Metalcross

Here the man who started what could be stated as the top dent and scratch removal panel beaters in Johannesburg, Metal Cross. Frank started Metal Cross over 10 years ago just up the road from where they are now in between Northgate and Fourways. Next to Frank is his right hand man Laurence who is the estimator manager and between Frank and Laurence, they make sure that Metal Cross humbly remains on top.

Mustang Frank

Move over Sally, Mustang Frank is in town, and he is passionate about men of God and this morning at a Men's Breakfast I attended, Frank was the keynote speaker and he gave his testimony. Wow was it passionate and from the heart.

Being Frank

Let me be frank with you, today is my birthday and driving back home after spending the majority of my day with Frank working on his company's website, Metal Cross, I thought wow, this has being a very productive day and I felt good, real good, something that I have not felt for a long time.

Yes, we men need to feel that we have accomplished something, that we are providing for the family, like my one friend Mike likes to say, "going out and killing the bull". we want to feel that our lives are not just meaningless but have a purpose. 

So the best part of my day today, was that I was working.

I can Only Imagine

With so many people around me, going on to be with the Lord, it is a little worrying of what God has set in motion. Is it well with my soul?

Frank, the guy in the middle invited a group of men to watch the movie "I can only imagine" with him. Okay it is his 3rd time he saw the movie and it has just been released on the the circuit. In the photo is Clint, Stephan, me, Frank, Maurizio, and Morné. Okay Tim who is missing was taking the photo. Someone at the table quoted "Show me your friends and I will prophesy your future". This is a great bunch of men.

So back to the movie of Bart Millard and MercyMe, and of how the song "I can only Imagine came into being, not in 10 minutes it took to write it down but a lifetime of hurt and sorry. The words that Bart's dad said to him "Dreams don't pay the bills. Nothing good comes from them. All it does is keeping you from knowing what is real." Hit real hard as I remember Carol once said to me that I taught her to dream and look what all that dreaming became, bitterness and sorrow. If God can change Bart's dad from bitterness of his destroyed dreams, then what can God do for me. 

Yes in my wildest dreams I cannot imagine what I will do once I too stand before the throne. "Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine." 

I can only imagine

Niche Breakfast

After yesterdays rant, I think that I need a breather, so today a shorter post.

Because of the viral nature my raw sewerage post went, I somehow have fallen into the camp of the conservation, not a bad place to be in, I must say so myself. So now we are fighting for the Greater Roodekrans Ridge Conservancy from King’s Kloof to Constantia Kloof. I phoned a friend today about Crowd Funding on another environmental project, this friend has always been adamant that my blogs have been far too short, said to me on the phone, that I have now found my niche for my blog; no more cat photos said my friend. Oh dear.

Anyway, today I had to see my client, Metalcross for our monthly debriefing sessions and after waiting for a while, it was cold this morning, Frank, the owner phoned to apologise and invited me to meet him for breakfast. Now I can’t say no to breakfast, how can I. It was a good breakfast although I didn't quite know what that green fried leaves in the mini bucket were for.

Brothers Day

Oh dear, as you can see I need way more practice doing selfies as this photo from my front facing camera is terrible but because it is the only one I took today it just has to do. I think I better clean my lens or stop shaking, not that I am improving as a photographer.

Arriving at Metalcross this morning, Frank proudly informed me that today is Brothers Day and since we were brothers from another mother, a selfie was called for.

Don Francisco

Yesterday my good friend Frank or as he is legally known as Francisco, turned 50 years old along with his business, Metal Cross turned 10.

Lynda and I were summoned to the villa to celebrate in Don Francisco’s 50th birthday. We have never been to a Portuguese Mafia party, intrigued, so we arrived dressed to the tee and armed to the teeth. But we were family and had nothing to worry about; someone else can be fed to the fishes. We enjoyed our evening with the don, family, and friends.

Happy Birthday Metal Cross

Ten years ago, Frank had a dream, a dream of starting a dent and scratch repair centre free of the unethical business practices that were plaguing the panel beating industry. The Metal Cross Vehicle Makeover Clinic was born. Metal Cross started from a gazebo in a parking lot opposite a car wash behind Fourways Value Mart in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. Through ups and downs with his wife Liz by his side, Metal Cross is now the top scratch and dent repair company in Randburg maybe even the whole of Johannesburg.

