Fidler in the Hood: Gentlemen do prefer blondes
Barbie lives life to the full with her successful sculptor husband, writer and author Marke Meyer.
HI THERE fellow citizens. Another day, another dollar. Many thanks to all those forgetful folk who called to say they are also in advanced stages of dementia. We are all in the same boat, but why worry if you cannot remember what you were worrying about in the first place?
ALSO READ : Fidler in the Hood: Julia Styles here? We should be so lucky
Just sing a couple of choruses of Nat King Cole’s ‘Unforgettable’ and you’ll ‘Smile’. Forgotten the words? Your scribe will hum the tunes. On with the show.
A talent to amuse
The little job as Uvongo scribe has lots of lovely side-benefits. There are so many super people to meet down here, all with a tale to tell. Last week the report focused on the monthly Moondeckers’ get-together.
A great evening was had by all, which is par for the course. The whale-watchers deck was full, however as the old song goes ‘Some enchanted evening, you may see a stranger across a crowded room’.
The stranger in this case, was an enchanting, eye-catching barbie-doll-type blonde. Not only eye-catching, I discovered that she has a talent to amuse, read poetry, has many tales to tell and is thoroughly entertaining.
Who’s the blonde?
In the line of journalistic duty, your scribe made discreet inquiries as to who the blonde woman was? It turns out it was Barbie Meyer – a well-known entertainer who tours all over South Africa, especially with her one-woman shows.
After giving Barbie a line about being the Uvongo scribe for the Bonus and would like to write a line or two about her, she replied “Really? Never heard of you, but, yes, it will be fine to meet. I live in Uvongo, near to you. Give me a call and we can get together.”
The call was made and the time, date and the girl was arranged. By the way, all this was done in the company of the CO, so don’t get any ideas. Normally interviews are jotted down in less than 10 minutes, but this blonde was different: she arrived at 10.30am on the dot and left four hours later – at 2.30pm.
No idea who was interviewing who, such was the rapport.
Warsaw concerto
A South African ‘meisie’, born and bred in Pietermaritzburg, Barbie came into this world with a Polish-Irish background. Born Basia Burczak, she is the youngest daughter of Wladyslaw Burczak and Dymphna Straughan in a family of five children.
Basia’s father had been a guest of the Soviet Union, spending three years in a Russian Gulag before being repatriated by the South African and Australian Red Cross. Her cultural education came from her glamorous mother, who encouraged her to sing, perform and dance to overcome shyness and a lisp when she was a six.
She studied at UNISA, prior to making a career as a dedicated teacher of drama and the arts.
Telling tales
A turning point in her life was seeing a one-man show by Patrick Mynhardt at the old Hexagon Theatre, Pietermaritzburg, narrating short stories by Herman Charles Bosman and ‘Oom Schalk’ Lourens.
Basia (now ‘Barbie’) was captivated with tales of old South Africa and became ‘a disciple on the road to Damascus’ (her words). She continues the tradition by presenting her own ‘Tales of Bosman’ show, throughout South Africa.
She loves to write, sing, and of course, perform. She lives life to the full with her successful sculptor husband, writer and author Marke Meyer. Barbie and Marke have been married for about 26 years and have lived on the South Coast for about the same length of time.
The ‘Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend’ thinks there’s no place like the Hibiscus Coast and wouldn’t live anywhere else. Also, that South Africa is still the best place on this earth. One can think of no higher praise. Barbie says that she will be doing a show at Riverbend Conference Centre at the end of October that we must see. An offer we cannot refuse.
She’s not perfect
Considering we were strangers in the night prior to meeting at Moondeckers a week prior, we discovered that we had an awfully lot in common: Music, SA history, the cultural side of life and the arts, but it was distressing to find out that Barbie knew absolutely nothing about English football and the offside rule.
Last weekend saw the Boks losing to the All Blacks and beloved Manchester City returned to winning ways. Blondes, ’Boks and City – Who could ask for anything more? See you, Rob.
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