Update on my last post

At 9.45 am, last Friday, I left the workshop and headed for the place where I would find my boss. We had not yet received our pay for the month, and the staff were not happy.

On the way there, probably 5 minutes out from his offices, my phone beeped - sms from the bank to confirm my salary had been paid in. I call one of the guys back at the workshop, nothing yet for him. I called the office lady, same.

By the time I reached the boss's office, there were 4 confirmations of salaries received. I went inside, and sat with one of the guys there that I usually deal with, and waited to see if the rest were getting paid.

Slowly the messages came through, and finally, it seemed the issue had been resolved, so I didn't bother to go and see the boss, and just drove back to work. There I found that one of the guys didn't know if he had been paid. He does not have the banking app on his phone, and no airtime, so can't receive SMS's!

As it was now close to 12 midday (we work till 2pm on Fridays) and as we had all had to stress because of this late payment, I gave everyone the rest of the day of, and locked up. I sent the errant guy R10.00 airtime, and told him to find an ATM and check his balance, and to let me know if he had been paid.

I heard from him on Saturday, where he confirmed he had been paid, but into the wrong account. It seems he was with one bank, moved to another, informed the office, but they still got it wrong.

Anyway, all's well that ends well - we got paid, got off early, and are back at work to face another day / week / month.

Oh, and the upside is everyone at work thinks I'm the hero cause I got the problem sorted!

It's getting tight now

In a previous post I spoke about the place where I work, and the new owner, and the fact that he has no financial sense. Well, the norm her (which I want to change) is that we get paid the last Friday of the month. Everyone is monthly paid, and we have always been paid on time, except once before where there was a hitch in the banking system, and we got our money one day late.

Today is pay day. Usually, by the time I get to work, all the staff on Capitec accounts confirm they have got their money. Then slowly, the other banks clear the payment. I usually get my money by around 10am.

All this depends on when the "boss" signs off (electronically) on the payments.

The amounts are loaded into the banking system for payment by a person in the finance department, but can only be released by the boss. If he fails to click on the icon from his computer / laptop, it does not go through. This morning, no one has been paid. Quick call to the main office confirms that he wasn't in yesterday and so hasn't done the deed. I told them I need it to be flagged for immediate payment (I don't care if it costs them more) as my staff need their money!

I'll wait to 10am, and if we still have not been paid, I'm driving to their offices to look for the boss myself!

Because the same guy owns the company I work for, and the company that we manufacture for, he has a central office / person to handle all banking issues. All our accounts get paid from there, our salaries, etc. We (me and the lady in the office) have no access to any of the banking, not even to look at what's been paid in. We have to get the information from this central office. Not that I care, but it does pose a problem when you don't always get the feedback you need when you need it.

So, we will wiat till 10am, then see if I have to go and threaten my boss with a possible wildcat strike!

 Seriously Sewerage

Well, this is interesting. Waterfall Estate - a very upmarket estate in Midrand. Rentals start at R40k per month, average homes rent for around R60 to R70k per month. Many rent for over R100k per month!

Prices for houses range from R8m to over R35m!

The Jukskei river runs through there, and as most of you might know, it also runs past a massive squatter camp near Sandton. So, the water is suspect at best, very dirty, but okay for viewing, and for the little dams that have been built along it's route through the estate. They also have a rather large dam next to the clubhouse. It's very picturesque, kept stocked with fish (but no fishing allowed there), and has a large birdlife. Nice. Pretty.

In the past few weeks, a big sewerage pipe, somewhere along the river, popped. All the sewerage is now spilling into the river, running through the estate, and has filled the dam! Living there now smells like living next door to a working sewerage farm!

The Johannesburg municipality have told the owners of the estate that they are not allowed to employ contractors to do the required repairs, at it is a municipal problem, so they will sort it out. However, they have no money now, so it can't be done, yet.

Seriously, you have an estate full of stinking rich people who are willing to pay for the repairs out of their own pockets, and you won't let them? Yup, that's the ANC / African mentality for you. Go figure - they more stupid than I originally thought - not that I ever doubted there stupidity.

This means that once it is done, if ever, the river will have to run for a few months to wash away all the sewerage, and the dams will have to be emptied, cleaned out, and refilled. And as we coming to what would normally be the end of our rainy season, this situation could be around for another 12 months.

Glad I don't have to drive past that dam everyday. Or live near it. 

 Well that went well

I haven't discussed my present state of employment yet. A few years ago (late 2020), I was unemployed, and due to a few coincidental factors, found myself doing maintenance work at a small engineering company in Chamdor. 2 Days a week, because that's all the owner said he could afford. It was no problem for me, at least I was working. He had got very sick, was permanently on oxygen, so could no longer move around as before, and needed someone to help with maintaining / fixing the machinery. It's all very old equipment, and so calling in a service provider was either very expensive, or useless, and no one wants to make parts for these old machines anymore. His wife was working with him, doing all the office work.

This soon became a 3 days a week job. I proved I was worth the extra money, and learned a lot from him as well. I also got involved with assisting with the production when there was a bit of a backlog on the line. This gave me invaluable insight into the operation, and possibilities of the place.

Soon after Covid restrictions were lifted, he got the virus. I started to work full time. Then Kevin died. It was tragic, sad, and a major problem for his wife. She approached me to sign on permanent to run the whole operation for her.

And I accepted. It was a good period, we did well. She trusted me enough to leave the place in my hands while she went overseas for 3 months to visit her kids!

Then she found a buyer - in fact, he was the owner of our biggest client (95 % of our business). I'm not going to get into all the details here.

Business still went well, as long as my client was getting orders, so were we. Then he put both companies on the market. And after some time found a buyer - for both. So now I had a new boss, and again he owned both the company I run, and my biggest client. He's an African guy, nice enough, but has big aspirations of boing the CEO of his own Corporate.

Problem is, he bought a small to medium sized company - Yes, they turned over between R40 and R60 million a year, but still not a corporate. 

And in the past 6 months, since he took over, my order book has dwindled to ZERO! It used to always be around R800k to R1.2m, and turning. We would invoice on average around R600k a month.

