Getting Over Philip and Remeeting Mike…

4-49pm

I’ve been out most of the day – church – brunch – Granny – Two Oceans Aquarium – Airport and now HOME! Here is the next installment of how Mike and I got together…then some pics of the Two Oceans Aquarium and the hectic hail!

Getting Over Philip and Re-meeting Mike….

After Sarah left to return to England, there was still about 6 weeks before Philip would leave as well. I continued seeing him at church and on one occasion we went to the beach together. But of course, everything had changed. I had to come to terms with the idea that we would never be. He was married. He was out of bounds. The minister of my church, Murray Hofmeyr, was very kind to me. When he was preaching at another church, he invited me along, just so I wouldn’t have to see Philip. He became like a father figure.

Before leaving Cape Town, Philip sold his car to me. At the end of November 1984, I caught a train, for the last time, to Kenilworth, and walked to his flat to take ownership of the car. This was it. This was going to be the end. I was a bit of an emotional wreck that day. We had a brief, subdued conversation. We went downstairs to the the carpark. He put his arms around me and for what seemed like several minutes we embraced. Then I took the keys and without looking back, I climbed in the car and with tears streaming down my face, I drove away! That was the last time I saw Philip.

The next day, I left for a holiday to Zimbabwe. I had seen parts of Zimbabwe while living there, but there were some top tourist spots I still wanted to visit. Much earlier on in the year, on the spur of the moment, I had walked into the offices of the Blue Train to find out how much it cost. I discovered that the price was going up on 1st December 1984 and if I booked to travel any day before, it would be R90 less. I booked for 30th November. That was the day I climbed aboard and enjoyed the most amazing trip to Johannesburg. Then I flew to Harare and around Zimbabwe, stopping in Kariba, Hwangwe, Vic Falls and Bulawayo. I spent some time in Harare & then flew back to Cape Town. I arrived refreshed and ready to put the past behind me and move forward. I didn’t hold any animosity towards either Philip or Sarah. I didn’t resent them or harbour any bitterness. They were just like me…trying to find their place in the world. Deep down, I knew God had not abandoned me. He had a marvellous plan for my life and it would be revealed in time. Although I knew this to be the truth, it wasn’t easy. I remember spending hours in a Sea Point cafe with a friend who was also looking for his life partner. We would sit drinking coffee & moping about how dismal our lives were! But slowly as the months passed, healing came.

One day in early winter of 1985, I was walking through the Gardens Centre when I bumped into the catering manageress of the ‘Y’. Jean brightly said, “we’re having a sing-a-long at the ‘Y’ tonight, why don’t you come along?” I said, “Is Mike van still there?” She said “Yes!” I said “Does he have a girlfriend.” She said “No!” I said, “I think I might just!”

And so I did! I went along that night and Mike was there. With happy reflections of massive chemistry between us, I sat down next to him and asked him how he was. He was subdued and not very happy. With a bit of a frosty response, my expectations plunged. “Oh well,” I thought, “I enjoyed myself and just because he’s not interested in me isn’t going to stop me coming again.” So the next week I went and the next. That evening, again I approached him and asked how he was. “I’m looking for a partner,” he replied. “HUH?” I thought to myself. “What was that all about?!” I stayed right to the end and helped Mike clean up the place after everyone had left. Then I said goodbye and went home. The next Saturday I did the same thing. Hung around, helped clear the cups and saucers, put the chairs straight and made small talk. It worked!!! He invited me out for coffee afterwards! BINGO!!! And over coffee that evening at the Spur on Strand Street, once more the chemistry began to sparkle.

From then on, every Saturday evening after ‘Fireside Fellowship’, we went out for coffee. No contact in between – just Saturday to Saturday. As I got to know Mike better, one thing became clear, Mike ticked all my boxes! When I was about 16, I had made a list of the kind of guy I wanted to marry. Mike was perfect! The only thing that I hadn’t factored in was his age. 13 years and 8 months older than me, made him already 33 while I was just 20.

One Saturday evening I told him I wasn’t able to be there the following week because I was going onto night duty at Red Cross Children’s Hospital. When he heard that, he said these memorable words, “I’ll call you during the week!” Oh! Oh! Slow down my beating heart!

I went off to night duty with a spring in my step and great anticipation in my heart. I would wait until midnight and then if he hadn’t called, I would relax. On Wednesday night, midnight passed. At 1am, I answered the phone in the sister’s office, and there he was. “Hello,” he said. I almost fainted. He had such a nice voice! He asked me out of an official date on Friday evening. Immediately I accepted, once again my first responsibility falling to the wayside, in favour of accepting a date! I was helping run the youth group at my church and could hardly not pitch up because I was going out with Mike! But once again, I couldn’t resist. By Thursday, though, I knew I was going to have to tell him I couldn’t actually go out with him on Friday because I had youth group. I plucked up the courage, called the ‘Y’ and asked for him. I explained I had to go to the youth meeting to help. He said, “No problem, I’ll come too!” I was horrified…. I knew all the young people would have a fine time ‘oohing and aahing’ and giggling over me and my date. But I couldn’t say no, could I? So Mike came with me that night and there was indeed some sniggering and cajoling, but I laughed it off and we left a little early and went to the Gardens Centre for coffee. We sat in the car park and in the darkness Mike asked me an unexpected question. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow!

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This afternoon we braved the weather and headed into town…

The Two Oceans Aquarium at the Waterfront is nothing less than spectacular and perfect for a cold winters day. I will post more photos tomorrow – here are a few…

Ragged Tooth Shark – they have 5 females…