Wasting time Chasing Cars....!
I really picked up a sense of calmness in this photo.....!I truly think this was a picture well taken and I have tried to capture the true essence of the state I really would like to find myself in.
Well, for this weekend I have planned weeks ago to end up at Mafia Island, but of of coarse that didn't work out the way I would have hope for. The attention shifted then from Mafia to the North-East coast of Zanzibar and of coarse that didn't work out the we we would have liked it to be either and then we thought we should settle for 3rd best....Bangoyo island again.
OK, it was at least 2 months since I have been there, but it was really worth the wait. I kind of like taken decisions in the spur of the moment and normally that really works out for the best. Yeah I know, everything happens for a reason, but totally agree this moment was well waited for. Sebastian (our Project Manager from France) decided to go to Bangoyo yesterday after our real intensive drive from Bagamoyo - Well me driving Dirk's old cruiser (hoping to be ine soon) and Sebastian snoaring along all the way missing the intense moments go through Tageta....Dirk, I know you know what I'm talking about.
So, I woke up too late for the first boat to the island and called Sebastian to arrange the 11:30 shipment.....Within a rush, we got all our shit sorted out, biltong, cigarettes, maji baridi & of coarse the great old Castle & Kili Lagers.....Boat ride was quite sorted for itself (and NO motion sickness this time) with a couple of single ladies on board all the way from Sweden, USA & UK. It is weird to see a Frenchman really exciting of certain possibilities....Dog on heat!
It definately was one of the most amazing days visiting the island. I do not know if it is because I really needed it or if it was just because it was just a spectacular day. Temperature around 38C, the ocean turqoise and just the whitest beach sand that you ever would have witnessed. Of coarse the sun friend this "skinny"white ass of mine and I am not pretending parking off without any pain either.........But just so so so amazing beautiful. No cars, no traffic, no phone calls, no dealing & wealing and for a very short moment no real africa.....Halleluhja, Amen!
We got back on the boat at 16:30 and guess who we got there? No-one else then our RE not particlar happy to see the 2 Degremont boys from downtown....No, not at all. He finally received his XMAS present and I guess that will keep him pretty busy during the festive season. Ja, the big claim and this is where all hell will break loose and the communication breaks down. But that of coarse are definately part of Project Life and if you down deal with your shit very early on, it will come back and bite you right in the ass..........So,
Sudden news arrived around Thursday and I will be heading home for 3 weeks or so....(OK, I will still see exactly for how long.) My office back in SA has asked me to come out for 2 weeks to do the preliminary drawings & design for our new project in Senegal. I'm particular happy at this point I do not speak French otherwise I know I would have been part of yet another Project in Africa and I guess by how I feel and think that I am definately done with projects in Africa.
Coming back going to South Africa, I have taken the opportunity as well to spend some time down in Cape Town. I sat today imagining living in a box for extended period and I from preference I would not like to do that any time soon. My thoughts went all the way back to 1997 and of coarse 2001....A time that I got out of my system quite quickly, but it left empty spaces more or less as big as the Morrogoro crater deep down in my soul......But, I will go back and I will go and show my face again. I always thought that time will heal everything....To be honest, it only kills the pain. but memory still exist.....
So Cape Town it will be....Family and friends and hopefully good weather. Time to release my mind of everything that keeps it occupied during night time.
I do not know to who of you I will speak againduring this time, but please have an incredible festive season and a very good XMAS.....If Santa doesn't come by, well then you should realize that you haven't been too good at all during this year. People, where ever you go....Please just drive safely and hopefully I will hear from all of you next year.
I miss ya all and I wish you a Very Mery XMAS and god bless!
Ciao
Some People....!
For the past 3 weeks I really tried to prepare myself for this day and normall you would think that it gets better as the years go by, but it doesn't.
