we don’t have much money left at all. The lesson that I have learnt this year is patience and to persevere in all things no matter what comes ones way but to learn and overcome through the wisdom we have learnt

To all my friends from all over the world happy holidays all and may you be blessed!

Derek and I wish you all the very best for 2009.

Our home

I have been asked to update and after a month we are still sorting out our home and I have added these pictures to show you just a glimpse of our humble home.

 

Have a great day

Greyton

 

Finally we have all our furniture

Today I can say that we finally have moved in although we have been in the house since the 18th of this month.

As you can see from the very first entry I have made on this blog things have changed so much for me.

Now a new era has started and for the first time I have a house of my own and am getting married soon to my soul mate and life partner.

Finally, I will be able to get down to those things that I have wanted to achieve for all those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.

Start writing my book again and concentrate on projects but of course that will take time and leave is coming up and both of us need some rest and this will be only on the 19^th of December until the 4^th of January 2009.

For the first time I will have an XMAS tree and adorn our home with XMAS lights and of course the tree. At last I have a family in the context of my relationship since my father passed away been the last link in the chain and bloodline of my dad.

Now, I have to make the best of things and make him proud of me as he watches me from above.

I have never surrendered to the virus and that is why I am alive today and of course the grace of God.

I will update soon

Love Mark

Passion and perseverance

Life has so many twists and turns that makes the journey so much more interesting and challenging every day!

There are many who are following our journey with living with HIV and its always encouraging to hear thank you!

I am blessed in all my ways and not just because things are on the up and up but because if it was not for all the turmoil and bad times I would not have had acquired life skills and wisdom to deal with life itself.

We have one life to live and we have to live it to the fullest and every act of random kindness brings joy to those in need.

Soon, as you all know by now, that we are moving into our house next weekend and it will take another weekend to move the rest of the stuff.

Lately though we both have been very tired when we get home and go to bed early. I think its time we had some leave and went away again for some well deserved rest.

 

So remember in life we have to go through all of the up’s and downs to learn and rise above it all.

I will update soon again.

 

Mark

An old church we saw today

A glimspe into the last few months through the lense of my camera

Saturday update

This week has been a blessing finally I have a booking for my learners drivers licence which I have been waiting for an appointment and finally I will write the exam on the 27^th Of November 2008

It has been quite a journey this year with the passing of both my parents and working hard at work.

Now we are going to move into our first house and of course my first own home ever in my life and that is great.

I love life to the fullest and at last things are going in the right direction.

After many years of going downhill finally with the one I love things are on the mend and only getter better.

Soon I will start writing again and proceed with writing my autobiography which I have been busy with for a few years and continue to work on those HIV/AIDS projects that I have put on hold for the last few months due to things not going so well

I will update you all soon

 

Love

Mark

Finally our own home celebrate this occasion with us

On the 1st of November this year we will be moving into our own home. I am so happy as this is what I have been waiting for all my life to have my own place. Now as a spouse we both will have our very own place. I wanted to share this with you all.

 

update

I am so tired today, think I am coming down with the flu. Went to work and Derek brought me home, instead I have had not had once minutes peace due to all the calls I have taken at home.

 

Well now I have a headache from hell and am going to try and get some sleep.

 

Of course I am still saving up for a laptop as I soon have to be on the road and so on.

I will update later today again.

Some more pictures of Greyton