Without a doubt my Jozi experience was a rich one and I am glad I did it. I managed to bond with my mom and sis. It was as if we had seen each other just the week before but without the guilt.My mom is now 81 and her memory is getting bad; and her health deteriorating in general. She gets depressed too and I found a herbal remedy to help her to calm down. But she is OK. Still likes to play the fool and made me laugh a lot. Linda is fine and we managed to clear the air on a number of things. I think i managed to give her self-confidence a boost so I feel OK about leaving them for now.
As for my bro, David, ya, well no fine. He did not want to meet with me, so, his loss.
I've since heard he is living in a Hillbrow crack den. Yup.
Sadly my brother has no life skills. But not to worry, he has company. My coke addict cuz, Michael, lives there with his wife.
So, Dave has been hanging with Mike. I think the possibility of Dave becoming a crack addict is about as likely as Michael becoming religious. Should be fun.
Sadly I had so little time, and I wanted to spend as much of it as possible with my mom, and I wanted to see my friends; dammit!
I stayed in Yeoville with Gabs and Friday night she came and fetched me at my sis. Off we drove to the Blue Nartjie. Nothing had changed. Same old regulars and it wasn't long before Debbie Shultz Jay n Vera, and Henner and Carina showed up. Yeah, we jolled. I'd kept in touch with Gabs and Debs but the others not at all. I figured it was time to move on but we ended up having long drunken conversations until the wee hours of the morn.
On Saturday I headed out with Gabs to see her latest public swimming pool renovation project - in Turfontein. She is doing very impressive work and I hope she can get a project overseas. It's time she got some space from her mom and met some fun, exciting men.
Then it was lunch with Joanne followed by coffee with Kyle. I went out with him and his GF and the whole event was a non-starter. Every topic I raised I got a monosyllabic answer. As soon as coffee was finished they took me home. I was so distressed by the experience I dreamt about it for days after. Then Kyle started leaving messages on my voicemail and we agreed to get together one last time.
He's also worried that he may be +HIV. Hence his behaviour the other night. He's not sure about it but he claims to have lost over 20 kg in 6 months even though he has started eating meat again.
Other than that I went to a braai at Henner and Carina on Sunday. Got M.O.T.H.E.R.E.D. and slept over. The next day I woke up pissed pissed pissed [ we counted a bottle of vodka, schnapps, 3 bottle of wine and around 3 snakebites apiece] and went off to the 8th World petroleum Conference. I scammed my way in, "I'm a freelance journo from Israel and I am on holiday here. My editor asked me to check this out at the last minute so that's why I haven't registered."
The officials went away muttering that this was "very irregular" and the event is "very secure because of the VIPs in attendance". I stood around, reeking of booze [I thought] and waiting with the Ambassador of Blah blah blah who was shouting, "I am the Ambassador of Blah blah blah, I am outraged! You MUST let me in!!!! This is a dip-lo-mat-ic incident!!!"
Then they came back. "These two people" - she showed me two registration papers crossed out with red ink - "were trying their luck to get in. They're probably marketing types looking for a free party. But I believe you are genuine, and we don't have anyone here from Israel, so, WELCOME!"
I sauntered in and did the rounds at the conference.
Public transport is limited to mini bus taxi's, taxi's and run down busses, and it was so difficult to get around Joburg this way. While Gabs was prepared to lend me her car, thanks to Tal I have a number of fines and warrants for my arrest so it was not very practical. The Jhb Met Cops have so many roadblocks its hard to get around.
I also got to meet Julie and her hubby, kids and folks. We had an excellent meal and many hours of conversation, and I am glad to count them as friends
Who else? Who else? Danny! Fuck yeah. I got to see DanMan and Sanlee, his wife. Another cool drunken connection, at Buzz 9 in Melville. They are doing OK in C.Town. Dan is making decent deals and Sanlee is gearing up to set up her own business someday.
I also met Sheryl, an ex, for drinks. She brought her daughter, Clea, who was an absolute delight. 14 and so cool. We yakked and had some good moments. I was shocked to hear that Sheryl's fiance was beating her and this was the reason why she limped about... She tells me she is trying to break away...
