In 1967 I made the mistake of not getting out of doing my military service and ended up as MLO at Voortrekker Hoogte which, it turned out, was probably safer than flying Cessnas in the bush. There, I was privy to information that when you do your military service in a PF unit you only needed to do one year’s service and was glad to escape.
Then I joined the Cape Bar after reading in Chambers with Werner Vivier who had taught us the Rules of Court at U.S. (Which I must say I had found so boring they were Oh so difficult to remember.)
After about 6 very interesting and exciting years at the Bar which I really cherrish I decided to see how the world really works and went into Broking property. Ended up with my own business in Somerset West and have possibly sold more properties in Somerset West in my lifetime than any other individual. In this way I figured I sort of specialised in putting deals together rather than taking them apart.
I have had a wonderful life with lots of travelling and adventure. Fishing…( In those early days we camped almost permanetly on the dunes next to the slip at Massbaai, Hangklip), Skindiving and Scubadiving, Racing Yachts (Took part in the very first Double Cape Yacht race from Gordons Bay to Cape Town and back in September in a 24′ Sweet Pea!), Gliding , (which I started again when I was over 60 years old. ) Now I am concentrating on doing Oil paintings ( and am excited I have at last finally started to be quite good at it) , and of course I’ve had lots of other exciting fun.
It has been a privilege to have lived my whole life here in this lovely Boland Mediteranean Fynbos region.
I married Ethne whom I met while at Stellenbosch ( We since divorced) and we have 2 children. Heinie is CEO of a business in the computer world in Munchen and Caron is an occupational Therapist in Rome, Georgia USA, married with Krige Schabbort the Olympic Paraplegic Marathon athlete. My successful twin brother Hans has also made his life in the USA. So unlike some of you who have all your family here I have no direct family left here, which I do miss.
I am looking forward to our reunion.
Those years at Stellenbosch were so wonderful I rememberI found myself thinking I should perhaps fail so I could spend just another year there!
My painting of Silhouette Island from the Dive School at Beau Vallon Bay
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