Since he came on board, we haven't even managed to cover wages each month. And this month, March 2025, we have hardly invoiced R60K.

The problem is this- first, he changed part of his company name, which means that the accounts with the current service providers fell away,  so any purchases of material is C.O.D. (and in the case of most, pay upfront)! This will continue till the New Co qualifies for a 30 day account. This has killed his cashflow!

Secondly, his aspirations of "Corporate" means he has been using the service of two ladies for HR Consulting (R50k per month!), his methods have cause the GM to take his early retirement and so has a new GM (African dude with attitude), he's had to employ a new Sales Manager (old one left after much abuse), and he has employed a Financial Consultant. He has a new costings manager..... All of these are massively expensive overheads, who add nothing to the bottom line! But they need cars, credit cards, garage cards, fat salaries.....

He's run out of money. Because he has spent so much on  stuff that does not sell. And now has applied for additional funding from wherever they get money (black empowerment funding company who's name now evades me).

Because he has no more money, he can't order material, so we cannot manufacture. And when his money is approved, he will need to place order for material. The turn around at the aluminum extruders, and plastic injection molding guys is 4 to 6 weeks. Which means, even if he places the orders on April 1st, we might get material by the end of April, and we can start delivering by the end of the first week of April. But that's still 5 weeks away!

 I Digress. Today we were surprised with a visit from the 2 HR ladies, as well as the new GM for ENB, and FM for EBM. They asked about how we run the company, do the invoicing, etc. I explained how I had created a massive spreadsheet that I now use for pricing of new products, and that our running costs for the past12 months is R2.36 per person per minute (also from my spreadsheet). And how the pricing is cross linked to other spreadsheets (like wages, price list, etc.). They were impressed enough to ask me to share it with them! Also put them in their place when they asked an=bout the old material we still have in stock. It belongs to the previous owner - they said well then make him fetch it asap. I told them that's now how it works. I have spoken to him, he asked for a few weeks to get his warehouse in order and make some space. And I agreed. And that's how it's going to happen.

Then a walk through my operation, the GM said he had seen where the welding was being done by robots at another factory - and I said yup, by me a R2.5m machine and we can do it here as well. In fact, with about R20m, I could automate most of this place, and just keep about 5 people employed. But I would rather make them like I do, and keep 15 families fed! He's an African guy, and seemed to agree with me after all.

At the end of the day, the visit went well, I think they going back with some good things to say about me to the boss man. Either way, I do what I do to the best of my ability, and to the benefit of the Boss, and more importantly, the employees.

More on this as things develop.

 What's up with this.....

For the past 4 to 6 weeks I have been waking up at around 4.30 am. Not every night, but often enough for me to be troubled by the event. And it's not like I am getting to bed too early, always after 10pm, usually closer to 11. And when I wake up, I'm not tired, to the point where I eventually just get up, go downstairs and have a smoke or 3, and a cup of coffee, or 2....Just sitting outside on my deck, listening to the birds start to chirp, and some poor buggers leaving for work (crap when you have to travel far for work).

And it's not like I'm tired early the next day. So, my sleep clock is broken. The other issue is when I do wake up (even if it's with the alarm clock at 6.30am), my body is sore. Especially the hips. But, as soon as I hit the shower, that pain goes away. Old age stiffness I suppose.

On other matters, I have had another run in with the local municipality. They have been stuffing around with the billing for water usage. So when we built the house, we had a pre-paid water meter installed. Worked well for about 12 months. Then it packed up. I reported it, and they came out to check. They removed it, saying they didn't have a replacement, put a bypass pipe in, and left, promising to be back with another unit. They never came back. Every 6 months I would go down to the water department, tell them I am still waiting for a new meter, and leave. Every other month I would send an email. Nothing. That was around August 2006. In July 2017, I had to take the ex off of the account, so went to see them. They did a check on the system, and saw that I had not bought any water tokens for a while! Seriously? You the same clown that has ignore my verbal and written requested for 11 years, and now this? Anyway, they can only back bill for 36 months, and only the average for the area, so it cost me around R36000. And on the 12th of May, 2022, they finally came out and installed a new water meter - but on my property, not outside on the sidewalk where they can take readings every month.

So, on the 8th of every month, I have been taking a photo of the meter, and sending an email to 3 or 4 people who "work" in the water department, and who are responsible to capture said details.

My email includes:- 1) Date, 2) Reading, 3) Serial number of meter, 4) Physical address, 5) Erf number and 6) a phot of the said meter. For the first while, they captured the details as sent. Then they seemed to lose the plot, and the readings were a few KL off, like the reading might go from 358 to 369 (11kl), and they would bill 358 to 371 (13kl). I didn't worry too much.

Then I discovered a massive leak, exactly where they had connected the incoming pipe to the meter. It was a few days after I installed a 1500lt JoJo tank for backup. SO I closed the incoming valve to stop the leak, and ran off the tank (with booster pump). The water in the tank lasted me more than 7 days! This meant my average use per month was actually in the region of 5 - 6 kl per month, meaning that the leak had been there, undiscovered for a long time! No matter, I reported it to the relevant department. And rereported it daily, on WhatsApp and by email, copying all and sundry, including the mayor, for 21 days! Every time my tank ran dry, I would open the valve, let it refill the tank while leaking away, and then close it. 

It was only after I approached the previous mayor (read DA), that I got some joy. They came out to check, contractors obviously, as our water dept. employees are only there to use the municipal bakkies as taxis, and a director of the said contracting company. They all agreed that the initial installation was wrong, should have been outside of the property, and, that it was a poor install. So, as per my request, they removed it, and reinstalled it outside, and made good the connection inside. Eventually! Ever since, my monthly average use is 5lk! I still take and send the photo every month....however - 

On my last statement I received for the period 03/01/2025 to 02/02/2025, I noticed two things,1) they billing me for 20kl of water, which means 6kl at one rate, 9kl at a higher rate, and 5kl at maximum rate (sliding scale - the more you use, the more you pay). And the reading, instead of being 354 to 359 (5kl) is 1357 to 1377 (20lk)!!! Where the hell do they get this.

