21/07/2026
Apart from my friend and former colleague, Mr Damons giving me the carport project and whilst being busy with it, I met a few people who played very important roles in my life...and believe me when I say so.
Becoming a teacher and being very obedient to it, was all because of them, Mr Gideon von Branden, my former colleague who later became my principal and my father-figure of Kliptown Secondary School and for many years worked under his leadership. What a true leader he was.
And then there was Mr Neil Schaarnick, my former History teacher who later became a lawyer. I remembered very, very well how the stick in his left hand disciplined us when we forgot to do our homework. And that time a good hiding worked for us. Today, I am happy the hiding made me the person I am today. I need not go further than the hiding I got from him because I also learnt other disciplines from him. Why do you think I became a teacher? It was all because of him, me in Standard 9 - had him as my class and history teacher since standard 6 - and wanting to be like him.
Obed Theys, what a moment we had when he stopped to greet me. It was some 36 years or maybe more, I last saw him. The few minutes we had chatting about the many things years ago, was the best thing I ever had.
Seeing Mr von Branden, Mr Schaarnick and Obed will be always be treasured. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Michael Genkoe, my former learner, though I saw him time and again, was also good to see him.
I have yet to see Mr Evans, my recent former principal and another father-figure and also a retiree, played a very important role in my life too. He still has to pass the place where I am doing the project. He will upset me if he does not stop to say hello to me. My eyes will be concentrated on the steel, welding but a hoot from him will draw my attention to him and my hello to him will be a memorable one too. It is now almost two years since I last saw him.
And for the next two days before completion of the carport project, I wonder who I will be seeing next...it is surely going to be moments of surprises and long-time-no-see, I guess.