Happy birthday Metal Cross. Here is to another 10 good years.

Frank

I joined my good friend Frank for lunch today at Cedar in Fourways. It is the first time this year that I have seen Frank, oh did I mention that the year has just started and that I saw Frank about a month ago in the previous year. This new year is going to be an awesome year.

Ginger Green

It was a cold start to the morning, but I had to get up early and get to a restaurant by 8:30 for breakfast with an old friend of mine, Frank.

Since he was flying out to the States tonight he didn’t ordered a big breakfast but something light with this green sludge which was called Ginger Green and consists of pineapple, pear, ginger and mint, urgh I think I am going to get sick. Anyway I ordered a more traditional egg and sausage breakfast. There goes my cholesterol but it is cold outside and I need all the energy I can get.

Frank started the company Metalcross Vehicle Makeover Clinic way back in 2007 when he became disillusioned with the corruption, bribery, and unreliability in the panel beating industry. So here was an honest to goodness approach to the tainted vehicle repair industry that helped make the Metalcross company grow in leaps and bounds.

It has been a long time since I saw Frank last, I think it was about five years ago which made this breakfast awesome with lots of really good catching up on things.

Metal Cross Vehicle Makeover Clinic

Today I became legal. When I was a school kid I did my driver's learner licence test for both a motorcycle and car but only did my car driver's licence and sadly allowed my bike learners to expire not thinking that I would ever need it again.

That was many moons ago and since I got Sophia we have been doing some defensive riding, well not the Search, Identify, Predict and Act as they teach you in Driving School but the Search, Identify and Avoid the Metro Cops. And we did a fairly good job at that because I felt that been licensed to drive a car should cover a bike as well. Why am I telling you this? Well I let the Poser's Scooter Club down because this afternoon I sat for my licence and passed with flying colours. Now I am licensed to ride Sophia for the next two years but why wait, I went straight from the Randburg Licence Department to the Randburg Testing Station and booked my Drivers Licence Test.

After that I headed home but got a little side tracked by stopping off at Art & Décor, and then further down the road I stopped at Metal Cross Vehicle Makeover Clinic in Fourways to see my good friend Frank who I haven't seen for yonks. As you can see in today's photo he was happy to see me too. Frank runs this awesome vehicle makeover clinic where he takes out the knocks and scratches that your car gets in its day to day life. It was a short chat as he was busy as ever then I was off again. Before finally arriving home I did a brief stop at Scoots for some hot chocolate then home.

Now I am licensed to ride so keep off the pavements.

Frank

The Portuguese are not in this Rugby World Cup so my good friend Frank is wearing his Springbok colours. I spent the afternoon with him, catching up on all the news from his side. It was good just chilling. He too is just itching to get onto his Vespa and head into the sunset.

French, Italians, English and Portuguese

What is happening to the European teams in the soccer world cup? First it was the France and then soon afterwards the Italy fell followed by England; now it is the turn of Portugal. At least my friends Frank (Portuguese) and Maurizio (Italian) are still smiling and have to choose other teams to support. Frank is going with Brazil and Maurizio the Netherlands. Frank had painted his bike in the Portuguese flag while Maurizio had the whole sides of his car done in the Italian flag. I wonder if they will do their vehicles in the the new colours.

Pretty Lady

I went and saw Frank today about fixing my Vespa, Sophia. Afterwards we popped into the Vespa showroom at Fourways where Frank test drove a GTS 250, GTS 300 and a Gilera Fuoco 500. Frank was very impressed with all of them. Here he is with his son Joshua on the beautiful GTS 300.

The Gift of Friends

It is good to have true friends who stand by you when the rest run away. Some of my very good friends meet every Saturday and it was good to start the day with them. From left to right are Dave, Frank, Ted and Keith.

Franco

After Men’s Group I popped in to see Frank at his shop.

Frank

Saturday Men's Group

Back: John and Doug
Front: David and Frank

Frank's 40th Mexican theme

Maurizio, Frank and Kathy

The Launch of Metal Cross

From Left to right: Nic, Nigel, Maurizio, Rob (hidden), Frans, Douglas (hidden),
Glen (hidden), John, Keith, Tom, Merville, Leon, Dave, Wayne and Frank