Seeing the Old Year Out

2019 was not a good year for me but I feel that it is the turning point. God and me have grown together in leaps and bounds. I know that we are much closer than ever before after this year. 

Anyhow to end off this year, we joined some friends to watch Peter Pan on Ice this evening, starting from the left to right is Matthew, Sean, Tina, Lynda, me, and of course Paulo. 

So here is to a better 2020...

Chevy Lane

I'm am not sure how Paulo got the timing right, as we found ourselves at a retro 50's Americana diner on the 4th of July, Independence Day for 'Merica, or the original Brexit of 1776 unless you British then it is Treason Day with a stiff upper lip.

Anyways no matter how you view this day, our old friend Paulo was up in Jozi with Shani and the kids. Now we haven't seen Shani for about 4 years so it was about a good time for a get together as any. So here we all are on a cold winter's evening in an American diner called Chevy Lane, seated from left to right is Sean, Tina, Shani, Paulo, Mr Claus (aka meself), and Lynda. 

Private Dancer

I'm your private dancer, dancer for money. I'll do what you want me to do... no no no, wrong Tina. This is Tina and Eddy, not Tina Turner and Ike. 

Now how could I ever get so confused, well any ways, Tina and her husband Eddy are also staying with us at Robbie's place in Hilton. They are down from Johannesburg for a 21st next door at Tim and Fiona's. Now they are beekeepers and this is one thing that I would love to do so we had plenty to talk about other than the commonality of families and religious upbringing as they are ex-Brethren like me, hence the confusing about private dancers.

Note to self: We must get together in Jozi and follow up on beekeeping.

Tina

It is a long story of how I got to see Tina today. It has been a long time since I last saw Tina and I must say it was good to see her again.

Well it all started over the weekend with Magda celebrating her 40th birthday. Our mutual friend Paulo was invited but somehow because he was in South Africa only for such brief time, he got caught in things that needed to be done and he could not make Magda's party. Sorry for him because we had a wonderful time. Anyway just before he flew out to Mozambique yesterday, Paulo phoned me telling me that he has left a present in the boot of his car and would I please fetch and give the present to Magda.

So this morning I made contact with Paulo's sister Tina who had Paulo's car at her work in Park Town which is just up the road from my work. Who would have known that we were this close? So I rode over to the Asbestos Relief Trust where Tina works as a lawyer to pick up Magda's presents. Yes present became presents because in Paulo's car was three presents, one obviously from Paulo, one from Shani, Paulo's girlfriend, and the other from Vespa South Africa. I stayed as long as I could as Tina and I caught up on life but I had to tear myself away and zoom over on my Vespa to Dr Lipschitz in Rosebank where Magda works as a radiologist. Magda was pleased to receive the presents and offered me lunch which I dutifully accepted.

At the 40th birthday party there was so much going on that just sitting in Magda's office over toasted sarmies and catching up on all the news was priceless. This is what friends are for. Forget missing 40ths, as just sitting and listening to each other is what it is all about. A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.

Tina and Max

This morning I wanted to sleep in, but for the love of Sophia, I crawled out of bed on a cold winter’s morning to take Anastasiya on her first breakfast run, the VLV Breakfast Run to Rocket in Rivonia. So leaving early I arrived about the same time as Tina and Max, shown above. Wow it has been a long time but it was good to catch up with them all the latest happenings and introduce Anastasiya.

The cold didn’t keep many Vespa lovers at bay as 28 Vespas and one Honda turned up but as normal with the VLV Breakfast Runs, we left late but arrived in just towards the end of breakfast at Rocket, but maybe late, there still was plenty time for a good breakfast. Brono, a Sicilian South African gave us a little speel about his tours that he conducts back to his motherland, the Culinary Vespa Tours – Eatalia. For only R28k per person excluding airfares for 9 days of riding Vespas in Italy, including accommodation and culinary cooking lessons at the best gastronomy eateries in Italy, it sounds awesome. Now to start saving up for Matthew and I as from the age of 15 and with no licence, Vespas can be ridden in the south of Italy.

The weather improved later in the day so Jade, my Italian Greyhound, and I joined the Johannesburg Book & Movie Club for a braai a Delta Park. So many new people to meet and Jade made it look so easy as she was in her element.

La Dolce Vita

Ahhh, the sweet life. After yesterday's crash and burn, today was really sweet. A group of over 20 Vespas met in Wynburg to do a ride through the suburbs of Johannesburg. We went through Sandton, Craighall Park, Parkhurst, Greenside, Parkview, Saxonwold, Killarney, Houghton Estate, Fairwood, Cyrildene and all the way to Bedfordview just to get some breakfast. It was good fun riding in a large group of Vespas. Later three of the Vespas (Magda on Mama Afrika, myself on Sophia and Paulo with his lovely sister Tina on Esmeralda) went to Randburg Motorcycles for their open day which then caused me to be late for Ricky's surprise birthday party. Well only a hour and a half late. Wasn't it Craig who told me it is better to get there late well not that late.