Fidler in the Hood: It’s a wonderful world, if you don’t weaken!

GREETINGS, friends. It’s been a good week: we ‘got through’ the World Cup in Russia and came out none the worse for it. The CO might not agree, but I’m always there for her, eating anything she puts in front of me. The only meal I missed was when I attended last Friday’s first-class businessmen’s lunch with the legendary Graeme Pollock and Errol Stewart as guest speakers. A memorable occasion for all who attended; the great man recalling a million memories for lovers of the game of cricket.

For me, it was certainly one the many highlights since moving here. The only blot on the occasion was a rendition of the Liverpool FC national anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ by Brian Smalberger. Plaudits to Johnny Louch and members of Margate Bowling Club for organising one of the best events of the year.

Munching in Munchen

Meeting Keith and Sandra Norton at the recent Lutheran Church’s German Bazaar brought back memories of Manchester. The popular annual event has been going for many years, with German food, cakes, sausages and pancakes on offer. They even have beer! All to the sounds of ‘Will Glahe’ and his oompah band, playing a lively ‘Beer Barrel Polka’. Who needs to travel to Munich for the famous annual ‘Oktober Bierfest’? It’s all here right on our doorstep.

Brazilian craftsmanship

I strolled around, cinnamon pancake in hand, searching for a bargain (Glenn Miller CD: R5 – now that’s a bargain). The ‘Eva-Wood’ stall had some finely-crafted wooden ‘things’ on display and one particular item caught my eye: a Brazilian wooden dish in beautiful condition. A quick conversation between willing seller and unwilling buyer ensued, ending with my usual line of ‘patter’: ‘Where are you from?’ ‘Manchester,’ came the reply. Here we go again: yet another ex-Mancunian expat in exile on the Hibiscus Coast. There seems to be a ‘lot of it about’ here. Next question: ‘City, or United?’ It’s an old Mancunian custom we follow; not important, but obligatory. Keith gave the correct answer: we could continue, agreeing to meet again.

Lowry painting

Keith invited me to his lovely home in Umtentweni and the first thing I noticed on the lounge wall was a painting by world-famous Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887-1976), whose pictures of life in Manchester and its people’ in the mid-20th century are legendary. I commented on it and Keith replied ‘That’s Mather and Platt’s, the famous engineering company, its factory in Newton Heath. Painted in 1943.’ Amazing. At its peak, Mather’s had 13 000 employees; 25 000 worldwide. ‘I know another chap here in Shelly Beach who served time at Mather and Platt’s. Mind if I give him a call?’ I phoned old school chum Garry Daniels to introduce them. Stand by for yet another Manchester old boys’ reunion. It really is a small world.

Working career

Keith came from a large family of seven children – he was ‘the middle one’. He started his working career at Mather and Platt’s climbing the proverbial technical ladder. After 20 years with the company in Manchester, he was asked if he would be interested in a job in Johannesburg. Keith weighed up the prospects: standing at that Manchester bus stop in winter or a job in sunny SA. The sun won. Keith and Sandra came to SA in 1972, joining Mather and Platt’s in Boksburg. During their time on the East Rand, the Nortons experienced a couple of ‘nasty’ incidents, unsettling them. With family ties still strong in the UK; the ‘call of home’ beckoned and the couple returned to Manchester.

Let’s go home

At first it was ‘okay’ returning to everyday life in Manchester, but SA was never far from their thoughts. One morning when they awoke to ‘typical Manchester weather’, they agreed: ‘What are we doing here? Let’s go back ‘home’ to South Africa.’ Their children and family were still here in SA and the rest is history.

Road to Morocco

In the olden days in Manchester, when you wanted to meet a woman, you went to the local ‘Mecca Palais de Dance’, but Keith did things differently: he met Sandra in another mecca: Morocco. Sandra was in Liverpool and Manchester lad Keith concluded there were too many bus stops between them. They married in 1972, raised two boys and a girl, now have four grandchildren. The whole family is still here in SA and none have even considered leaving. Sandra is a keen gardener: their picturesque ‘must see’ two-hectare garden is beautiful.

We’ll meet again

An all-too-brief visit with Keith, but we’ll meet again, some sunny day – in South Africa, of course. The moral of this story is: the grass isn’t greener on the other side, so stick it out and don’t weaken.

See you, Rob.

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