I will never forget Ed sitting flat on his backside in front of his first buffalo, holding onto the horns with fully outstretched arms, saying: "I've waited for this for 55 years, if the good Lord takes me now, I've done everything I have ever wanted to do". Or Rick's face after he shot his big buffalo bull with a 45-110 Sharpes with a cast lead bullet and black powder, just like Buffalo Bill and other hunters of old did. Or Doc standing next to his daga boy buffalo bull, still covered in smelly wet black mud, after he shot it with an original 1895 - 405 Winchester lever action and bullet he machined himself: "I've dreamed of shooting a buffalo all of my life, I never thought I would be able to and now it's a dream come true".

These are just some of the very special moments I have been able to share and want to share with you in this 2003 edition of The View from My Office Window.

To the whole team, who have selflessly given their all to make this season such a great success, a great big thank you, especially to my own private blonde, Jacqueline, for her inspiration and for always being prepared to go the extra mile to keep everybody happy. The Sussens and all their staff of Tshukudu Game Reserve for their hospitality, Johan and Annette van Zyl of Gnu Safaris for the big part they had in making my job easier. Johan, Clint Taylor, Matthew Aboude and Kerneels Schoonbee for the great trophies and high standards of ethical hunting they maintained throughout the season. All who hunted with you only had good things to say about you. Stompie Mnisi, my tracker and right hand man. The landowners, despite the drought, again gave us their biggest trophies and allowed us to use their facilities. Ryan, Andre, Johan, Herman, Kerneels, David, The Snyman brothers, John van der Meulen and Jool at Waterval, everyone at Trans African Taxidermy, you all played a great part in making this a season to remember. A great big thank you to you all.

The new vehicles proved themselves to be reliable and comfortable this season and almost everyone wanted to take my land cruiser back to America.

If you couldn't make it to Africa with us this year and now have to read about how much fun all those that did make it had with us, I must remind you that envy is a terrible sin.