So I checked back, and from Oct last year, they have used fictitious readings, starting in the 1000's, where my meter is still in the 100's.

So, off to the municipal offices. Stand for 1 hr and 15 minutes in a queue (only 6 people in front of me), because as the employee finishes with someone, they leave, and no one comes back for 10 minutes. Then someone else comes, helps one client, and leaves, repeat, repeat, repeat.

Eventually, I get to speak to someone, who takes me serious. Asks for my readings from Oct. 2024. Lucky I still have the photos on my phone, so I can give the readings to her. She promises to redo my statements, and that I will receive a corrected statement for this month.

Needless to say, I have not received anything. Online check confirms my statement is still the same as previously received. An email sent will go unanswered.

So today, I am going back to the sad queue, loaded with all the paperwork, photos, proof of their incompetency. I will remain there till they issue me with a new, correct statement. Failing that, I will be going to see the mayor, and don't think I'm going to be nice.

So it's 3 hours later. I went armed with copies of statements, emails sent, and my personal spreadsheet showing every reading taken since the meter was installed. As per the norm, I spent almost an hour in the queue. Of the 3 ladies assiting (yup, there were 3 today), one didn't have a computer on her desk (no way she's going to be of any help), the second one seemed to enjoy chit chatting with the clients who sat at her desk (not really interested in the people still waiting in the queue), and the 3rd lady, seemed to know what she was doing. If nothing else, I would let those behind me pass through until lady no 3 was available.

As luck would have it, I go to see her. She listened, she looked at whatI had brought with, and took it away, to consult with someone. I did mention as she was walking away, that  wasn't planning on leaving till I had a revised statement in my hands!

She was away for maybe 20 minutes - no problem, I was playing poker on my cellphone :).

When she returned, she presented me with all my papers, and a revised statement, which shows all the required credits and debits going back 9 months (from when this mistake started) as well as my current outstanding balance, which is R600 less than the one I got last week! So, she listened, and did her job, and did it well! She also complimented me on my record keeping, and said I should continue with that.

And, she confirmed that the problems started when my emails stopped coming through. It would seem that there was a glitch in their system, and my emails were probably going to spam. Okay, I will give them the benefit of the doubt, this time.... All's well that ends well!

Have a blessed day!

 

 Sunday fun day

So, yesterday I awoke to a beautiful sunny day - a perfect day for a blitz on the bike. Usually, my wingman goes with, but he was away, so it was "ace out" this time.

First stop was a filling station, fueled up, and didn't check tyre pressure as they felt okay.

Next stop church. Then off to burn some fossil fuel, scare some cagers, and clear the cobwebs.

I always leave home with the intention of having a nice slow ride, enjoy the scenery, keep calm. Within 1 km of the church I was already bending that monsters ear, blitzing traffic and eating the miles.

Just past the Sterkfontein hospital, I felt the bike twist a bit through the bends, so quickly slowed down, and drove to the bottom of the road where I knew there was a garage. Time for some sky in the rubber.

The rear wheel was fine, the front a bit under pressure, And that was the cause of the wobble. Had a smoke, jumped back on the beast, and off we go. To the Bru House and Diner. It's a nice stop, popular with the bikers and they usually have live music on a Sunday. A quick Coke Zero, a smoke or two, and I'm off again. Need to do this satellite road blitz! Turn left out of the Diner, and hit the tar hard. About a kilometer down the road, I realise I'm going the wrong way :) - so a quick U-turn where it was safe to do so, and back the way I cam, past the Diner at 180km/h!

Down the road towards the long sweep which opens up to the downhill past the satellite dishes, I'm sitting on 160km/h, road is clear, you can see for miles, and the sun is warm. The bike is responding well, but a slight "clunk" every now and then has me wondering.......

Up the hill, through the sweep, this is an easy 160km/h bend, over the top, and down the long straight! Now this beast is stretching her legs proper! I just passed the entrance to the satellite station before I managed to stop, turn, park, and another smoke (I seem to be having too many smoke breaks), but don't stop for long. I have places to be, people to scare, and rubber to burn. A man's work is never done it would seem!

A good ride to the Upperdeck at Hartbeespoort dam. Some serious ear twisting on the road that goes to the bridge over the water. Again, these are easy 180km/h sweeps. And my beast is up for it. At the top of the road, a right turn, and casual drive down to the restaurant.

It's busy, and I contemplate riding a kilometer down the road to a second center, but I spot a few empty tables, and a spot for the bike in the shade, so I park. 

Going in, I turn right, as there are a few empty places in sight. At the first table on the right, a solo lady biker is seated. She motions me to sit with her. Mmmmm, okay, I take a seat. Not sure why, but I suppose it's rude to decline an invitation! 

She introduces herself as Trish, and I present myself as Max. What else :) Nice lady, chatty, had already finished her breakfast, and was finishing her non-alcoholic beer. We chatted, swapped some biking stories, mainly rally related. She rides a Kawasaki (think it's a 750cc). She's obviously single, and probably late 50's. Not too bad on the eye.

However, she is riding with Lycra leggings, and kind of lace finish?, makes them "see through"....and I know this lady hasn't been riding long, or ever fallen on the tar. And her shoes are not much of a safety feature either. It does worry me that people do not take the correct protective clothing seriously. If she has a fall, no matter how slow she ight be riding, she's leaving all of her skin on the tar!

Anyway, we got to the point where she asked for my number, under the guise of being able to send me info on local runs, rallies etc. No problem, I gave it, as I am also able to block it if need be!

Eventually my food arrives, and after a few minutes, she pays her bill and leaves. By 1.50 pm I get the first WhatsApp message - "Are you home safe?" I reply at 3pm....

10 Minutes later "Are you on Facebook?" I reply this morning, "I am, but only family and close friends." 30 minutes later I get a "Good morning pic".....

So already I am a bit annoyed, and maybe concerned - Have I collected a stalker?

The ride home was awesome. Turns out the clunk I heard is my chain needing to be tightened. They do tend to stretch over time I suppose. It was a new one I fitted, so will be happy to just take up the slack, can replace it next time.

