FINAL LEG!!!!

Thursday, November 19, 2009
Well here we go!!! I have just about finished my last shift at work and am about to clock off! I have two days before I fly to Durban and will be spending it with my boy and some friends catching up on that much needed tan and the last bit of training. Once we get on that ship its full steam ahead to Mozambique and the Portuguese Islands where we will be doing some Photo Shoots, Interviews and Rehearsals in preparation for the Grand Finale!

I can not help the feeling of wanting to jump out of my skin. This is the first time I'll be leaving African soil so needless to say i am rather excited! What's more is that I have the honour of taking part in a National Competition, The Mr Gay Sout Africa Competition and I am proud to be a part of this prestigious event!

It has been a journey and a half I tell you! its taken dedication and at times having to keep myself grounded. Thank God for the Friends around me and my Boy who reminds me of who I am and that iIshould always stay true to myself and simply BE myself. Thanks to all of you!
T have been challenged these past three month far further than what I ever could have imagined and my hope is that when I look back at this, that I would have grown in maturity and integrity!

So iIwil try and keep all of you posted on the events as they unfold. I'm not sure how things on the ship will work in terms of communication, but I will try!

I say cheers for now, and will see you at the finish line. For those of you who will be in Jozi for the comp, I see you there, and for those who will not, I'll see you around!

Love and God bless
Charl

ALMOST THERE

Sunday, November 15, 2009
Well, it is Sunday 15 November 2009, and in precisely a week from now I will be in Durban, along with 14 of the most amazing guys in SA on our final evening before we embark on the last stretch of THE MR GAY SOUTH AFRICA COMPETITION!

All I can say is that I can't believe how fast 3 months have gone by, from that Saturday afternoon at the Cape Town Regional till now. It has been an amazing journey and something I know I will always remember. Up to know I have learnt more about myself than I think I ever have. I have realised my potential as a human being to be able to make a difference in my community and have also come to realise that I CAN do anything I put my mind to!

Looking back I am glad I entered this year’s competition. I knew that the bar had been raised and that it was definitely going to be a challenge to take up! And boy has it been a challenge so far!!!! But I love challenges as it always pushes me to grow and mature into a better human being!!

This is the final week of preparations and getting everything ready before I fly to Dbn and embark on the cruise! I really want to thank all of you whom have supported me throughout this competition and I promise to make you guys proud! Like I said right at the beginning, this is not just for me. But for you!!!
I do believe that I can be the next representative of the LGBT. Someone who can take it to the world and be that bridge, so that WE can bring a better understanding to those who might not fully understand what it means to be gay! I stand for every one of you and will do my best to represent you in the best way possible....by simply being WHO I AM and showing the world that it IS after all 'normal' to be gay. That it is not a sickness, disease, disposition or any of the 'concepts' or prejudices that people might have about it!!

In the end we all strive to live in this world and we all have a place under the sun to live a life free from judgement and condemnation. We are ALL made up of the same matter, we all breathe air, and we all eat, sleep, laugh and cry. With sooo much in common, why should there be a divide, right?

So here is to each and every guy and girl out there! Thanks for the continued support. I will be sure to hold that banner high and be the guy whom you all believe I can be!
(I will be thinking about you all as we cruise to Mozambique and the lovely Portuguese Island...sipping on a cocktail...enjoying the midnight feast...sandy beaches...sunny weather......you get the pic...lol)


Till later
Charl

DIVAS IN THE HOUSE!

Monday, November 9, 2009



WELL, I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I AM HUMBLED TODAY AT THE AWESOME SUCCESS “THE CHARL VAN DEN BERG/HEALTH4MEN CHARITY BENEFIT” ACHEIVED! NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE A GREAT NIGHT, FILLED WITH FUN, TWO DIVAS STRUTTING THEIR STUFF, BUT WE ALSO HAD A SUCCESSFUL AUCTION AND MANAGED TO RAISE A GOOD AMOUNT THAT I AM PROUD TO PRESENT TO HEALTH4MEN!

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE EVENING. YOU MADE IT A GREAT SUCCESS! ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HEALTH4MEN FOR THE AWESOME OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAD TO BE ABLE TO ARRANGE THIS EVENT FOR THEM!MANY THANX TO THE GIRLS FROM ADAM AND EVE LOUNGE, SIOBHAN AND JASMIN, YOU GALS ROCK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AGAIN...WHAT A STUNNING VENUE!!!TO IAN, THE MAN WITH THE GIFT.....YOU WERE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS EVENING AND I THANK YOU FOR GIVING OF YOUR TIME TO COME AND BE AUCTIONEER!


TO ALL THE SPONSORS.....I TRULY AM GREATFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT....THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR THE AWESOME PRIZES WE WERE ABLE TO AUCTION OFF. THE EVENING WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WERE NOT FOR YOU...SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE:
1)PETER DU PREEZ AND SHAUN O'NEIL- FLIGHT OVER THE PENINSULA

2)CHARMAINE BEUKES FROM WHITE SHARK PROJECTS FOR THE SHARK CAGE DIVE

3)GRAIG PORT FOR THE UNDERWEAR SPONSOR

4)GRANT FORM BONEWEAR UNDERWEAR FOR THEIR SPONSOR

5)CHRIS HATTING AND THE GUYS FROM THE GLEN BOUTIQUE HOTEL

6)RENO HORN FOR HIS SPONSOR OF THE PHOTO SHOOT

7)THE DIRECTORS OF MR GAY SOUTH AFRICA AND IAN FOR THE TICKET HAMPER

8)PINK TOUNGE FOR THEIR HAMPER SPONSOR

9)SONJA AND ANSUETTE FROM DISTELL FOR THE AMAZING SPONSOR!
10) THE DIVAS OF THE NIGHT- ODIDIVA AND LU CHASE! WHAT CAN I SAY…A TREMENDOUS PERFORMANCE FROM BOTH OF YOU… AND MAY I ADD ALL COMPLIMENTS DUE TO BOTH OF YOU. YOU ARE TRULY THE DIVAS OF CAPE TOWN, AND EVERYBODY WHO ATTENDED AGREED!!! THANX FOR YOUR GRIPPING PERFORMANCES!
11) ALSO TO THE SOUND GUY, ADRIAN LARGER, THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON PROVIDING US WITH THE RIGG AND THE TUNES!
THEN FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO THANK A VERY SPECIAL LADY, WHOM WITHOUT, THIS EVENT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. SHE STAYED VERY MUCH IN THE BACK GROUND BUT HER ROLE WAS CRUCIAL! CHARMIEN VAN DER MERWE, YOU ROCK GIRL, AND I AM TRULY GREATFUL FOR YOUR HELP. I HOPE I MADE YOU PROUD!!!

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAD A ROLE TO PLAY, SO IF I DIDNT MENTION YOU, I AM SORRY....IT WAS A LATE NIGHT...LOL...BUT I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!

ANYWAYS, ILL BE POSTING PHOTOS AS I RECEIVE THEM AND UPLOAD THEM!

CHARL VAN DEN BERG