Fidler in the Hood: Meet Percy, the ‘Marathon Man’
Percy and his wife Nancy were celebrating their 50th anniversary and enjoying their ‘second honeymoon’ at St Michael’s-on-Sea.
Despite the winter weather, off-season, tourist-wise, we still attract upcountry visitors to Hibiscus Coast. Your scribe is always on the lookout for a story for his readers and there’s no better place to be than in a shopping mall on a winter’s day.
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The beaches are deserted; everyone is well wrapped up, shielded from the cold weather. It just so happened that while biding my time over a cuppa coffee in Shelly Centre, I looked around at other like-minded folks in the café and suddenly I froze.
My cup of coffee started to shake, rattle and roll – it was nothing short of an anxiety attack, no kidding.
Man in red
My gaze was transfixed: I couldn’t avoid it, folks. Before my very own eyes was this, hold your breath, this Manchester United supporter!
The ‘enemy’ was in our midst! The ‘man in red’ caught me having a look at him. I nodded sagely and pointed to his ‘United’ sweater, its badge, followed by sign language that United followers ‘ain’t welcome in this town, mister’.
He took it all in good fun and made his way over to me. I got in first: ‘Not too late, my friend, to change to a winning team, like Manchester City,’ I remarked. ‘Never,’ he replied. ‘Though actually, I’m an Arsenal fan.
My son paid for a visit to Old Trafford, Manchester and bought this sweater as a present to me. So, I really do have to wear it.’ ‘Well, that’s all right then’ I responded, ‘ABMU’ – Anything But Manchester United’.
Golden anniversary
Introductions over, I found myself having a most pleasant time with Percy van Wyk, from Pietermaritzburg, who was visiting with his family for the week. I apologised about the weather, which didn’t worry Percy and his family since Percy and his wife Nancy were celebrating 50 years of being married and enjoying their ‘second honeymoon’ at St Michael’s-on-Sea.
Comrades runner
There was more to the eye than just being an ‘honorary’ United supporter. Percy has competed in the Comrades Marathon 14 times, the Dusi River canoe race seven times; and a is dedicated marathon man, too. Actually, he looks it.
Percy spent ‘Seven Years in Tibet’ (sorry, I meant the United Kingdom), able to reel off the boroughs of London where he had either worked or lived. In fact, Percy knows London much better than I ever did.
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But then, I’m a country boy, biding my time on the Hibiscus Coast. Generally, I keep quiet about my own upbringing in Moss Side, Manchester, where ‘decent, law-abiding’ citizens used to play tennis with sledgehammers.
Meeting the family
Percy invited me over to meet his family, including Nancy (‘With The Laughing Face’); his daughter Janine, who teaches in Abu Dhabi, UAE, his son and daughter-in-law.
Janine had taken leave from Abu Dhabi to be with Percy and Nancy for their ‘Big 50’ celebrations. With Abu Dhabi’s ruler being the owner of my beloved Manchester City, a deferential bow was made to Janine.
Janine has been teaching in the Emirates for four years, loves Abu Dhabi and the school itself and her career has really taken off. All this over a cup of coffee. A certain smile; a certain face, can lead an unsuspecting scribe on a merry chase! Who needs Johnny Mathis?
Classics at Riverbend
It was a cold, wet and miserable evening last Friday. But those hardy souls who attended the ‘Classics at Riverbend’ evening were well-rewarded and privileged to watch and listen to virtuoso classical pianist Christopher Duigan.
His repertoire featured music by Claude Debussy and George Gershwin, including an enthralling 18-minute adaptation of Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’.
We were thrilled to watch Mr Duigan ‘up, close, and personal’, and appreciated the absolutely amazing performance.
He took his audience into the world of classics, narrating some wonderful historical trivia on Debussy and Gershwin – much appreciated. A superb evening. And to the organisers – sincere praise and thanks for what was undoubtedly one of the musical highlights of the year. See you, Rob.
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