Overall, a good day, some okay company, and some cobwebs cleared out. Now for another week.....

 

"I have loved you for 33 years"

 

Introduction:-

She walked out of the customs area into the arrivals hall, through the automated doors, and I immediately saw that the photo I had received from her was recent- she hadn't sent an old picture to try and look better than she did. "Damn, but she's gorgeous', was all I could think. She walked over to me, and I wrapped my arms around her in a warm welcome. As I held her close, I said "Welcome home sweetie!", and while her perfume filled my senses, she softly whispered in my ear, "I have loved you for 33 years"!

 

Chapter 1:-

September 1982 - It's been a hard year as far as relationships go. I've been dating a beautiful woman for about 2 years now. For the last 12 weeks I've been working on a contract about 700km from home, and we only get to see each other maybe every 3rd or 4th weekend. But we seem to be coping. It's only for another month or so, then I'll be back home. While away, I've invested in a nice solitaire diamond engagement ring, I know she likes this style, and I know her finger size, so this should go well. This weekend I'm going to propose.

Arriving home, I tell my parents about my plan, dad doesn't say much other than ask if I'm sure, mom says I'm making a mistake! Seriously? "But why would you say that Mom?" I ask. "My parents taught me that you don't marry someone who is more qualified than you are!" she replies. See, my lady has a degree, I barely finished high school - mom is old school, from Italy, and that's what she believes! I make my way to the next town, where my love lives, and on arrival find that my reception by her and her family isn't as warm as it's been in the past. Strange, as I have known most of them for more than 10 years now, and we are all family friends, in fact, I'm always treated as a family member when I'm here.

I go to my lady, and very unromantically, I take the little ring box out of my pocket, and want to propose. "No, she says, don't do that!" "Why not?" I ask. "There is someone else in my life now, I'm sorry, but wanted to wait for you to come home before I told you!"

I don't say anything, somehow I can't, so in complete shock, I turn around and walk out. The drive home is longer than ever before, my mind is in turmoil, with unimaginable thoughts coming and going. "What the hell just happened?" I'm thinking out loud, but have no answer for myself. I walk into my parents home and mom immediately sees that something is wrong, and says "I'm sorry." Strange how mom's just know.

I get a call up for military duty a week later, a 3 month camp to the SWA / Angola border, so that will take my mind off things for a while. However, even being in the war zone, with my fellow soldiers, and concentrating on landmines and trying to stay alive, or watching out for enemy movement does not get my mind off of this incident. I am torn between going back home, or volunteering to stay in the military zone. 3 months later, I'm back from military duty, I have a chunk of money in the bank, so I'm taking a 6 weeks break, going to Italy to see my family and get my mind sorted out. The trip turns into a 6 month stay, and with a little bit of thought could have been a permanent relocation.

After that romantic let down, I decide to just play the field, so to speak, casual relationships, moving from one to another, without having any expectations, not setting any expectations for the other person. I feel that it isn't something I'm ready for, and so don't want to get into any semi-permanent situation with any other girl.

 

Chapter 2:-

Early 1995 - Due to the political situation in South Africa, what with anti-apartheid movements, the local population becoming very riotous, and with the rest of the world wanting to put pressure on the ruling government to abolish apartheid, a lot of international companies are withdrawing from the country. Among them is Alfa Romeo. I drive a 1.8 Alfa Gulietta, a beautiful, reliable, and fast car. I think I'll see if I can upgrade to the 2.0lt model, before they are all sold out. I've managed to find the last one - it's in Durban, but that's okay, it's just a short 600km drive away! I've booked it, and have asked a mate to join me for a quick, long weekend trip to the coast, leaving on Thursday.

"I think you're crazy" says Alan, my mate, "They pulling out of the country, where are you going to get spare parts for this car if it breaks?" "Mine has never broken down, why would this one?" I reply, remembering that this is the exact comment my dad had made when I told him what I was doing. After a 5 and a half hour drive, we pull into to the dealership and I notice that the new car is identical in every way to the one I am driving, just has the bigger engine! That's quite cool, as no one back home is going to see the difference, and it will give me an advantage over those clowns who are always wanting to race between traffic lights!

"What's your best price?" I ask the salesman. They make me a good offer on a trade in, I manage to get finance on the spot, and 2 hours later I'm driving away. I am now the proud owner of the last 2.0 Alfa Gulietta made and sold in South Africa. "Apart from it being cleaner, and smelling new, it's the same car! Still not sure you did the right thing here." says Alan. "Well, it's done, and I just have to enjoy it." I reply.

Now to find accommodation. "Where do you want to stay?" I ask. "Anywhere" says Alan, "Just not too expensive!" So it's down to the beach front, find a 3 star hotel, and book a room for two nights, "I'll pick up the tab for the room," I tell Alan, and "You can pay for drinks!" We settle into the room, basically dump the bags on the floor somewhere, and now it's time to cruise the streets a bit, visit some pubs, get the vibe of the city, and maybe find some ladies for company.

It's Friday night, and we slamming all the night life hot spots. Beers and rum and Coke have been flowing at a mighty pace. The girls in Durban are hot, awesome, and usually approachable (read easy). We eventually make our way to the Malibu hotel where upstairs is a disco, (I can't remember the name), which apparently is the place to be seen right now. After some drinks at the pub downstairs in the same building, we head upstairs. "You do realise that at this rate, I'm probably going to spend more on our drinks than you spent on the room?" laughs Alan. "I know," I reply, "Why do you think I made the offer!" I laugh back at him. A couple of hours of drinking and dancing, and we walk out of the disco for a breather, some fresh air, and some quiet, and we sit in the lounge chairs in the entrance to the disco. Watching the passing parade of girls and guys, and I notice this little blonde bomb, with a figure to die for, walk past, towards the ladies room. A little later she walks back into the disco. When she makes her second appearance not 5 minutes later, and I catch her looking our way, something says to me that she's interested in one of us.