Friday night I went to a Baaba Maal concert in New Town and it was lots of fun. Yes, I misbehaved! n Skandaal! Then we went to the Narch and partied till 4 Saturday morning. I woke up drunk and then left at 830 for the airport with... Marin who was keen to continue drinking! I'd had no contact with him whatsoever and he found out I was in town when he dropped someone off at the building. "I used to know someone who lived here." he said.
"Who," asked Maria?
"Russel."
"Well he's here on holiday..."
...and he rang Gabs' bell...
So I is back in Iz and pretty glad to be. I miss my mom and family and my friends. While I have been here going on two years I have yet to jol as I did in SA. And, obviously because of the language, I have been so starved for good conversation.
Anyway, life here is new and interesting in contrast to Jo'burg with its aids, violence and corruption. So little has changed back home.
I love Tel Aviv - even shopping here is cheap compared to SA.
The weather is really good, slightly hotter than SA - warm with sunny skies, yet cool at the end of the day. There's a bit of a breeze in the air now that Winter's coming and the day is consequently shorter. People here are really friendly and the neighbourhood I am living in, (North TA) is quiet and upmarket.
I came home to find my flat changed - the female touch. And we've been getting to know each other better this past week. Orly is keeping me amused and I feel good around her. All round I think I can honestly say that I feel it's working out so far. One step at a time.
I have shared my feelings and experiences of Jo'burg with her, and she feels I am aggressive since my return. Hell, I thought I was aggressive when I was in SA, pushing to the front of queues and being really forward with women - it was great! heh heh!
Sadly, so much of what I have had to say to her about Jhb is negative. Practically everyone I met there had nothing positive to say about the city or the country. The stories I heard were so shocking I couldn't repeat them to Orly. While stats show crime is down [+19,370 deaths this year], FEAR of crime is up. No one has confidence in the SAPS, the Scorpions are being forced to merge with the SAPS, which itself is riddled with corruption, and is unbelievably poor in resources. And then there is aids...
I cant say more. I don't need to, do I?
But still, I told Orly she needs to talk to Rev to get a feel for SA.
Yesterday I had a chat with Rev who called to wish me a couple of days early. I recalled my conversation with Orly re. Jozi, and Rev said, "That's South Africa. In the beginning all you see is the fear. In time, the incredible beauty of the people and the land comes out. It takes time."
And I was only there for nine days.
As for my bro, David, ya, well no fine. He did not want to meet with me, so, his loss.
I've since heard he is living in a Hillbrow crack den. Yup.
Sadly my brother has no life skills. But not to worry, he has company. My coke addict cuz, Michael, lives there with his wife.
So, Dave has been hanging with Mike. I think the possibility of Dave becoming a crack addict is about as likely as Michael becoming religious. Should be fun.
Sadly I had so little time, and I wanted to spend as much of it as possible with my mom, and I wanted to see my friends; dammit!
I stayed in Yeoville with Gabs and Friday night she came and fetched me at my sis. Off we drove to the Blue Nartjie. Nothing had changed. Same old regulars and it wasn't long before Debbie Shultz Jay n Vera, and Henner and Carina showed up. Yeah, we jolled. I'd kept in touch with Gabs and Debs but the others not at all. I figured it was time to move on but we ended up having long drunken conversations until the wee hours of the morn.
On Saturday I headed out with Gabs to see her latest public swimming pool renovation project - in Turfontein. She is doing very impressive work and I hope she can get a project overseas. It's time she got some space from her mom and met some fun, exciting men.
Then it was lunch with Joanne followed by coffee with Kyle. I went out with him and his GF and the whole event was a non-starter. Every topic I raised I got a monosyllabic answer. As soon as coffee was finished they took me home. I was so distressed by the experience I dreamt about it for days after. Then Kyle started leaving messages on my voicemail and we agreed to get together one last time.
He's also worried that he may be +HIV. Hence his behaviour the other night. He's not sure about it but he claims to have lost over 20 kg in 6 months even though he has started eating meat again.