The first departure I got to deal with was with the departure of my good friend Herman from Top Turf back in Mauritius. I really took that one hard, but as more friends left to follow their respective lives it got better. When Dirk left in Mauritius I knew at that stage that I would see him again and therefor it wasn't that tough. It was also an opportunity for me to progress in the food chain and I took the bull by the horns and I just moved on. Then it was the first departure of Edina and then the second and that of coarse rocked my boat and I felt that I was sinking.
You do get use to this type of shit, but I can promise you that it doesn't get easier. Never actaully. Well, Dirk and his family left yesterday and somehow I feel really empty inside. What I also know now is that at this point in time I will never work with him again. It really feels like a family member has died off for me and honestly I do not like this feeling at all. I already miss my big brother and his family. To make it even worse is that for the past 3 weeks they have stayed with me and I spent probably 24 hours a day with Dirk. Now I enter into my apartment and it is empty and I do feel so lonely.
I miss the TV being on the cartoon network or the playstation making a fucking noise. I miss being waked up in the morning with people fiddling around me. I miss being offered coffee in the morning and I really do miss the great South African food Rieta usually cooked. I miss the good mornings and I miss the good nights, sleep well conversations normally late at night. I miss driving with my friend and just talking shit and laugh about all the shit we normally could think of being really funny. I miss Dirk, Rieta and Dylan!
I have now been involved with this family for about 2.75 years and worked with Dirk every day within it and I fear tomorrow. I feel helpless and my self-confidence flew out of the window just as they left. It is really strange to think how close you can get to somebody that was part of your life for only such a short time.
On the other hand I am really happy for them and I know they will do great where ever they will go. The tables has turned now and it is really everyone for them selves. Of coarse with Dirk leaving there are certain advantages like the fridge full of Stella Artois in our fridge at the office and woth me working I celebrate this day in memory of the Lourens Family with a lot of beer.
For Dirk, Rieta and Dylan......I really miss you guys incredibly and wish you all the best of the future. My only advice is that none of you should ever change, 'cause you all are just perfect the way you are. I love you all and a part of my has vanished and I will need to restart to build myslef again. Yeah Mate, Aussie just might be a lank cool joint and just say hi to Sheila for me.
May the South African force be with y'all and you will always be part of the best memories in my head.
With loads of love,
Gordon
Reflect on the Past....!
Nachi, this one is just for you. Enjoy it Buddy!
Year running out......!
Wow, it's been a real tough week for me and I thought that it will be over soon, but it seems that life just keep on throwing more & more curve balls and it's starting to get too much to handle at this moment.
I spend a great deal of my time this working just solving issues, but like usual they tend to pile up even more. Honestly I do not know how to handle the workload anymore and time seems to be of a real short supply. It is that time of the week again and the new week is bound to start and I already see more and more issues coming....TIME OUT, pleeeeeaaaaasssssseeeee!
It is a week to go for Dirk and next week this time they will be at home in SA hopefully drinking real good AMSTEL beer & eating biltong. Honestly I do not know or think I will like to go back home now and if I do (which is still a possibility for December) it will only be for a week or 10 days. But time is running out now and I really have a shit load to deal with. But otherwise I guess all is cool here.
Hope you guys will have an incredible week.
Ciao
Could it be true?
By calculating risk, you always stay on the safe side and experience the relative "normal". You wake up every morning and wonder "what if?". You played it safe and you own what ever you always wanted, but at the end you are missing the "X" factor.
What if you swollowed your fears, took the risk and just maybe wake up one morning knowing that you have experienced the extraordinary and you know what the "X" factor is all about?
They say wisdom comes with the years. Just remember when you think that you can not learn anymore, you time is bound to run out soon!
All that we have in this materialistic world is choices. Make them, jump on the bandwagon and just for once enjoy the ride. I'll promise you in years to come that you will look back and say that you couldn't have imagined that this is what life is about.......The key word here is enjoying the ride!
Just open your eyes and see......
Definately Something to Think About....!
Life isn't about how many breaths you take......
Life is all about those moments that takes your breath away.....!
Thought of the Day....!
Why are you doing what ever the hell it is that you are doing?Because you chose too!It make sense, doesn't it?Ciao