"Looks like the blond is hot for one of us, Alan", "Hey, she's a little bit of alright" he replies, "maybe catch her on her way back". He's not really interested as he has a girlfriend back home. So in my typical West Rand / Italian way, when she comes out of the ladies room, I call her over. "Hey, Blondie, come here for a minute". She looks over, smiles, and does just that. "What do you want?", she asks, in a soft, and very sexy voice, standing in front of me, looking ravishing. "Want to dance?" I ask, get up, take her hand, and walk her into the disco, onto the floor, and proceeded to dance. She looks over to the bar, where some people are staring back at her, and says "Those are my friends, and they are wondering who you are, for sure!" And then "Oh, and I am here with a guy, who might not be too happy to see me dancing with you!" "Where is he?" I ask, in a cocky and self assured voice. She points him out, an unassuming guy, with glasses (don't hit him I say to myself, he's wearing specs), and taking her by the hand, I walk over to him, and her friends, "Sorry bud, she's going home with me tonight, I don't suppose anyone has a problem with that?" No one answers, so I turn around, and we walk away, towards the far end of the bar, and I order drinks, rum and coke for me, and something for her. Her date just gave her a look, and walks out. Not sure if he's going to be waiting outside, or maybe come back with some friends, but somehow, I doubt it. Some of her friends come over and try to convince her that maybe it isn't a good idea to be going anywhere with this stranger, but I can see that she's already made up her mind, and just ignores their advice. At this point I think it's maybe a good idea to get her name! "So, what do your friends call you?", "Jacqui," she replies, "Jacqueline, with a q".

" Well hello there "Jacqui, with a q', I'm Max." And so now we know each other's names! She doesn't know anything about me, where I'm from, what I'm like, nothing, except now my name, but she's willing to take a chance and go with me!

The rest of the evening, and well into the late night was a blast. Some of her friends hang out with us, and get to know me, a little. They ask a lot of questions, but I manage to keep the answers short and to the point, why would I want to give them more information than I need to, and it makes for a lot more laughs for me! This lot are not really trusting this long haired, leather jacket, fat wallet guy from up north! So, time to leave, this place is closing for the night, not the first time I've closed a bar or disco - seems to be my usual trick.

Alan is at the end of the bar, almost falling asleep in his drink! Been a long night for him, but I think he's had fun! On the way to her place, he asks to be dropped off, as he's not feeling too well! We drop him off at our hotel, "Don't wait up for me" I shout, "Like I was planning to!" he replies with a grin on his face. "Ok, where we going?" I ask, as I have no idea yet where she lives, never mind I don't even know her surname! "Oh, and what's your surname? I might have to greet your folks when we get there!" "Smith", "and get on the highway heading south of the city" she replies. She's sitting in my brand new Alfa, sneaking glances my way as we are driving down the highway, and I think she's suitably impressed! "Take the next turnoff, it says 'Bluff', and keep right at the bottom of the off ramp please". We took so many turns, I'm wasn't sure I will find my way out again! Eventually we pull up outside of her home, and I tell her to wait, I always open the door for the ladies! I know, smooth move hey! She's surprised, I don't think she's heard this before, but sits still and waits. "I'll walk you down, and make sure you get in safe." "You don't have to see me in, you know", but it's past midnight, I think it's the right thing to do. We walk to the front door, and she opens it and leads me in. Both her mom and dad are there, in the lounge, waiting for her.

"Is this the time to come home?" blares her dad, but looking at me! "And why didn't you come home with your Fran?" That's her twin, she did tell me about at some point during the evening, but hell, I don't even remember if she was at the same disco! "Dad!" she says, embarrassed by his comment in front of a stranger, "With all respect, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but the time ran away from us. We were having fun, and didn't realise it was so late" I answer, trying hard to sound both respectful and sober at the same time. "I'm Max, and I have brought Jacqui home safely, and didn't drop her off on the street, but walked her in to make sure she was safe." At this point my alcohol induced bravado kicks in and "Oh, and to tell you that I'm taking her out again tomorrow!" Why I had to say all this is beyond me, I mean, no need to try and impress anyone. He splutters in disbelief, '"Who's this kid that he thinks he can talk to me like that?" "Leave it alone" says his wife, to him, and turning to me. "Thank you for bringing her home safely, we will see you tomorrow." Seem like I made a good impression here with the mom, maybe the way I handled the dad wasn't my best effort, but whatever, I'm welcome back it seems! Her dad just mumbled something under his breath, I say my goodbyes and leave.

 

Chapter 3:-

Saturday. It's been a long day, cruising the beachfront in the new car, spending some time on the beach, and in the water. Can't come all this way and not have a swim in the sea! Back to the hotel, shower, and get dressed for the night life. Alan says he will meet me at Fathers Moustache, and we can then go out from there. I leave to collect the little lady! I'm early, it's only 6pm, but I figure we can get some dinner before we go party and drinking. Her dad is nowhere to be seen, and her mom is very nice, invites me in, asks if I wanted to join them for dinner. "Thanks, but no thanks, we going for dinner before we go to the disco. So, if it's okay, and if Jacqui is ready, we can go." Once in the car, she turns to me and says "No one has ever spoken to my dad like that before!", "Oh, sorry" I reply, "Was I out of place?" "Well, I'm not sure, but my mom said 'With this one, you might want to start getting your trousseau ready my dear!' I have good laugh at that, but she doesn’t seem to think it was as funny. How could she make that comment after just having met me?

Dinner at Fathers Moustache is always good, even though it's a limited menu, being a typical bar menu. But the entertainment is also always good there, and this evening is no exception. Jacquie doesn't eat much, but then she is just little - I mean, I don't think she clocks in at 35kg! After a few drinks, the best option is to go upstairs to the same disco we met at as it's close, we don't have to drive and looking for parking, and it's a nice place. So the three of us head upstairs. Alan is on form tonight, hitting on anything in a skirt, seems like the beers have dulled his memory of a girlfriend back home!