Other than that I went to a braai at Henner and Carina on Sunday. Got M.O.T.H.E.R.E.D. and slept over. The next day I woke up pissed pissed pissed [ we counted a bottle of vodka, schnapps, 3 bottle of wine and around 3 snakebites apiece] and went off to the 8th World petroleum Conference. I scammed my way in, "I'm a freelance journo from Israel and I am on holiday here. My editor asked me to check this out at the last minute so that's why I haven't registered."
The officials went away muttering that this was "very irregular" and the event is "very secure because of the VIPs in attendance". I stood around, reeking of booze [I thought] and waiting with the Ambassador of Blah blah blah who was shouting, "I am the Ambassador of Blah blah blah, I am outraged! You MUST let me in!!!! This is a dip-lo-mat-ic incident!!!"
Then they came back. "These two people" - she showed me two registration papers crossed out with red ink - "were trying their luck to get in. They're probably marketing types looking for a free party. But I believe you are genuine, and we don't have anyone here from Israel, so, WELCOME!"
I sauntered in and did the rounds at the conference.
Public transport is limited to mini bus taxi's, taxi's and run down busses, and it was so difficult to get around Joburg this way. While Gabs was prepared to lend me her car, thanks to Tal I have a number of fines and warrants for my arrest so it was not very practical. The Jhb Met Cops have so many roadblocks its hard to get around.
I also got to meet Julie and her hubby, kids and folks. We had an excellent meal and many hours of conversation, and I am glad to count them as friends
Who else? Who else? Danny! Fuck yeah. I got to see DanMan and Sanlee, his wife. Another cool drunken connection, at Buzz 9 in Melville. They are doing OK in C.Town. Dan is making decent deals and Sanlee is gearing up to set up her own business someday.
I also met Sheryl, an ex, for drinks. She brought her daughter, Clea, who was an absolute delight. 14 and so cool. We yakked and had some good moments. I was shocked to hear that Sheryl's fiance was beating her and this was the reason why she limped about... She tells me she is trying to break away...
Friday night I went to a Baaba Maal concert in New Town and it was lots of fun. Yes, I misbehaved! n Skandaal! Then we went to the Narch and partied till 4 Saturday morning. I woke up drunk and then left at 830 for the airport with... Marin who was keen to continue drinking! I'd had no contact with him whatsoever and he found out I was in town when he dropped someone off at the building. "I used to know someone who lived here." he said.
"Who," asked Maria?
"Russel."
"Well he's here on holiday..."
...and he rang Gabs' bell...
So I is back in Iz and pretty glad to be. I miss my mom and family and my friends. While I have been here going on two years I have yet to jol as I did in SA. And, obviously because of the language, I have been so starved for good conversation.
Anyway, life here is new and interesting in contrast to Jo'burg with its aids, violence and corruption. So little has changed back home.
I love Tel Aviv - even shopping here is cheap compared to SA.
The weather is really good, slightly hotter than SA - warm with sunny skies, yet cool at the end of the day. There's a bit of a breeze in the air now that Winter's coming and the day is consequently shorter. People here are really friendly and the neighbourhood I am living in, (North TA) is quiet and upmarket.
I came home to find my flat changed - the female touch. And we've been getting to know each other better this past week. Orly is keeping me amused and I feel good around her. All round I think I can honestly say that I feel it's working out so far. One step at a time.
I have shared my feelings and experiences of Jo'burg with her, and she feels I am aggressive since my return. Hell, I thought I was aggressive when I was in SA, pushing to the front of queues and being really forward with women - it was great! heh heh!
Sadly, so much of what I have had to say to her about Jhb is negative. Practically everyone I met there had nothing positive to say about the city or the country. The stories I heard were so shocking I couldn't repeat them to Orly. While stats show crime is down [+19,370 deaths this year], FEAR of crime is up. No one has confidence in the SAPS, the Scorpions are being forced to merge with the SAPS, which itself is riddled with corruption, and is unbelievably poor in resources. And then there is aids...
I cant say more. I don't need to, do I?
But still, I told Orly she needs to talk to Rev to get a feel for SA.
Yesterday I had a chat with Rev who called to wish me a couple of days early. I recalled my conversation with Orly re. Jozi, and Rev said, "That's South Africa. In the beginning all you see is the fear. In time, the incredible beauty of the people and the land comes out. It takes time."
And I was only there for nine days.