It's way past midnight again, damn, time flies when you having fun. "I'll find my way back to the hotel", says Alan, with a gorgeous blond hanging on his arm, the two of them have been inseparable for the past four hours at least, and both are past the legal blood alcohol limit by far, but won't be driving, although the walk back to the hotel could take a lot longer than normal. Seems to me this night is going to end badly for Alan, or goodly, depends on which side you looking at it from! "Be safe, and take care - I'll knock before I come in" I say, and leave them there.

The drive home is slow, somehow I don't want this night to end. She's been a lot of fun, and easy to be with. She's appreciative, loves life, loves the beach and the sea. She's a really nice girl, and someone I know I could spend much more time with. At the house, I walk her down the stairs to the front door, and only her mom is up waiting for our return. "Thanks for letting me take her out again this evening, and again, sorry it's so late, but we really were enjoying the night." I say my goodbyes, with a promise to see her in the morning before I leave for home.

 

Chapter 4:-

This girl had left her mark on me, and what was supposed to be a weekend fling turns into a long distance relationship, across 600km, which has me driving to see her nearly every other weekend for 6 months. I put more kilometres on my new car in those 6 months, than I had done on the previous one in 3 years!

Each time we met, there was more spark, more confidence in each other. There seemed to be an attraction that went beyond the normal, more like our souls were meant to be together. Being together was easy, comfortable. Even her dad started coming round, and as for her mom, I don't think I could do anything wrong in her eyes!

At some stage she came up to Johannesburg to visit with her sister, and I picked her up at the airport. We ended up staying over at my flat, sharing a bed, but not sharing our bodies. We were comfortable just being together, and didn't feel the need for sex. Her parents have become very welcoming, and even offered for me to stay over at their home when I visit, but I don't take them up on that. Somehow, it doesn't feel like the right thing to do.

A coffee shop in the middle of Durban has become a favorite hangout for us. Even the old waiter knows us by name, and knows what we will be having to eat and drink. Such a great old guy, always has some words of wisdom to share with us. It's the Royal café or tearoom in Durban city center, has been here for years. We spend hours just chatting, laughing, sharing a piece of cake, having a lunch, or snack, and soft drinks. The hours pass by in a flash, and soon enough it's time to head back home. A very special place indeed.

It's been six months now that we have been dating. My work is suffering as I miss out on Saturday time, so my income is also taking strain. Although I have qualified in my trade, the current rate of pay does not really provide for these long drives every second weekend. I sit her down for a serious chat. "I can't keep driving down every weekend to see you, it's costing me a bomb, and I'm losing out on Saturday work time as well. Why don’t you move to Johannesburg?" She works at the SAPO, and so could easily ask for a transfer to Johannesburg, or even the town where I live. "Why don't you move to Durban?" she counters. "Well, there isn't much opportunity for a tradesman in Durban, so finding work won't be easy. I can't earn the kind of money I'm making in the West Rand, and it's expensive to live in Durban." "I can't move to Johannesburg now" she replies, and I don't hear her reason, I'm already blocking out the problem in my mind, but probably something to do with her parents and her siblings, specifically her twin.

Our relationship faded from then on, till I stopped going to see her. Somehow we always kept in touch over the years, an occasional phone call, on birthdays, or when she just happened to think of me, or me of her. We moved on, found other partners, got married, had kids.

 

Chapter 5:-

It's just over 10 years later, and she calls to say she is now living in Pretoria. I work for a multinational IT company, and am on the road most of the time. On the odd occasion when I'm in her area, I pop in to say hello, take her for lunch, catch up. It's always a special meeting up, but, we don't cross any boundaries, recognizing the fact that we both have spouses we had dedicated ourselves to. "It's always so nice to see you, and to catch up", she says, "Likewise" I reply. "How's the kids?", "All good, and yours?" I ask. "Fine thanks, always so helpful, and taking care of mommy." And that's about the total chat about each other's family. When we do meet, it's like long lost friends, but also like friends who regularly see each other. There is no crazy wanting of each other, yet a simple enjoyment of the company of someone who was very special at one point in your life. Lots of laughs, a simple quick meal, then move on, till next time. Somehow, we never discussed out marital situations, just get updated on how the kids are doing, how work is going, how she misses the sea, and how I still want to live there one day. She is still beautiful, just more mature. She seems to be living her life around her child, as she is always taking him to the zoo, the museums, special sports events, etc. These were her favorite conversations. I must add, that most of my chats are also about my children, and their achievements and successes.

Not once did she even mention that she was single / divorced at the time. It could have been an ace she held she might have tried to play, but never did.

 

Chapter 6:-

2015, and another 20 plus years have passed. The world has progressed to cellphone, so we are able to easier get hold of each other, send a message, etc. She calls one morning, out of the blue. I'm at work having managed to get employment after almost a year. Things on the employment front have been tough since I left IBM after about 17years. I had done very well there, but they went on a big drive to implement the Black Economic Empowerment policy, and also to get more women on their staff, so I was one of the fall guys, and got retrenched. Didn't think it would be so hard to find another job, but boy was I wrong!

There was no birthday, nor any special event or reason, but I later figured she had probably read into some of my stuff on my Facebook profile, and probably thought something was up. We chatted a bit, this and that. "Where are you?" I ask, "In Dubai." "What are you doing there?" "Living here, it's a long story, but, what's happening in your life?" she asks. I tell her I'm going through a divorce, after 26 years of marriage. Not one I want, but there was no changing my soon to be ex's mind. Jacqui was silent, for a long time, then "I am so sorry, but what the hell is she doing that for?" "She says it's because she doesn't love me anymore, but I have found out she's been cheating on me for a long, long time!" I reply. Again a long silence, and then, "How can she be so stupid? I'm flying home early next year to visit my sister and the family, and would like to meet with you if it's okay." "Of course," I say, "Let me know when, and I'll fetch you at the airport."

We chat on and off for the next few months. My divorce is finalized, the ex moves out, leaves me with the kids. I'm again unemployed, but somehow still manage to get by, even get my youngest through last quarter and final year at University.

In conversations, and messages, she updates me on how she ended up in Dubai. Seems she had got divorced when her child was still very small. She had never told me before, not even during our meetings in Pretoria. She had maintained a reasonable relationship with the boy's father, for her child's sake, and they got on well enough. At some point they had co-habitated (her words). As the child was finishing high school and going to go to varsity, the ex had got a job offer in Dubai, and asked her to go with him. She couldn't if she wasn't married to him, so she remarried her child's dad. And that's how it went down. She was now, according to her, stuck in a relationship she wasn't happy with, neither of them actually wanting to be together, but neither of them wanting to be the parent that would disappoint their child! (again, her words).

 

Chapter 7:-

I leave early, as you never know what the traffic is going to be like driving to the airport, and arrive early. I have a cappuccino, then take a walk around looking at the new layout of the airport arrivals area, watch a guy who seemed to be secretly watching and following me (this did make me a bit nervous, and I really don't know why), and watch for the arrival of her flight to be announced, knowing it will take at least to another hour after touchdown for her to come through the doors. Another coffee or two, a sandwich, read a newspaper or two. Time is really going slowly.

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I look into her eyes, that are now slowly filling with tears. "What did you say?" I ask. "I have loved you for 33 years," she replies. It takes me a while to absorb this statement, all the while I'm just holding her close, breathing in her feminism. I have been divorced for just on 6 months now, and hugging a beautiful lady that smells so nice, is a special moment for me. I keep holding her for another minute or so, then I step back, and take her bags from her. "I need to get some airtime for my phone", she says. "There's a store just around the corner, I'll wait at the coffee shop" I reply. While I wait, I think about the implications of her statement. How could this even be possible? We have both moved on, married other partners, had children. Our worlds have completely changed. I'm looking 10 years older than I am, due to stress, and weight loss during my divorce. I'm down from 90kg to 72kg, definitely don't look anything like I used to. Her words churn around in my head, and I can make no sense of it. I'll have to wait and ask her, later.

She calls her twin, confirms she's landed safely, and will be coming through to them on the Gautrain. But I offer to take her, as it isn't easy to drag suitcases and stuff around on the train. She agrees, and we make our way to the car park. "Where's the Alfa?" she asks, with a naughty smile on her face, eyes twinkling! "Ah, sold that a long time ago, sorry!" As is my norm, I open the door for her, and we leave.

It's still early, so I suggest we spend some time driving around to she can see what has changed, and what hasn't, while she's been away. It's also going to give me more time with her, and to try and understand that comment she made when we met earlier. "I'd like to see some places" she replies. The trust is still there - she really shouldn't trust to easily! So I take the highway towards where I now live, as it's the same town I lived in when she had stayed over at my flat many, many years ago. The drive itself is, well, special. She coyly keeps glancing in my direction, making small talk, and I'm all the while pointing out sights that she wouldn't have seen for many years. That's Johannesburg CBD on the skyline, and the Carlton is still the highest building there." "That's Sandton, just exploded over the past 20 to 25 years, and is the place to be if you go shopping, or want to live with the rich and famous." In between she comments about the traffic, or how fast some cars are travelling, asks about my mom, my sister, all people she had met so many years ago. "how's Alan?" she asks. I slow down a bit, Look across to her, "He passed away just over a year ago. Had cancer, and fought it bravely, but just couldn’t beat it." "Oh, I'm so sorry" she replies. "And what about Mr. Van?" "He passed in 2020, old age, had a heart attack." We drive in quiet for a while, but slowly we start to chat again, comfortable in each other's company. Her earlier whisper in my ear isn't mentioned again, not for quite some time.

 

Realizing I'm needing to put in fuel, I drive into a filling station just off the highway. While the guy is busy filling up the tank, on impulse, I lean over and kiss her. She doesn't resist, nor pull away, she just puts her hand behind my head and holds me there. I realize that maybe this was not a good idea, things could just go downhill from here. Nothing is said, I pay, and we drive on. The silence for a short while is so thick you can taste it. I take her past the flat where I had lived when she stayed over that night so many years ago, past some of the restaurants we had frequented, and then drive her to my new home, where I had raised my family, and where I now live with my two sons. I make us some coffee, and we sit and chat on the deck for a while. Just chit chat, the view, how nice the house looks, the fact that it's so big…..Everything, but not that kiss, nor the comment at the arrivals lounge at the airport. Somehow, neither of us is wanting to open this can of worms, or at least, be the first one to do so. I take her through the house, showing her each room, as I am very proud of what I had designed and built. Eventually we get to the main bedroom, and as we walk into the dressing room, I pull her close, and kiss her. This is a risky situation, we are alone at home, I'm longing for feminine affection, she's 'loved me for 33 years'! I pick her up, damn, she still so tiny, and sit her on the dressing table, and then all hell breaks loose! We just can't keep our hands off of each other. It's a moment of passionate madness, nothing else matters, just us, and this moment in time. It's a mad scramble to get as much of each other as possible, without, it would seem, crossing any sexual boundaries, but that's coming fast. I take her by the hand, lead her towards the bed, and put her down on her back, on the bed. I lie down on her, and we continue with the madness, kissing, groping, feeling the heat. Then some sanity prevails. I look down into her eyes, and see complete submission, it's all up to me now, do or don't, it's my call. The 33 years of dreams, the sensual meeting this morning, our chats, the flirting, and now alone in this place, she seems to have lost all her resistance, and I am about to lose mine. "And now" she says, "What are you going to do?" "Well, I know what I'd like to do" I replied, and she just smiled - no argument from her

I walked away, went to the dressing room to get a jacket, then picked her up off of the bed, and led her downstairs. "I think it's better if we don't get into that situation, maybe we should get something to drink, sit outside and enjoy the view." We have something to drink, sitting next to each other on the bench, me having a much needed smoke, or three, neither saying a word, just appreciating the view, and, in my case, rethinking what had just happened upstairs.

Then this question, out of nowhere - "Why didn't you take advantage of the situation that night I stayed over?" she asked, and my response was "I wasn't sure that you were the one for me, and didn't want us to get into a place either of us might not be comfortable with afterwards." It sounded strange to me too, saying that, but somehow I knew I meant it.

I think we both realize that although it was something we both desperately want, this is not the time nor the place. I'm on a rebound after my divorce, and now have this beautiful person available to me, and she, well, apart from maybe nearly realizing her dreams of the past 33 years, is still married!

Eventually we leave as it's lunch time, and we both could do with a meal, and other people around us. Just to keep things 'normal'! Lunch was a semi-quiet affair, I had a burger, she nibbled on hers. We were on the way to her siblings home town, via a long route, and I suggest a coffee shop stop. Not that either of us wants coffee, but again, just spending time together, but in public, it's safer this way. Sitting in the coffee shop, and I can't hold back anymore. "What's going on?" I ask. "I don't know," she replies. "This isn't me, and I didn't plan any of this, and as my marriage broke up because of infidelity, I don't want to be doing the same thing!" I say. "I know, but what are we to do? It's obvious we want to be with each other…." she says. "It seems as if the universe is against us" she says. "When I was available, you were not, not you are, and I am not!" "so, we need to keep control of our emotions then, and not let this get out of hand, not that it hasn't already!" I reply.

As the sun is setting, I drive her to the Gautrain station closest to where her twin lives, drop her off, and wait in the shadows to ensure she's okay till her lift arrives, then drive home, alone, confused and maybe a little surprised at myself.

 

Chapter 8:-

We speak often over the next few days, either on WhatsApp or on the phone. The calls are always alluring, flirting, testing the waters, from both sides. It's now a week later, and I arrange to pick her up at her twins house. She tells them a friend is fetching her for dinner. I meet her outside the complex gate, and she's looking fabulous. This lady just knows how to get to me. Dinner is at a great restaurant about 35km away, as we don't want to risk running into anyone who knows her. She is great to be with, great to be seen with, a joy to the heart, and has given me a renewed sense of being needed. This is my weak spot now - the need to be needed, to know that someone out there actually wants to be with me. For her, it's more of reliving her dreams she had been having for the past decades, to be with that one guy she thinks she loves.

This evening is followed by several such evenings. And even with a trip to the nearby mall on a Saturday. We drive to see my mom, and it seems that mom remembered her.(Mom has dementia, so her memory isn't what it should be, also it's been 33 years since they met). It's so special spending time together, but with always the knowledge in the back of my mind that she is actually out of bounds. We never go further than hugs, kisses, spending time together, but the want is real.

This time spent together repeated itself over the next 3 years, every time she came to visit her twin, staying for 6 to 8 weeks at a time. Except, I didn't get to fetch her at the airport again, as that didn't go down to well with the family. They said that it might not be safe for her alone on the train, with her luggage. On her second visit here, her twin found out what was going on, well, some of it. Sister knew we were meeting, seeing each other. And somehow, they devised a way for me to visit at her home, getting past her hubby with the story that we were friends from days gone by. Turns out he was dating her twin in Durban, while I was dating Jacqui! And we had never met! Go figure!

It has made it easier to see her, but under strictly controlled conditions - there is no way we could get hands on in front of the family! So we often go for dinner, or to "visit" mutual friends from days gone by! She remains so much fun to be with. Slowly she's starting to share her problems she was having with her husband. Problems that had started as soon as they had arrived in Dubai. And how she had no escape from it. Telling her to leave him didn't help, as she didn't want to disappoint her child who was so happy that his parents were finally back together again.

"I'm not happy, and we just tolerate each other." " He drinks a lot, and is always moody." " He spends too much time at work." " I just spend my time shopping." "All he does is watch sports on TV with my child." "I even go to the beach alone, because he's not interested." This is the summary of her situation, and I can see that she's not happy at all.

 

Later, I write a poem, "Warrior Woman", basically for her, as she strikes me as someone who is constantly in a battle of sorts, yet, keeps going, even though she's on her own. And subsequently I have written a book, based on the poem (still writing it….). The poem has been well received by all who have read it. The book, although not anything to do with her specifically, is also looking good, currently being reread, changed, added to….will it ever be finished?

 

Chapter 9:-

Conversations between us while she is overseas are frequent, and often she would make a plan to get to a place where she can call and just chat. On the beach, at the mall, anywhere.

Eventually their contract in Dubai was been terminated. They had been there for 8 or 10 years, and it was time to leave. Initially her husband wanted to go to some insert exotic location to retire, but she insisted on coming home to South Africa. They have a place in the Eastern Cape where they used to live, and moved in there.

 

That was 5 or 6 years ago, but I never got to see her again. Our conversations have petered out, she doesn't share anything with me anymore. Her excuse is she doesn't want to bother me with her problems. Other than letting her know I was now a grandfather, and sending her a photo of the little ones, I have not made any attempt to restart our conversations.

We dream, we live in hope, and we look for opportunities, but if the universe is working against you, (her words), then things won't go your way. You learn, and you move on. It's been 40 years now since we first met, a life time for many, a moment for me.

 

An adventure of life, a learning curve, a test of restraint, and a lifelong moment of friendship.

 

33 years later - And then there you were

I waited for what seemed forever

Then there you were, walking through those doors

Both of us apprehensive, yet excited

We hugged, I kissed you, you kissed me back

 So beautiful, I didn't know what to do with myself

Your shy smile, your laughing eyes

I knew then that this was going to be difficult

Spending a few hours together

 Hesitant at first, talking, looking at each other

Smiling, nervous laughter

Talking became easier, like it was meant to be

Laughing, asking, sharing

 Holding hands, a little kiss, that smile

Your eyes, your soft lips, your hair

Damn, this was going to make me crazy

Just beautiful and comfortable

Sitting on my deck, you facing me

Sliding closer, up, onto my lap

Kissing, cuddling, so soft, warm, so right

So beautiful, and yet so wrong

That long late night drive

The cold air, and your white coat

The station, the call home

The wait, watching, keeping you safe

And then, then you were gone

The visits, silently slipping away

The adrenaline of the secrecy

Always fun, warm, exciting, you

 It just was meant to be

But then, it seems, it wasn't

So I sit here with my memories

And see you even in my dreams

But life got in the way,

Once before, long ago

And, it would seem, it did it again

So beautiful, So lovely, So unavailable